Open mike 25/04/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 25th, 2013 - 247 comments
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247 comments on “Open mike 25/04/2013 ”

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  1. Morrissey 1
    25 April 2013 at 7:22 am

    LIARS OF OUR TIME
    No. 2: Colin Craig

    “Oh, I have a GREAT sense of humour.”
    TV3 News, 24 April 2013

    See also…..
    No. 1: Barack Hussein Obama….
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-19042013/#comment-621738

  2. Morrissey 2
    25 April 2013 at 7:39 am

    My big evening of watching Television
    Wednesday 24 April 2013

    I try not to watch too much television. It’s partly the advertising barrage, but it’s also the empty and drained feeling that I almost always have after watching a couple of hours of stuff on screen. I almost always feel stupider, and that I have wasted the time; it’s exactly the opposite feeling I have after reading a book for several hours.

    I try to always watch Everybody Loves Raymond and any comedy with David Spade in it. I usually try to watch the Letterman show, and a bit of sport occasionally. Otherwise, the television is something best avoided, I believe.

    However, when I saw that there was going to be a new Annie Goldson documentary, about New Zealand’s unhappy and deceitful decade-long adventure in Afghanistan, I just had to put the books aside and settle down for an hour. After that, I watched The Vote: Is New Zealand a Racist Country? on TV3’s Plus One channel, and then I stayed on to watch Backbenches on Prime.

    I will eventually post up my reviews for each of these programmes, but here are the quick verdicts:

    Annie Goldson’s NZ in Afghanistan….. A++ (Exceptionally good documentary.)

    The Vote….. E (Bomb. Lowest rating)

    Backbenches…. C (Toe-curlingly cringe-inducing, with occasional redemptive bits)

    • ghostrider888 2.1
      25 April 2013 at 12:17 pm

      The Vote : New Zealand IS a racist country; imagined all I’d need to write is “we’ll I’ll be f&cked” yet nonetheless scrambled for two pens with the Dixie Chicks “Travelin’ Soldier playing on the radio (wrote this our twice; faceless to watch the impending ugliness).

      Advertisement: Mad Season :Slip Away :

    • ghostrider888 2.2
      25 April 2013 at 12:47 pm

      to continue…
      JT: gave the facts; quetsion: “equity” “failures are in the mainstream services which themselves are held up and protected from failing.”

      Mae Chen (for the negative); passionate, hasty, aroused.could not help supporting the affirmative;
      -acknowledged phenomena of peoples being “shut down” by what practices do occur.
      -acknowledged the impact of Key and Prosser blurts; “showed cognisance of what racism is there”.
      -essentially Chen asserted that it is all a matter of “degree”

      (Nightline ad: “Does the Labour / Greens (NZPower) deal really add up?”; for goodness sake, they pretend balance yet the dominant narrative (people remember the negative) is bad; So “roll up, roll up, see the propaganda show in motion!

      Phil Goff; once again, a relativist position to other countries; (at least our minorities are not being shot); yet “sure, there are things that are wrong.”
      -on the “maori question”; “an unequal, an unfair society” =? Hello?; “discrimination from unequal beginnings”. Well, when will there be a new beginning?
      (people argue from their own perspectives, yet these are demonstrated statistics.
      -then it was “we are unique in the world” re redress. Whatever! (not very bright some-times these pollies).

      Dunne; “no doubt we are a racist society”.

      National poll results re Chinese Investment;
      Opposed-82%
      Not Opposed-13%
      UD-5%

      From the affirmative chap next to JT; “we have concentrated (dormitories) of brown skin that cannot be explained away by socio-economic analyses alone.”

      On the question “Are Maori too privileged?”
      from the national poll results across the four mediums, FB, website, text etc;
      Yes-76%
      No-24%

      Don Brash; “building into law racial preference” then concedes that racism exists.

      John Minto; weak question

      Garner-“it takes time” Well, I been watching the decline of maori and pasifika s/e, health and education stats for 40 freakin’ years now, so if not Now, then when?

      Devoy; (sigh)
      -results show “NZers care about race relations”
      -“some very serious issues”
      -“I think the people have spoken”
      -“PEOPLE SHOULD FEEL ASHAMED THAT THEY BELIEVE WE ARE A RACIST COUNTRY”.
      (please re-read above statement of causality from Dame Susan Devoy).

      Move along , nothing out of order to see here citizens.

      yet Mae Chen, again “(racism) not born out by efforts”

      hope this is a close-enough approximation; was fairly messy 😉

  3. karol 3
    25 April 2013 at 7:40 am

    Well done Helen Kelly for getting this fatal business the kind of attention it deserves – well some attention anyway, as it’s in the main headlines. Jonathan Carson article on Stuff this morning about deaths in the forestry industry:

    Deborah Frater’s 5-year-old daughter, Skyla, doesn’t understand.

    She knows her father had an accident at work. She knows he never came home.

    “Her biggest thing is she doesn’t understand why Daddy couldn’t die when she was bigger,” Ms Frater said.

    Shane Frater, 28, was killed instantly when falling tree debris struck his head on a forestry block near Te Pohu on May 1, 2009.

    Mr Frater’s death wasn’t an isolated incident in the forestry business. Since 2008, the industry has seen 33 deaths and 874 serious injuries, said New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) president Helen Kelly.

    “Despite industry claims that the long-term trend is improving, the figures show there are more people being killed working in our forests now than at any time in the last twenty years.”

    New Zealand has twice the death rate of Australia and six times that of the United Kingdom, Ms Kelly said.

    This week the Frater family relived their horror when another young man died on the job near New Plymouth – the fourth forestry death in as many months.

    Also notifies that it is Workers Memorial Day on Sunday:

    Deborah Frater, pictured with daughter, Skyla, is joining five other families of men killed in forestry accidents at a Workers Memorial Day service in Auckland on Sunday.

    • cricklewood 3.1
      25 April 2013 at 8:17 am

      I suspect the accident rate is increasing in line with the amount of felling taking place, if my memory serves me correctly a lot of newer plantations should be in the harvest cycle many of those on more difficult terrain.
      I suspect that there simply aren’t enough skilled tree fellers about, the saws are safer than ever and the gear is much improved. It’s a dangerous job and it takes years I believe to be able to identify and tackle the more dangerous trees. Someone with a few years under their belt is probably the exception not the rule..
      I’m not sure how easy it is to train for in that in my experience the most at risk were people who had become overconfident in there abilities and become a bit lackadaisical in planning and identifying hazards. Seen some nasty accidents come about through over confidence and a just cut it she’ll be right attitude…

      • Morrissey 3.1.1
        25 April 2013 at 8:20 am

        The accident rate is due to the removal of long-established union safety procedures. Another gift from the ideologues in the National Party.

        • cricklewood 3.1.1.1
          25 April 2013 at 8:36 am

          What a vacuous statement I doubt there have been long standing union safety procedures in forestry for many years, if ever. (I’m sure someone can confirm this) Certainly they didn’t cease just 20 years ago far more likely the conditions (a lot of the safer felling on the flat is now done by machine leaving the most dangerous stuff for manual felling) and type of work are the major contributing factors to the rise in accident rates. Hence the Union movement is now trying to get penetration into forestry which they are finding extremely difficult for various reasons…

          • Colonial Viper 3.1.1.1.1
            25 April 2013 at 8:43 am

            What a vacuous statement I doubt there have been long standing union safety procedures in forestry for many years, if ever.

            You’re showing your extreme ignorance, NZ forests were planted, operated and felled by the public sector for decades before they were privatised.

            Learn a bit of your own industry’s history eh?

            • cricklewood 3.1.1.1.1.1
              25 April 2013 at 8:58 am

              Showing my age more than anything, Forestry is not my industry per say, I did a little planting and pruning when I was in my late teens but I have had involvement with guys working in it since and certainly they haven’t had any union involvement. I suspect I should clarify that all I know work in privately owned forestry which was planted on marginal hill country. I still believe the accident rate increase can be attributed to the increased felling activity, lack of experienced staff, difficultly of access (a lot of the planting I did was in hideously steep hill country and would only harvest-able by hand and with dangerous haulers) I don’t believe a sudden stop in union involvement as suggested did not result in the steady accident increase as I haven’t known there to be any in my time.
              Although getting some Union penetration and additional safety procedure having guys understanding their rights will undoubtedly help the situation.

              • Colonial Viper …
                25 April 2013 at 9:02 am

                Your asserted facts are incomplete, and your exposure to the industry both brief and scant.

                • cricklewood …
                  25 April 2013 at 9:31 am

                  Incomplete yes for sure I don’t profess to know everything I just disagree that you can attribute the increasing harm rates to a sudden ceasing of union penetration in forestry as asserted , I can say that between 1960-70 there were 109 fatalities in public forestry (NZ dept of stats) and between 1998 and 2008 there were 42 (NZ Dept of Labor) Felling, Breaking out and Extraction are to blame for by far the biggest percentage of fatalities and interestingly in both decades the percentage of fatalities in these aspects of forestry against the total are quite similar at 78% and 77% of total fatalities respectively. They also comment “Of particular concern is the 12% of fatal accidents relating to extraction as there is a shortage of experienced haulers and there are a large number of steep terrain woodlots that will require harvesting over the next 10 years.” that note would at least provide some support to my previous comments around difficult terrain and access would it not?

