Hillary Clinton should have asked for approval to use a private email address and server for official business. Had she done so, the State Department would have said no.
She should have surrendered all of her emails before leaving the administration.
Not doing so violated department policies that comply with the Federal Records Act.
When her deputy suggested putting her on a State Department account, she expressed concern about her personal emails being exposed.
In January 2011, the Clintons’ IT consultant temporarily shut down its private server because, he wrote, he believed “someone was trying to hack us.”
The State Department began disciplinary proceedings against Scott Gration, then the American ambassador to Kenya, for refusing to stop using his personal email for official business.
…”
Charm is something magical, appearance massaging, and Donald Trump’s is only popular because there is known lack of charm in other contenders. And choosing charm over principled substance is the act of confused and deluded people. Money dulls peoples’ sensitivities about everything; a powerful drug becoming exponentially stronger as the amount taken rises.
The world needs stalwart principled Penny Brights, not charm or symbolic wealth, real wealth is in sustainable, fertile land, clean accessible water etc.
Just thought I’d explain that for people who haven’t realised that for themselves already.
Clinton maybe on the left of American politics but is hardly a true socialist and I would hate to see her running the world’s powerhouse. Democrats largely equate to NZ’s National Party.
Nope. National’s about the same in economics, to the right in social policy. The Democrats have at least begun to address disadvantage and have tried to improve lives for the American poor (thanks mainly to Hillary Clinton’s health measures), whereas it’s easily argued that the Nats have made life worse for the disadvantaged here in NZ. As someone who is not left wing yourself, you might want to consider which of those parties line up more with your own values, CV. I suspect the actual answer is ACT.
That’s true. Democrats would be horrified at our left leading activities like free health care for all. Republicans are way out further to the Right. Terrifying for a the Land of the Free!
(and Andrew Little supports Hillary Clinton for President?…this is one reason why Winston Peters should be next PM and the leader of a Left coalition….Peters is at least an experienced and savvy politician, who is to the Left of Labour )
Of course. Jobs for the boys. “You did what we asked of you, Stephen. Here’s a pat on the head and a slice of cake. It’s made from the tears of poor people, and everyone else whose life you ruined while you were in power. Enjoy.”
WikiLeaks releases Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) documents
Today, Wednesday, 25 May 2016, 11:30am CEST, WikiLeaks releases new secret documents from the huge Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) which is being negotiated by the US, EU and 22 other countries that account for 2/3rds of global GDP.
This release includes a previously unknown annex to the TiSA core chapter on “State Owned Enterprises” (SOEs), which imposes unprecedented restrictions on SOEs and will force majority owned SOEs to operate like private sector businesses. This corporatisation of public services – to nearly the same extent as demanded by the recently signed TPP – is a next step to privatisation of SOEs on the neoliberal agenda behind the “Big Three” (TTIP,TiSA,TPP).
I have been given a sneak peak at Bill English’s budget. One stand out item is a new $5000 incentive for Paula Bennett to go away. Minister English describes it as a pragmatic response to having a not particularly sharp tool in his toolbox.
“An extra $175,000 was paid for the relatively plain house at 26 Sea Vista Ave on the North Shore and Jonny Gu, the Barfoot & Thompson agent who sold it, said it went over the phone last Thursday to a person in China.
“I’m not sure if he’s Chinese or is immigrating,” Gu said of the buyer. “The house is empty. It was telephone bidding. There’s been nothing done to it between the sales. Similar things happen all the time. The buyer is Chinese because the seller is Chinese,” Gu said.”
and…………
“Property records showed the house was owned by Xiaohong Wang who is also listed as owning a number of Auckland properties spread throughout Henderson, Blockhouse Bay, Unsworth Heights, Whakatane, West Harbour, Orewa and Torbay. The owner is also listed as having houses in Dunedin and Hamilton East.”
If a family moves into an empty house and they’re not moved on in a year then they get to keep it freehold. They can only be moved on if the owner is moving in or they have a signed lease agreement showing someone else is moving in. If either of these two things are proved to be a lie then the family that was moved on gets the house freehold.
I suspect that there won’t be empty houses for long.
From memory, 12 years was the period under pre-existing squatting legislation (not NZ) after which ownership defaulted. There was also stuff around breaking and entering (easily circumvented) and the need to have it occupied 24/7 for some fairly short period of time to secure it and bring it under squatting legislation. There was also the matter of changing the locks without damaging shit so that the owner couldn’t just walk in and repossess or claim that entry had been forced. (Original locks were passed back to the owners).
Anyway, whether or not previously existing (but now largely trashed) squatting laws from overseas are looked at as templates, there is the other issue of tenancy’s. Make them for life and embed circumstances that make the lease transferable to the next generation of a family.
And scrap any and all ‘right to buy’ schemes that currently apply to HNZ stock or regional council stock.
It’s really easy stuff and there’s absolutely no excuse for it not having been done before now.
And hence the problem with the housing crisis. It will only take Xiaohong Wang and the new Chinese buyer a bit of paperwork and they can become an NZ citizen too! So those that advocate Resident/Non resident status as a way to stop the problem, need to find out that National have opened up citizenship to anybody and also our social welfare system is now on it’s last legs. The new residents have not even hit 65 years yet – if people think that housing is the main issue, think again, there is a major time bomb and how do you discriminate??? You can’t. Rich and poor migrants can take as much as they like from NZ, our government and opposition does not seem to think that it is a problem….
Would you like a political party to “jump on this” with a bunch of measures to prevent property sales to foreign nationals, and to prevent speculative flipping of houses?
Cool.
Any political party willing to actually announce actual regulatory measures, instead of raising a fuss about Chinese last names?
There is a speculation tax under National – does any one know if anyone has been caught or declared anything? Or is it just usual smoke and mirrors.
In addition there is a capital gains tax on property and has been for years, if you buy with the purpose of on selling you pay the capital gain. Not sure why The block, my first home and so forth are openly profiting from property without paying the tax, let alone all these overseas examples – but if there was a an easy case to prove for IRD….. the evidence is there. And the examples like the above herald link regularly appearing in the news, should be easy for IRD to do a case.
