But doesn’t their sacrifice merit thanks? “Patriotic gloss,” responded Mr. O’Brien, an unofficial poet laureate of war who essentially elevates the issue to the philosophical; to him, we’re thanking without having the courage to ask whether the mission is even right.”
“I apologize to you for not doing more to keep our country from unnecessarily rushing into an elective war.” – comment posted in response to the above article
“Hur hur hur hur hur.”
Vanessa Redgrave’s bravery in 1978 amuses Jim Mora and co. The Panel, Radio NZ National, Monday 23 February 2015
Jim Mora, Stephen Franks, Ella Henry, Noelle McCarthy
Excitement is high this afternoon—the Academy Awards are on!
NOELLE McCARTHY: They still haven’t announced the Best Supporting Actress. I’ve been waiting for this for two hours.
JIM MORA: We’re going to be talking about acceptance speeches on The Panel.
NOELLE McCARTHY: Oh!
MORA: Is Neil Patrick Harris doing well as the MC?
NOELLE McCARTHY: Oh look, he’s having a bit of a SONG and a bit of a DANCE….
MORA: He’s talented!
NOELLE McCARTHY: He did an edgy joke about cross-dressing.
MORA: Hur hur hur hur hur!
NOELLE McCARTHY: Which he’s allowed to do of course, ‘cos he’s done a fair amount of that on Broadway. In the meantime, if you want something in the meantime, there’s a quite good round-up of some INFAMOUS Oscar moments in the New York Daily News today, including—talking of acceptance speeches—Vanessa Redgrave’s from 1978—
MORA: Oh yes.
NOELLE McCARTHY: Because of course she got up and gave that famous shout-out to the PLO—
MORA: The PLO!
NOELLE McCARTHY: She gave a shout-out to the PLO and denounced Israel as a fascist state!
MORA: That’s right! And didn’t some—there was a writer who got up and replied to her!
NOELLE McCARTHY: That’s right! He was a three time award-winning screenwriter and he said “I’d like to suggest to Ms Redgrave that her winning an Academy Award is NOT a pivotal moment in history, does NOT require a proclamation.”
MORA: Hur hur hur hur hur hur hur!
NOELLE McCARTHY:[archly] “And a simple ‘thank you’ might have sufficed.”
MORA: Ha ha ha ha ha! “A simple thank you” Ha ha ha ha ha!
STEPHEN FRANKS: Ha ha ha ha ha!
NOELLE McCARTHY: Elegantly put!
MORA:[heartfelt sigh]….. Back to the real world. …..[heartfelt sigh]…..
NOELLE McCARTHY: Yes. Back to the real world. Back to Bali, in fact. Indonesia is putting fighter jets in place for the transfer of these two Australians who are going to be executed….
…sigh..
i turned the tranny on this morn to hear the end of a monologue from our dear leader, spinning the role of nz troops overseas.
not a whimper from the interviewee.
i may have missed them, but i didnt hear any tough questions eg vote in parliament, is the whole cabinet in support of sending troops etc.
contrast this with what followed when andrew little was interviewed.
he seemed to be there only to acknowledge that he listened to the iraqi minister that visited recently.
ms fergusson hectored and hectored him like a hectoring thing.
i wonder if she pays secondary tax for the work she is doing for the government.
The Ferguson “interview” was a disgrace. A single issue that appeared to have Little conflicted over a remark he made last week. Has she been to Journalism School ?
That’s because he refused to answer the question, or even entertain her line of questioning, and in doing so, neatly illustrated Hager’s point – made later – that we’re already bombing people.
I take it when he handed back the $25,000 donation to Mr Lui, Jamie Lee Ross also gave back the interest the donation earned for National/ the Botany Cabinet Club, for more than twelve months?
Wouldn’t it be “stale” after 6 months? If so, there’d be no need to return it, just destroy the cheque, and I think they’d have described it differently.
A cheque is stale when it’s presented more than six months after the date on which it was drawn (dated). To receive payment, the cheque will need to go back to the Drawer (the person or company that wrote the cheque out) to have the date updated or to issue a replacement cheque.
Why would they say they returned $25,000, fifteen months after the donation was apparently made, if all that is being discussed is a piece of paper representing a dead cheque with no financial value? If the Cabinet Club never deposited the money into Ross’s or National’s campaign funds, what then did they return during the reported assessment of the campaign’s finances? Oh, one more thing – why would John Key be dancing around the topic refusing to answer questions? If it was just a dead cheque he would be stating that consistently. Why would they even mention it? Come on infused, you are better than that 😉
Listening to Sean Plunket on radio live this morning he was very critical of John Key ” deliberately misleading the public over the 25 k donation ” going as far as saying ” he doesn’t trust Key over the role Kiwi troops will play in the Middle East”.
It appears honest Johns teflon is worn out with Sean.
Seems msm’s love affair with the great dictator might be coming to a much awaited end ….. Plunkett, Armstrong …. let’s hope it snowballs and takes hold 🙂
Yes Mary it is refreshing to see the love affair taking a turn for the better. It happened with Helen and now it’s John’s turn. About bloody time too 🙂
So now John Key is sending us off to war and exposing us to retaliation…..
How long until we suffer our own warring in our land? How long until those we are targeting in the middle east decide that attack is the best form of defence to us? How long until a so-called “terrorist” attack is undertaken in NZ? (oh. other than the French, and right wing anti-unionists that is, who have already done so in NZ).
“Our rights are not granted by governments. They are inherent to our nature. But it’s entirely the opposite for governments: their privileges are precisely equal to only that which we suffer them to enjoy.”
” But here and there throughout history, we’ll occasionally come across these periods where governments think more about what they “can” do rather than what they “should” do, and what is lawful will become increasingly distinct from what is moral.
In such times, we’d do well to remember that at the end of the day, the law doesn’t defend us; we defend the law. And when it becomes contrary to our morals, we have both the right and the responsibility to rebalance it toward just ends.”
Edward Snowden, currently answering questions on Reddit
Thanks for link TMM. Snowden’s whole tract is worth reading in your link.
Western Civilization and protection of human rights have emerged from pushing the limits of what is allowed within the (prevailing) law.
This comment from Glenn Greenwald explains why Labour fucked up so bad on the anti-terrorism/surveillance legislation:
The key tactic DC uses to make uncomfortable issues disappear is bipartisan consensus. When the leadership of both parties join together – as they so often do, despite the myths to the contrary – those issues disappear from mainstream public debate.
Thanks One Anonymous Bloke, as I’ve given up on national radio.
Silly question I know – but doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome – after ten years. Whose the crazed killers here again?
Internationalism and open borders are not simply nice ideas, but vital things to fight for in order to advance the interests of workers as a class. The bosses unite across borders to exploit us more effectively; we need to unite across borders to defend our interests more effectively. The bosses also try to put workers against each other, based on nationality and country of origin, we need to avoid falling into the trap they try to set for us. Moreover, workers’ migration tends to lead to the sharing of experience which is in our interests – whether it’s food that’s new or different to us or whether it’s the fighting experience migrant workers often have and can usefully share with us. . . https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/02/23/workers-rights-internationalism-and-open-borders/
Everything else is globalised and so too must workers groups like unions.
Oh, but what about tax? and police and other laws? where does it end – at a new world order? Is that sustainable or even possible? nope. but we are going there pretty steadily..
I didn’t take Philip’s comment to be in any way referring to nomadic peoples. Nomadic peoples (eg the Kalahari) aren’t transient, they’re nomadic. In fact the Kalahari example supports my point. Nomadic people exist within specific territories and relationships with people from outside those territories is based around the existience of the territory ie before nation states we as humans still had ways of understanding geographical boundaries and relationships based on how the humans living there related with those boundaries. It wasn’t a free for all. Ignorance of those territories and boundaries has impacted hugely on many peoples.
And leaving aside a debate about sovereignty, yes nomadic peoples are a good example of how that works (not transient populations).
The point can be made that it’s farming peoples who are transient, always with the need for more land to expand their empire, whereas nomadic peoples tend to have very long (and I mean very long*) relationships with specific places.
Is it possible that we could have workers (and others) moving globally in truly nomadic ways? Maybe, but I’m pretty sure that’s not what was meant in the opening comment.
(not going to comment on the Romani because that’s a complex kete of ika).
