Open mike 26/05/2022
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6:00 am, May 26th, 2022 - 102 comments
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- Drawn
A ballot for one member's bill was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Harm Minimisation) Amendment Bill (Chlöe Swarbrick) Swarbrick's bill implements a number of past recommendations from government agencies and advisory bodies which for some reason (cough big booze ...2 hours ago - Let’s Not Make 2023 About Abortion.
No Common Ground: The destructive and punitive impulses aroused by the abortion issue make a rational, let alone a civil, debate virtually impossible. Indeed, the very idea that those on both sides of the abortion issue might be decent and caring individuals, whose opposing positions are based on reasonable and ...2 hours ago - See What Happens?What Happened Next? After the Supreme Court of the United States, in 1954, overturned its earlier validation of “separate but equal” schools, hospitals, public washrooms, busses and trains for Blacks and Whites, and told the Topeka Board of Education that segregated education is in breach of the Fourteenth Amendment of ...3 hours ago
- United States moves closer to theocracy – nothing to worry about in Aotearoa?
On 7 December 1941, Imperial Japan launched a war on the American people. It would forever become a date of infamy, said then US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, eightyone years ago.On 24/25 June 2022, conservatives launched their war on 166.24 million American women. That date, also, will forever live on ...6 hours ago - The police lied in an OIA responseStuff has a story this morning about the police juking the domestic violence stats, downgrading family violence crimes to "incidents" so they don't have to be investigated (and so Bad Number doesn't Go Up). That's appalling in and of itself, for the human consequences, and for what it says about ...23 hours ago
- Bigot schools are acting unlawfullyEarlier in the month we learned about institutionalised transphobia at Bethlehem College. The school is an "integrated school", meaning that it is state-funded while retaining a "special character". Stuff has now taken a look at several other similar schools, and found another three with institutionalised bigotry: Three more state-funded ...24 hours ago
- Member’s dayToday is a Member's Day, and it looks like its back to local legislation for a while. First up is the committee stage of the highly controversial Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Bill, which would allow unelected appointees (and a disproportionate number of them, at that) on ECan. This ...1 day ago
- Gordon Campbell on National’s ongoing problems with abortion
Despite Christopher Luxon’s assurances to the contrary, there is no such thing as “settled law” in New Zealand. Apart from the six provisions that are constitutionally entrenched, legislation can always be amended or overturned by a simple majority vote within our single chamber of Parliament. Luxon’s repeated use of the ...1 day ago - How to inoculate yourself against misinformation
This is a re-post from the Thinking is Power website maintained by Melanie Trecek-King where she regularly writes about many aspects of critical thinking in an effort to provide accessible and engaging critical thinking information to the general public. Please see this overview to find links to other reposts from Thinking is Power. ...2 days ago - 2023 is closing in faster than we might realise… so can Aotearoa move on progress a bit faster per...
What a week, month even of deplorable headlines and hysterics we’ve had as a country – and given 2023 is closing in on us (a mere 6 months until Parties shift some gears into election mode really, not that some of them haven’t started already of course), we need ...2 days ago - The police still suck at the OIALast year, sparked by the contrast between the official OIA statistics police reported to PSC, and their actual performance experienced and seen over FYI, I asked some questions about their numbers - and discovered that their official statistics were a lie. Once you remove the routine traffic crash reports and ...2 days ago
- Still diggingOver the weekend, the US Supreme Court followed through on its threat, and overturned Roe v. Wade, effectively outlawing abortion in much of the United States. People were outraged, in America and around the world. And in Aotearoa, this meant a lot of sudden questions for the National Party, which ...2 days ago
- A Breadcrumb of Absence: “Nothing is evil in the beginning…”
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The repeal of Roe vs Wade by the US Supreme Court is part of a broader “New Conservative” agenda financed by reactionary billionaires like Peter Thiel, Elon Mush, the Kochs and Murdochs (and others), organised by agitators like Steve Bannon and Rodger Stone and legally weaponised by Conservative (often Catholic) ...3 days ago - An Act Of National Self-Harm.A Dangerous Leap Backwards: A United States forced to live by the beliefs and values of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries cannot hope to go on leading the “Free World”, or compete economically with nations focused fearlessly on the future. The revocation of Roe v. Wade represents the American republic’s most ...3 days ago
- Gordon Campbell on the Roe v Wade aftermathNow that the right of US women to abortion (formerly protected by Roe v Wade) has been abolished, the important role of medication-induced abortion will come even more to the fore. Already, research by the Guttmacher Institute reproductive rights centre shows that over half of US abortions are obtained ...3 days ago
- Two steps forward, one step backThe government is finally moving to improve transparency over party finances, lowering the donation disclosure threshold to $5,000. This is a good move, though it doesn't go as far as it should. And of course, there's a nasty twist: The rules for larger donations are also changing. Presently parties ...3 days ago
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It was sometime in the late 1990s that I first interviewed Alan Webster about New Zealand’s part in a global Values Study. It’s a fascinating snapshot of values in countries all over the world and I still remember seeing America grouped with many developing countries on a spectrum that had ...5 days ago - The First MatarikiToday marks Matariki, the first “new” New Zealand public holiday since Waitangi Day was added in 1974. Officially the start of the Maori New Year, this is one of those moveable beasties – much like Easter, the dates will vary from year to year, anywhere from mid-June to ...6 days ago
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- New advisory group provides enduring Māori expertise for Te Aorerekura deliveryThe Government has taken another step forward in its work to eliminate family violence and sexual violence with the announcement today of a new Tangata Whenua Ministerial Advisory Group. A team of 11 experts in whānau Māori wellbeing will provide the Government independent advice on shaping family violence and sexual ...5 hours ago
- Making work better for Kiwi womenTe Mahere Whai Mahi Wāhine: Women’s Employment Action Plan was launched today by Minister for Women Jan Tinetti – with the goal of ensuring New Zealand is a great place for women to work. “This Government is committed to improving women’s working lives. The current reality is that women have ...5 hours ago
- PM's comments to NATO sessionKia ora koutou katoa. It is a rare thing to have New Zealand represented at a NATO Summit. While we have worked together in theatres such as Afghanistan, and have been partners for just on a decade, today represents an important moment for our Pacific nation. New Zealand is ...9 hours ago
- Minister to advocate for Small Island StatesAssociate Minister of Foreign Affairs Aupito William Sio has been appointed by the United Nations and Commonwealth as Aotearoa New Zealand’s advocacy champion for Small Island States. “Aotearoa New Zealand as a Pacific country is particularly focused on the interests of Pacific Small Island Developing States in our region. “This is a ...1 day ago
- Increased support for households to pay local council ratesAn estimated 100,000 low income households will be eligible for increased support to pay their council rates, with changes to the rates rebate scheme taking effect from 1 July. Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta has announced increases to both the maximum value of the rates rebate, and the income threshold ...1 day ago
- He Oranga Poutama expanded into four new regionsA long-standing physical activity programme that focuses on outcomes for Maori has been expanded to four new regions with Government investment almost doubled to increase its reach. He Oranga Poutama is managed by a combination of hapū, iwi, hauora and regional providers. An increase in funding from $1.8 million ...1 day ago
- Wellington’s rapid transit option progresses to next stageThe Government is progressing a preferred option for LGWM which will see Wellington’s transport links strengthened with light rail from Wellington Station to Island Bay, a new tunnel through Mt Victoria for public transport, and walking and cycling, and upgrades to improve traffic flow at the Basin Reserve. “Where previous ...1 day ago
- Keynote remarks: Tech 4 Democracy Summit, MadridTo Provost Muniz, to the Organisers at the Instituto de Empresa buenas tardes and as we would say in New Zealand, kia ora kotou katoa. To colleagues from the State Department, from Academia, and Civil Society Groups, to all our distinguished guests - kia ora tatou katoa. It’s a pleasure ...1 day ago
- On June 28, 2022, a meeting took place in Madrid between the President of the Government of the Kingdom of Spain, Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, who was visiting Spain to participate in the Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as one ...2 days ago
- More young Kiwis able to travel and work in SpainA six-fold increase in the Aotearoa New Zealand-Spain working holiday scheme gives a huge boost to the number of young people who can live and work in each other’s countries, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. Jacinda Ardern and Spanish President Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón made the Working Holiday/Youth Mobility Scheme announcement ...2 days ago
