Looking at granny you wouldn’t realise a crucial buy election occurs in 4 days.
Audrey doesn’t miss the chance to be second online with DC’s breakup including a rehash of election events because thats sooo relevent, all after another cricket non story leads.
Simply appalling bias on show for all to see from granny who don’t even bother to mask it anymore.
St Bedes students.
It may have been said already, but if those students had been injured as a result of their prank, their parents would already be suing the school and blaming the school for failing in the duty of care. Who’d be a teacher with parents like these around.
I think that the Judgement was over whether due process had been followed. The right to a fair “trial” rather than saying that the punishment was wrong.
ianmac, you will know as well as any, in the field of education there is a duty of care – in loco parentis. This is particularly relevant to EOTC as well as general school times but particularly on school camps, trips. And parents who are accompanying/supporting as helpers on such trips are duty bound to support the supervision of children (and are not there on a junket holiday to just see what their little darlings are doing). And in the interests of children’s safety, schools have codes of conduct for all participants.
I bet the school’s RAM for this trip did not specifically include “What if a child decides to do something stupid like get on to a baggage conveyor belt and gets injured…? Teacher is now required to organise appropriate medical care and is taken away from his duties of managing the trip and the safety of the rest of the team. Again those sorts of eventualities are catered for in a code of conduct.
Yes logie. The immediate reaction of those in charge is a must to keep all in care safe and in good order. I support the school action. But from a legal point of view, once safety is established then a fair “trial” should be held. There are numerous cases where kids on a school trip get drunk and are sent home straight away. Fair enough.
(In this case I have it on good authority that the two boys concerned were already on a good behaviour bond after serious misconduct at last year’s Regatta.) Silly beggars!
These young chaps were 17 or 18 years apparently. When criminals of that age are referred to they are called ‘men’, emphasising that their age means they are old enough to behave as responsible adults. So these are not silly little youngsters. I suggest they are the brattish result of being indulged children who have displayed good aptitude at a sport and spent insufficient time on learning about society and culture, self-discipline and wisdom, and of co-operating with a group.
They are individualistic, hedonistic and a bit on the amoral side, because mummy and daddy will always come along and insist they be excused for as much as possible. Those are the sort of parents who have boys who become roastbusters, whose child’s girlfriend dies in his bed and the family lies about it, have an interesting background themselves and then their child becomes a big-time athlete who disciplines himself to overcome disability but loses control, shoots wildly and kills his girlfriend. The sportsmen who take drugs to give them advantage and lie about it. This is the pattern.
Pushing the envelope to favour themselves is normal for these tunnel-visioned parents with money. They are the product of the post WW2 wealth wave that is asperashunal and brooks no restraints.
“They are the product of the post WW2 wealth wave that is asperashunal and brooks no restraints”
Yep. I can’t help but feel that the current generations plying our shores have much in their make-up which is not in step with many many previous generations. I can’t help thinking our generations are anomalies. Poor anomalies which will not be judged well by history.
I would put in a word for the poor Boards of Trustees. (BOTs) They are usually really well-meaning people, but Tomorrow’s Schools has put them into an invidious position. Many people do just a 3-year term (and all are abominably underpaid for what they do), some do 6 yrs, a few do 9, and very few do 12+. Few gather the institutional knowledge that the old Department of Education had. (That Department used to do much of the work that our BOTs do, but cost-cutting Rogernomes put all that burden onto underpaid and under-informed BOTs.)
That is why things go wrong when Principals do not follow correct procedure. The BOT generally do not know enough to correct them. How could they?
Yet most will be gone in 3 years, so the BOT cannot be realistically brought to account.
This is a really stupid system of school governance.
Perhaps a bit of a naive question, but how does one go about getting a case heard in the High Court in the space of a day or two? What process was gone through to get such an immediate hearing for the St. Bede’s parents?
If you’re lawyered up well enough which demands that you are actually rich…..not just doing OK…..rich. My guess is there’d be bugger all change out of 10 grand for that superb effort. Maybe more than 10 grand. This access to The Law is not something the ordinary person gets. What an excellent cup o’ tea it must have been with the barrister/s afterwards – “Don’t mess with THESE daddies and laddies !”
Having 5% of our MPs from one school shows that we are hardly egalitarian when it comes to representation. Or anything else. My Brownlee comment was not accidental 🙂
I think Dunne is factually wrong. The school is in loco parentis, as they used to tell us when they gave us six of the best. We told them that not all of our parents bashed us and refused to be caned. That was Whangarei Boys’ High and eventually caning was stopped. On the other hand, I do think the school overreacted.
Next thing they’ll be suing the school when their thick Tory offspring fail their exams. What have these kids learned? As long as they lawyer up, they can do what they like and teachers are inferior beings. Schools are not for learning, but for networking with other microencephalic Tories so you can get a director’s chair later in life. Or a safe NAct seat.
My guess is that these are also the kind of folks who bang on about how the working class are the agents of their own misfortune and the law is too soft on “crims”, etc etc etc.
At the same time, ensuring that their own kids never learn that actions have consequences.
Consequences are for other people, not their precious little offspring.
While the well-to-do have always had one law and morality for themselves and another law and morality for the hoi-polloi, I think it has gotten worse. Once upon a time, they used to pretend there weren’t different laws for different folks, based on class; now they kind of flaunt it. They’re no longer uncomfortable or embarrassed by their own double standards.
(Personally, I don’t care that these guys played around on the luggage conveyor belt; people are only young once and anyone who has lived did some silly things in their teens; I don’t think they should have been punished by the school at all. My problem is the appalling double standards and the recourse to litigation because these were middle class kids.)
Philip Ferguson.
” I don’t think they should have been punished by the school at all. ”
Teachers really enjoy that sort of comment. Any other comments you feel you should make regarding what happens at school and how they should be run. You have probably had various “codes of conduct” sent home with your children to discuss with you and sign and not really absorbed them.
If children get injured on school trips, you sound like you may be the sort who would be straight to the principal’s door threatening litigation.
“Codes of Conduct” have been introduced for a reason – the collective good, not the individual’s.
This from St Bede’s Code.
“…Abide by all school and societal rules and laws.
Any serious breach of this code of conduct will result in you being sent home/withdrawn from the team, tournament or trip at your own expense.”
Young men jumping on things is pretty much expected. I can’t see that it’s a serious breach at all. Play on.
On the other hand, there is a huge double standard here. If the boys had been from St Paul’s on a league trip, or from Kaikohe College, they probably would have been arrested and charged with something ridiculous. Because they’re from a posh school and their parents have money, they lose nothing. That’s what concerns me, not whatever internal mechanisms the saintly school may or may not have.
A lot of these school principals are trying to copy so-called zero tolerance policies in the US school system where pupils get kicked out/arrested for the slighest transgression, and harmless pranks that would have drawn a lesser punishement 20-30 years ago now end up with suspensions and explusions. Look at things such as sniffer dogs in schools and CCTV cameras, pricipals wanting to go through cellphones and computer, etc and so on. Our schools are being turned gradually into neo-liberal mini-prisons, with increasingly authortarian principals.
At least with the cane, you got your six of the best and that was the end of the matter, now school officals are going all out to curb the future prospects of their students.
I am glad I finished my schooling in the late 1990’s. When I was in 7th form/Year 13, I turned up to class very tired (I had huge sleeping issues when I was a child/teenager), and the next day my teacher took me aside and told me that if I showed up to school stoned (I have never used dope in my life) she would take the matter to the deputy principal. Nowadays I would have been frogmarched to the sick bay for a piss test, and probably would have been suspended.
It seems to me that schools are more and more tending to teach students to keep their heads down in the new neo-liberal order, Any dissent will not be tolerated.
