Here is some great reporting on a fantastic Left wing victory in Bolivia from The Grey Zone…which is just as well as most MSM don't seem interested in giving this any coverage ar all…in fact I don't think RNZ has even mentioned it, thought we all get to know every single little detail about the US supreme courts from them for some unknown reason?
When Evo Morales was first elected, in 2007, he was a guest on John Stewart's Daily Show. He was simply brilliant from beginning to end. Even the shallow, yelping yuppies in Stewart's audience realized they were in the presence of someone extraordinary.
[you have to make clear what are your words and what is a cut and paste. As a mod I am over editing these, just deleting now where the commenter should know better – weka]
Well Adelson's investment has been very successful indeed. The public massacre Palestinian March of Return protesters with zero push back from any MSM including the so called liberal media has proved this beyond a doubt.
"The UN's humanitarian body OCHA reported a total of 271 Palestinian fatalities and 29,187 injuries in the past year in Gaza, the majority during Great March of Return protests – tallying from March 30, 2018 – March 22, 2019."
Weka, I headed that brief extract with the words "Asa Winstanley on the repulsive Trump donor Sheldon Adelson". I then linked to the article. I'm sorry if it was unclear.
Yes, I'm sure it seemed clear to you, but mods have to read a huge amount on site and if I have to stop and try and figure out what is going on it cuts into my time for doing other things like writing posts. I will help people struggling with formatting or the tech, but for commenters who have been here a long time and know better, I’m just not willing to spend any more time on it. There was no easy way to tell that the first sentence was also a cut and paste rather than your words.
use the quote tags,
Cut and pasted long text
Or some other way of making the quote clearly differentiated from your own words.
Cut and pasted long text.
“Cut and pasted short text”
<<<
Old school cut and pasted text from when there were not tags (or still on FB)
<<<
more of your own words and less of other people’s words
Yeah, but there's a good argument to be made that – despite all the smoke & mirrors – there are, in fact, only 3 individuals who have ever commented on TheStandard since its inception in 2008 … Lynn Prentice, Greg Presland & Ianmac … with all the rest of us being the mere glove puppet creations of one of those 3 individuals … we've all been painstakingly crafted & designed to entertain & mislead any unsuspecting members of the public who inadvertantly happen upon the site & its associated Posts & threads.
I'm, for instance, a classic Ianmac glove puppet (Ian delights & specialises in creating pompous oafs with a penchant for talking dreary bollocks & lacking even a modicum of self-awareness) while you, yourself, "incognito" are very much a typically suave & sophisticated Lynn Prentice creation, with McFlock bearing all the hallmarks of the sort of colourful, irascible old Walter Brennan-style sidekick character favoured by Greg.
All of which begs the question of what "more of your own words" actually means.
[This, of course, suggests you can take the present comment as me (ianmac) blowing the whistle on the whole charade once & for all … Lynn & Greg won't be too happy of course … this site was, after all, one of the World's longest running Anarho-Situationist pranks … but unfortunately I (ian) grew wary of the whole thing]
swordfish Self-deprecating, ironic, humourous. I think lots of things keep people putting time aside to swap ideas, pass on info, and have a little dig, express disappointment, praise, always interesting. A good addiction.
Andre seeker after truth? And weka earnest worker panning in the goldfields, is there a gleam of something both intelligent and useful in those many words to be read and considered?
AAhhh, good ol' weka the frustrated camp guard back again to show who's REALLY in charge around here…LOL.
[2 week ban for flaming and being a dick to a moderator. My instinct is just to ban you until next year, because from memory you reasonably regularly show this disdain to the people who do the work to provide a site for you to read and comment on. But in fairness to moderation and the rest of the community you can take this short ban as a warning. I would have made it a few days, but want to make it worth my while going into the back end and I’m at an utter loss as to why I should care when you patently don’t. – weka]
BREEN:[self-pityingly] I'm sorry if it was unclear.
weka:[patiently] Yes, I'm sure it seemed clear to you, but mods have to read a huge amount on site and if I have to stop and try and figure out what is going on it cuts into my time for doing other things like writing posts.
Incognito: In other words, more of your own words and less of other people’s words, combined with proper formatting
ADRIAN: AAhhh, good ol' weka the frustrated camp guard back again to show who's REALLY in charge around here…LOL.
BREEN: Come on now, everyone. We're all friends again now. Group hug?
Y'know, mozzie, it would save the mods a lot of aggravation and the rest of us from seeing an unedifying spectacle if you and your fellow travellers would use your own site for your circle jerks.
The tolerance threshold for puerile & pathetic BS is obviously higher here on TS than on KB. Do you want to find out how much higher? You’re getting very close to an answer and it will be handed to you in bold between square brackets 😉
Natrad this morning highlighting the struggles some (predominately low decile) schools are having trying to get the Ministry of Education to do their fucking job.
There is a narrative within these three interviews that deserves a serious listen.
The usual post-earthquake repair/rebuild crap that has become normal…topped off by a rather telling interview with the principle of a low decile Porirua school.
And here is the bureaucrat responsible or this shameful situation..
Head of Education Infrastructure Service (EIS): Kim Shannon
Kim is a highly experienced operational and policy leader, who has been with the Ministry since 2000. She has led significant change in the Ministry, specialising in building value, driving good business practice and high standards of public service
Kim was involved in the early part of Christchurch’s recovery, driving the business case for the capital works programme through to Cabinet’s approval. As Head of EIS, Kim introduced the first new schools PPP (public-private partnership) in education.
In Kim’s role of Head of Education Infrastructure Service (EIS), she is responsible for ensuring New Zealand’s schools are safe and inspiring learning environments, and oversees management of a $23.5 billion property portfolio, with a $600 million annual property spend
I've gone looking into NZ education this morning. I don't think it is giving our young people and therefore our country's citizens the right mix of facts, systems and intelligent human thought training with an ability to communicate, that they need.
Looking at Rosemary's comment above a notable word in the last linked report is 'business'. Referred to in the first paragraph, the second, and in the third, the value of the 'property portfolio' and the '$600 million annual property spend' are given as hard money facts that impress those who put business interests first.
Also this woman Kim Shannon – 'As Head of EIS, Kim introduced the first new schools PPP (public-private partnership) in education. ' Which presents government property and services as a business opportunity tapping into government funds and expenditure first and foremost.
She went to Canterbury University originally. Kim holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and English and a Diploma in Secondary Teaching from Canterbury University. Prior to joining the Ministry, Kim worked at the Department of Internal Affairs and the State Services Commission.https://zealand3185.rssing.com/chan-60254421/all_p64.html
I would think she is in the loop of civil service people that push forward the neolib management approach; all efficiency and smooth operation, and good accounting and tick-boxing and generic – no way would making heartfelt changes with a wide vision of education needs for future citizens fit their well-trained, tidy-desk minds. They are better at buildings and decor than understanding the educational needs of today's young people I think.
This link below goes to a world link which appears to skite about what NZ is achieving to keep up with world trends. I fear that it is all morale boosting for the NZ chief management; perhaps useful in gaining brownie points for getting paying overseas students. It is hosted as a French site but English translation is available. (There is an English link – too long. ) This is for OCDE – des Politiques Meilleures pour une vie Meilleure. (OECD – Better Policies for Better Lives). – http://www.oecd.org/fr/education/innovation-education/ (France is having Islamic protests resulting in President Macron bringing in stern controls – after the beheading of a teacher who reignited Islamic ire by bringing into the classroom the page which earlier dishonoured the Prophet. It seems that the French need to live up to their fine words about education.)
This OECD page has little to do with the content and value of NZ education so children can understand and lean to participate as informed people, in what is happening in society. It may be that the MoE has withdrawn into property consumption and acquisition and the local Boards of Trustees are supposed to be directing the education side.
I don't understand if this is the case as to me, what are their horizons, interests. If business people they might be excellent at management and profitability, but like my dad when he got into local council, he talked about saving money on the library, or shutting it down perhaps. Many men don't read fiction, so have little use or understanding of imagination in their thinking. How can they comprehend what they don't have knowledge of? (The vast areas of thought and history and different perceptions and the knowing what you know, and that is a tiny bit of what you don't know etc.). Of course there is the dominant internet and tech that are such a useful tool, but don't match the human-made book which prompt the reader to wonder what they can do themselves in the world outside tech.
They need to be aware of where the jobs will be, how they can live their lives under the twin problems of climate change, and the decay of society accompanied by the outrages of manic capitalists. Now education can't be expected to refer outright to such matters, but it can guide youngsters to emotional intelligence and a wide general knowledge and personal skills in the physical world. That will result in a quiet confidence in their ability to assess the practical moves to enable them to make a living, and keep thinking of changes and learnings they must take on for future advantage.
At the same time they should learn humanities and form their intellectual and imaginative side. You mix with people who have similar interests and they need to form their own spiritual and ethical outlook, and look for people to associate with who enjoy life, have similar values, can be trusted and become part of a network of such people. These are the ones who will emerge from 'the troubles' ahead, unbroken relatively unscathed and able to stand tall.
Min of Ed. needs to be enculturing this, but apparently their pride and purpose is in handling property and finances with a misty look at their educational offering – of 'safe and inspiring learning environments'! That phrase is all purpose from Early Childhood Education on. What a piece of work is neoliberal man and woman!
I too thought that was a ridiculous idea, especially when I heard Judith Collins in a public meeting 8 days before the election advise her 200 strong audience to two vote blue to stop the Greens getting into power. I remember at the time thinking that the logical thing would have been two votes red.
Last night my brother told me that his National voting fellow cricket lovers in the pub before the election were considering voting Labour to frustrate the Greens.
It seems that some did vote tactically like that. The real question is how many actually did.
That would have been stupid. But there are stupid people out there; there are alarmists and haters.
Remember those who believe in conpiracies could easily have been conned in this way.
I also agree that the 'green monster' theory is propounded by those who cannot admit that the voters spurned a National party for reasons like the rejection of dirty politics; that National is no longer the smart party regarding economic wisdom; that National has lost its way with the selection of dodgy candidates; that it really had the wrong answers to Covid-19; that it was not representative; that bullying, disrespectful, narcissistic leadership is not acceptable……..
especially when the alternative was a far more representative, caring and compassionate, determined and decisive one.
Why? Given that the polls made it clear that Labour were going to romp in regardless, voting tactically to get the 'lesser of the two evils' (from a Nat party supporters pov) is entirely rational.
And given that Ardern's govt is a strongly centre-left govt and has adroitly avoided scaring the right, then I can quite readily see this idea as being part of the mix.
Besides most people don't vote with just one simplistic idea in their heads.
Just how large a factor however is something we can only speculate about … and without any polling data to put some bones on it … it's a fairly pointless thing to be discussing.
"it's a fairly pointless thing to be discussing." And yet…here you are.
Bored?
[I can’t see the point of your comment other than to have a go at another commenter. There are plenty of politics to have a go at, please do that instead – weka]
"Pointless"? Maybe at this time for more than a few canny 'reckons' to be indulged.
However. both sides will be doing two things. Evaluating what happened and why, once the polls are all in, and then devising strategy based on that evaluation.
For National, it is more important that they are deeply honest, at least to themselves, about the issues for them that I postulate above.
For Labour and the Greens, knowing why 50% went to Labour for all the various reasons from (for me) being tribal Labour through to stymie the Greens and whatever is in between will be crucial for 2023 and the legislative programme up till then.
Politics is the art of the possible. First, though, know what is possible.
I await the good analysis which time will afford us.
mac1….agree with all of that…love your list of National Party failures, when you see it like that it looks pretty horrendous……I'm not sure if the people are stupid, maybe illogical is fairer.
In fact it is arguable that the half dozen people who voted Labour to keep the Greens out got it right.
Maybe, but some people think they're much more clever than they are. It's just the sort of faux machiavellian idiocy a hooters or a farret would come up with.
I’m sure some people were conned into the "party vote Labour to keep out the Greens" meme, but it would have been a minority.
The vast bulk of people voted Labour because of the outstanding success of their Covid strategy. They saw Dr Bloomfield and PM Ardern standing side by side on the 1pm Daily Show and they were impressed with their handling of the crisis.
This 'keep out the Greens' line is just an attempt to under-value Labour's success by suggesting they didn't really deserve it because it was tactical voting blah, blah, blah.
Let them delude themselves. It won't do them any good.
Agree Anne…that is why the MSM flew with it. But it is disappointing that Tim Watkin bought into it.
I haven't checked, but my guess is that Bryce Edwards will have bought into the ivotedlabourtokeepthehorriblegreensout theory. His analysis is seldom original.
Peter 1 ….or did they vote for charismatic Jacinda and her Covid response and then when they read the pundits the day after the election become convinced that they had voted Labour to keep the Greens out?
There is a lot of self-delusion in voting. People like to be thought as clever/backing the right side. They would need plenty of excuses for having voted Labour when telling their farmer-mates that is what they had done.
The Act Party did an outstanding job this election.
I'll have a go at a few reasons.
The first is that they worked effectively over the last three years on the euthenasia campaign. They worked effectively not only in Parliament, but also in the media and across the country. They could have lost the debate entirely, but they modified the bill substantially, keeping the profile very strong.
The second is their careful targeting of the liberal voter (those who have an ethos of liberty and resisting governmental expansion of control) through the weapons buy-back and regulation proposals.
Those two areas expanded their voter appeal in clever, targeted ways. That was reflected somewhat in their list
The third is in their leader. He wasn't a showpony or bombastic like Rodney Hide, or an ideologue in the Richard Prebble mold. He had a positive, open demeanor that didn't take himself too seriously and was remarkably telegenic and efficient when given mainstream opportunities to be grabbed.
The final piece was their secret weapon in Brooke van Velden. This person is pretty experienced in Parliament, but knows how to get the best out of her leader. She was the one-person coordinator that got their energies out of the Epsom seat which was their base, and out into the countryside. The result is some remarkable numbers in rural electorates.
Now, sure, they get good donations, and they get 'gifted' a seat. But this term they will start with the election referendum results, which will start their term with a real boost. Few can claim that kind of momentum straight from election through to Parliamentary opening.
They are now definitely as strong as they were in the Hide era – who knows whether they're whippable (that's another story).
The Act Party did an outstanding job this election.
Being the only hard right option with a pulse, and not falling into the trap of empty Covid criticism as badly as the Gnats only makes them a lesser of two evils for those inclined that way. The real test will be whether they can retain or grow their vote by 2026 – by which time the last of the Gnat deadwood should have shambled into the sunset, and the party will have a chance to revive its fortunes.
If the Gnats rebuild, I'm betting the ACT vote will return to its usual levels.
Being the only hard right option with a pulse, and not falling into the trap of empty Covid criticism as badly as the Gnats only makes them a lesser of two evils for those inclined that way.
Appearances can be very deceiving. Seymour did test the waters with Plan B but was able to read the room better than his like-minded buddies over at National.
But the strange passions of these suddenly new MPs are mostly untested with NZ voters. Gun nutjobbery or the like may relegate ACT to the margins even as National keeps going down like a broaching livestock carrier – the frenzied mooing and pooing doesn't seem to be helping them.
. Much simpler:Fait Accompli Election: Unpopular, deeply Polarising Opposition Leader of a Party well behind in the Polls & widely perceived to be in disarray … up against a highly regarded Govt (albeit centred largely on the handling of one dominant issue) led by a stratospherically popular PM … inevitably leads – just as it did in 2002 (and to a lesser extent in 2011 & 2014) – to significant fragmentation of the Major Opposition Party's vote. Some purely pragmatic / strategic … some ideological.