*The San people have lived in the Kalahari for 20,000 years as hunter-gatherers
Blip might record this from Key under “You Misunderstood Me.” “Mr Key, who has previously said involvement in Iraq was “the price of the club”, said that his comments had been misinterpreted and that by “the club”, he had meant the 60 or so countries that were helping in the coalition against Isis.” http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11406714 (Last lines.)
Seem to remember his context being that we are members of the 5 Eyes Club so as members of the Club we must get involved as it is “the price of the club.”
My, even John Armstrong thinks it is an ‘outrage’ !!!!! Must be so ….
“Key’s insistence that he was referring to all of the members of the multi-national force as the “club” defies logic. How could contributing to that club be the price of being a member of that club when New Zealand has yet to become a member of that club?
Key’s desperate attempt to rewrite history is something of an outrage. But it is also a measure of his discomfort with the deployment which could well turn out to bite him severely politically.”
I hope AT LEAST now more of the right wing inclined people will SEE/REALISE what a lying, untrustworthy and dishonest disgraceful bull-shitter of a Prime Minister we have running our Government and leading our good country!
It just begins to make one wonder whether the SFO were showered with bullshit and lies all those years ago. This man must struggle to lie straight in bed even …
I don ‘t even wonder. I just know he lied again and again. The evidence is all there and one day some brave MSM writer will front a story on it. We have all been conned from the very beginning.
There are three great omnivores in the world – rats, cockroaches and humans. I heard that on Radionz talk this a.m. I thought you might like to know that.
But they are not as mighty as humans or as small and sneaky as rats and cockroaches. Or perhaps, with future cataclysmic changes in our environment, the cocroaches and rats might be mighty, and humans reverting to small and sneaky to survive. Sort of like those Star Wars scavengers Jawas. Some trivia – http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Jawa
And some mindless fun for star wars fans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAXg0wdNsGs
6 mins of action.
I see all the Ma & Pa investors in Mighty River have suffered a blow with their share price about to tumble down after MR announce a much lower performance.
You mean it has slumped below the $2.50 they paid????? Nup. Currently paying $3.28 with an increased dividend. Do you not understand the share market or just jealous because you failed to get your share.s
$3.28 and heading downwards, back to $2.50 by Friday. Far better returns for my money thanks. Like most Kiwi’s I don’t trust the boom and bust cycle of the share market, especially with the insider trading and ponzi schemes that the National govt sollict.
Unlike you Wewege and your side kick Plucked Duck I have a moral compass. How would I wake up in the morning and look at myself in the mirror knowing I was profiteering off the honest toil of my fellow men and women. Anyway you enjoy your paper gains but please don’t start howling when the bubble bursts and ya get dealt a hiding by the Gorillas of Wall Street. Little bit players such as yourselves are the ones I take pity on, all ya life savings burnt on a black Friday. Tho I guess in your case its a karma thing.
It’s finally vanished up its own arse. It probably did so long ago.
Honestly, it was one of the great New Zealand blogs, a site full of lively and informed discussion. Now it’s just a few posts now and again plugging Russel Brown’s media ventures, music dads dance to at wedding receptions and parochial Grey Lynn/Pt Chev matters.
When journalism is in such dire straits, we need some energetic investigation and debate. PA once provided that, but everyone interesting has been driven away and the posts are utterly anodyne. I miss its spirit.
Andrew Little is asking the first question today and will skewer John Key. John Key will break down and cry and ask Andrew to lay off.
In the real world we will see the Prime Minister being Prime Minister and Andrew Little trying and failing again.
John Key will 1. lie, then 2. deflect. then 3. blame the opposition. then 4. refer to Helen Clark’s time then 5. rub his nose. Warning: the order and timing may vary according to how many lies.
All of this while looking sideways with an arrogant grin.
Are you proud of being a moral vacuum, or do you just not notice when you show everyone your emotional disability?
Most people would regard winning by unethical means to be cheating, and reprehensible. You probably still wear Lance Armstrong bracelets and call him a 7-time tour de france champion.
No, no, no, it is in fact a brave repurposing of words. “Win” can now be used to denote anything. “Lie” equals “win”. “I think I’ve got the flu” becomes “I’m winning!” “You have cancer” becomes “Congratulations you’re a winner!” If we extend the principle, anything can mean “win” in a grand situationist-dadaist enterprise. “Fish” equals “win”. “Spaghetti bolognese” equals “win”. Everything equals “win”.
Think of the money saved printing dictionaries!
(Personally, I prefer “Malkovich”, but there you have it.)
Rhinocrates, it’s more a brave ‘re-porpoising’ of words where like a school of porpoises words dip in and out of the water, popping up somewhere else meaning something else and then ducking under the surface again before a lexicon can draw a bead.
Childish and clumsy as fisiani is, they do, in their “innocent” way, reveal the kind of thinking that goes on in Nat and CT offices and what kind of people populate them – the unintelligent and emotionally shallow who think cynicism is virile.
Polished performance today by the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Why does Angry Andy think he will win when Clark, Goff Shearer and The Cunliffe were all thrashed by John Key?
Let’s see if your still swinging your silk undies wildy above your head cheerleading for John Key the day the shit hits the fan and a number of the troops get wasted by some crazy terrorist attack. Key’s name will be mud with every man and his dog in this country. If there is a torrorist attack in the country I will join in and riot on the streets throwing bricks through Bank windows for starters.
Mr Little needs to moderate his anger. It will serve him well in the future.
At the moment, when baited by journolists like P. Gower, he unleashes and shows his angry side. Patience, Mr Little.
Abby Martin spent the day with CIA torture whistleblower John Kiriakou fresh out of prison, stay tuned for the interview which should be broadcast tonight on RT http://rt.com/shows/breaking-set-summary/
Also, for those who don’t follow RT, Abby Martin is leaving their network soon to go out and do her own thing -which will no doubt be well worth keeping tabs on
Not sure if this is a ‘win’ as it was their money all along, but good on the Meatworkers Union for taking the case. The company concerned had claimed that they weren’t making 180 workers redundant, they just had no work to offer them:
If a country like China is going to join the fight against ISIS
(http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/china-about-declare-war-against-isis-12201)
then which countries are not standing up to these scum bags ? If ISIS is left unchecked ie others do nothing, then the spread of ISIS will continue. At what point is enough “enough” ? At what point does NZ say we will no longer sit on the sidelines ?
Nearly three-quarters of people living in the Wellington Region oppose being part of the proposed Super-City according to a new Nielsen Poll.
Support
All 26%
Wellington City 30%
Porirua and Kapiti 29%
Hutt Valley 18%
Wairarapa 17%
Will the horrendous Fran Wilde (Wellington Regional Council Chair and leading advocate of the super-city) listen to the democratic will ? Will our own local Mayor, the equally-horrendous Nick Leggett (Close confidante of Wilde), feel humble enough to concede ? Doubt it.
Just a few days ago, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld a complaint about a misleading Wellington Regional Council (WRC) pro-Super City newspaper advertisement which breached the advertising code of ethics.
The ad – which the ASA said presented assumptions and opinions as fact, was misleading and likely to exploit reader’s lack of knowledge and thus had not been prepared with a due sense of social responsibility – focussed on a non-existent problem with water pipes in Lower Hutt, using this to argue that residents should support a super-city so the wider region could help foot the bill.
Hutt City Council’s chief executive said the WRC’s Super-City campaign was “a shambolic con”, that “the single reason the Regional Council gives Hutt residents for joining….is a complete fabrication” and that the WRC “has tried to fool the public into supporting a super-city.”
Tragically, Fran has taken the whole episode very badly indeed, implying that the ASA decision may herald the end of democracy as we know it.
Having a squizz at the LGC “super city” pamphlet which states:
“…….The Commission will hold public hearings, and then decide whether to issue a final proposal or remain within the existing council arrangements.
If the Commission issues a final proposal, voters can then demand a poll. A poll will be held if ten percent of any voters in any affected council area sign a petition. The vote would be held across the whole region and the result would be binding”.
If the Commission does go ahead and issues a final proposal then we’ll need to rally together and give them the big thumbs down.
@ Rosie
That’s a great little icon with its moving alert eyes. A suitable symbol for anyone involved in political observing these days. Any blink must be short or something of importance will be missed.
