I’d be immensely surprised if those TV types haven’t all been into the old dak more or less at some stage, if not still. I know/have known a number of them and the answer is “Yes !”. That’s not to say anything other than this……..our betters in the middle classes are right into it. Which then is to say that it’s not a big fat deal anyway. Wonder if the ShonKey’s ever swayed off to bed laffing ?
This is what happens when you sell a country’s assets to foreign corporations.
How much reminding do we need?
The last sentence I quoted is the most telling..
The neoliberal traitors who sold and are selling this country need to be tried for treason.
“The foreign owners’ agenda has eclipsed the rights and interests of the New Zealand taxpayer and workforce, this is not a sustainable forest policy.”
New Zealand exported a record 3 million cubic metres of logs to China in the September quarter, a 40 per cent increase on the same period a year earlier and log prices approached record highs during the period.
Jon Tanner, chief executive of the Wood Processors’ Association, said the increasing proportion of the wood harvest being exported as raw logs was “getting to be quite a serious situation”.
“We’re really just becoming a plantation for other countries’ interests.”
And not that difficult to see the way our deep sea oil assets will end up!
And we will also end up bearing the costs and losses in relation to environmental disasters.
Wake up New Zealand!
1.) Foreign ownership is bad for NZ as it caters only to the desires of the foreign owners
2.) Exporting raw resources is bad for NZ as it prevents development of our own economy
New Zealand exported a record 3 million cubic metres of logs to China in the September quarter, a 40 per cent increase on the same period a year earlier and log prices approached record highs during the period.
I am not a catholic but this made interesting reading. One comment ” “How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses 2 points?” is something I often wonder myself .
Pope Francis has attacked unfettered capitalism as “a new tyranny” as he beseeched global leaders to fight poverty and growing inequality, in a document setting out a platform for his papacy and calling for a renewal of the Catholic Church.
In it, economic inequality features as one of the issues Francis is most concerned about, and the 76-year-old pontiff calls for an overhaul of the financial system and warns that unequal distribution of wealth inevitably leads to violence.
Francis is a ray of light in the worlds oldest longest lasting institution. The longevity of the church may be down to it being ultra conservative but it does have a history of accommodating the times, albeit reluctantly. I laughed at the comments on this column when he was announced, damning the RC church for what it is (i.e not liberal and leftist, and perhaps quite reactionary). What the hell did we expect?
Consequently, Francis appeal to the church to become pastoral and his moves to redirect / reform the RC church appear rather remarkable. Who has noted his canvassing the laity on issues of homosexuality, divorce etc? The whole idea that orthodoxy can be challenged is quite amazing. He appears to me more open and accepting than the doctrinaire Lefties over here.
Ennui
I think it is a bold move and one to be congratulated. He had better watch his back. There are people in sinecures in the Vatican in the country that bred Machiavelli and his cynical observations of practices there.
And remember…Cardinals from around the world decided it was time for Francis…
Francis is a ray of light in the worlds oldest longest lasting institution. The longevity of the church may be down to it being ultra conservative but it does have a history of accommodating the times, albeit reluctantly.
I’m fairly confident that the Catholic Church will long outlast all the left wing political parties and activist groups of today.
The Pope, as King/President/Prime Minister equivalent, and all in one, of the Catholic Church is getting more concerned about the financial assets, investments and wealth of the Catholic Church increasingly being raided by the bankster class.
Once upon a time, the Church could rely on a positive monetary feedback loop into the Vatican’s coffers, but now no longer with the banksters in charge and growing stronger.
People shouldn’t think that the Pope is speaking out against the current system on moral, let alone, religious grounds and definitely not the public/common people’s interest.
You may be right BUT to quote Darth Vader “I find your lack of faith disturbing”.
My take is that this Pope is both a Franciscan and a Jesuit…neither of which paths lead toward the money. In the words of Francis of Assisi…”I have come to rebuild a church”.
Well said Ennui. I hope your take is right. The world needs more genuine, caring leadership and the Pope is in a very powerful position. I never thought I’d be aware of any of his teachings and here we are discusing his statements. Time will tell.
Happy to, RT! Back in the bay tomorrow as it happens. It’s all a bit full on till late in the arvo, but if you know of a suitable place to catch up after 5, I’m keen. I’m working in Hastings, but staying in Napier, so either works.
Pope Francis has attacked unfettered capitalism as “a new tyranny”
Nothing new about it at all. We saw the same tyranny in Ancient Rome and Greece, we saw it under feudalism in Europe and Britain and now we’re seeing it again as a few people gather all the wealth and power to themselves.
No, nothing new about it – it was inevitable and always will be under hierarchical systems that hold private ownership of the commons as its saviour.
54. In this context, some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting. To sustain a lifestyle which excludes others, or to sustain enthusiasm for that selfish ideal, a globalization of indifference has developed. Almost without being aware of it, we end up being incapable of feeling compassion at the outcry of the poor, weeping for other people’s pain, and feeling a need to help them, as though all this were someone else’s responsibility and not our own. The culture of prosperity deadens us; we are thrilled if the market offers us something new to purchase; and in the meantime all those lives stunted for lack of opportunity seem a mere spectacle; they fail to move us.
Good stuff.
The whole encyclical is here. As a Catholic, I like this pope.
‘may many wealthy catholics digest this bread’. RT, if you meant Catholics then I certainly hope Bill English will digest this bread. Or, perhaps, choke on it?
someone could perform the ‘manoeuvre’ 😀 then (my first aid certificate has expired; know what that means to officialdom? no longer able to save lives).
Not to mention that earlier this year a drunk driver took out a fence and part of a house at 11am one Sunday, just a few doors down from the supermarket.
From what I’ve observed, supermarkets have been opening on New Years Day in the last few years, where as previously they didn’t, so yes, one less day that their workers get to enjoy the festive time with friends and family, or any social time – with only three and half days of the year where they are guaranteed a holiday day!
The Warehouse always opened on New Years day since I started working there in 2001. I think the opening time might have been 9-10am instead of the usual 8:30.
As mentioned, I had noticed New World had started opening on NY Day a few years ago, approximately ’07 but they may well have been opening on NY Day for some time. Traders, especially those that are profitable during the festive season (such as the warehouse) will chose to open this day – it’s a trend that is evolving. Meanwhile other retailers choose to stay closed because it’s not worth it for them.
My main observation about their opening hours sign however, and without wanting to sound like a party pooper, is that they are promoting hangover products to their customers. Probably this is nothing more than a joke, but it’s a bad taste one given the harm (eg, increases domestic violence) alcohol does over Xmas and New Year.
Hmm. Was that a supplier/distributor to trade only or a retail outfit? I wonder if businesses back then could open for non trade operations?
My foggy memory is going back to that time (I was about 20) and I recall that when the Bolger govt came in retail opening hours were relaxed in conjunction it seemed with the employment contracts act coming in, and suddenly we were working all day Saturday and then on Sundays.(except I refused to work Sundays) I’m not sure what law around opening hours existed or if there was even one but I had thought, back then the NY Day public holiday was still in the same league as Xmas Day, kinda untouchable. Shops always closed on the 2nd Jan Holiday too, and now they are often open and I wonder if folks actually forget that is a public holiday.
Looks like it was section 3 of the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Amendment Act 2001 that narrowed it down to only three and a half days of shop closure annually.
On the news -And now we are having tax payer money financing the wine industry to create low calorie and alcohol content wine whilst the next item was about a child suffering cancer having to raise money! If that is not corrupt I don’t know what is. If people want less calories and alcohol put some mineral water into the wine like they do in Europe, have a Gespritzten.
greywarbler — pretty sure it’s the magical david dobbyn and the dudes .. “drink yourself more bliss” .. as the word piss could not be used publicly in those days on the radio !! ( how times have changed !!)
Yes despite being a great rocking party song , too many kiwis have taken it too literally. I fear also that impressionable young took the NZ band Deja Voodoo song “P” as an endorsement as well.
The people from Kiribati being refused residency should be allowed to stay as part of a gradual resettlement of those people here and in Australia. We know that they are under threat from rising sea levels, huge storms, and crop killing weather changes. What about the NZ Government acting responsibly in this matter. We occasionally do something fair, intelligent and responsible – this is time to repeat it if not make it the first for the year or longer?
russel norman on rnz this morning, who gave the gcsb dotcoms phone records? the nsa! so much for john keys reasurances… (if true, but if not nsa then who?)
That was an excellent interview by Norman. He was very articulate and set out the situation/his views very clearly and succinctly – using logic to ask who could have given the GCSB Dotcom’s phone records and by a process of elimination, suggesting – rather than emphatically concluding – the NSA through Five Eyes.
Here is a link to the interview for anyone interested
On a related note, I checked the Auckland High Court lists for today. As well as the Banks judicial review at 10am before Justice Heath (in unlucky Court 13),Justice Helen Winkelmann was also holding a one hour case management conference at 9am with the legal beagles involved in the Dotcom case.
Yesterday I attended a VERY productive workshop at the Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference – ‘How to do a fact-finding internal anti-corruption inquiry’.
VERY relevant to the Len Brown ‘inquiry’……
Mixing and mingling with all sorts of anti-corruption folks from a wide range of areas, (Public Sectors and geographically).
My situation is quite unique in that I am a self-funded ‘Public Watchdog’, helping to make a difference by making a FUSS!
ie: my role is EXTERNAL not INTERNAL – so the tactics and strategies are quite different. (Polar opposites in fact )
A very experienced and long-serving investigator from ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption NSW) described me as a ‘Private Ombudsman.’
(I met some of these ICAC and other anti-corruption folk when I attended the 2009 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Confernence in Brisbane).
Anyway – have learned that there are now anti-corruption bodies in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.
It is SO time for New Zealand to have an Independent Commission Against Corruption- tasked with preventing and investigating corruption.
Looking forward to seeing photos of the Not-So-Honorable John Banks (un) welcoming reception outside the Auckland High Court this morning!
Still awaiting a decision from the NZ Serious Fraud Office (SFO) re: the request for an investigation into Mayor Len Brown and Sky City for alleged bribery and corruption.
Having some fascinating discussions with all sorts of anti-corruption experts on this matter!
Also on the failure of OFCANZ (Organised and Financial Crime Agency of NZ) to do ‘due diligence’ on the increased risk of money-laundering arising from the NZ International Convention City (or- as I prefer to call it – the Sky City MONEY-LAUNDERING) Act 2013.
Still awaiting confirmation from the NZ Auditor-General that she is going to carry out an investigation into this one……
I hope to have more discussion with anti-corruption experts who deal with money-laundering, and seek their considered opinions about the proven complete lack of ‘due diligence’ on the increased risk of money-laundering arising from the NZ International Convention City Act 2013, from the NZ Prime Minister John Key, Minister of Economic Developement Steven Joyce, OFCANZ, Auckland Council and Auckland Central Police….