- Supporting local government candidatesA significant barrier has been removed for people who want to stand in local government elections, with a change to the requirement to publish personal details in election advertising. The Associate Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty has taken the Local Electoral (Advertising) Amendment Bill through its final stages in Parliament ...2 days ago
- Govt passes law to protect consumers in banking and insurance sectorNew financial conduct scheme will ensure customers are treated fairly Banks, insurers and non-bank deposit takers to be licensed by the FMA in relation to their general conduct Sales incentives based on volume or value targets like bonuses for selling a certain number of financial products banned The Government ...2 days ago
- New law paves way for greater supermarket competitionLegislation that bans major supermarkets from blocking their competitors’ access to land to set up new stores paves the way for greater competition in the sector, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Dr David Clark said. The new law is the first in a suite of measures the Government is ...2 days ago
- Vaccine mandate for border and corrections workers to endThe Government has announced an end to the requirement for border workers and corrections staff to be fully vaccinated. This will come into place from 2 July 2022. 100 per cent of corrections staff in prisons, and as of 23 June 2022 97 per cent of active border workers were ...2 days ago
- New Zealand's Commonwealth relationships strengthened at CHOGMForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta has concluded a visit to Rwanda reaffirming Aotearoa New Zealand’s engagement in the Commonwealth and meeting with key counterparts. “I would like to thank President Kagame and the people of Rwanda for their manaakitanga and expert hosting of this important meeting,” Nanaia Mahuta said. “CHOGM ...2 days ago
- Emergency monitoring centre opened to keep New Zealand saferMinister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty officially launched the new Monitoring, Alerting and Reporting (MAR) Centre at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) today. The Government has stood up the centre in response to recommendations from the 2018 Ministerial Review following the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake and 2017 Port Hills fire, ...2 days ago
- Waikato Expressway speed limit to change to 110km/hTransport Minister Michael Wood has welcomed the announcement that a 110km/hr speed limit has been set for the SH1 Waikato Expressway, between Hampton Downs and Tamahere. “The Waikato Expressway is a key transport route for the Waikato region, connecting Auckland to the agricultural and business centres of the central North ...2 days ago
- Government listening to sector on NCEAFollowing feedback from the sector, Associate Minister of Education Jan Tinetti, today confirmed that new literacy and numeracy | te reo matatini me te pāngarau standards will be aligned with wider NCEA changes. “The education sector has asked for more time to put the literacy and numeracy | te reo ...2 days ago
- Further Aotearoa New Zealand support for Ukraine$4.5 million to provide Ukraine with additional non-lethal equipment and supplies such as medical kit for the Ukrainian Army Deployments extended for New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) intelligence, logistics and liaison officers in the UK, Germany, and Belgium Secondment of a senior New Zealand military officer to support International ...3 days ago
- Electoral changes will bring greater transparency for votersChanges to electoral law announced by Justice Minister Kiri Allan today aim to support participation in parliamentary elections, and improve public trust and confidence in New Zealand’s electoral system. The changes are targeted at increasing transparency around political donations and loans and include requiring the disclosure of: donor identities for ...3 days ago
- Government invests to minimise gambling harmThe Labour government has announced a significant investment to prevent and minimise harm caused by gambling. “Gambling harm is a serious public health issue and can have a devastating effect on the wellbeing of individuals, whānau and communities. One in five New Zealanders will experience gambling harm in their lives, ...3 days ago
- More free flu vaccines and a second COVID-19 booster to groups at risk of hospitalisationThe Government has widened access to free flu vaccines with an extra 800,000 New Zealanders eligible from this Friday, July 1 Children aged 3-12 years and people with serious mental health or addiction needs now eligible for free flu dose. From tomorrow (Tuesday), second COVID-19 booster available six months ...3 days ago
- Government backs action to drive strong wool growthThe Government is investing to create new product categories and new international markets for our strong wool and is calling on Kiwi businesses and consumers to get behind the environmentally friendly fibre, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said today. Wool Impact is a collaboration between the Government and sheep sector partners ...4 days ago
- Veterans Minister pays tribute to service and sacrifice at Korean War commemorationAt today’s commemoration of the start of the Korean War, Veterans Minister Meka Whaitiri has paid tribute to the service and sacrifice of our New Zealand veterans, their families and both nations. “It’s an honour to be with our Korean War veterans at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park to commemorate ...5 days ago
- Matariki projects star in latest round of Tourism Infrastructure FundMinister of Tourism Stuart Nash and Associate Minister of Tourism Peeni Henare announced the sixth round of recipients of the Government’s Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF), which supports local government to address tourism infrastructure needs. This TIF round will invest $15 million into projects around the country. For the first time, ...6 days ago
- Prime Minister’s Matariki speech 2022Matariki tohu mate, rātou ki a rātou Matariki tohu ora, tātou ki a tātou Tīhei Matariki Matariki – remembering those who have passed Matariki – celebrating the present and future Salutations to Matariki I want to begin by thanking everyone who is here today, and in particular the Matariki ...6 days ago
- First Matariki holiday marked across New Zealand and the worldOho mai ana te motu i te rangi nei ki te hararei tūmatanui motuhake tuatahi o Aotearoa, Te Rā Aro ki a Matariki, me te hono atu a te Pirīmia a Jacinda Ardern ki ngā mahi whakanui a te motu i tētahi huihuinga mō te Hautapu i te ata nei. ...6 days ago
- Minister to attend second United Nations Ocean Conference in PortugalOceans and Fisheries Minister David Parker will represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the second United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, which runs from 27 June to 1 July. The Conference will take stock of progress and aims to galvanise further action towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, to "conserve and sustainably use ...7 days ago
- Government supports innovative dairy sheep sector to scale upThe Government is boosting its partnership with New Zealand’s dairy sheep sector to help it lift its value and volume, and become an established primary industry, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced. “Globally, the premium alternative dairy category is growing by about 20 percent a year. With New Zealand food ...1 week ago
- Government supports Buller flood recovery and longer term resilienceThe Government is continuing to support the Buller district to recover from severe flooding over the past year, Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty announced today during a visit with the local leadership. An extra $10 million has been announced to fund an infrastructure recovery programme, bringing the total ...1 week ago
- Government outlines plans for future COVID-19 variants“The Government has undertaken preparatory work to combat new and more dangerous variants of COVID-19,” COVID-19 Response Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall set out today. “This is about being ready to adapt our response, especially knowing that new variants will likely continue to appear. “We have undertaken a piece of work ...1 week ago
- Next steps for NZ UK free trade agreementThe Government’s strong trade agenda is underscored today with the introduction of the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill to the House, Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “I’m very pleased with the quick progress of the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill being introduced ...1 week ago
- Five new members join education Youth Advisory GroupA ministerial advisory group that provides young people with an opportunity to help shape the education system has five new members, Minister of Education Chris Hipkins said today. “I am delighted to announce that Harshinni Nayyar, Te Atamihi Papa, Humaira Khan, Eniselini Ali and Malakai Tahaafe will join the seven ...1 week ago
- Address to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons First Meeting of States PartyAustria Centre, Vienna [CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY] E ngā mana, e ngā reo Tēnā koutou katoa Thank you, Mr President. I extend my warm congratulations to you on the assumption of the Presidency of this inaugural meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. You ...1 week ago
- Govt makes sure support workers have right to take pay-equity claimThe Government is taking action to make sure homecare and support workers have the right to take a pay-equity claim, while at the same time protecting their current working conditions and delivering a pay rise. “In 2016, homecare and support workers – who look after people in their own homes ...1 week ago
- Targeted second COVID-19 booster a step closerA law change passed today streamlines the process for allowing COVID-19 boosters to be given without requiring a prescription. Health Minister Andrew Little said the changes made to the Medicines Act were a more enduring way to manage the administration of vaccine boosters from now on. “The Ministry of Health’s ...1 week ago
- Commerce Commission empowered to crackdown on covenantsNew powers will be given to the Commerce Commission allowing it to require supermarkets to hand over information regarding contracts, arrangements and land covenants which make it difficult for competing retailers to set up shop. “The Government and New Zealanders have been very clear that the grocery sector is not ...1 week ago