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    25 April 2013 at 9:40 am

                    Dude, you’re just looking bits and pieces up as you go along, you don’t actually have any insight here.

                • Rob …
                  25 April 2013 at 3:56 pm

                  Big call mister stay at home and what has been your forestry working record , for the record.

              • karol …
                25 April 2013 at 9:37 am

                cricklewood you should look at Helen Kelly’s earlier posts on this topic for some background on the issues. The private employers resistance to unions is preventing the workers putting their side of things in a way that would improve the safety measures.

                From 4 March 2013 Kelly’s “The silence is Killing Them”

                From 13 March 2013 “Unionists Under the Bed”

              • Puddleglum …
                25 April 2013 at 7:01 pm

                Hi cricklewood,

                If your analysis is correct, then it simply repeats an age-old tendency in our society and economy – to trade-off the health and safety of labour against the gains of capital.

                Why on earth was such difficult terrain being planted at all? If it was known that unsafe manual felling would be needed to harvest them, then that was incredibly unethical, perhaps criminally negligent.

                Just like knowingly exposing workers to asbestos when its ill-effects were well understood – as far back as the 1920s; just like sending men and children down mine shafts when the short lives of miners were well understood; just like opening mines known to be at high-risk of explosions and collapse; just like running factories with exposed hazards (like this unlucky ‘lucky guy’ has twice experienced).

                All justified by the double-barrelled retort of (i) the counterbalancing ‘benefits’ of economic growth and (ii) the aphorism that ‘life is always risky – suck it up!’

          • Morrissey 3.1.1.1.2
            25 April 2013 at 8:46 am

            Fool, you have no idea of what you’re talking about.

            • Private Baldric 3.1.1.1.2.1
              25 April 2013 at 9:04 am

              My turnip has confirmed you are the font of all wisdom Captain Morrissey.

            • DavidC 3.1.1.1.2.2
              25 April 2013 at 9:22 am

              It appears that he does know what he is talking about while you are just spouting empty BS.
              The way trees are harvested has changed significantly with all the easy wood being taken by machine now, probably as much as 80% of a hill country forest and more like 98% of a place like Kaingaroa. This leaves the steep nasty bits for the men on saws and the other main job is running the skid site which has always been a place where a small amount of inattention can be fatal.

              • Colonial Viper …
                25 April 2013 at 9:42 am

                Logging in inappropriate terrain using inappropriate techniques with inappropriately trained staff.

                What do you expect other than fatalities and serious injuries.

                • DavidC …
                  25 April 2013 at 11:05 am

                  What is inappopriate terrain to grow a tree?

                  • cricklewood …
                    25 April 2013 at 11:40 am

                    Don’t worry an increasing accident rate in forestry has nothing to do with the fact the cycle is in the midst of the most complicated and dangerous part of the cycle that we have probably ever seen…
                    It’s all because of the national party…

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      25 April 2013 at 11:49 am

                      Yes because in a hundred years of organised forestry we’ve never been in this part of the “cycle” before.

                      It’s all because of the national party


                      No one has said that. Except you.

                    • cricklewood …
                      25 April 2013 at 12:10 pm

                      As above…”Another gift from the ideologues in the National party”

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      25 April 2013 at 12:28 pm

                      It’s not because of the National Party, but right wing idealogues who think that a working class life is a cheap price to pay for extra shareholder profits.

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    25 April 2013 at 12:18 pm

                    Nothing, it appears that the inappropriateness is in the cutting it down.

                • Foreign Waka …
                  25 April 2013 at 3:15 pm

                  I am at an absolute loss regarding “tree farming” – because that is what we talk about – but could it be that the ever increasing demand for speed of processing is a reason? Profits are only made when the log hits the boot.

              • Morrissey …
                25 April 2013 at 10:05 am

                It appears that he does know what he is talking about…

                Clearly he doesn’t. Neither, clearly, do you.

                • Murray Olsen …
                  25 April 2013 at 12:35 pm

                  There is something to what cricklewood is saying. I was planting and pruning in the late 70s and most of it was on pretty steep slopes. Even getting up the hills to plant it was difficult, let alone lugging a chainsaw and dropping trees. These are likely to be the trees that have been harvested in the last ten years or so.
                  On the other hand, a strong union presence among the workers would no doubt remove some of the dangers which arise from working long hours in dangerous conditions. Both Labour and National wings of the ACT party have been complicit in letting the greed of the forestry owners create these conditions. I applaud Helen Kelly for taking an interest.

  4. big bruv 4
    25 April 2013 at 7:42 am

    I hope that many of you attended todays dawn services just as our PM has done in Wellington.

    How refreshing it is to have a PM who shows our returned servicemen the respect they deserve. It was not that long ago that we had a PM who could not be bothered getting out of bed early to attend the dawn service.

    • quartz 4.1
      25 April 2013 at 7:47 am

      Stop lying bruv.

    • Morrissey 4.2
      25 April 2013 at 7:55 am

      If he had any respect for our servicemen, he would have pulled them out of Afghanistan as soon as he took office.

    • The Al1en 4.3
      25 April 2013 at 7:55 am

      “I hope that many of you attended todays dawn services ”

      Why is that?

    • mickysavage 4.4
      25 April 2013 at 7:58 am

      Pants on fire big bruv?

    • Colonial Viper 4.5
      25 April 2013 at 7:58 am

      How refreshing it is to have a PM who shows our returned servicemen the respect they deserve.

      What, no baseball game for him today?

      • big bruv 4.5.1
        25 April 2013 at 8:12 am

        No baseball game Viper.

        Mind you, at least Key is not in the USA to count his hidden UN bank account as Shearer is.

        Did we ever find out how much Shearer has hidden away?, is it two or three million?

        And I wonder how that “man of the poor” David (silent t) Cunliffe is spending the day from his Herne Bay mansion?

        • mickysavage 4.5.1.1
          25 April 2013 at 8:17 am

          Big bruv you stretch tolerance and good will to breaking point. Fancy politicising Anzac day to fire cheap shots that are not even true. How disrespectful.

          FYI David has been at the dawn ceremony and will be at the Titirangi service and the Laingholm service and the New Lynn Service …

          • big bruv 4.5.1.1.1
            25 April 2013 at 8:29 am

            Micky.

            http://tvnz.co.nz/content/1078896/411361/article.html

            Not true?

            Tell me Micky, will silent t be using his “bro” accent today or will he use his Herne Bay accent?
            Does he need GPS to find the western suburbs?

            • Colonial Viper 4.5.1.1.1.1
              25 April 2013 at 8:40 am

              I guess its lucky Key doesn’t have a sports game on interfering with his Anzac day attendance and paying all due respects eh. Priorities for a PM and all that.

            • Clockie 4.5.1.1.1.2
              25 April 2013 at 2:57 pm

              I wonder why it is that Samuel Johnson’s famous phrase about (false) patriotism being the last refuge of a scoundrel, springs to mind so readily when reading big bruv’s nonsense.

              • ghostrider888 …
                25 April 2013 at 3:09 pm

                “When the way is forgotten
                Duty and justice appear;
                then knowledge and wisdom are born
                Along with hypocrisy.

                When harmonious relationships dissolve
                Then respect and devotion arise;
                When a nation falls into chaos
                Then loyalty and patriotism are born.

                -Chapter 18 : Hypocrisy.

        • Morrissey 4.5.1.2
          25 April 2013 at 8:18 am

          David (silent t) Cunliffe…

          Hey, fellas, it looks like this halfwit is trying to be funny!

        • felix 4.5.1.3
          25 April 2013 at 8:18 am

          The spirit of Anzac Day.

          • One Anonymous Knucklehead 4.5.1.3.1
            25 April 2013 at 8:42 am

            Bruv’s still bumming out that his side lost WWII.

            • Colonial Viper 4.5.1.3.1.1
              25 April 2013 at 8:45 am

              The Generals, bankers and the Economic Elite did just fine from the big wars.

              • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                25 April 2013 at 8:51 am

                What about grubby little creeps?

                • Colonial Viper …
                  25 April 2013 at 8:52 am

                  Ideally, ordered up and first over the top.

                  • big bruv …
                    25 April 2013 at 9:12 am

                    Viper

                    Speaking of which, you do of course remember how the coward Micky Savage refused to fight for his country don’t you?

                    • Alanz …
                      25 April 2013 at 9:27 am

                      There is a current economic battle happening in this country and the real coward refuses to suspend the sale of the people’s asset.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      25 April 2013 at 9:43 am

                      Refused to fight for the privileged and elite? Luck for us you have no such principles.

                    • mac1 …
                      25 April 2013 at 10:15 am

                      Refused to kill on behalf of his country, more like, those poor people on the other side who had been, as Colonial Viper says below, induced ‘to fight for the privileged and elite.’

                      What is courage? To go against the accepted majority view and stand against that position in full public view (with all its attendant hatred and bigotry) and act according to one’s conscience knowing that to do otherwise is to act dishonourably is one form of courage.

