Speaking in Dubai, Key was unclear on New Zealand’s position on the bombing.
“I think the official position was we didn’t oppose the airstrikes so I’m not sure we went out and had a physical position…but by definition we didn’t oppose it.”
Asked to clarify if New Zealand supported the campaign he said: “I might have to go and check through the Foreign Affairs ministry.”
It’s tough being a casual PM when you need to know who you’re supporting in all this killing that is going on in the Middle East huh? Probably would have been wise to get a clear briefing before Vance asked the question. Probably didn’t expect a NZ journalist to casually ask it, I expect.
Now if we weren’t in Iraq (as the price of being in ‘The Club’) supporting troops supported by Iran, who are fighting Daesh, Key wouldn’t be in a pickle explaining why we may or may not support Saudi Arabia in Yemen (who also have Daesh ‘assisting’) blowing up rebels supported by Iran.
Lucky he can wing it with the Security Council thing *phew*.
I just long for a PM who knows what’s happening in NZ, in the world, and what NZ”s position is on all things, and can talk “off the cuff” about anything, and with authority. We had one of those PMs once – she was called Helen Clark. And I’m hoping we’ll have another one soon in Andrew Little. A PM who won’t make us cringe, and who won’t sound like a dork all the time !
A PM who recognises that the position is a professional one, not a celebrity one.
A PM who recognises a country is not a corporation
A PM who recognises Geopolitics is not about marketing
There is important thought provoking information in the following 25 minute video regarding education, schools, standards testing, charter schools,
different agendas, revolt etc.
Hope you will find time to view it as you may find the information very useful.
Thanks Clemgeopin.
Anyone with an interest in the way our education system is headed should view this but particularly:
Parents with young families.
Senior school students looking to make teaching a career.
Then the Joe Blo voters who have been coerced by the ministry/ministers/political parties into believing that the New Zealand education system is broken and needs to be fixed …
… and be aware of the real agenda behind the education reforms.
This link gives an inside view of how this is working out and how the Commissioners engineered an “award” .
Appointments on tertiary and teachers councils, legislation passed under urgency, short periods allowed for submissions, hiding the text of the TPPA….and on it goes.
No more!
Oh wow! Theres an image of twisted sisters “we’re not gonna take it” in Tautoko Mango Mata’s post.
Well over a thousand of us had a massive sing along to this at the anti TPPA rally in Wellington last month. It was AWESOME!!!
The jocks on radio sport were disagreeing about tailgate this morning. If those dorks are split on the issue, you know it’s hurt Key’s image right in his heartland.
Its a trial run for home.
Any female with a pony/pig tail will be required to remove them or cover up in this fashion to spare the great leader from temptation.
It doesn’t say how many women are on the mission, or who is placing the expectation on them.
The women travelling on John Key’s trade mission to the Gulf will be expected to cover up in the style of Islam when they visit Saudi Arabia later today.
So when you said “Why is John Key making NZ women behave as second-class citizens?” you actually meant “Is John Key making NZ women behave as second-class citizens?”
I presume it’s his call. If not him I think we should know who, don’t you?
It’s not a shopping trip after all. They’re representing the people of NZ on the world stage, so it’s supposedly our values on display.
Don’t you think we should know who is deciding to tell the world that the values of the people of NZ are compatible with wrapping women in sheets to appease murderous religious bigots?
Hopefully it’s someone accountable to the electorate.
So it looks like it’s Key’s call, although it isn’t very specific regarding who he had the discussion with, and we still don’t know how many women are expected to cover their filthy selves in our name.
In the United Arab Emirates, where the Prime Minster is currently visiting, the Abaya is common.
But in neighbouring Saudi Arabia it is compulsory and Mrs Key will comply.
“We had a discussion about that, in the end I think it’s a matter of accepting and appreciating their culture,” says Mr Key.
Mr Key is talking about a culture in which women aren’t even allowed to drive and will only get to vote in local elections for the first time this year.
what a tragedy Bronagh did not make the brave alternative decision not to attend in SA. I might have held some respect for her. Oh, and I wonder if she will take a lovely family album of their daughter’s art work to share in Saudi Arabia. No. I guess not. Likely said daughter would be beheaded in that country for such behaviour.
What bloody awful representatives we have. Shame on us,
My partner was required by her employer ( a public organisation) to cover up when a group of saudis were visiting her workplace in Auckland, New Zealand.
Not all Saudis are murderous religious bigots. And the women going might choose to dress in ways that facilitate their work there (the article you link has an interesting bit about women’s culture).
Still, I’d be interested to know who made the decision, why, and whether the women have a choice.
Sure, have a read of felix’s original link. The women delegate talks about how she gets to work with the women in Saudi in ways that the men can’t, and I’m guessing that respecting local customs is part of that.
I googled saudi +abaya and most of the photos looked like head and body coverings, not face coverings. I can’t really see the problem with that if that’s true. Not too different from expectations around what NZ business women have to wear. Note, I am talking about the delegates, not Saudi women who have no choice and who face severe cultural and legal penalties for not obeying.
In this situation you are probably right, and I have no reason to trust that the woman delegate being quoted is not part of Team Key. But in general if we are to send delegates there, I would rather that there were women as part of the team than just sending a bunch of men in suits who will almost certainly fail to graps the issues around women’s culture.
Headscarves are required for women under Saudi law, but exceptions are made for foreigners, with many seeing Mrs Obama’s decision as a protest against the treatment of females in the strictly Islamic nation.
[…]
The likes of Princes Diana and Condoleezza Rice also decided against covering their heads when visiting Saudi Arabia.
So not compulsory for foreigners, if that’s accurate.
Which still leaves us with the question of whether the (three?) women on the NZ trip were allowed to decide how to dress themselves or not.
I suspect that this time, the Saudis made it compulsory for ALL WOMEN to cover their heads for their own safety, knowing that a notorious hair puller was also part of this delegation.
would be interesting to see who else has refused to cover their head and body historically. Also, is Saudi one of the countries that introduced the abaya in more recent times?
@ felix
Radionz 7.30 ish, comment on human rights from about 1.40 mins and the woman spoke about 2 mins in.
There was a mention of human rights to some of the trade reps who said – one male Well, uh, no comment. A women from Maven said it’s very complex, and who are we to say what the Islamic position is and whether it’s right or wrong?
More on Maven. http://consultmaven.co.nz/nz/about-us#about-us
This perhaps reflects Maven’s approach as an independent business problem-solver with a strong connection to government. I have often wondered where our government dreams up the lacking policies that we get foisted on us. Perhaps these are the beavers chopping down our long term forests and turning them into leaky buildings!
Maven is an independent strategy and operations consultancy that was founded in 1998. Our head office is in Wellington, New Zealand….
Maven has a strong government focus. We have delivered major government reform projects across many sectors including Education, Health, Justice and Transport. Maven has led over 160 projects and assignments for more than 40 public sector clients in the past seven years alone. These range from small-scale one-off assignments, up to advising on projects over $200m in value….
We apply a sense of balance to the way we operate. We think rigorously, harness the right disciplines and provide insight – our intellectual side. This is balanced by our emotional side – our capacity to be passionate, empathetic and intuitive….
(Could be a selling spiel of high-class prostitutes catering for the corporate and civil servant trade. Sounds just what men would look for – passionate, empathetic and intuitive.)
@The Contrarian
But I thought I heard a couple of days ago that Michelle Obama didn’t cover up when she accompanied her hubby to the land of the beheaders (and I seem to remember 14 out of 17 9/11 attackers were Saudi).
‘Lesley Kennedy, chief executive of Maven International, one of just two women on the delegation, was asked about women’s rights concerns.
“I think it’s a very hard topic to actually get into, I don’t think that we can comment really too much because it’s very political, it’s very very complex.
“And you know, who are we to say from an Islamic perspective what’s right and what’s wrong – we’re New Zealanders – we have our own views on the world.
“We can’t go in somewhere else and say, ‘Well, you should do it this way’,” she said.
The other woman in the delegation, Michelle Boag from the New Zealand Middle East Business Council, declined to comment about the trip altogether.’
There are probably more than Bronagh, Kennedy and Boag.
Key’s press secretary (whose name I do not know – blonde, shorthair) is also on the trip, and Andrea Vance is also covering it for Fairfax. So that is at least two more.
You are welcome vv. I notice she keeps her hair short probably as a precaution against any ‘horsing around’ because she seems to be permanently at key’s side.
Perhaps women start morphing into men the more RW they are. I have read that male hormones intensify in men who are in positions of authority, power and decision making. Perhaps that happens in females also – the smaller percentage of male hormone expands. Think Matrons in hospitals, Prime Ministers – Jenny did not have much female empathy, Finance Minister Ruthless etc.
We (NZ) should not be doing any trade deals with these scumbag Arabs who have a shocking human rights record. Of course John Key is doing America’s bidding not ours, he is just roping us into it along the way.
Key’s excuse I presume is out of respect for the culture of a Country your visiting. Here in New Zealand we have a rather sexist cultural rule relating to women’s speaking rights, which should be thrown out the door.
I remember well Helen Clark refused to wear a dress/skirt and didn’t curtsey for the Queen, bloody good job too.
*Correction Scumbag United Arab Emirates, the ruling class oil barrons. There is a good reason other countries don’t have trade deals with the UEA, they are right up there in terms of breeching human rights.
Another point Skinny – we have a need to trade. We can’t be too picky. John will put kneeling pads on to help his busioness friends and he doesn’t care about anyone else, neither suffering humanity there or here.
