John Key’s New Zealand was full of arrogant, smug Pakeha racists. The last time I heard such unabashed racism was before the 1981 Springbok tour. Their man might be long gone, but white racism (fueled on the North Shore by significant white South African immigration IMHO) has been emboldened.
I can’t believe the restraint shown to these racist assholes. They deserved a good hiding with a taiaha. That would have made for a salutary lesson on price to be paid for being an ignorant racist.
So some of them couldn’t understand the mihi, rather than listen, or feel the words spoken while watching body language and wait until they had finished speaking, someone got their knickers in a twist because they couldn’t understand the language.
It’s ego related, did the person feel stupid due to their lack of te reo knowledge which resulted in them packing a tantrum?
That’s what it looks like from where this white girl is sitting. Shame, makes him look even more stupid lololz.
Sanctuary, was listening to an old soldier on talk back the other night, he said te reo should have been taught in NZ schools 100 years ago. His reasoning/angle, from the self-confessed war veteran, both the Germans and Japanese had knowledge of the English language; if all the kiwi soldiers spoke Maori it would have given them a huge advantage, especially in Japanese POW camps.
So many reasons to learn the language, I thought the old soldiers’ angle was an interesting twist.
Used to live in Devonport, it’s rather awesome up Mt Vic, well worth the short, steep walk. Would be wicked as if it was developed/preserved, being in the middle of town, it would only enhance their community.
He he – the conversations in te reo might not have gone so well around the Japanese soldiers. When Derek Fox ( fluent te reo speaker) went to Japan on a scholarship some years back he was able to go to the fishing villages and have conversations with the locals because there is seemingly enough similarity in the languages to allow for this
I wish I could remember the details @Jan M that my brother related to me before his death – fluent in Te Reo and Christened in a church near Whanganui.
Once day I’ll search the attic.
Basically, a challenge between loyalties towards the House of the Rising Sun versus the House of the Rising Moon. Difficulties in determining whether they should remain with the coloniser they were already familiar with, or whether some other colonial power offering treats and trinkets might be better.
Dilemma dilemma.
(Then another option came along a lot later – dressed up as an ideology called neo-liberalism). It made more promises than both of the previous options and allowed one to feel good about not having to worry about trivial matters such as greed and avarice, the idea of a society, that various disparities are OK because we’re only committed to the self and our own ambitions, etc. etc.
@ Sanctuary ….. it’s what happens when your immigration policy is designed to be inherently classist/racist/imperialist.
You either have to have lots of filthy lucre (often ‘black’ in nature ready to be laundered), or come from somewhere your currency is worth substantially more than the $NZ
You should address your issues with “Chinese sounding” anything to the (possibly pseudonymous) bigoted racist shitbag “Simon Clark” in the report, who is reported at one point to have wibbled on about “Cantonese, Mandarin…” etc. languages.
“The day will come when we’ll look back on our role in Syria & conclude we’ve never done anything worse than being the Air Force, armourer & treasurer of ISIS/Al Qaeda and alphabet soup that has soaked the beautiful multicultural multi-faith Levantine Mediterranean land of Syria”
George Galloway
I read the Braunias one on poor picked on Paula. It was brilliant. I see that apparently Mallard has a vendetta against her. Nothing to do with the fact that as usual she hasn’t read the Parliamentary rules so doesn’t have to abide by them. So it’s poor little her fighting injustice and bullying yada yada etc. Saw Gerry being interviewed in foyer. Paula comes out of lift. Sees cameras. Big toothy smile. Ours her arms out and does a wiggle/Sashay and rushed over to stand by Gerry. Gerry kept talking. Paula elbows him out of the way and takes over interview. Hugely entertaining. And why is she always dressed as if she’s on her way to a cocktail party.? Spanxed to the Max.
More importantly. How in the hell did she get the position she’s in? It beggars belief.
“Oim leevung” (set to the descant)
“How long?” says the bovver boy
/probably as long as it takes for moi consultant to complete his ‘re-imaging’ of moi (going forward). En!!!!! en!!!! ez long ez Soimon tears me its OK. And now that I got me stomach under control and me truck stop mates realise who’s boss. the Whurl is Moi Oysta
Maybe a little Little Feet would be appropriate about now
Paula will have gone through the basic checks – white teeth, looks, good at twisting questions, ability to reply to questions with return questions or diversionary, retaliatory answer speed, prepared to attack or feint whatever needed, agreeable to makeover, botox, stomach stapling, whatever it takes. All the usual tests for National suitability for high office in politics.
Chris Trotter on Bowalley Road and The Daily Blog says that Trevor Mallard will be enjoying all this argy-bargy. Parliament’s Poacher-Turned-Gamekeeper: Mallard positively twinkles in the Speaker’s Chair. His many years in the Chamber have armed him against every trick in the Opposition play-book. Hardly surprising, since Mallard has, at one time or another, played every one of them. Knowing exactly what to expect, this parliamentary poacher-turned-gamekeeper lies in wait for the lumbering Nats and daily spoils their fun by dispensing a judicious measure of galling intellectual acuity and dead-eyed malice. https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2018/05/testing-speaker.html
26th May 2018, The Nation; – Lisa Owens was toxic to labour today on ‘the nation’ overtalking Megan Woods all the time.
Then in the next interview lisa Owens treated Judge Bancroft (The childrens commisioner) respect in the next interview with full time to answer questiomns without any ‘interjection’.
So Lisa Owens is pure ‘National biased’ and should be removed from The Nation as when she asked Megan Woods a question she did not give the same grace time to respond to her that she gave judge Bancroft.
What a sad watch The nation was and someone needs to place complaints about Lisa Owens over-baised unresonable interview of Labour MP for Energy Meagan Woods on 26/5/18 episode of “The Nation”.
Yes Lisa Owens was certainly on a rampage ‘roll’ today and we saw her do this overbearing ‘interjecting’ last year before the election when she treated Winston perters in the same overbearing manner, so today for the second time we sent another request to the Newshub ‘Compliaints comittee to request they review the eposode and ‘moderate her interview and to allow the same time to respond to her questions that she gives others as she did following the Megan Woods interview.
If they fail we will send the complaint on to Broadcasting Standards Authority as they have last year ruled on issues complants against the Newshub before last in 2017.
Generally Newshub are fine but sometimes are spoilt by self imposed biased views of some.
We do invite others to send a complaint to the Broadcast committee first as we have if they dont like seeing some MP’s given proper opportunity to explain the questions asked of them. standardscommittee@mediaworks.co.nz
When we make a complaint to a media outlet it is best to go to them first not as Alwyn wrongly suggests, – as you need to allow the media outlet to respond first otherwise you will be sent back from BSA to do just that we were advsed last year when we sent a complaint into BSA.
” it is best to go to them first not as Alwyn wrongly suggests”
You are quite correct that most complaints should start by going to the broadcaster first. I am sorry you took my comment confused you. That is all covered in the BSA link I pointed you to. https://bsa.govt.nz/complaints/making-a-complaint
It seemed somewhat unnecessary to repeat all that in a comment when it was all explained in the detailed exposition I referenced.
“someone needs to place complaints “.
Have you considered showing a little bit of initiative and doing it yourself?
