Johnm – Dem Bendell has it right. There are some aspects he doesn't explore, but all up, he's completely on the button. I especially like his discussion around mental health, the support that needs to be established, including the links to connect anyone coming into the space he's occupying. I can see why you post first and foremost and I can see why so few comment on it.
Not funny is it that the little people get pinged for minor errors while the "Big People" get away with hundreds of thousands scot free. Still I'd rather not be one of the "Big People."
ANZ were part of the $2.2 Billion dollar bank robbery …. a much under-reported event involving the big Aussie owned banks stiffing New Zealand for billions.
ANZ had to fork out over $400 million that they owed … but like the other banks no staff were punished or arrested ,,,,, for their attempted fraud / creative accounting / false pretenses
Not only was the GPF feature of the transactions unlawful and therefore correctly disallowed, all four transactions tested in the case "were tax avoidance arrangements entered into for the purpose of avoiding tax"
And of course ANZ were part of the enablers for hundreds of millions of stolen money to flow into the crooks bank accounts in Malaysias 1MDB Billion dollar frauds ……. no whistles blown
But it is clear that global regulators have failed to nab rogue banks, who have failed to nab rogue bankers for far too long and it is time to make the system start working for the public instead of protecting these dangerous illegal operators.
Exposes by Sarawak Report and others have shown that Goldman Sachs, RBS Coutts, BSI Bank, Edmund de Rothschild Bank Privee, JP Morgan Suisse, Falcon Bank and of course the ANZ majority owned AmBank all have serious questions to answer with respect to the loss of funds from 1MDB.
After all, bank robbers go to jail, so why do robber bankers never feel the cuffs?
Some MPs will have voted to take the Bill to the next stage because they believe it is worth the process continuing; not because they will ultimately vote for it at the final reading.
Others voted No for this particular Bill even though they would support a better-crafted one on the same matter.
"Others voted No for this particular Bill even though they would support a better-crafted one on the same matter".
Frankly that sort of claim by a member sounds like b*s to me. They just don't want to have to make a commitment to anything. They are trying to pretend that they are open minded about it when they are simply opposed.
If they really think that they should vote yes here, try and make the bill better during the second reading debate and then, if they still think it isn't adequate vote "no" when it comes to the third reading.
Do you have any names for the ones you mean, and I only mean those who are actually on record with the comment about the bill?.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has met with her Labour caucus this morning to discuss today's Cabinet reshuffle – and beleaguered Housing Minister Phil Twyford was nowhere to be seen.
A spokesman for Twyford said he was at a speaking engagement at the Planning Institute in Auckland but he would be back later before the reshuffle.
The Prime Minister's office confirmed Ardern would be making the announcement at 3:15 this afternoon.
Twyford was not the only minister absent from the meeting.
Neither was Grant Robertson, Damien O'Conner, Kelvin Davis, Carmel Sepuloni and other Labour MPs.
and beleaguered Housing Minister Phil Twyford was nowhere to be seen.
IF Phil Twyford only got half a tin shed built, it would be, if i'm not mistaken, streets ahead of the previous govt. period approach which included among other things, a treasury loan to English & Smith for their own private company to buy up state houses.
Last election: National's going to win, National won, it's a betrayal, it's not fair, National didn't win (i/e National lost), the new Govt. can't do anything right…
But of course I am unbiased. I speak only truth unto power. You're not going to try and tell me that Twyford is anything other than the most incompetent Labour Cabinet Minister we have are you? Do you really think Prime Minister's like English, Key, Clark, Shipley or Bolger would have put up with him?
Smile. I am sure that you yourself would unearth far more incompetent Labour Cabinet Ministers if it suited you to do so. (Do I remember comments about Clare Curran?)
By the way, 'Prime Ministers' in your reply should NOT have had an apostrophe. Up your grammar.
What about the ultimately incompetent National Cabinet man who pretended to find an $11 million hole in the Labour budget? Still going on that one?
Given that "most incompetent Labour minister" Phil Twyford has performed way better in this role than long-time Nat cabinet/shadow cabinet member Nick Smith managed, what does that say about the relative strengths of Labour and National's front benches?
Curran is not, of course, a Cabinet Minister. She realised, unlike current incumbents Twyford, Clark, Shaw, Genter, Jones and Lees-Galloway that the job was vastly in excess of their capabilities. That is not, of course an exhaustive list.
A pity that a number of the others don't come to such a clear view of their failings and would quit too.
Joyce was correct about the hole. Why do you think that the current lot of clowns are so desperate for new taxes? As he said, they had promised to spend everything and clearly had no idea of the extras they would have to pay for. Thus we have an excellent idea of buying up all the automatic weapons but are now totally unwilling to pay for them. Bloody idiots. All they will accomplish with their penny pinching attitude is to ensure that the rifles will end up being owned by the gangs.
" I speak only truth unto power." That is a very powerful statement, which is demeaned by being used in a context where one is involved in a debate with one's equals, not as it should be in a situation where a person of unequal power takes a risk in speaking the truth and being critical of the more powerful status quo, such as governments.
I know very well what it means. I also understand what a vile group a lot of our politicians are members of and how they see nothing wrong with destroying other people's lives. They can, of course do it under the cover of Parliamentary Privilege.
Look at that miserable specimen Mallard accusing a Parliamentary employee of "rape" when no such thing occurred. Not a hint of an apology from that disgraceful specimen of the political classes.
But he did. Much to late but they did start. Why do you think that houses were being built that a desperate Twyford claimed as being part of his "KiwiBuild" b*s?
Housing is a huge task. No matter what you call it, it is a huge task. I hope Phil Twyford stays on to finish the project. Given that he has been hammered by MPs and the Media in spite of the huge strides made, that is further proof for him to continue.
I suspect there will be some minor changes to his responsibilities – maybe a couple of small chunks passed on to associate ministers. Part of the problem is Twyford's current responsibilities are just too onerous. He has two of the most complex portfolios currently in existence.
