Cheers, CV. I’m glad you see some value in my argument.
I think giving a commenter a reasonable time to either back their statements or withdraw them is good moderation. I appreciate that Xanthe actually made an effort to find something (though it was just from an Assange fanboi site). Unfortunately, you’ve censored his or her efforts.
When they pop up next, presumably on open mike, I’m going to repeat the comment above and see if they get the point. If they do, there won’t be a ban.
[Still waiting for you to supply evidence to back your claim. If you don’t have it, say so. I’m in a cheerful mood this morning, and I’m happy to explain my thinking once you either provide evidence or confirm you can’t do so. TRP]
I posted link to transcript of the original police interviews .
Perhaps it would be more appropriate if you did not continue to discuss as moderator. You have misrepresented me!
You need to stop abusing your position and go an become informed
There is a huge trove of original source documentation at
Justice4assange.com avail yourself of it before you return here
[Yes, you did post that link, Xanthe. Unfortunately it was censored by CV.
However, good attempt though it was, I did ask you not to just link to Assange fan sites. NNN and J4A fall into that category. What we are looking for the two complainant’s words, not the words of third parties. You’ve made a very specific claim and if it was true, there would be clear evidence, not least because Assange supporters would be repeating it at every opportunity.
As I mentioned earlier, at least one of the women is apparently very keen to have her story told in court. That suggests you really have got this wrong.
You might also consider whether or not it makes a blind bit of difference anyway. There are plenty of victims of crime who don’t know what the crime’s called, or don’t even know that it’s a crime at all. There are others who, out of fear or shame, don’t want the crime prosecuted. That doesn’t mean the Police shouldn’t do their job anyway.
So, if you’re prepared to accept that your claim cannot be substantiated, I’m happy to drop it.
If you want to insist your claim is true, post some evidence that comes directly from both women. TRP]
Xanthe was wrong – dead wrong in the assertion they made. That can be pointed out quite easily by reasoned argument and I think some people did that on the thread at the time. The thread is gone and the discussion finished (thankfully) and I can’t see what’s to be gained by the flogging of dead horses trp.
There are dodgy and unsubstantiated opinions on a number of topics all over the site. That’s the nature of the beast. A link was asked for. A link was given. If the link is problematic (and that was pointed out) then the opinion’s undermined and the matter’s as good as dead and buried.
Sometimes poking at stuff just brings up unpleasant odours y’know? Not worth it.
And fuck it. The weather’s crap and it would be nice if commentary didn’t mirror the elements.
Cheers, Bill. I agree for the most part. However, it’s reasonable to ask commenters to substantiate claims (it’s covered in the rules). Xanthe has the choice of either providing evidence (which can’t be done) or backing down. I’m off to work now and I’ll check back later in the morning to see what decision Xanthe’s made.
It’s reasonable. And for most people who were following that conversation, I’d guess that Xanthes link wasn’t considered to be up to the mark. shrug
But hey, that’s what they’ve got and that’s that.
Others (me, you and who-ever) can read and evaluate stuff and adopt or change a position off the back of that.
Peeps can’t be “bashed into line” and opinions won’t disappear or change just because some proponent of any given opinion is being given a hard time. More often than not, that just results in entrenchment.
An opinion is aired. It gets challenged and is found wanting. And that’s that.
I’ll put it like this. If there are people in a room and someone in the room believes in alien abductions, then whatever evidence or argument they may have for their existence can be challenged, and people can come away (presumably) essentially dismissing any notion of alien abductions. At that point, there’s no useful purpose served by carrying on or over into the realm of ‘confession’ whereby the believer in abductions is pressured to ‘recant’ or whatever.
Xanthe, if you had any sense at all you’d have stayed away from commenting for a few days. TRP isn’t the type to let this kind of thing go. Inevitably, he’ll find some rationale to permaban you as I can guarantee that no link or document you post will be satisfactory or admissible in his books.
Sweet Jesus! Just be grateful y’all don’t live in the U.S.A.
“Fred on Everything : Milwaukee”
The world’s problems are coming here. Try to be kind and have some fun until they get here. We’ll all be killing each other soon enough.
You don’t try and build positive relationships by saying someone is wrong. Idiotic tactics IF you want it better, good tactic if you don’t care or have too much ego in it. I cant imagine it wasn’t thought through. Grow up labour and be smart in building relationships ffs
Hang on mm. Put yourself in Little’s place. He cannot remember saying what has been claimed he said. And unlike his counterpart the PM, he can be trusted to be telling the truth. Nevertheless Little’s staff have made an effort to ascertain whether he did say it which they have every right to do. Given the historically close ties with Maori through the Ratana Movement this is an important issue for Labour.
I don’t think the intention is to start a sparring match with the Maori King. Although there is every chance that is what Tuku Morgan is trying to do with Labour. There’s past baggage there… Tuku’s underpants n’all.
