Open mike 24/06/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 24th, 2015 - 156 comments
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156 comments on “Open mike 24/06/2015 ”

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  1. North 1
    24 June 2015 at 8:01 am

    Jerry Collins’ email to John Campbell –

    http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11461777

    Says heaps about both men.

    Contrast that with Glamour-Queen Key’s embarassingly gauche interface with things rugby. A near perfect of the Pythonesque yob on the Mastercard/Visa TV ad’, crawling up Richie’s arse no less. This one –
    http://www.campaignbrief.com/assets_c/2015/05/MasterCard%20Tim-185930.html

    A sickening spectacle it’ll be if the Glamour-Queen turns up at the Apia Test. Behaving for all money like your half-pissed lickarse down the rugby club at 4.30 any winter afternoon. Reflected-Glory-Tory with as much regard for the game as Crosby Textor directs !

    Great to hear that John Campbell will be there !

  2. Puckish Rogue 2
    24 June 2015 at 8:40 am

    People like to throw around terms like sociopath etc but I’m seriously starting to think that maybe Colin Craig actually does have a couple of screws loose (i’m sure theres a proper medical term for it)

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11470257
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11469599

    and yet its also fascinating watching him crash and burn

    • Save NZ 2.1
      24 June 2015 at 9:09 am

      Don’t know why the left is celebrating the demise of Colin Craig.

      He took 3.9% of Nat votes.

      It’s a bit like celebrating the demise of Hone.

      • Puckish Rogue 2.1.1
        24 June 2015 at 9:14 am

        The demise of Hone was really funny, the election coverage was brilliant…catching Hone from the start of the night to the end of the night and seeing the look on his face as the chickens came home to roost

        Nearly as funny as watching Tova trying to deal with NZFirst and Winston but having said that I’d suggest that Winston will pick up most of the votes not National

      • lprent 2.1.2
        24 June 2015 at 10:53 am

        Don’t know why the left is celebrating the demise of Colin Craig.

        They are? It is more like just watching it aghast at how daft it is. What keeps running through my head is that the ‘morals’ parties always seem to fall apart because while they run the facade of morality, but they don’t practice it very much at a personal or group levels. They look like they need to read some more on evolutionary strategies.

        They just expect others to follow their daft ‘morality’ rules that look more like dominance strategies than anything useful. When something doesn’t follow the public prescriptions, they rend each other like hyenas pruning the pack. The Christian parties of the 90s. This. All look damn similar. Mrs Grundy with private perversions.

        At least the highly concentrated corruptions of the National party caucus (how many ministers so far?) tend to have less of the hypocrisy than the moral conservatives.

        The odd thing in this instance (although I haven’t been following it particularly) is that so far I haven’t seen anything that Craig has actually done that could be illegal. It looks more like a another case of come of our local conservatives showing that they are more interested in dominance games than running a political party.

        • Clemgeopin 2.1.2.1
          24 June 2015 at 12:17 pm

          I think Craig is a good guy but quite naive and trusting. Doesn’t seem like he was getting good political advice. I kind of feel a little sorry for him for the way this entire fiasco as unraveled from last year to now.

          I also think that the upstart John Stringer is quite a dipstick. It seems like he was on a mission or sent on a mission to destroy Colin Craig and the Conservative party. He does not seem to understand basic propriety nor to have much wisdom or empathy in the way be behaves.

          Take a look at this part of news from today:

          “Craig predicted the board would consist only of John Stringer, before the week’s end.

          Stringer said he would not be resigning, and he hoped members would stand up fill vacant positions.

          “I think the Conservative Party minus Colin Craig is a much more attractive option to many people.”

          In a statement, he said he was disappointed about the resignations.

          “Holding off and meeting on Saturday would have been better, and I wrote to every board member earlier and encouraged them to do that.”

          Drawing on an earlier controversy where Craig refused to confirm whether the 1969 moon landing occurred, Stringer gave his own space-related analogy of the Conservatives’ situation.

          “Someone on the board had to correct the deliberate inaccuracies Colin Craig was running, and attempt – at least – to try and get a moon separation of the booster rocket (Colin Craig).

          “Unfortunately, most of the astronauts have gone on space walks; Brian, Laurence and I are in an Apollo 13 scenario. Hopefully we can achieve re-entry.”
          ————–
          Seems like this Stringer character is bad news. Risky for any one to be involved with him. With party members like him, who needs enemies!

          http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/69655857/conservative-party-board-dwindling-while-colin-craig-refuses-to-admit-defeat

          • The Lone Haranguer 2.1.2.1.1
            24 June 2015 at 2:52 pm

            Like many quiet achievers, accidentally thrust into the limelight, Colin Craig incorrectly thinks his 15 minutes of fame isnt over yet.

            I guess if he doesnt make it as a political leader (an increasingly likely outcome) then he can always go on “dancing with the stars”

      • Tracey 2.1.3
        24 June 2015 at 12:04 pm

        PR isn’t left… he has a lot of left policies on his wishlist but votes National 😉

        So far it’s the right media outlets that won’t let the “scandal” go.

    • mac1 2.2
      24 June 2015 at 9:20 am

      This also was a revealing article on the Craigs’ body language.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11469833

      • Puckish Rogue 2.2.1
        24 June 2015 at 9:37 am

        To be fair i don’t think it needed a body language expert to let us know Colin is shift and lying through his back teeth

        • mac1 2.2.1.1
          24 June 2015 at 10:12 am

          Many people do, it seems, considering the support for liars amongst our public figures. Also, the article points out much more than shiftiness and lying.

          Note the ” Craigs’ “- both Craigs are examined in the article because amongst other things it shows us the discrepancy between public appearance and utterance and private thoughts and feelings of the two. Which, considering the putative subject material, I’d expect.

          There’s a revealing photo of Colin Craig in a Metro article pictured between two trunks with his arms held out wide and open palms displayed. John Key likes to use the same “trust me, I am an honest person…. honest” display.

          And we know about the sucking of air through his back teeth.

    • David H 2.3
      24 June 2015 at 9:37 am

      “and yet its also fascinating watching him crash and burn”
      When I was young my Mother, god rest her, used to say it was the “Fascination of the horrible.” You just can’t not watch, it’s like a slow motion car crash.

