Nick Rockel, much admired her on The Standard, writes today,
"At the end of the month the culture wars came calling in the form of Posie Parker who travelled here for a tomato juice.
The two newsletters I wrote about that were probably the most contentious I’ve written. The topic is a minefield, and while I tried my best to navigate it there was no way to keep everyone happy. Some of the vitriolic comments I received, on both sides, including from people I know well, were pretty unhinged."
Interesting to read of his experience, one that perhaps matches that here 🙂
it does seem to be a common theme. Many of us start out trying to keep everyone happy, but it's just not possible. My best hope is a rapprochement between the lefties on each side finding some common ground and taking care to listen and engage.
I'm not sure I would characterise aspects of the TS debate as vitriolic or unhinged, although I agree both sides get pretty heated at times.
Many a discussion here on TS can be characterised as a tug of war with two teams/camps pulling away at and from each other. Ideally, deliberation should be more like two crews of the same team boring an underground tunnel starting at opposite ends and meeting somewhere in the middle.
Was it really vitriolic and unhinged on TS Robert? I don't remember it that way.
Nick says that Peters, Foster and Jones are simply scoring points with bigots. Oh dear that must mean that 60% of NZ ders are bigots. That's the number of people who don't support trans identifying males playing in women's sports. Only a small number of people actively support TIMs in women's support. To do so, means being a science denier as the science is clear, males have a clear and significant advantage over female sportswomen. And that also means in some sports they are a risk to women physically. I have posted Dr Ross Tuckers the science of transgender in sports a number of times,happy to do it again if requested.
Meanwhile, this is a lovely article from a women's point of view (to the best of my knowledge the msm never interviewed a women about the new policy, they only interviewed trans identifying male Kate Weatherly aka Anton Weatherly, a cyclist from the Kapiti Coast who is aceing the competition (women) in cycling events.
You're right, it is. Assuming good intent is the way to manage the issue of language's multi-facets, imo. I always assume your comments are intended to be constructive, for example 🙂
Oh, Robert. Once again the familiar stunning bravery of standing behind someone else's unsubstantiated falsehoods and uninformed reckons.
I could only make it halfway through the first referenced newsletter because my tolerance for poor quality writing is about Nil this time of the year.
However, I do recommend reading on for those whose current perspectives are being challenged by due consideration and logic. There are the predictable catechisms that can be learnt to repeat whenever you find yourself in a logical hole of your own making.
After all, it would be appalling if now the public discussion is happening, it is discovered that people – especially those pesky women – speaking of their concerns may actually have some salient points.
They should remember their only duty is to "Be Kind".
And in regards to sports, well the answer is also clear:
Hi Molly – you've jumped to a Wrong Conclusion. I haven't posted Nick's post to represent my thoughts, but instead to show how similar the his on-line experience was to that on TS. He's regarded well here, for his thoughts on the present Government especially, and it's interesting, I believe, to see how he expressed himself on that topic. I wondered what his view is now?
Oh, yes, I take close notice of advice given by weka.
On a completely different thread, have you ever wondered the true details of Van Gough and the fate of his ear? Gauguin was closely involved. It's quite a sorry tale.
[Molly’s restored comment, originally submitted @ 2023/12/24 at 9:28 am – Incognito]
This also contributes nothing of your own thoughts, Robert.
Nor provides any of the missing supporting evidence for his fairly lazy uninformed newsletters.
Given your reference to his quality, and regard (which perhaps is not universally held) it reads as an appeal to a quasi-authority of your own making. The critique I have of his referenced newsletter remains. It is indeed indicative of the uninformed rhetoric that many participated in here on The Standard.
“I wondered what his view is now?”
Why not contact him directly to ask? I hold little hope he has taken ANY time to challenge his own misconceptions.
Robert shared his thoughts on both the Rockel piece, and on your response to his original comment.
2. Robert is under no obligation to provide evidence to support someone else's writing, when he was commenting on the author's experience, not the politics. Are you missing the point of the OP?
3. there are indeed people on TS who value Rockel's writing. I've seen people here talk about it and reference it.
4. you are free to critique Rockel's newsletter, it just doesn't have much to do with Robert's point, so maybe stop hassling him about it?
FFS: The current Russian Federation isn't the only place that had Russian imperial colonies of ethnic Russians implanted. Nor is it the only place that has Russian Federation has military bases.
As this is not your post, assuming we're all on the same page of Open Mike ,I can feel free to reply I assume
Compared to 750 bases spread around the world a long way from the Us neighbourhood, 11 bases in the near surrounds does not seem excessive or indicative of an ambitious empire
Francesca seems to never look at anything that might upset their world view. I suspect that there is a religious component in their nature, one that completely relies on uninformed faith rather than knowledge.
I noticed the fast response as well. That is why her comment got moved to Open Mike.
Fucken hell uncooked , give us a chance .She looks like a lovely girl and I will definitely watch further.But Jeez, its the day before Xmas, baking, wrapping, entertaining to do .I already feel I've spent way too much time here , watching beyond part one (33 minutes) is going to have to take a back seat to real life
Sorry! I certainly don't mean to say you should watch them quickly, or at all. I'm impressed you watched the first one, because they are quite long and have a lot of detail (and it is 24 December!)
If/when you do watch some, I'd be very interested to hear your impression, coming from a different view.
I accidentally deleted a sub-thread with your comments when trying to delete Molly’s duplicate comment to RG @ 1 (now deleted to avoid duplicate sub-thread forming).
