I will confidently predict the Stormy Daniels affair will not hurt Donald Trump, but only because he is already so deeply unpopular and heartily loathed by practically every female demographic in America that in would be difficult to imagine what he could do to chip off the odd one or two women who still support him.
I was talking to a couple of conservative middle aged women on the weekend and the thing that earned their undying loathing was the fact his wife was giving birth at the time. No coming back from that, Donster.
Has anyone noticed the statements from the (insincere) commentariat made on media websites for over 10 years now (since Norman), about how past leaders of the Green Party (when the vote barely got over 5%) had credibility, but not today.
Which is an irony, as probably the most anti-Green editorial written (by the Herald back in 2005) was during the old leadership period. It represents of course, as it did in 2005, fear of a government taking Green issues seriously.
Whether the environment, energy, or a progressive society (feminism, bi-cultural nation, multi-cultural society) etc.
The over the top reaction to comments made by Genter (on the slowing rate of change in the make up of boards) demonstrate the capacity of the mob to claim challenge to established privilege (most wealth and power being held by older white males) is ageist, racist and sexist. The most extreme, unsurpisingly came from the co-apologist for power Hawkesby, suggesting challenge to continuing privilege is yesterdays feminism …
Having spent the weekend back in the provinces I was struck at mutual reinforcement between racism and crime that amplifies each other.
The biggest Pakeha fear in provincial NZ is to lose your job and drop into the “ferals” of the white trash and especially dispossessed and unemployed urbanised Maori. That fear translates to a shocking level of class (not colour) based racism where the the racism comes from the simple fact the poor are overwhelmingly brown. The objectification is appalling – “they” are the problem, “they” are all drug addicts “they” are all lazy.
Now, this is a provincial audience that is fed a constant diet of sensationalist crime stories by our clickbait MSM. The siege mentality is astonishing – everything is padlocked, alarmed and baseball bats and shillelaghs reside under every bed. Yet these people suffer no higher level of crime than Aucklanders.
The fear of crime and the hatred of the poor translates into paranoid assumptions – a Maori in a nice car is all the evidence needed for an immediate assumption of the driver being a LA style gangsta drug dealer. If you point out that a bit of money is now about in Iwi at least due to treaty settlements then the driver is ripping off the taxpayer to sit on their arse smoking drugs.
Fear of crime leads to every unusual activity being labelled as suspicious, which in turn labels every poor brown person being labelled a criminal.
Thus the paranoid reaction to such terms as bi-cultural nation.
It is why NZ First (with many Maori MP’s) promotes jobs in the regions and higher wages while being tough on crime and Maori “separatism” – to be of “common hard working values”.
There is a lot if truth in that Sanctuary – re the media rubbish and conservative mentality- but it’s not so bad everywhere. There is also a lot of good in that tight knit wall that you see from the outside, those communities are very strong and look after each other.
Flip side is suspicion of anyone/thing different.
I see RNZ is blindly pushing ahead with the Russia hysteria narrative that is seemingly being pushed down our throats every single day without even a hint of fairness and balance in reporting….sadly, no surprises here though.
I am not saying Russia didn’t commit this crime, but I am saying I think fairness, balance and cool headed journalistic coverage is what is needed, and I sure as hell haven’t heard much of that in the MSM…or any from RNZ.
Agreed Adrian ,on the really transparent framing of the Skripal poisoning
But I must say I’m not surprised
Being a loyal member of 5 Eyes does not make for independent journalism or foreign policy
I’m pretty disappointed all the same, but I suspect our politicians are advised by those who get their information from the US Embassy /Reuters/AP
No divergent voices please, but its good all the same to see Chris Trotter kicking back in the weekends Press, and there were 3 good letters also questioning pre emptive guilt
And also , Adrian ,
having made such confrontational assertions of predetermined Russian guilt, any investigators will be well aware of the official stance, and will be rather wary, in terms of job security, of deviating from that.
It doesn’t augur well for a demonstrably impartial search for the truth
I hope I’m wrong about that, but the OPCW breached its own terms of chain of custody in the Khan Shaykhoun enquiry, and refused to inspect the Sharyat air base
despite Syrian invitations.
Did you see the reaction of the media to Obama? They have a serious cultural cringe. The MSM want NZ to be a player, get noticed in Moscow, stand resolutely with our allies rattling our rusty sabre and all that colonial stuff. They don’t want us minding our own business and quietly making money all Swiss like. That is far to grown up and boring for our needy media.
Don’t worry I don’t want a dissuasion on moderation, I had a pretty good go at having a open and honest discussion on this whole bizarre banning thing a while back…I came away from that little chat quite depressed….seems a lot of people quite like a rigid and brutally enforced authority guiding them, I guess it makes them feel safe.
Oh well each to their own I say.
Yes. I would like to know too. PM is a valuable contributor to this site. Maybe he went too far on the occasion of the ban but 12 months was way, way too much.
Isn’t it wonderful how the current Government have solved all the bread and butter issues and now have the resources to produce the circuses?
Housing problems – solved
Children in Poverty – solved
Health expenditure – solved
Water pollution – solved.
Nurses pay – solved.
Infrastructure problems – solved.
We can, after a mere five months, forget about all those things and we can now throw hundreds of millions of dollars at the sport of billionaires. Roll on the America’s Cup.
I’m sure that all those people Labour talked about last year who were said to be living in cars will be pleased with their new warm housing they now inhabit. Or not.
I’m also sure they will be off to the waterfront to enjoy looking at the multimillion dollar yachts entertaining current and previous MPs.
Aunty Helen will be particularly pleased that her favourite toy boy Mr Dalton is receiving $40,000,000 to let us have the Cup races in Auckland.
The texting between them will no doubt be in overdrive.
Now will someone who is involved in this ridiculous affair please tell me what I should say to a friend who is still waiting for knee replacement surgery? This is despite being told in August last year that it would be done within six months Should I just tell her she should be proud to sacrifice for Phil Goff’s fantasies?
Well, it is very easy to see where your priorities lie.
I guess you are a great fan of Oracle’s Ellison are you?
What will you say when we spend all that money on your dream at the waterfront and no-one, including your mate Larry turn up?
Meanwhile another lot of children get rheumatic fever because, as you want, the money was spent on your hobby. It clearly won’t bother you, will it?
My, my.
When you lose the debate just abuse the person who was putting forward rational opinions. I see why you are embarrassed having to support the current lot though.
…as the previous National Government has underfunded the NZ public health system to such a degree, we will (as a country) now have to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to make again fit for purpose, so consequently the Government will no longer be able to fund the America’s Cup…if you have a problem with this, please do contact your local National Party representative….oh and here is Jonathan Coleman’s DDI, cell phone number, address and a contact for him in his new job in the private healthcare sector, in case you might want to discuss it with him personally.
Now that would have started some interesting conversations in the smoko room.
You say that like NAct wouldn’t have done it too… not to be in the “they did it too” crowd, but it is highly hypocritical of a right winger to whinge about Labour not solving all the problems created by NAct within 5 months… Also over throwing a few million (of the 10’s of billions being spent, or the billion odd surplus), which if they didn’t would have caused a furore of news articles and angry rich white men ranting about how the Labour govt. was full of no-fun spoilsport femi-nazis.
Oh, and also Labour is getting on and solving those issues…
And you friend can blame National for the funding issues that meant that the DHBs can’t even pay their nurses a decent wage, or be able to ensure their hospitals don’t have mold on the wall, or that they can actually treat patients… I am sure once Labour have had a chance to pass a budget things will get better…
I love the way that you can turn a minimum of $212 million into, as you word it “a few million “.
I wish I was as rich as you must be to regard $212,000,000 as just a trivial amount. Can I please have my share back? I would like to put it toward more useful things than feeding Goff’s and Ardern’s egos.
“blame National for the funding issues”.
When National was the Government she was promised the Op. It was only after the change of Government it has slipped.
” am sure once Labour have had a chance to pass a budget things will get better”.
What difference is that going to make? If they can promise this much money without having any budget allocation for it at all why do they need to worry about silly little things like a budget in order to try and meet things they claimed were important before the election?
“strawmen” he says.
What’s a mere $212,000,000 between friends?
Surely you can think of better things to do with that amount of money?
You would get about 14,000 knee or hip replacements for that amount of money. That would certainly improve a lot of people’s lives wouldn’t it?
Still they are just the little people and don’t matter to the plutocrats like you and your friends.
I guess you would rather play with the Billionaires though?
Did you vote for the parties that degraded the health service to the point your friend is suffering its consequences?
Were you outraged at 20m to Warner Bros or 30 million to Rio Tinto or 11m in money and kind to a Saudi businessman or the SCF gift to foreign investors? Or 26m to the flag? All of those sums could have helped your friend
““blame National for the funding issues”.
When National was the Government she was promised the Op. It was only after the change of Government it has slipped.”
And yes I did vote for National. I didn’t want to because I think 3 terms is enough for any Government. I didn’t think that Winston and his satellites in Labour and the Green parties were up to the job of Government though. Sadly I was right.
Mind you I didn’t think that Labour would tolerate the corrupt behaviour we are getting, particularly from NZF and the Labour Party organisation.
What a silly little fellow you are.
You remind me of the glorious bumper sticker of the 1960s.
“They told me if I voted for Goldwater we would have 500,000 men in Vietnam within 18 months. Well I did and there are”
Our equivalent would be.
“They told me if I voted for National the Government would set up billion dollar slush funds and would put hundreds of millions into the Americas Cup.
Well I did and the Government has.”
Why don’t you crawl back into your hole you stupid obnoxious prick.
National promised to cut taxes and they did – just what you voted for. Then, after the serious decrease in income they also cut government services. A direct consequence of what you voted for and were informed would happen on this site.
Now you’re whinging that you’re being held to account for your actions.
I find it truly fascinating that you regard a few hundred million being spent on a Billionaire’s sport as being necessary Government services.
How ridiculous can you get?
Ah, I didn’t say that. I said that you’re personally responsible for your friends surgery not going ahead because you voted National who cut funding to the hospitals and run down services.
Where to start?
I suppose I can start with the simple fact that National did not cut funding for hospitals or run down the health services. Labour argued that but to do so they had to carry out some very selective date choices.
I commented on this on a couple of occasions.
Anyone who continues to argue that line is either stupid, or lying, or both.
Which category are you?
He’s nothing but an ideological nong, a bit of a c–t. Without union action we wouldn’t have received the 1% per year we have had. The NZNO provides other sevices, indemnity insurance and professional developement among them.
I can just imagine the response an individual nurse would get going cap in hand to a CEO stating the case as to why they deserve more than a collegue, no commercial logic for paying a nurse more than another, we dont bring an income with us unlike a broadcaster who may have a fan base of like minded c–ts.
Shaw’s stated take is that because land-use represents such a high proportion of NZ’s emissions, then energy can be somewhat ignored. There’s an opening for NZ to lead the world (apparently) – a great business opportunity.
I notice that’s echoed throughout the piece (the crest of a wave etc)
And also, in line with that, your quote from Benton is about the future of the world economy – not the world’s biosphere.
Don’t get me wrong. Net zero emissions from land use is a critical part of bringing down carbon levels. If land-use is treated as a discrete sector, and depending on how it’s accounted (so no buying or swapping or any kind of carbon credit nonsense), I fully support it.
But without zero from energy, it’s just so much pissing in the wind. And there is no commitment to get energy down to zero (energy’s just hidden away in the bullshit – ie, inadequate – package deal of net zero).
This morning is a morning when (yet again) I unfortunately find myself concluding that we’s fucked.
We’ve got to get rid of these clowns and their insane attachment to so-called economic viability.
Hirschfeld worth more than her and a huge loss. Dick Griffin must be the closest NZ has to Sir Humphrey surely? Though aside from the headlines I haven’t followed his career closely.
Couple of stupid own goals. And yes the Newstalk ZB Herald has a clear dog in the fight.
Bring back Steve Maharey? Broadcasting almost as important as housing. Lots to do and who to do it?
Looks like they both lied. I haven’t been following it, do you have a sense of why they would have lied about that instead of just being upfront about it?
No idea. The meeting was in December. Unless Hirschfeld had reasons for not letting her bosses know she was talking to Curran in a pre-arranged meeting?
Ardern said today that the minister was “splitting hairs” in deciding initially to exclude the meeting under questioning from the National Party.
Curran had initially omitted the meeting with Hirschfeld from a list of meetings when she was asked about it in a Parliamentary written question in December.
She later corrected her answer to the written question to include the meeting with Hirschfeld.
Curran was defending excluding the meeting in her answer to a Parliamentary written question as recently as February 20 during Question Time in the House.
“If they did have breakfast together, as the Minister’s office has confirmed, and discussed a range of issues about the future of media in New Zealand, why did she not include this extremely relevant meeting in her answer to written question?” National’s broadcasting spokeswoman Melissa Lee asked Curran during Question Time.
Curran eventually responded: “Because I didn’t perceive it as an official meeting.”
Is this partly the result of one of national’s broad fishing questions to minsiters late last year?
Also, NZ Herald is very quick to make this headline news today.
Nothing yesterday from them when the Kim Dotcom decisions was published… and still nothing obvious on the top of their website.
12. MELISSA LEE (National) to the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media: Does she stand by all of her answers to oral and written questions?
Hon CLARE CURRAN (Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media): Yes, in the context that they were given.
Melissa Lee: Does she stand by her answer to written question No. 19129 (2017) in regard to meeting with board members or staff of TVNZ or RNZ since 1 December?
Hon CLARE CURRAN: Yes.
Melissa Lee: How can she stand by that answer when she failed to mention her breakfast meeting with RNZ head of content Carol Hirschfeld on 2 December?
Hon CLARE CURRAN: I have a range of discussions, informal or otherwise, with many people in a range of portfolio areas.
Melissa Lee: If they did have breakfast together, as the Minister’s office has confirmed, and discussed a range of issues about the future of media in New Zealand, why did she not include this extremely relevant meeting in her answer to written question No. 19129 (2017)?
Hon CLARE CURRAN: Unlike the previous Government, this Government consults broadly—[Interruption]
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I think there’s probably quite a lot of interest in this answer. I’m interested in it. I would like to be able to hear it, and there are a number of members, especially on the cross benches, who are interfering with that. Clare Curran—start again, please.
Hon CLARE CURRAN: Unlike the previous Government, this Government consults broadly with a range of stakeholders on a range of matters to ensure that we are out there engaging on the issues and on the policies that we’re proposing—
Melissa Lee: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. .
Mr SPEAKER: No, no—can the member resume her seat. I think I know what the member was going to say, but I’d like to give the Minister a chance to actually address the question before she finishes.
Hon CLARE CURRAN: Unlike the previous Government, this Government’s members engage widely with stakeholders on a broad range of issues on policy matters and to ensure that we’re getting them right. [Interruption]
Mr SPEAKER: No. I don’t think the member needs a point of order. I’m going to ask the member to repeat that question.
Melissa Lee: Thank you, Mr Speaker. If she did have breakfast together, as the Minister’s office has confirmed, and has discussed a range of issues about the future of New Zealand media, why did she not include this extremely relevant meeting in her answer to written question No. 19129?
Mr SPEAKER: And the Minister will answer that, but because of Nathan Guy’s interjections, a supplementary will be taken from the National Party.
Hon CLARE CURRAN: Because I didn’t perceive it as an official meeting. [Interruption]
Mr SPEAKER: No. That’s the end of the supplementaries.
I imagine one of the things ‘casually’ discussed could have been the manner in which the gNats stacked the PS with board members and CEOs who were complete lackies
/speculate speculate
I’m assuming at this stage it was because of the political backlash from Hirschfeld’s superiors had she told the truth. Therefore the meeting/private conversation had to remain confidential. Had the boot been on the other foot and Hirschfeld had spoken to a new National Broadcasting minister, then nothing would have happened.
This state of affairs has been prevalent among some in the Public Service hierarchy for many decades. I can confirm it from personal experience. And I can also confirm the fallout was venomous and went beyond the work-place.
Beneath Mr Griffin’s guileless exterior is a sharp intellect that enabled him to become the voice of politics for 14 years and subsequently to wheel and deal behind the scenes – first as press secretary to Mr Bolger, then as TVNZ’s lobbyist and finally as a public relations consultant in partnership with former TVNZ chief executive Ian Fraser and former National Party president Sue Wood.
…
The latest chapter of that life is overseeing the fortunes of his financially stricken former employer Radio NZ. Mr Griffin was appointed to the board by Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman last year and made chairman six weeks ago. His elevation has raised hackles in some quarters, with one newspaper, The Sunday Star-Times, speculating that the first order of business for one of the National Party’s “greatest mates” could be to prepare Radio NZ for sale “because there’s no good argument for government to own radio stations”.
Looks like Griffin was “tipped off”. Assuming it came from someone in the Minister’s office and the Nats heard from the same source (we don’t know for sure yet), then its looking more and more like a political stunt.
Having said that though, if it was Clare Curran who sought the meeting then she must be reprimanded at the least for attempting to hold a confidential meeting with someone in Hirschfeld’s position… perhaps even lose her portfolio.
Another blindly dogmatical line of questioning by Anne. Labour ministers do things wrong too. But that’s ok coz National would have done worse in your opinion.
Hirschfeld has been fired for not observing public sector neutrality, lying about it and then getting caught. Curran has to be next in the current climate
Sorry, Anne you do not have a private meeting/conversation in the Astoria in Wellington! It is the last place you do that. It is always teeming with public servants, pollies, press etc.
I don’t disagree veutoviper. Clare Curran has a reputation for doing and/or saying stupid things. In fact it has been in the back of my mind that if anyone was going to embarrass the Ardern govt. it was likely to be Curran.
Doesn’t stop it from being a Nat inspired political stunt.
I agree, Anne. Curran is the weakest link in my opinion. I was hoping when she called her press conference an hour ago that she would step down. Sadly not.
But the Astoria is where you go to be seen, not the opposite. Its for the “want to be’s”.
How is this a national inspired political stunt? It’s a minister and a senior executive meeting without the knowledge and sanction of the board. Then lo and behold rnz get $38 million?
Why am I not surprised it was Astoria!
I mean….if they were actually conscious of blue dragons and snr public servants and various thugs still grieving over a gNat loss, at least they could have considered a ‘safe’ environment of Mal and Scott’s in upper Cuba, or perhaps a quick jaunt over the Takas to a litle twee breakfast provider in Martinborough.