Our economy has been shaped around exports and hollowed out in the middle. Easter was just few weeks ago – we are like a hollow easter egg, scrumptious for those who are fast eaters and bits of tinfoil on the floor after. Just enough for a play hat. So gladhand John, and go dry while you are there though they may loosen their strict rules for the sake of a slightly sozzled, well-oiled better deal.
I wasn’t around last week for the discussion of ponytailgate.
In the one thousand plus comments on the issue was there a discussion around the potential for Key to resign over his persistent abuse of Amanda Bailey?
Simply put, I believe he needs to go because a society should not tolerate or accept such abusive behaviour of their leader. If we do, then we have truly lost our morality and abandoned our belief in the standards expected of the PM. In fact standing down is the least he can do as his first step towards making amends to his victim.
Is there a danger that this abuse will become “last weeks news”? How do we keep up the pressure to hold the PM to account, and do this in a way that keeps respect for Amanda Bailey at the centre of any action?
I can’t see it happening at the moment Rosie. Smile and Wave will ride this out. And it’s not like he hasn’t done resignable offenses before.
Unless, the complaint to the HRC and the private prosecution go ahead. McCready is doing both, but Marilyn Waring said there were moves to approach the HRC too. I’m not sure if that’s a separate thing. You could email her and ask?
Why not? What is Key going to do? Continue standing in the middle of the field yelling “nyah nyah I’m not playing by the rules anymore nyah nyah ….. ya gonna have to throw me out” ?
Like the biggest bully in the playground always does?
tbh, I’m looking at his behaviour to Bailey in the context of the many other things he does. The man is a serial liar, why hasn’t he resigned over any number of instances? To be clear, his behaviour towards Bailey is very bad, and there is a scale here that is new (both in obvious illegality, and in how much international attention and ridicule he’s getting), but I still think he will survive this until there is a dip in the polls. That might still happen if there is legal action taken against him.
btw, I’m not saying he shouldn’t resign, I’m saying I don’t think he will at this stage. The good news is that there is no going back from this, and it will haunt him for the rest of his term. Hopefully that will impact on National too.
I also think there is a distinct probability that more of these kinds of things will happen and come to light. At some point a chunk of the MSM will need to call for his resignation, and then we might see something happen.
Yep sure I see all of that…. but it just reinforces his place as the biggest bully wanker on the schoolground giving the rules, the teachers, and all the pupils the middle finger….
such a fine example he presents week after week.
john key has become the country’s biggest loser – a complete loser
IMO what passes for comedy on telly is good indication of how things may pan out.
I thought it interesting that the generally JK cheerleading ‘7 Days’ show gently mocked the PM and then had Judith Collins on who was asked a series of patsy questions
(notable exception being the Irishman who asked Judith if honourable had a different meaning in NZ, which had the audience gasping at his impertinence!)
Ed Byrne was great when he said that, and gave her a hard stare as well. Paul Ego really had Judith Collins on her toes – loved the “whaleoil on your skin for your beauty routine” bit. I don’t think the questions were patsy at all – check out the body language and expression of Ego. Collins only laughed along because she was nervous and alone and knew she was outnumbered.
I don’t see much in the way of JK cheerleading either, they are more JK jeering these days. They’ve changed their tune.
Wilson Dixon ridiculed Key during his stand up on Comedy Gala on tv3 on Sunday, and did it really well.
However, we are largely bereft of political satire in this country and one weekend’s worth of lols isn’t going to influence much in the way pressuring Key to stand down.
Re your last sentence. The well-known, dismissive gesture (clenched fist jerked up and down) seems appropriate to hair-pulling. Perhaps it should be applied to Johnny Boy more frequently in future.
Why not? What is Key going to do? Continue standing in the middle of the field yelling “nyah nyah I’m not playing by the rules anymore nyah nyah ….. ya gonna have to throw me out” ?
Yeah, pretty much. It’s about all he can do and so legal means have to be used to remove him. Apparently there are actually legal means to do so in this case as many times there aren’t.
Thing is that if he resigns National have a high probability of no longer being in government. The Northland buy-election proves that another buy-election in Helensville could go the same way and for the same reasons. Sure, they won’t have Winston to stand against National’s sock puppet but I’m sure you’ll find that NZ1st do have some good people as candidates that could stand there.
Losing Helensville would drop the National led government down to the point where they couldn’t govern and so we’d either get a government switch or another general election which would also result in National losing the treasury benches.
He could do that but that would, IMO, make the present legal cases that appear to be forming up over his actions have even more standing in court. Essentially, he would have admitted to harassing the woman and that means that he would almost certainly be forced from the electorate seat.
Of course, if those court cases do make it to court he’s likely to be forced from the seat anyway but by not admitting anything he can make out as if nothings wrong for a little while longer. Same as Phillip Field did.
“And it’s not like he hasn’t done resignable offenses before.”
Thats part of the problem – each time he gets away with inappropriate behaviour for a PM he seems to strengthen his protection from public and media scrutiny. He has yet to be held to account or investigated for his role in Dirty Politics for instance. It’s like we have become immune to his unacceptable behaviour.
That’s why I worry, that like every other KeyFail before, ponytailgate will disappear, like “last weeks news” and just dissolve into the murky pool of KeyFails and we react with a collective shrug and sigh.
This week I’ll be able to catch up with the HRC complaint (thank for the Marilyn Waring link). The McCready private prosecution is another thing. I’m uncomfortable about that as I wonder about the motivation, as well as the victim being sidelined by some one elses agenda. I don’t think he sought Ms Bailey’s view, consent or blessing did he?
But, like you weka, I don’t see him resigning either. But in the meantime, theres nothing to stop anyone calling for it. I don’t think anyone has though have they? I don’t know, I could have missed it.
If there hasn’t then there’s something very wrong with us, that we would accept or tolerate persistent psychological and physical abuse by our leader, of a woman in an unequal power position.
If he is found guilty in a court of sexual harassment, he will be required to stand down. In fact Marilyn Waring suggested last week with Kim Hill on Morning Report that even while he is being investigated he should be stood down.,
Marilyn is white-hot angry and I think we can be sure she is working on this, albeit in the background. Maybe we just need a little patience for now ?
Oooh, she is angry. I agree with what she said. I also think that the sort of people who make up the NAct party no longer have any of the qualities of decent behaviour that some of them used to have, at least on the surface. It has turned into a party of outright bullies and would be thugs. They can’t even pretend to be civilised any more.
I have rarely, if ever, heard Marilyn Waring so angry … fuel to rocket for Key !! And hey, she brought down Muldoon and this little casual greedy nasty creepy fella is really nothing by comparison 🙂
Rosie, I think that there is probably a lot going on in the background that may not surface immediately.
Essentially there are three main strands to the whole situation as it currently stands:
– Key’s actual treatment of Amanda which may end up in charges of assault, or harassment
– Her employers’ lack of providing a safe workplace
– Rachel Glucina’s actions (and those of the Herald) in relation to journalists’code of conduct and the complaints to the Press Council.
There also a couple of side issues – eg. the role of Key’s police (DPS) minders, Key’s other recorded instances of Key fingering children’s hair, Key’s credibility on the international stage, etc.
There were hints late last week that Amanda Bailey was possibly taking advice etc from the Unite Union and lawyers*. Yesterday, certain lawyers were also offering help in respect of Press Council complaints – see my comment here http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-27042015/#comment-1006278
While admiring his intentions, I personally have reservations about McCready trying to lead in this regard, as IMO any legal action must be Amanda’s decision and I am not sure this is the case – that is, that she has agreed to McCready’s actions. I have utter admiration for Amanda going public with this; but I also would fully understand if she decided not to pursue the matter through the courts.
* Unfortunately I cannot relocate where I read this to provide a link, but the same article said that she has also had offers of employment.
Thank you Veutoviper for that concise summary of the multiple problems with this situation.
re the employer’s duty to provide a safe workplace. I had been thinking about the Health and Safety Amendment Act 2002. There is a provision within this Act that covers minimising stressors in the workplace. It’s difficult in hospo and service industries when that stressor is a customer, as there is an immediate power imbalance but when it’s the PM that power imbalance is magnified, however, we all have a right to carry out our tasks in a physically and psychologically safe workplace. Key made Amanda Bailey’s workplace unsafe for her.
I haven’t got time to find the exact clause but the general functions of the Act are here
I did get a glance at your post yesterday about potential legal assistance with the press council complaint. I hope this goes ahead too.
Yourself and yeshe believe there is more going on in the background than we can see right now, and I trust the wisdom of the two of you. I think yeshe’s right, some patience might be needed. (on my behalf that is)
rosie … just to say I am running on pure gut instinct and women’s intuition on this … I don’t know anything ‘officially’ … but my intuition is basically official enough for me !!
Well, I always look at wisdom as a blend of knowledge gained over years of learning and astute observation combined with tested and true intuition, part of which is pure gut instinct.
You may well have good reason to feel this situation will have the light of justice shine on it, all in good time 🙂
“If there hasn’t then there’s something very wrong with us, that we would accept or tolerate persistent psychological and physical abuse by our leader, of a woman in an unequal power position.”
One of the things that Bailey may have gifted to the country is the baldfaced truth that we are letting NZ be led by people like this. I understand what you are saying about Key, and his resignation should happen and would also be a great boon for the country. I’m also mindful of it’s not just Key, there are many other people in the government like this, and not just the National Party, they’re in the civil service as well in positions of power.