It’s being broadcast on Prime as well as Sky today so that’s good for all the free to air’ers just have to put up with being bombarded with bloody Ad’s.
if anyone is stuck for coverage, I have had reliable streams for all games from this site, http://www.gofeed2all.eu/type/cricket.html
decent enough quality and just takes a few pop up ads to get through, if you are not running an ad blocker
A reserve day has been scheduled for each of the seven knock-out matches, the day following the original schedule. If either a quarter-final or semi-final is tied, abandoned or there is no result possible on the main day or the reserve day, then the team finishing higher in the pool stage progresses.
So NZ would progress as NZ finished first and Sth Africa finished second
Well she seems like shes highly intelligent, very successful and good at what she does so now she can get on with it without an anchor dragging her down
As for the Cunliffe well as the son of a minister hes probably aware that you reap what you sow
The breakdown of a long term relationship is a sad thing as its the end of the dream and doesnt really need additional comments from individuals who only know the parties involved via the media.
So you don’t get a bit sick of politicians (both sides of the house) who parade their families on TV and present themselves as family men for votes all the while they’re [you should not rely on Slater as verification for anything. Comment deleted – MS]
Are you saying that the Cunliffes split because DC was unfaithful?
I have zero interest in who politicians choose to share sexual pleasure with. It’s none of my business. It’s weird that you think it’s your business. It’s also weird that you praise a woman as being intelligent and competent and then undermine her by implying she is a victim of her husband’s supposed infidelity. I’ll amend my statement, your a disingenuous fuckwit.
Not saying that at all as I have no proof but he presented himself as a good, family man yet six months later is now seperating so at the time he was lying to everyone for the sake of some votes
I have zero interest in who politicians choose to [Warning – MS]
please, may I add to Weka’s comment … you are a misogynistic disingenuous fuckwit. and if you can’t work out why, you are even thicker than you pretend not to be.
Well, you’re claiming to not be interested whilst lasciviously spreading innuendo and speculation about someone’s sex life, so you must be an unregenerate tory.
PR is a pustulent cyst, bursting its morbidity across the visage of humanity, with the sole objective of contaminating all who come into range with a vile corruption that festers in one’s character and and turns gentle human warmth into brittle, cold scales that flake into a neoliberal abyss of jealousy and paranoid despair…
Thank you Weka & McFlock, you’ve summed up PR most eloquently. You did, however, omit the; complete inability to learn, that makes engaging with him such a waste of time.
Just because a couple has split doesn’t mean that they’re not good family people. I’ve plenty of people who’ve split from their partner and are still good parents and very family orientated. I’ve also known people who were still with the person who they married and shouldn’t have been allowed anywhere near their family.
It’s not being married that makes a person a good person, it’s if they’re an arsehole or not.
“…grappling with the issue in terms of hate speech…”
“…there’s an issue when people can say things anonymously…”
“The real crisis right now… when you have some of the other companies that allow for encrypted conversations between individuals uh, without, uh, the opportunity for law enforcement or intelligence to know how a communication goes…”
Abraham goes on to say it is because we’ve seen that people go from Twitter to talking with ISIS soldiers that no one should have any privacy on the Internet… and that’s just in the first minute or so of the clip. He advocates companies taking away all capability for private communications and anonymous speech.
Someone told me once that people who do not trust themselves are not capable of trusting others.
The other problem is that the people making these statements often are not tech users. They are old foggies with too much power, too many minions, and too much time to try to control everything.
Funny they want privacy for their own offences but want to spy on everyone else to make sure they are not being caught out and to black mail and influence others.
All of which are criminal offences.
It’s a problems when our own governments become the criminals.
According to whistleblower Nicholas Wilson, HSBC has been integrally involved in a fraudulent scheme to illegally overcharge British shoppers in arrears for debt on store cards at leading British high-street retailers. Without knowing, hundreds of thousands of Britons have been defrauded of a total of one billion pounds worth of money, reveals Wilson, a former debt recovery specialist who uncovered the crimes.
I thought it interesting that I owed $8 to one department store, which I have dealt with for years and paid properly. But I knew there was another purchase coming into next month’s statement, held back and didn’t pay the $8 and they sent me a warning letter and charged me $15 for it. What a scam. What a waste of time, paper and my money. And they charge interest on balances anyway.
didn’t pay the $8 and they sent me a warning letter and charged me $15 for it. What a scam.
well, it’s extortionate loan sharking at an approximately 1200% p.a. interest rate. Basically the fuckers have decided that they are in the business of fining customers for profit.
I just cannot resist reposting this Twitter thread with a wonderful picture of the National Northland candidate. It would make a great Caption Competition.
I was surprised when I came to the conclusion of that article to find that I was not being lead into a “reasonable” plug for the developers. The NZH can occasionally surprise. Here is the profile of one of HNZ’s consultants with regard to implementing their plan, who does not, prima facie, appear to fit the “improving things for the clients” claim.
It makes me sick that government departments employ crooks like McKenna. He belongs in prison, not in a high paying job. The MPI is the same, with ex-army sex offenders.
Did someone else hear Mike Williams have a go at Mike Lee at the end of Radionz slot with Matt and Mike yesterday? If he did something that turned out to be a mistake, I would think that it was an urgent measure at the time because of the chaos created by the privatisation and trough-trampling excitement of the financial pigs of that time.
I didn’t think that Mike Lee should be painted as an ogre. I haven’t time to look it all up. But the barb from Mike Williams gave me a pain.
I’ve been following this story of late, as it has the potential to be a real nightmare for the EU. The sums involved would only scratch the surface of the Greek debt, but would open Germany up to claims from all other occupied nations:
Greece’s leftwing prime minister Alexis Tsipras stood beside German leader Angela Merkel and demanded war reparations over Nazi atrocities in Greece on Monday night… It was believed to be the first time a foreign leader had gone to the capital of the reunified Germany to make such a demand.
Merkel was uncompromising, while appearing uncomfortable and irritated. “In the view of the German government, the issue of reparations is politically and legally closed,” she said.
Of course it is not just about the German government’s legal opinion. If this ends up going to an international court; Greece does have a real case (for repayment of forced loans as well reparations for war crimes). Past cases have been deferred on the basis on Germany not then being reunified, and nominal payments which Germany chooses to view as being final; though an impartial court might not agree.
West Germany paid substantial reparations to the state of Israel. Much of the infrastructure that allows them to carry out fascistic activities against Palestinians was built with money from reparations for fascistic activities against Jews. But then, Israel always gets treated as a special case.
I’m sure that Tsipras will be discussing this with Putin next month:
Tsipras, it has been announced, is to visit Russia on 8 April – exactly a month before he had been expected to go to Moscow.
The original plan had been for him to attach bilateral meetings to his attendance at the Kremlin’s second world war Victory Day celebrations on 8 May. Tsipras may well go to Moscow for the festivities in May – another occasion that could underline the distance between Germany and Greece, as Chancellor Angela Merkel has already said she will sit this particular jamboree out.
As to why Tsipras’s visit to Moscow has been brought forward, there should be little mystery there. He will meet President Vladimir Putin just weeks before the money from Brussels is due to run out. There have been reports that Russia has offered, or could offer, a bailout if the European Union declines. Both in the timing of the trip and its presumed purpose, Greece is saying to Europe, and specifically to Germany: be careful, Athens has a choice.
Russian Parliament Set to Request €4 Trillion in WWII Reparations From Germany
2/3/15 at 12:58 PM
Extracts:
“Practically, Germany paid nothing to the USSR for its wave of destruction and savagery during the Second World War,” said Degyaterov.
“After the Yalta convention the USSR took back some German assets – largely looted furniture, clothes and industrial equipment, as well as some spoils of war – but largely there was no compensation of the war’s economic blow to the USSR,” Degyaterov added.
The Russian MP expressed his hope that other countries will join the ranks of his task force and request reimbursement from Germany, extending an open invite to willing representatives of Belarus, Ukraine and other former Soviet republics.
The chairman of the Russian parliament’s defence committee, admiral Vladimir Komoedov has applauded Degtyarev’s initiative, lamenting the loss of “human capital” to the Soviet union as a result of the war.