I’m feeling increasingly depressed at some of the naivety I continue to see.
But then Jacinda is the same age as my son and some his thought patterns continue to worry me
I agree. It’s probably where a couple of Snr Management PS’s committed to complacency, and spin and preserving their own coziness tested out the blu and white pin strip shirts in order to determine just how sharp they looked.
I was in the area earlier and it struck me by some of the body language, their lack of spatial awareness, basically how they reacted to their immediate environment JUST HOW FUCKING out of touch with the real, and in tune with the virtual some of them were.
Well it should be chief executives who talk to their ministers, or at the very least when their subordinates do it is with their knowledge of what is discussed and what decisions are made. Especially with state broadcasting when editorial independence is so important. The fact Hirschfeld misled her boss about this suggests she knows this.
It was Carol’s job to tell her boss about the meeting, not Currans that is the impression I am getting. If Curran has done anything wrong no doubt we will hear about it soon enough.
By no means – it’s a long arduous task stripping the useless far-right political hacks out of public positions – but it’s important. They won’t all resign as they should like most of Coleman’s health rorters.
Perhaps you could name an example? And then explain how that has any relevance at all to Curran’s incompetence and Arderns increasingly obvious leadership weaknesses?
” to Curran’s incompetence and Arderns increasingly obvious leadership weaknesses”
These are delusions. Leadership is not about yapping in parliament like an abandoned bichon frise – which is why the Gnats cannot get any traction.
You have to wait for an actual screw up to score a hit, and the more often you overegg distinctly minor puddings the less credibility your claims retain.
The Gnats have been a screaming disaster for most New Zealanders – anything that Labour does that distinguishes them from that wretched interregnum is pretty much a step in the right direction.
Ok – so you’re the kind of buffoon who was impressed by Key’s “get some guts” rant. And you miss it.
There’s no point being tough on Curran – the questioning has little or no relation to the public interest.
Histrionics are not particularly indicative of good governance. They’re not even indicative of competent opposition. Your idiots aren’t in charge anymore.
“I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill and think things over” Hal, 2001.
“There’s no point being tough on Curran – the questioning has little or no relation to the public interest. ”
Spoken like a true lefty. Ethics only matter when you’re caught. Those sentiments go down well when paralleled with the Labour Youth sexual abuse accusations.
In the sexual abuse case, I can only quote one of my political favourites “Asked what she would have done if she had not been told, the former prime minister said: “If you get out the book and ask ‘what would Helen have done?’ … draw your own conclusions.” http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12021261
Must be the Gnat motto. Much you lot know about ethics – the party that put Carter in so that no ministerial questions were answered for nine years.
Frankly, Griffin has been so useless his underlings playing away is a given. Why all the fuss? Did you think the coalition was going to let him keep on screwing up till he died of old age? Poor baby!
He’s got a couple of months to run and that’s it.
But give it heaps, you shed votes by the truckload whenever you go full retard.
They had a cuppa and some bikkies – if that isn’t a storm in a teacup, what is?
“Must be the Gnat motto.”
It’s certainly Labour’s motto under Ardern.
“… the party that put Carter in so that no ministerial questions were answered for nine years.”
I am not National, but then watching Mallard run interference for so many inept Labour Ministers, perhaps you have the wrong party and Speaker?
“Why all the fuss? Did you think the coalition was going to let him keep on screwing up till he died of old age?”
This is not about Griffin, it is about the perception (now the reality) that Red radio favours Labour.
“They had a cuppa and some bikkies – if that isn’t a storm in a teacup, what is?”
Then why lie about it?
Ah yes, you belong to some other disingenuous far-right hate group. Of course. No-one would ever want to admit supporting National.
“perhaps you have the wrong party and Speaker?”
Nope – Carter is the kind of scum who in less permissive times would face a severe accounting for his crimes.
“This is not about Griffin,”
Yes it is – Griffin’s not going quietly into that good night, but raging, raging, against the dying of the totally undeserved sinecure.
Then why lie about it?
You’d have to ask Curran – panic attack by the looks. Storm in a teacup though – she need only announce Griffin is not renewed and Labour seeks a suitable replacement. You can beat it up as much as you like, there’s nothing of substance there.
“Ah yes, you belong to some other disingenuous far-right hate group.”
No, I’m a centre right voter. I tend to vote National anyway!
“Nope – Carter is the kind of scum who in less permissive times would face a severe accounting for his crimes.”
Watch Q2 in Parliament yesterday. Mallard was disgraceful, and he is quickly matching Labour for incompetence.
“Yes it is…”
No, it really isn’t. This is about CH lying and Curran being, well, useless.
There’s nothing centrist about National, and sod all right about them either – they are the rotting carcass of the party my family used to vote for – they’re simply not up to snuff. Crooks make for shit government. Always.
“There’s nothing centrist about National…”
Are you delusional? The first party to increase benefits in 40 years. A party who raised the minimum wage every year. A party who borrowed heavily to fund massive welfare expenditure. National are pushing on the left hand door of centre.
Curran pretty much lied about the meeting. I can understand Curran wanting to go around the RNZ Chairman, a Nat party appointment. But to meet with hirschfeld behind Griffin’s back, then to lie about it in the House was a bad move.
And just incompetent. Apparently this off-book meeting was at a cafe frequented by Wellington public service employees…. many of whom have been in the Nat government pocket.
just
*head desk* Not a smart move. The minister for a very important policy needs to be smarter than that.
Is that what all the fuss is about? That Curran was meeting with the then next head of RNZ behind the current head and Nat appointment’s back?
No wonder the rabid right is pissed off. Looks like a massive hit job on Hirschfeld. The Nats can’t fight the inevitable though, and that is the next head of RNZ will be a Labour-led government appointment.
No one cares, Curran ( who seems to give great leadership value with Dunedin ) had a coffee meeting that wasn’t on the books.
Look at it this way, it was actually saving the org. money from being billed for the coffee and fudge cake or whatever that could have come down the pipe if was an official chin wag!!
The actual deep issue is that there is no ‘neutral’ media, it is all coming from somewhere with a point of view, & as is the case in current structures often very lobby driven, and the mis-leading counter productive and wasteful nature of media, which is endemic in modern society, comes from pretending that is not so.
Essentially the govt parties of the day should have it’s own produced content on across the telly channels one night of the week, and the opposition parties another night, with a lesser overall time since they are doing less than the govt.
So the govt. gets say a 2 hour slot and the opposition an one hour slot, which they produce themselves, with all relevant parties having creative control over how and what they present.
Without having thought about ratios, something like National 55 mins and Act 5 * say Tuesday.
Labour gets 70 mins, NZ1st 30 mins and Greens 20 mins the following night.
Meh – they haven’t had time to make more than a damp patch themselves yet – in the squalid Okefenokee created by gross National corruption, laziness, and incompetence.
“Wellington public service employees…. many of whom have been in the Nat government pocket.”
But I promise you not all Carolyn, There are still some public servants with integrity who act in the jobs as neutral public servants although at times it is hard.
Being neutral means not having meetings with the Minister without the knowledge of the CEO (as opposed to the Board).
The Minister likewise has to advise either the CEO or the Board Chair of meetings with people within an organisation.
These rules are not actually hard to comply with. It is just plain commonsense and a curtesy to do so.
If you a “review” you do that independently, you don’t go through an employee of the organisation who is accountable to a CEO.
There are @Vv. There are. Problem is their overlords.
You know, i’m told there are decent folk in INZ, AND worksafe, and the Labour Inspectorate among other agencies.
I’ve met some of them. It doesn’t/ hasn’t changed many of the outcomes much.
And if (say) Curran was trying to shoulder tap CH for a position in a new improved environment, or tryng to get an understanding of the existing environment RNZ staff are labouring under, she needs to learn a few tricks from the previous government. Perhaps Setevie Choice is now available to buy advice from.
Ok, this looks like the timeline on this whole issue.
On Tuesday, 5 Dec 2017, Carol Hershfelt and Clare Curran met for breakfast in a Wellington café frequented by many other pollies, parliamentary press people, public servants etc. This is by no means strange or unusual. Around downtown Wellington you often see MPs meeting publicly with MPs from different parties, public servants, business people, press people etc at all sorts of venues and times.
On Thursday, 7 Dec 2027, Clare Curran also met with the Board of RNZ.
On 7 December 2017, Melissa Lee filed a Written Question 191129 (2017) to Curran:
19129 (2017). Melissa Lee to the Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media (Minister – Clare Curran) (07 Dec 2017): Has the minister met with Board members or staff of TVNZ or RNZ since 1 December 2017 and, if so; what were the dates of those meetings and the names of those attending from either TVNZ or RNZ as applicable?
Hon Clare Curran (Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media (Minister – Clare Curran)) replied: Corrected reply: I had an informal breakfast with Carol Hirschfeld from RNZ on 5 December 2017 and I met with the Board of RNZ on 7 December 2017. The following staff members also attended the meeting with the Board: Paul Thompson – Chief Executive, Carol Hirschfeld – Head of News, Glen Scanlon – Head of Digital, Alma Hong – Chief Technology & Operations Officer, Alan Withrington – Head of Business Transformation & Strategy, Heather Abbot – Executive Assistant. (Cannot find when the original answer was filed or the corrected one.)
On Friday, 8 December 2017, Lee followed up this single question with 24 further written questions to Curran about various subjects directly relating to RNZ and/or seemingly unrelated but most of these latter questions started with “As of 7 December 2017, …?” (In total Lee asked something of the order of 71 Written Questions of Curran in Dec 2017.)
In December 2017, Melissa Lee also asked two Oral Questions of Curran but neither related directly to RNZ. On 14 Dec, Q11 was a general question re broadcasting priorities etc; and on 20 Dec, Q12 was about the difference between the Government Chief Technology Officer, the Government Chief Information Officer, and the new Chief Technology Officer role that Curran had created.
On 20 February 2018, however, Lee first raised in the House Curran’s meeting with Hirschfeld on 5 December in Oral Question 12; and she then followed up on this on 21 February in Q12 and in the General Debate. Hipkins answered Q12 on behalf of Curran on 21 Feb.
Since then, Lee has raised three further Oral Questions of Curran in question time but none have related to the Herschfeld/Curran breakfast: Q9 on 27 Feb, Q7 on 1 March and Q12 on 22 March. I haven’t checked Lee’s Written questions to Curran in 2018 – big job!
Going back, to the Written Questions filed by Lee on 7 and 8 December, like lawyers, MPs rarely ask loaded questions without knowing what the answer should be; or they ask fishing questions because they have some knowledge/suspicion and want more.
Looking at these written questions and the subjects raised and their timing, IMO Lee heard about the Curran/Herschfeld meeting almost immediately (unsurprising considering the venue) and also about the Board meeting – and may have also been briefed by someone as to some of the subjects discussed at one or both of those meetings.
The fact that Curran considered her meeting with Herschfeld an informal one and did not register it as a formal meeting, IMO is not unusual. But how Curran handles questions in the House leaves a lot to be desired, and this rather than anything underhand may be to blame for the situation she now finds herself in. I am not making any judgement re Herschfeld and her relationship/transparency with her CEO and Board, but I am sad as she is a very talented person and will be a loss to RNZ.
Radio New Zealand is having various internal ‘issues’and is like many state underfunded entities. RNZ also has right wing senior management and Carol probably had a different view, which she was seeking a ‘work around’ and chatting to Minister Curran. I have little faith that the Minister is up to the task of fixing our rubbish TVNZ and Public Broadcasting in general. A sad loss. Major pruning required in our Public Media.
“RNZ also has right wing senior management and Carol probably had a different view.”
This is probably closest to the truth re the resignation. Having been placed there by the last government the RW bosses at RNZ refused to support her. So she left.
Ever wonder how the Nats learned about the meeting?
Radio New Zealand’s chairman Richard Griffin says he uncovered the discrepancies about Carol Hirschfeld’s account of a secret meeting with Broadcasting Minister Clare Curran after a tipoff.
Griffin says a personal source contacted him late last week to tell him that the meeting between Hirschfeld, Radio NZ’s head of content, and Curran was not coincidental and was in fact scheduled in the minister’s diary.
One minute (Richard Griffin) is a journalist; the next he’s prime minister Jim Bolger’s press secretary…then a TVNZ’s lobbyist and finally a public relations consultant in partnership with former TVNZ chief executive Ian Fraser and former National Party president Sue Wood.
His elevation has raised hackles in some quarters, with one newspaper, The Sunday Star-Times, speculating that the first order of business for one of the National Party’s “greatest mates” could be to prepare Radio NZ for sale “because there’s no good argument for government to own radio stations”.
Dickie must think all his Christases had come at once!
A reason to assist in getting rid of CH.
The hypocracy and arrogance of the gNats never ceases to amaze me. But seriously!!! Labour need some learnings if we’re not to belive they aren’t complete masochists.
I’m not suggesting they need to lose all principle and go the dirty politics way….but they DO need to challenge the word of their ‘public service officials’ (read stacked Natzi Party CEOs and boards and Snr Management) a fucking sight harder.
Yes people….they might come across as nice blokes and blokesses, and yes H1 and H2 did it too in the name of pragmatism, but the uphill.shit.push you face is not only your VERY worst enemy, but’ll prevent you from doing anythung that could mildly be seen as progressive.
But then ya know, maybe a progressive agenda is not really what you’re about
I tend to agree with you Mathew!
I always thought RNZ+ might be a good start, but not very ambitious. Same with CBB (I forget their rebranding’)
But then I come from the perspective that public money is for public good…in this case public service media. And there is no reason a population of 4.5 mill can’t have a Natrad, a concertFM, AND an ONAIR 103FM The Wireless ( for people who grew up in the digital/convergant/divergant age.
Nor is there a reason a TV1 (TVNZ7), TVNZ2 drama/music/NZ cultural identity AND KidzoneTv can’t be accommodated.
And I say that bcos currently we have an RNZ, a TVNZ, A NuZull on Ear and a commercial Kordia. All complete with their highly-paid CEOs and boards and bureacracies and crony appointments.
I know the ideologically inclined can’t get past the fact that there is no reason TVNZ or Kordia ( if it still is….it’d not surprise me if gNats managed to flog it off) HAVE to remain SOEs delivering a commercial return.
There is also no reason why (other that neolib thinking and ideology) cannot use income from publicly owned commercial enterprise to offset the costs in providing services in the interests of the public good
Philg
Which you are not allowed to do with non-notified meetings with employees of the organisation. The normal approach is to get external trusted advice. There are heaps of “friendly” senior media people who could do that. You then act on that.
Just a question @Wayne.
As you know, sovereign governments have the ability to change legislation and rules. They have even been known to flout law in the knowledge THEIR citizens (Tex Payas if u prefer) will pick up the tab.
Is your thinking and ideology so constrained – and not just you….still some in the Labour Party…..possibly even our new PM, that you fail to remember that.?
I mean I’m not sure your ilk has managed to dispose of the kitchen sink yet, or our ability to legislate.
It’s only blind failed ideology and timidity that appears to be getting in the way
Wayne, this is not a ‘normal’ situation. There is clearly a change of direction in Broadcasting Policy and direction. How would one change a culture from below? CC possibly thought the current leadership was tainted. and sought, off the record opinion. CC didn’t go about it the right way. She was naive and CH miscalculated. A mistake that was exploited by u no who.
The world ultimately will have a single currency, the internet will have a single currency. I personally believe that it will be bitcoin…[this will play out] probably over ten years, but it could go faster
So the author of the article ran a few calculations:
So what would the monetary system world look like if Mr Dorsey, per chance, turned out to be correct…
The year is 2028: Niall Ferguson is World President, ruling the smog-darkened skies of mother earth with a waifish fist.
Bitcoin is the global currency following the Hodling Uprising of ’21, funded by a shadowy triumvirate: Satoshi, revealed to be Alan Sugar, and the Winkleveii.
With Ferguson as their puppet, the three control 5 per cent of the world’s money.
Using that power, they have directed much of the world’s resources towards one end: bitcoin mining.
Floating nuclear power-plants bob over sunken lower-Manhattan, gargantuan hydro-electric dams feed off dissolving ice caps and sub-Saharan Africa is decked in solar-paneled splendour.
The incessant hum of graphic processors has become the soundtrack to life on earth, as fresh bitcoin is mined and recycled in an endless loop.
Reality defies the delusions of the rich yet again.
PS. You will need a log in to read that opinion piece.
Herald going hard on Curran with multiple breaking news banners and even a live feed!
Remember the Herald now competes for funding from NZ on Air (or its replacement), and will be a direct competitor for visual content delivery with RNZ+ when it goes ahead…
And how many hours are they guaranteeing because happen to know that Sky City as well as paying historically appalling rates and importing in 600 chefs from overseas to cover it – they also have the equivalent of zero hour contracts for many of staff with 40 hours not guaranteed.
So good to see $20 p/h minimum but how many hours are actually guaranteed – 40 and enough to live on?
Hi SaveNZ, SKYCITY abolished so-called ‘zero hours’ contracts two years ago. We only ever had a handful of people on them – around 30 out of a staff of 6000, and they were in our Conventions on-call team. Everyone is now on either full time or part-time contracts depending on their own requirements as well as those of the business.
I’m not too sure where you got the idea we imported 600 chefs. We don’t even have 600 chefs. We do from time to time apply to Immigration NZ for special category visas for positions that are hard to fill in NZ, but more because of a specialist culinary skill than anything to do with wages. While wages in the hospitality industry are not high, SKYCITY doesn’t pay minimum wage and tries to be above-market in our wage settlements. We also train our own chefs – you might not know we have the largest apprentice chef programme in New Zealand outside of the military.
As to whether $20 an hour is enough, that’s an ongoing discussion, and we certainly don’t claim this to be the end of the journey towards sustainable wages. But it is a pretty decent first step, and one that it would be good to see other corporates taking before government mandates it on them.
Regards
Colin Espiner
GM Communications
SKYCITY Entertainment Group
Today is day 2 of the Green Party giving their allocated oral questions to the National Party/Opposition – as it is day 31 of the oral question roster.
Last week their only question allocated on 21 March at Q10 was taken by Dr Nick Smith and ended up being quite a hot section of question time, with Smith coming back later to make a Personal Explanation. https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=198885
The Green Party were allocated the Q12 slot today – and this is again taken up with a question from Dr Nick Smith. I know it is just day 2 but why Smith again?
Oh, I see. It is about the waka jumping Bill.
12. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister of Justice: Does he agree with the statement by Rt Hon Winston Peters on electoral law regarding MPs joining other parties, when he stated, “Members of Parliament have to be free to follow their conscience. They were elected to represent their constituents, not swear an oath of blind allegiance to a political party. If an MP feels that membership in another elected party better serves his or her constituents then that can be put to the test at election time”?
Newshub Wow Mike is that Hirschfeld resigning what a well I won’t say but some will be happy .
It is not on that the police in America shot that poor Brown boy 20 times come on that’s the mentality of the police being untouchable . Minority cultures are getting treated like dirt in this country to we will end up like America if those old white men in charge of our civil service aren’t forced to retire and retire there bigot racist chauvinistic views with them they have a 80% majority in New Zealand management . Ka kite ano
The old saying treat people like you would like to be treated rings true to
ECO MAORI because eventually bad karma will bite one on the ass .Ana to kai
Ka kite ano P.S sorry for being in the middle of your thread I will stay in the old open mike from now on
And misogynist also applies in relation to his attitude towards women, especially those that challenge him. All nice on the surface, but it surfaces well and truly in such instances.
If I were a cupid matchmaker, i’d pick Dickie as the perfect partner for Chris Finlayson
They could busy themselves in their dotage looking out over Cook Strait, making each other cups of English Breakfast, monitoring each other’s bef sores, and pondering how they might go about privatising that Moa Point Sewage facility.
No doubt the young Ralston and his bitch the Fran would visit from time to time to check on their welfare. (Wouldn’t want a minimum wage Philipino Age care worker to have to turn either after all)
And if things turn to shit…well no doubt Aunty Ruth (as in Ruth Richardson Limited) would be on hand to advise
Help yourself to anything you like or agree with and feel free to add anything else you feel strongly about 🙂
27 March 2018
‘Submission’ on the 10-year budget and Auckland Plan 2050.
First name: Penny
Last name: Bright
Postal address: 86A School Rd, Kingsland Auckland 1021
* I believe there is not enough time or detailed financial information provided in the “Consultation Document” for the 10-year budget and Auckland Plan 2050.
Exactly how much public money is being spent – on what?
Exactly how much money is being borrowed, from whom exactly and for what exactly?
Exactly how much public money is being exposed to derivatives trading across Auckland Council and Auckland Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs)?
* I do not accept that all this ‘growth’ has to come to Auckland.
There should be a national population growth, migration and regional employment strategy, in order to stop overloading our transport, water services, housing and related infrastructure.
* This Auckland (forced) ‘Supercity’ amalgamation may have been successful for corporates, property developers, investors, bankers, land-bankers, but it has been a disaster for local communities, residents and local small businesses.
* There is now very little ‘local’ about Auckland local government.
* The Auckland region is now being run ‘like a business – by business- for business’, and the mechanism for this effective corporate takeover, has been the replacement of 8 former democratically-elected Councils, with 1 ‘Supercity’ Council, and first 7, now 6 unelected, (CORPORATE) ‘Council’ Controlled Organisations (CCOs).
* CCOs need to be abolished and key Auckland infrastructure and trading functions brought back ‘in-house’ under the direct control of Auckland Council.
* Water, wastewater and stormwater need to be integrated and brought back under direct Council control.
* Auckland CCO Auckland Transport (AT) is particularly ‘out of control’, destroying local communities and causing significant congestion, by pushing urban cycleways on main arterial roads and suburban shopping centres, to help drive intensification.
How? By removing parking (for cycleways) to help kill off local small businesses ‘no parking – no stopping – no shopping’.
Who will benefit when these small businesses wither and die?
Property developers and corporate shopping malls.
* I do NOT support a ‘Regional Fuel Tax’.
There is no such thing as ‘PUBLIC’ transport in Auckland.
Bus, ferry and train services are privately owned / operated / managed.
* Make Auckland transport PUBLIC again – PUBLICLY owned, operated and managed.
* Stop the proposed spending of another $635 million on another 150kms of Auckland cycleways, in order to increase the number of cycling commuters from 1-4%.
The 99% of commuters who are not cyclists are entitled, as directly-affected residents, businesses, customers and local communities to proper, lawful consultation.
* I am opposed to ANY further rates increases when Aucklanders do not know exactly where public monies are being spent on private sector consultants and contractors, and the NZ Public Records Act 2005 is not being lawfully implemented and enforced:
(1)Every public office and local authority must create and maintain full and accurate records of its affairs, in accordance with normal, prudent business practice, including the records of any matter that is contracted out to an independent contractor.
* Provide the following details of awarded contracts on the websites of Auckland Council and Auckland CCOs:
The unique contract number; name of consultant/contractor; brief description of scope of contract; contract start/finish dates; exact dollar value of every contract, including those sub-contracted; how contract was awarded, by direct appointment or public appointment or public tender.
* Auckland Council and CCOs cannot check for ‘value for money’ or ‘cost-effectiveness’ if you don’t know exactly where the costs fall.
* Auckland Council and CCOs cannot provide genuine transparency or accountability without full and accurate records available for public scrutiny.
Wherever possible, public services should be brought back ‘in house’, as international research has proven that the contracting-out of public services can be twice as expensive:
“POGO’s study analyzed the total compensation paid to federal and private sector employees, and annual billing rates for contractor employees across 35 occupational classifications covering over 550 service activities.
Our findings were shocking—POGO estimates the government pays billions more annually in taxpayer dollars to hire contractors than it would to hire federal employees to perform comparable services.
Specifically, POGO’s study shows that the federal government approves service contract billing rates—deemed fair and reasonable—that pay contractors 1.83 times more than the government pays federal employees in total compensation, and more than 2 times the total compensation paid in the private sector for comparable services.”
Good morning The AM Show Duncan off to the boxing a good on you .
There is know way I’m getting in a self driving car that could be hacked and take you to your end.
As for trumps approval rating he is cheating and getting the data changed just like he has the words Global Warming Climate change suppressed in the western Papatuanuku World Media that’s reality his stats are going in the opposite direction to what the punters are saying .What about the controversy over Stormy Daniels ????????????. Ka kite ano
The sandflies were doing what they do best today at a sports event spinning——-about me and what happened .There was a incident with the sandflies in Tauranga today I was not involved just the sandflies Ana to kai
That sense able sentenceing trust is another old man who should retire his archaic old views it is plane logic that there are more problems in a house with no money than the neighbours who have heaps of money for one the poor family has to work 60 hours just to keep afloat who’s looking after the mokos while they are slaving away. How does the SS TRUST Get air time well the exclusive brethren funds them this trust is just a extention of the exclusive brethren garth mc vicar is a idiot puppet. Ana to kai
Newshub The Russia thing shows me the world media spin things out of context to suite there objective that is to discredit New Zealand on OUR stand on the Russia incident.
The privacy commissioner is full of —– what about the 3 times I used the privacy ACT and 3 times I got nothing why target Facebook I say that someone is trying to use Facebook as a scapegoat for the cambridge analytical scandal they are to scared to drag the other culprits into the Arena they are to powerful this is pick on the smallest. O that’s right a poor brown person has no rights in the west. Ana to kai ka kite ano
NewsHub its raining in Rotorua at the moment. I have a great like of Birds now just learnt the real value of OUR bird’s That wedding was hard case ka kite ano P.S I m watching The Crowd Goes Wild now on TV 4
The Crowd Goes Wild James McOnie when Mulls started back at The Rock for the first couple of days I thought he was you LOL my son in law corrected my mistake apologize to Mulls for me James . We have a good line up of sports this weekend yeea Kia Kaha
ka kite ano P.S did you feel the thunder
Campaigns. Culture. Character. And perhaps most of all, Covid. Now the House has risen and politicians are hitting the road to pitch their woo to voters, those will be front of mind for the candidates.They were also where the new season of politics podcast Caucus began on Thursday. This year ...
There are only a few days left to make a submission on Statistics New Zealand's consultation on sex and gender identity statistical standards. This represents a really important step for recognising the very real diversity of gender, including people with no gender, and ensuring everyone has the option to see ...
Since finishing the Cranky Uncle vs. Climate Change book, I’ve frequently dipped into that 176-page clip-art library, reshaping the cartoons to fit the 1920 x 1080 pixel format for Powerpoint presentations. I’ve also adapted many of the cartoons for the Cranky Uncle video series. Over the last few weeks, a few people ...
NewsHub Nation has launched a new podcast, "Supplementary Question". Their inaugural episode is about the OIA, and asks "is our most important transparency law fit for purpose?" While they interviewed Justice Minister Andrew Little and Ombudsman Peter Boshier for this, there's not actually a lot of them in there, and ...
Remember the Ruataniwha dam? The Hawke's Bay Regional Council wasted $14 million trying to push this environmental disaster through before the Supreme Court ruled that the land swap it relied on with DoC was illegal. At the end of it, they wrote off the money and sold the existing consents ...
For years we've had a housing crisis in New Zealand, driven by immigration-driven population growth and the market refusing to build enough houses (and enough of the right sort of houses) to meet it. As a result, people can't get homes, while Boomer landlords leech away their income and parasitical ...
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... Drawdown Review 2020: How To Address Global Warming In A Responsible Manner Source: Project Drawdown Project Drawdown is a non-profit organization that relies ...
Dr Tim Chambers, Prof Nick Wilson, Jayne Richards, A/Prof Simon Hales, Dr Mike Joy, Prof Michael Baker (author affiliations*)Increasing water-related health threats, notably the waterborne campylobacter outbreak in Havelock North, have highlighted failings in NZ’s regulatory system for drinking water. In this blog we consider how the new Water ...
Yes, an election is in the offing – and we all know that elections can be polarising, as parties of the left and right square off against each other. But we should not allow our party and political allegiances to obscure the fact that, in a properly functioning democracy like ...
Dr Sommer Kapitan, Auckland University of Technology, and Dr Patrick van Esch, Auckland University of TechnologyThe Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill will limit vape sales at dairies and service stations to only three flavours, and make vaping illegal in smokefree areas. Vaping laws will be more ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Aug 2, 2020 through Sat, Aug 8, 2020Editor's ChoiceFive Years After Speaking Out on Climate Change, Pope Francis Sounds an Urgent AlarmThe encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ motivated many people ...
From some quarters, incessant scaremongering. From others, it’s a full-on tilt into touching the alarmist buttons a little too readily (uncertain times make for very captive audiences with this angle of attack). The (so-called) Opposition (and merely regarding them as that seems to be a far looser term now ...
National Party leader - Judith CollinsElections often bring out the best and worst in politicians. Some rise to the occasion and provide us with a clear vision for the future. While others wallow in resentment and controversy, over-relying on attack politics to try to attain the interest of voters.That’s been ...
The attempts to sabotage Corbyn's leadership seems likely to do more damage than Corbyn supposedly ever could have done, even if all the stories about him were true:I was reluctant to say anything but this is too important, the full story needs to be told.Don’t let anyone ever tell ...
Good day to everyone. I’ve been asked by Mr Thinks to come here and talk to you all about my concerns regarding the government response to Covid-19. We’ve been living through this pandemic for, what seems like, years. Years and years and years. Why else would the National Party have ...
‘Good Economics for Hard Times’ should be on your reading list. New Zealand does not have a Minister of Labour. It has Ministers of Immigration and Workplace Relations and Safety but there is no minister with responsibility for the labour market. That responsibility was abolished in 2012 when ...
Back in the Kyoto era, the international climate change regime included a Clean Development Mechanism to fund emissions reduction projects in developing nations. Essentially someone would certify that a project - e.g. building a windfarm, or installing energy-efficient lightbulbs - would reduce emissions over and above "business-as-usual". The project would ...
As the classic MMP cartoon goes, just look at who is against it. Yesterday, the Hamilton City Council voted to use STV for its next two local body elections. The move was initially opposed by deputy mayor Geoff Taylor. The reason? Because a voting system which provided accurate representation and ...
On Wednesday evening (which in Parliament’s weird world technically was still Tuesday because urgency had been taken and so time stood still), MPs united to remove a pretty terrible piece of law from our statute books. No real fanfare or fireworks accompanied this action. Indeed, I didn’t even know about it ...
By Geoffrey Miller Prominent refugee advocate Murdoch Stephens says he is disappointed by Judith Collins’ reaction to Immigration New Zealand’s decision to grant refugee status to Kurdish-Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani. Judith Collins told media last month that “there’s a lot of concern in New Zealand about what they see as ...
Hello all. Judith here to talk about how National are going to take the election in September. The National Party prides itself its unity and cohesion. We are working together to deliver for New Zealanders. First of all, ee are a strong team. We are a very strong team. Our ...
Parliament has just begun the adjournment debate, signalling the effective end of this Parliament. So it seems like an appropriate time to assess Labour's term in office. Unfortunately, its a pretty dismal assessment. Labour campaigned on one thing: change. Not just a change in who got the top jobs and ...
Our climate change policies are insufficient to achieve our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, according to independent assessor Climate Action Tracker: New Zealand won’t be carbon neutral by 2050 without much stronger policies, says an independent analysis by Climate Action Tracker. The non-profit highlighted a lack of active ...
That was clearly a huge explosion. Just after the explosion, we see a cloud of ‘fog’ moving outwards at high speed. This is a shockwave, rather similar to that which causes a sonic boom. The ‘fog’ is caused by water condensing from the atmosphere in areas of intense low pressure ...
Can we postpone this year’s election? Quite frankly, the political parties don’t seem ready for it, and aren’t about to offer voters the necessary policy choices for the unprecedented times we’re in. We’ve ended up with a campaign focused on scandal, personality and leadership, with a policy void that’s worse ...
It is the last sitting day of Parliament, and the last question time before the House is dissolved. So, are there any questions about the damning findings of the Hit and Run inquiry, and how the government plans to bring the military back under democratic control? Of course not. ...
Property speculator - John KeyThe National Party must be in dire straits to have to rely on John Key to campaign on their behalf. Not only has the former PM been in the news claiming the recently released unemployment figures aren’t accurate, the fool has also been promoting the opening ...
Nothing Too Drastic: Few would dispute that the Left, today, are few in number. Is their failure to make the public aware of and act upon the manifest failures of the present system attributable to their lack of active energy and intelligence? Or, is it simply because the Left’s ideas ...
by Don Franks This talk was given to the Wellington Anti Capitalist Alliance, fifteen years ago. The ultimate weapons of mass destruction so far seen on this planet have been used just twice, 60 years ago this month. August 6 and August 9 1945 witnessed the US atomic bombing ...
After I noticed that my name had been taken yet again in vain by my friendly antagonist Tom Hunter over at No Minister, I went over to see what the fuss was about. Nothing much, but then I discovered a post about the Operation Burnham Inquiry by Psycho Milt. I ...
The COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 was extended today, until December 1st or the tenth sitting day following the resumption of Parliament after the election. It seems like a necessary extension. While we currently have eradicated the virus in New Zealand, it is still banging at the door, and ...
One of the government's key policies - extracted by NZ First as part of its coalition agreement - is the "Provincial Growth Fund": $1 billion a year spent on creating jobs in rural New Zealand. Yesterday the Auditor-General issued a report on the fund, finding that it lacks transparency, and ...
The Warehouse, one of New Zealand's biggest retailers, has decided to stop selling coal. Good. Coal is a dirty, polluting fossil fuel, and the less of it we have out there, the better. Retailers choosing not to sell it sends a clear message that this is not a fuel we ...
The labour market statistics have been released, and they show that unemployment actually dropped last quarter. All told, there are 111,000 unemployed - 15,000 fewer than when the government took office. But before anyone thinks that the pandemic hasn't put people out of work, remember that this is for ...
Judy KavanaghI’m OK with wearing a CovidCard. But are you? There’s no point me doing it alone.The author modelling a (fake) CovidCard. I didn’t know much about the CovidCard proposal until I read Dave’s latest blog post. You would wear the card visibly on your person. It ...
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzWhy can’t I use the battery from my electric car ...
As many good things come in threes (as the saying goes), we are happy to announce a third partnership between Skeptical Science and other websites. Fakebook.eco in Brazil is joining Klimafakten.de in Germany and Nauka o Klimacie in Poland to leverage translated rebuttal material and to make the information readily available in other ...
This interview on RNZ with Ross Tucker, the scientist who headed a review of transgender athletes playing in women’s rugby, discusses the findings of the review and what it means for women in sports. The review that World Rugby undertook had a broad range of independent experts and included a ...
Siouxsie WilesThe restrictions in place for metropolitan Melbourne now are in some ways stricter than those that were in force during New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdown. A curfew is in place and most people have to wear masks when they leave their home – neither of which happened in New ...
On Friday the Hit and Run inquiry delivered a devastating report which found that NZDF had systematically misled Ministers over civilian deaths. The report called into question civilian control of the military (and indeed, military control of the military), a fundamental principle of our democracy. So you'd expect our politicians ...
Let's Do This Again: What else can Jacinda do in a political environment so bereft of imagination and courage but seek a continuance? If she trades upon the extraordinary personal qualities that she has, miraculously, carried with her into the office of Prime Minister, then I, for one, will offer ...
How corrupt are the New Zealand Police? This corrupt: On 10 February 2019, Police attended a family harm incident. The suspect attempted to run the attending officers over in a driveway with his car, narrowly missing them, before fleeing the scene. A short pursuit followed, ending when the suspect stopped ...
Parliament's triennial Review of Standing Orders was released today, and it contains a number of welcome, if minor, improvements. The ones that caught my are: A move to encourage "pre-legislative engagement" - the government consulting widely on legislation before it is introduced - by promising easier passage (e.g. with ...
Lauren Vargo, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of WellingtonGlaciers around the world are melting — and for the first time, we can now directly attribute annual ice loss to climate change. We analysed two years in which glaciers in New Zealand melted the most in at least four ...
Caroline Shaw, Anja MizdrakE-bikes are everywhere. Sales are booming and predicted to overtake sales of new cars in a few years. There were three times as many e-bikes and e-scooters imported into NZ in 2019 alone as there are e-cars in the entire country. You can’t go out in ...
New Zealand First is facing a difficult struggle to get re-elected, but Josh Van Veen, who was once a researcher for Winston Peters, argues that there is still a very significant section of cultural conservatives who oppose mass immigration and political correctness and might yet be won back over to ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk Many Americans these days seem unable to avoid controversy on practically any topic, so why not embrace the discord and wade into the especially volatile arena of nuclear energy? Advocates claim it’s the only way to meet global climate goals, ...