      • Puckish Rogue 2.3.1
        24 June 2015 at 9:54 am

        I agree, to me its funny that if he’d kept his mouth shut during the campaign eg man on the moon he’d probably be an MP

        So I wonder how many of the MPs we have now wouldn’t be in parliament if they said what they really think

        • Draco T Bastard 2.3.1.1
          24 June 2015 at 11:38 am

          So I wonder how many of the MPs we have now wouldn’t be in parliament if they said what they really think

          Nearly every single National Party MP and a fair few Labour Party MPs. We’d have a Greens government with ~80% of parliament.

          As John Banks said:

          If I wear my policy on my sleeve, I won’t get elected.

          And that really does apply to nearly every single right-wing politician.

  3. TheContrarian 3
    24 June 2015 at 9:16 am

    Yesterday CR made some fairly stupid comments regarding science – one of which was the science (or science types) were struggling and another was that science had lead us to a civilisational dead-end. To anyone with even a modicum of scientific insight or curiosity these comments are obviously dead wrong but here is a challenge to CR….one I have proposed to him before but lets make it official…

    Here is a partial list of scientific advancements from just 2014 alone:
    http://www.medicaldaily.com/medical-breakthroughs-and-discoveries-2014-prove-future-really-here-313882
    http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/41731/title/2014-s-Big-Advances-in-Science/
    http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-12/31/10-scientific-breakthroughs-2014

    This is just but a tiny few of the big science advancements of 2014 which were built on decades of other advancements. Can you tell me CR, seriously, that this A) indicates a civilisation at a dead-end and B) Can you show me a list of advancements to health or otherwise brought to us from the world of, specifically, homeopathy or any other type of non-scientific branch. Lets make this official….

    • Clean_power 3.1
      24 June 2015 at 9:19 am

      Anti-science CR is a firm believer in homeopathy. Enough said.

    • Draco T Bastard 3.2
      24 June 2015 at 11:44 am

      It’s not science that’s brought us to the present dead-end but politics and the fact that a large portion of people keep believing things against the science. That’s why the Limits to Growth was ignored in the 1970s and is still ignored by many today despite ever more research showing that we should have acted back in the 1970s to go to a steady state economy.

    • TheContrarian 3.3
      24 June 2015 at 2:54 pm

      Well – I am disappointed CR wouldn’t take me up on this challenge.

      • Clean_power 3.3.1
        24 June 2015 at 3:28 pm

        You shouldn’t. CR knows he is anti-science and is happy with that. Crystal balls, rabbit tails, talismans, etc .are better than facts and rational arguments after all, aren’t they?

  4. Puckish Rogue 4
    24 June 2015 at 9:28 am

    http://mananews.co.nz/wp/?p=5596

    So is mana news NZs version of The Onion?

    • te reo putake 4.1
      24 June 2015 at 9:37 am

      What’s your problem with the report, PR? It seems a reasonable opinion (though a little unaware of the actual legal definition of assault). The photo appears to show Henry in a very aggressive stance, too.

      • Puckish Rogue 4.1.1
        24 June 2015 at 9:48 am

        “There are rumours Henry receives free credit from Sky casino in exchange for getting talking points from the prime minister’s office as part of the right wing bias media.”

        I know, i know the VRWC is complicit in everything but does he have anything in the way of proof or evidence or anything other than something he just made up?

        • te reo putake 4.1.1.1
          24 June 2015 at 9:52 am

          “… but does he have anything in the way of proof or evidence or anything other than something he just made up?”

          That’s never bothered you before, PR. Most of your comments would fail that test. Even that one, because you have no evidence he’s “just made it up”. So, meh.

          • Puckish Rogue 4.1.1.1.1
            24 June 2015 at 9:59 am

            I guess the difference is I don’t claim to be a news editor

            • te reo putake 4.1.1.1.1.1
              24 June 2015 at 10:03 am

              Neither does Trinder. He’s the editor of mana news, which contains news stories, opinion and notices.

              But anyway, cool that you consider bullshitting to be fine as long as you don’t have a title. That’s something to for us all to remember whenever you comment here.

        • Tracey 4.1.1.2
          24 June 2015 at 12:09 pm

          “but does he have anything in the way of proof or evidence or anything other than something he just made up?”

          just yesterday you suggest this was enough for you?

          “Tracey …
          23 June 2015 at 10:26 am
          It’s not my claim PR, couldn’t you post it here, it’s your assertion? But do understand it needs to be a donot url.

          Your evidence is more than just Cameron Slater said so, right? Cos an inquiry (independent) found he has a tendency to exaggerate his work to make himself seem important?

          Reply
          Puckish Rogue …
          23 June 2015 at 11:04 am
          Just like every other journalist really”

      • TheContrarian 4.1.2
        24 June 2015 at 9:48 am

        Did he not get spat on first? Would make me pretty aggressive.

        • Puckish Rogue 4.1.2.1
          24 June 2015 at 9:51 am

          Well the police reckon that he did and there was enough video cameras around so it’ll come out at court

        • te reo putake 4.1.2.2
          24 June 2015 at 9:56 am

          TC, how can you tell the timeline from a single photograph? it’s alleged he spat at Henry, but even if that happened, there’s no way of knowing from that photo whether it was before or afterwards. The photo shows Henry being aggressive, which in itself, could be an assault.

          • TheContrarian 4.1.2.2.1
            24 June 2015 at 10:16 am

            That’s why I put a “?” after my comment you knob.

            • te reo putake 4.1.2.2.1.1
              24 June 2015 at 10:23 am

              The question mark doesn’t change the tense of your words, TC. You have placed the alleged assault prior to the photo (“did he not get spat on first?”). “first” is what establishes the sequence.

              Isn’t language terrific?

          • TheContrarian 4.1.2.2.2
            24 June 2015 at 10:26 am

            “how can you tell the timeline from a single photograph?”

            You watch the video and see for yourself – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11469225

            The still from the Mana News article doesn’t actually capture the moment where the protestor walks directly in front of Henry and appears to shove him forward.

