The Herald continues to try to reassure its property owning ( and owing) readership.
‘There is no economic crisis ……..There is no economic crisis ………There is no economic crisis ………There is no economic crisis ……..
John Key has it all under control……….John Key has it all under control……….John Key has it all under control……….John Key has it all under control……….
Oooohh, I think he does. You, on the other hand, are not entirely capable of making that sort of judgement. (I’ve just had a look at your sorry recent posts.)
Highlighting the bias and incompetence of the mainstream media has a point.
You never know if it were not pointed out, simple right wingers might actually believe what they are told to think by such sources.
I think Paul should keep at it , they might not admit on the other side but the standard is being read by a lot of people in the news game IMO , so any pressure being applied is good .
That would have to be a pretty stupid comment from you MM……like we talk about the horrors of a fart from whomsoever yet assiduously avoid talking about whomsoever ? And we talk about the crap of the Herald and deny reading it ? Not your best work !
What is it about Television One that lends itself to such foolishness?
Jack Tame is quite possibly stupider than Mike Hosking. Seven Sharp, Television One, Tuesday 25 August 2015
“I read a column by Jack Tame today….” —-Jim Mora, 16 July 2014
bewildered /bɪˈwɪldəd/ adj.1. confused and indecisive; puzzled.
Just after the start of this dog, Mike Hosking’s dismal understudy Jack Tame put on his most serious face, dropped his voice an octave and, in a tone of perfect mock seriousness, asked his bearded Muslim guest: “What is it about Islam that lends itself to extremism?”
I watched no more than that first question. I was in a hurry, but I’ve got better things to do than watch the irretrievably dim pretending to grapple with issues they have not bothered to give more than a moment’s study.
“What is it about you Europeans that you detest the idea that people of the Middle East should rule themselves and profit from YOUR oil that somehow is under our sand?”
Geobels in the Antipodes: Muslims are the cause of all modern wars: WW 1 and 2 (when they invaded France, Manchuria, Pearl Harbor), Korean War, Falklands, endless Latin American wars, . . .
The Yanks have been endlessly busy stopping Muslim aggression.
hi morrissey,
“What is it about Islam that lends itself to extremism?”
i think a far more enlightening question would be: what is it about commercial imperatives that make broadcasters present violent, frightening and grim stories that play on the fears and prejudices of the viewers?
Shortly before 7 a.m., the following conversation occurred between the eponymous host and his “U.S. correspondent” Sandy Hughes….
PAUL HENRY: Barack Obama’s right hand man Joe Biden may be running for president as more and more donors shy away from Hillary Clinton.
SANDY HUGHES: He doesn’t have a scandal plaguing him but he does have a habit of putting his foot in his mouth.
PAUL HENRY: All right, Jared Fogle the Subway guy. Evil man. We’ll only talk about him for a little while. Nasty man….
So what has just happened here? Henry has mentioned four people—three of them are key figures in a regime carrying out massive war crimes abroad and harassing and imprisoning political dissenters in the United States. Yet the one he calls “evil” is the Subway guy.
Sandy Hughes’ assertion that Biden “doesn’t have a scandal plaguing him” makes sense only if you don’t count his role in the deaths of more than one million Iraqis, Syrians, Yemenis and Palestinians, not to mention his involvement in the bloody, failed, right wing insurrection in Venezuela.
The subway guy wasn’t just watching pornography you know, theres that little matter of child rape (allegedly) as well but I see the point you’re trying to make
Sorry, I forgot that. He always struck me as creepy, I must admit, especially in the movie Supersize Me, when he tells a teenage girl that SHE has to change, and that there is no hope of ever controlling the junk food industry.
Still, whatever crimes he has committed, he is Albert Schweitzer when compared to Clinton, Biden and Obama.
Talk about supporting the Rape culture that a lot of people on the left decry .
I guess some think its not so bad – as long as it helps score a point on a “righty”
Morrissey: “Yet the one he calls “evil” is the Subway guy”
Undecided: “The subway guy wasn’t just watching pornography you know, theres that little matter of child rape (allegedly) as well but I see the point you’re trying to make”
Morrissey: “Sorry, I forgot that” ….. “Still, whatever crimes he has committed, he is Albert Schweitzer when compared to Clinton, Biden and Obama.”
Personally – I find any predator of underage girls as about as evil as you can get.
I think what Morrissey is trying to say (and correct me if i’m wrong) is that while child rape is evil, starting a war and all the associated deaths is a greater evil due to the greater number affected
Morrisey, men like yourself with limited understanding of rape culture don’t get to prioritise rape down the list according to your own values.
Forgetting that the person whose crimes you were minimising was an alleged child sex offender pretty much sums up the value of this conversation. Please stop using rape as an example to push your point, you’ve just made a complete mess of it and are being offensive.
Morrisey, men like yourself with limited understanding of rape culture don’t get to prioritise rape down the list according to your own values.
“Whose crimes did I minimise?”
Reread what I said, it’s pretty obvious what I am referring to.
Fuck off with all the rest of the dissembling and bullshit ad homs, I can’t be bothered.
edit, btw, the guy is known for using child porn, so your whole argument here is ignorant and misusing concepts of misogyny and rape culture. Please stop.
I agree with you, Undecided. My problem is with Paul “Kill them ALL” Henry calling HIM evil straight after he has mentioned Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.
Perhaps even worse than that was his “U.S. correspondent” claiming that Biden, whose hands are bloodied with victims from South America to South Yemen, “doesn’t have a scandal plaguing him.”
Maybe you are not a moral imbecile; it would be wrong for me, or anyone, to call you that if you are merely guilty of failing to express yourself clearly.
Your ill-advised and rash attempt to suggest Jared Fogle’s crimes are on a par with those of three war criminals suggests that you are simply out of your depth.
James, unplugged, unhinged, weeping Jesus-like and paraphrased thus – “It is soooo churlish to focus on child murder. You should be ashamed Morrissey !”
1. The setting up of a genuine national TV broadcaster with several channels.
2. Support for local grassroots media.
3. Not permitting the concentration of massive media companies though conglomeration.
4. Regulations with teeth about impartiality.
I’m only asking questions OAB, and the ‘narrative’ will be the answers I receive.
This blog is awash with daily criticism of the media, so why is it not a valid topic to ask what those who are constantly critical think could improve the situation?
So why don’t you answer the question I asked you?
How would removing ads “control” content?
And what existing template for impartiality do you favour?
No, you’re trying to manipulate people into saying that there will be political control over the media when you know damn well that we don’t support any sort of political control especially that of corporations and political parties.
Bullshit McFlock.
The questions can be answered in anyway anyone chooses.
It is YOU who is making an assumption about the way people might answer.
All I can see at this point is that everyone who has replied has suggested they feel some change in the current media situation is desirable, but only Morrissey has indicated a willingness to freely discuss the topic…..
Given the amount of time spent criticising the state of the media on this blog, I have no idea why there is a reluctance to talk about ways to improve it?
Is that a constructive contribution to the discussion OAB, or is it just A POINTLESS PERSONAL ATTACK?
And do you intend to ARGUE THE POINT YOU MADE EARLIER and I REQUESTED YOU ANSWER, or are you just here like McFlock trying to shut down a discussion you don’t want to occur by using FLAMEWAR tactics?
You have heard of HBO, haven’t you?
You do realise it is commercial media?
Guess how many ads are on it. How often does it cut to a coke commercial, for example.
So presupposing the “elimination” of commercial media simply because of an ad-free channel, and then asking what the point of that would be, is a loaded question.
The discussion does not disturb me. But stupid fucks who think they can do a penny-ante pseudo-Socratic dialogue when even that is far beyond their level of competence? You lot just piss me off.
“So presupposing the “elimination” of commercial media simply because of an ad-free channel, and then asking what the point of that would be, is a loaded question”
No.
In response to a question I put to someone else, OAB stated that Media ‘Content could be controlled by reducing the number of adverts to zero’.,
I responded by asking him whether the point of that would be the elimination of commercial media. A question that could be very simply answered you would think?
‘No’, if that is not what he meant, and a brief explanation of what he did mean.
Or ‘yes’ if that was his point.
But OAB declined to argue that point, or any other subsequent genuine points of discussion, but stayed engaged in order to make flamewar and pointless personal attack comments.
So as you and he seem to be interchangeable, maybe you have the integrity/balls to actually answer the simple question I asked?
Then the discussion could move past your FLAMEWAR…
I have an idea for how content can be “controlled”.
Reduce the number of adverts to zero.
In no way requires the elimination of commercial media.
It would, however, eliminate that particular broadcaster’s conflict of interest between news and advertising revenue. So it can be reported if Cadbury Creme Eggs are filled with dolphin sperm without any fear of losing advertising revenue.
Yet another post that has no purpose other than being a Pointless Personal Attack OAB?
Huh?
“this site run for reasonably rational debate between dissenting viewpoints and we intend to keep it operating that way.
What we’re not prepared to accept are pointless personal attacks, or tone or language that has the effect of excluding others. We are intolerant of people starting or continuing flamewars where there is little discussion or debate.”
You’ve confused me there Draco.
You say in your first reply that “we don’t support any sort of political control especially that of corporations and political parties.’
And then in your second reply you say that there must be ‘regulations’ and ‘more that needs to be put in place’
So who is going to put these regulations in place and enforce them?
And no, I am not trying to manipulate anybody into saying anything. I’m just keen to hear what it is people have to say.
Or don’t want to say. I notice that both Paul and OAB started out with some statements and then refused to discuss their views any further. What is wrong with freely discussing this topic?
The only form of administration he can imagine consists petty, partisan actions by corrupt lickspittles who corruptly abandon their duties of their office in order to score points against the opponents of their patrons. Folk like David Carter, for example.
The idea of bureaucratic impartiality is alien to the sheep.
That’s complete and utter bullshit McFlock.
If you have nothing of substance to offer to the discussion, why bother butting in with unsubstantiated allegations and pointless abuse?
I’m reasonably happy with the current situation McFlock, as I find I can very easily access all the information, comment and opinion I want from the whole spectrum of Political belief.
I consider most people in Western societies have much the same access.
But having noted an endless chorus of discontent with the situation from TS commentators, I’m genuinely interested in hearing what improvements commenters believe could be made?
When I hear what changes people are suggesting I will be happy to offer some further discussion of my own.
So what about you McFlock? Are you happy with the current environment the media operates in, or do you think there should be changes made to that?
