The earlier episodes of The Simpsons often had racist and prejudiced content, but in this episode they sum up, in one and a half minutes, how politics works in modern democracies:
(Disregarding M. Cullen’s advice, I have omitted “stating the obvious”. It’s called satire.)
The episode opens with a stray, inoffensive, and gentle brown bear “…wandering down from the hills, in search of food, or maybe employment…”. The townspeople hysterically petition Mayor Quimby to ban all bears (won’t someone think of the children!) and trapped in his office, he asks his aides,
“Are these morons getting dumber or louder?”
“They’re getting dumber, Sir.”
In other news, over on TDB, a protestor from AAAP asks middle NZ, “Why you no like agro protest? Poor is ANGRY.”
At the risk of stating the obvious: Explaining is losing. If you’re angry, be angry, and don’t apologise or seek approval from the people you oppose after the fact. You do oppose them, right?
Exactly Charles. Furthermore, anger is a a motivator for us to instigate change. It’s needs to be left to burn and should never be tamed. Our very expression of anger over social, political and environmental issues tells the world that something is very wrong.
There’s some things you just can’t be polite about.
“Anger is an energy”.
Here’s John Lydon demonstrating that sentiment with “Rise” by PIL
It’s NZ music month, or it will be, next month, brought into popularity during the Clark government. If you are a musician then it’ll be NZ music month every day of your life.
Organised politics is always “an offense to the sovereignty of the individual” and good art usually moves away from organisation, so here’s two songs that tap into that anarchistic sentiment, without losing themselves in self-indulgence.
This is Julia Dean’s, Modern Fables. It’s worth the time to listen to the work of her career, since she covers a lot of ground in many styles. We can continue making progress… if we all pretend… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St6YQhkbbOA
And this is Bailter Space with, Splat, asking us to remember that whatever they tell you, it’s always from their point of view, and about what works best for them… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxbSkmpZ2kg
(Note to The Standard admin: these youtube links can stay as links if you like, since some people have difficulty with video on their home systems.)
Listening to Andrew Little this morning on the fairness of receiving pension whilst still working. (Notice now that it has the word wealthy inserted) If you run off at the mouth and say something silly then either stick with it or apologise and move on. Little did not want to do either so he just sounded stupid.
Can we please not get sucked in on Superannuation being unaffordable. It is not. Government have choices where they spend and ‘Super’ is just one area.
We could always stop buying military weapons that are useless which would go a long way towards covering Pension bill
We could always stop buying military weapons that are useless which would go a long way towards covering Pension bill
1. Probably not
2. Despite us not wanting to attack anyone else there are people out there who will attack us if we don’t have the means to defend ourselves
3. It’s not about money but about resources and we have the resources to do both
Number three is actually really important as it highlights the delusion that our economic system has become and how we focus on the money rather than looking to the resources.
Re 1 my point was that Defence seems to waste money on purchasing items not fit for purpose eg LAV’s and the Charles Upham which was completely useless and was sold. Now we have expensive helicopters that already is some argument about the model we are buying. I think that replacing our armed forces with a modern Coastguard capable of reaching from Antarctica to anywhere north of NZ that requires our presence while at the same time being equipped to enable SAR work when required, protecting our fishing area helping countries in our area when disaster occurs. A modern Coastguard would seem to offer better use of resources.
The Charles Upham was bought on the cheap resulting in a waste of time and effort. Certainly another case of National trying to do something cheaply and failing.
The LAVs were bought for use in the peacekeeping role that the government at the time wanted to focus upon.
The helicopters fit into SAR, peacekeeping and defense roles. There has been some concern about the model and standards.
IMO, military equipment should be researched, designed and built here in NZ by a government department (I think profit should not be allowed on weapons production) so as to a) remove the logistic weakness that comes with buying equipment offshore and b) help develop the economy.
As for which forces we keep I think that we’re going to have to keep the three that we have. They cover the roles needed no matter what we use the defense forces for.
Yet more evidence this morning that “the market” is not an appropriate mechanism for dealing with the problems we are faced with (as if we didn’t know) . When interviewed on Morning report today the chief executive of Contact Denis Barnes, said he thinks there is great long term opportunity in renewables “ but the most value we can add is by finding resource and developing that resource and that takes many, many years, you know something like 5 to 7 years from when you first come across an opportunity to where you might be earning money from it”
Since when is 5-7 years “many, many”??!! Selling essential infrastructure to people with such ridiclously short term thinking is extreme negligence.
The plight of the Postie and of the postal service may have slipped under the radar for many but the problems remain.
NZ Post have been closing down Post Shops all over the country in recent years and cutting back services such as next day across town delivery, leaving the gap open for private competition such as DX mail to pick up the slack.
Many elderly and those without the internet prefer or need to pay their bills at the P.O and they get pissed off when NZ Post goes and closes their local P.O down:
Here’s a good article quoting John Maynard, Southern Secretary for the Postal Workers Union Aotearoa. Among other things he discusses privatisation by stealth and the social duty NZ Post have to provide a service to NZer’s.