The Supercity model is designed to undermine democracy (i.e. local government for the people). In Auckland the POAL, a supposedly council controlled organisation, regularly thumbs its nose at directions from the Council. The local “boards” don’t really have power they are just advisers. Maybe it’s more efficient, or maybe it’s privatisation by stealth.
I thought they were quite up front about the privatisation part of the project. Kinda have been in Auckland – Water Care ,AT, etc, money for the mates.
Personally what worries me about it is it’s a front for austerity by stealth. Water charges, increased in fares, and other costs passed onto the people who already paid for these services.
It seems hard to believe that this is the same person who introduced into the house the Homosexual Law Reform Act and the Adoption Reform Act. Frankly her local government career has been disappointing. Chris Laidlaw is another ostensibly left politician in Wellington that I find less than impressive.
Does beg the question if business is so good, why does it need hand outs all the time? Is not asking for a hand out bad under these Tory scum rules of engagement? So why do they keep making structures to give business a hand out of tax payers money?
Interesting to note the difference between Andrew Little’s solid speech in the House this afternoon about sending troops to fight ISIS and the whining, nasty, personal, vindictive diatribe that Russel Norman thinks passes for intelligent debate.
No wonder support for the Greens is so quickly transferring to Labour. The Greens will be well rid of Mr Norman as co-leader.
Really? Russel Norman systematically dismantled all of the flimsy justifications for war, showing exactly why the whole idea just won’t work. He was clear and articulate. Did you even watch that, or just tune out because the EVIL GREENS was speaking?
reposting in Open Mike as it goes to the wider issues facing our Parliament
Parliament is a theatre. One whose performances relay a script driven by protocol, performance and symbolism.
Solidarity is also driven by protocol, performance and symbolism.
To all members of all Parties who sit in the House in opposition to the Government’s decision to send our nation to war, I have a question –
Would it have been so terrible for your Party’s Elected Representatives to applaud at the conclusion of all the statements opposing the Prime Ministers Statement?
When Journalists get things wrong is deliberate or just journalistic incompetence?
Brook Sabin reporting on TV3 tonight about the Lui/ Cunliffe/Key issue, said,
“Cunliffe denied he’d supported his residency bid when a letter emerged proving he did.”
No Mr Sabin-he didn’t. He sent a letter 11 years ago simply making an inquiry.
It was not a letter of support for anybody’s residency bid.
The cumulative effect of these small fabrications which surely happen too often to be unintentional mean that the Cunliffe’s of this world still have to battle the small lies that our media tries to convince us is news.
Alex Coleman retweeted
Al Jazeera English @AJEnglish 3 hrs3 hours ago
Prime Minister Abbott says civil liberties must be sacrificed, as we enter a new ‘dark’ age. http://aje.io/b3td
Meanwhile the sleepy hobbits fire up the barbie and have another beer.
Talk about letting the terrorists win. The 0.1% are battening down the hatches because they know the living conditions for the 99% are going to greatly deteriorate.
No particular reason for sharing this except for a bit of reflection perhaps.
SPEAKING: THE HERO
Felix Pollak
I did not want to go.
They inducted me.
I did not want to die.
They called me yellow.
I tried to run away,
They court-martialed me.
I did not shoot.
They said I had no guts.
They ordered the attack.
A shrapnel tore my guts.
I cried in pain.
They carried me to safety.
In safety I died.
They blew Taps over me.
They crossed out my name,
And buried me under a cross.
They made a speech in my hometown.
I was unable to call them liars.
They said I gave my life,
I had struggled to keep it.
They said I set an example.
I had tried to run.
They said they were proud of me.
I had been ashamed of them.
They said my mother should also be proud.
My mother cried.
I wanted to live.
They called me a coward.
I died a coward.
They called me a hero.
Greek government has released a summary of reforms,
The main points of the summary of the proposals include:
Creating a fairer tax system
Combating tax evasion
Tackling corruption
Targeting fuel and tobacco smugglers
Implementing labour reforms on collective contracts and bargaining agreements.
Tackling Greece’s “humanitarian crisis” with housing guarantees and free medical care for the uninsured unemployed.
Greece’s creditors – the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund – are expected to deliver their verdict on the proposals later on Tuesday, before the reforms are discussed in a conference call with eurozone finance ministers.
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From the United-For-Now States of America comes the thrilling news that a New Zealander may be at the very heart of the current coup. Punching above our weight on the world stage once more! Wait, you may be asking, what New Zealander? I speak of Peter Thiel, made street legal ...
Even Stevens: Over the 33 years between 1990 and 2023 (and allowing for the aberrant 2020 result) the average level of support enjoyed by the Left and Right blocs, at roughly 44.5 percent each, turns out to be, as near as dammit, identical.WORLDWIDE, THE PARTIES of the Left are presented ...
Back in 2023, a "prominent political figure" went on trial for historic sex offences. But we weren't allowed to know who they were or what political party they were "prominent" in, because it might affect the way we voted. At the time, I said that this was untenable; it was ...
I'm going, I'm goingWhere the water tastes like wineI'm going where the water tastes like wineWe can jump in the waterStay drunk all the timeI'm gonna leave this city, got to get awayI'm gonna leave this city, got to get awayAll this fussing and fighting, man, you know I sure ...
Waitangi Day is a time to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and stand together for a just and fair Aotearoa. Across the motu, communities are gathering to reflect, kōrero, and take action for a future built on equity and tino rangatiratanga. From dawn ceremonies to whānau-friendly events, there are ...
Subscribe to Mountain Tūī ! Where you too can learn about exciting things from a flying bird! Tweet.Yes - I absolutely suck at marketing. It’s a fact.But first -My question to all readers is:How should I set up the Substack model?It’s been something I’ve been meaning to ask since November ...
Here’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s political economy on politics and in the week to Feb 3:PM Christopher Luxon began 2025’s first day of Parliament last Tuesday by carrying on where left off in 2024, letting National’s junior coalition partner set the political agenda and dragging ...
The PSA have released a survey of 4000 public service workers showing that budget cuts are taking a toll on the wellbeing of public servants and risking the delivery of essential services to New Zealanders. Economists predict that figures released this week will show continued increases in unemployment, potentially reaching ...
The Prime Minister’s speech 10 days or so ago kicked off a flurry of commentary. No one much anywhere near the mainstream (ie excluding Greens supporters) questioned the rhetoric. New Zealand has done woefully poorly on productivity for a long time and we really need better outcomes, and the sorts ...
President Trump on the day he announced tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, unleashing a shock to supply chains globally that is expected to slow economic growth and increase inflation for most large economies. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 9 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 3Politics: New Zealand Government cabinet meeting usually held early afternoon with post-cabinet news conference possible at 4 pm, although they have not been ...
Trump being Trump, it won’t come as a shock to find that he regards a strong US currency (bolstered by high tariffs on everything made by foreigners) as a sign of America’s virility, and its ability to kick sand in the face of the world. Reality is a tad more ...
A listing of 24 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, January 26, 2025 thru Sat, February 1, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
What seems to be the common theme in the US, NZ, Argentina and places like Italy under their respective rightwing governments is what I think of as “the politics of cruelty.” Hate-mongering, callous indifference in social policy-making, corporate toadying, political bullying, intimidation and punching down on the most vulnerable with ...
If you are confused, check with the sunCarry a compass to help you alongYour feet are going to be on the groundYour head is there to move you aroundSo, stand in the place where you liveSongwriters: Bill Berry / Michael Mills / Michael Stipe / Peter Buck.Hot in the CityYesterday, ...
Shane Jones announced today he would be contracting out his thinking to a smarter younger person.Reclining on his chaise longue with a mouth full of oysters and Kina he told reporters:Clearly I have become a has-been, a palimpsest, an epigone, a bloviating fossil. I find myself saying such things as: ...
Warning: This post contains references to sexual assaultOn Saturday, I spent far too long editing a video on Tim Jago, the ACT Party President and criminal, who has given up his fight for name suppression after 2 years. He voluntarily gave up just in time for what will be a ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is global warming ...
Our low-investment, low-wage, migration-led and housing-market-driven political economy has delivered poorer productivity growth than the rest of the OECD, and our performance since Covid has been particularly poor. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty this ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.As far as major government announcements go, a Three Ministers Event is Big. It can signify a major policy development or something has gone Very Well, or an absolute Clusterf**k. When Three Ministers assemble ...
