Open mike 26/02/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, February 26th, 2019 - 171 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

171 comments on “Open mike 26/02/2019 ”

  1. Rosemary McDonald 1

    Ngapuhi woman, fluent in Te Reo, English and French makes Big Mistake by marrying foreign guy who just happens to live and work with multiple sclerosis.

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/383367/maori-teacher-s-husband-barred-from-new-zealand-due-to-multiple-sclerosis

    Her skills are desperately needed….http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1902/S00187/crown-launches-commitment-to-te-reo-maori.htm

    As are her husband’s….”… works full-time for the Housing Ministry in his native Quebec.

    He coaches young people with disabilities and he has multiple sclerosis.”

    But, nah. Fuck off. You have a disability…and we don’t like your kind around here…..

    So. Is this policy from Immigration going to continue even under this supposedly more humane and kind administration?

    Is this the true nature of the Coalition of Lovingkindness?

    Or is it way past time that someone told Immigration that there has been a change of government and we are not going to act like officious, heartless arseholes anymore?

    SSDD

    • Rosemary, I suspect you can gauge the Immigration Dept’s feelings about the new Government by the way they tried to stitch up Iain Lees Galloway.

      National made sure the heads of most, if not all, of the Ministries were Tory Compliant during their nine years in power. It’s going to take a while to weed them out.

      • greywarshark 1.1.1

        That’s where Roundup can rightfully be used. Gnats can’t even excuse themselves as roses in the wrong bed.

    • OnceWasTim 1.2

      What the hell is going on at INZ!!!!
      The number of appeals has gone up, many/most of which get accepted because fuckups were made in the first place.
      I just don’t believe it can all be put down to staff churn and inexperience.
      As things stand, they seem incapable of distinguishing between genuine cases and people with skills we (NZ Inc. needs), and those pulling rorts. (The job buying, the shitty tertiary education schemes, the sham relationships, the lack of monitoring of advisors – one you’ll recall a convicted fraudster)
      I’m currently with extended family who’ve now, like many others, decided to just give up after having wasted nearly ten years dealing with the incompetence.
      Then there’s that other little agency under MBIE that have allowed themselves to become overwhelmed by the number of cases of exploitation in the workplace
      The muppetry now just beggars belief. It’s becoming harder not to believe there is a bit of an agenda at play among some of the senior management – and as you say @TRP, the attempts at trying to stitch up I L-G haven’t gone unnoticed.
      Meanwhile, the rorts continue unabated whilst the genuine immigrant gets hammered.
      I have to say it’s probably about time Ministers started paying closer attention to some of the people dealing with various cases (McClymont, Malcolm, and a few others, as well as those working with the exploited) rather than relying on ‘their officials’. It has become way past a joke.

      But then I guess MBIE is not the only muppetry that the coalition are having to deal with (NZTA, WINZ et al)

      • cleangreen 1.2.1

        Excellently said Tim 100%

        I could not have said it; – that well .

        please keep it up, – all is appreciated.

        MBIE/NZTA are all the babies constructed by the very controversial “Mr Fix all” Steven Joyce, so that is why we have these useless ‘seeded bureaucrats still all sitting there now, as he seeded them with his clones.

        Labour must ‘weed all these national Party ‘sleeping cells’ inside these agencies out or face possibly loosing the next election next year, – It is now labour’s choice as they have 17 months left to do this.

        Tick – tick -tick!

      • Rosemary McDonald 1.2.2

        “What the hell is going on at INZ!!!!”

        They’re actually doing their job and enforcing the rules.

        https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/research-papers/document/00PLSocRP08011/immigration-chronology-selected-events-1840-2008

        Those wanting to come to Godzone had better be in tip- top health with fully functioning everything, as the less- than-perfect in mind, wind and limb are simply not welcome since….https://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual-archive/5453.HTM ?

        As for thinking that being the spouse of a New Zealander…and tangata whenua to boot… is going to get you special treatment….forget it.

        “….and removed the provision for special treatment for the spouses of New Zealand citizens. This meant that applicants for the grant of citizenship who were married to New Zealand citizens would be required to meet the five-year residency period.” https://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual-archive/5453.HTM

        That particular little turd was brought in under the 2005 amendments.

        So much for the new Family Friendly New Zealand….putting the wellbeing of all to the fore.

        Are we still supposed to accept that this current Labour- led government is in any fundamental way different from the previous?

        SSDD

        • OnceWasTim 1.2.2.1

          “They’re actually doing their job and enforcing the rules.”
          The problem appears to be with interpretation of the rules in many cases as the number of appeals will attest.
          But then as I’ve said on many occasions – it’s all working as designed and its way past time the system (and the culture within) is dismantled.

          But then there’s also the other problem with other units within MBIE that don’t quite fit with the idea that “They’re actually doing their job and enforcing the rules.”
          The Labour Inspectorate now seem more prepared to admit that the number of cases of exploitation are greater than they’d thought – even though a moron in a hurry could have told them that several years ago (many tried!)
          Again, we had one manager telling us all they had sufficient Labour Inspectors a few weeks before the government was elected – CLEARLY bullshit!)
          I accept they’ve been under-resourced in so many areas, but that doesn’t explain the continued bullshit that keeps emanating from the place.
          Perhaps if they looked into WHY there is inexperience and churn in the place – could be a starting point?

          It’s high time for reform (not just MBIE) if the coalition wants to make headway.
          I’m almost beginning to feel a tiny bit of sympathy for Peter Hughes – having to tell more and more of the PS senior “officials” what should have been bleeding bloody obvious!!!!! (Thompson and Clark anyone? Demographic Profiling anyone? etc etc etc). And MBIE’s new CEO was handed a bit of a poison chalice after that knobhead that moved in to create Messrs Joyce and Coleman’s vanity project.

          • cleangreen 1.2.2.1.1

            Tim,

            During the first national Government we heard by email (anonymous) that Mr Fix it” Steven Joyce had authorised a circular that was sent out by MBIE to every employee a warning to agree with the current government policy and act accordingly; – or find a new job.

            In cases where any press releases would be sent the managers were also warned not to say anything that would ‘ebmassess the Government policy as their employment would be reviewed’.

            Labour now needs to repeat this National control policy of the “Public services staff” as they need to support the current Government also.

            • OnceWasTim 1.2.2.1.1.1

              Codes of Conduct don’t apply to Masters of the Universe @CG. Let alone just behaving ethically and in the public interest. Just as long as you’re in the club.

              (/sarc btw)
              I can’t remember the most recent ‘issue’ that the SSCommisar has been called in to slap a wet bus ticket over some ‘officials’ but its been in the past couple of weeks.

      • greywarshark 1.2.3

        OwT
        I wonder too about the management of semi government entities. I have been thinking about DHB’s – treating our medical sector as if they were factory workers. And the budget setting of hospitals – who sets that? The old refrain was that they were cutting fat out of the system. Sounds very medical doesn’t it – keyhole surgery anyone? But all the liposuction that can be done must have been done. Now we have the harsh reality of intention from the top, to cut back all public services to their level of incompetence I believe.