- Plasterboard taskforce set up to ease shortagesMinisterial taskforce of industry experts will give advice and troubleshoot plasterboard shortages Letter of expectation sent to Fletcher Building on trademark protections A renewed focus on competition in the construction sector The Minister for Building and Construction Megan Woods has set up a Ministerial taskforce with key construction, building ...1 week ago
- Covid-19: New Zealand to stay in orange traffic light setting
Health Minister Ayesha Verrall says the country needs to remain at this setting as Covid-19 case numbers are starting to "creep up". ...43 mins ago - The Hannah Clarke inquest reveals, yet again, significant system failures. Here’s what’s urgentl...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Director, Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre; Associate Professor of Criminology, Faculty of Arts, Monash University AAP Image/Supplied by Department of Justice In 2020 the killing of Hannah Clarke and her three children – Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, ...43 mins ago - Australia’s temporary visa system is unfair, expensive, impractical and inconsistent. Here’s how...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mary Anne Kenny, Associate Professor, School of Law, Murdoch University The election of the Albanese Labor government brings an opportunity to end one of the most detrimental elements of Australian refugee law and policy in the past decade: the use of temporary ...2 hours ago
- NZCTU Welcomes Plan To Make Work Better For Kiwi Women
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions has welcomed the launch of the Te Mahere Whai Mahi Wāhine: Women's Employment Action Plan today. For too long, women have been disadvantaged in the world of work. While many improvements have been made over ...3 hours ago - Deputy PM Grant Robertson tests positive for Covid-19Grant Roberston said he had "fairly mild" symptoms and would remain acting prime minister, with Jacinda Ardern in Europe. ...3 hours ago
- Employment Indicators: Weekly As At 27 June 2022The experimental weekly series provides an early indicator of employment and labour market changes in a more timely manner than the monthly employment indicators series. Key facts The 6-day series includes jobs with a pay period equal to or less than ...3 hours ago
- Climate Leaders Coalition New Statement Of AmbitionStatement from Auckland Transport Interim Chief Executive Mark Lambert: Auckland Transport is proud to support the New Statement of Ambition being launched tonight by the Climate Leaders Coalition. We’re delighted that AT’s work to achieve the ...3 hours ago
- New Zealand designates American Proud Boys and The Base terrorist organisationsNew Zealand has designated US groups the Proud Boys and The Base as terrorist entities. ...4 hours ago
- Coalition Calls For Dairy Cattle Code Of Welfare Review To End Intensive Winter GrazingGreenpeace Aotearoa, SAFE, Animals Aotearoa, SPCA, and the New Zealand Animal Law Association have joined forces to call for an end to intensive winter grazing through the Government’s Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare review. The coalition says that as ...5 hours ago
- Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Swift, Educational Experiences team lead (Senior Lecturer), ANU School of Cybernetics, Australian National University Shutterstock I love writing code to make things: apps, websites, charts, even music. It’s a skill I’ve worked hard at for more than 20 years. ...6 hours ago
- When driving near a cycle lane, do you speed up or slow down? Where you’re from may influence your...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Miguel Loyola, PhD Candidate on the Implementation of Sustainable Policies, ITLS, University of Sydney Shutterstock There are clear economic, environmental, safety and health benefits to getting people cycling more, but research shows would-be cyclists are reluctant to start without good ...6 hours ago
- Triple vaccination seems to reduce the chance of long COVID – but we still need to prepare for a ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Baillie, Professor of Allied Health, University of Sydney Shutterstock COVID might be the largest mass casualty event in Australian history. And with one in 20 people with COVID still experiencing symptoms three months later, long COVID might even become Australia’s ...6 hours ago
- Hear me out – we could use the varroa mite to wipe out feral honey bees, and help Australia’s en...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick O’Connor, Associate Professor, University of Adelaide A tiny parasitic mite that lives on the European honeybee (Apis mellifera) has breached Australia’s border quarantine and been detected in managed bee hives in New South Wales. This is bad news for Australia’s ...6 hours ago
- Australia can help ensure the biggest mine in PNG’s history won’t leave a toxic legacySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Main, Visiting Scholar, Australian National University Shutterstock The COVID pandemic slowed mining activity across the Pacific. But as economic activity returns, an Australia-based company is poised to pursue what would be the largest mine in Papua New Guinea’s history. ...6 hours ago
- Schools will now be required to support well-being, but the standards aren’t clear on what that me...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachele Sloane, Graduate Researcher and Tutor – Master of Education, Student Wellbeing Specialisation (MGSE), The University of Melbourne Shutterstock New Child Safe Standards come into effect in Victoria this Friday, July 1. The set of 11 standards builds on the ...6 hours ago
- Mulled wine: how ‘Christmas in a cup’ went from ancient medicine to an Aussie winter warmerSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Morag Kobez, Associate lecturer, Queensland University of Technology shutterstock When the temperature drops in the southern hemisphere, you might like to stave off the chill with a big steaming pot of mulled wine, and fill your home with the comforting aroma ...6 hours ago
- Jacinda Ardern tells NATO leaders Ukraine war must not fuel arms raceRussia's actions in Ukraine are an affront to the world but mustn't be allowed to create a more polarised, dangerous world, the prime minister says. ...8 hours ago
- Ardern tells NATO leaders Ukraine war must not fuel arms raceRussia's actions in Ukraine are an affront to the world but mustn't be allowed to create a more polarised, dangerous world, the prime minister says. ...9 hours ago
- Stand with Rappler, defend press freedom in PhilippinesEDITORIAL: By the Rappler team We will continue bringing you the news, holding the powerful to account for their actions and decisions, calling attention to government lapses that further disempower the disadvantaged. We will hold the line. Dear readers and viewers, We thought this day would never come, even as ...11 hours ago
- Gavin Ellis: Heavy work ahead on Aotearoa NZ’s Public Media BillANALYSIS: By Gavin Ellis The Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media Bill — introduced to Parliament this week — will have a long journey before it is fit for purpose. The Bill gives effect to the government’s plan to replace TVNZ and RNZ with a new entity designed for the digital ...11 hours ago
- What’s driving Uber’s historic agreement with the TWU on gig workSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caleb Goods, Senior Lecturer – Management and Organisations, UWA Business School, The University of Western Australia Uber Australia has struck a historic agreement with the Transport Workers’ Union – a statement of principles that re-regulate work in the Australian rideshare and food ...17 hours ago
- Local Government Elected Members Show Their Support For A Voting Age Of 16Today the signatures of 72 Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Councillors, Local board members, and the LGNZ Young Elected Members Committee will be handed to the Government in support of making the voting age 16 via an open letter organised by Make It 16. “Young ...19 hours ago
- How can we reverse the vaping crisis among young Australians? Enforce the rulesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Grogan, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney E-cigarettes and vape products are illegally imported into Australia. Some claim not to contain nicotine, but do. Simon Collins/Shutterstock ABC TV’s Four Corners this week reported how unlawful sale of e-cigarettes ...20 hours ago
- Enabling Good Lives disability support rollout costs unclear – ministerHowever, more work is needed to understand the cost of rolling out a new approach to disability support, Minister for Disability Issues Poto Williams says. ...20 hours ago
- Call For Urgent Action As New Data Confirm High Rates Of Violence Against Disabled People...22 hours ago
- Hospitality NZ Calls On Parliament To Send Easter Trading Bill To Select CommitteeHospitality New Zealand is calling for MPs across Parliament to send ACT MP Chris Baillie’s Member’s Bill on repealing Easter trading restrictions to a select committee so hospitality businesses can have their say on whether to stay open or ...22 hours ago
- Govt warned of DHB staffing crisis over a year ago, letter revealsA letter signed by all 20 DHBs shows the government was warned of an impending staffing crisis almost a year ago. ...22 hours ago
- A Different Kind Of Ministry Launching On 1 JulyOn 1 July an exciting new Ministry for Disabled People – will come into being to lead much-needed change. There is nothing that people will need to do on day one to continue receiving disability support services. “Many disabled people and whānau ...22 hours ago
- Word from The Hill: Parliamentary ‘newbies’ inspect their workplace, with some complaintsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation politics team. Michelle and Peter Browne from ...22 hours ago
- 1970s-style stagflation now playing on central bankers’ mindsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra Shutterstock “Stagflation” is an ugly word for an ugly situation – the unpleasant combination of economic stagnation and inflation. The last time the world experienced ...22 hours ago
- Transport plan (with an affordability proviso) is announced for the capital – but don’t look too...