One of those blasts from the past. Peter Dunne – originally neoliberal Labour, then leader of various parties that sought to work with both big parties (generally National) – has taken to calling ...
Completed reads for January: I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson The Black Spider, by Jeremias Gotthelf The Spider and the Fly (poem), by Mary Howitt A Noiseless Patient Spider (poem), by Walt Whitman August Heat, by W.F. Harvey Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White The Shrinking Man, by Richard Matheson ...
Do its Property Right Provisions Make Sense?Last week I pointed out that it is uninformed to argue that the New Zealand’s apparently poor economic performance can be traced only to poor regulations. Even were there evidence they had some impact, there are other factors. Of course, we should seek to ...
Richard Wagstaff It was incredibly jarring to hear the hubris from the Prime Minister during his recent state of the nation address. I had just spent close to a week working though the stories and thoughts shared with us by nearly 2000 working people as part of our annual Mood ...
Odd fact about the Broadcasting Standards Authority: for the last few years, they’ve only been upholding about 5% of complaints. Why? I think there’s a range of reasons. Generally responsible broadcasters. Dumb complaints. Complaints brought under the wrong standard. Greater adherence to broadcasters’ rights to freedom of expression in the ...
And I said, "Mama, mama, mama, why am I so alone"'Cause I can't go outside, I'm scared I might not make it homeWell I'm alive, I'm alive, but I'm sinking inIf there's anyone at home at your place, darlingWhy don't you invite me in?Don't try to feed me'Cause I've been ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ star is on the rise, having just added the Energy, Local Government and Revenue portfolios to his responsibilities - but there is nothing ambitious about the Government’s new climate targets. Photo: SuppliedLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate ...
It may have been a short week but there’s been no shortage of things that caught our attention. Here is some of the most interesting. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt took a look at public transport ridership in 2024 On Thursday Connor asked some questions ...
The East Is Red: Journalists and commentators are referring to the sudden and disruptive arrival of DeepSeek as a second “Sputnik moment”. (Sputnik being the name given by the godless communists of the Soviet Union to the world’s first artificial satellite which, to the consternation and dismay of the Americans, ...
Hi,Back on inauguration day we launched a ridiculous RFK Jr. “brain worms” tee on the Webworm store, and I told you I’d be throwing my profits over to Mutual Aid LA and Rainbow Youth New Zealand. Just to show I am not full of shit, here are the receipts. I ...
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: on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump over Gaza and Ukraine.Health expert and author David Galler ...
In an uncompromising paper Treasury has basically told the Government that its plan for a third medical school at Waikato University is a waste of money. Furthermore, the country cannot afford it. That advice was released this week by the Treasury under the Official Information Act. And it comes as ...
Back in November, He Pou a Rangi provided the government with formal advice on the domestic contribution to our next Paris target. Not what the target should be, but what we could realistically achieve, by domestic action alone, without resorting to offshore mitigation. Their answer was startling: depending on exactly ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guest David Patman and ...
I don't like to spend all my time complaining about our government, so let me complain about the media first.Senior journalistic Herald person Thomas Coughlan reported that Treasury replied yeah nah, wrong bro to Luxon's claim that our benighted little country has been in recession for three years.His excitement rose ...
Back in 2022, when the government was consulting internally about proactive release of cabinet papers, the SIS opposed it. The basis of their opposition was the "mosaic effect" - people being able to piece together individual pieces of innocuous public information in a way which supposedly harms "national security" (effectively: ...
With The Stroke Of A Pen:Populism, especially right-wing populism, invests all the power of an electoral/parliamentary majority in a single political leader because it no longer trusts the bona fides of the sprawling political class among whom power is traditionally dispersed. Populism eschews traditional politics, because, among populists, traditional politics ...
I’ve spent the last week writing a fairly substantial review of a recent book (“Australia’s Pandemic Exceptionalism: How we crushed the curve but lost the race”) by a couple of Australian academic economists on Australia’s pandemic policies and experiences. For all its limitations, there isn’t anything similar in New Zealand. ...
Mr Mojo Rising: Economic growth is possible, Christopher Luxon reassures us, but only under a government that is willing to get out of the way and let those with drive and ambition get on with it.ABOUT TWELVE KILOMETRES from the farm on the North Otago coast where I grew up stands ...
You're nearly a good laughAlmost a jokerWith your head down in the pig binSaying, 'Keep on digging.'Pig stain on your fat chinWhat do you hope to findDown in the pig mine?You're nearly a laughYou're nearly a laughBut you're really a crySongwriter: Roger Waters.NZ First - Kiwi Battlers.Say what you like ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to stand firm and work with allies to progress climate action as Donald Trump signals his intent to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords once again. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
The Judicial Conduct Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken in an incident last November, Attorney-General Judith Collins said today. “I referred the matter of Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct during an incident ...
Students who need extra help with maths are set to benefit from a targeted acceleration programme that will give them more confidence in the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Last year, significant numbers of students did not meet the foundational literacy and numeracy level required to gain NCEA. To ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi – without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
The opening of Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development will have a significant impact for whānau in need of safe, warm, dry housing, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The minister visited the development today at North Street where a total of 50 two, three, and four-bedroom homes plus a ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the new membership of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control (PACDAC), who will serve for a three-year term. “The Committee brings together wide-ranging expertise relevant to disarmament. We have made six new appointments to the Committee and reappointed two existing members ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora, good morning, talofa, malo e lelei, bula vinaka, da jia hao, namaste, sat sri akal, assalamu alaikum. It’s so great to be here and I’m ready and pumped for 2025. Can I start by acknowledging: Simon Bridges – CEO of the Auckland ...
The Government has unveiled a bold new initiative to position New Zealand as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) that will create higher paying jobs and grow the economy. “Invest New Zealand will streamline the investment process and provide tailored support to foreign investors, to increase capital investment ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced the largest reset of the New Zealand science system in more than 30 years with reforms which will boost the economy and benefit the sector. “The reforms will maximise the value of the $1.2 billion in government funding that goes into ...
Turbocharging New Zealand’s economic growth is the key to brighter days ahead for all Kiwis, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. In the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Speech in Auckland today, Christopher Luxon laid out the path to the prosperity that will affect all aspects of New Zealanders’ lives. ...
The latest set of accounts show the Government has successfully checked the runaway growth of public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “In the previous government’s final five months in office, public spending was almost 10 per cent higher than for the same period the previous year. “That is completely ...
The Government’s welfare reforms are delivering results with the number of people moving off benefits into work increasing year-on-year for six straight months. “There are positive signs that our welfare reset and the return consequences for job seekers who don't fulfil their obligations to prepare for or find a job ...
Jon Kroll and Aimee McCammon have been appointed to the New Zealand Film Commission Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “I am delighted to appoint these two new board members who will bring a wealth of industry, governance, and commercial experience to the Film Commission. “Jon Kroll has been an ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hailed a drop in the domestic component of inflation, saying it increases the prospect of mortgage rate reductions and a lower cost of living for Kiwi households. Stats NZ reported today that inflation was 2.2 per cent in the year to December, the second consecutive ...
Two new appointed members and one reappointed member of the Employment Relations Authority have been announced by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today. “I’m pleased to announce the new appointed members Helen van Druten and Matthew Piper to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and welcome them to ...
A long time ago, Brian Turner wrote a poem in which, among the mountains, as he slept on a river flat … My speechless ancestors played like mice among my dreamsand he woke to the river running over my bed of stone. I have come to know that where a ...
Pacific Media Watch President Donald Trump has frozen billions of dollars around the world in aid projects, including more than $268 million allocated by Congress to support independent media and the free flow of information. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has denounced this decision, which has plunged NGOs, media outlets, and ...
Otago University professor of international relations Robert Patman says New Zealand should provide a robust response to Donald Trump's Gaza plan, and also "should stop tip-toeing" around Trump. ...
The new minister of transport has opened the door for public consultation on at least some of the speed limit changes the government said would be automatic. ...
Officially, they’re called ‘memecoins,’ but Kōura Wealth founder Rupert Carlyon says the crypto world has another name for them: ‘shitcoins’.In digital finance, that phrase is used for tokens that have no true value – in essence, a money-grab.A few days before his inauguration, US President Donald Trump launched his own ...