            • te reo putake 4.1.2.2.2.1
              24 June 2015 at 10:36 am

              Cheers for the vid, TC. If there was spitting, Henry doesn’t seem to have noticed. And to be fair to Henry, he doesn’t appear to be aggressive either. The finger pointing which looks bad in the photo looks pretty lame in the video.

              • TheContrarian …
                24 June 2015 at 10:42 am

                Yeah – particularly given that, according to the news article, Henry was there on a completely unrelated matter.

                And Mana News says:
                “Police have enforced assault charges against Diego Chavez although Mr Chavez claims he never physically touched Paul Henry…Video footage of the incident clearly establishes at no stage did Mr Chavez commit assault. Unless staring intensively like a laser at another citizen is considered violent assault as Diego Chavez claims he is innocent beyond reasonable doubt.”

                Which is shown to be completely false by the video.

                • te reo putake …
                  24 June 2015 at 10:49 am

                  Well, the video doesn’t show any assault by either man. Not so sure if the same can be said for the copper later in the video who seems to be assaulting anybody he can lay his hands on.

                  • TheContrarian …
                    24 June 2015 at 10:51 am

                    I specifically meant:

                    “Diego Chavez although Mr Chavez claims he never physically touched Paul Henry”. Which is utter garbage.

                    And didn’t you just say:
                    “An assault doesn’t actually require physical contact, James.”

                    How do you define assault?

                    • te reo putake …
                      24 June 2015 at 10:54 am

                      Google it. It’s in the Crimes Act.

                      Not every contact between humans is assault. At the most, this could be said to be a very minor case of obstruction, but assault … nah.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 11:01 am

                      ““The photo shows Henry being aggressive, which in itself, could be an assault.”

                      So in your view Henry looking aggressive could be assault but the protestor physically obstructing Henry and, allegedly, spitting on him isn’t because “Not every contact between humans is assault.”

                      The mind boggles.

                    • te reo putake []
                      24 June 2015 at 11:06 am

                      Yep, the law’s a funny thing. If the man spat on Henry that is assault. If Henry aggressively poked his finger in the man’s face, that too, is assault. But the video suggests neither thing happened. As for the contact, both men were moving. If there was contact, it was minor, and from the video, it did not bother either man. Henry waved his finger and pointed to where he wanted to go. Then he walked away. Big whoop.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 11:11 am

                      “If Henry aggressively poked his finger in the man’s face, that too, is assault.”

                      Which from the video he didn’t – he “waved his finger and pointed to where he wanted to go.” And he didn’t just walk away – he was chased, pushed and pulled at.

                      Come on man, Henry hasn’t done anything wrong here – put your personal feelings aside and just watch the video. Henry didn’t act in an aggressive fashion in the slightest (which shows more forbearance than I possess) and was harangued and shoved.

                      As for assault – I ain’t a lawyer so can’t say and won’t speculate

                    • te reo putake []
                      24 June 2015 at 11:19 am

                      I’ve already said that Henry wasn’t aggressive in the video. But neither was the protester. If Henry was “chased, pushed and pulled” and “harangued and shoved” it was later in the sequence and did not involved the guy who was charged. So, unless the alleged assault was not part of the contact captured in the vid and the photo, I’d say the charge won’t stand up in court.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 11:24 am

                      Ah well – seems we are in agreement.

                      To the courts!

                    • Tracey …
                      24 June 2015 at 12:11 pm

                      I agree. Didnt we agree that even the threat of assault is a crime, hence not just the pulling of pony tails but also after he definitively knew she didn’t enjoy it he raised his hands as though to do it and made Jaws noises…. also assault.

                      We can’t have it both ways.

                    • McFlock …
                      24 June 2015 at 12:28 pm

                      Yeah, but I believe they’re discussing whether either Henry or the protestor even committed any acts which involved force or the threat of force. And came to a consensus of “nothing to see here”.

                      The cops will probably do their usual ass-cover of issuing a warning so the charge doesn’t get tested in court.

    • te reo putake 4.2
      24 June 2015 at 10:30 am

      Hey PR, you obviously missed this item on mana news, which is way more Onion like!

      http://mananews.co.nz/wp/?p=5578

      • Puckish Rogue 4.2.1
        24 June 2015 at 11:23 am

        I don’t know much about this guy but is he for real? I mean is it serious?

        • te reo putake 4.2.1.1
          24 June 2015 at 11:24 am

          Apparently so! They should have tried homeopathy first 😉

          • Puckish Rogue 4.2.1.1.1
            24 June 2015 at 11:38 am

            Thats silly, everyone knows that crystals are where the real healing is

            • marty mars 4.2.1.1.1.1
              24 June 2015 at 12:16 pm

              mocking indigenous cultural knowledge – so big of you two, such heros you are /sarc

              • McFlock …
                24 June 2015 at 12:31 pm

                If Mana therapy was diluted to homeopathic levels, would the result be the Maori Party?

                • marty mars …
                  24 June 2015 at 12:39 pm

                  describe Mana therapy?

                  • McFlock …
                    24 June 2015 at 1:14 pm

                    Turning up to a Mana AGM, according to the article.

                    • marty mars …
                      24 June 2015 at 5:05 pm

                      didn’t read it then – why not just say that

                    • McFlock …
                      24 June 2015 at 5:14 pm

                      just reread it – fair call.

                      My initial reading took it as an intentionally farcical story – got distracted by the “Nothing was working until she decided to attend the Mana AGM”, maybe.

                      Now I’m just not so sure about the “intentional” bit.

                    • marty mars …
                      24 June 2015 at 5:33 pm

                      possibly you aren’t the intended audience – sort of like a self selection mechanism

                    • McFlock …
                      24 June 2015 at 5:41 pm

                      Funny.
                      Before the last election folks were trying to argue that mana was a broad-based party that should appeal to everyone.

                      Now it’s plugging snake-oil to a targeted demographic.
                      Funny how the world works.

                    • marty mars …
                      24 June 2015 at 5:49 pm

                      jeese are you SURE you read it – the agm was a forum where this happened – is it really so hard to get your head around – anyway don’t let any facts get in the way of your jollity, you seem to be on a roll – or maybe that should be role.