NZ Post, like all postal services around the world, became a government service because the private sector couldn’t do it and make a profit. It’s also one of those services that is a natural monopoly as competition in carriers just increases the costs without increasing the service. Basically, posting anything across town or even across the country shouldn’t cost anything directly as it should be a government service paid for through taxes with shops in all centres.
That said, as the amount of mail declines then delivery schedules need to reduce. There’s really no point in being inefficient about it. And, yes, eventually, there’ll b e no more mail. Hell, about the only thing that turns up in my mail box these days is junk mail which should be banned as the waste that it is.
Re last paragraph. The PWUA acknowledges mail volumes are declining, and from what I’ve heard, the posties are realistic about the change, in that respect.
It’s when NZ Post deliberately drop next day delivery across town and let a private company fill the vacuum that you can begin to sniff a rat. Why would they drop a still well used service and hand business over to another competing company?
For example several DHB’s have switched from NZ Post to DX Mail as they send all their patient appointments and correspondence via post.
We still need the post for sending parcels and sending greeting cards. Many may get their bills sent via email, like we do, but it’s still nice to send some one a birthday card or a bereavement card, (not a corny one) if they’ve lost someone.
It’s especially nice as people expect to receive less cards, so it’s a pleasant surprise when one turns up.
The problem with the likes of DX mail is that they don’t do the deliveries. That’s still a NZ Post postie putting the item into your mailbox. NZ Post are required to support their own opposition. It’s pretty weird.
DX are doing deliveries – on their scooters. We get our NZ Post Postie come by in the morning and the DX postie on his scooter late arvo. From what I’ve heard, it’s at the mail sorting end where NZ Post are having to do DX’s work, and they are obliged to, they can’t refuse to handle their mail. Have you heard of cases where NZ Post posties are carrying DX mail as well as their own?
I’d need to get specifics from my buddy at NZ Post before I go into it any further.
Agree it is weird, NZ Post supporting their opposition. What I also find weird is they intentionally give up their business to their opposition. Kind of shooting yourself in the foot – thats surely “the privatisation by stealth” angle.
Yes, you are correct about the scooters, Rosie. DX have delivery in specific, high density areas, but its NZ Post who do the deliveries for DX and the others everywhere else. For Dx et al, it’s kind of like airlines cherry picking their routes and leaving Air New Zealand to fly the unprofitable regional runs. A sort of reverse subsidy.
Yes NZ Post posties are delivering DX Mail, to areas where DX Mail cannot make a profit. Only NZ Post offers redirections, or hold mail, or RTS (Return to sender), or PO Boxes. DX Mail do not do those services (though they may well be thinking of doing it). DX Mail offer 5 day delivery, whereas in a month NZ Post will be delivering to your house every 3 days (Still 6 days for PO Boxes, Rural Delivery & places like Balclutha).
NZ Post are trialling some mixed services with Courier Post delivering mail side by side with NZ Post posties, so they have wage earners sitting alongside contractors, the end game is to contract out posty work (My assumption).
The Unions (EPMU & PWUA) have been next to useless on this, or to be fair they have been outfoxed (the introduction of PPM (Postie Pay Model – paid for volume of mail rather than hours) is killing posties, especially the older guys, its a crap system (DX Mail still get paid by hours worked).
Thanks Invisible Axe. Wasn’t aware of the PPM. Re this bit:
“NZ Post are trialling some mixed services with Courier Post delivering mail side by side with NZ Post posties, so they have wage earners sitting alongside contractors, the end game is to contract out posty work (My assumption).”
I’d heard about this too. I’d also make the assumption that NZ Post are wanting to move towards contractors and away from permanent employees. That would suck.
Apparently a neutron bomb has been dropped on Yemen with Saudi and Israeli connections. I imagine nothing has been verified for sure but one only has to look at the video to see that whatever was dropped was pretty mean and ugly and very much looks like a mini nuclear bomb.
Yeah, it’s bollocks though, isn’t it? A neutron bomb dropped on Yemen by Israel on behalf of Saudi Arabia and not picked up by any seismic or radiation readers anywhere in the gulf, but, remarkably, only visible to nutters on the net. Sounds plausible.
The Isrealis arent that stupid. They know full well that using nuclear weaponry would lead to a huge backlash which ordinary Jews will bear the brunt of.
A few Arabs arent worth the burning and sacking of every synaogue in Europe.
Er, most likely a conventional weapon. Possibly a large one. It also depends on what the target was; if it was a munitions dump then big bangs can obviously be expected. The other thing about the bogus original story is the lack of context (how big? How far away from the photographer? What was hit? etc.).
Yup, in Syria, drone, fixed wing and helicopter borne Hellfires used across the middle east to incinerate people and reported use in the recent demolition of Gaza.
“Flechette shells, fuel-air bombs (which explode twice, including after impact), dime shells, and flechette shells saturated with uranium were fired at Gaza Strip,” the statement added, stressing that the weapons “affect the environment, soil, and water and will affect the next generations by spreading diseases especially cancer.
