No. He would like to see that investment shift from gobbling up existing homes ( some of which sit empty or have 1 student offspring in it) into new homes to create a more energised new home build market.
The Govt is also legislating against foreign ownership?
But in doing so (creating a more energised new home build market) it will be adding upward pressure, thus squeezing local buyers out. With the displacement resulting in the ripple effect.
Merely shifting demand and not ceasing it won’t prevent offshore investors gobbling up our land and homes. Albeit new ones.
Especially with limited tradesman to build more homes. If all this did was increase the numebr of homes being built great. i can’t see that happening and the price to build a new home will go up.
Allowing this upward pressure is a big mistake that will come back to haunt Labour.
It will clash with Kiwibuild.
I’d suggest they look at a form of tax as a disincentive to substantially slow this form of investment. It’s not the type of offshore investment we require.
Failing to get business leadership to harness common purpose for this country has the capacity to cripple this administration as it nearly did for the first term of Clark.
Seeing I don’t want a Depression or a Revolution, I think engaging with business
and not scaring the horses makes sense. They have a part to ply in our economy. / sarc
The breathless, sycophantic hagiography of Moir and Jenna Lynch on Newshub yesterday is sickening. They come across as National Party PR flunkies not journalists. I am not surprised but it emphasises yet again how poorly we are served by the MSM.
O’Sullivan’s piece on the other hand was worth reading.
You do wonder whether it’s a case of bias, but rather ignorance, laziness, bias and incompetence.
These people have been picked because they are cheap ad they get little journalistic training. They are obsessed with their own egos. They are in the entertainment business not news business.
They stand for nothing.
And more propaganda to be found in the Herald by Trevett.
55% of the voters in this country did not vote for the National Party.
About 70% of the adult population did not vote for the National Party.
Yet over 75% or more of the opinion pieces advocate for the right wing.
Stuart Nash has been the best MP for Napier since the 156-year-old electorate was red for all but 17 years since the first Labour MP was elected in 1922.
The only bad Labour MP Napier ever had was Russell Fairbrother who he shocked us all when he closed our Historic iconic Napier hospital and that cost labour the 2008 election.
Thank God we have re-secured Napier again as a labour strong hold.
James you have a long history of bad mouthing any other party except National, and on those grounds i have this comment here as a bad mouthing of Stuart Nash “figuratively” speaking.
We look forward to any statement from you that favours the current Government in future.
We do need to give the Labour coalition Governement a fair go, and a chance to succeed as we will all benefit from this.
To quote james;
“Shortly after, Labour MP Stuart Nash walked in trying to sell some bloody story about cops.
He looked shocked, almost offended at my face.”
“He would indulge in sexual touching while working on the set (Top of the Pops or Jim’ll Fix It) and, on at least one occasion, he was actually on camera.
“Savile would seize the opportunity for sexual contact even in public places such as corridors, staircases and canteens.”
….the honours committee advised then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher against recommending Savile for a knighthood because of public warning signs about the presenter, even if the BBC failed to see them. ….
“GROPERS” is presented by GroperWatch, a division of Daisycutter Sports Inc.
More gropers. Collect the series!…
No.1 George Herbert Walker Bush; No. 2 Bill O’Reilly; No. 3 Al Franken; No. 4 Robin Brooke; No. 5 Lester Beck; No. 6 Arnold Schwarzenegger; No. 7 Joe Biden; No. 8 Rolf Harris; No. 9 Harold Bloom
Heh. While I really wish the Clintons would just go away and enjoy their millions away from the spotlight and we never hear from them again, I gotta admit this article makes some good points about the upsides of Hillary for 2020.
Fuckwits made up so much about her health last election, I’m amazed she’s still alive. She’d be the oldest president taking office if she won (record currently held by Trump). Put those two together, every time she clears her throat the fuckwits will be diagnosing terminal lung cancer.
Another Saturday, another confused story from John Roughan in the Herald. Seriously, does John “no will use the bus way” Roughan have a fucking clue?
I THINK his bewildering article, which starts with a sweeping anachronistic generalisation, makes an unsubstantiated assertion, creates a straw man based on a flat out wrong assumption of the past before making another tiresome declaration of the superiority of the market model is actually an inchoate attempt to address the issue of where we direct our tertiarty funding. But who knows with Roughan, the guy is a 1980s dinosaur with but a fleeting connection to the dynamics of New Zealand in 2017.
Seriously, why does the Herald cling to these old, out of touch op-ed writers? Surely they could find a young woman to write opinion pieces, or maybe an Asian bloke under 40? And surely they’d be more bracing and up to date in their views than have retreads who recycle the same predictable rubbish?
Just for the record, NZ Universities were always free, or practically free, before the government abandoned it’s core role in tertiary education. when Victoria College was established in 1899, its founding Act stated that the highest fee charged to students by the college was not to exceed the lowest fee set at any other college in New Zealand. Up until 1911, the fee set by Victoria was one and a half guineas (32 shillings, just over one and a half pounds), which was then doubled in 1912. This was when the an unskilled labourer earned on average 140 pounds a year. Based on the minimum wage that would make 1912 university fees about $1500 in todays money. Is Roughan really trying to claim the university funding system that existed before 1990s produced academically inferior universities? Because all the evidence points to the complete opposite.
Aging ideological halfwits like Roughan like to harrumph from their supposed rarified heights about the fake news and the like – but it is their obsession with ideology and their need to force every fact and every interpretation in that ideological lens, that laid the groudwork for todays fake news world.
Fuck off and retire Roughan. You’re a handbrake on the countries future.
You must be an extremely wealthy person.
Any one who can say, apparently with a straight face, that
“NZ Universities were always free, or practically free”
and follow it, a couple of lines later, that
“that would make 1912 university fees about $1500 in todays money”
is clearly a great deal better off than I am.
Are you seriously proposing the $1500 is a mere bagatelle and really not worth anything at all? Are you so rich that you consider $1500 indistinguishable from “free”?
I believe it was after WWII that tertiary education did become free. The time of the NZ,s and the West’s greatest growth and development. And then neo-liberalism got implemented around the world and things have downhill for them since.
Although, the inflation calculator says that today’s price for that one and a half pounds would be ~$250 and not $1500.
Any one who can say, apparently with a straight face, that
“NZ Universities were always free, or practically free”
Do you not recall the bursary system?.