I don’t remember ever disagreeing with you before MM, but I do this time.
Kīngi Tūheitia made a claim about Andrew Little in a setting that ensured it would be widely publicised. He said that the reason he would not vote for Labour again was because of a something he claimed was said by Andrew Little. I think it is fair enough for Andrew Little and Peeni Henare to say that he was mistaken. This is about correcting the record, and not about ego IMO.
What has been asserted is pivotal to the King no longer supporting Labour. Therefore, if incorrect, it’s only right for Labour to point out the King has it wrong.
After all, positive relationships are built on honesty.
I’m answer to all above. “I am sorry the king feels this way and i am geateful to be able to reiterate that i and labour are more than happy to work with the Māori Party and Mana. My goal is to change this government because they are doing nothing for the poor and disadvantaged, they are doing nothing about the homeless, they are doing nothing for the overinflated housing crisis, they are doing nothing about the dirty drinking waters and the state of the environment. We will change this. Labour, the Greens, and any other party that believes in a country that looks after those who need help will change this.
I’m sure Labour are also disappointed the King feels this way. However, if Little didn’t make the asserted comment, the burning question is how did this all come about?
Has the King been questioned on this? If so, what was his response (anybody)?
They can’t both be right. And the media seems to have been lacking when it comes to ascertaining who is.
They can both be right it happens all the time. The point isn’t how it all came about but why – obviously a breakdown in communication that the king has highlighted. This is an opportunity not a reason to find a scapegoat, someone to blame. Surely we can be wiser than before and get on with sorting out the issues instead of blaming.
by Claire Browning
Fresh water ecologist Dr Mike Joy responds to the Prime Minister’s ‘hardtalk’, debunking his bland assertions, and calling his advice “rubbish science”, that would fail a first-year student.
Minister says KiwiSaver concerns a matter for Police
The widening KiwiSaver scandal saw the Commerce Minister put the ball into Police’s court following the receipt of official advice that concluded laws banning controversial weapons applied to providers of the public savings scheme.
A Police spokesperson said they were aware of the issue and had begun asking questions.
However, a suggestion that KiwiSaver providers might have broken laws by investing in companies that make weapons has been dismissed by one financial law expert.
World class villain. Mugabe kicked all the white farmers out and cratered the economy, the farmers went to Zambia and revolutionised their productivity, now Mugabe thinks Zambia owes him something.
How’s this for an idea chap: the only way you can get elected is to lie, and you need a compliant media to lie effectively. So anything that fucks you over is good with me.
I am surprised he is still here , he was threatening everyone after the last election that he was leaving in disgust , or he was organising a massed riot / uprising , neither has happened obviously .
But BM my dirty disco champ ………….. right wing bludgers like John Shewan and the Aussie banks try and scam New Zealand for $2.2 Billion dollars and you never moan about or mention that …
Bernard Hickey: Banks’ tax dodging tantamount to theft
” the combined banks owe the Government and people of New Zealand about $2.25 billion.
Now I’m not just grumpy.
I’m furious. That is 10 hospitals or 100 schools or the entire budget deficit forecast for the year just finished.
If I stole that much money I would be public enemy number one and rightly so.”
….
************************************************
I’m beginning to suspect BM has double standards 😉
The fact that most New Zealanders are unaware that Shewan was at the center of an attempted $2.2 Billion bank dollar robbery demonstrates something wrong with our media….
One mans broken tax vehicles returned 100 years worth of total combined welfare benefit fraud recovery from ALL beneficiarys.
How was this not front page news at the time ????
It impressed the hell out of me ……. I bet John Shewan swings a hammer like John Key …… They may not be able to hammer a nail straight in soft pine ….but those two boys build things which blow billions out of Government revenues ……
They should have statues of them by Des Brittans carbon fiber super bike at Te Papa
Teach a rich man how to cheat and speculate ………. and BM will talk about the poor and fish
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
The Olympics are a sad joke keeping the flames of nationalism burning … I skipped them.
But Going back in time the New Zealand rugby union with their national government team mates helped stuff up the Montreal Olympics when 25 countries boycotted because we ( New Zealand ) were there …..
“The New Zealand controversy
At the 1976 Montreal Olympics New Zealand sparked a boycott. The African nations were angry that a New Zealand All Blacks rugby team was touring apartheid-era South Africa. The Africans wanted New Zealand banned from the Montreal Olympics.
Eventually 26 African countries, as well as Iraq and Guyana, boycotted Montreal over New Zealand’s rugby activities. The boycott had a significant effect in athletics, as Africans were among the world’s best at middle- and long-distance running.”