        (And who are behind the top bananas? Who set this austerity regime in place that is ruining all the people’s living standards in the world? And can look with equanimity and ready judgments as people struggle and fall down.)

        I think the present management mentality is to treat everybody entering a sector as an intern and work them to the bone on the basis that one day they will have a good salary if they just stick through. It is another version of the ‘couch’ interview that applicant starlets had to go through to get places in productions. Too many psychopathic Harveys at the top with their modern business training, turning out to become standard Dalek-like figures, chanting ‘Exploit, Exploit, Exploit’.

        Note:
        The Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, created by the megalomaniacal scientist Davros of the planet Skaro to be an emotionless “master race” bent on universal conquest and domination, utterly without pity, compassion or remorse.
        The Daleks – Wikiquote
        https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Daleks

    • Anne 1.3

      Today’s public servants see everything in black and white terms. They don’t like grey areas. They don’t like Labour-led coalitions because they have a pesky habit of considering those grey areas and that makes their job harder to do.

      They have yet to catch up with the new mantra of justice and fair play. – or should I say the old mantra of j and f play which was tossed out of the window 30 plus years ago.

    • Sacha 1.4

      “Is this policy from Immigration going to continue even under this supposedly more humane and kind administration?”

      Yes. That agency tried to slip in an exception into NZ’s principled position during negotiation of the UN Disability Convention and though officials talked them down informally at the time, Immigration NZ have never been slapped back forcefully enough by any of our govts since.

      Seeing disabled people only as a burden is not good enough. Yet here we are.

  2. Morena, Standarnistas!

    A whole bunch of comments from late last night were held in the mod queue until I manually released them a few moments ago. There were a few from Sam and a couple from Gosman and a scattering of other poster’s comments. I’m not sure what the issue was, but I hope normal service has now been resumed.

    Have a nice day, y’all.

  3. vto 3

    What is it with Grant Robertson?

    He can’t seem to speak proply… or rather, on te radio and on Q&A last night, he avoids the basic words that people relate to and understand..

    .. such as “the workers pay tax, why can’t the capitalists?”
    .. “this is about making the rich pay a little more, so the working poor pay a little less.. at the moment the rich pay nothing on their speculative gains – it’s not even work”
    .. “why do we penalise work by taxing income and not capital?”
    ..”workers work hard all their lives to provide for their families. They dont earn enough to even save, so why are they penalised with income tax, when the speculators aren’t?”

    Mr Robertson – stop diving into ‘Wellington-speak’ every time. Take a leaf from Winnie’s book and lay some big one-liners down. Use words and sentences that people can relate to. And finally, get new glasses that don’t put a bocking line through your eyes.

    Alternatively, remove him from public speaking roles

    • Kat 3.1

      Wellington speak one-liners like Barry Sopers “PM in state of shock at capital gains reaction”……

    • Wayne 3.2

      Probably because he does not want to come across as a class warrior. Which would not likely help the popularity of the government.

      • Sam 3.2.1

        So Labour 47% + Greens + NZ1st

        Natz 42% + the little nat

        And so banning oil exploration? Adjusting Taina Poras compensation for inflation, signing the TPP11. Kind of like that kind of bad for popularity, eh?

        • Hongi Ika 3.2.1.1

          Who is the baby Nat is that Seeless whose party will become extinct after the 2020 Election.

          • Sam 3.2.1.1.1

            Sorry who? Twerkman. No wait, End of life bill Patty. It’s on the tip of my tongue just can’t seem to get past the irrelevance.

            • greywarshark 3.2.1.1.1.1

              Don’t make fun about The End of Life Bill Sam.
              That is serious and I want it brought in along with consultation to ensure that it is worded with care and meets all reasonable requirements and is overseen by some independent authority of integrity.
              It may be the one thing that is worthwhile that ACT has championed.
              It is important to many people and the whole country’s betterment.

              • Sam

                That bill was trash. We already have pain management that can be subscribe by an A&E doctor. There was no need to make the process complicated by 3 times.

                • greywarshark

                  Maybe some people don’t want to be in doctor’s hands at some particular point of their decline, and want to take themselves into the next stage – unto death. Maybe they have a right to decide what they want to do and not wait helplessly for the decision of minor gods.

                  • Sam

                    Perhaps. Although if a patient wants access to life ending medicine, I mean only doctors are certified to prescribe. That’s life.

      • vto 3.2.2

        Well then he is a chicken and letting others define the issues.

        How is someone stating the fact that the working poor pay taxes on the meagre money they make, while the non-working wealthy pay no tax on money they make a “class warrior”?

        I also think you are conflating class with money. Most rich have no class in my experience, they have gauchity and baubles, too much make-up and too many bright jackets, trinkets and toys, scathing words and poorly attitudes – but they have little to no class.

        The poor have on average a great deal more class, as in manners and respect for others.

        back to the cgt: Everybody is scared shitless of the lazy bludgers making asset value gains from no work. And paying no tax.

      • vto 3.2.3

        Wayne, why do we tax and penalise work, and not freeloading asset appreciation?

        If there is to be no capital gains tax, then there should also be no income gains tax.

        Fuck paying income tax anymore. The rich bludgers don’t want to pay tax, so neither will we.

      • AB 3.2.4

        “Probably because he does not want to come across as a class warrior”
        As so many people have said that it has become a trope – it’s only called “class war” when the poor (or the non-rich) fight back.
        Kindly take your linguistic deceitfulness somewhere else.

    • Anne 3.3

      vto @ 3
      Grant Robertson is normally a clear and coherent speaker but I have to agree with you. It wasn’t a good presentation. I had difficulty understanding him.

      I wonder if the change of time is part of the problem. I’ve picked up that the interviewees look quite tired and not up to their usual performances. Imo, it’s a poor decision to go for a 9:30 pm start on a Monday night.

      • KJT 3.3.1

        I wonder whether the real opposition to a left wing Government, is in the Labour cabinet.

        Many seem less than enthusiastic, about any socialist policies.

        And, it shows in their speeches.

  4. Adrian Thornton 4

    ‘The Coup Has Failed & Now the U.S. Is Looking to Wage War: Venezuelan Foreign Minister Speaks Out.’

    Will be interesting to see how many Trump hating, Russian conspiracy sycophants will fall in behind Trumps regime change here…quite a few I suspect.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dim9uOsDuI

  5. Adrian Thornton 5

    ‘The Making of Juan Guaido: How the US Regime Change Laboratory Created Venezuela’s Coup Leader’

    https://www.mintpressnews.com/the-making-of-juan-guaido-how-the-us-regime-change-laboratory-created-venezuela-coup-leader/254387/

    American Psycho: US ‘conservative’ congressman Marco Rubio posts tweet of Gaddafi’s lynching as threat to Venezuela’s Maduro

    https://www.sott.net/article/407970-American-Psycho-US-conservative-congressman-Marco-Rubio-posts-tweet-of-Gaddafis-lynching-as-threat-to-Venezuelas-Maduro

    Here is an image of what US lead regime change actually means…

    https://www.sott.net/image/s25/511577/large/Rubio_Gaddafi.jpg

    • Gosman 5.1

      Gaddafi was lynched by his own people because of the incompetence and brutality of his regime. I think it is a very apt warning to Maduro. Don’t try and do a Gaddafi and stay on beyond what the people want.