There are, of course, various important conditions governing such matters as eligibility and tenure; for detailed information, reference should be made to the University Bursaries Regulations 1962. The following summary will, however, serve to illustrate the general purpose and nature of the bursaries.
1 Fees Bursary: This is, in general, available to all students who hold the University Entrance qualification or the Endorsed School Certificate. The bursary is tenable for the minimum period of time in which the student, pursuing his course full time, could complete that course. It provides for the payment of full tuition fees.
2 Fees and Allowances Bursary: This is available to students who have qualified for the Higher School Certificate. In addition, students who in their first year of tenure of a fees bursary have been credited with passes in three units of an arts or science degree or their equivalent may then become entitled to the fees and allowances bursary. The bursary provides for the payment of full tuition fees and a bursary allowance increasing from £40 in the first year to £100 in the fourth or any subsequent year. It is tenable for the minimum period required for the bachelor’s course.
3 Master’s Bursary: Students who have completed a bachelor’s degree course in not more than one year in excess of the minimum period and who wish to take a master’s degree may be awarded a master’s bursary for this purpose. The bursary is awarded for one year, with provision for extension. The value is the same as for the fourth and subsequent years of the fees and allowances bursary.
The tenure of all these bursaries is dependent on the continued satisfactory progress of the student bursar, and there is provision in the regulations referred to above for suspension, reinstatement, and termination of any bursary.
No, I hadn’t forgotten them.
I was a recipient of that largesse. However Sanctuary described the Universities as having always been near free and then quoted numbers from 1912 which didn’t look anything like that.
It was a great deal easier to do such things in the 50s and 60s. Vic had about 3,000 students when I was originally there and there were probably only about 15,000 in the whole country. A lot of the courses, law for example, were part time.
This appears to be a reply to me.
Can you tell me what the relevance of 1977 is and who you are talking about when you say “We will see who is right.”.
The government needs to make sweeping reforms to the media so apologists for the 1% like Lynch, Roughan, Hosking, Moir, Garner, Soper, du Plessis Allen, etc have 1% of the airtime.
Roughan only has a job because he says what the owner of NZME want the public of NZ to hear.
He is a tool for the 1%.
The owners of NZME
‘he JMAD New Zealand media ownership report 2016 observes that New Zealand media institutions are facing major changes in ownership and management, but it is not clear what combinations will eventually emerge.
For the first time in six years, New Zealand media companies are exclusively owned by financial institutions. ’
Leaving aside Roughan’s twitterings, it’s my personal observation that during the period in the 80’s NZ Universities went through the transition from ‘virtually free’ to ‘fee paying’ they began to become less attractive places.
Specifically academic staff could no longer treat students purely on merit, but had to incorporate some awareness that their own salaries were now linked in some manner to their ‘clients’ success.
That and the disaster that was ‘continuous assessment’ which greatly diminished the social and intellectual life of the place … has placed our Universities on a path of decreasing global value.
Having actually lived and worked in Russia for a short period I rather wish the West would grow out of this pointless Russophobia. Ordinary Russians are a fine people pretty much just like the rest of us.
As with China, with Russia there are different political and philosophical variants in play that we need to be intelligent and discriminating about engaging with. But ultimately the West is far better served by working towards rapprochement than a reflexive isolation.
Ordinary Russians are fine people, as are ordinary Chinese, most ordinary Americans, ordinary Indians etc.
But the elites that hold the levers of power are different, and they operate in different ways. Best not to be naive about how cunning and malicious they can be in service of their long term interests.
So far as I can tell, they operate the same way in every country: with a very high degree of impunity. Once again, ethnicity has nothing to do with it.
Looking at the two pieces by Lynch and Moir again it is the relentless one-sidedness of them that is so obvious.
There is no attempt at a balanced assessment of these potential National Party leaders. No hint of the stench of corruption that hangs around Collins, or Bridge’s politicking with 10 (no) bridges for Northland, Coleman’s incompetence, any evidence of what Kaye has actually achieved and so on.
Personally I don’t care who they choose as obviously I’m not impressed with any of them and out of that lot whomever they choose will make the government look better.
Lynch:
He (Bridges) had an aggressive start to this Parliamentary term, turning the House upside down and showing Labour who is boss on the opening day. The symbolism of the show of force he exerted by making the Government question its numbers while trying to do a procedural election of a Speaker is that he is ready to take them on.
Yep, we get it. As Ed says, you think Simon is amazing.
He’s had a succession of good jobs and none of his ministerial portfolios have caused him any grief.
They’ve caused us some grief though. Building largely pointless motorways and not investing in ways to build a sustainable transport system that’s not so harmful to the environment and get more huge trucks off our over-stressed roading system has been a successful approach.
He had a regular head-to-head slot with Jacinda Ardern on morning television in his early days, so he’s proven he can match her.
At what? Appearing on morning TV?
And ever since then, like the Crown prosecutor he is by trade, he is building a compelling case.
Was he any good?
Just 12 months later he’s found himself on the Opposition benches and has launched a series of blistering attacks on the new Government, whether in the House, through brutally worded press releases or by baiting Ministers on social media.
Beneath the Brylcreem exterior lurks a nasty piece of work (much like Key).
Judith Collins – Remains a total threat, performing incredibly in Opposition.
Really? Oh, I get it. Judith is amazing too.
Amy Adams – The former Justice Minister has already landed some solid strikes on the new Government and has been given portfolios that will continue to hit where it hurts – particularly Workplace Relations. Her move on Paid Parental Leave was a masterstroke.
Masterstroke? Or just empty posturing and duplicitious points-scoring?
Paula Bennett – The job seemed hers a while ago, but at the moment, the desire doesn’t seem to be there. She seems happy taking a back seat after losing the Deputy Prime Minister spot.
Wonder why?
Nikki Kaye – Represents the future and is National’s face of Auckland. She’s also beaten Jacinda Ardern twice in Auckland Central.
One is now the PM the other an opposition MP who doesn’t seem to have achieved much.
Steven Joyce – He rose rapidly through the ranks and has done pretty much everything but.
Done pretty much everything just not very well.
Moir:
The party says it wants English in the leadership and many are still sore about how much of the vote they won and it not being enough to keep them in Government.
So they are delusional and still don’t understand MMP then. Great credentials for party that wants to govern again.
Some have taken to Opposition like a duck to water with the likes of Nikki Kaye and Judith Collins barking at everything passing by them.
Like dogs chasing cars, that’s smart.