As if you have any intention of making any constructive contribution to the discussion….apart from shutting it down.
lol
So finally you offer something. That didn’t take much extraction at all /sarc
TV’s broadly ok, although maintaining the independence and impartiality of TVNZ requires constant vigilence, especially against this lot. I suspect a commercial-free free-to-air with a public-interest charter would be a good thing, though.
RadioNZ is pretty much the model – not perfect, but generally pretty good.
The real problem is print media and their clickbait “news” websites. These are fast plummeting in standards as the old media dies and the new media still barely funds investigations rather than fast turnaround gotcha numbers.
A new print/web news organisation is needed, but is generally against the interests of private capital. One that will investigate as well as recycle media releases from all and sundry, and provide intelligent, low-hype analyses rather than flustered pieces to camera.
A new print/web news organisation is needed, but is generally against the interests of private capital. One that will investigate as well as recycle media releases from all and sundry, and provide intelligent, low-hype analyses rather than flustered pieces to camera.
10-15 years ago I would have agreed with you, but I suspect that this kind of model has already been superseded by the digital age, in that people now access information/comment/analysis from a diverse range of sources, many of which are completely independent of either govt. or commercial control.
This is the very reason the commercial print media are changing away from the traditional newspaper based model towards a more soundbite/entertainment snackbite?
But I’ll die in the ditch to retain the RNZ model, and wonder if in fact a partial solution to your suggestion above would be expand RNZ’s remit to cover a wider range of activity than present?
They already have John Campbell…
The thing is that an awful lot of people still rely on the old media, because it serves everything up on a plate, one thing at a time. That’s the only advantage they have over clickbait websites.
Fairfax has made a clear policy decision to move into clickbait and centralise its content that then gets distributed to its regional papers, but then that’s the problem with purely capitalist incentives – sales over quality. I visited a few hours ago, and some celebrity teenager is talking about her sexual orientation. Yay for her, but damned if I know why it’s international news.
There is a public good in preserving an impartial public news service, even down to newspapers. Something like Big Issue, maybe, as the old media frontpiece to a full digital service.
Fox News was create by the abolition of the fair and balanced rule. (Not sure if that was precise name.) It told all US broadcasters that in return for being allowed to use the public airwaves, your news items must be fair and balanced. If the PM sounds off in a partisan way for 3 minutes, a spokesperson from the Opposition must get equal time.
On the premise that the uncontrolled free market was the theme of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount or the Ten Commandments (or both), Bill Clinton abolished this regulation.
A similar regulation required a set amount of tv public service advertisements. Things like “carrots are good for you and Coke isn’t.”
Such regulations are NOT difficult to write or enforce.
“Such regulations are NOT difficult to write or enforce”
Not difficult to write….maybe.
But enforce?
Who sets the guidelines and does the enforcing? How do you ensure there is no political influence on that?
But the big issues are how far down the tree you apply ‘fairness’, and how you dealt with comment and opinion.
Would that mean if John Campbell ran an program on inequality critical of the Government – would someone would need to approve the content as fair as in factual? And would it then be required that a balance was provided in the form of a program from a RW journalist defending inequality as a necessary part of a healthy society?
That’s a fair description of Leighton Smith, Larry “Lackwit” Williams, Paul “Kill Them ALL” Henry and Mike “Contra” Hosking. But the rest of them, including Hosking’s catamite Jack Tame, are not so much right wing imbeciles as they are semi-conscious cogs in a machine of propaganda. These slaves often reveal that they are unhappy at having to read the drivel they are given, or—as has been so painfully obvious with Toni Street, Janika Ter Ellen and Perlina Lau—to play the part of simpering offsider to the alpha male.
So tell me. What do you think should be done about it?
They should be confronted whenever they reflexively parrot official lies. Glenn Greenwald does this all the time. Here he is schooling a state servant:
And so does John Pilger, who in 2008 tried to school an appallingly glib, misinformed and clueless Jim Mora….
No, of course it’s not the only thing. But it’s still very important, and it’s a shame that every journalist and activist doesn’t confront the likes of Stephen Sackur or Kirsty Wark or Jim Mora. The media are a de facto arm of government, and they play a crucial role in trivializing public discourse, promoting numbskulls like Hosking, Henry, Leighton Smith and Larry Williams and in largely excluding voices such as Greenwald and, in this country, Gordon Campbell, Jon Stevenson and Nicky Hager.
“No, of course it’s not the only thing.”
What other things do you see as being necessary?
After reading many many posts from you on the topic of the media, I’m genuinely interested to know what changes you think would improve the situation.
But I get the distinct feeling this is a topic that some here don’t want to see freely discussed!
Sorry Sheep, but I’m just on my way out so I can’t write a decent reply to your excellent points. I’ll return to it, perhaps tomorrow.
But for now, my short answer is this: we need a constitutionally guaranteed free press, and we need to prevent politicians interfering with and controlling the media. It’s not an accident that a National Party stooge has been installed at Maori TV and almost immediately all its best journalists have exited the station, that John Campbell has been replaced by that embarrassing gruesome twosome, that Q+A and The Nation are not worth watching, that we see—and worse, hear—Paul Henry and Mike Hosking every morning and night, but rarely if ever see or hear from smart, informed commentators.
A serious public interest blended news service could be established. Get real journalistic talent to moderate and design it – Gordon Campbell, Kim Hill, the academic journalism schools and maybe a constitutional or commercial lawyer. The BBC is the original model, having spawned both Radio NZ and Al Jazeera. A real tech head might have an idea or two too.
I appreciate your point, AmaKiwi. However, I urge you to watch the clip I posted of Glenn Greenwald confronting that pathetic state servant. Which one is clever, and which one is embarrassingly out of his depth?
The right wing has power and dominates the media, which operate effectively as the propaganda arm of the state. That applies in this country as much as it does in Britain or Australia or Canada or Qatar. But that doesn’t mean they are clever, it just means they hold power. As the late Bruce Jesson used to point out, the Business Round Table always got treated with respect, not because their publications were any good—they were in fact intellectually barren—but because they emanated from a powerful lobby that would not be ignored.
I guess we need to be much more careful about the way we hurl around epithets. Stephen Sackur is not an imbecile. Indeed, sometimes even our own Paul Henry and Mike Hosking are capable of rising above the level of moral imbecile and performing the role of decent journalist.
I’ve been one of the worst offenders probably, and I’ve tried recently to tone down my language when talking about these people. Real journalists—as opposed to stenographers and robots like Simon Dallow—and progressive thinkers don’t need to label them with pejorative terms like “toady” and “lackey” and “imbecile”; far better to patiently, politely and persistently confront them when they lapse into lazy recital of official lies. John Pilger, Glenn Greenwald, Nicky Hager, Noam Chomsky and Norman Finkelstein consistently confront hapless recyclers of official cant; there’s no reason we can’t do the same. A good start would be to protest every time you hear a broadcaster call Garth The Knife McVicar a “victim’s rights advocate.”
No, that’s not quite right. Take the case of New Zealand for instance: the state (i.e. the Key regime) utilized the media—from snarling attack dogs such as Whaleoil and Mike Hosking to hapless churnalists like Greg Boyed at TVNZ—to attack the democratic, civil institutions of the state, like the independent judiciary and hospitals and schools and the right of citizens to privacy.
The state—-i.e. the regime in power—-is effectively at war with its people. The corporate media play a crucial part in that power struggle.
The state—-i.e. the regime in power—-is effectively at war with its people.
Although the regime in power is, as you say, at war with the people the regime in power is not the state. The ‘state’ is the people.
That ‘regime’ is the political arm of the corporations as Labour used to be the political arm of the unions (but is now the other political arm of the corporations).
Past geniuses of propaganda include Goebels, Napoleon, Caesar, and a thousand others. Try to find ways to refute them. It’s all the opposition can ever do.
Freud and Edward Bernays – the Americans really perfected the art of modern mass propaganda in the 1910’s, then turned it to commercial use on Madison Avenue in the 1920’s.
Goebbels was an avid student of Bernay’s 1928 book “Propaganda.”
That’s a little nest of information that everybody should keep handy. Pavlov too pehaps – all very important once it had been found how plastic human minds and beliefs can be. Scientology too. And the cults of the 1980s and the deprogramming methods used to try and break new beliefs.
edited
“Morrisey-“sometimes even our own Paul Henry and Mike Hosking are capable of rising above the level of moral imbecile and performing the role of decent journalist.”
I wait with bated breath.
Looks like the Herald DigiPoll has pretty much confirmed the recent Roy Morgan results. Nats still up at 50.5%, Lab/Greens split has changed (breathing space for Little..?), but still weak on the left.
I don’t know who the media person is for Labour but I’d be getting on the phone and asking for a please explain as to why Jacinda Ardern and not Andrew Little is shown in the article
I agree. It is meddlesome and offensive to put someone who is not Labour’s leader alongside Key to illustrate an article of that kind. Imagine the squawk if instead of Key they put Judith Collins to illustrate an article about a poll.
They’ve not had much luck with the “angry andy” line, so plan B is to build up a competitor and hope they make a tilt for the leadership.
Robertson’s gone out of his way to show loyalty after the leadership election, so the next in line is Ardern. I suspect she has too much integrity to fall for that trap though.
The graphic says “preferred PM” – and the caption says “The rising popularity of Labour front bench MP Jacinda Ardern is evident in the latest Herald DigiPoll survey.”
I think they must’ve taken this poll at around 4:20pm. Whoever thinks Helen is coming back to rule the roost, her popularity is up 1.6% from the last time they were asked. Also, here is picture of Jacinda. She woman. John man. Like? Random percentage. Tautology. Press send. Story done. Pick up pay check.
It’s a hard-knock life for Audrey,
It’s a hard-knock life for Audrey,
doo do do
be do be
do doo doo
doo be doo…
Stock markets are, as you know, cyclic. This is why it was STUPID of this government to stop putting money into Cullen Fund when stocks were low. The low time buy ups counteract the high times costs. Buy high and Low and it levels out over time.
IF you are in Mutual Funds for the short game you need to balance your portfolio with more govt bonds, cash etc.
Stock markets, imo, are the intellectual snobs of gambling. A kind of casino if you will.
smoke and mirrors but those on the inside or with huge amounts to play with get advantages and to that extent the size of the Cullen Fund and some kiwisaver funds makes them like insiders.
many thanks…well looks like we’ve been landed with what Goldman Sachs gamblers called …’crap’ and ‘shitty deals’….cant believe our luck having an ex Wall St gambler as P.M!