–2002– = fromNat … to … NZF,ACT & UF
–2011 / 2014– = fromLab … to … NZF & Greens
–2020– = fromNat … to … Lab & ACT
No doubt amplified by the Gun Lobby's new high-profile alignment with ACT.
It was obviously a Fait Accompli election from April onwards. That massive realignment in Labour's favour always looked pretty solid & secure from April right through to October.
When National is consistently so far behind in the polls & falling apart in the most public manner … a significant swing to ACT by a particular segment of its base at the subsequent Election is almost guaranteed. Granted, Seymour's / ACT's strategic game amplified that swing to its maximum extent … they played their cards very well … but I think the bulk of those former Nat voters were always going to be moving in that direction come what may. Already ideologically predisposed.
Same with former Labour voters in 2011 & 2014 … younger morally-liberal Lab voters didn’t need to be convinced by intricate policy analysis or strategic appeals to swing to the Greens when Labour were deeply unpopular & in disarray … nor did older morally-conservative Lab voters need to be talked into voting NZF.
But from April it's pretty easy to run other counterfactuals and get quite different outcomes.
– If National had chosen Collins after Bridges in March, one could see greater National base solidity, with less bleed to Top, NewConservatives, and AdvanceNZ
– If National had chosen a farmer-friendly candidate, the rural seats wouldn't have bled to Act
– If Labour didn't have the second lockdown in Auckland, Greens could have risen to 10%, and we'd have a more interesting government
– If NZFirst had figured how to attract the nut vote from Advance NZ in May, they could have had a better shot.
Little of it is predetermined, once you get to the fringes.
The euthenasia thing made them appear something other than cold-hearted capitalist users. When they figured that out, they softened some of their neoliberal policies to be consistent with that new image. Managing that while simultaneously courting the gun-nut crowd was a competent move.
But also, where would right-wing nats go when the nats are obviously on a loser?
I would add to the 'telegenic' aspect of David Seymour. When you look at ACT's policies they seem like a nasty bunch, but a lot of people rarely dig beneath the surface. On the surface, David is approachable, friendly, and makes you laugh.
Personality over policy. Cos the hard-right run very shallow.
They are a very different party from the ACT party of Hide. That ACT was a creature of Auckland and Wellington elites.
This time round… ACT did better in Gore than Epsom. It got 10% on the West Coast, 9.7% in Invercargill… and only 11% in Epsom. It did very well in both Coromandel and Waitaki, despite those both being full of old people (why do old people vote for a party that wants to bring in the Coronavirus?).
ACT is now a rural protest vote, in a way it never was before.
If, and just saying "if", former National voters put two votes Labour, then they do not understand MMP. They could have kept their beloved sitting MP, and given their party vote to Labour. But if they did know what they were doing and we give them some benefit of doubt, then Smith and Brownlee were considered beyond their use by dates, however not so sure about the Ashburton and Manawatu areas.
Unless you have some evidence of intentional wrong-doing or gross recklessness on the part of the owner, and presumable parent of this child … then prosecuting them seems nothing more than a vindictive doubling down on the tragedy they're already enduring.
Yes PLA – the stats show that children under 10 are the major victims and that they are usually bitten on their own property. To get good, happy dogs that are safe around children, they need to go to puppy school for quite some time. People living erratic precarious lives and don't have spare money would have trouble finding the time, and doing the travelling to the training site, and there is probably a cost to get good training.
There needs to be assistance I think from government to enable people to do this training. Some people can't bear being told to restrict their dog, rein themselves in, and get hostile and rude if questioned. Having a pet dog can be a great thing for children, they want to be part of your lives, while cats want you to be a part of their lives – when it suits. But the dogs and owners need training I think.
Yea, an FYI,I like Dogs…and have owned several. It is surely the OWNER that is the problem in attack cases. And seeing the terrible wounds…(including mental) inflicted on Children and Adults… MUST take care
Unless you have some evidence of intentional wrong-doing or gross recklessness on the part of the owner, and presumable parent of this child…
Hmmm…it is an actual 'thing' on interweb based egozones for numpties to film or photograph their new human baby being introduced to their fur baby. Seen in passing, and not an area I tarry in, but it has always struck me as being an inherently dangerous practice.
Yes the article I linked to above points out that children under 8yrs should be supervised around family pets, but in reality this must be a counsel of perfection.
"Why? All dogs are capable of this unpredictable behaviour, even if the vast majority don't."
If all dogs are capable of it – then that should be a factor in deciding whether you have any dogs around very small children. And it's fair to say that not all dogs are equally capable of it, or equal in the degree of damage they can inflict – the type of dog matters. In other words, we are not dealing with something that cannot be mitigated in any way, and is so rare that all we can do is throw up our hands and say "how sad".
As a broad principle – making owners responsible for what their dogs do, as though they had done it themselves, is a good way of focusing the mind. Though as you say, in some cases it will just add a criminal conviction to the horror and distress.
You aren't allowed to just smack your child under our law. If we can be that draconian how come we can't make it a short prison term for allowing a dog at your home so much freedom that it can bite a person. (That would mean keeping control of relatives and friends dogs. If it was illegal you could quote that and not be accused of being a jerk throwing your weight around etc.).
I have stopped another child from biting mine, and would act vice versa but never needed to. You don't expect it from little children but they are still random and untrained. But a dog is more prone to bite, there is no excuse for it happening to kids, and people will have to be helped, chivvied, threatened into giving a s..t.
It is not draconian to give children the same protection under the law as adults and dogs. If your child was biting someone then yes you could use a (light) smack to make them stop.
Is it not draconian not to be able to smack your dog! The idea is that you are trying to train, to get a psychological brain connection in place. With adults, smacking gets weird.
If your dog is biting you can smack them to stop them, like with children. But using violence for correction is not a sound way to teach dogs, children or adults not to be violent.
So not being allowed to hit children is 'draconian'..?…really ..?… My parents did not hit me…and I never physically chastised either of my two (now adult) children..my son and I discussed it recently…how outrageously weird it was…the very idea that I would hit/hurt him..at any time in his life ..and that this could be somehow a way of showing 'love' to your children…I believe we do as we are taught…were you taught that your parents hit you because they 'love' you ..and did you duplicate those actions..?..that could explain your attitude vs. mine…eh..?
I'm sorry to say that my parents didn't always love me and that I didn't always love my children. However I have done everything that I could for them, and shown them with actions as well as hugs that I love them most of the time. It's all a bit OTT about not striking your child at all.
But coldness of behaviour, little interest and little communication with your child, leaving them to others such as boarding schools to bring up, only liking them when they are winners – children who want to stop playing a sport which they excel in can find that parents withdraw from them, disappointed in not being able to show off their clever child. Then there is being inconstant, all over the child for a while, then becoming distant apparently uncaring; that shakes a child or a teenager very much, then there is the downward critical comparison with a neighbour’s child, a relative’s; ‘Pity you can’t be like …. he or she can do…. makes it look easy. You will have to try harder if you’re going to be half as good.’
Those are the things that damage a child, not just getting a whack. And they are not illegal.
Aye. Little kids have absolutely NO defense against attacking dogs. So MANY cases in NZ….and also Adults ripped open…
Fark the number of times I, out walking/biking with family, and some 4 legged monster (large/small whatever) comes rushing (unleashed) at us. "he wont hurt you" yells numnut owner from a distance…..
"If the dog has caused serious injury to a person or has killed any protected wildlife or injured it so badly its destruction is necessary to prevent further suffering, the dog owner is liable to up to three years imprisonment and a fine up to $20,000.
The court must also order destruction of the dog, unless there are special circumstances."
And….
"If you see a dog attacking a person, you have the right to seize or destroy the dog to stop the attack. You can also seize or destroy a dog if you see it attacking any livestock (sheep, for example) or poultry, or any domestic animal (like a cat or other dog) or any protected wildlife.
If a dog rushes at, startles or attacks a person, animal or vehicle, causing someone to be endangered, injured or killed, or causing any property to be damaged or endangered, any person can also seize or destroy that dog."
But unless there are circumstances we don't yet know about, I really cannot see any Court prosecuting the owner on this. Especially if they're the parent as well.
There would have to be some pattern of recklessness or gross negligence involved. Otherwise it just becomes a vengeance, a doubling down on the grief and loss.
Which I have to say is an sentiment that has become remarkably popular with parts the left in recent years.
My suggestion is you read the Policy. It's pretty obvious I'm already fucked off with having to moderate over stupid shit like this. Please stop trolling/flaming. If you don't understand anything about moderation, you can ask, but without the attitude please.
Well. Maybe I'm just missing something here. A poster regularly attacks "The Left". ( I could link, but hey). I'm on The Left. I thought this was a Left site. Anyway. I wont respond to aforesaid poster. And would appreciate same….
Yes you do appear to be missing something. People are free to attack left wing politics so long as they're not making shit up or making claims of fact for what are essentially opinions.
People can also be rude when making comments to an extent so long as they are making a political point. The limit is where it becomes personally abusive and likely to start a flame war.
The point of The Standard is to provide posts and a space for robust debate. If someone is making arguments against the left, then others will come along and critique those. That's how it works.
"A recent study showed that there had been over 99,000 dog bites in New Zealand in the past 10 years"
And that was up to 2015…
"Another dog attack on a young child has prompted the New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons president Dr Sally Langley to call for tougher dog-control laws"
Or..you can do what I do…I have two re-homed ex pig hunting dogs…big brutes…and both of them as gentle as a kitten..'cos they often have a hell life (locked in cages when not hunting..one of mine had big scabs on each of his hips when he came to me ..this from lying/living on concrete all his life..)…but the wonderful thing about these dogs is that they are trained to hunt wild pigs ..and to be friendly to every other living creature…they even differentiate between domestic and wild pigs ..and studiously ignore the former…and because they have spent so long in a pack they like other dogs ..one of them is 13 yrs old..the other is 18…and I have seen nothing but relentless friendliness from them…so…if you want a gold-plated dog…get herself an ex pig hunting one…much classier than the usual pedigree suspects..plus you will save their lives..as pig hunting dogs are treated like cows ..they have their most productive years..then they usually get a bullet…my two were heading that way when I grabbed them ..and that dog with the big/old scabs on his hips..?..the scabs are nearly gone ..and he/they now sleep on hotel-grade pillows..so ..if you want a dog ( and why wouldn't you..?)..hunt yrslf down one of those mongrels…
A close relative of mine did pig hunting for 30 years and had a number of dogs. I know how a pig can attack the dog. His wife always wanted to meet the person when the pig hunting dog got sold.
I think with me I show fear easily around some breeds and I feel that a dog senses this. I have a friend with an old alsation I have looked after since a pup when they are away. I am fine with the dog on my own.
A lady down the road with 2 rottwheliers kept offering me to have a cup of tea. I never did go for the cup of tea and I would always glance for where the dogs were behind a filmsy fence.
In this case as though they themselves attacked the baby.
Accidents do happen and one of the great principles of crimminal law, built up over centuries, is that intent must be one of the factors we take into account.
This was a great advance on the much more ancient principle of 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth' where any accident or misfortune would have to be compensated for with an equivalent act of retribution. In such a world any small oversight or inattention that had unintended consequences (and we all make these all the time), could result in the same or worse consequences being visited on you as well. This had the effect of driving people toward being extremely risk-averse, and is probably part of the evolutionary basis for the conservative instinct.
It was only when we moved past retribution being the dominant driver of justice, that society as a whole also started to become less risk averse and more innovative.
I write articles for U.S. personal injury lawyers, who are always trying to find ways of encouraging someone who has been injured to sue someone else. Some states have what is called a "one bite law," which means that you can only sue a dog owner if there has been a previous attack by their dog or the dog has been known to have been aggressive. These states tend to be the more conservative states. In other states, like California and New York, the dog owner is automatically liable for any attack by their dog unless the dog has been provoked, even if the attack is a first. Dog owners in these states are expected to keep their dogs under control.
A interesting perspective Koff. I can understand why the US takes this approach but I'm not a fan.
It tends to drive excessive risk aversion and builds in huge costs. Its why for instance their medical system is such a large fraction of their GDP yet delivers so poorly for so many locked out from it.
My preference looks a lot more like our ACC no fault model. Not perfect but a lot more efficient in my view.
I can't recall any publicised instances of kids winding up in hospital, let alone dead, from a cat attack. At worst, a hospital visit might be needed to deal with a subsequent infection from a cat defending itself, very very unlikely to be from an initial unprovoked cat attack.
While Gareth certainly has somewhat of a point about the effects of cats on wildlife, those in my circles involved in wildlife conservation seem much more concerned about controlling dogs. The effects of cats seem to be just lumped in with rats, stoats, possums etc.
"Destructiveness, aggression and house soiling were the most frequent complaints regarding behavioural problems in dogs, whereas house soiling was clearly considered the main behavioural complaint in cats, followed by furniture scratching and excessive vocalisation."
Wondered if the dog was jealous of the new bub. Jealously can often be a cause of bad dog behaviour on the introduction of a new human or pet into the household. Terrible tragedy for the family and a poor outcome for the dog. Nothing worse then a poorly trained dog. Dog obedience is a must in a domestic situation.
If you start a comment and then the first words go missing – look up to the name slot at the top. Suggestion if there – highlight all and Cut and paste down below. Remove your name and put back in Name slot. And keep watch so that you don't do it again or the mod has to FIFY. And that's a waste of time especially on the 3rd time of telling,
This wasn’t to Treetop, just – To whom it may apply. Possibly me FTTT.
The animal, a rottweiler acquired as an adult, was in prey drive.
The mother had only popped to the toilet when the tragedy unfolded, Karen said. One of the family’s two dogs apparently taking and mauling the newborn boy and attempting to bury him.
Bullshit. Rotties are no more nasty than any other breed. As with all dogs good socialisation is the key. There are a number of Rottie regulars at the local dog park and they never cause an issue.
In this case the dog was two years old yet the owner had only recently got it. Any dog needs to be very carefully introduced to a new baby to be sure that they understand, and a dog that you don't even know even more so or maybe never.
Food's food, be it thawing roast on the bench or a new born, and it's too much to expect a dog, especially an animal that's likely not bonded with family, to differentiate.
Some dogs would work it out. I had a German Shepherd who caught a baby mouse. He just wanted to lick its bum and mother it. Had to take the mouse outside myself and put a spade through it. Another time he adopted a kitten.. But yes you can't expect that.
Rotties are probably the most intelligent of all the breeds, but it comes with a heightened sense of possession and protectiveness toward their owner.
I’d never call them nasty or aggressive, but a close friend who owned a number of them over the years was always careful to ensure that anyone new in their environment was introduced properly.
On reading the details this seems just a sad and tragic mistake on the part of a young mother of a day old babe, and not a lot more needs saying.
A baby has died in preventable circumstances. Outlines in the media are often incorrect or misleadingly incomplete, so speculation on the specifics is unwise.
What often happens in these sad situations is that the trial takes place and is quickly resolved (unless there is some fact in dispute), and the judge takes into account the fact that there really is no punishment the state can apply that would come close to the punishment of the remorse of the responsible party.
Yea…It was a Baby. Eaten by a 4 legged pet monster. That "remorse" wont bring back. As I've said throughout this, Children have no defence …whatsoever, against snarling biting dogs. As I've also linked, there are far too many cases.And I sure do let "owners" know when their mutt is rushing me and mine to "get your fkn dog under control"…
Look, it's one of many ways small mistakes that most people make at some time turn lethal. Kids playing in driveways, tired parents leaving the kid in an overheated car, not seeing the kid tugging on the kettle cord.
Even you – being aggressive towards a dog owner can easily put a protective dog into attack mode.