I’m in two minds about McCready. I have an inherent mistrust of private prosecutions but suspect that’s a hangover from the days when the justice system at least attempted to do the right thing. In this case, Bailey did a powerful political act by telling her story in the way she did. Not political as in ‘ooh, left wing blog’, but political in that she stood up and spoke truth to power and she did it on her own terms, and she did this about gender in a soceity that routinely culturally sanctions abuse based on gender. That is quite a feat. However political acts like that that are well beyond the personal don’t get to stay within indiviudal control. I don’t know enough about McCready to have a sense of him, but I hope he is doing this for the right reasons.
Hi weka, those people you speak of who are in power and abusing power, I wonder, are they simply being empowered and somewhat encouraged by Key’s continual ability to get away with it?
He is a role model and sets the bar, as a leader. All the more reason for him to resign, to set an example and reset that bar.
I understand your point that Amanda Bailey’s telling of her story is a political act. I felt she was speaking for all women who have been abused when she told her story – it’s her story alone but there are so many abused women in NZ alongside her, invisibly, in her words. Hence I understand your view that her story is universal and beyond her own control now that it is public.
I just hope that her story gets treated with respect by those wanting Key held to account (whoever they may be) and that we remain mindful that Amanda Bailey is the reason we want to see justice done, and not just use her story to get rid of Key for the sake of getting rid of Key. That would be demeaning to the victim.
Thick, black oil washed up on properties as far as Mangatapu last night after a spill in the port yesterday – with fears for surrounding wildlife.
The oil was sighted from the cove between Turret Rd and Mangatapu to the Tauranga Marina and the Port of Tauranga.
Who is going to pay for the clean up? I’m pretty sure like with Sky Sore, any buddy buddy economic developments from the Nats to big Business, seem to somehow cost the tax payers, socially and economically for the ideology.
Thanks Nats in particular Simon Bridges for destroying our country!
So much looking forward to todays Question Time. I realize Donkey wont be there, but Upston should be, and she will get the first grilling I hope. Winnie and Andy will be in their element today. Give em heaps, the GNAT pricks.
“David Brooks is an award-winning Australian poet, novelist, essayist and short fiction writer. He’s also an animal activist, committed vegan and says his latest book of poetry is a way of exposing inherent cruelty and prejudice against animals. He’s the recipient of an Australian Council for the Arts fellowship for last year – given to one “outstanding, established” writer. He was Associate Professor of Australian Literature and Director of the graduate writing program at the University of Sydney until 2013 and is Co-editor of the literary journal Southerly. He talks to Kathryn from his farm in the Blue Mountains among rescued animals”.
There was an excellent item on racial harrassment in Toronto from a Canadian man of Sierra Leone background on Whoar (search for The Skin). He sounds a really good guy but as well as his story he has specific facts and figures and says that he has been interrogated by police, in the street, more than 50 times because he is black. Police in Toronto scrutinise blacks all the tine, stop them in the street and in their home neighbourhoods, question them and write down personal details. It is like South African surveillance in apartheid.
And so the crime statistics that put blacks and any particular non-white group high, does that happen because they are being surveilled so closely and everything they do is treated as evidence of a crime in planning or commission? He quotes how they were pulled over on a highway out of town because someone in the car threw a tissue out of the window. He said his father became very scared. I think because it is known that the enforcement officers will lie and get away with undue violent or unreasnable behaviour.
Bob Jones has re-affirmed his status as an entitled bigoted relic. I hope they aren’t paying that fossil for his latest piece, re-victimising the waitress and minimising Key’s behaviour
“re-victimising the waitress” and anyone who was forced to involuntarily revisit circumstances of their own painful histories that were likely reflected in the graphic misogyny of the opening paragraph.
That the Herald would allow such a paragraph to be published speaks volumes.
Saudi Arabia should be one great embarrassment for the NZ government – not just this one, but the Labour one before.
Our “Saudi friends” have already carried out 40 public beheadings this year – Key is appalled when IS do a couple of beheadings, the state does 40 and he’s not troubled at all (and certainly not trloubled enugh to go to war over it!).
Women are legally banned from driving, have to cover up in most public places – I think there’s one city where it’s a bit less repressive – don’t have the vote in national elections, have only just won the vote in local elections – and, of course, national elections don’t mean much because the whole place is run by the “royal” family and their hangers-on, and the Saudis persistently sponsor the most reactionary Islamic fundamentalist armed groups in the Middle East and Africa, and probably parts of Asia as well.
The Saudi state was, of course, one of the outcomes of the glorious Allied victory in World War 1. In fact, there were two main rival factions in the Arabian peninsula, the one T.E. Lawrence was involved with and the Sauds. The one Lawrence was involved with was less reactionary and less fundamentalist Wahhabi. But the Brits decided to back the Sauds and, with British help, they triumphed and established a Wahhabi state. The Saud family and their cohorts could do anything they liked because they were the Western powers’ chief allies in the region, along with Israel. And they became more important after the fall of another key American stooge, the shah of Iran.
“Our “Saudi friends” have already carried out 40 public beheadings this year – Key is appalled when IS do a couple of beheadings, the state does 40 and he’s not troubled at all (and certainly not trloubled enugh to go to war over it!).”
This is a poor argument. IS weren’t beheading their own citizens who had broken laws, they were beheading citizens of other countries, to make a political statement and as an attempt at blackmail.
The US also executes dozens of people each year, but NZ doesn’t seem to do a lot about that either.
Does anyone know why or how Deborah Cone Hill is being paid to disintergrate in a national (online) paper? Before anyone asks, I’m not actually all that concerned about her. Just thought I might be missing part of the back-story, like, is it just a parody, or does journalism school now teach this stuff?
I share your quizzicalnesslessness Charles. Have you noticed that all these folks paid to have an opinion, really just have variations of the same broad set of opinions?
And when some of them finally see a part of the world they have been denying even existed it is like they are Da Vinci discovering something amazing and everyone must marvel at their epiphany?
How the MSM and its establishmentarians define and limit the boundaries of acceptable political economic discourse. NZ gets a special mention.
1. Self-censorship. Those who have previously tried to get the truth out no matter out become more reticent and prone to equivocation when reporting on “hot” issues.
2. Topic-avoidance. They start avoiding certain “hot” issues that they feel are most likely to get them into trouble.
3. Response to harassment. A few incidents of mild official harassment cause certain blogs to start watering down their content, or pulling down content in response to harassment.
4. Blacklisting. The officials start censoring content on a case-by-case basis, blocking or shutting down certain internet sites that they consider seditious.
5. Blocking communications. The officials start dealing with the “hard cases” of uncooperative individuals who remain, shutting down their communications by disabling their cell phones, shutting down internet access, and by imposing travel restrictions so that the “hard cases” are forced to remain in places where they can be watched.
6. Detention. Those found to be truly uncooperative, who try to circumvent the restrictions, are rounded up and shipped off to the above-mentioned camps.
+100 …harassment of investigative journalist Nicky Hager is a case in point….and the attempt to shut down the John Campbell Live television programme by jonkey’s friends
And dissing Glenn Greenwald.
Also Bradley Ambrose of the Teapot Tapes kerfuffle.
And Whaleoil’s attacks on David Fisher after he turned against Slater’s slime.
And the demise of TVNZ7.
And the censoring of a Youtube parody video at election time.
And the arrest of Dotcom and censoring of Megaupload without due process.
And the elevation of dense egotists (Hosking, Henry) to popular media spots.
And the lack of interest in giving straight answers at Question Time.
And the glamour and media power of the MPAA & RIAA
And the lack of transparency around SkyCity, Crosby Textor, Donghua Liu
While I don’t want another trial over this (as its been shown that the Dot Cons were, surprise, surprise lying out of their teeth) because its a waste of money I would like it to be proven just how big a liars the Dot Cons really are and how innocent Banks is
Do you believe that Banks really didn’t know who the cheque was from? Leaving aside whether it meets a criminal standard, hand on heart, do you believe that Banks was not trying to avoid potential legal liability by not reading the form?
When he was being paid a huge fee to be an Executive Director of Hujlich, he also didn’t read stuff…
I will let the Courts decide, and will accept their final determination of the facts but morally do you really think Banks is squeaky in all this?
so he didn’t sign the electoral form without reading it first? he didn’t take fees for being an executive director but didn’t read anything? he wasn’t fined for having 3 children on the back of his jetski?
It’s not compared to other politicians PR, it’s compared to the law and the ethics we expect of each other.
Yep. My first thought was that it was diversion from the governments policies of ~6% unemployment that we’ve had since 1984. People unemployed under such policies aren’t unemployed by choice.
I think you’ll find it is winzspeak for turning down the minimum wage zero hour night shift ‘job’ they have found you at a kiwifruit packhouse 37km from your normal place of residence.
In choosing to turn down this suitable job offer, you won’ t have met your ‘jobseeker obligations’ and thus your jobseeker support payments will be reduced by 50% (if you have dependents) or stopped completely for 13 weeks.
Legally a trial period can only exist by mutual agreement and therefore if there’s no agreement to have one there’s no job offer.
From MBIE website.
“Trial periods
Employers can make an offer of employment that includes a trial period of up to 90 days.
Trial periods are voluntary, and must be agreed in writing and negotiated in good faith as part of the employment agreement.”
I would think if WINZ are saying that people must take a job that has a trial period then they would be in breach of the voluntary nature of it.
It might be worth an advocacy group who has some cases raising these issues.