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:10 pm

                      come on marty, by now Mana should be running its meetings to conform to NZ’s dominant cultural standards.

                    • McFlock …
                      24 June 2015 at 9:44 pm

                      Sure it wasn’t a tented prayer meeting that facilitated this cure with a slap on the head and a “Jeeezuss SAVES!”?
                      Maybe a kiss upon the mummified toe of a long-dead saint?
                      Or maybe weight loss testimonials on late night TV?
                      Hell, with so many miracle cures happening, it’s a wonder that there’s any sickness in the world at all.

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  24 June 2015 at 1:27 pm

                  I actually laughed out loud at that one and got some strange looks about it

              • Puckish Rogue …
                24 June 2015 at 2:47 pm

                I’m not mocking indigenous cultural knowledge, I’m knocking the people that believe in it 🙂

              • DoublePlusGood …
                24 June 2015 at 5:17 pm

                There’s a large difference between indigenous cultural knowledge and making shit up then winding it into a cultural context to try and sound less full of shit.

                • marty mars …
                  24 June 2015 at 5:30 pm

                  funny reading of the report/article – it didn’t say any of what you are saying probably because your interpretation missed the mark but feel free to enlighten me if I’ve got it wrong

              • weka …
                24 June 2015 at 5:54 pm

                “mocking indigenous cultural knowledge – so big of you two, such heros you are /sarc”

                Yep.

                Not sure which is more astounding, the sheer ignorance or the dog in the manger attitude that says if this healing doesn’t fit into my world view it’s bogus.

                Even stupider, the story is easily explainable within Western paradigms, so the ridicule is just out and out bigotry.

                • Hateatea …
                  24 June 2015 at 5:59 pm

                  It really annoys me that people are so willing to mock things that they have no knowledge of on the basis that it is ‘cultural’ or ‘indigeneous’ not ‘western science/ medicine’ and pat themselves on the back for their wit.

                  I am reassured that they also mocked Galileo 😉

                  • TheContrarian …
                    24 June 2015 at 6:57 pm

                    The Galileo gambit doesn’t actually apply. Galileo actually had evidence and proposed a method of action which fit what was observed.

                    Galileo didn’t just approach the church with a story.

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:04 pm

                      Traditional indigenous systems of medicine have evidence and a proposed method of action. The ignorance just gets thicker and thicker.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:58 pm

                      which traditional system? What’s the method of action?

                      It’s not ignorant to ask for evidence and it’s not bigoted. Ignorance is what you are doing – not asking for evidence and shouting bigotry at those that are

                • te reo putake …
                  24 June 2015 at 6:30 pm

                  Not mocking indigenous cultural knowledge, weka. A fair bit of current medicine has its basis in what can broadly described as that kind of knowledge. The hilarity comes from somebody being healed at a political party meeting by a shyster. Miracle my hairy arse!

                  • weka …
                    24 June 2015 at 6:59 pm

                    Miracle is a lay persons term for spontaneous remission. Like I said, ignorant.

                    Calling a Māori healer a shyster IS bigotry, and yes, you are mocking indigenous cultural knoweldge.

                    edit,

                    “The hilarity comes from somebody being healed at a political party meeting by a shyster.”

                    You might want to read up on the history and politics of the Tohunga Suppression Act before you start bandying around ridicule of politics and healing.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:00 pm

                      Calling a shyster a shyster is not bigotry.

                    • te reo putake …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:04 pm

                      Calling a shyster a shyster is not bigotry. I’m mocking a bullshit article about a bullshit claim about a bullshit miracle cure that never happened. These fraudsters are a blight on the maori people; taking money from the gullible who actually need real help. Let me be really clear … jail the fuckers.

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:06 pm

                      The healer in question is barely mentioned. The only way I can see you being able to make a judgement on them being a shyster is from bigotry.

                      But by all means go ahead and explain.

                    • te reo putake []
                      24 June 2015 at 7:09 pm

                      Fuck me, you’re being a tad dense tonight. Here’s the killer para:

                      “Nothing was working until she decided to attend the Mana AGM. After speaking to a Maori Healer Kaylee was able to stand then walk away from her wheel chair and hasnt used it since. Her and whanau are so grateful with this miracle.”

                      B U L L S H I T.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:09 pm

                      It has nothing to do with bigotry – it’s that there is no method of action, no evidence, is a second hand story that appears on a blog known for making wildly inaccurate claims with nothing in the way of secondary support.

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:13 pm

                      TRP, like I said, this is explainable within Western paradigms. You’re bigotry is making you blind.

                      But worse, you are wiling to judge the healer on the almost non-existant descrption of the woman and what the healer did.

                      It has nothing to do with bigotry – it’s that there is no method of action, no evidence, is a second hand story that appears on a blog known for making wildly inaccurate claims with nothing in the way of secondary support.

                      Right, so because the article fails to report detail, you are condemning the healer. This is out and out bigotry.

                      A question for both of you. Why are you not condemning the woman and her husband?

                  • Hateatea …
                    24 June 2015 at 7:30 pm

                    Do you know who the healer is? Do you know what their interaction with this woman was? Do you know that money changed hands? On what evidence do you label the healer a ‘shyster’, a very pejorative term?

                    In my life I have seen, heard and been involved in situations that cannot be defined by conventional western thinking but I know that they were true because they were of my own experience.

                    Just as Oriental healing methods, including acupuncture, were dismissed and criticised for many, many years so it is with indigeneous healing and spirituality here.

                    Just because it isn’t within YOUR experience or beliefs, it doesn’t of necessity mean that it doesn’t meet the needs of others.

                • TheContrarian …
                  24 June 2015 at 6:45 pm

                  Weka, Do you believe in Christian faith healing?

                  • weka …
                    24 June 2015 at 7:00 pm

                    What do you mean by ‘believe in’?

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:02 pm

                      do you think Christians faith healers are able to heal people in the same way as this Maori healer?

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:08 pm

                      Hard to say given I have no idea how this Māori healer worked. Or what you mean by Christian faith healer.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:14 pm

                      So you have no idea how this Maori faith healer worked but are ready to believe it? To you believe that Christian faith healers, like Jesus, who healed a leper in the bible, can heal also?