A case can be made that there is pitiful little competence required to own a dog. Shite dogwalkers who let their dogs approach me piss me off. It's a sign that the dog itself is poorly trained, because the owner is careless. But it's a carelessness that is routine in NZ.
Throwing the book at someone who has had a momentary lapse that many other people even in the courtroom probably have had is, frankly, a dick move. It requires a social change through education, and maybe regulation, rather than punishing an individual in a manner that is neither appropriate for rehabilitation nor an inkling of what they're already experiencing.
Look yourself. I've already stated my grounds……absolutely nothing to do with driveways,kettle cords, overheated cars…or whatever else you can slip in. Except uncontrolled dogs. Which in this case killed a Baby. Definitely a form of Child abuse.
Nope. Nowhere close. Unless a dog is deliberately set on a child, it's exactly like every other momentary but lethal lapse around a hazard that happens to children, sadly, dozens of times a year in NZ. Be it cars, dogs, waterways, electricity, whatever.
Former Green Party MP Keith Locke says his contemporaries should stay out of Cabinet in order to remain critical of Labour while also working constructively with it.
Begging to go in to government with all care and no responsibility is just begging to be bullied within government and lose multiple times, and still be the person fronting to media to explain it all.
As opposed to being in Cabinet, not being able to speak out about problems with Labour policy and approach, and still being the person fronting to media to explain it all.
There's good reason for Green MPs to be gaining more and higher Ministerial positions than last time. SO I hope they fight for them.
The $$$$ decisions coming up in 2021 with big Green impact include:
– Lake Onslow
– Light Rail
– Wellington public transport
– Tiwai+Manapouri+100% Renewable Generation
– Wilding Pine+Fire risk+Drought+Water Storage
– Landing the marijuana reforms
– Waitemata Tunnel crossing
I can see possibly Health getting split up into Associate Minister portfolios – both for its size and for keeping the Class of 2017 Labour intake happy.
But for many of the sets of decisions listed above, I don't believe enough Labour MPs have enough ideological clarity or conviction to carry many of them – and the Green MPs absolutely do. We are running a parliament with a worse cult complex than under Key – and with only slightly better policy delivery results. We need Greens who will fight inside Government against the Ardern cult and win.
this is essentially the argument to vote Green. Unfortunately, it's a bit late now to start running that line. Had the Greens been on 10%, then they would have done exactly what you are talking about and we would have had an awesome L/G govt.
The situation we're in now is whether the Greens can advance those issues better from in cabinet, outside cabinet, or on the cross benches.
Good analysis – that's my personal preference (as a Green voter), i.e. continuation of previous arrangements wrt confidence and supply plus ministers outside cabinet, which saw an increase in the Green party vote. The Labour and Green parties can continue to work together constructively and with mutual respect – what's not to like?
I am really disappointed with the seeming cavalier attitude of many of my fellow citizens.
I have observed so many who are just breezing past the codes and going about their busy shopping. I believe there has to be a constant advertising campaign highlighting why it is essential that the scans are used. As far as I can see the current campaign just says "Keep each other safe", but doesn't explain how the tracing works.
I happened to chattingly ask an elderly customer, at a takeaway coffee outlet in our town, if he knew whether I had the virus or not and whether he was going to use the QR prominently displayed. His response was that he knew where he had visited and wasn't bothered.
I agree with you Logie97. I too see heaps of people walking straight past obviously placed QR posters and registers with pen attached to manually write their name and phone number and they obviously need to see Specsavers. Also well placed hand sanitiser that the retailer kindly leaves out is most of the time hardly touched.
I don't have an answer for this apathy and it should worry all of us. I realise there are folk with phones which they cannot used for the QR but there is a diary which can be obtained for personal use and they can keep tabs on their whereabouts that way. Retailers sometimes leave a register for people to use as well.
Mask wearing has not been widely accepted here and although they can be a bit of a nuisance it still beggars belief that, for the sake of their health, they do not use them when out shoppping, on public transport and libraries etc. I am happy to wear a mask every time I go out and register I have visited. I use sanitiser regularly and just wish more did it too.
Good on you chatting with the elderly customer and it is surprising that being elderly, he/she hadn't attained wisdom through the years to respect their health like we are meant to.
Nice bit of elder shaming there. As one of the tech people put it – this app is a rich person's answer. Why not more pressure on for a solution that protects the more vulnerable – who somehow seem to be the ones the disease really hurts.
BTW the manual diary can only be used if the app is uploaded.If the phone can't upload the app in the first place the diary isn't there. The app when I looked at it also required an email address to register – which is so yesterday – why not just the phone number?
And finally despite all the bleating about security and privacy- guess what? If you want to take your details off the register you have to justify yourself and get MOH permission- you can't just delete it:
If for whatever reason you choose to uninstall NZ COVID Tracer, you can request the deletion of any information you provided during the registration process by sending an email to help@covidtracer.min.health.nz. Please include the reason for your request and a contact phone number.
They also talk about the data on the Amazon servers (Ole Jeff who really doesn't pay much tax anywhere) being encrypted in transmission. Pity it isn't clear if it is just between MOH and Amazon or between the phone and amazon.
Shipping large numbers of animals overseas. It's not good for them, and not good for the country's good standing. It encourages over stocking and we should remember that methane is still a problem for NZ. SAFE wants it stopped, and on sober consideration, I think most would agree. It may be a case that up to a hundred could go and be the basis of a herd bred in the new country, but not a whole huge herd.
It seems a big earner for NZ, there is a lot of investment in it, and when we stop it, there will have to be a reasonable lead time to drop the number of animals and exit the bulk market in good order. Start now I say. Here is some background for it including a 2019 report of the animals being in poor condition in one country.
pggwrightson.co.nz/Livestock/Buying-and-Selling/Live-Export
PGG Wrightson Live Export has been exporting livestock since the mid-1980's and during this time we have exported tens of thousands of animals and have …
farmersweekly.co.nz/#
…Across the Tasman the story is similar with up to 150,000 cattle expected to leave NZ and Australia this year, most destined for China.
Brisbane live exporting company Austrex NZ and Australia breeding stock general manager Tom Slaughter said the live export trade is very much alive and well and a key player in farming business.
peterwalsh.co.nz/our-company/pw-and-a-live-export/
Throughout the year, Peter Walsh (PW&A) receive numerous requests from international clients to supply significant numbers for live export. Recently, the market has been for dairy cattle destined for China and sheep destined for mexico.
pinnacleag.nz/
PinnacleAg NZ can provide:
Access to quality cattle and genetics from a disease-free industry.
PinnacleAg is a 100 per cent New Zealand owned company operating in the grazing and live export business across the North and South Islands, dedicated to delivering quality livestock around the world.
(This seems like the kiwifruit industry again, exporting what gives our country differentiation in our product and ultimately cutting ourselves out of markets because of the desire for short term gain. Selling the family jewels etc.)
hedleyjohn.com/
With the health benefits that goats milk offer, dairy goat farming has become a burgeoning industry. Hedley John is one of the world's largest dairy goat exporters,…
Vets who have provided services on board ship have spoken out against the trade in live animals. NZ has forbidden shipments, intended for slaughter, since 2003 when 4,000 sheep died in a shipment to Saudi Arabia. In Australia vets have formed VALE – Veterinarians Against Live Export. One vet was allegedly pressured to report 105 mortalities when in fact 2000 sheep had died,.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_export#New_Zealand
This seems like the kiwifruit industry again, exporting what gives our country differentiation in our product and ultimately cutting ourselves out of markets because of the desire for short term gain. Selling the family jewels etc.
It doesn't really matter if we export live cattle or not as far as that goes. Eventually all our export markets for dairy will be producing their own and we won't be exporting to them.
The real problem is that we don't have any plan to replace dairy or any other primary produce export. We just keep looking to do more farming despite not having the land available to do it.
Yes beyond dairy, is there anything but tech services? It occurs to me that when we got someone lively with a sophisticated understanding of world politics and trade beyond the primary in Bill Sutch, the petty government gave him cold and frosty treatment and chased him around the raspberry bush, turning him into a villain for attempting to communicate with a Russian and perhaps give him some written notes about something.
I've got the book Bill and Shirley on order and will learn more about this mercurial? character.
On the random topic of domestic solar, rather than primarily using it for electricity does anyone know of domestic systems to use if for direct water and home heating, i.e. much of domestic power consumption? Particularly something that would work in an Otago winter.
Purely hypothetical spitballing in my case (unless I win lotto), but I was thinking a rack of solar water heaters and a radiator system throughout the dwelling. Independent of power supply, still gets enough power output on an overcast snowy day to do the bulk of the work (and not freeze and burst) overnight? No grid problems, no battery packs (well, except the water cylinder…).
sure it wouldn't do aircon cooling just like that, but it's a thought. Maybe in summer could do the reverse, cooling the water (external radiators in the shade, switching between those and the north-facing roof collectors as need be?)
in the sunnier parts of Otago, yes. Not so sure about Dunedin in winter, but it could certainly be used as a back up system (the power to the hot water tank switches off when water temp reaches a certain number).
What we should be doing is building integrated systems. In Dunedin that would be passive space heating and hot water, ultra efficient wood burners for space heating, hot water, and cooking, and renewable-powered grid mains. Probably solar panels too (grid tied but I think there is work to do there on not making that so completely dependent on the centralised system because of quakes and storms). There are individual households doing that, but it needs major govt support to get it accessible to most people.
We have 12 panels. I changed the water heating element from 3kw to 2 kw. And put a timer on the water heating so that it heats the water from 10am to 4pm. Thus the solar is mostly heating the water during the sunny part of the day. We never run out of hot water.
The house I grew up in was in the "deep south", as they call it, and was rural. I recall we did the full thing – wetback on the fireplace, solar water heating, and of course electric lines connection. Ever since then I've been partial to having at least two different energy types for heating and cooking (or boiling water for a cuppa).
Electric generation at home is all well and good, but a solar flare or ship's radar could screw with it in the middle of winter – which would suck. So I'm thinking resilience as well as low energy bills.
Does anyone know how hot and how much water is needed to run a heating system? Been checking the weather this winter and figured there was only about a week when the weather was too cold to have heated water. It wouldn't hurt the budget to break out the old bar heater once a year.
Saw someone heating the house with coke cans painted black can the panels be avoided when heating the water.
Batteries are expensive but I am reliably informed are to shortly drop in price according to the former CEO of Pulse Energy who spoke about solar farms in NZ to the Grey Power AGM just finished.
I checked this at one point and night rates look to have gone from a number of suppliers. I think some people had set up battery farms downloaded at night and sold back during the day. Don't think the power companies were into it
Is that a bit like the rorting low life in Golden Bay who used an EV to get free power from the charger generously donated by the local power provider to Takaka township who then drove home and used the car as a battery to provide free power to his house?
Just had installed a further 8 panels and a diverter which channels solar power in excess to the current current demand of the house to the HW cylinder and after all else to the grid.
The diverter has four settings- pure solar, pure grid, and two booster settings at 2.5 and 5 hrs per day. The booster settings are 'smart' and react to the speed of heating the cylinder. The solar only option does away with the need for a timer as ianmac writes about at 11.3 below. About $500 for the diverter. The HW cylinder consumes about 2 kw/h per day and thereby the diverter saves up to 50c per day in diverting power which otherwise would have gone to the grid at 7 cents per kw/h and buying it in at 30 cents per kw/h. Money back in less than three years.
The diverter also is able to detect too low a temperature in the cylinder thus risking Legionnaires Disease and adjust accordingly. I believe.
By combining good design with effective insulation, you can collect and store the sun's energy to provide your home with warmth day and night, throughout most of the year.
An interesting point is that if sunlight is striking something then that something will be heated by the sun light. The darker it is the more heat will be absorbed as well as the more square on to the sun it is.
After that is the question of storing it. Water is actually good for that and it can be pumped where needed either electrically or through convection. That does mean a large water tank and possibly lots of pipes.
yeah, requiring lots of pipes is the same as the radiator systems found in many older buildings (although most of them would have been coal or gas heating the radiator medium).
But it allows one to move heat around, or not heat some rooms, like electricity does. And lets one have rooms unencumbered by all that horrible natural light.
Be nice if our corporate leaders could count a little better. Making proposals to govt on reducing carbon emissions. For vehicles some of it is good – put in minimum emission standards so we don't have a lot of old inefficient vehicles imported.
But the main recommendation for private vehicles is remove FBT on corporate fleets.
Really? – if they could count they would very quickly realise that the reduction in petrol costs would more than pay for any higher price tag. And hybrids for one are now coming in at the lower price ranges. Most pressing need is to enable the under $14k buyer to bridge the gap to a $25k electric. Maybe we should be getting employers with those sorts of premises to seriously look at solar generation and free plug in charging in the employee car park during the day.
"Handmaid" Barrett confirmed to SCOTUS on the same day that court opens the door to stealing the election for Repugs (again).
The ruling is nominally about whether mailed ballots in Wisconsin received after election day but postmarked before are to be counted, and SCOTUS sez no. But included in the judgement was a side opinion from Kavanaugh suggesting sympathy to the idea that counting of all ballots must be completed by midnight Election Day.
You'd hope so. But apparently the way the counting goes in Pennsylvania is counting the votes on the day comes first, then when the counters are caught up on those, they'll nibble away at the votes that came in before election day until a new bunch of on-the-day votes need to be dealt with. I'm under the impression some other states that don't allow early processing of early votes are the same, which is why Michigan and Wisconsin aren't expected to declare a result election night.
For that they deserve to lose both Texas and Florida especially Texas where according to the media early voting in some of those big counties has now exceeded the whole vote there for 2016. Yee ha go get them repugs cowboy.
This past weekend, thousands of witches apparently plotted together to cast some kind of “binding” spell on Donald Trump, according to Steve Warren of CBN News.
And yet the Christian Broadcasting Network was deeply concerned, treating it as yet another obstacle for Trump to overcome.
As if battling House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry against him wasn’t enough, President Donald Trump will next have to face a “binding spell” cast by “thousands” of witches late Friday night.
As Halloween approaches at the end of the month, several media outlets are reporting witches who oppose President Trump are planning to cast a “binding spell” on his administration. Such reports of witchcraft being used against the President are nothing new. Witches have been trying to cast spells against Trump since his inauguration in 2017.
Scheduled for Oct. 25 at 11:59 pm, these self-proclaimed “witches” are planning to conduct a ritual which is meant to “bind,” but not harm the President unlike a “curse” or a “hex.” These witches believe they are doing something positive for the entire country by not allowing President Trump to cause harm to the US by his actions.
Well, it didn’t work. He’s still spreading COVID wherever he goes, and that’s not even getting into his policies or the Supreme Court.
Social media’s erasure of Palestinians is a grim warning for our future
by JONATHAN COOK, Middle East Eye, 26 October 2020
There is a growing unease that the decisions taken by social media corporations can have a harmful impact on our lives. These platforms, despite enjoying an effective monopoly over the virtual public square, have long avoided serious scrutiny or accountability.
In a new Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma, former Silicon Valley executives warn of a dystopian future. Google, Facebook and Twitter have gathered vast quantities of data on us to better predict and manipulate our desires. Their products are gradually rewiring our brains to addict us to our screens and make us more pliable to advertisers. The result, as we are consigned to discrete ideological echo chambers, is ever greater social and political polarisation and turmoil.
As if to underline the ever-tightening grip these tech corporations exert on our lives, Facebook and Twitter decided this month to openly interfere in the most contentious US presidential election in living memory. Theycensored a story that could harm the electoral prospects of Joe Biden, the Democratic challenger to incumbent President Donald Trump.