Why, like so many on the left, do you always see things as being
“someone else’s” responsibility?
You make complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Authority.
It is all explained here. Go on “Just Do It”. https://bsa.govt.nz/complaints/making-a-complaint
“Yes we did already send our comoplaint so are you”.
Well congratulations. A man with the courage of his convictions.
Why didn’t you word your comment as calling on people to join you in that activity instead of being as if you were calling on people to do it for you?
Have I complained?
Of course not. I didn’t watch the program so complaining about it would be quite dishonest. In fact it would be just as dishonest as lying about someone you don’t know and describing them as “a national prop”.
But then smears and lying come very easily to you don’t they?
As for your claim
“What a nasty message you sent there”.
You really are easily offended aren’t you? I was merely, in my usual benevolent manner, trying to help you with something that you didn’t appear to know about.
“Next you’ll want to see what we sent”
Seems quite a good idea. Best you’ve had in ages. Why don’t you post a copy of the complaint you put in? That would no doubt help people who want to back up your complaint by giving them a model.
Come on. Post it here.
Why didn’t they word the comment as calling on people to join them in that activity instead of being as if they were calling on people to do it for them?
Probably assumed that anyone with an average level of literacy and comprehension would have thought that it was a call for people to join them in that activity. Average nine year old that is.
Haven’t seen it yet cleangreen – usually watch it on a Sunday. I don’t know what’s in the water at Flower Street these days, if it’s not Lisa Owen on The Nation, it’s Tova O’Brien and Jenny Lynch during the week equally as toxic and seemingly enjoying themselves. Now that I’m retired, not sufficiently wide awake in the mornings to be bothered with the AM Show either, sounds like it would do nothing to help the blood pressure!!
Yes we both were sitting there screaming at her (Lisa owens) when she cut-off Megan woods from responding to her questions.
It was a horrible experience that raised our blood pressue not really worthy of good media balance as it was one sided until Lisa was finished with Megan then she changed like a camelion and sat quietly listening to Judge Bancroft answers, as such a change.
He’ll also no doubt have the welcome mat out if Australia dumps their pseudo asylum seekers here and Ardern welcomes them with open arms.
Why are we rejecting people who actually seem to want to contribute to this country?
Is our Labour-led Government really still as racist as was the New Zealand Labour Party a hundred years ago? Was Clark’s apology merely a smokescreen and has Labour gone back to its roots. As Michael Joseph Savage demonstrated, and Twyford continues to show, bigotry against those with “Chinky” sounding names is very deeply ingrained in New Zealand’s parties of the left.
“In early 2002 Labour prime minister Helen Clark apologised to New Zealanders of Chinese descent for racist treatment through the immigration poll tax which was in place from 1881 to 1944. What she didn’t do, of course, was apologise for the Labour Party, whose early leaders and MPs were virulently anti-Chinese and who campaigned for expanding the White New Zealand policies and attempted to outdo the Liberal and Reform parties to see who could be most racist against the Chinese in the few years after the First World War leading up to the legislation of 1920 which shut off Chinese immigration to New Zealand.” https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/08/24/labours-racist-roots-2/
“Most were temporary migrants who arrived on student and work visas, experts believe. Immigration policy changes introduced last year have made it harder for temporary migrants to gain residency.”
Flashback to international students being exploited re their visa scandal under the previous government…
Also from the same article….
” Donny Lai, 50, a former university lecturer from Hong Kong, will next week be returning home with his wife and young son after three years of struggling to secure a decent job.
Lai describes himself as a “highly qualified IT professional” ande (lolz shabby proofreading at the herald) moved here in April 2015 because he believed the education system here was better for his 9-year-old son Justin.”
Looks like he is doing what’s best for his family by moving back home because he can’t find work here.
+100 and see above.
It’s interesting how the right continue to scream xenophobia and racism when the real racist, and classist policies were implemented – primarily around money and the almighty dollar.
The coalition government might not quite be there yet but at least they’ve recognised there is a problem with exploitation and treating people like shit – including Donny Lai and others (in that article and elsewhere). Ten years of crap policy takes a while to unpick.
That’s not to say I’m happy with current policy which still allows treating people like shit – unless of course they have loads of filthy (black) lucre or come from countries where the value of their dollars is sometimes worth double NZ’s.
Check out the intent of that ‘demogrphic profiling’ for example that the system and structure put in place under the past administration, and which thankfully got canned – at least officially – though it still exists by way of organisational culture.
By the way, if we/they (the government) really wanted to effectively reduce exploitation and immigration numbers ethically:
– they’d be penalising the exploiters not their victims,
such as by way of not bonding people to a specific employer; ensuring decent salaries and wages were paid; ensuring adequate oversight of immigration consultants – i.e. those claiming to be lawyers rather than having passed an exam or two; proper resourcing and monitoring of PTEs; rescinding the PR status of exploiters ripping off their victims and heavily fining those with citizenship.
– taxing the 10s of thousands of vacant properties that have been sold to foreign buyers and those that don’t live here – i.e. those bought simply as an investment by people who show no committment to the country, especially while we have a housing crisis and homelessness
– applying immigration rules equitably regardless of source country (whether 1st, 2nd or 3rd World)
– listening to a few advocacy groups, not JUST ‘officials’ who’ve spent the past decade designing and implementing the system and structure
– etc., et., etc. There’s a helluva lot of unpicking to do
I am jut impressed that Prime Minister Helen Clark leader of the Labour government could apologize as Prime Minister but not as leader of the Labour Party.
Such an existential quandary!
Alwyn, it’s not racist to talk about lowering immigration rates.
“Prime Minister but not as leader of the Labour Party.
Such an existential quandary”.
You might think it would be a quandary but then you are not the Prime Minister. For them it appears to be a necessary talent.
Clark, Key and Ardern never had the slightest difficulty in the problem you are talking about. They all claimed that they did some things as Prime Minister and others as leader of their parties. They generally did that when they wanted to avoid OIA requests.
I don’t know about English. I’m not saying he was innocent but off hand I don’t remember a case.
You appear to be saying that Prime Minister Helen Clark was not able to deliver an apology as both Prime Minister and political leader of the Labour Party because of the way an OIA request to her was responded to.
Could you spell out the relationship between Helen Clark’s Prime Ministerial OIA responses and her apology about discrimination against Chinese people throughout New Zealand history?
So allowing NZ chinese to be eligible for old age pension in 1936 was ‘virulently anti chinese’ ?
The poll tax was being waived by 1934 and abolished in 1944.
After 1939 wives and children of Chinese men in New Zealand were allowed temporary entry as refugees from war-torn China.
Labour party didnt form government till Nov 35 – the Lib/Reform govern delayed it by a year hoping to gain time.
So Labour is responsible for the racist laws passed by the Liberals and later Reform parties who united to form…..National
Some things never change…. labour is always responsible even from the opposition benches. No mention of the actual politicians in charge
The Irish Times exit poll points to a landslide win for Yes in the referendum to legalise abortion in Ireland. 68-32. Which is even bigger than 2015’s marriage equality vote of 62-38.
none of the above…..until such time as a comprehensive and long term plan is developed for the needs of society any funding mechanism will simply continue the mistaken belief that the problem is funds and not sustainability…..even then it will ultimately be impossible but it may provide for a considerably longer lived and more equitable arrangement.
