Don’t panic. Its three years – to the day – since the National Ltd™ “Job Summit” finished. Won’t be long now . . . I’m really looking forward to the 3000km Kaitaia-to-Bluff cycle way, the nine-day fortnight, and the $1 billion contribution from the banks plus $8 billion from government to invest in job-producing industry. I mean there’s been such a great start on the freeze on regulation and enforcement activity to achieve minimum stanards in all sorts of areas. Can’t be long now before we start to see jobs being created . . . John promised.
You really need to get to grips with recent political history. Labour ran like the clappers from closing the gaps when it became controversial (whanau ora will probably be a rerun) and the wave was barely a ripple.
Direct from the States – a big reason why charter schools are such a horrible idea… unless of course you want to increase your OT levels from an early age…
Direct from the States – a big reason why charter schools are such a horrible idea… unless of course you want to increase your OT levels from an early age…
How about that Otago Union eh. Posting losses for years, a number of bad decisions and gone owing millions. I get the feeling this is an easy way to isolate losses knowingly being racked up in one entity which the NZRU can sidestep and do it all over again with their own muppets.
Hell, the DCC has bailed them out to the tune of millions for years (not including the stadium), and then the NZRFU has the balls to suggest that maybe the “community can get behind it”.
I don’t begrudge community funding sport and recreation by any means, but those cocks were pissing money away and expecting to be bailed out because the sun shines out of their arse. Now most of the ORFU supporting councillors are out, the dickheads were to incompetent to stand alongside every other sport in the community. Good riddance. Pity it didn’t happen before we near bankrupted ourselves on the stadium.
People down these Canterbury parts aren’t too happy about Phil Heatley’s ramblings and ignorance over proposed fracking here. Examples of his stupidity and hypocrisy and bullshit…
1. He says he has no reason to suspect there is a risk in Canterbury over the two main risks with fracking, namely ground water contamination and induced earthquake activity. (despite there already being earthquakes ffs, as well as issues arising from ground water thanks to cowshit)
2. He says he is confident in the Council’s ability to manage the fracking (despite having no confidence in Ecan or the City Council and despite the nats general aversion to all things council-wise and despite one of the Council’s requesting a moratorium on fracking)
These sorts of bullshit lies make the blood boil. How do these wankers get away with such bullshit?
for the last 3 years and 3 months. My mouth has been in gaping awe at the stupidity displayed every time a minister or JK opens their mouths, so much that my mouth has dried up over this time.
I get it Rosie. So true. Was my reaction to the Ministry of Ed woman talking about National Standards this morning National Radio before 10am. I had to drink a cup of tea to get my mouth moistened. (And the Shouty O’Reilly clip was huge fun too.)
The casings are necessary no argument. But all wells are cased. What you need to show is that fracked wells have more issues/failures than non fracked.
Do you understand what frakking does? It breaks up the ground so that gas and liquids travel through it faster. The casing isn’t going to do anything to prevent contamination of ground water because of that fracturing. Considering that earthquakes are a release of stress within the mantle we can see how it could possibly lead to more of them as well.
Hi vto, I did happen to hear Phil Heatleys talk about his complete lack of concern for fracking. There was a couple of are you serious faces going on in our living room at the time. Its mindblowing isn’t it.
Seriously though, I have been trying to work out why there isn’t a resistance to the cascade of stupidity and consequent policy and so far I can only put it down to ignorance, apathy and cogntive dissonance. Almost everyone I know has no idea what is going on and nor do they care. If they do have an opinion its a sound bite brainwashed one that make apologies for our govt. What can you do?
Totally relate to what you are saying, people are alseep quoting soundbites, if anything, which is allowing the agenda to continue, and leaving those who pay attention and bother to research underlying issues, feeling very frustrated. Knowing that the apathy of others is going to have an impact on you and your family is a horrible feeling to have, so what you can do is keep trying to understand the issues, the agenda, and look for ways in the system of your local council etc that you can lodge your concerns. Write emails continually to MP’s, councillors etc, research the decisions of France and Bulgaria to ban fracking, and include this info in your communications. Illustrate the numerous examples around the world of protests against fracking, such as is going on in Ohio currently.
Also look for active people in your part of the country, you might be surprised how many like minded people there are. Being in touch with others who care, and share the same concerns you do Rosie, really helps to stop people feeling alone in their feelings of frustrated helplessness..
Taking some pro-active approach really helps I find. I hope this response helps you out!
There is a resistance, Rosie, it just isn’t advertised. There are no leaders or organisation as such and everyone acts alone. All you have to do to join is to understand your area of concern; where it fits into the overall picture of the common good; and commit to actively stopping any in-roads by the government or people who support their ideology/perspective into your area of concern. Apply as much pressure as you like, noisy or quietly, legal or illegal, the choice is yours. Then when you’re ready, take the offensive and push back as you see fit – undermine, sabotage, road-block. It’s very simple and completely covert. If anyone stands up and starts yapping about it, spectators just think they’re crazy. We don’t exist. Nothing can be proved. I’m just a crazy person on an internet site.
Thanks Muzza and Uturn:-) They are thoughtful responses. My family and friends do shake their heads at me because I am the one writing the letters to the MP’s, reading, watching documentaries, watching alternate news channels online, attending rallies and even at one stage working within the Union movement. I guess I got a bit tired of the rhetoric and division that I see exist within some of the activist movements, and I get impatient for change. Also I’ve found, but would like to be proved wrong there is lack of positive energy within some groups and a bit of hating going on and absolutely no sense of humour.
Hey U turn, I’m also a crazy person on an internet site. Lol. In saying that before the Occupy movement got any media coverage I had some amazing on line chats with folks from the UK and USA. I was damn impressed at the vision, courage and collective strength of those people. Bigger populations of course, but same deal as us.
I’ve just recently come onto the Standard so I can access some solidarity with like mindeds like yourselves, and I’m enjoying the intelligent discussions folks post.
Rosie, good on you for getting actively involved, its feels like a thankless task at times, but the option of not doing anything, I assume is not really an option for you?
The active community can be their own worst enemy at times, and from my experiences in AKL the same points you make apply. The underlying messages are there, but the strategy to deliver is , so far as I have seen not there. Of course you get the egos and infighting, which is only serving to derail the impact of any effort that is made.
Keep in touch with the active people though Rosie, because it will allow you get a feel for where there are peole or agendas that are best avoided, or that are serving only to relieve you of energy, and desire to help. I would suggest the same applies to working online, as it can become as big a distraction, as it can be a helpful mechanism for information, networking etc…Balance is the key , as with all things.
Never let other peoples ignorance impact on you Rosie, hard as that might be. Teh other option is for you to put your head int he sand the same way they do, but I guess , like me, that is not an option, and so we just have to accept that people genuinley do not care in the same way!
Thanks again Muzza:-) Yes, sometimes I do stand back as all those ego’s and energy sappers get a bit much. I think acting out and living your moral code is important too, like actually walking the talk to use a corny US term.I’ve met some folks in active groups that can be quite uncool and hypocritical in their actions which leaves them open to ridicule from the those they are trying convince of a better way of living/thinking.
So funny you used the term “put your head in the sand”. I’ve just used that term over on stuff.co.nz on their comments section about a UMR phone research poll that showed that being right wing made you happier…………..I would have included a reference for people to check my point I made but all my psychologhy text books are locked away in our storage unit.
You get to be online when you’re unemployed! haha. BTW, troll force that might be lurking here, I’m not entitled to any benefit so we are struggling along on one income, but at least I’m one less benefit bludging parasite eh?
In my case, being online when I am unemployed is a psychological necessity! As a result I sacrifice other things to afford dial up, and of course the landline I need to run it. If I ever get a job, I will have the money for a decent connection but not the time.
Lots of ironies there…
It might be worth shopping around a bit for broadband deals. The entry level bundles (phone and net) at Slingshot are $80 pcm and Telstra have a $75 pcm special on now which looks excellent. I’m guessing that you pay around $50-55 now and I do appreciate that still means finding another fiver each week, but it will be worth it if you can afford it.
It might be worth shopping around a bit for broadband deals
Thanks, I’ll look into that! Presently, I pay $10.00 a month (pre-pay) for dial up, and I suppose $48 a month for my phone, so putting those two together, it’s more than I tend to think it is… So, it might be worthwhile!