Kaye and Bridges have been tag teaming as they create chaos for Education Minister and Leader of the House Chris Hipkins and tertiary spokesman Paul Goldsmith, almost invisible in Government, seems to be basking in his newfound Opposition freedom.
Create chaos? Really? And Goldsmith was useless as a minister but good in opposition? Yep that’s the right way round.
Both Collins and Bridges are class acts in Opposition – they’re fast on their feet and they’ve both got a bit of pitbull in them.
Class acts? Seriously, Oriveda Collins? Pitbull? Collins maybe but Bridges seems more like a yappy little terrier, one of those brainless dogs that runs along a residential front fenceline yapping at you as you walk past.
Kaye is ambitious and can dine out on the fact she beat the hugely popular Ardern in the Auckland Central seat twice.
So what? How long will this keep getting trotted out?
Coleman wouldn’t have any qualms about giving it another crack but he’s going to have to school up fast on how Opposition works.
Pity he didn’t school up on being a minister. This is the guy that ran down our health system and was pretty much a disaster as health minister.
Then there’s Amy Adams. She’s smart – don’t forget she got given just about every portfolio there was in the last government, given how competent she is.
Maybe because the others were so useless but at least she didn’t drop the ball like so many of them.
Did Lynch ask Collins orBridges to ghost write the article for her?
Trevett’s article is ghastly too. These people cannot be called journalists.
We do not have a democratic media. We have one owned by financial institutions who have a message they want the NZ public to hear. And they own some willing narcissistic puppets ( Lynch, Moir, Hosking, Garner, Roughan, du Plessis-Allan, Soper, Street, Tame) happy to peddle their lies.
I agree these people are undermining democracy Ed. I get frustratef when if you criticise someone like Hosking for some rant on TV you are told that he’s entitled to his opinion and if you don’t like it then don’t watch/listen.
That would be valid if we had a healthy media presenting balanced points of view encouraging vigorous debate. But we don’t. We have a biased media following what seems to be an orchestrated plan to present information and opinion from a very narrow perspective with very specific messages.
And when the media is owned by interests who benefit from spreading those messages then I dont know how we reform it.
Having a viable, independent public broadcasting service would be a start.
We can’t ‘reform’ the media. Constitutionalism as we know it doesn’t allow that. What we do have are more and more sources of information about the things which touch us, and the opportunity to publicly lampoon. Those aghast at “social media” are lamenting their loss of control that’s all…….there’s no morality to it. It’s money/vainglory. Poor stressed darlings.
+++
A great line-by-line audit! What if TS started a regular page like this… like BLiP’s list, it could make an archive of what already looks and quacks like an orchestrated litany.
You mean the way they refer to whites as ‘European’? But of course, clearly in your eyes, only whites are racist.
Strangely enough, we refer to them as ‘Asian’ because they inhabit the continent of Asia.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[there was nothing in CV’s comment to suggest that he believes only whites are racist. Your supposition/accusation is exactly the kind of inflammatory comment that leads to reactionary threads. If you disagree with the points someone has made, then address those points. Don’t make shit up about what they are saying. – weka]
Way in the distant past I had a go at Fran O’Sullivan in very strong terms. Well time passes and we all change:
As Luxon said, “We will all get the country — the environment, the society and the economy — we all deserve.
“Building a sustainable and better New Zealand is a cause well worth putting all our collective efforts and energy behind as business leaders working together with government and community leaders.
“Fundamentally, business needs a strong society and society needs strong business. The two are intrinsically linked and mutually reinforcing.”
My truck purring when I found the radiator cap loose this had caused the bearing in the water pump to wear out and the temperature to spike I put black pepper in radiator to stop the bearing leaking and when I changed the water pump I found a hose clip on the bottom of the radiator lose it was finger tight
What the______. Now you people that are doing this shit why don’t you act like real Men and stop getting contracted lies whom are exactly like Frank Gallagher from the TV show Shamles who will say anything for there next drink and hit of pee real Men would arrested me and take me to court and try and confirm Your contracted lies To the hole WORLD. O THAT’S right I’m not human in your eyes Im just a Criminal Maori Iv got a good story that will piss the gisborne man off tomorrow. Kia kaha
The NZ media is totally owned by financial institutions.
This means that people relying on the NZ corporate media have no idea of what is going on in the world of economics.
They have no idea of the elite’s plan for the next financial crisis. Media and neo-liberal Governments are conspiring against their citizens in this.
The comeback of the last eight years is artificial. A crisis of even greater proportions is imminent.
Read James Rickards, Steve Keen and other independent economists.
Ignore the Herald and other media puppets of the finance industry.
Many thanks to Ngai Tahu IWI for choseing the right person for the job to lead there IWI into there bright and prosperous future who is a Maori Lady Lisa Tumahai Ka pai. My IWI have close historical ties to them and Maori always respect OUR Lady’s this changed with colonialism. Kia Kaha
I agree that there is only one race, the human race. But you say racism isn’t about race, a statement which I would imagine many people would dismiss as cloud cuckoo land stuff. (and who could blame them)
If as you stated you agree that having a shared understanding of what racism is is important and a good starting point, then perhaps you need to stop trying to change the definition that most people understand and know in order to have a definition that better suits your own opinions on racism, which are definitely not in line with the majority of people. (In my opinion)
So are you implying when you say it’s about culture and ethnicity, that a person can be a racist about a culture (amongst other things) rather than a race ??
So as an example. If I was to say that I believe female genital mutilation is a barbaric practice and I think those cultures within which such a thing is practiced should be made to abolish it. Certainly it should be made clear that it is forbidden in our country regardless of how ‘multi-cultural’ we are. Any culture which permits such a thing as far as I’m concerned is backward, uncivilized and needs to evolve.
Is that a racist statement?? (No)
By the way for those here that think Canada is a beacon of progressive success. They have their ‘multi-culturalism’ enshrined in law and according to Mr Trudeau, to criticize a culture for practicing female genital mutilation would be offensive to that culture and criminal because it is part of someone’s culture, therefore is beyond reproach and somehow acceptable. This s how warped ‘progressive’ (more like regressive) thinking is becoming. Any normal, caring, human being with any common sense would say that there are things about other cultures which are simply not acceptable in our civilized, secular, modern , ‘progressive’ society and would put their own culture ahead of that which practices such things, especially when it is that other culture coming to our country.