Presumably, at some point mainstream media may pick this one up?
Given that, in my considered opinion, Sky City has effectively been given the go-ahead to set up a money-laundering FACTORY, in the heart of Auckland, (in NZ – ‘perceived’ to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world) – don’t you think that somebody might be a lttle bit interested?
We are and have been for decades one of the top 3 least corrupt countries in the world.
In NZ there are now plenty of people in jail and disgraced due to the Securities Commission, Serious Fraud Office, Audit NZ etc and plenty of corporates and local governments wrinsed out through the Audit Office.
Try your hand at the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, or indeed any country in the pacific with an actual world-ranking problem in corruption.
Having read the links you’ve provided, I can’t see what the flap is. So, he wants to test the waters to see if there’s any appetite for a shift in Green Party focus next June. Big deal. There may be a vote that indicates a desire for a shift, or they may not be. And I guess the Party then responds accordingly.
True, but I was thinking more of what the MSM will do*, and the resources it will take from the election campaign.
* re the instability of the GP having a leadership challenge that close to the election, plus the MSM having a field day with the anti-growth economics. On the other hand, when Norman gets re-elected as leader, maybe it sends the message that the GP aren’t dangerous kooks after all, Norman is so reasonable!, so more people will vote for them.
“Humanity has overshot the capacity of Earth’s ecosystem to sustain our long-term existence. We must do whatever we can to address that issue. Our immediate priority must be the rapid de-carbonisation of our energy system. Ultimately we must “de-grow” the economic system and share society’s resources more equitably.”
but still don’t understand the timing of the challenge. If he wants to move the GP in that direction, wouldn’t it make more sense to go through the election with the best chance of gaining the most seats and the best deal with Labour, and then challenge later?
A cynic might suggest that “Co-leader re-elected in landslide” would be a useful headline in election year, accompanied by the opinion piece: “Moderate Greens in control, eye Treasury benches”.
Well, let’s say (just for the sake of argument) that he wants degrowth and Green Party penetration in S. Auckland to be serious discussion points as opposed to a leadership position. Isn’t this a good way to ensure that? Breaks through any smash that might sit in the Green Party structure when it comes to generating discussion or elevating topics.
As in, the conservative element of the GP is getting too entrenched, therefore something radical needs to be done to keep the party in the right direction? I would have thought that the membership could still bring up serious discussion points, it’s a worry if that’s no longer true.
And if your point is right, then how to assess the risks, and whether the timing is useful for the overall strategy? The GP has a history of either fucking up at election time (corn gate), or just not doing that well, or being undermined by the MSM, so I’m a bit nervous about things that rock the boat in that time period.
I know next to nothing about internal Green Party structures and how easy it is for membership to generate traction/discussion on particular issues. I’m just putting it out there as a possibility.
Also (and this is a personal perspective) I can’t remember seeing degrowth mentioned by politicians before and New Zealand, as opposed to just the Green Party, desperately needs that discussion. So if the media jump on this non-challenge next June, then the Greens can demonstrate that they are not afraid of democracy (a leadership vote) as well as underscore Norman’s leadership and a bloody serious issue that everyone has shied away from might get some oxygen.
Good point, Bill. It’ll be interesting to see how much of an airing “de-growth” gets during the co-leadership contest, and the Greens’ conference next year.
“But maybe I’m just being oddly positive today 😉 ”
Crikey 😉
Me on the other hand… I suppose I see potential for all sorts of problems. What if the degrowth conversation sparks a great controversy within the GP (as it should) and the MSM go beserk? Do we want that happening at that time?
I suppose I need to understand more about the man himself and where he is coming from.
..and if hay is doing what bill surmises..well and good..
..but isn’t hay from the right/free-market-solutions wing of the greens..?
..(once again..can be argued for or against..i’m all for a mix..me..)
..as in..essentially more right than norman..?
..just saying/asking..!
..(mind you..norman is pretty gung-ho on the continuation of the animal-concentration-camps/charnal-houses..still sees a future for nz based on the blood/suffering of animals..
..and his co-leader has a penchant for strutting around wrapped in shining/glistening dead-animal skins..)
..they are both hardly ‘deep/dark’-green..
..and of course as the consequences of our past/current polluting actions become more and more apparent..a much more ‘radical’ green party/thought/ideas/prescriptions will be called for..
..but norman seems to be the person for this particular moment in the green party arc….
Sounds to me like cold feet – Labour and Greens could win? Well, this is like a bit of chicken dance, lets just withdraw a bit here its getting scary… if there is any more of this I am sure we will have a third term of Nats – absolutely sure to be exact.
David Hay, a political analysist works for the Auckland City Council, he contested the Rodney electorate seat for the Green Party in 2008 and the Epsom seat for the same party in 2011,
There were enough ‘votes’ in the Epsom electorate between Hay and Labour’s David Parker to have, if those 2 had of convinced voters to vote for the National candidate, kept John Banks out of the Parliament,
The Green Party did tho pick up a very healthy 4,424 Party votes from Epsom up from 2,662 in 2008 when Keith Locke contested the seat,
Rodney, where Hay stood in 2008 gaining 1,969 party votes recorded 3,265 party votes for the Green Party in 2011 so the ‘Green-swing’ is more likely to be party centric rather than based around any particular candidate,(as it should be),
i see it as entirely healthy for the Green Party to have ‘leadership challengers’ appear at any AGM while hoping that this is only a small part of the gathering and would much rather be pushing my barrow of having the Green Party put far more effort into ‘farming’ the growing Green vote from within safe National held seats,(every vote from there is worth 2 votes when it comes to counting up the Party Votes),
Dr Norman who it took me a while to warm to has certainly in the past 18 months come into His own in the political arena seriously spanking Slippery’s Ministers on a number of occasions and i don’t really see a threat in David Hay’s challenge…
Welcome, what has worried me for a while about the Green Party is as it has grown a very healthy amount of it’s vote is coming from amidst the ‘middle class’, i find this a bit of a damned if you do damned if you don’t situation for a party with one of it’s arms firmly mired in ‘Social Justice’ with my underlying suspicion that sooner or later with the lure of increasing that ‘middle class’ vote ‘Social Justice’ may within the party die a quiet and unheralded death,
Perhaps this is the first attempt from within the Green Party membership for that ‘middle class’ to wield it’s political muscle,(and not knowing David Hay personally my apologies for any unintended slur),
What the upward numbers tho do allow some of us to do is migrate our votes to the Mana Party in an attempt to bolster that parties number in the House, a final decision i will leave for the months around November 2014 when the polling will be furiously delivering us ‘political junkies’ numbers by the day,
i wonder how much analysis by Party strategists in both the Labour and Green Parties has been applied to the Epsom 2011 result where the train wreckage strewn across the New Zealand landscape might have at the least been lessened had both parties cooperated to invite their voters to hold their noses and vote for the National candidate in order to shut Banks out of the Parliament,
Hopefully, with hindsight, both parties have learned a valuable lesson from Epsom 2011 and are prepared to cooperate within whatever electorate Colon Craig stands to gain the National party candidate as many votes as possible so as to shut that loose wheel out…
is he related to Keith Hay (would be his grandson) and David Hay (his father)? I ask because both of those guys were quite christian in their views and impositions on night classes at Mt Roskill Grammar (no yoga for example)
What??? NO Yoga, start the revolution right now, how dare they, as to your question i personally don’t know any of the Hay’s mentioned so cannot comment on any family connections…
Dream a little longer and it will be Nats having the next election. The pols do not look THAT good to play a bit around. People are looking for certainty and know what to expect, getting familiar with the candidates. Dr Russel is highly capable but he is not a mongrel and if that is a problem I for one will not vote at all.
Yes that is what is funny about the whole ‘un-correct’ cartoon, it is masterfully sick, a lampoon if you will of all the sick attitudes society has or ever will exhibit,
Obviously if anyone took a cartoon of this or any other nature to be an exemplar of acceptable behavior that too would be sick…
I had thought that most people would see the cartoon in this light.
I mean, the opening credits feature extreme domestic violence, and there’s a rapist living next door that the whole community just turns a blind eye toward, giggity.
The Commonwealth Games are to be held in Glasgow next year I think. I was just thinking about the Brit-Yank club and who heads those respective countries. Republic or Monarchy thoughts. When thinking of the Monarchy I have a picture of someone with dignity and respect for the elevated position that Royalty has and that this holder of the position has shown all her life.
(Apparently Buckingham Palace was hired out for many millions for the venue of some rich guy’s
event! Or was that a satirical item?)
Compare that to an elected leader from the people of Toronto. When the position is open to unseemly jockeying and fraud and all comers with sufficient dosh can buy into being top dog you can get Rob Ford. Forget how much money the Queen has (which irks many who somehow thinks this tips the argument for a republic), just look at the way the Queen represents the people in an intelligent, thoughtful and careful way. Then look at Rob Ford as buffoon leader who would never be elected as Republic leader but is of the type that would be contenders. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5GCt9hM1DQ
Qantas shouldered NZ out years ago, resulting in us feeling we had to buy Ansett to gain the feeder services we needed. Feeling being the important word here, thinking hard did not trump the feeling impulse. Now we have an interest with other airlines, in Virgin and it seems that it is good business sense to expand the business somewhat, Qantas is calling on national sentiment as a way of combatting the competition. They have been the most profitable airline in the world at times, may still be.
I wish our government could be so supportive of our enterprises. But NZ gets gutted and thrown to the wolves. And Australians have no warm feelings when it comes to business or country to country dealings. They don’t give up their advantages without a fight. We need more teeth and attitude like Oz but it would be good if we had more integrity with it. Oz government did agree apparently, that we could have the right for Airnz to fly around Oz, or to combine with domestic airlines, then they withdrew that on Qantas advice, a country to country agreement just cancelled.
That’s the respect they have for us – negotiable.
And now quantas can even buy a spoiler stake of Airnz shares on the share market which will be more effective with the govt share at 52% Thank you John , not.
Why on earth is John Key getting so personally involved in the Anadarko / Greenpeace ding dong?
Politically I would have thought it would be best to stay well away and say something like … “they are two private organisations and how they attend to their matters is their business, not the governments.”
However, I suppose Key is tied all up with them given he gave Anadarko special legislation to suit (like Hollywoods Warner Bros), and given Key and the National Party get their money from Anadarko and Warner Bros.
… conflicted all to hell ….
… big business is running the new Zealand government ….