Do the issues councils face ever get any smaller? Does Central Government regularly increase demands on local body councils? “Councils never lower the rates do they?
I see Gisborne has Napier is doing it too; – so we pay for their office upgrades but when we ask for “sustainable services”they will say, “we dont have money for that” ; – it makes us all sick.
still stuck in that ‘funding’ mentality …..do you even know what needs to be funded?…and at what scale?…and for how long?….and are they needs or wants?….and what resources are available?…..are those resources renewable or finite?
When society has determined that then you can worry about funding…and it applies at the global, national and local level
What needs to be funded, at what scale and for how long etc is largely determined in council’s long term plan.
And while the public does have input into that, they have little teeth. They have no direct voting power over it nor any veto options. Therefore, this can and should be improved.
While households and a number of businesses are struggling, we can’t continue to ignore the negative impacts of current funding mechanisms. And soaring council rates, which they themselves are becoming unsustainable for many.
Id suggest that all that demonstrates the problem…..nobody is able to articulate what is needed, resulting in an assertion that what we currently have is insufficient, poorly targeted and unaffordable with no answer except to say ‘more money’ll fix it”….no it wont…..comprende?
You’re right there, Pat. Merely throwing more money at it via excessive rate increases isn’t the solution, it’s one of the problems I’m highlighting.
Moreover, in many cases I don’t believe nobody is able to articulate what is needed. Sometimes, there will be a contest of ideas. Nevertheless, we do require a more democratic process of consensus.
I don’t believe that, Chair. The increasing pressure on councils (regional esp) to manage the increasing degradation of the environment costs money; increased and increasing fines for polluters is one approach and I’m a supporter of such action, providing it is fair.
People and their activities. Sh*t creates a lot of work for councils, for starters, then there’s getting water to places it doesn’t naturally go; it’s all very expensive and increasing. We are doing it wrong. I blame civilisation 🙂
“Speaking to a Queenstown Chamber of Commerce business breakfast, Mr Bridges said he was interested in economic models that would give the region the ability to make more decisions on how the local economy is managed.
“That way you would be looking at both sides of the equation, living with the consequences of income and expenditure.” Mr Bridges likened the idea to the cantons of Switzerland where local authorities have much more say over how many aspects of the economy are managed. He said he liked to call the concept “localism.””
Interesting concept, but. I think soimon should just step back a bit, and run the “what could go wrong here” test on his ideas.
The reason Municipalities are struggling to fund core services is two sided, Central Government has “devolved” functions to a local level and not kept up the funding along with finding much more for councils to do. The other is a bureaucratic machine that devotes it’s energy to NOT fund things, especially under a National or National Lite government. We get smacked in Queenstown with this because a service will reach breaking point at the peak of a cycle, and by the time a project to resolve the issue gets to funding stage the cycle has eased, demand subsided and the bureaucrats say “what’s the problem, don’t need to fund this” So the Kawarau Bridge replacement kicked around for 30 years.
PS For 6 min of defensive politicking, and making promises he’s got no chance of keeping, check the video at the bottom of the link.
While I agree central Government are adding to council costs, we can’t overlook the impact that reckless and extravagant expenditure is adding. Nor the expense of the bureaucratic machine itself.
Therefore, reducing costs and expenditure while also looking at more progressive means of funding is what is required.
Depends entirely on whether the different caucus factions were voting for him rather than against the other factions. Voting for the least-worst in their eyes might not mean voting for the most competent.
And if he doesn’t grow into the role, they can have another tilt later with a thinner herd to compete against.
So not so much a single plan, as him lucking out on the expedient independent decisions of others. It could just as easily have been mercenary mark, who couldn’t even handle 7Days without pity points.
“As a result, US lawmakers needed to consider whether New Zealand should be kicked out of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance because of problems at its “political core”
Yes please!!! Throw us out of the “Five eyes spy game network” please do; – as I dont want our country being a spy for any other counrty as we were under “Planet key”
“However, he said New Zealand “have denied that there’s a problem at all” and failed to follow Australia’s lead in setting up an inquiry into China’s activities.”
Lol the one thing this Labour Party won’t hold an inquiry into.
“The bombshell testimony included claims from a former Central Intelligence Agency analyst that “anything on China that was briefed to Bill English was briefed to Mr Yang Jian”, the National MP revealed last year as having trained spies for China.”
Ignoring the geoploitical aspects of hawkish claims misleading US congress, and also ignoring the civil liberties aspects of global intelligence surveillance, I’d like to see us kicked out of Five Eyes if only to watch paranoiacs and serious commenters alike express concerns about “Four Eyes”.
You can’t maintain an air of mystery if you share the nickname bestowed by school-yard bullies.
I’m sorry for a comment that isn’t related to the thread.
Hi standardistas. I know you have differences with people in New Zealand. But today a man in England was sentenced to death by the Tory government run by the Israeli interests in England for standing up for the working class girls of England.
This is bipartisan issue. If a Tory government can arrest people and sentence and imprison them within the hour for speech in the United Kingtom for standing up for British working class girls who were raped under Labour we are in dire straights.
Please stand up for free speech. Stand up for Tommy Robinson, defending the working class girls who were sacrificed to diversity.
The working class in England should be marching in the streets. This is bipartisan, genuine fascism. You want to see real fascism? Here it is.
I’m going to be doing daily posts on Tommy Robinson.
The British government and the overall British ruling class have no mandate by the British people. They have suspended their relations with the British people. They should be regarded as an illegitimate government ruling by force and their supposed authority should be suspended and they should be regarded as adversaries of the British people.
The people of England need to start arming themselves with anything they can find. This is real. This is terrifying. And justice needs to be served.
The rape of 1 million girls by the English ruling class deserves justice.
I hope that justice comes for the English ruling class, whatever form it takes. The English ruling class are aliens to England. I won’t state why, but they are not English. They are of another group of people who have a different agenda to the English.
Every day, I’m going to start writing about the English government and what it is doing.
New Zealand needs to put pressure on this regime and start divesting ourselves of the relationship until they restore the rule of law and the freedoms of western institutions to England.
God bless the English.
Everyone on the left in New Zealand needs to start looking at Tory fascism in England and the suspension of the rights and rule of law and persecution of brave men speaking out on behalf of the British working class.
1 million of these girls were raped. I’d gladly march with any one of you to free Great Britain from it’s ruling classes.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[I’ve no idea why a comment supporting ex English Defense League joker got through on a thread about homelessness. I can’t be bothered to read the entire comment – suspect it should be trashed – but will leave sitting around here for now] – Bill
upandcomer…….are you talking about tommy robinson aka stephen yaxley, aka stephen lennon, aka andrew mcmaster, aka paul harris the far-right wing activist?
He’s done MANY lags before, mostly for violence, and a bit of fraud.
Lolz while doing time at Winchester Prison….. Robinson made friends with several Muslim prisoners. “Great lads … I cannot speak highly enough of the Muslim inmates I’m now living with”, he added at the time.
He’ll be fine in the big house, doubt he’s losing any sleep over it.
Far out dude…. where are you getting your shite info?