I agree Chinese are bearing the most scrutiny which may not be fair, but it is also not fair for ethnic groups who have lived in NZ for years and paid taxes, being tarred with the same brush too and not fair for current Kiwis without the 2nd passport to be priced out of their own cities by non residents or new residents who have never paid a day of tax in NZ (and often have more money that Kiwis could ever hope to achieve on local wages), who leave their properties empty and are just used as an asset storage for money out of their home countries.
But why the opposition parties are reluctant to do anything about it, who knows. They don’t even mention it as a factor or deny it is a factor, like many commentators who have forecasted a plummet in property for years and been completely wrong because immigration is most certainly keeping the housing bubble going and other factors like the cost of building here and building monopolies are ignored in favour of anti democratic measures on zoning. (Threat if you don’t vote right in the unitary plan, the government will do it for you. It is not democracy more like dictatorship and Labour are as pro this non democratic approach as National from what I can see).
Someone do puppet theatre and show politicians that land being freed up, is not a house to live in, just a further way for the rich to profit.
But why the opposition parties are reluctant to do anything about it, who knows.
If an Opposition party were serious about the damage caused by foreign based property investors, they would require such people to divest their NZ property portfolios within say 5 years.
Instead, they appear busy attempting to appear like they are concerned about the issue.
So how does one comment on this without being labelled racist or xenophobic?
Easily. Does it matter whether the buyer is Chinese, German, Italian, British or Kiwi? If, in your mind it matters, then you’re being either xenophobic or racist, so don’t bother with any “but I’m not really racist” tripe.
If, on the other hand, you realise that the problem exists because of massive mal-distribution of wealth that allows some small percentage of people to build up huge portfolios to the detriment of a large percentage of people, then simply comment from that perspective.
“So how does one comment on this without being labelled racist or xenophobic?”
Put it in context. People overseas with an advantageous exchange rate and better lending rates and ability to generate wealth have been buying propertly like this in NZ for a long time. Down south it’s not the Chinese so much, which is why you hear people down here talking about the bloody English and Americans.
And let’s not forget that NZers have been doing this to NZers for an even longer time. It’s called gentrification. The reason we have babies living in cars is because NZ wanted to be neoliberal and some of us wanted to make wealth at the direct expense of other people.
And then let’s not forget that Māori still haven’t recovered from the last time this all happened in the 1800s.
That’s how to not make it racist. It’s an issue of class not race. Talk about the wealthy Chinese not the Chinese. Talk about the wealthy NZers who support this government that thinks it’s ok for people to live in cars, or object to a CGT. Talk about the middle classes who have turned a blind eye while all this was developping because they could still afford to buy houses and make wealth from that. Talk about the salaried Gen Ys who are complaining about not being able to buy a house but are silent on tenancy rights.
No better example of how we’ve been captured by ‘user pays’ free market ideology over the past 30 years than with Allison ??’s (CEO of Transpower) interview with Rinny Ryan on Nine to Noon.
….. “It’s only fair” etc., i.e. only if you’re not a dirty filthy bennie do you have a right to uninterrupted electricity supply – it’s the obvious basis of their planning (“going forward” – as a matter of fek, ekshully, so to speak, to coin a phrase).
Long gone, the idea of gummint soshul responsibility in favour of a corporatised commercial, purchase agreement-driven bizzniss.
To my mind, it was also a indicator of how our 4th Estate has been captured. Not once did the lady with the fair and balanced portfolio ask, or question how the most vulnerable in our sussoity will be protected.
Yea Nah – there’ll always be winners and losers eh?
Oh, Tim. Poor people aren’t supposed to be able to take advantage of modern conveniences like electricity. They’re supposed to huddle around a rusty iron barrel full of burning refuse, holding their shaking hands over the flames in a desperate attempt to avoid dying from hypothermia. It’s the will of the market, don’t you know.
That’s true Wensleydale. But come the crunch, I’d put money on those with an ability to huddle round the rusty iron barrel being in a better position to survive than those with their balanced portfolios, or those that want to provide all those ‘wrap around’ services to (going forward), or those that see their bullshit is failing and try to ‘re-image’.
Yea Nah, there are good signs their bullshit and spin time is up, but I think not quite yet. I hope I’m still around to witness it all
No better example of how we’ve been captured by ‘user pays’ free market ideology over the past 30 years than with Allison ??’s (CEO of Transpower) interview with Rinny Ryan on Nine to Noon.
It is awesome to see another woman in charge of one of NZ’s largest, most important strategic organisations and us reaping all the benefits that entails.
And ain’t she just a ‘glass half full’, good time think poztiv kinda gal (going forward).
I mean to say – if she could pull hersef up by her bootstreps, why can’t othas?
(perhaps because the means that enabled her to trensushun from her past, and which she took advantage of, have all but been removed.)
What a very UGLY woman – in every sense. Christ! to think in a previous loif we once crossed paths. Hers will be a very interesting case study for some enterprising member of a resurrected 4th Estate some time in the future.
Queenstown’s sister city relationship with Aspen has been controversial all along. When it started in the 80s it was an aspirational thing with the town wanting to be like Aspen and to learn about how Aspen had dealt wiht some of the issues Queenstown was facing. These were the same as now, affordability and economic and social stratification.
Recently the appropriateness relationship has been questioned because of the huge differences between the two towns, Aspen being essentially a “one company” town, like most North American resorts, where as Queenstown is much more diverse development community.
One thing that has come out is that not many here want to the town to become like Aspen, and it is unlikely to for the reasons above. This is leading to many and varied shades of angst depending on the position and aspirations of the angstee.
Our council has been very successful at processing planning consents, the number of consented but undeveloped sections is huge, http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/80132940/almost-10000-vacant-properties-in-queenstown But they have been totally unable to shape the outcomes in any way. We get competing and fragmented developments and infrastructure lagging behind, and holding back some needed projects.
My one hope from the budget that, in my mind, could solve the most issues in one hit:
Raise the minimum wage significantly (say $17 – $18 / hour)
This would have an immediate effect on the working poor, it would have an inflationary effect on the economy which would allow the reserve bank to look and increasing mortgage rates and help slow house price growth and it would help to noticeably increase the current tax take without raising taxes (through both GST and PAYE).