If it had been a neutron bomb the EMP would have fried everything electronic which wasn’t hardened, certainly within the 4-5 mile radius that footage was taken in.
Are we on a hiding to nowhere?!…We need to pull our brave troops out of Iraq !….Where is the Labour Party on this?….There is no reason for our troops to be there training Iraqi troops if Iraqi troops don’t want to fight!!!!
….the Left must get together on this and oppose jonkey Nact and pull the troops out NOW!
‘‘No will’ to fight ISIS? US Defense Sec blasts Iraqi troops’
“US Defense Secretary Ash Carter has lashed out at the Iraqi army, which last week abandoned the major central city of Ramadi, as well as millions of dollars’ worth of equipment, to the Islamic State, despite reportedly outnumbering the jihadists 10-to-1.
“What apparently happened was that the Iraqi forces just showed no will to fight. They were not outnumbered. In fact, they vastly outnumbered the opposing force, and yet they failed to fight, they withdrew from the site,” Carter, who was appointed earlier this year, told CNN in scathing commentary.”
Five crucial points :
(1) the government practically gifted the tax payer owned TVNZ land to Sky City for this convention centre (2) All the income and profits made will go to the coffers of Sky City and its share holders and not to us, the government (3) To allow Sky City this huge money making bonanza, the government reduced the pokie machine numbers from small outlets, clubs etc from around the regions in the country, and increased the number of pokie machines and other gambling tables for their Sky City crooked corporate mates. (4) If instead of giving huge tax cuts worth billions of dollars each year that primarily benefit the most wealthy the most, had the government itself or a public-private-council partnership funded this convention centre, then the international centre would have been OURS as an SOE and profits would have been OURS in perpetuity.(5) We have an unpatriotic, myopic, cunning government that primarily works for the wealthy, the corporates and their mates.
Is there any statement from the Labour Party that they no longer receive any donations from SkyCity, whether directly or indirectly or in any elusive way that would be difficult to track? Will Labour campaign to reverse Nat’s law that increased the number of pokie machines?
I don’t know. I have nothing to do with the Labour party. Just a Labour party supporter. I like their great policies based on socialism, social justice, fairness, pragmatism, common sense and care.
I voted Mana at the last election as I did not like Hone and IMP being attacked unfairly!
Regarding Sky City donation, that would be declared in the election returns.
No idea about ‘indirectly’. Hope not. It is high time for all MPs to be honest and corruption free of big business influence and being tempted by corporate crooks.
Reversing pokie machine laws or the Sky City deal will be difficult legally I think, because these contracts deals are legal stuff and voted in by parliament.
I suppose it could be done but at very huge cost in money, and business trust both nationally and internationally. So no, I don’t think that will be possible, though I am sure the future governments will be able to change gambling laws through parliament because parliament is supreme. But I think only the wily secretive brethren Steven Joyce knows the small prints in the deal. I doubt if he published the ENTIRE document. Did he?
The proposal of any new law or regulation of commerce which comes from this order ought always to be listened to with great precaution, and ought never to be adopted till after having been long and carefully examined, not only with the most scrupulous, but with the most suspicious attention.
It comes from an order of men whose interest is never exactly the same with that of the public, who have generally an interest to deceive and even to oppress the public, and who accordingly have, upon many occasions, both deceived and oppressed it.
The people writing up the TPPA are the big businesses, those that Adam Smith described as having “deceived and oppressed” the public. The secrecy surrounding the TPPA is part of that ongoing oppression of the public for the benefit of the corporations.
lol – and ISTR that the electoral act was aberrant in having the “knowing it to be false” qualification, rather than the basic “signs false declaration” prohibition.
I don’t think how long he’s been involved matters much. It’s the fact that seemingly every time he’s in a position of power and responsibility he goes round signing legal documents without reading them or checking them for things like facts and truthfulness.
Yes, they are one of cheapest. Just switched to them 2 weeks ago at work. (small office in a biggish building). Been connected apparently but no service. Not there problem because they use Chorus for connections. Chorus will charge to come and inspect it and Flip don’t do call backs regarding problem resolution.
Also like most other providers, it take for ever to get through to Tech support (4 hours yesterday and slightly better today at 1 hour). Ended up calling sales and got through directly.
Pretty average IMHO and thinking about ditching them.
never used them before
well, going by how ‘average’ they seem to be in terms of service provided by help desk, we know what the expression is for the other side of flip
… flop
Thanks,
It seems that cheap is synonymous with really bad service.
Unfortunately the sorts of messes they can make can make them more expensive in the long run.
Just been looking around The Standard and see collective woe at the latest polls. I sense an aura of powerlessness on the “Left” like a rabbit in the headlights. Key the Untouchable, ruler of all you see.
