Open mike 25/12/2019
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7:00 am, December 25th, 2019 - 32 comments
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Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...12 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
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AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...5 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
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- Thank You
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Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...1 week ago - Chris Penk’s Hate Parade
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All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
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National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...2 days ago - Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step
Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...3 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...4 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...4 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...5 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...5 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...6 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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Have a great Xmas everyone. All the best for 2020 folks.
Happy holidays!
Had a great xmas gift this morning.
UK rental car agency informed me of a fine and charged me 40 pounds admin fee to tell me.
Looks like the 100 pound parking fine was cancelled (it was part of my accomadation). But I wasted an hour writing a email to elicit confirmation that it was cancelled and that there were no other fines floating around for the other 10 days I was there.
Reminds me why I try to ride a e-bike as much as possible. Cars are just a eternal waste of time and resources.
Happy holidays every one, drive safe and obey that speed limit.
Hmmmm …
Meri kirihimete to all Standardistas and your whanau.
A very Merry Christmas to you particularly, MS.
Your efforts over and above your regular work in law and in local politics are much appreciated by many including the silent minority which you speak for.
Please keep up your great work representing those without a voice.
Thank you Mickysavage, same to you and yours.
Lets hope it isnt the last Christmas under a Labour government. Though looking at the polls, it could end up that way.
I found this amusing, i am sure wag would like it
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12291069
Hoof up looking for the dashboard – sheep is one laidback mofo.
I ate too much.
I'm slothing about watching Desk Set.
So did I.
AND I read your post from yesterday on the Future of Capitalism and the excellent discussion it provoked,
AND then Incogs on Democratisation, Soshul Media et all. If I had the energy, I'd be totally illuminated
All up in the scheme of things, I've decided it might just be easier to become a numbnut and professional victim, or alternatively hibernate for two or three years .
Burp.
Blaargh – fine food wasted on gluttons, most of the day spent drinking in the garden and spouting bullshit at family members. Fine modern traditional NZ Christmas, in other words.
Me too. Mind you some of the bullshit coming back at me was worse.
Quite Crass when you think about it eh @ PM. Such is the nature though of how things have evolved amongst supposedly intelligent human beings.
Merry Christmas all.
Had a good day, kids opened presents, entertained the family, etc.
One lowlight was asking a racist RWNJ friend if he'd be watching the Prime Minister's Goodnight Kiwi reading at 8:05 on TV2.
He replied, "I hate that bitch".
This is the invective of the regular near and far right in New Zealand at the moment. It must be outed and fought at every possible opportunity.
I did the JA and smiled at my friend's hatred…
Time to let your mate go.
Anyone want to see Australia burn?
I do.
Why? It could be our turn next.
Lot of innocent people losing their houses and possesions though.
From what I am hearing a lot of the greenies and environmentalists are copping the blame because they have opposed controlled burnoffs.
Well … climate change deniers like Barnaby Joyce says it's the "greenies" fault.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/nov/12/is-there-really-a-green-conspiracy-to-stop-bushfire-hazard-reduction
Why do you want to see Australia burn?
You like the idea of all that extra CO2 in the atmosphere?
You like seeing further destruction of already scarce wild places?
You like pushing endangered species even closer to the edge through further habitat destruction?
Are you under the delusion that these fires are in any slightest way causing suffering or inducing a rethink among those responsible for the Australian government's current deliberate climate and environmental vandalism? If that's the case, seek help. Seriously.
Yeah, this was what I was getting at.
I'll seek help.
And see several million Australians rock up in New Zealand seeking a better place to live, because they can. And we can't do a thing about it.
Just think about the consequences of that happening.
not to mention half a million+ expat kiwis who currently live there…and the link between those population flows and trade
There's the start of it around Central Otago, but with more of a political motivation, we're seen as better governed, but climate response is part of that.
Friend's I've got over there are split, some very green by Aussie standards, some very denialist, also by Aussie standards. We could see a dramatic change in our politics, along with a social, employment and housing crisis of un-imaginable proportions.
and that change may be made from without and beyond our control/influence
I don't think anyone that full of hate is capable of a logical reasoned thought process.
Wow, that would have to be the most stupid comment i have seen on here for a very long time. I hope the law keeps a close eye on you. Do you have no shame?
Merry Christmas, snowflake!
Kirwee pub burns down last night.
Seems to be a lot of these old country pubs burning down lately. One wonders if the owners are putting a match to them to claim the insurance…
I've watched the demise and subsequent immolation of several old country pubs and in all cases the place was a fire waiting to happen. They were old, poorly maintained and managed, and had a severe barfly infestation. Sooner or later someone dropped a fag, or the rats chewed the wrong wire, and away they went. And old pubs, like old fish and chip shops, tend to be rather combustible.