                      I made that decision in 1968.

                      Big Bruv, I do not however condemn those who went and fought in the light of their conscience. On the contrary, I have stood silent in war cemeteries in Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Belgium and New Zealand to respect courage.

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      25 April 2013 at 12:21 pm

                      Last time I looked, NZ has never been in a war where it was fighting for itself. We’ve been in wars where we were fighting for Britain.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      25 April 2013 at 12:27 pm

                      And the US

                    • Te Reo Putake …
                      25 April 2013 at 12:37 pm

                      “refused to fight for his country”

                      Not so, Savage refused to fight for the Empire. His position was that wealth should be conscripted before workers. It was an emperial war, with political and economic power at its heart, and not something NZ workers should ever have been involved in.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      25 April 2013 at 12:49 pm

                      Blood for butter and beef.

                    • Descendant Of Sssmith …
                      25 April 2013 at 1:48 pm

                      Two men, now long departed, who I knew when young had very different experiences of the war.

                      One a returned serviceman captured in Germany escaped from several prison camps and was well experienced and versed in war.

                      The other a conscientious objector imprisoned within his own country.

                      Both had total respect for each other. Neither was a coward.

                      Amongst the things the first was fighting for was the right for others to choose not to fight. If that soldier didn’t see the objector as a coward but as a man of principle I’m not sure why you should.

                      There’s plenty too who dislike the RSA for the treatment of family members who were not allowed to go and fight either through disability or through working in essential services such as electricity and farming.

                      The treatment of some of those people post-war and the black-listing of their businesses did not go down well with themselves or their family members who were allowed off to fight.

                      There was a clear difference between supporting returned servicemen to get back on their feet and the blacklisting that went on by some RSA’s.

                      Not everyone sees them as the bastion of the response to the post war period.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      25 April 2013 at 1:54 pm

                      NZ Labour PM Fraser had conscientious objectors and those critical of the war blacklisted during WW II; many found their careers in government and the public sector permanently fucked.

                    • Matt …
                      25 April 2013 at 3:00 pm

                      “Last time I looked, NZ has never been in a war where it was fighting for itself. We’ve been in wars where we were fighting for Britain.”

                      When’s the last time you looked, 1946?

                    • mac1 …
                      26 April 2013 at 11:01 am

                      I want to put this into the record on this “cowardliness of Conscientious Objectors’ ” debate, being a paragraph from the Marlborough Express editorial on Anzac Day 2013.

                      “New Zealand also has a strong tradition of conscientious objectors. They were strongly reviled but it took as much bravery to resist being called up for war as it did to go willingly into battle.”

                      Alongside the editorial is a Bromhead cartoon entitled “Lest We Forget” which has the Shade of an Anzac soldier commenting upon a newspaper headline “Future Wars.”

                      “Trouble is, we do forget…”

        • QoT 4.5.1.4
          25 April 2013 at 1:20 pm

          Ha ha ha, it’s funny because his name sounds slightly like a derogatory term for vagina! 🙄

    • Lindsey 4.6
      25 April 2013 at 8:02 am

      Yes, hop back under your bridge. I was involved in organising ANZAC days in Mt Albert for several years and when Helen Clark came to these ones (as she did often) they were her second or sometimes third one of the day.

      • big bruv 4.6.1
        25 April 2013 at 8:57 am

        I note that you did not say she attended dawn service Lindsey. Of course if you were to say that it would mean that you are telling lies.

        Fancy that….a lefty caught telling lies.

        • Colonial Viper 4.6.1.1
          25 April 2013 at 8:58 am

          try and keep up with Key preferring to go to sports games instead of paying respects to fallen soldiers.

          • Populuxe1 4.6.1.1.1
            25 April 2013 at 11:11 am

            Oh, I don’t know, it’s filial piety instead of pro patria. If nothing else it set a good example to fathers to encourage and spend time with their sons as opposed to sending them off to die in wars.

            • Colonial Viper 4.6.1.1.1.1
              25 April 2013 at 11:27 am

              Yeah you would have a point except Key is the one quite willing to send other parents’ sons off to die.

              And then not attend their funerals.

              • Populuxe1 …
                25 April 2013 at 12:38 pm

                Slight difference between trained career soldiers who know what they’re enlisting for and conscripted naive canon fodder

        • felix 4.6.1.2
          25 April 2013 at 9:26 am

          “I note that you did not say she attended dawn service Lindsey. Of course if you were to say that it would mean that you are telling lies.

          Fancy that
.a lefty caught telling lies.”

          bruv, you can’t simultaneously accuse Linsdey of lying and of not lying.

          Pick one.

        • Lindsey 4.6.1.3
          25 April 2013 at 9:52 am

          Don’t need to lie, leave that to trolls and righties
          Smart enough to Google “Helen Clark Dawn Service” just like you did. It got no traction than and get even less now. I can understand why Key goes to the closest service.

        • David H 4.6.1.4
          25 April 2013 at 9:56 am

          Oh look a righty spouting excrement!

    • Huginn 4.7
      25 April 2013 at 8:05 am

      You’re using Anzac Day to tell lies, you nasty little troll.

    • andy (the other one) 4.8
      25 April 2013 at 8:10 am

      You are a very odd person!!!

      Is this respectful enough for you? Go have a lie down and a cup of tea and think how stupid you sound, sometimes you should keep the inside your head voices inside your head.

      Helen Clark was the first New Zealand prime minister to visit Gallipoli on Anzac Day. On 24 April 2005 (the day before Anzac Day) she walked down the ‘New Zealand track’ from Chunuk Bair to the coast, before visiting Hill 60 Cemetery. On the New Zealand Memorial to the Missing in the cemetery, she placed a poppy beside the name of her great uncle, Frank Clark, a trooper in the Auckland Mounted Rifles who was killed in the vicinity on 28 August 1915.

      http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/34146/helen-clark-at-gallipoli

      • big bruv 4.8.1
        25 April 2013 at 8:52 am

        Is that the same Helen Clark (along with Goff) who once spat at returning soldiers?

        • Colonial Viper 4.8.1.1
          25 April 2013 at 8:53 am

          You should send your fantasies in to Republican Penthouse.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 4.8.1.2
          25 April 2013 at 9:05 am

          Nah Bruv, it’s the same Helen Clark who’s risen higher than you could ever dream of.

          • big bruv 4.8.1.2.1
            25 April 2013 at 9:09 am

            Ha ha ha..

            You’re kidding right?

            The height of ones ambition should be to purchase your own job at the UN with Kiwi tax payers money and then work for an organisation that is recognised the world over as being corrupt (she fits in well there) and hopeless?

            • felix 4.8.1.2.1.1
              25 April 2013 at 9:22 am

              “purchase your own job at the UN with Kiwi tax payers money”

              lolz how does that work bruv?

              • Te Reo Putake …
                25 April 2013 at 10:17 am

                I think Bruv was meaning Tim Groser, who has just spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars trying to get a job as far away from John Key as he can find.

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 4.8.1.2.1.2
              25 April 2013 at 9:44 am

              Bruv, I was thinking more about the general level of respect she is shown, with the lower end of the scale being represented by people like Graham Capill and David Garret.

          • Colonial Viper 4.8.1.2.2
            25 April 2013 at 9:09 am

            Key will rejoin a big bank or central bank within a year of having left the PMship.

        • David 4.8.1.3
          25 April 2013 at 9:07 am

          People can grow and evolve into different people bruv, plus there is a huge difference between the Vietnam war and the Great war and peoples attitudes. Try engaging your brain, you know, that pile of under-performing neurons located under that thick skull. Your attitude reminds me so much of how Steven Joyce shares his views. Numpty.

        • David H 4.8.1.4
          25 April 2013 at 10:01 am

          You really are a sick individual. Maybe you need to go and see a psychologist/psychiatrist/head doctor to see if there’s anything that can be saved.

          • David 4.8.1.4.1
            25 April 2013 at 10:38 am

            I’m going to go ahead and assume you are referring to bruv with the head doctor comment, I’ve been tested, and I’m not crazy haha yeah, bruv’s hysteria and lack of any real knowledge or insight just reminds me so much of how Steven Joyce relates to people, been thinking that way a while now.

            • Anne 4.8.1.4.1.1
              25 April 2013 at 10:53 am

              I’m going to go ahead and assume you are referring to bruv.

              Yes he is. It’s how the reply function works sometimes. Best to quote what/who you’re referring to…

              • David …
                25 April 2013 at 11:12 am

                It is really quite astounding how little insight and intellect he shows. Makes me wonder how he ties his shoelaces in the morning.

                • Anne …
                  25 April 2013 at 12:35 pm

                  Bruv is an intellectual cretin. He’s heading fast towards another permanent ban and the sooner the better.

            • Puddleglum 4.8.1.4.1.2
              25 April 2013 at 7:16 pm

              As Anne says, David H is replying to big bruv. The alignment can appear a bit ‘skew-wiff’ with those commenters whose comments have a grey background (for some reason).