From where i sit it looks like National on the defensive with falling poll numbers have got the ‘spin-miesters’ working overtime on ‘Brand-Slippery’,
Yesterday it was the ‘i can piss higher up the toilet wall’ challenge to David Cunliffe to openly say that as Prime Minister He,(Cunliffe), would be buying back the parts of the State Owned Assets that Slippery and Co, doing their best to imitate any seedy back-street used car salesman,(and failing), have flogged off to the 25 of wealthiest Ma’s and Pa’s in the land,
The latest comment from He who will be out the door next November on the deep sea drilling was to start the conversation about Green-Peace and then less than subtly connect the Green Party with the protest yachts and the Court action,
That connects with National’s core and might for a while keep the numbers above 39% but less and less of the voting public are so enamored of our Prime Minister these days you might say that Slippery can’t dance no more…
I saw him con -fillate “Greens” with the Greenpeace action; slippery or what? That is one deliberate politician; self-belief ya see, belief in himself.
Talking about drilling for oil, an interesting point is about the cost of the externalities for the test drilling on land sites being borne by the ratepayers in the area, and no doubt the owners of the property on which the sites and the access roads to them.
A USA? Mayor said that they had about 6.000? (a lot) of drilling many of which involved fracking. Fracking requires a lot of water. Water is heavy. It has to be trucked in and the load destroys roads. Big carriers on small roads mean big expense repairing, and there have been a lot of extra accidents which have resulted from this extra traffic.
(This is without saying about how scarce water is now, and its being utilised by these rent-seeking companies.) And they are not taking responsibility for the damage caused on the roads. This is what I heard this morning on Radionz so for the facts rather than my hearsay have a listen to them.
You only need to go and read some of the Greenwald pieces to answer your questions. The agencies can share info. So, one agency (eg, MI6) can do stuff in the US that the US agencies can’t…so requests are made, info gathered and then shared back to whoever wants it. And no laws are broken.
Australian explorer Douglas Mawson 1913 expedition to Antarctica is being remembered by a team of scientists. While people are thinking of this great mean, another should be remembered who was a prime reason for Shackleton and his team’s survival – Henry (Chippy) McNish from Glasgow, shipwright, (and his cat Mrs Chippy) . His family have been agitating for him to be remembered with a Polar Medal like most of his compatriots.
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_McNish says – He spent 23 years in the Navy in total during his life, but eventually secured a job with the New Zealand Shipping Company.[2] After making five trips to New Zealand he moved there in 1925, leaving behind his wife[d] and all of his carpentry tools. He worked on the waterfront in Wellington until his career was ended by an injury. Destitute, he would sleep in the wharf sheds under a tarpaulin and relied on monthly collections from the dockworkers……he worked on the docks in Wellington until poor health forced his retirement. He died destitute in the Ohiro Benevolent Home in Wellington….He was buried in Karori Cemetery, Wellington, on 26 September 1930, with full naval honours; HMS Dunedin (which happened to be in port at the time) provided twelve men for the firing party and eight bearers.
However, his grave remained unmarked for almost thirty years;[22] the New Zealand Antarctic Society (NZAC) erected a headstone on 10 May 1959.[3] In 2001, it was reported that the grave was untended and surrounded by weeds,[28] but in 2004, the grave was tidied and a life size bronze sculpture of McNish’s beloved cat, Mrs. Chippy, was placed on his grave by NZAC. His grandson, Tom, believes this tribute would have meant more to him than receiving the Polar Medal.[22]
But McNish’s skill and ingenuity in events which followed is still remembered. After 16 months trapped on the ice, the men set sail in the three small boats for Elephant Island. Eight days after their arrival, one of the vessels, the 20ft whale boat James Caird, struck out for South Georgia – a journey of 670 miles – with six men on board, including McNish. It was only possible because, during their time trapped on the ice, McNish worked tirelessly to ensure the seaworthiness of the escape craft.
He had devised his own mixture of flour, oil paint and seal blood to caulk the seams of the boats, raised the gunwales to make them safer in the high seas and and fitted small decks fore and aft to the Caird. Before Shackleton, and two others, set off for the final 36 hour traverse of South Georgia’s mountain ranges, he fashioned crampons out of the boat’s two inch brass screws. “We certainly could not have lived through the voyage without it”; Shackleton wrote later of his carpenter’s efforts.
Like Shackleton, McNish was never to recover his health fully. He returned to the Merchant Navy but suffered severe pain brought on by the months stranded at the Pole. He eventually died in Wellington Hospital in New Zealand where he was treated as a hero and given a funeral with full naval honours paid for by the New Zealand government.
And not to forget NZ Frank Worsley who died in Surrey in 1943. Frank Arthur Worsley DSO OBE RD (22 February 1872 – 1 February 1943) was a New Zealand sailor and explorer who served on Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1916, as captain of the Endurance. He also served in the Royal Navy Reserve during the First World War.
The MPs said Mr Smith resembled a dictator, was a puppet for the government and his occupation of the speakership was a travesty of democracy….
When Mr Shaw, who has previously expressed no confidence in the Speaker, left the house, Mr Smith used his casting vote to suspend Labor MP Jacinta Allan for six days – the remainder of the parliamentary year – for rowdy behaviour.
Deputy Opposition Leader James Merlino was also suspended for six days.
The suspensions give the government a majority in the house….
The parliament heard Labor MPs had indicated they would support deputy speaker Christine Fyffe being installed as Speaker.
But Premier Denis Napthine expressed his support for the Speaker saying he had shown tremendous patience amid an organised stunt by the opposition.
I’m more hopeful amirite. After all, it is the Solicitor General who is acting as Crown Prosecutor on this occasion. He carries a lot of weight. The judge will be dotting his i’s and crossing his t’s so that there’s no further claims of factual errors – no matter how irrelevant they may be to the case.
Solicitor-General Michael Heron QC, who has taken over the case from private prosecutor Graham McCready, said any factual errors were matters to be decided at trial, and not by judicial review.
I am also more hopeful than amirite, Anne, having followed the case closely over the months. IMO the public interest is such that a whitewash dismissal would attract massive reaction, including from the legal beagles. Justice Gittos, the AKL District Court judge who considered it should go to trial is not the only one with this opinion. Earlier, in Nov 2012 and in April 2013, Judge Mill of the Wellington DC also appeared to consider it should, before the case was transferred to Auckland.
If you haven’t already read it, Graeme Edgeler’s post two days ago on Public Address is worth reading for the legal ins and outs of both the case iteslf and the legal processes underway, eg the judicial review.
I also note that both the Herald article that amirite linked to at 19, and this Stuff article have been edited since they first appeared earlier in the afternoon.
The earlier Stuff article included quite a bit more detail of what happened in court, including Michael Heron stating that he would not be leading the prosecution if it went to trial, but naming the QC who would. Can’t remember the name, unfortunately.
Another reason I think that there won’t be a whitewash dismissal of Banks’ case is the connection to the Dotcom saga.
It was quite a day in the Auckland High Court today, with this and a case management hearing on Dotcom’s compensation case for the raid., with another hearing scheduled for two weeks’ time.
And this TV3 News item gives more detail of the line Heron took at the Banks judicial review hearing – in essence the facts should be argued in a trial before a jury.
“Mr Banks encouraged donations, encouraged cheques to be split, knew that they were being made, knew that they had been received, communicated receipt of donations, and at the same time made it clear his intentions and desire that these donations be anonymous,” Mr Heron told the court.
“Whether or not he gave the return a great deal of scrutiny won’t be at the heart of the Crown case. The Crown will, I expect, say things turned out precisely as Mr Banks intended, with the return saying donations were anonymous which Mr Banks asked to be anonymous.”
This is the bit that bothers me. Doesn’t it strike to the heart of what Bank;s is charged with and it’s being sidelined?
“Whether or not he gave the return a great deal of scrutiny won’t be at the heart of the Crown case. “
RedBaronCV – on the contrary it heartens rather than bothers me. At this point Heron is simply saying that Banks’ claim that he did not appreciate the falseness of the document because he gave it only cursory attention is not a sufficient ground for halting the prosecution, having regard to the rest of the evidence signalled.
Heron is actually saying that in the round there is sufficient evidence going to the falseness of Banks’ claim of haplessness as to require a credibility determination by a jury. That is unremarkable. Credibility of a witness is ultimately for a jury, not for a judge sitting in preliminary hearing.
I note that Justice Heath in the course of the hearing alluded to the question being whether on the already disclosed pool of evidence a jury could reasonably convict. That too heartens me. There’s always been a sense of farce about Banks’ protestations. A helicopter ride to probably the grandest pad in the land. To score big secret bucks off the unforgettable KDC. He can’t remember ? In a Monty Pythonesque way and out of his own mouth the septic wee Banks has put his credibility in issue. Credibility is ultimately for a jury, not for a judge sitting in preliminary.
I expect the Crown using the disclosed pool of evidence to robustly attack Banks’ credibility for the purpose of painting the claim “I’m a busy man, I didn’t read it” is a desperate last gasp to get away with using the document as a device to maintain the cloak of secrecy he always sought.
RedBaronCV – on the contrary it heartens rather than bothers me. At this point Heron is simply saying that Banks’ claim that he did not appreciate the falseness of the document because he gave it only cursory attention is not a sufficient ground for halting the prosecution, having regard to the rest of the evidence signalled.
Heron is actually saying that in the round there is sufficient evidence going to the falseness of Banks’ claim of haplessness as to require a credibility determination by a jury. That is unremarkable. Credibility of a witness is ultimately for a jury, not for a judge sitting in preliminary hearing.
I note that Justice Heath in the course of the hearing alluded to the question being whether on the already disclosed pool of evidence a jury could reasonably convict. That too heartens me. There’s always been a sense of farce about Banks’ protestations. A helicopter ride to probably the grandest pad in the land. To score big secret bucks off the unforgettable KDC. He can’t remember ? In a Monty Pythonesque way and out of his own mouth the septic wee Banks has put his credibility in issue. Credibility is ultimately for a jury, not for a judge sitting in preliminary.
I expect the Crown using the disclosed pool of evidence to robustly attack Banks’ credibility for the purpose of painting the claim “I’m a busy man, I didn’t read it” is a desperate last gasp to get away with using the document as a device to maintain the cloak of secrecy he always sought.
I agree, North. What was quoted of Heron’s arguments yesterday also heartened me – but I am still not holding my breath ….
IMO, the sentence “Whether or not he gave the return a great deal of scrutiny won’t be at the heart of the Crown case. “ has to be read in the context of the whole quote in my 20.1.1.
I was also interested that Heron was advocating for the case to go forward as a jury trial. IIRC from reading Graeme Edgeler and others, the trial could be either a judge only or a jury trial.
IMHO, a judge only trial would focus on legal technicalities with the possibility that it could be dismissed on a technicality ; whereas a jury might focus on the bigger picture, as Heron seemed to be suggesting – eg Banks’ intentions in asking for donations and for these to be anonymous, broken down etc to maintain a ‘cloak of secrecy’ as you so succinctly put it.
Green Party is doing so well.
Russel Norman is a recognized a face of Green leadership. Greens are stable when all about them aren’t.
Then Hay tries to take the leadership.
Has he not seen what has been happening in Labour?
Why, David, why? Personal ambition?