“It is no secret that if there had not been a war, the Russian population would be 300-400 million today and we would be in a completely different economic condition,” Komoedov said.
As I recall, after WWII the Soviets did end up “borrowing” a large part of Berlin and its surrounds for extended USSR use. That would have to be factored in.
Andrew Little did well this morning on Radio NZ, speaking straight up, being realistic, referring to the polls, and chuckling, while making the airtime go a long way.
I heard part of that. Suzie was pressing Andrew Little and doing a good job of that and he remained cool answered the questions, made his points, sounded like a straight-up, balanced man that one could believe. I think he sounded very good.
Looking at questions 2 & 3, and at questions 8 & 11, it seems to me that Labour and the Greens could be doing more co-ordination beforehand. They’ve essentially wasted two questions between them.
The Netanyahu victory is another nail in the coffin of a two-state ‘solution’.
It’s interesting that colonial powers are usually prepared to make *political* concessions – ending of apartheid in South Africa; ending of the pattern of anti-Catholic/nationalist discrimination in the north of Ireland, and incorporation of the once supposedly dangerous ‘terrorists’ (ANC/MK, IRA/SF) into the reworked political power structure. The Israeli ruling elite, however, or certainly its dominant elements – preferred to destroy Arafat, after all he’d done for them, and destroy any possibility of a two-state solution.
I always supported a one-state solution – the dismantling of the Zionist state and the creation of a new society free of discrimination against either Jew or Palestinian – and I’m not surprised that the Israeli ruling elite have opted for the Greater Israel ‘solution’, but the contrast with what other oppressing powers have done is quite stark.
As I argued in a comment on The Daily Blog yesterday, Israel’s always been the rejectionist party in the so-called Peace Process and that’s largely because it has no incentive to obey International Law. It enjoys an almost entirely cost-free Occupation of Palestinian Territory.
The EU pays the bills in the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority does the dirty work for Israel (providing “security” for their occupiers) and, of course, the US fully protects Israel diplomatically at the UN and other international forums while also providing massive financial and military support.
Israel gets to have their cake and eat it too.
Which is why boycotts and sanctions need to be part of the solution. The only way to push Israeli elites (and the wider population) towards fulfilling their obligations under International Law (full withdrawal to June 67 border / Just resolution of the Refugee Question) is to make the State of Israel pay the price. A brutal, illegal occupation that’s been going on for nigh on half a century. It’s utterly insane.
Yes. I won’t buy Israeli products and I refuse to have anything to do with Israeli universities or Israeli science foundations. I have had invitations but I turn them down automatically.
Bill English in parliament thinks it’s an outrage that single people are living in two-bedroom state housing.
God forbid that anyone should have a spare room for their kids/friends to stay in when they visit. God forbid anyone should have a spare room for a hobby. God forbid anyone should have a spare room for studying.
And before you dicks get on your high horses about the cost, this is from the man who bills the taxpayer for the rent he charges himself for living in his own house.
ive made this point before, if all details are suppressed, how does anyone know they cant talk about sabin?
it reeks of catch 22.
do we all meekly do what we think we are supposed to do?
and well done the kiwi cricket team. a tad tense for my liking but it will do.
congrats to de villiers and his team for playing aggressively and in great spirit.
I agree with your point, but this is lprent’s blog and I follow his lead here. I say plenty in other places. This is the most disgusting thing I can remember happening in Aotearoa since the invasion of the Urewera. If something like that happened under Key, the details would probably be suppressed as well.
If I were in Northland I’d probably put up a few posters.
“Amazing what happens with a National government.”
Yep, they and their acolytes keep trying to take credit for every good thing that happens in the country regardless of how irrelevant the government is to those outcomes, while ignoring the mountain of bad shit they’re directly responsible for.
What an odd way for a Tory to celebrate a win at cricket – to drop by here and gloat, as if the game was actually won by a man who finds hammering in a nail challenging. Haven’t you got any Tory mates to clink glasses with?
I didn’t know that the government had nationalized (no pun intended) the New Zealand cricket team.
But good on the Black Caps. Only a few years ago they would have capitulated in a situation like this, but they dug deep and made it home.
Imagine the contrast with the disastrous centenary season 20 years ago, where, despite being a world beating side on paper, and thanks to infighting, the team was completely taken apart each time it set foot on the cricket field.
And Daniel Luca Vettori, a man who made his debut at the Basin Reserve v England, in a team struggling to recover from the blows of that season, and can now end his playing career on a high — a World Cup final
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The PSA have released a survey of 4000 public service workers showing that budget cuts are taking a toll on the wellbeing of public servants and risking the delivery of essential services to New Zealanders. Economists predict that figures released this week will show continued increases in unemployment, potentially reaching ...
The Prime Minister’s speech 10 days or so ago kicked off a flurry of commentary. No one much anywhere near the mainstream (ie excluding Greens supporters) questioned the rhetoric. New Zealand has done woefully poorly on productivity for a long time and we really need better outcomes, and the sorts ...
President Trump on the day he announced tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, unleashing a shock to supply chains globally that is expected to slow economic growth and increase inflation for most large economies. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 9 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 3Politics: New Zealand Government cabinet meeting usually held early afternoon with post-cabinet news conference possible at 4 pm, although they have not been ...
Trump being Trump, it won’t come as a shock to find that he regards a strong US currency (bolstered by high tariffs on everything made by foreigners) as a sign of America’s virility, and its ability to kick sand in the face of the world. Reality is a tad more ...
A listing of 24 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, January 26, 2025 thru Sat, February 1, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
What seems to be the common theme in the US, NZ, Argentina and places like Italy under their respective rightwing governments is what I think of as “the politics of cruelty.” Hate-mongering, callous indifference in social policy-making, corporate toadying, political bullying, intimidation and punching down on the most vulnerable with ...
If you are confused, check with the sunCarry a compass to help you alongYour feet are going to be on the groundYour head is there to move you aroundSo, stand in the place where you liveSongwriters: Bill Berry / Michael Mills / Michael Stipe / Peter Buck.Hot in the CityYesterday, ...
Shane Jones announced today he would be contracting out his thinking to a smarter younger person.Reclining on his chaise longue with a mouth full of oysters and Kina he told reporters:Clearly I have become a has-been, a palimpsest, an epigone, a bloviating fossil. I find myself saying such things as: ...
Warning: This post contains references to sexual assaultOn Saturday, I spent far too long editing a video on Tim Jago, the ACT Party President and criminal, who has given up his fight for name suppression after 2 years. He voluntarily gave up just in time for what will be a ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is global warming ...
Our low-investment, low-wage, migration-led and housing-market-driven political economy has delivered poorer productivity growth than the rest of the OECD, and our performance since Covid has been particularly poor. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty this ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.As far as major government announcements go, a Three Ministers Event is Big. It can signify a major policy development or something has gone Very Well, or an absolute Clusterf**k. When Three Ministers assemble ...
One of those blasts from the past. Peter Dunne – originally neoliberal Labour, then leader of various parties that sought to work with both big parties (generally National) – has taken to calling ...
Completed reads for January: I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson The Black Spider, by Jeremias Gotthelf The Spider and the Fly (poem), by Mary Howitt A Noiseless Patient Spider (poem), by Walt Whitman August Heat, by W.F. Harvey Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White The Shrinking Man, by Richard Matheson ...
Do its Property Right Provisions Make Sense?Last week I pointed out that it is uninformed to argue that the New Zealand’s apparently poor economic performance can be traced only to poor regulations. Even were there evidence they had some impact, there are other factors. Of course, we should seek to ...
Richard Wagstaff It was incredibly jarring to hear the hubris from the Prime Minister during his recent state of the nation address. I had just spent close to a week working though the stories and thoughts shared with us by nearly 2000 working people as part of our annual Mood ...