              The best thing is to check the number of the comment. David H’s comment was 4.8.1.4 – i.e., the fourth reply to comment 4.8.1 (Your previous comment was 4.8.1.3 – the third reply to 4.8.1)

      • lenore 4.8.2
        25 April 2013 at 10:36 am

        I thought Helen Clark went in 2000 when she took a bunch of school students who had won a school competition about Gallipoli.

        • Logie97 4.8.2.1
          25 April 2013 at 11:21 am

          The competition she introduced when coming to office and maintained throughout her Premiership.

    • North 4.9
      25 April 2013 at 8:15 am

      big bruv big bullshit

      big respect when boy’s baseball

      came before soldiers’ funerals

      oh yeah so respectful

      RIP Lance Corporal Luke Tamatea

    • James Thrace 4.10
      25 April 2013 at 10:28 am

      10 reasons I no longer attend Anzac Day services nor recognise it in any way

      1) The ANZAC spirit was dismantled quite comprehensively on the 26 February 2001 by Australia
      2) The dawn services glorify war
      3) There are no returned servicemen from WW1 left alive
      4) The poppies are now made in China rather than providing work for those with intellectual disabilities as previous
      5) The freedoms that were fought for are now disappearing at an alarming rate of knots while most people stand idly by and applaud.
      6) War does nothing to benefit the working man. It benefits the Military Industrial Complex of which the Windsors, Rothschilds and Rockefellers of the world are complicit in.
      7) ANZAC day has now turned into a political football in recent years.
      8) Attempting to link ANZAC day to the “glorious men and women fighting in Afghanistan” is dubious and downright despicable as the western nations in Afghanisatan are not liberators, they are occupiers
      9) Who even understands the meaning of ANZAC anymore. My niece has been brainwashed into believing we celebrate it because NZ and Australia helped to stop WW1.
      10)It’s tiresome and bothersome. We cannot move forward if we insist on holding fast to the past.

      Perhaps NZ should do it’s own dismantling of the ANZAC spirit… starting with refusing access to any government assistance to any one holding an Australian Passports. Tit for Tat.

      • weka 4.10.1
        25 April 2013 at 1:00 pm

        Thanks James, very well put. That reflects my own disquiet in recent years about the way that ANZAC day is promoted and commemorated, but I hadn’t found a way to articulate it.

      • Clockie 4.10.2
        25 April 2013 at 2:12 pm

        Growing up in the sixties and seventies I was alienated from attending ANZAC day services by the jingoistic sabre rattling of the RSA and conservative politicians of the day who blared their shallow minded garbage from all media of the day throughout the Vietnam war. This was reinforced by hearing the same type of rhetoric from speakers at several dawn services I had to attend as a boy-scout during those times. Later, in the nineties, with the angst of the Vietnam war fading into the past I took my own daughters to a dawn service with their Sea Scout and cubs troops. Lo and behold, an Anglican priest and ex-ww2 padre who had been one of the afore-mentioned jingoistic sabre rattlers was leading the service and launched into another speech just like the ones I had detested so much in my youth. When we got home I penned a letter to the editor explaining why our family would be refraining from attending further ANZAC day services.

        • ghostrider888 4.10.2.1
          25 April 2013 at 2:21 pm

          just for the record; I respect and admire the enlisted men and women immensely, yet I have never attended a dawn service; Neo-liberal consumption-based free-market capitalism is the current battle-field promoting global casualties.

      • halfcrown 4.10.3
        25 April 2013 at 5:47 pm

        Thanks James for saying what I have thought for years.

        Another who can see through all the bullshit.

        • rosy 4.10.3.1
          25 April 2013 at 8:25 pm

          +1

          However… I’m going to an ANZAC service in a Hapsburg-built church today.

          At least the speakers have to stick to remembering all the victims of war (maybe not Franz Ferdinand) and be very, very careful about war rhetoric…. diplomats and all that. Taking the overt patriotism out of it suits me just fine.

          • Rogue Trooper 4.10.3.1.1
            25 April 2013 at 8:31 pm

            enjoyed your evocation of human geography the other day rosy; we both did. 😉

    • Murray Olsen 4.11
      25 April 2013 at 12:42 pm

      Anzac Day for me: it means that when we let other countries decide where and when we fight, our men and women die.
      It means when our country decides, our men and women die.
      It means that we should look after those who came back, because they were put in a situation not of their own making.
      It means that we should be humble in our recognition that men and women of all countries have died and are dying, not often for good reasons.
      It means above all, that we should not forget the sacrifices made and that we should honour them by not making the same mistakes again.

      Anzac Day for John Key: it means that he can look back on the days of Empire, when we stood as part of the thin red line in defence of civilisation etc, etc, and he could wreck a national economy while pissing down his leg. How many war pensions have been cut because of his currency speculating?
      It means he can pretend to care about soldiers alive and dead, unless there’s a baseball game on.

      Anzac Day for big bruv: it means he can polish his toy SMLE and dream of the day when he will help lead the WhaleSpew Army against godless commies and unionists. Or maybe just take a photo of someone who hasn’t parked properly. Yeah, that’s pretty heroic too.

  5. Morrissey 5
    25 April 2013 at 7:58 am

    “A regrettable incident occurred…”
    “The Bedouins resented the treatment, and small knots of them made attempts to defend themselves.”

    Read this before you praise our “brave” ANZAC troops….
    http://members5.boardhost.com/medialens/msg/1366745575.html

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1
      25 April 2013 at 8:49 am

      Yep, we certainly have our own share of atrocities in the past.

      • Morrissey 5.1.1
        25 April 2013 at 8:53 am

        The RSA have never issued a statement to apologize for this mass murder. In fact, many years later the RSA journal published a poem lauding the atrocity and praising the men who did it.

        • Colonial Viper 5.1.1.1
          25 April 2013 at 8:56 am

          Not the RSA’s job.

          • Morrissey 5.1.1.1.1
            25 April 2013 at 10:07 am

            “Not the RSA’s job”? It’s not the RSA’s job to publish poems applauding the mass murder, either. But they did, which means that an apology for such cretinous brutality is very much the job of the RSA.

            • Colonial Viper 5.1.1.1.1.1
              25 April 2013 at 10:22 am

              You’re a clever lad, why don’t you write an apology for them and see if they will publish it.

              • Morrissey …
                25 April 2013 at 12:00 pm

                Thanks, Viper, but they don’t need a hired spin doctor to tell the truth and acknowledge what a group of New Zealand (and Australian) thugs and goons did to helpless, captive, unarmed boys and men.

                All it needs is for someone in the RSA leadership to show a little integrity and honesty. Frankly, I doubt they have the wherewithal to do it.

                • Murray Olsen …
                  25 April 2013 at 1:00 pm

                  The RSA is as likely to examine the illegal actions of Kiwi soldiers honestly as the Police Association is to push for compensation for David Bain. At least in the case of the RSA, post traumatic stress may play a part in forgetting or whitewashing events of the past, but O’Connor has no such excuse. Most of the ex soldiers I have known over the years won’t have a bar of the RSA and those who have explained their decision put it down to not wanting to be part of a glorification of war.

                  • Rogue Trooper …
                    25 April 2013 at 8:03 pm

                    I really enjoyed an article on the News (did provide balance) of a former wehrmacht soldier who never joined the Party who is retired here and chooses not to remember the War.(he was at Stalingrad I believe). Just happily enjoying the present day, not the past, he said. He appeared a beautiful man, carding wool in his arm-chair.

  6. mickysavage 6
    25 April 2013 at 8:02 am

    Steve Maharey had an interesting column on Margaret Thatcher in a recent NBR.

    In a very poignant comment he talked about how Thatcher inspired a “cultural flowering”.

    “The cultural left is always at its best when it has a big right-wing target to aim at. Thatcher inspired some of the best cultural expression seen in many years.”

    He was damned right. If you think for instance of some of the music to come out of Thatcher’s era it was fuelled by passion and a visceral hatred at the damage she was causing. Bands such as the Clash, the Specials, the Jam to name a few captured the drama and intensity of what was happening perfectly.

    It is a shame though that much of our best art is born out of despair.

    The article is at http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/so-whats-your-alternative-ck-138973

    • karol 6.1
      25 April 2013 at 8:17 am

      Hmmm. The Clash took off pre-Thatcher, during the punk explosion. First single “White Riot”, 1977. However, their iconic “London’s Calling” was post 1979.

      The Jam also came out of the 1970s punk scene.

      The Specials formed in 1977. However, their 1980s “Ghost Town” was a haunting response to Thatcherism.

      Such bands formative years and values were in the 1970s when socialism was seen as a positive thing and as the way to a better future.

      The most interesting thing about Maharey’s article is the (kind of) recant on his previous support of the third way.

      • mickysavage 6.1.1
        25 April 2013 at 8:23 am

        Aye Karol I was referring to the music rather than the date the bands formed. I should have included the Beat as well although they were normally quite happy …

        • Descendant Of Sssmith 6.1.1.1
          25 April 2013 at 9:47 am

          The more pop orientated Blow Monkeys with their album “She Was Only A Grocer’s Daughter” album shouldn’t be forgotten.

          It Doesn’t have To Be This Way is still highly relevant today and at the time Celebrate was banned by the BBC as it was celebrating a future election loss for Thatcher.

          http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=y_ra8X_8waA&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dy_ra8X_8waA

          Not forgetting of course it has one of those classic late 70’s early 80’s sax solos.