Given that nearly half of Americans receive their news chiefly via Facebook, the ramifications of such a decision on our political life were not hard to interpret. In excising any debate about purported corruption and influence-peddling by Biden’s son, Hunter, carried out in his father’s name, these social media platforms stepped firmly into the role of authoritarian arbiterof what we are allowed to say and know.
It's a truly gobsmacking degree of convergence moonbat fuckwittery that would lead someone to whine about organisations dealing with news choosing to not amplify a completely fabricated smear that's been thoroughly debunked.
Particularly when a go-to move of said fuckwits is to whine about decades-old previous instances of news media publishing stories with insufficient evidence that have later turned out to be wrong.
I made it quite clear that it was Jonathan Cook's article, not mine. I wasn't "testing" anything; I don't want to provoke or tease weka or any of the other moderators. I posted a fragment of a typically thoughtful and well written article by one of the outstanding journalists of our time, and I made it clear it was written by him, not by me. Nothing more than that.
You reckon the lack of any quotation marks or blockquote formatting was intentional? I just figured mossie's brain had deleted its cache with the second tide, like any other moonbat.
2) In a dedicated Post today on how this site works and in particular, how Moderation works on this site, the Author-Moderator wrote:
“Both of the main moderators at the moment are short on patience for spamming the site with long cut and pastes. Use your own words, a short quote and link.” [my italics]
As a long time regular of this site, you know this. You also know that you and others today were exhausting Moderators’ patience. You opted to ignore this.
3) In that same dedicated Post it was made clear that wasting Moderator time is not tolerated, especially when Moderators are short on patience, which they are at present. In addition, commenters don’t like having their time wasted either or their browsing polluted by wasteful comments. You know all this. You opted to ignore it.
4) You have one particularly bad habit, which is “to post [i.e. paste] a small section of a larger piece by some writer, without at least some comment by this writer” [your own words]. This is intellectually dishonest because you don’t own the words. Usually, in your case, it is about who said those words rather than what was said. In any case, you don’t stick your neck out and it is almost always about somebody else’s views and opinion, which you either strongly agree or disagree with, as you so aptly demonstrate with your superlatives. For this reason, responses to your comments tend to go nowhere and robust debate almost never ensues. This is wasting people’s precious time here. You continually opt to ignore this.
5) Read more…. [in other words, I can’t be bothered giving any more reasons for your short ban]
Foolish of me to assume that you were seeking confirmation for a theory, rather than basing a random assumption on an irrelevant comment (a comment made by someone who is by no means an authority on the matter that your assumption concerns).
No, yet again, you are dead wrong. I was not imagining anything; I simply restated a truism, viz., we need to follow a protocol when posting material from other sources.
Your dismissive attitude does you no favours, my floundering friend.
Both you and Cook are involved in the idiot whining. Cook for writing it, you for linking and quoting it. And both equally deserve to be considered fuckwits for doing so.
Cook is "whining"? Could you explain how, exactly?
By the way, here’s another “convergence moonbat” for your delectation. What she describes—“judgment and scorn” by Clintonistas— is pretty much a summary of your own attitudes and behaviours …
Cook is whining that Twitter et al are choosing to not amplify the fabricated smear about Hunter Biden. Twitter et al have done this because it has been thoroughly debunked, and shown to be an outright fabrication.
He is cloaking his whining in the guise of objecting to the idea of suppressing debate. But if the party trying to start a "debate" is simply peddling a lie, it's not debate, it's at best propaganda. Which seems to be something Cook is well practised in foisting on gullible convergence moonbats.
edit: nice addition to your post after I had started responding and not having the honesty to note that it was an edit. But linking to Krystal Ball merely reinforces my point about your susceptibility to propaganda tailored to convergence moonbats.
It has not been "thoroughly debunked" at all. Maybe you confused it with Mueller's wasted year and a bit.
By the way, your shouting “moonbat” —tonight you’ve used it in an attempt to ridicule two of the most respected and brightest journalists of the modern age—adds not a whit of credibility to whatever you are trying to say.
Excuse me, I said "convergence moonbats". Moonbats are more skeptical and discriminating when it comes to repackaged alt-right propaganda, and tend not to fall for it. Nor do moonbats tend to spread around re-packaged alt-right propaganda in the way convergence moonbats like yourself do.
That phrase carried no weight when the drones of the Daily Beast and the New Yorker peddled it. Coming from someone in New Zealand, it's even more ridiculous.
The National Party's desperate propaganda about voting Labour to stymie the Greens carries more heft than that circle you've found to illustrate your "theory."
Let me state it plainly for you, since you seem not to comprehend: criticizing and/or opposing Biden or Clinton or Obama or Pelosi or Schumer or any of those grotesques who have control of the Democratic Party does not make anyone—not Jill Stein, not Bernie Sanders, not Glenn Greenwald, not Jonathan Cook, not Krystal Ball, not Matt Taibbi, and not this writer, i.e. moi—a “moonbat” or a “convergence moonbat” or a “traitor” or, as your equivalents in Red China would have snarled, an “Imperialist Running Dog.”
While I dislike responding to someone that's been banned, because of the inability to reply, your last comment contains misrepresentations that need to be addressed.
Asking google for instances of the phrase "convergence moonbats" turns up nothing from Daily Beast or New Yorker. It appears you're just indulging your Drumpfian habit of saying what feels good to you in the moment, without any regard for whether it might be accurate.
I have no objection to fact-based criticism of Biden or either Clinton or Pelosi or Schumer or anyone else. My objection is to when the people ignore facts and repeat smears that have been repeatedly debunked, ignore what has been found in non-partisan investigations, or even in some cases, by partisan investigators that have the integrity to publish results against their partisan interests. Such as Mueller, a lifelong Republican appointed by Rosenstein, a lifelong Republican.
I also object to propaganda pieces that attempt to set a tone with irrelevancies before getting to their actual topic. Seriously, WTF does Hunter Biden have to do with Palestinians? In contrast, Nepotism Barbie's hubby the Cowardly Scion actually has plenty of involvement in the shit getting done to Palestinians right now, but if Cook saw fit to mention that, I missed it in my brief scan of the piece.
I also object to those that take smears generated elsewhere and repackage them for a convergence moonbat audience, without doing fact-checking of their own. Such as Krystal Ball did with Tara Reade.
All of the individuals you've approvingly listed above indulge in one or more of those gross propaganda practices. Which is why I view them as propagandists rather than reliable information sources. And why I have contempt for those that uncritically swallow that propaganda and regurgitate it here.
Food costs in this country are getting out of hand. Even buying locally and in season, it seems the price of tomatoes and bread is forever ridiculous. After living in New Zealand 23 years, I still can’t answer the question: if we produce so much milk, why does it cost so much?
A $9.5 million house is being built in Christchurch. Shaped like the letter Z, swimming pool and tennis court. When completed, it’s going to be one of the biggest and priciest properties in town. The owner? A director at Foodstuffs South Island and owner of Pak 'n Save Wainoni, one of Christchurch’s poorest areas.
My blood boils when I think of the families who anxiously push half-empty trolleys through that store, selecting items that are a few cents cheaper and a little less nutritious, so they can squeeze more out of their wages to feed their families for another week, while helping to fund that Fendalton swimming pool and import its Italian tiles.
The duopoly in New Zealand supermarkets must end and the Ardern government can instruct the Commerce Commission to investigate. There should be more competition in this lucrative market, better regulation of prices, and more options for small suppliers to access mainstream markets.
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
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Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 24 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarctica’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Security forces reinforcements were sent from France ahead of two rival marches in the capital Nouméa today, at the same time and only two streets away one from the other. One march, called by Union Calédonienne party (a component of the ...
A poll last August found that just 16% of New Zealanders oppose bringing back the ‘Three Strikes’ law. The nationwide poll of 1,000 New Zealanders was commissioned by Family First NZ and carried out by Curia Market Research. ...
The solo show from Ana Scotney is both sprawling and intimate, and a must-see, writes Mad Chapman. In the opening moments of Scattergun: After the Death of Rūaumoko, writer and performer Ana Scotney lays out the groundwork, literally. Silently moving around the square stage, Scotney is not so much dancing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Burridge, Professor of Linguistics, Monash University Who makes the words? Why are trees called trees and why are shoes called shoes and who makes the names? – Elliot, age 5, Eltham, Victoria Good question Elliot! Let’s start with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne at amRawpixel.com/Shutterstock Roles of health professionals are still unfortunately often stuck in the past. That is, before the ...
COMMENTARY:By Malcolm Evans Last week’s leaked New York Times staff directive, as to what words can and cannot be used to describe the carnage Israel is raining on Palestinians, is proof positive, since those reports are published verbatim here in New Zealand, that our understanding of the conflict is ...
In the case of New Zealand, the results confirm that there is no popular support for the vicious austerity program being imposed by the National Party-led government, which is backed in all fundamental respects by the opposition Labour Party. ...
The ‘Vampire’ singer has never visited our part of the world, but that might all be about to change. We assess the evidence.Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour is pulling in massive crowds as it whips around the US and Europe, even helping to catapult regular supporting act Chappell Roan ...
Testing of drinking water in rural Canterbury over the weekend by Greenpeace revealed that several public town supplies were reaching levels of nitrate above 5 mg/L - the threshold which a growing body of scientific evidence has linked to increased ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rohan Fisher, Information Technology for Development Researcher, Charles Darwin University It may come as a surprise to hear 2023 was Australia’s biggest bushfire season in more than a decade. Fires burned across an area eight times as big as the 2019–20 Black ...
Responding to the Government’s announcement of changes to resource management laws, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said: “These changes are a step in the right direction in terms of removing ideological and unworkable ...
More than two years after the Human Rights Council called for the establishment of a national human rights commission, such a body has yet to be formed. ...
Comment:An emergency management system with wide variations in performance, significant capability gaps, funding shortfalls and above all a setup that is not meeting the needs of New Zealanders at times of crisis. The Government’s inquiry into the response to Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events in the North ...
Welcome to the whirring wonders of one brain trying to align its actions with its beliefs within a system it thinks is evil. My brain has been spiralling in a woke conundrum ever since I found out a bookshop I’ve never been to was shutting down. Good Books, a bookshop ...
We repeat our call for criminal justice policy to be based on evidence, something the three strikes regime neglects to recognise – with no evidence that it either reduces crime or assists with rehabilitation. ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara With only four more seats in the 50-member Parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner in the Solomon Islands elections. As of Monday, the two largest blocs in the winner’s circle, independents and the incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh ...
Two/fiftyseven is a multi-purpose space hidden in the heart of Wellington that is paving a way for sustainable building and responsible landlording in Aotearoa and beyond.By 2060 the world is predicted to double its entire building stock, which equates to building an entire New York City every 34 days, ...
Popstars wasn’t just a reality television revolution, it was also a huge moment for Y2K fashion.It’s 25 years since girl group TrueBliss was formed on New Zealand national television, breaking new ground for both the reality television industry and the shiny clothing industry. With the first episode on NZ ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Pepping, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, Griffith University Marvin / Shutterstock Are all single people insecure? When we think about people who have been single for a long time, we may assume it’s because single people have insecurities that make ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William Geary, Lecturer in Quantitative Ecology & Biodiversity Conservation, The University of Melbourne Trismegist san, Shutterstock Landscapes that have escaped fire for decades or centuries tend to harbour vital structures for wildlife, such as tree hollows and large logs. But these ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher, Lecturer in Marine Science, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Shutterstock/S Curtis Why are we crossing ecological boundaries that affect Earth’s fundamental life-supporting capacity? Is it because we don’t have enough information about how ecosystems respond to change? Or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Crocker, PhD Student in Economics, Deakin University Here’s something for the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia to ponder as it meets next month to set interest rates. It has pushed up rates on 13 occasions since it began its ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a charity director outlines how she’s saving for retirement and buying secondhand. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Female Age: 45 Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: Charity director, mum of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sophie Yates, Research Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Many Australians with disability feel on the edge of a precipice right now. Recommendations from the disability royal commission and the NDIS review were released late last year. Now a ...
It’s been called a failed experiment and a judicial straightjacket but the government says the revised three strikes law will be a more workable regime, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Three ...
New Zealand’s Palestinian community and Palestinian Youth Aotearoa are voicing alarm and disappointment with the lack of factual rigour present during the Israeli Ambassador’s appearance as a guest on TVNZ’s Q+A With Jack Tame Sunday (21/04). ...
Both ACT leader David Seymour, who played a key role in drawing up the assisted dying law, and hospice leaders say it's time the legislation was changed. ...
Public submissions on proposed gang control laws are being heard today. Rising gang membership has been cited as rationale for a crackdown – but what do we actually know about how many people belong to gangs in New Zealand?What’s all this then?A rise in the number of gang ...
Climate activists are setting their sights on an unpopular target, and hoping to bring lots of the public with them. It’s hard to miss the Majestic Princess: the enormous cruise ship, docked at Auckland’s Prince’s Wharf, looms over the nearby buildings. The ship, which can fit nearly 6,000 people, ...
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The following korero between Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku, author of the newly published memoir Hine Toa, one of the year’s most important books, and Dale Husband from e-tangata, was first published in October. It traverses her involvement with the activist group Ngā Tamatoa at Auckland University in the early 1970s, her ...
In the 16 years since it was bought by the government for $690 million, KiwiRail has had several overhauls and turnaround plans worth billions of dollars. Its ambitions as a successful, profitable operator of tourism, freight and ferries have often been derailed by disasters from earthquakes to cyclones, mine explosions ...
Black Ferns trailblazer Kendra Cocksedge was on the verge of tears when her young protégé, Hannah King, unassumingly broke the news. Three-time Rugby World Cup winner Cocksedge and Lincoln agriculture student King meet every few weeks over a hot chocolate, in an enduring mentorship that’s spanned years. “Before we even ...
Here is some great reporting on a fantastic Left wing victory in Bolivia from The Grey Zone…which is just as well as most MSM don't seem interested in giving this any coverage ar all…in fact I don't think RNZ has even mentioned it, thought we all get to know every single little detail about the US supreme courts from them for some unknown reason?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVSJ-aCqQH0
When Evo Morales was first elected, in 2007, he was a guest on John Stewart's Daily Show. He was simply brilliant from beginning to end. Even the shallow, yelping yuppies in Stewart's audience realized they were in the presence of someone extraordinary.
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/7qwmpn/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-president-evo-morales
Great post Adrian..thanks. A brave woman indeed.
[deleted]
[you have to make clear what are your words and what is a cut and paste. As a mod I am over editing these, just deleting now where the commenter should know better – weka]
Well Adelson's investment has been very successful indeed. The public massacre Palestinian March of Return protesters with zero push back from any MSM including the so called liberal media has proved this beyond a doubt.
"The UN's humanitarian body OCHA reported a total of 271 Palestinian fatalities and 29,187 injuries in the past year in Gaza, the majority during Great March of Return protests – tallying from March 30, 2018 – March 22, 2019."
https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/killed-for-protesting-6-things-to-know-about-the-great-return-march/
It seems that Palestinian lives have no value to gutless western media whatsoever.
Weka, I headed that brief extract with the words "Asa Winstanley on the repulsive Trump donor Sheldon Adelson". I then linked to the article. I'm sorry if it was unclear.
Yes, I'm sure it seemed clear to you, but mods have to read a huge amount on site and if I have to stop and try and figure out what is going on it cuts into my time for doing other things like writing posts. I will help people struggling with formatting or the tech, but for commenters who have been here a long time and know better, I’m just not willing to spend any more time on it. There was no easy way to tell that the first sentence was also a cut and paste rather than your words.
use the quote tags,
Or some other way of making the quote clearly differentiated from your own words.
Cut and pasted long text.