” it looked as if New Zealand was in support of the apartheid movement as when no other country had wanted to create sporting ties with South Africa New Zealand was creating rugbylinks. Due to this a lot of controversy came a bout worldwide”
“He said the decision by the IOC not to ban New Zealand would give “comfort and respectability to the South African racist regime and encourage it to continue to defy world opinion.”
“Athletics events will be particularly affected by the absence of Filbert Bayi from Tanzania, who holds the world record in the 1500m and John Akii-Bua of Uganda, world record-holder in the 400 metres hurdles.
The latest country to announce its withdrawal was Kenya.”
“The All Blacks’ decision to tour South Africa in 1976 – at the height of the racial apartheid era – happened in defiance of a United Nations’ call to halt all sporting competition with the nation until racial equality was reached.”
“The boycott had a major impact on the 1976 Olympics”……
One million Canadian dollars in seat and hotel reservations had to be refunded, according to the BBC, during the first two days of the games alone, as a result of the boycott.
A number of events were marred as well; the track meet was badly diminished by the absence of perennial powerhouses like Tanzania and Kenya. ,……”http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/08/the-olympics-used-to-be-so-politicized-that-most-of-africa-boycotted-in-1976/260831/
So that’s how you get to be doctor to the wealthy – spend as much time learning to imitate their language patterns as you do looking up their family history… or any history, for that matter.
The conversations in recent days have featured voices from a range of Republican views, all jockeying to tilt the businessman’s politics in their direction, according to those involved. Trump tends to echo the words of whomever last spoke to him, making direct access to him even more valuable, the people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to talk about internal campaign discussions.
“….Since the publication of Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand 2000 the approach to managing drinking-water quality has changed.
The focus has moved from quality control to a broader approach of quality assurance.
This has been necessary due to changes in technology, an improvement in our scientific knowledge and the requirement to address a broader range of issues than previously covered.
The Health (Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2007 amended the Health Act 1956 to require all drinking-water suppliers providing water to more than 500 people to develop and start to implement a Public Health Risk Management Plan to guide the safe management of their supply before 2013.
A Public Health Risk Management Plan is a tool to help suppliers identify, manage and minimise events that could cause water quality to deteriorate. …”
So – where’s the ‘Water Safety Management Plan’ that was supposed to have been produced by the Hastings District Council and assessed by the Hawkes Bay DHB?
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
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 ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
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This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
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Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
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You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
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Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
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Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
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. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
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. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
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. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
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 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Priestley Habru, PhD candidate, public diplomacy, University of Adelaide Former foreign minister Jeremiah Manele has been elected the next prime minister of Solomon Islands, defeating the opposition leader, Matthew Wale, in a vote in parliament. The result is a mixed bag for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shaun Eaves, Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Jamey Stutz, CC BY-SA How often do mountains collapse, volcanoes erupt or ice sheets melt? For Earth scientists, these are important questions as we try ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Flood, Professor of Sociology, Queensland University of Technology Shutterstock Most young adult men in Australia reject traditional ideas of masculinity that endorse aggression, stoicism and homophobia. Nonetheless, the ongoing influence of those ideas continues to harm men and the people ...
The NZQA proposal released to staff today would involve a net loss of 35 roles. There are 66 roles being disestablished with 13 of those currently vacant, and 31 new roles proposed, said Fleur Fitzsimons Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga ...
Alex Casey talks to Loren Taylor, the writer, director and star of new film The Moon is Upside Down, about assembling her dream ensemble cast, toilet paper pads and turning literal dreams into reality. There’s a moment in The Moon is Upside Down where frazzled anaesthetist Briar (Loren Taylor) gets ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cassy Dittman, Senior Lecturer/Head of Course (Undergraduate Psychology), Research Fellow, Manna Institute, CQUniversity Australia With winter sports swinging into action, adults around the country have volunteered or been volunteered by others (humorously known as being “volun-told”) to coach junior sports teams. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karleen Gribble, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University richardernestyap/Shutterstock Parents are often advised to burp their babies after feeding them. Some people think burping after feeding is important to reduce or prevent discomfort crying, or to ...
Workers at a major ASB contact centre in Auckland have voted to take strike action and withdraw their labour following disappointing pay negotiations with the employer and an "offer" to workers that would leave them worse off than the previous year. ...
As the government tries to get the country back on track with a school phone ban, Tara Ward has an idea for where they should turn their attention to next.New Zealand students returned to school on Monday morning, but their cellphones did not. The government’s new phone ban began ...
The Labour Party is demanding Peters be stood down, saying "he's embarrassed the country" with a "totally unacceptable" attack on a prominent AUKUS critic. ...
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance, whose members were victims of a China-backed cyber attack, is discussing forming a standing committee to deal with foreign influence. ...
The PSA is concerned that the voluntary redundancies being offered to staff by Stats NZ will impact on the agency’s ability to deliver on its core functions. ...