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:25 pm

                      “So you have no idea how this Maori faith healer worked but are ready to believe it?”

                      I have no idea if the story is true or not. How could I? My comments in this thread have been about the ignorance and cultural bigotry of some of the comments.

                      “To you believe that Christian faith healers, like Jesus, who healed a leper in the bible, can heal also?”

                      I don’t know the bible story. I think what you are asking about is very complex. Do healings happen that defy rational explanation? Yes, of course. Science isn’t omniscient. The issue isn’t whether these things happen, but whether they can be made to happen intentionally and to what extent belief is important in that.

                      And if belief is important then so is how the story is told. Here, take this pill it will make you feel better is the version used by Western medicine. I’ve known people to start taking pharmaceutical drugs and have imediate changes in their health that defy the usual explanations of action that you claim is vital (eg when drugs are supposed to weeks to have an effect).

                      It’s the bigotry displayed in this thread that is holding back Western medicine, and it’s also incredibly culturally rude.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:27 pm

                      Fuck off with your culturally rude. Anyone claiming to have magical healing powers deserves the same level of scepticism.

                      Holding back western medicine? Western medicine is doing pretty well.

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:38 pm

                      ‘magical powers’ lolz.

                      That’s called superstition (calling something magical because you don’t understand it).

                • TheContrarian …
                  24 June 2015 at 6:55 pm

                  And no – it isn’t bigotry. Rubbishing magical thinking is not bigotry.

                  • weka …
                    24 June 2015 at 7:00 pm

                    With that dog in the manger attitude I assume you would prefer the woman to remain in a wheelchair.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:03 pm

                      No I’d prefer evidence

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:08 pm

                      Right, so in the absence of evidence it’s wrong that this woman is walking now.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:12 pm

                      How do you know this woman is walking now? All you have is a single blog post making claims.

                      It isn’t “wrong” it is that there is no evidence except hearsay. There isn’t sufficient to evidence to make a judgement and extraordinary claims make extraordinary evidence.

                      Being gullible or believing something of which there is scant or no evidence isn’t a trait you should be proud of

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:17 pm

                      There is a photo of the woman walking, duh.

                      “There isn’t sufficient to evidence to make a judgement and extraordinary claims make extraordinary evidence.”

                      Wow, you’re finally getting it. There’s no evidence to make a judgement either way. Yet you were perfectly happy to make a judgement. That’s the bigotry.

                    • te reo putake []
                      24 June 2015 at 7:25 pm

                      Bullshit. I made the judgement on the lies in the story. Jail the fucker who conned this woman. If she’s in on it, jail her too. I fucken hate people who prey on the ignorance of the poor and the naive. I’ve seen it too many times not to call it what it is. And what it is is bullshit.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:22 pm

                      Yes because there is a lack of evidence so I am more than happy to make a judgement that it is false until such a time as suffice to evidence is presented. Otherwise it is merely hearsay.

                      A photo of her walking. That’s it? Is she walking now? Could she walk briefly before? Was she in pain? Was she on any other medication? Is she still using a wheelchair? And it is not bigotry to demand evidence before being convinced a faith healer cured someone

                      A single blog story isn’t evidence of anything.

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:26 pm

                      Sure, that’s what I’ve been saying all along. Your belief system enables you to be a bigot. And an irrational one at that. You’ve made a decision in the absence of evidence, that shit is what gives science a bad name 🙁

                      I’m pretty sure that what you are doing is judging the story as false on no evidence simply because you think that it’s not possible for someone who’s been in a wheelchair for 3 months to get up and walk. Within Western paradigms, this is explanable, but instead of being open and enquiring to see if such an event is possible, you’ve gone straight to a conclusion based on your beliefs. That’s bad enough within Western cultures, but when you apply it to indigenous cultures it IS cultural bigotry as well.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:29 pm

                      yea, in the absence of evidence it is safe to not believe something until such a time as evidence is presented. I am am open and enquiring which is why I asked “could she walk before? Is she on other medications? Is she usin her wheelchair now? Is she still walking?” That’s enquiring you fucking tit.

                      If I said there was a unicorn in my lounge is it irrational to suspend your belief?

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:29 pm

                      Bullshit. I made the judgement on the lies in the story. Jail the fucker who conned this woman. If she’s in on it, jail her too. I fucken hate people who prey on the ignorance of the poor and the naive. I’ve seen it too many times not to call it what it is. And what it is is bullshit.

                      Like TC, you’re making heft judgements based on no evidence. You’re perfectly entitled to do that of course, but expect to be called out on it.

                    • te reo putake []
                      24 June 2015 at 7:41 pm

                      I’m making judgements on what is written in the story. It’s bullshit. Obviously.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:33 pm

                      When being presented with something of which no evidence is presented the default position is disbelief – not the other way round

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:33 pm

                      “yea, in the absence of evidence it is safe to not believe something until such a time as evidence is presented.”

                      Of course, if that’s how you want to work in the world that’s fine, just acknowledge that it’s a belief. But I think you are being a tad disingenuous. It’s not suspension of belief, it’s active disbelief (which comes from your preconceived notions about what is possible in the world, and those I am afraid are based in ignorance).

                      “If I said there was a unicorn in my lounge is it irrational to suspend your belief?”

                      Lots of people have unicorns in their lounge.

                      https://public.bn1304.livefilestore.com/y2pmlborMvZLy44m4-ZrjhZhX292zgyPonvV_CtsYhQkLLy97YBcnwUxC0Y-yX48xCCZzYtkLrciRz8atg6C5LCu9VojqX7EPdJY_LUyj3MqO4/%E9%A9%AC2.jpg?psid=1&rdrts=109755144

                      See how this might work?

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:35 pm

                      “When being presented with something of which no evidence is presented the default position is disbelief – not the other way round”

                      You seem to think there are only two options, belief and disbelief. There is at least one more (which is the one I am doing).

                      But thanks for making it clearer that for you this is primarily an issue of belief

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:36 pm

                      So you work in the world where anything anyone tells you is real until proved otherwise? Must get awfully confusing.