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. Guy Williams has made a whole show off the joke that he is a “volunteer” journalist. So getting publicly owned by David Seymour while trying to act as a journalist is a good and timely reminder not to underestimate the nuance and ...
Many of Sāmoa’s beloved dishes are the result of cultural collaboration, writes Madeleine Chapman. All photos by Jin FelletIf you ever find yourself at a barbecue in a Sāmoan home, there’s 99% chance that sapasui (chop suey) will be on the table. For the past century, sapasui has ...
The funnyman takes us through his life in television, including Jono and Ben mayhem, live Telethon flubs, and funnelling all those experiences into his new comedy Vince. There’s an inciting incident in Three’s new comedy Vince where morning television presenter Vince Walters (Jono Pryor) is visiting sick kids in hospital ...
People often claim they just want Waitangi Day to be a celebration. At Waitangi, away from the headlined political acrimony and the marae ātea, celebrating is what most people are doing. The Spinoff Essay showcases the best essayists in Aotearoa, on topics big and small. Made possible by the generous ...
Is there anything more fashionable than a Māori get together? One of the best things about Northland is that nobody cares what they look like — probably because they’re all naturally more stylish than the rest of us, famously. Māori from the Far North, especially. In 27 degree heat, wearing ...
Books of Mana: 180 Māori-Authored Books of Significance, edited by Jacinta Ruru, Angela Wanhalla and Jeanette Wikaira has just been released by Otago University Press. In this essay, Books are Taonga, Jeanette Wikaira explores her personal relationship to books and their value.For me, books are taonga. The knowledge ...
I’ve been in love with him since last July, but it’s only now in this tepid hotel room that I find myself wondering why. The first thing he does when we arrive is smoke a cone in the bathroom – he emerges, hacking up a lung, fists thrust into his ...
MONDAY“Name,” barked a representative of the lower orders.I regarded him with a look of stern disapproval, and told him from up high, “May I remind you that I have name suppression. I shall also thank you to ask with more respect as befits a former president of the Act Party, ...
Get to know Tara, our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Tara’s human for their support! Dog name: Tara Age: Two Breed: Mostly Border Collie and a little bit Catahoula Leopard dog If dog ...
Health NZ's CEO has resigned, but frontline healthworkers are sceptical that installing new leadership will make any difference to a system grappling with problems. ...
Health NZ's CEO has resigned, but frontline healthworkers are sceptical that installing new leadership will make any difference to a system grappling with problems. ...
Gail Duncan, Chairperson of the St Peter’s on Willis Social Justice Group, one of the organisations invited to submit on the Bill, says the Government’s actions are unprecedented. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amani Kasherwa, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland In late January, a rebel group that has long caused mayhem in the sprawling African nation of Democratic Republic of Congo took control of Goma, a major city of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yee-Fui Ng, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Monash University An ad falsely depicting independent candidate Alex Dyson as a Greens member.ABC News/Supplied The highly pertinent case of a little-known independent candidate in the Victorian seat of Wannon has exposed a gaping ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Ball, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland Nik/Unsplash You might have heard that eating too many eggs will cause high cholesterol levels, leading to poor health. Researchers have examined the science behind this myth again, and ...
Everything you missed from the third day of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard four hours of oral submission. Read our recaps of day one of the hearings here, and day two here. Parliament was quiet on Friday for the third day of hearings on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Western Sydney University Tijana Simic/Shutterstock The news last week that three people in Sydney were hospitalised with botulism after receiving botox injections has raised questions about the regulation of the cosmetic injectables industry. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jens Blotevogel, Principal Research Scientist and Team Leader for Remediation Technologies, CSIRO Mino Surkala, Shutterstock Lithium-ion batteries are part of everyday life. They power small rechargeable devices such as mobile phones and laptops. They enable electric vehicles. And larger versions store ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edith Jennifer Hill, Associate Lecturer, Learning & Teaching Innovation, Flinders University Netflix Netflix’s new limited series, Apple Cider Vinegar, tells the story of the elaborate cancer con orchestrated by Australian blogger Annabelle (Belle) Gibson. The first episode opens with Gibson’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University Greece’s government has just declared a state of emergency on the island of Santorini, as earthquakes shake the island multiple times a day and sometimes only minutes apart. The “earthquake swarm” is also affecting other ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Western Australian state election will be held on March 8. A Newspoll, conducted January 29 to February 4 from a sample ...
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happy happy daze 4 trp…eh..?
..the boys are off to war..!
the canadian tory prime minister promised canadians that their troops wd be non-combatant/’trainers’..
..as it turns out..
..that was just another pile of tory-lies..
..(does any of that sound familiar..?..)
the tv3 breakfast interview with key (online later..) is worth watching for an episode of peak-hubris from him..
..after his war-mongering ‘training-only!’ lies/bullshit..he is asked why he didn’t come clean about that fundraising dinner @ lius’ home..
..and that is when the peak-hubris kicks in..
..sneering-contempt-on-a-stick…
..’contempt’ for all of us..
..a rare glimpse behind the mask..
‘..i’m not gonna tell you..’..(he spat out..)
“..The Top 10 Bogus ISIS Stories..
..It’s important to note that much of the ISIS threat –
– has been habitually overstated by an uncritical media..”
(cont..)
http://www.alternet.org/media/top-10-bogus-isis-stories
Note that Australian PM said over a 100 have left Australia to join ISIS.
R.I.P. New Zealand’s once proud independent foreign policy.
John-we-were-missing-in-action-2003-speech-Key now has fulfilled his wish.
they were so jonesing for war then..
..that’s where/when simon power made his defining-political-statement..
..his ‘all the way with george w!’..
(not only gagging-inducing..but also a crib..)
Interesting
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/sunday-review/please-dont-thank-me-for-my-service.html
But doesn’t their sacrifice merit thanks? “Patriotic gloss,” responded Mr. O’Brien, an unofficial poet laureate of war who essentially elevates the issue to the philosophical; to him, we’re thanking without having the courage to ask whether the mission is even right.”
“I apologize to you for not doing more to keep our country from unnecessarily rushing into an elective war.” – comment posted in response to the above article
Granny earns her keep with an online edition filled with crashes, celebrity fluff, JK spin about not going to war and greens out spending labour etc
no sabin, skycity, lui ….no surprises there.
Prostituting politicians are not unique to NZ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11406677
“Hur hur hur hur hur.”
Vanessa Redgrave’s bravery in 1978 amuses Jim Mora and co.
The Panel, Radio NZ National, Monday 23 February 2015
Jim Mora, Stephen Franks, Ella Henry, Noelle McCarthy
Excitement is high this afternoon—the Academy Awards are on!
NOELLE McCARTHY: They still haven’t announced the Best Supporting Actress. I’ve been waiting for this for two hours.
JIM MORA: We’re going to be talking about acceptance speeches on The Panel.
NOELLE McCARTHY: Oh!
MORA: Is Neil Patrick Harris doing well as the MC?
NOELLE McCARTHY: Oh look, he’s having a bit of a SONG and a bit of a DANCE….
MORA: He’s talented!
NOELLE McCARTHY: He did an edgy joke about cross-dressing.
MORA: Hur hur hur hur hur!
NOELLE McCARTHY: Which he’s allowed to do of course, ‘cos he’s done a fair amount of that on Broadway. In the meantime, if you want something in the meantime, there’s a quite good round-up of some INFAMOUS Oscar moments in the New York Daily News today, including—talking of acceptance speeches—Vanessa Redgrave’s from 1978—
MORA: Oh yes.
NOELLE McCARTHY: Because of course she got up and gave that famous shout-out to the PLO—
MORA: The PLO!
NOELLE McCARTHY: She gave a shout-out to the PLO and denounced Israel as a fascist state!
MORA: That’s right! And didn’t some—there was a writer who got up and replied to her!
NOELLE McCARTHY: That’s right! He was a three time award-winning screenwriter and he said “I’d like to suggest to Ms Redgrave that her winning an Academy Award is NOT a pivotal moment in history, does NOT require a proclamation.”
MORA: Hur hur hur hur hur hur hur!