Re the list of Ministers, MPs absent from this morning's Caucus meeting, most of the ones you mention were also absent from last night's Second Reading of Seymour's End of Life Bill but voted by Proxy.*
This is not a full list but the following voted by proxy meaning they were not in the Parliamentary Precinct : Ardern, Davis, Twyford, Clark, D O'Connor, Sepuloni, Curran, Eagle, Mahuta, Peters, Logie, Genter, Chahraman, Macroft plus various Nats.
Robertson did not vote by proxy, so presumably around if not in the House itself.
*I am in the middle of putting together a list by party of those who voted for and against the Bill proceeding to Committee stages etc. A draft of the full list by name only is already up on the Parliament website but not by Party, being (supposedly**) a Conscience vote. Will probably post it here in the next few days when I have some time, for anyone interested.
** All Green and all NZF members voted Aye. The breakdown of Nats and Labour members Ayes/Noes is quite interesting, but cannot be taken necessarily as who will vote Aye in the end. From all accounts, many Ayes were to allow the Bill to proceed to the more detailed Committee stages, with continued support on the part of quite a few MPs dependent on considerable change to the actual wording and provisions of the Bill being agreed in the Committee stages.
I always skip the music videos and the ones like above, which have no comment, opinion or debate points included with them. It's just wankery, drop and go rubbish. I don't think it adds anything.
As for the chairnat, I think Solkta and Mars did us all a favour the other night. Even if only temporary, a rest is as good as a holiday.
I didn't skip the music video of Laurie Anderson the other day. Those who thought it "wankery, drop and go rubbish not adding anything" missed a treat in my opinion.
We cannot click on every link or clip to find the proverbial needle in a haystack or expect to find some ‘nugget’ @ 12’38’’ into the clip or somewhere embedded deep in a document. It still won’t tell me why the commenter posted it in the first place. I think it is lazy and inconsiderate and takes up space but I can live with it – I simply scroll past and don’t click as there’s too much clickbait around as it is. However, others do find it very annoying. Therefore, a brief comment is all that’s needed to satisfy most here.
"wankery, drop and go rubbish' refers to videos without comment, which has been addressed.
As for music vids, I don't watch them, mainly because I happen to think most people post shit, but even the good songs I won't play because I'm on the standard and not youinstafacegrambooktube.
And o superman – Had it on 12" import back in 1981. Fortunately it wasn't any longer than the 8.21 7"
you used to put links to your own music – should do it again imo
any music video I put up is worth watching imo thus The Little River Band today are exceptional and a window into a time that literally is a lifetime ago.
I did, usually with a story attached as to why and what the track was about, but nah, people can look at my website and decide to click the soundcloud player or not.
I don't mind the music vids really, though I do just skip 'em.
I'm more likely to play a music vid than a 40 minute video that someone reckons will explain why I should be outraged/aghast/terrified of deepstate/chemtrails/corporations.
lol and links from all sources with the obligatory commentary "this is an insightful and wise journalist speaking truth to power" (meaning I agree with them) or "a shameless propagandist tells lies for cash" (I disagree with them).
Viewing the first 5minutes of a vid will inform about the subject.But maybe a small posting as to subject and content would be good.
[I agree that a video without any excerpt or reason to click on it could be viewed [pardon the pun] as SPAM unless it is obvious and self-evident. From now on, please provide a brief reason as to why you think people should watch it and/or why it is relevant to the topic of a thread, if any. Please be aware what might be obvious or self-evident to you might not be so to another person. This kind of behaviour has led to long-term bans of infamous recidivists – Incognito]
Shouldn't have to watch a video to find out what's up for discussion and why, and while a subject and content should be also be a given, video posts should at least have a for or against argument so it's clear where the poster is coming from.
Perhaps a note to explain subject matter but see no need to predetermine more than that….there is no requirement for discussion nor applying a personal take of the content.
The opportunity is there for discussion/debate should anyone so wish
Yeah, nah. I’m thinking of random bans for random reasons but especially when it is about how poorly moderated this site is and who or what should (or should not) be banned.
From the Greymouth Star, great to see West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor slamming Westland Milk Products over the proposed sale to Chinese-owned Yili, but also says shareholders needed to share the blame because they had failed to scrutinise management and directors in recent years.
On RNZ yesterday Mr O'Connor said he could not intervene as Agriculture Minister, but as the electorate MP and with a family shareholding in Westland Milk, he outlined his many concerns over the sale..
When the West Coast-owned co-operative decided in 2001 to go it alone, rejecting an offer to merge with Fonterra, it had $100million in the bank.
''Something has gone wrong seriously and they now have huge debt,'' Mr O'Connor said.
Farmers had been treated as ''mushrooms'' and had now been presented with just one option, when he believed there had been up to 12 offers from New Zealand and overseas.
Mr O'Connor said he did not think farmers had enough information to make an informed decision.
Confidential information packs were delivered to shareholders some weeks ago, for a vote due on July 4.
Co-operatives could fail if the shareholders did not take an active interest in what their directors and management were doing.
''I think they sit back and take for granted the decisions that are made. They're not always scrutinised in the way they would be if it was a publicly-listed company. I don't believe it's the structure [at fault], it's the individuals involved.''
The Westland Co-operative Dairy Company (trading as Westland Milk Products) had been built up by previous generations, but farmers now risked losing ownership and control.
The 10-year supply guarantee offered by Yili came with a number of qualifications that farmers should be aware of, he said. Once they had sold, farmers would not get the profits from the value added. The only way to get more money would be to do more, and produce more milk.
Selling parts of the company may have been an option for farmers but that was not put to them.
''That's why I think the process has been seriously flawed.''
To me the stupidity of these West Coast farmers to long-term gut their own communities is beyond belief.
The world has really turned upside down, white is black, up is down..it turns out that now the most stringent and vocal push back in the US MSM to US foreign interventions is not coming from US liberal media but from Tucker Carlson on Fox of all places, he did the same push back over Venezuela ..