The Ardern government has done it again, announcing a grandiose plan to reform Wellington’s transport system. The plan includes a long-overdue duplicate Mt Victoria tunnel, a rearrangement of the road around the Basin Reserve and a light rail operation from the city centre to the south coast, all in the ...23 hours ago - PM condemns disinformation and upholds democracy in speech in Madrid – now let’s see what happen...
Buzz from the Beehive Legislation to tighten things, legislation to relax things and a speech which reminds us of threats to our democracy – from the PM, we are delighted to note – feature in the latest posts on the Beehive website. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark has ...23 hours ago - EEO Commissioner Disappointed With Delay In Urgent Pay Transparency LegislationThe Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner has expressed disappointment over the delay in undertaking urgent action to address ethnic, gender and disability pay gaps across workplaces in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Government has committed to scoping ...23 hours ago
- OP-ED: Reimagining ageing: Older persons as agents of developmentOP-ED by Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). ...24 hours ago
- Improving Value Through Better Crown Entity MonitoringOur report Improving value through better Crown entity monitoring was presented to the House of Representatives today. Crown entities carry out a wide range of important public services and functions. In 2020/21, Crown entities were responsible for 39% ...24 hours ago
- Goff's Final Budget A Climate Action ShamAuckland Council has formally adopted the 2022/23 Annual Budget. This includes Mayor Phil Goff’s proposal for a billion-dollar “Climate Action” package to be funded by a new targeted rate levied on households. The Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance has ...1 day ago
- Wellington Chamber Welcomes Transport Announcement, Signals Funding Concern"The Wellington Chamber of Commerce welcomes today’s announcement of a preferred option for mass rapid transit," Chief Executive Simon Arcus said today. "It is good to see the government being very clear on its thoughts. These are the kind ...1 day ago
- Wellington Airport Welcomes Step Forward On Transport ImprovementsWellington Airport is welcoming progress on Wellington’s transport network with the Government announcing a preferred option today. “It’s good to see progress being made and a clear pathway forward,” says Wellington Airport chief executive ...1 day ago
- The iPhone turns 15: a look at the past (and future) of one of the 21st century’s most influential...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ismini Vasileiou, Associate Professor in Information Systems, De Montfort University Shutterstock Today marks 15 years since Apple released what’s arguably its flagship device: the iPhone. A decade and a half later, there are few products that have managed to reach ...1 day ago
- Does Labor have ‘total control’ in Western Australia?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Phillimore, Executive Director, John Curtin Institute of Public Policy, Curtin University Just before the Western Australian state election in March 2021, the then leader of the Liberal Party did an unusual thing. He conceded defeat – but then asked voters to ...1 day ago
- Government Funding For New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Programme To Benefit Families Hardest To Rea......1 day ago
- Luxon uninterested in 'importing culture wars' into New ZealandNational Party leader Christopher Luxon says he has no interest "importing culture wars" into New Zealand after Roe v Wade was overturned in the US. ...1 day ago
- Aucklanders Overwhelmingly Support Fare Free Public TransportNew polling out this morning confirms that Aucklanders overwhelmingly support fare free public transport. These results follow the release of a report jointly co-commissioned by FIRST Union and the NZ Public Service Association Te Kauae Kaimahi, making the ...1 day ago
- Aotearoa Needs Solutions To Harmful Online ContentNew research released today emphasises our growing concern for harmful content online. Today, the Classifications Office released their report, ‘What we’re watching - New Zealanders’ views about what we see on screen and online.’ The report shows ...1 day ago
- Poll Asks Wrong Question About Free Public TransportA new poll conducted by Talbot Mills purports to show overwhelming support for mayoral candidate Efeso Collins’ fares-free public transport policy. However, the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance says the wrong question was asked. The poll of 772 Aucklanders, ...1 day ago
- Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance Condemns Violence Against Efeso CollinsThe Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is urging candidates to tone down their rhetoric and leave personal attacks out of the campaign. On Wednesday morning, The New Zealand Herald reported that mayoral candidate Efeso Collins and his family were “nearly ...1 day ago
- Get Ready For The Local ElectionsThe Electoral Commission begins an enrolment drive today to make sure people are enrolled for this year’s local body elections. ‘It’s time to check you’re enrolled, and that you’re listed at the right address, so you’re ready to vote ...1 day ago
- New Data Shows Orange Roughy In Deep TroubleNew government information about the deepwater fish orange roughy shows the fish may not reach full maturity until the age of 80, throwing the entire management of the fishery into doubt. Orange roughy, a long-lived deepwater fish, grow and mature ...1 day ago
- NZEI Te Riu Roa Submits On Fair Pay Agreements LegislationNZEI Te Riu Roa has delivered its oral submission in support of the Fair Pay Agreements Bill, outlining how it will benefit workers and improve the quality of early childhood education. When the legislation comes into force the Union will be seeking a Fair ...1 day ago
- Hindu Youth Provide Clarity During Times Of Immigration UncertaintyHindu Youth New Zealand (HYNZ), a Division of Hindu Council of New Zealand Inc., is pleased to announce its first online webinar series focused on recent changes in visa, and immigration requirements in New Zealand – Pathway to Aotearoa . Whether ...1 day ago
- Victim Support Urges Victims To Seek Help Even If They Don’t Report CrimeCrime victims are being urged to seek support even if they don’t report the crime. Victim Support, the charity that supported more than 43,000 victims of crime, trauma and suicide last year, says the New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey released today ...1 day ago
- Dunne Speaks: Roe V. Wade Blindsides National...1 day ago
- This giant kangaroo once roamed New Guinea – descended from an Australian ancestor that migrated m...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Isaac Alan Robert Kerr, PhD Candidate for Palaeontology, Flinders University Illustration by Peter Schouten, Author provided Long ago, almost up until the end of the last ice age, a peculiar giant kangaroo roamed the mountainous rainforests of New Guinea. Now, ...1 day ago
- Is 5 senior ministers quitting Victoria’s Andrew’s government a sign of renewal – or decline?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Strangio, Professor of Politics, Monash University Renewal or decline? These are the competing narratives that now surround Daniel Andrews’ Victorian Labor government, with five senior ministers exiting cabinet as a preliminary to leaving parliament at November’s state election. The resignations of ...1 day ago
- Census data shows we’re more culturally diverse than ever. Our institutions must reflect thisSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sukhmani Khorana, Senior Research Fellow, Western Sydney University Initial data from the 2021 census released this week shows Australia continues to become more culturally diverse. Almost half of us have at least one parent born overseas (48.2%), and almost a quarter ...1 day ago
- By naming ‘Pennhurst’, Stranger Things uses disability trauma for entertainment. Dark tourism an...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanne Watson, Senior Lecturer in Disability and Inclusion, Deakin University Netflix The Netflix sci-fi horror series Stranger Things is vividly soaked in 1980s nostalgia, famously catapulting Kate Bush’s 1985 song Running up that Hill to the top of the music ...1 day ago
- What is ‘heteropessimism’, and why do men and women suffer from it?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Hamilton, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences, University of New England Shutterstock A friend introduces their partner as “my current husband”. Another jokes about marriage as a life sentence. Everyone laughs, no one is surprised. ...1 day ago