I would also think that if you had no guarantee of hours eg zero hour contracts then you also would be in the right to say no. There own guidelines also make reference to transport as an issue.
It’s officialese in a particular sector, but may have wider meaning. The more contexts I hear of, the better I’ll be able to understand what they’re saying, or implying, or both.
Luddite Journo on consent culture beyond sexual consent, and how we can all look at our personal interactions and how they affect consent.
A consent culture, I believe, is only something we can work towards imagining at the moment. Because consent culture would make neo-liberal capitalism impossible – why would workers consent to the greedy CEOs having so much? Consent culture would dismantle colonisation and the ongoing harms to indigenous peoples and use negotiation, justice and equity as a basis for sharing space on the earth.
In addition to organising for consent structurally, in all the ways that happens, we can and should be interrogating the personal spaces where negotiation and power sharing live. We can and should be honest with ourselves about when we are over-riding someone else’s consent. We can and should ask for help from people to listen to us, even when we are having trouble saying what is ok.
I don’t think so, because “doesn’t want to work” is as ambiguous as “unemployed by choice” – a fixed perspective is required to interpret either phrase. These people may not use the same emphemisms as the group usually associated with the phrase you offer. In fact, it most likely isn’t a euphemism. Think HR speak, and how their words often translate to almost mathematical concepts. Could be like that.
Dear Team CLive, you are incredible!
THANK YOU!
1. Campbell Live 419,410
2. 3 News 348,430
3. The X Factor 283,890
4. The Blacklist 174,260— Campbell Live (@CampbellLiveNZ) April 27, 2015
Interesting stuff from Baltimore. These started as protest over a police killing. Friends are saying agent provocateurs turned it violent. As many of the protestors were organised by church groups.
It’s sad to say but New Zealand no longer has a public broadcaster.
The National government relieving TVNZ of any of those obligations when it came into power. But there was a time in the not too distant past that the government expected TVNZ to make more than dollars and cents.
National is not interested in NZ society or culture at all – just that the rich get richer.
Any Keynesian knows that cutting the deficit in a slump is bad policy. A slump, after all, is defined by a deficiency in total spending. To try to cure it by spending less is like trying to cure a sick person by bleeding.
So it was natural to ask economist/advocates of bleeding like Harvard’s Alberto Alesina and Kenneth Rogoff how they expected their cure to work. Their answer was that the belief that it would work – the confidence fairy – would ensure its success.
Didn’t John Key and Blinglish have something to say about fairies at the bottom of the garden?
@PR I was out the meeting it is an accurate reflection but very truncated reproduction of a few of the comments made.
If you are referring to the comments made by Kevin, I’m not sure what was wrong with him, he was my preferred candidate but was just very off the mark and most unlike his normal self.
More that there seems to be a general consensus that something needs to change, the status quo shouldn’t be maintained and the party needs to grow yet apart from cannibilising Labours vote the only real option is to look at National but thats off the table
Good, I can stop thinking about Tava now he’s making it clear he wants the GP to work with any National govt. Ain’t gin a happen and he’s blown the beyond left right thing.
Pretty hard to grow and change the status quo without considering National, all they’ve really done is stated they’re keeping the status quo and don’t want to grow and have all but guaranteed Winston to be the king-maker
No wait let me guess they’re going to appeal to the “missing million”
Do watch Campbell Live tonight if you can on TV3 at 7 pm.
Tonight, a special investigation into Gloriavale's finances. 91 full-time workers who don't get paid and assets of $36million.— Campbell Live (@CampbellLiveNZ) April 28, 2015
And this:
A reminder for everyone about to drop a tenner on lunch, you can still text NEPAL to 2923 for make an automatic $3 donation. Thank you!— Campbell Live (@CampbellLiveNZ) April 28, 2015
Good, I feel very strongly about this: the buggers turned a million and a half bucks in profit based it appears upon no wages…..then paid no tax because they are registered as a religious group.
Consequently you and I may have been ripped off for PAYE, and for company tax, who knows re GST.
On top of that they are run by a convicted time serving sexual offender. Time the IRD did its job.
The worms will live in every hostIt's hard to pick which one they eat the mostThe horrible people, the horrible peopleIt's as anatomic as the size of your steepleCapitalism has made it this wayOld-fashioned fascism will take it awaySongwriter: Twiggy Ramirez Read more ...
Hi,It’s almost Christmas Day which means it is almost my birthday, where you will find me whimpering in the corner clutching a warm bottle of Baileys.If you’re out of ideas for presents (and truly desperate) then it is possible to gift a full Webworm subscription to a friend (or enemy) ...
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30am include:Rachel Helyer Donaldson’s scoop via RNZ last night of cuts to maternity jobs in the health system;Maddy Croad’s scoop via The Press-$ this morning on funding cuts for Christchurch’s biggest food rescue charity;Benedict Collins’ scoop last night via 1News on a last-minute ...
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Are we heading ...
So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...
The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashEvery morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...
Over on Kikorangi Newsroom's Marc Daalder has published his annual OIA stats. So I thought I'd do mine: 82 OIA requests sent in 2024 7 posts based on those requests 20 average working days to receive a response Ministry of Justice was my most-requested entity, ...
Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the Budget Policy Statement from the Minister of Finance tell us about the fiscal position and what to ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collective rights of Tangata Whenua. “This Bill seeks to legislate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles that are ...
I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...
Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...
Twas the Friday before Christmas and all through the week we’ve been collecting stories for our final roundup of the year. As we start to wind down for the year we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and new year. If you’re travelling please be safe on ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...
Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment:Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and , ...
“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”“ONE OF THOSE had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...
One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...
Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...
It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.This end-of-year review about the state of economic management – the state of the economy was last week – is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...
This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...
Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...
Similar to the cuts and the austerity drive imposed by Ruth Richardson in the 1990’s, an era which to all intents and purposes we’ve largely fiddled around the edges with fixing in the time since – over, to be fair, several administrations – whilst trying our best it seems to ...
String-Pulling in the Dark: For the democratic process to be meaningful it must also be public. WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in New Zealand’s politicians and journalists steadily declining, restoring those virtues poses a daunting challenge. Just how daunting is made clear by comparing the way politicians and journalists treated New Zealanders ...
Dear Nicola Willis, thank you for letting us know in so many words that the swingeing austerity hasn't worked.By in so many words I mean the bit where you said, Here is a sea of red ink in which we are drowning after twelve months of savage cost cutting and ...
The Open Government Partnership is a multilateral organisation committed to advancing open government. Countries which join are supposed to co-create regular action plans with civil society, committing to making verifiable improvements in transparency, accountability, participation, or technology and innovation for the above. And they're held to account through an Independent ...
Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the announcement by Erica Stanford — on her own, unusually ...
This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEOOur news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone and is calling on her to listen to the evidence and implement a total ban of the product. “We need ...
The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...
The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...
Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...
Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...
We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...
Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...
Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...
Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...
Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...
The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...
Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...
Come and join myself and CTU Chief Economist for a pop-up ‘Hoon’ webinar on the Government’s Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) with paying subscribers to The Kākā for 30 minutes at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream to watch our chat. Don’t worry if ...
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob HensonIn this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate.I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the ...
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
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Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
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The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
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A question that needs asking of our government
Well done Andrea Vance
It’s tough being a casual PM when you need to know who you’re supporting in all this killing that is going on in the Middle East huh? Probably would have been wise to get a clear briefing before Vance asked the question. Probably didn’t expect a NZ journalist to casually ask it, I expect.
Now if we weren’t in Iraq (as the price of being in ‘The Club’) supporting troops supported by Iran, who are fighting Daesh, Key wouldn’t be in a pickle explaining why we may or may not support Saudi Arabia in Yemen (who also have Daesh ‘assisting’) blowing up rebels supported by Iran.
Lucky he can wing it with the Security Council thing *phew*.
It’s Key’s own “Hey Clint”, moment.
what?
how?
crazy
alarming
casual
loser
baby cheeses. what could possibly go wrong ?
I just long for a PM who knows what’s happening in NZ, in the world, and what NZ”s position is on all things, and can talk “off the cuff” about anything, and with authority. We had one of those PMs once – she was called Helen Clark. And I’m hoping we’ll have another one soon in Andrew Little. A PM who won’t make us cringe, and who won’t sound like a dork all the time !
Agree Jenny
A PM who recognises that the position is a professional one, not a celebrity one.
A PM who recognises a country is not a corporation
A PM who recognises Geopolitics is not about marketing
There is important thought provoking information in the following 25 minute video regarding education, schools, standards testing, charter schools,
different agendas, revolt etc.
Hope you will find time to view it as you may find the information very useful.
Yes Clem. Watched it yesterday. Very valuable and red flag for NZ.
Thanks Clemgeopin.
Anyone with an interest in the way our education system is headed should view this but particularly:
Parents with young families.
Senior school students looking to make teaching a career.
Then the Joe Blo voters who have been coerced by the ministry/ministers/political parties into believing that the New Zealand education system is broken and needs to be fixed …
… and be aware of the real agenda behind the education reforms.
This NAct government hate democracy!
Nick Smith is trying to push through his half appointed ECAN council scheme as mentioned in March. To refresh your memory
see ” Democratic ECan “carries too many risks” says Nick Smith”
http://i.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/67438119/Democratic-ECan-carries-too-many-risks-says-Nick-Smith.
Meanwhile Kaipara carries on with its Commissioners who were reappointed until 2016
http://www.propbd.co.nz/kaipara-commissioners-reappointed-until-2016/
This link gives an inside view of how this is working out and how the Commissioners engineered an “award” .