Here he is calling John Bolton a political tape worm, and calling out the neocons hard…
Careful, Adrian, you're in for a bollocking from our friend Andre and likeminded people lurking on this blog. The fact that Carlson is one of the few people in the U.S. media with the courage to speak forthrightly on this issue doesn't matter a jot; he works for Fox, which automatically renders what he says worthless.
Right wingers do this to sow insecurity – to get people confused, get their enemies fighting each other – they are not sincere. They are not truth tellers. They are just working to their own agenda – the techniques are in Hollowmen, we see it all the time with hooton pretending to attack the right – I hope you think about that a bit adrian.
Firstly Hooten gave the best and most sincere eulogy for Helen Kelly, so even though he is on the wrong side, I will always give him credit for that.
Secondly, stop with the condescending please.."I hope you think about that a bit adrian" I am under no illusions as to the primary motivations of the right..or the shit establishment liberal class in the US for that matter.
Thirdly, give me a link in US liberal media where the main host is so consistently anti interventionist in such a forth right way as Tucker Carlson (who I am well aware is shit on most other important subjects).
"you are being played by them imo" that's good coming from the guy who gets played by pretty much every Guardian head line..since forever…I hope you think about that a bit matry.
Sorry to disabuse you of an obviously long nurtured belief, Mr Mars, but the moon landing actually did happen. The Americans landed on it almost exactly fifty years ago, and, no, it wasn't a hoax by those evil, calculating, dastardly masterminds of the world, the Russians—despite what Luke Harding might have told you in the Grauniad.
Hooten gave the best and most sincere eulogy for Helen Kelly, so even though he is on the wrong side, I will always give him credit for that.
Take care, mon ami, not to give credit where it is unwarranted. Hooton is a notorious dissembler. I suspect his eulogy for Ms. Kelly was about as "sincere" as his eulogy for Nelson Mandela, who the jackass compared to those monsters Thatcher and Reagan. Hooton's disgusting performance after Madiba's death, and his manipulation of the luvvies on Russell Brown's site, was admirably satirized by my confrère and former student Morrissey Breen….
Oh, I think the Professor understands Italian, Mr. Cognito. He worked for a time in an elite girls' finishing school in Switzerland. He was required to resign in a hurry; the circumstances are still somewhat murky many years after the affair.
Please don’t be a smart alec. Feel free to pass on the hint to you know whom since you seem to be at liberty to speak on his behalf. I’m sure the two of you have regular chitchats.
@Professor Longhair, I take your point as far as far as Hooton goes, but the thing about Hooton that I like is at least you know exactly what he believes and he doesn't try to hide his ideology or pretend he advocating for some thing else, and it was exactly those same qualities that he said he admired about Kelly, he also said Labour lost it's most potent potential leader when she died…on both accounts I couldn't agree with him more (one of the very few time I could say that).
I have read that Morrissey blog post before..so don't worry, I well know who Hooton, and it isn't nice.
…. they are not sincere. They are not truth tellers.
Contrary to your blanket assertion, this particular right winger—Tucker Carlson— is, in fact, telling the truth about this matter.
They are just working to their own agenda – the techniques are in Hollowmen….
How does Tucker Carlson speaking truthfully about U.S. aggression against Iran and Venezuela have the slightest connection to the National Party's campaign of character assassination being run out of the Prime Minister's office? Is it those all powerful, all knowing, all controlling Russian masterminds again? I think we should be told.
we see it all the time with hooton pretending to attack the right
I've witnessed the jackass Hooton in action many times, and he is no more or less than exactly that: a jackass. He is no Tucker Carlson.
Note that the Report quotes the complaints made by Paula Bennett were found to be inaccurate and unfounded. She tried so hard to make a case but it was built on sand. So what a waste.
Conclusion 97. I have assessed Mr Makhlouf’s actions and statements in relation to the three aspects of the Incident against standards of good faith, reasonableness and political neutrality. I have found that: a. Mr Makhlouf acted in good faith. I consider that Mr Makhlouf’s view was sincerely held and honest and therefore meets the good faith test. b. Mr Makhlouf acted in a politically neutral manner. In fact, I consider that he went out of his way to ensure that he was not implicating the National Party in his media statements and interviews. c. Mr Makhlouf’s actions and statements were reasonable in all respects other than in relation to his use of the phrase “deliberately and systematically hacked” in his Tuesday evening media statement, his use of the bolt analogy in his media interviews on Wednesday morning, and in the focus on the conduct of the searchers in his media statement on Thursday morning.
The same largely applies to the right, not that I am a "tory". One doesn't encourage their party to up their game by remaining silent. Or worse, by down playing and defending their crap.
Labour fear bad PR, thus if the left want more out of Labour, we are going to have to make some noise. For example, if teachers didn't get out on the streets (creating bad PR for the Government) it would have been the same old there is no more money line.
Teachers improved their wellbeing by getting together, getting out there and making a noise.
Every so often I feel the need for self-flagellation because I'm not a Kethluk and this is the most convenient venue for my confession. Is this normal behaviour?
Currently I'm listening to today's episode of "The Panel". One of the rent-a-voices is particularly nauseating, and another I almost need a neo-liberal translator. I'll persevere in the hope I go to Heaven.
Your advice would be much appreciated because I fear I may be going deaf.
Actually, I take it all back. I’m thinking masturbation is far easier and less painful
One of the guests was Michael Moynahan, who has made a career out of being pleasantly inane. I presume he was the one you found to be nauseating. But, as nauseating as he may have been today, he would have had to be extremely nauseating to match his contribution back in October 2016, when Jim Mora was the host….
Thanx for that Mr B. As the pain was kicking in, all I started hearing was "Ahurrr hurr hurrrr rewwwbarb rewbarb rewbarb hurr hurr" interspesed with a Wallace lisp, a fair few I I I's, my my my's and me me me's then a lot of neo-liberal speak in a female voice – (the "so's", the "ultimately's", the "in this space" and "going forward's").
I 'spose it's what happens when our last bastion of public service broadcasting is headed by someone going through their mid-life crisis with a commercial background and desperate to remain down with the kuds.