- A $400-a-week shortfall: people in their 40s face a bleak retirement on KiwiSaver’s current trajec...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ayesha Scott, Senior Lecturer – Finance, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Cost of living is – and should be – on everyone’s mind. But how we are managing increasing costs could impact us well into retirement. As cost-of-living pressures ...1 day ago
- Unfair NZ Political Polls Undermine Our DemocracyNZ Political Polls need to be held to account, to protect our democracy Ted Johnston, Auckland Mayoral candidate for the New Conservative party has called out Curia for its crooked poll. “Biased political polls can fix elections and this poll does ...1 day ago
- Australians favour more defence spending in Lowy poll, as Labor extends ADF chief Angus Campbell’s...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Australians are becoming more fearful in an insecure world, and want to see the country armed up, favouring more defence spending and the planned acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. Three quarters of Australians say it ...2 days ago
- NZ health sector may see influx of US doctors after abortion rulingBy Leah Tebbutt, RNZ News reporter An Aotearoa New Zealand health workforce recruiting agency is fielding calls from senior US doctors who say they can no longer live in their own country. Accent Health Recruitment has been flooded with inquiries from US doctors wanting to come to New Zealand following ...2 days ago
- Fiji’s new investment law leads to ‘confusion and risk’, say lawyersBy Luke Nacei in Suva Foreign investors could be sent to jail in Fiji for breaking a new investment law, says the prominent Suva law firm Munro Leys. The company said the “vague and unsatisfactory” new Investment Act could create greater uncertainty for foreign investors. In a legal alert to ...2 days ago
- PM meets with Spain's leader in MadridThe working holiday scheme between New Zealand and Spain has been expanded to allow more young people to travel and work in each other's countries for up to two years. ...2 days ago
- PM meets with Spain's president in MadridThe number of young New Zealanders and Spaniards who will be able to travel and work in each other's countries has increased from 200 to 2000 after a meeting between the two countries' leaders. ...2 days ago
- Legislation banning supermarkets from blocking competitors passes final stageLegislation that bans major supermarkets from blocking their competitors from accessing land to set up new stores has passed its final hurdle in Parliament. ...2 days ago
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Mike Smith and Matt Robson make comments that will be discomforting to the armchair warriors on the Standard.
’Smith fears New Zealand could now find itself "on the wrong side of history" by helping prolong a conflict in the interests of waning US hegemony while risking its own interests in the Asia-Pacific region, and increasing the risks of a nuclear war.’
’Former minister in Helen Clark's Labour government, Matt Robson, echoed his concerns, and called for an informed debate in Parliament over the country's increasing involvement in the conflict.’
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/467866/nz-entering-ukraine-conflict-at-whim-of-govt-former-labour-politicians
Matt Robson doubles down on his support for unjust wars.
The evidence is that Putin wanted to take over Ukraine, and has used missiles, artillery and aerial bombardment to smash any resistance, turning towns and cities to rubble and killing many civilians in the process.
Matt Robson is a big supporter of unjust wars, willing to destroy his own political party to involve New Zealand in the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. The cost of Matt Robson's treachery is 10 NZDF soldiers lives, and drawing us into committing war crimes to perpetuate that war and occupation. History shows that the war in Afghanistan was an cruel and unjust war, that achieved nothing except, leaving that country devastated and starving, its infrastructure ruined and its government accounts seized by the American aggressor.
By betraying his own party majority democratic decision not to back this war.
Matt Robson has blood on his hands.
It should be of little surprise to most on the Left that Matt supports the bloody invasion of Ukraine.
Did you experience a short-circuit in your brain this morning listening to RNZ? You probably wouldn’t be the only one here on TS.
Where does Matt Robson state or imply that he “supports the bloody invasion of Ukraine”?
Is calling for public debate and discussion now an act of betrayal and a show of support of violence and war? If so, he clearly needs to be cancelled and silenced toot sweet.
Next you might call him a genocidal fascist for questioning us, Aotearoa-New Zealand, for being in lockstep with the US of A, still or again.
Mike Smith may be feeling may be a little uncomfortable himself this morning as the behaviour of his heroes in China is revealed.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/24/xinjiang-leak-sheds-new-light-on-chinas-uighur-camps
Dr. Adrian Zenz is a senior follow at the “Victims of Communism memorial foundation” in Washington D.C, an ideological organization funded by congress.
Zenz is a fundamentalist Christian. Whilst religious affiliation does not discredit one, nevertheless the specific nature of his beliefs put him on the most extreme right of the American evangelical wing. This individual is being used to ferment a global narrative concerning China, with total silence or background information offered on what he actually believes in.
Amongst these, Zenz states that all “other belief systems” to Christianity are “ultimately inspired by Satan” and that “those who reject faith in Jesus will be sentenced to eternal punishment”
Looks like I’m in for eternal punishment then.
https://chollima.org/who-is-adrian-zenz-the-christian-fundamentalist-leading-the-global-xinjiang-narrative/
Cheer up aj – you will not be alone in eternal punishment.
We should be able to do rotating shifts of wailing in anguish.
A countervailing report: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-05-25/China-U-S-covers-own-lies-with-another-over-Xinjiang-related-issues-1akhKRuSzRe/index.html.
Of course, either report could be based on fabricated information but interesting that so much evidence should appear just when Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, is being put under US led pressure to abandon an investigative trip to Xinjiang.
"The U.S. side called Bachelet's visit a mistake, saying the U.S. has "no expectation that the PRC (People's Republic of China) will grant the necessary access required to conduct a complete, unmanipulated assessment of the human rights environment in Xinjiang."
Of course, the 1,690,000 prison population sounds pretty horrific even if excluding an alleged 1 million political prisoners, in a population of 1.4 billion. However, China is only second to the US which has 2,068,800 prisoners for a population of less than 350 million. How many there could be regarded as political prisoners?
It might pay to avoid a rush to judgement until the UN report is submitted by Michelle Bachelet before making a judgement on the 'new' evidence from a US-based academic Adrian Zenz. There s a history of fabricating evidence for political purposes.
Yourself, Smith, and Matt "RT" Robson. Running dogs for the genocidal, imperialist thugs who'll think little of orphaning children as they erase Ukrainian identity.
//
And yet I'm not remotely discomforted. Odd that.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/300597540/china-wants-10-pacific-nations-to-endorse-sweeping-regional-agreement
There will be much huffing and puffing regarding this move by China.
ISTM they want want 3 things. To have more votes in the UN to block any potential moves by Taiwan for recognition. To be able to spy more easily on the US, Australia, France and us. And fish, fish, fish. Tuna stocks will be wiped out.
s
I see that even Henry Kissenger is now advocating that Ukraine surrender (in effect), and yield territory to Russia.
“I hope the Ukrainians will match the heroism they have shown with wisdom,” he said, adding with his famous sense of realpolitik that the proper role for the country is to be a neutral buffer state rather than the frontier of Europe.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/300597650/ukraine-war-brings-an-unusual-moral-edge-to-the-world-economic-forum
I never thought I'd say this. US has gone so full blown warmongering over the last 2 decades that Henry Kissinger now sounds like a pacifist and peace lover.
Or, Occam's Razor here, Kissinger is still an evil, venal little man who gets paid a lot of money to advise Putin and you're an apologist for a genocidal imperialist klepto-oligarch.
I think Occam's Razor is getting stretched rather thin.
Kissinger is a known quantity
Your opinion.. but my 'rather thin' statement relates to the rest of your leaps of reasoning.
Okay apparatchik
Jawohl, Herr Obersturmbandführer.
Even the Nazis were shocked by Katyn
They made a profession of being shocked by Katyn. It suited them at the time..
The statement could've been released last week.
