Yes and it gives RNZ a good chance to insert a more right wing person into Morning Report.
Just a thought how do people think Geoff would fit into taking over Chris Laidlaws Sunday morning slot. It would be quite a different slot and with better hours the Morning Report.
And would only occupy a couple of days a week.
Geoff can retire with distinction. But he is too old and right wing to take over from Chris. There seem to be few names brought forward that aren’t already well known. There must be some thoughtful, smart middle aged men who have a wide viewpoint.
And Berlusconi is 77. Why would old men be given so many years in power. It is a job for middle aged not pensioners who can’t give up the baubles. They get into a rut that deepens. Look at Netanyahu.
Rest assured, Europeans have condemned this men. If he goes back into Parliament all hell brakes loose. There are serious problems to be solved and this is no playground for “misunderstood” millionaires trying for a playground.
This’ll be the “on-Broadway” show of 2014. Thank goodness for the excellence of Paul Davison QC. And KDC’s freed-up bucks ensuring it reaches the stage.
ALL industrial food production is damaging to the environment. Full stop.
Non-industrial food production, well it depends on the population, geography, climate etc whether it’s better to grow meat or plants or both, but there are basically no historical accounts of fully vegan cultures, ever, so what does that tell us?
The expectations of the eaters is a huge part of it as well.
Veganism is a great choice for individuals, but it’s not going to work for populations. I think this is even more true going into a peak resource/AGW world.
“Interest rates in NZ are higher than those of most other developed countries around the world and NZ’s cost of equity is certainly not lower than overseas companies so this implies the weighted average cost of capital calculated in an overseas investors DCF model is likely to be lower therefore the DCF valuation of Synlait Farms, Fletcher Forests and NZ Farming Systems is likely to be much higher for a buyer overseas than a local buyer.
If in China the government is prepared to lend the company making the takeover at a low or zero interest rate then their WACC and thus NPV will be much higher so independent experts and independent directors will inevitably say sell. The NZ Takeover Panel, Federated Farmers, politicians etc, need to be urgently aware of these issues.”
Kiwi’s will never be able to compete against overseas buyers…we need to implement a regulatory solution before all of our assets (Dairy Farms) are purchased by overseas buyers. This is scary.
Worse. Cant even buy a tin of edible bake beans thanks to the rigged market here. Cheap foods are essential for many but supermarkets are taking unsold tins and reheating them and them dumping them onto the cheaper supermarkets shelves. So the owners get a share boost when they turn unsellable stock into seemingly good food, and you stiff (me) gets to throw out a tin of bake beans. I’ve had rusted kernal corn tin, I’ve had rusted tomato tins, its getting bad when you can’t have a backup food supply in the pantry. And its the cheap foods! No wonder S.Auckland go out for takeout, when they get burnt by supermarkets since its a real risk when you have to write off a meal because bad tin of tomatoes got dumped in with the mince.
And in part its the car cult, that makes it more time consuming to get to the one supermarket, in and out of a large car park and so you’re not about to go to the competitor to check pricing.
We live in a wasteful consumer nightmare.
Much easier to hire a lawyer and get your former partners employees to rag on them. Revenge in the rich mans world.
Imagine that, nobody surely would believe someone if they said they stole a quarter of a million because the person they were working for was doing drugs and wouldn’t mind. When did self admitted thieves becomes so convincing? Oh, wait, when a rich prick uses their immense media clout to smear their exit.
Its like the roastbusters, why do people believe if they admit wrong their words are now unassailable. Why does Key get away with his open for business, we can sell the farm, its good for NZ? Well because the media here spin the great leaders every waking statement as our last great hope to stave off depression and malaise. Yet the fact is we’ve only have growth because returning kiwis escaping world depression, earthquakes, and foreigners buy low tax rental gain out of the NZ economy.
If I claimed world calamities, natural disasters and selling out cheap (shit in the waterways of NZ and farms selling product overseas and avoiding tax here), as down to me there would be a lynch mob wanting to stop me. Key gets bloody sainted for his handling of the economy.