My take very simple, we bail out banks, we bail out creditors for SCF and other corporate scoundrels….where is the ORFUs bail out? And the bail out to students? And to every other person?
Over at Kiwipolitico (posted 30 January) “Pablo” asks: Does NZ have a culture of impunity?
I quote the following passage from the post:
They can buy silence and name suppression when they misbehave; with a wink and a nod they accommodate employment for their friends and provide sinecures for each other (think of various Boards); they consider themselves better informed, in the know, more worldly and therefore unaccountable to the popular masses when it comes to making policy (think of the use of parliamentary urgency to ram through contentious legislation and the NZDF command lies about what the SAS is actually doing in Afghanistan); they award themselves extraordinary powers in some times of crisis (Christchurch) while absolving themselves of responsibility in others (Rena). They use the Police for their own purposes (Teapot Tapes and Occupy evictions, the latter happening not because of public consensus but done by summary executive fiat).
I was listening to that slime ball Farrar on National radio yesterday; have we evidence that he and Key are not the same person who can shape shift from slim ball to weasel, but the voice remains the same? Has anyone actually got evidence they are not the same entity?
CONFIRMED!
The Occupy Auckland endorsed petition which requests: “That the House conduct an urgent inquiry into the decisions regarding prosecutions relating to the Huljich Kiwisaver Scheme registered prospectuses dated 22 August 2008 and 18 September 2009” is being presented to the House at 2pm today – Tuesday 28 February 2012.
Thank you Labour MP for Auckland Issues, Phil Twyford who is the MP who presented this petition.
This should help cast a HUGE national and international public spotlight on the fact that the balance of power in New Zealand ‘perceived’ to be the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ (according to Transparency International’s 2011 ‘Corruption Perception Index’ – is currently being held by an arguably yet-to-be charged or convicted ‘white collar’ criminal John Banks – ACT MP for Epsom.
ACT purportedly believe in ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’ – so how come that hasn’t yet applied to the current and former Leaders of the ACT Party?
For more background information (including – the Huljich Kiwisaver Scheme registered prospectuses dated 22 August 2008 and 18 September 2009) check out http://www.pennybright4epsom.org.nz
Paula Bennett says that cleaning and fast food jobs are ‘noble’. I agree but why isn’t caring for children ‘noble’? Mums and Dads on benefits who have to spend time on courses that assist in their roles, child psychology, cooking, putting up shelves, the right use of tools would be good and could open to other education and jobs. Go into an entry level job and it prepares you for other – entry level jobs. And they are poorly paid. The government never faces how they may force people into greater poverty when they take them off benefits and give them an any-job.
Cleaning is an odd one to choose. It’s a very despised job, as I know having been one, and often carried out at or after dinner time, or early in the morning, no good if you have children. (The government says that children cannot be left at home under age fourteen. ) Or it’s on-call say with a motel, and that makes it very difficult to have a life, or to cater for family duties and child supervision and care.
Trying to understand propaganda with logic or life experience isn’t going to work – as you discover. It’s just meaningless words, based around current cultural myths and cliché, used to cover malicious intent. There isn’t meant to be any reference to reality at all.
Good news!
Trevor Mallard announced in Question Time that Murray McCully has been found in “the building”. He must have chewed through the restraints and escaped the party whips.
Occupy London is being closed down by the cops right about now. Nothing like dealing to sleeping people in the early hours of the morning to make policing fun.
Someone yesterday said a survey in NZ concluded that RWingers were happier. So add that to the mix and we find RWNJs are Jovial Sociopathic Simpletons. Sounds exhausting!
Funnily enough this is taken from a Stuff commentor regarding the UMR research finding that people with a right wing bent are happier…………………..
Thw whole ignorance is bliss thing
It’s alive and well Felix, Paula Bennett has caused an ambitious rush of people seeking employment in cleaning and fast-food industries in an effort to obtain nobility.
Paula Bennett has stopped short of saying how many babies a woman on welfare can have. I am deeply concerned for the welfare of children in a single parent home when their mother has to look for part-time work if she has an another child when the second child is 12 months old.
1. Day care for children under age two needs to be of a high standard.
2. Attachment is ongoing (mother/baby) and mothers with post natal depression cannot be pressured.
3. Single parenting is very different to a two parent household.
4. Some woman have multiple births or they are very fertile.
5. Some children do not sleep well at night, so the single parent has to be up for them to avoid an accident.
Every child needs to be put at the top of the pyramid and their needs assessed because of how individual every life circumstance is. For some children to be put into a category just to satisfy a no gain welfare policy is mindless.
A study was carried out in Dunedin and it proved that child abuse increased when single parents were work tested when their child turned 6. (I need to search for the study).
The government have an arse about face solution to helping single parents as they have FAILED to do research as to what single parents want and need within reason and what they think about being turned into a second class citizen because they are raising a potential tax payer.
If I could tomorrow I would take for every minister in cabinet a 12 month old baby and get them to do a diary for a month on looking after them 24/7.
Totally agree with Paula we have to stop the 16 years olds becoming baby factories for cash, Which leads to huge Social Problems down the Line. Labour did nothing about this in its time 9 years. They just seem very content to keep people on the Dole so Social unrest may come at a Later date. As the saying goes if you want to see how a child will turn out take a good look at the Mother totally agree many of them dont paint avery good picture
Totally agree with Paula we have to stop the 16 years olds becoming baby factories for cash
Wow! Where’s your evidence that any such thing as “the 16 years olds becoming baby factories for cash” actually happens? Michael Moore (not the American film guy, but the NZ former PM) did a study years ago, that showed the overwhelming majority of DPB women to be 30-something, formerly partnered mothers of at most, 2 children. Teenage women on DPB were outnumbered 2-1 by teenage boys on DPB! (Talking of which, the daughter of the girlfriend of my late brother, became a 16 year old mother, in 1998. This girl planned to have the baby adopted – an adoptive family were all lined up – and then 2 things happened. The baby was born with huge heart defects, and the 16 year old father sued for sole custody. When Therese explained to the would-be adopters and the mother of the teen father, that her new grandson G., would need special care and on-going surgery for most of his childhood, both the would-be adopters and the teen daddy, immediately lost interest. Teen daddy wanted a cashflow, it seemed, not a responsibility.)
Treetop no not saying that but would I would like to see is limit the DPB to one child just like Clinton did in the states.
National havent had the balls to do it yet. When Clinton did it yes a democrat. The teenage pregnancy rate fell markedly they suddenly found cotraceptives because they werent going to get paid for anyh extra kids.
Some are making a living out of it now ,more than a blue collar worker gets for working 40 hours,and it isnt right.
Already explained to you James that you can’t get more on benefit working and referred you to the maths (and given your right wing idiocy you should wash your mouth out for even mentioning blue collar workers as an example – like you give a shit for them).
Still I have a solution to the baby factory that should meet your right wing daddy state desires – sterilise all men. That should solve the problem and result in lots of sex occurring as well without the pregnancy risk ( STD’S etc will still be an issue though).
Women actually don’t need men to have children now – eggs can be fertilised with other eggs and sperm can be created artificially now as well. Men as a source of population maintainer is pretty old school in this modern world.
If that’s too strong an option we should just imprison any men who gets a girl pregnant – after all it should be a crime to impregnate a woman and not take financial responsibility for the resulting child.
Why those bloody men expect the taxpayer to top up the pittance that some of them pay in child support I don’t know.
They should have to pay the total cost of any benefit that the women gets – their child – their cost.
Ryall needs to improve the cost and access of contraception for every woman and in some areas e.g Whanganui delivery services are being eroded. This is what reduces the birth rate and the cost of care of complicated deliveries.
james 111 benefit bashing is not the answer. Policies which give good outcomes for children is.
I am waiting to see what is proposed for ALL children in the green paper and for inadequate parents so integenerational problems are not repeated.
My first priority is breaking an unhealthy cycle regardless of the issue. This cannot be done over night and it requires the necessary resources.
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Buzz from the Beehive Auckland was wiped off the map, when Education Minister Jan Tinetti delivered her speech of welcome as host of the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers “here in Tāmaki Makaurau”. But – fair to say – a reference was made later in the speech to a ...
Morning mate, how you going?Well, I was watching the news last night and they announced this scientific report on Climate Change. But before they got to it they had a story about the new All Blacks coach.Sounds like important news. It’s a bit of a worry really.Yeah, they were talking ...