Can we trust New Zealand’s military? There must now be serious doubt, given the landmark report released on Friday concluding the investigation into allegations made in the book Hit and Run by Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson about a 2010 SAS killing raid in Afghanistan. The most recent Colmar Brunton ...
In New Zealand, we've just had the report of the Hit and Run inquiry, which found that a New Zealand led raid had accidentally killed civilians, including a child. meanwhile, around the same time, the British SAS was conducting its own raids in Afghanistan, and theirs were a hell of ...
In addition to establishing a process for setting emissions reductions plans, the Zero Carbon Act established a process for managing the risks of climate change. The first part of this is the preparation of regular risk assessments, looking at the risks to our economy, society, environment, and ecology. The first ...
Over on The spinoff, Amnesty International's Meg de Ronde has a response to Friday's release of the Hit and Run report. And in response to Attorney-General David Parker's claim that the government was being "transparent" by releasing the report, its titled "we shouldn’t have to work this hard to get ...
Story of the Week... Opinion of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... Rising Seas Could Menace Millions Beyond Shorelines, Study FindsAs climate change raises sea levels, storm surges and high tides will ...
There's an election next month, so you'd be expecting political parties to be telling us what they stand for and what they'd do if they'd win. But while the Greens have given us a detailed policy platform, and National has talked about roads and austerity, Labour, currently leading the polls ...
"Who's youse accusin' of innference?" Without the timely intervention of a team of top American political consultants and campaign experts, Boris Yeltsin would never have won his second term as President of the Russian Federation. The Russians waited 20 years to return the favour.WHEN IT COMES to the disinformation game, ...
As polling day in the American presidential election draws closer, things are looking bad for Donald Trump. The polls show that he is tracking well behind his Democrat rival. Most people assume that the President will be striving might and main to avoid what looks increasingly likely to be a ...
Our health professionals do an amazing job. Image credit: Wikipedia – Cardiac surgery. Finally, I have got back to these rankings. A long period in hospital and computer problems meant the June 2020 rankings were abandoned. Now, with a new personal defibrillator implanted in my chest and a new hard ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, July 26 through Sat, Aug 1, 2020Editor's ChoiceThe four types of climate denier, and why you should ignore them allThe shill, the grifter, the egomaniac and the ideological ...
Over the last few days, reports have emerged of people travelling from New Zealand and testing positive for Covid-19 upon arrival at their destination. First in South Korea and now in Australia. What might these positive tests mean?They’re false-positives As Toby Morris and I have explained before, there are ...
Former National Minister - Wayne MappYou could tell that the Hit and Run book by investigative journalists Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson was right on the money by the way former National Party Minister of Defence, Wayne Mapp, reacted to its now largely vindicated claims.Even though the recent inquiry into ...
So, the Hit and Run inquiry has reported back, and found some appalling shit at NZDF and NZSIS. And while they quibble a few of the details - the name of a dead child - they basicly uphold Hager and Stephenson's version of events. The SAS went to those villages. ...
We are failing to think though the interdependencies in an economy. We miss economist Bryan Philpott (1921-2000). I miss him personally – we used to have such great discussions – but this column is about how the nation misses his economic experience and wisdom. We tend to ...
Michelle Boag - LeakerThe Heron report (PDF) was released yesterday, and it was a bit disappointing to say the least. It correctly found that former National Party president Michelle Boag and National Party MP Hamish Walker were politically motivated in leaking peoples private medical information, but didn’t look further into ...
Adam Smith, Massey UniversityA recent global assessment of shark populations at 371 coral reefs in 58 countries found no sharks at almost 20% of reefs and alarmingly low numbers at many others. The study, which involved over 100 scientists under the Global FinPrint project, gave New Zealand a good ...
On different trajectories and from different ends of the political spectrum, last night’s One News/Colmar Brunton poll has the Green Party and ACT converging around the five percent mark. And, as odd as it may sound, they head into the election campaign with a lot in common.Putting the Greens and ...
Janet Stephenson, University of OtagoA proposed multibillion-dollar project to build a pumped hydro storage plant could make New Zealand’s electricity grid 100% renewable, but expensive new infrastructure may not be the best way to achieve this. New Zealand’s electricity generation is already around 80% renewable, with just over half ...
Truth In Advertising: Labour, it would seem, is the party that knows nothing about running the economy right up until the moment that it does. HOW DID LABOUR acquire its reputation for being a poor economic manager? As with most things political and historical, it’s a long story.In the beginning, the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Government rulemakers looking to decide how much money to spend to avoid adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere need a good estimate of what a warming climate will cost in social damages, for example through more extreme weather events. That point makes ...
Below is the list of gender-critical material which appeared on Redline from October 1, 2019 to October 31, 2019. Rainbow Tick threatens to pull Massey’s tick if lesbians are allowed to speak Freer Lives – a gender-critical Marxist site Freer Lives on Violence, debate and Britain’s Gender Recognition Act British ...
It's campaign time! The official countdown to Election Day is underway, with Labour supporters crowding into Auckland's Town Hall for our 2020 Campaign Launch. We recap some of the highlights below ...
It's campaign time! The official countdown to Election Day is underway, with Labour supporters crowding into Auckland's Town Hall for our 2020 Campaign Launch. We recap some of the highlights below ...
We've announced that we will expand the Flexi-wage programme to support up to 40,000 more people into work, or to help them start their own business. It's yet another way we're helping keep our economy moving by getting people into work and training. Read on to find out more ...
Business subsidy of on average $7500, and up to $22,000, to hire unemployed New ZealandersUp to 40,000 jobs to be supported by $311 million investment in keeping New Zealanders off the unemployment benefitRing-fenced fund to help unemployed start their own business ...
This week was the last of the 52nd Parliament: a major milestone for our Government and a great opportunity to look back at all the progress we've made for New Zealanders. This week, we increased support for businesses to take on apprentices, improved access to hospital care in Northland, and ...
Kia orana and kia ora koutou katoa. It is a privilege to be able to speak in this adjournment debate and to mark and acknowledge the fact that we are now two years and 10 months into the conclusion of a parliamentary term that has been extraordinary in so many ...
On 1 August, we marked the anniversary of Jacinda Ardern becoming the Leader of the Labour Party. On that day in 2017, Leader Andrew Little nominated Jacinda Ardern to succeed him and lead the party to victory.Now, three years on, we look back at some of the key moments ...
With the June 2020 quarter showing underemployment increasing, the Green Party is calling for a Guaranteed Minimum Income and an increase to the abatement threshold to ensure everyone has a dignified income. ...
We went hard and we went early in our health response to COVID-19, and we did everything we could to cushion the economic impact too. In fact, we can fill every letter of the alphabet with the steps we took to fight COVID-19 and ensure we were in a position ...
Investing in our people, backing businesses, and upgrading infrastructure and housing throughout the country - it's been another week of progress for New Zealanders as we deliver our plan to recover and rebuild. ...
July was another busy month, packed with key investments aimed at progressing our economic recovery as we rebuild New Zealand. We extended support for businesses, helped create jobs through local infrastructure projects, and kept working to clean up our waterways so Kiwis can access safe clean water. Check out the ...
The Green Party is calling for the Defence Force Chiefs in place between 2010-2017 to front up and explain how dishonesty, process and policy failures within the Defence Force led to ‘a series of incorrect statements in briefings to ministers and public releases’ regarding alleged breaches of international torture prevention ...
Thanks to our strong health response, New Zealand’s economy is more open than many other countries. But as COVID continues to surge around the world, the economic consequences of the virus will continue to be a challenge, which is why we have a detailed plan to help New Zealand bounce ...
Thanks to our strong health response, New Zealand’s economy is more open than many other countries. But as COVID continues to surge around the world, the economic consequences of the virus will continue to be a challenge, which is why we have a detailed plan to help New Zealand bounce ...
The Government is stepping up action to deal with environmentally harmful products – including plastic packaging, tyres and e-waste – before they become waste. ...
The Green Party are ensuring that New Zealanders who were overseas when COVID-19 hit will not be charged for the cost of isolation or quarantine if they return home to live. ...
It's been another week of creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and investing in infrastructure up and down the country - all of which are helping to keep our economy moving post-COVID-19. ...
Law changes to end tenure review and provide for better management of Crown pastoral lands in the South Island high country were considered by Parliament today with the first reading of the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill says Minister for Land Information, Eugenie Sage. ...
The Green Party have secured legislative amendments in a bill expected to pass third reading this week, to ensure better rules for school teachers and staff, so they can de-escalate children with diverse needs and cognitive differences, such as autism, rather than using unnecessary and often traumatising force. ...
A report undertaken by Ministerial Services into Iain Lees-Galloway’s ministerial expenditure has found no evidence of any inappropriate transactions or spending. Ministerial Services undertook a line by line review of all his expenditure, including staff and spouse expenses for the period 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2020. “I commissioned ...
Managed isolation charges for returnees will come into force from 12.01am Tuesday 11th August, after they passed their last cabinet milestone today, Housing Minister Megan Woods said. “The new charging system balances the rights of New Zealanders to return home and helps reduce pressure on the managed isolation and quarantine ...
The Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Henry Puna have welcomed the completion of phase one in the establishment of a travel bubble between New Zealand and the Cook Island. Negotiations on the text of an ‘Arrangement to Facilitate Quarantine-Free Travel ...
The Government has launched a new online, phone and onsite service to help New Zealanders connect to a range of employment support and products for workers and businesses affected by COVID-19, announced Minister of Education Chris Hipkins and Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni. Connected.govt.nz is a one-stop-shop for jobseekers, ...
Security guards contracted to the Ministry of Social Development will be paid at least the Living Wage from next month supporting the Government’s commitment towards fair pay and employment conditions, announced Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni. “MSD was among the first government agencies to pay its employees the living ...
The Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage today launched Te Mana o te Taiao, the Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy - a way forward that envisions Aotearoa New Zealand as a place where ecosystems are healthy and resilient, and people embrace the natural world. “Many of New Zealand’s plants and wildlife species ...
“Pacific languages, cultures and identity are essential to the health, wellbeing and lifetime success of our Pacific peoples and their communities in Aotearoa. The strength and resilience of Pacific Aotearoa is not only vital to their own prosperity but integral to the prosperity of all New Zealanders, and is particularly ...
· $38 million to help schools cover unexpected costs related to COVID-19 · $69 million upgrade for online learning · $107 million contingency funding to support school construction suppliers facing additional costs due to the lockdown. The Government is releasing $214 million from the COVID-19 response and recovery fund to ...
Despite the Government installing safety upgrades around the country, people should still take care around rail crossings, said Transport Minister Phil Twyford launching Rail Safety Week. Phil Twyford said installing safety infrastructure is crucial, but we are encouraging people to be more careful around trains too. “We’re making good progress ...
The Government is providing a cash injection to help Palmerston North City Council complete a programme to provide 78 social housing units for vulnerable tenants. The $4.7 million to build 28 units in the Papaioea Place redevelopment comes from the $3 billion set aside for infrastructure in the Government’s COVID-19 ...
A pest free Banks Peninsula/Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū is one step closer with a $5.11 million boost to accelerate this project and create jobs, announced Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage in Canterbury today. “This is a game changer for this ambitious project to restore the native wildlife and plants on Ōtautahi/Christchurch’s doorstep ...
A Government grant of $6.4 million will expand the Pettigrew Arena in Taradale with new indoor courts of national standard. “The project is likely to take 18 months with approximately 300 people employed through the process,” Grant Robertson said. “The expansion will increase the indoor court space up to 11 ...
The Far North tourist destination of Mangonui is to receive Government funding to improve waterfront infrastructure, open up access to the harbour and improve water quality, Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones has announced. A total of $6.5 million from the $3 billion set aside in the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund ...
The Government has re-affirmed its commitment to supporting the hosting of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, which the ICC has delayed from 2021 to 2022. “This is obviously a disappointing decision for cricket players and fans around the world and for the White Ferns and their supporters here at ...
Cyclists and walkers will now have a safer way to get around Taupō, Tūrangi, and between Hamilton and Cambridge, with funding for shared paths and Te Awa River Ride, Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter announced today. “The Te Awa River Ride is the latest part of massive growth ...
Six major cycle routes will be completed in Christchurch thanks to funding from the Government’s investment in shovel-ready infrastructure as part of the COVID-19 recovery Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter announced today. $125 million will be invested to kick-start construction and fund the completion of the following cycleway ...
Plans are underway for a brand new state-of-the-art hub for Whanganui’s justice and social agencies, following confirmation the ageing Whanganui Central Police Station is to be replaced. Police Minister Stuart Nash has announced $25 million in new infrastructure spending to improve facilities for the wider community, and for staff who ...
An adjustment payment has been made to Waikato-Tainui and Ngāi Tahu under the relativity mechanisms in their 1995 and 1997 Treaty of Waitangi settlements, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little announced today. The latest payments to Waikato-Tainui and Ngāi Tahu are $2,700,000 and $2,600,000 respectively to ensure the ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Transport Minister Phil Twyford today kicked off the start of the Auckland NZ Upgrade Programme rail projects which will support over 400 jobs and help unlock our biggest city. Both ministers marked the start of enabling works on the third main rail line project ...
The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) investment of $3.78 million in Wairoa will create much needed economic stimulus and jobs, Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. PGF projects announced today include: $200,000 loan to Nuhaka Kiwifruit Holdings Ltd (operated by Pine Valley Orchard Ltd) to increase the productivity ...
Tenants in public and Māori housing may be benefiting from their own affordable renewable energy in future – a fund to trial renewable energy technology for public and Māori housing has today been announced by Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods and Associate Minister for Housing (Māori Housing) Nanaia Mahuta. ...
Hokianga will receive $2.7 million to redevelop four of its wharves and upgrade its water supply, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. Far North District Council will receive $1.8 million from the Provincial Growth Fund for the work on the wharves. “The work will include the construction of ...
A $350 million Residential Development Response Fund is being established to support the residential construction sector and to minimise the economic impact from COVID-19, the Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “The Residential Development Response Fund will help to progress stalled or at-risk developments that support our broader housing ...
As part of a broader plan to divert waste from landfill, the Government today announced $10.67 million for new infrastructure as part of the Resource Recovery Network across the Auckland region. “This key investment in Auckland’s community recycling network is part of the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group ‘shovel ready’ projects ...
The Government is investing $45 million in the first stage of an ambitious urban development project for Tauranga that will employ up to 250 people and help the region grow, Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford announced today. Phil Twyford says the funding has been allocated out of the $3 billion ...
Getting low-emission trucks on the road is a step closer with investment in infrastructure to support hydrogen vehicles, the Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods has announced. The Infrastructure Reference Group has provisionally approved $20 million for New Plymouth company Hiringa Energy to establish a nationwide network of hydrogen-fuelling stations. ...
A new trades training centre to upskill the local workforce will be built in the South Waikato town of Tokoroa through funding from the Government’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, Education Minister Chris Hipkins and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones have announced. The Government will contribute $10.84 million from ...
The Government has agreed to repeal part of the Oranga Tamariki Act subsequent children provisions, Minister for Children Tracey Martin announced today. “There are times when children need to go into care for their safety – the safety and care of children must always be paramount,” Minister Martin said. “But ...
A $1.5 million boost to grow primary mental health and addiction services for Pacific peoples in Auckland, Hamilton and Canterbury will lead to better outcomes for Pacific communities, Associate Health Minister Jenny Salesa says. Pasifika Futures has received funding to expand services through The Fono, Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest by ...
Twenty-two projects to boost the sustainability and climate resilience of New Zealand’s food and fibres sector have been announced today by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. The $18m funding will deliver practical knowledge to help farmers and growers use their land more sustainably, meet environmental targets, remain prosperous, and better understand ...
Employment Minister Willie Jackson welcomes an initiative that assists employers to get mature workers into New Zealand small businesses. The disadvantages that older people face in the workplace was highlighted in the whole of Government Employment Strategy. In order to address this, a Mature Workers Toolkit has been developed and ...
New Zealand and Australia reaffirmed today the need for the closest possible collaboration as they tackle a global environment shaped by COVID-19, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said. “In these challenging times, our close collaboration with Australia is more vital than ever,” said Mr Peters. Mr Peters and his Australian ...
The recovery and forensic examination of the loader driven by survivor Russell Smith means the underground team are now moving into an area of the Pike River Mine that has not been seen since the explosion, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry Andrew Little said. “The fifth and last robot ...
The Government has confirmed a community-wide trial of CovidCard technology as it explores options for COVID-19 contact tracing. “Effective contact tracing is a vital part of the COVID-19 response,” Minister of Health Chris Hipkins said. “While manual processes remain the critical component for contact tracing, we know digital solutions can ...
The government is proposing changes to aquaculture legislation to improve the process for allocating and transferring aquaculture assets to iwi. Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash has introduced the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Amendment Bill to Parliament. It proposes a limited new discretionary power for Te Ohu Kaimoana Trustee Limited (ToKM). ...
The Minister of Justice has today introduced the Family Court (Supporting Children in Court) Legislation Bill – the next step in the ongoing programme of work to fix the failed 2014 Family Court reforms led by then Justice Minister Judith Collins. The Bill arises from the report of the Independent ...
A new Department of Conservation (DOC) action plan tackles the impacts of climate change on New Zealand’s biodiversity and DOC managed infrastructure including tracks, huts and cultural heritage. Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage says extreme weather events around the country have really brought home our vulnerability to changing weather patterns. ...
A heavily scaled back international Antarctic season will commence this week, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods have confirmed. “Antarctica is the only continent that is COVID-19 free,” Mr Peters said. “Throughout the global pandemic, essential operations and long-term science have continued at ...
The Government is providing up to $30 million to help fund the NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport in Upper Hutt - an investment that will create 244 jobs. “The sports hub is designed to be a world-leading shared service for a range of sports, offering the level of facilities ...
Transport Minister Phil Twyford announced today transport projects currently in construction will continue at pace due to extra Government support for transport projects to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. To keep the $16.9 billion 2018-21 National Land Transport Programme going the Government has allocated funding from the COVID Response and ...
A mining company director demands Newsroom take down a story on rehabilitation conditions agreed with DoC for a former site on conservation land National leader Judith Collins' husband is threatening defamation action against Newsroom over a story about a West Coast mine site that the conservation department allowed to be left ...