At least we have and "old school" Jesse and a Mora to keep it all together.
I know you're in Orkers somehwere, but since I've decided wankery and Portnoy worship is better than flagellation, do you know if there's somewhere in Wellington I might avail myself of a circle jerk? OR should I just mow the lawns or watch paint dry during weekday afternoons?
Ka pai North Land healthcare is getting 50 million extra injection of money into the region it is needed.
Te Whanau Apanui is getting $30 million as part of their treaty settlement awesome now they can set a great maunga for their mokopuna kia kaha.
Gambling is a major problem for Maori Pacific and Asian I say that the one arm bandits should be banned too our history books.
The First Nation from Canada is showing appreciation for how strong Maori Culture is in Aotearoa. Kia kaha to The First Nation of Canada Eco Maori Knowns that they have life is harder for them.
Nagti Porou te reo is a te reo that needs to be protected and taught to all our tamariki in Te Taiwhiti.
Peter congratulations on yours win for your kai mahi that you infuse Maori kai in your cooking.
Kia kaha to the youth climate change champion Stars the oldest generation will listen to their mokopuna.
Meet generation Greta: young climate activists around the world
They’re too young to vote, but schoolchildren across the globe are taking matters into their own hands
In May, for the second time this year, more than 1.5 million young people in more than 125 countries walked out of schools, colleges and universities in the biggest day of global climate action ever. Young people have protested en masse before – millions marched against the Iraq war in 2003 – but this child-led uprising is happening with unprecedented momentum on a global scale Ka kite ano.
Pirpi its Awesome that the intrest in Matariki is growing that is good for tangata whenua O Aotearoa cultural and Mana.
South Auckland health food is a great way to Show people what food i good for you. They served a lot of Organically grown food to.
International skills competition looks cool
We should be grateful for the tangata who started the Kuakaupapa and Kohanga school's they came along just in time to keep tangata whenua O Aotearoa cultural and Haka Pumping thanks to all who were involved in this Phenomenon.
Couples are taxed on individual income, which makes for an large variation on how households are taxed on the same income, disadvantaging women, usually, who have to stay at home for disabled children or other relatives. One of the few things they could access was the non qualifying spouse share in super, if their older partner retired.
And. They are using this to fund an effective increase for those who already get overseas pensions/super.
Paddy we don't need rightneck idiot's in Aotearoa those people should be investigated by the SIS and I would not put it past simon to be part of their stupid ways.
Yes Winston some people are so gullible they believe the false news propaganda and con people to believe there bullshit.
Canterbury people playing in the AWA you have respect water driving in Rivers at night is stupid.
Cool single use plastic bags is being banned this is just the start we will eventually ban most plastics we use.
It's about time that someone started planning to push asteroid out of Papatuanuku path a huge Asteroid would devastate all life.
Eugene it cool that single use plastic bags have been banned its about time.
Its cool that people are giving away food and clothing to the needed people in North land tangata whenua need help all common people need help. The Matariki supreme awards went to Whale Watching in Kai kora
Smear your mear campaign won to cool.
Paina Papa congratulations on yours win heaps of tamariki and mokopuna would have improved their te reo because of your show.
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A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
“I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
.“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
“It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet – is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
Bob Edlin writes – And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ HeraldThomas CoughlanSimeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
TL;DR:Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Chumbawamba have reportedly issued the deputy PM a cease-and-desist notice after he used their song 'Tubthumping' before his state of the nation speech. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 19 March appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
Reacting to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s refusal to rule out introducing new taxes at the budget, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Today’s refusal to rule out new taxes suggests the Government is nothing more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Aila Images/Shutterstock Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke1PCgiM3V4
Johnm – Dem Bendell has it right. There are some aspects he doesn't explore, but all up, he's completely on the button. I especially like his discussion around mental health, the support that needs to be established, including the links to connect anyone coming into the space he's occupying. I can see why you post first and foremost and I can see why so few comment on it.
another Hisco 'duck'..
Alerted 5 years ago.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/113803254/did-fear-of-reprisal-stop-anz-acting-on-whistleblower-tip
Not funny is it that the little people get pinged for minor errors while the "Big People" get away with hundreds of thousands scot free. Still I'd rather not be one of the "Big People."
ANZ were part of the $2.2 Billion dollar bank robbery …. a much under-reported event involving the big Aussie owned banks stiffing New Zealand for billions.
ANZ had to fork out over $400 million that they owed … but like the other banks no staff were punished or arrested ,,,,, for their attempted fraud / creative accounting / false pretenses
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10602014
And of course ANZ were part of the enablers for hundreds of millions of stolen money to flow into the crooks bank accounts in Malaysias 1MDB Billion dollar frauds ……. no whistles blown
http://www.sarawakreport.org/2016/09/was-it-some-bankers-their-banks-or-the-regulators-who-let-malaysia-down/
http://www.sarawakreport.org/2016/02/malaysia-should-sue-goldman-sachs-and-all-complicit-banks/
And the board was summoned to Orr's office on Friday. Bet it wasn't for drinks.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12244094
How did your MP Vote on the End of Life Bill? We could applaud or condemn your MP according to your belief.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12244261
Amazed but pleased that Stuart Smith voted Yes. Running an eye down the No list many are not surprising given their images.
Some MPs will have voted to take the Bill to the next stage because they believe it is worth the process continuing; not because they will ultimately vote for it at the final reading.
Others voted No for this particular Bill even though they would support a better-crafted one on the same matter.
"Others voted No for this particular Bill even though they would support a better-crafted one on the same matter".
Frankly that sort of claim by a member sounds like b*s to me. They just don't want to have to make a commitment to anything. They are trying to pretend that they are open minded about it when they are simply opposed.
If they really think that they should vote yes here, try and make the bill better during the second reading debate and then, if they still think it isn't adequate vote "no" when it comes to the third reading.