Couple of observations..Key Stormcrow. Imagine petrol getting very rare very quickly. Theres fighting going on near the Saudi oilfields and its spread to Yemen. ISIL runs riot, Iran see the US as the great Satan but will fight for Shiism against the Sunni. Its got the potential to kill off exports of oil, to break markets. On top of this the financial markets sit on the brink of failure. What could this do to our trade? Or the Auckland property bubble. In short the disasters are lining up to kill our economy and Key with it.
Given that Keys mob rely upon paying some of us with baubles to get votes any of the above could be fatal. Now imagine that the storm is so severe that the current wealthy lose everything and the rest become destitute. The end result could be the loss of all legitimacy. Are the Left ready for or up to the challenge. ? I doubt it going by the comments here. All I see is the wish to control the status quo for different beneficiaries. The coming storms wont leave anything worth benefitting from.
Lots of Labour people think that fucking around with NZ Super is not just electoral death, but also plain wrong headed. I’ll be making sure the MPs hear that message loud and clear. The less compliant the Labour membership is from here on in with voter losing BS, the better.
They are wed to orthodox economic and monetary thinking, which means that at best, they aspire to a future of being better book keepers and detail managers than National.
Watching Parliament recently and noted how few MP’s were present. This of course is because MP’s no longer need to be present as whips cast the votes on their behalf.
It seems to me that this is a retrograde step. All MP’s should be present at all times with few exceptions.
Unfortunately it would be very difficult to change it back now a bit like turkeys voting for Thanksgiving.
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“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
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The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarctica’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Security forces reinforcements were sent from France ahead of two rival marches in the capital Nouméa today, at the same time and only two streets away one from the other. One march, called by Union Calédonienne party (a component of the ...
A poll last August found that just 16% of New Zealanders oppose bringing back the ‘Three Strikes’ law. The nationwide poll of 1,000 New Zealanders was commissioned by Family First NZ and carried out by Curia Market Research. ...
The solo show from Ana Scotney is both sprawling and intimate, and a must-see, writes Mad Chapman. In the opening moments of Scattergun: After the Death of Rūaumoko, writer and performer Ana Scotney lays out the groundwork, literally. Silently moving around the square stage, Scotney is not so much dancing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Burridge, Professor of Linguistics, Monash University Who makes the words? Why are trees called trees and why are shoes called shoes and who makes the names? – Elliot, age 5, Eltham, Victoria Good question Elliot! Let’s start with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne at amRawpixel.com/Shutterstock Roles of health professionals are still unfortunately often stuck in the past. That is, before the ...
COMMENTARY:By Malcolm Evans Last week’s leaked New York Times staff directive, as to what words can and cannot be used to describe the carnage Israel is raining on Palestinians, is proof positive, since those reports are published verbatim here in New Zealand, that our understanding of the conflict is ...
In the case of New Zealand, the results confirm that there is no popular support for the vicious austerity program being imposed by the National Party-led government, which is backed in all fundamental respects by the opposition Labour Party. ...
The ‘Vampire’ singer has never visited our part of the world, but that might all be about to change. We assess the evidence.Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour is pulling in massive crowds as it whips around the US and Europe, even helping to catapult regular supporting act Chappell Roan ...
Testing of drinking water in rural Canterbury over the weekend by Greenpeace revealed that several public town supplies were reaching levels of nitrate above 5 mg/L - the threshold which a growing body of scientific evidence has linked to increased ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rohan Fisher, Information Technology for Development Researcher, Charles Darwin University It may come as a surprise to hear 2023 was Australia’s biggest bushfire season in more than a decade. Fires burned across an area eight times as big as the 2019–20 Black ...
Responding to the Government’s announcement of changes to resource management laws, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said: “These changes are a step in the right direction in terms of removing ideological and unworkable ...
More than two years after the Human Rights Council called for the establishment of a national human rights commission, such a body has yet to be formed. ...
Comment:An emergency management system with wide variations in performance, significant capability gaps, funding shortfalls and above all a setup that is not meeting the needs of New Zealanders at times of crisis. The Government’s inquiry into the response to Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events in the North ...
Welcome to the whirring wonders of one brain trying to align its actions with its beliefs within a system it thinks is evil. My brain has been spiralling in a woke conundrum ever since I found out a bookshop I’ve never been to was shutting down. Good Books, a bookshop ...
We repeat our call for criminal justice policy to be based on evidence, something the three strikes regime neglects to recognise – with no evidence that it either reduces crime or assists with rehabilitation. ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara With only four more seats in the 50-member Parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner in the Solomon Islands elections. As of Monday, the two largest blocs in the winner’s circle, independents and the incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh ...
The earlier episodes of The Simpsons often had racist and prejudiced content, but in this episode they sum up, in one and a half minutes, how politics works in modern democracies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AziJW9p2amM
(Disregarding M. Cullen’s advice, I have omitted “stating the obvious”. It’s called satire.)
The episode opens with a stray, inoffensive, and gentle brown bear “…wandering down from the hills, in search of food, or maybe employment…”. The townspeople hysterically petition Mayor Quimby to ban all bears (won’t someone think of the children!) and trapped in his office, he asks his aides,
“Are these morons getting dumber or louder?”