      • Hongi Ika 5.1.1

        Libya was a right royal F5$K Up for everyone Gosman, the Libyan people were a shitload better off b4 the Yanks poked their grubby little noses in there, you are a clown of the first order, who does not know shit from clay.

        • Gosman 5.1.1.1

          Yeah that’s why they rose up and overthrew him. You are aware of how Gaddafi maintained power and how he suppressed anyone who might be a threat to his messed up regime aren’t you?

          • Kevin 5.1.1.1.1

            Expert on Venezuela AND Libya…

            • Gosman 5.1.1.1.1.1

              Where have I claimed I am an expert on any of those topics? I know a lot about Venezuela but much less about Libya. I wouldn’t classify myself as an expert. This is a discussion. If you have counter facts then present them. Engaging in ad hominem attacks on me won’t make your case stronger though.

              • Lol calling you an expert is a ad hominem attack – what a guy

              • adam

                Calling you a liar on this is not an ad hominem when it’s true. And on this topic you have lied so often, it is sickening.

                • Gosman

                  Name me one lie. We’ve gone through this before though. You refuse to detail anything I have supposedly lied about. Instead you just make generalised statements about me lying about Venezuela.

                  • KJT

                    Repeating US, propaganda, like a bloody parrot, despite many references and facts given to you, that showed you were talking nonsense, almost made me moderate you.

                    However I tend to the view that even parroting fools deserve to be heard, and show up the inconsistency’s, in their arguments, over time.

                    • Gosman

                      What US propaganda? I am very careful not to post anything about Venezuela that cannot be backed up with evidence on the ground.

                    • KJT

                      While studiously ignoring, facts on the ground, like the one below.

                      https://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/book/poverty-reduction-venezuela
                      “Venezuela has seen a remarkable reduction in poverty since the first quarter of 2003. In the ensuing four years, from 2003 to 2007, the poverty rate was cut in half, from 54 percent of households to 27.5 percent. (See Table 1). This is measured from the first half of 2003 to the first half of 2007. As can be seen in the table, the poverty rate rose very slightly by one percentage point in the second half of 2007, most likely due to rising food prices. Extreme poverty fell even more, by 70 percent—from 25.1 percent of households to 7.6 percent.

                      These poverty rates measure only cash income; as will be discussed below, they do not include non-cash benefits to the poor such as access to health care or education.

                      If Venezuela were almost any other country, such a large reduction of poverty in a relatively short time would be noticed as a significant achievement”.

                      Which don’t suit your narrative.

                      I give you that, as with the “weapons of mass destruction” you are not on your own with lying like a flatfish, sorry, being economical with the truth, about regimes the USA wants to remove.

                    • Gosman

                      No, I have no problem agreeing that Chavez was very good at spending money on poverty reduction in the first few years of his time in power and that had initially very good results. However the way he went about this laid the seeds for the economic collapse that followed. The poverty rate in Venezuela now is much worse than when the Chavista regime took over in 1999.

                      “Poverty in Venezuela is an epidemic. Nearly 90 percent of Venezuelans live in poverty. According to estimates by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, this is a dramatic increase from 2014 when 48 percent of Venezuelans lived in poverty. Maria Ponce is an investigator with the local universities researching the food shortage, and she stated that “this disparity between the rise in prices and the population’s salaries is so generalized that there is practically not a single Venezuelan who is not poor.””

                      https://borgenproject.org/top-10-facts-about-poverty-in-venezuela/

                  • KJT

                    The results of US economic sanctions, rich whites in Venezuala upset about paying taxes, combined with repeated coup attempts and a US inspired collapse in their main export earner, would challenge the most competent Government.

                    Which I will agree Maduro’s is probably not.

                    However the corrupt self interested A holes the US wants to replace them with, are a lot worse.

                    • Gosman

                      No it wouldn’t. There are lot’s of countries with incompetent politicians and even those who have serious economic disruption (some even involving war). These nations aren’t suffering Hyper-inflation of the scale that Venezuela has or even the sort of economic contraction that has occured in Venezuela (which remember has still been able to sell 40% plus of oil to it’s supposed arch enemy of the USA in this period AND access funding from Russia and China).

                      Venezuela is quite unique in the World as being at peace yet suffering from negative impact worse than a nation at war. This is not the US’s fault. It is the fault of the policies of the Venezuelan regime. These include Price controls, Overvalued exchange rate, Nationalisation of key sectors of the economy, Printing money to cover huge budget deficits. None of these policies have been imposed on them by the US. All of them heve lead to the economic misery the country now faces.

                    • adam

                      Wow gossy you just can’t stop lying can you. You just can’t take you ideological blinkers for one second. Because to have to admit that US, Canada and The UK are actually stuffing with Venezuela economy would bring down all your other lies.

                      Sad, sad little man.

                  • adam

                    Toilet paper was your first lie. You have lied about the elections, you lied about trade, you lied about sanctions, and you lied about the constitution.

                    Those are just off the top of my head without going through all your posts.

                    You lie. I’d say it’s because you’re an ideolog, if I was being generous.

                    But as of today I think it’s because you actually want a war.

                    So keep spreading your lies, you will get what you want, death and the murder of civilians in a civil war. People like you will have made that happen. You sad, sad, little man.

              • Kevin

                You show very little understanding of what’s happening in Venezuela, Gosman.

          • KJT 5.1.1.1.2

            Like Indonesia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia. You mean.

    • reason 5.2

      The Usa is a Mafia Gangster state and their negotiations consist of “do what we say or we kill you and make your children suffer” ….. as they did to Gaddafi when Nato became ISIS / Al Quada / Nusras airforce.

      He was Lynched usa style …. as they used to whip, castrate, burn and torture the negros before the mob hanging.

      It was a British plane which bombed Gaddafis convoy allowing the muslim extremist and western backed rebels to get their hands on him.

      Peace offers and election negotiations were turned down by the wardogs like Hillary Clinton and Nato …… Something like 10,000 bombing missions were carried out killing thousands of civilians and destroying their infrastructure.

      What happened to Gaddafi was symbolic of what then happened to Libya ….the Nato ‘liberated’ country.

      Regarding womans rights and schooling for instance …. thats all gone…. child brides in arranged marriages back in.

      Gaddafi had female body guards who had to flee the country ….. two who didn’t were raped to death …. literally …. or raped for hours / days before being garrotted.

      And the black population of Libya were ethnically cleanesed with hundreds of Lynchings with them ending up swinging from meat hooks and ropes ….. Libya was totally destroyed as a modern socialist society.

      The people of Venezuela do not want what the usa brought to Libya …. and it seems to be what the usa is threatening.

  6. Hongi Ika 6

    Did Bazil Brush Soper slip over in the shower and bang his head this morning, the guy needs help, or needs to change the colour of his pills.