Do you have any names for the ones you mean, and I only mean those who are actually on record with the comment about the bill?.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAZJtFZZYmM&fbclid=IwAR09g3gkgR2ULpfP-WpDEknWScqoJkLojbXBq35t6ezi7pglp6s8VJ_p6v0
How is this for an exercise in total futility:
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has met with her Labour caucus this morning to discuss today's Cabinet reshuffle – and beleaguered Housing Minister Phil Twyford was nowhere to be seen.
A spokesman for Twyford said he was at a speaking engagement at the Planning Institute in Auckland but he would be back later before the reshuffle.
The Prime Minister's office confirmed Ardern would be making the announcement at 3:15 this afternoon.
Twyford was not the only minister absent from the meeting.
Neither was Grant Robertson, Damien O'Conner, Kelvin Davis, Carmel Sepuloni and other Labour MPs.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12244332
and beleaguered Housing Minister Phil Twyford was nowhere to be seen.
IF Phil Twyford only got half a tin shed built, it would be, if i'm not mistaken, streets ahead of the previous govt. period approach which included among other things, a treasury loan to English & Smith for their own private company to buy up state houses.
Last election: National's going to win, National won, it's a betrayal, it's not fair, National didn't win (i/e National lost), the new Govt. can't do anything right…
Well you got part of your comment correct.
Think of all the energy you could have saved if you had simply reported the simple fact – "the new Govt. can't do anything right".
Alwyn! I thought you pretended to be unbiased!
"pretended to be unbiased"
But of course I am unbiased. I speak only truth unto power. You're not going to try and tell me that Twyford is anything other than the most incompetent Labour Cabinet Minister we have are you? Do you really think Prime Minister's like English, Key, Clark, Shipley or Bolger would have put up with him?
Smile. I am sure that you yourself would unearth far more incompetent Labour Cabinet Ministers if it suited you to do so. (Do I remember comments about Clare Curran?)
By the way, 'Prime Ministers' in your reply should NOT have had an apostrophe. Up your grammar.
What about the ultimately incompetent National Cabinet man who pretended to find an $11 million hole in the Labour budget? Still going on that one?
Nice one
Given that "most incompetent Labour minister" Phil Twyford has performed way better in this role than long-time Nat cabinet/shadow cabinet member Nick Smith managed, what does that say about the relative strengths of Labour and National's front benches?
Curran is not, of course, a Cabinet Minister. She realised, unlike current incumbents Twyford, Clark, Shaw, Genter, Jones and Lees-Galloway that the job was vastly in excess of their capabilities. That is not, of course an exhaustive list.
A pity that a number of the others don't come to such a clear view of their failings and would quit too.
Joyce was correct about the hole. Why do you think that the current lot of clowns are so desperate for new taxes? As he said, they had promised to spend everything and clearly had no idea of the extras they would have to pay for. Thus we have an excellent idea of buying up all the automatic weapons but are now totally unwilling to pay for them. Bloody idiots. All they will accomplish with their penny pinching attitude is to ensure that the rifles will end up being owned by the gangs.
" I speak only truth unto power." That is a very powerful statement, which is demeaned by being used in a context where one is involved in a debate with one's equals, not as it should be in a situation where a person of unequal power takes a risk in speaking the truth and being critical of the more powerful status quo, such as governments.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaking_truth_to_power
I do hope you speak truth to power, Advocating for the disadvantaged is a fine and courageous thing.
Yeah, I don't think alwyn knows what the phrase means, despite his education at the top university in the world.
I know very well what it means. I also understand what a vile group a lot of our politicians are members of and how they see nothing wrong with destroying other people's lives. They can, of course do it under the cover of Parliamentary Privilege.
Look at that miserable specimen Mallard accusing a Parliamentary employee of "rape" when no such thing occurred. Not a hint of an apology from that disgraceful specimen of the political classes.
It's a bit of a redundant question in Key's case, since attempting to fix the housing crisis is something he never would have assigned to a minister.
But he did. Much to late but they did start. Why do you think that houses were being built that a desperate Twyford claimed as being part of his "KiwiBuild" b*s?
Housing is a huge task. No matter what you call it, it is a huge task. I hope Phil Twyford stays on to finish the project. Given that he has been hammered by MPs and the Media in spite of the huge strides made, that is further proof for him to continue.
We'll know in about 30 minutes. 🙂
I suspect there will be some minor changes to his responsibilities – maybe a couple of small chunks passed on to associate ministers. Part of the problem is Twyford's current responsibilities are just too onerous. He has two of the most complex portfolios currently in existence.
Just a stir-up by the Herald, Anne.
Re the list of Ministers, MPs absent from this morning's Caucus meeting, most of the ones you mention were also absent from last night's Second Reading of Seymour's End of Life Bill but voted by Proxy.*
This is not a full list but the following voted by proxy meaning they were not in the Parliamentary Precinct : Ardern, Davis, Twyford, Clark, D O'Connor, Sepuloni, Curran, Eagle, Mahuta, Peters, Logie, Genter, Chahraman, Macroft plus various Nats.
Robertson did not vote by proxy, so presumably around if not in the House itself.
*I am in the middle of putting together a list by party of those who voted for and against the Bill proceeding to Committee stages etc. A draft of the full list by name only is already up on the Parliament website but not by Party, being (supposedly**) a Conscience vote. Will probably post it here in the next few days when I have some time, for anyone interested.
** All Green and all NZF members voted Aye. The breakdown of Nats and Labour members Ayes/Noes is quite interesting, but cannot be taken necessarily as who will vote Aye in the end. From all accounts, many Ayes were to allow the Bill to proceed to the more detailed Committee stages, with continued support on the part of quite a few MPs dependent on considerable change to the actual wording and provisions of the Bill being agreed in the Committee stages.
Any chance someone can rule if posting videos with no contributor comment given is out of order?
Perhaps you could just scroll past?
Perhaps on a discussion board we can be told by the poster what it is we're meant to be discussing.
True, that is annoying.
It must be individual habit because I don't watch video clips – I have zero curiosity about them and so find them easy to ignore.
Not so when let's say, The Chairman, puts up a link and asked for "thoughts".