New undercover footage shows Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Senior Director of Medical Services, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, describing how Planned Parenthood sells the body parts of aborted fetuses, and admitting she uses partial-birth abortions to supply intact body parts.
This attack on Planned Parenthood has been well discredited. They do not sell body parts. Women have the option of donating fetal tissue for medical research. All legal and above board. This is an edited video of a set up of similar style to the “Acorn” phony scandal which has also been discredited.
We want to thank everyone for the 10,292 designs you’ve suggested. Each of these was viewed by every Panel member—which gives the lie to the nasty allegations swirling around that this Panel is nothing but a sinecure for a bunch of nobodies who lacked the integrity to say no to putting their undistinguished names to a farcical vanity project for a frivolous and contemptible Prime Minister. We were, moreover, not impressed with the large number of “satirical” designs, such as the now infamous “laser Kiwi”, which were obviously intended to devalue this very serious process and to waste the Panel’s valuable time.
In reviewing flag designs, first and foremost, we were guided by what an average attendance of four Kiwis—thank you to the tireless local National Party branches throughout the country!—across a range of communities told us when they shared what is special to them about New Zealand.
The message was clear: you don’t really care. Many people wrote in saying: “Keep the Flag, change the Prime Minister”, but the Panel did not find that helpful. Others claimed that this panel was a collection of hand-picked dullards that have the aesthetic sense of a kick in the head, and the historic appreciation of a goldfish. Again, we did not appreciate this kind of feedback or find it helpful.
In finalising the long list we invited a number of cultural (including tikanga), vexillology (the study of flags), art and design experts to talk to us. These experts really impressed the Flag Consideration Panel, as can be seen by their comments: “That was really interesting” (Sir Brian Lochore, ONZ, KNZM, OBE); “Wow, just wow” (Beatrice Faumuina, ONZM); “That was so cool” (Julie Christie, ONZM) and “Really interesting” (Stephen Jones).
As a Panel, we’ve been appointed by government to determine the 4 alternative flag designs in a neutral, non-expert and unbiased way. We are committed to doing that.
We encourage you to make sure you are enrolled to vote so that you can take part in this nationally significant process. We certainly hope you show more enthusiasm than you did when you failed to come to our heavily advertised consultation meetings.
Ngā mihi nui kia suckers.
Regards,
Flag Consideration Panel:
Prof John Burrows (Chair), ONZM, QC
Nicky Bell
Peter Chin, CNZM
Julie Christie, ONZM
Rod Drury
Kate De Goldi (Deputy Chair)
Beatrice Faumuina, ONZM
Lt Gen (Rtd) Rhys Jones, CNZM
Stephen Jones
Sir Brian Lochore, ONZ, KNZM, OBE
Malcolm Mulholland
Hana O’Regan.
Kate De Goldi’s profile in Storylines includes a long and impressive list of her activities. However, it makes no mention of her sterling work—saying “Thank you, that was very interesting” to three or four earnest toilers—-for the Flag Consideration Panel. I wonder why not….
More staff earning $100,000-plus at Wellington City Council
It is the first time the council has included the lowest pay rates alongside the highest in the annual report.
However, the council’s lowest paid workers, such as cleaners, were contractors and therefore not included in the figures and not eligible for the $18.40 wage.
A bit late for that now. We’ve got entire companies contracted out to service water, drainage, parks, parking etc for Councils. A completely unsustainable model.
Seeing as how imbecile seems to be the word of the day, how about we look at what it means.
imbecile |ˈɪmbɪsiːl|
noun informal
a stupid person.
ORIGIN mid 16th cent. (as an adjective in the sense [physically weak] ): via French from Latin imbecillus, literally ‘without a supporting staff,’ from in- (expressing negation) + baculum ‘stick, staff.’ The current sense dates from the early 19th cent.
As with so many of our perjoratives they are derived from physical or other kind of disability and a time when putting people down for that was the norm.
I kind of like the idea of an imbecile being someone who lacks the support for their argument, not least because that would include Morrissey for part of today’s debate 😉
I agree but seeing as how I don’t support Paul Henry, I fail to see what that has to do with anything. Your implication is boring and a dishonest way of debating. Up your game.
Besides, I like a good pejorative, it’s all about how it gets used.
These Facebook posts regarding ” Due Authority” and a ” NZ Constitution ” and the Flag and the TPPA and ‘Geoffery Palmers ‘ ( sic ) that are EVERYWHERE on facebook at the moment … seemingly sane people are ‘sharing’ and re-posting this garbage … (example below ) ..is there nobody who can HELP ?
Talk about giving The Left a bad name …sigh
Example :
“”Hey, don’t mean to to freak y’all out (actually, yes I do!) but there’s a lot more to this NZ flag change malarkey than most people realise…
I was open to changing the current NZ flag, but I also didn’t understand (like most people) the LEGAL significance of doing so…
Why not change the flag?
Here’s why not – its called ‘Due Authority’
DUE AUTHORITY in a nation like NZ is represented on the NZ flag by the Union Jack and signifies that we are a constitutional monarchy.
A change of flag means not only that we have taken a major step to removing the DUE AUTHORITY of the crown. It also means we take away the very power which enforces both the 1981 Bill of Rights Act (the closest thing NZ has to an entrenched Constitution) and the founding plank upon which the Treaty of Waitangi has meaning.
It does not matter if you’re pro or anti monarchy but if you take away the DUE AUTHORITY of law (which includes our flag) you then open the gates of hell, or to be precise the means in which John Key can legally sign the TPPA (Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement). Currently if the matter was taken to court it would undoubtedly end up at the Supreme Court.
The Privy Council is our former chief court and unlike the new US-styled NZ supreme Court, has its legal interpretation interpreted by Judges that are picked by the Law Lords of the Common Wealth.
In the new system those Judges are picked by parliament – uh oh.
At the moment it is likely that a legal challenge could be mounted against the TPPA, even if John does sign it, even with the Supreme Court Change, in that it breaches the 1981 Bill of Rights and the Crowns obligation to Iwi as set out in the Treaty of Waitangi.
However, if the DUE AUTHORITY of the State can be removed then the TPPA can not only be signed but it then means that once signed the DUE AUTHORITY of the TPPA would supersede the power of any NZ laws already in place. Such as the 1981 Bill of Rights etc.””
Please feel free to copy & paste or share… A lot of people don’t seek education but will take it when offered! ”
Hmmm yes , that’s a good point ( Harms the anti-TPPA more ) .
I try to refute this every time I see it but it’s a bit like proving the Easter Bunny isn’t real .
“Prove it ‘s not true !” people demand … but where do I start ?
( This is a serious question by the way ! )
Someone should remind Key that it has been his responsibility for 6 years for the democratic governance of this country, and not to change the rules to suit a certain group in society at the detriment of others especially when it comes to the up keep of state housing so that the people who live here that have a limited ability to change countries or income at will deserve a standard of housing traditionally comparable to the first state houses built for the purpose of decent housing for all
And his constant blaming of the previous Labour govt for the present situation in housing is such that he should be held in contempt by all NZers as he is a leader of a govt unfit to govern this country
In short give the prick the boot
I dont hear any guns firing at the country apart from the ensuing take over of the country thru the TPPA “At the 11th hour ”
Finlayson, you need a boot up your arrogant pseudo legal backside and be held for treason for action against the nations democracy
The grossness of The Ponce Key knows no bounds…..this after seven years of holding the ultimate of power in New Zealand, this effete, variously whining/giggling little boy, STILL insisting he has no responsibility for ANY of it ???
At the start it was coquettish, now it’s contempt, unabashed. Such a fraud !
John has something in Ripcurl I think and has written about his mother Neva in the magazine for NZ writing Overland. https://overland.org.au/current-issue/
“Mr Little: Did the state house he grew up in have mould and leaks, and is it okay for kids today to live in mouldy, leaky, cold state houses because of lack of maintenance?
Mr Key: No, not from memory. Obviously, the house would have been much more modern back then, given it was so many decades ago. But also I will say that my mother took absolute pride in making sure that she kept the house clean, tidy, and ventilated.”
Ummh……the small matter of the mould in that poor family’s home starting with an unremedied leak from the bathroom of an adjoining unit, you lying shithead.
The Ponce Key mangles the meaning of our language again……Labour “passing the buck….” – to the man who’s been the prime minister for seven years ?????
“I will say that my mother took absolute pride in making sure that she kept the house clean, tidy, and ventilated.”
I was disgusted by this retort in the election debate, and cannot believe he is still using this line. It reveals his level of detachment with real New Zealanders, and his utter contempt fao any less well off than himself, which is ironically “the vast majority of Nuzillanders”
Well ventilated is a problem in winter, or anytime it is cold, and if you live in an area of poor people with young people looking for something to steal opening windows and ventilating may result in your goods being circulated as well as your air. Getting through open windows is well within the roaming, anomic youths’ area of expertise. Yesterday I heard on Radionz about a 90 year old woman who had been cleaned out of all her taonga some with special memories.
Putting sliding window safety catches on at least one opening window per room would help. But it requires tools and some expertise and they cost at least $10 each. Would NZ Stateless Housing regard that as important to spend on? Would doing it yourself be regarded as defacing the house if some paint got chipped or a tool slipped and broke a window pane? Even paying for and trying DIY improvements like that could result in disadvantage.
Open a window when it’s cold, and the house gets colder. If there is heating going, much of it might be lost in the draught created.
The philosophy of National, Act and the RWs who lurk in the shadows of Labour Party: People in nice houses worth millions can have perfectly balanced heating or cooling organised, suitable for the weather. That is okay because they are exceptional people, and deserving of everything they want because they are so good, clever, hard working etc. The people who aren’t just have to suffer the indignities of begging to have reasonable housing and living conditions as would be expected in a modern, prosperous nation.
Simeon Brown’s Ideology BentSimeon Brown once told Kiwis he tries to represent his deep sense of faith by interacting “with integrity”.“It’s important that there’s Christians in Parliament…and from my perspective, it’s great to be a Christian in Parliament and to bring that perspective to [laws, conversations and policies].”And with ...
Severe geological and financial earthquakes are inevitable. We just don’t know how soon and how they will play out. Are we putting the right effort into preparing for them?Every decade or so the international economy has a major financial crisis. We cannot predict exactly when or exactly how it will ...