  7. Adrian Thornton 7

    Look Gosman, I know that you missed your opportunity of being a camp guard, and that now you express that frustration and your vile world view on the Standard every single day in a literal tsunami of comments, and lots of people seems quite happy to argue with you, however this is a serious subject and I have no stomach for your sick twisted ideology today thank you..please go spread your sickness somewhere else.

    • Gosman 7.1

      This is Open mike and therefore is open to all ranges of views and opinions. You aren’t a moderator so unless you can convince a moderator to do something (what I don’t know considering I am not in breech of any rules around commenting that I am aware of) you are going to have to suck it up sunshine.

      • Adrian Thornton 7.1.1

        “considering I am not in breech of any rules around commenting”…
        Except trolling like a motherfucker.

        • Gosman 7.1.1.1

          Your definition of trolling is obviously different to the moderators. Take it up with them.

          • Psycho Milt 7.1.1.1.1

            It’s funny how many people think “troll” is a synonym for “person who writes comments I don’t like.”

            • Adrian Thornton 7.1.1.1.1.1

              I like very much debating with people who have different views, just ask anyone who knows me, or look at my history on The Standard, but I don’t like debating with people who just argue every single fucking thing that is said by pretty everyone for what seems to be for no reason at all except to troll, or maybe for some other weird freudian reason that I can’t pinpoint..that is just boring and pointless.

              • Gosman

                I’m actually very selective on the topics and comments I respond to. Yours tends to be selected because you make uninformed and ridiculous comments about Venezuela.

                • Adrian Thornton

                  Gosman please go away and troll someone else who gives a fuck what you think..I do not.

                  • Gosman

                    As long as you continue to post nonsense about Venezuela I will continue replying Adrian. You can of course stop me doing this but stopping posting nonsense about Venezuela. The ball is in your court.

                    • Sam

                      Below $72k distributions fail to comprehend your sophistry. It actual isn’t difficult to force you to concede that your original premise for your Venezuela ideology was just bullshit on a stick.

            • One Two 7.1.1.1.1.2

              Some do, milt…

              You’ve been around long enough to have observed the gosman handles mode of operation…gosman exhibits all the classic tr*ll behaviours…not quite a bottom feeder…but close to it…

              Perhaps you don’t notice such tactics…

      • cleangreen 7.1.2

        Gosman. another wate of time you just made again.

        Get a real job!!!

        Thanks for the advice but; – no!!! – we wont’ listen to your tripe any more – so don’t waste time using your pinkie any more no-ones listening other than your clones.

        • Tamati Tautuhi 7.1.2.1

          Does this Gosman work or just spend all day on the computer wasting everybody’s time. Please do not waste your time feeding this little bottom feeding weasel he irritates the f&*k out of me, he needs professional help.

      • Siobhan 7.1.3

        Re: ‘Suck it up Sunshine’ and other apparently non trolling activities on the TS

        No one on The Standard is about to silence you Gossman, as at this point it would probably halve the number of comments on any given day, and we’ve pretty much reached the bottom of the barrell a long time back.

        • marty mars 7.1.3.1

          The technique of swamping a post or thread with lots of comments usually arguing minutiae, semantics, actual meanings of words and other deliberate techniques to distract and detach from the subjects at hand. 101 stuff and effective and annoying and deliberate.

        • cleangreen 7.1.3.2

          Hit the nail there Siobhan; & marty mars, 100%

          Gosman = no constructive intelligent discussion.

          he/she only answers questions with more questions, it is a technique of swamping a post or thread with lots of more useless anti-constructive comments to take the subject off course.

        • greywarshark 7.1.3.3

          An attack of and by Gosmania again!

      • Drowsy M. Kram 7.1.4

        Gosman: “I am not in breech of any rules…” – still flying by the seat of your pants, you have me in stitches yet again. Maybe sit this one out?

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq0QiU7wKU0

    • Other mods may see it differently, but for mine Gosman is not a troll, Adrian.

      There is a clear effort to write relevant comments, put coherent points of view and engage in debate. They may be views from the right, but as TS is not an echo chamber, that’s fine.

      However, even if I don’t think Gosman is a troll, nobody is required to feed him.

      • Sacha 7.2.1

        “nobody is required to feed him”

        Indeed. Biggest problem here for ages is those unable to resist reacting.

        Bad faith comments become more obvious when they sit on their own.

      • Adrian Thornton 7.2.2

        I beg to differ, just because Gosman can string two sentences together that are not complete gibberish and are coherent, doesn’t mean that it isn’t trolling.

        But then I am not a moderator…so whatever.

  8. Ad 8

    There was an excellent conclusion to DW’s Frank Sieren commenting on the recent Munich Security Conference about the place of EU between China and the U.S. It’s very similar to where New Zealand finds itself now between both those powers, and indeed with respect to the EU as well:

    https://www.dw.com/en/sierens-china-time-for-the-eu-change-its-global-mindset/a-47682992

    “What makes sense for the EU is becoming increasingly obvious. China and the US have to be kept in check by strong global institutions, which allow for debate and changing coalitions. The EU does not even have a common China strategy and one needs to be worked out. If we do not allow China to defend its own interests, then China can’t agree to us defending our own. We’ll only be able to act in a way that is strategically smart if we change our perspective.

    Merkel admitted this, too, in a surprisingly open way: “I am firmly convinced that it is better to put ourselves in one another’s shoes, to look beyond our own interests and to see whether we can achieve win-win solutions together rather than to think we can solve everything ourselves.”

    The irony of history is that US President Donald Trump’s attempts to shape international policy unilaterally are inadvertently leading to the dismantling of the old order. To put it more optimistically: Trump’s selfishness is fertilizer for a multipolar world order that is forcing the EU to finally come off the fence.”

  9. cleangreen 9

    I would be in favour of a ‘Capital Gains tax’ if it funds this option I propose for saving our planet from Climate change;

    It would be more productive and environmentally sustainable for Government to offer better options for property owners to get these subsidies to make all properties more healthy.

    *For better insulation like using wool underlay and wool carpeting.

    *Double glazing of windows.

    *This would also stimulate more jobs.

    *Also sheep farmer incomes would rise and assist them to cope with lowering ‘climate change emissions’.

    *These improvements would effectively be helping to slow Climate change and will slow the rate of increasing dampness, rain and extreme weather event that cause more dampness and mould in homes.

    “Good laid plans make for far better outcomes”

    • Sacha 10.1

      I hope the various court cases continue. He does not deserve to wriggle out of personal liability that easily.

      • cleangreen 10.1.1

        Yes sasha

        I want to see him face the judge, then he could be in jail for a long time paying $25 weekly to pay all those liabilities he is now facing.

        Though he may now flee again to Israel as he did in 2016?

        • Sacha 10.1.1.1

          I just want to see a conviction or three recorded against his name forever, to officially recognise what he has done.

          Plus whatever other arrangements are available to stop him and his cronies doing the same again. Jail seems unlikely to help achieve that in his case, though it might apply to some co-defendants.

    • bwaghorn 10.2

      Yeah baby yeah

    • patricia bremner 10.3

      Yes Ad, the Whale oil bit Whahoo!! and Jenny Shipley and 3 other Mainzeal Directors have to pay 36 million. Yay!! There is a God and she is getting it right!!