          • Descendant Of Sssmith 6.1.1.1.1
            25 April 2013 at 9:51 am

            “I’ve just about had enough of the sunshine”could easily refer to National’s Brighter Future.

          • Matt 6.1.1.1.2
            25 April 2013 at 10:17 am

            I was under the impression that the Blow Monkeys should be forgotten. So I did!

            • Descendant Of Sssmith 6.1.1.1.2.1
              25 April 2013 at 10:35 am

              lol

              Some eclecticism in musical taste is allowed. They are still touring and will be in Auckland soon.

              http://www.songkick.com/metro_areas/31442-new-zealand-auckland

              Did you sulk when Paul Weller left the Jam and formed The Style Council as well?

              Not that I’m suggesting that Blow Monkeys are anywhere near the class of The Style Council.

              The variety in music in the UK during this period was great there was plenty to enjoy.

        • karol 6.1.1.2
          25 April 2013 at 10:44 am

          Yes, Thatcherism did spur some very good songs. However, I think it’s wrong t o assume that it was solely Thatcherism that stimulated the music, but that there were pre-existing values that resulted in outrage at the changers in Thatcher’s time.

      • Logie97 6.1.2
        25 April 2013 at 10:08 am

        … Thatcher of course had been the “Milk snatcher” as Minister of Education in Heath’s government and she took over the leadership of the party in 1975, so many knew what she was like long before she took over government in 1979.

      • ghostrider888 6.1.3
        25 April 2013 at 11:59 am

        encouraging to see Maharey write better than he interviews; still no Daryl Le Grew though.

    • Te Reo Putake 6.2
      25 April 2013 at 10:28 am

      The Jam were lower middle class tories, at least in their first years. All three members had comfortable suburban lives while growing up. In fact, they were representative of the very people Thatcher convinced to vote Tory for the first time in ’79. Most of their songs on the first two albums were about personal alienation, rather than class consciousness. However, they did get politiced quickly (big ups to the writers on the NME and Sounds who talked them round) and by the early eighties were a driving force in the musical left’s response to Thatcherism. Which is good.

      • karol 6.2.1
        25 April 2013 at 10:40 am

        Paul Weller was from a working class background. And yes he was a Tory early on in his musical career – I think before Thatcher became PM. It was as much the other bands he associated with that influenced his shift to the left.

        Oh, but look, the truth is even more complicated, according to a 2010 Telegraph article:

        It all stems from Cameron’s admittedly ill-judged endorsement of The Jam’s 1979 anthem, The Eton Rifles, which the Conservative leader once made the mistake of fondly recalling singing along to whilst studying at, er, Eton. Weller even popped up on Channel 4 News to point out that it was actually a song about class warfare specifically attacking Etonian privilege. “If you can’t take the time or have the intellect to see what the song’s about, you haven’t got much chance of running the country, have you?” sniped Weller.

        Once considered the voice of his generation, Weller has long been associated with Labour, even playing gigs for them as part of the Red Wedge initiative in the 80s. But when I met up with him recently, I discovered that this was not the whole story. He sighed when I reminded him that, when the Jam first emerged in 1977, they had been draped in Union Jacks and claimed to vote Conservative. “That’s well off the target,” Weller insisted. “It was all dreamt up by a press officer, saying, ‘well, The Clash are left wing, The Pistols are for anarchy, why don’t you back the Tories or the Queen, just for an angle?’ And with us being naïve little ****ers, we just went along with it. I’ve got very definite feelings for the Tories, from the way they acted and behaved under Margaret Thatcher in the Eighties, it was disgraceful really. I find it hard to forgive them, as a working class person, for really decimating the trade unions. I have a problem with it.”

        • Te Reo Putake 6.2.1.1
          25 April 2013 at 10:44 am

          Cheers, karol, I must have bought the PR spin back in 78!

          • karol 6.2.1.1.1
            25 April 2013 at 10:53 am

            Well, TRP, I remember Paul Weller’s class background, because in early 80s London, I had a quite radical working-class, socialist, lesbian feminist who was into his music. She used to say he was about the only truly working class punk amongst a load of middle-class wannabes.

      • Morrissey 6.2.2
        25 April 2013 at 1:39 pm

        …by the early eighties were a driving force in the musical left’s response to Thatcherism. Which is good.

        That reminds me of Peter Cook’s quip about the vibrant, outspoken satirists on the Weimar cabaret scene, and the pivotal role they played in stopping the Nazis.

    • joe90 6.3
      25 April 2013 at 10:57 am

      In no particular order.

      Specials – Maggie’s Farm

      The The – Heartland

      Angelic Upstarts – Brighton Bomb

      Robert Wyatt – Shipbuilding

      Crass – Sheep Farming In The Falklands

      The Mekons – Abernant 1984/1985

      The Pop Group – Justice

  7. Colonial Viper 7
    25 April 2013 at 9:47 am

    Russia previously contacted US authorities “multiple times” regarding Temerlan Tsarnaev

    http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/04/23/russia-contacted-fbi-multiple-times-concerns-about-alleged-boston-marathon-bomber/ND0bhUdq1Tp1mRuC8xlb8N/story.html?s_campaign=sm_tw

    Of course, the US answer will be more invasive, continuous and complete surveillance of ordinary citizens by the intelligence services. Nothing that a couple hundred billion more dollars for the spook industry and more stripping back of citizens rights won’t solve. Right?

  8. ianmac 8
    25 April 2013 at 9:55 am

    The delay in implementing the MMP Reforms might need attention? There is a mandatory consultation period of 6 months so National has till the end of May to get a Bill on the floor. Considering that there was a very strong Mandate for the modifications one would wonder why Judith Collins is procrastinating. The only electoral Avoidance would be from Banks and Dunne. Unless National has self-interest at stake??? Surely not!

  9. just saying 9
    25 April 2013 at 9:59 am

    Some Anzac music: Dominion Road

  10. Paul 10
    25 April 2013 at 10:13 am

    I see the Herald trying to do a hatchet job on Harawira. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10879636
    Maybe if they had covered Mana’s big breakfast, then their readers would be aware of what he is doing at the moment!

    • ianmac 10.1
      25 April 2013 at 10:21 am

      Yes Paul. Wonder how well Mr Banks would shape up as a single MP Party and Leader? To get perspective surely they would have to compare like with like? Mr Dunne living in Wellington would be somewhat different.

    • dumrse 10.2
      25 April 2013 at 11:02 am

      He’s doing fuck all as usual or is he still bagging the other “house niggers”.

      • Murray Olsen 10.2.1
        25 April 2013 at 1:07 pm

        What do the bouncy giggling heads who sit behind Key actually do in Parliament, dumbarse? Tits on a bull are more useful than anything you contribute.

        • halfcrown 10.2.1.1
          25 April 2013 at 5:51 pm

          Well said, I envy you guys with the quick intelligent wit.

        • dumrse 10.2.1.2
          25 April 2013 at 6:48 pm

          And your contribution about ANZAC Day says it all. How dare you take a day off you wanker.

          • Clockie 10.2.1.2.1
            25 April 2013 at 9:56 pm

            You think some of should spend the day sitting outside our closed and locked work sites as punishment for not sharing your rather strange view of what ANZAC is all about. Wanker yourself.

  11. Paul 11
    25 April 2013 at 10:57 am

    And yet another NZ Herald artcle attacking NZ Power..’Show us first that power is broken’ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10879605
    Their puppet masters are working overtime at the moment.
    And I was feeling encouraged about NZ journalism after watching “He Toki Huna New Zealand In Afghanistan” last night…… when Jon Stephenson spoke about the importance of the media being independent.
    It would seem the Herald is embedded into the finance industry!

  12. quartz 12
    25 April 2013 at 11:05 am

    Peter Jackson trys to rebuild his shitty image using Anzac Day and his dead grandfather: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/last-post-first-light/anzac-day-2013/8594015/Sir-Peter-Jacksons-Anzac-Day-family-ties

    Get’s repimped by Farrar: http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2013/04/jackson_and_anzac_day.html

    Probably involves the PM’s office as his ministry is also pushing Jackson-related PR agenda today: http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/new-zealand/8596008/Hobbit-stars-reveal-Kiwi-crush

    I’ve no doubt all of this has been done today to cash in on ANZAC day patriotism. What a bunch of cynical fuckers.

    My Granddad (a good leftie who fought at Cassino) will be turning in his grave.

    • Morrissey 12.1
      25 April 2013 at 12:11 pm

      Jackson is pathetic. He once made interesting movies, then he went to Hollywood.

      He is as corrupt and sad an individual as it is possible to find outside of party politics.

      • Colonial Viper 12.1.1
        25 April 2013 at 12:58 pm

        Jackson’s Hobbit movie is really struggling to match the return on investment made by Fellowship of the Ring 10 years ago. The Hobbit cost twice as much to make, but has pulled in cinema receipts consistently lower than Fellowship.

        Still, total box office is not far off a trillion dollars so Jackson is going to make an absolute mint off the movie. And off the NZ tax payer.