Here’s an even better idea: take your vile, fake, Islamophobic bullshit and ram it up your arse sideways. Then go and apologise to the family of Makram Ali, who was murdered by one of Robinson’s followers.
Good Morning The hui I say that there should be a majority of Iwi tangata whenua should have a say on there Waitangi Treaty settlement . There is still a lot of whenua that is not in the right Tupna ownership /caretakers hands .So I say Iwi should have the backing of hapu before Treaty Settlements are settled . P.S Ka Pai Wahine Maori those old men will change there minds on the Equal rights of Wahine
Ka kite ano
Eco Maori is starting this conversation I want a law that Maori Whenua can not be sold only leased to Preserve te Whenua for te mokopunas after all we are only caretakers of Whenua its te Mokopunas future that counts in my book. Ka kite ano music link
The Moko Kauae I was to busy to comment wisely on this topic its a Maori cultured Wahine birth right to have a moko kauae before one gets the moko kauae its was traditionally the kaumatua to whom one ask for there blessing on one getting a moko .
The men its was birth right or if one achieved some great task for te tangata to have the blessing of the kaumatua to get a ta moko .
I believe that I have achieved some great achievements as Eco Maori one man has told me this who I trust but untill most kaumatua tell me this I will not get my ta moko ie the blessing of te tangata. Ka kite ano link is below .
Good evening Newshub Tova those people that were ask how they think Winston Peters will do as temporary Prime Minister were all clearly national voters enough said. Does know one want to talk about the fines the sandflys let there European m8 off and hammer the brown tangata discrimination at its best .Theirs a couple of phenomenons that’s happening because the sandflys are so intent on harnessing Eco Maori ???????????
Ka pai to the Leaders Kim jong-u and Moon for there actions.
Its a good weekend of sports I quite like coach Hansen comments
With the League the Warriors will get there game on out when it counts .
Its a bit warmer this year than last year no.
Ka kite ano
About bloody time that 4th estate are starting dig around about this sorry state of affairs and I hope they start asking some very hard questions at Carter, Guy and Fed Farmers also I’ll like to see Jandals have a Royal Commission on what, where, when, why and how we the nation got to this point as someone or people should get a ****ing Ass kicking.
The so-called custodians of the Land probably need to take a very long look at themselves for the bloody mess they have caused to this once great country of ours and talk about shitting on ones nest.
No bloody wonder that Bridges is MIA on this one atm.
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Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Asia Pacific Report A Pacific civil society alliance has condemned French neocolonial policies in Kanaky New Caledonia, saying Paris is set on “maintaining the status quo” and denying the indigenous Kanak people their inalienable right to self-determination. The Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations (PRNGOs) Alliance, representing some 15 groups, said in ...
Koi Tū New Zealand cannot sit back and see the collapse of its Fourth Estate, the director of Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, Sir Peter Gluckman, says in the foreword of a paper published today. The paper, “If not journalists, then who?” paints a picture of an industry ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Foreign investment proposals with implications for Australia’s strategic or economic security will face tougher scrutiny, under a policy overhaul to be announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Wednesday. At the same time, the government ...
A Waitangi Tribunal inquiry report has warned government that a repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act could cause harm to children in care. ...
The Treasury has published today three new papers covering government consumption multipliers, automatic stabilisers and the impacts of global shocks on New Zealand’s economy. ...
Asia Pacific Report The Pacific state of Hawai’i’s House of Representatives has joined the state’s Senate in calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza, becoming the first state to pass such a resolution, reports Hawaii News Now. In March, the Senate passed a ceasefire resolution with a 24–1 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Ferrie, A/Prof, UTS Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research and ARC DECRA Fellow, University of Technology Sydney PsiQuantum The Australian government has announced a pledge of approximately A$940 million (US$617 million) to PsiQuantum, a quantum computing start-up company based in Silicon Valley. Half ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Bennett, Lecturer in Exercise Science, University of South Australia Cameron Prins/Shutterstock If you spend a lot of time exploring fitness content online, you might have come across the concept of heart rate zones. Heart rate zone training has become more ...
SPECIAL REPORT:By Eugene Doyle He is the most popular Palestinian leader alive today — and yet few people in the West even know his name. Absolutely no one in Gaza or the West Bank does not know him. That difference speaks volumes about who dominates the media narrative that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Will McCallum, PhD Candidate – School of Communication and Creative Arts, Deakin University Earlier this year, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of not supporting Operation Sovereign Borders – the military-led border security operation that has “closed Australia’s borders ...
By Melyne Baroi in Port Moresby A Papua New Guinea MP, Peter Isoaimo, who had been ousted by the National Court in an alleged bribery case, has been reinstated by the Supreme Court on appeal. A three-member Supreme Court bench found that the National Court had erred in finding that ...
Publisher Chris Holdaway reflects on the unique project of collecting the work of the late, terrific poet Schaeffer Lemalu. One of the nice things you can do as a truly independent publisher is to make the books that writers want to make, whatever they happen to be. That’s how I’ve ...
Those profiled in the stamp series served on overseas deployments from 1995 onwards, and all have been awarded theNew Zealand Operational Service Medal. ...
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John Key’s New Zealand was full of arrogant, smug Pakeha racists. The last time I heard such unabashed racism was before the 1981 Springbok tour. Their man might be long gone, but white racism (fueled on the North Shore by significant white South African immigration IMHO) has been emboldened.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/104218555/please-speak-in-a-language-99-of-us-understand-racist-remarks-derail-maunga-meeting
I can’t believe the restraint shown to these racist assholes. They deserved a good hiding with a taiaha. That would have made for a salutary lesson on price to be paid for being an ignorant racist.
Nice generalisations, smears and bigotry Sanctuary plus an added bonus for the call to violence.
When was the last Haka party at the Auckland Engineering School again?
How should I know ?
Hahahahahaha
Have you been smoking your own psilocybine tainted crud ?
I sure remember those – without smoking much more than a Peter Stuyvesant mild filter fag back in the day. They were pathetic.
So some of them couldn’t understand the mihi, rather than listen, or feel the words spoken while watching body language and wait until they had finished speaking, someone got their knickers in a twist because they couldn’t understand the language.
It’s ego related, did the person feel stupid due to their lack of te reo knowledge which resulted in them packing a tantrum?
That’s what it looks like from where this white girl is sitting. Shame, makes him look even more stupid lololz.
Sanctuary, was listening to an old soldier on talk back the other night, he said te reo should have been taught in NZ schools 100 years ago. His reasoning/angle, from the self-confessed war veteran, both the Germans and Japanese had knowledge of the English language; if all the kiwi soldiers spoke Maori it would have given them a huge advantage, especially in Japanese POW camps.
So many reasons to learn the language, I thought the old soldiers’ angle was an interesting twist.
Used to live in Devonport, it’s rather awesome up Mt Vic, well worth the short, steep walk. Would be wicked as if it was developed/preserved, being in the middle of town, it would only enhance their community.
He he – the conversations in te reo might not have gone so well around the Japanese soldiers. When Derek Fox ( fluent te reo speaker) went to Japan on a scholarship some years back he was able to go to the fishing villages and have conversations with the locals because there is seemingly enough similarity in the languages to allow for this
🙂 Jan 🙂 what a crack up lolololz 🙂
I wish I could remember the details @Jan M that my brother related to me before his death – fluent in Te Reo and Christened in a church near Whanganui.