      • greywarshark 10.3.1

        Just in case anyone has missed the details of this delectable most interesting judgment – read on.

        The High Court has ruled collapsed property and construction company Mainzeal traded while insolvent for nine years and has held some of the directors liable for $36 million for letting it happen.

        https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/383397/high-court-rules-mainzeal-directors-liable-for-36m

        Just shows that business in NZ is used to being subsidised by government in numerous ways, under the table, but when it’s their own there is no guarantee of support.

        I see that many find this news of interest, so sorry everyone for adding to the links. I am impressed that they thought that the head honchos would pick up the tab for whatever they did as a twig on the branch. Very organic-thinking. Is that something they teach at Directors’ School?

        • greywarshark 10.3.1.1

          Further there was a $millions loans that Mainzeal made were reported as having generated millions of dollars of profit. I thought to whom? and looked further.

          By the time it went into liquidation in 2013, Mainzeal had made loans to related companies totalling some $61m.

          Today, the lawyer for the liquidators, Mark O’Brien, told the court that a $10.3m loan from Mainzeal was used to help parent company Richina with highly-lucrative acquisitions in Shanghai.
          https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/375760/mainzeal-loan-generated-hundreds-of-millions-in-wealth-court-hears

          I think we aren’t mean and ugly enough to cope with the hyenas of the world.
          We need to steel cap our teeth like in Jaws an old movie. It might help if we had seven foot businessmen too.
          (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrgYwlVSQFg

          • Cinny 10.3.1.1.1

            So the ship pays the money, and that’s the end of it?

            She should be struck off as a director of any NZ company, a stint doing PD probably wouldn’t hurt either.

            • KJT 10.3.1.1.1.1

              No. It gets paid by an insurance company.

              • greywarshark

                This bit from mac1 at 13.3 should go under that above about giving out loans to the main company. It seems NZ people missing out all the time – money made here just flows around the citizens feet and offshore to foreigners, or possibly to NZ holdings through the Cook Islands. I heard a report the other day that sounded as if Winston’s Winebox Inquiry hadn’t stopped the devious financial dealings at all.

                “”When the company collapsed in 2013, unpaid subcontractors and creditors were owed more than $115m. Many of these creditors themselves were put into serious financial difficulty as a result of the decisions made by the former directors.”

              • Cinny

                That blows.

                • greywarshark

                  Can someone correct me if I am wrong. The Mainzeal directors lent money to their Chinese major company so that they could buy Chinese or other profitable businesses. Meanwhile the NZ company was not solvent, and in effect loaned money that was owed to NZ suppliers to their master company, and kept on operating on slender or no profits, believing that they were so useful that the main company would always bail them out.

                  And they wouldn’t and didn’t. So in effect Mainzeal was unwisely even fraudulently funding part of the enterprise in China with money owed to NZs. It must have been running as a ponzi scheme for a good length of time.

                  That’s not prudent behaviour by the Directors, and it goes beyond poor performance as it was a deliberate act of neglect of their duty to pay their suppliers.

                  UK law: (Think twice before becoming a Director, if the others know more than you about damage control.)
                  https://www.wheelerslaw.co.uk/site/business/business_companycommercial/directors/

                  Company Director Responsibilities
                  In the last few years, new legislation has aimed to prevent company directors from acting irresponsibly. However, the effect of such legislation has been to codify for the first time the duties owed by directors to companies, their shareholders and to the broader community, and to impose heavier burdens on company directors who are determined to act irresponsibly.
                  Directors’ Statutory Duties

                  The Companies Act 2006 sets out seven basis principles governing a company director’s behaviour, by imposing specific duties on the director. These are:

                  the duty to act within the director’s powers. The law and the company’s constitution set out what powers a director has. These powers relate to the matters upon which a director can take action or make decisions on behalf of the company, and the procedures which must be followed.
                  the duty to promote the success of the company. This does not simply mean that a director must always make decisions so as to maximise the company’s profit. The law provides that the director must always consider:
                  the likely long-term consequences of his decisions;
                  the interests of the company’s employees;
                  the company’s business relationships with suppliers, customers and others;
                  the impact of the company’s operations on the environment and community;
                  the company’s reputation for high standards of business conduct;
                  the need to act fairly as between shareholders.
                  the duty to exercise independent judgement. Company directors should always act independently and not allow themselves to be controlled by others.
                  the duty to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence. What this means depends on any special skill or knowledge a director has. For example, a company director who is also an accountant would have a higher duty of care in financial management than one who has no special knowledge of financial matters.
                  the duty to avoid conflicts of interests. Directors must not allow themselves to fall into situations where their duties to the company are in conflict with their personal interests or duties to others.
                  the duty not to accept benefits from third parties. A director may not accept any benefit (this would include bribes) which is offered simply because of his position as director.
                  the duty to declare interests in a proposed transaction with the company. Directors must inform the company if there is any proposed transaction with the company in which the director has a direct or indirect interest. The company’s articles of association will usually provide that a company may still be involved in the decision making process regarding such transactions, if the director has properly declared his interest.

                  • Sam

                    Please don’t punish me with a wall’o text but yeah, I’d agree that Mainzeal had billions in government contrasts from the Sky City convention centre, stadiums, civil infrastructure, not to mention commercial operations. So they weren’t hurting for clients. As far as I can gather Mainzeal would continually renegotiate the quoted price for a building until they couldn’t.

                    • greywarshark

                      Why would you be punished? If you know about company and directors duties you needn’t look again. It isn’t just a wall of anonymous text, it’s a list of the Responsibilities.

                      Can someone advise whether there is a possibility of NZ suppliers and contractors mounting a civil suit to see if they could get some of that $117 million back? What about the shareholders? Though a good number of them could be overseas pension investments/retirement savings schemes.

                    • Sam

                      In liquidations, contractors are the last to receive compensation behind landlords and shareholders.

                      I just don’t get down reading corporate bibles.

                  • KJT

                    I’m actually finding it hard to understand why, the Mainzeal directors, are still out of jail.

                    • Sam

                      It’s in the acronym limited liability. Shareholders assumes no liability.

                    • KJT

                      Shareholders in a limited company cannot be held liable, except in some rare cases. Employees including directors and managers, can.

                    • Sam

                      Financial fraud is just really, really hard to prove. The number of cases that don’t go to trial is one part of the story, the number of public prosecutors with the skills to explain complex financial fraud in a manner that every one else can understand is another story.

  10. Robert Guyton 11

    Oops!

    Even though billionaires work harder…

  11. Fireblade 12

    Simon Bridges is directing his Twitter page readers to Kiwiblog.

    He must be comfortable with people reading the comments
    section as well then…

    Simon is an idiot.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/simonjbridges/status/1100125535890432001

    • bwaghorn 13.1

      Fuck this day is just getting better

    • Andre 13.2

      Won’t affect her in the tiniest little bit.

      “The directors are covered by liability insurance which will pay their damages.”

      Personal responsibility and accountability is for the great unwashed masses, not the elite.

      • Gabby 13.2.1

        It’ll look great on her cv drey.