        • ghostrider888 12.1.1.1
          25 April 2013 at 1:07 pm

          taking it easy soldier?

          • Colonial Viper 12.1.1.1.1
            25 April 2013 at 5:42 pm

            Mix of work and play today, Mr GR888. Early start, afternoon of work, now some play 🙂

            • Rogue Trooper 12.1.1.1.1.1
              25 April 2013 at 8:15 pm

              another unconscious coincidence I just f0und.(it is a strange old world, thanks for pointing it out) 😉

  13. ghostrider888 13
    25 April 2013 at 1:06 pm

    RNZ – re Boston; “US Intelligence slipped up”

    best thing to come from Judith Collins for a long lag;
    -if convicted of killing in an open court there should be no suppression of details in further cases.
    -“you can google this information”

    There has been a consumer back-lash to this Anchor light-proof bottles nonsense;
    -more plastic
    -cannot tell quantity left in bottle (doesn’t the light go off when the fridge door is closed?)

    yet according to ONE News, most New Zealanders are OK with our investment relationship with China;
    -Very Comfortable-10%
    -Comfortable-31%

    from Grant Robertson; “for Labour, that (concern re investment) is not about an individual country”.

    according to summary of report into DOC restructuring, due to budget constraints and other losses, the department is likely to become “less relevant in coming years”. What?

    a little ANZAC Day light reading
    Let us pray that that day never comes pointlessly
    (as a Variation, an article about Archibald Baxter is on RNZ this evening)

    • Clockie 13.1
      25 April 2013 at 4:07 pm

      I was hoping someone would mention Baxter. I guess big bruv is ignorant of him and the other conscientious objectors and / or lacks the empathy / wit to understand them and their importance in the scheme of things.

  14. Penny Bright 14
    25 April 2013 at 1:36 pm

    Ok folks!

    This made my day 🙂
    __________________________________________________________________________

    OMIGOD! Look what that communist fanatic Editor of the Dominon Post is is saying!

    (Having a WOOHOO moment here…. 🙂

    Editorial: Key should consider MRP sale delay

    “But, delaying the sale till after the next election would at least allow voters to choose which of the two approaches offers the better prospect of sensible pricing and secure supply.
    It would also allow time for the future of Tiwai Point to be resolved.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/editorials/8587747/Editorial-Key-should-consider-MRP-sale-delay

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption / anti-privatisation campaigner’

    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate

    http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com

    • ghostrider888 14.1
      25 April 2013 at 1:48 pm

      😀

    • RedLogix 14.2
      25 April 2013 at 3:22 pm

      Yet lower down in the same article we get:

      Labour and the Greens’ Stalinist proposals are as unattractive as the free-market ideologies that have produced windfall profits for power companies and ever-rising prices for residential consumers.

      Excuse me but Stalin was history’s worst totalitarian mass murderer. Labour/Greens are proposing a fairly modest reform of the electricity market that we now know is used successfully in a number of overseas countries. At what point does a comparison this odious become legally actionable?

      • Anne 14.2.1
        25 April 2013 at 4:36 pm

        I assume it’s an example of how threatened the Nact govt. and their acolyte press are feeling Redlogix. No-one, not even a hard right fundamentalist type, could honestly compare a tried and true regulatory power system for the benefit of ALL citizens with a Stalinist proposal.

        They’ve outed themselves in all their bright blue political colours now. Who can take anything they say with much seriousness anymore?

        • RedLogix 14.2.1.1
          25 April 2013 at 5:06 pm

          I realise that’s what’s going on … but really. This is an editorial from one of New Zealand’s leading newspapers, not florid, ranting blog comments on Whaleoil.

          And on ANZAC Day of all days. Are there no grown ups in charge at Fairfax anymore?

          • Colonial Viper 14.2.1.1.1
            25 April 2013 at 5:41 pm

            Not for a long time, now. And certainly no one who actually understands the history of the Soviet Union.

          • emergency mike 14.2.1.1.2
            25 April 2013 at 6:05 pm

            As Anne says, by regurgitating Joyce’s embarrassing spin they have shown the colour of their flag.

            I can just see the responsible Dom Post editor – “Stalinist proposal eh? Oh that’s ‘edgy’, that’s oh so mildly ‘controversial’. Me likey.”

            FFS. At least the comments section is mostly occupied by people saying variations of “Stalinist? Please get a grip,” and “Do you know what that word means sweetie?”, etc.

          • halfcrown 14.2.1.1.3
            25 April 2013 at 6:56 pm

            “And on ANZAC Day of all days. Are there no grown ups in charge at Fairfax anymore?”

            No

          • Draco T Bastard 14.2.1.1.4
            25 April 2013 at 11:50 pm

            The NZHerald is NZs version of a state controlled newspaper but instead of being controlled by the state it’s controlled by the rich. National are their political arm.

            • Colonial Viper 14.2.1.1.4.1
              26 April 2013 at 12:14 am

              I would frame it as the NZ Herald being the National Party’s PR arm.

      • Puddleglum 14.2.2
        25 April 2013 at 7:41 pm

        Interestingly, if wikipedia’s figures are to be believed, increases in energy production were one of Stalin’s successes.

        I have no idea if those figures are correct, but – at least in that sense of production – I would have thought that the right would be quite keen on Stalinist approaches to the provision of energy for the economy.

        • Puddleglum 14.2.2.1
          25 April 2013 at 8:02 pm

          In the link, there’s also no mention of Stalin proposing a single-purchaser model for energy generation – but perhaps the Dominion Post editor has an historical account of the period at hand which mentions it.

          • Colonial Viper 14.2.2.1.1
            26 April 2013 at 12:17 am

            Stalin also liked his eggs lightly poached, but the NZ Herald doesn’t call the menu of every Newmarket cafe “Stalinist”

    • RedBaronCV 14.3
      25 April 2013 at 6:31 pm

      Gotta luv the sounds of pig snouts hitting the bottom of the empty trough.

      Still is the Dom post running a flyer so that Nact can wind back the sale? They are up to something.

  15. kiwicommie 15
    25 April 2013 at 2:48 pm

    A good Armenian genocide documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLyrpaTKCCE
    ^The New Zealand, Australian, US and UK governments are yet to recognize it ever happened*, even though Russia, and many European Union nations (such as Germany and France) already have.
    *Turkey threatens to break off diplomatic relations, cut trade deals with nations that recognize the genocide. The bitter irony of course is that many of the architects of the Nazi Holocaust visited and admired the Armenian genocide in ww1, later to use methods such as railway cars on the Jews in ww2.

    • Murray Olsen 15.1
      25 April 2013 at 10:06 pm

      It has been reported that some senior Nazis went to Hitler with a few doubts about the Final Solution. He told them to calm down, because no one remembered the Armenian genocide. I do know there were German observers there, as part of the military mission to Turkey, but the ones I read about were horrified by it. I wasn’t aware that we hadn’t officially acknowledged that it happened. That’s disgusting.

  16. The Pink Postman 16
    25 April 2013 at 3:41 pm

    I received a very nicely turned out glossy pamphlet in my letter box last night.
    On first glance I thought it was an election pamphlet from the Nat’s informing us what a great party they were and what a good minister Collins is, A top class report on the wonderful works from Tolley .It turned out to be from the diabolical Sensible Sentencing Trust. What a ghastly lot and there is no doubt what party they will,support st the next election. Personally I just glad its not Labour .

    • The Al1en 17.1
      25 April 2013 at 5:44 pm

      We’re going to see a lot of very angry, depressed and breaking people on August 1st when these top shelf drugs finally get the boot from our sweetshops.

      Just hope the ufno1 has a plan in place to deal with the mess occurring on his watch.

      • Descendant Of Sssmith 17.1.1
        25 April 2013 at 6:21 pm

        Keep the people you don’t love away from it as well.

        It’s certainly not helping the recovery of people with mental health issues either. For many it’s setting months of improvement down the tubes.

        There are arsehole dairy owners selling it across the road from mental health facilities and recovery centres.

        The big thing the staff in some of those places have noticed is the return of / increase in paranoia in it’s victims.

        You can argue prohibition all you like as being negative but no question it’s easy access is allowing people who wouldn’t ever go near a drug dealer to buy and suffer.

        Govt should have banned the shit straight away.

        Plan – they don’t have a plan to deal with mental health issues now nor the effects of this drug. Why on earth would they have a plan to stop dealing with it.

        Mental health services are already overflowing and have waiting lists for treatment. People who have mental health issues frequently end up in jail. As noted on the documentary t’other night the prison system treats as if they are well because by definition if they weren’t they wouldn’t be there.

        If this government has a plan it will be to reduce public services and hand more over to pet NGO’s and the private sector.

        • Colonial Viper 17.1.1.1
          25 April 2013 at 6:37 pm

          Yes, ban this shit, regulate the availability of organic natural versions.

          (As an aside I see a lot of fucked up kids on the synthetic crap, memory, concentration, personality, all toast)

          • Descendant Of Sssmith 17.1.1.1.1
            25 April 2013 at 6:46 pm

            I’m not a fan of the organic version either. I’ve watched teens start using who are now in their late 30’s who are pretty screwed. It just takes a little longer.