“Cut and pasted short text”
<<<
Old school cut and pasted text from when there were not tags (or still on FB)
<<<
Edited.
In other words, more of your own words and less of other people’s words, combined with proper formatting 😉
Yeah, but there's a good argument to be made that – despite all the smoke & mirrors – there are, in fact, only 3 individuals who have ever commented on The Standard since its inception in 2008 … Lynn Prentice, Greg Presland & Ianmac … with all the rest of us being the mere glove puppet creations of one of those 3 individuals … we've all been painstakingly crafted & designed to entertain & mislead any unsuspecting members of the public who inadvertantly happen upon the site & its associated Posts & threads.
I'm, for instance, a classic Ianmac glove puppet (Ian delights & specialises in creating pompous oafs with a penchant for talking dreary bollocks & lacking even a modicum of self-awareness) while you, yourself, "incognito" are very much a typically suave & sophisticated Lynn Prentice creation, with McFlock bearing all the hallmarks of the sort of colourful, irascible old Walter Brennan-style sidekick character favoured by Greg.
All of which begs the question of what "more of your own words" actually means.
[This, of course, suggests you can take the present comment as me (ianmac) blowing the whistle on the whole charade once & for all … Lynn & Greg won't be too happy of course … this site was, after all, one of the World's longest running Anarho-Situationist pranks … but unfortunately I (ian) grew wary of the whole thing]
This poor puppet totally lacking in self-awareness really wants to know: who's pulling my strings, then?
swordfish Self-deprecating, ironic, humourous. I think lots of things keep people putting time aside to swap ideas, pass on info, and have a little dig, express disappointment, praise, always interesting. A good addiction.
Andre seeker after truth? And weka earnest worker panning in the goldfields, is there a gleam of something both intelligent and useful in those many words to be read and considered?
AAhhh, good ol' weka the frustrated camp guard back again to show who's REALLY in charge around here…LOL.
[2 week ban for flaming and being a dick to a moderator. My instinct is just to ban you until next year, because from memory you reasonably regularly show this disdain to the people who do the work to provide a site for you to read and comment on. But in fairness to moderation and the rest of the community you can take this short ban as a warning. I would have made it a few days, but want to make it worth my while going into the back end and I’m at an utter loss as to why I should care when you patently don’t. – weka]
BREEN: [self-pityingly] I'm sorry if it was unclear.
weka: [patiently] Yes, I'm sure it seemed clear to you, but mods have to read a huge amount on site and if I have to stop and try and figure out what is going on it cuts into my time for doing other things like writing posts.
Incognito: In other words, more of your own words and less of other people’s words, combined with proper formatting
ADRIAN: AAhhh, good ol' weka the frustrated camp guard back again to show who's REALLY in charge around here…LOL.
BREEN: Come on now, everyone. We're all friends again now. Group hug?
Incognito: I don't think so.
weka: Great idea! Come here, Thornton!
BREEN: Come here, Cognito!
Scene dissolves into pink loveliness…
http://gif-free.com/uploads/posts/2018-02/1519648251_kissing-rabbits.gif
Y'know, mozzie, it would save the mods a lot of aggravation and the rest of us from seeing an unedifying spectacle if you and your fellow travellers would use your own site for your circle jerks.
"Fellow travellers." Oh, that's a nice allusion. We're Russian dupes, aren't we.
I don't mind other people's circle jerks. I skip most of the comments and have a laugh when the moderators start culling.
The tolerance threshold for puerile & pathetic BS is obviously higher here on TS than on KB. Do you want to find out how much higher? You’re getting very close to an answer and it will be handed to you in bold between square brackets 😉
Natrad this morning highlighting the struggles some (predominately low decile) schools are having trying to get the Ministry of Education to do their fucking job.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018770030/school-leader-says-ministry-of-education-wasted-taxpayer-money
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018770041/former-christchurch-school-board-chair-says-ministry-of-education-toxic-after-rebuild-troubles
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018770059/ministry-of-education-property-arm-broken-principal
There is a narrative within these three interviews that deserves a serious listen.
The usual post-earthquake repair/rebuild crap that has become normal…topped off by a rather telling interview with the principle of a low decile Porirua school.
And here is the bureaucrat responsible or this shameful situation..
https://www.education.govt.nz/our-work/our-role-and-our-people/our-leadership-team/
Head of Education Infrastructure Service (EIS): Kim Shannon
Kim is a highly experienced operational and policy leader, who has been with the Ministry since 2000. She has led significant change in the Ministry, specialising in building value, driving good business practice and high standards of public service
Kim was involved in the early part of Christchurch’s recovery, driving the business case for the capital works programme through to Cabinet’s approval. As Head of EIS, Kim introduced the first new schools PPP (public-private partnership) in education.
In Kim’s role of Head of Education Infrastructure Service (EIS), she is responsible for ensuring New Zealand’s schools are safe and inspiring learning environments, and oversees management of a $23.5 billion property portfolio, with a $600 million annual property spend
I guess she'll be looking for a new job.
I've gone looking into NZ education this morning. I don't think it is giving our young people and therefore our country's citizens the right mix of facts, systems and intelligent human thought training with an ability to communicate, that they need.
Looking at Rosemary's comment above a notable word in the last linked report is 'business'. Referred to in the first paragraph, the second, and in the third, the value of the 'property portfolio' and the '$600 million annual property spend' are given as hard money facts that impress those who put business interests first.
Also this woman Kim Shannon – 'As Head of EIS, Kim introduced the first new schools PPP (public-private partnership) in education. ' Which presents government property and services as a business opportunity tapping into government funds and expenditure first and foremost.
She went to Canterbury University originally. Kim holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and English and a Diploma in Secondary Teaching from Canterbury University. Prior to joining the Ministry, Kim worked at the Department of Internal Affairs and the State Services Commission. https://zealand3185.rssing.com/chan-60254421/all_p64.html
I would think she is in the loop of civil service people that push forward the neolib management approach; all efficiency and smooth operation, and good accounting and tick-boxing and generic – no way would making heartfelt changes with a wide vision of education needs for future citizens fit their well-trained, tidy-desk minds. They are better at buildings and decor than understanding the educational needs of today's young people I think.
This is a PDF which you might be able to see in full but even in the part I see it shows the direction of property management and accountants and arrangement of chairs and settees for the right modern educational look is a major preoccupation. http://www.nzpf.ac.nz/uploads/7/2/4/6/72461455/southern_regional_sector_forum-may_2014.pdf
This link below goes to a world link which appears to skite about what NZ is achieving to keep up with world trends. I fear that it is all morale boosting for the NZ chief management; perhaps useful in gaining brownie points for getting paying overseas students. It is hosted as a French site but English translation is available. (There is an English link – too long. ) This is for OCDE – des Politiques Meilleures pour une vie Meilleure. (OECD – Better Policies for Better Lives). – http://www.oecd.org/fr/education/innovation-education/ (France is having Islamic protests resulting in President Macron bringing in stern controls – after the beheading of a teacher who reignited Islamic ire by bringing into the classroom the page which earlier dishonoured the Prophet. It seems that the French need to live up to their fine words about education.)
This OECD page has little to do with the content and value of NZ education so children can understand and lean to participate as informed people, in what is happening in society. It may be that the MoE has withdrawn into property consumption and acquisition and the local Boards of Trustees are supposed to be directing the education side.
I don't understand if this is the case as to me, what are their horizons, interests. If business people they might be excellent at management and profitability, but like my dad when he got into local council, he talked about saving money on the library, or shutting it down perhaps. Many men don't read fiction, so have little use or understanding of imagination in their thinking. How can they comprehend what they don't have knowledge of? (The vast areas of thought and history and different perceptions and the knowing what you know, and that is a tiny bit of what you don't know etc.). Of course there is the dominant internet and tech that are such a useful tool, but don't match the human-made book which prompt the reader to wonder what they can do themselves in the world outside tech.
They need to be aware of where the jobs will be, how they can live their lives under the twin problems of climate change, and the decay of society accompanied by the outrages of manic capitalists. Now education can't be expected to refer outright to such matters, but it can guide youngsters to emotional intelligence and a wide general knowledge and personal skills in the physical world. That will result in a quiet confidence in their ability to assess the practical moves to enable them to make a living, and keep thinking of changes and learnings they must take on for future advantage.
At the same time they should learn humanities and form their intellectual and imaginative side. You mix with people who have similar interests and they need to form their own spiritual and ethical outlook, and look for people to associate with who enjoy life, have similar values, can be trusted and become part of a network of such people. These are the ones who will emerge from 'the troubles' ahead, unbroken relatively unscathed and able to stand tall.
Min of Ed. needs to be enculturing this, but apparently their pride and purpose is in handling property and finances with a misty look at their educational offering – of 'safe and inspiring learning environments'! That phrase is all purpose from Early Childhood Education on. What a piece of work is neoliberal man and woman!
Simplistic reckon from Andrea Vance: Winston First lost because they did not suck up to the gun lobby enough whereas Act did. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300140171/election-2020-the-strategic-error-that-cost-winston-peters–and-boosted-a-determined-wily-david-seymour
Andrea Vance's "analysis" is of the same quality as the similarly ridiculous idea that farmers voted Labour to stave off the Green monster.
I too thought that was a ridiculous idea, especially when I heard Judith Collins in a public meeting 8 days before the election advise her 200 strong audience to two vote blue to stop the Greens getting into power. I remember at the time thinking that the logical thing would have been two votes red.
Last night my brother told me that his National voting fellow cricket lovers in the pub before the election were considering voting Labour to frustrate the Greens.
It seems that some did vote tactically like that. The real question is how many actually did.
mac1…if it had been reversed like this…Nat 46 Lab 32 Gr 8 ACT 8 …..would you have voted National to keep ACT out?
Of course you wouldn't. It's a rubbish theory.
People voted for Jacinda (and the Greens) because they liked them, their policies, and liked the Covid response.
Bearded Git, I would not have voted that way.
That would have been stupid. But there are stupid people out there; there are alarmists and haters.
Remember those who believe in conpiracies could easily have been conned in this way.
I also agree that the 'green monster' theory is propounded by those who cannot admit that the voters spurned a National party for reasons like the rejection of dirty politics; that National is no longer the smart party regarding economic wisdom; that National has lost its way with the selection of dodgy candidates; that it really had the wrong answers to Covid-19; that it was not representative; that bullying, disrespectful, narcissistic leadership is not acceptable……..
especially when the alternative was a far more representative, caring and compassionate, determined and decisive one.
That would have been stupid.
Why? Given that the polls made it clear that Labour were going to romp in regardless, voting tactically to get the 'lesser of the two evils' (from a Nat party supporters pov) is entirely rational.
And given that Ardern's govt is a strongly centre-left govt and has adroitly avoided scaring the right, then I can quite readily see this idea as being part of the mix.
Besides most people don't vote with just one simplistic idea in their heads.
Just how large a factor however is something we can only speculate about … and without any polling data to put some bones on it … it's a fairly pointless thing to be discussing.
"it's a fairly pointless thing to be discussing." And yet…here you are.
Bored?
[I can’t see the point of your comment other than to have a go at another commenter. There are plenty of politics to have a go at, please do that instead – weka]
Why do you feel the need to troll me?
Bored?
Back at ya…
mod note for you PLA.
"Pointless"? Maybe at this time for more than a few canny 'reckons' to be indulged.
However. both sides will be doing two things. Evaluating what happened and why, once the polls are all in, and then devising strategy based on that evaluation.
For National, it is more important that they are deeply honest, at least to themselves, about the issues for them that I postulate above.
For Labour and the Greens, knowing why 50% went to Labour for all the various reasons from (for me) being tribal Labour through to stymie the Greens and whatever is in between will be crucial for 2023 and the legislative programme up till then.
Politics is the art of the possible. First, though, know what is possible.
I await the good analysis which time will afford us.
Yup. Agree entirely, although without some data we're groping in the dark.
RNZ had a discussion of a few 'canny reckons' on the election just before at 11.05 with Mills and Morten.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon
mac1….agree with all of that…love your list of National Party failures, when you see it like that it looks pretty horrendous……I'm not sure if the people are stupid, maybe illogical is fairer.
In fact it is arguable that the half dozen people who voted Labour to keep the Greens out got it right.
Maybe, but some people think they're much more clever than they are. It's just the sort of faux machiavellian idiocy a hooters or a farret would come up with.
I’m sure some people were conned into the "party vote Labour to keep out the Greens" meme, but it would have been a minority.
The vast bulk of people voted Labour because of the outstanding success of their Covid strategy. They saw Dr Bloomfield and PM Ardern standing side by side on the 1pm Daily Show and they were impressed with their handling of the crisis.
This 'keep out the Greens' line is just an attempt to under-value Labour's success by suggesting they didn't really deserve it because it was tactical voting blah, blah, blah.
Let them delude themselves. It won't do them any good.
Agree Anne…that is why the MSM flew with it. But it is disappointing that Tim Watkin bought into it.
I haven't checked, but my guess is that Bryce Edwards will have bought into the ivotedlabourtokeepthehorriblegreensout theory. His analysis is seldom original.
I have a friend who is a national party voter, he and his wife voted party vote Labour to try to keep out the greens, he is a ex farmer say no more.
Peter 1 ….or did they vote for charismatic Jacinda and her Covid response and then when they read the pundits the day after the election become convinced that they had voted Labour to keep the Greens out?
There is a lot of self-delusion in voting. People like to be thought as clever/backing the right side. They would need plenty of excuses for having voted Labour when telling their farmer-mates that is what they had done.
Nobody likes to lose. Those farmers won; the party they voted for, became the Government. Basic human nature.
No they told me what they were going to do before they voted because they could see the writing on the wall. Also I think they don't like Judith.
So why do you reckon ACT's vote increased by such an unprecedented margin?
What was different this election?
Act's performance needs its own post.
The Act Party did an outstanding job this election.
I'll have a go at a few reasons.
The first is that they worked effectively over the last three years on the euthenasia campaign. They worked effectively not only in Parliament, but also in the media and across the country. They could have lost the debate entirely, but they modified the bill substantially, keeping the profile very strong.
The second is their careful targeting of the liberal voter (those who have an ethos of liberty and resisting governmental expansion of control) through the weapons buy-back and regulation proposals.
Those two areas expanded their voter appeal in clever, targeted ways. That was reflected somewhat in their list
The third is in their leader. He wasn't a showpony or bombastic like Rodney Hide, or an ideologue in the Richard Prebble mold. He had a positive, open demeanor that didn't take himself too seriously and was remarkably telegenic and efficient when given mainstream opportunities to be grabbed.
The final piece was their secret weapon in Brooke van Velden. This person is pretty experienced in Parliament, but knows how to get the best out of her leader. She was the one-person coordinator that got their energies out of the Epsom seat which was their base, and out into the countryside. The result is some remarkable numbers in rural electorates.
Now, sure, they get good donations, and they get 'gifted' a seat. But this term they will start with the election referendum results, which will start their term with a real boost. Few can claim that kind of momentum straight from election through to Parliamentary opening.
They are now definitely as strong as they were in the Hide era – who knows whether they're whippable (that's another story).
brilliant last line ad. that question can be asked in so many ways. history has shown that right wing polies both crave, and hate, the whip.
( right wing polies both crave, and hate, the whip.)
What I do in the privacy of my home is my business.
The Act Party did an outstanding job this election.
Being the only hard right option with a pulse, and not falling into the trap of empty Covid criticism as badly as the Gnats only makes them a lesser of two evils for those inclined that way. The real test will be whether they can retain or grow their vote by 2026 – by which time the last of the Gnat deadwood should have shambled into the sunset, and the party will have a chance to revive its fortunes.
