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.
I ran across a recent essay from The Brothers Krynn, which attempts to map common horror monsters onto the Seven Deadly Sins: https://canadianculturecorner.substack.com/p/horror-monsters-and-vice My interest, however, is not in the meat of the piece, but rather the opening paragraph: It is an interesting fact that in recent decades, Vampires have ...
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Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
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:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
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. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
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 ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
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. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
COMMENTARY:By Ronny Kareni Since the atrocious footage of the suffering of an indigenous Papuan man reverberates in the heart of Puncak by the brute force of Indonesia’s army in early February, shocking tactics deployed by those in power to silence critics has been unfolding. Nowhere is this more evident ...
Analysis - Nicola Willis is holding firm on tax cuts despite the economic outlook being worse than forecast and critics urging her to wait, writes Peter Wilson for The Week In Politics. ...
Opposition MPs and unions are criticising a proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Peoples to cut staff by 40 percent. The country’s largest trade union — The Public Service Association — says the ministry has informed staff that it is looking to shed 63 of 156 positions. Opposition MPs ...
A poem by Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2024 featured poet Carin Smeaton. Daughtr of the 90s when she gets promoted to usherette a baby blu eel carries her all the way up to mothership she’s hovering high she lets the underaged in to see keanu reeves she lets the only lonely ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
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 A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Nicholas, Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy Education, Deakin University Earlier this month, the New South Wales government announced it would roll out programs for gifted students in every public school in the state. This comes amid concerns gifted school ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Rudge, Law lecturer, University of Sydney Massachusetts General Hospital In a world first, we heard last week that US surgeons had transplanted a kidney from a gene-edited pig into a living human. News reports said the procedure was a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tombs, Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago The 5th-century Maskell panel showing Jesus in a loincloth.British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA When Jesus is shown on the cross, he is almost always depicted wearing a loincloth around ...
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While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
Finance minister Nicola Willis delivers her first budget statement, and unwittingly helps Joel MacManus save his relationship. Nicola Willis strode into the Beehive Theatrette. Around me, on the green foldout seats, were the country’s top business and political journalists. They were all here to see her announce the Budget Policy ...
Twenty years ago today, Māori Television launched after much controversy. Jamie Tahana looks back on its survival and impact across two decades. Chad Chambers stepped onto the stage, the brim of his cap casting a shadow across his face. His smile beamed as bright as his white freezing works gumboots, ...
Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellsford, Onehunga, Westhaven marina – Gavin Strawhan walks the meanish streets of New Zealand in his entertaining debut novel The Call, almost sure to roar into the number 1 position on the Nielsen bestseller chart, its front cover bearing a rave from somebody: “A really good and genuinely ...
On a Thursday in February, at Wellington’s Conservation House, the Conservation Authority, a statutory body advising the eponymous department and minister, Tama Potaka, opened its 195th meeting. Under consideration that afternoon was an agenda item written by Tim Bamford, chief advisor in the Department of Conservation’s biodiversity, heritage and visitors ...
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