Its just lies and spin, no wonder people are leaving TV its all lies and spin.
People leaving NZ. It has got so bad that though it’s chancy in Australia, people make a considered decision that, for them, this country has nothing and cares nothing for them as citizens. So they are making a rational decision as to the best of two unsatisfactory options, and choose to go to Australia even with the punitive, discriminatory conditions they have imposed on a slight excuse.
The right wingers in NZ Labour, followed by most of National, are taking (have taken) the country back to the state of Britain when our old relatives left to make a better life! Now is there anywhere in the English-speaking world where it’s the main language, that has a standard of politics that matches the expectations that modern, advanced, educated peoples expect?
The Australian policy toward NZ was introduced by Howard who dumbly ignored good government procedure and decided to (in the vain of Thatcher) to demand fiscal neutrality.
So Howard wanted free trade, common rules, in goods and services, but not in employment.
And Clark could do nothing, because how Australia impliments its laws is its business, and hell it was a damningly stupid policy, as it harms free movement of employees in what essentially is a free market between NZ and OZ.
But the media were silent, nice neo-liberals must not be threatened by bad press at their communism/national socialism.
Enter Key, who is just as naive about looking fiscally stupid when legislating. The Casino license wasn’t the first and wont be the last neo-liberal ideological policy that harms free trade.
I think it highlights the calibre of directors on boards in New Zealand. They contract an outfit like Grant Samuels to do the analysis, and Brent Sheather has shown that the analysis is a crock of bull shit (maybe they put new graduates onto work like this). Then BoD rely on this lightweight analysis to support enormous decisions….NZ BoD are still a pack of the old boys club. I understand that Labour have a policy to put a halt to sales of farm land to foreigners…maybe someone can confirm?
I understand that Labour have a policy to put a halt to sales of farm land to foreigners…maybe someone can confirm?
Can’t recall if it was Goff or Shearer who said that Labour would limit sales of land greater than 5ha. Which I considered a little stupid as it would do nothing for the house prices which were also being driven up by foreign buyers.
I just dont get why people are willing to risk their health, the environment and be complicit in the terrible cruelty involved with eating meat and dairy. A vegan diet can be delicious so what is the problem?
Eating meat or dairy per se doesn’t damage health (plenty of healthy people and cultures that eat meat). It’s the kind of meat and how it’s eaten that affects health.
I know a couple of vegans, and they don’t get sick.
They have however spent a great deal of time researching and educating themselves on food and dietery requirements. Both take small amounts of suppliments, trace elements, selenium etc.
A fair amount of time each week is also spent on sourcing top quality fresh foods.
Being a vegan is not a decision that should be taken lightly, and involves significant effort and time to ensure you remain healthy.
“I know a couple of vegans, and they don’t get sick.”
Yes, I do too. I also know some vegans who have significant health problems. But that is all beside the point. I didn’t say some people can’t do well on a vegan diet, I said most people can’t. The fact that some people do well doesn’t mean everyone can, and the illogic of trying to argue that is astounding.
There have been no vegan cultures historically. IMO that’s because it doesn’t work at the societal level. Humans can’t sustain themselves and reproduce on a vegan diet. If they could, we would have veganism turning up in the biodiversity of evolution.
I think the main reason there are so many vegans around now is because it’s easier to be vegan in an oil economy. Try doing it pre-industrial and it gets much harder. There are some people who will have the kind of metabolism to handle only plant nutrients, but I just don’t see any evidence that large numbers of humans are adapted to this.
Heart disease, and probably the high rates of cancer are much more likely to be related to a high and refined carbohydrate diet than a meat one. But like I said, it’s not the meat per se, it’s the kind of meat and how it is eaten. Lots of cultures have meat in their diets and don’t have high rates of heart disease. I bet that grain and antibiotic fed beef in the US is a contributor to poor health stats there. But that’s a very different kind of meat than what humans have been eating historically and in evolutionary terms.