NOELLE McCARTHY: [archly] “And a simple ‘thank you’ might have sufficed.”
MORA: Ha ha ha ha ha! “A simple thank you” Ha ha ha ha ha!
STEPHEN FRANKS: Ha ha ha ha ha!
NOELLE McCARTHY: Elegantly put!
MORA: [heartfelt sigh]….. Back to the real world. …..[heartfelt sigh]…..
NOELLE McCARTHY: Yes. Back to the real world. Back to Bali, in fact. Indonesia is putting fighter jets in place for the transfer of these two Australians who are going to be executed….
….ad nauseam….
Vanessa Redgrave 1978 Oscar speech…..
…sigh..
i turned the tranny on this morn to hear the end of a monologue from our dear leader, spinning the role of nz troops overseas.
not a whimper from the interviewee.
i may have missed them, but i didnt hear any tough questions eg vote in parliament, is the whole cabinet in support of sending troops etc.
contrast this with what followed when andrew little was interviewed.
he seemed to be there only to acknowledge that he listened to the iraqi minister that visited recently.
ms fergusson hectored and hectored him like a hectoring thing.
i wonder if she pays secondary tax for the work she is doing for the government.
The Ferguson “interview” was a disgrace. A single issue that appeared to have Little conflicted over a remark he made last week. Has she been to Journalism School ?
I’ve heard in-house primary school radio that had more professional interviews
@gsays
Yep Ferguson hasn’t come across the word “balance” and seems to be in thrall to FJK……..”like a hectoring thing”…. LOL
PM: http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20168410
Litlte: http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20168412
That’s because he refused to answer the question, or even entertain her line of questioning, and in doing so, neatly illustrated Hager’s point – made later – that we’re already bombing people.
She loves Key because he lets her have more rental properties
I take it when he handed back the $25,000 donation to Mr Lui, Jamie Lee Ross also gave back the interest the donation earned for National/ the Botany Cabinet Club, for more than twelve months?
Where did they say they banked it?
Wouldn’t it be “stale” after 6 months? If so, there’d be no need to return it, just destroy the cheque, and I think they’d have described it differently.
ASB
I know, but they could have just returned it, regardless.
I don’t actually know the answer. Just haven’t seen anyone say they banked the money.
Why would they say they returned $25,000, fifteen months after the donation was apparently made, if all that is being discussed is a piece of paper representing a dead cheque with no financial value? If the Cabinet Club never deposited the money into Ross’s or National’s campaign funds, what then did they return during the reported assessment of the campaign’s finances? Oh, one more thing – why would John Key be dancing around the topic refusing to answer questions? If it was just a dead cheque he would be stating that consistently. Why would they even mention it? Come on infused, you are better than that 😉
Listening to Sean Plunket on radio live this morning he was very critical of John Key ” deliberately misleading the public over the 25 k donation ” going as far as saying ” he doesn’t trust Key over the role Kiwi troops will play in the Middle East”.
It appears honest Johns teflon is worn out with Sean.
@ Skinny –
And it appears Key’s popularity is also wearing thin with John Armstrong NZH’s chief political reporter, judging by his comments in today’s edition –
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11407096
Seems msm’s love affair with the great dictator might be coming to a much awaited end ….. Plunkett, Armstrong …. let’s hope it snowballs and takes hold 🙂
Yes Mary it is refreshing to see the love affair taking a turn for the better. It happened with Helen and now it’s John’s turn. About bloody time too 🙂
if they never cashed it, would it even count as a donation, or just an offer/promise of a donation?
So now John Key is sending us off to war and exposing us to retaliation…..
How long until we suffer our own warring in our land? How long until those we are targeting in the middle east decide that attack is the best form of defence to us? How long until a so-called “terrorist” attack is undertaken in NZ? (oh. other than the French, and right wing anti-unionists that is, who have already done so in NZ).
This will go down as John Key’s legacy
A valid concern vto. Who knows what may happen! A busy Lambton Quay on a Friday lunch time? Close enough to the seat of government?………….
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2wwdep/we_are_edward_snowden_laura_poitras_and_glenn/
Q and A with the Citizen Four
“Our rights are not granted by governments. They are inherent to our nature. But it’s entirely the opposite for governments: their privileges are precisely equal to only that which we suffer them to enjoy.”
Edward Snowden.
This is part of a very thoughtful answer in the q and a currently taking place on redditt following the Oscar win by Laura Poitras.
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2wwdep/we_are_edward_snowden_laura_poitras_and_glenn/
Hearing that Citizen Four won an Oscar for best documentary has cheered me up a little.
+1 SC.
” But here and there throughout history, we’ll occasionally come across these periods where governments think more about what they “can” do rather than what they “should” do, and what is lawful will become increasingly distinct from what is moral.
In such times, we’d do well to remember that at the end of the day, the law doesn’t defend us; we defend the law. And when it becomes contrary to our morals, we have both the right and the responsibility to rebalance it toward just ends.”
Edward Snowden, currently answering questions on Reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2wwdep/we_are_edward_snowden_laura_poitras_and_glenn/
Thanks for link TMM. Snowden’s whole tract is worth reading in your link.
Western Civilization and protection of human rights have emerged from pushing the limits of what is allowed within the (prevailing) law.
This comment from Glenn Greenwald explains why Labour fucked up so bad on the anti-terrorism/surveillance legislation:
+1CR
“The sad truth is that societies that demand whistleblowers be martyrs often find themselves without either, and always when it matters the most.”
More from Snowden on the redditt discussion
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2wwdep/we_are_edward_snowden_laura_poitras_and_glenn/
+2
As Key and Little compete to see who can be a bigger hawk, Hager drops the elephant on them.
Short version: intelligence is the bloodiest part of this conflict, and we’re donkey deep in it.
Thanks One Anonymous Bloke, as I’ve given up on national radio.
Silly question I know – but doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome – after ten years. Whose the crazed killers here again?
RNZ, your cut ‘n’ paste is showing.
Across the channel France is now confiscating passports from those believed to be home grown jihadists.
🙄
Tahiti perhaps.
Or Hao.
Isn’t that a segue? Was the previous item about something in Britain?
“Updates on movements in the financial sector”.
Perhaps it worked in the audio.
Internationalism and open borders are not simply nice ideas, but vital things to fight for in order to advance the interests of workers as a class. The bosses unite across borders to exploit us more effectively; we need to unite across borders to defend our interests more effectively. The bosses also try to put workers against each other, based on nationality and country of origin, we need to avoid falling into the trap they try to set for us. Moreover, workers’ migration tends to lead to the sharing of experience which is in our interests – whether it’s food that’s new or different to us or whether it’s the fighting experience migrant workers often have and can usefully share with us. . .
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/02/23/workers-rights-internationalism-and-open-borders/
Phil
I couldn’t agree more.
Everything else is globalised and so too must workers groups like unions.
Oh, but what about tax? and police and other laws? where does it end – at a new world order? Is that sustainable or even possible? nope. but we are going there pretty steadily..
transient populations can destroy community.
open borders can be at odds with sovereignty.
Ironically, open borders can fuel the rise of the anti-immigrant right wing. Plenty of examples in the EU.
Transient populations can also be community/culture etc. eg – Romani, Kalahari San (Bush People).
They (transient populations) can also embody sovereignty – a thing we don’t have, no matter how loudly some liberals may protest to the contrary.
I didn’t take Philip’s comment to be in any way referring to nomadic peoples. Nomadic peoples (eg the Kalahari) aren’t transient, they’re nomadic. In fact the Kalahari example supports my point. Nomadic people exist within specific territories and relationships with people from outside those territories is based around the existience of the territory ie before nation states we as humans still had ways of understanding geographical boundaries and relationships based on how the humans living there related with those boundaries. It wasn’t a free for all. Ignorance of those territories and boundaries has impacted hugely on many peoples.
And leaving aside a debate about sovereignty, yes nomadic peoples are a good example of how that works (not transient populations).
The point can be made that it’s farming peoples who are transient, always with the need for more land to expand their empire, whereas nomadic peoples tend to have very long (and I mean very long*) relationships with specific places.
Is it possible that we could have workers (and others) moving globally in truly nomadic ways? Maybe, but I’m pretty sure that’s not what was meant in the opening comment.
(not going to comment on the Romani because that’s a complex kete of ika).