      • AB 13.2.2

        That’s right – sadly no double-bunking in a Serco joint for Dame Ship.
        Though for our own amusement we could start a competition for the most suitable cellmate.
        Maybe Rob Muldoon’s ghost?

    • mac1 13.3

      From the article cited.

      “The directors were covered by liability insurance, and Bethell hoped the damages awarded would be paid quickly.”

      Who paid the liabiity insurance?

      So, in the end, what sanction applies for a company director guilty of trading while insolvent?

      Will she be employed again as a company director. Pay a fine? Go to prison? Have a criminal record? Lose her title?

      Or is this the worst she gets?

      “”When the company collapsed in 2013, unpaid subcontractors and creditors were owed more than $115m. Many of these creditors themselves were put into serious financial difficulty as a result of the decisions made by the former directors.”

      For the behaviour which happened between 2005-13? And which the guilty parties are contemplating appealing, to delay justice thus denying it further.

      • Sacha 13.3.1

        Wonder if this conviction means creditors can lodge their own civil prosecutions?

      • Cinny 13.3.2

        “Will she be employed again as a company director. Pay a fine? Go to prison? Have a criminal record? Lose her title?

        Or is this the worst she gets?”

        +1

        • Augustus 13.3.2.1

          I’ll bet the answers to those questions will be: yes, no, no, no, no. Yes.

          • mac1 13.3.2.1.1

            Not bad for a former PM of New Zealand to be fined $6 million, responsible for a company going broke having borrowed $42 million, and owing $115 million at liquidation.

            And the Nats claim to know something about business……………..FFS!

    • Ad 13.4

      Sorry for the repeated link just saw yours.

    • Adrian Thornton 13.5

      Of course no one is really surprised, as everyone in their hearts know that National politicians are all corrupt on some level..it is just a natural part of adhering to their selfish and devious ideology.

      Still it is a good news story to enjoy today, RNZ should have it at the end of their hourly news roundup..sort of like a feel good fluffy kitten story.

  12. ianmac 14

    How sad:
    “Ex-Mainzeal chair Jenny Shipley and other directors ordered to pay $36m by High Court.” ( I seem to remember that she and the other directors resigning a few days before the company failed.)
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12207386
    Edit: Yes Mullett. How sad.

  13. bwaghorn 15

    When I click to reply the little cursor? Thing is up by n in bwaghorn . Thought ya might like to know.

  14. Ad 16

    Ex- Prime Minister and Chinese Government stooge Jenny Shipley is found guilty as a director of trading Mainzeal while insolvent:

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12207386

    Shipley’s reforms destroyed so many New Zealand families.
    Never forget.

    • Stuart Munro 16.1

      It would be a priority for a prudent government to remove her from the board of the largely publicly funded CCB, which she chairs.

  15. One Two 17

    Scientists call for Protection from Non-ionizing Electromagnetic Field Exposure

    Scientific basis for our common concerns

    Numerous recent scientific publications have shown that EMF affects living organisms at levels well below most international and national guidelines. Effects include increased cancer risk, cellular stress, increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damages, structural and functional changes of the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, and negative impacts on general well-being in humans. Damage goes well beyond the human race, as there is growing evidence of harmful effects to both plant and animal life.

    These findings justify our appeal to the United Nations (UN) and, all member States in the world, to encourage the World Health Organization (WHO) to exert strong leadership in fostering the development of more protective EMF guidelines, encouraging precautionary measures, and educating the public about health risks, particularly risk to children and fetal development. By not taking action, the WHO is failing to fulfill its role as the preeminent international public health agency.

    Collectively we also request that:

    1. Children and pregnant women be protected;

    2. Guidelines and regulatory standards be strengthened;

    3. Manufacturers be encouraged to develop safer technology;

    4. Utilities responsible for the generation, transmission, distribution, and monitoring of electricity maintain adequate power quality and ensure proper electrical wiring to minimize harmful ground current;

    5. The public be fully informed about the potential health risks from electromagnetic energy and taught harm reduction strategies;

    6. Medical professionals be educated about the biological effects of electromagnetic energy and be provided training on treatment of patients with electromagnetic sensitivity;

    7. Governments fund training and research on electromagnetic fields and health that is independent of industry and mandate industry cooperation with researchers;

    8. Media disclose experts’ financial relationships with industry when citing their opinions regarding health and safety aspects of EMF-emitting technologies;

    9. White-zones (radiation-free areas) be established.

    • greywarshark 17.1

      Thanks for more on EMF One Two. The problems from 5G are never mentioned it’s all rah rah about how fast it is.

      Good for getting films etc so people never have to be without a placebo to look at and so never have to stress and think or imagine. Mind slobs being filled up with whatever candy floss or concoction that the money-diseased find suitable.

      • One Two 17.1.1

        I will continue to post and re-post more detail, as there is decades of literature which is in the public domain…

        The deployment will continue, and the sales pitch will never include a word about the known dangers and evidence of damage to human, animals, plants and insects…

        The deployment will meet considerable road-blocks in the forms of existing legislation and acts (environmental mainly), as well as community’s in various nations and regions as awareness grows regarding the threat posed by cumulative EME build up, as well as the threat to planet earths natural frequencies and harmonics, which are responsible for creating and maintaining ‘life’…

        Nations which deploy sooner, will provide the base of updated evidence of the damaged caused by 5G technology and modulations, as at present time the (misleading and incorrect) claims of ‘no known evidence of harm’ in relation to 5G, look certain to require an archive of injury and suffering caused to human beings, and further environmental degradation..

        Regrettably, before action will be taken by those agencies charged with protecting public health and the environment…

        Climate Change will play a major role in slowing and halting the deployment of damaging technologies, directly and indirectly…

        Retain hope, gw…there is large global movement gaining momentum in all nations and regions, including NZ…

    • Bazza64 17.2

      More pseudoscience junk from One Two. Anyone who wants to read something scientific on this issue should check out David Gorski on Twitter, he exposes all sorts of quacks & dodgy types, who usually push this type of stuff because they have something to sell to you.

      • greywarshark 17.2.1

        Isn’t Twitter mainly for Twits ands people giving quick responses and updates to their fans? The EMF concerns need more than that.

        • Bazza64 17.2.1.1

          Your post is about the length of a tweet, so you would be at home there.

          EMF concerns are on twitter – you just have to click on them to link to articles of interest.

  16. Andre 18

    It seems the prominent cleric found guilty of kiddy-fiddling can now be discussed since the suppression orders have been lifted and the case is reported in said cleric’s home newspapers.

    The reason for the suppression order was apparently:

    Until now the trials have been subject to a suppression order and could not be reported. The reason for the strict order was that [redacted] faced a second trial in relation to separate alleged historical offences. The first trial was suppressed temporarily so information from it would be less likely to influence the jury in the second. Suppression orders are not unusual in such cases.

    But Kidd has now ordered that reporting restrictions be lifted after the Department of Public Prosecutions dropped the second set of charges. Kidd had ruled that key evidence was inadmissible and could not be used, significantly weakening the prosecution’s case.

    Name redacted and link not supplied in case the suppression order is still active here.