Dislike of, criticism of, or even complete disregard of any particular culture due to unacceptable (to any normal moral person) things, that are acceptable within that culture, are perfectly legitimate positions to take should a person choose to do so and they in no way mean that person is a racist. Not standing up for what is right for fear of offending someone or hurting their feelings about their cultural barbarity’s is a cowardly position to take.
“..it can also be unconscious…” I’ve heard this nonsense floating around, what an unbelievable claim to make. If this were true then how could anyone ever even know they were a racist, let alone stop being racist?? Maybe the ‘unconscious’ thought police could manage such a thing. Racism is something that requires conscious thought, decision making and/or action. If racism could be unconscious then for all we know, you, me and every person on the planet could be racist, it could be part of our DNA and none of us would even know it about ourselves.
(yes I know that there are tests which suggest such a phenomenon, but for every test there are plenty of experts who rubbish the methodologies and claims)
Regardless of what you think should or shouldn’t happen Weka, you can’t just redefine words to suit your worldview. The way some people throw around words like racist at pretty much anyone who brings up anything about the Chinese or Asians or any ‘non-white’ foreigners is a disgrace in my opinion. It simply cheapens the word, insults those victims of real racism and diminishes the seriousness of real racism. Some of the things you cry racism at are nothing of the sort.
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been accused of making a racist statement for things such as simply stating an observable fact. ‘Racist’, ‘Nazi’, ‘Facist’, etc are all terms increasingly used to try and shut down discussions and debates when unable to make rational counter arguments.
It seems many people still, no matter how much information they are given, haven’t figured out why Trump won.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
“But you say racism isn’t about race, a statement which I would imagine many people would dismiss as cloud cuckoo land stuff. (and who could blame them)”
You’re on a progressive political blog. There’s an expectation here that people get themselves up to speed on political concepts. That race doesn’t exist but racism does is neither new nor unknown. It’s a common enough idea amongst the left irrespective of whether one agrees with it or not. As I’ve said elsewhere, semantics don’t serve us very well when dealing with racism in the real world. Better to work with concept and ideas that are being used by people in their lives.
I’m not trying to change the definition of racism, I’m sharing opinion based on the various definitions of racism that exist independent of me. I’m not making this stuff up. If you are unfamiliar with it I suggest googling racism 101.
The rest of your comment is pretty far off topic especially given you are basically denying the existence of systemic racism, which is in part what the post was about. So I’m moving this one to Open Mike.
What on earth does this mean?’There’s an expectation here that people get themselves up to speed on political concepts.’-concept
ˈkɒnsɛpt/Submit
noun
plural noun: concepts
an abstract idea.
“structuralism is a difficult concept”
synonyms: idea, notion, conception, abstraction, conceptualization; More
a plan or intention.
As one grey to another, thanks for this. Very informative and helped join some dots for me. There were some very relevant echoes to our situation and it reinforced that what we’re up against is a global issue.
Thanks Grey. I get good background and reliable info here, enough to keep me informed on what is actually happening, and reciprocate. I feel we all have to be grown up birds looking for our own fodder and fly from the comforting RW nest instead of sitting there with our beaks open waiting for propaganda birds to drop in morsels they regurgitate for the dependent flock.
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Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Asia Pacific Report A score of Palestine solidarity protesters draped themselves in white shrouds with mock blood in a sombre “die-in” demonstration at Te Komitanga Square — the heart of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city — today as speakers urged people to take a stronger boycott against Israeli products. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tackling violence against women will be the sole agenda item for a national cabinet meeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has convened for Wednesday. The meeting, held remotely, follows thousands of Australians attending rallies across ...
The protest outside the White House correspondents’ dinner hotel. Image: Anatolu video screenshot APR More than two dozen Palestinian journalists had called for a boycott of the dinner, writing an open letter urging their American colleagues not to attend. “You have a unique responsibility to speak truth to power and ...
“Our exporters should, therefore, be deeply concerned that the Fast-track Approvals Bill was not assessed for consistency with any of our free trade commitments prior to being introduced to the House,” says Gary Taylor, Chief Executive of the Environmental ...
NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff is calling on all political parties to support the new Member’s Bill from Labour’s workplace relations and safety spokesperson Camilla Belich MP that would ensure negligent companies are held accountable when their employees ...
A historian with a track record of predicting US election winners tells RNZ's Sunday Morning that President Biden looks to be on track for another term, but things could still go wrong for him. ...
A historian with an uncanny track record of predicting US election winners tells RNZ's Sunday Morning that President Biden looks to be on track for another term, but things could still go very wrong for him. ...
Ngaio Marsh House is one of Christchurch’s best kept secrets – and contains more than a few mysteries of its own.Trust Ngaio Marsh to leave more than a few mysteries scattered through her house long after her departure. For a start, there’s the curious concrete portal in the garden, ...
Appointment viewing has been lost to the mists of time, but memories of Montana Sunday Theatre can still be conjured by hitting play on a particular piece of classical music. “You’re not going to be able to sell it.” Over 30 years on, Karen Bieleski still recalls how the task ...
Performance Review King Luxon sat behind His massive polished oak desk. It is Performance Review time. There is a knock on the door. “Enter!” says the King. In steps Minister of Disabilities and Carer Pedicures, Penny Simmonds. “I can explain everything …” she begins. “Fine,” says King Luxon, pressing the ...
The pair opened their first fully collaborative exhibition, Nina for Flowers, last Saturday. Gabi Lardies visited their studio to find out who Nina is and what working together was like.‘It didn’t start out like, ‘This is a show about Nina,’” says Josephine Jelicich, gripping a thermos of peppermint tea. ...
Thank you, Dr Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, for your brilliant invention. I’m another mid-20s Kiwi who had an OE last year. I hopped on my bicycle where France meets the Atlantic and cycled east. I pedalled through the Loire Valley, down rivers lined with willows and ancient wisteria-draped chateaus. I relished ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
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“Mr Twyford said the new regulations will still allow investment in new homes and he hopes the effect will repeat the Australian experience.
“He said in Australia a ban on existing home purchases, effectively channelled $30 billion of foreign investment into new homes.
“That’s a problem that we would love to have here,” he told RNZ.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/344083/twyford-not-worried-about-chinese-real-estate-promo
So Labour’s housing Minister would love to have offshore investors adding upward pressure in our new housing sector, thus squeezing local buyers out?