Results ranged from surprisingly yum to soul-destroying. I love cooking. The kitchen is a hearth of culinary creation, of sensory delights, of gastronomic poetry. I also can’t afford anything nice. Why does a pack of instant noodles and some milk cost ten bucks? I love you, Aotearoa, but I miss ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Police in Solomon Islands are on high alert ahead of the election of the prime minister today. The two candidates for the top job are former foreign affairs minister Jeremiah Manele at the head of the Coalition for National Unity and Transformation, which is ...
He’s fine but it feels like I’m losing a friend and it’s making me bitter. How do I say ‘enough is enough’? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzHey Hera,I’ve recently moved in with a girlfriend, her partner Steve, and his friend. We all live in a lovely little house. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Chartres, Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney shutterstockAhmet Misirligul/Shutterstock You go to the gym, eat healthy and walk as much as possible. You wash your hands and get vaccinated. You control your health. This is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqueline Hendriks, Research Fellow and Lecturer, Curtin University Children and young people may be seeing news headlines about men murdering women or footage of people rallying to call for action. Perhaps they or their friends have even gone to the protests. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Balanzategui, Senior Lecturer in Media, RMIT University ABC “Bluey mania” shows no sign of abating. Bluey’s season finale, The Sign, was the most viewed ABC program of all time on iView. A “hidden” follow-up episode, aptly named The Surprise, created ...
Labour market figures came in softer than the Reserve Bank had forecast, but they won’t be enough to move the needle on interest rates, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Unemployment ...
The campaign will engage the community and encourage submissions on the bill to the New Zealand government by the closing submission deadline of Friday 31st of May 2024 4pm. ...
The paper raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand's political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency plays in that. ...
The Urban Habitat Collective was an attempt to built an innovative new form of apartment building in Wellington. Here’s why it failed, and why the idea could still work, writes co-founder Bronwen Newton. When we started the Urban Habitat Collective in November 2018, we thought we were starting a revolution, ...
Two decades ago this week, a controversial law that attempted to define ownership of the foreshore and seabed prompted a formidable display of outrage and kōtahitanga as 15,000 marched to parliament. Jamie Tahana looks back.‘Hīkoi, hīkoi,” they chanted by the thousands as the biggest Māori march in a generation ...
A Labour Party Member’s Bill aims to plug a culpability gap between manslaughter and health and safety breaches The post New push for corporate killing laws appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Terence O’Brien had the rare and no doubt undesired distinction of rising to one of the most exalted positions in New Zealand diplomacy, then being unceremoniously recalled to Wellington without explanation just when his career was at its zenith. What is perhaps more surprising is that he appears to have ...
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Why has New Zealand slipped from third to 12th on Quality of Death Indexes over the past decade or so? Hospice New Zealand Chief Executive Wayne Naylor has a list of reasons. “We don’t have a current national strategy – the Government hasn’t renewed our 2001 strategy, so we don’t ...
While women’s sport is exploding in Aotearoa and around the world, you still don’t hear a lot of talk about athletes and their periods, RED-S, breastfeeding and visible panty-lines. SASS (Suze and Sez Sports)Talk isn’t afraid to have that kōrero.LockerRoom founder Suzanne McFadden and Olympian broadcaster Sarah ...
On an unusually hot night in January 2019, a little boy’s lifeless body was found face up in a small town’s sewage oxidation pond. To the police, it was an open and shut case: three-year-old Lachlan Jones had run away from his home in the Southland town of Gore, climbed ...
Rongotai MP Julie Anne Genter has apologised in Parliament after National accused her of intimidating and attacking one of its ministers in the House. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Prime Minister and state and territory leaders met on Wednesday as the national cabinet to discuss a crisis gripping Australia – the horrific number of women murdered this year. The killings have shocked ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Radhika Raghav, Teaching Fellow, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Otago Netflix Indian director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known for his big-budget Bollywood production, featuring grand sets, star casts, meticulously choreographed dance sequences and lavish costumes, jewellery and furnishings. ...
Sir Robert devoted his life to disability rights after living in institutions in his younger years, says Kaihautū Tika Hauātanga | Disability Rights Commissioner Prudence Walker. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University Violence against women is not a women’s problem to solve, it is a whole of society problem to solve; and men in particular have to take responsibility. Those were the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Allen, Senior Lecturer in Chemical and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Newcastle Snapshot freddy/ShutterstockPlans to revive an old coal-fired power station using bioenergy are being considered in the Hunter region of New South Wales. Similar plans for the station ...
Responding to the long-awaited release of judges’ special allowances, including free air travel and hotels for spouses, generous sabbaticals, and access to limousines, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Alex Murphy said: “In what world does your employer ...