            I understand though why they use / drink / vice of choice.

            Improving society overall, not just for those at the top, is the key.

            Decent housing, decent food, decent incomes, decent communities where crime isn’t needed to put food on the table.

        • The Al1en 17.1.1.2
          25 April 2013 at 6:43 pm

          A mystery as to why the nat government can rush all manner of legislation through parliament, yet something so simple as banning drugs is beyond the house. Scoobydoo, where are you? Ps, ask Thelma to call me.

          I recall a very old ‘joke’ resonating, about if drug crime costs billions, why don’t we just give them to the junkies, but this synthetic stuff, I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.
          I know those arsehole dairy owners. They also sell under the counter product outlawed under dunne’s previous mini bans too. I rang the rozzers and told them go into Urlich ave dairy and ask for a lolly or a mango at 2 x 3g packets for $25 and see what they get, but no raids took place.
          I guess they must have asked for donuts instead and been happy with the outcome.

          • Rogue Trooper 17.1.1.2.1
            25 April 2013 at 7:12 pm

            hey, Alien, do ya ever find yourself reflecting that it is almost like being Alien when when comparing contrasting worldviews, like, the reason that politics is so important is that the government, and the worldview they subscribe to and legislate is what sets the parameters; we were just discussing the shortcomings when all a generational cohort has known is say, the neo-liberal model, and like maybe Ennui said, well I know what he said, he said what Mr Lydon said, “ere, don’t ya fink we been ‘ad”, laughs. We were thinking of the Scandanavian countries, South America etc where different things are going on. Another commentator reflected on how it has been not beer and all skittles for many of those peoples “rescheduled” by the fall of The Wall; Hows the European Union project going now?
            Interestingly, many of the people being marketed to as affluent (buy a new Mirage, re-live the previous (insert asset) bubble you missed out) are from the “generation x cohort”;an influential cohort who have fond (insert nostalgic) memories of the seventies.

            However, on the other hand, sigh, the National government, Defence Minister are making noises about greater military commitment, in recognition of a militarizing region and world which reduces the lattitude for positions of neutrality.

            • The Al1en 17.1.1.2.1.1
              25 April 2013 at 7:19 pm

              Hey Rogue, is the answer 42?

              • Rogue Trooper …
                25 April 2013 at 7:29 pm

                “the number is not a human number”, though I’ve always liked Seven (and, it has been good to me.(along with thirty) sigh 😀 (only 23 more months to go and I can retire, you know, see Labour and the Greens a few months into there first term of office) 😀

                • The Al1en …
                  25 April 2013 at 7:36 pm

                  I’ve always liked Seven of nine, but not enough to turn a red eye blue.

                  • Rogue Trooper …
                    25 April 2013 at 8:24 pm

                    Wow! Tertiary Adjunct Unimatrix Zero One, and, you got my number. 😀 deepest longingful sigh…

                    • The Al1en …
                      25 April 2013 at 8:28 pm

                      Would be better with an instruction manual for my translater chip, but it’s good to talk.

                      “only 23 more months to go and I can retire, you know”

                      Logan? “She keeps running out, and she runs like girls run. All arms and legs hanging out, lashing out as she goes.”

                  • ghostrider888 …
                    25 April 2013 at 8:37 pm

                    all good things on this earth must come to an end my cosmic friend; can’t rota round here for ever; there will be more to do in the grounded world as time passes. At least with a more left government the rot will slow, we pray.

                    • The Al1en …
                      25 April 2013 at 8:57 pm

                      Make them drag you kicking and screaming my old nan use to tell us, rest her soul.
                      Named my daughter after her, least I can do is fight best I can, just like she did as she taught me.

                  • ghostrider888 …
                    25 April 2013 at 8:40 pm

                    “running-out” came back with “Sorry, we can’t find that song”: l1nks.

                  • ghostrider888 …
                    25 April 2013 at 9:37 pm

                    sorry. rechipped (and a gurnard, ok, and a sausage, ok, and a curry-roll) reassured fleshy friend that I wasn’t gonna leave her for another commutator; she enjoys Mrs Brown’s Boys (I’m more Father Ted) and no,no,no, yes, The Vicar of Dibley.charge is low though, a lot to process.

                    the wit designed into your schematics, though, is highly adaptive 🙂

                • Descendant Of Sssmith …
                  25 April 2013 at 7:38 pm

                  Thirty minus twenty three is seven. Spooky!

                  • ghostrider888 …
                    25 April 2013 at 9:40 pm

                    thanks for the offer of Office 97.

                    • Descendant Of Sssmith …
                      25 April 2013 at 10:18 pm

                      I take it you would like it then? I’ve checked the old post a few times to see.

                      You’re in Hawkes Bay right. I have friends over that way so can organise somewhere for you to pick it up if you want (Napier or Hastings) or you could organise a third party address for me to post it to.

                      Keeps things anonymous.

                  • ghostrider888 …
                    25 April 2013 at 10:25 pm

                    Thanks for checking; i never go back more than a day or two, unless I do.
                    You may forward it to Directions Youth Health Centre, 305 Omahu Road, Hastings.
                    c/ Louise (you recall my name? Lynn knows it.)

                    • Descendant Of Sssmith …
                      25 April 2013 at 10:57 pm

                      Nah didn’t know who you were. Just occasionally you reference Hawkes Bay.

                      If I can get one of the kids to find it I’ll get them to send it off otherwise I’ll do it in a few weeks or so when I’m next home.

                      Happy to pass it on. I’ve upgraded to 2010,

    • emergency mike 17.2
      25 April 2013 at 8:54 pm

      Wow.

      “His thinking and behaviour just went haywire. He couldn’t control himself and ran around our house at a 100 miles per hour, would jump up, and be crying ‘help me dad, help me dad’.”

      “That was pretty heartbreaking.”

      His son also felt suicidal, could not eat or sleep, attacked a neighbour, and repeatedly headbutted a garage, Mr McFadyen said.

      “I am 148kg and he would be lucky if he was 70kg, but he was throwing me around like a bit of paper.

      “I haven’t seen anything like it.”

      “You know what he said to me? – ‘I am dying from the inside Dad, I am dying from the inside’.”

      Dunedin-based toxicologist Dr Leo Schep, of the National Poisons Centre, said psychotic episodes was “one of the major symptoms we note with users”, along with paranoia, and anger.

      He was also aware of five recorded instances of renal failure, and one case of a first-time user becoming a paranoid schizophrenic.

      “We are also starting to believe there may be long-term effects. It is scary stuff.”

      Let me get this straight, this stuff is legal, but the stuff that makes you vege on the couch with potato chips and bad zombie films is not?

    • Puddleglum 18.1
      25 April 2013 at 11:02 pm

      No mention in the article of the research by Jean Twenge on the 1SD shift towards a more anxious youth since the 1950s.

      Her conclusion was that social disconnection and broad social trends were responsible.

      There’s also a lot of work now on how the neurodevelopment of the neural systems that are used to regulate emotional responses is disrupted by early developmental experiences which can often be quite subtle (not just abuse).

      The idea that this is just ‘the human condition’ is, frankly, simplistic in the extreme and amounts to little more than a desperate justification for our current social and economic arrangements (which are generally considered ‘benign’ in relation to human emotional functioning and experience).

      No animal would have evolved to be typically ‘anxious’ in the debilitating way modern humans are. And anthropological studies of pre-human societies strongly suggest that anxiety is not a chronic experience for humans – except today.

      • emergency mike 18.1.1
        26 April 2013 at 1:59 am

        Yeah but think of the wonderful contribution to the economy resulting from the massive profits for the makers of Prozac and Xanax.

        But seriously Puddlegum, I’m interested in this:

        “There’s also a lot of work now on how the neurodevelopment of the neural systems that are used to regulate emotional responses is disrupted by early developmental experiences which can often be quite subtle (not just abuse).”

        Can you link me up? I had a look around but it’s a rather specific topic…

  19. ak 19
    25 April 2013 at 4:25 pm

    Anyone wonder why Evil Communist China wasn’t included in the latest toryfear list?

    Damned socialist cockies cuddling up to commos…..

    .http://www.interest.co.nz/rural-news/64167/trade-links-deepen-china-rural-sector-building-fta-which-tripled-exports

    Then again, maybe they can help wee Nathan with his maths…..

    “Since the signing of the Free Trade Agreement in 2008 our exports to China have nearly tripled, from NZ$2 billion a year to NZ$6.9 billion in 2012.

    “Two-way trade between China and New Zealand has reached almost NZ$15 billion. Our aim is to double bilateral trade to NZ$20 billion by 2015 and we’re on track to achieve that goal.”

  21. muzza 21
    25 April 2013 at 5:10 pm

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/mar/31/earth-cooling-schemes-global-signoff

    Problem – Caused it!

    Reaction – Controlled it!

    Solution – Another call for global governance!

    MSM did not want a bar of this subject until recent years, and now is openly discussing, while claiming that these schemes are in *research* phases (of course they are…..).

    Now geo-engineering is being openly used as the latest catalyst, to call for global governance!