The negative is that it may cost jobs in small businesses in the short term, but in the medium term any truly viable business will pick those staff back up once that extra money starts to flow back into the economy.
I have no idea if this will work, but note to Andrew Little, the above is how you sell an idea, not:
Since National came into power blah blah blah, John Key, blah blah blah, my idea will work (no explanation as to how or why people should embrace it).
it would have an inflationary effect on the economy which would allow the reserve bank to look and increasing mortgage rates and help slow house price growth
LOL
Interest rates don’t affect House price growth. When a house sells a few days later with 20k plus profit the interest is meaningless. Besides, the speculators are probably using revolving credit with interest rates far above the OCR and mortgage rates.
and it would help to noticeably increase the current tax take without raising taxes (through both GST and PAYE).
This is catering to the delusion that the government actually needs an income.
I have no idea if this will work, but note to Andrew Little, the above is how you sell an idea, not:
Since National came into power blah blah blah, John Key, blah blah blah, my idea will work (no explanation as to how or why people should embrace it).
To address a problem you do need to identify it else you’re just talking shite.
….”The weapons were to be used by the FARC to kill Americans.
However, those FARC buyers “were, in fact, confidential sources… working for the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and acting at the direction of DEA agents,” the indictment said…
I’d advise those responsible to give up on any notions they may have had about getting into advertising – that’s one incredibly mangled and imprecise slogan.
A little book with snippets of news from Britain in 1932:
From a list of promises that a William Cobbett et al of Oldham were asked:
10. Will you endeavour to procure an Act of Parliament which shall enable those who elect representatives in Parliament to vote by ballot, and also to shorten Parliaments to one or two years?
11. Will you endeavour to procure an Act of Parliament which shall effectually shorten the hours of labour in all mills and factories, so as not to exceed ten hours on any day, and only eight hours on Saturdays?
And from a letter from Francis Place (a tailor whose campaigning had made trade unions legal):
“…We must have petitions in hundreds for short Parliaments and voting by ballot as means of procuring reforms in every possible way, and to the greatest possible extent.
It is very difficult, and requires much time to move a nation like this, even when it has been demonstrated that very small exertions will produce the greatest good. Even those who are disposed to move are seldom agreed to work together. If some fundamental points were selected, and all agreed to push for them, success would be certain.
Francis really understood the issues. He would feel right at home with us now.
edited.
It all comes down to a simple point. You may not like Gawker. They’ve published stories I would have been ashamed to publish. But if the extremely wealthy, under a veil secrecy, can destroy publications they want to silence, that’s a far bigger threat to freedom of the press than most of the things we commonly worry about on that front. If this is the new weapon in the arsenal of the super rich, few publications will have the resources or the death wish to scrutinize them closely.
The rich have found another way to silence critics – sue them into oblivion.
A practise run while he waits for his candidate to make it near impossible to crtitise anyone with money.
“You see, with me, they’re not protected, because I’m not like other people but I’m not taking money. I’m not taking their money,” Trump said on Friday. “We’re going to open up libel laws, and we’re going to have people sue you like you’ve never got sued before.”
There’s an increasing number of powerful public figures with similarly near-unlimited wealth. Whether or not they win, cases like this can bleed news companies dry — which might make them less likely to publish news and criticism in the first place.
Thiel is a pledged Trump delegate, which is an unusual move for a Silicon Valley tycoon. However, in backing Hogan’s lawsuit Thiel shows one place he and his fellow bombastic billionaire agree — an antagonistic relationship with the media, and an attempt to suppress critical coverage.
Trump has a history of suing over coverage he doesn’t like. He has also said he’s in favor of “closing up the internet” — a nonsensical statement that is nonetheless troubling for everyone from tech billionaires to free speech advocates — both of which Thiel purports to be. Thiel is, ironically, a “primary supporter” of the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization dedicated to protecting press freedom around the world.
If the Budget was boring, Slavoj Zizek is not. Here is 10 minutes of his volcanic output.
He says that for the last few decades the Left didn’t really want change. They are settled into Comfortable Capitalism he claims. He is always interesting.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0PH_EIBnyo
Zizek is far too obsessed with symbolic exchanges. Including his own.
His view that the left hasn’t really changed is such horseshit. It’s held its own against massive direct assaults.
It’s far more accurate to say that the far monetarist right won, allied with religious rightists and others.
Also that monetarist-dominated states have generated far greater capacity to absorb crisis since the late 1970s. Our own current government is one of the best examples in the world of this.
He needs challenging, and is not really applicable here.
I signed a petition to ask gummint to be more helpful about state housing.
This resulted in an agreement to allow one week’s emergency housing from the state. Something along emergency lines. But actually there is a full time emergency going on, but it’s a start. This from Kyle MacDonald thru Action Station. (The flagman was Kyle Lockwood.)
Thank you for helping to make a difference,
Yesterday I flew down to Wellington to deliver our petition to the Minister. It was because of your support, and the support of more than 9000 others, that Minister Anne Tolley agreed to meet with me. Together we showed her this issue cannot be ignored.
When I asked her what could be done to help people and families facing the impossible choice between homelessness or unmanageable debt over the coming winter months, the Minister acknowledged the urgency of the situation and told us she would look into possible solutions.
Just a few hours after our meeting, the Minister’s office called to tell us that changes to the policy will be brought forward from September to 1 July. These changes will mean that the first week of emergency housing would be covered by a special needs grant rather than a loan. A week is not going to be long enough if there is nowhere to go once that week is up, so the Government still has a lot of work to be done to make sure there are enough houses for people to move into.
Good discussion – in fact excellent on tonight’s Checkpoint, as it ended – links not up yet.
But I’d suggest that if there’s one thing the indigent are fekkn sick of herring (goan ford) is the paternalistic kaka from the comfortable: a la “we need to provide repa ren serves”.
There’s STILL this fucking condescending attitude (or framing – if you prefer) that the poorer in our community are in some way ‘faulty’
It’s a fucking structural issue that begun some time in the early 80’s – possibly before.