My sincere apologies.
I still have access to the text of your deleted comments in the back-end and can help if you wish to re-do them.
To avoid further confusion, you could start off the restoration process by posting a dummy comment as placeholder in reply to RG’s comment @ 2.2 (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-24-12-2023/#comment-1982367). Then I’ll copy & paste your original reply into your dummy comment and we’ll go from there.
Apologies for the inconvenience, but this might be better than me impersonating you and other commenters.
I think you're a really good communicator., and a very fair person My peregrinating mind must have been prompted by the word weka, which led to bamboo and my weka proof fence.I'm not clever enough to weave a convoluted story around you and fences.Its all true! I hope your recovery is complete! I'm a fan
Nobody comments on political blogs on Christmas Eve, do they?
In any case, the parade in the village doesn't do it for me any more – too many agricultural machines for my liking, so I stayed home to dress…the chimney! Or rather, the flue in our lounge. It's black, so I wrapped it in white paper, then added, with a black marker, the marks such as silver birch carries on its bark, so now it looks like a birch growing in our living space. At the base, I added paper mache amanita mascaria toadstools I made long ago, along with associated creatures; a toad, a hedgehog and a small Tomten figure, pointed hat, long white beard and all. From the real birch outside, I harvest leaves and catkins and strewed those all about the scene. It looks wonderful, I believe. When my grandchildren arrive tomorrow, they'll love the decorated pine Christmas tree, for sure, but I think they'll also enjoy the chimney 🙂
Well, this is awkward; RG declines and you insist (for want to a better word).
I won’t do any more restoring and I don’t e-mail individual commenters (another Mod might but I wouldn’t want to impose on any of them, as it was my mistake and ‘tis the time of the year to unwind).
For the record, only 2 comments left: one by RG @ 2023/12/24 at 9:42 am and then a reply by you @ 2023/12/24 at 9:51 am.
A shame Molly. I regard you as one of the best commentators on the Standard for you ability to argue logically and rationally and challenge those who aren't interested in engaging on the arguments re gender critical issues.
Oh well quality as usual from Molly rather than quantity.
50 years of growing bamboo! Puts my recent efforts to shame 🙂 It sounds as though you planted a running variety; best for carbon draw-down, but not for neighbourly relations 🙂 It sounds though, as though you know what you are doing. I do have a clump of runner, but it's easy to manage and can't overwhelm the already overwhelming forest. My favourite bamboos Himalayacalamus falconerii, a classy, glassy clumper that provides most of the canes I use for constructing structures to support grapes, runner beans, kiwifruit etc. Your weka-proof fence sounds impressive and I understand your wish for such an excluder – there are no weka in my area, but I read of the challenge they pose. Isn't it fortunate that bamboo doesn't grow from cuttings 🙂 Mostly these days, I use bamboo canes to mark young, newly-planted trees, so that I don't lose them to the vigorous seasonal growth of understory herbs – I'm establishing the next iteration of trees; chestnut, oak and other more exotic croppers, throughout the forest garden and don't like losing anything the the green tide. I do have several other varieties of bamboo, but none suit so well as the Himalayan. Do you grow the giant miscanthus (elephant grass)? It's impressive; softer than bamboo and more for biomass production, but a big grass nonetheless. You couldn't construct anything with it, but it looks jungly, in an African sort of way 🙂
Yes I do grow miscanthus! I use it as a mulch when I cut it to the ground each spring with a niwashi shark
My only neighbour is my sister, we share the bamboo, we have 14 acres between us , so no worries about being swamped .It is a running variety, even the clumpers eventually decide to break out and start a new colony I've noticed.I really do consider it a resource.Its kept contained because so many come to harvest it
Any new shoots are soft and easily removed.
I certainly wouldn't be planting it in a small section though .
I'd grow fairy bamboo (really useful)in a pot instead.
I love the sound of your place, I imagine you have times drifting about and swooning at the lushness
Oh, yes, I drift alright. When I walk out of my door, despite having already gazed out of the windows into the forest, I feel astonishment and bliss to find myself in such a world; beyond fortunate, I reckon. I get so much satisfaction from having been closely involved in the growing of this forest; my contribution is minor really; selecting and managing mainly – the "growing" bit is done by the forest itself. After 30 years, I'm still planting at a pace that makes me feel as though I'm contributing positively to the future and in any case, I can't stop. Like you, I'd like an exemption, though I'll be satisfied with whatever I receive, years-wise. It is lush here; a recent visitor who has travelled the world opined that it reminded him very much of a Peruvian jungle – I glowed inwardly 🙂 With plants such as banana, brugmansia and canna looking very comfortable out amongst the apples and walnuts, the jungly-look is coming more and more to the fore; I'm not a keen traveller, so am bringing the jungles I would like to see, here. As to quarrels, I quite enjoy them, so long as they are built on supportable claims 🙂 Happy Christmas to you too, Francesca.
A fashion world lacking in depth often reaches for the nostalgia of past decades. In politics, too, it looks like we’re headed for a return to the past.
She is probably my favourite author, but no, I'm reading the Expanse series. Wish I'd been in post writing mode, it's throwing up all sorts of goodies.
"we push our young designers to focus on self-expression and personality without giving them the chance to first discover what that might be"
Better then, to retain designers till they're old and fully cognisant of their personality, having matured one over time, and well-practiced at self-expression in a way that only long experience can provide.