Once day I’ll search the attic.
Basically, a challenge between loyalties towards the House of the Rising Sun versus the House of the Rising Moon. Difficulties in determining whether they should remain with the coloniser they were already familiar with, or whether some other colonial power offering treats and trinkets might be better.
Dilemma dilemma.
(Then another option came along a lot later – dressed up as an ideology called neo-liberalism). It made more promises than both of the previous options and allowed one to feel good about not having to worry about trivial matters such as greed and avarice, the idea of a society, that various disparities are OK because we’re only committed to the self and our own ambitions, etc. etc.
Thanks for sharing Tim, that’s really interesting, what a fascinating narrative. Please do search the attic sometime 🙂
@ Sanctuary ….. it’s what happens when your immigration policy is designed to be inherently classist/racist/imperialist.
You either have to have lots of filthy lucre (often ‘black’ in nature ready to be laundered), or come from somewhere your currency is worth substantially more than the $NZ
Mind you, I don’t think the idea of passing on public land to tribal entities that, as always, restrict access.
“John Key’s New Zealand was full of arrogant, smug Pakeha racists”
Would you prefer they moved on to people with “Chinese sounding names”?
But I laugh that you are going about racist then pick out one particular race to blame it on.
You should address your issues with “Chinese sounding” anything to the (possibly pseudonymous) bigoted racist shitbag “Simon Clark” in the report, who is reported at one point to have wibbled on about “Cantonese, Mandarin…” etc. languages.
:… who is reported at one point to have wibbled on about “Cantonese, Mandarin…” etc. languages…”
The other language he mentioned was “Eskimo”, a racist term in itself which nicely revealed the depths of his miserably ignorant racism.
No its not. Yes the various tribes, Iñupiat, Inuit and Yupik have their own names and arent just a single people.
“Eskimo” derives from phrases that Algonquin tribes used for their northern neighbors”
“a person who laces a snowshoe” and isnt a derogatory term
Want to know what’s really going on in the world.
Listen to George Galloway’s show.
George Galloway: “The truth about Syria is finally being told.”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nBFgANaAQ0M
I’m starting to think your Galloway. Sending out your daily have you read my post today “I’m brilliant”.
Have you seen the videos of him crawling around pretending to be a pussy cat? – best thing he’s put out imho.
“The day will come when we’ll look back on our role in Syria & conclude we’ve never done anything worse than being the Air Force, armourer & treasurer of ISIS/Al Qaeda and alphabet soup that has soaked the beautiful multicultural multi-faith Levantine Mediterranean land of Syria”
George Galloway
On a lighter note Steve Braunius has a wicked item on our favourite Paula Bennett.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=12058347
I read the Braunias one on poor picked on Paula. It was brilliant. I see that apparently Mallard has a vendetta against her. Nothing to do with the fact that as usual she hasn’t read the Parliamentary rules so doesn’t have to abide by them. So it’s poor little her fighting injustice and bullying yada yada etc. Saw Gerry being interviewed in foyer. Paula comes out of lift. Sees cameras. Big toothy smile. Ours her arms out and does a wiggle/Sashay and rushed over to stand by Gerry. Gerry kept talking. Paula elbows him out of the way and takes over interview. Hugely entertaining. And why is she always dressed as if she’s on her way to a cocktail party.? Spanxed to the Max.
More importantly. How in the hell did she get the position she’s in? It beggars belief.
“Oim leevung” (set to the descant)
“How long?” says the bovver boy
/probably as long as it takes for moi consultant to complete his ‘re-imaging’ of moi (going forward). En!!!!! en!!!! ez long ez Soimon tears me its OK. And now that I got me stomach under control and me truck stop mates realise who’s boss. the Whurl is Moi Oysta
Maybe a little Little Feet would be appropriate about now
The list of drivers is short
..
What keeps types such as PB going…it’s not her own energy…
Dark energy keeps certain types performing the way she does…
Apply same to [name the politician/business person]
Only now do you recognise the true power of the Dark Side of the Force!
Paula will have gone through the basic checks – white teeth, looks, good at twisting questions, ability to reply to questions with return questions or diversionary, retaliatory answer speed, prepared to attack or feint whatever needed, agreeable to makeover, botox, stomach stapling, whatever it takes. All the usual tests for National suitability for high office in politics.
Chris Trotter on Bowalley Road and The Daily Blog says that Trevor Mallard will be enjoying all this argy-bargy.
Parliament’s Poacher-Turned-Gamekeeper: Mallard positively twinkles in the Speaker’s Chair. His many years in the Chamber have armed him against every trick in the Opposition play-book. Hardly surprising, since Mallard has, at one time or another, played every one of them. Knowing exactly what to expect, this parliamentary poacher-turned-gamekeeper lies in wait for the lumbering Nats and daily spoils their fun by dispensing a judicious measure of galling intellectual acuity and dead-eyed malice.
https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2018/05/testing-speaker.html
26th May 2018, The Nation; – Lisa Owens was toxic to labour today on ‘the nation’ overtalking Megan Woods all the time.
Then in the next interview lisa Owens treated Judge Bancroft (The childrens commisioner) respect in the next interview with full time to answer questiomns without any ‘interjection’.
So Lisa Owens is pure ‘National biased’ and should be removed from The Nation as when she asked Megan Woods a question she did not give the same grace time to respond to her that she gave judge Bancroft.
What a sad watch The nation was and someone needs to place complaints about Lisa Owens over-baised unresonable interview of Labour MP for Energy Meagan Woods on 26/5/18 episode of “The Nation”.
Yes, when she’s on a roll to try and destroy a politician from the left she reminds me of a vulture with those beady eyes and pokey fingers -ugh!
JanM;
Yes Lisa Owens was certainly on a rampage ‘roll’ today and we saw her do this overbearing ‘interjecting’ last year before the election when she treated Winston perters in the same overbearing manner, so today for the second time we sent another request to the Newshub ‘Compliaints comittee to request they review the eposode and ‘moderate her interview and to allow the same time to respond to her questions that she gives others as she did following the Megan Woods interview.
If they fail we will send the complaint on to Broadcasting Standards Authority as they have last year ruled on issues complants against the Newshub before last in 2017.
Generally Newshub are fine but sometimes are spoilt by self imposed biased views of some.
We do invite others to send a complaint to the Broadcast committee first as we have if they dont like seeing some MP’s given proper opportunity to explain the questions asked of them.
standardscommittee@mediaworks.co.nz
When we make a complaint to a media outlet it is best to go to them first not as Alwyn wrongly suggests, – as you need to allow the media outlet to respond first otherwise you will be sent back from BSA to do just that we were advsed last year when we sent a complaint into BSA.
” it is best to go to them first not as Alwyn wrongly suggests”
You are quite correct that most complaints should start by going to the broadcaster first. I am sorry you took my comment confused you. That is all covered in the BSA link I pointed you to.
https://bsa.govt.nz/complaints/making-a-complaint
It seemed somewhat unnecessary to repeat all that in a comment when it was all explained in the detailed exposition I referenced.