@ Draco – I know you perceive a solution – but it ain’t gonna happen until the inevitable happens (and even then only as an option) – when it all disappears up its own arse. My hope is that it is peaceful
So you’ve got nothing? I meet people like you most days, CV. Blowhards with no clues, nothing positive to say, and focussed only on the deep and abiding love they have for the sound of their own voices. Luckily for the rest of us, the Onanists are never going get beyond perfecting the art of the hand shandy. It’d just be nicer if they did it behind closed doors and didn’t want the rest of us to pay for their tissues.
On second thoughts, in spite of my earlier request, I’ve removed the entire sub-thread to Open Mike because there wasn’t a skerrik of anything to do with the post from either of you. Ever thought of becoming facebook friends so the two of you can have at one another at your mutual leisure? – Bill
I’m not your friend, CV. You’re part of the problem, not part of the solution. Time for you to start reading Ayn Rand, pal. You’ll feel right at home. She was a self obsessed bigot, too.
[trp, I’m pretty sure that neither I nor anyone else really cares what you and CV think of one another. I’ve asked you both to pack it in. If you really find the urge t have a go insatiable, take it to Open Mike or whatever, but don’t carry on with your carry ono under this post. thanks.] – Bill
Fair enough, Bill. However, I think it’s still relevant to the post that commenters moaning about climate change, but having no clue what to do about it and at the same time whining about those who do have sensible suggestions is worth my writing about. CV is most definitely part of the reason there is largely a collective ignoring of the problem. His attitude, which mirrors most of the right, is that there is no answer, so meh. Your post is great, but it is meaningless unless we can look to find the solutions to the real and present danger we face.
Yeah, and if you look back over in that part of the thread you’ll see that a couple of suggestions were being made by both you and CV. Seems neither of you can read what the other is writing without having a go though. And it’s damned boring.
Serious anger issues and preoccupation there Trp with cv I don’t necessary agree with all what cv says but he articulates it well and does it without a lot of personal abuse, something in that you may want to explore
Oh, bollocks. No anger there, but a deep disliking of wankers who are all mouth and trousers. CV adds nothing to the debate but negativity and frankly, climate change needs solutions fast. I’m happy to acknowledge that I find it weird that TS has a right wing bigot as an author. But perhaps it’s some sort of charity thing and I missed the email.
I need to remind you TRP that attacking Standard authors is strictly against the rules of the site.
Please restrain your anger and observe some proper decorum.
BTW if Climate Change needs fast, urgent answers, why did Andrew Little gloss over the whole topic in his recent speech? And did you support him doing that?
Diddums. You weren’t the author of the post. And being an author is not a get out of jail card when you’re being a wanker. Check my own output; I get straightened up from time to time and I generally cop it sweet. To quote the well known English philosopher Jamie Vardy, chat shit, get banged.
You’re the one dodging the issue, pal. Snap out of your funk and start contributing some answers. You’re a bright guy, put some effort into finding solutions and stop whingeing. Or, as I suggested, bugger off to ACT, where they like people with your kind of attitudes. And no, I’m not kidding. I went through this kind of crap a long, long time ago with Douglas and Prebble. You sound exactly like they did thirty years ago. Full of everything that was wrong, but no solutions beyond making themselves feel better by belittling those who are trying to make a difference. Life is really simple; if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. And like it or not, you’re definitely not a solutions based guy. So, read some Rand, see if misanthrope floats your boat. I reckon you and ACT are made for each other. That doesn’t make you a bad person, IMHO, but it might make you an honest one.
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Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“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 ...
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. ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
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 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
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Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
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Is this going to add pressure for the FBI to indict Hillary Clinton?
What are the consequences for failing to comply with the Federal Records Act?
“Hillary Clinton Is Criticized for Private Emails in State Dept. Review – NYTimes.com
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/us/politics/state-department-hillary-clinton-emails.html?referer=https://www.google.co.nz/
5 Key Points From the Report
Hillary Clinton should have asked for approval to use a private email address and server for official business. Had she done so, the State Department would have said no.
She should have surrendered all of her emails before leaving the administration.
Not doing so violated department policies that comply with the Federal Records Act.
When her deputy suggested putting her on a State Department account, she expressed concern about her personal emails being exposed.
In January 2011, the Clintons’ IT consultant temporarily shut down its private server because, he wrote, he believed “someone was trying to hack us.”
The State Department began disciplinary proceedings against Scott Gration, then the American ambassador to Kenya, for refusing to stop using his personal email for official business.
…”
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
Penny Bright is Donald Trump minus the money and charm.
Penny Bright is an angel who treads where the weak fear to tread. Go Penny.
Charm is something magical, appearance massaging, and Donald Trump’s is only popular because there is known lack of charm in other contenders. And choosing charm over principled substance is the act of confused and deluded people. Money dulls peoples’ sensitivities about everything; a powerful drug becoming exponentially stronger as the amount taken rises.
The world needs stalwart principled Penny Brights, not charm or symbolic wealth, real wealth is in sustainable, fertile land, clean accessible water etc.
Just thought I’d explain that for people who haven’t realised that for themselves already.
Clinton maybe on the left of American politics but is hardly a true socialist and I would hate to see her running the world’s powerhouse. Democrats largely equate to NZ’s National Party.
Our National Party is way to the left of the US Democratic establishment.
Nope. National’s about the same in economics, to the right in social policy. The Democrats have at least begun to address disadvantage and have tried to improve lives for the American poor (thanks mainly to Hillary Clinton’s health measures), whereas it’s easily argued that the Nats have made life worse for the disadvantaged here in NZ. As someone who is not left wing yourself, you might want to consider which of those parties line up more with your own values, CV. I suspect the actual answer is ACT.
That’s true. Democrats would be horrified at our left leading activities like free health care for all. Republicans are way out further to the Right. Terrifying for a the Land of the Free!
the content of the Hillary Clinton emails is even more damning and disturbing !!!! ( war crimes?)