Some people’s health improves on a vegan diet for sure. Others can do it for a period of time and then return to eating meat/dairy etc for health reasons. Others never to well on it. If you are unaware of the people that have stopped being vegan for health reasons I suggest this is because you are evangelical and those people don’t talk to you, or you don’t listen to them.
We are only now back at the point where we lost in 2008!
Of every 20 people 9 are still supporting National, 7 Labour, 2 the Greens, 1 NZFirst and 1 between the Maori and small parties.
In conventional terms, David Cunliffe has to get two more people to move from another camp into the Labour camp: however engaging with the enrolled non voters is where the icing on the cake is to be found.
We must get the re-organisation of new (mainly Auckland) LECs sorted before Christmas and get on quickly with engaging the ENVs and the swing voters.
I know there’s lots of water to flow under the bridge yet before the Christchurch Town Hall restoration is realized but Warren and Mahoney’s plans look awesome. Good on the Christchurch Councillors for doing the right thing in choosing restoration for one of NZ’s most important post-war buildings in spite of Gerry Brownlee. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9450595/Town-Hall-call-likely-to-proceed
..a homage to post-war dick-stroking/building the biggest/best town-hall competitions..
..(why not go the whole hog..?..throw a few more mill down that piss-hole..and build a big phallic-symbol next to/towering over..this new/flash town hall..?.)
..for once i agree with brownlee..
..christchurch was offered a much better multi-use building for that same money..
..a real asset..
..and these idiots wedded/welded to colonial-pastiches of/from the past..
..they won..
..$127 million for a photo-set for when the mayor gets all flashed out in that drag that they wear..
It’s a hideously ugly building and the performing arts community in Christchurch don’t want it kept because it doesn’t suit their needs. They’d rather have new purpose-built venues with the money instead.
Not everyone thinks it’s ‘hideously ugly’ Lanth. In fact quite a lot of people think it’s Sir Miles Warren’s finest building and arguably the most important public building built in the post-war period in NZ.
We need some of the fabric of our previous city to stitch the new one to. Waaay too much of the city has been knocked down, leaving the place barren and bereft of any reference to our previous place. Imo this referencing is essential for our city but it has been forgotten in all the hubbub and charge to the bright and shiny.
The building has nationally significant architectural kudos and is a fantastic example of the pre-earthquake Christchurch / Warren & Mahoney style.
Your assessment is inaccurate. Not all that fabric was colonial by any means – that indicates your lack of intimate knowledge of the city. And anyway, so what re some colonial fabric… is one of the most significant aspects of NZ history. I am part colonial background and proud of what my people achieved.
Your comments about british / what school did you go to / class system is common with Christhurch and it has cred, but the town hall fits into that not one iota.
And finally I think the idea behind linking the past and the future via a stitch in fabric has flown way over your head (“get a new one”).
You have let your personal prejudices about Chch blinker yourself…. silly … eh
I suspect, and hope, we will see more of this type of protest action. Blocking roads is a visible way of showing dissent and it does disturb their exploitative activities, at least for a while.
The demonstration south of Towai and just north of the railway crossing at Waiotu began at 10am. A Radio New Zealand reporter at the scene said up to 50 protesters lined the highway, forcing steams of traffic including logging trucks to take a 28km detour on narrow winding back roads. The road reopened about 12.25pm.
Police said they were powerless to remove protesters because the highway at that point traverses land that was never surveyed or sold to the Crown, which makes it Maori customary land.
You make a point, you flex your muscles, then you back off graciously under your own power. You get all the upside of the media coverage, looking in full control, and being generous to boot.
There’s a similar piece of road on the way to Whananaki North, where a certain route was surveyed, but when the road was built, the contractors decided there was an easier route to take. Although those are the only two instances I know about, I wouldn’t be surprised if it were common all over Northland.
Interesting point. It relates to this article too I believe even though it is man on man.