It certainly isn’t for the good of the party.
I reckon the Greens are mature enough to handle the process as well as Labour did (when they finally got around to putting their cards in the open).
Interested about the “Auckland representation” angle, though – seems to me that encouraging regionalist pressures while seeking nation-wide leadership might be shooting the dead horse in the foot before the stable door has been bolted.
No they are not, you watch that spot – this attempt will derail any possibility to get a green/labour coalition and therefore Nats will be back in the seat. I just wonder whether this is deliberate or just stupidity.
To nuke a labgrn coalition the options are for grns to piss in the tent because lab ain’t green enough, or to go between labs and nat.
I don’t get either vibe from hay at this stsge, just a fair punt for the chair.
At a guess I’d suggest the Greens saw how much publicity Labour got with their leadership battle and probably want a piece of that plus they then got to trumpet Normans mandate for even more publicity
Political egos have a habit of clouding good judgement WJ. See Labour’s leadership battle Dec. 2011.
He wants to get high enough on the list to be elected next year. First he has to get his name out there and what better way to do that than challenge a leader. If I was a Green member I would not vote for him on principle because, as you suspect, he’s putting himself first?
edit: just seen Chris 73. What a load of bollocks. And you accuse lefties of being conspiracy theorists
well, if tories didn’t suggest that lefties were constantly up to sleazy politics and contrived manipulations of the system, then they wouldn’t be able to defend the nats’ abuses with the line “but everyone does it, you’re naive if you think otherwise”
Te Tai Hauauru Maori Party members have met at Whangaehu Marae to select a replacement for Tariana Turia from 6 candidates,
i have yet to hear of what resulted from the meeting(perhaps it’s still going), but it looks from where i sit to be a call for volunteers to go down with the Maori Party ship,
i do have to wonder what the members found so difficult in selecting a woman to stand,(the Maori Party would seem to need a woman as the constitution says there is to be both a male and female leader),
Hell it’s more than an open secret that Maori Party Prez Ken Mair wants the nomination for Aunty Tari’s seat,(and jolly good laugh failed to get the constitution changed), my view is whack Him in a dress, change His name to Kendra and hey Bobs your Uncle…
No, I agree, it did not, hence ‘the hard road’ in the prevailing conservatism.
An example of why in politics it is not helpful to throw the label “dickhead” at people we do not understand.
Just viewed some tacky photo’s of the proposed Basin Reserve Flyover in Wellington.
At a city council election meeting recently and looked at some of the younger crowd – thought “they would struggle to afford a car, struggle even more to put petrol in it, so remind me again, just why do they want to fund a flyover? dinosour thinking.
I ran across a recent essay from The Brothers Krynn, which attempts to map common horror monsters onto the Seven Deadly Sins: https://canadianculturecorner.substack.com/p/horror-monsters-and-vice My interest, however, is not in the meat of the piece, but rather the opening paragraph: It is an interesting fact that in recent decades, Vampires have ...
Buzz from the Beehive Transport Minister Simeon Brown dutifully issued advice to all road users to keep safe on our roads during the Easter weekend. He encouraged them to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. ...
Oliver Hartwich writes – New Zealanders recently learned about a new feature film. It will be about former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern – and taxpayers will subsidise it to the tune of NZ$800,000. Ardern had nothing personally to do with either the film or the subsidy. But her government’s ...
TL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above that was recorded yesterday afternoon above between and The Kākā’s climate correspondent : An independent review panel into the emergency response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawkes Bayconcluded “that ...
There are now only a few days left to give feedback on the Draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport 2024-34 (see our earlier post this week on GPS submission guides). As we’ve reported, the GPS is a disaster for Local Government, so we were particularly interested to hear ...
Willis has pledged to go ahead with the debt-funded tax cuts, despite growing opposition from her own supporters worried about appearing fiscally irresponsible. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for ...
Open access notables A survey of interventions to actively conserve the frozen North, van Wijngaarden et al., Climatic Change:The frozen elements of the high North are thawing as the region warms much faster than the global mean. The dangers of sea level rise due to melting glacier ice, increased ...
Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure. The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On ...
In 2015, then-Prime Minister John Key announced plans for a huge ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands, banning fishing and mining from 15% of Aotearoa's EEZ. It was bold, it was ambitious, and it suggested that National might actually care about the environment. Except they fucked it up: Key failed ...
1. Who has just been given the accolade New Zealander of the Year?a. The Kokakob. The Cook Strait Ferryc. Fair God. Dr Jim Salinger 2. Which of these is an affront to decent society?a. Dame Edna Everageb. Mrs Doubtfire c. Dr. Frank-N-Furterd. Brian 3. Who is Penny Simmonds?a. The aspiring actress in Big ...
New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure.The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On the face of it, the court found ...
Buzz from the Beehive Waves of rain are set to lash much of the North Island during Easter Weekend as a low-pressure system forms east of New Zealand, according to a weather forecast published in the past day or so. Niwa was warning of a “moisture-laden” long weekend, with rain expected ...
Look around us…Nicola Willis’ promises of balancing the books, of cutting spending without reducing services, and of delivering game changing tax cuts are disappearing before her eyes.Everyday we see stories of violent crime ending in horrific injuries, or worse. The cost of living worsens, whereas the PM claimed renters would ...
TL;DR: My top six news of note on the morning of Thursday, March 28 include:The Government will have to borrow between $10 billion to $15 billion more than previously expected in order to make up for a slowing economy and to pay for $14.9 billion of tax cuts, according to ...
This story by Naveena Sadasivam and Kate Yoder was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The long-awaited jobs board for the American Climate Corps, promised early in the Biden administration, will open next month, according to details shared exclusively ...
Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don’t think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of ...
Treasury’s first report on the economy since the change of government presents a damning indictment of Labour’s economic management. The problem for National is that it is so damning that logically, coupled with a rapidly slowing economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis should respond to it by postponing or even cancelling ...
Budget tensions are becoming evident within the Coalition Government. Winston Peters made numerous political points in his speech to the NZF annual conference. But the attack on his own government’s fiscal policies raised issues of substance. ‘Today in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour ...
Buzz from the Beehive The media – sure enough – have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ release of the Budget Policy Statement and a statement headed Government announces Budget priorities This assures us – or rather, this parrots the Luxon team mantra – that the Budget “will deliver ...
The Ides of March brought me COVID followed by a bereavement. No wonder they tell you to be careful of them.I’m home now and have resumed the interrupted recuperation. Very much looking forward to getting back to regular things. Meanwhile, some thoughts…OneThis new Prime Minister guy just keeps getting more dire. ...
News that the Chinese ATP 40 cyber-hacking unit penetrated parliamentary internet networks in 2021 has renewed concerns about the PRC’s malign intentions in Aotearoa. But is the hack that significant given the length of time that has passed since its … Continue reading → ...
When Parliament passed the Intelligence and security Act in 2017, they assured us all that it was full of safeguards. Any intrusive surveillance of New Zealanders would be subject to a "triple lock", requiring the approval of the Minister and (supposedly independent) Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, as well as post-facto ...
Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing. Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
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 ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
COMMENTARY:By Ronny Kareni Since the atrocious footage of the suffering of an indigenous Papuan man reverberates in the heart of Puncak by the brute force of Indonesia’s army in early February, shocking tactics deployed by those in power to silence critics has been unfolding. Nowhere is this more evident ...
Analysis - Nicola Willis is holding firm on tax cuts despite the economic outlook being worse than forecast and critics urging her to wait, writes Peter Wilson for The Week In Politics. ...
Opposition MPs and unions are criticising a proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Peoples to cut staff by 40 percent. The country’s largest trade union — The Public Service Association — says the ministry has informed staff that it is looking to shed 63 of 156 positions. Opposition MPs ...
A poem by Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2024 featured poet Carin Smeaton. Daughtr of the 90s when she gets promoted to usherette a baby blu eel carries her all the way up to mothership she’s hovering high she lets the underaged in to see keanu reeves she lets the only lonely ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Nicholas, Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy Education, Deakin University Earlier this month, the New South Wales government announced it would roll out programs for gifted students in every public school in the state. This comes amid concerns gifted school ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Rudge, Law lecturer, University of Sydney Massachusetts General Hospital In a world first, we heard last week that US surgeons had transplanted a kidney from a gene-edited pig into a living human. News reports said the procedure was a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tombs, Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago The 5th-century Maskell panel showing Jesus in a loincloth.British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA When Jesus is shown on the cross, he is almost always depicted wearing a loincloth around ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock When you think about a red object, you might picture a red carpet, or the massive ruby in the Queen’s crown. Indeed, Western monarchies and marketing from brands such ...
COMMENTARY:Jewish Voice for Peace The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday — and for the first time since the beginning of the Israeli military’s genocide of Palestinians, the United States abstained rather than vetoing it. Security Council resolutions are legally binding, ...
Asia Pacific Report A New Zealand investigative journalist and author says the US spy system hosted by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) appears to be a controversial intelligence system used in global capture-kill operations. Writing a commentary for RNZ News today, Nicky Hager, author of Secret Power, a 1996 ...
While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
Finance minister Nicola Willis delivers her first budget statement, and unwittingly helps Joel MacManus save his relationship. Nicola Willis strode into the Beehive Theatrette. Around me, on the green foldout seats, were the country’s top business and political journalists. They were all here to see her announce the Budget Policy ...
Twenty years ago today, Māori Television launched after much controversy. Jamie Tahana looks back on its survival and impact across two decades. Chad Chambers stepped onto the stage, the brim of his cap casting a shadow across his face. His smile beamed as bright as his white freezing works gumboots, ...
Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellsford, Onehunga, Westhaven marina – Gavin Strawhan walks the meanish streets of New Zealand in his entertaining debut novel The Call, almost sure to roar into the number 1 position on the Nielsen bestseller chart, its front cover bearing a rave from somebody: “A really good and genuinely ...
On a Thursday in February, at Wellington’s Conservation House, the Conservation Authority, a statutory body advising the eponymous department and minister, Tama Potaka, opened its 195th meeting. Under consideration that afternoon was an agenda item written by Tim Bamford, chief advisor in the Department of Conservation’s biodiversity, heritage and visitors ...
tvone breakfast spreading lies about cannabis..again/still..
..(astounding logic:..because people don’t present for ‘treatment’ for cannabis use..this means there is a problem..)w.t.f..!..)
..lying bastards..!
..and that mindless-muppet compere just plays/nods along..
phillip ure
“debate” (not) was acted out on Seven Sharp night before. Hands Up, baby hands up, those who have died suddenly or violently from cannabis use…
I’d be immensely surprised if those TV types haven’t all been into the old dak more or less at some stage, if not still. I know/have known a number of them and the answer is “Yes !”. That’s not to say anything other than this……..our betters in the middle classes are right into it. Which then is to say that it’s not a big fat deal anyway. Wonder if the ShonKey’s ever swayed off to bed laffing ?