Questions1. How did Old Mate Grabaseat describe his soon-to-be-Deputy-PM’s letter to police advocating for Philip Polkinghorne?a.Ill-advisedb.A perfect letterc.A letter that will live in infamyd.He had me at hello2. What did Seymour say in response?a.What’s ill-advised is commenting when you don’t know all the facts and ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff has called on OJI Fibre Solutions to work with the government, unions, and the community before closing the Kinleith Paper Mill. “OJI has today announced 230 job losses in what will be a devastating blow for the community. OJI needs to work with ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is sounding the alarm about the latest attack on workers from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden, who is ignoring her own officials to pursue reckless changes that would completely undermine the personal grievance system. “Brooke van Velden’s changes will ...
Hi,When I started writing Webworm in 2020, I wrote a lot about the conspiracy theories that were suddenly invading our Twitter timelines and Facebook feeds. Four years ago a reader, John, left this feedback under one of my essays:It’s a never ending labyrinth of lunacy which, as you have pointed ...
And if you said this life ain't good enoughI would give my world to lift you upI could change my life to better suit your moodBecause you're so smoothAnd it's just like the ocean under the moonOh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from youYou got the ...
Aotearoa remains the minority’s birthright, New Zealand the majority’s possession. WAITANGI DAY commentary see-saws manically between the warmly positive and the coldly negative. Many New Zealanders consider this a good thing. They point to the unexamined patriotism of July Fourth and Bastille Day celebrations, and applaud the fact that the ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump’s administration over Gaza and Ukraine; on the ...
Up until now, the prevailing coalition view of public servants was that there were simply too many of them. But yesterday the new Public Service Commissioner, handpicked by the Luxon Government, said it was not so much numbers but what they did and the value they produced that mattered. Sir ...
In a moment we explore the question: What is Andrew Bayly wanting to tell ACC, and will it involve enjoying a small wine tasting and then telling someone to fuck off? But first, for context, a broader one: What do we look for in a government?Imagine for a moment, you ...
As expected, Donald Trump just threw Ukraine under the bus, demanding that it accept Russia's illegal theft of land, while ruling out any future membership of NATO. Its a colossal betrayal, which effectively legitimises Russia's invasion, while laying the groundwork for the next one. But Trump is apparently fine with ...
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin AshtonBook review: ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin Ashton (2015) – and what it means for Auckland. The title of this article might unnerve any Greater Auckland ...
This story was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Within just a week, the sheer devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires has pushed to the fore fundamental questions about the impact of the climate crisis that have been ...
In this world, it's just usYou know it's not the same as it wasSongwriters: Harry Edward Styles / Thomas Edward Percy Hull / Tyler Sam JohnsonYesterday, I received a lovely message from Caty, a reader of Nick’s Kōrero, that got me thinking. So I thought I’d share it with you, ...
In past times a person was considered “unserious” or “not a serious” person if they failed to grasp, behave and speak according to the solemnity of the context in which they were located. For example a serious person does not audibly pass gas at Church, or yell “gun” at a ...
Long stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, February 13 are:The coalition Government’s early 2024 ‘fiscal emergency’ freeze on funding, planning and building houses, schools, local roads and hospitals helped extend and deepen the economic and jobs recession through calendar ...
For obvious reasons, people feel uneasy when the right to be a citizen is sold off to wealthy foreigners. Even selling the right to residency seems a bit dubious, when so many migrants who are not millionaires get turned away or are made to jump through innumerable hoops – simply ...
A new season of White Lotus is nearly upon us: more murder mystery, more sumptuous surroundings, more rich people behaving badly.Once more we get to identify with the experience of the pampered tourist or perhaps the poorly paid help; there's something in White Lotus for all New Zealanders.And unlike the ...
In 2016, Aotearoa shockingly plunged to fourth place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Nine years later, and we're back there again: New Zealand has seen a further slip in its global ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). [...] In the latest CPI New Zealand's score ...
1. You’ve started ranking your politicians on how much they respect the rule of law2. You’ve stopped paying attention to those news publications3. You’ve developed a sudden interest in a particular period of history4. More and more people are sounding like your racist, conspiracist uncle.5. Someone just pulled a Nazi ...
Transforming New Zealand: Brian EastonBrian Easton will discuss the above topic at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington at 5:30pm on Tuesday 26 February at 2/57 Willis Street, WellingtonThe sub-title to the above is "Why is the Left failing?" Brian Easton's analysis is based on his view that while the ...
Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment rates since the 1990s and half of all Pacific children going without food. There are reports of hundreds if not thousands of people are applying for the same jobs in the wake of last year’s ...
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...
Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confidentNicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
This session will feature Simon McCallum, Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Computer Science (VUW) and recent Labour Party candidate in the Southland Electorate talking about some of the issues around AI and how this should inform Labour Party policy. Simon is an excellent speaker with a comprehensive command of AI ...
The proposed Waimate garbage incinerator is dead: The company behind a highly-controversial proposal to build a waste-to-energy plant in the Waimate District no longer has the land. [...] However, SIRRL director Paul Taylor said the sales and purchase agreement to purchase land from Murphy Farms, near Glenavy, lapsed at ...
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been a vital tool in combatting international corruption. It forbids US companies and citizens from bribing foreign public officials anywhere in the world. And its actually enforced: some of the world's biggest companies - Siemens, Hewlett Packard, and Bristol Myers Squibb - have ...
December 2024 photo - with UK Tory Boris Johnson (Source: Facebook)Those PollsFor hours, political poll results have resounded across political hallways and commentary.According to the 1News Verizon poll, 50% of the country believe we are heading in the “wrong direction”, while 39% believe we are “on the right track”.The left ...
A Tai Rāwhiti mill that ran for 30 years before it was shut down in late 2023 is set to re-open in the coming months, which will eventually see nearly 300 new jobs in the region. A new report from Massey University shows that pensioners are struggling with rising costs. ...
As support continues to fall, Luxon also now faces his biggest internal ructions within the coalition since the election, with David Seymour reacting badly to being criticised by the PM. File photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Not since 1988 when Richard Prebble openly criticised David Lange have we seen such a challenge to a Prime Minister as that of David Seymour to Christopher Luxon last night. Prebble suggested Lange had mental health issues during a TV interview and was almost immediately fired. Seymour hasn’t gone quite ...
Three weeks in, and the 24/7 news cycle is not helping anyone feel calm and informed about the second Trump presidency. One day, the US is threatening 25% trade tariffs on its friends and neighbours. The reasons offered by the White House are absurd, such as stopping fentanyl coming in ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Wherever you look, you'll hear headlines claiming we've passed 1.5 degrees of global warming. And while 2024 saw ...
Photo by Heather M. Edwards on UnsplashHere’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s politics and economy in the week to Feb 10 below. That’s ahead of live chats on the Substack App and The Kākā’s front page on Substack at 5pm with: on his column in The ...
Is there anyone in the world the National Party loves more than a campaign donor? Why yes, there is! They will always have the warmest hello and would you like to slip into something more comfortable for that great god of our age, the High Net Worth Individual.The words the ...
Waste and fraud certainly exist in foreign aid programs, but rightwing celebration of USAID’s dismantling shows profound ignorance of the value of soft power (as opposed to hard power) in projecting US influence and interests abroad by non-military/coercive means (think of “hearts and minds,” “hugs, not bullets,” “honey versus vinegar,” ...
Health New Zealand is proposing to cut almost half of its data and digital positions – more than 1000 of them. The PSA has called on the Privacy Commissioner to urgently investigate the cuts due to the potential for serious consequences for patients. NZNO is calling for an urgent increase ...
We may see a few more luxury cars on Queen Street, but a loosening of rules to entice rich foreigners to invest more here is unlikely to “turbocharge our economic growth”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Let us not dance daintily around the elephant in the room. Our politicians who serve us in the present are not honest, certainly not as honest as they should be, and while the right are taking out most of the trophies for warping narratives and literally redefining “facts”, the kiwi ...
A few weeks ago I took a look at public transport ridership in 2024. In today’s post I’m going to be looking a bit deeper at bus ridership. Buses make up the vast majority of ridership in Auckland with 70 million boardings last year out of a total of 89.4 ...
Oh, you know I did itIt's over and I feel fineNothing you could say is gonna change my mindWaited and I waited the longest nightNothing like the taste of sweet declineSongwriters: Chris Shiflett / David Eric Grohl / Nate Mendel / Taylor Hawkins.Hindsight is good, eh?The clarity when the pieces ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 16 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 10The Kākā’s weekly wrap-up of news about politics and the economy is due at midday, followed by webinar for paying subscribers in Substack’s ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, February 2, 2025 thru Sat, February 8, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
Today, I stumbled across a Twitter Meme: the ending of The Lord of the Rings as a Chess scenario: https://x.com/mellon_heads/status/1887983845917564991 It gets across the basic gist. Aragorn and Gandalf offering up ‘material’ at the Morannon allows Frodo and Samwise to catch Sauron unawares – fair enough. But there are a ...
Last week, Kieran McAnulty called out Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis for their claims that Kāinga Ora’s costs were too high.They had claimed Kāinga Ora’s cost were 12% higher than market i.e. private devlopersBut Kāinga Ora’s Chair had already explained why last year:"We're not building to sell, so we'll be ...
Stuff’s Political Editor Luke Malpass - A Fellow at New Zealand IniativeLast week I half-joked that Stuff / The Post’s Luke Malpass1 always sounded like he was auditioning for a job at the New Zealand Initiative.Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. For a limited time, subscriptions are 20% off. Thanks ...
At a funeral on Friday, there were A4-sized photos covering every wall of the Dil’s reception lounge. There must have been 200 of them, telling the story in the usual way of the video reel but also, by enlargement, making it more possible to linger and step in.Our friend Nicky ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is methane the ...
The Government’s idea is that the private sector and Community Housing Providers will fund, build and operate new affordable housing to address our housing crisis. Meanwhile, the Government does not know where almost half of the 1,700 children who left emergency housing actually went. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong ...
Oh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youOh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youSongwriters: Alexander Ebert / Jade Allyson CastrinosMorena,I’m on a tight time frame this morning. In about an hour and a half, I’ll need to pack up and hit the road ...
This is a post about the Mountain Tui substack, and small tweaks - further to the poll and request post the other day. Please don’t read if you aren’t interested in my personal matters. Thank you all.After oohing-and-aahing about how to structure the Substack model since November, including obtaining ...
This transcript of a recent conversation between the Prime Minister and his chief economic adviser has not been verified.We’ve announced we are the ‘Yes Government’. Do you like it?Yes, Prime Minister.Dreamed up by the PR team. It’s about being committed to growth. Not that the PR team know anything about ...