No. He would like to see that investment shift from gobbling up existing homes ( some of which sit empty or have 1 student offspring in it) into new homes to create a more energised new home build market.
The Govt is also legislating against foreign ownership?
But in doing so (creating a more energised new home build market) it will be adding upward pressure, thus squeezing local buyers out. With the displacement resulting in the ripple effect.
Merely shifting demand and not ceasing it won’t prevent offshore investors gobbling up our land and homes. Albeit new ones.
I agree TC. This tinkering still doesn’t address the problem of escalating prices, or accessibility of housing.
Especially with limited tradesman to build more homes. If all this did was increase the numebr of homes being built great. i can’t see that happening and the price to build a new home will go up.
Allowing this upward pressure is a big mistake that will come back to haunt Labour.
It will clash with Kiwibuild.
I’d suggest they look at a form of tax as a disincentive to substantially slow this form of investment. It’s not the type of offshore investment we require.
A hefty tax on ghost houses would likely be effective in reducing
Homelessness
Rental costs
House price inflation
House banking
Any threat to kiwibuild
And so it begins…
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/99208027/bill-english-needs-to-be-more-visible-if-hes-serious-about-staying-on-as-leader
Over by Christmas?
English gone after gossip over the Xmas barbies-he’ll be out by February/March.
Adams/Bridges my pick.
Excellent post from Fran O’Sullivan critiquing the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance for not engaging hard with business:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11947706
Failing to get business leadership to harness common purpose for this country has the capacity to cripple this administration as it nearly did for the first term of Clark.
Catering to business is what’s causing the problems that we have.
Seeing I don’t want a Depression or a Revolution, I think engaging with business
and not scaring the horses makes sense. They have a part to ply in our economy. / sarc
The breathless, sycophantic hagiography of Moir and Jenna Lynch on Newshub yesterday is sickening. They come across as National Party PR flunkies not journalists. I am not surprised but it emphasises yet again how poorly we are served by the MSM.
O’Sullivan’s piece on the other hand was worth reading.
Jo Moir really does love National MPS like Collins and Bridges. Wonder if she benefits from their hard right economic philosophies?
You do wonder whether it’s a case of bias, but rather ignorance, laziness, bias and incompetence.
These people have been picked because they are cheap ad they get little journalistic training. They are obsessed with their own egos. They are in the entertainment business not news business.
They stand for nothing.
And more propaganda to be found in the Herald by Trevett.
55% of the voters in this country did not vote for the National Party.
About 70% of the adult population did not vote for the National Party.
Yet over 75% or more of the opinion pieces advocate for the right wing.
Why?
Media ownership.
We need a democratic media.
I read the Jenna lynch gush piece. A shocker. I wonder who’s pocket she is in?
She’s had it in for Labour ever since Nash asked after her health one day.
After her heath ? Trying to rewrite history there muttonbird.
Shortly after, Labour MP Stuart Nash walked in trying to sell some bloody story about cops.
He looked shocked, almost offended at my face.
“Gosh, did you have a rough night?”
James;
Showing your right wing skirt again?
Stuart Nash has been the best MP for Napier since the 156-year-old electorate was red for all but 17 years since the first Labour MP was elected in 1922.
The only bad Labour MP Napier ever had was Russell Fairbrother who he shocked us all when he closed our Historic iconic Napier hospital and that cost labour the 2008 election.
Thank God we have re-secured Napier again as a labour strong hold.
Showing you lack of reading ability’s agaim.
Mutton said he asked about her health.
He didn’t he was commenting on her appearance for not wearing makeup.
I was pointing out mutton bird was telling lies. Nothing to do with anything else.
James you have a long history of bad mouthing any other party except National, and on those grounds i have this comment here as a bad mouthing of Stuart Nash “figuratively” speaking.
We look forward to any statement from you that favours the current Government in future.
We do need to give the Labour coalition Governement a fair go, and a chance to succeed as we will all benefit from this.
To quote james;
“Shortly after, Labour MP Stuart Nash walked in trying to sell some bloody story about cops.
He looked shocked, almost offended at my face.”
“Gosh, did you have a rough night?”
You are an idiot – thats not quoting me – thats quoting the woman that Nash offended by commenting on her looks for not wearing makeup to work.
Edit and Muttonbird is an enabler – as he lies and calls it asking about her health.
Don’t want to add clicks so won’t ask for link.
What was the gist of Lynch’s propaganda?
Just found it.
She thinks Bridges is amazing.
He is hard right.
Bridges is a lying twerp, and yes Ed he is far right, so much that he is a bloody human disgrace.
next National Party leadet then?
GROPERS
No. 10: Sir Jimmy Savile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yv4Nmrwtg4
“GROPERS” is presented by GroperWatch, a division of Daisycutter Sports Inc.
More gropers. Collect the series!…
No.1 George Herbert Walker Bush; No. 2 Bill O’Reilly; No. 3 Al Franken; No. 4 Robin Brooke; No. 5 Lester Beck; No. 6 Arnold Schwarzenegger; No. 7 Joe Biden; No. 8 Rolf Harris; No. 9 Harold Bloom
Heh. While I really wish the Clintons would just go away and enjoy their millions away from the spotlight and we never hear from them again, I gotta admit this article makes some good points about the upsides of Hillary for 2020.
https://www.salon.com/2017/11/24/heres-your-leftover-turkey-the-case-for-hillary-clinton-2020/
I very much doubt Hillary will run in 2020.
Fuckwits made up so much about her health last election, I’m amazed she’s still alive. She’d be the oldest president taking office if she won (record currently held by Trump). Put those two together, every time she clears her throat the fuckwits will be diagnosing terminal lung cancer.
Another Saturday, another confused story from John Roughan in the Herald. Seriously, does John “no will use the bus way” Roughan have a fucking clue?
I THINK his bewildering article, which starts with a sweeping anachronistic generalisation, makes an unsubstantiated assertion, creates a straw man based on a flat out wrong assumption of the past before making another tiresome declaration of the superiority of the market model is actually an inchoate attempt to address the issue of where we direct our tertiarty funding. But who knows with Roughan, the guy is a 1980s dinosaur with but a fleeting connection to the dynamics of New Zealand in 2017.
Seriously, why does the Herald cling to these old, out of touch op-ed writers? Surely they could find a young woman to write opinion pieces, or maybe an Asian bloke under 40? And surely they’d be more bracing and up to date in their views than have retreads who recycle the same predictable rubbish?