This is what happens when you sell a country’s assets to foreign corporations.
How much reminding do we need?
The last sentence I quoted is the most telling..
The neoliberal traitors who sold and are selling this country need to be tried for treason.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11163233
“The foreign owners’ agenda has eclipsed the rights and interests of the New Zealand taxpayer and workforce, this is not a sustainable forest policy.”
New Zealand exported a record 3 million cubic metres of logs to China in the September quarter, a 40 per cent increase on the same period a year earlier and log prices approached record highs during the period.
Jon Tanner, chief executive of the Wood Processors’ Association, said the increasing proportion of the wood harvest being exported as raw logs was “getting to be quite a serious situation”.
“We’re really just becoming a plantation for other countries’ interests.”
Thanks Paul +100
This is very disturbing. And our assets, most vulnerably those that supply the essential service of power, continue to be sold!
And not that difficult to see the way our deep sea oil assets will end up!
And we will also end up bearing the costs and losses in relation to environmental disasters.
Wake up New Zealand!
+1
There’s two points to be made from that article:
1.) Foreign ownership is bad for NZ as it caters only to the desires of the foreign owners
2.) Exporting raw resources is bad for NZ as it prevents development of our own economy
How many houses could that have made?
they’re making ‘houses’ from our recycling.
a ‘nana plantation.
I am not a catholic but this made interesting reading. One comment ” “How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses 2 points?” is something I often wonder myself .
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/9447074/Pope-attacks-killer-economy
Pope Francis has attacked unfettered capitalism as “a new tyranny” as he beseeched global leaders to fight poverty and growing inequality, in a document setting out a platform for his papacy and calling for a renewal of the Catholic Church.
In it, economic inequality features as one of the issues Francis is most concerned about, and the 76-year-old pontiff calls for an overhaul of the financial system and warns that unequal distribution of wealth inevitably leads to violence.
How will this be received?
Like this Pope. 🙂
Francis is a ray of light in the worlds oldest longest lasting institution. The longevity of the church may be down to it being ultra conservative but it does have a history of accommodating the times, albeit reluctantly. I laughed at the comments on this column when he was announced, damning the RC church for what it is (i.e not liberal and leftist, and perhaps quite reactionary). What the hell did we expect?
Consequently, Francis appeal to the church to become pastoral and his moves to redirect / reform the RC church appear rather remarkable. Who has noted his canvassing the laity on issues of homosexuality, divorce etc? The whole idea that orthodoxy can be challenged is quite amazing. He appears to me more open and accepting than the doctrinaire Lefties over here.
PS I am neither religious, nor an RC.
Ennui
I think it is a bold move and one to be congratulated. He had better watch his back. There are people in sinecures in the Vatican in the country that bred Machiavelli and his cynical observations of practices there.
And remember…Cardinals from around the world decided it was time for Francis…
I’m fairly confident that the Catholic Church will long outlast all the left wing political parties and activist groups of today.
Follow the money.
The Pope, as King/President/Prime Minister equivalent, and all in one, of the Catholic Church is getting more concerned about the financial assets, investments and wealth of the Catholic Church increasingly being raided by the bankster class.
Once upon a time, the Church could rely on a positive monetary feedback loop into the Vatican’s coffers, but now no longer with the banksters in charge and growing stronger.
People shouldn’t think that the Pope is speaking out against the current system on moral, let alone, religious grounds and definitely not the public/common people’s interest.
🙂
You may be right BUT to quote Darth Vader “I find your lack of faith disturbing”.
My take is that this Pope is both a Franciscan and a Jesuit…neither of which paths lead toward the money. In the words of Francis of Assisi…”I have come to rebuild a church”.
hee hee, love it!
Well said Ennui. I hope your take is right. The world needs more genuine, caring leadership and the Pope is in a very powerful position. I never thought I’d be aware of any of his teachings and here we are discusing his statements. Time will tell.
This pope also argues for a vow of poverty for the church – this now doubt will not go well down for some. Another succession in the making?
or assassination Focke Wulf Uhu
Didn’t want to be that blunt…
somebody else always comes along… and brightens your day 😀
I’m expecting (sadly) Pope Francis will be assassinated before too long.
Well, he’s already lasted longer than the last Pope who forgot the script:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_I_conspiracy_theories
Star wars – this generations pop bible
http://www.searchquotes.com/quotation/You_can't_win_Darth._If_you_strike_me_down,_I_shall_become_more_powerful_than_you_can_possibly_imagi/273441/
Uh…you mean the generation who is in their 40’s and 50’s…
that’s an informative link TRP; drop by for ‘confessions’ next time you are “driving round the bay” We can break bread…and etc 😀
Happy to, RT! Back in the bay tomorrow as it happens. It’s all a bit full on till late in the arvo, but if you know of a suitable place to catch up after 5, I’m keen. I’m working in Hastings, but staying in Napier, so either works.
k. BP Stortford; I’ll wait from 5-6 (newspaper under arm, slight squint 😉 )
Good as gold, I’m sure you’ll suss me no prob!
ae
Nothing new about it at all. We saw the same tyranny in Ancient Rome and Greece, we saw it under feudalism in Europe and Britain and now we’re seeing it again as a few people gather all the wealth and power to themselves.
No, nothing new about it – it was inevitable and always will be under hierarchical systems that hold private ownership of the commons as its saviour.
Good stuff.
The whole encyclical is here. As a Catholic, I like this pope.
same: may many wealthy catholics digest this bread.
‘may many wealthy catholics digest this bread’. RT, if you meant Catholics then I certainly hope Bill English will digest this bread. Or, perhaps, choke on it?
someone could perform the ‘manoeuvre’ 😀 then (my first aid certificate has expired; know what that means to officialdom? no longer able to save lives).
Fully. me too.
He’s the bizzo.
on reflection, i believe the Society would-have found a suitable candidate 😀
His name was Tony Blair
Jacques Ellul would have been an interesting pope – a Christianarchist, no less
Booze culture
Seen on the New World festive season opening hours signage yesterday
“Wednesday, 1st January, 2014 Open for all your hangover needs!”
Er, nice community message there NW
Maybe bear this is mind in regard to those hungover drivers you are inviting into your store
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/9445531/Hungover-motorists-as-risky-as-driving-drunk
Not to mention that earlier this year a drunk driver took out a fence and part of a house at 11am one Sunday, just a few doors down from the supermarket.
Plus: workers, if you think you were going to have a nice New years eve and new years day holiday – too bad!!!
From what I’ve observed, supermarkets have been opening on New Years Day in the last few years, where as previously they didn’t, so yes, one less day that their workers get to enjoy the festive time with friends and family, or any social time – with only three and half days of the year where they are guaranteed a holiday day!
Yep it’s crap. A guaranteed half day holiday and double time for the rest of it should be mandatory.
The Warehouse always opened on New Years day since I started working there in 2001. I think the opening time might have been 9-10am instead of the usual 8:30.
I don’t think this is a ‘new’ change.
As mentioned, I had noticed New World had started opening on NY Day a few years ago, approximately ’07 but they may well have been opening on NY Day for some time. Traders, especially those that are profitable during the festive season (such as the warehouse) will chose to open this day – it’s a trend that is evolving. Meanwhile other retailers choose to stay closed because it’s not worth it for them.
My main observation about their opening hours sign however, and without wanting to sound like a party pooper, is that they are promoting hangover products to their customers. Probably this is nothing more than a joke, but it’s a bad taste one given the harm (eg, increases domestic violence) alcohol does over Xmas and New Year.
When I was running the inventory at Cargo King in the very early 90’s, I’m pretty sure that we opened on new years day. We did stop for Xmas day.
Hmm. Was that a supplier/distributor to trade only or a retail outfit? I wonder if businesses back then could open for non trade operations?
My foggy memory is going back to that time (I was about 20) and I recall that when the Bolger govt came in retail opening hours were relaxed in conjunction it seemed with the employment contracts act coming in, and suddenly we were working all day Saturday and then on Sundays.(except I refused to work Sundays) I’m not sure what law around opening hours existed or if there was even one but I had thought, back then the NY Day public holiday was still in the same league as Xmas Day, kinda untouchable. Shops always closed on the 2nd Jan Holiday too, and now they are often open and I wonder if folks actually forget that is a public holiday.
Here we go:
Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act 1990
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1990/0057/latest/whole.html
Looks like it was section 3 of the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Amendment Act 2001 that narrowed it down to only three and a half days of shop closure annually.
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2001/0016/latest/DLM90158.html
On the news -And now we are having tax payer money financing the wine industry to create low calorie and alcohol content wine whilst the next item was about a child suffering cancer having to raise money! If that is not corrupt I don’t know what is. If people want less calories and alcohol put some mineral water into the wine like they do in Europe, have a Gespritzten.
Can’t find $3.4M for miners families tho
It was a retail chain. Basically the competitor for the Warehouse.
Started there in start of 1990? Left in late 91? or early 92
…“forget about the last one get yourself another,”…
Oh No! Now I have an ear worm for the day
TM
Cryptic. Which?
greywarbler — pretty sure it’s the magical david dobbyn and the dudes .. “drink yourself more bliss” .. as the word piss could not be used publicly in those days on the radio !! ( how times have changed !!)
yes, yeshe!
Yes despite being a great rocking party song , too many kiwis have taken it too literally. I fear also that impressionable young took the NZ band Deja Voodoo song “P” as an endorsement as well.
A Better Track
Better Still.
Oh god. I think I have still have that cool banana’s vinyl somewhere in the in the not yet organised music room
Ahh.. the Windsor…
‘the island of real’…
phillip ure..
that’s an informative link TRP; drop by for ‘confessions’ next time you are “driving round the bay” We can break bread…and etc 😀
GABA GABAA Hey!
The people from Kiribati being refused residency should be allowed to stay as part of a gradual resettlement of those people here and in Australia. We know that they are under threat from rising sea levels, huge storms, and crop killing weather changes. What about the NZ Government acting responsibly in this matter. We occasionally do something fair, intelligent and responsible – this is time to repeat it if not make it the first for the year or longer?
whoar..!
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/27-animals-died-during-filming-of-hollywood-blockbuster-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-says-report-8965357.html
“..Agency tasked with monitoring safety – ‘covered up injuries and deaths on movie sets’..”
(nb..this does not include the animals killed so the cast/crew could eat them..eh..?..
..that number is much higher than ’27’..eh..?
..and did they hand the dead bodies of those animals killed on set over to the cooks..?
..so they could have them for lunch..?
..if not..why not..?)
phillip ure
russel norman on rnz this morning, who gave the gcsb dotcoms phone records? the nsa! so much for john keys reasurances… (if true, but if not nsa then who?)