A bizarre allegation on the TV news and a scolding of party members by a top official set the scene for a highly charged National Party candidate selection The National Party has chosen Emma Mellow as its candidate for the Auckland Central seat with less than four weeks until early voting begins, ...
An essay, and memoir, by Dunedin writer Talia Marshall on fighting the White Power bitches at school Sophia turns up at my new place by happy accident. We haven’t seen each other properly for over 20 years but we’re friends on Facebook. One of the reasons I like Facebook, apart ...
A lack of central government policy on climate change adaptation has left councils treading water as they attempt to engage with threatened communities. ...
Since a nationwide amalgamation in 2017 there have been mass resignations at the SPCA, claims of bullying and employment dispute payouts. Now an online petition calling for a government inquiry has gained nearly 1000 signatures in five days A petition for a government inquiry to be launched into the transparency and accountability ...
A bizarre allegation on the TV news and a scolding of party members by a top official set the scene for a highly charged National Party candidate selection The National Party has chosen Emma Mellow as its candidate for the Auckland Central seat with less than four weeks until early voting begins, ...
In announcing the company's full-year results on Monday, Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge warned of a "turbulent time" for the electricity market amid the exit of Tiwai Point. ...
After struggling with depression while recovering from a devastating knee injury, Tactix midcourter Erikana Pedersen wants to take her career in a new direction to help others. Last year was the “crappiest" of Erikana Pedersen’s 26 revolutions around the sun. But this year may turn out to be the best. Pedersen's year of ...
The polls and pundits are predicting the demise of NZ First leader Winston Peters and his party, but he has no plans to surrender or retire from politics, Dileepa Fonseka writes. ...
Those most impacted by Covid-19 are those who can least afford to weather it, write Professor Merryn Gott and Dr Jackie Robinson Emerging evidence from overseas regarding the clear link between poverty and Covid-19 is as predictable as it is heartbreaking. People living in the most deprived areas of England and Wales ...
Te Arawhiti is bypassing Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo to try and get Ngāti Hikairo claims included in the Ngāti Maniapoto Settlement. Ngāti Maniapoto have set up two meetings in Kāwhia ‘with Ngāti Hikairo’ to consult on their Treaty settlements. ...
Welcome to the third edition of Memebers of parliament, a politics column for people who just want the memes.Let’s just get to it, shall we?Buses – YESBuses. They’re back. Winston Peters has had his giant face on a big ol’ bus for a while now, but he surely won’t be ...
The New Zealand government’s aid in developing countries is not going to projects where it is needed most, says Oxfam, according to a new report published by agency today. Less than two percent of aid spending went to activities focused solely on ...
The Provincial Growth Fund is meant to fund… growth… in the provinces. So why is it building a huge new racetrack in one of New Zealand’s biggest cities? Because the racing industry seems to get whatever it wants, argues Duncan Greive. Yesterday morning saw a blazing RNZ report that the Provincial ...
Long awaited changes to tenancy law have been made - are they really the landlord-killers that some make them out to be? Last week the Government passed under urgency a series of big changes to New Zealand's tenancy laws. The reforms of the 1986 Residential Tenancies Act have been in ...
Tonight the National Party has selected Emma Mellow to stand in the Auckland Central electorate for the 2020 General Election. Emma Mellow replaces retiring MP Nikki Kaye who first won the seat from Labour in 2008. Emma leads a team of communications ...
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk Radio 95bFM The Wire’s Zoë Larsen Cumming and Justin Wong talked to Pacific Media Centre director Professor David Robie today about a resurgence of coronavirus cases in Papua New Guinea and the impact of other Pacific cases on two very important upcoming votes in Bougainville and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Maylea, Senior Lecturer, Law and Social Work, RMIT University The second wave of the coronavirus and the resulting restrictions have impacted all Victorians. Many are struggling, but some are struggling more than others. In response to the increasing number of people ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Louise Stone, General practitioner; Clinical Associate Professor, ANU Medical School, Australian National University Last week, the Australian government announced it will provide ten extra Medicare-subsidised psychological therapy sessions for Australians in lockdown areas due to COVID-19. In such a stressful time, many ...
It looks like science has come off second best in government considerations during the development of Te Mana o te Taiao, the Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy, which envisions New Zealand as a place where ecosystems are healthy and resilient, and people embrace the natural world. The press statement announcing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wanning Sun, Professor of Media and Cultural Studies, University of Technology Sydney US President Donald Trump’s recent moves against Tiktok, the popular video-sharing platform, have been widely seen as part of a new “tech Cold War” between the US and China. Trump ...
National leader Judith Collins has endorsed David Seymour in the Epsom seat and recent polls have put support for ACT anywhere between 3 and 5 percent - giving it up to six MPs. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lily O’Neill, Research Fellow, Australian National University Huge clean energy projects, such as the Asian Renewable Energy Hub in the Pilbara, Western Australia, are set to produce gigawatts of electricity over vast expanses of land in the near future. The Asian Renewable ...
Remarks by new coach Nathan Brown and the closed-door discussions by the club around recruiting a man facing sexual assault charges undermines the rugby league club’s values, writes Tiffany Salmond.It’s been a hot topic in rugby league circles for well over a year – but not for the right reasons.Former ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Uri Gal, Associate Professor in Business Information Systems, University of Sydney The recent questioning of the heads of Amazon, Facebook, Google and Apple in the US Congress has highlighted the threat their practices pose to our privacy and democracy. However these big ...
Good habits start young, and with Money Week this week, now is a great time to look at how we can support and nourish our kids’ financial journeys writes Banqer’s Simon Brown. For some reason, a lot of people see money as a boring topic. But the fact is, it’s a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Melbourne This week’s federal Newspoll, conducted August 5-8 from a sample of 1,509, gave the Coalition a 52-48 lead, a one-point gain for Labor since the last Newspoll, three weeks ago. ...
A tender for underwater inspection services at the abandoned oil field off the coast of Taranaki has shed light on the dubious state of its subsea infrastructure. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Plank, Professor in Mathematics, University of Canterbury Our latest modelling shows New Zealanders need to redouble their efforts to keep track of people they meet, if we are to have a chance of controlling any re-emergence of COVID-19. The director general ...
Local Government New Zealand’s (LGNZ) Regional Sector has today welcomed the launch of Te Mana o te Taiao, the Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy, citing robust collaboration with iwi, regional councils and private landowners and leadership from ...
The High Court has ruled today that Greenpeace is entitled to register as a charity and that the Charities Registration Board was in error for declining the environmental campaigning organisation’s application. In a summary of the judgement posted online ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Dobson, Professor and Dean of Education, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington The English language in education today is all-pervasive. “Hear more English, speak more English and become more successful” has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Some say it’s already ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stuart Richards, Lecturer in Screen Studies, University of South Australia Review: Welcome to Chechnya, screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival Welcome to Chechnya, screening online as part of MIFF 68½, is a bracing documentary. This film is part of a queer ...
It’s become fashionable among some political circles to advocate for a laissez-faire approach to debt, on the basis that the government can issue as much debt as it likes – for as long as it likes. But there’s one big drawback to ‘just print more money’ argument, writes Pattrick Smellie ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Australia’s aged care sector was “underprepared” to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak and federal authorities had no specific plan for it, according to a stinging indictment from Peter Rozen QC, senior counsel assisting the royal ...
A Productivity Commission report finding was based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of disease transmission dynamics, and now that error has itself been transmitted in the media and into the election campaign, write Nic Steyn, Mike Plank, Alex James, Rachelle Binny, Audrey Lustig and Shaun Hendy of Te ...
Latest from the Beehive Here’s hoping the hundreds of millions of dollars pumped into Northland from the Provincial Growth Fund and other government programmes do much more to promote the region’s economic and social wellbeing than they are doing to enhance Shane Jones’ election prospects. He is bound to be ...
The first Auckland Central debate took place last night, despite the lack of a National candidate. Josie Adams went along to watch Helen White, Chlöe Swarbrick and the rest.The Auckland Central electorate stretches from the depths of Grafton across the Hauraki Gulf to Aotea (Great Barrier). Its residents are Waiheke’s ...
Kiwibank was right to refuse the business of sex-trade operators exploiting women and children, says Wahine Toa Rising, a newly-formed organisation led by survivors of the trade in New Zealand. Spokeswoman Ally Marie Diamond said "we were gutted ...
During the worst days of the Covid-19 outbreak in New Zealand, Matamata was right at the heart of it all. Alex Braae went to the Waikato town to ask people how they’re getting on now.On the signs heading out to the Hobbiton Movie Set about 10 minutes away from the ...
The government has announced a pay increase for security guards at the Ministry of Social Development as the Labour Party makes a commitment to government agency workers for fair pay and working conditions. ...
“As sure as God made little apples, she would have reinvented herself and she will be ripping someone off in England as we speak,” predicted a former colleague of Joanne Harrison. A new investigation reveals the charming fraudster, who stole ...
Lihir is the second mine in Papua New Guinea to report a confirmed covid-19 case as the national total of infections reached 214 at the weekend. Newcrest Mining Limited confirmed that a 30-year-old male, a mine employee who had flown in from the capital Port Moresby on July 30, had ...
E te rangatira, e te tohunga, e te Tiati, haere, haere, haere atu ra. Haere ki o tupuna, no ratou nga taonga i tuku iho ki a koe, hei whangai mai ki a matou. ...
Commitment from all political parties to implementing the new Te Mana o te Taiao - Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy is vital to protecting our future, says Forest & Bird. “The Strategy clearly says that New Zealand’s environment ...
The 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War will be acknowledged on 15 August, with a commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage Chief Executive Bernadette ...
New Zealand's total fertility rate has reached an all-time low, with an average of 1.71 children per woman in New Zealand, well below population replacement level. “ Families: Ever Fewer or No Children , How Worried Should We Be? “ - a report ...
Joint Press Release: NextElection, Scoop.co.nz, ScoopCitizen NextElection , a technology platform empowering democracy and Government accountability, and Scoop Independent News have partnered to strengthen citizen participation in the 2020 New Zealand General ...
Since March 15 2019, a string of lone actor, far-right copycat atrocities provide important clues to the kind of transnational, online movement we now confront, writes Emanuel Stoakes.Before storming the Al Noor Mosque, the would-be killer dressed in military fatigues, attempted a livestream and signalled his intent on an image ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cordelia Fine, Professor, History & Philosophy of Science program, School of Historical & Philosophical Studies, University of Melbourne How useful are the well-known and hotly contested categories of “male brain” and “female brain”? Among experts, nobody really questions that anatomical sex differences ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Bongiorno, Professor of History, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University Earlier this month, there were media reports that Liberal backbencher Craig Kelly had posted to Facebook advocating the anti-malarial drug, hydroxychloroquine, as a treatment for COVID-19. Kelly ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carissa Bonner, Research Fellow, University of Sydney If the media is anything to go by, you’d think people who believe coronavirus myths are white, middle-aged women called Karen. But our new study shows a different picture. We found men and people aged ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graeme Pearman, Professorial Fellow, Australian-German Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne There is global interest in the potential for a hydrogen economy, in part driven by a concern over climate change and the need to move away from fossil fuels. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mehmet Aslan, Honorary Fellow, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Australian universities are expected to lose billions of dollars in revenue due to the impacts of COVID-19. The estimated lost revenue from international students alone is A$18 billion by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Owain Emslie, Senior Associate, Grattan Institute Grattan Institute research published today shows the average 25-year-old woman who goes on to have a child can expect to earn A$2 million less by the time she is 70 than the average 25-year-old man who ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Beck Wise, Lecturer in Professional Writing, The University of Queensland You might have scrolled right by Annastacia Palaszczuk’s recent quote posts if you saw them on Instagram – just another lifestyle influencer posting a “deep” quote – but when she (or her ...
Welcome to Election Live for August 10, bringing you the latest on election 2020 and other breaking news. For key dates in the election seasonclick here. For all you need to know about the cannabis referendum click here. For the assisted dying referendum click here. Policy launches tomorrow. Get ...
New Zealand First and leader Winston Peters are up against it this year in the general elections if the polls are to be believed, but the political veteran shows no sign of giving up yet. ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Labour launches campaign while National releases list, frantic final days at parliament wrapped, and new poll shows Shane Jones in trouble in Northland.Some would say the campaign has been underway for months in a proxy form, but officially, it’s now ...
Open Mike 27/03/2018 
Campaigns. Culture. Character. And perhaps most of all, Covid. Now the House has risen and politicians are hitting the road to pitch their woo to voters, those will be front of mind for the candidates.They were also where the new season of politics podcast Caucus began on Thursday. This year ...9 hours ago
There are only a few days left to make a submission on Statistics New Zealand's consultation on sex and gender identity statistical standards. This represents a really important step for recognising the very real diversity of gender, including people with no gender, and ensuring everyone has the option to see ...9 hours ago
Since finishing the Cranky Uncle vs. Climate Change book, I’ve frequently dipped into that 176-page clip-art library, reshaping the cartoons to fit the 1920 x 1080 pixel format for Powerpoint presentations. I’ve also adapted many of the cartoons for the Cranky Uncle video series. Over the last few weeks, a few people ...12 hours ago
NewsHub Nation has launched a new podcast, "Supplementary Question". Their inaugural episode is about the OIA, and asks "is our most important transparency law fit for purpose?" While they interviewed Justice Minister Andrew Little and Ombudsman Peter Boshier for this, there's not actually a lot of them in there, and ...14 hours ago
Dr Tim Chambers, Prof Nick Wilson, Jayne Richards, A/Prof Simon Hales, Dr Mike Joy, Prof Michael Baker (author affiliations*) Increasing water-related health threats, notably the waterborne campylobacter outbreak in Havelock North, have highlighted failings in NZ’s regulatory system for drinking water. In this blog we consider how the new Water ...22 hours ago
Yes, an election is in the offing – and we all know that elections can be polarising, as parties of the left and right square off against each other. But we should not allow our party and political allegiances to obscure the fact that, in a properly functioning democracy like ...22 hours ago
Today’s content Labour Party Henry Cooke (Stuff): Labour launch an extremely centrist campaign Audrey Young (Herald) Labour launch is a deliberately understated affair from Jacinda Ardern (paywalled) Audrey Young (Herald): Jacinda Ardern’s decision to ditch Labour manifesto carries risk (paywalled) Anna Bracewell-Worrall (Newshub): Labour planning to revisit coalition Government policy casualties Simon Wilson (Herald): Election diary: Happy ...23 hours ago
...3 days ago
...3 days ago
From some quarters, incessant scaremongering. From others, it’s a full-on tilt into touching the alarmist buttons a little too readily (uncertain times make for very captive audiences with this angle of attack). The (so-called) Opposition (and merely regarding them as that seems to be a far looser term now ...3 days ago
National Party leader - Judith CollinsElections often bring out the best and worst in politicians. Some rise to the occasion and provide us with a clear vision for the future. While others wallow in resentment and controversy, over-relying on attack politics to try to attain the interest of voters.That’s been ...3 days ago
The attempts to sabotage Corbyn's leadership seems likely to do more damage than Corbyn supposedly ever could have done, even if all the stories about him were true: I was reluctant to say anything but this is too important, the full story needs to be told.Don’t let anyone ever tell ...3 days ago
Good day to everyone. I’ve been asked by Mr Thinks to come here and talk to you all about my concerns regarding the government response to Covid-19. We’ve been living through this pandemic for, what seems like, years. Years and years and years. Why else would the National Party have ...3 days ago
5 days ago
by Don Franks This talk was given to the Wellington Anti Capitalist Alliance, fifteen years ago. The ultimate weapons of mass destruction so far seen on this planet have been used just twice, 60 years ago this month. August 6 and August 9 1945 witnessed the US atomic bombing ...5 days ago
Our health professionals do an amazing job. Image credit: Wikipedia – Cardiac surgery. Finally, I have got back to these rankings. A long period in hospital and computer problems meant the June 2020 rankings were abandoned. Now, with a new personal defibrillator implanted in my chest and a new hard ...1 week ago
Below is the list of gender-critical material which appeared on Redline from October 1, 2019 to October 31, 2019. Rainbow Tick threatens to pull Massey’s tick if lesbians are allowed to speak Freer Lives – a gender-critical Marxist site Freer Lives on Violence, debate and Britain’s Gender Recognition Act British ...2 weeks ago
It's campaign time! The official countdown to Election Day is underway, with Labour supporters crowding into Auckland's Town Hall for our 2020 Campaign Launch. We recap some of the highlights below ...11 hours ago
The Green Party has revealed its Homes for All Plan, which lays the foundation for an Aotearoa where everyone has a warm, dry and affordable home. ...2 days ago
A report undertaken by Ministerial Services into Iain Lees-Galloway’s ministerial expenditure has found no evidence of any inappropriate transactions or spending. Ministerial Services undertook a line by line review of all his expenditure, including staff and spouse expenses for the period 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2020. “I commissioned ...9 hours ago
A mining company director demands Newsroom take down a story on rehabilitation conditions agreed with DoC for a former site on conservation land National leader Judith Collins' husband is threatening defamation action against Newsroom over a story about a West Coast mine site that the conservation department allowed to be left ...1 hour ago
A bizarre allegation on the TV news and a scolding of party members by a top official set the scene for a highly charged National Party candidate selection The National Party has chosen Emma Mellow as its candidate for the Auckland Central seat with less than four weeks until early voting begins, ...1 hour ago
An essay, and memoir, by Dunedin writer Talia Marshall on fighting the White Power bitches at school Sophia turns up at my new place by happy accident. We haven’t seen each other properly for over 20 years but we’re friends on Facebook. One of the reasons I like Facebook, apart ...1 hour ago
A lack of central government policy on climate change adaptation has left councils treading water as they attempt to engage with threatened communities. ...1 hour ago
Since a nationwide amalgamation in 2017 there have been mass resignations at the SPCA, claims of bullying and employment dispute payouts. Now an online petition calling for a government inquiry has gained nearly 1000 signatures in five days A petition for a government inquiry to be launched into the transparency and accountability ...1 hour ago
In announcing the company's full-year results on Monday, Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge warned of a "turbulent time" for the electricity market amid the exit of Tiwai Point. ...1 hour ago
After struggling with depression while recovering from a devastating knee injury, Tactix midcourter Erikana Pedersen wants to take her career in a new direction to help others. Last year was the “crappiest" of Erikana Pedersen’s 26 revolutions around the sun. But this year may turn out to be the best. Pedersen's year of ...1 hour ago
The polls and pundits are predicting the demise of NZ First leader Winston Peters and his party, but he has no plans to surrender or retire from politics, Dileepa Fonseka writes. ...1 hour ago
Those most impacted by Covid-19 are those who can least afford to weather it, write Professor Merryn Gott and Dr Jackie Robinson Emerging evidence from overseas regarding the clear link between poverty and Covid-19 is as predictable as it is heartbreaking. People living in the most deprived areas of England and Wales ...1 hour ago
Te Arawhiti is bypassing Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo to try and get Ngāti Hikairo claims included in the Ngāti Maniapoto Settlement. Ngāti Maniapoto have set up two meetings in Kāwhia ‘with Ngāti Hikairo’ to consult on their Treaty settlements. ...2 hours ago
Welcome to the third edition of Memebers of parliament, a politics column for people who just want the memes.Let’s just get to it, shall we?Buses – YESBuses. They’re back. Winston Peters has had his giant face on a big ol’ bus for a while now, but he surely won’t be ...2 hours ago
Long awaited changes to tenancy law have been made - are they really the landlord-killers that some make them out to be? Last week the Government passed under urgency a series of big changes to New Zealand's tenancy laws. The reforms of the 1986 Residential Tenancies Act have been in ...2 hours ago
The latest ANZ Business Outlook Survey is more downbeat, and Contact holds the line on profit ...2 hours ago
Turkey’s relationships with Europe and the world are complicated. But an impending currency and economic crisis will not make them any better. ...2 hours ago
Pacific Media Watch The Pacific Media Centre has protested to Facebook over censorship of a West Papuan media freedom news item in what its director, Professor David Robie, has described as an Orwellian example of the “tyranny of algorithms”. The news item, published by the International Federation of Journalists on ...4 hours ago
National's Emma Mellow will be up against Labour's Helen White, the Green's Chloe Swarbrick, and TOP's Tuariki Delamere. ...9 hours ago
It looks like science has come off second best in government considerations during the development of Te Mana o te Taiao, the Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy, which envisions New Zealand as a place where ecosystems are healthy and resilient, and people embrace the natural world. The press statement announcing ...12 hours ago
Latest from the Beehive Here’s hoping the hundreds of millions of dollars pumped into Northland from the Provincial Growth Fund and other government programmes do much more to promote the region’s economic and social wellbeing than they are doing to enhance Shane Jones’ election prospects. He is bound to be ...18 hours ago
“I have received threats and have been informed by several sources that a number of law firms and a Government agency have blacklisted me,” she said.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/102581366/wellington-metoo-blogger-says-shes-been-blacklisted-by-a-government-agency
She doesn’t have to out the govt agency who did this. Somebody out there knows…
Disgraceful – hope the government agency in question is named/shamed and those responsible are dismissed.