Just for the record, NZ Universities were always free, or practically free, before the government abandoned it’s core role in tertiary education. when Victoria College was established in 1899, its founding Act stated that the highest fee charged to students by the college was not to exceed the lowest fee set at any other college in New Zealand. Up until 1911, the fee set by Victoria was one and a half guineas (32 shillings, just over one and a half pounds), which was then doubled in 1912. This was when the an unskilled labourer earned on average 140 pounds a year. Based on the minimum wage that would make 1912 university fees about $1500 in todays money. Is Roughan really trying to claim the university funding system that existed before 1990s produced academically inferior universities? Because all the evidence points to the complete opposite.
Aging ideological halfwits like Roughan like to harrumph from their supposed rarified heights about the fake news and the like – but it is their obsession with ideology and their need to force every fact and every interpretation in that ideological lens, that laid the groudwork for todays fake news world.
Fuck off and retire Roughan. You’re a handbrake on the countries future.
You must be an extremely wealthy person.
Any one who can say, apparently with a straight face, that
“NZ Universities were always free, or practically free”
and follow it, a couple of lines later, that
“that would make 1912 university fees about $1500 in todays money”
is clearly a great deal better off than I am.
Are you seriously proposing the $1500 is a mere bagatelle and really not worth anything at all? Are you so rich that you consider $1500 indistinguishable from “free”?
I believe it was after WWII that tertiary education did become free. The time of the NZ,s and the West’s greatest growth and development. And then neo-liberalism got implemented around the world and things have downhill for them since.
Although, the inflation calculator says that today’s price for that one and a half pounds would be ~$250 and not $1500.
Do you not recall the bursary system?.
There are, of course, various important conditions governing such matters as eligibility and tenure; for detailed information, reference should be made to the University Bursaries Regulations 1962. The following summary will, however, serve to illustrate the general purpose and nature of the bursaries.
1 Fees Bursary: This is, in general, available to all students who hold the University Entrance qualification or the Endorsed School Certificate. The bursary is tenable for the minimum period of time in which the student, pursuing his course full time, could complete that course. It provides for the payment of full tuition fees.
2 Fees and Allowances Bursary: This is available to students who have qualified for the Higher School Certificate. In addition, students who in their first year of tenure of a fees bursary have been credited with passes in three units of an arts or science degree or their equivalent may then become entitled to the fees and allowances bursary. The bursary provides for the payment of full tuition fees and a bursary allowance increasing from £40 in the first year to £100 in the fourth or any subsequent year. It is tenable for the minimum period required for the bachelor’s course.
3 Master’s Bursary: Students who have completed a bachelor’s degree course in not more than one year in excess of the minimum period and who wish to take a master’s degree may be awarded a master’s bursary for this purpose. The bursary is awarded for one year, with provision for extension. The value is the same as for the fourth and subsequent years of the fees and allowances bursary.
The tenure of all these bursaries is dependent on the continued satisfactory progress of the student bursar, and there is provision in the regulations referred to above for suspension, reinstatement, and termination of any bursary.
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:WNJsj67B9asJ:https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/education-special-aspects-scholarships-and-bursaries+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=nz&client=firefox-b
No, I hadn’t forgotten them.
I was a recipient of that largesse. However Sanctuary described the Universities as having always been near free and then quoted numbers from 1912 which didn’t look anything like that.
It was a great deal easier to do such things in the 50s and 60s. Vic had about 3,000 students when I was originally there and there were probably only about 15,000 in the whole country. A lot of the courses, law for example, were part time.
Because you didnt need to go to uni to get a job back then. Most white collar jobs and vocational situations had cadetships and inhouse training.
I would say that the destruction of entry level white collar jobs in this country is one of the greatest economic tragedies of the past 30 years.
I have asked Vic Uni for a schedule of all fees and charges from 1977 under the OIA. We will see who is right.
This appears to be a reply to me.
Can you tell me what the relevance of 1977 is and who you are talking about when you say “We will see who is right.”.
The government needs to make sweeping reforms to the media so apologists for the 1% like Lynch, Roughan, Hosking, Moir, Garner, Soper, du Plessis Allen, etc have 1% of the airtime.
Roughan only has a job because he says what the owner of NZME want the public of NZ to hear.
He is a tool for the 1%.
The owners of NZME
‘he JMAD New Zealand media ownership report 2016 observes that New Zealand media institutions are facing major changes in ownership and management, but it is not clear what combinations will eventually emerge.
For the first time in six years, New Zealand media companies are exclusively owned by financial institutions. ’
http://www.aut.ac.nz/study-at-aut/study-areas/communications/research/journalism,-media-and-democracy-research-centre/journalists-and-projects/new-zealand-media-ownership-report
Leaving aside Roughan’s twitterings, it’s my personal observation that during the period in the 80’s NZ Universities went through the transition from ‘virtually free’ to ‘fee paying’ they began to become less attractive places.
Specifically academic staff could no longer treat students purely on merit, but had to incorporate some awareness that their own salaries were now linked in some manner to their ‘clients’ success.
That and the disaster that was ‘continuous assessment’ which greatly diminished the social and intellectual life of the place … has placed our Universities on a path of decreasing global value.
PEEOTUS and the Kremlin: the start of a beautiful friendship.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/11/19/trump-first-moscow-trip-215842
Having actually lived and worked in Russia for a short period I rather wish the West would grow out of this pointless Russophobia. Ordinary Russians are a fine people pretty much just like the rest of us.
As with China, with Russia there are different political and philosophical variants in play that we need to be intelligent and discriminating about engaging with. But ultimately the West is far better served by working towards rapprochement than a reflexive isolation.
Ordinary Russians are fine people, as are ordinary Chinese, most ordinary Americans, ordinary Indians etc.
But the elites that hold the levers of power are different, and they operate in different ways. Best not to be naive about how cunning and malicious they can be in service of their long term interests.
+1
So far as I can tell, they operate the same way in every country: with a very high degree of impunity. Once again, ethnicity has nothing to do with it.
Looking at the two pieces by Lynch and Moir again it is the relentless one-sidedness of them that is so obvious.
There is no attempt at a balanced assessment of these potential National Party leaders. No hint of the stench of corruption that hangs around Collins, or Bridge’s politicking with 10 (no) bridges for Northland, Coleman’s incompetence, any evidence of what Kaye has actually achieved and so on.