It feels like we need a good dose of national pride.
Why?
It’s been a challenging year in many ways. The end of a controversial Government has left us almost unrecognisable from our 2017 selves. That Government left us financially bereft and emotionally divided.
While the vocal minorities will continue to shout their displeasure, the direct, no-nonsense approach to the new 100-day plan, and the immediacy of the Cook Straight ferry decision shows that we have a no-nonsense Government that is serious about the economic and structural repair job that awaits them. The fear of what might have been, has been replaced by an atmosphere of hope for the year ahead
Oh, so so the right has moved from playing on fears, to promoting hope.
So where does the pride come in?
Because the biggest difference in the outlook for New Zealand will come as a result of the attitude that we bring to our challenges and opportunities alike. Across the broadest possible spectrum, we have a history to be proud of and a contribution to make to the world. Left and right. Māori and Pākeha. Local and immigrant. Educated leader and blue-collar worker. We all have a contribution to make. And we should be excited about what we can collectively achieve, and what we can offer a world in need. After all, that’s how the world’s leaders think
So it's in the contributions we make. World leaders are excited at the contributions that the people can make to the world. And we should be to. Is that measured by GDP, improving the return to capital on foreign and or domestic investment?
Must be softening us up for Luxon's talk of one and two year plans when the 100 days are up.
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Earlier this year, the Herald ran a series of articles amounting to a sustained campaign against raised pedestrian crossings, by reporter Bernard Orsman. A key part of that campaign concerned the raised crossings being installed as part of the Pt Chevalier to Westmere project, with at least 10 articles over ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 19 include:PM Christopher Luxon is expected to hold his weekly post-cabinet news conference at 4:00pm on Monday.Parliament is not sitting this week. It resumes next week for a two-week sitting session up to and ...
Hi,Thanks to all the beautiful Worms who came to the LA Webworm popup on Saturday.It was a way to celebrate the online store we launched last week — and it was super special.As I talk about a lot, I really value our community here — and it was a BLAST ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 5, 2024 thru Sat, May 11, 2024. (Unfortunate) Story of the week "Grief that stops at despair is an ending that I and many others, most notably ...
The Government’s introduction of legislation that would enable landlords to end tenancies with no reason marks a dark day for the 1.4 million people who rent their home in Aotearoa. ...
The Minister for Mental Health has found the Suicide Prevention Office and mental health support for 111 calls slipping through his fingers, says Labour spokesperson for Mental Health Ingrid Leary. ...
Today’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. ...
The Green Party says the Government’s misguided policy on gangs will fail, following the announcement of the establishment of a national gang unit and district gang disruption units to target gang activities. ...
“With Police pay negotiations still unresolved after six months in Government, Mark Mitchell has today rolled the Commissioner out for a rebrand of their approach to gang crime,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said. ...
The Government bringing back 50 charter schools will not increase achievement and is a distraction from the core mission of the education system, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Te Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill. Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to a ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
"On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden. “I raised my concerns after being ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools. “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. “It is my pleasure ...
New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says. “This ...
Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners. “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
“The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office. “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
ANALYSIS:By David Robie, editor of Asia Pacific Report Jean-Marie Tjibaou, a revered Kanak visionary, was inspirational to indigenous Pacific political activists across Oceania, just like Tongan anthropologist and writer Epeli Hao’ofa was to cultural advocates. Tragically, he was assassinated in 1989 by an opponent within the independence movement during ...
Forget thin is in, apparently now bigger is better … or is it? After over a decade of body positivity, girls, teens and women are even more confused about what body positivity actually is. The movement began with women confronting unrealistic expectations of how their bodies should look. But sub-strands ...
Grace always sat at the bar at the back of The Cambridge, where she could watch who came in. A huge mirror ran the length of the pub, so you could sometimes watch people without them knowing. The mirror made the place seem a lot bigger than it really was. ...
MONDAY Sheriff Mark Mitchell rose at dawn. He had a long day’s ride ahead of him. He was headed for Waikeria. Waikeria! Even the name itself stirred his blood, and set root in his imagination. There was nothing and no one in Waikeria. But he would bend it to his ...
The first phase of the inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones finished this week, turning up plenty of revelations and few answers. But through all the confusion, heartbreak and antipathy on display, the simple fact at the heart of this case remains: if little Lachie’s body had ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Benjamin, Professor in Art History, University of Sydney “She’s no oil painting”. Those were the unkind words of a colleague commenting on the subject of Vincent Namatjira’s acrylic painting, Gina. Every one of the prominent Australians and cultural heroes in Namatjira’s ...
Government plans to require local councils hold a referendum on whether to have Māori wards breaches the Treaty of Waitangi, a Waitangi Tribunal report has found. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney This year the National Rugby League (NRL) opened its season in Las Vegas. It was an audacious move by the league’s ambitious head honcho Peter V’Landys to showcase the game in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Strong, Associate Professor, Music Industry, RMIT University Leading music organisations have praised the federal budget for its investment in the live music sector. The budget includes A$8.6 million for a program called Revive Live: to provide essential support to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marnee Shay, Associate Professor, Principal Research Fellow, The University of Queensland The 2024 federal budget contains A$110 million for Indigenous education. This includes funding for various different organisations to represent and help Indigenous people as well as scholarships in a bid to ...