As for the law firms it’s about what you’ve come to expect from those losers.
Read this morning news of Telsa crash within months.
How depressing. Really wanted them to succeed.
At least you can tell your Kiwisaver scheme hasn’t done due dilligence if they hold Telsa s.hares. Best to find out now and switch before major losses
This?
http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-on-verge-of-bankruptcy-hedge-funder-says-2018-3/?r=AU&IR=T
Why won’t regime favourites Eva Bartlett, or Vanessa Beeley visit Sednaya?
Eva Bartlett,
Vanessa Beeley,
Both Beeley and Bartlett, who call themselves “Independent journalists” know where Sednaya is, everyone does.
Sednaya is the regime’s extermination camp on the outskirts of Damascus.
Sednaya
“About the Sednaya Prison”
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I will confidently predict the Stormy Daniels affair will not hurt Donald Trump, but only because he is already so deeply unpopular and heartily loathed by practically every female demographic in America that in would be difficult to imagine what he could do to chip off the odd one or two women who still support him.
I was talking to a couple of conservative middle aged women on the weekend and the thing that earned their undying loathing was the fact his wife was giving birth at the time. No coming back from that, Donster.
What stuns me is the hypocrisy of the Republicans (the Evangelical wing especially).
If this were Obama they’d be baying for blood.
It might be a bridge too far for his mad fundamentalist Christian supporters (both men and women), and there are a few of those I believe.
Has anyone noticed the statements from the (insincere) commentariat made on media websites for over 10 years now (since Norman), about how past leaders of the Green Party (when the vote barely got over 5%) had credibility, but not today.
Which is an irony, as probably the most anti-Green editorial written (by the Herald back in 2005) was during the old leadership period. It represents of course, as it did in 2005, fear of a government taking Green issues seriously.
Whether the environment, energy, or a progressive society (feminism, bi-cultural nation, multi-cultural society) etc.
The over the top reaction to comments made by Genter (on the slowing rate of change in the make up of boards) demonstrate the capacity of the mob to claim challenge to established privilege (most wealth and power being held by older white males) is ageist, racist and sexist. The most extreme, unsurpisingly came from the co-apologist for power Hawkesby, suggesting challenge to continuing privilege is yesterdays feminism …
yup.
Fortunately, I think the greens and possible voters are used to it by now, so won’t fall into the hype.
Easy go, easy come. The Greens will be beck up to decent levels next election.
Having spent the weekend back in the provinces I was struck at mutual reinforcement between racism and crime that amplifies each other.
The biggest Pakeha fear in provincial NZ is to lose your job and drop into the “ferals” of the white trash and especially dispossessed and unemployed urbanised Maori. That fear translates to a shocking level of class (not colour) based racism where the the racism comes from the simple fact the poor are overwhelmingly brown. The objectification is appalling – “they” are the problem, “they” are all drug addicts “they” are all lazy.
Now, this is a provincial audience that is fed a constant diet of sensationalist crime stories by our clickbait MSM. The siege mentality is astonishing – everything is padlocked, alarmed and baseball bats and shillelaghs reside under every bed. Yet these people suffer no higher level of crime than Aucklanders.
The fear of crime and the hatred of the poor translates into paranoid assumptions – a Maori in a nice car is all the evidence needed for an immediate assumption of the driver being a LA style gangsta drug dealer. If you point out that a bit of money is now about in Iwi at least due to treaty settlements then the driver is ripping off the taxpayer to sit on their arse smoking drugs.
Fear of crime leads to every unusual activity being labelled as suspicious, which in turn labels every poor brown person being labelled a criminal.
It is all so sad and dispiriting.
Thus the paranoid reaction to such terms as bi-cultural nation.
It is why NZ First (with many Maori MP’s) promotes jobs in the regions and higher wages while being tough on crime and Maori “separatism” – to be of “common hard working values”.
There is a lot if truth in that Sanctuary – re the media rubbish and conservative mentality- but it’s not so bad everywhere. There is also a lot of good in that tight knit wall that you see from the outside, those communities are very strong and look after each other.
Flip side is suspicion of anyone/thing different.
When you say provinces do you mean suburbs sancy?
I see RNZ is blindly pushing ahead with the Russia hysteria narrative that is seemingly being pushed down our throats every single day without even a hint of fairness and balance in reporting….sadly, no surprises here though.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018637964/no-undeclared-russian-spies-here-jacinda-ardern
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018637968/russian-diplomats-expelled-from-18-countries
I am not saying Russia didn’t commit this crime, but I am saying I think fairness, balance and cool headed journalistic coverage is what is needed, and I sure as hell haven’t heard much of that in the MSM…or any from RNZ.
Agreed Adrian ,on the really transparent framing of the Skripal poisoning
But I must say I’m not surprised
Being a loyal member of 5 Eyes does not make for independent journalism or foreign policy
I’m pretty disappointed all the same, but I suspect our politicians are advised by those who get their information from the US Embassy /Reuters/AP
No divergent voices please, but its good all the same to see Chris Trotter kicking back in the weekends Press, and there were 3 good letters also questioning pre emptive guilt
And also , Adrian ,
having made such confrontational assertions of predetermined Russian guilt, any investigators will be well aware of the official stance, and will be rather wary, in terms of job security, of deviating from that.
It doesn’t augur well for a demonstrably impartial search for the truth
I hope I’m wrong about that, but the OPCW breached its own terms of chain of custody in the Khan Shaykhoun enquiry, and refused to inspect the Sharyat air base
despite Syrian invitations.
Did you see the reaction of the media to Obama? They have a serious cultural cringe. The MSM want NZ to be a player, get noticed in Moscow, stand resolutely with our allies rattling our rusty sabre and all that colonial stuff. They don’t want us minding our own business and quietly making money all Swiss like. That is far to grown up and boring for our needy media.
My favorite Obama moment…well not him exactly, but pretty funny, and the only time he was ever under the thumb in public that know of…
Jeez sancy, we should just take our nice holocaust gold and keep shtum?
No Russian spies in NZ… ok. But we DO have a Chinese one, and in Parliament! What are we doing about that???
No Russian spies in New Zealand…..
There’s a song in that.
Agree about the Chinese rooster, but get with the program, the Russians are coming.
Psycho Milt was banned eight days ago. At the time it was noted that “this moderation is under review”.
Is it rude to ask for a progress report please?
Ed was banned a few days ago, and made a cheeky appearance the other day. Can’t wait till he’s back to be honest. Bring back Ed.
What was he banned for?
Sorry, should’ve added a link. I don’t want to get into a discussion about the moderation, I just want to know whether anything’s been resolved.
Don’t worry I don’t want a dissuasion on moderation, I had a pretty good go at having a open and honest discussion on this whole bizarre banning thing a while back…I came away from that little chat quite depressed….seems a lot of people quite like a rigid and brutally enforced authority guiding them, I guess it makes them feel safe.
Oh well each to their own I say.
Hopefully CV gets to come back too
Those who have moderation rights also have lives so not everyone gets to the “backend” to join all convoes.
It is nearing resolution.
Thanks Tracey.
Yes. I would like to know too. PM is a valuable contributor to this site. Maybe he went too far on the occasion of the ban but 12 months was way, way too much.
Isn’t it wonderful how the current Government have solved all the bread and butter issues and now have the resources to produce the circuses?
Housing problems – solved
Children in Poverty – solved
Health expenditure – solved
Water pollution – solved.
Nurses pay – solved.
Infrastructure problems – solved.
We can, after a mere five months, forget about all those things and we can now throw hundreds of millions of dollars at the sport of billionaires. Roll on the America’s Cup.
I’m sure that all those people Labour talked about last year who were said to be living in cars will be pleased with their new warm housing they now inhabit. Or not.
I’m also sure they will be off to the waterfront to enjoy looking at the multimillion dollar yachts entertaining current and previous MPs.
Aunty Helen will be particularly pleased that her favourite toy boy Mr Dalton is receiving $40,000,000 to let us have the Cup races in Auckland.
The texting between them will no doubt be in overdrive.
Now will someone who is involved in this ridiculous affair please tell me what I should say to a friend who is still waiting for knee replacement surgery? This is despite being told in August last year that it would be done within six months Should I just tell her she should be proud to sacrifice for Phil Goff’s fantasies?
Tell her you’re still grieving that you lost the election, and apologise for exploiting her situation for your political bile.
Well, it is very easy to see where your priorities lie.
I guess you are a great fan of Oracle’s Ellison are you?
What will you say when we spend all that money on your dream at the waterfront and no-one, including your mate Larry turn up?
Meanwhile another lot of children get rheumatic fever because, as you want, the money was spent on your hobby. It clearly won’t bother you, will it?
Piss off numpty. Yachting is boring, just like your parasitic exploitation of other people’s misery.
My, my.
When you lose the debate just abuse the person who was putting forward rational opinions. I see why you are embarrassed having to support the current lot though.
You posited a false dichotomy, based on political bile. Then you attacked me as uncaring. Now you’re declaring yourself the winner.
What a winner you are 🙄
Yachting is boring?
I fucking love the Americas Cup. One’s mans boring is another mans dream I guess.
But don’t get me started on golf…..
😆
But curling- that’s the sport of kings in my opinion
What Labour should have done is come out with a statement (in the case of Middlemore) https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/353075/hospital-buildings-full-of-rot-and-mould , something along these lines…
…as the previous National Government has underfunded the NZ public health system to such a degree, we will (as a country) now have to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to make again fit for purpose, so consequently the Government will no longer be able to fund the America’s Cup…if you have a problem with this, please do contact your local National Party representative….oh and here is Jonathan Coleman’s DDI, cell phone number, address and a contact for him in his new job in the private healthcare sector, in case you might want to discuss it with him personally.
Now that would have started some interesting conversations in the smoko room.
+111
You say that like NAct wouldn’t have done it too… not to be in the “they did it too” crowd, but it is highly hypocritical of a right winger to whinge about Labour not solving all the problems created by NAct within 5 months… Also over throwing a few million (of the 10’s of billions being spent, or the billion odd surplus), which if they didn’t would have caused a furore of news articles and angry rich white men ranting about how the Labour govt. was full of no-fun spoilsport femi-nazis.
Oh, and also Labour is getting on and solving those issues…
And you friend can blame National for the funding issues that meant that the DHBs can’t even pay their nurses a decent wage, or be able to ensure their hospitals don’t have mold on the wall, or that they can actually treat patients… I am sure once Labour have had a chance to pass a budget things will get better…
I love the way that you can turn a minimum of $212 million into, as you word it “a few million “.
I wish I was as rich as you must be to regard $212,000,000 as just a trivial amount. Can I please have my share back? I would like to put it toward more useful things than feeding Goff’s and Ardern’s egos.
“blame National for the funding issues”.
When National was the Government she was promised the Op. It was only after the change of Government it has slipped.
” am sure once Labour have had a chance to pass a budget things will get better”.
What difference is that going to make? If they can promise this much money without having any budget allocation for it at all why do they need to worry about silly little things like a budget in order to try and meet things they claimed were important before the election?
Bored much, Alwyn, setting up strawmen and then setting them alight?
“strawmen” he says.
What’s a mere $212,000,000 between friends?
Surely you can think of better things to do with that amount of money?
You would get about 14,000 knee or hip replacements for that amount of money. That would certainly improve a lot of people’s lives wouldn’t it?
Still they are just the little people and don’t matter to the plutocrats like you and your friends.
I guess you would rather play with the Billionaires though?
Did you vote for the parties that degraded the health service to the point your friend is suffering its consequences?
Were you outraged at 20m to Warner Bros or 30 million to Rio Tinto or 11m in money and kind to a Saudi businessman or the SCF gift to foreign investors? Or 26m to the flag? All of those sums could have helped your friend
As I pointed out just above Tracey.
““blame National for the funding issues”.
When National was the Government she was promised the Op. It was only after the change of Government it has slipped.”
And yes I did vote for National. I didn’t want to because I think 3 terms is enough for any Government. I didn’t think that Winston and his satellites in Labour and the Green parties were up to the job of Government though. Sadly I was right.
Mind you I didn’t think that Labour would tolerate the corrupt behaviour we are getting, particularly from NZF and the Labour Party organisation.
You must be outraged by the finding against Finlayson then.
I have a friend who finally got his hip operation a few weeks ago. He was promised it 18 months ago and time and time again after that.
So, I might erroneously attribute this latest date to the chanfe in govt coming quicker than the 18 months promised by National.
I assume you are being intentionally obtuse. A degraded health system completely fixed in 6 months…
Dude, you seem to be having the problem of who actually caused the problem. So, being the generous soul that I am I shall inform you:
IT WAS YOU WHEN YOU VOTED FOR THE NATIONAL LED GOVERNMENT.
You need to tell your friend that the reason why she hasn’t gotten her surgery is because you’re a selfish schmuck.
What a silly little fellow you are.
You remind me of the glorious bumper sticker of the 1960s.
“They told me if I voted for Goldwater we would have 500,000 men in Vietnam within 18 months. Well I did and there are”
Our equivalent would be.
“They told me if I voted for National the Government would set up billion dollar slush funds and would put hundreds of millions into the Americas Cup.
Well I did and the Government has.”
Why don’t you crawl back into your hole you stupid obnoxious prick.
None of which applies.
National promised to cut taxes and they did – just what you voted for. Then, after the serious decrease in income they also cut government services. A direct consequence of what you voted for and were informed would happen on this site.
Now you’re whinging that you’re being held to account for your actions.
I find it truly fascinating that you regard a few hundred million being spent on a Billionaire’s sport as being necessary Government services.
How ridiculous can you get?
Ah, I didn’t say that. I said that you’re personally responsible for your friends surgery not going ahead because you voted National who cut funding to the hospitals and run down services.
Where to start?
I suppose I can start with the simple fact that National did not cut funding for hospitals or run down the health services. Labour argued that but to do so they had to carry out some very selective date choices.
I commented on this on a couple of occasions.
Anyone who continues to argue that line is either stupid, or lying, or both.
Which category are you?
At promoting one of New Zealand’s few promising high tech. industries, so we can get out of our undue reliance on third world style commodity exports.
But, being a National supporter, you would rather spend on irrigation schemes for unsustainable dairy farming. Right?
I presume you mean boat building or suchlike.
If so can you tell me whether the village plans have been amended so that this company can keep operating? It would seem to be a major own goal if they were forced to move overseas wouldn’t it?
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/351508/america-s-cup-no-alternative-site-for-big-mast-maker
I don’t have much to do with boatbuilding these days, so can’t tell you.
Though, on observation so far, there is not much difference between National, and the neo-li bs in
Labour, though I am hoping Labour will still surprise me.
Though it it almost impossible to cause as much destruction as National have.
If you like.
Agree about yacht race.
Thank you for the (partial) list of problems left by the natz 9 years
Hosking on Nurses and Unions
It would seem Mr Hosking believes that pay and working conditions will improve if you don’t join a union. Does anyone have any evidence?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/author/mike-hosking/
My understanding is the evidence supports the opposite.
http://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/abs/10.1377/hlthaff.2014.0952
Poor Mike, Hisking has given his country a lot – that facial expression as the Nats lost power was a true gift for which I shall always be grateful.
Sadly he knows he doesnt need evidence. Like Joyces 11bn hole as long as you say it it gets traction and reinforces the former myths on the subject.
Exactly, because there are powerful people supporting the Hosking version of “fake news”.
The nice thing about that cock no longer being on telly is that it’s so much easier to avoid him.
Nasty little manchild.
My understanding is the evidence supports the opposite
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://ips.ac.nz/publications/files/96ca55a3196.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjUofbk7IraAhXGiLwKHfP4BlMQFjAAegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw2L5XXi1hdVq8C2PwsDzJBI
such “EVIDENCE” doubtlessly exists only in Hosking’s vile, deluded, weaselly mind.