If the Gnats rebuild, I'm betting the ACT vote will return to its usual levels.
Appearances can be very deceiving. Seymour did test the waters with Plan B but was able to read the room better than his like-minded buddies over at National.
Yes, that was clever.
But the strange passions of these suddenly new MPs are mostly untested with NZ voters. Gun nutjobbery or the like may relegate ACT to the margins even as National keeps going down like a broaching livestock carrier – the frenzied mooing and pooing doesn't seem to be helping them.
.
Much simpler: Fait Accompli Election: Unpopular, deeply Polarising Opposition Leader of a Party well behind in the Polls & widely perceived to be in disarray … up against a highly regarded Govt (albeit centred largely on the handling of one dominant issue) led by a stratospherically popular PM … inevitably leads – just as it did in 2002 (and to a lesser extent in 2011 & 2014) – to significant fragmentation of the Major Opposition Party's vote. Some purely pragmatic / strategic … some ideological.
–2002– = from Nat … to … NZF, ACT & UF
–2011 / 2014– = from Lab … to … NZF & Greens
–2020– = from Nat … to … Lab & ACT
No doubt amplified by the Gun Lobby's new high-profile alignment with ACT.
Everything's a fait accompli in retrospect, which is where you generally focus.
Plenty of votes bled elsewhere in 2020, yet still Act performed well.
Act peaked in late 2020 because they were ready for it.
It was obviously a Fait Accompli election from April onwards. That massive realignment in Labour's favour always looked pretty solid & secure from April right through to October.
When National is consistently so far behind in the polls & falling apart in the most public manner … a significant swing to ACT by a particular segment of its base at the subsequent Election is almost guaranteed. Granted, Seymour's / ACT's strategic game amplified that swing to its maximum extent … they played their cards very well … but I think the bulk of those former Nat voters were always going to be moving in that direction come what may. Already ideologically predisposed.
Same with former Labour voters in 2011 & 2014 … younger morally-liberal Lab voters didn’t need to be convinced by intricate policy analysis or strategic appeals to swing to the Greens when Labour were deeply unpopular & in disarray … nor did older morally-conservative Lab voters need to be talked into voting NZF.
The Labour win was assured from April, agree.
But from April it's pretty easy to run other counterfactuals and get quite different outcomes.
– If National had chosen Collins after Bridges in March, one could see greater National base solidity, with less bleed to Top, NewConservatives, and AdvanceNZ
– If National had chosen a farmer-friendly candidate, the rural seats wouldn't have bled to Act
– If Labour didn't have the second lockdown in Auckland, Greens could have risen to 10%, and we'd have a more interesting government
– If NZFirst had figured how to attract the nut vote from Advance NZ in May, they could have had a better shot.
Little of it is predetermined, once you get to the fringes.
The euthenasia thing made them appear something other than cold-hearted capitalist users. When they figured that out, they softened some of their neoliberal policies to be consistent with that new image. Managing that while simultaneously courting the gun-nut crowd was a competent move.
But also, where would right-wing nats go when the nats are obviously on a loser?
I would add to the 'telegenic' aspect of David Seymour. When you look at ACT's policies they seem like a nasty bunch, but a lot of people rarely dig beneath the surface. On the surface, David is approachable, friendly, and makes you laugh.
Personality over policy. Cos the hard-right run very shallow.
They are a very different party from the ACT party of Hide. That ACT was a creature of Auckland and Wellington elites.
This time round… ACT did better in Gore than Epsom. It got 10% on the West Coast, 9.7% in Invercargill… and only 11% in Epsom. It did very well in both Coromandel and Waitaki, despite those both being full of old people (why do old people vote for a party that wants to bring in the Coronavirus?).
ACT is now a rural protest vote, in a way it never was before.
If, and just saying "if", former National voters put two votes Labour, then they do not understand MMP. They could have kept their beloved sitting MP, and given their party vote to Labour. But if they did know what they were doing and we give them some benefit of doubt, then Smith and Brownlee were considered beyond their use by dates, however not so sure about the Ashburton and Manawatu areas.
For some reason I've just read the latest comments on Kiwiblog. I've never really done that before. Best laugh I've had in weeks!
Yes. There's some seriously deluded people who comment on that site.
"A baby attacked by a dog in Hamilton on Sunday night has died in hospital."
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/429224/baby-in-hospital-after-dog-attack-in-hamilton-dies
This…like so many other dog attacks on defenceless children, is no "accident". Police need to charge "owner" with some serious offence.!
Why? All dogs are capable of this unpredictable behaviour, even if the vast majority don't.
Unless you have some evidence of intentional wrong-doing or gross recklessness on the part of the owner, and presumable parent of this child … then prosecuting them seems nothing more than a vindictive doubling down on the tragedy they're already enduring.
Yea whatever. I'm more interested in the safety of defenceless Children.
Yes PLA – the stats show that children under 10 are the major victims and that they are usually bitten on their own property. To get good, happy dogs that are safe around children, they need to go to puppy school for quite some time. People living erratic precarious lives and don't have spare money would have trouble finding the time, and doing the travelling to the training site, and there is probably a cost to get good training.
There needs to be assistance I think from government to enable people to do this training. Some people can't bear being told to restrict their dog, rein themselves in, and get hostile and rude if questioned. Having a pet dog can be a great thing for children, they want to be part of your lives, while cats want you to be a part of their lives – when it suits. But the dogs and owners need training I think.
Yea, an FYI,I like Dogs…and have owned several. It is surely the OWNER that is the problem in attack cases. And seeing the terrible wounds…(including mental) inflicted on Children and Adults… MUST take care
Unless you have some evidence of intentional wrong-doing or gross recklessness on the part of the owner, and presumable parent of this child…
Hmmm…it is an actual 'thing' on interweb based egozones for numpties to film or photograph their new human baby being introduced to their fur baby. Seen in passing, and not an area I tarry in, but it has always struck me as being an inherently dangerous practice.
Sooner or later…
Yes the article I linked to above points out that children under 8yrs should be supervised around family pets, but in reality this must be a counsel of perfection.
"Why? All dogs are capable of this unpredictable behaviour, even if the vast majority don't."
If all dogs are capable of it – then that should be a factor in deciding whether you have any dogs around very small children. And it's fair to say that not all dogs are equally capable of it, or equal in the degree of damage they can inflict – the type of dog matters. In other words, we are not dealing with something that cannot be mitigated in any way, and is so rare that all we can do is throw up our hands and say "how sad".
As a broad principle – making owners responsible for what their dogs do, as though they had done it themselves, is a good way of focusing the mind. Though as you say, in some cases it will just add a criminal conviction to the horror and distress.
You aren't allowed to just smack your child under our law. If we can be that draconian how come we can't make it a short prison term for allowing a dog at your home so much freedom that it can bite a person. (That would mean keeping control of relatives and friends dogs. If it was illegal you could quote that and not be accused of being a jerk throwing your weight around etc.).
I have stopped another child from biting mine, and would act vice versa but never needed to. You don't expect it from little children but they are still random and untrained. But a dog is more prone to bite, there is no excuse for it happening to kids, and people will have to be helped, chivvied, threatened into giving a s..t.
It is not draconian to give children the same protection under the law as adults and dogs. If your child was biting someone then yes you could use a (light) smack to make them stop.
Is it not draconian not to be able to smack your dog! The idea is that you are trying to train, to get a psychological brain connection in place. With adults, smacking gets weird.
If your dog is biting you can smack them to stop them, like with children. But using violence for correction is not a sound way to teach dogs, children or adults not to be violent.
A tap on the nose with a newspaper has been the favoured way of friends with their young animal.
You should never hit a dog on the nose. Your friends should go to
puppypeople training.Right well I think they did so didn't happen much.
So not being allowed to hit children is 'draconian'..?…really ..?… My parents did not hit me…and I never physically chastised either of my two (now adult) children..my son and I discussed it recently…how outrageously weird it was…the very idea that I would hit/hurt him..at any time in his life ..and that this could be somehow a way of showing 'love' to your children…I believe we do as we are taught…were you taught that your parents hit you because they 'love' you ..and did you duplicate those actions..?..that could explain your attitude vs. mine…eh..?
I'm sorry to say that my parents didn't always love me and that I didn't always love my children. However I have done everything that I could for them, and shown them with actions as well as hugs that I love them most of the time. It's all a bit OTT about not striking your child at all.
But coldness of behaviour, little interest and little communication with your child, leaving them to others such as boarding schools to bring up, only liking them when they are winners – children who want to stop playing a sport which they excel in can find that parents withdraw from them, disappointed in not being able to show off their clever child. Then there is being inconstant, all over the child for a while, then becoming distant apparently uncaring; that shakes a child or a teenager very much, then there is the downward critical comparison with a neighbour’s child, a relative’s; ‘Pity you can’t be like …. he or she can do…. makes it look easy. You will have to try harder if you’re going to be half as good.’
Those are the things that damage a child, not just getting a whack. And they are not illegal.
Owning dangerous dog + having small child = gross recklessness.
100% agree Psyc. The owners should be held responsible for the behaviour of their pets. In this case as though they themselves attacked the baby.
Aye. Little kids have absolutely NO defense against attacking dogs. So MANY cases in NZ….and also Adults ripped open…
Fark the number of times I, out walking/biking with family, and some 4 legged monster (large/small whatever) comes rushing (unleashed) at us. "he wont hurt you" yells numnut owner from a distance…..
"If the dog has caused serious injury to a person or has killed any protected wildlife or injured it so badly its destruction is necessary to prevent further suffering, the dog owner is liable to up to three years imprisonment and a fine up to $20,000.
The court must also order destruction of the dog, unless there are special circumstances."
And….
"If you see a dog attacking a person, you have the right to seize or destroy the dog to stop the attack. You can also seize or destroy a dog if you see it attacking any livestock (sheep, for example) or poultry, or any domestic animal (like a cat or other dog) or any protected wildlife.
If a dog rushes at, startles or attacks a person, animal or vehicle, causing someone to be endangered, injured or killed, or causing any property to be damaged or endangered, any person can also seize or destroy that dog."
https://communitylaw.org.nz/community-law-manual/chapter-27-neighbourhood-life/dogs-and-other-animals/dogs-care-and-control-of-your-dog/
Keep your fkn dogs under control
The dog will almost certainly be put down.
But unless there are circumstances we don't yet know about, I really cannot see any Court prosecuting the owner on this. Especially if they're the parent as well.
There would have to be some pattern of recklessness or gross negligence involved. Otherwise it just becomes a vengeance, a doubling down on the grief and loss.
Which I have to say is an sentiment that has become remarkably popular with parts the left in recent years.
"Which I have to say is an sentiment that has become remarkably popular with parts the left in recent years."
I await weka's mod note for you….
My suggestion is you read the Policy. It's pretty obvious I'm already fucked off with having to moderate over stupid shit like this. Please stop trolling/flaming. If you don't understand anything about moderation, you can ask, but without the attitude please.
Well. Maybe I'm just missing something here. A poster regularly attacks "The Left". ( I could link, but hey). I'm on The Left. I thought this was a Left site. Anyway. I wont respond to aforesaid poster. And would appreciate same….
Yes you do appear to be missing something. People are free to attack left wing politics so long as they're not making shit up or making claims of fact for what are essentially opinions.
People can also be rude when making comments to an extent so long as they are making a political point. The limit is where it becomes personally abusive and likely to start a flame war.
The point of The Standard is to provide posts and a space for robust debate. If someone is making arguments against the left, then others will come along and critique those. That's how it works.
"A recent study showed that there had been over 99,000 dog bites in New Zealand in the past 10 years"
And that was up to 2015…
"Another dog attack on a young child has prompted the New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons president Dr Sally Langley to call for tougher dog-control laws"
https://plasticsurgery.org.nz/patient-information/news-and-issues/dog-bite-injuries-a-serious-problem-in-new-zealand/
Any dog I do not know well, I do not want it within 2 metres of me. Any dog I know well I always supervise the children in my care.
A dog is one way to the people on the property and another way to people who enter the property.
Or..you can do what I do…I have two re-homed ex pig hunting dogs…big brutes…and both of them as gentle as a kitten..'cos they often have a hell life (locked in cages when not hunting..one of mine had big scabs on each of his hips when he came to me ..this from lying/living on concrete all his life..)…but the wonderful thing about these dogs is that they are trained to hunt wild pigs ..and to be friendly to every other living creature…they even differentiate between domestic and wild pigs ..and studiously ignore the former…and because they have spent so long in a pack they like other dogs ..one of them is 13 yrs old..the other is 18…and I have seen nothing but relentless friendliness from them…so…if you want a gold-plated dog…get herself an ex pig hunting one…much classier than the usual pedigree suspects..plus you will save their lives..as pig hunting dogs are treated like cows ..they have their most productive years..then they usually get a bullet…my two were heading that way when I grabbed them ..and that dog with the big/old scabs on his hips..?..the scabs are nearly gone ..and he/they now sleep on hotel-grade pillows..so ..if you want a dog ( and why wouldn't you..?)..hunt yrslf down one of those mongrels…
A close relative of mine did pig hunting for 30 years and had a number of dogs. I know how a pig can attack the dog. His wife always wanted to meet the person when the pig hunting dog got sold.
I think with me I show fear easily around some breeds and I feel that a dog senses this. I have a friend with an old alsation I have looked after since a pup when they are away. I am fine with the dog on my own.
A lady down the road with 2 rottwheliers kept offering me to have a cup of tea. I never did go for the cup of tea and I would always glance for where the dogs were behind a filmsy fence.
In this case as though they themselves attacked the baby.
Accidents do happen and one of the great principles of crimminal law, built up over centuries, is that intent must be one of the factors we take into account.
This was a great advance on the much more ancient principle of 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth' where any accident or misfortune would have to be compensated for with an equivalent act of retribution. In such a world any small oversight or inattention that had unintended consequences (and we all make these all the time), could result in the same or worse consequences being visited on you as well. This had the effect of driving people toward being extremely risk-averse, and is probably part of the evolutionary basis for the conservative instinct.
It was only when we moved past retribution being the dominant driver of justice, that society as a whole also started to become less risk averse and more innovative.
I write articles for U.S. personal injury lawyers, who are always trying to find ways of encouraging someone who has been injured to sue someone else. Some states have what is called a "one bite law," which means that you can only sue a dog owner if there has been a previous attack by their dog or the dog has been known to have been aggressive. These states tend to be the more conservative states. In other states, like California and New York, the dog owner is automatically liable for any attack by their dog unless the dog has been provoked, even if the attack is a first. Dog owners in these states are expected to keep their dogs under control.
A interesting perspective Koff. I can understand why the US takes this approach but I'm not a fan.
It tends to drive excessive risk aversion and builds in huge costs. Its why for instance their medical system is such a large fraction of their GDP yet delivers so poorly for so many locked out from it.
My preference looks a lot more like our ACC no fault model. Not perfect but a lot more efficient in my view.
There are far too many preventable accidents.
When it comes to children their environment needs to be managed according to their age and level of development in order to keep them safe.
I know I sound harsh. I have looked after children for 45 years and I know how vigilant the adults need to be. Caring for children is hard work.
There is no greater loss for a parent than the loss of a child.
There are a few more court cases against dog owners being successful here.
But we should treat both dogs and cats as with guns: risks that destroy our environment and whose total numbers need to be regulated down.
You going all Gareth on us?
I can't recall any publicised instances of kids winding up in hospital, let alone dead, from a cat attack. At worst, a hospital visit might be needed to deal with a subsequent infection from a cat defending itself, very very unlikely to be from an initial unprovoked cat attack.