Always a bailout: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Government would fully guarantee all savers in all smaller US banks if needed. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: No wonder an entire generation of investors are used to ‘buying the dip’ and ‘holding on for dear life’. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen ...
Wealthy vested interests have an oversized influence on political decisions in New Zealand. Partly that’s due to their use of corporate lobbyists. Fortunately, the influence lobbyists can have on decisions made by politicians is currently under scrutiny in Guyon Espiner’s in-depth series published by RNZ. Two of Espiner’s research exposés ...
Yesterday afternoon it rained and traffic around the region ground to a halt, once again highlighting why it is so important that our city gets on with improving the alternatives to driving. For additional irony, this happened on the same day the IPCC synthesis report landed, putting the focus on ...
The Beginning: Anti-Co-Governance agitator, Julian Batchelor, addresses the Dargaville stop of his travelling roadshow across New Zealand . Fascism almost always starts small. Sadly, it doesn’t always stay that way. Especially when the Left helps it to grow.THERE IS A DREADFUL LOGIC to the growth of fascism. To begin with, it ...
Hi,From an incredibly rainy day in Los Angeles, I just wanted to check in. I guess this is the day Trump may or may not end up in cuffs? I’m attempting a somewhat slower, less frenzied week. I’ve had Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s new record on non-stop, and it’s been a ...
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 ...
RNZ has been shining their torch into corners where lobbyists lurk and asking such questions as: Do we like the look of this?and Is this as democratic as it could be?These are most certainly questions worth asking, and every bit as valid as, say:Are weshortchanged democratically by the way ...
RNZ has continued its look at the role of lobbyists by taking a closer look at the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Andrew Kirton. He used to work for liquor companies, opposing (among other things) a container refund scheme which would have required them to take responsibility for their own ...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has left for Beijing for the first ministerial visit to China since 2019. Mahuta is to meet China’s new foreign minister Qin Gang where she might have to call on all the diplomatic skills at her command. Almost certainly she will face questions on what role ...
TL;DR:The Opportunities Party’s Leader Raf Manji is hopeful the party’s new Teal Card, a type of Gold card for under 30s, will be popular with students, and not just in his Ilam electorate where students make up more than a quarter of the voters and where Manji is confident ...
When I was a kid New Zealand was actually pretty green. We didn’t really have plastic. The fruit and veges came in a cardboard box, the meat was wrapped in paper, milk came in a glass bottle, and even rubbish sacks were made of paper. Today if you sit down ...
Looking back through the names of our Police Ministers down the years, the job has either been done by once or future party Bigfoots – Syd Holland, Richard Prebble, Juduth Collins, Chris Hipkins – or by far lesser lights like Keith Allen, Frank Gill, Ben Couch, Allen McCready, Clem Simich, ...
Chris Trotter writes – The Crown is a fickle friend. Any political movement deemed to be colourful but inconsequential is generally permitted to go about its business unmolested. The Crown’s media, RNZ and TVNZ, may even “celebrate” its existence (presumably as proof of Democracy’s broad-minded acceptance of diversity). ...
Four out of the five people who have held the top role of Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff since 2017 have been lobbyists. That’s a fact that should worry anyone who believes vested interests shouldn’t have a place at the centre of decision making. Chris Hipkins’ newly appointed Chief of ...
Feedback on Auckland Council’s draft 2023/24 budget closes on March 28th. You can read the consultation document here, and provide feedback here. Auckland Council is currently consulting on what is one of its most important ever Annual Plans – the ‘budget’ of what it will spend money on between July ...
by Molten Moira from Motueka If you want to be a woman let me tell you what to do Get a piece of paper and a biro tooWrite down your new identification And boom! You’re now a woman of this nationSpelled W O M A Na real trans woman that isAs opposed ...
Buzz from the Beehive New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti is hosting the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers for three days from today, welcoming Education Ministers and senior officials from 18 Pacific Island countries and territories, and from Australia. Here’s hoping they have brought translators with them – or ...
Let’s say you’ve come all the way from His Majesty’s United Kingdom to share with the folk of Australia and New Zealand your antipathy towards certain other human beings. And let’s say you call yourself a women’s rights activist.And let’s say 99 out of 100 people who listen to you ...
James Shaw gave the Green party's annual "state of the planet" address over the weekend, in which he expressed frustration with Labour for not doing enough on climate change. His solution is to elect more Green MPs, so they have more power within any government arrangement, and can hold Labour ...
RNZ this morning has the first story another investigative series by Guyon Espiner, this time into political lobbying. The first story focuses on lobbying by government agencies, specifically transpower, Pharmac, and assorted universities, and how they use lobbyists to manipulate public opinion and gather intelligence on the Ministers who oversee ...
Nick Matzke writes – Dear NZ Herald, I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland. I teach evolutionary biology, but I also have long experience in science education and (especially) political attempts to insert pseudoscience into science curricula in ...
MINISTER DAVIDSON MUST RESIGN AFTER 'VIOLENCE' COMMENTS Marama Davidson should stand down as ‘Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence’ for the clear and outrageous statement she made at the Posie Parker protest that ‘white straight men’ are the cause of violence. Her offensive, racist, and sexist remarks ...
In response to Newshub and Amelia Wade’s obvious and ham-fisted attempt at a typical and predicted political hit job. As any politically aware reporter would know, any Cabinet subcommittee has a duty and obligation as a part of any government to respond to any UN declaration, in this case ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for the invitation to speak with you today and in your busy lives turning up to this meeting. Forty five years ago, in Howick, often described as racist, and where few Maori lived because it had been a ‘Fencible’ settlement at the time of the Anglo-Maori ...
The Green Party has marked the National Party’s new education policy and given it a fail, especially for its failure to address the underlying drivers of school performance. ...
Political parties that want to negotiate with the Green Party must come to the table with much faster, bolder climate action, co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson emphasised in their State of the Planet speech today. ...
Political parties that want to negotiate with the Green Party after the election must come to the table with much faster, bolder climate action, co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson emphasised today. ...
You will never truly understand, from the pictures you’ve seen in the newspapers or on the six o-clock news, the sheer scale of the devastation wrought by Cyclone Gabrielle. ...
We’re boosting incomes and helping ease cost of living pressures on Kiwis through a range of bread and butter support measures that will see pensioners, students, families, and those on main benefits better off from the start of next month. ...
The error Labour Ministers made by stopping work on a beverage container return scheme will be reversed by the Greens at the earliest opportunity as part of the next Government. ...
“Cabinet needs to do better - and today has shown exactly why we need Green Ministers in cabinet, so we can prioritise action to cut climate pollution and support people to make ends meet,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson. ...
Biggest increase in food prices for over three decades shows the need for an excess profit tax on corporations to help people put food on the table. ...
The Green Party has today launched a submission guide to help Aucklanders give crucial input and prevent potentially disastrous Auckland Council budget proposals. ...
With calls growing for inquiries and action on bank profits, the Greens say the Government has all the information it needs to act now and put a levy on banks. ...
The Government has introduced the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Legislation Bill to further support the recovery and rebuild from the recent severe weather events in the North Island. “We know from our experiences following the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes that it will take some time before we completely understand the ...
Further assistance is now available to businesses impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, with Customs able to offer payment plans and to remit late-payments, Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri has announced. “This is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to assist economic recovery in the regions,” Meka Whaitiri said. “Cabinet has approved the ...
More than 41,000 sole parent families will be better off with a median gain of $20 a week Law change estimated to help lift up to 14,000 children out of poverty Child support payments will be passed on directly to people receiving a sole parent rate of main benefit, making ...
A major investment by Government-owned New Zealand Green Investment Finance towards electrifying the public bus fleet is being welcomed by Climate Change Minister James Shaw. “Today’s announcement that NZGIF has signed a $50 million financing deal with Kinetic, the biggest bus operator in Australasia, to further decarbonise public transport is ...
A world-leading payments system is expected to provide a significant cash flow boost for Kiwi innovators, Minister of Research, Science, and Innovation Ayesha Verrall says. Announcing that applications for ‘in-year’ payments of the Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI) were open, Ayesha Verrall said it represented a win for businesses ...
Minister of Transport Michael Wood joined crowds of keen cyclists and walkers this morning to celebrate the completion of the Te Awa shared path in Hamilton. “The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, greener, and more efficient for now and future generations to come,” Michael ...