That was an excellent interview by Norman. He was very articulate and set out the situation/his views very clearly and succinctly – using logic to ask who could have given the GCSB Dotcom’s phone records and by a process of elimination, suggesting – rather than emphatically concluding – the NSA through Five Eyes.
Here is a link to the interview for anyone interested
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2577767/greens-say-police-handled-gcsb-and-teapot-cases-differently
On a related note, I checked the Auckland High Court lists for today. As well as the Banks judicial review at 10am before Justice Heath (in unlucky Court 13),Justice Helen Winkelmann was also holding a one hour case management conference at 9am with the legal beagles involved in the Dotcom case.
Hi folks!
Yesterday I attended a VERY productive workshop at the Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference – ‘How to do a fact-finding internal anti-corruption inquiry’.
VERY relevant to the Len Brown ‘inquiry’……
Mixing and mingling with all sorts of anti-corruption folks from a wide range of areas, (Public Sectors and geographically).
My situation is quite unique in that I am a self-funded ‘Public Watchdog’, helping to make a difference by making a FUSS!
ie: my role is EXTERNAL not INTERNAL – so the tactics and strategies are quite different. (Polar opposites in fact )
A very experienced and long-serving investigator from ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption NSW) described me as a ‘Private Ombudsman.’
(I met some of these ICAC and other anti-corruption folk when I attended the 2009 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Confernence in Brisbane).
Anyway – have learned that there are now anti-corruption bodies in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.
It is SO time for New Zealand to have an Independent Commission Against Corruption- tasked with preventing and investigating corruption.
Looking forward to seeing photos of the Not-So-Honorable John Banks (un) welcoming reception outside the Auckland High Court this morning!
Still awaiting a decision from the NZ Serious Fraud Office (SFO) re: the request for an investigation into Mayor Len Brown and Sky City for alleged bribery and corruption.
http://www.pennybrightformayor.org.nz
Having some fascinating discussions with all sorts of anti-corruption experts on this matter!
Also on the failure of OFCANZ (Organised and Financial Crime Agency of NZ) to do ‘due diligence’ on the increased risk of money-laundering arising from the NZ International Convention City (or- as I prefer to call it – the Sky City MONEY-LAUNDERING) Act 2013.
Still awaiting confirmation from the NZ Auditor-General that she is going to carry out an investigation into this one……
I hope to have more discussion with anti-corruption experts who deal with money-laundering, and seek their considered opinions about the proven complete lack of ‘due diligence’ on the increased risk of money-laundering arising from the NZ International Convention City Act 2013, from the NZ Prime Minister John Key, Minister of Economic Developement Steven Joyce, OFCANZ, Auckland Council and Auckland Central Police….
Presumably, at some point mainstream media may pick this one up?
Given that, in my considered opinion, Sky City has effectively been given the go-ahead to set up a money-laundering FACTORY, in the heart of Auckland, (in NZ – ‘perceived’ to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world) – don’t you think that somebody might be a lttle bit interested?
Have a GREAT day!
Kind regards,
Penny Bright
You are sounding very invigorated, Penny! Enjoy!
Rifle through those Unmentionables Penny.
Not sure why we need another regulator at all.
We are and have been for decades one of the top 3 least corrupt countries in the world.
In NZ there are now plenty of people in jail and disgraced due to the Securities Commission, Serious Fraud Office, Audit NZ etc and plenty of corporates and local governments wrinsed out through the Audit Office.
Try your hand at the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, or indeed any country in the pacific with an actual world-ranking problem in corruption.
Green democracy
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/news/111596166-challenge-to-green-party-co-leadership
He wants to challenge the leadership 6 months out from a General Election? If that is true, he shouldn’t even be on the party list.
Would like to see more information to make sure the zb report is correct.
It’s reported on Stuff, too.
i was just trying to find out David Hay’s background. I’m not sure if there are more than one of him in Auckland?
This is what the Green Party site says about him.
So I guess this ex-Auckland Cits&Rats deputy mayor is not him?
He’s definitely not the professor of auditing at Auckland Uni.
I’ve never been totally into Norman as Green co-leader. So far, I can’t see anything about Hay to think he’d be an improvement on Norman.
Having read the links you’ve provided, I can’t see what the flap is. So, he wants to test the waters to see if there’s any appetite for a shift in Green Party focus next June. Big deal. There may be a vote that indicates a desire for a shift, or they may not be. And I guess the Party then responds accordingly.
Agreed, Bill. From what I have briefly found about the challenger, my conclusion is Norman will have his co-leadership confirmed.
True, but I was thinking more of what the MSM will do*, and the resources it will take from the election campaign.
* re the instability of the GP having a leadership challenge that close to the election, plus the MSM having a field day with the anti-growth economics. On the other hand, when Norman gets re-elected as leader, maybe it sends the message that the GP aren’t dangerous kooks after all, Norman is so reasonable!, so more people will vote for them.
But why do that going into an election? It doesn’t really make sense.
“So, he wants to test the waters to see if there’s any appetite for a shift in Green Party focus next June.”
I think it’s an actual leadership vote, not just testing the waters for a shift in focus.
Can’t really fault his politics.
“Humanity has overshot the capacity of Earth’s ecosystem to sustain our long-term existence. We must do whatever we can to address that issue. Our immediate priority must be the rapid de-carbonisation of our energy system. Ultimately we must “de-grow” the economic system and share society’s resources more equitably.”
but still don’t understand the timing of the challenge. If he wants to move the GP in that direction, wouldn’t it make more sense to go through the election with the best chance of gaining the most seats and the best deal with Labour, and then challenge later?
Some are tweeting that Hay is trying to improve his list chances/place.
A cynic might suggest that “Co-leader re-elected in landslide” would be a useful headline in election year, accompanied by the opinion piece: “Moderate Greens in control, eye Treasury benches”.
Of course I am not that cynic … 😉
Well, let’s say (just for the sake of argument) that he wants degrowth and Green Party penetration in S. Auckland to be serious discussion points as opposed to a leadership position. Isn’t this a good way to ensure that? Breaks through any smash that might sit in the Green Party structure when it comes to generating discussion or elevating topics.
As in, the conservative element of the GP is getting too entrenched, therefore something radical needs to be done to keep the party in the right direction? I would have thought that the membership could still bring up serious discussion points, it’s a worry if that’s no longer true.
And if your point is right, then how to assess the risks, and whether the timing is useful for the overall strategy? The GP has a history of either fucking up at election time (corn gate), or just not doing that well, or being undermined by the MSM, so I’m a bit nervous about things that rock the boat in that time period.
I know next to nothing about internal Green Party structures and how easy it is for membership to generate traction/discussion on particular issues. I’m just putting it out there as a possibility.
Also (and this is a personal perspective) I can’t remember seeing degrowth mentioned by politicians before and New Zealand, as opposed to just the Green Party, desperately needs that discussion. So if the media jump on this non-challenge next June, then the Greens can demonstrate that they are not afraid of democracy (a leadership vote) as well as underscore Norman’s leadership and a bloody serious issue that everyone has shied away from might get some oxygen.
But maybe I’m just being oddly positive today 😉
Good point, Bill. It’ll be interesting to see how much of an airing “de-growth” gets during the co-leadership contest, and the Greens’ conference next year.
“But maybe I’m just being oddly positive today 😉 ”
Crikey 😉
Me on the other hand… I suppose I see potential for all sorts of problems. What if the degrowth conversation sparks a great controversy within the GP (as it should) and the MSM go beserk? Do we want that happening at that time?
I suppose I need to understand more about the man himself and where he is coming from.
“..it’s a worry if that’s no longer true..”
..it never was true weka..
top-down/central-command..
(which can be argued for or against..)
..it has always been thus..
..and if hay is doing what bill surmises..well and good..
..but isn’t hay from the right/free-market-solutions wing of the greens..?
..(once again..can be argued for or against..i’m all for a mix..me..)
..as in..essentially more right than norman..?
..just saying/asking..!
..(mind you..norman is pretty gung-ho on the continuation of the animal-concentration-camps/charnal-houses..still sees a future for nz based on the blood/suffering of animals..
..and his co-leader has a penchant for strutting around wrapped in shining/glistening dead-animal skins..)
..they are both hardly ‘deep/dark’-green..
..and of course as the consequences of our past/current polluting actions become more and more apparent..a much more ‘radical’ green party/thought/ideas/prescriptions will be called for..
..but norman seems to be the person for this particular moment in the green party arc….
phillip ure..
Sounds to me like cold feet – Labour and Greens could win? Well, this is like a bit of chicken dance, lets just withdraw a bit here its getting scary… if there is any more of this I am sure we will have a third term of Nats – absolutely sure to be exact.
It appears that he has been a local body policy staffer previously, not a politician.
David Hay, a political analysist works for the Auckland City Council, he contested the Rodney electorate seat for the Green Party in 2008 and the Epsom seat for the same party in 2011,
There were enough ‘votes’ in the Epsom electorate between Hay and Labour’s David Parker to have, if those 2 had of convinced voters to vote for the National candidate, kept John Banks out of the Parliament,
The Green Party did tho pick up a very healthy 4,424 Party votes from Epsom up from 2,662 in 2008 when Keith Locke contested the seat,
Rodney, where Hay stood in 2008 gaining 1,969 party votes recorded 3,265 party votes for the Green Party in 2011 so the ‘Green-swing’ is more likely to be party centric rather than based around any particular candidate,(as it should be),
i see it as entirely healthy for the Green Party to have ‘leadership challengers’ appear at any AGM while hoping that this is only a small part of the gathering and would much rather be pushing my barrow of having the Green Party put far more effort into ‘farming’ the growing Green vote from within safe National held seats,(every vote from there is worth 2 votes when it comes to counting up the Party Votes),
Dr Norman who it took me a while to warm to has certainly in the past 18 months come into His own in the political arena seriously spanking Slippery’s Ministers on a number of occasions and i don’t really see a threat in David Hay’s challenge…
bad12
Thanks for background on Hay.