Odd fact about the Broadcasting Standards Authority: for the last few years, they’ve only been upholding about 5% of complaints. Why? I think there’s a range of reasons. Generally responsible broadcasters. Dumb complaints. Complaints brought under the wrong standard. Greater adherence to broadcasters’ rights to freedom of expression in the ...
And I said, "Mama, mama, mama, why am I so alone"'Cause I can't go outside, I'm scared I might not make it homeWell I'm alive, I'm alive, but I'm sinking inIf there's anyone at home at your place, darlingWhy don't you invite me in?Don't try to feed me'Cause I've been ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ star is on the rise, having just added the Energy, Local Government and Revenue portfolios to his responsibilities - but there is nothing ambitious about the Government’s new climate targets. Photo: SuppliedLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate ...
It may have been a short week but there’s been no shortage of things that caught our attention. Here is some of the most interesting. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt took a look at public transport ridership in 2024 On Thursday Connor asked some questions ...
The East Is Red: Journalists and commentators are referring to the sudden and disruptive arrival of DeepSeek as a second “Sputnik moment”. (Sputnik being the name given by the godless communists of the Soviet Union to the world’s first artificial satellite which, to the consternation and dismay of the Americans, ...
Hi,Back on inauguration day we launched a ridiculous RFK Jr. “brain worms” tee on the Webworm store, and I told you I’d be throwing my profits over to Mutual Aid LA and Rainbow Youth New Zealand. Just to show I am not full of shit, here are the receipts. I ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump over Gaza and Ukraine.Health expert and author David Galler ...
In an uncompromising paper Treasury has basically told the Government that its plan for a third medical school at Waikato University is a waste of money. Furthermore, the country cannot afford it. That advice was released this week by the Treasury under the Official Information Act. And it comes as ...
Back in November, He Pou a Rangi provided the government with formal advice on the domestic contribution to our next Paris target. Not what the target should be, but what we could realistically achieve, by domestic action alone, without resorting to offshore mitigation. Their answer was startling: depending on exactly ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guest David Patman and ...
I don't like to spend all my time complaining about our government, so let me complain about the media first.Senior journalistic Herald person Thomas Coughlan reported that Treasury replied yeah nah, wrong bro to Luxon's claim that our benighted little country has been in recession for three years.His excitement rose ...
Back in 2022, when the government was consulting internally about proactive release of cabinet papers, the SIS opposed it. The basis of their opposition was the "mosaic effect" - people being able to piece together individual pieces of innocuous public information in a way which supposedly harms "national security" (effectively: ...
With The Stroke Of A Pen:Populism, especially right-wing populism, invests all the power of an electoral/parliamentary majority in a single political leader because it no longer trusts the bona fides of the sprawling political class among whom power is traditionally dispersed. Populism eschews traditional politics, because, among populists, traditional politics ...
I’ve spent the last week writing a fairly substantial review of a recent book (“Australia’s Pandemic Exceptionalism: How we crushed the curve but lost the race”) by a couple of Australian academic economists on Australia’s pandemic policies and experiences. For all its limitations, there isn’t anything similar in New Zealand. ...
Mr Mojo Rising: Economic growth is possible, Christopher Luxon reassures us, but only under a government that is willing to get out of the way and let those with drive and ambition get on with it.ABOUT TWELVE KILOMETRES from the farm on the North Otago coast where I grew up stands ...
You're nearly a good laughAlmost a jokerWith your head down in the pig binSaying, 'Keep on digging.'Pig stain on your fat chinWhat do you hope to findDown in the pig mine?You're nearly a laughYou're nearly a laughBut you're really a crySongwriter: Roger Waters.NZ First - Kiwi Battlers.Say what you like ...
This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Climate denial is dead. Renewable energy denial is here. As “alternative facts” become the norm, it’s worth looking at what actual facts tell us about how renewable energy sources like solar and wind are lowering the price of electricity. As ...
SIR GEOFFREY PALMER is worried about democracy. In his Newsroom website post of 27 January 2025 he asserts that “the future of democracy across the world now seems to be in question.” Following a year of important electoral contests across the world, culminating in Donald Trump’s emphatic recapture of the ...
The Government hasn’t stopped talking about growth since the Prime Minister made his “yes” speech at the Auckland Chamber of Commerce last week. But so far, the measures announced would seem hardly likely to suddenly pitch New Zealand into the fast-growth East Asian league. The digital nomad announcement hardly deserved ...
It's election year for Wellington City Council and for the Regional Council. What have the progressive councillors achieved over the last couple of years. What were the blocks and failures? What's with the targeting of the mayor and city council by the Post and by central government? Why does the ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to stand firm and work with allies to progress climate action as Donald Trump signals his intent to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords once again. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
The Judicial Conduct Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken in an incident last November, Attorney-General Judith Collins said today. “I referred the matter of Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct during an incident ...
Students who need extra help with maths are set to benefit from a targeted acceleration programme that will give them more confidence in the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Last year, significant numbers of students did not meet the foundational literacy and numeracy level required to gain NCEA. To ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi – without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
The opening of Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development will have a significant impact for whānau in need of safe, warm, dry housing, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The minister visited the development today at North Street where a total of 50 two, three, and four-bedroom homes plus a ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the new membership of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control (PACDAC), who will serve for a three-year term. “The Committee brings together wide-ranging expertise relevant to disarmament. We have made six new appointments to the Committee and reappointed two existing members ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora, good morning, talofa, malo e lelei, bula vinaka, da jia hao, namaste, sat sri akal, assalamu alaikum. It’s so great to be here and I’m ready and pumped for 2025. Can I start by acknowledging: Simon Bridges – CEO of the Auckland ...
The Government has unveiled a bold new initiative to position New Zealand as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) that will create higher paying jobs and grow the economy. “Invest New Zealand will streamline the investment process and provide tailored support to foreign investors, to increase capital investment ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced the largest reset of the New Zealand science system in more than 30 years with reforms which will boost the economy and benefit the sector. “The reforms will maximise the value of the $1.2 billion in government funding that goes into ...
Turbocharging New Zealand’s economic growth is the key to brighter days ahead for all Kiwis, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. In the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Speech in Auckland today, Christopher Luxon laid out the path to the prosperity that will affect all aspects of New Zealanders’ lives. ...
The latest set of accounts show the Government has successfully checked the runaway growth of public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “In the previous government’s final five months in office, public spending was almost 10 per cent higher than for the same period the previous year. “That is completely ...
The Government’s welfare reforms are delivering results with the number of people moving off benefits into work increasing year-on-year for six straight months. “There are positive signs that our welfare reset and the return consequences for job seekers who don't fulfil their obligations to prepare for or find a job ...
Jon Kroll and Aimee McCammon have been appointed to the New Zealand Film Commission Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “I am delighted to appoint these two new board members who will bring a wealth of industry, governance, and commercial experience to the Film Commission. “Jon Kroll has been an ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hailed a drop in the domestic component of inflation, saying it increases the prospect of mortgage rate reductions and a lower cost of living for Kiwi households. Stats NZ reported today that inflation was 2.2 per cent in the year to December, the second consecutive ...
Two new appointed members and one reappointed member of the Employment Relations Authority have been announced by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today. “I’m pleased to announce the new appointed members Helen van Druten and Matthew Piper to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and welcome them to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Ball, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland Nik/Unsplash You might have heard that eating too many eggs will cause high cholesterol levels, leading to poor health. Researchers have examined the science behind this myth again, and ...