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little has delivered the Crown apology to Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua for its historic breaches of Te Tiriti of Waitangi today. The ceremony was held at Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton, hosted by Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua, with several hundred ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has concluded her visit to China, the first by a New Zealand Foreign Minister since 2018. The Minister met her counterpart, newly appointed State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qin Gang, who also hosted a working dinner. This was the first engagement between the two ...
World-class satellite positioning services that will support much safer search and rescue, boost precision farming, and help safety on construction sites through greater accuracy are a significant step closer today, says Land Information Minister Damien O’Connor. Damien O’Connor marked the start of construction on New Zealand’s first uplink centre for ...
Attorney-General David Parker has announced the appointment of Christopher John Dellabarca of Wellington, Dr Katie Jane Elkin of Wellington, Caroline Mary Hickman of Napier, Ngaroma Tahana of Rotorua, Tania Rose Williams Blyth of Hamilton and Nicola Jan Wills of Wellington as District Court Judges. Chris Dellabarca Mr Dellabarca commenced his ...
A new Government-backed project will help ocean-related businesses in the Nelson Tasman region to accelerate their growth and boost jobs. “The Nelson Tasman region is home to more than 400 blue economy businesses, accounting for more than 30 percent of New Zealand’s economic activity in fishing, aquaculture, and seafood processing,” ...
After three years of COVID-19 disruptions schools are finally settling down and National want to throw that all in the air with major disruption to learning and underinvestment. “National’s education policy lacks the very thing teachers, parents and students need after a tough couple of years, certainty and stability,” Education ...
People aged over 50 with innovative business ideas will now be able to receive support to advance their ideas to the next stage of development, Minister for Seniors Ginny Andersen said today. “Seniors have some great entrepreneurial ideas, and this programme will give them the support to take that next ...
A cross government target for relevant government procurement contracts for goods and services to be awarded to Māori businesses annually will increase to 8%, after the initial 5% target was exceeded. The progressive procurement policy was introduced in 2020 to increase supplier diversity, starting with Māori businesses, for the estimated ...
77,000 fewer children living in low income households on the after-housing-costs primary measure since Labour took office Eight of the nine child poverty measures have seen a statistically significant reduction since 2018. All nine have reduced 28,700 fewer children experiencing material hardship since 2018 Measures taken by the Government during ...
Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Tēnā koutou katoa, ni sa bula vinaka saka, namaste. Deputy Prime Minister, a very warm welcome to Aotearoa. I trust you have been enjoying your time here and thank you for joining us here today. To all delegates who have travelled to be ...
$2.9 million convertible loan for Scapegrace Distillery to meet growing national and international demand $4.5m underwrite to support Silverlight Studios’ project to establish a film studio in Wanaka Gore’s James Cumming Community Centre and Library to be official opened tomorrow with support of $3m from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery ...
Transport Minister Michael Wood has today launched the first national EV (electric vehicle) charging strategy, Charging Our Future, which includes plans to provide EV charging stations in almost every town in New Zealand. “Our vision is for Aotearoa New Zealand to have world-class EV charging infrastructure that is accessible, affordable, ...
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan has today launched the Love Better campaign in a world-leading approach to family harm prevention. Love Better will initially support young people through their experience of break-ups, developing positive and life-long attitudes to dealing with hurt. “Over 1,200 young kiwis told ...
Hon Rino Tirikatene, Minister for Courts, welcomes the Ministry of Justice’s appointment of Dr Garry Clearwater as New Zealand’s first Chief Clinical Advisor working with the Coroners Court. “This appointment is significant for the Coroners Court and New Zealand’s wider coronial system.” Minister Tirikatene said. Through Budget 2022, the Government ...
The Government via the Cyclone Taskforce is working with local government and insurance companies to build a picture of high-risk areas following Cyclone Gabrielle and January floods. “The Taskforce, led by Sir Brian Roche, has been working with insurance companies to undertake an assessment of high-risk areas so we can ...
E te huia kaimanawa, ko Ngāpuhi e whakahari ana i tau aupikinga ki te tihi o te maunga. Ko te Ao Māori hoki e whakanui ana i a koe te whakaihu waka o te reo Māori i roto i te Ao Ture. (To the prized treasure, it is Ngāpuhi who ...
113,400 exits into work in the year to June 2022 Young people are moving off Benefit faster than after the Global Financial Crisis Two reports released today by the Ministry of Social Development show the Government’s investment in the COVID-19 response helped drive record numbers of people off Benefits and ...
The Government’s priority to keep New Zealand at the cutting edge of food production and lift our sustainability credentials continues by backing the next steps of a hi-tech vertical farming venture that uses up to 95 per cent less water, is climate resilient, and pesticide-free. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor visited ...
E nga mana, e nga iwi, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou kātoa. Warm Pacific greetings to all. It is an honour to host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Aotearoa is delighted to be hosting you ...
The new renal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital has been officially opened by the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon. Te Huhi Raupō received around $13 million in government funding as part of Project Maunga Stage 2, the redevelopment of the Taranaki Base Hospital campus. “It’s an honour ...
Defence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the country’s second P-8A Poseidon aircraft alongside personnel at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base at Ohakea today. “With two of the four P-8A Poseidons now on home soil this marks another significant milestone in the Government’s historic investment in ...
Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further humanitarian support to those seriously affected by last month’s deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. “The 6 February earthquakes have had devastating consequences, with almost 18 million people affected. More than 53,000 people have died and tens of thousands more ...
Migrant communities across New Zealand are represented in the new Migrant Community Reference Group that will help shape immigration policy going forward, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today. “Since becoming Minister, a reoccurring message I have heard from migrants is the feeling their voice has often been missing around policy ...
Construction has begun on major works that will deliver significant safety improvements on State Highway 3 from Waitara to Bell Block, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan announced today. “This is an important route for communities, freight and visitors to Taranaki but too many people have lost their lives or ...
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has today appointed Ginny Andersen as Minister of Police. “Ginny Andersen has a strong and relevant background in this important portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Ginny Andersen worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and has more recently been chair of ...
Six further bailey bridge sites confirmed Four additional bridge sites under consideration 91 per cent of damaged state highways reopened Recovery Dashboards for impacted regions released The Government has responded quickly to restore lifeline routes after Cyclone Gabrielle and can today confirm that an additional six bailey bridges will ...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for China tomorrow, where she will meet with her counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in Beijing. This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Minister to China since 2019, and follows the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions between New Zealand and China. ...
Education Ministers from across the Pacific will gather in Tāmaki Makaurau this week to share their collective knowledge and strategic vision, for the benefit of ākonga across the region. New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti will host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers (CPEM) for three days from today, ...
A vital transport link for communities and local businesses has been restored following Cyclone Gabrielle with the reopening of State Highway 5 (SH5) between Napier and Taupō, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan says. SH5 reopened to all traffic between 7am and 7pm from today, with closure points at SH2 (Kaimata ...
Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds has thanked generous New Zealanders who took part in the special Lotto draw for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Held on Saturday night, the draw raised $11.7 million with half of all ticket sales going towards recovery efforts. “In a time of need, New Zealanders ...
The Government has announced funding of $3 million for providers to help people, and whānau access community-based Building Financial Capability services. “Demand for Financial Capability Services is growing as people face cost of living pressures. Those pressures are increasing further in areas affected by flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle,” Minister for ...
Minister of Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, has announced appointments to the Board of Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao. Tracey Bridges is joining the Board as the new Chair and Dr Therese Arseneau will be a new member. Current members Dr Linda Sissons CNZM and Daniel Wilson have ...
Fifteen ākonga Māori from across Aotearoa have been awarded the prestigious Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards for 2023, Associate Education Minister and Ngarimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today. The recipients include doctoral, masters’ and undergraduate students. Three vocational training students and five wharekura students, ...
High Court Judge Jillian Maree Mallon has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, and District Court Judge Andrew John Becroft QSO has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Mallon graduated from Otago University in 1988 with an LLB (Hons), and with ...
A joint force of Indonesian military and police are claiming to have shot dead a member of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in Central Papua Province on Wednesday last week. Jubi TV Papua reports the joint force was conducting aerial surveillance after a motorcycle taxi driver had been ...
By Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific lead digital and social media journalist The Fiji government is signalling that it will not completely tear down the country’s controversial media law which, according to local newsrooms and journalism commentators, has stunted press freedom and development for more than a decade. Ahead of the ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby The production and trafficking of methamphetamine (meth), cocaine and now heroin is on the rise with Pacific countries now becoming what many are calling the “Pacific drug highway”. And Papua New Guinea has over three years seen a plane crash, a hotel laboratory, a ...
A requiem for Shiv and Tom, who would like to make love one last time (but can’t).Major spoilers follow for the first episode of Succession’s fourth season. Her eyes flared. His voice wobbled. “Do you want to… talk?” said Tom Wambsgans, the corporate ladder-climbing schmuck who could see his ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Shutterstock Labor and the Greens have reached a compromise on the safeguard mechanism after months of tense negotiations, giving the government the numbers it needs to pass the bill into law. Greens leader ...
Wayne Brown vowed to stop new roading projects until existing ones finish - and to unclog the city centre's streets - but he now finds himself enthusiastically backing new upheaval for the key crossroad of Victoria St A $50 million beautification project for CBD's Victoria St - which will disrupt businesses from ...
The Green Party co-leader says she was in shock from being hit by a motorcycle, and her comments about white men committing violence should have been clearer. ...
The prime minister has labelled comments made by one of his ministers over the weekend as inappropriate, and revealed his office asked her to walk them back. Marama Davidson, co-leader of the Green Party and a minister, was captured on video ahead of a rally against anti-trans speaker Posie Parker ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Becky Freeman, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Sydney Shutterstock On Friday, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) updated its review of proposed reforms to the regulation of nicotine vaping products. It reported the federal government is now “actively ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam John, Senior Lecturer in Neural Engineering, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Since it was founded in 2016, Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface (BCI) company Neuralink has had its moments in biotech news. Whether it was the time Musk promised ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Chart by Keith Rankin. The ‘Young Elderly’ are in essence the post-war baby-boomers. An average young elderly person in these charts was born around 1950 to 1952. The charts look at ‘quarterly excess deaths’, so do not show week-by-week fluctuations in deaths. For example, data ...
The co-leader of the Green Party has clarified comments she made at Saturday’s counter-protest against anti-trans speaker Posie Parker. Caught on camera by a representative for the conspiracy theorist website Counterspin, Marama Davidson claimed: “I am the prevention violence minister, and I know who causes violence in the world, and ...
A friendly reminder that your best intentions of promoting a New Zealand-made film are not actually supporting the artists behind it.For many of us, documenting our day or sharing highlights of our week is a common occurrence on social media. For some, that meant uploading full scenes onto TikTok ...
After two and a half weeks, the Auckland Arts Festival comes to a close with another eclectic week. Sam Brooks reviews (with assistance from Shanti Mathias).The headline show of the week was undoubtedly The Unruly Tourists, which has had more coverage than any opera I can think of in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yu Tao, Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies, The University of Western Australia State Library of Western Australia Does the discovery of a Ming Dynasty Buddha sculpture found near Shark Bay in remote Western Australia “rewrite history” and suggest the Chinese ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert G. Patman, Professor of International Relations, University of Otago Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.Getty Images Russia’s invasion of Ukraine appears to be a defining moment in the evolution of the post-Cold War world. In particular, it is highlighting problems that do ...
If you saw the demonstration at Pasifika Festival – or if you’ve just always wanted to know how it’s done – here’s a step-by-step guide to preparing your own umu oven.A Sāmoan umu is an above-ground oven of hot volcanic rocks. Traditionally, an umu was laid out three times ...
The official Covid-19 death toll has risen by 33 this week, bumping the total to 2,662. The Ministry of Health’s latest update reports 76 new Covid-attributed deaths, but the overall death toll rises by 33 when adjusted to include non-Covid and other unrelated deaths. The daily average number of new ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Shutterstock Global warming has led to higher summer temperatures across Sydney over the past 30 years. However, our data analysis shows very hot summer days are ...
Two of the best games of the Super Rugby Aupiki season were saved for finals weekend in Hamilton. Alice Soper recaps.Third/fourth playoff: Blues vs Hurricanes Poua Sometimes a bronze playoff can be a bit of a flop. Still in recovery from the disappointment of missing out on the ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political Roundup: The Ugly stoking of a culture war in election year This weekend saw a showdown between two tribes of contemporary gender politics: those in favour of progressing transgender rights versus women wishing to defend their spaces. It’s a debate with huge passion, outrage and ...
One of New Zealand’s spy agencies foiled three possible terror events on our shores, it’s been revealed. The Security and Intelligence select committee met today, with bosses from the SIS and GCSB facing questions from MPs including prime minister Chris Hipkins. It was during this hearing that Andrew Hampton, the ...
An anonymous lawyer for children explains what she does, and why it matters. I’m a lawyer who is appointed by courts to represent children in cases where there are concerns about their safety or where the court thinks it necessary. In almost all cases involving disputes around the care of ...
As banks face scrutiny over the size of their profits, it’s been revealed the finance minister looked at a possible “bank tax”. The Herald’s Jenée Tibshraeny reported this morning that Grant Robertson asked for advice from the Reserve Bank on whether it would be possible to save the Crown money ...
The Green Party has announced Neelu Jennings as the candidate for Hutt South. Neelu Jennings is a disabled disability advocate and former athlete. The mother of two aims to use her platform to call for a fair and inclusive Aotearoa where disabled ...
Marama Davidson should stand down as ‘Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence’ for the clear and outrageous statement she made at the Posie Parker protest that ‘white straight men’ are the cause of violence. Her offensive, racist, ...
ColensoBBDO has been appointed as the new creative agency of record by pay-gap advocacy group MindTheGap to bring renewed attention to the issue of gender and ethnic pay gaps within New Zealand businesses and government. In the 50 years since the Equal ...
Thousands of women across the country are joining Facebook groups that seek to answer one simple question. This article contains reference to domestic violence and emotional abuse, please take care.A quick scroll through the biggest “Do We Have The Same Boyfriend” Facebook group in the country reveals a sea ...
Bluebridge’s Connemara ferry was back in service yesterday after a mechanical issue caused a string of cancellations on Saturday. It was the third time Connemara had broken down in less than two months of service, according to the NZ Herald. “We understand this is very disruptive to our customers’ travel plans ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marie-Claire Seeley, PhD Candidate, Australian Dysautonomia and Arrhythmia Research Collaborative, University of Adelaide Shutterstock There is growing interest in a connective tissue condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. As more adults are diagnosed with autism, some might not be aware their history ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hattie, Professor, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock In 2008, I published my book Visible Learning, which aimed to explain what works best to help student learning. At the time, others claimed it was the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Naylor, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Massey University Getty Images As New Zealand considers how to better prepare for a future affected by climate change, the insurance sector needs to be part the discussion on where and how we build ...
The scenes that unfolded at Auckland’s Albert Park on Saturday morning were, according to counter-protesters, largely peaceful and non-violent. British anti-trans campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen Minshull (or Posie Parker) fled New Zealand after her attempts to host a rally in Auckland city were stopped by thousands of protesters. Keen-Minshull has claimed ...
He’s got one of the most prestigious journalism careers in the country, but RNZ’s Guyon Espiner is not slowing down anytime soon. His new series “Mate, Comrade, Brother” on political lobbying in New Zealand has already exposed a number of troubling incidents. He sits down with Duncan Greive to discuss why he ...
Posie Parker said she wanted to ‘speak up for women’. Hundreds of protesters spoke up for trans rights instead, 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.A day of anger and joy ...
The foreign minister has returned from a visit to China saying the relationship is very important and complex, requiring "continual management" to make sure the two countries do not lose sight of each others' views and perspectives. ...
Shock but not surprise – that’s how an Auckland woman reacted to a racist depiction of a black person up for sale at a Mt Eden auction house Diana Phillips felt "immediate straight-up fury" on seeing a racist caricature of a black person for sale in the window of a Mt ...
The inquiry into forestry slash destruction in Tairāwhiti, and review of the Emissions Trading Scheme, should prioritise the state of the planet not the balance sheets of global corporations, writes Dame Anne Salmond. Over the past few weeks, New Zealanders have been exposed to shocking images of local landscapes ravaged ...
Exclusive: A new report into the cultural and economic benefits of Shortland Street shows its power – but as with any good soap, trouble is coming. Duncan Greive reports on its findings.When Shortland Street debuted in 1992, no one could have predicted what it would become. NZ on Air, ...