Analysis - The United States has unveiled plans to boost the weapons trade with Australia and the UK, on the same day that Winston Peters is expected to sketch NZ's position on AUKUS. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Carson, Professor of Political Communication, Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy, La Trobe University Since Australia’s First Nations Voice to Parliament referendum in October 2023, diverse commentaries have sought to explain why it failed. But what does an analysis of media ...
Lawyers representing two iwi as well as the Māori Women’s Welfare League on Wednesday asked the Court of Appeal to overturn last week’s High Court decision on the Waitangi Tribunal’s decision to summons Children’s Minister Karen Chhour. The Tribunal is currently investigating the Government’s decision to repeal section 7AA of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government will introduce legislation to ban deepfake pornography and provide more funding for the eSafety Commission to pilot age-assurance technologies. The contribution of internet sites to gender-based violence was one major issue ...
Average ordinary time hourly earnings, as measured by the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES), increased 5.2 percent in the year to the March 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. Annual wage cost inflation, as measured by the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dimitrios Salampasis, FinTech Capability Lead | Senior Lecturer, Emerging Technologies and FinTech, Swinburne University of Technology Clem Onojeghuo/Unsplash In the digital era, the job market is increasingly becoming a minefield – demanding and difficult to navigate. According to the Australian Bureau ...
As of the March 2024 quarter, we can now look back on 20 years of data related to youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET), as collected by the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS), according to figures released by Stats NZ today. "The ...
Thousands of workers attended public events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch today to celebrate International Workers’ Day (May Day), but union representatives are urging caution and vigilance over the Government’s blatantly "anti-worker" ...
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in the March 2024 quarter, compared with 4.0 percent in the previous quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. ...
The PSA is warning the Government that the sensitive information of New Zealanders held by various agencies will fall into the wrong hands if the latest round of proposed cuts goes ahead. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Talitha Best, Professor of Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Victoria Rodriguez/Unsplash How do sugar rushes work? – W.H, age nine, from Canberra What a terrific question W.H! Let’s explore this, starting with some of the basics. What is sugar? ...
Cheers, CV. I’m glad you see some value in my argument.
I think giving a commenter a reasonable time to either back their statements or withdraw them is good moderation. I appreciate that Xanthe actually made an effort to find something (though it was just from an Assange fanboi site). Unfortunately, you’ve censored his or her efforts.
When they pop up next, presumably on open mike, I’m going to repeat the comment above and see if they get the point. If they do, there won’t be a ban.
Oh how very gracious of you TRP.
You’re going to keep playing your cat and mouse games then? Let it go TRP. You’ve had enough little power tripping jollies for a day.
TRP
Your apology?
[Still waiting for you to supply evidence to back your claim. If you don’t have it, say so. I’m in a cheerful mood this morning, and I’m happy to explain my thinking once you either provide evidence or confirm you can’t do so. TRP]
I posted link to transcript of the original police interviews .
Perhaps it would be more appropriate if you did not continue to discuss as moderator. You have misrepresented me!
You need to stop abusing your position and go an become informed
There is a huge trove of original source documentation at
Justice4assange.com avail yourself of it before you return here
[Yes, you did post that link, Xanthe. Unfortunately it was censored by CV.
However, good attempt though it was, I did ask you not to just link to Assange fan sites. NNN and J4A fall into that category. What we are looking for the two complainant’s words, not the words of third parties. You’ve made a very specific claim and if it was true, there would be clear evidence, not least because Assange supporters would be repeating it at every opportunity.
As I mentioned earlier, at least one of the women is apparently very keen to have her story told in court. That suggests you really have got this wrong.
You might also consider whether or not it makes a blind bit of difference anyway. There are plenty of victims of crime who don’t know what the crime’s called, or don’t even know that it’s a crime at all. There are others who, out of fear or shame, don’t want the crime prosecuted. That doesn’t mean the Police shouldn’t do their job anyway.
So, if you’re prepared to accept that your claim cannot be substantiated, I’m happy to drop it.
If you want to insist your claim is true, post some evidence that comes directly from both women. TRP]
My specific claim was …. check carefully before you reply!
[And my careful checked reply is that you’re welcome back on Oct. 1st. TRP]
Xanthe was wrong – dead wrong in the assertion they made. That can be pointed out quite easily by reasoned argument and I think some people did that on the thread at the time. The thread is gone and the discussion finished (thankfully) and I can’t see what’s to be gained by the flogging of dead horses trp.
There are dodgy and unsubstantiated opinions on a number of topics all over the site. That’s the nature of the beast. A link was asked for. A link was given. If the link is problematic (and that was pointed out) then the opinion’s undermined and the matter’s as good as dead and buried.
Sometimes poking at stuff just brings up unpleasant odours y’know? Not worth it.
And fuck it. The weather’s crap and it would be nice if commentary didn’t mirror the elements.