Personally I don’t care who they choose as obviously I’m not impressed with any of them and out of that lot whomever they choose will make the government look better.
Lynch:
He (Bridges) had an aggressive start to this Parliamentary term, turning the House upside down and showing Labour who is boss on the opening day. The symbolism of the show of force he exerted by making the Government question its numbers while trying to do a procedural election of a Speaker is that he is ready to take them on.
Yep, we get it. As Ed says, you think Simon is amazing.
He’s had a succession of good jobs and none of his ministerial portfolios have caused him any grief.
They’ve caused us some grief though. Building largely pointless motorways and not investing in ways to build a sustainable transport system that’s not so harmful to the environment and get more huge trucks off our over-stressed roading system has been a successful approach.
He had a regular head-to-head slot with Jacinda Ardern on morning television in his early days, so he’s proven he can match her.
At what? Appearing on morning TV?
And ever since then, like the Crown prosecutor he is by trade, he is building a compelling case.
Was he any good?
Just 12 months later he’s found himself on the Opposition benches and has launched a series of blistering attacks on the new Government, whether in the House, through brutally worded press releases or by baiting Ministers on social media.
Beneath the Brylcreem exterior lurks a nasty piece of work (much like Key).
Judith Collins – Remains a total threat, performing incredibly in Opposition.
Really? Oh, I get it. Judith is amazing too.
Amy Adams – The former Justice Minister has already landed some solid strikes on the new Government and has been given portfolios that will continue to hit where it hurts – particularly Workplace Relations. Her move on Paid Parental Leave was a masterstroke.
Masterstroke? Or just empty posturing and duplicitious points-scoring?
Paula Bennett – The job seemed hers a while ago, but at the moment, the desire doesn’t seem to be there. She seems happy taking a back seat after losing the Deputy Prime Minister spot.
Wonder why?
Nikki Kaye – Represents the future and is National’s face of Auckland. She’s also beaten Jacinda Ardern twice in Auckland Central.
One is now the PM the other an opposition MP who doesn’t seem to have achieved much.
Steven Joyce – He rose rapidly through the ranks and has done pretty much everything but.
Done pretty much everything just not very well.
Moir:
The party says it wants English in the leadership and many are still sore about how much of the vote they won and it not being enough to keep them in Government.
So they are delusional and still don’t understand MMP then. Great credentials for party that wants to govern again.
Some have taken to Opposition like a duck to water with the likes of Nikki Kaye and Judith Collins barking at everything passing by them.
Like dogs chasing cars, that’s smart.
Kaye and Bridges have been tag teaming as they create chaos for Education Minister and Leader of the House Chris Hipkins and tertiary spokesman Paul Goldsmith, almost invisible in Government, seems to be basking in his newfound Opposition freedom.
Create chaos? Really? And Goldsmith was useless as a minister but good in opposition? Yep that’s the right way round.
Both Collins and Bridges are class acts in Opposition – they’re fast on their feet and they’ve both got a bit of pitbull in them.
Class acts? Seriously, Oriveda Collins? Pitbull? Collins maybe but Bridges seems more like a yappy little terrier, one of those brainless dogs that runs along a residential front fenceline yapping at you as you walk past.
Kaye is ambitious and can dine out on the fact she beat the hugely popular Ardern in the Auckland Central seat twice.
So what? How long will this keep getting trotted out?
Coleman wouldn’t have any qualms about giving it another crack but he’s going to have to school up fast on how Opposition works.
Pity he didn’t school up on being a minister. This is the guy that ran down our health system and was pretty much a disaster as health minister.
Then there’s Amy Adams. She’s smart – don’t forget she got given just about every portfolio there was in the last government, given how competent she is.
Maybe because the others were so useless but at least she didn’t drop the ball like so many of them.
She’s not an obvious leader …
Bit like English then.
Did Lynch ask Collins orBridges to ghost write the article for her?
Trevett’s article is ghastly too. These people cannot be called journalists.
We do not have a democratic media. We have one owned by financial institutions who have a message they want the NZ public to hear. And they own some willing narcissistic puppets ( Lynch, Moir, Hosking, Garner, Roughan, du Plessis-Allan, Soper, Street, Tame) happy to peddle their lies.
Reform the media.
I agree these people are undermining democracy Ed. I get frustratef when if you criticise someone like Hosking for some rant on TV you are told that he’s entitled to his opinion and if you don’t like it then don’t watch/listen.
That would be valid if we had a healthy media presenting balanced points of view encouraging vigorous debate. But we don’t. We have a biased media following what seems to be an orchestrated plan to present information and opinion from a very narrow perspective with very specific messages.
And when the media is owned by interests who benefit from spreading those messages then I dont know how we reform it.
Having a viable, independent public broadcasting service would be a start.
.
We can’t ‘reform’ the media. Constitutionalism as we know it doesn’t allow that. What we do have are more and more sources of information about the things which touch us, and the opportunity to publicly lampoon. Those aghast at “social media” are lamenting their loss of control that’s all…….there’s no morality to it. It’s money/vainglory. Poor stressed darlings.
+++
A great line-by-line audit! What if TS started a regular page like this… like BLiP’s list, it could make an archive of what already looks and quacks like an orchestrated litany.
You mean the way they refer to whites as ‘European’? But of course, clearly in your eyes, only whites are racist.
Strangely enough, we refer to them as ‘Asian’ because they inhabit the continent of Asia.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[there was nothing in CV’s comment to suggest that he believes only whites are racist. Your supposition/accusation is exactly the kind of inflammatory comment that leads to reactionary threads. If you disagree with the points someone has made, then address those points. Don’t make shit up about what they are saying. – weka]
You happy being called an Australasian? In fact, have you ever been called one once, twice, more?? Do tell.
Can you explain the circumstances where being white has resulted in your being discriminated or oppressed?
Way in the distant past I had a go at Fran O’Sullivan in very strong terms. Well time passes and we all change:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11947706
While I’m sure Luxon and I might quibble the shadings and weightings; this is a starting point the left could surely work with.