Air New Zealand has confirmed Nouméa’s Tontouta International airport in New Caledonia is closed until Tuesday. The airline earlier told RNZ it would update customers as soon as it could. Earlier today, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters told RNZ Morning Report government officials had been working on an “hourly basis” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Linley, PhD Candidate in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Grant Linley Australia’s unprecedented Black Summer bushfires in 2019–20 created ideal conditions for misinformation to spread, from the insidious to the absurd. It was within this context that a bizarre story ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marcel Scharth, Lecturer in Business Analytics, University of Sydney OpenAI executive Mira Murati launching GPT-4o.OpenAI Earlier this week OpenAI launched GPT-4o (“o” for “omni”), a new version of the artificial intelligence (AI) system powering the popular ChatGPT chatbot. GPT-4o is promoted ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Treasure McGuire, Assistant Director of Pharmacy, Mater Health SEQ in conjoint appointment as Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Bond University and as Associate Professor (Clinical), The University of Queensland Speedkingz/Shutterstock Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end of a ...
A new poem by Hannah Patterson. Xiāng There’s a pear tree in our backyard And Xiāng tells me She can’t eat them anymore Not after some things that have happened in her life. She tells me, in Mandarin The word for pear sounds the same as the word for disassociation ...
‘Cycling Works’ aims to show business support for citywide cycle infrastructure. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, supermarket giant Foodstuffs lost its attempt to block the construction of a cycle lane outside Thorndon New World in Wellington. The Spinoff’s Wellington editor ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Slow Productivity by Cal Newport (Penguin, $40)Taking out the top spot in Auckland this ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University For decades, Australia has exported uranium – but not used it, other than in the Lucas Heights research reactor. But change is coming. We now face a rapidly deepening commitment to ...
"In future I should walk away," Green MP Julie Anne Genter says after complaints over an exchange in Parliament and from two members of the public. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Graffam, PhD Candidate in Theatre, Monash University Gianna Rizzo/Malthouse Music pumps; lights pulsate; two sweaty bodies sway together, touching, breathing in each other’s scent. A male body framed by downlight restlessly shifts between stances and gestures. He undresses. The intensity ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sandra van der Laan, Professor of Accounting, University of Sydney Mtaya/Shutterstock At some point, you or someone else will need to make a decision about your “send-off”. Most Australians die in an institution, such as a hospital or aged care facility. ...
Asia Pacific Report Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai — who is also Chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group — has reaffirmed MSG’s support of the pro-independence umbrella group Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) stance opposing the French government’s constitutional bill “unfreezing” the New Caledonia Electoral Roll. It is ...
Producer Susan Leonard remembers her father Ernie, a pioneer of Māori television, and how his legacy lives on in Pathfinders.My father was a fabulous man. His name was Ernie Leonard and he started in TV in the 1970s when it was still glamorous – when TVNZ made behind the ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk, and Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist The suspected ringleaders of the unrest in New Caledonia have been placed in home detention and the social network TikTok has been banned as French security forces struggle to restore law and order. The French ...
Multi-year appropriations - which give the government authority to spend money without reapplying annually - are loosening Parliament's control of the public purse, auditor-general says. ...
Dr. Eric Chuah who stood for a centrist NZ political party in the October 2023 NZ Elections for Maungakiekie Auckland will stand as a candidate for Tauranga City Council Ward of Matua-=Otumoetai and Mayor of Tauranga. ...
If you can’t get to the comedy fest, let us bring the comedy fest to you. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. The New Zealand International Comedy Festival is in full swing at the moment, with a veritable smorgasboard of comedy treats ...
A new poll commissioned by Unions Wellington shows an overwhelming majority of Wellingtonians oppose the Council’s plan to sell the 34% public stake in Wellington Airport. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aruna Sathanapally, Chief Executive, Grattan Institute, Grattan Institute A central focus of this week’s budget is the treasury’s forecast for inflation. By this time next year, inflation is projected to be back within the Reserve Bank’s 2-3% target range. Inflation has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yolanda van Heezik, Professor of Ecology, University of Otago Getty Images Cities across Aotearoa New Zealand are trying to solve a housing crisis, with increasing residential density a key solution. But not everyone is happy about the resulting loss of natural ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Reeve, Deputy Program Director, Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute WDG Photo/Shutterstock For years, the electricity sector has been the poster child for emissions cuts in Australia. The sector achieved a stunning 26% drop in emissions over the past 15 ...
It’s often the last thing people want to do, but asking someone if they’re having suicidal thoughts is a critical first step to helping them. Content warning: this story discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. For a list of resources that can help if you or someone you know is feeling ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy J. Ralph, Associate Professor, Macquarie University The pyramids at Giza, like dozens of others, are located several kilometres west of the current path of the Nile.Alex Cimbal / Shutterstock The largest field of pyramids in Egypt – consisting of 31 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Diepstraten, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute ABO PHOTOGRAPHY/Shutterstock Receiving a cancer diagnosis is life-changing and can cause a range of concerns about ongoing health. Fear of cancer returning is one ...
Winston Peters has been on tour around the Pacific while two unrelated crises unfolded, explains Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Two separate ...
This is the Mount Everest of artificial meatcraft.Ah, bacon. Pig’s gold. Toast’s consolation. Dawn’s savoury embrace. If meat was a currency, bacon would be the Benjamin Franklin. Or if you’re feeling patriotic, the Lord Rutherford. When it comes to fake bacon, the obvious question is: why bother? In the ...