    • Ad 18.1

      If one more Republican Senator agrees to vote against Trump’s emergency declaration, Trump will be stopped flat on the most important part of his immigration platform.

      Pell, Shipley, Whaleoil, Trump; Going to be a good week against the extreme right.

      • Andre 18.1.1

        Genghis Can’t will just veto the legislation overturning his emergency declaration, and there won’t be enough Repug votes for the veto override.

        It’ll be the courts that stop the “emergency”. The interesting bit will be if it gets to the Supreme Court in time. I’m awfully curious how the 5 Repug justices are going to reconcile upholding the “emergency” with their past positions. Or whether they’ll just brazenly ignore all the precedents and all the principles they’ve previously held dear.

        • Ad 18.1.1.1

          Agreed.

          But each of those steps puts President Trump further into isolation and ridicule.

          Both sides of the Senate voting to defeat him is massive.

          Then being taken to the Supreme Court by Congress.

          Then forcing Generals to give up funding for political projects.

          Each one of those steps under heavy media scrutiny.

          Each one of those steps narrows his base further.

          And by then, it’s too late to see anything new constructed in time for the election.

          He’s taking this version of white nationalism to its natural political end.

        • Ad 18.1.1.2

          6Agreed.

          But each big step isolates Trump further.

          A majority from both sides defeats him.

          Then the President is taken to the Supreme Court.

          Then Generals get large reallocations of dedicated funding.

          Each step scritinised by the MSM.

          And too late for 2020 construction.

          Trump takes his version of nationalism to its predictable end.

  17. Ad 19

    Whaleoil, Jenny Shipley, and now one day after the closure of the big Catholic anti-sex crime conference …………….

    ……………… into jail goes Cardinal Pell.

    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/cardinal-george-pell-found-guilty-of-child-sex-abuse-20181214-p50m86.html

    Makes for a happy day.

  18. Ad 20

    …. and into jail goes Cardinal Pell.

    Great day against evil 🙂

  19. Ad 21

    Really lovely piece of work from Gordon Campbell on the corrupt relationship between the Chinese government and the National government both in power and in Opposition. Just the historic set of links and relationships set out in it is worth the read by itself:

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1902/S00111/gordon-campbell-on-nationals-cosy-relationship-with-china.htm

    • BM 21.1

      What a load of boring waffle that was.

      Didn’t see any corruption either, just politicians developing trade with China as you would expect since Labour had done a free trade deal with China.

      • Exkiwiforces 21.1.1

        Then we have this article from Oz BM and btw did you know that old mate Locke is in the same bed with you Neo Con/ Libs supporting Huawei’s 5G?

        https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-26/chinas-three-warfares-how-does-beijing-decide-who-or-what-to/10825448

      • AB 21.1.2

        BM is right .
        Nats can sniff out easy money like an airport beagle honing in on a banana.
        Of course they’re all over China.
        They’ll push it to the “pretty legal” stage every time but not often go over the line. Corrupt ideologies attract dodgy people.

        • BM 21.1.2.1

          It was more timing than anything else, free trade deal just done with China, the second biggest economy in the world, businesses opportunities coming out the wazoo.

          If Labour had won the election in 2008, the only difference would have been instead of National politicians doing deals it would have been Labour ones.

          Labour didn’t do a free trade deal with China for nothing.

        • Stuart Munro 21.1.2.2

          Actually they’re not very good at understanding where the ‘fairly legal’ line is, hence Shipley having to pay and essentially being shown to be unfit to hold directorships of anything.

          Southern Response, another Gnat crony outfit, launched a huge amount of legal action instead of paying earthquake victims as they were supposed to. They didn’t win a single case.

      • Gabby 21.1.3

        Developing their post politics careers BMmer.

  20. Adrian Thornton 22

    The rest of the world are now realizing that backing the US/Trumps completely illegal and transparently obvious imperialist regime change operation (which has failed spectacularly) in Venezuela is looking more and more illegitimate as every day passes, many of these countries which themselves have suffered the brutal and sickening reality of US backed interventions in the recent past, are getting nervous at the White Houses extremist rhetoric.

    Just a tiny taste of what US Imperialist intervention looks like..

    Deportations, Assassinations, and Dictator Nations: A Timeline of U.S. Intervention in Latin America
    https://www.kcet.org/shows/link-voices/deportations-assassinations-and-dictator-nations-a-timeline-of-us-intervention-in

    Chile recognises 9,800 more victims of Pinochet’s rule
    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-14584095

    Papers Show U.S. Role in Guatemalan Abuses
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/daily/march99/guatemala11.htm

    Knowing all this, It is hard to imagine that anyone would support US intervention in Venezuela today…yet there are, why and what justification could they possibly have for offering their support for an action that will undoubtedly cause tenfold or more death and suffering?..and more especially when it has been freely admitted by the White house itself that Oil and resources are their real reasons for wanting regime change in Venezuela.

    John Bolton, January 29, 2019
    “It will make a big difference to the United States economically if we could have American oil companies really invest in and produce the oil capabilities in Venezuela,”
    https://grayzoneproject.com/2019/01/29/us-coup-venezuela-oil-corporate-john-bolton/

    Yes it would seem that some people have absolutely no moral compass whatsoever. Perversely many of them relish in it, as some of us watch on in disbelief and dismay as they keenly and proudly prance about displaying their inner moral wasteland with such pride for everyone to see right here on this site…yuk, it’s revolting.

    • BM 22.1

      Do you have relatives or friends living in Venezuela?

      • Adrian Thornton 22.1.1

        Why do you ask?

      • AB 22.1.2

        “Thornton” doesn’t sound like an Hispanic or Amerindian name – though there’s always marriage I guess.
        Maybe Adrian has reached a point of ethical development where he cares about the well-being of people he doesn’t know and will never meet?
        Nah – that seems too far-fetched eh? Can’t be real – gotta be something in it for him eh?

  21. ianmac 23

    From No Right Turn Re Shipley:
    “…Meanwhile there’s another curious feature, and that is the amount owed by the Mainzeal directors will apparently be mostly covered by liability insurance. Which seems… odd. Most insurance policies for us dirty peasants include a clause saying that they won’t pay out for intentional, reckless or criminal behaviour – …”

    http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-obvious-question.html

  22. greywarshark 24

    Cheaper regional fares with Air NZ!
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/110860669/regional-secrets-where-to-go-on-air-new-zealands-new-cheap-fares

    After years of increasing fares and cutting routes – the tide seems to be turning – after Air New Zealand announced domestic tickets will decrease by up to 50 per cent. The cheapest regional routes will now start from $39.

  23. Sacha 25

    Successful litigant says Slater’s recent health claims are not backed by evidence presented to court: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12207479

    Blomfield said the High Court ruling was followed by Slater filing with the Court of Appeal then seeking to delay the subsequent hearing on the basis of ill-health. He said Slater was then obliged by the court to provide evidence supporting his claims around his health and “that evidence simply didn’t support his application”.