“They’re getting dumber, Sir.”
In other news, over on TDB, a protestor from AAAP asks middle NZ, “Why you no like agro protest? Poor is ANGRY.”
At the risk of stating the obvious: Explaining is losing. If you’re angry, be angry, and don’t apologise or seek approval from the people you oppose after the fact. You do oppose them, right?
Exactly Charles. Furthermore, anger is a a motivator for us to instigate change. It’s needs to be left to burn and should never be tamed. Our very expression of anger over social, political and environmental issues tells the world that something is very wrong.
There’s some things you just can’t be polite about.
“Anger is an energy”.
Here’s John Lydon demonstrating that sentiment with “Rise” by PIL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq7JSic1DtM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4zFwyToywQ&feature=youtu.be
It’s happening there…and here, of course.
“Do we care more about the past than the future?”
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/25/children-austerity-david-cameron-cuts-young-people
Do you think the US has finally just about got the middle east to the point it wants? i.e. total and complete chaos….
Who believes anything the US says about Iraq, Syria, Israel, Saudi Arabia, etc? Anyone? Garden gnomes?
It’s NZ music month, or it will be, next month, brought into popularity during the Clark government. If you are a musician then it’ll be NZ music month every day of your life.
Organised politics is always “an offense to the sovereignty of the individual” and good art usually moves away from organisation, so here’s two songs that tap into that anarchistic sentiment, without losing themselves in self-indulgence.
This is Julia Dean’s, Modern Fables. It’s worth the time to listen to the work of her career, since she covers a lot of ground in many styles. We can continue making progress… if we all pretend…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St6YQhkbbOA
And this is Bailter Space with, Splat, asking us to remember that whatever they tell you, it’s always from their point of view, and about what works best for them…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxbSkmpZ2kg
(Note to The Standard admin: these youtube links can stay as links if you like, since some people have difficulty with video on their home systems.)
Gotta love Liberalism.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/68739974/slavery-on-nz-seas-rape-bonded-labour-and-abuse-widespread-on-fishing-boats
How odd is this – Now our PM can do policy speculation and it’s news. How far have the media fallen…
https://nz.news.yahoo.com/top-stories/a/28221038/key-convinced-labour-would-reduce-supannuation/
Listening to Andrew Little this morning on the fairness of receiving pension whilst still working. (Notice now that it has the word wealthy inserted) If you run off at the mouth and say something silly then either stick with it or apologise and move on. Little did not want to do either so he just sounded stupid.
Can we please not get sucked in on Superannuation being unaffordable. It is not. Government have choices where they spend and ‘Super’ is just one area.
We could always stop buying military weapons that are useless which would go a long way towards covering Pension bill
1. Probably not
2. Despite us not wanting to attack anyone else there are people out there who will attack us if we don’t have the means to defend ourselves
3. It’s not about money but about resources and we have the resources to do both
Number three is actually really important as it highlights the delusion that our economic system has become and how we focus on the money rather than looking to the resources.
Re 1 my point was that Defence seems to waste money on purchasing items not fit for purpose eg LAV’s and the Charles Upham which was completely useless and was sold. Now we have expensive helicopters that already is some argument about the model we are buying. I think that replacing our armed forces with a modern Coastguard capable of reaching from Antarctica to anywhere north of NZ that requires our presence while at the same time being equipped to enable SAR work when required, protecting our fishing area helping countries in our area when disaster occurs. A modern Coastguard would seem to offer better use of resources.
The Charles Upham was bought on the cheap resulting in a waste of time and effort. Certainly another case of National trying to do something cheaply and failing.
The LAVs were bought for use in the peacekeeping role that the government at the time wanted to focus upon.
The helicopters fit into SAR, peacekeeping and defense roles. There has been some concern about the model and standards.
IMO, military equipment should be researched, designed and built here in NZ by a government department (I think profit should not be allowed on weapons production) so as to a) remove the logistic weakness that comes with buying equipment offshore and b) help develop the economy.
As for which forces we keep I think that we’re going to have to keep the three that we have. They cover the roles needed no matter what we use the defense forces for.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-05-25/israel-refuses-pay-old-oil-debt-iran
Israel defies Swiss court order to pay debt of 1.1 Billion (USD) owed to Iran.
Yet more evidence this morning that “the market” is not an appropriate mechanism for dealing with the problems we are faced with (as if we didn’t know) . When interviewed on Morning report today the chief executive of Contact Denis Barnes, said he thinks there is great long term opportunity in renewables “ but the most value we can add is by finding resource and developing that resource and that takes many, many years, you know something like 5 to 7 years from when you first come across an opportunity to where you might be earning money from it”
Since when is 5-7 years “many, many”??!! Selling essential infrastructure to people with such ridiclously short term thinking is extreme negligence.
http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/business/bus-ckpt-20150525-1734-todays_market_update-048.mp3
The plight of the Postie and of the postal service may have slipped under the radar for many but the problems remain.