Hosking is full of crap in this case. There is a clear positive correlation unionisation vs pay and conditions.
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/08/union-inequality-wages/497954/
He’s nothing but an ideological nong, a bit of a c–t. Without union action we wouldn’t have received the 1% per year we have had. The NZNO provides other sevices, indemnity insurance and professional developement among them.
I can just imagine the response an individual nurse would get going cap in hand to a CEO stating the case as to why they deserve more than a collegue, no commercial logic for paying a nurse more than another, we dont bring an income with us unlike a broadcaster who may have a fan base of like minded c–ts.
Hey good luck if it gets to striking.
Y’all deserve more, a fairer allocation of the resources.
Was explaining industrial action to the 16 yr old.
The concept of not getting paid when on strike was frown inducing for him.
“The future of food systems and their relationship to climate … is really key for the future of the world economy.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/102510601/changing-agricultural-practices-key-to-cutting-greenhouse-emissions–shaw
Tick tock…
Shaw’s stated take is that because land-use represents such a high proportion of NZ’s emissions, then energy can be somewhat ignored. There’s an opening for NZ to lead the world (apparently) – a great business opportunity.
I notice that’s echoed throughout the piece (the crest of a wave etc)
And also, in line with that, your quote from Benton is about the future of the world economy – not the world’s biosphere.
Don’t get me wrong. Net zero emissions from land use is a critical part of bringing down carbon levels. If land-use is treated as a discrete sector, and depending on how it’s accounted (so no buying or swapping or any kind of carbon credit nonsense), I fully support it.
But without zero from energy, it’s just so much pissing in the wind. And there is no commitment to get energy down to zero (energy’s just hidden away in the bullshit – ie, inadequate – package deal of net zero).
This morning is a morning when (yet again) I unfortunately find myself concluding that we’s fucked.
We’ve got to get rid of these clowns and their insane attachment to so-called economic viability.
we’s are…and the clowns will remain
Accepting what you say, Pat, what next?
Tomorrow?
Next month?
Next year?
what next?….in what respect?
Hey, sorry, I am not sure what I was getting at, it made sense last night.
no worries
I wonder what was discussed…
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102619960/rnz-senior-manager-carol-hirschfeld-resigns-over-meeting-with-minister
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102605929/national-accuses-nz-first-mp-of-holding-regional-projects-to-ransom
Curran not up to the job I’d say.
Hirschfeld worth more than her and a huge loss. Dick Griffin must be the closest NZ has to Sir Humphrey surely? Though aside from the headlines I haven’t followed his career closely.
Couple of stupid own goals. And yes the Newstalk ZB Herald has a clear dog in the fight.
Bring back Steve Maharey? Broadcasting almost as important as housing. Lots to do and who to do it?
Holy shit.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1803/S00396/statement-from-rnz-chair-richard-griffin-ce-paul-thompson.htm
But, also, what was Claire Curran thinking when she avoided answering questions about this?
Carol Hirschfeld will be a great loss to RNZ.
Looks like they both lied. I haven’t been following it, do you have a sense of why they would have lied about that instead of just being upfront about it?
No idea. The meeting was in December. Unless Hirschfeld had reasons for not letting her bosses know she was talking to Curran in a pre-arranged meeting?
NZ Herald report:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12020873
Is this partly the result of one of national’s broad fishing questions to minsiters late last year?
Also, NZ Herald is very quick to make this headline news today.
Nothing yesterday from them when the Kim Dotcom decisions was published… and still nothing obvious on the top of their website.
The written question and answer in December is here:
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/order-paper-questions/written-questions/document/WQ_19129_2017/19129-2017-melissa-lee-to-the-broadcasting-communications
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1802/S00175/parliament-questions-and-answers-20-february-2018.htm“>The oral question and answer on Feb 20, 2018, is here:
Snap! Sorry, had not seen your detailed comments here before submitting my 13.3 but they come from a slightly different perspective,
I imagine one of the things ‘casually’ discussed could have been the manner in which the gNats stacked the PS with board members and CEOs who were complete lackies
/speculate speculate
I’m assuming at this stage it was because of the political backlash from Hirschfeld’s superiors had she told the truth. Therefore the meeting/private conversation had to remain confidential. Had the boot been on the other foot and Hirschfeld had spoken to a new National Broadcasting minister, then nothing would have happened.
This state of affairs has been prevalent among some in the Public Service hierarchy for many decades. I can confirm it from personal experience. And I can also confirm the fallout was venomous and went beyond the work-place.
+1 @Anne and Uncooked.
Resistance as in elsewhere in the PS.
Richard Griffin, Chairman of RNZ, who Hirschfeld kept telling the meeting with Curran was unplanned.
Reported in 2011.
Here we go:
Looks like Griffin was “tipped off”. Assuming it came from someone in the Minister’s office and the Nats heard from the same source (we don’t know for sure yet), then its looking more and more like a political stunt.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12020962
Having said that though, if it was Clare Curran who sought the meeting then she must be reprimanded at the least for attempting to hold a confidential meeting with someone in Hirschfeld’s position… perhaps even lose her portfolio.
Another blindly dogmatical line of questioning by Anne. Labour ministers do things wrong too. But that’s ok coz National would have done worse in your opinion.
Hirschfeld has been fired for not observing public sector neutrality, lying about it and then getting caught. Curran has to be next in the current climate
Sorry, Anne you do not have a private meeting/conversation in the Astoria in Wellington! It is the last place you do that. It is always teeming with public servants, pollies, press etc.
I don’t disagree veutoviper. Clare Curran has a reputation for doing and/or saying stupid things. In fact it has been in the back of my mind that if anyone was going to embarrass the Ardern govt. it was likely to be Curran.
Doesn’t stop it from being a Nat inspired political stunt.
I agree, Anne. Curran is the weakest link in my opinion. I was hoping when she called her press conference an hour ago that she would step down. Sadly not.
But the Astoria is where you go to be seen, not the opposite. Its for the “want to be’s”.
A motto I try to live by (not always successfully) is:
think first… act second.
Curran seems to do it the other way around and then wonders why she gets into trouble.
She is certainly not Mallard’s favourite either.
How is this a national inspired political stunt? It’s a minister and a senior executive meeting without the knowledge and sanction of the board. Then lo and behold rnz get $38 million?
No lo and behold at all. Labour campaigned on setting up RNZ+ with $38 million. Nothing to do with the Curran/Herschfeld meeting months later.
The first three links are from 12 Sept 2017; the last from eary Nov 2017 – all before 5 December 2017.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/09/labour-commits-38m-for-rnz-plus.html
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/politics/labour-commits-38-million-for-rnz-plus/
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/96745395/radio-nz-television-channel-no-snub-to-tvnz-says-labour
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/98684061/rnz-television-no-direct-competition-to-commercial-stations-minister-says
Why am I not surprised it was Astoria!
I mean….if they were actually conscious of blue dragons and snr public servants and various thugs still grieving over a gNat loss, at least they could have considered a ‘safe’ environment of Mal and Scott’s in upper Cuba, or perhaps a quick jaunt over the Takas to a litle twee breakfast provider in Martinborough.
I’m feeling increasingly depressed at some of the naivety I continue to see.
But then Jacinda is the same age as my son and some his thought patterns continue to worry me
I agree. It’s probably where a couple of Snr Management PS’s committed to complacency, and spin and preserving their own coziness tested out the blu and white pin strip shirts in order to determine just how sharp they looked.
I was in the area earlier and it struck me by some of the body language, their lack of spatial awareness, basically how they reacted to their immediate environment JUST HOW FUCKING out of touch with the real, and in tune with the virtual some of them were.
I’m not understanding this either. Maybe the problem is that CH met the minister without the knowledge of her RNZ bosses?
Well it should be chief executives who talk to their ministers, or at the very least when their subordinates do it is with their knowledge of what is discussed and what decisions are made. Especially with state broadcasting when editorial independence is so important. The fact Hirschfeld misled her boss about this suggests she knows this.
Clare Curran should have known it too.
It was Carol’s job to tell her boss about the meeting, not Currans that is the impression I am getting. If Curran has done anything wrong no doubt we will hear about it soon enough.
So far a wet bus ticket from an increasingly weak looking leader.
“Prime Minister Ardern said today that Curran was “splitting hairs” in deciding initially to exclude the meeting under questioning from the National Party.” http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12020962.
By no means – it’s a long arduous task stripping the useless far-right political hacks out of public positions – but it’s important. They won’t all resign as they should like most of Coleman’s health rorters.
Perhaps you could name an example? And then explain how that has any relevance at all to Curran’s incompetence and Arderns increasingly obvious leadership weaknesses?
There’s no relation.
” to Curran’s incompetence and Arderns increasingly obvious leadership weaknesses”
These are delusions. Leadership is not about yapping in parliament like an abandoned bichon frise – which is why the Gnats cannot get any traction.
You have to wait for an actual screw up to score a hit, and the more often you overegg distinctly minor puddings the less credibility your claims retain.
The Gnats have been a screaming disaster for most New Zealanders – anything that Labour does that distinguishes them from that wretched interregnum is pretty much a step in the right direction.
Ardern was weak over Peters comments on Russia.
She was weak in her response to the sexual assault allegations.
She was weak in regards to Shane Jones.
She is being weak on Curran.
Peters is playing her like a piano.
Ok – so you’re the kind of buffoon who was impressed by Key’s “get some guts” rant. And you miss it.
There’s no point being tough on Curran – the questioning has little or no relation to the public interest.
Histrionics are not particularly indicative of good governance. They’re not even indicative of competent opposition. Your idiots aren’t in charge anymore.
“I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill and think things over” Hal, 2001.
How was she weak babby?
“There’s no point being tough on Curran – the questioning has little or no relation to the public interest. ”
Spoken like a true lefty. Ethics only matter when you’re caught. Those sentiments go down well when paralleled with the Labour Youth sexual abuse accusations.
“How was she weak babby?”
In regards to which example?
In Curran’s case, she should be being hauled over the coals and publicly. Curran has just confirmed the true status of Red Radio (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12021163).
In the sexual abuse case, I can only quote one of my political favourites “Asked what she would have done if she had not been told, the former prime minister said: “If you get out the book and ask ‘what would Helen have done?’ … draw your own conclusions.” http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12021261
“Ethics only matter when you’re caught.”
Must be the Gnat motto. Much you lot know about ethics – the party that put Carter in so that no ministerial questions were answered for nine years.
Frankly, Griffin has been so useless his underlings playing away is a given. Why all the fuss? Did you think the coalition was going to let him keep on screwing up till he died of old age? Poor baby!
He’s got a couple of months to run and that’s it.
But give it heaps, you shed votes by the truckload whenever you go full retard.
They had a cuppa and some bikkies – if that isn’t a storm in a teacup, what is?
“Must be the Gnat motto.”
It’s certainly Labour’s motto under Ardern.
“… the party that put Carter in so that no ministerial questions were answered for nine years.”
I am not National, but then watching Mallard run interference for so many inept Labour Ministers, perhaps you have the wrong party and Speaker?
“Why all the fuss? Did you think the coalition was going to let him keep on screwing up till he died of old age?”
This is not about Griffin, it is about the perception (now the reality) that Red radio favours Labour.
“They had a cuppa and some bikkies – if that isn’t a storm in a teacup, what is?”
Then why lie about it?
“I am not National,”
Ah yes, you belong to some other disingenuous far-right hate group. Of course. No-one would ever want to admit supporting National.
“perhaps you have the wrong party and Speaker?”
Nope – Carter is the kind of scum who in less permissive times would face a severe accounting for his crimes.
“This is not about Griffin,”
Yes it is – Griffin’s not going quietly into that good night, but raging, raging, against the dying of the totally undeserved sinecure.
Then why lie about it?
You’d have to ask Curran – panic attack by the looks. Storm in a teacup though – she need only announce Griffin is not renewed and Labour seeks a suitable replacement. You can beat it up as much as you like, there’s nothing of substance there.
“Ah yes, you belong to some other disingenuous far-right hate group.”
No, I’m a centre right voter. I tend to vote National anyway!
“Nope – Carter is the kind of scum who in less permissive times would face a severe accounting for his crimes.”
Watch Q2 in Parliament yesterday. Mallard was disgraceful, and he is quickly matching Labour for incompetence.
“Yes it is…”
No, it really isn’t. This is about CH lying and Curran being, well, useless.
“No, I’m a centre right voter.”
And denial is the longest river in Africa.
There’s nothing centrist about National, and sod all right about them either – they are the rotting carcass of the party my family used to vote for – they’re simply not up to snuff. Crooks make for shit government. Always.
“There’s nothing centrist about National…”
Are you delusional? The first party to increase benefits in 40 years. A party who raised the minimum wage every year. A party who borrowed heavily to fund massive welfare expenditure. National are pushing on the left hand door of centre.
“National are pushing on the left hand door of centre.”
The Gnats, God help them, are so far right they’re unelectable without a totally supine media.
Any shred of truth out in public and their kakistocracy is utterly doomed.
“The Gnats, God help them, are so far right they’re unelectable without a totally supine media. ”
You really are delusional.
Curran pretty much lied about the meeting. I can understand Curran wanting to go around the RNZ Chairman, a Nat party appointment. But to meet with hirschfeld behind Griffin’s back, then to lie about it in the House was a bad move.
And just incompetent. Apparently this off-book meeting was at a cafe frequented by Wellington public service employees…. many of whom have been in the Nat government pocket.
just
*head desk* Not a smart move. The minister for a very important policy needs to be smarter than that.
Is that what all the fuss is about? That Curran was meeting with the then next head of RNZ behind the current head and Nat appointment’s back?
No wonder the rabid right is pissed off. Looks like a massive hit job on Hirschfeld. The Nats can’t fight the inevitable though, and that is the next head of RNZ will be a Labour-led government appointment.
“Is that what all the fuss is about? ”
You mean an accusation that a Labour MP lied to Parliament? https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-27-03-2018/#comment-1466485.
Or met secretly with a senior RNZ Executive when during discussions around possible increased funding?
Or that the PM has failed to actually do anything (call another meeting?) to address Curran’s incompetence?
Perhaps you should update yourself on some of the problems currently facing RNZ, some of which go right to the incompetence of this government http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12021310.
Increased ratings? Yeah, what a fucking disaster. No wonder the Nats want it shut down.
What do the nats want shut down?
No one cares, Curran ( who seems to give great leadership value with Dunedin ) had a coffee meeting that wasn’t on the books.
Look at it this way, it was actually saving the org. money from being billed for the coffee and fudge cake or whatever that could have come down the pipe if was an official chin wag!!
The actual deep issue is that there is no ‘neutral’ media, it is all coming from somewhere with a point of view, & as is the case in current structures often very lobby driven, and the mis-leading counter productive and wasteful nature of media, which is endemic in modern society, comes from pretending that is not so.
Essentially the govt parties of the day should have it’s own produced content on across the telly channels one night of the week, and the opposition parties another night, with a lesser overall time since they are doing less than the govt.
So the govt. gets say a 2 hour slot and the opposition an one hour slot, which they produce themselves, with all relevant parties having creative control over how and what they present.
Without having thought about ratios, something like National 55 mins and Act 5 * say Tuesday.
Labour gets 70 mins, NZ1st 30 mins and Greens 20 mins the following night.
It’s incremental.
Jones.
Hipkins.
Twyford.
Davis.
Curran.
etc.
There is a swamp of incompetence, dishonesty and maybe worse (Jenny Marcroft?) passing for a government.
You need to catch up B.Y.
The swamp is what those folk are having to wade through – before Nick Smith it would’ve been swimmable.
The swamp of their own making. Dishonesty, incompetence…and there’s a just a bit of a hint of the ‘c’ word in the background.
Meh – they haven’t had time to make more than a damp patch themselves yet – in the squalid Okefenokee created by gross National corruption, laziness, and incompetence.
“…they haven’t had time to make more than a damp patch…”
In just a matter of months they have surpassed anything National did. And then there’s this https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/pms-spy-comments-make-nz-a-laughing-stock/ar-BBKMSHp?li=AAaeXZz&ocid=spartandhp.
“Wellington public service employees…. many of whom have been in the Nat government pocket.”
But I promise you not all Carolyn, There are still some public servants with integrity who act in the jobs as neutral public servants although at times it is hard.
I should imagine so. But if you wanted to keep a meeting under the radar, meeting where some Nat flunkies could be present is not a great idea.
Exactly, and you would avoid the Astoria like the plague! See my 13.1.2.4 and 13.1.2.4.1.1 to Anne. LOL
Being neutral means not having meetings with the Minister without the knowledge of the CEO (as opposed to the Board).
The Minister likewise has to advise either the CEO or the Board Chair of meetings with people within an organisation.
These rules are not actually hard to comply with. It is just plain commonsense and a curtesy to do so.
If you a “review” you do that independently, you don’t go through an employee of the organisation who is accountable to a CEO.
There are @Vv. There are. Problem is their overlords.
You know, i’m told there are decent folk in INZ, AND worksafe, and the Labour Inspectorate among other agencies.
I’ve met some of them. It doesn’t/ hasn’t changed many of the outcomes much.
Are you saying it was inappropriate for CH to meet with CC, because of their respective positions?
And if (say) Curran was trying to shoulder tap CH for a position in a new improved environment, or tryng to get an understanding of the existing environment RNZ staff are labouring under, she needs to learn a few tricks from the previous government. Perhaps Setevie Choice is now available to buy advice from.
Ok, this looks like the timeline on this whole issue.
On Tuesday, 5 Dec 2017, Carol Hershfelt and Clare Curran met for breakfast in a Wellington café frequented by many other pollies, parliamentary press people, public servants etc. This is by no means strange or unusual. Around downtown Wellington you often see MPs meeting publicly with MPs from different parties, public servants, business people, press people etc at all sorts of venues and times.
On Thursday, 7 Dec 2027, Clare Curran also met with the Board of RNZ.
On 7 December 2017, Melissa Lee filed a Written Question 191129 (2017) to Curran:
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/order-paper-questions/written-questions/document/WQ_19129_2017/19129-2017-melissa-lee-to-the-broadcasting-communications
Published date: 7 Dec 2017
19129 (2017). Melissa Lee to the Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media (Minister – Clare Curran) (07 Dec 2017): Has the minister met with Board members or staff of TVNZ or RNZ since 1 December 2017 and, if so; what were the dates of those meetings and the names of those attending from either TVNZ or RNZ as applicable?