Cheers, Bill. I agree for the most part. However, it’s reasonable to ask commenters to substantiate claims (it’s covered in the rules). Xanthe has the choice of either providing evidence (which can’t be done) or backing down. I’m off to work now and I’ll check back later in the morning to see what decision Xanthe’s made.
It’s reasonable. And for most people who were following that conversation, I’d guess that Xanthes link wasn’t considered to be up to the mark. shrug
But hey, that’s what they’ve got and that’s that.
Others (me, you and who-ever) can read and evaluate stuff and adopt or change a position off the back of that.
Peeps can’t be “bashed into line” and opinions won’t disappear or change just because some proponent of any given opinion is being given a hard time. More often than not, that just results in entrenchment.
An opinion is aired. It gets challenged and is found wanting. And that’s that.
I’ll put it like this. If there are people in a room and someone in the room believes in alien abductions, then whatever evidence or argument they may have for their existence can be challenged, and people can come away (presumably) essentially dismissing any notion of alien abductions. At that point, there’s no useful purpose served by carrying on or over into the realm of ‘confession’ whereby the believer in abductions is pressured to ‘recant’ or whatever.
1 The assertion I made was?
2 reasoned argument would be good
3 what is problematic about a link to original police interview transcript?
Xanthe, if you had any sense at all you’d have stayed away from commenting for a few days. TRP isn’t the type to let this kind of thing go. Inevitably, he’ll find some rationale to permaban you as I can guarantee that no link or document you post will be satisfactory or admissible in his books.
Thanks CV you are almost certainly right!
Unfortunatly sense and self+ preservation is possibly not my strongest area 🙂
Is there any form of moderator moderation?….. just asking
Sweet Jesus! Just be grateful y’all don’t live in the U.S.A.
“Fred on Everything : Milwaukee”
The world’s problems are coming here. Try to be kind and have some fun until they get here. We’ll all be killing each other soon enough.
Labour claim the Maori King’s assertion was incorrect.
Labour MP Peeni Henare says the Maori King has got it wrong about Andrew Little not wanting to work with the Maori Party.
Little has no recollection of ever saying he wouldn’t work with the Maori Party.
In fact, the Opposition even invested Parliament Library resources in trying to hunt down any hint of a comment, to no avail.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/83588857/jo-moir-the-maori-king-has-nailed-his-colours-to-the-mast-by-shunning-labour
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/83462254/maori-kings-claims-andrew-little-wont-work-with-maori-party-wrong-labour
Does anybody know if this has been put to the King?
Thus, has he now accepted he was incorrect? And has that resulted in him changing his stance against Labour?
Or is the King standing by his assertion? Moreover, now that it’s been brought into question, can he substantiate it?
You don’t try and build positive relationships by saying someone is wrong. Idiotic tactics IF you want it better, good tactic if you don’t care or have too much ego in it. I cant imagine it wasn’t thought through. Grow up labour and be smart in building relationships ffs
Hang on mm. Put yourself in Little’s place. He cannot remember saying what has been claimed he said. And unlike his counterpart the PM, he can be trusted to be telling the truth. Nevertheless Little’s staff have made an effort to ascertain whether he did say it which they have every right to do. Given the historically close ties with Maori through the Ratana Movement this is an important issue for Labour.
I don’t think the intention is to start a sparring match with the Maori King. Although there is every chance that is what Tuku Morgan is trying to do with Labour. There’s past baggage there… Tuku’s underpants n’all.
I don’t remember ever disagreeing with you before MM, but I do this time.
Kīngi Tūheitia made a claim about Andrew Little in a setting that ensured it would be widely publicised. He said that the reason he would not vote for Labour again was because of a something he claimed was said by Andrew Little. I think it is fair enough for Andrew Little and Peeni Henare to say that he was mistaken. This is about correcting the record, and not about ego IMO.
What has been asserted is pivotal to the King no longer supporting Labour. Therefore, if incorrect, it’s only right for Labour to point out the King has it wrong.
After all, positive relationships are built on honesty.
I’m answer to all above. “I am sorry the king feels this way and i am geateful to be able to reiterate that i and labour are more than happy to work with the Māori Party and Mana. My goal is to change this government because they are doing nothing for the poor and disadvantaged, they are doing nothing about the homeless, they are doing nothing for the overinflated housing crisis, they are doing nothing about the dirty drinking waters and the state of the environment. We will change this. Labour, the Greens, and any other party that believes in a country that looks after those who need help will change this.
Thanks for sharing those sentiments, Marty.
I’m sure Labour are also disappointed the King feels this way. However, if Little didn’t make the asserted comment, the burning question is how did this all come about?
Has the King been questioned on this? If so, what was his response (anybody)?
They can’t both be right. And the media seems to have been lacking when it comes to ascertaining who is.