The other day, Australian Senator Nick McKim issued a warning in the Australian Parliement about the US’s descent into fascim.And of course it’s true, but I lament - that was true as soon as Trump won.What we see is now simply the reification of the intention, planning, and forces behind ...
Among the many other problems associated with Musk/DOGE sending a fleet of teenage and twenty-something cultists to remove, copy and appropriate federal records like social security, medicaid and other supposedly protected data is the fact that the youngsters doing the data-removal, copying and security protocol and filter code over-writing have ...
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tuneBird fly high by the light of the moonOh, oh, oh, JokermanSong by Bob Dylan.Morena folks, I hope this fine morning of the 7th of February finds you well. We're still close to Paihia, just a short drive out of town. Below is the view ...
It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...
Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...
Hi,This week’s Flightless Bird episode was about “fake seizure guy” — a Melbourne man who fakes seizures in order to get members of the public to sit on him.The audio documentary (which I have included in this newsletter in case you don’t listen to Flightless Bird) built on reporting first ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The 119th Congress comes with a price tag. The oil and gas industry gave about $24 million in campaign contributions to the members of the U.S. House and Senate expected to be sworn in January 3, 2025, according to a ...
Early morning, the shadows still long, but you can already feel the warmth building. Our motel was across the road from the historic homestead where Henry Williams' family lived. The evening before, we wandered around the gardens, reading the plaques and enjoying the close proximity to the history of the ...
Thanks folks for your feedback, votes and comments this week. I’ll be making the changes soon. Appreciate all your emails, comments and subscriptions too. I know your time is valuable - muchas gracias.A lot is happening both here and around the world - so I want to provide a snippets ...
Data released today by Statistics NZ shows that unemployment rose to 5.1%, with 33,000 more people out of work than last year said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “The latest data shows that employment fell in Aotearoa at its fastest rate since the GFC. Unemployment rose in 8 ...
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
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The Herald continues to try to reassure its property owning ( and owing) readership.
‘There is no economic crisis ……..There is no economic crisis ………There is no economic crisis ………There is no economic crisis ……..
John Key has it all under control……….John Key has it all under control……….John Key has it all under control……….John Key has it all under control……….
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11502803
Paul do you see the irony of posting how crap the herald is because of what you have read in the herald?
He doesn’t.
Oooohh, I think he does. You, on the other hand, are not entirely capable of making that sort of judgement. (I’ve just had a look at your sorry recent posts.)
Highlighting the bias and incompetence of the mainstream media has a point.
You never know if it were not pointed out, simple right wingers might actually believe what they are told to think by such sources.
I think Paul should keep at it , they might not admit on the other side but the standard is being read by a lot of people in the news game IMO , so any pressure being applied is good .
Follow the money.
The Herald survives on real estate advertising.
That would have to be a pretty stupid comment from you MM……like we talk about the horrors of a fart from whomsoever yet assiduously avoid talking about whomsoever ? And we talk about the crap of the Herald and deny reading it ? Not your best work !
What is it about Television One that lends itself to such foolishness?
Jack Tame is quite possibly stupider than Mike Hosking.
Seven Sharp, Television One, Tuesday 25 August 2015
“I read a column by Jack Tame today….” —-Jim Mora, 16 July 2014
bewildered /bɪˈwɪldəd/ adj. 1. confused and indecisive; puzzled.
Just after the start of this dog, Mike Hosking’s dismal understudy Jack Tame put on his most serious face, dropped his voice an octave and, in a tone of perfect mock seriousness, asked his bearded Muslim guest: “What is it about Islam that lends itself to extremism?”
I watched no more than that first question. I was in a hurry, but I’ve got better things to do than watch the irretrievably dim pretending to grapple with issues they have not bothered to give more than a moment’s study.
More on Jack Tame….
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-16072015/#comment-1044978
“What is it about you Europeans that you detest the idea that people of the Middle East should rule themselves and profit from YOUR oil that somehow is under our sand?”
Geobels in the Antipodes: Muslims are the cause of all modern wars: WW 1 and 2 (when they invaded France, Manchuria, Pearl Harbor), Korean War, Falklands, endless Latin American wars, . . .
The Yanks have been endlessly busy stopping Muslim aggression.
/sarc
hi morrissey,
“What is it about Islam that lends itself to extremism?”
i think a far more enlightening question would be: what is it about commercial imperatives that make broadcasters present violent, frightening and grim stories that play on the fears and prejudices of the viewers?
money honey… apparently fear = readership/viewership… but your question requires either;
1. a level of introspection not capable
2. a level of introspection set aside for the salary package and face on telly
Which would YOU call evil: killing people or viewing pornography?
Now see which choice Paul Henry made.
Paul Henry, TV3, Tuesday 26 August 2015
depraved /dɪˈpreɪvd/ adj. morally corrupt; wicked.
Shortly before 7 a.m., the following conversation occurred between the eponymous host and his “U.S. correspondent” Sandy Hughes….
PAUL HENRY: Barack Obama’s right hand man Joe Biden may be running for president as more and more donors shy away from Hillary Clinton.
SANDY HUGHES: He doesn’t have a scandal plaguing him but he does have a habit of putting his foot in his mouth.
PAUL HENRY: All right, Jared Fogle the Subway guy. Evil man. We’ll only talk about him for a little while. Nasty man….
So what has just happened here? Henry has mentioned four people—three of them are key figures in a regime carrying out massive war crimes abroad and harassing and imprisoning political dissenters in the United States. Yet the one he calls “evil” is the Subway guy.
Sandy Hughes’ assertion that Biden “doesn’t have a scandal plaguing him” makes sense only if you don’t count his role in the deaths of more than one million Iraqis, Syrians, Yemenis and Palestinians, not to mention his involvement in the bloody, failed, right wing insurrection in Venezuela.
The subway guy wasn’t just watching pornography you know, theres that little matter of child rape (allegedly) as well but I see the point you’re trying to make
Sorry, I forgot that. He always struck me as creepy, I must admit, especially in the movie Supersize Me, when he tells a teenage girl that SHE has to change, and that there is no hope of ever controlling the junk food industry.
Still, whatever crimes he has committed, he is Albert Schweitzer when compared to Clinton, Biden and Obama.
Jesus Wept.
Talk about supporting the Rape culture that a lot of people on the left decry .
I guess some think its not so bad – as long as it helps score a point on a “righty”
Morrissey: “Yet the one he calls “evil” is the Subway guy”
Undecided: “The subway guy wasn’t just watching pornography you know, theres that little matter of child rape (allegedly) as well but I see the point you’re trying to make”
Morrissey: “Sorry, I forgot that” ….. “Still, whatever crimes he has committed, he is Albert Schweitzer when compared to Clinton, Biden and Obama.”
Personally – I find any predator of underage girls as about as evil as you can get.
I think what Morrissey is trying to say (and correct me if i’m wrong) is that while child rape is evil, starting a war and all the associated deaths is a greater evil due to the greater number affected
He knows that perfectly well, my friend. He’s got some other agenda working here.
No Agenda.
Buy you lose any credibility commenting about how bad “rape culture” is, and then minimising it because its not so bad as what other people have done.
With the RoastBusters case – would you have been happy with a “oh well – he’s not as bad as someone who did something I think is worse”.
But – far easier to blame me and an “agenda” than you to own your own bias.
I guess if it was your daughter (if you have one), you wouldnt be so quick to minimise it.
You’re going to suggest the Roast Busters are on a par with President Suharto now, I suppose.
Morrisey, men like yourself with limited understanding of rape culture don’t get to prioritise rape down the list according to your own values.
Forgetting that the person whose crimes you were minimising was an alleged child sex offender pretty much sums up the value of this conversation. Please stop using rape as an example to push your point, you’ve just made a complete mess of it and are being offensive.
Forgetting that the person whose crimes you were minimising
Whose crimes did I minimise?
You are either willfully obtuse or you are trying to be clever.
Neither is acceptable in a serious conversation. Have you thought of speaking to Paul Henry? Perhaps that’s more your level.
Morrisey, men like yourself with limited understanding of rape culture don’t get to prioritise rape down the list according to your own values.
“Whose crimes did I minimise?”
Reread what I said, it’s pretty obvious what I am referring to.
Fuck off with all the rest of the dissembling and bullshit ad homs, I can’t be bothered.
edit, btw, the guy is known for using child porn, so your whole argument here is ignorant and misusing concepts of misogyny and rape culture. Please stop.
I do think Jared Fogles crimes are evil (if proven) and as such he warrents being called evil
I agree with you, Undecided. My problem is with Paul “Kill them ALL” Henry calling HIM evil straight after he has mentioned Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.
Perhaps even worse than that was his “U.S. correspondent” claiming that Biden, whose hands are bloodied with victims from South America to South Yemen, “doesn’t have a scandal plaguing him.”
I condemn anyone who does what the Subway guy did.
But it takes a special kind of moral imbecile to suggest that he is in the same league as Obama, Biden and Clinton.
So right to the name calling – typical, and a sure sign you know you are wrong.
And can you point exactly to where you condemned him in your post or reply?
No – just a “I forgot about the child rape bit” – oh well – not as bad as xxxxxx
Maybe you are not a moral imbecile; it would be wrong for me, or anyone, to call you that if you are merely guilty of failing to express yourself clearly.
Your ill-advised and rash attempt to suggest Jared Fogle’s crimes are on a par with those of three war criminals suggests that you are simply out of your depth.
“those of three war criminals”
Any evidence to back up your claim that they have even been charged with this? Or are you making accusations, and pretending it as “fact”?
Sorry, cancel what I said before. You ARE a moral imbecile.
Incapable of a reasoned argument? Not surprised.
it’s a chumps game, comparing evils. unless you were interviewing both obama and subway guy for a job and had to pick one of them. which you’re not.
James, unplugged, unhinged, weeping Jesus-like and paraphrased thus – “It is soooo churlish to focus on child murder. You should be ashamed Morrissey !”
Paul/Morrissey,
i get your point. The MSM are biased Right Wing imbeciles.
So tell me. What do you think should be done about it?
1. The setting up of a genuine national TV broadcaster with several channels.
2. Support for local grassroots media.
3. Not permitting the concentration of massive media companies though conglomeration.
4. Regulations with teeth about impartiality.
“The setting up of a genuine national TV broadcaster with several channels.”
How would you control the content of such channels?
Support for local grassroots media.
Any grassroots media, or grassroots media that had to meet some form of Govt. approval?
Regulations with teeth about impartiality
‘Regulations’ is a big word. What would be the central details of such regulation?