Welcome, what has worried me for a while about the Green Party is as it has grown a very healthy amount of it’s vote is coming from amidst the ‘middle class’, i find this a bit of a damned if you do damned if you don’t situation for a party with one of it’s arms firmly mired in ‘Social Justice’ with my underlying suspicion that sooner or later with the lure of increasing that ‘middle class’ vote ‘Social Justice’ may within the party die a quiet and unheralded death,
Perhaps this is the first attempt from within the Green Party membership for that ‘middle class’ to wield it’s political muscle,(and not knowing David Hay personally my apologies for any unintended slur),
What the upward numbers tho do allow some of us to do is migrate our votes to the Mana Party in an attempt to bolster that parties number in the House, a final decision i will leave for the months around November 2014 when the polling will be furiously delivering us ‘political junkies’ numbers by the day,
i wonder how much analysis by Party strategists in both the Labour and Green Parties has been applied to the Epsom 2011 result where the train wreckage strewn across the New Zealand landscape might have at the least been lessened had both parties cooperated to invite their voters to hold their noses and vote for the National candidate in order to shut Banks out of the Parliament,
Hopefully, with hindsight, both parties have learned a valuable lesson from Epsom 2011 and are prepared to cooperate within whatever electorate Colon Craig stands to gain the National party candidate as many votes as possible so as to shut that loose wheel out…
is he related to Keith Hay (would be his grandson) and David Hay (his father)? I ask because both of those guys were quite christian in their views and impositions on night classes at Mt Roskill Grammar (no yoga for example)
What??? NO Yoga, start the revolution right now, how dare they, as to your question i personally don’t know any of the Hay’s mentioned so cannot comment on any family connections…
Some religious types see yoga, tai-chi and the like as being quite anti-Christian activities…
Hey Dude! had to fish this out of the actual “recycle bin” ; Wind turbines; Good Enough for the New Zealand Superannuation Fund to invest in…
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11163739
lol…lol…lol
lol
lol. 😀
Dream a little longer and it will be Nats having the next election. The pols do not look THAT good to play a bit around. People are looking for certainty and know what to expect, getting familiar with the candidates. Dr Russel is highly capable but he is not a mongrel and if that is a problem I for one will not vote at all.
Helpful
(this one is for the comedy-heretic who yesterday claimed that ‘family guy ‘is not funny’..(i know..!..i know..!..)..
..it’s a collection of brian best-of vid-clips..
..fill yer boots..!..eh..?
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/video-after-brian-griffin-dies-family-guy-dogs-best-moments-8964448.html
phillip ure..
I’ve never thought that the treatment the daughter Meg receives to be very funny, quite sick actually.
(sigh..!..)..fender…where to start..?
phillip ure..
Futurama would be a good place.
Are you implying we are all one-eyed?
not at all Cyclops
Yes that is what is funny about the whole ‘un-correct’ cartoon, it is masterfully sick, a lampoon if you will of all the sick attitudes society has or ever will exhibit,
Obviously if anyone took a cartoon of this or any other nature to be an exemplar of acceptable behavior that too would be sick…
+1
I had thought that most people would see the cartoon in this light.
I mean, the opening credits feature extreme domestic violence, and there’s a rapist living next door that the whole community just turns a blind eye toward, giggity.
My personal favourite for “wrong” comedy is Robot Chicken
Destroying your childhood memories one sketch at a time!
‘Stretch Armstrong’ ’til he crumbles.
The Commonwealth Games are to be held in Glasgow next year I think. I was just thinking about the Brit-Yank club and who heads those respective countries. Republic or Monarchy thoughts. When thinking of the Monarchy I have a picture of someone with dignity and respect for the elevated position that Royalty has and that this holder of the position has shown all her life.
(Apparently Buckingham Palace was hired out for many millions for the venue of some rich guy’s
event! Or was that a satirical item?)
Compare that to an elected leader from the people of Toronto. When the position is open to unseemly jockeying and fraud and all comers with sufficient dosh can buy into being top dog you can get Rob Ford. Forget how much money the Queen has (which irks many who somehow thinks this tips the argument for a republic), just look at the way the Queen represents the people in an intelligent, thoughtful and careful way. Then look at Rob Ford as buffoon leader who would never be elected as Republic leader but is of the type that would be contenders.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5GCt9hM1DQ
Qantas is appealing to the Australian government to maintain their own specialised form of free market business practice in the airlines business.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/228795/qantas-appealing-to-nationalism-against-virgin
Qantas shouldered NZ out years ago, resulting in us feeling we had to buy Ansett to gain the feeder services we needed. Feeling being the important word here, thinking hard did not trump the feeling impulse. Now we have an interest with other airlines, in Virgin and it seems that it is good business sense to expand the business somewhat, Qantas is calling on national sentiment as a way of combatting the competition. They have been the most profitable airline in the world at times, may still be.
I wish our government could be so supportive of our enterprises. But NZ gets gutted and thrown to the wolves. And Australians have no warm feelings when it comes to business or country to country dealings. They don’t give up their advantages without a fight. We need more teeth and attitude like Oz but it would be good if we had more integrity with it. Oz government did agree apparently, that we could have the right for Airnz to fly around Oz, or to combine with domestic airlines, then they withdrew that on Qantas advice, a country to country agreement just cancelled.
That’s the respect they have for us – negotiable.
And now quantas can even buy a spoiler stake of Airnz shares on the share market which will be more effective with the govt share at 52% Thank you John , not.
Why on earth is John Key getting so personally involved in the Anadarko / Greenpeace ding dong?
Politically I would have thought it would be best to stay well away and say something like … “they are two private organisations and how they attend to their matters is their business, not the governments.”
However, I suppose Key is tied all up with them given he gave Anadarko special legislation to suit (like Hollywoods Warner Bros), and given Key and the National Party get their money from Anadarko and Warner Bros.
… conflicted all to hell ….
… big business is running the new Zealand government ….
From where i sit it looks like National on the defensive with falling poll numbers have got the ‘spin-miesters’ working overtime on ‘Brand-Slippery’,
Yesterday it was the ‘i can piss higher up the toilet wall’ challenge to David Cunliffe to openly say that as Prime Minister He,(Cunliffe), would be buying back the parts of the State Owned Assets that Slippery and Co, doing their best to imitate any seedy back-street used car salesman,(and failing), have flogged off to the 25 of wealthiest Ma’s and Pa’s in the land,
The latest comment from He who will be out the door next November on the deep sea drilling was to start the conversation about Green-Peace and then less than subtly connect the Green Party with the protest yachts and the Court action,
That connects with National’s core and might for a while keep the numbers above 39% but less and less of the voting public are so enamored of our Prime Minister these days you might say that Slippery can’t dance no more…
I saw him con -fillate “Greens” with the Greenpeace action; slippery or what? That is one deliberate politician; self-belief ya see, belief in himself.
Talking about drilling for oil, an interesting point is about the cost of the externalities for the test drilling on land sites being borne by the ratepayers in the area, and no doubt the owners of the property on which the sites and the access roads to them.
A USA? Mayor said that they had about 6.000? (a lot) of drilling many of which involved fracking. Fracking requires a lot of water. Water is heavy. It has to be trucked in and the load destroys roads. Big carriers on small roads mean big expense repairing, and there have been a lot of extra accidents which have resulted from this extra traffic.
(This is without saying about how scarce water is now, and its being utilised by these rent-seeking companies.) And they are not taking responsibility for the damage caused on the roads. This is what I heard this morning on Radionz so for the facts rather than my hearsay have a listen to them.
I heard yesterday he was leaving it to the police… like he did with the tea cup tapes, john banks and GCSB…
“Police had asked GCSB for help in December 2011 as they gathered evidence for a joint police-FBI raid on Dotcom’s rural Auckland home.”
How on earth do the FBI get to undertake this sort of action in our country?
What was the basis for their physical involvement on the ground?
Where did the authority come from?
You only need to go and read some of the Greenwald pieces to answer your questions. The agencies can share info. So, one agency (eg, MI6) can do stuff in the US that the US agencies can’t…so requests are made, info gathered and then shared back to whoever wants it. And no laws are broken.
Thanks Bill, but I meant the actual raid. FBI boots on the ground at a New Zealand home, not the info gathering.
How is that legal or authorised? How does the FBI have ‘jurisdiction’ in our country?
Observers or tactical advisors, and/or providing of specialist equipment.
But even that is physical presence and acts of a kind. Where does the authority or legality come from?
Australian explorer Douglas Mawson 1913 expedition to Antarctica is being remembered by a team of scientists. While people are thinking of this great mean, another should be remembered who was a prime reason for Shackleton and his team’s survival – Henry (Chippy) McNish from Glasgow, shipwright, (and his cat Mrs Chippy) . His family have been agitating for him to be remembered with a Polar Medal like most of his compatriots.
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_McNish says – He spent 23 years in the Navy in total during his life, but eventually secured a job with the New Zealand Shipping Company.[2] After making five trips to New Zealand he moved there in 1925, leaving behind his wife[d] and all of his carpentry tools. He worked on the waterfront in Wellington until his career was ended by an injury. Destitute, he would sleep in the wharf sheds under a tarpaulin and relied on monthly collections from the dockworkers……he worked on the docks in Wellington until poor health forced his retirement. He died destitute in the Ohiro Benevolent Home in Wellington….He was buried in Karori Cemetery, Wellington, on 26 September 1930, with full naval honours; HMS Dunedin (which happened to be in port at the time) provided twelve men for the firing party and eight bearers.
However, his grave remained unmarked for almost thirty years;[22] the New Zealand Antarctic Society (NZAC) erected a headstone on 10 May 1959.[3] In 2001, it was reported that the grave was untended and surrounded by weeds,[28] but in 2004, the grave was tidied and a life size bronze sculpture of McNish’s beloved cat, Mrs. Chippy, was placed on his grave by NZAC. His grandson, Tom, believes this tribute would have meant more to him than receiving the Polar Medal.[22]
But McNish’s skill and ingenuity in events which followed is still remembered. After 16 months trapped on the ice, the men set sail in the three small boats for Elephant Island. Eight days after their arrival, one of the vessels, the 20ft whale boat James Caird, struck out for South Georgia – a journey of 670 miles – with six men on board, including McNish. It was only possible because, during their time trapped on the ice, McNish worked tirelessly to ensure the seaworthiness of the escape craft.
He had devised his own mixture of flour, oil paint and seal blood to caulk the seams of the boats, raised the gunwales to make them safer in the high seas and and fitted small decks fore and aft to the Caird. Before Shackleton, and two others, set off for the final 36 hour traverse of South Georgia’s mountain ranges, he fashioned crampons out of the boat’s two inch brass screws. “We certainly could not have lived through the voyage without it”; Shackleton wrote later of his carpenter’s efforts.
Like Shackleton, McNish was never to recover his health fully. He returned to the Merchant Navy but suffered severe pain brought on by the months stranded at the Pole. He eventually died in Wellington Hospital in New Zealand where he was treated as a hero and given a funeral with full naval honours paid for by the New Zealand government.
And not to forget NZ Frank Worsley who died in Surrey in 1943. Frank Arthur Worsley DSO OBE RD (22 February 1872 – 1 February 1943) was a New Zealand sailor and explorer who served on Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1916, as captain of the Endurance. He also served in the Royal Navy Reserve during the First World War.
overlooking Sartre for a moment, here’s a Booklist
Challenge.
Poof. Motorcycles – noisy smelly dangerous things.
What makes them so dangerous tho??? cars and trucks perhaps???…
The Press had a good list of information that house sellers, particularly in Christchurch, could make available to assist buyers in decisions. Things are not as simple as they used to be anywhere in NZ so worth noting.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/your-property/9446093/Vendors-should-disclose-details
I seem to have a lot to say today. I will eschew! the blog for rest of week.