NZ Post have been closing down Post Shops all over the country in recent years and cutting back services such as next day across town delivery, leaving the gap open for private competition such as DX mail to pick up the slack.
Many elderly and those without the internet prefer or need to pay their bills at the P.O and they get pissed off when NZ Post goes and closes their local P.O down:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/kapiti/67599873/nz-post-fails-to-find-operator-for-raumati-post-shop.html
Here’s a good article quoting John Maynard, Southern Secretary for the Postal Workers Union Aotearoa. Among other things he discusses privatisation by stealth and the social duty NZ Post have to provide a service to NZer’s.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/68693716/postal-union-boss-unhappy-about-nz-post-policies-in-porirua
NZ Post, like all postal services around the world, became a government service because the private sector couldn’t do it and make a profit. It’s also one of those services that is a natural monopoly as competition in carriers just increases the costs without increasing the service. Basically, posting anything across town or even across the country shouldn’t cost anything directly as it should be a government service paid for through taxes with shops in all centres.
That said, as the amount of mail declines then delivery schedules need to reduce. There’s really no point in being inefficient about it. And, yes, eventually, there’ll b e no more mail. Hell, about the only thing that turns up in my mail box these days is junk mail which should be banned as the waste that it is.
Interesting point in paragraph one.
Re last paragraph. The PWUA acknowledges mail volumes are declining, and from what I’ve heard, the posties are realistic about the change, in that respect.
It’s when NZ Post deliberately drop next day delivery across town and let a private company fill the vacuum that you can begin to sniff a rat. Why would they drop a still well used service and hand business over to another competing company?
For example several DHB’s have switched from NZ Post to DX Mail as they send all their patient appointments and correspondence via post.
We still need the post for sending parcels and sending greeting cards. Many may get their bills sent via email, like we do, but it’s still nice to send some one a birthday card or a bereavement card, (not a corny one) if they’ve lost someone.
It’s especially nice as people expect to receive less cards, so it’s a pleasant surprise when one turns up.
The problem with the likes of DX mail is that they don’t do the deliveries. That’s still a NZ Post postie putting the item into your mailbox. NZ Post are required to support their own opposition. It’s pretty weird.
DX are doing deliveries – on their scooters. We get our NZ Post Postie come by in the morning and the DX postie on his scooter late arvo. From what I’ve heard, it’s at the mail sorting end where NZ Post are having to do DX’s work, and they are obliged to, they can’t refuse to handle their mail. Have you heard of cases where NZ Post posties are carrying DX mail as well as their own?
I’d need to get specifics from my buddy at NZ Post before I go into it any further.
Agree it is weird, NZ Post supporting their opposition. What I also find weird is they intentionally give up their business to their opposition. Kind of shooting yourself in the foot – thats surely “the privatisation by stealth” angle.
Yes, you are correct about the scooters, Rosie. DX have delivery in specific, high density areas, but its NZ Post who do the deliveries for DX and the others everywhere else. For Dx et al, it’s kind of like airlines cherry picking their routes and leaving Air New Zealand to fly the unprofitable regional runs. A sort of reverse subsidy.
Got ya.
Yes NZ Post posties are delivering DX Mail, to areas where DX Mail cannot make a profit. Only NZ Post offers redirections, or hold mail, or RTS (Return to sender), or PO Boxes. DX Mail do not do those services (though they may well be thinking of doing it). DX Mail offer 5 day delivery, whereas in a month NZ Post will be delivering to your house every 3 days (Still 6 days for PO Boxes, Rural Delivery & places like Balclutha).
NZ Post are trialling some mixed services with Courier Post delivering mail side by side with NZ Post posties, so they have wage earners sitting alongside contractors, the end game is to contract out posty work (My assumption).
The Unions (EPMU & PWUA) have been next to useless on this, or to be fair they have been outfoxed (the introduction of PPM (Postie Pay Model – paid for volume of mail rather than hours) is killing posties, especially the older guys, its a crap system (DX Mail still get paid by hours worked).
Thanks Invisible Axe. Wasn’t aware of the PPM. Re this bit:
“NZ Post are trialling some mixed services with Courier Post delivering mail side by side with NZ Post posties, so they have wage earners sitting alongside contractors, the end game is to contract out posty work (My assumption).”
I’d heard about this too. I’d also make the assumption that NZ Post are wanting to move towards contractors and away from permanent employees. That would suck.
It seems likely that the Board would be approving of executive management’s strategy here, given how big of a change it is.
Apparently a neutron bomb has been dropped on Yemen with Saudi and Israeli connections. I imagine nothing has been verified for sure but one only has to look at the video to see that whatever was dropped was pretty mean and ugly and very much looks like a mini nuclear bomb.
http://robinwestenra.blogspot.co.nz/2015/05/a-neutron-bomb-dropped-on-yemen-by-iaf.html?spref=fb
Yeah, it’s bollocks though, isn’t it? A neutron bomb dropped on Yemen by Israel on behalf of Saudi Arabia and not picked up by any seismic or radiation readers anywhere in the gulf, but, remarkably, only visible to nutters on the net. Sounds plausible.