Why should we care about how grown men address bullying? We should care because just as Jonathan Martin is being told to “man up,” so are young boys all over the country when they are bullied. Boys are told that when they cannot physically confront a bully they are inadequate and unworthy. They are taught to remain silent in the face of insurmountable violence because speaking out is a sign of weakness, or worse, femininity. Too many boys are left with nowhere to turn when bullying makes trauma a daily experience. In this sort of environment can we really be surprised that boys are committing suicide, developing depression, and lashing out violently at incredibly high rates?
As a guy at school you fight back, and you lose
And the next day you fight back, and you lose again.
And you keep fighting back whenever you are bullied no matter how much damage you sustain.
Even if you never win. Every day.
And other people will start to intervene, because they know when it starts, you will keep getting up no matter how much punishment you take. Because people start to feel sick when they a small boy get beaten ot a pulp every day by a larger boy.
But even if no one intervenes the bullies eventually give up because you are simply too much work and it’s no fun anymore.
And when they eventually give up you’ve won. But you have to be prepared to take a lot of punishment.
That only works for physical bullying though. The way girls bullied other girls at school using all of the social tools available to them to isolate, vilify and harrass them, that stuff would go on for months.
At least as a guy you could do something, even when you lost and got the shit kicked out of you, you were still in control.
Naturesong – and what if you don’t fight back but go to the teachers, parents or police – what do you think of those boys? What adjective would you use to describe them?
This attitude of fighting back is detrimental and absurd imo.
I think the boys are trying to figure out how to prevent the abuse from continuing, and are doing whatever they must to make it stop.
The only boys I would pass judgement on in this instance are the ones doing the bullying.
If going to parents, school teachers, police makes it stop, that would be the best outcome.
But, having been down that road myself as a child, it didn’t work for me. It just made it worse.
As a child, if you bring in authority from the outside of your peer group to solve an issue within your peer group, you lose the respect of your peer group, making you a target for bullying.
Don’t you remember what the social norms were like when you were a kid?
If you are not able to walk away or talk your way out of it, I absolutely advocate defending yourself as vigorously as you are able. If someone whats to bully you, make it cost them.
Not because of any judgement of whether you are more of a “man” if you use your fist.
Generally speaking if you are using your fists, it means you already lost the first part of the battle by not being able to walk away or talk yourself out of the situation.
Maybe you didn’t get bullied at school, I did.
I remember living in fear for months, and the only thing that stopped it was when I realised that I really didnt have anything to lose, I was already getting the snot beaten out of me on a regular basis.
So yes, fight back with every ounce of your being!
And when you see someone else being bullied, make those bullies stop as well.
Don’t you remember what the social norms were like when you were a kid?
What social norms? Might is right? What about the autistic children who don’t pick up on the “social norms” at all, ever?
IMO, one of the reasons that we have continuing rape culture and violence is because children aren’t taught how to socialise – they’re left to work it themselves. Unsurprisingly, they don’t do to well.
It is concerning. There was this article in the Independent (UK) a day or 2 ago, about how children as young as 12 are being sexually abused and raped by other children, including gangs, of a similar age:
Children as young as 12 are carrying out sexual violence against each other, according to “profoundly distressing” evidence highlighted in an official report.
The victims of these crimes are as young as 11, a damning report by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England has found.
The scale and nature of sexual attacks – including rape – indicates a “deep malaise” within society that needs to be addressed.
[..]
Rape is considered “inevitable” and “normal”, especially by gang members, and such cases of sexual violence were found not just in deprived, inner city neighbourhoods, the report says, but in every area of England.
[…]
Research conducted by Bedfordshire University into sexual violence in gangs revealed two thirds of the young people questioned (65 per cent) knew of young women who had been pressurised or forced into sexual activity, while half could provide examples of youngsters offering sex in return for status or protection.
Two fifths (41 per cent) said they knew of individual cases of rape, while over a third (34 per cent) gave researchers examples of gang rape.
Nearly two fifths (39 per cent) of the young people who responded to the survey said they knew of cases of youngsters exchanging sex for drugs, alcohol or to pay off a debt, while almost a third (31 per cent) gave examples of girls being used as bait to attract and “set up” male members from rival gangs.