While Gareth certainly has somewhat of a point about the effects of cats on wildlife, those in my circles involved in wildlife conservation seem much more concerned about controlling dogs. The effects of cats seem to be just lumped in with rats, stoats, possums etc.
Old (2006) research paper consistent with your (common sense) comment about the relative potential of cats and dogs to do serious damage to humans.
Maybe they're trying to tell us something.
Um . ..!…how do dogs 'destroy our environment's..?…cats yes ..but not dogs…
Dogs wipe out Kiwi. There's practically none now left in the far north – mostly from dogs.
I would question yr claim that dogs have wiped out kiwi…surely feral cats and rats and stoats/ferrets are the culprits..?
While mustelids pose the largest threat to hatchling and juvenile Kiwi, dogs are by far the biggest threat to adult Kiwi.
A dog attack isn't an 'accident'.
Interested in the bred of dog and its age once more can be revealed.
People often don't realise that cute doggie they have isn't until too late.
The mother would have been tired.
What sort of support did she have and how heavy was her workload?
My heart sunk when I heard the worst happened.
Wondered if the dog was jealous of the new bub. Jealously can often be a cause of bad dog behaviour on the introduction of a new human or pet into the household. Terrible tragedy for the family and a poor outcome for the dog. Nothing worse then a poorly trained dog. Dog obedience is a must in a domestic situation.
please fix username.
I have read that dogs can categorise children as being subservient to the dog. Some sort of ranking system.
If you start a comment and then the first words go missing – look up to the name slot at the top. Suggestion if there – highlight all and Cut and paste down below. Remove your name and put back in Name slot. And keep watch so that you don't do it again or the mod has to FIFY. And that's a waste of time especially on the 3rd time of telling,
This wasn’t to Treetop, just – To whom it may apply. Possibly me FTTT.
The animal, a rottweiler acquired as an adult, was in prey drive.
The mother had only popped to the toilet when the tragedy unfolded, Karen said. One of the family’s two dogs apparently taking and mauling the newborn boy and attempting to bury him.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/123210180/he-was-just-so-little–witness-tells-of-fatal-dog-attack-on-newborn
Rottweilers are just nasty bity penis extensions.
Bullshit. Rotties are no more nasty than any other breed. As with all dogs good socialisation is the key. There are a number of Rottie regulars at the local dog park and they never cause an issue.
In this case the dog was two years old yet the owner had only recently got it. Any dog needs to be very carefully introduced to a new baby to be sure that they understand, and a dog that you don't even know even more so or maybe never.
Food's food, be it thawing roast on the bench or a new born, and it's too much to expect a dog, especially an animal that's likely not bonded with family, to differentiate.
Some dogs would work it out. I had a German Shepherd who caught a baby mouse. He just wanted to lick its bum and mother it. Had to take the mouse outside myself and put a spade through it. Another time he adopted a kitten.. But yes you can't expect that.
Rotties are probably the most intelligent of all the breeds, but it comes with a heightened sense of possession and protectiveness toward their owner.
I’d never call them nasty or aggressive, but a close friend who owned a number of them over the years was always careful to ensure that anyone new in their environment was introduced properly.
On reading the details this seems just a sad and tragic mistake on the part of a young mother of a day old babe, and not a lot more needs saying.
The reason they are possessive and protective is because this is what the breed was bred to be.
There's an excellent case for banning dangerous dog breeds. It's like having a loaded gun in your house.
A baby has died in preventable circumstances. Outlines in the media are often incorrect or misleadingly incomplete, so speculation on the specifics is unwise.
What often happens in these sad situations is that the trial takes place and is quickly resolved (unless there is some fact in dispute), and the judge takes into account the fact that there really is no punishment the state can apply that would come close to the punishment of the remorse of the responsible party.
Poor little kid, and its family.
Yea…It was a Baby. Eaten by a 4 legged pet monster. That "remorse" wont bring back. As I've said throughout this, Children have no defence …whatsoever, against snarling biting dogs. As I've also linked, there are far too many cases.And I sure do let "owners" know when their mutt is rushing me and mine to "get your fkn dog under control"…
I also contact Dog Control/Council.
Look, it's one of many ways small mistakes that most people make at some time turn lethal. Kids playing in driveways, tired parents leaving the kid in an overheated car, not seeing the kid tugging on the kettle cord.
Even you – being aggressive towards a dog owner can easily put a protective dog into attack mode.
A case can be made that there is pitiful little competence required to own a dog. Shite dogwalkers who let their dogs approach me piss me off. It's a sign that the dog itself is poorly trained, because the owner is careless. But it's a carelessness that is routine in NZ.
Throwing the book at someone who has had a momentary lapse that many other people even in the courtroom probably have had is, frankly, a dick move. It requires a social change through education, and maybe regulation, rather than punishing an individual in a manner that is neither appropriate for rehabilitation nor an inkling of what they're already experiencing.
Look yourself. I've already stated my grounds……absolutely nothing to do with driveways,kettle cords, overheated cars…or whatever else you can slip in. Except uncontrolled dogs. Which in this case killed a Baby. Definitely a form of Child abuse.
Nope. Nowhere close. Unless a dog is deliberately set on a child, it's exactly like every other momentary but lethal lapse around a hazard that happens to children, sadly, dozens of times a year in NZ. Be it cars, dogs, waterways, electricity, whatever.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/429227/green-party-should-avoid-cabinet-positions-and-remain-an-independent-critical-voice-former-mp
Former Green Party MP Keith Locke says his contemporaries should stay out of Cabinet in order to remain critical of Labour while also working constructively with it.
Words of experience and wisdom.
What a retrograde softcock he is.
Begging to go in to government with all care and no responsibility is just begging to be bullied within government and lose multiple times, and still be the person fronting to media to explain it all.
Something like the term we've just had.
As opposed to being in Cabinet, not being able to speak out about problems with Labour policy and approach, and still being the person fronting to media to explain it all.
Shaw should turn down being Climate Change Minister?
Brilliant. (sarc)
or Ad wants the Green ministers in cabinet.
There's good reason for Green MPs to be gaining more and higher Ministerial positions than last time. SO I hope they fight for them.
The $$$$ decisions coming up in 2021 with big Green impact include:
– Lake Onslow
– Light Rail
– Wellington public transport
– Tiwai+Manapouri+100% Renewable Generation
– Wilding Pine+Fire risk+Drought+Water Storage
– Landing the marijuana reforms
– Waitemata Tunnel crossing
I can see possibly Health getting split up into Associate Minister portfolios – both for its size and for keeping the Class of 2017 Labour intake happy.
But for many of the sets of decisions listed above, I don't believe enough Labour MPs have enough ideological clarity or conviction to carry many of them – and the Green MPs absolutely do. We are running a parliament with a worse cult complex than under Key – and with only slightly better policy delivery results. We need Greens who will fight inside Government against the Ardern cult and win.
It's Nash and the other righties in Labour who need fighting. They have a strong interest in resisting a Green influence in government accordingly.
There are far more fault lines than that.
They will become more apparent as clumping occurs in such a large Labour caucus next year.
this is essentially the argument to vote Green. Unfortunately, it's a bit late now to start running that line. Had the Greens been on 10%, then they would have done exactly what you are talking about and we would have had an awesome L/G govt.
The situation we're in now is whether the Greens can advance those issues better from in cabinet, outside cabinet, or on the cross benches.
I'm finding Ad's comment too ironic to take seriously.
It's a skill I've been working on
Ad, Jacinda is not a cult. She is nothing like Key. Results will improve without Winston.
Yes. The Commission is set up.
The real 2021 test for Shaw should be the RMA reforms.
What do you want the RMA reforms to do Ad? I am unsure, you seem to have your eye on the ball.
Good analysis – that's my personal preference (as a Green voter), i.e. continuation of previous arrangements wrt confidence and supply plus ministers outside cabinet, which saw an increase in the Green party vote. The Labour and Green parties can continue to work together constructively and with mutual respect – what's not to like?
QR codes and complacency.
I am really disappointed with the seeming cavalier attitude of many of my fellow citizens.
I have observed so many who are just breezing past the codes and going about their busy shopping. I believe there has to be a constant advertising campaign highlighting why it is essential that the scans are used. As far as I can see the current campaign just says "Keep each other safe", but doesn't explain how the tracing works.
I happened to chattingly ask an elderly customer, at a takeaway coffee outlet in our town, if he knew whether I had the virus or not and whether he was going to use the QR prominently displayed. His response was that he knew where he had visited and wasn't bothered.
I agree with you Logie97. I too see heaps of people walking straight past obviously placed QR posters and registers with pen attached to manually write their name and phone number and they obviously need to see Specsavers. Also well placed hand sanitiser that the retailer kindly leaves out is most of the time hardly touched.
I don't have an answer for this apathy and it should worry all of us. I realise there are folk with phones which they cannot used for the QR but there is a diary which can be obtained for personal use and they can keep tabs on their whereabouts that way. Retailers sometimes leave a register for people to use as well.
Mask wearing has not been widely accepted here and although they can be a bit of a nuisance it still beggars belief that, for the sake of their health, they do not use them when out shoppping, on public transport and libraries etc. I am happy to wear a mask every time I go out and register I have visited. I use sanitiser regularly and just wish more did it too.
Good on you chatting with the elderly customer and it is surprising that being elderly, he/she hadn't attained wisdom through the years to respect their health like we are meant to.
Pen used by every customer..yeah..that'll help stop any virus transmission…am I the only one who won't touch them..?
Nice bit of elder shaming there. As one of the tech people put it – this app is a rich person's answer. Why not more pressure on for a solution that protects the more vulnerable – who somehow seem to be the ones the disease really hurts.
BTW the manual diary can only be used if the app is uploaded.If the phone can't upload the app in the first place the diary isn't there. The app when I looked at it also required an email address to register – which is so yesterday – why not just the phone number?
And finally despite all the bleating about security and privacy- guess what? If you want to take your details off the register you have to justify yourself and get MOH permission- you can't just delete it:
If for whatever reason you choose to uninstall NZ COVID Tracer, you can request the deletion of any information you provided during the registration process by sending an email to help@covidtracer.min.health.nz. Please include the reason for your request and a contact phone number.
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-resources-and-tools/nz-covid-tracer-app/privacy-and-security-nz-covid-tracer
They also talk about the data on the Amazon servers (Ole Jeff who really doesn't pay much tax anywhere) being encrypted in transmission. Pity it isn't clear if it is just between MOH and Amazon or between the phone and amazon.
Shipping large numbers of animals overseas. It's not good for them, and not good for the country's good standing. It encourages over stocking and we should remember that methane is still a problem for NZ. SAFE wants it stopped, and on sober consideration, I think most would agree. It may be a case that up to a hundred could go and be the basis of a herd bred in the new country, but not a whole huge herd.
It seems a big earner for NZ, there is a lot of investment in it, and when we stop it, there will have to be a reasonable lead time to drop the number of animals and exit the bulk market in good order. Start now I say. Here is some background for it including a 2019 report of the animals being in poor condition in one country.
Some links:
Stuff Sep.20 https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/300107212/a-case-against-exporting-live-animals
scoop Sep.20 https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2009/S00103/statement-from-progressive-livestock-ltd-in-relation-to-the-live-export-of-cattle-from-new-zealand.htm
Apr.10/19 https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/nelson-mail/20190410/281857234914864 – Kiwi cattle exported to 'appalling situation'
Sep.16/20 https://www.newsroom.co.nz/a-case-against-exporting-live-animals
https://safe.org.nz/our-work/animals-in-need/live-export-trade/
Sep.12/20 https://www.mpi.govt.nz/exporting/animals/live-animals-including-livestock/requirement-documents-for-exporting-live-animals/animal-welfare-export-certificates/live-sheep-and-cattle-exports/
Dairy News Sep.20 28,000 cows
ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/dairy-news/dairy-general-news/live-cattle-exports-in-limbo
pggwrightson.co.nz/Livestock/Buying-and-Selling/Live-Export
PGG Wrightson Live Export has been exporting livestock since the mid-1980's and during this time we have exported tens of thousands of animals and have …
farmersweekly.co.nz/#
…Across the Tasman the story is similar with up to 150,000 cattle expected to leave NZ and Australia this year, most destined for China.
Brisbane live exporting company Austrex NZ and Australia breeding stock general manager Tom Slaughter said the live export trade is very much alive and well and a key player in farming business.
peterwalsh.co.nz/our-company/pw-and-a-live-export/
Throughout the year, Peter Walsh (PW&A) receive numerous requests from international clients to supply significant numbers for live export. Recently, the market has been for dairy cattle destined for China and sheep destined for mexico.
pinnacleag.nz/
PinnacleAg NZ can provide:
Access to quality cattle and genetics from a disease-free industry.
PinnacleAg is a 100 per cent New Zealand owned company operating in the grazing and live export business across the North and South Islands, dedicated to delivering quality livestock around the world.
(This seems like the kiwifruit industry again, exporting what gives our country differentiation in our product and ultimately cutting ourselves out of markets because of the desire for short term gain. Selling the family jewels etc.)
hedleyjohn.com/
With the health benefits that goats milk offer, dairy goat farming has become a burgeoning industry. Hedley John is one of the world's largest dairy goat exporters,…
Exports from NZ of live sheep and goats –
https://figure.nz/chart/kX4EHvK0MDmkZh4x-OswZ1iBIHPmpCebE
Vets who have provided services on board ship have spoken out against the trade in live animals. NZ has forbidden shipments, intended for slaughter, since 2003 when 4,000 sheep died in a shipment to Saudi Arabia. In Australia vets have formed VALE – Veterinarians Against Live Export. One vet was allegedly pressured to report 105 mortalities when in fact 2000 sheep had died,.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_export#New_Zealand
+100 WTF MPI
It doesn't really matter if we export live cattle or not as far as that goes. Eventually all our export markets for dairy will be producing their own and we won't be exporting to them.
The real problem is that we don't have any plan to replace dairy or any other primary produce export. We just keep looking to do more farming despite not having the land available to do it.
Yes beyond dairy, is there anything but tech services? It occurs to me that when we got someone lively with a sophisticated understanding of world politics and trade beyond the primary in Bill Sutch, the petty government gave him cold and frosty treatment and chased him around the raspberry bush, turning him into a villain for attempting to communicate with a Russian and perhaps give him some written notes about something.
I've got the book Bill and Shirley on order and will learn more about this mercurial? character.
On the random topic of domestic solar, rather than primarily using it for electricity does anyone know of domestic systems to use if for direct water and home heating, i.e. much of domestic power consumption? Particularly something that would work in an Otago winter.
Purely hypothetical spitballing in my case (unless I win lotto), but I was thinking a rack of solar water heaters and a radiator system throughout the dwelling. Independent of power supply, still gets enough power output on an overcast snowy day to do the bulk of the work (and not freeze and burst) overnight? No grid problems, no battery packs (well, except the water cylinder…).
sure it wouldn't do aircon cooling just like that, but it's a thought. Maybe in summer could do the reverse, cooling the water (external radiators in the shade, switching between those and the north-facing roof collectors as need be?)
Zero Energy House:
in the sunnier parts of Otago, yes. Not so sure about Dunedin in winter, but it could certainly be used as a back up system (the power to the hot water tank switches off when water temp reaches a certain number).
What we should be doing is building integrated systems. In Dunedin that would be passive space heating and hot water, ultra efficient wood burners for space heating, hot water, and cooking, and renewable-powered grid mains. Probably solar panels too (grid tied but I think there is work to do there on not making that so completely dependent on the centralised system because of quakes and storms). There are individual households doing that, but it needs major govt support to get it accessible to most people.
We have 12 panels. I changed the water heating element from 3kw to 2 kw. And put a timer on the water heating so that it heats the water from 10am to 4pm. Thus the solar is mostly heating the water during the sunny part of the day. We never run out of hot water.