    • McFlock 21.1
      25 April 2013 at 5:48 pm

      So are you arguing that contrails are being used to create global warming so geoengineering will be needed to cool the earth again, handily provided by global government?

      How do contrails increase global temperatures?

      • muzza 21.1.1
        25 April 2013 at 6:03 pm

        I’m not arguing anything different, than I’ve commented on previously, McFlock, these articles should be starting to speak for themselves by now, unless they’re made up BS, which is of course a possibility with the MSM, and media in general!

        Does begin to sound like a narrative though if they’re not BS, you know, having ignored/denied geo-engineering for so long, now a days, its a steady stream of *in research only* based articles.

        Given the lag the MSM experiences on most any serious issue you care to name, would give pause to suspect they’re giving commentary on what is actions in past history!

        Serves to soften up the punters for some further *truth*, when the time is right, of course!

        • McFlock 21.1.1.1
          25 April 2013 at 6:21 pm

          That didn’t answer either question.

          • felix 21.1.1.1.1
            25 April 2013 at 7:15 pm

            Oh I don’t know. I think it answered a couple.

          • muzza 21.1.1.1.2
            25 April 2013 at 8:11 pm

            McFlock, hang onto a conversation for more than one day, you will find that I’ve given you plenty of answers, opinions etc.

            The second question about temperatures, and how *contrails* turning to *clouds* *might* contribute to raising temperatures, should be self evident surely, no! That said I’ve not stated that I think they are/are not, just that its potentially being used in a nefarious fashion, going from the link!

            Felix , no comment on the article link then matey…on ya!

            • McFlock 21.1.1.1.2.1
              25 April 2013 at 8:52 pm

              Muzz,
              Claiming that an answer is “self evident” and then explicitly refusing to state what you think the self evident answer actually is…. well, that’s a new level of stupid.

              Try and answer a closed question like a normal human being. Feel free to add why the question is unfair or dumb, or what your actual position might be. But just try and be a normal person for once. Okay, ready? Deep breath, here goes:

              So are you arguing that contrails are being used to create global warming so geoengineering will be needed to cool the earth again, handily provided by global government?
              Easy question to answer.

              • muzza …
                26 April 2013 at 11:38 am

                So are you arguing that contrails are being used to create global warming so geoengineering will be needed to cool the earth again, handily provided by global government?
                Easy question to answer.

                Easy enough to recall that you have already asked this question, and I’ve answered it, previously!

                Get digging perhaps!

                • mac1 …
                  26 April 2013 at 11:51 am

                  Muzza, you wrote “That said I’ve not stated that I think they are/are not, just that its potentially being used in a nefarious fashion, going from the link!”

                  I am confused as to how something can be used potentially at the moment. The whole deal with potential is that it’s not happening now, yeah? Potential is to do with the future, and with possibility.

                  So, if that’s your answer, Muzza, it’s not making sense.

                  • muzza …
                    27 April 2013 at 9:36 am

                    Hi Mac,

                    If the MSM is talking about *potential*, it means that its already happening, that’s how the media functions, by attempting to control information flows, and prepping people for further release escalations. By doing so it seeks to dampen down the reaction of people, by using low level NLP techniques, where people already *make a connection* to event, thus lowering any negative reaction, that’s the objective at least!

                    It helps to understand, that the companies who control media, are also those who are deeply involved in warfare, pharma, and related chemical industries, among most others, so the release of information, is neither accidental, nor coincidental!

                    If you had an understanding about how media works, and its parent company owners primary industry, it would make sense to you!

                    Good luck!

                    • McFlock …
                      29 April 2013 at 2:53 pm

                      You arse, you said ” I’ve not stated that I think they are/are not, just that its potentially being used in a nefarious fashion,”.

                      YOU said “potentially”, not the MSM. When asked about this, you start a rant about when the MSM says “potentially”. Once again you’re off on a tangent, rather than taking the time to work through a single point of discussion.

                • McFlock …
                  26 April 2013 at 12:38 pm

                  You didn’t answer it. You made tangential comments. This is not the same as “answering the question”. Which is a fresher-level problem in essays and exams, just as an aside.

                  Simple enough to answer a closed question: a “yes” (maybe with an “if…” or a “because…”), or a “no” (maybe with a “no” or a “because”), or maybe a “your question is nonsensical because…”.

                  Go on, you can do eeett!

    • marty mars 21.2
      25 April 2013 at 7:01 pm

      Hey muzza Isn’t the global governance call being made to control and manage the schemes so they don’t stay rogue and therefore is a good thing – apart from who is governing I suppose but they are “causing and controlling it” anyway so I can’t see how this would give them more power – maybe slightly more visibility perhaps.

      • muzza 21.2.1
        26 April 2013 at 11:47 am

        Hey Marty, that’s one way to look at it I guess.

        To me it reads like, looking for a way of controlling the *outing* of geo-engineering, by using the *its for the best interest of humanity* style narrative, yet again!

        It sounds like, an attempt to allow those rogues you refer, to operate openly, and with impunity, because whose going to control such rogues anyway – My view is they’re already doing *thy bidding*, of those who crave a, *singular entity*!

        I would very much doubt a a global (anything), is going to work out too well for those who don’t control the systems, or support it, hey perhaps those in charge currently, are really humanitarians after all, and if they do end up with a *singular entity*, perhaps we will see the journey as having been altruistic, after all…

        Peace

  22. karol 22
    25 April 2013 at 6:46 pm

    Well, Chris Trotter’s joy at the Lab-Green energy policy, and his statements that Shearer’s Labour have taken a new a significant turn…. was pretty short lived. Today, he lays into Robertson, the “reluctant radical” for pulling back and reverting to “neoliberalism” as usual… and also targets Julian Robins… (who?)

    • Rogue Trooper 22.1
      25 April 2013 at 7:15 pm

      that is hilarious karol…i was just saying the other day 😉

      • Anne 22.1.1
        25 April 2013 at 7:58 pm

        I’m inclined to believe there’s more than an element of truth in Chris Trotter’s synopsis. Grant Robertson is a careerist to the tips of his toes. Careerists don’t like to be associated with radical policies. There path is the straight one down the middle.

        I thought at the time of the announcement it was almost too good to be true.

        What’s the matter with the Labour leadership? Scared of their own shadow? That they hit the jackpot is evident in the gross over-reaction of the NActs and their acolytes. So what does Robertson do? Strokes their hysterical egos by telling them… it’s alright boys and girls. This is just a one off… we’re not going to change anything else.

        What’s more, it’s not even radical policy!

        • Alanz 22.1.1.1
          25 April 2013 at 8:17 pm

          O dear. This really raises the question whether Grunt is right for the party and whether the party is right for him. He should follow in the footsteps of Peter Done, set up his own party and bend according to whichever way he thinks the polls will keep his shadow trailing him in the House.

        • dumrse 22.1.1.2
          25 April 2013 at 8:36 pm

          You are dead right about it not being policy. It was a single act of sabotage designed to derail the MRP share issue. Spare me any other tripe.

          • ghostrider888 22.1.1.2.1
            25 April 2013 at 8:42 pm

            gee. that was a quick dump.

          • One Anonymous Knucklehead 22.1.1.2.2
            27 April 2013 at 9:50 am

            It was a single act of sabotage designed to derail the MRP share issue, which, when it becomes policy, will lower power prices to households. It will not destroy wealth it will transfer it into the pockets of average Kiwi battlers.

            Who knew an act of sabotage could have such benign consequences? Just pure dumb luck I guess 😆

    • Colonial Viper 22.2
      25 April 2013 at 11:33 pm

      and also targets Julian Robins
 (who?)

      It’s a very small country, karol.

  23. felix 23
    25 April 2013 at 7:09 pm

    Bit of cursing at the club today.

    Seems there are a few returned service people who don’t take too kindly to Key fucking off home to watch his kid play baseball rather than stay here and honour fallen soldiers.

    Heard more than once: “I don’t care what you think about politics, but…”

    Bugger. Still, I bet there’s some really good reason he had to be in the states 4 days before the baseball game, eh?

    • Rogue Trooper 23.1
      25 April 2013 at 7:13 pm

      that man is AWOL frequently.

    • karol 23.2
      25 April 2013 at 7:17 pm

      They still remember now? Interesting.

    • Pascal's bookie 23.3
      25 April 2013 at 7:19 pm

      I heard it mentioned on the bus back from the Cenotaph this morning too.

    • emergency mike 23.4
      25 April 2013 at 9:10 pm

      “Still, I bet there’s some really good reason he had to be in the states 4 days before the baseball game, eh?”

      You know very well that he had an excellent reason felix. How else could he get English to sign the GCSB suppresion order that he knew nothing about?

  24. Rogue Trooper 24
    25 April 2013 at 7:40 pm

    This Public Address article, PUBLIC ADDRESS article about COLIN CRAIG is hilarious, too, or as well, or along with!

    • BLiP 25.1
      26 April 2013 at 1:23 am

      ‘

      Heh! Gone. Still shows in a google search but, alas, no cache.

      An unnamed source has anonymously reported on “rumours” of a “relationship” between Conservative Party leader Colin Craig and his …

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatƫ rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. â€œFor too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
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