Now that triggers me. 😆
I always skip the music videos and the ones like above, which have no comment, opinion or debate points included with them. It's just wankery, drop and go rubbish. I don't think it adds anything.
As for the chairnat, I think Solkta and Mars did us all a favour the other night. Even if only temporary, a rest is as good as a holiday.
I didn't skip the music video of Laurie Anderson the other day. Those who thought it "wankery, drop and go rubbish not adding anything" missed a treat in my opinion.
Each to their own.
We cannot click on every link or clip to find the proverbial needle in a haystack or expect to find some ‘nugget’ @ 12’38’’ into the clip or somewhere embedded deep in a document. It still won’t tell me why the commenter posted it in the first place. I think it is lazy and inconsiderate and takes up space but I can live with it – I simply scroll past and don’t click as there’s too much clickbait around as it is. However, others do find it very annoying. Therefore, a brief comment is all that’s needed to satisfy most here.
"wankery, drop and go rubbish' refers to videos without comment, which has been addressed.
As for music vids, I don't watch them, mainly because I happen to think most people post shit, but even the good songs I won't play because I'm on the standard and not youinstafacegrambooktube.
And o superman – Had it on 12" import back in 1981. Fortunately it wasn't any longer than the 8.21 7"
Laurie Anderson's "O Superman" is a sharp commentary.
you used to put links to your own music – should do it again imo
any music video I put up is worth watching imo thus The Little River Band today are exceptional and a window into a time that literally is a lifetime ago.
I did, usually with a story attached as to why and what the track was about, but nah, people can look at my website and decide to click the soundcloud player or not.
I don't mind the music vids really, though I do just skip 'em.
I'm more likely to play a music vid than a 40 minute video that someone reckons will explain why I should be outraged/aghast/terrified of deepstate/chemtrails/corporations.
Or an RT link held up as impartial journalism, that never once airs dissenting views on Putin or Russia.
lol and links from all sources with the obligatory commentary "this is an insightful and wise journalist speaking truth to power" (meaning I agree with them) or "a shameless propagandist tells lies for cash" (I disagree with them).
Heh. All the classics.
Viewing the first 5minutes of a vid will inform about the subject.But maybe a small posting as to subject and content would be good.
[I agree that a video without any excerpt or reason to click on it could be viewed [pardon the pun] as SPAM unless it is obvious and self-evident. From now on, please provide a brief reason as to why you think people should watch it and/or why it is relevant to the topic of a thread, if any. Please be aware what might be obvious or self-evident to you might not be so to another person. This kind of behaviour has led to long-term bans of infamous recidivists – Incognito]
Shouldn't have to watch a video to find out what's up for discussion and why, and while a subject and content should be also be a given, video posts should at least have a for or against argument so it's clear where the poster is coming from.
Perhaps a note to explain subject matter but see no need to predetermine more than that….there is no requirement for discussion nor applying a personal take of the content.
The opportunity is there for discussion/debate should anyone so wish
Links that direct to large amounts of text or someone else's words will be banned next I spose….
Yeah, nah. I’m thinking of random bans for random reasons but especially when it is about how poorly moderated this site is and who or what should (or should not) be banned.
See my Moderation note @ 10:34 AM.
Some videos seem to go for hours without making an explicit point….
Mueller will be appearing in public judiciary and intelligence committee hearings.
Dotard loses his shit.
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1143867664047190017
wow he lost it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq2WJ2r0NkM
From the Greymouth Star, great to see West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor slamming Westland Milk Products over the proposed sale to Chinese-owned Yili, but also says shareholders needed to share the blame because they had failed to scrutinise management and directors in recent years.
On RNZ yesterday Mr O'Connor said he could not intervene as Agriculture Minister, but as the electorate MP and with a family shareholding in Westland Milk, he outlined his many concerns over the sale..
When the West Coast-owned co-operative decided in 2001 to go it alone, rejecting an offer to merge with Fonterra, it had $100million in the bank.
''Something has gone wrong seriously and they now have huge debt,'' Mr O'Connor said.
Farmers had been treated as ''mushrooms'' and had now been presented with just one option, when he believed there had been up to 12 offers from New Zealand and overseas.
Mr O'Connor said he did not think farmers had enough information to make an informed decision.
Confidential information packs were delivered to shareholders some weeks ago, for a vote due on July 4.
Co-operatives could fail if the shareholders did not take an active interest in what their directors and management were doing.
''I think they sit back and take for granted the decisions that are made. They're not always scrutinised in the way they would be if it was a publicly-listed company. I don't believe it's the structure [at fault], it's the individuals involved.''
The Westland Co-operative Dairy Company (trading as Westland Milk Products) had been built up by previous generations, but farmers now risked losing ownership and control.
The 10-year supply guarantee offered by Yili came with a number of qualifications that farmers should be aware of, he said. Once they had sold, farmers would not get the profits from the value added. The only way to get more money would be to do more, and produce more milk.
Selling parts of the company may have been an option for farmers but that was not put to them.
''That's why I think the process has been seriously flawed.''
To me the stupidity of these West Coast farmers to long-term gut their own communities is beyond belief.
Can you please supply us a link when you quote like that.
The Grey Star is paywalled 🙁
http://www.greystar.co.nz/news/lead/oconnor-says-westland-farmers-need-to-share-blame/
Interestingly enough judith has been spent A LOT of time down the coast over the last year according to maureen pughs twitter
There's fresh water down there and Judith owns land.
The world has really turned upside down, white is black, up is down..it turns out that now the most stringent and vocal push back in the US MSM to US foreign interventions is not coming from US liberal media but from Tucker Carlson on Fox of all places, he did the same push back over Venezuela ..
Here he is calling John Bolton a political tape worm, and calling out the neocons hard…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c0jMsspE7Y
Careful, Adrian, you're in for a bollocking from our friend Andre and likeminded people lurking on this blog. The fact that Carlson is one of the few people in the U.S. media with the courage to speak forthrightly on this issue doesn't matter a jot; he works for Fox, which automatically renders what he says worthless.