Keep calm and charge up: an etiquette guide for those wanting to use public EV chargers without leaving a trail of chaos in their wake. It looks like a petrol pump. It is like a petrol pump. But this one doesn’t have any fossil fuels flowing out the hose. Electric ...
The explosive opening chapter of a new novel Identity remains secretA thirty-nine-year-old Point Heed businessman and father of two convicted for possession and distribution of child pornography has been granted permanent name suppression. Bridget’s throat caught. Point Heed: lovely, leafy Point Heed. Her neighbourhood. It was ...
The explosive opening chapter of a new novel Identity remains secretA thirty-nine-year-old Point Heed businessman and father of two convicted for possession and distribution of child pornography has been granted permanent name suppression. Bridget’s throat caught. Point Heed: lovely, leafy Point Heed. Her neighbourhood. It was ...
Watch video: In part 5 of our video series, The Way Forward, Rod Oram looks at big new ideas that can lead our response to climate change and improve sustainability. If we humans are to stand any chance of a liveable future, we must transform everything we do so ...
The Government's Emissions Trading Scheme incentivises the planting of pine forest. But a company looking to cash in on the scheme has left a farm on the East Coast prone to significant erosion within months of taking over. Aaron Smale reports. Satellite images of a former sheep station on the East Coast show a stark ...
Newsroom's Nikki Mandow went hunting for organisations run using a co-governance model and found some have been doing it quietly for years. No power grab, no stolen assets. The Detail hears from leaders of these bodies about what co-governance looks like in practice, and asks - does it work? For Bob ...
The explosive opening chapter of a new novel Identity remains secretA thirty-nine-year-old Point Heed businessman and father of two convicted for possession and distribution of child pornography has been granted permanent name suppression. Bridget’s throat caught. Point Heed: lovely, leafy Point Heed. Her neighbourhood. It was ...
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By Johnny Blades, RNZ The House journalist An increased appetite to learn te reo Māori among members and staff from different parts of the Parliamentary system means the work of Parliament’s Māori Language Service is in demand more than ever. Compared to several years ago there’s now also significantly more acknowledgement ...
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ANALYSIS:By Nicholas Khoo, University of Otago Former Australian prime minister Paul Keating’s recent strident criticism of the A$368 billion nuclear-powered submarine deal announced under the AUKUS security pactwill have little effect on Australian policy. Canberra’s deepening level of security cooperation is underpinned by a deep political consensus. But the ...
RNZ News British gender activist Posie Parker has left New Zealand, calling it the “worst place for women she has ever visited”. Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, shared a photo on social media showing her being escorted by police through Auckland Airport. She left her rally at Albert ...
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Hundreds of people have gathered by Christchurch’s Bridge of Remembrance to show support for the trans community in the wake of anti-transgender activist Posie Parker’s brief visit to Aotearoa. Bubbles filled the air against a backdrop of trans rights flags and hundreds of signs of support for the LGBTQIA+ community, ...
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Author Marty Smith writes from her home, the flood-damaged region of Hawke’s Bay, excavating the extraordinary facets of life amid a disaster.Wednesday 22 February 22, eight days after the flood.It’s easy to drive down Puketitiri Rd: diggers cleared silt and slips on the second day. Looters slide at ...
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“Prime Minister John Key remains confident the economy will pick up and increase the number of jobs available” NZ Herald 28/2/12
How many jobs and when?
That same confidence that’s been shown in their budgetary forecasts and spin for over 3 years now….roaring out if recession etc.
Their inclusion of the 6 billion guess is fraud, how many boards would be allowed that behaviour……oh hang on, plenty in this corporate culture.
More BS from the shonkster, move along sheeple nothing to see
Don’t panic. Its three years – to the day – since the National Ltd™ “Job Summit” finished. Won’t be long now . . . I’m really looking forward to the 3000km Kaitaia-to-Bluff cycle way, the nine-day fortnight, and the $1 billion contribution from the banks plus $8 billion from government to invest in job-producing industry. I mean there’s been such a great start on the freeze on regulation and enforcement activity to achieve minimum stanards in all sorts of areas. Can’t be long now before we start to see jobs being created . . . John promised.
OHHH! Please don’t forget … I am so very excited and optimistic about the budget delivering another 170,000 jobs.
which budget?
Could have been this one: http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/budget-2011-govt-predicts-170-000-new-jobs-4181124
Or these ones: http://thestandard.org.nz/stop-me-if-youve-already-heard-this-one/
I’m still waiting to catch the knowledge wave and to have my gaps closed.
national standards and loan restrictions stuffed one, and the other was being progressed before key came in.
You really need to get to grips with recent political history. Labour ran like the clappers from closing the gaps when it became controversial (whanau ora will probably be a rerun) and the wave was barely a ripple.
I see the rewrite is progressing well…
A
He was talking about Australian jobs.
http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/charter-school-or-indoctrination-center-edu
Direct from the States – a big reason why charter schools are such a horrible idea… unless of course you want to increase your OT levels from an early age…
http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/charter-school-or-indoctrination-center-edu
Direct from the States – a big reason why charter schools are such a horrible idea… unless of course you want to increase your OT levels from an early age…
How about that Otago Union eh. Posting losses for years, a number of bad decisions and gone owing millions. I get the feeling this is an easy way to isolate losses knowingly being racked up in one entity which the NZRU can sidestep and do it all over again with their own muppets.
TYPICAL FUCKING UNION SCUM
my thoughts exactly… dump ya debts and carry on, as some are known to do
its only a sports club, cue govt bailout
Hell, the DCC has bailed them out to the tune of millions for years (not including the stadium), and then the NZRFU has the balls to suggest that maybe the “community can get behind it”.
I don’t begrudge community funding sport and recreation by any means, but those cocks were pissing money away and expecting to be bailed out because the sun shines out of their arse. Now most of the ORFU supporting councillors are out, the dickheads were to incompetent to stand alongside every other sport in the community. Good riddance. Pity it didn’t happen before we near bankrupted ourselves on the stadium.
Crazy . . .
WikiLeaks denounces UNESCO after WikiLeaks banned from UNESCO conference on WikiLeaks
I’m really starting to think that the UN has passed its use-by date as well. It seems that the US dominates it.
Excellent email just read out on Morning Report.
“I feel so sorry for John Key and Paula Bennett. So many people on benefits and no poor houses to throw them into …”
We were discussing the same at morning tea; this recovery must be about to happen; maybe I blinked and missed it?
Don’t worry, Fletcher’s will be building them some time soon, probably using Filipino trades people
People down these Canterbury parts aren’t too happy about Phil Heatley’s ramblings and ignorance over proposed fracking here. Examples of his stupidity and hypocrisy and bullshit…
1. He says he has no reason to suspect there is a risk in Canterbury over the two main risks with fracking, namely ground water contamination and induced earthquake activity. (despite there already being earthquakes ffs, as well as issues arising from ground water thanks to cowshit)
2. He says he is confident in the Council’s ability to manage the fracking (despite having no confidence in Ecan or the City Council and despite the nats general aversion to all things council-wise and despite one of the Council’s requesting a moratorium on fracking)
These sorts of bullshit lies make the blood boil. How do these wankers get away with such bullshit?
Becauase the sheep sit on their daggs, and go baa baa baa
Hey vto, I completely understand that feeling of your blood boiling. I understand becuase I have been in perpetual state of
http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/are-you-serious-face-seriously
for the last 3 years and 3 months. My mouth has been in gaping awe at the stupidity displayed every time a minister or JK opens their mouths, so much that my mouth has dried up over this time.
Yep, Rosie, the are you serious face…
But the problem remains. Just like the goon in that clip these people just keep on going and going and going. Stating their lies and bullshit.
Lies lies lies… heatley heatley heatley… are you serious face are you serious face are you serious face…
Brilliant! AYSF! Ditto Rosie & vto.
I get it Rosie. So true. Was my reaction to the Ministry of Ed woman talking about National Standards this morning National Radio before 10am. I had to drink a cup of tea to get my mouth moistened. (And the Shouty O’Reilly clip was huge fun too.)
fracking creates no more risk to water than any other form of drilling. The issue is poor casing not fracking.
And the casing is needed because…?
Oh, and don’t forget, no seal is ever perfect.