Hon Clare Curran (Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media (Minister – Clare Curran)) replied: Corrected reply: I had an informal breakfast with Carol Hirschfeld from RNZ on 5 December 2017 and I met with the Board of RNZ on 7 December 2017. The following staff members also attended the meeting with the Board: Paul Thompson – Chief Executive, Carol Hirschfeld – Head of News, Glen Scanlon – Head of Digital, Alma Hong – Chief Technology & Operations Officer, Alan Withrington – Head of Business Transformation & Strategy, Heather Abbot – Executive Assistant. (Cannot find when the original answer was filed or the corrected one.)
On Friday, 8 December 2017, Lee followed up this single question with 24 further written questions to Curran about various subjects directly relating to RNZ and/or seemingly unrelated but most of these latter questions started with “As of 7 December 2017, …?” (In total Lee asked something of the order of 71 Written Questions of Curran in Dec 2017.)
In December 2017, Melissa Lee also asked two Oral Questions of Curran but neither related directly to RNZ. On 14 Dec, Q11 was a general question re broadcasting priorities etc; and on 20 Dec, Q12 was about the difference between the Government Chief Technology Officer, the Government Chief Information Officer, and the new Chief Technology Officer role that Curran had created.
On 20 February 2018, however, Lee first raised in the House Curran’s meeting with Hirschfeld on 5 December in Oral Question 12; and she then followed up on this on 21 February in Q12 and in the General Debate. Hipkins answered Q12 on behalf of Curran on 21 Feb.
Q12 20 Feb 2018
https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=198411
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20180220_20180220_04
Q10 21 Feb 2018
Video https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=198493
Hansard https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20180221_20180221_16
Gen Debate 21 Feb 2018
Video https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=198505
Hansard https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20180221_20180221_20
Last speech, and about the third subject Lee addressed in her speech.
Since then, Lee has raised three further Oral Questions of Curran in question time but none have related to the Herschfeld/Curran breakfast: Q9 on 27 Feb, Q7 on 1 March and Q12 on 22 March. I haven’t checked Lee’s Written questions to Curran in 2018 – big job!
Going back, to the Written Questions filed by Lee on 7 and 8 December, like lawyers, MPs rarely ask loaded questions without knowing what the answer should be; or they ask fishing questions because they have some knowledge/suspicion and want more.
Looking at these written questions and the subjects raised and their timing, IMO Lee heard about the Curran/Herschfeld meeting almost immediately (unsurprising considering the venue) and also about the Board meeting – and may have also been briefed by someone as to some of the subjects discussed at one or both of those meetings.
The fact that Curran considered her meeting with Herschfeld an informal one and did not register it as a formal meeting, IMO is not unusual. But how Curran handles questions in the House leaves a lot to be desired, and this rather than anything underhand may be to blame for the situation she now finds herself in. I am not making any judgement re Herschfeld and her relationship/transparency with her CEO and Board, but I am sad as she is a very talented person and will be a loss to RNZ.
Curran now having press conference. I am hoping…
Tip Top importing ice cream from Spain and Montana wines using Australian grapes…
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/102611360/how-some-nz-brands-are-shortchanging-domestic-customers
You can add Shingle Peak to that list, their current savvy is made from Australian grapes.
Snowflake – Westland dairy’s product – made the best vanilla since god knows when.
Radio New Zealand is having various internal ‘issues’and is like many state underfunded entities. RNZ also has right wing senior management and Carol probably had a different view, which she was seeking a ‘work around’ and chatting to Minister Curran. I have little faith that the Minister is up to the task of fixing our rubbish TVNZ and Public Broadcasting in general. A sad loss. Major pruning required in our Public Media.
Clare Curran is secretive, lying and hopelessly incompetent. Jacinda needs to sack her immediately.
“RNZ also has right wing senior management and Carol probably had a different view.”
This is probably closest to the truth re the resignation. Having been placed there by the last government the RW bosses at RNZ refused to support her. So she left.
Ever wonder how the Nats learned about the meeting?
Apparently it was at Astoria. So probably half of the public service and the nation’s politicians were in the room.
Ok, so they weren’t trying to hide which is the framing which is being presented by the usual suspects.
Then there’s this…
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12020962
…and…
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5113211/How-the-Silver-Fox-turned-gamekeeper
I look forward to the incoming Broadcasting Minister cleansing the board of RNZ with efficiency and speed.
Dickie must think all his Christases had come at once!
A reason to assist in getting rid of CH.
The hypocracy and arrogance of the gNats never ceases to amaze me. But seriously!!! Labour need some learnings if we’re not to belive they aren’t complete masochists.
I’m not suggesting they need to lose all principle and go the dirty politics way….but they DO need to challenge the word of their ‘public service officials’ (read stacked Natzi Party CEOs and boards and Snr Management) a fucking sight harder.
Yes people….they might come across as nice blokes and blokesses, and yes H1 and H2 did it too in the name of pragmatism, but the uphill.shit.push you face is not only your VERY worst enemy, but’ll prevent you from doing anythung that could mildly be seen as progressive.
But then ya know, maybe a progressive agenda is not really what you’re about
The Griff gets the jobs he wants cos he knows what’s in ministerial diaries.
Exactly – see my 13.3
I tend to agree with you Mathew!
I always thought RNZ+ might be a good start, but not very ambitious. Same with CBB (I forget their rebranding’)
But then I come from the perspective that public money is for public good…in this case public service media. And there is no reason a population of 4.5 mill can’t have a Natrad, a concertFM, AND an ONAIR 103FM The Wireless ( for people who grew up in the digital/convergant/divergant age.
Nor is there a reason a TV1 (TVNZ7), TVNZ2 drama/music/NZ cultural identity AND KidzoneTv can’t be accommodated.
And I say that bcos currently we have an RNZ, a TVNZ, A NuZull on Ear and a commercial Kordia. All complete with their highly-paid CEOs and boards and bureacracies and crony appointments.
I know the ideologically inclined can’t get past the fact that there is no reason TVNZ or Kordia ( if it still is….it’d not surprise me if gNats managed to flog it off) HAVE to remain SOEs delivering a commercial return.
There is also no reason why (other that neolib thinking and ideology) cannot use income from publicly owned commercial enterprise to offset the costs in providing services in the interests of the public good
Philg
Which you are not allowed to do with non-notified meetings with employees of the organisation. The normal approach is to get external trusted advice. There are heaps of “friendly” senior media people who could do that. You then act on that.
Just a question @Wayne.
As you know, sovereign governments have the ability to change legislation and rules. They have even been known to flout law in the knowledge THEIR citizens (Tex Payas if u prefer) will pick up the tab.
Is your thinking and ideology so constrained – and not just you….still some in the Labour Party…..possibly even our new PM, that you fail to remember that.?
I mean I’m not sure your ilk has managed to dispose of the kitchen sink yet, or our ability to legislate.
It’s only blind failed ideology and timidity that appears to be getting in the way
She just couldn’t find her non ministerial hat in time Wayney.
Sir Ponyboy would’ve had it on at a rakish angle.
Wayne, this is not a ‘normal’ situation. There is clearly a change of direction in Broadcasting Policy and direction. How would one change a culture from below? CC possibly thought the current leadership was tainted. and sought, off the record opinion. CC didn’t go about it the right way. She was naive and CH miscalculated. A mistake that was exploited by u no who.
The awful Richard Griffin’s contract only runs to the middle of this year.
Thank God! At last – salvation is at hand.
+1, good to know.
Sorry Jack, Bitcoin will not become the global currency
So, we got this stupid idiot saying this:
So the author of the article ran a few calculations:
Reality defies the delusions of the rich yet again.
PS. You will need a log in to read that opinion piece.
Herald going hard on Curran with multiple breaking news banners and even a live feed!
Remember the Herald now competes for funding from NZ on Air (or its replacement), and will be a direct competitor for visual content delivery with RNZ+ when it goes ahead…
Clare Curran
Minister for Astoria Stories
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DZQM_03VAAAYPsV.jpg:large
Great to see Sky City commit to $20 per hour as the minimum wage.
And how many hours are they guaranteeing because happen to know that Sky City as well as paying historically appalling rates and importing in 600 chefs from overseas to cover it – they also have the equivalent of zero hour contracts for many of staff with 40 hours not guaranteed.
So good to see $20 p/h minimum but how many hours are actually guaranteed – 40 and enough to live on?
Hi SaveNZ, SKYCITY abolished so-called ‘zero hours’ contracts two years ago. We only ever had a handful of people on them – around 30 out of a staff of 6000, and they were in our Conventions on-call team. Everyone is now on either full time or part-time contracts depending on their own requirements as well as those of the business.
I’m not too sure where you got the idea we imported 600 chefs. We don’t even have 600 chefs. We do from time to time apply to Immigration NZ for special category visas for positions that are hard to fill in NZ, but more because of a specialist culinary skill than anything to do with wages. While wages in the hospitality industry are not high, SKYCITY doesn’t pay minimum wage and tries to be above-market in our wage settlements. We also train our own chefs – you might not know we have the largest apprentice chef programme in New Zealand outside of the military.
As to whether $20 an hour is enough, that’s an ongoing discussion, and we certainly don’t claim this to be the end of the journey towards sustainable wages. But it is a pretty decent first step, and one that it would be good to see other corporates taking before government mandates it on them.
Regards
Colin Espiner
GM Communications
SKYCITY Entertainment Group
Today is day 2 of the Green Party giving their allocated oral questions to the National Party/Opposition – as it is day 31 of the oral question roster.
Last week their only question allocated on 21 March at Q10 was taken by Dr Nick Smith and ended up being quite a hot section of question time, with Smith coming back later to make a Personal Explanation.
https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=198885
The Green Party were allocated the Q12 slot today – and this is again taken up with a question from Dr Nick Smith. I know it is just day 2 but why Smith again?
Oh, I see. It is about the waka jumping Bill.
12. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister of Justice: Does he agree with the statement by Rt Hon Winston Peters on electoral law regarding MPs joining other parties, when he stated, “Members of Parliament have to be free to follow their conscience. They were elected to represent their constituents, not swear an oath of blind allegiance to a political party. If an MP feels that membership in another elected party better serves his or her constituents then that can be put to the test at election time”?
Now on.
Newshub Wow Mike is that Hirschfeld resigning what a well I won’t say but some will be happy .
It is not on that the police in America shot that poor Brown boy 20 times come on that’s the mentality of the police being untouchable . Minority cultures are getting treated like dirt in this country to we will end up like America if those old white men in charge of our civil service aren’t forced to retire and retire there bigot racist chauvinistic views with them they have a 80% majority in New Zealand management . Ka kite ano
Newshub Joseph Parker is the MAN we know why Anthony Joshua won’t give Samoan and New Zealand reporters any time enough said Kia kaha
I’m watching The Crowd Goes Wild on TV 4 the sports is awesome Kia kaha ka kite ano P.S did Mulls get pink eye lol
The old saying treat people like you would like to be treated rings true to
ECO MAORI because eventually bad karma will bite one on the ass .Ana to kai
Ka kite ano P.S sorry for being in the middle of your thread I will stay in the old open mike from now on
Griffin doesn’t sound like a particularly nice little fellow ?
I don’t think ‘devious little snot’ would be a cruelly unfair description.
And misogynist also applies in relation to his attitude towards women, especially those that challenge him. All nice on the surface, but it surfaces well and truly in such instances.
If I were a cupid matchmaker, i’d pick Dickie as the perfect partner for Chris Finlayson
They could busy themselves in their dotage looking out over Cook Strait, making each other cups of English Breakfast, monitoring each other’s bef sores, and pondering how they might go about privatising that Moa Point Sewage facility.
No doubt the young Ralston and his bitch the Fran would visit from time to time to check on their welfare. (Wouldn’t want a minimum wage Philipino Age care worker to have to turn either after all)
And if things turn to shit…well no doubt Aunty Ruth (as in Ruth Richardson Limited) would be on hand to advise
URGENT REMINDER FOLKS!
You have until 8pm Wednesday 28 March 2018 (tomorrow night)
to get your ‘submission’ into Auckland Council 10 year budget and Auckland Plan 2050!
Email to akhaveyoursay@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
This was my ‘submission’.
Help yourself to anything you like or agree with and feel free to add anything else you feel strongly about 🙂
27 March 2018
‘Submission’ on the 10-year budget and Auckland Plan 2050.
First name: Penny
Last name: Bright
Postal address: 86A School Rd, Kingsland Auckland 1021
* I believe there is not enough time or detailed financial information provided in the “Consultation Document” for the 10-year budget and Auckland Plan 2050.
Exactly how much public money is being spent – on what?
Exactly how much money is being borrowed, from whom exactly and for what exactly?
Exactly how much public money is being exposed to derivatives trading across Auckland Council and Auckland Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs)?
* I do not accept that all this ‘growth’ has to come to Auckland.
There should be a national population growth, migration and regional employment strategy, in order to stop overloading our transport, water services, housing and related infrastructure.
* This Auckland (forced) ‘Supercity’ amalgamation may have been successful for corporates, property developers, investors, bankers, land-bankers, but it has been a disaster for local communities, residents and local small businesses.
* There is now very little ‘local’ about Auckland local government.
* The Auckland region is now being run ‘like a business – by business- for business’, and the mechanism for this effective corporate takeover, has been the replacement of 8 former democratically-elected Councils, with 1 ‘Supercity’ Council, and first 7, now 6 unelected, (CORPORATE) ‘Council’ Controlled Organisations (CCOs).
* CCOs need to be abolished and key Auckland infrastructure and trading functions brought back ‘in-house’ under the direct control of Auckland Council.
* Water, wastewater and stormwater need to be integrated and brought back under direct Council control.
* Auckland CCO Auckland Transport (AT) is particularly ‘out of control’, destroying local communities and causing significant congestion, by pushing urban cycleways on main arterial roads and suburban shopping centres, to help drive intensification.
How? By removing parking (for cycleways) to help kill off local small businesses ‘no parking – no stopping – no shopping’.
Who will benefit when these small businesses wither and die?
Property developers and corporate shopping malls.
* I do NOT support a ‘Regional Fuel Tax’.
There is no such thing as ‘PUBLIC’ transport in Auckland.
Bus, ferry and train services are privately owned / operated / managed.
* Make Auckland transport PUBLIC again – PUBLICLY owned, operated and managed.
* Stop the proposed spending of another $635 million on another 150kms of Auckland cycleways, in order to increase the number of cycling commuters from 1-4%.
The 99% of commuters who are not cyclists are entitled, as directly-affected residents, businesses, customers and local communities to proper, lawful consultation.
* I am opposed to ANY further rates increases when Aucklanders do not know exactly where public monies are being spent on private sector consultants and contractors, and the NZ Public Records Act 2005 is not being lawfully implemented and enforced:
The Public Records Act 2005;
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2005/0040/31.0/DLM345729.html
17Requirement to create and maintain records
(1)Every public office and local authority must create and maintain full and accurate records of its affairs, in accordance with normal, prudent business practice, including the records of any matter that is contracted out to an independent contractor.
* Provide the following details of awarded contracts on the websites of Auckland Council and Auckland CCOs:
The unique contract number; name of consultant/contractor; brief description of scope of contract; contract start/finish dates; exact dollar value of every contract, including those sub-contracted; how contract was awarded, by direct appointment or public appointment or public tender.
* Auckland Council and CCOs cannot check for ‘value for money’ or ‘cost-effectiveness’ if you don’t know exactly where the costs fall.
* Auckland Council and CCOs cannot provide genuine transparency or accountability without full and accurate records available for public scrutiny.
Wherever possible, public services should be brought back ‘in house’, as international research has proven that the contracting-out of public services can be twice as expensive:
http://www.pogo.org/our-work/reports/2011/co-gp-20110913.html
“POGO’s study analyzed the total compensation paid to federal and private sector employees, and annual billing rates for contractor employees across 35 occupational classifications covering over 550 service activities.
Our findings were shocking—POGO estimates the government pays billions more annually in taxpayer dollars to hire contractors than it would to hire federal employees to perform comparable services.
Specifically, POGO’s study shows that the federal government approves service contract billing rates—deemed fair and reasonable—that pay contractors 1.83 times more than the government pays federal employees in total compensation, and more than 2 times the total compensation paid in the private sector for comparable services.”
Good morning The AM Show Duncan off to the boxing a good on you .
There is know way I’m getting in a self driving car that could be hacked and take you to your end.
As for trumps approval rating he is cheating and getting the data changed just like he has the words Global Warming Climate change suppressed in the western Papatuanuku World Media that’s reality his stats are going in the opposite direction to what the punters are saying .What about the controversy over Stormy Daniels ????????????. Ka kite ano
The sandflies were doing what they do best today at a sports event spinning——-about me and what happened .There was a incident with the sandflies in Tauranga today I was not involved just the sandflies Ana to kai
That sense able sentenceing trust is another old man who should retire his archaic old views it is plane logic that there are more problems in a house with no money than the neighbours who have heaps of money for one the poor family has to work 60 hours just to keep afloat who’s looking after the mokos while they are slaving away. How does the SS TRUST Get air time well the exclusive brethren funds them this trust is just a extention of the exclusive brethren garth mc vicar is a idiot puppet. Ana to kai
These old men like mcvay can’t sleep because cause of ECO MAORI. Ana to kai
Newshub The Russia thing shows me the world media spin things out of context to suite there objective that is to discredit New Zealand on OUR stand on the Russia incident.
The privacy commissioner is full of —– what about the 3 times I used the privacy ACT and 3 times I got nothing why target Facebook I say that someone is trying to use Facebook as a scapegoat for the cambridge analytical scandal they are to scared to drag the other culprits into the Arena they are to powerful this is pick on the smallest. O that’s right a poor brown person has no rights in the west. Ana to kai ka kite ano
NewsHub its raining in Rotorua at the moment. I have a great like of Birds now just learnt the real value of OUR bird’s That wedding was hard case ka kite ano P.S I m watching The Crowd Goes Wild now on TV 4
The Crowd Goes Wild James McOnie when Mulls started back at The Rock for the first couple of days I thought he was you LOL my son in law corrected my mistake apologize to Mulls for me James . We have a good line up of sports this weekend yeea Kia Kaha
ka kite ano P.S did you feel the thunder
Middlemore Hospital needs to install mast and sail on their roof and put their name down as a contender in the Americas Cup.
No seriously.