Ructions in Victorian Parliament OZ, over the Speaker. This could happen here. And is an indication of a weakness in the system if the various Parties are not happy with the Speaker and have no right to ask for an alternative.
http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/news/two-suspended-dramatic-day-vic-075818098–spt.html
The MPs said Mr Smith resembled a dictator, was a puppet for the government and his occupation of the speakership was a travesty of democracy….
When Mr Shaw, who has previously expressed no confidence in the Speaker, left the house, Mr Smith used his casting vote to suspend Labor MP Jacinta Allan for six days – the remainder of the parliamentary year – for rowdy behaviour.
Deputy Opposition Leader James Merlino was also suspended for six days.
The suspensions give the government a majority in the house….
The parliament heard Labor MPs had indicated they would support deputy speaker Christine Fyffe being installed as Speaker.
But Premier Denis Napthine expressed his support for the Speaker saying he had shown tremendous patience amid an organised stunt by the opposition.
eschew away. Be good.
I have a dreadful feeling that the dirty rat Epsom MP will be let off free again, no I dont have much faith in our judiciary.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11163685
I’m more hopeful amirite. After all, it is the Solicitor General who is acting as Crown Prosecutor on this occasion. He carries a lot of weight. The judge will be dotting his i’s and crossing his t’s so that there’s no further claims of factual errors – no matter how irrelevant they may be to the case.
I am also more hopeful than amirite, Anne, having followed the case closely over the months. IMO the public interest is such that a whitewash dismissal would attract massive reaction, including from the legal beagles. Justice Gittos, the AKL District Court judge who considered it should go to trial is not the only one with this opinion. Earlier, in Nov 2012 and in April 2013, Judge Mill of the Wellington DC also appeared to consider it should, before the case was transferred to Auckland.
If you haven’t already read it, Graeme Edgeler’s post two days ago on Public Address is worth reading for the legal ins and outs of both the case iteslf and the legal processes underway, eg the judicial review.
http://publicaddress.net/legalbeagle/qa-john-banks-judicial-review/
I also note that both the Herald article that amirite linked to at 19, and this Stuff article have been edited since they first appeared earlier in the afternoon.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9448744/Banks-trial-decision-next-week
The earlier Stuff article included quite a bit more detail of what happened in court, including Michael Heron stating that he would not be leading the prosecution if it went to trial, but naming the QC who would. Can’t remember the name, unfortunately.
Another reason I think that there won’t be a whitewash dismissal of Banks’ case is the connection to the Dotcom saga.
It was quite a day in the Auckland High Court today, with this and a case management hearing on Dotcom’s compensation case for the raid., with another hearing scheduled for two weeks’ time.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/30004775/nsa-fingered-in-dotcom-scandal
(Another Stuff article that has been edited since it first appeared earlier today in both cases, probably to protect them – the newspapers – legally.)
And this TV3 News item gives more detail of the line Heron took at the Banks judicial review hearing – in essence the facts should be argued in a trial before a jury.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Banks-trial-decision-due-next-week/tabid/423/articleID/323049/Default.aspx
A taste
“Mr Banks encouraged donations, encouraged cheques to be split, knew that they were being made, knew that they had been received, communicated receipt of donations, and at the same time made it clear his intentions and desire that these donations be anonymous,” Mr Heron told the court.
“Whether or not he gave the return a great deal of scrutiny won’t be at the heart of the Crown case. The Crown will, I expect, say things turned out precisely as Mr Banks intended, with the return saying donations were anonymous which Mr Banks asked to be anonymous.”
This is the bit that bothers me. Doesn’t it strike to the heart of what Bank;s is charged with and it’s being sidelined?
“Whether or not he gave the return a great deal of scrutiny won’t be at the heart of the Crown case. “
RedBaronCV – on the contrary it heartens rather than bothers me. At this point Heron is simply saying that Banks’ claim that he did not appreciate the falseness of the document because he gave it only cursory attention is not a sufficient ground for halting the prosecution, having regard to the rest of the evidence signalled.
Heron is actually saying that in the round there is sufficient evidence going to the falseness of Banks’ claim of haplessness as to require a credibility determination by a jury. That is unremarkable. Credibility of a witness is ultimately for a jury, not for a judge sitting in preliminary hearing.
I note that Justice Heath in the course of the hearing alluded to the question being whether on the already disclosed pool of evidence a jury could reasonably convict. That too heartens me. There’s always been a sense of farce about Banks’ protestations. A helicopter ride to probably the grandest pad in the land. To score big secret bucks off the unforgettable KDC. He can’t remember ? In a Monty Pythonesque way and out of his own mouth the septic wee Banks has put his credibility in issue. Credibility is ultimately for a jury, not for a judge sitting in preliminary.
I expect the Crown using the disclosed pool of evidence to robustly attack Banks’ credibility for the purpose of painting the claim “I’m a busy man, I didn’t read it” is a desperate last gasp to get away with using the document as a device to maintain the cloak of secrecy he always sought.
RedBaronCV – on the contrary it heartens rather than bothers me. At this point Heron is simply saying that Banks’ claim that he did not appreciate the falseness of the document because he gave it only cursory attention is not a sufficient ground for halting the prosecution, having regard to the rest of the evidence signalled.
Heron is actually saying that in the round there is sufficient evidence going to the falseness of Banks’ claim of haplessness as to require a credibility determination by a jury. That is unremarkable. Credibility of a witness is ultimately for a jury, not for a judge sitting in preliminary hearing.
I note that Justice Heath in the course of the hearing alluded to the question being whether on the already disclosed pool of evidence a jury could reasonably convict. That too heartens me. There’s always been a sense of farce about Banks’ protestations. A helicopter ride to probably the grandest pad in the land. To score big secret bucks off the unforgettable KDC. He can’t remember ? In a Monty Pythonesque way and out of his own mouth the septic wee Banks has put his credibility in issue. Credibility is ultimately for a jury, not for a judge sitting in preliminary.
I expect the Crown using the disclosed pool of evidence to robustly attack Banks’ credibility for the purpose of painting the claim “I’m a busy man, I didn’t read it” is a desperate last gasp to get away with using the document as a device to maintain the cloak of secrecy he always sought.
I agree, North. What was quoted of Heron’s arguments yesterday also heartened me – but I am still not holding my breath ….
IMO, the sentence “Whether or not he gave the return a great deal of scrutiny won’t be at the heart of the Crown case. “ has to be read in the context of the whole quote in my 20.1.1.
I was also interested that Heron was advocating for the case to go forward as a jury trial. IIRC from reading Graeme Edgeler and others, the trial could be either a judge only or a jury trial.
IMHO, a judge only trial would focus on legal technicalities with the possibility that it could be dismissed on a technicality ; whereas a jury might focus on the bigger picture, as Heron seemed to be suggesting – eg Banks’ intentions in asking for donations and for these to be anonymous, broken down etc to maintain a ‘cloak of secrecy’ as you so succinctly put it.
Thanks veutoviper. Seen the Stuff articles and will read Edgeler later.
Typical of MSM news outlets. Run a mile from controversial truths in case they get bitten. Is it any wonder Mr & Mrs Voter are so uninformed…
Green Party is doing so well.
Russel Norman is a recognized a face of Green leadership. Greens are stable when all about them aren’t.
Then Hay tries to take the leadership.
Has he not seen what has been happening in Labour?
Why, David, why? Personal ambition?
It certainly isn’t for the good of the party.
I reckon the Greens are mature enough to handle the process as well as Labour did (when they finally got around to putting their cards in the open).
Interested about the “Auckland representation” angle, though – seems to me that encouraging regionalist pressures while seeking nation-wide leadership might be shooting the dead horse in the foot before the stable door has been bolted.
always wise, situated above the muster Flockie
To me it kinda makes them less of the prissy passive-aggressive haute-bourgeoise avoiders, into something more politically real and in fact human.
No they are not, you watch that spot – this attempt will derail any possibility to get a green/labour coalition and therefore Nats will be back in the seat. I just wonder whether this is deliberate or just stupidity.
To nuke a labgrn coalition the options are for grns to piss in the tent because lab ain’t green enough, or to go between labs and nat.
I don’t get either vibe from hay at this stsge, just a fair punt for the chair.
At a guess I’d suggest the Greens saw how much publicity Labour got with their leadership battle and probably want a piece of that plus they then got to trumpet Normans mandate for even more publicity
Sleazy by the Greens if true but good politics
Too Much Information, you have for one mortal chris73. Always this and that; a hard-worker nonetheless.
Piss73……..the ease with which you conflate “sleazy” and “good”………seems like your brand old boy. Sure your name’s not PissTextor73 ?
Political egos have a habit of clouding good judgement WJ. See Labour’s leadership battle Dec. 2011.
He wants to get high enough on the list to be elected next year. First he has to get his name out there and what better way to do that than challenge a leader. If I was a Green member I would not vote for him on principle because, as you suspect, he’s putting himself first?
edit: just seen Chris 73. What a load of bollocks. And you accuse lefties of being conspiracy theorists
No worse then suggesting the best way to get a high list placing is to challenge the face of the party
well, if tories didn’t suggest that lefties were constantly up to sleazy politics and contrived manipulations of the system, then they wouldn’t be able to defend the nats’ abuses with the line “but everyone does it, you’re naive if you think otherwise”
But tactically a shot in the head…
Te Tai Hauauru Maori Party members have met at Whangaehu Marae to select a replacement for Tariana Turia from 6 candidates,
i have yet to hear of what resulted from the meeting(perhaps it’s still going), but it looks from where i sit to be a call for volunteers to go down with the Maori Party ship,
i do have to wonder what the members found so difficult in selecting a woman to stand,(the Maori Party would seem to need a woman as the constitution says there is to be both a male and female leader),
Hell it’s more than an open secret that Maori Party Prez Ken Mair wants the nomination for Aunty Tari’s seat,(and jolly good laugh failed to get the constitution changed), my view is whack Him in a dress, change His name to Kendra and hey Bobs your Uncle…
Credit to Ken Mair, yet, Moutoa Gardens was a hard road to hoe.
Not so sure about ‘credit’ have to do the maths on whether the pain equaled the gain? from that little exercise…
No, I agree, it did not, hence ‘the hard road’ in the prevailing conservatism.
An example of why in politics it is not helpful to throw the label “dickhead” at people we do not understand.
Ooooh, who has been so naughty as to attach such an epithet, pray tell me…
to the back of the class where I usually had to sit my chatty arse it is for you young man!
Product of The Week: ( Pork Crackle (well, the last three years ackshully).
NB: qualifier: only taste tests carried out.
Just viewed some tacky photo’s of the proposed Basin Reserve Flyover in Wellington.
At a city council election meeting recently and looked at some of the younger crowd – thought “they would struggle to afford a car, struggle even more to put petrol in it, so remind me again, just why do they want to fund a flyover? dinosour thinking.