Russel Norman was stellar as always on the following panel relating to Megan’s interview, he was excellent.
The story about MMP was not a good look for the tories.
Missed the interview with Megan, I quite like Lisa Owen, will check it out later.
“someone needs to place complaints “.
Have you considered showing a little bit of initiative and doing it yourself?
Why, like so many on the left, do you always see things as being
“someone else’s” responsibility?
You make complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Authority.
It is all explained here. Go on “Just Do It”.
https://bsa.govt.nz/complaints/making-a-complaint
Alwyn;
What a nasty message you sent there.
We see you just as a pure biased national stooge it seems.
Yes we did already send our comoplaint so are you?
OOpppps of course not; – as you are a national prop, how could i forget that!!!!
Next you’ll want to see what we sent?
“Yes we did already send our comoplaint so are you”.
Well congratulations. A man with the courage of his convictions.
Why didn’t you word your comment as calling on people to join you in that activity instead of being as if you were calling on people to do it for you?
Have I complained?
Of course not. I didn’t watch the program so complaining about it would be quite dishonest. In fact it would be just as dishonest as lying about someone you don’t know and describing them as “a national prop”.
But then smears and lying come very easily to you don’t they?
As for your claim
“What a nasty message you sent there”.
You really are easily offended aren’t you? I was merely, in my usual benevolent manner, trying to help you with something that you didn’t appear to know about.
“Next you’ll want to see what we sent”
Seems quite a good idea. Best you’ve had in ages. Why don’t you post a copy of the complaint you put in? That would no doubt help people who want to back up your complaint by giving them a model.
Come on. Post it here.
Why didn’t they word the comment as calling on people to join them in that activity instead of being as if they were calling on people to do it for them?
Probably assumed that anyone with an average level of literacy and comprehension would have thought that it was a call for people to join them in that activity. Average nine year old that is.
Haven’t seen it yet cleangreen – usually watch it on a Sunday. I don’t know what’s in the water at Flower Street these days, if it’s not Lisa Owen on The Nation, it’s Tova O’Brien and Jenny Lynch during the week equally as toxic and seemingly enjoying themselves. Now that I’m retired, not sufficiently wide awake in the mornings to be bothered with the AM Show either, sounds like it would do nothing to help the blood pressure!!
Jilly bee,
Yes we both were sitting there screaming at her (Lisa owens) when she cut-off Megan woods from responding to her questions.
It was a horrible experience that raised our blood pressue not really worthy of good media balance as it was one sided until Lisa was finished with Megan then she changed like a camelion and sat quietly listening to Judge Bancroft answers, as such a change.
It was frustrating really.
Don’t give in to the emotional drama, cleangreen…
That is the purpose of scripted and managed media…
It exists on the energy of those who feed it…
Fearless Phil Twyford will be chortling away happily to himself this morning.
He can now start talking again about how he is going to save New Zealand from the Yellow Peril.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12057851
He’ll also no doubt have the welcome mat out if Australia dumps their pseudo asylum seekers here and Ardern welcomes them with open arms.
Why are we rejecting people who actually seem to want to contribute to this country?
Is our Labour-led Government really still as racist as was the New Zealand Labour Party a hundred years ago? Was Clark’s apology merely a smokescreen and has Labour gone back to its roots. As Michael Joseph Savage demonstrated, and Twyford continues to show, bigotry against those with “Chinky” sounding names is very deeply ingrained in New Zealand’s parties of the left.
“In early 2002 Labour prime minister Helen Clark apologised to New Zealanders of Chinese descent for racist treatment through the immigration poll tax which was in place from 1881 to 1944. What she didn’t do, of course, was apologise for the Labour Party, whose early leaders and MPs were virulently anti-Chinese and who campaigned for expanding the White New Zealand policies and attempted to outdo the Liberal and Reform parties to see who could be most racist against the Chinese in the few years after the First World War leading up to the legislation of 1920 which shut off Chinese immigration to New Zealand.”
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/08/24/labours-racist-roots-2/
alwyn, From that article you posted….
“Most were temporary migrants who arrived on student and work visas, experts believe. Immigration policy changes introduced last year have made it harder for temporary migrants to gain residency.”
Flashback to international students being exploited re their visa scandal under the previous government…
Also from the same article….
” Donny Lai, 50, a former university lecturer from Hong Kong, will next week be returning home with his wife and young son after three years of struggling to secure a decent job.
Lai describes himself as a “highly qualified IT professional” ande (lolz shabby proofreading at the herald) moved here in April 2015 because he believed the education system here was better for his 9-year-old son Justin.”
Looks like he is doing what’s best for his family by moving back home because he can’t find work here.
+100 and see above.
It’s interesting how the right continue to scream xenophobia and racism when the real racist, and classist policies were implemented – primarily around money and the almighty dollar.
The coalition government might not quite be there yet but at least they’ve recognised there is a problem with exploitation and treating people like shit – including Donny Lai and others (in that article and elsewhere). Ten years of crap policy takes a while to unpick.
That’s not to say I’m happy with current policy which still allows treating people like shit – unless of course they have loads of filthy (black) lucre or come from countries where the value of their dollars is sometimes worth double NZ’s.
Check out the intent of that ‘demogrphic profiling’ for example that the system and structure put in place under the past administration, and which thankfully got canned – at least officially – though it still exists by way of organisational culture.
By the way, if we/they (the government) really wanted to effectively reduce exploitation and immigration numbers ethically:
– they’d be penalising the exploiters not their victims,
such as by way of not bonding people to a specific employer; ensuring decent salaries and wages were paid; ensuring adequate oversight of immigration consultants – i.e. those claiming to be lawyers rather than having passed an exam or two; proper resourcing and monitoring of PTEs; rescinding the PR status of exploiters ripping off their victims and heavily fining those with citizenship.
– taxing the 10s of thousands of vacant properties that have been sold to foreign buyers and those that don’t live here – i.e. those bought simply as an investment by people who show no committment to the country, especially while we have a housing crisis and homelessness
– applying immigration rules equitably regardless of source country (whether 1st, 2nd or 3rd World)
– listening to a few advocacy groups, not JUST ‘officials’ who’ve spent the past decade designing and implementing the system and structure
– etc., et., etc. There’s a helluva lot of unpicking to do
I am jut impressed that Prime Minister Helen Clark leader of the Labour government could apologize as Prime Minister but not as leader of the Labour Party.
Such an existential quandary!
Alwyn, it’s not racist to talk about lowering immigration rates.
It’s all in how it’s done.
“Prime Minister but not as leader of the Labour Party.
Such an existential quandary”.
You might think it would be a quandary but then you are not the Prime Minister. For them it appears to be a necessary talent.
Clark, Key and Ardern never had the slightest difficulty in the problem you are talking about. They all claimed that they did some things as Prime Minister and others as leader of their parties. They generally did that when they wanted to avoid OIA requests.
I don’t know about English. I’m not saying he was innocent but off hand I don’t remember a case.
You appear to be saying that Prime Minister Helen Clark was not able to deliver an apology as both Prime Minister and political leader of the Labour Party because of the way an OIA request to her was responded to.