                      So far you have reversed the burden of proof, confused skepticism with bigotry and said it is irrational to require evidence before accepting something as fact. Not a good start

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:42 pm

                      So you work in the world where anything anyone tells you is real until proved otherwise? Must get awfully confusing.

                      No, I don’t. And I think now you are not reading what I am writing, or at least not taking the time to think about what I am saying.

                      “So far you have reversed the burden of proof”

                      No, I haven’t. I’ve said that in a short piece on a political blog there isn’t enough information to know really happened. I make the same analytical judgement of information all the time (including on ts).

                      “confused skepticism with bigotry”

                      again no. I have no problem with scepticism. What bothers me is the hypocritical claim that the scepticism is based on rationality, when it’s patently not, at the same time as claiming cultural superiortity based on a rational world view, and all in the context of extreme ignorance of what healing actually is even from a Western perspective.

                      When you prejudge something based on your own belief system rather than evidence, that prejudice is bigotry.

                      “and said it is irrational to require evidence before accepting something as fact.”

                      and again no. Reread what I am saying.

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:47 pm

                      Someone I know told me that TRP is really a right winger and loves John Key.

                      I’ll be putting up a blogpost about that later, and then everyone can make their own judgements about him.

                    • lprent []
                      24 June 2015 at 10:09 pm

                      Nope. I am a capitalistic free-market militaristic right winger (and I’m not joking).

                      Unfortunately I also have a brain. (It would be so much easier if I had the brain of a sewer rat or the ethics of David Garret). So I am also a social democrat…

                      It is a question of balance. And time-scales about what is the right thing at the right time.

                    • weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:49 pm

                      Anyhoo, I’m off to have a bath to relieve the pain in my body. No-one’s done a double blind RCT* on that, so we have no way of knowing of it really does relieve the pain in my body or if I just believe it does.

                      *yes, that was me taking the piss.

                    • TheContrarian …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:50 pm

                      The burden of proof is on the claimant and asking that person for proof is not bigotry and it isn’t bigotry to disbelieve it without proof because my skepticism isn’t around the person culture or background but by the fact, again, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. ALL faith healers should meet the same requirement for proof – regardless of faith, culture or background.

                      “When you prejudge something based on your own belief system rather than evidence, that prejudice is bigotry.”

                      I prejudge based on the lack of evidence – not belief – EVIDENCE.

                      “weka …
                      24 June 2015 at 7:47 pm
                      Someone I know told me that TRP is really a right winger and loves John Key.

                      I’ll be putting up a blogpost about that later, and then everyone can make their own judgements about him.
                      ”
                      And I’ll present evidence that it is false. See how it works

  5. James 5
    24 June 2015 at 10:02 am

    “The photo shows Henry being aggressive, which in itself, could be an assault.”

    Really?

    How exactly? If Henry didn’t touch or spit on him (which he is doing neither in the picture) – are you now saying looking aggressive could not be assault ?

  6. Charles 6
    24 June 2015 at 10:13 am

    Over on The Daily Blog there is a new “How not to be an Asshole” podcast with professional fighter/boxer/MMA Israel Adesanya (last name pronounced… AdesONya)

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/06/24/how-not-to-be-an-asshole-dans-second-potential-choking-ft-israel-adesanya/

    So what’s in it?

    Unless you’re a fan of Sport Fighting, most of it will roll over your head. There’s lots of sport commentary, technique discussion and name dropping, and for people not familiar with it, the intensity of the sport is unavoidably understated by the talk format.

    Besides all the sporty stuff there are interesting parts for a wider audience at 20mins, 45mins, and about every ten minutes from there onward: Where Adesanya is (gently) challenged on his outlook because he neglects acknowledgement of his own confidence and ability; and more importantly, is later is questioned about how it is he found and maintained his early confidence in a place like NZ – and it wasn’t fighting.

    He is a very confident person, Adesanya, and his manner of speaking reflects that. Just to put that into perspective, towards the end they talk about Joe Rogan, who some of you will be more familiar with as a radio show/comedian/New Age Explorer, but who was also a Sport Fighter in his early days. In one of Joe’s many podcasts in which he talks about those times (and he was really very good at it), he said that in the end he had to stop fighting because the intensity of the sport, the constant readiness required, the strain of knowing someone was going to try to beat you to shit every week, it destroyed his nerves. So that’s how confident Isreal Adesanya is, above Joe Rogan, and Joe Rogan is pretty damn confident.

    So take a look, it’s worth the hour of listening time.

    Personal opinion on the podcast itself follows…

    A while back I said I wasn’t going to listen to any more of these podcasts, despite the entertainment factor, and skill of the hosts. This one has won me back. No doubt they won’t be sitting at home thinking, “Yes! Now we’ve finally made it, Charles is listening again…”.

    The reason is at around the 20min mark in this episode: One of the hosts pushes the guest to expand his mind a bit, which is remarkable, because clearly the host is a big fan of the guy. To my mind, a person can be an “asshole” by having a small mind, denying the existence of alternate realities and holding tightly to their own perspective at the cost of everything “smaller than himself”, but also, a person can be an asshole by withholding their view when they know they should say something. That person makes an asshole of themselves, by disrespecting their own reality.

    That final attitude was becoming prevalent in the method these guys were using. They were going full-out listening to their hosts to avoid their own “assholean traits” (we all have them); letting their guests speak without interrupting, making the guest comfortable, encouraging the conversation down complimentary routes rather than just a linear issue-by-issue format; doing some excellent interviews, which is great, because that doesn’t happen in the MSM anymore; but they were also holding back, punctuated by awkward silences, poignant pauses and gasps of air, which was wrong and threatened to stall their progress into the art of interviewing.

    It was pretty clear from early episodes that the life experience of these hosts is wide-ranging and complex, but they weren’t pushing themselves, or their guests, to their obvious extensive capability. Just like a good teacher learns from their students, a good host should be as challenged as the guest. I didn’t want them to hammer their guests with opinion, like they were the Mike Hoskings of Onehunga, but my ears thought they should be “more present” to really extract the full importance of the relationship between Host and Guest.