From illegal milk to sprinkler bans and airplane ticket scams, Tyrone Barugh is on a one-man mission through New Zealand’s most obscure legal loopholes. I’m deep undercover, investigating Wellington’s criminal underworld. Inside this store, I’ve been told there is a million-dollar trade in illicit substances. A man dressed in black ...
It’s been a recess week at Parliament, which might indicate slim pickings for conversation topics for the Raw Politics team. But things are never dull in politics, especially with a new Government keen to follow through on its law and order promises, and a NZ First minister who wants to ...
Dear Hon Judith Collins, Minister of Defence, and Hon Christopher Penk, Associate Minister of Defence I have written to you, to attempt to give you an insight into the incredible hardship of being an NZDF family. Whilst I cannot speak on behalf of serving personnel, I can speak from my ...
Analysis: What a difference a year makes. In mid 2023, Wayne Brown the Auckland Mayor was a politician diminished by a calamitous response to the region’s Anniversary Weekend storm emergency and later forced against his preference into a half sale only of the city’s airport shares. His demeanour among his ...
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New Zealand’s drug legislation hasn’t been overhauled in nearly 50 years, in spite of a recommendation from the Law Commission in 2011 to do so. Our Misuse of Drugs Act was passed in 1975 and is based on a United Nations framework set in 1961. Now a new organisation, Harm ...
NONFICTION 1 The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour & Jude Dobson (Allen & Unwin, $37.99) A free copy of this amazing story of a woman who operated behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied France was up for grabs this past fortnight. Readers were asked to share a story of wartime bravery, ...
Asia Pacific Report An open letter to The New Zealand Herald has challenged a full page Zionist advertisement this week for failing to acknowledge the “terrible injustices” suffered by the Palestinian people in Israel’s seven-month genocidal war on Gaza. In the latest of several international reports that have condemned genocide ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When he was opposition leader, Bill Shorten faced Coalition criticism for attacking “the top end of town”, a phrase he used in his 2019 budget reply. Now Peter Dutton is finding the line “billions of ...
By Adam Burns, RNZ News reporter Worried New Caledonian expats in Aotearoa admit they are “terrified” for friends and family amid ongoing violence and civil unrest in the French Pacific territory. The death toll remained at four tonight, and hundreds have been injured after electoral changes sparked widespread rioting by ...
French President Emmanuel Macron has declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia after several days of civil unrest in the capital. Four people are dead due to the unrest and violence in the capital, Nouméa. France TV reports that a 22-year-old gendarme who had been seriously wounded has become ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland This week’s budget was Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ third and – for practical purposes – final for the current parliamentary term. Even if the 2025 election is delayed long enough to give ...
They held a noisy but peaceful demonstration against the ongoing genocide being carried out by the State of Israel, condemning the Israeli ambassador who was hosting an invitation-only event to celebrate the establishment of the State of Israel. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bridget Haire, Senior lecturer, public health ethics, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Bowonpat Sakaew/Shutterstock HIV prevention was allocated A$43.9 million over three years in this week’s federal budget. Some $26m of this is for “PrEP” for people without access to ...
Karen Chhour wants Oranga Tamiriki to establish more partnerships with Māori, despite introducing a bill to Parliament removing their obligation to do so. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bridget Haire, Senior lecturer, public health ethics, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Bowonpat Sakaew/Shutterstock HIV prevention was allocated A$43.9 million over three years in this week’s federal budget. Some $26m of this is for “PrEP” for people without access to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole George, Associate Professor in Peace and Conflict Studies, The University of Queensland New Caledonia’s capital city, Noumea, has endured widespread violent rioting over the past 48 hours. This crisis intensified rapidly, taking local authorities by surprise. Peaceful protests had been ...
Nick Rockel, much admired her on The Standard, writes today,
"At the end of the month the culture wars came calling in the form of Posie Parker who travelled here for a tomato juice.
The two newsletters I wrote about that were probably the most contentious I’ve written. The topic is a minefield, and while I tried my best to navigate it there was no way to keep everyone happy. Some of the vitriolic comments I received, on both sides, including from people I know well, were pretty unhinged."
Interesting to read of his experience, one that perhaps matches that here 🙂
https://nickrockel.substack.com/p/2023-in-review-part-3
it does seem to be a common theme. Many of us start out trying to keep everyone happy, but it's just not possible. My best hope is a rapprochement between the lefties on each side finding some common ground and taking care to listen and engage.
I'm not sure I would characterise aspects of the TS debate as vitriolic or unhinged, although I agree both sides get pretty heated at times.
Many a discussion here on TS can be characterised as a tug of war with two teams/camps pulling away at and from each other. Ideally, deliberation should be more like two crews of the same team boring an underground tunnel starting at opposite ends and meeting somewhere in the middle.
But … that would be … boring … right?
not to mention the risk of tunnel vision, and digging at each other.
(sorry to spoil the metaphor Incognito, can't resist punnage).
I left the door wide open, didn’t I? Or should I say that I dug a hole (for myself)?
Was it really vitriolic and unhinged on TS Robert? I don't remember it that way.