I have an idea for how content can be “controlled”.
Reduce the number of adverts to zero.
What’s with the authoritarian fantasies?
As for impartiality, why reinvent the wheel when there are so many existing templates available? It may be rocket science to a sheep I guess…
Is Paul your alter ego OAB?
But while you are here…
Reducing ad’s to zero would eliminate commercial media? That would be the point of that ‘control’?
The only person talking about ‘control’ is you. It looks like you’re determined to spin a false authoritarian narrative around the subject.
Boring and lame make bad entertainment, Sheep.
I’m only asking questions OAB, and the ‘narrative’ will be the answers I receive.
This blog is awash with daily criticism of the media, so why is it not a valid topic to ask what those who are constantly critical think could improve the situation?
So why don’t you answer the question I asked you?
How would removing ads “control” content?
And what existing template for impartiality do you favour?
No, you’re trying to manipulate people into saying that there will be political control over the media when you know damn well that we don’t support any sort of political control especially that of corporations and political parties.
loaded questions.
Bullshit McFlock.
The questions can be answered in anyway anyone chooses.
It is YOU who is making an assumption about the way people might answer.
All I can see at this point is that everyone who has replied has suggested they feel some change in the current media situation is desirable, but only Morrissey has indicated a willingness to freely discuss the topic…..
Given the amount of time spent criticising the state of the media on this blog, I have no idea why there is a reluctance to talk about ways to improve it?
“Reducing ad’s to zero would eliminate commercial media? That would be the point of that ‘control’?”
That’s an example of your duplicity/stupidity.
It’s as if you’ve never heard of HBO…
‘Debate’ with you is like trying to catch a fart in a butterfly net.
You can hear and smell it, but there is nothing of substance to get hold of.
This discussion disturbs you doesn’t it?
You don’t want it be openly debated, and so you are attempted to derail it. Wonder why?
You get really snippy when someone illustrates your feeble character. Sheep are supposed to be more placid 😀
Is that a constructive contribution to the discussion OAB, or is it just A POINTLESS PERSONAL ATTACK?
And do you intend to ARGUE THE POINT YOU MADE EARLIER and I REQUESTED YOU ANSWER, or are you just here like McFlock trying to shut down a discussion you don’t want to occur by using FLAMEWAR tactics?
You have heard of HBO, haven’t you?
You do realise it is commercial media?
Guess how many ads are on it. How often does it cut to a coke commercial, for example.
So presupposing the “elimination” of commercial media simply because of an ad-free channel, and then asking what the point of that would be, is a loaded question.
The discussion does not disturb me. But stupid fucks who think they can do a penny-ante pseudo-Socratic dialogue when even that is far beyond their level of competence? You lot just piss me off.
“So presupposing the “elimination” of commercial media simply because of an ad-free channel, and then asking what the point of that would be, is a loaded question”
No.
In response to a question I put to someone else, OAB stated that Media ‘Content could be controlled by reducing the number of adverts to zero’.,
I responded by asking him whether the point of that would be the elimination of commercial media. A question that could be very simply answered you would think?
‘No’, if that is not what he meant, and a brief explanation of what he did mean.
Or ‘yes’ if that was his point.
But OAB declined to argue that point, or any other subsequent genuine points of discussion, but stayed engaged in order to make flamewar and pointless personal attack comments.
So as you and he seem to be interchangeable, maybe you have the integrity/balls to actually answer the simple question I asked?
Then the discussion could move past your FLAMEWAR…
You were the only one who brought up the elimination of commercial media.
Only you.
HBO says no.
All subsequent questions are therefore bullshit.
So you can’t confirm or deny the meaning of OAB’s statement?
Gee it must be sensitive stuff…..
I can confirm for you that this statement:
In no way requires the elimination of commercial media.
It would, however, eliminate that particular broadcaster’s conflict of interest between news and advertising revenue. So it can be reported if Cadbury Creme Eggs are filled with dolphin sperm without any fear of losing advertising revenue.
Rather than remaining placid,
Lost Sheep tried playing with acid,
But the goatfucker gambit’s,
The extent of his ambit,
Not so much placid as flaccid.
Yet another post that has no purpose other than being a Pointless Personal Attack OAB?
Huh?
“this site run for reasonably rational debate between dissenting viewpoints and we intend to keep it operating that way.
What we’re not prepared to accept are pointless personal attacks, or tone or language that has the effect of excluding others. We are intolerant of people starting or continuing flamewars where there is little discussion or debate.”
@ McFlock
( Eliminating ads) “In no way requires the elimination of commercial media.”
How would commercial entities then generate sufficient turnover to continue operating? I can’t see how any could be viable under those conditions?
There’s these remarkable things called regulations. Perhaps you’ve heard of them?
Nope, just the regulations.
Not allowed to spin, must report the truth (ie, report when the PM is lying using the word liar), ban advertising…
There’s more that needs to be put in place and the whole lot needs good discussion.
You’ve confused me there Draco.
You say in your first reply that “we don’t support any sort of political control especially that of corporations and political parties.’
And then in your second reply you say that there must be ‘regulations’ and ‘more that needs to be put in place’
So who is going to put these regulations in place and enforce them?
And no, I am not trying to manipulate anybody into saying anything. I’m just keen to hear what it is people have to say.
Or don’t want to say. I notice that both Paul and OAB started out with some statements and then refused to discuss their views any further. What is wrong with freely discussing this topic?
poor little sheep.
The only form of administration he can imagine consists petty, partisan actions by corrupt lickspittles who corruptly abandon their duties of their office in order to score points against the opponents of their patrons. Folk like David Carter, for example.
The idea of bureaucratic impartiality is alien to the sheep.
That’s complete and utter bullshit McFlock.
If you have nothing of substance to offer to the discussion, why bother butting in with unsubstantiated allegations and pointless abuse?
What discussion? All you want is for people to answer your loaded questions without you offering anything yourself.
I’m reasonably happy with the current situation McFlock, as I find I can very easily access all the information, comment and opinion I want from the whole spectrum of Political belief.
I consider most people in Western societies have much the same access.
But having noted an endless chorus of discontent with the situation from TS commentators, I’m genuinely interested in hearing what improvements commenters believe could be made?
When I hear what changes people are suggesting I will be happy to offer some further discussion of my own.
So what about you McFlock? Are you happy with the current environment the media operates in, or do you think there should be changes made to that?
As if you have any intention of making any constructive contribution to the discussion….apart from shutting it down.
lol
So finally you offer something. That didn’t take much extraction at all /sarc
TV’s broadly ok, although maintaining the independence and impartiality of TVNZ requires constant vigilence, especially against this lot. I suspect a commercial-free free-to-air with a public-interest charter would be a good thing, though.
RadioNZ is pretty much the model – not perfect, but generally pretty good.
The real problem is print media and their clickbait “news” websites. These are fast plummeting in standards as the old media dies and the new media still barely funds investigations rather than fast turnaround gotcha numbers.
A new print/web news organisation is needed, but is generally against the interests of private capital. One that will investigate as well as recycle media releases from all and sundry, and provide intelligent, low-hype analyses rather than flustered pieces to camera.
A new print/web news organisation is needed, but is generally against the interests of private capital. One that will investigate as well as recycle media releases from all and sundry, and provide intelligent, low-hype analyses rather than flustered pieces to camera.
10-15 years ago I would have agreed with you, but I suspect that this kind of model has already been superseded by the digital age, in that people now access information/comment/analysis from a diverse range of sources, many of which are completely independent of either govt. or commercial control.
This is the very reason the commercial print media are changing away from the traditional newspaper based model towards a more soundbite/entertainment snackbite?
But I’ll die in the ditch to retain the RNZ model, and wonder if in fact a partial solution to your suggestion above would be expand RNZ’s remit to cover a wider range of activity than present?
They already have John Campbell…
The thing is that an awful lot of people still rely on the old media, because it serves everything up on a plate, one thing at a time. That’s the only advantage they have over clickbait websites.
Fairfax has made a clear policy decision to move into clickbait and centralise its content that then gets distributed to its regional papers, but then that’s the problem with purely capitalist incentives – sales over quality. I visited a few hours ago, and some celebrity teenager is talking about her sexual orientation. Yay for her, but damned if I know why it’s international news.
There is a public good in preserving an impartial public news service, even down to newspapers. Something like Big Issue, maybe, as the old media frontpiece to a full digital service.
Fox News was create by the abolition of the fair and balanced rule. (Not sure if that was precise name.) It told all US broadcasters that in return for being allowed to use the public airwaves, your news items must be fair and balanced. If the PM sounds off in a partisan way for 3 minutes, a spokesperson from the Opposition must get equal time.
On the premise that the uncontrolled free market was the theme of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount or the Ten Commandments (or both), Bill Clinton abolished this regulation.
A similar regulation required a set amount of tv public service advertisements. Things like “carrots are good for you and Coke isn’t.”
Such regulations are NOT difficult to write or enforce.
“Such regulations are NOT difficult to write or enforce”
Not difficult to write….maybe.
But enforce?
Who sets the guidelines and does the enforcing? How do you ensure there is no political influence on that?
But the big issues are how far down the tree you apply ‘fairness’, and how you dealt with comment and opinion.
Would that mean if John Campbell ran an program on inequality critical of the Government – would someone would need to approve the content as fair as in factual? And would it then be required that a balance was provided in the form of a program from a RW journalist defending inequality as a necessary part of a healthy society?
The MSM are biased Right Wing imbeciles
That’s a fair description of Leighton Smith, Larry “Lackwit” Williams, Paul “Kill Them ALL” Henry and Mike “Contra” Hosking. But the rest of them, including Hosking’s catamite Jack Tame, are not so much right wing imbeciles as they are semi-conscious cogs in a machine of propaganda. These slaves often reveal that they are unhappy at having to read the drivel they are given, or—as has been so painfully obvious with Toni Street, Janika Ter Ellen and Perlina Lau—to play the part of simpering offsider to the alpha male.
So tell me. What do you think should be done about it?
They should be confronted whenever they reflexively parrot official lies. Glenn Greenwald does this all the time. Here he is schooling a state servant:
And so does John Pilger, who in 2008 tried to school an appallingly glib, misinformed and clueless Jim Mora….
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/1361626/feature-interview-john-pilger
Confronting the media (as occurs at present) is the only measure that needs to be taken Morrissey?
You don’t see any other changes needed to the current situation?