In response to the German scoop, on 15 April 1943, in full indignation at Goebbels’ slander, the Moscow radio released a statement by the Sovinformburo news agency, placing the blame on the Nazis and declaring punishment for the crime committed by "German fascist killers". The first key paragraph alone contained the main theses on the German responsibility, and, in consequence, on the German provocation aimed at the USSR:
[iii].
https://ipn.gov.pl/en/news/4020,The-Katyn-lie-Its-rise-and-duration.html
Imagine a world where Kissinger did stay put.
Zelenskyy's reliance on ad hominem arguments suggests he doesn't have a credible argument to offer.
Credible arguments to counter the reckonings of the warmonger responsible for the dropping of half a million tons of bombs on Cambodia alone, killing at least 100,000 civilians?
Do fuck off.
3,091,000 war deaths in Vietnam between 1955–75
Think we are going fossil free (even net) by 2050?…..
https://thegreatsimplification.libsyn.com/dr-simon-michaux-minerals-blindness
Ah,been looking for you Pat,that is a great link,which I have spread all over. Thanks. Can you do a post on this ?
It is indeed an informative link and expands on the views of the likes of Kevin Anderson…another who understands the difficulties (and constraint of time)….it is well worth the hour plus to listen (or google Simon Michaux, if you prefer to read, though hes an entertaining speaker)
Im happy to continue providing links as I come across them but am unlikely to author a post for a couple of reasons…the theme is contrary to the accepted narrative here and my writing abilities would not do it service.
Ok. I've listened twice and urge all to at least have a listen,we can't stay in our silo's.Have a good day folks.
So it turns out that Hillary Clinton started a disinformation campaign that turned into a fully fledged bat shit crazy conspiracy…. all Western "Liberal" media brought into it and perpetuated it mindlessly and endlessly for four long years…will she suffer consequences?….will the Liberal media be held to account?….yeah Right, disseminating propaganda and lies for power is their job, just look at the war in Ukraine now…more War propaganda delivered without question…as usual.
I wonder if even one of the many Russiagaters here on The Standard will offer any sort of apology for all the smears and attacks directed at myself and others over this issue?…yeah Right…no, as we can all see they have just mindlessly and seamlessly moved on to parrot and defend the very next piece of propaganda and war mongering bullshit that has been feed to them…you would think there would be a little self reflection after being humiliated so publicly…but it turns out these people seem to have about as much humility as they do for capacity critical thinking…ie;zero..nothing…zilch.
Hillary Clinton Did It
"Her 2016 campaign manager says she approved a plan to plant a false Russia claim with a reporter"
"The Russia-Trump collusion narrative of 2016 and beyond was a dirty trick for the ages, and now we know it came from the top—candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton"
"In short, the Clinton campaign created the Trump-Alfa allegation, fed it to a credulous press that failed to confirm the allegations but ran with them anyway, then promoted the story as if it was legitimate news. The campaign also delivered the claims to the FBI, giving journalists another excuse to portray the accusations as serious and perhaps true"
"Most of the press will ignore this news, but the Russia-Trump narrative that Mrs. Clinton sanctioned did enormous harm to the country. It disgraced the FBI, humiliated the press, and sent the country on a three-year investigation to nowhere"
https://www.wsj.com/articles/hillary-clinton-did-it-robby-mook-michael-sussmann-donald-trump-russia-collusion-alfa-bank-11653084709
Oh Goodness me . who to believe anymore when even the Dept of Homeland Security has become a dupe of Putin's propaganda.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/24/american-fighters-ukraine-white-supremacists-00034860
So they're recruiting white-supremacists to fight white Russians? Seems legit.
You do know historically who the White Russians were?
Maybe your understanding of Russian history being stuck at the revolution is your problem?
No, not stuck. Just glad to know that you have such knowledge.
Pity you had to draw the attention to yourself in the 2nd paragraph, which is a distraction and diversion from the rest of the comment. People don’t like to listen to a broken record and tend to respond the same way each time they hear the same scratchy noise.
Well it is the major contradiction of the US defence of Ukraine
So?
Why shouldn't I draw attention to myself and the other small minority of commenters like Morrissey who were attacked relentlessly over years over our stand on this major conspiracy…why shouldn't we feel like we should be offered an apology by those who regularly directed ad hominem and vile comments at us?
But I of course know full well this will never happen, for the reasons I have already stated in my earlier comment.
By the way the only broken record I can hear going around and around infinitum, is your boring and insistent critiquing of my comments.
And here we have it again, it’s all about you, you, you!!
Why do you do it if you know you won’t get your sorry apology??
Why do you do it if you know I or another commenter might critique it??
Can’t you handle critique, which is not even all that robust??
Tells us, Adrian, why do you comment here with your passive-aggressive comments and then moan when you get the expected response??
oh dear, I'm sorry I thought you were having a go at me, therefore the reply which comes across as a non sequitur.
It happens 🙂
I can handle critique just fine, which I have proven regularly on this site…and quite a bit from you alone I might add…however to my original point, all I have said is now that a whole lot of people have been proven to have been wrong in their belief and defense of the Trump/Russiagate conspiracy…and myself and others have been proven to have been on the right side of history in pushing back against this mainstream misinformation…so how about they at the very least acknowledge the fact that they were wrong.
You do understand that are the only one here who actually boringly critiques the vibe of my comments all the time..and when I say boring I really mean that…often when you comment to me, I don't even bother reading them because you say basically the same shit to me all the fucking time..so why waste my time reading the same boring critique time and time again?
Who’s the boring one here? Who’s playing the broken violin again? Do you want a knighthood for services to music?
Umm, there’s quite a lot to “disprove”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Links_between_Trump_associates_and_Russian_officials
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Counsel_investigation_(2017–2019)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_interference_in_the_2016_United_States_elections
When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock’s face at the Oscars, it reminded some folk of another incident that happened during the 1973 Oscars. It involved John Wayne wanting to attack Sacheen Littlefeather. Luckily security held Wayne back.
John Wayne had strong views on race. I remember reading his article in Playboy about black people.
Pity (or luckily?) social media wasn't around in those days. Waynes' career would have been over along with Clint Eastwoods.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/news-john-wayne-1973-oscars-attack-clint-eastwood-mocking-sacheen-littlefeather-explained-will-smith-x-chris-rock-slap-sparks-debate
You read a Playboy article. Got any bridges for sale?
The advertisement for Playboy was '' What sort of man reads Playboy.''
I don't think you would fit the demographic, Gsays.
Actually in the 1960's Playboy was well known for it's serious articles as well as some legendary interviews…
https://www.bustle.com/articles/116648-10-iconic-playboy-articles-everyone-should-know-because-you-actually-can-read-it-just-for-the
Correct. And Penthouse, too. When we talk of articles and interviews, we were talking about page after page of top shelf journalism.
Marlon Brando was nuts and doesn't really have a moral leg to stand on:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Tango_in_Paris#Rape_scene
Bryce Edwards has some sensible comments to make on electoral law reform.
https://democracyproject.nz/2022/05/26/bryce-edwards-major-shakeup-of-electoral-rules-could-be-coming/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bryce-edwards-major-shakeup-of-electoral-rules-could-be-coming
The idea of reducing the threshold, and getting rid of the overhang certainly has merit. Maybe 3%. Not sure about reducing the voting age. The 16 year olds I know would make it interesting.
I would like to see all funding done by an independent body, with donations banned altogether.
A 4 year term makes more sense in terms of a actual governance. And Maori should be able to move from roll to roll whenever.
In a similar vein, I understand that people who watch Shortland Street religiously are allowed to vote too.
??
Yep, oops, I left out;
"Not sure about reducing the voting age. The 16 year olds I know would make it interesting."
Pop culture update time including extremely mild spoilers that don't give away the plot (such as it is for this movie)
Top Gun: Maverick
This movie is fantastic entertainment, I rate it slightly higher than the original.
Its not perfect, the shoe horned in romance didn't really do it for me (or my wife for that matter) and it felt at times as if there was a previous movie we haven't watched but for all that this is top tier movie entertainment.