Everything you missed from the third day of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard four hours of oral submission. Read our recaps of day one of the hearings here, and day two here. Parliament was quiet on Friday for the third day of hearings on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Western Sydney University Tijana Simic/Shutterstock The news last week that three people in Sydney were hospitalised with botulism after receiving botox injections has raised questions about the regulation of the cosmetic injectables industry. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jens Blotevogel, Principal Research Scientist and Team Leader for Remediation Technologies, CSIRO Mino Surkala, Shutterstock Lithium-ion batteries are part of everyday life. They power small rechargeable devices such as mobile phones and laptops. They enable electric vehicles. And larger versions store ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edith Jennifer Hill, Associate Lecturer, Learning & Teaching Innovation, Flinders University Netflix Netflix’s new limited series, Apple Cider Vinegar, tells the story of the elaborate cancer con orchestrated by Australian blogger Annabelle (Belle) Gibson. The first episode opens with Gibson’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University Greece’s government has just declared a state of emergency on the island of Santorini, as earthquakes shake the island multiple times a day and sometimes only minutes apart. The “earthquake swarm” is also affecting other ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Western Australian state election will be held on March 8. A Newspoll, conducted January 29 to February 4 from a sample ...
She’s back behind the wheel, and this time, she wants to find out what it is that makes us tick. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. After a prolific career on stage and screen, 83-year-old Miriam Margolyes is on the road again. ...
A new poem by Jordan Hamel. Real Poet Every word earned its place and so did he, so should you. Real poet lives in the capital but writes himself into the Mackenzie country golden hour, man of the paper land, he neglects to mention his pollen ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Understanding Te Tiriti by Roimata Smail (Wai Ako Press, $25) No better time to get ...
The committee has published this list to inform the public about its work, and to give clarity to submitters who have contacted the committee asking if they will be invited to make an oral submission. ...
Alex Casey and Gabi Lardies dissect their Laneway 2025 experience. Gabi Lardies: Hi Alex :))))))) Congratulations on not getting sunburnt. Everyone I talked to at Laneway yesterday was braving the sun for one thing. Charli XCX. How was your brat experience?Alex Casey: We will talk about the rest of ...
The US President's suggestion, which sparked enormous debate globally, has been labelled as a threat, not a proposal, by the Federation of Islamic Associations. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christine McCarthy, Senior Lecturer in Interior Architecture, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Interior of Auckland South Men’s Prison.Getty Images Prisons are not colourful places. Typically, they are grey or some variation of a monochrome colour scheme. But increasingly, ...
FICTION1Tree of Nourishment (Kāwai 2) by Monty Soutar (David Bateman, $39.99)Interesting to note that the author of the biggest-selling New Zealand novel in Waitangi Week is Māori (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tai, and Ngāti Kahungunu).2 Kāwai: For Such a Time as This (Kāwai 1) by Monty Soutar (David ...
Remembering the renowned New Zealand writer, who died on February 5, 2025. The Stopover When the trout rise like compassion It is worth watching when the hinds come down from the hills with a new message it will be as well to listen. – Brian Turner Poet, environmentalist, sportsman, journalist, ...
Survivors can choose to have former High Court judge Paul Davison assess their individual claims to tailor payments to their personal circumstances. ...
Are we too modest when it comes to celebrating our putrid plant life?She’s beauty. She’s grace. She smells like a decaying corpse and lurks in the backrooms of Auckland Zoo, wallowing tragically in a bucket. In recent weeks an Australian corpse plant named Putricia has captured the noses and ...
Politicians from the coalition government received a frosty reception at Waitangi this year, but Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says the pōwhiri that received so much attention was just one part of many events throughout the week. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Allen, Postdoctoral research associate, Griffith University A humpback whale mother and calf on the New Caledonian breeding grounds.Mark Quintin All known human languages display a surprising pattern: the most frequent word in a language is twice as frequent as ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Keogh, Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University Jordan Mailata is an Australian-born NFL star who plays for the Philadelphia Eagles as an offensive left tackle. This position favours very tall, heavy and strong athletes who ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nigel Tucker, Research Associate in Environment and Sustainability, James Cook University TREAT volunteers planting treesTREAT Like ferns and the tides, community conservation groups come and go. Many achieve their goal. Volunteers restore a local wetland or protect a patch of urban ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karyn Healy, Honorary Principal Research Fellow in Psychology, The University of Queensland Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock The start of the school year means new classes, routines, after-school activities and sometimes even a new school. This can be a really exciting time for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kerrie Sadiq, Professor of Taxation, QUT Business School, and ARC Future Fellow, Queensland University of Technology The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released a discussion paper this week on investment tax breaks. The study looks at whether tax incentives, such as instant ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Naomi Zouwer, Visual Artist and Lecturer in Teacher Education, University of Canberra Galleries and art museums can be intimidating and alienating even for adults. Imagine it from a child’s point of view. Stern security guards in uniforms stationed the doors, bags checked, ...
The clock is ticking in the great chain chase. 2025 is an election year in New Zealand. Not the general variation, obviously, but the local form. If you’re thinking of running, nominations open in just five months, and your chances are good – about 50% across the various races; in ...
Political aspects of Waitangi week may be moved in 2026, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell for The Bulletin.To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Celebration and on-the-ground politics For the third year in a row, I have returned from Waitangi full of food and deep regrets about not ...
Arriving at Ōnuku Marae, it was easy to see why Prime Minister Christopher Luxon chose the venue to mark Waitangi Day.Kayakers paddled around Akaroa Harbour under clear blue skies, with the marae barely a stone’s throw from the shore.Luxon’s decision to skip traditional events at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds this ...
Thanks to increased operating costs and new fare structures, many public transport users in Auckland are now paying more for trains, buses and ferries. Shanti Mathias explains what’s behind the changes. Schools are back around the country, but in Auckland, kids aren’t the only ones to have returned to a ...
In a special Waitangi edition of Gone By Lunchtime, Ātea editor Liam Rātana and politics reporter Lyric Waiwiri-Smith recap a politically charged few days at the Treaty Grounds. Our Waitangi 2025 coverage is possible because of the 13,000-plus Spinoff members who regularly pay to support our work. If you aren’t a member ...
Looking at granny you wouldn’t realise a crucial buy election occurs in 4 days.
Audrey doesn’t miss the chance to be second online with DC’s breakup including a rehash of election events because thats sooo relevent, all after another cricket non story leads.
Simply appalling bias on show for all to see from granny who don’t even bother to mask it anymore.
St Bedes students.
It may have been said already, but if those students had been injured as a result of their prank, their parents would already be suing the school and blaming the school for failing in the duty of care. Who’d be a teacher with parents like these around.
I think that the Judgement was over whether due process had been followed. The right to a fair “trial” rather than saying that the punishment was wrong.
ianmac, you will know as well as any, in the field of education there is a duty of care – in loco parentis. This is particularly relevant to EOTC as well as general school times but particularly on school camps, trips. And parents who are accompanying/supporting as helpers on such trips are duty bound to support the supervision of children (and are not there on a junket holiday to just see what their little darlings are doing). And in the interests of children’s safety, schools have codes of conduct for all participants.
I bet the school’s RAM for this trip did not specifically include “What if a child decides to do something stupid like get on to a baggage conveyor belt and gets injured…? Teacher is now required to organise appropriate medical care and is taken away from his duties of managing the trip and the safety of the rest of the team. Again those sorts of eventualities are catered for in a code of conduct.
Yes logie. The immediate reaction of those in charge is a must to keep all in care safe and in good order. I support the school action. But from a legal point of view, once safety is established then a fair “trial” should be held. There are numerous cases where kids on a school trip get drunk and are sent home straight away. Fair enough.
(In this case I have it on good authority that the two boys concerned were already on a good behaviour bond after serious misconduct at last year’s Regatta.) Silly beggars!
These young chaps were 17 or 18 years apparently. When criminals of that age are referred to they are called ‘men’, emphasising that their age means they are old enough to behave as responsible adults. So these are not silly little youngsters. I suggest they are the brattish result of being indulged children who have displayed good aptitude at a sport and spent insufficient time on learning about society and culture, self-discipline and wisdom, and of co-operating with a group.
They are individualistic, hedonistic and a bit on the amoral side, because mummy and daddy will always come along and insist they be excused for as much as possible. Those are the sort of parents who have boys who become roastbusters, whose child’s girlfriend dies in his bed and the family lies about it, have an interesting background themselves and then their child becomes a big-time athlete who disciplines himself to overcome disability but loses control, shoots wildly and kills his girlfriend. The sportsmen who take drugs to give them advantage and lie about it. This is the pattern.