*The San people have lived in the Kalahari for 20,000 years as hunter-gatherers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalahari_Desert#Population
Blip might record this from Key under “You Misunderstood Me.”
“Mr Key, who has previously said involvement in Iraq was “the price of the club”, said that his comments had been misinterpreted and that by “the club”, he had meant the 60 or so countries that were helping in the coalition against Isis.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11406714 (Last lines.)
Seem to remember his context being that we are members of the 5 Eyes Club so as members of the Club we must get involved as it is “the price of the club.”
The cheek of that man!
oh, he meant this club
The club we are such a valued member of, they forgot to include us on their map. 🙂
My, even John Armstrong thinks it is an ‘outrage’ !!!!! Must be so ….
“Key’s insistence that he was referring to all of the members of the multi-national force as the “club” defies logic. How could contributing to that club be the price of being a member of that club when New Zealand has yet to become a member of that club?
Key’s desperate attempt to rewrite history is something of an outrage. But it is also a measure of his discomfort with the deployment which could well turn out to bite him severely politically.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11406716
I hope AT LEAST now more of the right wing inclined people will SEE/REALISE what a lying, untrustworthy and dishonest disgraceful bull-shitter of a Prime Minister we have running our Government and leading our good country!
It just begins to make one wonder whether the SFO were showered with bullshit and lies all those years ago. This man must struggle to lie straight in bed even …
I don ‘t even wonder. I just know he lied again and again. The evidence is all there and one day some brave MSM writer will front a story on it. We have all been conned from the very beginning.
There are three great omnivores in the world – rats, cockroaches and humans. I heard that on Radionz talk this a.m. I thought you might like to know that.
Possums are omnivores as well.
Don’t forget the awe-inspiring bear and the intelligent Kea and Pig
But they are not as mighty as humans or as small and sneaky as rats and cockroaches. Or perhaps, with future cataclysmic changes in our environment, the cocroaches and rats might be mighty, and humans reverting to small and sneaky to survive. Sort of like those Star Wars scavengers Jawas. Some trivia –
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Jawa
And some mindless fun for star wars fans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAXg0wdNsGs
6 mins of action.
I see all the Ma & Pa investors in Mighty River have suffered a blow with their share price about to tumble down after MR announce a much lower performance.
unlike Meridian who are returning nearly $1 billion in capital over the next five years !!
Meh, I’m in it for the long term performance and dividend return so its all good
Why do you think you should get to own those shares and not New Zealand?
NZ has the controlling share of the company so not sure where you’re coming from but the other option is for people to purchase shares
Just because I bought shares doesn’t mean you can’t (in case you didn’t know)
you received stolen property – it was sold against the wishes of its owners
but we all know you not so thick that you dont understand what people are saying.
Please dont start that game again
hi pr, i know its none of my business, but i will ask anyhows.
do you have a property portfoloio?
You mean it has slumped below the $2.50 they paid????? Nup. Currently paying $3.28 with an increased dividend. Do you not understand the share market or just jealous because you failed to get your share.s
Jealous sounds about right
do you actually think people opposed to asset sales are jealous?
nah – of course you dont.
Sure some are balanced, human nature and all that
umm.. does that even make sense?
$3.28 and heading downwards, back to $2.50 by Friday. Far better returns for my money thanks. Like most Kiwi’s I don’t trust the boom and bust cycle of the share market, especially with the insider trading and ponzi schemes that the National govt sollict.
I don’t trust the boom and bust either but power companies are a different matter entirely
Unlike you Wewege and your side kick Plucked Duck I have a moral compass. How would I wake up in the morning and look at myself in the mirror knowing I was profiteering off the honest toil of my fellow men and women. Anyway you enjoy your paper gains but please don’t start howling when the bubble bursts and ya get dealt a hiding by the Gorillas of Wall Street. Little bit players such as yourselves are the ones I take pity on, all ya life savings burnt on a black Friday. Tho I guess in your case its a karma thing.
RELIABILITY OF EYE WITNESS ACCOUNTS:
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/VIDEO-Hilarys-viral-video—The-Oscars-Lie-Witness-News/tabid/439/articleID/71990/Default.aspx
Is the internet destroying juries? Guardian article.
Now this is interesting:
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2015/02/2014_spend_per_vote.html
National and Labour were quite low, lower then I’d have thought
Farrar has found another way to lie with statistics, what else is new?
RIP Public Address. It was great once.
http://publicaddress.net/hardnews/sunday-in-the-city/
what?
It’s finally vanished up its own arse. It probably did so long ago.
Honestly, it was one of the great New Zealand blogs, a site full of lively and informed discussion. Now it’s just a few posts now and again plugging Russel Brown’s media ventures, music dads dance to at wedding receptions and parochial Grey Lynn/Pt Chev matters.
When journalism is in such dire straits, we need some energetic investigation and debate. PA once provided that, but everyone interesting has been driven away and the posts are utterly anodyne. I miss its spirit.
” it was one of the great New Zealand blogs”
That was a long, long time ago. And there weren’t that many blogs.
Andrew Little is asking the first question today and will skewer John Key. John Key will break down and cry and ask Andrew to lay off.
In the real world we will see the Prime Minister being Prime Minister and Andrew Little trying and failing again.
@ Fisiani.
John Key will 1. lie, then 2. deflect. then 3. blame the opposition. then 4. refer to Helen Clark’s time then 5. rub his nose. Warning: the order and timing may vary according to how many lies.
All of this while looking sideways with an arrogant grin.
In other words The Prime Minister will win again
Are you proud of being a moral vacuum, or do you just not notice when you show everyone your emotional disability?
Most people would regard winning by unethical means to be cheating, and reprehensible. You probably still wear Lance Armstrong bracelets and call him a 7-time tour de france champion.
If you call being a liar a winner……… If you’re happy that the PM is a liar…… If his being a winner means that the rest of NZ loses………
No, no, no, it is in fact a brave repurposing of words. “Win” can now be used to denote anything. “Lie” equals “win”. “I think I’ve got the flu” becomes “I’m winning!” “You have cancer” becomes “Congratulations you’re a winner!” If we extend the principle, anything can mean “win” in a grand situationist-dadaist enterprise. “Fish” equals “win”. “Spaghetti bolognese” equals “win”. Everything equals “win”.
Think of the money saved printing dictionaries!
(Personally, I prefer “Malkovich”, but there you have it.)
Rhinocrates, it’s more a brave ‘re-porpoising’ of words where like a school of porpoises words dip in and out of the water, popping up somewhere else meaning something else and then ducking under the surface again before a lexicon can draw a bead.
Malkovich!
Or plusgood.
Childish and clumsy as fisiani is, they do, in their “innocent” way, reveal the kind of thinking that goes on in Nat and CT offices and what kind of people populate them – the unintelligent and emotionally shallow who think cynicism is virile.
Six year old boys in other words.
Polished performance today by the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Why does Angry Andy think he will win when Clark, Goff Shearer and The Cunliffe were all thrashed by John Key?
Because he sees the cold sweat on your forehead, and senses the desperation in your words. And can smell the puddle that has gathered at your feet.
Let’s see if your still swinging your silk undies wildy above your head cheerleading for John Key the day the shit hits the fan and a number of the troops get wasted by some crazy terrorist attack. Key’s name will be mud with every man and his dog in this country. If there is a torrorist attack in the country I will join in and riot on the streets throwing bricks through Bank windows for starters.
So you missed that he doesn’t actually understand anything about the situation in the Middle East?
Why don’t you just fuck off fisiani. I believe in opposing opinions and points of view, but your juvenile posts are an insult to peoples intelligence.
fisiani, you idiot.
Enough said.
Yeah. He and Paula Bennett (yesterday on Garner’s show with Grant Robertson) constantly refer to Helen Clark as a way of deflecting pointed questions.
She left office seven years ago.
In the real world we get this.
Mr Little needs to moderate his anger. It will serve him well in the future.
At the moment, when baited by journolists like P. Gower, he unleashes and shows his angry side. Patience, Mr Little.
That might be gold for Mr Little, if that’s the way it is. Keep those positive hints coming.