Nick says that Peters, Foster and Jones are simply scoring points with bigots. Oh dear that must mean that 60% of NZ ders are bigots. That's the number of people who don't support trans identifying males playing in women's sports. Only a small number of people actively support TIMs in women's support. To do so, means being a science denier as the science is clear, males have a clear and significant advantage over female sportswomen. And that also means in some sports they are a risk to women physically. I have posted Dr Ross Tuckers the science of transgender in sports a number of times,happy to do it again if requested.
https://aboldwoman.substack.com/p/new-zealand-womens-sports-gets-a
Meanwhile, this is a lovely article from a women's point of view (to the best of my knowledge the msm never interviewed a women about the new policy, they only interviewed trans identifying male Kate Weatherly aka Anton Weatherly, a cyclist from the Kapiti Coast who is aceing the competition (women) in cycling events.
https://thecritic.co.uk/author/victoria-smith/
"Was it really vitriolic and unhinged on TS Robert? I don't remember it that way."
Didn't say it was, although it was a bit fevered, imo 🙂
Might be a communication style thing. I also thought you were implying that TS was similar to Rockel's experience of the debate, thus,
You're right, it is. Assuming good intent is the way to manage the issue of language's multi-facets, imo. I always assume your comments are intended to be constructive, for example 🙂
In this instance, I did say, "similar" 🙂
Yeah, he's great , I love him
But then again, I don't require him to mirror every single one of my positions on modern matters
Oh, Robert. Once again the familiar stunning bravery of standing behind someone else's unsubstantiated falsehoods and uninformed reckons.
I could only make it halfway through the first referenced newsletter because my tolerance for poor quality writing is about Nil this time of the year.
However, I do recommend reading on for those whose current perspectives are being challenged by due consideration and logic. There are the predictable catechisms that can be learnt to repeat whenever you find yourself in a logical hole of your own making.
After all, it would be appalling if now the public discussion is happening, it is discovered that people – especially those pesky women – speaking of their concerns may actually have some salient points.
They should remember their only duty is to "Be Kind".
And in regards to sports, well the answer is also clear:
"Train Harder"
https://youtu.be/dbk4zQttKyE?feature=shared
Problems posting from Android. Cannot remove via non-presentung edit options.
Apologies to all for duplicate.
Hi Molly – you've jumped to a Wrong Conclusion. I haven't posted Nick's post to represent my thoughts, but instead to show how similar the his on-line experience was to that on TS. He's regarded well here, for his thoughts on the present Government especially, and it's interesting, I believe, to see how he expressed himself on that topic. I wondered what his view is now?
Have I?
Oh, yes, I take close notice of advice given by weka.
On a completely different thread, have you ever wondered the true details of Van Gough and the fate of his ear? Gauguin was closely involved. It's quite a sorry tale.
https://www.themarginalian.org/2017/08/23/gauguin-van-gogh-ear/
I am surprised that I have once again been tricked into reading a reply from you in the hope it is relevant.
That'll teach me…
Oh, well. Third time's the charm. I'll go off and do something worthwhile now, so you can move your creative writing workshop elsewhere.
Merry Christmas Robert!
On another matter Robert , bamboo?
Do you grow it down there ?
.I've become a bit obsessed with it.
My main bamboo plot was planted 50 years ago, between 2 driveways so its spread is controlled.I have the room anyway.
I've just constructed an extensive bamboo fence to keep wekas out of my veg.garden.(my biophiliac tendencies balked at allowing wekas a free reign)
I use it for garden structures (the fairy bamboo for lattice work) but I would love to build more with it
A neighbour , who has that huge bamboo, has just constructed a magnificent entry way into his woodland area.
@incognito
[Molly’s restored comment, originally submitted @ 2023/12/24 at 9:28 am – Incognito]
This also contributes nothing of your own thoughts, Robert.
Nor provides any of the missing supporting evidence for his fairly lazy uninformed newsletters.
Given your reference to his quality, and regard (which perhaps is not universally held) it reads as an appeal to a quasi-authority of your own making. The critique I have of his referenced newsletter remains. It is indeed indicative of the uninformed rhetoric that many participated in here on The Standard.
“I wondered what his view is now?”
Why not contact him directly to ask? I hold little hope he has taken ANY time to challenge his own misconceptions.
After all, have you?
2. Robert is under no obligation to provide evidence to support someone else's writing, when he was commenting on the author's experience, not the politics. Are you missing the point of the OP?
3. there are indeed people on TS who value Rockel's writing. I've seen people here talk about it and reference it.
4. you are free to critique Rockel's newsletter, it just doesn't have much to do with Robert's point, so maybe stop hassling him about it?
Oh
That sounds just like a federation
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
FFS: The current Russian Federation isn't the only place that had Russian imperial colonies of ethnic Russians implanted. Nor is it the only place that has Russian Federation has military bases.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Russian_military_bases_abroad
Stay off my posts until you can learn to contribute.
As this is not your post, assuming we're all on the same page of Open Mike ,I can feel free to reply I assume
Compared to 750 bases spread around the world a long way from the Us neighbourhood, 11 bases in the near surrounds does not seem excessive or indicative of an ambitious empire
6 minutes to reply…so you didn't look at the video. I suppose watching RT is easier (and to be fair, much better produced and edited).
A federation in the sense that Aboriginal Australians were "federated" by the British "Federation" in the 1800s…
Francesca seems to never look at anything that might upset their world view. I suspect that there is a religious component in their nature, one that completely relies on uninformed faith rather than knowledge.
I noticed the fast response as well. That is why her comment got moved to Open Mike.
