Open mike 26/10/2023
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6:00 am, October 26th, 2023 - 25 comments
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- Dance Magic
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...10 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...10 hours ago - Fact brief – Are we heading into an ‘ice age’?
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The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...1 day ago - Bernard’s last Saturday Soliloquy for 2024
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...1 day ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashEvery morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...2 days ago - 2024 OIA stats
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- ZB’s Power Couple
I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...2 days ago - Austerity thumps GDP most since 1991
Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...2 days ago
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- Shameless, clueless
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...5 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
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- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...7 days ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
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All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago - As Our Power Lessens: Accepted
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National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...2 days ago - Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step
Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 days ago
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The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...3 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
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The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...4 days ago
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A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...4 days ago
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Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
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The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
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The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
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With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...5 days ago
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For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...5 days ago
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The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...5 days ago
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The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
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The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
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The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...6 days ago
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The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
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New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
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The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
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Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
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Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
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Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...1 week ago
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The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...1 week ago
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Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
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Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
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Winston Peters’ revisionist attack on Jacinda Ardern should be slapped down in the strongest terms.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/500994/winston-peters-tweet-about-what-jacinda-ardern-knew-before-march-15-attacks-clearly-inaccurate-pm-s-office
The irony is some of Peter’s current fellow travellers are conspiracy fruitcakes–and that does not need further elucidation here, some implications being rather obvious.
Mr Peters would do better looking into the NZSIS and NZ Police role in the lead up to the Mosque massacre i.e. where terror threats were likely to come from, monitoring the likes of the shooter, and community fire arms management.
It isn't "inaccurate" as politely characterised by the PMs office. It is a straight out lie. A better response from Labour – with an eye to a second election – would be to simply say Peters is a blustering fool suffering from age related memory.
If there is a second election the clear choice between the coalition of chaos + some buyer remorse would be useful for Labour…
Peters' next rant will be that Covid was a giant hoax, just a flu variant, and Jacinda knew that all along.
I can see what he is doing, he is looking for an excuse to turn into a Luxon bossom buddy now that Labour's treachery is now revealed.
NZ First and ACT fighting over who gets to be best man or groomsman.
The meta has to contain some concern at Winston's mental accuity, since it may be he genuinely forgot.
Knowing that single malt is superior shows plenty of mental acuity.
Peters trying to channel Donald Trump.Dog whistling of the worst kind. Peters will keep a stench around National lucky Labour have nothing to do with Winnie the poo!
National's Mark Mitchell is advocating gang members should use makeup to cover their tattoos! That must be the silliest, most ridiculous comment made by a politician this year. Well now NZ knows the calibre of the likely new Police minister. Perhaps Mitchell will then suggest the gangs consult with drag queens on how to do their makeup. The cartoonists will have a field day.
Law and Order distraction straight from the GOP handbook of how to wage a culture war.
Agree, low grade nitpicking authoritarianism MAGA style–target an unpopular minority group.
The subtext is also anti Māori in that Ta Moko and Moko Kauae (female) tattoos may well end up in in the frame in various ways also.
Mr Mitchell is a dodge pot, not just because of his Police and mercenary history, but his early electioneering methods…
https://thestandard.org.nz/hagar-posts-dirty-politics-chapter-on-mark-mitchell-on-web/
It is utterly unenforceable. Will we be treated to the spectacle of Rawiri Waititi or Tama Iti being arrested if some white boy wannabe strongman police minister decides that is "intimidating"? Will it apply to Swastikas? What are the implications to fervent Bhuddists?
It is a tool that could allow a MAGA style wholesale assault on Maori ta moko. The problem is Maori are not without means to fight back.
Are ties and Rotary pins gang insignia? I find them intimidating.
YES especially BLUE ties!!!!
More than once I've heard the police described as the biggest gang in the country.
Destiny Church scare me. Will they have their gang patches removed and all crucifixes covered with makeup?
The gangs are buttheads, but when the state starts dictating what facial markings you can and can't have you are heading in a bad direction.
What's next? Dictating headscarfs, caps, what is printed on T-shirts?
Even before the next government is formed we can see the general intelligent quota will be pretty low.
This is the correct way to deal with it. Suggest the legislation be extended to apply to anyone who may be wearing anything anyone finds intimidating, like a Groundswell tee shirt or whatever.
And the White Collar Criminals suit and tie?
The USA has a speaker for their House on the Hill – Mike Johnson.
He has personally opposed aid to Ukraine, how this impacts on the GOP budget consult with the White House is unknown – his background is well Christian nation conservative. So part Pat Buchanan and part Pat Robertson.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Johnson_(Louisiana_politician)
So their choice is an election denier who according to the NY Times ''played a leading role in the effort to overturn the 2020 election."
And to make sure he strikes the double, according to the Guardian he has co-sponsored bills for a nationwide ban of abortion.
One down, two to go.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/business/economy/uaw-ford-contract-agreement-strike.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20231025&instance_id=0&nl=breaking-news&ref=cta®i_id=105215441&segment_id=148311&user_id=9142031648891a79204ee9b70e83177e
At least he's quit the masturbatory references
[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.]
As you have just demonstrated, those probes tend to be memorable. Therefore useful for my educational purpose. But as has been previously been demonstrated you aren’t that good at picking up why I (or anyone else) do things.
Why think? There is always a mindless slogan to cover any occasion so you don’t have to.
/sarc
BTW: I save the personal habits barbs for people who can’t express themselves in their own words. They usually get way more articulate about what they really think when they get probed with the appropriate insult.
SPC isn’t in that category. I disagree with them, but they have been expressing their own opinions pretty well.
Cue would do
Regarding the case that we were not allowed to know about until after the election, do we have an idea of if/when the suppression order will be lifted?
August next year at the earliest
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/former-political-figure-accused-of-historical-sexual-offending-to-keep-name-secret-until-after-election-and-through-to-trial/KKZGGBATRJFCTPSWGYA7FLTNMA/
"Judge Anna Skellern recently released her reserved judgment to parties in the case, granting the man ongoing interim name suppression until his trial, scheduled to start on August 19, 2024."