Just a reminder from Abby Martin on how far the media have fallen…
Abby Martin spent the day with CIA torture whistleblower John Kiriakou fresh out of prison, stay tuned for the interview which should be broadcast tonight on RT
http://rt.com/shows/breaking-set-summary/
Also, for those who don’t follow RT, Abby Martin is leaving their network soon to go out and do her own thing -which will no doubt be well worth keeping tabs on
Not sure if this is a ‘win’ as it was their money all along, but good on the Meatworkers Union for taking the case. The company concerned had claimed that they weren’t making 180 workers redundant, they just had no work to offer them:
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/334044/meat-workers-win-payments
If a country like China is going to join the fight against ISIS
(http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/china-about-declare-war-against-isis-12201)
then which countries are not standing up to these scum bags ? If ISIS is left unchecked ie others do nothing, then the spread of ISIS will continue. At what point is enough “enough” ? At what point does NZ say we will no longer sit on the sidelines ?
If China is involved, they have abundant capability to destroy every military in the region. We’d just get in the way.
Nearly three-quarters of people living in the Wellington Region oppose being part of the proposed Super-City according to a new Nielsen Poll.
Support
All 26%
Wellington City 30%
Porirua and Kapiti 29%
Hutt Valley 18%
Wairarapa 17%
Will the horrendous Fran Wilde (Wellington Regional Council Chair and leading advocate of the super-city) listen to the democratic will ? Will our own local Mayor, the equally-horrendous Nick Leggett (Close confidante of Wilde), feel humble enough to concede ? Doubt it.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/66575300/wellington-region-largely-rejects-supercity-poll
Just a few days ago, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld a complaint about a misleading Wellington Regional Council (WRC) pro-Super City newspaper advertisement which breached the advertising code of ethics.
The ad – which the ASA said presented assumptions and opinions as fact, was misleading and likely to exploit reader’s lack of knowledge and thus had not been prepared with a due sense of social responsibility – focussed on a non-existent problem with water pipes in Lower Hutt, using this to argue that residents should support a super-city so the wider region could help foot the bill.
Hutt City Council’s chief executive said the WRC’s Super-City campaign was “a shambolic con”, that “the single reason the Regional Council gives Hutt residents for joining….is a complete fabrication” and that the WRC “has tried to fool the public into supporting a super-city.”
Tragically, Fran has taken the whole episode very badly indeed, implying that the ASA decision may herald the end of democracy as we know it.
From Scoop:
http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=75695
Lols. Yes, saw that. Reaction is:
http://www.freeallimages.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/grumpy-cat-good-1.jpg
Having a squizz at the LGC “super city” pamphlet which states:
“…….The Commission will hold public hearings, and then decide whether to issue a final proposal or remain within the existing council arrangements.
If the Commission issues a final proposal, voters can then demand a poll. A poll will be held if ten percent of any voters in any affected council area sign a petition. The vote would be held across the whole region and the result would be binding”.
If the Commission does go ahead and issues a final proposal then we’ll need to rally together and give them the big thumbs down.
Super City 🙄 It’s all so Rodney Hide
@ Rosie
That’s a great little icon with its moving alert eyes. A suitable symbol for anyone involved in political observing these days. Any blink must be short or something of importance will be missed.
The Supercity model is designed to undermine democracy (i.e. local government for the people). In Auckland the POAL, a supposedly council controlled organisation, regularly thumbs its nose at directions from the Council. The local “boards” don’t really have power they are just advisers. Maybe it’s more efficient, or maybe it’s privatisation by stealth.
I thought they were quite up front about the privatisation part of the project. Kinda have been in Auckland – Water Care ,AT, etc, money for the mates.
Personally what worries me about it is it’s a front for austerity by stealth. Water charges, increased in fares, and other costs passed onto the people who already paid for these services.
Fran Wilde at a public meeting last night successfully antagonised the majority present with her condescending and “I know best” demeanour.
It seems hard to believe that this is the same person who introduced into the house the Homosexual Law Reform Act and the Adoption Reform Act. Frankly her local government career has been disappointing. Chris Laidlaw is another ostensibly left politician in Wellington that I find less than impressive.
I don’t want to say they’ve sold out but…
Look on the bright side swordfish. You too could get your own cock and balls out of the supercity.
It’s what New Lynn got as it’s membership of the failed, waste of rate payers money – to prop up Nationals mates – we call a city council in Auckland.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11397385
Does beg the question if business is so good, why does it need hand outs all the time? Is not asking for a hand out bad under these Tory scum rules of engagement? So why do they keep making structures to give business a hand out of tax payers money?
Interesting to note the difference between Andrew Little’s solid speech in the House this afternoon about sending troops to fight ISIS and the whining, nasty, personal, vindictive diatribe that Russel Norman thinks passes for intelligent debate.
No wonder support for the Greens is so quickly transferring to Labour. The Greens will be well rid of Mr Norman as co-leader.
Really? Russel Norman systematically dismantled all of the flimsy justifications for war, showing exactly why the whole idea just won’t work. He was clear and articulate. Did you even watch that, or just tune out because the EVIL GREENS was speaking?
aye
reposting in Open Mike as it goes to the wider issues facing our Parliament
Parliament is a theatre. One whose performances relay a script driven by protocol, performance and symbolism.
Solidarity is also driven by protocol, performance and symbolism.
To all members of all Parties who sit in the House in opposition to the Government’s decision to send our nation to war, I have a question –
Would it have been so terrible for your Party’s Elected Representatives to applaud at the conclusion of all the statements opposing the Prime Ministers Statement?
When Journalists get things wrong is deliberate or just journalistic incompetence?
Brook Sabin reporting on TV3 tonight about the Lui/ Cunliffe/Key issue, said,
“Cunliffe denied he’d supported his residency bid when a letter emerged proving he did.”
No Mr Sabin-he didn’t. He sent a letter 11 years ago simply making an inquiry.
It was not a letter of support for anybody’s residency bid.
The cumulative effect of these small fabrications which surely happen too often to be unintentional mean that the Cunliffe’s of this world still have to battle the small lies that our media tries to convince us is news.
What a disgraceful decision by the Catholic Church.
NZ Catholic Bishops welcome decision to send troops to Iraq
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11407194
Alex Coleman retweeted
Al Jazeera English @AJEnglish 3 hrs3 hours ago
Prime Minister Abbott says civil liberties must be sacrificed, as we enter a new ‘dark’ age. http://aje.io/b3td
Meanwhile the sleepy hobbits fire up the barbie and have another beer.
Talk about letting the terrorists win. The 0.1% are battening down the hatches because they know the living conditions for the 99% are going to greatly deteriorate.
No particular reason for sharing this except for a bit of reflection perhaps.
SPEAKING: THE HERO
Felix Pollak
I did not want to go.
They inducted me.
I did not want to die.
They called me yellow.
I tried to run away,
They court-martialed me.
I did not shoot.
They said I had no guts.
They ordered the attack.
A shrapnel tore my guts.
I cried in pain.
They carried me to safety.
In safety I died.
They blew Taps over me.
They crossed out my name,
And buried me under a cross.
They made a speech in my hometown.
I was unable to call them liars.
They said I gave my life,
I had struggled to keep it.
They said I set an example.
I had tried to run.
They said they were proud of me.
I had been ashamed of them.
They said my mother should also be proud.
My mother cried.
I wanted to live.
They called me a coward.
I died a coward.
They called me a hero.
Citizenfour has been made available for download (free and presumably legal).
https://archive.org/details/LauraPoitrasCitizenfour
I’m so glad that they won the Oscar…and were able to attend the ceremonies and speak on stage!
Greek government has released a summary of reforms,
The main points of the summary of the proposals include:
Creating a fairer tax system
Combating tax evasion
Tackling corruption
Targeting fuel and tobacco smugglers
Implementing labour reforms on collective contracts and bargaining agreements.
Tackling Greece’s “humanitarian crisis” with housing guarantees and free medical care for the uninsured unemployed.
Greece’s creditors – the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund – are expected to deliver their verdict on the proposals later on Tuesday, before the reforms are discussed in a conference call with eurozone finance ministers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31597181
It’s going to be a very big 72 hours. Greek banks are supposedly going to run out of liquidity this week…
hi cr, must be time to fire up the photocopier.
🙂
Can Greece afford to buy the ink?
😀
its only 20c a copy at the feilding library.
i’ll shout a few reams of paper.