The casings are necessary no argument. But all wells are cased. What you need to show is that fracked wells have more issues/failures than non fracked.
Do you understand what frakking does? It breaks up the ground so that gas and liquids travel through it faster. The casing isn’t going to do anything to prevent contamination of ground water because of that fracturing. Considering that earthquakes are a release of stress within the mantle we can see how it could possibly lead to more of them as well.
Hi vto, I did happen to hear Phil Heatleys talk about his complete lack of concern for fracking. There was a couple of are you serious faces going on in our living room at the time. Its mindblowing isn’t it.
Seriously though, I have been trying to work out why there isn’t a resistance to the cascade of stupidity and consequent policy and so far I can only put it down to ignorance, apathy and cogntive dissonance. Almost everyone I know has no idea what is going on and nor do they care. If they do have an opinion its a sound bite brainwashed one that make apologies for our govt. What can you do?
Totally relate to what you are saying, people are alseep quoting soundbites, if anything, which is allowing the agenda to continue, and leaving those who pay attention and bother to research underlying issues, feeling very frustrated. Knowing that the apathy of others is going to have an impact on you and your family is a horrible feeling to have, so what you can do is keep trying to understand the issues, the agenda, and look for ways in the system of your local council etc that you can lodge your concerns. Write emails continually to MP’s, councillors etc, research the decisions of France and Bulgaria to ban fracking, and include this info in your communications. Illustrate the numerous examples around the world of protests against fracking, such as is going on in Ohio currently.
Also look for active people in your part of the country, you might be surprised how many like minded people there are. Being in touch with others who care, and share the same concerns you do Rosie, really helps to stop people feeling alone in their feelings of frustrated helplessness..
Taking some pro-active approach really helps I find. I hope this response helps you out!
here is a fracking cache that might help..
..consider it a primer on the subject..
http://whoar.co.nz/?s=fracking
phil-at-whoar.
There is a resistance, Rosie, it just isn’t advertised. There are no leaders or organisation as such and everyone acts alone. All you have to do to join is to understand your area of concern; where it fits into the overall picture of the common good; and commit to actively stopping any in-roads by the government or people who support their ideology/perspective into your area of concern. Apply as much pressure as you like, noisy or quietly, legal or illegal, the choice is yours. Then when you’re ready, take the offensive and push back as you see fit – undermine, sabotage, road-block. It’s very simple and completely covert. If anyone stands up and starts yapping about it, spectators just think they’re crazy. We don’t exist. Nothing can be proved. I’m just a crazy person on an internet site.
http://www.interest.co.nz/bonds/58080/auckland-council-plans-increase-its-net-debt-percentage-total-revenue-limit-275-175
Hmmmm
Thanks Muzza and Uturn:-) They are thoughtful responses. My family and friends do shake their heads at me because I am the one writing the letters to the MP’s, reading, watching documentaries, watching alternate news channels online, attending rallies and even at one stage working within the Union movement. I guess I got a bit tired of the rhetoric and division that I see exist within some of the activist movements, and I get impatient for change. Also I’ve found, but would like to be proved wrong there is lack of positive energy within some groups and a bit of hating going on and absolutely no sense of humour.
Hey U turn, I’m also a crazy person on an internet site. Lol. In saying that before the Occupy movement got any media coverage I had some amazing on line chats with folks from the UK and USA. I was damn impressed at the vision, courage and collective strength of those people. Bigger populations of course, but same deal as us.
I’ve just recently come onto the Standard so I can access some solidarity with like mindeds like yourselves, and I’m enjoying the intelligent discussions folks post.
Rosie, good on you for getting actively involved, its feels like a thankless task at times, but the option of not doing anything, I assume is not really an option for you?
The active community can be their own worst enemy at times, and from my experiences in AKL the same points you make apply. The underlying messages are there, but the strategy to deliver is , so far as I have seen not there. Of course you get the egos and infighting, which is only serving to derail the impact of any effort that is made.
Keep in touch with the active people though Rosie, because it will allow you get a feel for where there are peole or agendas that are best avoided, or that are serving only to relieve you of energy, and desire to help. I would suggest the same applies to working online, as it can become as big a distraction, as it can be a helpful mechanism for information, networking etc…Balance is the key , as with all things.
Never let other peoples ignorance impact on you Rosie, hard as that might be. Teh other option is for you to put your head int he sand the same way they do, but I guess , like me, that is not an option, and so we just have to accept that people genuinley do not care in the same way!
Thanks again Muzza:-) Yes, sometimes I do stand back as all those ego’s and energy sappers get a bit much. I think acting out and living your moral code is important too, like actually walking the talk to use a corny US term.I’ve met some folks in active groups that can be quite uncool and hypocritical in their actions which leaves them open to ridicule from the those they are trying convince of a better way of living/thinking.
So funny you used the term “put your head in the sand”. I’ve just used that term over on stuff.co.nz on their comments section about a UMR phone research poll that showed that being right wing made you happier…………..I would have included a reference for people to check my point I made but all my psychologhy text books are locked away in our storage unit.
You get to be online when you’re unemployed! haha. BTW, troll force that might be lurking here, I’m not entitled to any benefit so we are struggling along on one income, but at least I’m one less benefit bludging parasite eh?
Waht was that about ignorance being bliss………..
In my case, being online when I am unemployed is a psychological necessity! As a result I sacrifice other things to afford dial up, and of course the landline I need to run it. If I ever get a job, I will have the money for a decent connection but not the time.
Lots of ironies there…
It might be worth shopping around a bit for broadband deals. The entry level bundles (phone and net) at Slingshot are $80 pcm and Telstra have a $75 pcm special on now which looks excellent. I’m guessing that you pay around $50-55 now and I do appreciate that still means finding another fiver each week, but it will be worth it if you can afford it.
Thanks, I’ll look into that! Presently, I pay $10.00 a month (pre-pay) for dial up, and I suppose $48 a month for my phone, so putting those two together, it’s more than I tend to think it is… So, it might be worthwhile!
On another note Granny herald today asks “Should the government bail out the Otago RFU?”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10788548
My take very simple, we bail out banks, we bail out creditors for SCF and other corporate scoundrels….where is the ORFUs bail out? And the bail out to students? And to every other person?
Over at Kiwipolitico (posted 30 January) “Pablo” asks: Does NZ have a culture of impunity?
I quote the following passage from the post:
They can buy silence and name suppression when they misbehave; with a wink and a nod they accommodate employment for their friends and provide sinecures for each other (think of various Boards); they consider themselves better informed, in the know, more worldly and therefore unaccountable to the popular masses when it comes to making policy (think of the use of parliamentary urgency to ram through contentious legislation and the NZDF command lies about what the SAS is actually doing in Afghanistan); they award themselves extraordinary powers in some times of crisis (Christchurch) while absolving themselves of responsibility in others (Rena). They use the Police for their own purposes (Teapot Tapes and Occupy evictions, the latter happening not because of public consensus but done by summary executive fiat).
Yes, we now have a culture of impunity.
Epic truth Anne
Damm, I forgot to add link
http://www.kiwipolitico.com/2012/01/a-culture-of-impunity/
I was listening to that slime ball Farrar on National radio yesterday; have we evidence that he and Key are not the same person who can shape shift from slim ball to weasel, but the voice remains the same? Has anyone actually got evidence they are not the same entity?
The Stuff.co.nz photo of Farrar looks very similar, in terms of lighting, to the billboard photo of John Key from last year.
Anyone listening to Rod Oram slating the union at the port on Nine to Noon?
Hell no!!!
Yes, and I was disgusted… 🙁
CONFIRMED!
The Occupy Auckland endorsed petition which requests: “That the House conduct an urgent inquiry into the decisions regarding prosecutions relating to the Huljich Kiwisaver Scheme registered prospectuses dated 22 August 2008 and 18 September 2009” is being presented to the House at 2pm today – Tuesday 28 February 2012.
Thank you Labour MP for Auckland Issues, Phil Twyford who is the MP who presented this petition.
This should help cast a HUGE national and international public spotlight on the fact that the balance of power in New Zealand ‘perceived’ to be the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ (according to Transparency International’s 2011 ‘Corruption Perception Index’ – is currently being held by an arguably yet-to-be charged or convicted ‘white collar’ criminal John Banks – ACT MP for Epsom.
ACT purportedly believe in ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’ – so how come that hasn’t yet applied to the current and former Leaders of the ACT Party?