Right wingers do this to sow insecurity – to get people confused, get their enemies fighting each other – they are not sincere. They are not truth tellers. They are just working to their own agenda – the techniques are in Hollowmen, we see it all the time with hooton pretending to attack the right – I hope you think about that a bit adrian.
Firstly Hooten gave the best and most sincere eulogy for Helen Kelly, so even though he is on the wrong side, I will always give him credit for that.
Secondly, stop with the condescending please.."I hope you think about that a bit adrian" I am under no illusions as to the primary motivations of the right..or the shit establishment liberal class in the US for that matter.
Thirdly, give me a link in US liberal media where the main host is so consistently anti interventionist in such a forth right way as Tucker Carlson (who I am well aware is shit on most other important subjects).
you are being played by them imo – but whatever I don't really care
"you are being played by them imo" that's good coming from the guy who gets played by pretty much every Guardian head line..since forever…I hope you think about that a bit matry.
lol thanks
have a laugh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcz0eL_bYsI
Sorry to disabuse you of an obviously long nurtured belief, Mr Mars, but the moon landing actually did happen. The Americans landed on it almost exactly fifty years ago, and, no, it wasn't a hoax by those evil, calculating, dastardly masterminds of the world, the Russians—despite what Luke Harding might have told you in the Grauniad.
Hooten gave the best and most sincere eulogy for Helen Kelly, so even though he is on the wrong side, I will always give him credit for that.
Take care, mon ami, not to give credit where it is unwarranted. Hooton is a notorious dissembler. I suspect his eulogy for Ms. Kelly was about as "sincere" as his eulogy for Nelson Mandela, who the jackass compared to those monsters Thatcher and Reagan. Hooton's disgusting performance after Madiba's death, and his manipulation of the luvvies on Russell Brown's site, was admirably satirized by my confrère and former student Morrissey Breen….
https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/12/mr-browns-boys-part-2-of-3-dec-31-2013.html
my confrère
Is that French for "the hand operating a sock puppet?"
Basta così!
Shameless, and recycling the same garbage every six months or so.
Oh yes, my dear: you had a bit part in that little farce, didn't you….
You obviously don’t speak Italian. Enough of the silly buggers.
Apologies – I left the comment without seeing your request below to leave it to the moderators.
Oh, I think the Professor understands Italian, Mr. Cognito. He worked for a time in an elite girls' finishing school in Switzerland. He was required to resign in a hurry; the circumstances are still somewhat murky many years after the affair.
Please don’t be a smart alec. Feel free to pass on the hint to you know whom since you seem to be at liberty to speak on his behalf. I’m sure the two of you have regular chitchats.
@Professor Longhair, I take your point as far as far as Hooton goes, but the thing about Hooton that I like is at least you know exactly what he believes and he doesn't try to hide his ideology or pretend he advocating for some thing else, and it was exactly those same qualities that he said he admired about Kelly, he also said Labour lost it's most potent potential leader when she died…on both accounts I couldn't agree with him more (one of the very few time I could say that).
I have read that Morrissey blog post before..so don't worry, I well know who Hooton, and it isn't nice.
…. they are not sincere. They are not truth tellers.
Contrary to your blanket assertion, this particular right winger—Tucker Carlson— is, in fact, telling the truth about this matter.
They are just working to their own agenda – the techniques are in Hollowmen….
How does Tucker Carlson speaking truthfully about U.S. aggression against Iran and Venezuela have the slightest connection to the National Party's campaign of character assassination being run out of the Prime Minister's office? Is it those all powerful, all knowing, all controlling Russian masterminds again? I think we should be told.
we see it all the time with hooton pretending to attack the right
I've witnessed the jackass Hooton in action many times, and he is no more or less than exactly that: a jackass. He is no Tucker Carlson.
sure morrie he's a real great guy – ffs what next – quoting maggie the hackther or something – use your fucken brain
sure morrie
???? The name's James, actually.
he's a real great guy – ffs what next – quoting maggie the hackther or something – use your fucken brain
Never said I liked him. Just said he was telling the truth.
morrie james – stirred obviously
Nobody is trying to get around bans or moderator warnings so please leave this to the moderators.
And he called the bullshit on Assange being removed from the Ecuadorean embassy.
The world has become a very strange place.
The report on the National Party unauthorised access (hacking) of Treasury has been released. No one will be forced to resign.
It's just another example of Simon and National wasting everyone's time and taxpayers money.
We need a better opposition than these clowns.
Note that the Report quotes the complaints made by Paula Bennett were found to be inaccurate and unfounded. She tried so hard to make a case but it was built on sand. So what a waste.
What were the actual complaints made by Paula Bennett that were found to be inaccurate and unfounded?
What did the report state about Jacinda knowing? Or did it not cover that?
"What did the report state about Jacinda knowing? Or did it not cover that?"
Anyone else think that these are odd questions from 'someone' professing to be "more left than most" who comment here?
There is nothing odd holding one's on side to account.
If that was Key sitting on a lie would we not be holding him to account?
I'd suggest failing to hold one's side to account is partly to blame for Labour's failure to deliver.
We know you would suggest that. Because you're a tory.
The same largely applies to the right, not that I am a "tory". One doesn't encourage their party to up their game by remaining silent. Or worse, by down playing and defending their crap.
Labour fear bad PR, thus if the left want more out of Labour, we are going to have to make some noise. For example, if teachers didn't get out on the streets (creating bad PR for the Government) it would have been the same old there is no more money line.
Teachers improved their wellbeing by getting together, getting out there and making a noise.
Thanks for your concern, toryboy.
Paul Goldsmith's questions in Parliament are more pathetic than Amy Adams.
Phil Twyford avoids having to explain for the next few years why he hasn't resigned as Minister of Housing…
Giving up on election2020, are you?
Only a really, really incompetent government does not get a second term.
lol
The re-shuffle looks gutless by Ardern. Good luck to Megan Woods though…what a hospital pass.