Could you spell out the relationship between Helen Clark’s Prime Ministerial OIA responses and her apology about discrimination against Chinese people throughout New Zealand history?
Anti chinese ?
So allowing NZ chinese to be eligible for old age pension in 1936 was ‘virulently anti chinese’ ?
The poll tax was being waived by 1934 and abolished in 1944.
After 1939 wives and children of Chinese men in New Zealand were allowed temporary entry as refugees from war-torn China.
Labour party didnt form government till Nov 35 – the Lib/Reform govern delayed it by a year hoping to gain time.
So Labour is responsible for the racist laws passed by the Liberals and later Reform parties who united to form…..National
Some things never change…. labour is always responsible even from the opposition benches. No mention of the actual politicians in charge
Trump trolls Ad,
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/25/donald-trump-north-korea-summit-reversal
The Irish Times exit poll points to a landslide win for Yes in the referendum to legalise abortion in Ireland. 68-32. Which is even bigger than 2015’s marriage equality vote of 62-38.
Dont get too excited
The new law will only be equal to NZs current restrictive system, rather than ‘a womens choice’
Ever increasing council rates are adding to the cost of home ownership and high rents.
Councils nationwide are facing public furore over rate rises.
What is the solution?
Should council rates be abolished and replaced with funding via income tax?
Should local Mayors, CEOs and councilors be replaced by local Ministers within central Government?
Should local residents be able to vote on the prioritization of expenditure?
none of the above…..until such time as a comprehensive and long term plan is developed for the needs of society any funding mechanism will simply continue the mistaken belief that the problem is funds and not sustainability…..even then it will ultimately be impossible but it may provide for a considerably longer lived and more equitable arrangement.
100% Pat correctly said.
“the mistaken belief that the problem is funds and not sustainability”
Councils never lower the rates ever do they?
Do the issues councils face ever get any smaller? Does Central Government regularly increase demands on local body councils? “Councils never lower the rates do they?
Unless “sustainability” is going to cost far less, funding will continue to be a problem, Pat.
I notice they never struggle to build new council HQs. Comes down to priorities.
Indeed, Stuart.
True too Stuart;
I see Gisborne has Napier is doing it too; – so we pay for their office upgrades but when we ask for “sustainable services”they will say, “we dont have money for that” ; – it makes us all sick.
still stuck in that ‘funding’ mentality …..do you even know what needs to be funded?…and at what scale?…and for how long?….and are they needs or wants?….and what resources are available?…..are those resources renewable or finite?
When society has determined that then you can worry about funding…and it applies at the global, national and local level
What needs to be funded, at what scale and for how long etc is largely determined in council’s long term plan.
And while the public does have input into that, they have little teeth. They have no direct voting power over it nor any veto options. Therefore, this can and should be improved.
While households and a number of businesses are struggling, we can’t continue to ignore the negative impacts of current funding mechanisms. And soaring council rates, which they themselves are becoming unsustainable for many.
Id suggest that all that demonstrates the problem…..nobody is able to articulate what is needed, resulting in an assertion that what we currently have is insufficient, poorly targeted and unaffordable with no answer except to say ‘more money’ll fix it”….no it wont…..comprende?
You’re right there, Pat. Merely throwing more money at it via excessive rate increases isn’t the solution, it’s one of the problems I’m highlighting.
Moreover, in many cases I don’t believe nobody is able to articulate what is needed. Sometimes, there will be a contest of ideas. Nevertheless, we do require a more democratic process of consensus.
How could a Regional Council reduce its investment (financial) in science around water quality?
Why do you believe council’s investment in water quality requires reducing, Robert?
They could look at attaining better efficiency. They could look at increasing fines for polluters, offsetting the cost of investment.
I don’t believe that, Chair. The increasing pressure on councils (regional esp) to manage the increasing degradation of the environment costs money; increased and increasing fines for polluters is one approach and I’m a supporter of such action, providing it is fair.
What do you believe is driving this increasing degradation and increasing pressure on councils, Robert?
People and their activities. Sh*t creates a lot of work for councils, for starters, then there’s getting water to places it doesn’t naturally go; it’s all very expensive and increasing. We are doing it wrong. I blame civilisation 🙂
What would you prescribe, Robert?
Effluent to fuel?
The leader of the opposition was in Queenstown last week, while his deputy was throwing her toys in the house, talking about regional funding.
https://crux.org.nz/community/simon-bridges-pushes-more-local-autonomy-for-southern-lakes/
“Speaking to a Queenstown Chamber of Commerce business breakfast, Mr Bridges said he was interested in economic models that would give the region the ability to make more decisions on how the local economy is managed.
“That way you would be looking at both sides of the equation, living with the consequences of income and expenditure.” Mr Bridges likened the idea to the cantons of Switzerland where local authorities have much more say over how many aspects of the economy are managed. He said he liked to call the concept “localism.””
Interesting concept, but. I think soimon should just step back a bit, and run the “what could go wrong here” test on his ideas.
The reason Municipalities are struggling to fund core services is two sided, Central Government has “devolved” functions to a local level and not kept up the funding along with finding much more for councils to do. The other is a bureaucratic machine that devotes it’s energy to NOT fund things, especially under a National or National Lite government. We get smacked in Queenstown with this because a service will reach breaking point at the peak of a cycle, and by the time a project to resolve the issue gets to funding stage the cycle has eased, demand subsided and the bureaucrats say “what’s the problem, don’t need to fund this” So the Kawarau Bridge replacement kicked around for 30 years.
PS For 6 min of defensive politicking, and making promises he’s got no chance of keeping, check the video at the bottom of the link.
While I agree central Government are adding to council costs, we can’t overlook the impact that reckless and extravagant expenditure is adding. Nor the expense of the bureaucratic machine itself.
Therefore, reducing costs and expenditure while also looking at more progressive means of funding is what is required.
Bridges will be gone as leader inside 12 months….as must have been the plan
Dunno about plans, but he’s one of their weakest performing members.
I reckon the next tilt for leadership will be between Bennett and Collins.
mustve been a plan….surely they realised how s**t he would be…after all theyve worked with him for years.
Depends entirely on whether the different caucus factions were voting for him rather than against the other factions. Voting for the least-worst in their eyes might not mean voting for the most competent.
And if he doesn’t grow into the role, they can have another tilt later with a thinner herd to compete against.
So not so much a single plan, as him lucking out on the expedient independent decisions of others. It could just as easily have been mercenary mark, who couldn’t even handle 7Days without pity points.
lol…yes saw Mr Mitchell’s ‘effort’ last night…maybe Bridges is the best of a very bad lot
I’ll bet that in the next 9 years the nats will have fewer leaders than labour had over the next 9 years!!
Nat got a head start with 2 to 1 already.
Statistically, what’re the odds on you being around to pay/collect in 9 years babby?
they’ll be commenting as hornetinthemiddleor something lol
I suspect that depends on how many leaders Judith needs to knife in the back until she gets what she wants.
“Councils nationwide are facing public furore over rate rises.”
A bit hyperbolic there, Chair – all councils? “Furore”?
One would be hard-pressed to name a region where there isn’t ratepayer discontent over excessive council rate increases, Robert.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12058818
Reds under the bed or in the back pockets of nz labour
Donald will have to out bid them. That’s the trouble with isolationism, when you step away, someone else steps in to fill the gap.