For more background information (including – the Huljich Kiwisaver Scheme registered prospectuses dated 22 August 2008 and 18 September 2009) check out http://www.pennybright4epsom.org.nz
Cheers!
Penny Bright
Well done Penny
nice one Pen
Congratulations Penny Bright.
Paula Bennett says that cleaning and fast food jobs are ‘noble’. I agree but why isn’t caring for children ‘noble’? Mums and Dads on benefits who have to spend time on courses that assist in their roles, child psychology, cooking, putting up shelves, the right use of tools would be good and could open to other education and jobs. Go into an entry level job and it prepares you for other – entry level jobs. And they are poorly paid. The government never faces how they may force people into greater poverty when they take them off benefits and give them an any-job.
Cleaning is an odd one to choose. It’s a very despised job, as I know having been one, and often carried out at or after dinner time, or early in the morning, no good if you have children. (The government says that children cannot be left at home under age fourteen. ) Or it’s on-call say with a motel, and that makes it very difficult to have a life, or to cater for family duties and child supervision and care.
Trying to understand propaganda with logic or life experience isn’t going to work – as you discover. It’s just meaningless words, based around current cultural myths and cliché, used to cover malicious intent. There isn’t meant to be any reference to reality at all.
Good news!
Trevor Mallard announced in Question Time that Murray McCully has been found in “the building”. He must have chewed through the restraints and escaped the party whips.
i did a commentary on questiontime..
..and the ‘joke’ for me was ‘where’s the bloody opposition..?’..
..with the exception of parker…(and a one-liner retort from peters to bennett,,that must have stung..)..
..every opposition party/speaker was as lame-as..
..i grade each questiontime on watchability..and other factors..
..this one got 1/10..
..and a caustic-summary..
phil-at-whoar.
@ uturn
+1
Occupy London is being closed down by the cops right about now. Nothing like dealing to sleeping people in the early hours of the morning to make policing fun.
A couple of weeks ago there was an article telling us if you are of a lower IQ you are more likely to be a RWNJ; even more evidence emerging
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/feb/27/upper-class-people-behave-selfishly
So if you are a Tory toff you are more likely to be greedy, a cheat and less caring; now there’s a surprise!
Someone yesterday said a survey in NZ concluded that RWingers were happier. So add that to the mix and we find RWNJs are Jovial Sociopathic Simpletons. Sounds exhausting!
Here’s another similar article Ianupnorth
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2095549/Right-wingers-intelligent-left-wingers-says-controversial-study–conservative-politics-lead-people-racist.html
Funnily enough this is taken from a Stuff commentor regarding the UMR research finding that people with a right wing bent are happier…………………..
Thw whole ignorance is bliss thing
Just one question today: What happened to “ambitious”?
It’s alive and well Felix, Paula Bennett has caused an ambitious rush of people seeking employment in cleaning and fast-food industries in an effort to obtain nobility.
Paula Bennett has stopped short of saying how many babies a woman on welfare can have. I am deeply concerned for the welfare of children in a single parent home when their mother has to look for part-time work if she has an another child when the second child is 12 months old.
1. Day care for children under age two needs to be of a high standard.
2. Attachment is ongoing (mother/baby) and mothers with post natal depression cannot be pressured.
3. Single parenting is very different to a two parent household.
4. Some woman have multiple births or they are very fertile.
5. Some children do not sleep well at night, so the single parent has to be up for them to avoid an accident.
Every child needs to be put at the top of the pyramid and their needs assessed because of how individual every life circumstance is. For some children to be put into a category just to satisfy a no gain welfare policy is mindless.
A study was carried out in Dunedin and it proved that child abuse increased when single parents were work tested when their child turned 6. (I need to search for the study).
The government have an arse about face solution to helping single parents as they have FAILED to do research as to what single parents want and need within reason and what they think about being turned into a second class citizen because they are raising a potential tax payer.
If I could tomorrow I would take for every minister in cabinet a 12 month old baby and get them to do a diary for a month on looking after them 24/7.
Totally agree with Paula we have to stop the 16 years olds becoming baby factories for cash, Which leads to huge Social Problems down the Line. Labour did nothing about this in its time 9 years. They just seem very content to keep people on the Dole so Social unrest may come at a Later date. As the saying goes if you want to see how a child will turn out take a good look at the Mother totally agree many of them dont paint avery good picture
james 111 are you saying that every female age 16 (legal age of consent) should not have sex incase they fall pregnant?
If so how do you propose to stop a 16 year old female having sex?
What I want to see is the budget forecast in 2012 INPARTICULAR job training/growth of jobs.
Women don’t have “babies for cash” as it costs far more than what they get.
james 111 you may find that baby factories is a myth like so many claims by National.
Read this:-
http://werewolf.co.nz/2011/02/ten-myths-about-welfare/
Hardly a big problem as less than 2% on the DPB are 16.
And. If you think that becoming pregnant to get an income is such a good choice, give them better choices. Such as a minimum wage they can live on!
Wow! Where’s your evidence that any such thing as “the 16 years olds becoming baby factories for cash” actually happens? Michael Moore (not the American film guy, but the NZ former PM) did a study years ago, that showed the overwhelming majority of DPB women to be 30-something, formerly partnered mothers of at most, 2 children. Teenage women on DPB were outnumbered 2-1 by teenage boys on DPB! (Talking of which, the daughter of the girlfriend of my late brother, became a 16 year old mother, in 1998. This girl planned to have the baby adopted – an adoptive family were all lined up – and then 2 things happened. The baby was born with huge heart defects, and the 16 year old father sued for sole custody. When Therese explained to the would-be adopters and the mother of the teen father, that her new grandson G., would need special care and on-going surgery for most of his childhood, both the would-be adopters and the teen daddy, immediately lost interest. Teen daddy wanted a cashflow, it seemed, not a responsibility.)
Treetop no not saying that but would I would like to see is limit the DPB to one child just like Clinton did in the states.
National havent had the balls to do it yet. When Clinton did it yes a democrat. The teenage pregnancy rate fell markedly they suddenly found cotraceptives because they werent going to get paid for anyh extra kids.
Some are making a living out of it now ,more than a blue collar worker gets for working 40 hours,and it isnt right.
Dear James,
Please come to grips with the concept of writing on internet forums (helpful note: writing is different from talking).
Your badly misspelled and grammatically incorrect ‘stream of consciousness’ rants are burning my eyes.
Sincerely yours,
Frustrated and annoyed
the concept of writing on internet forums (sic)
You meant to write “internet fora”.
Damn! I knew I’d make an embarrassing, Latin-related, mistake.
We’ll let you off with a warning this time.
Muphrey in full effect!
Already explained to you James that you can’t get more on benefit working and referred you to the maths (and given your right wing idiocy you should wash your mouth out for even mentioning blue collar workers as an example – like you give a shit for them).
Still I have a solution to the baby factory that should meet your right wing daddy state desires – sterilise all men. That should solve the problem and result in lots of sex occurring as well without the pregnancy risk ( STD’S etc will still be an issue though).
Women actually don’t need men to have children now – eggs can be fertilised with other eggs and sperm can be created artificially now as well. Men as a source of population maintainer is pretty old school in this modern world.
If that’s too strong an option we should just imprison any men who gets a girl pregnant – after all it should be a crime to impregnate a woman and not take financial responsibility for the resulting child.
Why those bloody men expect the taxpayer to top up the pittance that some of them pay in child support I don’t know.
They should have to pay the total cost of any benefit that the women gets – their child – their cost.
Ryall needs to improve the cost and access of contraception for every woman and in some areas e.g Whanganui delivery services are being eroded. This is what reduces the birth rate and the cost of care of complicated deliveries.
james 111 benefit bashing is not the answer. Policies which give good outcomes for children is.
I am waiting to see what is proposed for ALL children in the green paper and for inadequate parents so integenerational problems are not repeated.
My first priority is breaking an unhealthy cycle regardless of the issue. This cannot be done over night and it requires the necessary resources.
trotter has made the claim shearer and his coterie plan to take labour further to the right…
..is this correct..?
phil-at-whoar.
Trotter who?
meanwhile.. back at the topic/question…
..is he correct..?
phil-at-whoar.
Did you track down this “Trotter” fellow? What did he say?
Wouldn’t trust a guy named Trotter, sounds like he’d walk all over you.
heh