Appointments on tertiary and teachers councils, legislation passed under urgency, short periods allowed for submissions, hiding the text of the TPPA….and on it goes.
No more!
Democratic ECan “carries too many risks” says Nick Smith
too many risks for the selfish farmers hell bent on grabbing as much of the environment as they can to stuff into their greedy gobs
Oh wow! Theres an image of twisted sisters “we’re not gonna take it” in Tautoko Mango Mata’s post.
Well over a thousand of us had a massive sing along to this at the anti TPPA rally in Wellington last month. It was AWESOME!!!
The jocks on radio sport were disagreeing about tailgate this morning. If those dorks are split on the issue, you know it’s hurt Key’s image right in his heartland.
It would be funny listening to them trying to discuss something in a mature and reasoned manner
What was the point of disagreement?
Darren Watson’s follow up to planet key:
I got your office right here.
https://youtu.be/GQrmbxtr09k
You can support his music at http://www.darrenwatson.bandcamp.com
Awww!!! Thank you grumpystilskin.
I love that man and I love his blues.
Is it true that all of the women travelling with Key to Saudi Arabia are required to cover up?
If so, why? Women on official visits from other countries don’t, so the directive can only have come from our end.
Why is John Key making NZ women behave as second-class citizens?
Its a trial run for home.
Any female with a pony/pig tail will be required to remove them or cover up in this fashion to spare the great leader from temptation.
@ Clashman
LOL
The only thing I can find is that his wife will cover up. Nothing about it being a requirement or anything about anybody else in his contingent.
Saw it here: http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/world/bronagh-key-will-wear-headscarf-in-saudi/
It doesn’t say how many women are on the mission, or who is placing the expectation on them.
So when you said “Why is John Key making NZ women behave as second-class citizens?” you actually meant “Is John Key making NZ women behave as second-class citizens?”
I presume it’s his call. If not him I think we should know who, don’t you?
It’s not a shopping trip after all. They’re representing the people of NZ on the world stage, so it’s supposedly our values on display.
Don’t you think we should know who is deciding to tell the world that the values of the people of NZ are compatible with wrapping women in sheets to appease murderous religious bigots?
Hopefully it’s someone accountable to the electorate.
Pretty sure Helen Clark did the same in Iran so it’s not without precedent.
If so that’s appalling.
Also I found this: http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/bronagh-key-to-comply-with-saudi-arabia-dress-code-2015042717
So it looks like it’s Key’s call, although it isn’t very specific regarding who he had the discussion with, and we still don’t know how many women are expected to cover their filthy selves in our name.
I’m not sure if she did as PM but she has since in her role at the UN.
Ref: http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/development-programme-administrator-helen-clark-speaks-to-news-photo/185550200
what a tragedy Bronagh did not make the brave alternative decision not to attend in SA. I might have held some respect for her. Oh, and I wonder if she will take a lovely family album of their daughter’s art work to share in Saudi Arabia. No. I guess not. Likely said daughter would be beheaded in that country for such behaviour.
What bloody awful representatives we have. Shame on us,
My partner was required by her employer ( a public organisation) to cover up when a group of saudis were visiting her workplace in Auckland, New Zealand.
So when John Key says “it’s a matter of accepting and appreciating their culture,” that applies to us as both guest and host?
I find that highly disturbing.
“Clark did it too”.
Well, no, I don’t care if Clark did it, Bronagh does it, or whatever.
Just pointing out there is precedent.
Not all Saudis are murderous religious bigots. And the women going might choose to dress in ways that facilitate their work there (the article you link has an interesting bit about women’s culture).
Still, I’d be interested to know who made the decision, why, and whether the women have a choice.
I didn’t say all Saudis are murderous religious bigots. I said we are appeasing murderous religious bigots.
Yes, I know that felix, but I was highlighting that there may be valid reasons for women to cover up that aren’t just about that appeasement.
love to know if you can find them weka !
Sure, have a read of felix’s original link. The women delegate talks about how she gets to work with the women in Saudi in ways that the men can’t, and I’m guessing that respecting local customs is part of that.
I googled saudi +abaya and most of the photos looked like head and body coverings, not face coverings. I can’t really see the problem with that if that’s true. Not too different from expectations around what NZ business women have to wear. Note, I am talking about the delegates, not Saudi women who have no choice and who face severe cultural and legal penalties for not obeying.
https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=saudi+abaya&num=100&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=R9s-VYmkLYWxmAWC7YGQCw&ved=0CC0Q7Ak&biw=1639&bih=926
Have a read of what Muslim women say about head, face and body coverings within their own cultures, it’s enlightening.
weka .. still has the tone of appeasement, doesn’t it ? sure does for me. it’s really a ‘do this, or else’.
I’m not sure what you mean. Who is saying do this or else?
Have you read what Muslim women, esp feminists say about head and face coverings?
In the case of women executives, the valid reason is to make a quid at any cost.
In this situation you are probably right, and I have no reason to trust that the woman delegate being quoted is not part of Team Key. But in general if we are to send delegates there, I would rather that there were women as part of the team than just sending a bunch of men in suits who will almost certainly fail to graps the issues around women’s culture.
No choice.
The guardianship law strips individual women of their personal
autonomy by placing them under the custody of their closest male
relative
– Kelly Le Benger
felix’s original comment suggested that some visiting dignitaries don’t (eg Michelle Obama).
Perhaps Michelle Obama’s closest male relative didn’t think she should cover up.
Is there some reason you think Michelle Obama couldn’t make up her own mind on that?
sarc with a little/ directed at the closest male relative nonsense weka, nothing more/nothing less.
tags always help.
Based on this:
So not compulsory for foreigners, if that’s accurate.
Which still leaves us with the question of whether the (three?) women on the NZ trip were allowed to decide how to dress themselves or not.
Bronagh just ain’t in that league of awareness, more is the pity.
“Which still leaves us with the question of whether the (three?) women on the NZ trip were allowed to decide how to dress themselves or not.”
Yep, that’s the one.
I suspect that this time, the Saudis made it compulsory for ALL WOMEN to cover their heads for their own safety, knowing that a notorious hair puller was also part of this delegation.
That suggests you have to have VERY powerful backing to safely exercise free will, doesn’t it?
Well yeah, I guess you have to wonder why the only examples given happen to be three of the most powerful women of their time.
which comment are you replying to?
weka… the one that said michele obama wore what she wanted.
felix
yup. and a nz ceo basically says i will wear it cos otherwise i wont get the bidnis but doesnt have the courage to actually say it
would be interesting to see who else has refused to cover their head and body historically. Also, is Saudi one of the countries that introduced the abaya in more recent times?
” in ways that facilitate their work ” – so how does us trading with them, facilitate change if when we work with them we accede to their culture?
I disagree with our trade relations with them. I’m also not suggesting that we accede to the everything about their culture.
i know. was taking your comment further not attacking it.
@ felix
Radionz 7.30 ish, comment on human rights from about 1.40 mins and the woman spoke about 2 mins in.
There was a mention of human rights to some of the trade reps who said – one male Well, uh, no comment. A women from Maven said it’s very complex, and who are we to say what the Islamic position is and whether it’s right or wrong?
More on Maven.
http://consultmaven.co.nz/nz/about-us#about-us
This perhaps reflects Maven’s approach as an independent business problem-solver with a strong connection to government. I have often wondered where our government dreams up the lacking policies that we get foisted on us. Perhaps these are the beavers chopping down our long term forests and turning them into leaky buildings!
Maven is an independent strategy and operations consultancy that was founded in 1998. Our head office is in Wellington, New Zealand….
Maven has a strong government focus. We have delivered major government reform projects across many sectors including Education, Health, Justice and Transport. Maven has led over 160 projects and assignments for more than 40 public sector clients in the past seven years alone. These range from small-scale one-off assignments, up to advising on projects over $200m in value….
We apply a sense of balance to the way we operate. We think rigorously, harness the right disciplines and provide insight – our intellectual side. This is balanced by our emotional side – our capacity to be passionate, empathetic and intuitive….
(Could be a selling spiel of high-class prostitutes catering for the corporate and civil servant trade. Sounds just what men would look for – passionate, empathetic and intuitive.)
Filthy parasitic troughers using up public funding that could be spent on something useful. Consultants are an absolute curse.
@The Contrarian
But I thought I heard a couple of days ago that Michelle Obama didn’t cover up when she accompanied her hubby to the land of the beheaders (and I seem to remember 14 out of 17 9/11 attackers were Saudi).
She didn’t,no
From Radio NZ…..
‘Lesley Kennedy, chief executive of Maven International, one of just two women on the delegation, was asked about women’s rights concerns.
“I think it’s a very hard topic to actually get into, I don’t think that we can comment really too much because it’s very political, it’s very very complex.
“And you know, who are we to say from an Islamic perspective what’s right and what’s wrong – we’re New Zealanders – we have our own views on the world.
“We can’t go in somewhere else and say, ‘Well, you should do it this way’,” she said.
The other woman in the delegation, Michelle Boag from the New Zealand Middle East Business Council, declined to comment about the trip altogether.’
So 3 women…
Michelle Boag went? *shudder*…She’s an awful woman.
3 women but they only count 2.
See, it works. They’re becoming invisible already.
Wait, what? I think your math is off.
There are two woman on the delegation, Boag and Kennedy.
Ah I see. So how many women traveling in the whole party?