Do as I say, not what I do
We're back to addressing the messenger I see, not the comment
Fucken hell uncooked , give us a chance .She looks like a lovely girl and I will definitely watch further.But Jeez, its the day before Xmas, baking, wrapping, entertaining to do .I already feel I've spent way too much time here , watching beyond part one (33 minutes) is going to have to take a back seat to real life
I'm off! Have a great Xmas!
Sorry! I certainly don't mean to say you should watch them quickly, or at all. I'm impressed you watched the first one, because they are quite long and have a lot of detail (and it is 24 December!)
If/when you do watch some, I'd be very interested to hear your impression, coming from a different view.
Have a great Christmas!
@ Molly, Robert Guyton, and Francesca:
I accidentally deleted a sub-thread with your comments when trying to delete Molly’s duplicate comment to RG @ 1 (now deleted to avoid duplicate sub-thread forming).
My sincere apologies.
I still have access to the text of your deleted comments in the back-end and can help if you wish to re-do them.
You can repost all of mine on the 2.0 comment of Robert's – .
I don’t think it makes much of a difference, as the first comment is easily scrolled past.
To avoid further confusion, you could start off the restoration process by posting a dummy comment as placeholder in reply to RG’s comment @ 2.2 (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-24-12-2023/#comment-1982367). Then I’ll copy & paste your original reply into your dummy comment and we’ll go from there.
Apologies for the inconvenience, but this might be better than me impersonating you and other commenters.
Done. But unless Robert does the same, I lose my replies to him?
Shall I just do three in a row?
Ta
No, the replies have to be to the newly restored comments, in order. So one at the time, I’m afraid – there were not many 🙂
I'd let them dematerialise – none were gems, imo, though I did reference weka's value as a commenter on the topic 🙂
Ok, I respect your choice, which means that Molly’s other reply also won’t be restored, at least not by me.
I'm still recovering from talk of weka-proof bamboo fences.
Pretty sure Francesca enjoys having weka around, just not "having their way entirely", as we all do 🙂
🙂
Oh Weka!
I think you're a really good communicator., and a very fair person My peregrinating mind must have been prompted by the word weka, which led to bamboo and my weka proof fence.I'm not clever enough to weave a convoluted story around you and fences.Its all true! I hope your recovery is complete! I'm a fan
All recovered now lol.
Loved the bamboo convo. One of may favourite things about TS is that we veer off into such things from time to time.
Nobody comments on political blogs on Christmas Eve, do they?
In any case, the parade in the village doesn't do it for me any more – too many agricultural machines for my liking, so I stayed home to dress…the chimney! Or rather, the flue in our lounge. It's black, so I wrapped it in white paper, then added, with a black marker, the marks such as silver birch carries on its bark, so now it looks like a birch growing in our living space. At the base, I added paper mache amanita mascaria toadstools I made long ago, along with associated creatures; a toad, a hedgehog and a small Tomten figure, pointed hat, long white beard and all. From the real birch outside, I harvest leaves and catkins and strewed those all about the scene. It looks wonderful, I believe. When my grandchildren arrive tomorrow, they'll love the decorated pine Christmas tree, for sure, but I think they'll also enjoy the chimney 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1133342214708886&set=pcb.1133342711375503
oh that is delightful.
I rather enjoyed this Christmas tradition, from the Isle of Man
https://www.facebook.com/culturevannin/videos/873882654419076
In that case, just copy and paste all my replies in that first box.
For context you can put in Robert's replies in italics, if Robert stands by his responses and is happy for that to happen.
Else, just do all mine in that first one.
Thanks and Merry Christmas to you and the rest of the team at the Standard.
Robert declined, so I’ll leave it at this and move on 🙂
Wish you and all other commenters Merry Christmas too.
I did not decline. So I'd appreciate you posting ALL of mine in the box I provided, as you initially offered after your sincere error.
I'm happy to stand by my comments.
Molly's doubling-down 🙂
Holding people to their offer.
As you no doubt do, Robert. I put thought into my comments, and would like them reinstated.
Alternatively, incognito – you can email me the thread and I can save on my computer.
Well, this is awkward; RG declines and you insist (for want to a better word).
I won’t do any more restoring and I don’t e-mail individual commenters (another Mod might but I wouldn’t want to impose on any of them, as it was my mistake and ‘tis the time of the year to unwind).
For the record, only 2 comments left: one by RG @ 2023/12/24 at 9:42 am and then a reply by you @ 2023/12/24 at 9:51 am.
I'm all good
Just did another comment to Robert
All good. I blame Molly 🙂
A shame Molly. I regard you as one of the best commentators on the Standard for you ability to argue logically and rationally and challenge those who aren't interested in engaging on the arguments re gender critical issues.
Oh well quality as usual from Molly rather than quantity.
Anyway Merry Christmas to all on the Standard
Oh bugger
In the grand scheme of things my comment to Robert was dearer to my heart than anything else.
Dear Robert, I'm in love with bamboo!
I planted mine 50 years ago, between 2 driveways so its spread has been as glacial as our commitments to the Paris accords.
Recently I've constructed a weka proof bamboo fence around my big veg.garden.(My biophiliac tendencies balk at wekas having their way entirely.)
I'm growing black, green and fairy bamboo which I use for latticework.
I make heaps of garden structures but would love to branch out
Can you grow it down there?
If so , got any tips for how else I can use it ?Thinking of producing char with split bamboo.I would love to build with it!