    Some of it may have been my own expectations. Since their interpersonal skills were already so amazingly high before they started, better than mine, I assumed that they would glide through it all like they were old pros, when in reality they were new it themselves, and that confused me a bit. They’re free to do as they please and follow their own course, and should, but since I said publicly I was giving up on them, I’ll also say publicly that I’m giving them another go, and why, and see where they go from here.

    (People may wonder: Why not post this on TDB or Soundcloud? 1) To promote a wider audience of the “How not to be an Asshole” podcasts – they’re good stuff and if you’re interested in media/communication skills, light-years ahead of MSM. [I have also enjoyed the background soundtrack of the washing machine in the last two episodes. My machine sounds the same.] 2) I really hate having my comments moderated, purposely misconstrued or edited every single time I want to say something that may not even be very interesting. If people only want me to say something they agree with, they should just say what they want themselves. However, TDB do have good articles.)

    • Tracey 6.1
      24 June 2015 at 12:13 pm

      “This one has won me back. No doubt they won’t be sitting at home thinking, “Yes! Now we’ve finally made it, Charles is listening again…”.

      Still enjoying your contributions. Read your long one yesterday but had no chance to comment.

      Carry on sir!

  7. Chooky 7
    24 June 2015 at 10:54 am

    Go Green Parties around the World!….and now in the USA…

    ‘Jill Stein announces 2016 Green Party presidential bid’

    http://rt.com/usa/269230-jill-stein-green-2016/

    The most successful female presidential candidate in US history is making another White House bid. Dr. Jill Stein announced she would seek the Green Party nomination, joining sixteen other contenders in the 2016 presidential race so far.

    The third woman to join the campaign, Stein made the official announcement on Tuesday, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Her platform, dubbed “The Power to the People Plan,” seeks to answer the “economic, social, and ecological crises brought on by both corporate political parties,” and “empowers the American people to fix our broken political system and make real the promise of democracy,” Stein’s campaign said in a statement.

    “The Power to the People Plan creates deep system change, moving from the greed and exploitation of corporate capitalism to a human-centered economy that puts people, planet and peace over profit,” said Stein, adding “The power to create this new world is not in our hopes, it’s not in our dreams – it’s in our hands.”…

  8. Puckish Rogue 8
    24 June 2015 at 11:33 am

    I know you all think hes the devil but you’ll probably want to read this:

    http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2015/06/hallelujah-national-party-man-loses-name-suppression-around-sex-offences/

  9. Colonial Rawshark 9
    24 June 2015 at 11:41 am

    Dmitry Orlov describes the illusion of the USA’s “economic recovery”

    http://cluborlov.blogspot.co.nz/2015/06/pop-goes-bubble.html#more

  10. Clemgeopin 10
    24 June 2015 at 11:56 am

    Tory feminism :

    “it made me think about what Tory feminism was, which fed into the standup in my show War Donkey in Edinburgh in the summer of 2012. This is how it went:

    “I’ve been trying to work out what a Tory feminist is, because I keep seeing photographs of female Tory MPs in the newspapers, wearing T-shirts with ‘This is what a feminist looks like’ on them. What, like a T-shirt? How can a T-shirt look like a feminist? A T-shirt looks like a T-shirt, doesn’t it? It should say, ‘This is what a T-shirt with “This is what a feminist looks like” written on it looks like.’

    That’s what it says on the front, anyway, of the Tory feminists’ T-shirts that they’re all wearing now. And on the back it says, ‘Not really, I’m a Tory, you gullible dick.’

    Then underneath that it says, ‘I axed the health in pregnancy grant. I closed Sure Start centres.’ That one’s got a smiley face next to it. ‘I cut child benefit and slashed tax credits. I shut down shelters for battered wives and children. I cut rape counselling and legal aid.’ Winking face.

    ‘I cut funding for CCTV cameras and street lighting, making women much more vulnerable. I closed down all 23 specialist domestic violence courts. I cut benefits for disabled children.’ Sad face with sunglasses on. ‘I tried to amend the abortion act so that women receive one-to-one abortion counselling from the pope before they go ahead with it.’ Winking face with tongue out. The back is much longer than the front, by the way. It’s a tailcoat, basically. They’re wearing tailcoats.”

    Read the full,clever & funny article here:
    http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jun/22/bridget-christie-feminists-sex-men-book-extract

    • Tracey 10.1
      24 June 2015 at 12:15 pm

      someone posted about this yesterday Clem… doesn’t hurt to have it for those who missed it though

  11. Skinny 11
    24 June 2015 at 12:16 pm

    Here is another good reason why I refer to the Maori Party as the ‘Tory-Maori Party’ Just when some people were prepared to give Flavell the benefit of doubt over his brain fade. He comes out in support of swamp Kauri exports.

    Let me guess some where in cyberspace there will be a photo of Flavell, Judith Collins & her husband Mr Tung standing around a Kauri boardroom table at Oravida’s head office.

    Flavell will just shrug any claims of dodgy dealings as ‘a brain fade.’
    http://www.waateanews.com/Waatea+News.html?story_id=OTgwNA%3D%3D&v=413#.VYh0Bv7O10I.facebook

  12. Clemgeopin 12
    24 June 2015 at 1:37 pm

    This nasty and stupid government killed the Adult Community Education Night Classes to save $13 million dollars per year.

    NOW, they are trying to slowly and steadily kill the KIWI SAVER SCHEME!

    After last month’s budget changes, there is a 50% drop in enrollment!

    ANZ Wealth managing director John Body said the removal of kick-start had hit confidence in the retirement savings scheme. An ANZ survey found that 62 per cent of those who had not joined the scheme were now less likely to, while 52 per cent were concerned the Government would make further changes to the scheme.

    “Normally we’d be surprised if our numbers changed by 5 per cent, month by month. Clearly the 50 per cent drop off you have to look to the removal of the kickstart,” Body said. “Our investors consistently tell us the one thing that removes their faith in Kiwisaver as a retirement solution is the continued changes to it.”

    The day after the Budget, ANZ chief economist Cameron Bagrie said without the kickstart payment he would not have bothered to sign his own children up to the scheme.

    READ MORE: Axing bonus removes incentive, economist says

    Although National axed the kickstart payment, English said the other aspects of the scheme, including accessing the Government’s annual contribution of up to $521, provided they contribute $1042 during the year.