And National flew on the wings of blue dragons…..
“As a result, US lawmakers needed to consider whether New Zealand should be kicked out of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance because of problems at its “political core”
Yes please!!! Throw us out of the “Five eyes spy game network” please do; – as I dont want our country being a spy for any other counrty as we were under “Planet key”
One would need to detect an independent foreign policy from this government.
No sign yet, but there’s time.
“However, he said New Zealand “have denied that there’s a problem at all” and failed to follow Australia’s lead in setting up an inquiry into China’s activities.”
Lol the one thing this Labour Party won’t hold an inquiry into.
So, no more analyses based on “Chinese sounding names” then?
“Police back on China expert’s burglary case after PM expresses concern.”
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11998283
Ignoring the geoploitical aspects of hawkish claims misleading US congress, and also ignoring the civil liberties aspects of global intelligence surveillance, I’d like to see us kicked out of Five Eyes if only to watch paranoiacs and serious commenters alike express concerns about “Four Eyes”.
You can’t maintain an air of mystery if you share the nickname bestowed by school-yard bullies.
very good
I’m sorry for a comment that isn’t related to the thread.
Hi standardistas. I know you have differences with people in New Zealand. But today a man in England was sentenced to death by the Tory government run by the Israeli interests in England for standing up for the working class girls of England.
This is bipartisan issue. If a Tory government can arrest people and sentence and imprison them within the hour for speech in the United Kingtom for standing up for British working class girls who were raped under Labour we are in dire straights.
Please stand up for free speech. Stand up for Tommy Robinson, defending the working class girls who were sacrificed to diversity.
The working class in England should be marching in the streets. This is bipartisan, genuine fascism. You want to see real fascism? Here it is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irhQtamQ6Mo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRt-iFANWKg
If Tommy Robinson dies in prison because he’s murdered by muslims, it’s time for bad things to start happening to the British ruling classes.
The man was imprisoned over nothing, and then sentenced and imprisoned within the hour. No jury. No trial.
https://www.menofthewest.net/the-murder-of-tommy-robinson-how-britain-became-the-kebab-archipelago/
I’m going to be doing daily posts on Tommy Robinson.
The British government and the overall British ruling class have no mandate by the British people. They have suspended their relations with the British people. They should be regarded as an illegitimate government ruling by force and their supposed authority should be suspended and they should be regarded as adversaries of the British people.
The people of England need to start arming themselves with anything they can find. This is real. This is terrifying. And justice needs to be served.
The rape of 1 million girls by the English ruling class deserves justice.
I hope that justice comes for the English ruling class, whatever form it takes. The English ruling class are aliens to England. I won’t state why, but they are not English. They are of another group of people who have a different agenda to the English.
Every day, I’m going to start writing about the English government and what it is doing.
New Zealand needs to put pressure on this regime and start divesting ourselves of the relationship until they restore the rule of law and the freedoms of western institutions to England.
God bless the English.
Everyone on the left in New Zealand needs to start looking at Tory fascism in England and the suspension of the rights and rule of law and persecution of brave men speaking out on behalf of the British working class.
1 million of these girls were raped. I’d gladly march with any one of you to free Great Britain from it’s ruling classes.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[I’ve no idea why a comment supporting ex English Defense League joker got through on a thread about homelessness. I can’t be bothered to read the entire comment – suspect it should be trashed – but will leave sitting around here for now] – Bill
upandcomer…….are you talking about tommy robinson aka stephen yaxley, aka stephen lennon, aka andrew mcmaster, aka paul harris the far-right wing activist?
He’s done MANY lags before, mostly for violence, and a bit of fraud.
Lolz while doing time at Winchester Prison….. Robinson made friends with several Muslim prisoners. “Great lads … I cannot speak highly enough of the Muslim inmates I’m now living with”, he added at the time.
He’ll be fine in the big house, doubt he’s losing any sleep over it.
Far out dude…. where are you getting your shite info?
Listening Post is on, tune in to that instead.
Good on the Poms for locking up the spiteful little Nazi. It would be good if he was left to rot in prison… but he’s probably only going down for three months because that’s the suspended sentence that was already on the books. More info. here: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-arrested-leeds-court-child-grooming-trial-edl-founder-latest-a8368821.html
Amazing.
Just amazing.
Go and read the Rotherham Royal Commission report.
What an incredible response.
Duly observed.
Some vile little nazi exploits rape to parrot his sick nazi gobshite, you approve of him, and your point is?
Here’s an even better idea: take your vile, fake, Islamophobic bullshit and ram it up your arse sideways. Then go and apologise to the family of Makram Ali, who was murdered by one of Robinson’s followers.
Okay noted.
Good Morning The hui I say that there should be a majority of Iwi tangata whenua should have a say on there Waitangi Treaty settlement . There is still a lot of whenua that is not in the right Tupna ownership /caretakers hands .So I say Iwi should have the backing of hapu before Treaty Settlements are settled . P.S Ka Pai Wahine Maori those old men will change there minds on the Equal rights of Wahine
Ka kite ano
Eco Maori is starting this conversation I want a law that Maori Whenua can not be sold only leased to Preserve te Whenua for te mokopunas after all we are only caretakers of Whenua its te Mokopunas future that counts in my book. Ka kite ano music link
https://youtu.be/u9Dg-g7t2l4
The Moko Kauae I was to busy to comment wisely on this topic its a Maori cultured Wahine birth right to have a moko kauae before one gets the moko kauae its was traditionally the kaumatua to whom one ask for there blessing on one getting a moko .
The men its was birth right or if one achieved some great task for te tangata to have the blessing of the kaumatua to get a ta moko .
I believe that I have achieved some great achievements as Eco Maori one man has told me this who I trust but untill most kaumatua tell me this I will not get my ta moko ie the blessing of te tangata. Ka kite ano link is below .
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/104128733/T-moko-is-not-a-fashion-statement-or-scribble-its-about-birthright
Good evening Newshub Tova those people that were ask how they think Winston Peters will do as temporary Prime Minister were all clearly national voters enough said. Does know one want to talk about the fines the sandflys let there European m8 off and hammer the brown tangata discrimination at its best .Theirs a couple of phenomenons that’s happening because the sandflys are so intent on harnessing Eco Maori ???????????
Ka pai to the Leaders Kim jong-u and Moon for there actions.
Its a good weekend of sports I quite like coach Hansen comments
With the League the Warriors will get there game on out when it counts .
Its a bit warmer this year than last year no.
Ka kite ano
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/104228661/duncan-garner-alert-alert-mad-cows-on-loose-mpi-in-deep-coma
About bloody time that 4th estate are starting dig around about this sorry state of affairs and I hope they start asking some very hard questions at Carter, Guy and Fed Farmers also I’ll like to see Jandals have a Royal Commission on what, where, when, why and how we the nation got to this point as someone or people should get a ****ing Ass kicking.
The so-called custodians of the Land probably need to take a very long look at themselves for the bloody mess they have caused to this once great country of ours and talk about shitting on ones nest.
No bloody wonder that Bridges is MIA on this one atm.