I've always been a fan of Tom Cruise because you can tell he loves making movies and he gives 110% for every role but for this he has surpassed himself, you can tell he really wanted this to work and it does, it really does.
There is no star today (sorry Brad Pitt) that can get close to Tom Cruise when hes on and he may have single-handedly shown to Hollywood that we, the paying public, don't care about representation (plenty of people of colour and woman as pilots in this movie) as long as the characters are more than one dimensional cut outs (see also Aliens)
I would go so far as to say that this is Tom Cruises Magnum Opus, not saying its his best movie (I have a soft spot for Born On The Fourth Of July) but this is everything that encapsulates Tom Cruises career, turned up to eleven
You want charming Tom, funny Tom, driven Tom, doubting Thomas (yeah yeah I know), Tom who even though hes 59 can easily pass for late 30s (especially with his shirt off), introspective Tom, take charge Tom, running Tom (of course) then this is it, this is everything
If this is the start of Tom Cruises with drawl from more physical movies (Mission Impossible aside) then this is one helluva swan song
Yes its unashamedly nostalgic, as soon as the movie starts and the music starts playing and the you watch the credits you'll know what I mean and yes its unashamedly patriotic but it works
Grab a large popcorn and fizzy drink (go to the toilet first as its over 2 hours), sit back, let the sound wash over you, put your brain in neutral and prepare to be transported back to when you were 13 years old (or however old you were when you first watched Top Gun)
Hollywood please take not of this, Tom can't carry the whole industry forever
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/467885/police-minister-announces-government-s-crime-prevention-package
Yeah, nah. Not what the hardliners want to hear; too complex, too much nuance, too cuddly, too woke.
Thanks for the links, Incognito.
While the government reaction is framed as tough on crime, it reeks of an informal subsidy to insurance companies. When this initiative was first proposed, a week or so ago, my reckons were to make it available to retailers who do not sell ciggies. Bearing in mind we are aiming for Smoke-Free in 30 months.
As the Children's Commissioner points out, poverty, family violence, alcohol are all drivers of this behaviour. Put all the bollards up that you want, it isn't going to solve the problem.
Sports teams and cultural groups, community organisations, gardening, volunteer work are where the answer is for building self esteem, connection and belonging, empathy and reslience. Even more so, if eating together is part of the equation.
Maybe schools are a resource for the solution, not to dump this on teachers, they are already carrying a heavy load, but a extra curricula type thing run/funded by MSD .
Even before that stage the problem is disconnection.
A few absent from schooling reaches the level required to create an underground of alienated youth
1. via lockdowns and isolation
2. moving from home to home because of landlord eviction (unable to pay rent or so the landlord can increase rent via taking in a new tenant)
3. being stuck in motels, or homelessness (backyards of others in caravans etc).
without any oversight of the children by schools. The parents may not even know the children are not going to school, or are leaving this until they can find permanent accommodation.
They connect by their mobiles, their tech toys – which they have to pay for. Thus the need for money to maintain their lord of the flies lifestyle.
It's all so sad.
Folk on the bottom of the heap, victims of inequality (a by-product of colonialism and neo-liberalism) and used as a political football by those near the top of the hierarchy.
More the cart before the donkey again. The money should have gone into regional policing. That said, it's better than nothing. Of course, the gangsters may start bringing steel cutters to the party. The gangs will provide what they need. However, no doubt, that will slow them down with more chances of being caught.
The Police Minister may not realise putting in bollards is not always straight forward.
By the time underground cables and access are checked, that 6 million may not go very far.
https://www.bollardsusa.com/bollards-commonly-asked-questions/
Following your cart and donkey, with more money for police, I will suggest more, faster ambulances at the precipice base.
I'm talking about targeted spending. 6 million could start Raptor squad.
As I tried to explain to another poster. Crime must be controlled first before we put massive resources into fighting the causes of crime. In fact we have done that in the past with minimal results
Now, here's the good news for you, and the bad news for folk like me who are over crime. I'm not hearing the right sounds from National on crime. I'm guessing they will be as woke as the present Labour government.
Ambulances? Take your pick under National .Mercedes makes a nice model.
I'm wondering how many houses will be ''shot up'' tonight? Ram Raids? Murder?
"Crime must be controlled first before we put massive resources into fighting the causes of crime".
A nonsensical statement. Repeating it just makes you seem even more confused than the first time you said it.
But. Joined up thinking is not something that "tough on crime" zealots excel in.
Which is why cynical right wing politicians, can wind you all up with bullshit to get votes.
Ok, let's make it simple for you.
Johnny is down my street smashing letter boxes with a baseball bat. The neighbours and I come out. I call them together and say,'' Is Johnny mentally ill.?'' Someone says, '' his family life seems normal…but who knows.'' Mr Brown say's ''maybe he has issues at school?''
In the meantime Johnny has smashed 5 more letterboxes and has started to scream at an elderly man,
Someone suggests talking to him? By this time Johnny has pushed the old man over.
That is not controlling crime. That is trying to find the cause of Johnny's offending before controlling Johnny's rampage.
I should have rung the police. Come out with a weapon to defend myself if needed and told Johnny to stop.( factoring in long police attendance times). The neigbours should have done likewise. That way the old man wouldn't have been pushed over and less letterboxes would have been damaged. Johnny would have seen he's out numbered and probably moved on. He would then have been picked up by the police, and the causes of his offending addressed.
That's about as dumb and as simple as I can make it, KJT.
Correct.
Dumb and simple!
At least you now understand my point. No need to be nasty anymore. Now, let's hear your ideas. .
Got your point alright.
You only understand "Dumb and simplistic".
FFS! You stay inside rather than rushing out to defend your mailbox and become a target yourself. I’ve had to patch up mailboxes many times and in the end I bolted the thing so well to its post that they couldn’t smash it off (they tried hard). Next, I bought a cheap small box in a boring colour (dark green) and they left it alone, never touched it. Never thought to ring the Police for a mailbox or risk my life for it, which is something books didn’t teach me …
Of course you are right. It was a dumbed down exaggerated version for KJT. I was trying to show him what I meant by controlling crime v fixing the causes of crime. And why the cart must come after the donkey. Not before.
What you meant by “fixing the causes of crime” is being picked up by Police and taken away. That doesn’t fix anything; the mailboxes are smashed up, the old guy has been pushed over, it has all happened, which is why Police can act. Here’s the thing, they cannot act on Johnny before he goes on his rampage. Now, let this sink in and think about before your next comment.
You control crime by addressing the causes. Dimwit.
BTW I've already made my ideas clear. Along with a whole lot of references to approaches that have worked to "control crime", from people that have researched it and know what they are talking about. Which you obviously didn't bother to read.
I've read hundreds of research papers, commentaries and descriptions, of reducing crime approaches that work. None of the ones that are successful, include arming police, giving police more powers, or imprisoning more people.
Or, indeed, attacking someone who is obviously wound up and upset, to protect a letterbox!
Maybe this post from RedLogix may be a better fit for you.
''Incog – I have absolutely no problem with your sentiment here. Understanding and dealing to the underlying issues is essential to preventing a problem.
But equally once you have a problem – neither can you ignore the symptoms.''
Here's another example:
You have gout.
Symptoms. – Swollen toe, inflammation and much pain.
Cause – Excessive uric acid in the body. Wrong food choices.
Treatment: Prescribe anti-inflammatories and Prednisone to take care of the symptoms and help the body.
Next – treat the cause. Blood test for uric acid. Long term medication to control uric acid. Dietary help.
Got it?
Yep. I've got that you have absolutely no comprehension of what the people who have researched crime, and myself, are saying.
Hmmm, steel cutters to cut through bollards installed to prevent ram raids … Good luck with that.
As usual with RW hardliners, they go for simplistic solutions, simplistic criticisms, and always focus on the $$ and find fault somewhere as if to say that they’re the only smart and capable ones and the rest of us are a bunch of woke morons.
