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:
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.
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
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Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
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Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
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Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
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Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
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“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
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Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 23 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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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:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFTzGZ41oew
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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufzNMqqKCi8
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.