Pushing the envelope to favour themselves is normal for these tunnel-visioned parents with money. They are the product of the post WW2 wealth wave that is asperashunal and brooks no restraints.
“They are the product of the post WW2 wealth wave that is asperashunal and brooks no restraints”
Yep. I can’t help but feel that the current generations plying our shores have much in their make-up which is not in step with many many previous generations. I can’t help thinking our generations are anomalies. Poor anomalies which will not be judged well by history.
I would put in a word for the poor Boards of Trustees. (BOTs) They are usually really well-meaning people, but Tomorrow’s Schools has put them into an invidious position. Many people do just a 3-year term (and all are abominably underpaid for what they do), some do 6 yrs, a few do 9, and very few do 12+. Few gather the institutional knowledge that the old Department of Education had. (That Department used to do much of the work that our BOTs do, but cost-cutting Rogernomes put all that burden onto underpaid and under-informed BOTs.)
That is why things go wrong when Principals do not follow correct procedure. The BOT generally do not know enough to correct them. How could they?
Yet most will be gone in 3 years, so the BOT cannot be realistically brought to account.
This is a really stupid system of school governance.
Perhaps a bit of a naive question, but how does one go about getting a case heard in the High Court in the space of a day or two? What process was gone through to get such an immediate hearing for the St. Bede’s parents?
You can get an injunction pretty quick.
If you’re lawyered up well enough which demands that you are actually rich…..not just doing OK…..rich. My guess is there’d be bugger all change out of 10 grand for that superb effort. Maybe more than 10 grand. This access to The Law is not something the ordinary person gets. What an excellent cup o’ tea it must have been with the barrister/s afterwards – “Don’t mess with THESE daddies and laddies !”
You ask the judge down at the club to do it for you. Or maybe the one you were chatting to at the Brownlee barbecue.
According to this Herald article we have several of St Bede’s old boys in Parliament:
Your Brownlee’s barbecue quip is very apt.
Having 5% of our MPs from one school shows that we are hardly egalitarian when it comes to representation. Or anything else. My Brownlee comment was not accidental 🙂
I think Dunne is factually wrong. The school is in loco parentis, as they used to tell us when they gave us six of the best. We told them that not all of our parents bashed us and refused to be caned. That was Whangarei Boys’ High and eventually caning was stopped. On the other hand, I do think the school overreacted.
lol Brownlee possibly their mentor for breaching airport security also?
Next thing they’ll be suing the school when their thick Tory offspring fail their exams. What have these kids learned? As long as they lawyer up, they can do what they like and teachers are inferior beings. Schools are not for learning, but for networking with other microencephalic Tories so you can get a director’s chair later in life. Or a safe NAct seat.
My guess is that these are also the kind of folks who bang on about how the working class are the agents of their own misfortune and the law is too soft on “crims”, etc etc etc.
At the same time, ensuring that their own kids never learn that actions have consequences.
Consequences are for other people, not their precious little offspring.
While the well-to-do have always had one law and morality for themselves and another law and morality for the hoi-polloi, I think it has gotten worse. Once upon a time, they used to pretend there weren’t different laws for different folks, based on class; now they kind of flaunt it. They’re no longer uncomfortable or embarrassed by their own double standards.
(Personally, I don’t care that these guys played around on the luggage conveyor belt; people are only young once and anyone who has lived did some silly things in their teens; I don’t think they should have been punished by the school at all. My problem is the appalling double standards and the recourse to litigation because these were middle class kids.)
Phil
Phil
Philip Ferguson.
” I don’t think they should have been punished by the school at all. ”
Teachers really enjoy that sort of comment. Any other comments you feel you should make regarding what happens at school and how they should be run. You have probably had various “codes of conduct” sent home with your children to discuss with you and sign and not really absorbed them.
If children get injured on school trips, you sound like you may be the sort who would be straight to the principal’s door threatening litigation.
“Codes of Conduct” have been introduced for a reason – the collective good, not the individual’s.
This from St Bede’s Code.
“…Abide by all school and societal rules and laws.
Any serious breach of this code of conduct will result in you being sent home/withdrawn from the team, tournament or trip at your own expense.”
Young men jumping on things is pretty much expected. I can’t see that it’s a serious breach at all. Play on.
On the other hand, there is a huge double standard here. If the boys had been from St Paul’s on a league trip, or from Kaikohe College, they probably would have been arrested and charged with something ridiculous. Because they’re from a posh school and their parents have money, they lose nothing. That’s what concerns me, not whatever internal mechanisms the saintly school may or may not have.
They broke the bloody law by getting on the conveyor belt. There are notices a plenty in that area. That is not trivial.
Personally I think the school over reacted here.
A lot of these school principals are trying to copy so-called zero tolerance policies in the US school system where pupils get kicked out/arrested for the slighest transgression, and harmless pranks that would have drawn a lesser punishement 20-30 years ago now end up with suspensions and explusions. Look at things such as sniffer dogs in schools and CCTV cameras, pricipals wanting to go through cellphones and computer, etc and so on. Our schools are being turned gradually into neo-liberal mini-prisons, with increasingly authortarian principals.
At least with the cane, you got your six of the best and that was the end of the matter, now school officals are going all out to curb the future prospects of their students.
I am glad I finished my schooling in the late 1990’s. When I was in 7th form/Year 13, I turned up to class very tired (I had huge sleeping issues when I was a child/teenager), and the next day my teacher took me aside and told me that if I showed up to school stoned (I have never used dope in my life) she would take the matter to the deputy principal. Nowadays I would have been frogmarched to the sick bay for a piss test, and probably would have been suspended.
It seems to me that schools are more and more tending to teach students to keep their heads down in the new neo-liberal order, Any dissent will not be tolerated.
go the nz cricket team.
the most anticipated odi in a generation.
following after saturdays brilliant performance i hope for another win.
i am wanting south africa to show their brittleness under pressure from brendon mccullums aggressive captaincy and tactics.
One of those days I am grateful to being able to set my own hours and work from home.
My home office features a large screen TV…
here here, i found out half way thru guptils knock that i could live stream the game through our tele.
for the first time in along time i can watch our cricket team with confidence.
It’s being broadcast on Prime as well as Sky today so that’s good for all the free to air’ers just have to put up with being bombarded with bloody Ad’s.
Good on prime that’s buggered up my arvo. 🙂
if anyone is stuck for coverage, I have had reliable streams for all games from this site,
http://www.gofeed2all.eu/type/cricket.html
decent enough quality and just takes a few pop up ads to get through, if you are not running an ad blocker
Cheers Freedom
Radio Sport commentary for me with the telly on standby if/when it becomes a nailbiter.
cricinfo for me
What happens if there is a draw in a semi final?
that is a tie?
Probably the highest qualifying team. – like when it is doesnt reach 20 overs
http://www.cricket.com.au/news/world-cup-quarter-finals-schedule-australia-pakistan-india-bangladesh-new-zealand-south-africa/2015-03-16
A reserve day has been scheduled for each of the seven knock-out matches, the day following the original schedule. If either a quarter-final or semi-final is tied, abandoned or there is no result possible on the main day or the reserve day, then the team finishing higher in the pool stage progresses.
So NZ would progress as NZ finished first and Sth Africa finished second
This is a bit sad:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11421917
It must have been a very stressful last couple of years for them.
I had imagined [redacted] had been done to relieve stress?
[Stephanie: this kind of shitty, potentially defamatory innuendo will not be tolerated. One warning.]
cancerman
Got a link for that innuendo, or are you just shit-stirring again?
[redacted] Here you go Pasupial.
[Stephanie: see moderator comment above.]
A good woman who stood by her man through thick and thin. In the clear light of day a bit of space is always a good idea.