Biggest,beat up non story for years.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
My truck purring when I found the radiator cap loose this had caused the bearing in the water pump to wear out and the temperature to spike I put black pepper in radiator to stop the bearing leaking and when I changed the water pump I found a hose clip on the bottom of the radiator lose it was finger tight
What the______. Now you people that are doing this shit why don’t you act like real Men and stop getting contracted lies whom are exactly like Frank Gallagher from the TV show Shamles who will say anything for there next drink and hit of pee real Men would arrested me and take me to court and try and confirm Your contracted lies To the hole WORLD. O THAT’S right I’m not human in your eyes Im just a Criminal Maori Iv got a good story that will piss the gisborne man off tomorrow. Kia kaha
https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/true-syrian-picture-may-not-be-painted-media
From October 2012
What level of deceit is exerted throughout NZ media, and indeed [name the country] using a facade of NGO’s, and other foreign funded entities…
Observing NZ media across the spectrum, it looks as though interference is close to 100%
The NZ media is totally owned by financial institutions.
This means that people relying on the NZ corporate media have no idea of what is going on in the world of economics.
They have no idea of the elite’s plan for the next financial crisis. Media and neo-liberal Governments are conspiring against their citizens in this.
The comeback of the last eight years is artificial. A crisis of even greater proportions is imminent.
Read James Rickards, Steve Keen and other independent economists.
Ignore the Herald and other media puppets of the finance industry.
Become informed.
+1
Also, I don’t read any of that shit and refuse to watch TV, NZ TV that is, and do read Steve Keen.
Is this China’s Civic Creche moment?
Or is it just Fairfax media having another one?
Many thanks to Ngai Tahu IWI for choseing the right person for the job to lead there IWI into there bright and prosperous future who is a Maori Lady Lisa Tumahai Ka pai. My IWI have close historical ties to them and Maori always respect OUR Lady’s this changed with colonialism. Kia Kaha
Yet an awful lot of people prefer to ignore what they know.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/934190255753674752
I agree that there is only one race, the human race. But you say racism isn’t about race, a statement which I would imagine many people would dismiss as cloud cuckoo land stuff. (and who could blame them)
If as you stated you agree that having a shared understanding of what racism is is important and a good starting point, then perhaps you need to stop trying to change the definition that most people understand and know in order to have a definition that better suits your own opinions on racism, which are definitely not in line with the majority of people. (In my opinion)
So are you implying when you say it’s about culture and ethnicity, that a person can be a racist about a culture (amongst other things) rather than a race ??
So as an example. If I was to say that I believe female genital mutilation is a barbaric practice and I think those cultures within which such a thing is practiced should be made to abolish it. Certainly it should be made clear that it is forbidden in our country regardless of how ‘multi-cultural’ we are. Any culture which permits such a thing as far as I’m concerned is backward, uncivilized and needs to evolve.
Is that a racist statement?? (No)
By the way for those here that think Canada is a beacon of progressive success. They have their ‘multi-culturalism’ enshrined in law and according to Mr Trudeau, to criticize a culture for practicing female genital mutilation would be offensive to that culture and criminal because it is part of someone’s culture, therefore is beyond reproach and somehow acceptable. This s how warped ‘progressive’ (more like regressive) thinking is becoming. Any normal, caring, human being with any common sense would say that there are things about other cultures which are simply not acceptable in our civilized, secular, modern , ‘progressive’ society and would put their own culture ahead of that which practices such things, especially when it is that other culture coming to our country.
Dislike of, criticism of, or even complete disregard of any particular culture due to unacceptable (to any normal moral person) things, that are acceptable within that culture, are perfectly legitimate positions to take should a person choose to do so and they in no way mean that person is a racist. Not standing up for what is right for fear of offending someone or hurting their feelings about their cultural barbarity’s is a cowardly position to take.
“..it can also be unconscious…” I’ve heard this nonsense floating around, what an unbelievable claim to make. If this were true then how could anyone ever even know they were a racist, let alone stop being racist?? Maybe the ‘unconscious’ thought police could manage such a thing. Racism is something that requires conscious thought, decision making and/or action. If racism could be unconscious then for all we know, you, me and every person on the planet could be racist, it could be part of our DNA and none of us would even know it about ourselves.
(yes I know that there are tests which suggest such a phenomenon, but for every test there are plenty of experts who rubbish the methodologies and claims)
Regardless of what you think should or shouldn’t happen Weka, you can’t just redefine words to suit your worldview. The way some people throw around words like racist at pretty much anyone who brings up anything about the Chinese or Asians or any ‘non-white’ foreigners is a disgrace in my opinion. It simply cheapens the word, insults those victims of real racism and diminishes the seriousness of real racism. Some of the things you cry racism at are nothing of the sort.
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been accused of making a racist statement for things such as simply stating an observable fact. ‘Racist’, ‘Nazi’, ‘Facist’, etc are all terms increasingly used to try and shut down discussions and debates when unable to make rational counter arguments.
It seems many people still, no matter how much information they are given, haven’t figured out why Trump won.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
“But you say racism isn’t about race, a statement which I would imagine many people would dismiss as cloud cuckoo land stuff. (and who could blame them)”
You’re on a progressive political blog. There’s an expectation here that people get themselves up to speed on political concepts. That race doesn’t exist but racism does is neither new nor unknown. It’s a common enough idea amongst the left irrespective of whether one agrees with it or not. As I’ve said elsewhere, semantics don’t serve us very well when dealing with racism in the real world. Better to work with concept and ideas that are being used by people in their lives.
I’m not trying to change the definition of racism, I’m sharing opinion based on the various definitions of racism that exist independent of me. I’m not making this stuff up. If you are unfamiliar with it I suggest googling racism 101.
The rest of your comment is pretty far off topic especially given you are basically denying the existence of systemic racism, which is in part what the post was about. So I’m moving this one to Open Mike.
What on earth does this mean?’There’s an expectation here that people get themselves up to speed on political concepts.’-concept
ˈkɒnsɛpt/Submit
noun
plural noun: concepts
an abstract idea.
“structuralism is a difficult concept”
synonyms: idea, notion, conception, abstraction, conceptualization; More
a plan or intention.
USA Trump etc – trying to make sense about it.
Thomas Frank – Listen Liberal
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZbzsSzu7rQ 9m44s
and
What to Make of the Age of Trump by Thomas Frank
1.32.22
As one grey to another, thanks for this. Very informative and helped join some dots for me. There were some very relevant echoes to our situation and it reinforced that what we’re up against is a global issue.
Thanks Grey. I get good background and reliable info here, enough to keep me informed on what is actually happening, and reciprocate. I feel we all have to be grown up birds looking for our own fodder and fly from the comforting RW nest instead of sitting there with our beaks open waiting for propaganda birds to drop in morsels they regurgitate for the dependent flock.