From what we know – 3.
Bronagh, Kennedy and Boag
There are probably more than Bronagh, Kennedy and Boag.
Key’s press secretary (whose name I do not know – blonde, shorthair) is also on the trip, and Andrea Vance is also covering it for Fairfax. So that is at least two more.
Andrea has some good photos on her Twitter account, https://twitter.com/avancenz
“Key’s press secretary……. blonde short hair”.
Her name is Sia Aston. She was a tv3 reporter until about 2009.
Thanks – I should have known that; had checked it out some months ago, so again thanks.
You are welcome vv. I notice she keeps her hair short probably as a precaution against any ‘horsing around’ because she seems to be permanently at key’s side.
Perhaps women start morphing into men the more RW they are. I have read that male hormones intensify in men who are in positions of authority, power and decision making. Perhaps that happens in females also – the smaller percentage of male hormone expands. Think Matrons in hospitals, Prime Ministers – Jenny did not have much female empathy, Finance Minister Ruthless etc.
We (NZ) should not be doing any trade deals with these scumbag Arabs who have a shocking human rights record. Of course John Key is doing America’s bidding not ours, he is just roping us into it along the way.
Key’s excuse I presume is out of respect for the culture of a Country your visiting. Here in New Zealand we have a rather sexist cultural rule relating to women’s speaking rights, which should be thrown out the door.
I remember well Helen Clark refused to wear a dress/skirt and didn’t curtsey for the Queen, bloody good job too.
” scumbag Arabs who have a shocking human rights record”
Is there any country which doesn’t have a shocking human rights record. Is it just that their record is more shocking?
Is our record really so pure and unshocking?
I don’t think calling people scumbag Arabs is very nice or accurate – seems like a bit of bigotry seeping out of the nappy there.
Point taken Marty.
*Correction Scumbag United Arab Emirates, the ruling class oil barrons. There is a good reason other countries don’t have trade deals with the UEA, they are right up there in terms of breeching human rights.
Another point Skinny – we have a need to trade. We can’t be too picky. John will put kneeling pads on to help his busioness friends and he doesn’t care about anyone else, neither suffering humanity there or here.
Our economy has been shaped around exports and hollowed out in the middle. Easter was just few weeks ago – we are like a hollow easter egg, scrumptious for those who are fast eaters and bits of tinfoil on the floor after. Just enough for a play hat. So gladhand John, and go dry while you are there though they may loosen their strict rules for the sake of a slightly sozzled, well-oiled better deal.
I wasn’t around last week for the discussion of ponytailgate.
In the one thousand plus comments on the issue was there a discussion around the potential for Key to resign over his persistent abuse of Amanda Bailey?
Simply put, I believe he needs to go because a society should not tolerate or accept such abusive behaviour of their leader. If we do, then we have truly lost our morality and abandoned our belief in the standards expected of the PM. In fact standing down is the least he can do as his first step towards making amends to his victim.
Is there a danger that this abuse will become “last weeks news”? How do we keep up the pressure to hold the PM to account, and do this in a way that keeps respect for Amanda Bailey at the centre of any action?
Aaron Gilmore stood down for abusing waiting staff
Roger Sutton stood down for abusing staff
John Key has no choice
Agreed vto. Saw your comment last night on Open Mike and responded. Stinky hypocrisy.
I can’t see it happening at the moment Rosie. Smile and Wave will ride this out. And it’s not like he hasn’t done resignable offenses before.
Unless, the complaint to the HRC and the private prosecution go ahead. McCready is doing both, but Marilyn Waring said there were moves to approach the HRC too. I’m not sure if that’s a separate thing. You could email her and ask?
https://www.aut.ac.nz/profiles/social-sciences/professor/marilyn-waring
“I can’t see it happening”
Why not? What is Key going to do? Continue standing in the middle of the field yelling “nyah nyah I’m not playing by the rules anymore nyah nyah ….. ya gonna have to throw me out” ?
Like the biggest bully in the playground always does?
It would be in keeping I guess.
The biggest wanker bully in the school
tbh, I’m looking at his behaviour to Bailey in the context of the many other things he does. The man is a serial liar, why hasn’t he resigned over any number of instances? To be clear, his behaviour towards Bailey is very bad, and there is a scale here that is new (both in obvious illegality, and in how much international attention and ridicule he’s getting), but I still think he will survive this until there is a dip in the polls. That might still happen if there is legal action taken against him.
btw, I’m not saying he shouldn’t resign, I’m saying I don’t think he will at this stage. The good news is that there is no going back from this, and it will haunt him for the rest of his term. Hopefully that will impact on National too.
I also think there is a distinct probability that more of these kinds of things will happen and come to light. At some point a chunk of the MSM will need to call for his resignation, and then we might see something happen.
Yep sure I see all of that…. but it just reinforces his place as the biggest bully wanker on the schoolground giving the rules, the teachers, and all the pupils the middle finger….
such a fine example he presents week after week.
john key has become the country’s biggest loser – a complete loser
IMO what passes for comedy on telly is good indication of how things may pan out.
I thought it interesting that the generally JK cheerleading ‘7 Days’ show gently mocked the PM and then had Judith Collins on who was asked a series of patsy questions
(notable exception being the Irishman who asked Judith if honourable had a different meaning in NZ, which had the audience gasping at his impertinence!)
Ed Byrne was great when he said that, and gave her a hard stare as well. Paul Ego really had Judith Collins on her toes – loved the “whaleoil on your skin for your beauty routine” bit. I don’t think the questions were patsy at all – check out the body language and expression of Ego. Collins only laughed along because she was nervous and alone and knew she was outnumbered.
I don’t see much in the way of JK cheerleading either, they are more JK jeering these days. They’ve changed their tune.
Wilson Dixon ridiculed Key during his stand up on Comedy Gala on tv3 on Sunday, and did it really well.
However, we are largely bereft of political satire in this country and one weekend’s worth of lols isn’t going to influence much in the way pressuring Key to stand down.
Her MO is fascinating to watch… Still not convinced she isn’t reframing herself for a tilt at the Auckland Mayoralty.
gulp !
Re your last sentence. The well-known, dismissive gesture (clenched fist jerked up and down) seems appropriate to hair-pulling. Perhaps it should be applied to Johnny Boy more frequently in future.
he has lowered the bar so low for standards (deliberately in my opinion) that just what would be behaviour deserving of resignation?
Yeah, pretty much. It’s about all he can do and so legal means have to be used to remove him. Apparently there are actually legal means to do so in this case as many times there aren’t.
Thing is that if he resigns National have a high probability of no longer being in government. The Northland buy-election proves that another buy-election in Helensville could go the same way and for the same reasons. Sure, they won’t have Winston to stand against National’s sock puppet but I’m sure you’ll find that NZ1st do have some good people as candidates that could stand there.
Losing Helensville would drop the National led government down to the point where they couldn’t govern and so we’d either get a government switch or another general election which would also result in National losing the treasury benches.
Drax, could he resign as PM but still stay on as MP for Helensville to retain National’s power?
He could do that but that would, IMO, make the present legal cases that appear to be forming up over his actions have even more standing in court. Essentially, he would have admitted to harassing the woman and that means that he would almost certainly be forced from the electorate seat.
Of course, if those court cases do make it to court he’s likely to be forced from the seat anyway but by not admitting anything he can make out as if nothings wrong for a little while longer. Same as Phillip Field did.
Thanks for your perspective Drax. Now we wait.
“And it’s not like he hasn’t done resignable offenses before.”
Thats part of the problem – each time he gets away with inappropriate behaviour for a PM he seems to strengthen his protection from public and media scrutiny. He has yet to be held to account or investigated for his role in Dirty Politics for instance. It’s like we have become immune to his unacceptable behaviour.
That’s why I worry, that like every other KeyFail before, ponytailgate will disappear, like “last weeks news” and just dissolve into the murky pool of KeyFails and we react with a collective shrug and sigh.
This week I’ll be able to catch up with the HRC complaint (thank for the Marilyn Waring link). The McCready private prosecution is another thing. I’m uncomfortable about that as I wonder about the motivation, as well as the victim being sidelined by some one elses agenda. I don’t think he sought Ms Bailey’s view, consent or blessing did he?
But, like you weka, I don’t see him resigning either. But in the meantime, theres nothing to stop anyone calling for it. I don’t think anyone has though have they? I don’t know, I could have missed it.
If there hasn’t then there’s something very wrong with us, that we would accept or tolerate persistent psychological and physical abuse by our leader, of a woman in an unequal power position.
“If there hasn’t then there’s something very wrong with us”
yep
If he is found guilty in a court of sexual harassment, he will be required to stand down. In fact Marilyn Waring suggested last week with Kim Hill on Morning Report that even while he is being investigated he should be stood down.,
Marilyn is white-hot angry and I think we can be sure she is working on this, albeit in the background. Maybe we just need a little patience for now ?
Link for you … well worth the listen:
Marilyn Waring on Morning Report http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201751578/political-scientist-and-former-mp-comment-on-ponytailgate
Oooh, she is angry. I agree with what she said. I also think that the sort of people who make up the NAct party no longer have any of the qualities of decent behaviour that some of them used to have, at least on the surface. It has turned into a party of outright bullies and would be thugs. They can’t even pretend to be civilised any more.
I think conservatives will look back on Key’s govt in the way that lefties look back on 1980s Labour. Hard to see how they will recover.
+1 Well observed.
Thanks very much for that link rawshark-yeshe. Marilyn Waring was scorchingly clear on her position, it was great to listen to.