If it was a Nuke (which Neutron bombs are) then the cameraperson would be blind from the flash & dead shortly after from the Neutrons.
Probably they just hit an ammo dump or other large concentration of explosives.
Any big enough explosion makes a mushroom cloud, thats just physics.
The Isrealis arent that stupid. They know full well that using nuclear weaponry would lead to a huge backlash which ordinary Jews will bear the brunt of.
A few Arabs arent worth the burning and sacking of every synaogue in Europe.
If it’s a Neutron bomb then the fl;ash would have been seen by the Americans sattelite network. but it is a nasty bomb.
“A neutron bomb is a hydrogen bomb without the uranium-238. This lowers the explosive yield while letting the neutrons bust out all over.”
http://io9.com/though-it-seems-crazy-now-the-neutron-bomb-was-intende-1636604514
@E Pineapples. That’s not a Nuc for one the flash would have blinded anyone looking at it, and the camera would have died from the EMP released.
Most likely a thermobaric weapon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermobaric_weapon
Er, most likely a conventional weapon. Possibly a large one. It also depends on what the target was; if it was a munitions dump then big bangs can obviously be expected. The other thing about the bogus original story is the lack of context (how big? How far away from the photographer? What was hit? etc.).
Fuel-air devices are conventional.
Hmmm, by definition they’re not conventional. Do you mean they’re in common use?
Yup, in Syria, drone, fixed wing and helicopter borne Hellfires used across the middle east to incinerate people and reported use in the recent demolition of Gaza.
“Flechette shells, fuel-air bombs (which explode twice, including after impact), dime shells, and flechette shells saturated with uranium were fired at Gaza Strip,” the statement added, stressing that the weapons “affect the environment, soil, and water and will affect the next generations by spreading diseases especially cancer.
http://mondoweiss.net/2014/08/jerusalem-hospital-children
yeah most likely a MOAB type device.
If it had been a neutron bomb the EMP would have fried everything electronic which wasn’t hardened, certainly within the 4-5 mile radius that footage was taken in.
Yep – looks like utter bullshit.
Though Ugly Truth should be around any time now to tell us how it’s real because Jews.
because Israeli Government. Don’t conflate them with “Jews.”
Also linked in the Roy Morgan thread.
Problem: the NZ Law Society warns the UN that the National Party is undermining the rule of law.
National Party solution: abandon commitment to the rule of law.
Are we on a hiding to nowhere?!…We need to pull our brave troops out of Iraq !….Where is the Labour Party on this?….There is no reason for our troops to be there training Iraqi troops if Iraqi troops don’t want to fight!!!!
….the Left must get together on this and oppose jonkey Nact and pull the troops out NOW!
‘‘No will’ to fight ISIS? US Defense Sec blasts Iraqi troops’
http://rt.com/usa/261681-carter-iraq-fight-isis-ramadi/
“US Defense Secretary Ash Carter has lashed out at the Iraqi army, which last week abandoned the major central city of Ramadi, as well as millions of dollars’ worth of equipment, to the Islamic State, despite reportedly outnumbering the jihadists 10-to-1.
“What apparently happened was that the Iraqi forces just showed no will to fight. They were not outnumbered. In fact, they vastly outnumbered the opposing force, and yet they failed to fight, they withdrew from the site,” Carter, who was appointed earlier this year, told CNN in scathing commentary.”
I find it particularly odd that NZ media keeps on talking about the front line as being Ramadi 100km away from Taji eg http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11454591
ISIS has been in control of Fallujah only about 30km away since Jan 2014.
The sky city-convention-centre. New plans:
The comments from readers under this article are interesting. Take a look.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/68851861/govt-greenlights-skycity-convention-centre
Five crucial points :
(1) the government practically gifted the tax payer owned TVNZ land to Sky City for this convention centre (2) All the income and profits made will go to the coffers of Sky City and its share holders and not to us, the government (3) To allow Sky City this huge money making bonanza, the government reduced the pokie machine numbers from small outlets, clubs etc from around the regions in the country, and increased the number of pokie machines and other gambling tables for their Sky City crooked corporate mates. (4) If instead of giving huge tax cuts worth billions of dollars each year that primarily benefit the most wealthy the most, had the government itself or a public-private-council partnership funded this convention centre, then the international centre would have been OURS as an SOE and profits would have been OURS in perpetuity.(5) We have an unpatriotic, myopic, cunning government that primarily works for the wealthy, the corporates and their mates.
Well, we could always just repossess the land, given that it was procured in such an ill-gotten manner.
Legally not that easy because it was passed by parliament (I think).
Is there any statement from the Labour Party that they no longer receive any donations from SkyCity, whether directly or indirectly or in any elusive way that would be difficult to track? Will Labour campaign to reverse Nat’s law that increased the number of pokie machines?
I don’t know. I have nothing to do with the Labour party. Just a Labour party supporter. I like their great policies based on socialism, social justice, fairness, pragmatism, common sense and care.