Hi Francesca
50 years of growing bamboo! Puts my recent efforts to shame 🙂 It sounds as though you planted a running variety; best for carbon draw-down, but not for neighbourly relations 🙂 It sounds though, as though you know what you are doing. I do have a clump of runner, but it's easy to manage and can't overwhelm the already overwhelming forest. My favourite bamboos Himalayacalamus falconerii, a classy, glassy clumper that provides most of the canes I use for constructing structures to support grapes, runner beans, kiwifruit etc. Your weka-proof fence sounds impressive and I understand your wish for such an excluder – there are no weka in my area, but I read of the challenge they pose. Isn't it fortunate that bamboo doesn't grow from cuttings 🙂 Mostly these days, I use bamboo canes to mark young, newly-planted trees, so that I don't lose them to the vigorous seasonal growth of understory herbs – I'm establishing the next iteration of trees; chestnut, oak and other more exotic croppers, throughout the forest garden and don't like losing anything the the green tide. I do have several other varieties of bamboo, but none suit so well as the Himalayan. Do you grow the giant miscanthus (elephant grass)? It's impressive; softer than bamboo and more for biomass production, but a big grass nonetheless. You couldn't construct anything with it, but it looks jungly, in an African sort of way 🙂
Yes I do grow miscanthus! I use it as a mulch when I cut it to the ground each spring with a niwashi shark
My only neighbour is my sister, we share the bamboo, we have 14 acres between us , so no worries about being swamped .It is a running variety, even the clumpers eventually decide to break out and start a new colony I've noticed.I really do consider it a resource.Its kept contained because so many come to harvest it
Any new shoots are soft and easily removed.
I certainly wouldn't be planting it in a small section though .
I'd grow fairy bamboo (really useful)in a pot instead.
I love the sound of your place, I imagine you have times drifting about and swooning at the lushness
PS I want an exemption to be made for me so that I can live another 40 years and see the trees I continue to plant reach maturity
It all gives me far more contentment and wonderment than a lot of pointless quarrels .
Happy Xmas! (if thats your thing)
Oh, yes, I drift alright. When I walk out of my door, despite having already gazed out of the windows into the forest, I feel astonishment and bliss to find myself in such a world; beyond fortunate, I reckon. I get so much satisfaction from having been closely involved in the growing of this forest; my contribution is minor really; selecting and managing mainly – the "growing" bit is done by the forest itself. After 30 years, I'm still planting at a pace that makes me feel as though I'm contributing positively to the future and in any case, I can't stop. Like you, I'd like an exemption, though I'll be satisfied with whatever I receive, years-wise. It is lush here; a recent visitor who has travelled the world opined that it reminded him very much of a Peruvian jungle – I glowed inwardly 🙂 With plants such as banana, brugmansia and canna looking very comfortable out amongst the apples and walnuts, the jungly-look is coming more and more to the fore; I'm not a keen traveller, so am bringing the jungles I would like to see, here. As to quarrels, I quite enjoy them, so long as they are built on supportable claims 🙂 Happy Christmas to you too, Francesca.
Our family loved gardening and arguing the toss lol Up and down until we agreed to disagree or compromise lol
We were not allowed sarcasm or personal attacks. Compromise is a dirty word to some.
I actually find Nick's writing is open hearted and without artifice.
But pleasing all is impossible.
Happy holidays/ Merry Christmas/Greetings of the season… whatever floats your boat.
Thats the key alright Patricia , no sarcasm, no personal attacks, makes the difference between a quarrel and a discussion
"Our family loved gardening and arguing the toss lol Up and down until we agreed to disagree or compromise lol"
That's a great formula, Patricia – debating in the manner you describe, all underpinned by gardening! If only we could all live this way 🙂
(way better than grinding a tunnel through dark and unforgiving rock, Incognito 🙂
A shout-out for a surprise find and gem.
https://www.thepost.co.nz/a/culture/350137097/our-cult-ideas-costing-us-substance
I'm not reading very much atm apart from fiction, but that was excellent.
Ursula LeGuin? I highly recommend.
She is probably my favourite author, but no, I'm reading the Expanse series. Wish I'd been in post writing mode, it's throwing up all sorts of goodies.
From one of the earlier books,
https://twitter.com/wekatweets/status/1712713044219040202
That was so well expressed , in simple language.
Really really good
I’d think that James Bush would say that it was well executed 😉
"we push our young designers to focus on self-expression and personality without giving them the chance to first discover what that might be"
Better then, to retain designers till they're old and fully cognisant of their personality, having matured one over time, and well-practiced at self-expression in a way that only long experience can provide.
Go the vintage designers!
100% and thank you to you authors organisers and gorgeous geeks.
Compliments of the season everyone. Take good care and keep safe and well
Very sad for The (Dixie) Chicks. Stand against Bush in Iraq courageous.
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/world/dixie-chicks-founding-member-killed-car-crash
Yes, aj, sad end.
Manipulation 101
Why?
Oh, so so the right has moved from playing on fears, to promoting hope.
So where does the pride come in?
So it's in the contributions we make. World leaders are excited at the contributions that the people can make to the world. And we should be to. Is that measured by GDP, improving the return to capital on foreign and or domestic investment?
Must be softening us up for Luxon's talk of one and two year plans when the 100 days are up.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/bruce-cotterill-why-we-need-a-good-dose-of-national-pride/LUACBJSSB5FKXJHVSPIAYUW76Y/