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. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sa3Q-9Wt2k
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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This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
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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…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeGWxHvKs48
…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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sa3Q-9Wt2k
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…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK_q5OGfYW8
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.