No, of course it’s not the only thing. But it’s still very important, and it’s a shame that every journalist and activist doesn’t confront the likes of Stephen Sackur or Kirsty Wark or Jim Mora. The media are a de facto arm of government, and they play a crucial role in trivializing public discourse, promoting numbskulls like Hosking, Henry, Leighton Smith and Larry Williams and in largely excluding voices such as Greenwald and, in this country, Gordon Campbell, Jon Stevenson and Nicky Hager.
“No, of course it’s not the only thing.”
What other things do you see as being necessary?
After reading many many posts from you on the topic of the media, I’m genuinely interested to know what changes you think would improve the situation.
But I get the distinct feeling this is a topic that some here don’t want to see freely discussed!
Sorry Sheep, but I’m just on my way out so I can’t write a decent reply to your excellent points. I’ll return to it, perhaps tomorrow.
But for now, my short answer is this: we need a constitutionally guaranteed free press, and we need to prevent politicians interfering with and controlling the media. It’s not an accident that a National Party stooge has been installed at Maori TV and almost immediately all its best journalists have exited the station, that John Campbell has been replaced by that embarrassing gruesome twosome, that Q+A and The Nation are not worth watching, that we see—and worse, hear—Paul Henry and Mike Hosking every morning and night, but rarely if ever see or hear from smart, informed commentators.
But more later, my friend.
A serious public interest blended news service could be established. Get real journalistic talent to moderate and design it – Gordon Campbell, Kim Hill, the academic journalism schools and maybe a constitutional or commercial lawyer. The BBC is the original model, having spawned both Radio NZ and Al Jazeera. A real tech head might have an idea or two too.
“The MSM are biased Right Wing imbeciles.”
We wish they were imbeciles because they would be ineffective. The sad truth is they are damn clever.
I appreciate your point, AmaKiwi. However, I urge you to watch the clip I posted of Glenn Greenwald confronting that pathetic state servant. Which one is clever, and which one is embarrassingly out of his depth?
The right wing has power and dominates the media, which operate effectively as the propaganda arm of the state. That applies in this country as much as it does in Britain or Australia or Canada or Qatar. But that doesn’t mean they are clever, it just means they hold power. As the late Bruce Jesson used to point out, the Business Round Table always got treated with respect, not because their publications were any good—they were in fact intellectually barren—but because they emanated from a powerful lobby that would not be ignored.
I guess we need to be much more careful about the way we hurl around epithets. Stephen Sackur is not an imbecile. Indeed, sometimes even our own Paul Henry and Mike Hosking are capable of rising above the level of moral imbecile and performing the role of decent journalist.
I’ve been one of the worst offenders probably, and I’ve tried recently to tone down my language when talking about these people. Real journalists—as opposed to stenographers and robots like Simon Dallow—and progressive thinkers don’t need to label them with pejorative terms like “toady” and “lackey” and “imbecile”; far better to patiently, politely and persistently confront them when they lapse into lazy recital of official lies. John Pilger, Glenn Greenwald, Nicky Hager, Noam Chomsky and Norman Finkelstein consistently confront hapless recyclers of official cant; there’s no reason we can’t do the same. A good start would be to protest every time you hear a broadcaster call Garth The Knife McVicar a “victim’s rights advocate.”
No they don’t. They operate as the propaganda arm of the corporations and attack the state.
No, that’s not quite right. Take the case of New Zealand for instance: the state (i.e. the Key regime) utilized the media—from snarling attack dogs such as Whaleoil and Mike Hosking to hapless churnalists like Greg Boyed at TVNZ—to attack the democratic, civil institutions of the state, like the independent judiciary and hospitals and schools and the right of citizens to privacy.
The state—-i.e. the regime in power—-is effectively at war with its people. The corporate media play a crucial part in that power struggle.
Although the regime in power is, as you say, at war with the people the regime in power is not the state. The ‘state’ is the people.
That ‘regime’ is the political arm of the corporations as Labour used to be the political arm of the unions (but is now the other political arm of the corporations).
@ Morrissey
Past geniuses of propaganda include Goebels, Napoleon, Caesar, and a thousand others. Try to find ways to refute them. It’s all the opposition can ever do.
Freud and Edward Bernays – the Americans really perfected the art of modern mass propaganda in the 1910’s, then turned it to commercial use on Madison Avenue in the 1920’s.
Goebbels was an avid student of Bernay’s 1928 book “Propaganda.”
That’s a little nest of information that everybody should keep handy. Pavlov too pehaps – all very important once it had been found how plastic human minds and beliefs can be. Scientology too. And the cults of the 1980s and the deprogramming methods used to try and break new beliefs.
edited
“Morrisey-“sometimes even our own Paul Henry and Mike Hosking are capable of rising above the level of moral imbecile and performing the role of decent journalist.”
I wait with bated breath.
nothing. We must all just go back to sleep
Looks like the Herald DigiPoll has pretty much confirmed the recent Roy Morgan results. Nats still up at 50.5%, Lab/Greens split has changed (breathing space for Little..?), but still weak on the left.
I don’t know who the media person is for Labour but I’d be getting on the phone and asking for a please explain as to why Jacinda Ardern and not Andrew Little is shown in the article
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11502827
I agree. It is meddlesome and offensive to put someone who is not Labour’s leader alongside Key to illustrate an article of that kind. Imagine the squawk if instead of Key they put Judith Collins to illustrate an article about a poll.
Isn’t it obvious why?
Little shouldn’t be leader.
The machine rolls on.
Is that the msm or party insiders destabilising Andrew Little?
I’d go for the dirty politics MSM.
They’ve not had much luck with the “angry andy” line, so plan B is to build up a competitor and hope they make a tilt for the leadership.
Robertson’s gone out of his way to show loyalty after the leadership election, so the next in line is Ardern. I suspect she has too much integrity to fall for that trap though.
Well hopefully whoevers in charge of things like that gets on the phone sharpish and ensures Andrew Littles face is put out there
nah.
That would just be portrayed as panic in the face of caucus discontent.
If the herald want to keep building up individual loyal caucus members in the eyes of the electorate, winwin for labour.
Such a shame for the tories that chris carter and shane joones are no longer in caucus, boohoo lol
Damned if you do damned if you don’t but I think Andrew Little needs to get his face out there more
Thats the point of the article
@ Undecided
“Is that the msm or party insiders destabilising Andrew Little?”
You can always count on the msm. I suspect 90% of the time they are just using party insiders.
Perhaps its because they can read.
The graphic says “preferred PM” – and the caption says “The rising popularity of Labour front bench MP Jacinda Ardern is evident in the latest Herald DigiPoll survey.”
I think they must’ve taken this poll at around 4:20pm. Whoever thinks Helen is coming back to rule the roost, her popularity is up 1.6% from the last time they were asked. Also, here is picture of Jacinda. She woman. John man. Like? Random percentage. Tautology. Press send. Story done. Pick up pay check.
It’s a hard-knock life for Audrey,
It’s a hard-knock life for Audrey,
doo do do
be do be
do doo doo
doo be doo…
Is trying to be funny a wise move at this point in your career?
it was quite funny M – especially the doo doo bit
Fair enough Marty. It was certainly funnier and more impressive than anything else he’s written today.
Ah, now I know why the MSM have been talking up Adern’s popularity over the last couple of days – to put another spanner in the works of Labour.
The Kiwi Saver Scam Finally Comes Home To Roost.
Stock markets are, as you know, cyclic. This is why it was STUPID of this government to stop putting money into Cullen Fund when stocks were low. The low time buy ups counteract the high times costs. Buy high and Low and it levels out over time.
IF you are in Mutual Funds for the short game you need to balance your portfolio with more govt bonds, cash etc.
Stock markets, imo, are the intellectual snobs of gambling. A kind of casino if you will.
smoke and mirrors but those on the inside or with huge amounts to play with get advantages and to that extent the size of the Cullen Fund and some kiwisaver funds makes them like insiders.
Tracey, there is nothing cyclical about this crash.
you mean it doesn’t keep happening over and over and over and have been happening closer and closer together since the 80’s?
normal business and financial market cycles are over. The entire system is now completely gamed and manipulated.
where can this be verified?…’New Zealand has about $ 122 billion of derivatives on its book (and yes all of them high risk gambling ones)’
http://www.nzdmo.govt.nz/publications/nzefo/2015 Be my guest. The last time it made the news papers was in 2012 and then it was a mere $112 billion. They are currency swap and other high risk derivatives mostly. We’ve allowed a banker near our wallets just like with Kiwi saver.
many thanks…well looks like we’ve been landed with what Goldman Sachs gamblers called …’crap’ and ‘shitty deals’….cant believe our luck having an ex Wall St gambler as P.M!
On Raglan radio in the next few minutes. <a href="http://www.raglanradio.com/Life stream from here
Planned Parenthood Defends Selling Fetuses To KFC?
http://dailycurrant.com/2015/08/05/planned-parenthood-defends-selling-fetuses-to-kfc/
New undercover footage shows Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Senior Director of Medical Services, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, describing how Planned Parenthood sells the body parts of aborted fetuses, and admitting she uses partial-birth abortions to supply intact body parts.
https://youtu.be/H4UjIM9B9KQ
That does explain why KFC never tastes as good as it did when I was a kid lol
This attack on Planned Parenthood has been well discredited. They do not sell body parts. Women have the option of donating fetal tissue for medical research. All legal and above board. This is an edited video of a set up of similar style to the “Acorn” phony scandal which has also been discredited.
Then what the heck do kfc put in their friers?!?!?!
I’m not sure but their fries have improved immensley over the last few years, still not enough salt on them though
Just as I always thought: babies taste just like chicken.
https://youtu.be/gWSzr8jE-zE
is there a point you are trying to make? because I can’t see what it is. Are we really expected to watch a video over 2 hours long to figure it out?
There are several points, Weka.
The most obvious is what the hell goes into our processed foods?
Nevertheless, if you are genuinely interested you could have viewed the far shorter CNN clip.
Open letter from the Flag Consideration Panel
E ngā suckers.
We want to thank everyone for the 10,292 designs you’ve suggested. Each of these was viewed by every Panel member—which gives the lie to the nasty allegations swirling around that this Panel is nothing but a sinecure for a bunch of nobodies who lacked the integrity to say no to putting their undistinguished names to a farcical vanity project for a frivolous and contemptible Prime Minister. We were, moreover, not impressed with the large number of “satirical” designs, such as the now infamous “laser Kiwi”, which were obviously intended to devalue this very serious process and to waste the Panel’s valuable time.