Well she seems like shes highly intelligent, very successful and good at what she does so now she can get on with it without an anchor dragging her down
As for the Cunliffe well as the son of a minister hes probably aware that you reap what you sow
You’re a fuckwit PR.
+1 I’ve no idea why he is allowed to comment here. (Well, except that every time he gets banned he immediately reappears with a new sim card and name)
Now Weka, PR is a heathen of the first order.
A epigone who indulges in propaganda for the merchants of hate
A godless creature who embraces voracity, over humanity.
Wit and fornication may be his debased desire – he however loves – the hell he creates, little point adding him towards purgatory.
+100
Very eloquently put Weka.
The breakdown of a long term relationship is a sad thing as its the end of the dream and doesnt really need additional comments from individuals who only know the parties involved via the media.
Leave them to work their own path forward.
So you don’t get a bit sick of politicians (both sides of the house) who parade their families on TV and present themselves as family men for votes all the while they’re [you should not rely on Slater as verification for anything. Comment deleted – MS]
Are you saying that the Cunliffes split because DC was unfaithful?
I have zero interest in who politicians choose to share sexual pleasure with. It’s none of my business. It’s weird that you think it’s your business. It’s also weird that you praise a woman as being intelligent and competent and then undermine her by implying she is a victim of her husband’s supposed infidelity. I’ll amend my statement, your a disingenuous fuckwit.
Not saying that at all as I have no proof but he presented himself as a good, family man yet six months later is now seperating so at the time he was lying to everyone for the sake of some votes
I have zero interest in who politicians choose to [Warning – MS]
please, may I add to Weka’s comment … you are a misogynistic disingenuous fuckwit. and if you can’t work out why, you are even thicker than you pretend not to be.
you don’t get it but then you’re on the left so its not surprising
Well, you’re claiming to not be interested whilst lasciviously spreading innuendo and speculation about someone’s sex life, so you must be an unregenerate tory.
Misogynistic, disingenuous, fuckwit trole.
Keep it up, you know how the moderators love people who slur left wing politicians just because they can.
Misogynistic, disingenuous, fuckwit trole, and unregenerate Tory.
Anyone got any thing else to add?
PR is a pustulent cyst, bursting its morbidity across the visage of humanity, with the sole objective of contaminating all who come into range with a vile corruption that festers in one’s character and and turns gentle human warmth into brittle, cold scales that flake into a neoliberal abyss of jealousy and paranoid despair…
oh, and they’re a bit of a dick, too.
Thank you Weka & McFlock, you’ve summed up PR most eloquently. You did, however, omit the; complete inability to learn, that makes engaging with him such a waste of time.
Just because a couple has split doesn’t mean that they’re not good family people. I’ve plenty of people who’ve split from their partner and are still good parents and very family orientated. I’ve also known people who were still with the person who they married and shouldn’t have been allowed anywhere near their family.
It’s not being married that makes a person a good person, it’s if they’re an arsehole or not.
+100
Started writing a reply to PR, but couldn’t be bothered. Thanks for pointing out the obvious.
What a horrible comment
MSN now working fervently to demonise online alternative media
http://www.thedailysheeple.com/digital-terrorists-and-cyberbullies-this-cnn-clip-shows-the-propaganda-push-to-demonize-all-anonymous-and-free-speech-on-the-web_032015
“A few snippets that stood out right away:
“…grappling with the issue in terms of hate speech…”
“…there’s an issue when people can say things anonymously…”
“The real crisis right now… when you have some of the other companies that allow for encrypted conversations between individuals uh, without, uh, the opportunity for law enforcement or intelligence to know how a communication goes…”
Abraham goes on to say it is because we’ve seen that people go from Twitter to talking with ISIS soldiers that no one should have any privacy on the Internet… and that’s just in the first minute or so of the clip. He advocates companies taking away all capability for private communications and anonymous speech.
Scary stuff.
Someone told me once that people who do not trust themselves are not capable of trusting others.
The other problem is that the people making these statements often are not tech users. They are old foggies with too much power, too many minions, and too much time to try to control everything.
Funny they want privacy for their own offences but want to spy on everyone else to make sure they are not being caught out and to black mail and influence others.
All of which are criminal offences.
It’s a problems when our own governments become the criminals.
Yep. The power elite want to know everything about you and everything that you do, as you do it.
And they want you to know nothing about them, because “national security.”
Organised crime extorts money from the poor.
According to whistleblower Nicholas Wilson, HSBC has been integrally involved in a fraudulent scheme to illegally overcharge British shoppers in arrears for debt on store cards at leading British high-street retailers. Without knowing, hundreds of thousands of Britons have been defrauded of a total of one billion pounds worth of money, reveals Wilson, a former debt recovery specialist who uncovered the crimes.
https://medium.com/@NafeezAhmed/death-drugs-and-hsbc-355ed9ef5316
btw, as with most successful criminals the bankers probably avoid prosecution the old fashioned way…….
https://www.emptywheel.net/2015/03/21/have-the-banks-escaped-criminal-prosecution-because-theyre-spying-surrogates/
I thought it interesting that I owed $8 to one department store, which I have dealt with for years and paid properly. But I knew there was another purchase coming into next month’s statement, held back and didn’t pay the $8 and they sent me a warning letter and charged me $15 for it. What a scam. What a waste of time, paper and my money. And they charge interest on balances anyway.
A shop would lose my business for that. It’s the only way they’ll learn.
well, it’s extortionate loan sharking at an approximately 1200% p.a. interest rate. Basically the fuckers have decided that they are in the business of fining customers for profit.
Well they actually sent me a physical letter. So there was a cost for the item. But it was unnecessary. And they charge extortionate interest anyway.
deleted – double comment
I just cannot resist reposting this Twitter thread with a wonderful picture of the National Northland candidate. It would make a great Caption Competition.
https://twitter.com/felixmarwick/status/579821355828293632
Background to the photo is here.
http://t.co/2InhGhZ5rw
For balance, Felix Marwick also posted this picture of Winston.
https://twitter.com/felixmarwick/status/579822134920241154
That’s the sort of balance I approve of. The stupid looking drongo Tory vs the suave and charming sort of Tory.
@Veutoviper
Great links. Yes I think the Nats would love to get us back to Roman times, slavery, feasting, unbridled power.
Love the comment about Winston – “the bachelor”.
The juxtaposition is great, roman slob, vs, the bachelor
2nd link to the ‘tall poppy’ (oh how I hate that phrase) business awards –
I reckon that signifies Northland’s economic state right there.
Thanks for pointing that out – I had not noticed that. Say it all really ….
Even the Herald feels obliged to call out Bill English on the total bullshit spin lines he’s trotted out after the Sallies pretty much bulldozed his half-baked plans for social housing.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11421893
I was surprised when I came to the conclusion of that article to find that I was not being lead into a “reasonable” plug for the developers. The NZH can occasionally surprise. Here is the profile of one of HNZ’s consultants with regard to implementing their plan, who does not, prima facie, appear to fit the “improving things for the clients” claim.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11418202
It makes me sick that government departments employ crooks like McKenna. He belongs in prison, not in a high paying job. The MPI is the same, with ex-army sex offenders.
I agree, especially with regard to the capacity in which he is employed – like a fox being employed to design chicken coops.
Nice one, vv. There’s a scoutmaster if I ever saw one.
Did someone else hear Mike Williams have a go at Mike Lee at the end of Radionz slot with Matt and Mike yesterday? If he did something that turned out to be a mistake, I would think that it was an urgent measure at the time because of the chaos created by the privatisation and trough-trampling excitement of the financial pigs of that time.
I didn’t think that Mike Lee should be painted as an ogre. I haven’t time to look it all up. But the barb from Mike Williams gave me a pain.