‘Hillary Emails Reveal True Motive for Libya Intervention’
http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2016/01/06/new-hillary-emails-reveal-true-motive-for-libya-intervention/
https://news.vice.com/article/libyan-oil-gold-and-qaddafi-the-strange-email-sidney-blumenthal-sent-hillary-clinton-in-2011
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-kovalik/clinton-emails-on-libya-e_b_9054182.html
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/how-hillary-clinton-lied-her-way-war-libya
http://www.globalresearch.ca/hillarys-dirty-war-in-libya-new-emails-reveal-propaganda-executions-coveting-libyan-oil-and-gold/5499358
(and Andrew Little supports Hillary Clinton for President?…this is one reason why Winston Peters should be next PM and the leader of a Left coalition….Peters is at least an experienced and savvy politician, who is to the Left of Labour )
After pushing Canada into the TPP, Stephen Harper follows the money.
“Harper has offers from multiple U.S. companies, including private equity giant KKR, sources tell CBC News”.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stephen-harper-to-bow-out-from-federal-politics-1.3598913
Of course. Jobs for the boys. “You did what we asked of you, Stephen. Here’s a pat on the head and a slice of cake. It’s made from the tears of poor people, and everyone else whose life you ruined while you were in power. Enjoy.”
Very good episode about NZ Fishing… looks like a TPPA model already operating for the .1% aka Talleys etc….
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/05/25/waatea-5th-estate-fishing-double-standards/
WikiLeaks releases Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) documents
http://www.bilaterals.org/?wikileaks-releases-trade-in-30405
link to leaked documents below:
http://www.bilaterals.org/?tisa-draft-annexes-2015
I have been given a sneak peak at Bill English’s budget. One stand out item is a new $5000 incentive for Paula Bennett to go away. Minister English describes it as a pragmatic response to having a not particularly sharp tool in his toolbox.
And blunting “the rest of the tools” trp
The Nats are all tools
So how does one comment on this without being labelled racist or xenophobic?
“House flip: Beach Haven home jumps $175,000 in price to $1.08m in just two months”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11644044
Excerpts….
“An extra $175,000 was paid for the relatively plain house at 26 Sea Vista Ave on the North Shore and Jonny Gu, the Barfoot & Thompson agent who sold it, said it went over the phone last Thursday to a person in China.
“I’m not sure if he’s Chinese or is immigrating,” Gu said of the buyer. “The house is empty. It was telephone bidding. There’s been nothing done to it between the sales. Similar things happen all the time. The buyer is Chinese because the seller is Chinese,” Gu said.”
and…………
“Property records showed the house was owned by Xiaohong Wang who is also listed as owning a number of Auckland properties spread throughout Henderson, Blockhouse Bay, Unsworth Heights, Whakatane, West Harbour, Orewa and Torbay. The owner is also listed as having houses in Dunedin and Hamilton East.”
You don’t. Just sigh wearily and shake your head. It’s the safest option.
It’s vacant? Should probably put people needing a state house in there, and send Gu’s client an e-mail to say thanks for leaving it vacant for them.
Indeed. And the same for any other property vacant for the purposes of speculation.
More realistically and much, much easier, just pass legislation on squatters rights.
If a family moves into an empty house and they’re not moved on in a year then they get to keep it freehold. They can only be moved on if the owner is moving in or they have a signed lease agreement showing someone else is moving in. If either of these two things are proved to be a lie then the family that was moved on gets the house freehold.
I suspect that there won’t be empty houses for long.
From memory, 12 years was the period under pre-existing squatting legislation (not NZ) after which ownership defaulted. There was also stuff around breaking and entering (easily circumvented) and the need to have it occupied 24/7 for some fairly short period of time to secure it and bring it under squatting legislation. There was also the matter of changing the locks without damaging shit so that the owner couldn’t just walk in and repossess or claim that entry had been forced. (Original locks were passed back to the owners).
Anyway, whether or not previously existing (but now largely trashed) squatting laws from overseas are looked at as templates, there is the other issue of tenancy’s. Make them for life and embed circumstances that make the lease transferable to the next generation of a family.
And scrap any and all ‘right to buy’ schemes that currently apply to HNZ stock or regional council stock.
It’s really easy stuff and there’s absolutely no excuse for it not having been done before now.
And hence the problem with the housing crisis. It will only take Xiaohong Wang and the new Chinese buyer a bit of paperwork and they can become an NZ citizen too! So those that advocate Resident/Non resident status as a way to stop the problem, need to find out that National have opened up citizenship to anybody and also our social welfare system is now on it’s last legs. The new residents have not even hit 65 years yet – if people think that housing is the main issue, think again, there is a major time bomb and how do you discriminate??? You can’t. Rich and poor migrants can take as much as they like from NZ, our government and opposition does not seem to think that it is a problem….
+100 save nz
Our national bird, developed without predators, their adaptions are pretty useless when opened up to globalism and competition.
21st century predators are more like corporate raiders, kleptocrats and tax haven refugees…
Would you like a political party to “jump on this” with a bunch of measures to prevent property sales to foreign nationals, and to prevent speculative flipping of houses?
Cool.
Any political party willing to actually announce actual regulatory measures, instead of raising a fuss about Chinese last names?
There is a speculation tax under National – does any one know if anyone has been caught or declared anything? Or is it just usual smoke and mirrors.
In addition there is a capital gains tax on property and has been for years, if you buy with the purpose of on selling you pay the capital gain. Not sure why The block, my first home and so forth are openly profiting from property without paying the tax, let alone all these overseas examples – but if there was a an easy case to prove for IRD….. the evidence is there. And the examples like the above herald link regularly appearing in the news, should be easy for IRD to do a case.
I agree Chinese are bearing the most scrutiny which may not be fair, but it is also not fair for ethnic groups who have lived in NZ for years and paid taxes, being tarred with the same brush too and not fair for current Kiwis without the 2nd passport to be priced out of their own cities by non residents or new residents who have never paid a day of tax in NZ (and often have more money that Kiwis could ever hope to achieve on local wages), who leave their properties empty and are just used as an asset storage for money out of their home countries.
But why the opposition parties are reluctant to do anything about it, who knows. They don’t even mention it as a factor or deny it is a factor, like many commentators who have forecasted a plummet in property for years and been completely wrong because immigration is most certainly keeping the housing bubble going and other factors like the cost of building here and building monopolies are ignored in favour of anti democratic measures on zoning. (Threat if you don’t vote right in the unitary plan, the government will do it for you. It is not democracy more like dictatorship and Labour are as pro this non democratic approach as National from what I can see).