I voted Mana at the last election as I did not like Hone and IMP being attacked unfairly!
Regarding Sky City donation, that would be declared in the election returns.
No idea about ‘indirectly’. Hope not. It is high time for all MPs to be honest and corruption free of big business influence and being tempted by corporate crooks.
Reversing pokie machine laws or the Sky City deal will be difficult legally I think, because these contracts deals are legal stuff and voted in by parliament.
I suppose it could be done but at very huge cost in money, and business trust both nationally and internationally. So no, I don’t think that will be possible, though I am sure the future governments will be able to change gambling laws through parliament because parliament is supreme. But I think only the wily secretive brethren Steven Joyce knows the small prints in the deal. I doubt if he published the ENTIRE document. Did he?
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/274516/malaysian-diplomat-pleads-not-guilty-to-indecent-assault
– Hes plead not guilty to a lesser charge, interesting
What Classical Liberal Economist Adam Smith Would Have Thought About the TPP Negotiations
The people writing up the TPPA are the big businesses, those that Adam Smith described as having “deceived and oppressed” the public. The secrecy surrounding the TPPA is part of that ongoing oppression of the public for the benefit of the corporations.
League: Sir Owen Glenn enlists John Banks to help run Warriors trust
How long before we find Banks up in court again for signing a document that’s incorrect?
lol – and ISTR that the electoral act was aberrant in having the “knowing it to be false” qualification, rather than the basic “signs false declaration” prohibition.
Good ness I couldn’t believe that headline and was wondering what he was thinking.
Having read the article i must admit I never knew Banks was so involved in league over the years.
I don’t think how long he’s been involved matters much. It’s the fact that seemingly every time he’s in a position of power and responsibility he goes round signing legal documents without reading them or checking them for things like facts and truthfulness.
If you know of a better way to profit from corruption and avoid jail I’m sure he’d be all ears.
I’m changing my internet/phone company.
Flip looks the cheapest. Anyone know anything about them?
Good, bad, indifferent?
Ta
Yes, they are one of cheapest. Just switched to them 2 weeks ago at work. (small office in a biggish building). Been connected apparently but no service. Not there problem because they use Chorus for connections. Chorus will charge to come and inspect it and Flip don’t do call backs regarding problem resolution.
Also like most other providers, it take for ever to get through to Tech support (4 hours yesterday and slightly better today at 1 hour). Ended up calling sales and got through directly.
Pretty average IMHO and thinking about ditching them.
never used them before
well, going by how ‘average’ they seem to be in terms of service provided by help desk, we know what the expression is for the other side of flip
… flop
Thanks,
It seems that cheap is synonymous with really bad service.
Unfortunately the sorts of messes they can make can make them more expensive in the long run.
Just been looking around The Standard and see collective woe at the latest polls. I sense an aura of powerlessness on the “Left” like a rabbit in the headlights. Key the Untouchable, ruler of all you see.
Couple of observations..Key Stormcrow. Imagine petrol getting very rare very quickly. Theres fighting going on near the Saudi oilfields and its spread to Yemen. ISIL runs riot, Iran see the US as the great Satan but will fight for Shiism against the Sunni. Its got the potential to kill off exports of oil, to break markets. On top of this the financial markets sit on the brink of failure. What could this do to our trade? Or the Auckland property bubble. In short the disasters are lining up to kill our economy and Key with it.
Given that Keys mob rely upon paying some of us with baubles to get votes any of the above could be fatal. Now imagine that the storm is so severe that the current wealthy lose everything and the rest become destitute. The end result could be the loss of all legitimacy. Are the Left ready for or up to the challenge. ? I doubt it going by the comments here. All I see is the wish to control the status quo for different beneficiaries. The coming storms wont leave anything worth benefitting from.
+100
Labour trying to figure out how to restack electronic ones and zeroes to pay for Super in 2050 misses the mark by so far its not even worth measuring.
Wooosh!
Labour is welcome to run mucking around with NZ Super by the voters again in 2017, if it likes.
Last time I heard, you were Labour. Has something changed?
Lots of Labour people think that fucking around with NZ Super is not just electoral death, but also plain wrong headed. I’ll be making sure the MPs hear that message loud and clear. The less compliant the Labour membership is from here on in with voter losing BS, the better.
Was pretty clear what we thought about it at region 5 conference – it’s toxic, and leave it.
Of course it is toxic and Labour MPs must surely appreciate that or don’t they?
They are wed to orthodox economic and monetary thinking, which means that at best, they aspire to a future of being better book keepers and detail managers than National.
Craig H – thanks for the report from Region 5
+100 CR and Ennui
Watching Parliament recently and noted how few MP’s were present. This of course is because MP’s no longer need to be present as whips cast the votes on their behalf.
It seems to me that this is a retrograde step. All MP’s should be present at all times with few exceptions.
Unfortunately it would be very difficult to change it back now a bit like turkeys voting for Thanksgiving.