So John Key’s actions are in breach of section 62 of the human rights act. He has broken the law.
This just can’t be allowed to go away. Hopefully you’re right yeshe, and at least Marilyn Waring will stay with it.
I have a deep faith that many things are going on in the background … we will all keep watching.
Your faith is reassuring yeshe 🙂
I have rarely, if ever, heard Marilyn Waring so angry … fuel to rocket for Key !! And hey, she brought down Muldoon and this little casual greedy nasty creepy fella is really nothing by comparison 🙂
Rosie, I think that there is probably a lot going on in the background that may not surface immediately.
Essentially there are three main strands to the whole situation as it currently stands:
– Key’s actual treatment of Amanda which may end up in charges of assault, or harassment
– Her employers’ lack of providing a safe workplace
– Rachel Glucina’s actions (and those of the Herald) in relation to journalists’code of conduct and the complaints to the Press Council.
There also a couple of side issues – eg. the role of Key’s police (DPS) minders, Key’s other recorded instances of Key fingering children’s hair, Key’s credibility on the international stage, etc.
There were hints late last week that Amanda Bailey was possibly taking advice etc from the Unite Union and lawyers*. Yesterday, certain lawyers were also offering help in respect of Press Council complaints – see my comment here http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-27042015/#comment-1006278
McCready has rushed in and apparently was going to be filing papers in the Auckland District Court this morning for Key to be charged with assault: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11439237.
While admiring his intentions, I personally have reservations about McCready trying to lead in this regard, as IMO any legal action must be Amanda’s decision and I am not sure this is the case – that is, that she has agreed to McCready’s actions. I have utter admiration for Amanda going public with this; but I also would fully understand if she decided not to pursue the matter through the courts.
* Unfortunately I cannot relocate where I read this to provide a link, but the same article said that she has also had offers of employment.
Thank you Veutoviper for that concise summary of the multiple problems with this situation.
re the employer’s duty to provide a safe workplace. I had been thinking about the Health and Safety Amendment Act 2002. There is a provision within this Act that covers minimising stressors in the workplace. It’s difficult in hospo and service industries when that stressor is a customer, as there is an immediate power imbalance but when it’s the PM that power imbalance is magnified, however, we all have a right to carry out our tasks in a physically and psychologically safe workplace. Key made Amanda Bailey’s workplace unsafe for her.
I haven’t got time to find the exact clause but the general functions of the Act are here
http://www.dol.govt.nz/hs/law/quickguide/ammendment.shtml
I did get a glance at your post yesterday about potential legal assistance with the press council complaint. I hope this goes ahead too.
Yourself and yeshe believe there is more going on in the background than we can see right now, and I trust the wisdom of the two of you. I think yeshe’s right, some patience might be needed. (on my behalf that is)
rosie … just to say I am running on pure gut instinct and women’s intuition on this … I don’t know anything ‘officially’ … but my intuition is basically official enough for me !!
Well, I always look at wisdom as a blend of knowledge gained over years of learning and astute observation combined with tested and true intuition, part of which is pure gut instinct.
You may well have good reason to feel this situation will have the light of justice shine on it, all in good time 🙂
😀
supposed to be a friendly grin but these new emoticons seem to have other ideas !
“If there hasn’t then there’s something very wrong with us, that we would accept or tolerate persistent psychological and physical abuse by our leader, of a woman in an unequal power position.”
One of the things that Bailey may have gifted to the country is the baldfaced truth that we are letting NZ be led by people like this. I understand what you are saying about Key, and his resignation should happen and would also be a great boon for the country. I’m also mindful of it’s not just Key, there are many other people in the government like this, and not just the National Party, they’re in the civil service as well in positions of power.
I’m in two minds about McCready. I have an inherent mistrust of private prosecutions but suspect that’s a hangover from the days when the justice system at least attempted to do the right thing. In this case, Bailey did a powerful political act by telling her story in the way she did. Not political as in ‘ooh, left wing blog’, but political in that she stood up and spoke truth to power and she did it on her own terms, and she did this about gender in a soceity that routinely culturally sanctions abuse based on gender. That is quite a feat. However political acts like that that are well beyond the personal don’t get to stay within indiviudal control. I don’t know enough about McCready to have a sense of him, but I hope he is doing this for the right reasons.
Hi weka, those people you speak of who are in power and abusing power, I wonder, are they simply being empowered and somewhat encouraged by Key’s continual ability to get away with it?
He is a role model and sets the bar, as a leader. All the more reason for him to resign, to set an example and reset that bar.
I understand your point that Amanda Bailey’s telling of her story is a political act. I felt she was speaking for all women who have been abused when she told her story – it’s her story alone but there are so many abused women in NZ alongside her, invisibly, in her words. Hence I understand your view that her story is universal and beyond her own control now that it is public.
I just hope that her story gets treated with respect by those wanting Key held to account (whoever they may be) and that we remain mindful that Amanda Bailey is the reason we want to see justice done, and not just use her story to get rid of Key for the sake of getting rid of Key. That would be demeaning to the victim.
I think Key probably does lead the way for others in the party to be arseholes, but people like Bennett and Colins don’t need mentors 😉
I think between key and collins we’ve actually have the lesser of two weevils. It will be a dark day for nz if collins gets the top job one day.
nice turn of phrase !! lol
Thank Russell Crowd.
Bloody auto correct Crowe not crowd
Thick, black oil washed up on properties as far as Mangatapu last night after a spill in the port yesterday – with fears for surrounding wildlife.
The oil was sighted from the cove between Turret Rd and Mangatapu to the Tauranga Marina and the Port of Tauranga.
Who is going to pay for the clean up? I’m pretty sure like with Sky Sore, any buddy buddy economic developments from the Nats to big Business, seem to somehow cost the tax payers, socially and economically for the ideology.
Thanks Nats in particular Simon Bridges for destroying our country!
So much looking forward to todays Question Time. I realize Donkey wont be there, but Upston should be, and she will get the first grilling I hope. Winnie and Andy will be in their element today. Give em heaps, the GNAT pricks.
commentary on q-time – the scoop is the nose-picking/snot-rolling mp..
..and maclay got the ‘pants-on-fire-award’..
http://whoar.co.nz/2015/new-zealand-parliament-list-of-questions-for-oral-answer-tuesday-28-april-2015/
phillip ure will love this…
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201752159/australian-poet-and-animal-activist-david-brooks
“David Brooks is an award-winning Australian poet, novelist, essayist and short fiction writer. He’s also an animal activist, committed vegan and says his latest book of poetry is a way of exposing inherent cruelty and prejudice against animals. He’s the recipient of an Australian Council for the Arts fellowship for last year – given to one “outstanding, established” writer. He was Associate Professor of Australian Literature and Director of the graduate writing program at the University of Sydney until 2013 and is Co-editor of the literary journal Southerly. He talks to Kathryn from his farm in the Blue Mountains among rescued animals”.
There was an excellent item on racial harrassment in Toronto from a Canadian man of Sierra Leone background on Whoar (search for The Skin). He sounds a really good guy but as well as his story he has specific facts and figures and says that he has been interrogated by police, in the street, more than 50 times because he is black. Police in Toronto scrutinise blacks all the tine, stop them in the street and in their home neighbourhoods, question them and write down personal details. It is like South African surveillance in apartheid.
And so the crime statistics that put blacks and any particular non-white group high, does that happen because they are being surveilled so closely and everything they do is treated as evidence of a crime in planning or commission? He quotes how they were pulled over on a highway out of town because someone in the car threw a tissue out of the window. He said his father became very scared. I think because it is known that the enforcement officers will lie and get away with undue violent or unreasnable behaviour.
Meanwhile, US cops murder yet another young black male, this time Freddie Gray in Baltimore:
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/27/us-the-states-systematic-violence-kills-another-young-black-man/
Phil
Bob Jones has re-affirmed his status as an entitled bigoted relic. I hope they aren’t paying that fossil for his latest piece, re-victimising the waitress and minimising Key’s behaviour
The Herald is paying him to be clickbait. He generates page visits and comments. More agin him than for him but The Herald does not care.
Yeah, just read it, has always been a wanker, and his latest rant confirms it. What a tosser.
Bob Jones used to say that the Left had no sense of humour.
With Bob’s last effort, I’d have to say that the Right has no sense of honour.
“re-victimising the waitress” and anyone who was forced to involuntarily revisit circumstances of their own painful histories that were likely reflected in the graphic misogyny of the opening paragraph.
That the Herald would allow such a paragraph to be published speaks volumes.
http://i.stuff.co.nz/business/money/67973985/Young-New-Zealanders-get-a-voice-in-Ruth-Roger-and-Me
A young chap with a big future , young people might get of there Arse! and vote for one of there own telling it how it is. If I was running a political party I’d go have a coffee with him.
There was also a very good interview with him on the Sunday programme.
He came across as very thoughtful and articulate.
Saudi Arabia should be one great embarrassment for the NZ government – not just this one, but the Labour one before.
Our “Saudi friends” have already carried out 40 public beheadings this year – Key is appalled when IS do a couple of beheadings, the state does 40 and he’s not troubled at all (and certainly not trloubled enugh to go to war over it!).
Women are legally banned from driving, have to cover up in most public places – I think there’s one city where it’s a bit less repressive – don’t have the vote in national elections, have only just won the vote in local elections – and, of course, national elections don’t mean much because the whole place is run by the “royal” family and their hangers-on, and the Saudis persistently sponsor the most reactionary Islamic fundamentalist armed groups in the Middle East and Africa, and probably parts of Asia as well.