Someone do puppet theatre and show politicians that land being freed up, is not a house to live in, just a further way for the rich to profit.
If an Opposition party were serious about the damage caused by foreign based property investors, they would require such people to divest their NZ property portfolios within say 5 years.
Instead, they appear busy attempting to appear like they are concerned about the issue.
So how does one comment on this without being labelled racist or xenophobic?
Easily. Does it matter whether the buyer is Chinese, German, Italian, British or Kiwi? If, in your mind it matters, then you’re being either xenophobic or racist, so don’t bother with any “but I’m not really racist” tripe.
If, on the other hand, you realise that the problem exists because of massive mal-distribution of wealth that allows some small percentage of people to build up huge portfolios to the detriment of a large percentage of people, then simply comment from that perspective.
“So how does one comment on this without being labelled racist or xenophobic?”
Put it in context. People overseas with an advantageous exchange rate and better lending rates and ability to generate wealth have been buying propertly like this in NZ for a long time. Down south it’s not the Chinese so much, which is why you hear people down here talking about the bloody English and Americans.
And let’s not forget that NZers have been doing this to NZers for an even longer time. It’s called gentrification. The reason we have babies living in cars is because NZ wanted to be neoliberal and some of us wanted to make wealth at the direct expense of other people.
And then let’s not forget that Māori still haven’t recovered from the last time this all happened in the 1800s.
That’s how to not make it racist. It’s an issue of class not race. Talk about the wealthy Chinese not the Chinese. Talk about the wealthy NZers who support this government that thinks it’s ok for people to live in cars, or object to a CGT. Talk about the middle classes who have turned a blind eye while all this was developping because they could still afford to buy houses and make wealth from that. Talk about the salaried Gen Ys who are complaining about not being able to buy a house but are silent on tenancy rights.
btw, there are NZers sitting on empty houses too.
No better example of how we’ve been captured by ‘user pays’ free market ideology over the past 30 years than with Allison ??’s (CEO of Transpower) interview with Rinny Ryan on Nine to Noon.
….. “It’s only fair” etc., i.e. only if you’re not a dirty filthy bennie do you have a right to uninterrupted electricity supply – it’s the obvious basis of their planning (“going forward” – as a matter of fek, ekshully, so to speak, to coin a phrase).
Long gone, the idea of gummint soshul responsibility in favour of a corporatised commercial, purchase agreement-driven bizzniss.
To my mind, it was also a indicator of how our 4th Estate has been captured. Not once did the lady with the fair and balanced portfolio ask, or question how the most vulnerable in our sussoity will be protected.
Yea Nah – there’ll always be winners and losers eh?
Oh, Tim. Poor people aren’t supposed to be able to take advantage of modern conveniences like electricity. They’re supposed to huddle around a rusty iron barrel full of burning refuse, holding their shaking hands over the flames in a desperate attempt to avoid dying from hypothermia. It’s the will of the market, don’t you know.
That’s true Wensleydale. But come the crunch, I’d put money on those with an ability to huddle round the rusty iron barrel being in a better position to survive than those with their balanced portfolios, or those that want to provide all those ‘wrap around’ services to (going forward), or those that see their bullshit is failing and try to ‘re-image’.
Yea Nah, there are good signs their bullshit and spin time is up, but I think not quite yet. I hope I’m still around to witness it all
It is awesome to see another woman in charge of one of NZ’s largest, most important strategic organisations and us reaping all the benefits that entails.
We dont have a 4th estate in so far as outlets which adhere to the principles that definition stands for.
They have become enablers of current ideology due to them being owned/controlled by big business interests.
Its an old paradigm no longet valid
IMO.
Can this be deleted please as my device has no delete option being shown!
We dont have a 4th estate in so far as outlets which adhere to the principles that definition stands for.
They have become enablers of current ideology due to them being owned/controlled by big business interests.
Its an old paradigm no longer valid
IMO.
I listened to that Tim, and could not penetrate the CEO jargon peppered with double speak. In fairness to Katherine, I think she was also unable to penetrate. Apart from saying long term changes will be necessary and some Providers will collapse, and more remote users will be in difficulty, I don’t know anything more than that which was already known
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201802144/transpower-predicts-massive-shakeup-in-power-sector.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/80404662/social-housing-minister-paula-bennett-hits-back-at-media-over-the-word-crisis
And ain’t she just a ‘glass half full’, good time think poztiv kinda gal (going forward).
I mean to say – if she could pull hersef up by her bootstreps, why can’t othas?
(perhaps because the means that enabled her to trensushun from her past, and which she took advantage of, have all but been removed.)
What a very UGLY woman – in every sense. Christ! to think in a previous loif we once crossed paths. Hers will be a very interesting case study for some enterprising member of a resurrected 4th Estate some time in the future.
“Forbes says a national response is required or “all the beautiful spots in New Zealand” will eventually become like Aspen.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/80292197/call-for-national-response-to-wanaka-queenstown-housing-issues
Queenstown’s sister city relationship with Aspen has been controversial all along. When it started in the 80s it was an aspirational thing with the town wanting to be like Aspen and to learn about how Aspen had dealt wiht some of the issues Queenstown was facing. These were the same as now, affordability and economic and social stratification.
Recently the appropriateness relationship has been questioned because of the huge differences between the two towns, Aspen being essentially a “one company” town, like most North American resorts, where as Queenstown is much more diverse development community.
One thing that has come out is that not many here want to the town to become like Aspen, and it is unlikely to for the reasons above. This is leading to many and varied shades of angst depending on the position and aspirations of the angstee.
Our council has been very successful at processing planning consents, the number of consented but undeveloped sections is huge, http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/80132940/almost-10000-vacant-properties-in-queenstown But they have been totally unable to shape the outcomes in any way. We get competing and fragmented developments and infrastructure lagging behind, and holding back some needed projects.