They can both be right it happens all the time. The point isn’t how it all came about but why – obviously a breakdown in communication that the king has highlighted. This is an opportunity not a reason to find a scapegoat, someone to blame. Surely we can be wiser than before and get on with sorting out the issues instead of blaming.
“They can both be right“
No, either Little said it or he didn’t.
Therefore, if he didn’t, the question then becomes how did the King come to believe this is what Little said?
How did communications between the two become so broken-down that it resulted in this?
It’s a bit late trying to avoid the blame game. The King fired the first salvo when he entered into the political fray and openly blamed Little.
This is an opportunity to get to the truth of the matter. Thus, potentially opening the door for reconciliation.
“How did communications between the two become so broken-down that it resulted in this?”
It went via Tukoroirangi Morgan.
Or more to the point – that is what Tuku told the King.
And it would be interesting to know what else Tuku told the King.
This (link below) is an interesting read.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/opinion/opinion-maori-politics-now-a-game-of-thrones-2016082612
Dr Mike Joy ‘blows the whistle’ and exposes the ‘clean, green, 100% pure New Zealand’ myth and mantra – FIVE years ago?
Remember this?
http://pundit.co.nz/content/mike-joy-answers-the-pm-with-hard-facts
Mike Joy answers the PM, with hard facts
by Claire Browning
Fresh water ecologist Dr Mike Joy responds to the Prime Minister’s ‘hardtalk’, debunking his bland assertions, and calling his advice “rubbish science”, that would fail a first-year student.
________________________
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
Minister says KiwiSaver concerns a matter for Police
The widening KiwiSaver scandal saw the Commerce Minister put the ball into Police’s court following the receipt of official advice that concluded laws banning controversial weapons applied to providers of the public savings scheme.
A Police spokesperson said they were aware of the issue and had begun asking questions.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11700839
However, a suggestion that KiwiSaver providers might have broken laws by investing in companies that make weapons has been dismissed by one financial law expert.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/83622970/no-laws-broken-by-kiwisaver-schemes-expert-says
Thoughts?
“Thoughts?” = Pomposity. That’s my thought.
+1 yep, it’s a comment killer
The precedent for Havelock Norths water incident in Canterbury
http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/health/83457130/Poisoning-the-wells-a-history-of-infected-drinking-water-in-Canterbury
How long will we accept human greed over human health.
Mugabe orders arrest of all 31 members of Zimbabwe Olympic team for non-performance
I guess this is one motivational strategy.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-08-26/mugabe-orders-arrest-rats-we-call-athletes-after-zimbabwe-wins-no-olympic-medals
It wouldn’t be the first time that such a thing has happened.
Perhaps he got the idea from the Saddam Hussein in Iraq
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2003/feb/02/athletics.duncanmackay1
Alternatively he may be taking lessons from North Korea
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/fifa-probes-north-korea-world-cup-punishment-20100811-12018.html
I don’t think it is going to work though.
How about good ole Venezuela , highly likely he would have sliced the balls off the soccer team for non performance .
World class villain. Mugabe kicked all the white farmers out and cratered the economy, the farmers went to Zambia and revolutionised their productivity, now Mugabe thinks Zambia owes him something.
Well, I guess that’s what an Oxford education does to you (tongue in cheek…)
Perhaps we should start doing that with our cricket team. I see again that they have decided to be useless.
Wow ok
From the print version of the DomPost
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/83509666/overhauling-new-zealand-journalism
Would you accept a small levy on all your media usage to fund independent journalism.?
Typical bludging left wingers, expecting everyone else to fund their life styles.
How about this for an idea chaps, stump up with your own money and start your own media business.
If people want to read your leftist news, your new business will be a raging success.
How’s this for an idea chap: the only way you can get elected is to lie, and you need a compliant media to lie effectively. So anything that fucks you over is good with me.
The standard bother boy and key board warrior strikes again, unfortunately soft as putty as usual
He’s not wrong though.
dirty politics doesn’t bother RWNJs, they shit on others for a living
I am surprised he is still here , he was threatening everyone after the last election that he was leaving in disgust , or he was organising a massed riot / uprising , neither has happened obviously .
If The Spinoff and Scoop can do it, so can others.
But BM my dirty disco champ ………….. right wing bludgers like John Shewan and the Aussie banks try and scam New Zealand for $2.2 Billion dollars and you never moan about or mention that …
Bernard Hickey: Banks’ tax dodging tantamount to theft
” the combined banks owe the Government and people of New Zealand about $2.25 billion.
Now I’m not just grumpy.
I’m furious. That is 10 hospitals or 100 schools or the entire budget deficit forecast for the year just finished.
If I stole that much money I would be public enemy number one and rightly so.”
….
************************************************
I’m beginning to suspect BM has double standards 😉
The fact that most New Zealanders are unaware that Shewan was at the center of an attempted $2.2 Billion bank dollar robbery demonstrates something wrong with our media….