Good to see that sort of questioning of those particular codes of masculinity.
The way girls bullied other girls at school using all of the social tools available to them to isolate, vilify and harrass them, that stuff would go on for months.
And for rape and sexual violence, which is most usually against those with less social or physical power, (especially women/children) there’s usually a mix of physical and psychological abuse/torture (see for instance Titford).
“Len Brown’s office last night confirmed that the Auckland Mayor has not complied with the council code of conduct rules over a trip to Hong Kong.Responding to an urgent request under official information laws by the Herald, Mr Brown’s chief of staff, Phil Wilson, owned up after chief executive Doug McKay allowed the issue to simmer for two days.Mr Wilson said he understood Mr Brown did not file an annual return of interests by July 31 under the code of conduct because it was under review at the time.”As a consequence, elected members – and myself on Len’s behalf – did not file returns understanding they would be requested to do so at a later date,” Mr Wilson said.”
Bill Ralston: “You have to trust Anadarko, really”
As you read this, remember that Ralston calls himself a “journalist” The Huddle, NewstalkZB, Tuesday 26 November 2013, 5:40 p.m.
Larry “Lackwit” Williams, Jock Anderson, Bill Ralston
“Newstalk ZB is for ignorant louts, the intellectually challenged and the modern day version of the 1930s brown shirts.”—Anne, The Standard, 9 August 2013
LARRY “LACKWIT” WILLIAMS: Issue number one: the Greenpeace protest against Anadarko off the Raglan coast. JOCK ANDERSON: Yes, it’s nothing but a publicity stunt, and they went there in their boat probably powered by a diesel engine in the calm seas. WILLIAMS: Yep. BILL RALSTON: Exactly! Greenpeace is now trying to create this sense of urgency, but it’s not going to work! They should have tried to take legal action earlier! Perhaps the courts will restore some sanity and sensibility to the question. Look, we’ve had deep-sea drilling for years! And if Anadarko say they have the best systems in the world, you have to trust them, really. [1] This is nothing more than grandstanding by Greenpeace! WILLIAMS: They’re flush with cash! BILL RALSTON: Ha ha ha! They’re as rich as some of the oil companies! Ha ha ha ha ha! WILLIAMS: Ha ha ha ha ha! JOCK ANDERSON: Greenpeace twists the arms of the friendly media. WILLIAMS: Yep. BILL RALSTON: Yep. JOCK ANDERSON: Anadarko has been consistent throughout, but Greenpeace are just in it for the publicity! BILL RALSTON: They do phased campaigns, so they will have to step it up from now on. Next they will try to board the vessel. JOCK ANDERSON:[drily] They’ll chain someone to the drilling rig underwater perhaps.
……[Long, awkward pause]……
BILL RALSTON: Ahhh, ha ha ha ha ha! WILLIAMS: Back after the break.
……Advertisements……
WILLIAMS: Issue number two: David Cunliffe might buy the assets back! BILL RALSTON: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! He might, he might not! WILLIAMS: Yep. BILL RALSTON: It’s the classic stance of politicians: a foot in both camps. And it will DOOM him in the end! He is a coward. Give the government credit: they do tell you what they will do. But with Labour, there’s this duplicity. I just think it’s duplicitous. WILLIAMS: Duplicitous. JOCK ANDERSON: This thing’s going to cost nine million dollars, and it’s a strangely worded referendum. Bill’s one hundred per cent right on this. This guy should be picking his campaigns very carefully. He’s trying to be all things to all men. BILL RALSTON: He needs to take a strong stand! WILLIAMS: Bill, I think Key’s got him cornered on this! BILL RALSTON: Yep.
WILLIAMS: Jock, issue number three: MM Bubbles. It’s charging extra to wax up fat people! [2] BILL RALSTON: Ha ha ha ha ha! JOCK ANDERSON: Bubbles is the gross character in Little Britain! WILLIAMS: That Bubbles, and that series, that was a classic! BILL RALSTON: Ha ha ha ha ha! WILLIAMS: Bill Ralston and Jock Anderson on the Huddle. It’s ten to six.