Then you get developers squabbling amongst themselves holding things back even more than council or govt could even dream of http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/79975711/more-than-2000-potential-queenstown-homes-caught-in-environment-court-appeal The bun fight over development on Frankton Flats (still ongoing) has been going on for 20 years, and the resulting delayed projects are causing most of our traffic congestion now.
My one hope from the budget that, in my mind, could solve the most issues in one hit:
Raise the minimum wage significantly (say $17 – $18 / hour)
This would have an immediate effect on the working poor, it would have an inflationary effect on the economy which would allow the reserve bank to look and increasing mortgage rates and help slow house price growth and it would help to noticeably increase the current tax take without raising taxes (through both GST and PAYE).
The negative is that it may cost jobs in small businesses in the short term, but in the medium term any truly viable business will pick those staff back up once that extra money starts to flow back into the economy.
I have no idea if this will work, but note to Andrew Little, the above is how you sell an idea, not:
Since National came into power blah blah blah, John Key, blah blah blah, my idea will work (no explanation as to how or why people should embrace it).
Well you talked about raising mortgage interest rates which means that you’ve lost 250,000 votes to start with. What next?
🙂
LOL
Interest rates don’t affect House price growth. When a house sells a few days later with 20k plus profit the interest is meaningless. Besides, the speculators are probably using revolving credit with interest rates far above the OCR and mortgage rates.
This is catering to the delusion that the government actually needs an income.
To address a problem you do need to identify it else you’re just talking shite.
(What is all this about ?!)
‘Romanian man claims to be CIA asset to beat arms trafficking charge’
https://www.rt.com/usa/344379-cia-farc-arms-trafficking-alibi/
….”The weapons were to be used by the FARC to kill Americans.
However, those FARC buyers “were, in fact, confidential sources… working for the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and acting at the direction of DEA agents,” the indictment said…
Some number crunching:
NZ adult minimum hourly wage: $15.25
Talley’s minimum hourly wage: $14.32
Talley’s donations to National $42.5k
Come on money in politics means nothing, just ask Hillary…
Budget day….. Did we look at the Price Tag??
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWc6knXULsw
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11645350
Drama at the bee hive
What does the sign say?
John Key!
Move the Gatekeepers.
They’re [something] corruption.
Blocking access to the ANZ bank.
(so is that re the CC protest?)
Would have been nice if the Herald had said.
John Key! Move the gatekeepers.
They’re harbouring corruption.
Blocking access to the ANZ Bank.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/304847/man-arrested,-parliament-in-lock-down
I’d advise those responsible to give up on any notions they may have had about getting into advertising – that’s one incredibly mangled and imprecise slogan.
Ta. Another shot shows this on the other side,
FIND OUT WHO IS STOPPING
NEW ZEALAND’S LARGEST BANK
BEING INVESTIGATED VISIT
passion0.wix.com/nourijture
That’s almost a haiku!!
(pretty sure I didn’t get the link right).
Not only shouldn’t they go into adverstising, they shouldn’t go into protesting either.
Good luck with moving the gatekeepers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l08wo9KorCU
A little book with snippets of news from Britain in 1932:
From a list of promises that a William Cobbett et al of Oldham were asked:
10. Will you endeavour to procure an Act of Parliament which shall enable those who elect representatives in Parliament to vote by ballot, and also to shorten Parliaments to one or two years?
11. Will you endeavour to procure an Act of Parliament which shall effectually shorten the hours of labour in all mills and factories, so as not to exceed ten hours on any day, and only eight hours on Saturdays?
And from a letter from Francis Place (a tailor whose campaigning had made trade unions legal):
“…We must have petitions in hundreds for short Parliaments and voting by ballot as means of procuring reforms in every possible way, and to the greatest possible extent.
It is very difficult, and requires much time to move a nation like this, even when it has been demonstrated that very small exertions will produce the greatest good. Even those who are disposed to move are seldom agreed to work together. If some fundamental points were selected, and all agreed to push for them, success would be certain.
Francis really understood the issues. He would feel right at home with us now.
edited.
The book was dated 1832. Only 100 years difference! And sounded so current.
A Huge, Huge Deal
The rich have found another way to silence critics – sue them into oblivion.
A practise run while he waits for his candidate to make it near impossible to crtitise anyone with money.
“You see, with me, they’re not protected, because I’m not like other people but I’m not taking money. I’m not taking their money,” Trump said on Friday. “We’re going to open up libel laws, and we’re going to have people sue you like you’ve never got sued before.”
http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/02/donald-trump-libel-laws-219866
edit:
Press in the age of billionaires
There’s an increasing number of powerful public figures with similarly near-unlimited wealth. Whether or not they win, cases like this can bleed news companies dry — which might make them less likely to publish news and criticism in the first place.
Thiel is a pledged Trump delegate, which is an unusual move for a Silicon Valley tycoon. However, in backing Hogan’s lawsuit Thiel shows one place he and his fellow bombastic billionaire agree — an antagonistic relationship with the media, and an attempt to suppress critical coverage.
Trump has a history of suing over coverage he doesn’t like. He has also said he’s in favor of “closing up the internet” — a nonsensical statement that is nonetheless troubling for everyone from tech billionaires to free speech advocates — both of which Thiel purports to be. Thiel is, ironically, a “primary supporter” of the Committee to Protect Journalists, an organization dedicated to protecting press freedom around the world.
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/05/25/3781705/thiel-gawker-trump/
Ah well you can’t predict them all, better a boring a budget then a “mother of all budgets” I guess
That’s my thinking.
So now I’m guessing the opposition will attack this budget as not doing enough and the government will say its a firm hand on the till
Good shot Winston
https://nz.news.yahoo.com/top-stories/a/31697564/peters-corners-key-over-auckland-housing-crisis-quote/
Nice to see the old tusker land one.
Its a good shot
Unfortunately the camera, or editing of the clip, didn’t show the reaction.
Will await return serve.
And stock up on popcorn
John Key is very good at quips so this’ll be an interesting match, one-love to Winston
“Is the prime minister able to remember any promise he has made an hour after making it?”
Excellent.
If the Budget was boring, Slavoj Zizek is not. Here is 10 minutes of his volcanic output.