In reviewing flag designs, first and foremost, we were guided by what an average attendance of four Kiwis—thank you to the tireless local National Party branches throughout the country!—across a range of communities told us when they shared what is special to them about New Zealand.
The message was clear: you don’t really care. Many people wrote in saying: “Keep the Flag, change the Prime Minister”, but the Panel did not find that helpful. Others claimed that this panel was a collection of hand-picked dullards that have the aesthetic sense of a kick in the head, and the historic appreciation of a goldfish. Again, we did not appreciate this kind of feedback or find it helpful.
In finalising the long list we invited a number of cultural (including tikanga), vexillology (the study of flags), art and design experts to talk to us. These experts really impressed the Flag Consideration Panel, as can be seen by their comments: “That was really interesting” (Sir Brian Lochore, ONZ, KNZM, OBE); “Wow, just wow” (Beatrice Faumuina, ONZM); “That was so cool” (Julie Christie, ONZM) and “Really interesting” (Stephen Jones).
As a Panel, we’ve been appointed by government to determine the 4 alternative flag designs in a neutral, non-expert and unbiased way. We are committed to doing that.
We encourage you to make sure you are enrolled to vote so that you can take part in this nationally significant process. We certainly hope you show more enthusiasm than you did when you failed to come to our heavily advertised consultation meetings.
Ngā mihi nui kia suckers.
Regards,
Flag Consideration Panel:
Prof John Burrows (Chair), ONZM, QC
Nicky Bell
Peter Chin, CNZM
Julie Christie, ONZM
Rod Drury
Kate De Goldi (Deputy Chair)
Beatrice Faumuina, ONZM
Lt Gen (Rtd) Rhys Jones, CNZM
Stephen Jones
Sir Brian Lochore, ONZ, KNZM, OBE
Malcolm Mulholland
Hana O’Regan.
https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/open-letter/
Kate De Goldi’s profile in Storylines includes a long and impressive list of her activities. However, it makes no mention of her sterling work—saying “Thank you, that was very interesting” to three or four earnest toilers—-for the Flag Consideration Panel. I wonder why not….
http://www.storylines.org.nz/Profiles/Profiles+D-H/Kate+De+Goldi.html
More staff earning $100,000-plus at Wellington City Council
It is the first time the council has included the lowest pay rates alongside the highest in the annual report.
However, the council’s lowest paid workers, such as cleaners, were contractors and therefore not included in the figures and not eligible for the $18.40 wage.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/71406973/more-staff-earning-100000plus-at-wellington-city-council
Government should not be using contractors for routine tasks as it just adds costs to the budget.
A bit late for that now. We’ve got entire companies contracted out to service water, drainage, parks, parking etc for Councils. A completely unsustainable model.
and I s’pose the contracts are shrouded under commerical confidentially so we cant see them.
Seeing as how imbecile seems to be the word of the day, how about we look at what it means.
As with so many of our perjoratives they are derived from physical or other kind of disability and a time when putting people down for that was the norm.
I kind of like the idea of an imbecile being someone who lacks the support for their argument, not least because that would include Morrissey for part of today’s debate 😉
Someone who supports Paul “Kill them ALL” Henry is ill advised in the extreme to lecture others about the use of pejorative language.
I agree but seeing as how I don’t support Paul Henry, I fail to see what that has to do with anything. Your implication is boring and a dishonest way of debating. Up your game.
Besides, I like a good pejorative, it’s all about how it gets used.
NZ Herald: (Chinese) Stock Exchange Boss Kidnapped by Angry Investors.
Is that why Tim Groser is always overseas?
PLEASE !
These Facebook posts regarding ” Due Authority” and a ” NZ Constitution ” and the Flag and the TPPA and ‘Geoffery Palmers ‘ ( sic ) that are EVERYWHERE on facebook at the moment … seemingly sane people are ‘sharing’ and re-posting this garbage … (example below ) ..is there nobody who can HELP ?
Talk about giving The Left a bad name …sigh
Example :
“”Hey, don’t mean to to freak y’all out (actually, yes I do!) but there’s a lot more to this NZ flag change malarkey than most people realise…
I was open to changing the current NZ flag, but I also didn’t understand (like most people) the LEGAL significance of doing so…
Why not change the flag?
Here’s why not – its called ‘Due Authority’
DUE AUTHORITY in a nation like NZ is represented on the NZ flag by the Union Jack and signifies that we are a constitutional monarchy.
A change of flag means not only that we have taken a major step to removing the DUE AUTHORITY of the crown. It also means we take away the very power which enforces both the 1981 Bill of Rights Act (the closest thing NZ has to an entrenched Constitution) and the founding plank upon which the Treaty of Waitangi has meaning.
It does not matter if you’re pro or anti monarchy but if you take away the DUE AUTHORITY of law (which includes our flag) you then open the gates of hell, or to be precise the means in which John Key can legally sign the TPPA (Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement). Currently if the matter was taken to court it would undoubtedly end up at the Supreme Court.
The Privy Council is our former chief court and unlike the new US-styled NZ supreme Court, has its legal interpretation interpreted by Judges that are picked by the Law Lords of the Common Wealth.
In the new system those Judges are picked by parliament – uh oh.
At the moment it is likely that a legal challenge could be mounted against the TPPA, even if John does sign it, even with the Supreme Court Change, in that it breaches the 1981 Bill of Rights and the Crowns obligation to Iwi as set out in the Treaty of Waitangi.
However, if the DUE AUTHORITY of the State can be removed then the TPPA can not only be signed but it then means that once signed the DUE AUTHORITY of the TPPA would supersede the power of any NZ laws already in place. Such as the 1981 Bill of Rights etc.””
Please feel free to copy & paste or share… A lot of people don’t seek education but will take it when offered! ”
ARRGGHHH !!!
Yep – its hilarious.
Generally my friends are all “righties” and have not shared it on facebook – but have seen it posted in a number of other places.
It makes me worry about people.
I think it harms the anti – TPPA message as opposed to the left in general.
Hmmm yes , that’s a good point ( Harms the anti-TPPA more ) .
I try to refute this every time I see it but it’s a bit like proving the Easter Bunny isn’t real .
“Prove it ‘s not true !” people demand … but where do I start ?
( This is a serious question by the way ! )
Sigh
You sound like a constitutional expert.
Could you show how removing the Union Jack affects the Bill of Rights Act?
I don’t think it does .
I’m appalled and angry at this misinformation and i’m asking for help in refuting it .
all you can do is correct people when they bring out the nuttiness.
but sadly the nuttiness will always exist.
Interesting to see even the great Alpha Coal filing for bankruptcy, together with every other major coal miner in the US.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-gottesdiener/coal-dethroned_b_8038100.html
Killed by cheap gas from fracking, this is the energy industry’s complete regime change.
Huge and terrible foresight of what will happen to the Australian producers, let alone New Zealand’s little ones.
Someone should remind Key that it has been his responsibility for 6 years for the democratic governance of this country, and not to change the rules to suit a certain group in society at the detriment of others especially when it comes to the up keep of state housing so that the people who live here that have a limited ability to change countries or income at will deserve a standard of housing traditionally comparable to the first state houses built for the purpose of decent housing for all
And his constant blaming of the previous Labour govt for the present situation in housing is such that he should be held in contempt by all NZers as he is a leader of a govt unfit to govern this country
In short give the prick the boot
I dont hear any guns firing at the country apart from the ensuing take over of the country thru the TPPA “At the 11th hour ”
Finlayson, you need a boot up your arrogant pseudo legal backside and be held for treason for action against the nations democracy
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11503343
The grossness of The Ponce Key knows no bounds…..this after seven years of holding the ultimate of power in New Zealand, this effete, variously whining/giggling little boy, STILL insisting he has no responsibility for ANY of it ???
At the start it was coquettish, now it’s contempt, unabashed. Such a fraud !
Is Ponyboy saying the $700 million on income-related rents goes to Housing NZ?
What it was like in Britain’s ‘welfare’ system in the 1980s when Sue Townsend was a mother needing money while she brought up her three very young children.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/apr/13/adrian-mole-sue-townsend-welfare
She died this year of a heart attack aged 68. The Guardian obituary is affectionate.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/apr/11/sue-townsend-1946-2014
Are you a John Clarke fan? I don’t know if everyone heard Jesse Mulligan on Radionz on Monday arvo having a good old chin wag with him.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201767742
John has something in Ripcurl I think and has written about his mother Neva in the magazine for NZ writing Overland.
https://overland.org.au/current-issue/
“Mr Little: Did the state house he grew up in have mould and leaks, and is it okay for kids today to live in mouldy, leaky, cold state houses because of lack of maintenance?
Mr Key: No, not from memory. Obviously, the house would have been much more modern back then, given it was so many decades ago. But also I will say that my mother took absolute pride in making sure that she kept the house clean, tidy, and ventilated.”
Ummh……the small matter of the mould in that poor family’s home starting with an unremedied leak from the bathroom of an adjoining unit, you lying shithead.
The Ponce Key mangles the meaning of our language again……Labour “passing the buck….” – to the man who’s been the prime minister for seven years ?????
“I will say that my mother took absolute pride in making sure that she kept the house clean, tidy, and ventilated.”
I was disgusted by this retort in the election debate, and cannot believe he is still using this line. It reveals his level of detachment with real New Zealanders, and his utter contempt fao any less well off than himself, which is ironically “the vast majority of Nuzillanders”
Well ventilated is a problem in winter, or anytime it is cold, and if you live in an area of poor people with young people looking for something to steal opening windows and ventilating may result in your goods being circulated as well as your air. Getting through open windows is well within the roaming, anomic youths’ area of expertise. Yesterday I heard on Radionz about a 90 year old woman who had been cleaned out of all her taonga some with special memories.
Putting sliding window safety catches on at least one opening window per room would help. But it requires tools and some expertise and they cost at least $10 each. Would NZ Stateless Housing regard that as important to spend on? Would doing it yourself be regarded as defacing the house if some paint got chipped or a tool slipped and broke a window pane? Even paying for and trying DIY improvements like that could result in disadvantage.
Open a window when it’s cold, and the house gets colder. If there is heating going, much of it might be lost in the draught created.
The philosophy of National, Act and the RWs who lurk in the shadows of Labour Party: People in nice houses worth millions can have perfectly balanced heating or cooling organised, suitable for the weather. That is okay because they are exceptional people, and deserving of everything they want because they are so good, clever, hard working etc. The people who aren’t just have to suffer the indignities of begging to have reasonable housing and living conditions as would be expected in a modern, prosperous nation.