Steel Grinder may have been a better term. Not bolt cutters though. A torch would be quicker, but that requires some skill and a bulky cart.
But all that isn't necessary. You just need something that goes between the bollards to act like a punch. You then ram the punch and achieve your goal. Trust me, master crims aren't dumb like many people think.
Bollards are either cast ductile iron or concrete filled steel/SS steel, reinforced with a little rebar dropped down the guts for good measure. If you intend cutting one it's probably best you pack a lance or perhaps one of those flash harry magmafusion jobbies. Or wheel in your own lifting gear and pluck it out. A 3.5 tonner would do it.
You seem to hold them in high regard and again I love your narrative, but anyway, those young people behind the wheel in ram raids are not “master crims”. You make them sound like master minds with a degree in engineering and all that effort for a pack of cigarettes?
That's not quite right. Many work for gang fences or they work off a patch ( you can buy them now within certain gangs) They are taught the basics by the gangs. Yes, educationally, they are as thick as pig shit. But life has imbued them with a cunning born of survival. I have watched them run rings around middleclass do gooders. Especially social workers.
Have you ever wondered why some Maori kids have that intense stare? That stare picks up micro expressions that most folk don't perceive. It tells them when a blow may be coming. It tells them when someone is talking shit. It tells them who is weak willed, and who shouldn’t be messed with. They know things books can't teach you.
''
For the fist time I agree with you, Blade. I think Covid has just forced my retirement from Secondary School teaching. Good comment.
‘kay, we have moved on from planning and executing targeted ram raids by master criminal minds cutting their way through enforced bollards and what-have-you to a whole set of other skills & traits.
Young people behind the wheel in ram raids have now become “Maori kids”, have they? Of course, these tend to fare poorly in the education system and do poorly in our normative society when they come from families living in a "total state of hopelessness". That’s how some end up behind the wheel.
However, you’re starting to move to a few important points without realising that you’ve come full-circle today (but not all in this OM) to you wanting to arm Police, Raptor force, and supporting “vigilante action” against those same kids. One size doesn’t fit all but you throw everything on one giant heap with no plan, no vision, and no hope of making any headway and having a positive impact, least of all in the medium-to-long run.
I let the present crime situation speak for itself.
I know you like to keep things simple, so let me ask you a simple question: how many voices do you hear when crime speaks to you? I don’t mean voices in your head or voices on talk-back radio, but more like directions from where the information is coming to you and different types of information.
It comes mainly from attending court and speaking on behalf of young relatives ( through their lawyer) up on charges. Also speaking with their lawyers and Probies.
It comes from sitting amongst some of societies worst offenders in the court waiting foyer. That's an experience I wish on no one.
It comes from experiencing the environment these offenders come from.
But here's the thing. The system is so broke that everyone from the judge down, seems to be going through the motions. The lawyers are jaded, ditto the probies and the admin staff. The amount of paper work to be filled before you leave court is staggering.
He's a typical exchange.
Judge – Quite a list of offences you have here, Mr Kiwi. I see I dealt with you two years ago. Did I give you any warnings.
Kiwi – Yes, judge, You said If you saw me again on similar charges it would be lockup.
Judge – Yes, I now see that.
Judge – Council or prosecution, have anything to add?
Judge – Mr Kiwi, you have pleaded guilty to these charges. I'm putting you down for 18 months with 3 months deducted for time in custody. Stand down.
All this goes on like a production line…case after case after case. Hence my ideas on reform and crime.
Didn’t know that “societies worst offenders” [sic] were sitting in the foyers among the other riffraff, but my NZ court experience is quite limited.
Your ideas on reform and crime are superficial and narrow, in my opinion. They’ve a limited and narrow focus on symptoms and are palliative at best, which you describe without realising it, and have no curative intent.
You're not wrong Blade
''Your ideas on reform and crime are superficial and narrow, in my opinion.''
My ideas for controlling crime are very narrow and focused. The objective is simple. Where crime happens stomp on it. Apprehend, harass, jail and create fear among the criminal community.
''They’ve a limited and narrow focus on symptoms and are palliative at best, which you describe without realising it, and have no curative intent.''
Now for one curative part of my plan. It should be obvious to all who have thought about crime that it involves the following government departments in some regard: Police, Justice, Winz and Education. All of these organisations are not functioning correctly for a variety of reasons. For example:
1- I heard the other day only 52%? of school age children are attending school.
2- All those kids caught by police in the act of ram raiding probably won't be charged and will just be referred on. That's 150 kids every one is crowing about because they were caught.
3- Winz. Major reform needed. The amount of food grants I saw flashed at the supermarket, even before Covid, was staggering. Of course, the more you know the system, the more you can milk it. And to be fair, some branches are way stricter than others. But beanies soon work out where their best chances are. Of all the non-police departments, Winz needs the most attention.
4- Justice. When you have police and judges taking into account cultural considerations for Maori, you know we have a two-tier justice system. That has to stop. The law is the law. Apply it as such.
And we still aren't at the stage of helping the offender. Why? Because it would be a waste of time and effort given the laxity of the above.
This is how I know National will be another failure on crime. If they were going down this path, Luxon would have to address the nation before the next election in the name of fairness. Because to fix all this up would bring the country into turmoil for a time.
It won't happen. Get used to NZ slipping into third would status. In fact we may be there already in some regards.
@ Blade, 5:52 pm:
Good, now you’re starting to show some real engagement that we can work with here.
Not offering any help to offenders leads to high rates of repeat offending. Rinse, spit, repeat.
Very different solutions though than arming Police and shooting violent aggressors in the act.
If you had been paying attention, you would have noticed the steady rise of rent to income of recent years. The more that is spent on rent, the less available for power (thus the power income supplement) or food – thus greater resort to food banks by working people – not just food grants by those on benefits.
As you are a solutions person – I guess it means lowering housing costs. Such as the government buying up 25,000 houses to end the waiting list for state housing (and placing people onto income related, rather than market rents). We can afford it, because the new debt = the new housing asset (and the income from rent covers the government debt cost).
And building enough new state homes that the waiting list does not recur. We need at least 100,000 for 5M (we use to have 60,000 for 3M and have little more than that now).
With respect what I mention has been going on for years under different governments. Housing won’t really help. Forcing an attitude readjustment among some Winz clients, would.
So, you admit it, your claim is that welfare (not poverty) is the source of crime.
And what exactly is attitude adjustment?
Blades true antisocial ACTiod colours coming to light?
Because racists know all about them superhuman darkies.
/
I used Maori kids as an example because… well guess why?
Pakeha kids brought up in a similar environment would have the same skills set. It's about survival. Culture has little to do with it.
''They know things books can't teach you.''
Ever heard of book learning v practical experience?
Of course not. You are too busy making me out as racist
I've supported many of our young basement dwellers, the strays my kids adopt, in court. Youngsters in desperate need of help, not punishment.
And watched while the efforts of "lock me up and throw away the key" wankers, like you! gets them sent to Ngawha and become permanently lost.
You are a racist.
Fuck off.
As usual, big on commentary and spite ..short on ideas. And you have the cheek to tell me to F- off.
Yes – they tend to be swept away by their own wishful thinking. Alf Garnets.
"Stands to reason, dunnit?"
Jesus, wasn't he awful – the character that is. Wouldn't get away with it now:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1278271/Alf-Garnett-s-racist-views-BBC-sitcom-Till-Death-Part.html
Sorry, but still funny.
Seriously though:
This is America today:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/texas-school-shooting-horrifying-conspiracy-theories-swirl-around-carnage/KLW6Q2SMU3WRLPXEWKLEW35KWY/
Deeply saddening.
Incog – I have absolutely no problem with your sentiment here. Understanding and dealing to the underlying issues is essential to preventing a problem.
But equally once you have a problem – neither can you ignore the symptoms.
Of course, you cannot ignore the symptoms. Dealing with symptoms requires a very different approach and resourcing than dealing with causes and ideally they’re integrated into a cohesive strategy and implemented with clear and firm leadership.