I’ve been following this story of late, as it has the potential to be a real nightmare for the EU. The sums involved would only scratch the surface of the Greek debt, but would open Germany up to claims from all other occupied nations:
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/mar/23/tsipras-raises-nazi-war-reparations-claim-at-berlin-press-conference-with-merkel
Of course it is not just about the German government’s legal opinion. If this ends up going to an international court; Greece does have a real case (for repayment of forced loans as well reparations for war crimes). Past cases have been deferred on the basis on Germany not then being reunified, and nominal payments which Germany chooses to view as being final; though an impartial court might not agree.
West Germany paid substantial reparations to the state of Israel. Much of the infrastructure that allows them to carry out fascistic activities against Palestinians was built with money from reparations for fascistic activities against Jews. But then, Israel always gets treated as a special case.
The Germans killed 26M Russians in WWII.
Think about that compensation case…
I’m sure that Tsipras will be discussing this with Putin next month:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/23/greece-russia-putin-eu-orthodox-bloc-alexis-tsipras
Though the phrase; “out of the frying pan and into the fire”, would seem to apply here.
And on that note, from Russia:
Russian Parliament Set to Request €4 Trillion in WWII Reparations From Germany
2/3/15 at 12:58 PM
Extracts:
“Practically, Germany paid nothing to the USSR for its wave of destruction and savagery during the Second World War,” said Degyaterov.
“After the Yalta convention the USSR took back some German assets – largely looted furniture, clothes and industrial equipment, as well as some spoils of war – but largely there was no compensation of the war’s economic blow to the USSR,” Degyaterov added.
The Russian MP expressed his hope that other countries will join the ranks of his task force and request reimbursement from Germany, extending an open invite to willing representatives of Belarus, Ukraine and other former Soviet republics.
The chairman of the Russian parliament’s defence committee, admiral Vladimir Komoedov has applauded Degtyarev’s initiative, lamenting the loss of “human capital” to the Soviet union as a result of the war.
“It is no secret that if there had not been a war, the Russian population would be 300-400 million today and we would be in a completely different economic condition,” Komoedov said.
http://www.newsweek.com/russian-parliament-set-request-eu4-trillion-wwii-reparations-germany-304163
As I recall, after WWII the Soviets did end up “borrowing” a large part of Berlin and its surrounds for extended USSR use. That would have to be factored in.
Interesting post from Bryan Bruce this morning on supporting Winston. The Nats are obviously in panic mode as they had a GDP graph from his post removed as it was “their” property.
http://bryanbruce.co.nz/feature/ethics-values/importance-voting-winston
Andrew Little did well this morning on Radio NZ, speaking straight up, being realistic, referring to the polls, and chuckling, while making the airtime go a long way.
I heard part of that. Suzie was pressing Andrew Little and doing a good job of that and he remained cool answered the questions, made his points, sounded like a straight-up, balanced man that one could believe. I think he sounded very good.
List of questions for Question Time today: http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/business/qoa/00HOH_OralQuestions/list-of-questions-for-oral-answer
Looking at questions 2 & 3, and at questions 8 & 11, it seems to me that Labour and the Greens could be doing more co-ordination beforehand. They’ve essentially wasted two questions between them.
+1
And, for the future, including NZ First as well.
Yep. Got to be able to work together in opposition if they’re going to work together in govt
Certainly that’s what the public thinks. Dunno if its sunk into the heads of the Labour caucus and their staffers yet. After 2 decades of MMP.
The Netanyahu victory is another nail in the coffin of a two-state ‘solution’.
It’s interesting that colonial powers are usually prepared to make *political* concessions – ending of apartheid in South Africa; ending of the pattern of anti-Catholic/nationalist discrimination in the north of Ireland, and incorporation of the once supposedly dangerous ‘terrorists’ (ANC/MK, IRA/SF) into the reworked political power structure. The Israeli ruling elite, however, or certainly its dominant elements – preferred to destroy Arafat, after all he’d done for them, and destroy any possibility of a two-state solution.
I always supported a one-state solution – the dismantling of the Zionist state and the creation of a new society free of discrimination against either Jew or Palestinian – and I’m not surprised that the Israeli ruling elite have opted for the Greater Israel ‘solution’, but the contrast with what other oppressing powers have done is quite stark.
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/is-there-a-two-state-solution-to-israel-palestinian-conflict-2/
Phil
@Phillip
That’s what happens when the ‘crazies’ control the message. They just keep getting elected, spinning every dial they can get away with and more.
What’s going to happen when someone finally says ‘NO” and Netanyahu has nuclear weapons?
+1
When recent heads of the Shin Bet and Mossad say that the Israeli Government is on the wrong track, people better start paying attention.
As I argued in a comment on The Daily Blog yesterday, Israel’s always been the rejectionist party in the so-called Peace Process and that’s largely because it has no incentive to obey International Law. It enjoys an almost entirely cost-free Occupation of Palestinian Territory.
The EU pays the bills in the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority does the dirty work for Israel (providing “security” for their occupiers) and, of course, the US fully protects Israel diplomatically at the UN and other international forums while also providing massive financial and military support.
Israel gets to have their cake and eat it too.
Which is why boycotts and sanctions need to be part of the solution. The only way to push Israeli elites (and the wider population) towards fulfilling their obligations under International Law (full withdrawal to June 67 border / Just resolution of the Refugee Question) is to make the State of Israel pay the price. A brutal, illegal occupation that’s been going on for nigh on half a century. It’s utterly insane.
Yes. I won’t buy Israeli products and I refuse to have anything to do with Israeli universities or Israeli science foundations. I have had invitations but I turn them down automatically.
Bill English in parliament thinks it’s an outrage that single people are living in two-bedroom state housing.
God forbid that anyone should have a spare room for their kids/friends to stay in when they visit. God forbid anyone should have a spare room for a hobby. God forbid anyone should have a spare room for studying.
And before you dicks get on your high horses about the cost, this is from the man who bills the taxpayer for the rent he charges himself for living in his own house.
Not to mention having somewhere for grandkids to stay during the school holidays.
This government is unbelievably mean spirited with absolutely no concept of the value of supporting families and communities.
How many rooms are there in that taxpayer-sponsored mansion in Karori?
Black Caps into the World Cup Final. Amazing what happens with a National government.
And Sabin into…..oops, can’t say. Truly amazing.
hi murray, how do you know you cant say anything?
ive made this point before, if all details are suppressed, how does anyone know they cant talk about sabin?
it reeks of catch 22.
do we all meekly do what we think we are supposed to do?
and well done the kiwi cricket team. a tad tense for my liking but it will do.
congrats to de villiers and his team for playing aggressively and in great spirit.
I agree, as far as I know nobody has said we can’t talk about Sabin. There is no way they possibly could.
I agree with your point, but this is lprent’s blog and I follow his lead here. I say plenty in other places. This is the most disgusting thing I can remember happening in Aotearoa since the invasion of the Urewera. If something like that happened under Key, the details would probably be suppressed as well.
If I were in Northland I’d probably put up a few posters.
hi murray and felix, yes i accept that as this is someones blog, it’s their rules.
where is the courage from other members of the wider media; websites, community papers etc.
i would like the suppression order explained.
this can be done without sordid details or alluding to anyone.
“Amazing what happens with a National government.”
Yep, they and their acolytes keep trying to take credit for every good thing that happens in the country regardless of how irrelevant the government is to those outcomes, while ignoring the mountain of bad shit they’re directly responsible for.
What an odd way for a Tory to celebrate a win at cricket – to drop by here and gloat, as if the game was actually won by a man who finds hammering in a nail challenging. Haven’t you got any Tory mates to clink glasses with?
I didn’t know that the government had nationalized (no pun intended) the New Zealand cricket team.
But good on the Black Caps. Only a few years ago they would have capitulated in a situation like this, but they dug deep and made it home.
Imagine the contrast with the disastrous centenary season 20 years ago, where, despite being a world beating side on paper, and thanks to infighting, the team was completely taken apart each time it set foot on the cricket field.
And Daniel Luca Vettori, a man who made his debut at the Basin Reserve v England, in a team struggling to recover from the blows of that season, and can now end his playing career on a high — a World Cup final