    “He has told the public he had two strokes, but the evidence showed he had only had one. He keeps repeating the fact [sic] that the stroke was caused by stress and that he must now avoid stress. However, the medical evidence is that his particular stroke has nothing to do with stress and he is in no more danger of another stroke due to stress than any other person.

    “He claimed to have cognitive and language impairment because of his stroke, but the evidence showed he had none. He claimed to be too incapacitated to communicate with his lawyers, but he was simultaneously engaging in political discussions in the comments section of the Whale Oil website.”

    Blomfield said the Court of Appeal gave Slater until February 22 to provide evidence supporting his claims of ill-health.

    “He filed no response at all. Instead, he applied for bankruptcy. He is now saying his proceedings need to be halted for that reason. He is doing everything he can to avoid the consequences of his own nefarious actions.”

    • joe90 25.1

      Squealing about his health seems to be the go to when things don’t go too well for him.

      • Sacha 25.1.1

        Mental health can be a lifelong struggle, to be fair. Does not make a person act like an arsehole however.

    • BM 25.2

      Yeah, when I read the announcement post on his stroke, the whole thing stunk of bullshit.

      Doctor says stroke cause purely by stress, Slater was a tremendous physical specimen in great health when stroke occurred.

      Lol, good one.

    • millsy 25.3

      I hope the guy gets his power cut off. 12 years on, karma delivers.

  24. Eco Maori 26

    Kia ora Newshub Paddy the fire in Tasman has flared up again you say it is the dryest year on record.
    There you go more carbon being spilled at sea on a heritage class Island site in Australia.
    The Exotic animals that have been Taxidermed for sale by auction look like they will get a lot of interest from hunting lodges Ka kite ano P.S The Mokopunas are a big distraction

  25. Eco Maori 27

    Kia ora The AM Show.
    The small business are the backbone of the country so if the growth fund grows small businesses in the regions that will lift the regions economy.
    I have already predicted that trump won’t win the 2020 election.
    The muppets around here like to let fireworks off when the fireworks season has long finished they are wishing to become cowboys fools.
    I still don’t trust your polls they look loaded from what I see most people in NZ don’t support trump????????.
    I know who all the rats ARE.
    It would be a good show if you talk about the real big issue the whole world faces but know you just focus on the trump and brexit distractions. You should be taking about climate change that’s is what is the biggest issue for our grandchildren O that’s correct neanderthal can’t think about the futures wellbeing.???????????.
    NO fool if you look at Europe all the wealthy stable countries have heaps railway tracks cheap reliable trains low cost mostly elictric trains so we are about to go back 30 years and build a low cost railway. That is the best way to make the regions wealthy. Railways are a stable cheap way to transport people and goods China seen that hence the new Silk Road railway are not prone to oil prices shocks that is what North Land needs not oil burning 3 Lane high ways.
    You don’t look trust worthy steve rogers you looks like A go oil part neanderthal big conflict of interest there go oil party pinned its tail on trump and they are going to lose all the power they have bestowed on them by the American people. I have seen trump being a racist bigot on air he picks fight with China he trashes Obama one doesn’t have to be very bright to see trump is a racist person if you can’t see that well the prizim of the $$$$&&$$$$$$, is blinding you.
    There you go the dryest year on record in Tasman and know one is taking about the big picture climate change trump is suppressing that I can see that plan as day.
    Chris the American metrologist not one word about climate change that’s just backs my words up.
    He is losing his base duncan and the am shows hip pocket are being filled by trumps puppets for there bullshit he does not understand the ways of Asia cultures.
    I say it is cool that Hugh Jackman is visiting Aotearoa on his world tour. He is inspiring Alot of our youth to become Stars like him.
    Even your guest are in on supporting trump he can not look into the camera.
    The lady keeps a straight face but her hands are giving away her nervousness te waha can – – – but the body gives it away. te trump show. the guest have been given scripts lol just like the poll just trying to manipulate the people.
    Living wage Pay is a good way to keep workers as in the last 30 years management has stolen a bigger % of companies money and the people who make the money for the company are getting less.
    Look at Fonterra it has not delivered to farmers what was sold to them they have just made the cost of managing the export of milk powder more expensive and given farmers sweets f all. Ka kite ano

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Determining the Engine Type in Your Car
    Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
    3 hours ago
  • How to Become a Race Car Driver: A Comprehensive Guide
    Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
    3 hours ago
  • How Many Cars Are There in the World in 2023? An Exploration of Global Automotive Statistics
    Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
    3 hours ago
  • How Long Does It Take for Car Inspection?
    Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
    3 hours ago
  • Who Makes Mazda Cars?
    Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
    3 hours ago
  • How Often to Replace Your Car Battery A Comprehensive Guide
    Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
    3 hours ago
  • Can You Register a Car Without a License?
    In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the Rule If you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
    3 hours ago
  • Mazda: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Reliability, Value, and Performance
    Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
    3 hours ago
  • What Are Struts on a Car?
    Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
    3 hours ago
  • What Does Car Registration Look Like: A Comprehensive Guide
    Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
    3 hours ago
  • How to Share Computer Audio on Zoom
    Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
    7 hours ago
  • How Long Does It Take to Build a Computer?
    Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
    7 hours ago
  • How to Put Your Computer to Sleep
    Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
    7 hours ago
  • What is Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT)?
    Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
    7 hours ago
  • iPad vs. Tablet Computers A Comprehensive Guide to Differences
    In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
    7 hours ago
  • How Are Computers Made?
    A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
    7 hours ago
  • How to Add Voice Memos from iPhone to Computer
    Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
    7 hours ago
  • Why My Laptop Screen Has Lines on It: A Comprehensive Guide
    Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
    7 hours ago
  • How to Right-Click on a Laptop
    Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
    7 hours ago
  • Where is the Power Button on an ASUS Laptop?
    Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
    7 hours ago
  • How to Start a Dell Laptop: A Comprehensive Guide
    Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
    7 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Serious populist discontent is bubbling up in New Zealand
    Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    7 hours ago
  • How to Take a Screenshot on an Asus Laptop A Comprehensive Guide with Detailed Instructions and Illu...
    In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
    7 hours ago
  • How to Factory Reset Gateway Laptop A Comprehensive Guide
    A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
    7 hours ago
  • The Folly Of Impermanence.
    You talking about me?  The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
    10 hours ago
  • A crisis of ambition
    Roger Partridge  writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Have 308 people in the Education Ministry’s Curriculum Development Team spent over $100m on a 60-p...
    Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • 'This bill is dangerous for the environment and our democracy'
    Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago
  • The Bank of our Tamariki and Mokopuna.
    Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    12 hours ago
  • The worth of it all
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    15 hours ago
  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
    Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
    17 hours ago
  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
    The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
    17 hours ago
  • Pickleball On the Cusp of Olympic Glory
    Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
    18 hours ago
  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
    18 hours ago
  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
    Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
    18 hours ago
  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    18 hours ago
  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    18 hours ago
  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    18 hours ago
  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    18 hours ago
  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    24 hours ago
  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    1 day ago
  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    1 day ago
  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 day ago
  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    2 days ago
  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago
  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    2 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    2 days ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    2 days ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    2 days ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    2 days ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    2 days ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    2 days ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    2 days ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    2 days ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-20T10:16:23+00:00