Cheers for that, all.
The house I grew up in was in the "deep south", as they call it, and was rural. I recall we did the full thing – wetback on the fireplace, solar water heating, and of course electric lines connection. Ever since then I've been partial to having at least two different energy types for heating and cooking (or boiling water for a cuppa).
Electric generation at home is all well and good, but a solar flare or ship's radar could screw with it in the middle of winter – which would suck. So I'm thinking resilience as well as low energy bills.
Does anyone know how hot and how much water is needed to run a heating system? Been checking the weather this winter and figured there was only about a week when the weather was too cold to have heated water. It wouldn't hurt the budget to break out the old bar heater once a year.
Saw someone heating the house with coke cans painted black can the panels be avoided when heating the water.
Battery storage and downloading off the grid at night when rates are cheaper can also be useful and reduces pressure on the grid during the day.
I have friends who do this in Europe – I'm not sure of the cost effectiveness here – might depend on the day/night price differential.
Batteries are expensive but I am reliably informed are to shortly drop in price according to the former CEO of Pulse Energy who spoke about solar farms in NZ to the Grey Power AGM just finished.
I checked this at one point and night rates look to have gone from a number of suppliers. I think some people had set up battery farms downloaded at night and sold back during the day. Don't think the power companies were into it
Is that a bit like the rorting low life in Golden Bay who used an EV to get free power from the charger generously donated by the local power provider to Takaka township who then drove home and used the car as a battery to provide free power to his house?
That free facility is now gone.
Just had installed a further 8 panels and a diverter which channels solar power in excess to the current current demand of the house to the HW cylinder and after all else to the grid.
The diverter has four settings- pure solar, pure grid, and two booster settings at 2.5 and 5 hrs per day. The booster settings are 'smart' and react to the speed of heating the cylinder. The solar only option does away with the need for a timer as ianmac writes about at 11.3 below. About $500 for the diverter. The HW cylinder consumes about 2 kw/h per day and thereby the diverter saves up to 50c per day in diverting power which otherwise would have gone to the grid at 7 cents per kw/h and buying it in at 30 cents per kw/h. Money back in less than three years.
The diverter also is able to detect too low a temperature in the cylinder thus risking Legionnaires Disease and adjust accordingly. I believe.
https://www.zenenergy.co.nz/solar-diverters-alternative-energy-storage-option-for-your-solar-energy-system/
Passive Heating:
An interesting point is that if sunlight is striking something then that something will be heated by the sun light. The darker it is the more heat will be absorbed as well as the more square on to the sun it is.
After that is the question of storing it. Water is actually good for that and it can be pumped where needed either electrically or through convection. That does mean a large water tank and possibly lots of pipes.
Radiant Heat with Solar Hot Water Evacuated Tube Ground Mount
yeah, requiring lots of pipes is the same as the radiator systems found in many older buildings (although most of them would have been coal or gas heating the radiator medium).
But it allows one to move heat around, or not heat some rooms, like electricity does. And lets one have rooms unencumbered by all that horrible natural light.
Be nice if our corporate leaders could count a little better. Making proposals to govt on reducing carbon emissions. For vehicles some of it is good – put in minimum emission standards so we don't have a lot of old inefficient vehicles imported.
But the main recommendation for private vehicles is remove FBT on corporate fleets.
Really? – if they could count they would very quickly realise that the reduction in petrol costs would more than pay for any higher price tag. And hybrids for one are now coming in at the lower price ranges. Most pressing need is to enable the under $14k buyer to bridge the gap to a $25k electric. Maybe we should be getting employers with those sorts of premises to seriously look at solar generation and free plug in charging in the employee car park during the day.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/123179899/bring-in-road-congestion-charges-says-big-business-to-govt
"Handmaid" Barrett confirmed to SCOTUS on the same day that court opens the door to stealing the election for Repugs (again).
The ruling is nominally about whether mailed ballots in Wisconsin received after election day but postmarked before are to be counted, and SCOTUS sez no. But included in the judgement was a side opinion from Kavanaugh suggesting sympathy to the idea that counting of all ballots must be completed by midnight Election Day.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/brett-kavanaugh-trump-2020-election_n_5f977b16c5b6e1e7076381c2
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/supreme-court-wisconsin-absentee-ballots_n_5f975dd8c5b63fd49cef5106
I'd look forward to the older Republican votes cast on the day not being counted in time, leaving the Democrat-favouring early votes done and dusted.
You'd hope so. But apparently the way the counting goes in Pennsylvania is counting the votes on the day comes first, then when the counters are caught up on those, they'll nibble away at the votes that came in before election day until a new bunch of on-the-day votes need to be dealt with. I'm under the impression some other states that don't allow early processing of early votes are the same, which is why Michigan and Wisconsin aren't expected to declare a result election night.
For that they deserve to lose both Texas and Florida especially Texas where according to the media early voting in some of those big counties has now exceeded the whole vote there for 2016. Yee ha go get them repugs cowboy.
Barking.
This past weekend, thousands of witches apparently plotted together to cast some kind of “binding” spell on Donald Trump, according to Steve Warren of CBN News.
Why anyone was worried about this, I don’t know. But this is something that’s been happening for years now with no discernible effect.
And yet the Christian Broadcasting Network was deeply concerned, treating it as yet another obstacle for Trump to overcome.
Well, it didn’t work. He’s still spreading COVID wherever he goes, and that’s not even getting into his policies or the Supreme Court.
https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/10/26/the-christian-broadcasting-network-is-worried-that-witches-cast-a-spell-on-trump/?
Social media’s erasure of Palestinians is a grim warning for our future
by JONATHAN COOK, Middle East Eye, 26 October 2020
There is a growing unease that the decisions taken by social media corporations can have a harmful impact on our lives. These platforms, despite enjoying an effective monopoly over the virtual public square, have long avoided serious scrutiny or accountability.
In a new Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma, former Silicon Valley executives warn of a dystopian future. Google, Facebook and Twitter have gathered vast quantities of data on us to better predict and manipulate our desires. Their products are gradually rewiring our brains to addict us to our screens and make us more pliable to advertisers. The result, as we are consigned to discrete ideological echo chambers, is ever greater social and political polarisation and turmoil.
As if to underline the ever-tightening grip these tech corporations exert on our lives, Facebook and Twitter decided this month to openly interfere in the most contentious US presidential election in living memory. Theycensored a story that could harm the electoral prospects of Joe Biden, the Democratic challenger to incumbent President Donald Trump.
Given that nearly half of Americans receive their news chiefly via Facebook, the ramifications of such a decision on our political life were not hard to interpret. In excising any debate about purported corruption and influence-peddling by Biden’s son, Hunter, carried out in his father’s name, these social media platforms stepped firmly into the role of authoritarian arbiterof what we are allowed to say and know.
Read more….
https://www.jonathan-cook.net/2020-10-26/facebook-twitter-google-erasure-warning/
It's a truly gobsmacking degree of convergence moonbat fuckwittery that would lead someone to whine about organisations dealing with news choosing to not amplify a completely fabricated smear that's been thoroughly debunked.
Particularly when a go-to move of said fuckwits is to whine about decades-old previous instances of news media publishing stories with insufficient evidence that have later turned out to be wrong.
Forget the content – It's irrelevant.
This is not much more than a boundary testing exercise after being told off this morning.
????
I made it quite clear that it was Jonathan Cook's article, not mine. I wasn't "testing" anything; I don't want to provoke or tease weka or any of the other moderators. I posted a fragment of a typically thoughtful and well written article by one of the outstanding journalists of our time, and I made it clear it was written by him, not by me. Nothing more than that.
You reckon the lack of any quotation marks or blockquote formatting was intentional? I just figured mossie's brain had deleted its cache with the second tide, like any other moonbat.
Totally intentional, as was ignoring the other advice given to add more of their own opinion to a piece, so a double whammy f u is my deduction.
So it's not permissible to post a small section of a larger piece by some writer, without at least some comment by this writer, i.e. moi. Goddit!
[Dear Mr Breen,
I regret to have to advise you that you have been banned from this site for two months.
Yours sincerely,
Incognito
PS The reasons for your self-inflicted demise are obvious. However, for the record, I shall spell them out for you:
1) A Moderator gave you clear instruction here (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-27-10-2020/#comment-1762468) and instructional examples here (https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-27-10-2020/#comment-1762510) how to copy & paste and format quoted text. You opted to ignore this and repeated the same ‘mistake’ again.
2) In a dedicated Post today on how this site works and in particular, how Moderation works on this site, the Author-Moderator wrote:
“Both of the main moderators at the moment are short on patience for spamming the site with long cut and pastes. Use your own words, a short quote and link.” [my italics]
As a long time regular of this site, you know this. You also know that you and others today were exhausting Moderators’ patience. You opted to ignore this.
3) In that same dedicated Post it was made clear that wasting Moderator time is not tolerated, especially when Moderators are short on patience, which they are at present. In addition, commenters don’t like having their time wasted either or their browsing polluted by wasteful comments. You know all this. You opted to ignore it.
4) You have one particularly bad habit, which is “to post [i.e. paste] a small section of a larger piece by some writer, without at least some comment by this writer” [your own words]. This is intellectually dishonest because you don’t own the words. Usually, in your case, it is about who said those words rather than what was said. In any case, you don’t stick your neck out and it is almost always about somebody else’s views and opinion, which you either strongly agree or disagree with, as you so aptly demonstrate with your superlatives. For this reason, responses to your comments tend to go nowhere and robust debate almost never ensues. This is wasting people’s precious time here. You continually opt to ignore this.
5) Read more…. [in other words, I can’t be bothered giving any more reasons for your short ban]
The End]
Why are you asking me what is "permissible"? I'm not a moderator.
I wasn't asking you anything, I was construing your comments. Did you see a question mark somewhere?
Fair call.
Foolish of me to assume that you were seeking confirmation for a theory, rather than basing a random assumption on an irrelevant comment (a comment made by someone who is by no means an authority on the matter that your assumption concerns).
I was using you as a prop for my own nefarious ends, my friend. I hope that, in time, you will forgive me for taking such a liberty.
"nefarious" is not a synonym for "imaginary", which would be more accurate.
No, yet again, you are dead wrong. I was not imagining anything; I simply restated a truism, viz., we need to follow a protocol when posting material from other sources.
Your dismissive attitude does you no favours, my floundering friend.
See my Moderation note @ 7:32 PM.
Beautifully composed.
that was comprehensive…
What are you talking about? It seems that you are, yet again, having a go at Jonathan Cook. He's a "convergence moonbat fuckwit", is he?
Both you and Cook are involved in the idiot whining. Cook for writing it, you for linking and quoting it. And both equally deserve to be considered fuckwits for doing so.
Cook is "whining"? Could you explain how, exactly?
By the way, here’s another “convergence moonbat” for your delectation. What she describes—“judgment and scorn” by Clintonistas— is pretty much a summary of your own attitudes and behaviours …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up61RiMEuZM
Cook is whining that Twitter et al are choosing to not amplify the fabricated smear about Hunter Biden. Twitter et al have done this because it has been thoroughly debunked, and shown to be an outright fabrication.
He is cloaking his whining in the guise of objecting to the idea of suppressing debate. But if the party trying to start a "debate" is simply peddling a lie, it's not debate, it's at best propaganda. Which seems to be something Cook is well practised in foisting on gullible convergence moonbats.
edit: nice addition to your post after I had started responding and not having the honesty to note that it was an edit. But linking to Krystal Ball merely reinforces my point about your susceptibility to propaganda tailored to convergence moonbats.
It has not been "thoroughly debunked" at all. Maybe you confused it with Mueller's wasted year and a bit.
By the way, your shouting “moonbat” —tonight you’ve used it in an attempt to ridicule two of the most respected and brightest journalists of the modern age—adds not a whit of credibility to whatever you are trying to say.
Excuse me, I said "convergence moonbats". Moonbats are more skeptical and discriminating when it comes to repackaged alt-right propaganda, and tend not to fall for it. Nor do moonbats tend to spread around re-packaged alt-right propaganda in the way convergence moonbats like yourself do.
That phrase carried no weight when the drones of the Daily Beast and the New Yorker peddled it. Coming from someone in New Zealand, it's even more ridiculous.
The National Party's desperate propaganda about voting Labour to stymie the Greens carries more heft than that circle you've found to illustrate your "theory."
Let me state it plainly for you, since you seem not to comprehend: criticizing and/or opposing Biden or Clinton or Obama or Pelosi or Schumer or any of those grotesques who have control of the Democratic Party does not make anyone—not Jill Stein, not Bernie Sanders, not Glenn Greenwald, not Jonathan Cook, not Krystal Ball, not Matt Taibbi, and not this writer, i.e. moi—a “moonbat” or a “convergence moonbat” or a “traitor” or, as your equivalents in Red China would have snarled, an “Imperialist Running Dog.”
Capisci?
While I dislike responding to someone that's been banned, because of the inability to reply, your last comment contains misrepresentations that need to be addressed.
Asking google for instances of the phrase "convergence moonbats" turns up nothing from Daily Beast or New Yorker. It appears you're just indulging your Drumpfian habit of saying what feels good to you in the moment, without any regard for whether it might be accurate.
I have no objection to fact-based criticism of Biden or either Clinton or Pelosi or Schumer or anyone else. My objection is to when the people ignore facts and repeat smears that have been repeatedly debunked, ignore what has been found in non-partisan investigations, or even in some cases, by partisan investigators that have the integrity to publish results against their partisan interests. Such as Mueller, a lifelong Republican appointed by Rosenstein, a lifelong Republican.
I also object to when situations are misrepresented by omitting relevant facts, and when misleading emotive language is used about what actually happened. Which I have previously explained about Cook's writing here: https://thestandard.org.nz/assanges-torture-and-the-death-of-journalism/#comment-1748820
I also object to propaganda pieces that attempt to set a tone with irrelevancies before getting to their actual topic. Seriously, WTF does Hunter Biden have to do with Palestinians? In contrast, Nepotism Barbie's hubby the Cowardly Scion actually has plenty of involvement in the shit getting done to Palestinians right now, but if Cook saw fit to mention that, I missed it in my brief scan of the piece.
I also object to those that take smears generated elsewhere and repackage them for a convergence moonbat audience, without doing fact-checking of their own. Such as Krystal Ball did with Tara Reade.
All of the individuals you've approvingly listed above indulge in one or more of those gross propaganda practices. Which is why I view them as propagandists rather than reliable information sources. And why I have contempt for those that uncritically swallow that propaganda and regurgitate it here.
"
Food costs in this country are getting out of hand. Even buying locally and in season, it seems the price of tomatoes and bread is forever ridiculous. After living in New Zealand 23 years, I still can’t answer the question: if we produce so much milk, why does it cost so much?
A $9.5 million house is being built in Christchurch. Shaped like the letter Z, swimming pool and tennis court. When completed, it’s going to be one of the biggest and priciest properties in town. The owner? A director at Foodstuffs South Island and owner of Pak 'n Save Wainoni, one of Christchurch’s poorest areas.
My blood boils when I think of the families who anxiously push half-empty trolleys through that store, selecting items that are a few cents cheaper and a little less nutritious, so they can squeeze more out of their wages to feed their families for another week, while helping to fund that Fendalton swimming pool and import its Italian tiles.
The duopoly in New Zealand supermarkets must end and the Ardern government can instruct the Commerce Commission to investigate. There should be more competition in this lucrative market, better regulation of prices, and more options for small suppliers to access mainstream markets.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/123193640/govt-needs-to-target-our-soaring-cost-of-living