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.
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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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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 cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
Photo by Alvan Nee on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive One minister is talking tough while a colleague – whose ministry had acted tough and drawn a barrage of flak – has shown an official softening. Some ministers are doing what Labour was good at, which is distributing public funds to causes regarded as worthy or ...
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 ...
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 ...
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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