The Saudi state was, of course, one of the outcomes of the glorious Allied victory in World War 1. In fact, there were two main rival factions in the Arabian peninsula, the one T.E. Lawrence was involved with and the Sauds. The one Lawrence was involved with was less reactionary and less fundamentalist Wahhabi. But the Brits decided to back the Sauds and, with British help, they triumphed and established a Wahhabi state. The Saud family and their cohorts could do anything they liked because they were the Western powers’ chief allies in the region, along with Israel. And they became more important after the fall of another key American stooge, the shah of Iran.
There’s a good piece on Redline about the Arabian peninsula. It can be read here: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/arabian-peninsula-capitalisms-contradictions-in-a-nutshell/
Phil
+100
+100 thx Phil.
“Our “Saudi friends” have already carried out 40 public beheadings this year – Key is appalled when IS do a couple of beheadings, the state does 40 and he’s not troubled at all (and certainly not trloubled enugh to go to war over it!).”
This is a poor argument. IS weren’t beheading their own citizens who had broken laws, they were beheading citizens of other countries, to make a political statement and as an attempt at blackmail.
The US also executes dozens of people each year, but NZ doesn’t seem to do a lot about that either.
Does anyone know why or how Deborah Cone Hill is being paid to disintergrate in a national (online) paper? Before anyone asks, I’m not actually all that concerned about her. Just thought I might be missing part of the back-story, like, is it just a parody, or does journalism school now teach this stuff?
I share your quizzicalnesslessness Charles. Have you noticed that all these folks paid to have an opinion, really just have variations of the same broad set of opinions?
I have indeed.
And when some of them finally see a part of the world they have been denying even existed it is like they are Da Vinci discovering something amazing and everyone must marvel at their epiphany?
Absolutely. Although that bit is easily forgiveable.
Dmitry Orlov on the limits of western propaganda
How the MSM and its establishmentarians define and limit the boundaries of acceptable political economic discourse. NZ gets a special mention.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-04-27/limits-propaganda
+100 …harassment of investigative journalist Nicky Hager is a case in point….and the attempt to shut down the John Campbell Live television programme by jonkey’s friends
And dissing Glenn Greenwald.
Also Bradley Ambrose of the Teapot Tapes kerfuffle.
And Whaleoil’s attacks on David Fisher after he turned against Slater’s slime.
And the demise of TVNZ7.
And the censoring of a Youtube parody video at election time.
And the arrest of Dotcom and censoring of Megaupload without due process.
And the elevation of dense egotists (Hosking, Henry) to popular media spots.
And the lack of interest in giving straight answers at Question Time.
And the glamour and media power of the MPAA & RIAA
And the lack of transparency around SkyCity, Crosby Textor, Donghua Liu
That’s the Dirty Politics machine in action.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11439651
While I don’t want another trial over this (as its been shown that the Dot Cons were, surprise, surprise lying out of their teeth) because its a waste of money I would like it to be proven just how big a liars the Dot Cons really are and how innocent Banks is
Do you believe that Banks really didn’t know who the cheque was from? Leaving aside whether it meets a criminal standard, hand on heart, do you believe that Banks was not trying to avoid potential legal liability by not reading the form?
When he was being paid a huge fee to be an Executive Director of Hujlich, he also didn’t read stuff…
I will let the Courts decide, and will accept their final determination of the facts but morally do you really think Banks is squeaky in all this?
Squeaky clean no but in comparison to politicians in general then yes but really it shouldn’t have come to this in the first place
Why shouldn’t it?
If he’s dirty, and you admit that he is, then let’s clean him out.
But hes not dirty, Dot Con and his wife were caught lying
so he didn’t sign the electoral form without reading it first? he didn’t take fees for being an executive director but didn’t read anything? he wasn’t fined for having 3 children on the back of his jetski?
It’s not compared to other politicians PR, it’s compared to the law and the ethics we expect of each other.
Thats all well and good but its about this case not whatever else hes done
This case is about John Banks signing false declarations so he could pretend he didn’t know who was donating to his election campaign.
Do you even read the links you post?
“how innocent Banks is” ? i just fell off my chair with laughter.
Me too.
if you can accept that Banks cannot remember a helicopter ride to a mansion,you can accept anything he says.
Banks isn’t innocent. He really did sign a document as accurate when it wasn’t. In fact, he’s done it a number of times.
it is International Workers’ Memorial Day ,one party leader remembered.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1504/S00352/workers-safety-paramount.htm
Here’s a question for ten (points),
Q: What exactly does “unemployed by choice” mean in today’s language?
This is not a trick question. Some of you will likely know. It doesn’t mean retired. Please give context with your answer, thanks.
I can think of a number of things it could mean, depending on who used it. Why are you asking?
Yep. My first thought was that it was diversion from the governments policies of ~6% unemployment that we’ve had since 1984. People unemployed under such policies aren’t unemployed by choice.
Deciding to be unemployed despite having a job one could partake in if so desired?
I think you’ll find it is winzspeak for turning down the minimum wage zero hour night shift ‘job’ they have found you at a kiwifruit packhouse 37km from your normal place of residence.
In choosing to turn down this suitable job offer, you won’ t have met your ‘jobseeker obligations’ and thus your jobseeker support payments will be reduced by 50% (if you have dependents) or stopped completely for 13 weeks.
You will no longer be unemployed.
Choice eh.
You can turn down work if it’s not suitable.
Here’s the guidelines off the WINZ website.
http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/income-support/main-benefits/jobseeker-support/suitable-employment-01.html
Trial periods are an interesting one.
Legally a trial period can only exist by mutual agreement and therefore if there’s no agreement to have one there’s no job offer.
From MBIE website.
“Trial periods
Employers can make an offer of employment that includes a trial period of up to 90 days.
Trial periods are voluntary, and must be agreed in writing and negotiated in good faith as part of the employment agreement.”
I would think if WINZ are saying that people must take a job that has a trial period then they would be in breach of the voluntary nature of it.
It might be worth an advocacy group who has some cases raising these issues.
I would also think that if you had no guarantee of hours eg zero hour contracts then you also would be in the right to say no. There own guidelines also make reference to transport as an issue.
It’s officialese in a particular sector, but may have wider meaning. The more contexts I hear of, the better I’ll be able to understand what they’re saying, or implying, or both.
Luddite Journo on consent culture beyond sexual consent, and how we can all look at our personal interactions and how they affect consent.
http://thehandmirror.blogspot.co.nz/2015/04/michael-buble-teaches-consent.html
Never heard the term, but I assume it means “Doesnt want to work”. Others, I’m sure, may be able to conflate it to something it isnt.
I don’t think so, because “doesn’t want to work” is as ambiguous as “unemployed by choice” – a fixed perspective is required to interpret either phrase. These people may not use the same emphemisms as the group usually associated with the phrase you offer. In fact, it most likely isn’t a euphemism. Think HR speak, and how their words often translate to almost mathematical concepts. Could be like that.
John Campbell tweeted this:
Interesting stuff from Baltimore. These started as protest over a police killing. Friends are saying agent provocateurs turned it violent. As many of the protestors were organised by church groups.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-university-of-baltimore-closes-amid-high-school-purge-threat-20150427-story.html#page=1
https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/freddiegray?source=feed_text&story_id=829210653836349
Native Affairs – Future of Broadcasting – Part 2: Charter
National is not interested in NZ society or culture at all – just that the rich get richer.
Maori TV is the brightest beacon of decent journalism on the NZ media landscape IMHO.
The confidence fairy bleeding
Didn’t John Key and Blinglish have something to say about fairies at the bottom of the garden?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/68058200/green-mps-say-coalition-with-national-government-off-the-cards
I hope this was just the reporting because otherwise they sound like a bunch of numpties
You mean because the correct phrasing would be “off the table”?
Well i don’t know about you but my opinion of journalists is that used car salespeople are more trust-worthy
@PR I was out the meeting it is an accurate reflection but very truncated reproduction of a few of the comments made.
If you are referring to the comments made by Kevin, I’m not sure what was wrong with him, he was my preferred candidate but was just very off the mark and most unlike his normal self.
More that there seems to be a general consensus that something needs to change, the status quo shouldn’t be maintained and the party needs to grow yet apart from cannibilising Labours vote the only real option is to look at National but thats off the table
But yeah the space stuff didn’t sound too good
Good, I can stop thinking about Tava now he’s making it clear he wants the GP to work with any National govt. Ain’t gin a happen and he’s blown the beyond left right thing.
Pretty hard to grow and change the status quo without considering National, all they’ve really done is stated they’re keeping the status quo and don’t want to grow and have all but guaranteed Winston to be the king-maker
No wait let me guess they’re going to appeal to the “missing million”
If you weren’t so obviously concern-trolling I’d explain to you that the Green world-view and philosophy is entirely incompatible with National’s.
But you are, so there’s no point.
+1
Yeah. I’d hate to see him in any position of leadership. Wanting to be at the centre of any government? What the hell?
Do watch Campbell Live tonight if you can on TV3 at 7 pm.
And this:
Good, I feel very strongly about this: the buggers turned a million and a half bucks in profit based it appears upon no wages…..then paid no tax because they are registered as a religious group.
Consequently you and I may have been ripped off for PAYE, and for company tax, who knows re GST.
On top of that they are run by a convicted time serving sexual offender. Time the IRD did its job.