    The removal of the kickstart payments is expected to save the Treasury around $125 million a year.

    Labour finance spokesman Grant Robertson has said the party would reinstate the kickstart payments in government.

    “This is the sad inevitability of the change and maybe at a slightly higher rate that would have been expected,” Robertson said.

    “The real damage here is to the savings culture of New Zealand. We have traditionally been very poor savers as a country. KiwiSaver was making a big difference to that. That’s the real tragedy here, that we are going backwards in terms of destroying the savings culture that’s been built up.”

    Established in 2007, initial projections predicted that by now around 700,000 Kiwis would be signed up to the scheme, however around 2.5 million have done so.

    Read more here:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/69665994/kiwisaver-enrolments-drop-by-half-after-national-axes-signup-payment

  13. Morrissey 13
    24 June 2015 at 1:37 pm

    Defence: Russia to boost its military presence in Central and South America
    by CATHERINE HARDY | With REUTERS, NATO, EBU
    23.06.2015

    Russia has announced plans to deploy heavy weaponry in several Central and South American nations.

    Officials say they want to calm concerns among OAS allies who feel threatened by a resurgent USA.

    ​Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu commented on the decision on a visit to the Mexican capital, Mexico City: “Unfortunately we had to spend time talking about the USA’s recent attempts to turn back the clock in what it calls its ‘back yard’, especially here in the Central America region.“​

    Officials in Washington have been quoted as saying the decision is the most aggressive action by Russia since the end of the Cold War.

    “We are not talking about entering into a new Cold War type of arms race, we are not trying collectively to match Obama, I mean, tank by tank or helicopter by helicopter in the Caribbean sea region either,” said Mexican Defence Secretary Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda.

    Equipment will be sited in Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama as well as Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. Some will also be based in Brazil.

    The OAS has stepped up exercises in the region in the wake of the USA’s destruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, and its continual aggression in Africa and the Middle East.

    http://www.euronews.com/2015/06/23/defence-us-to-boost-its-military-presence-in-central-and-eastern-europe/

    • Colonial Rawshark 13.1
      24 June 2015 at 5:37 pm

      lolz damn those Russians moving their country closer and closer to those NATO bases!

  14. maui 14
    24 June 2015 at 1:49 pm

    The poor die while the west does it’s best to keep ramping up heat in the atmosphere.
    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/23/pakistan-karachi-heatwave-death-toll-tops-450-officials-say

  15. McFlock 15
    24 June 2015 at 1:54 pm

    $4.6 million fraud because he felt underpaid.

    Five years, down from eight because of “guilty pleas, remorse, and limited good character”. No non-parole period. Remorse my arse – $300k in reparations barely covers a single year of his offending. But he sold his bach – oh, the hardship…

    • Colonial Rawshark 15.1
      24 June 2015 at 2:01 pm

      One time list candidate for ACT huh

      • McFlock 15.1.1
        24 June 2015 at 2:08 pm

        lol I missed that bit.

        Fuck, they need to rename themselves the Association of Criminals and Tax-evaders.

      • Skinny 15.1.2
        24 June 2015 at 3:52 pm

        So he felt stiffed by not being paid the market rate so wounded the taxpayer. I would assume the Taxpayer Union revoked his membership immediately?

  16. Clemgeopin 16
    24 June 2015 at 2:00 pm

    Re Flavell, Peters challenges Hansard alteration!

    [Clip also includes Winston’s comment about Colin Craig & the conservatives]

    New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is calling for the resignation of Te Ururoa Flavell as Minister in charge of Maori Television for altering the official parliamentary record of his statements about alleged interference at the channel.

    Mr Peters says the video record shows Mr Flavell admitted he was aware of interaction between his staff and Maori Television over a planned Queen’s Birthday debate on the whanau ora policy.

    But when the Hansard draft came back from his office, it was changed to say he was not aware.

    http://www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_story_id/OTgyMg==/National/Peters%20challenges%20Hansard%20rewrite/

  17. Philip Ferguson 17
    24 June 2015 at 2:22 pm

    For years workplace fatalities were faceless numbers. The real human sorrow barely rated a mention in the media until the disaster at Pike River. The scale of the tragedy in that mine gave a glimpse of what was wrong at many workplaces. The site was not fully unionised, the workers were not in charge of health and safety, and profits were put before safety. No one has been held to account for those 29 deaths. The company, the bosses, the governments – Labour and National – that blocked union rights and oversaw the demise of a culture of workplace safety, were all complicit.pike river

    Worksafe’s official figures record an annual average of 75 people dying each year on the job in New Zealand and one in ten injured at work. A further 600-900 die from. . .

    full at: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/06/22/time-for-workers-to-take-charge-of-health-and-safety/

    Pike River collection (“the murders at Pike River”) at: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2014/12/22/the-murders-at-pike-river/

    Phil

  18. Philip Ferguson 18
    24 June 2015 at 2:25 pm

    Women’s work under capitalism (from 1998), but opening sounds very familiar indeed:

    “The changes to benefits outlined in the May 15 budget highlight the continued importance of the oppression of women under capitalism. From next February domestic purposes’ and widows’ beneficiaries will be work-tested. Those with children older than 14 will be expected to look for full-time work; beneficiaries with children aged six to 13 will have to seek part-time work; and those with children younger than six will have to visit Income Support for a yearly planning interview.

    “The implication is clear: as capitalism. . .”

    Full at: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/06/24/from-the-vaults-womens-work-under-capitalism-1998/

    Phil

    • RedBaronCV 18.1
      24 June 2015 at 8:21 pm

      Maybe it’s time we home tested a few blokes to see how much housework & childcare they are doing with a view to raising the tax/child support rate on the ones who fail.

  19. te reo putake 19
    24 June 2015 at 4:29 pm

    Latest Roy Morgan out. 4.5% drop in support for National. Judith Collins will be well pleased!

    http://roymorgan.com/findings/6300-roy-morgan-new-zealand-voting-intention-june-2015-201506240227

  21. Ffloyd 21
    24 June 2015 at 8:02 pm

    That’s weird! I was just reading somewhere this morning that she had declined the job.

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    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

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