One mans broken tax vehicles returned 100 years worth of total combined welfare benefit fraud recovery from ALL beneficiarys.
How was this not front page news at the time ????
It impressed the hell out of me ……. I bet John Shewan swings a hammer like John Key …… They may not be able to hammer a nail straight in soft pine ….but those two boys build things which blow billions out of Government revenues ……
They should have statues of them by Des Brittans carbon fiber super bike at Te Papa
Teach a rich man how to cheat and speculate ………. and BM will talk about the poor and fish
Don’t forget 1.6 billion for SCF too.
MSM Propaganda.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
Russia is bad.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11701071
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/olympics/news/article.cfm?c_id=502&objectid=11701015
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/olympics/news/article.cfm?c_id=502&objectid=11700559
The Olympics are a sad joke keeping the flames of nationalism burning … I skipped them.
But Going back in time the New Zealand rugby union with their national government team mates helped stuff up the Montreal Olympics when 25 countries boycotted because we ( New Zealand ) were there …..
“The New Zealand controversy
At the 1976 Montreal Olympics New Zealand sparked a boycott. The African nations were angry that a New Zealand All Blacks rugby team was touring apartheid-era South Africa. The Africans wanted New Zealand banned from the Montreal Olympics.
Eventually 26 African countries, as well as Iraq and Guyana, boycotted Montreal over New Zealand’s rugby activities. The boycott had a significant effect in athletics, as Africans were among the world’s best at middle- and long-distance running.”
” it looked as if New Zealand was in support of the apartheid movement as when no other country had wanted to create sporting ties with South Africa New Zealand was creating rugbylinks. Due to this a lot of controversy came a bout worldwide”
“He said the decision by the IOC not to ban New Zealand would give “comfort and respectability to the South African racist regime and encourage it to continue to defy world opinion.”
“Athletics events will be particularly affected by the absence of Filbert Bayi from Tanzania, who holds the world record in the 1500m and John Akii-Bua of Uganda, world record-holder in the 400 metres hurdles.
The latest country to announce its withdrawal was Kenya.”
“The All Blacks’ decision to tour South Africa in 1976 – at the height of the racial apartheid era – happened in defiance of a United Nations’ call to halt all sporting competition with the nation until racial equality was reached.”
http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/82567562/New-Zealand-at-centre-of-Olympics-boycott
“The boycott had a major impact on the 1976 Olympics”……
One million Canadian dollars in seat and hotel reservations had to be refunded, according to the BBC, during the first two days of the games alone, as a result of the boycott.
A number of events were marred as well; the track meet was badly diminished by the absence of perennial powerhouses like Tanzania and Kenya. ,……”http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/08/the-olympics-used-to-be-so-politicized-that-most-of-africa-boycotted-in-1976/260831/
Test Trump.
/
Bornstein’s a dead ringer for Dr Brackish Okun from Independence Day. Watch that 31 second clip and the resemblance gets even stronger.
The letter reads like Trump wrote it himself
An astonishingly excellent letter.
edit: forgot the video
So that’s how you get to be doctor to the wealthy – spend as much time learning to imitate their language patterns as you do looking up their family history… or any history, for that matter.
heh
http://archive.is/EAtow
https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/drinking-water-standards-2008-jun14.pdf
“….Since the publication of Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand 2000 the approach to managing drinking-water quality has changed.
The focus has moved from quality control to a broader approach of quality assurance.
This has been necessary due to changes in technology, an improvement in our scientific knowledge and the requirement to address a broader range of issues than previously covered.
The Health (Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2007 amended the Health Act 1956 to require all drinking-water suppliers providing water to more than 500 people to develop and start to implement a Public Health Risk Management Plan to guide the safe management of their supply before 2013.
A Public Health Risk Management Plan is a tool to help suppliers identify, manage and minimise events that could cause water quality to deteriorate. …”
So – where’s the ‘Water Safety Management Plan’ that was supposed to have been produced by the Hastings District Council and assessed by the Hawkes Bay DHB?
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
Hekia’s little lie about a special education association
https://saveourschoolsnz.com/2016/08/27/lies-hekia-parata-fabricates-a-special-education-association/
They could be one of the new flying squads that helped the Salvation Army …. oh no hang on ……. that was Paula telling lies http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/306028/national%27s-brawlers-flex-their-muscles
Words can have many or any meanings from the Nacts…. so they are not really telling lies when not meaning what it appears they are saying
Association obviously now means anything Hekia chooses to associate with that word …….
Know that and a lie becomes the truth
Another good example is ‘ GST regime’ has been subtly changed …..to now actually mean Global Shadow Transactions regime …..
So Key was telling the truth recently about Shewan and Brash going to the Bahamas