He says that for the last few decades the Left didn’t really want change. They are settled into Comfortable Capitalism he claims. He is always interesting.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0PH_EIBnyo
Zizek is far too obsessed with symbolic exchanges. Including his own.
His view that the left hasn’t really changed is such horseshit. It’s held its own against massive direct assaults.
It’s far more accurate to say that the far monetarist right won, allied with religious rightists and others.
Also that monetarist-dominated states have generated far greater capacity to absorb crisis since the late 1970s. Our own current government is one of the best examples in the world of this.
He needs challenging, and is not really applicable here.
I signed a petition to ask gummint to be more helpful about state housing.
This resulted in an agreement to allow one week’s emergency housing from the state. Something along emergency lines. But actually there is a full time emergency going on, but it’s a start. This from Kyle MacDonald thru Action Station. (The flagman was Kyle Lockwood.)
Thank you for helping to make a difference,
Yesterday I flew down to Wellington to deliver our petition to the Minister. It was because of your support, and the support of more than 9000 others, that Minister Anne Tolley agreed to meet with me. Together we showed her this issue cannot be ignored.
When I asked her what could be done to help people and families facing the impossible choice between homelessness or unmanageable debt over the coming winter months, the Minister acknowledged the urgency of the situation and told us she would look into possible solutions.
Just a few hours after our meeting, the Minister’s office called to tell us that changes to the policy will be brought forward from September to 1 July. These changes will mean that the first week of emergency housing would be covered by a special needs grant rather than a loan. A week is not going to be long enough if there is nowhere to go once that week is up, so the Government still has a lot of work to be done to make sure there are enough houses for people to move into.
Good discussion – in fact excellent on tonight’s Checkpoint, as it ended – links not up yet.
But I’d suggest that if there’s one thing the indigent are fekkn sick of herring (goan ford) is the paternalistic kaka from the comfortable: a la “we need to provide repa ren serves”.
There’s STILL this fucking condescending attitude (or framing – if you prefer) that the poorer in our community are in some way ‘faulty’
It’s a fucking structural issue that begun some time in the early 80’s – possibly before.
@ Draco – I know you perceive a solution – but it ain’t gonna happen until the inevitable happens (and even then only as an option) – when it all disappears up its own arse. My hope is that it is peaceful
Just watching fuckwit Key on Parliament TV. What a bitch monologue from that illiterate ! Doesn’t have to be quality it’s just a game.
So you’ve got nothing? I meet people like you most days, CV. Blowhards with no clues, nothing positive to say, and focussed only on the deep and abiding love they have for the sound of their own voices. Luckily for the rest of us, the Onanists are never going get beyond perfecting the art of the hand shandy. It’d just be nicer if they did it behind closed doors and didn’t want the rest of us to pay for their tissues.
On second thoughts, in spite of my earlier request, I’ve removed the entire sub-thread to Open Mike because there wasn’t a skerrik of anything to do with the post from either of you. Ever thought of becoming facebook friends so the two of you can have at one another at your mutual leisure? – Bill
My friend, seems like you’re the one who has nothing.
BTW who are the socialist MPs in Labour?
I’m not your friend, CV. You’re part of the problem, not part of the solution. Time for you to start reading Ayn Rand, pal. You’ll feel right at home. She was a self obsessed bigot, too.
[trp, I’m pretty sure that neither I nor anyone else really cares what you and CV think of one another. I’ve asked you both to pack it in. If you really find the urge t have a go insatiable, take it to Open Mike or whatever, but don’t carry on with your carry ono under this post. thanks.] – Bill
Fair enough, Bill. However, I think it’s still relevant to the post that commenters moaning about climate change, but having no clue what to do about it and at the same time whining about those who do have sensible suggestions is worth my writing about. CV is most definitely part of the reason there is largely a collective ignoring of the problem. His attitude, which mirrors most of the right, is that there is no answer, so meh. Your post is great, but it is meaningless unless we can look to find the solutions to the real and present danger we face.
Yeah, and if you look back over in that part of the thread you’ll see that a couple of suggestions were being made by both you and CV. Seems neither of you can read what the other is writing without having a go though. And it’s damned boring.
Ok, no worries. Peace and out as I’m told the young folk say.
So, I’m asking the pair of you nicely to cut it out. Cheers.
Serious anger issues and preoccupation there Trp with cv I don’t necessary agree with all what cv says but he articulates it well and does it without a lot of personal abuse, something in that you may want to explore
Oh, bollocks. No anger there, but a deep disliking of wankers who are all mouth and trousers. CV adds nothing to the debate but negativity and frankly, climate change needs solutions fast. I’m happy to acknowledge that I find it weird that TS has a right wing bigot as an author. But perhaps it’s some sort of charity thing and I missed the email.
I need to remind you TRP that attacking Standard authors is strictly against the rules of the site.
Please restrain your anger and observe some proper decorum.
BTW if Climate Change needs fast, urgent answers, why did Andrew Little gloss over the whole topic in his recent speech? And did you support him doing that?
Diddums. You weren’t the author of the post. And being an author is not a get out of jail card when you’re being a wanker. Check my own output; I get straightened up from time to time and I generally cop it sweet. To quote the well known English philosopher Jamie Vardy, chat shit, get banged.
OK cool. So, did you approve of Andrew Little completely dodging climate change as a crisis issue that we need to face up to?
You’re the one dodging the issue, pal. Snap out of your funk and start contributing some answers. You’re a bright guy, put some effort into finding solutions and stop whingeing. Or, as I suggested, bugger off to ACT, where they like people with your kind of attitudes. And no, I’m not kidding. I went through this kind of crap a long, long time ago with Douglas and Prebble. You sound exactly like they did thirty years ago. Full of everything that was wrong, but no solutions beyond making themselves feel better by belittling those who are trying to make a difference. Life is really simple; if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. And like it or not, you’re definitely not a solutions based guy. So, read some Rand, see if misanthrope floats your boat. I reckon you and ACT are made for each other. That doesn’t make you a bad person, IMHO, but it might make you an honest one.
OK so you got nothing then. Thanks for clearing that up.
Jaysus, what a wanker.