Dear Morrisey and Professor Longhair,
Every so often I feel the need for self-flagellation because I'm not a Kethluk and this is the most convenient venue for my confession. Is this normal behaviour?
Currently I'm listening to today's episode of "The Panel". One of the rent-a-voices is particularly nauseating, and another I almost need a neo-liberal translator. I'll persevere in the hope I go to Heaven.
Your advice would be much appreciated because I fear I may be going deaf.
Actually, I take it all back. I’m thinking masturbation is far easier and less painful
(I'd prefer to go blind than deaf)
One of the guests was Michael Moynahan, who has made a career out of being pleasantly inane. I presume he was the one you found to be nauseating. But, as nauseating as he may have been today, he would have had to be extremely nauseating to match his contribution back in October 2016, when Jim Mora was the host….
https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/01/chatting-about-death-squads-oct-5-20q6.html
Thanx for that Mr B. As the pain was kicking in, all I started hearing was "Ahurrr hurr hurrrr rewwwbarb rewbarb rewbarb hurr hurr" interspesed with a Wallace lisp, a fair few I I I's, my my my's and me me me's then a lot of neo-liberal speak in a female voice – (the "so's", the "ultimately's", the "in this space" and "going forward's").
I 'spose it's what happens when our last bastion of public service broadcasting is headed by someone going through their mid-life crisis with a commercial background and desperate to remain down with the kuds.
At least we have and "old school" Jesse and a Mora to keep it all together.
I know you're in Orkers somehwere, but since I've decided wankery and Portnoy worship is better than flagellation, do you know if there's somewhere in Wellington I might avail myself of a circle jerk? OR should I just mow the lawns or watch paint dry during weekday afternoons?
I think Wallace Chapman is far superior to, and just a nicer human being than, Jim Mora. However, he has failed dreadfully on a few occasions.
https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2019/01/good-on-you-for-cutting-him-off-wallace.html
https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2019/01/daytime-tv-review-three-wise-men.html
Kia ora Newshub.
Its cool that the secondary school teacher have settled .
Another plane missing?
I think it's stupid that person who put synthetic drugs in Honey it could have caused major impact on people health.
The Heat wave in France and Europe hope not to many people are being badly effected by this Phenomenon that is caused by Human Caused Global warming.
The gangster get trained in Australia and deported to Aotearoa that is another underarm bowl from Australia to Aotearoa.
Ka kite ano.
Kia ora te ao Maori news.
Ka pai North Land healthcare is getting 50 million extra injection of money into the region it is needed.
Te Whanau Apanui is getting $30 million as part of their treaty settlement awesome now they can set a great maunga for their mokopuna kia kaha.
Gambling is a major problem for Maori Pacific and Asian I say that the one arm bandits should be banned too our history books.
The First Nation from Canada is showing appreciation for how strong Maori Culture is in Aotearoa. Kia kaha to The First Nation of Canada Eco Maori Knowns that they have life is harder for them.
Nagti Porou te reo is a te reo that needs to be protected and taught to all our tamariki in Te Taiwhiti.
Peter congratulations on yours win for your kai mahi that you infuse Maori kai in your cooking.
Ka kite ano
Kia kaha to the youth climate change champion Stars the oldest generation will listen to their mokopuna.
Meet generation Greta: young climate activists around the world
They’re too young to vote, but schoolchildren across the globe are taking matters into their own hands
In May, for the second time this year, more than 1.5 million young people in more than 125 countries walked out of schools, colleges and universities in the biggest day of global climate action ever. Young people have protested en masse before – millions marched against the Iraq war in 2003 – but this child-led uprising is happening with unprecedented momentum on a global scale Ka kite ano.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/28/generation-greta-young-climate-activists-around-world
Kia ora Newshub.
That Geyser in Rotorua is getting quite large let's hope it doesn't do to much damage to people property.
MSD Our new has been inproving its service to the public .
The kites that the tamariki were flying to celebrate Matariki are cool .
The America Democratic debate looks quite good.
Ka kite ano
Kia ora te ao Maori news.
Pirpi its Awesome that the intrest in Matariki is growing that is good for tangata whenua O Aotearoa cultural and Mana.
South Auckland health food is a great way to Show people what food i good for you. They served a lot of Organically grown food to.
International skills competition looks cool
We should be grateful for the tangata who started the Kuakaupapa and Kohanga school's they came along just in time to keep tangata whenua O Aotearoa cultural and Haka Pumping thanks to all who were involved in this Phenomenon.
Ka kite ano
Sneaky cut to super, for a retiree whose spouse is too old to get a job, but too young to retire.
https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/newsroom/factsheets/budget/factsheet-super-and-vp-modernisation-2019.pdf
Hardly an addition to "wellbeing".
Couples are taxed on individual income, which makes for an large variation on how households are taxed on the same income, disadvantaging women, usually, who have to stay at home for disabled children or other relatives. One of the few things they could access was the non qualifying spouse share in super, if their older partner retired.
And. They are using this to fund an effective increase for those who already get overseas pensions/super.
Again an inconsistent approach.
Kia ora Newshub.
Paddy we don't need rightneck idiot's in Aotearoa those people should be investigated by the SIS and I would not put it past simon to be part of their stupid ways.
Yes Winston some people are so gullible they believe the false news propaganda and con people to believe there bullshit.
Canterbury people playing in the AWA you have respect water driving in Rivers at night is stupid.
Cool single use plastic bags is being banned this is just the start we will eventually ban most plastics we use.
It's about time that someone started planning to push asteroid out of Papatuanuku path a huge Asteroid would devastate all life.
Ka kite ano.
Kia ora te ao Maori news.
Eugene it cool that single use plastic bags have been banned its about time.
Its cool that people are giving away food and clothing to the needed people in North land tangata whenua need help all common people need help. The Matariki supreme awards went to Whale Watching in Kai kora
Smear your mear campaign won to cool.
Paina Papa congratulations on yours win heaps of tamariki and mokopuna would have improved their te reo because of your show.
Ka kite ano