As always, Morrissey, these quotes just make me want to punch the pundits in the face. We have to trust a fucking oil company? These people are psychotic.
They are not psychotic, just intellectually lazy, and obedient repeaters of government talking-points. NewstalkZB, like Radio Live, is pretty much a National Party megaphone.
Paddy Gower in his farticle on TV3 claims that the Greens’ leadership challenge is way crazier than Colon Cray’s belief in chemtrails. I guess that mindset is sort of expected when you’ve been a Right Wing’s colon-dweller for too long.
The day I agree with David Farrar is an exceptionally sad one, but I have to say I was horrified to hear Deborah Russell, Massey university lecturer, regular feminist blogger, and wannabe Labour party candidate, on Jim Moras show yesterday basically advocating censorship of debating topics in relation to the mild storm in a teacup being generated by the New Zealand British Parliamentary Debating Championships which were hosted by Victoria University last weekend when they debated that “This House, as a parent, would tell their daughter to drink responsibly to avoid sexual assault”.
Universities are meant to be bastions of free speech. End of story. No ifs. No buts. The idea that anything an ivory tower feminist deems a thought crime must not be discussed is simply intolerable in a free society.
Deborah Russell is everything that is wrong with modern feminism – middle class, middle aged, academic, completely out of touch and now wanting to dictate what people are allowed to discuss in public.
Labour needs her as a candidate like it needs a hole in the head.
Yeah, what we need is ageist, sexist, anti-academic gits like yourself to tell us who to put up as candidates. That’ll really help.
And as to the debate, whoever thought that topic was appropriate should be prevented from ever making such an awful decision again. That’s the actual ivory tower academic thought crime, right there.
Sanctuary has a point imo. You watch Labour sink back to its usual position in the eyes of many people if it gets back into power next year. The sinking will be due to the those same factors which drove people mad when Helen had the wheel – being told what to do and think by certain types. Betcha. I see no evidence that this particular feature of the left has changed. At all.
Running alongside this monumental risk with Labour is the fact that the Nats will dump neoliberalism and morph their economic policies to line up with the general populace mood change for less neolib shit.
Fair enough, DtB, the topic only reduced some participants to tears; but who cares, they were only women, eh. Probably their time of the month or something equally trivial.
From the news report:
“The spectator said many of the female participants in the tournament were adamant they did not wish to engage in the debate, but were pressured into “hardening up” and arguing the motion.
“What resulted were many of the male debaters literally laughing at their female peers as they tried to defend their own rights to consume alcohol and have consensual sex, and there was also much joking about the circumstances in which sexual assault occurs,” she said.
Participants were reduced to tears both during and after the debate, she said.
“One woman began crying during the debate which she participated in, and others were crying after the debate, for reasons ranging from personal experiences with rape, to the sheer shock of feeling they had to defend those rapists.” “
One person point of view, uncorroberated by anyone else there, is enough to trigger the censorship police? Good grief, what sort of country do you want? One where sort of commissar can stand up at a debate and invoke their powers under the suppression of disagreeable thoughts act and shut the debate down?
Actually, I expect that our august institutions are capable of saying to themselves, in their decision making process, “Hey, this might just be a little bit of an inappropriate topic and maybe we should use our supposed incredible intelligence to sidestep the issue by choosing another topic”
How dare we demand that they think their bs through – if someone does something jerky then they deserve to be called on it. This *is* free speech. They said/did something stupid. People responded. Ball is now back in their court.
Love how things like this reveal the thin facade that “civilized” citizens hide behind when it comes to progressive issues – the lessons haven’t been internalized, it’s all just an act and when these situations come along they no longer have any lines to follow and the mask slips
There was an inherent misogyny in the topic, it was a wolf whistle to male debaters to attack the female debates on nothing but their gender. Guidelines should rule out any topic that enables debaters to attack the others at this level. But as a institution it’s my experience debating is ruled by heterosexual, older white males – of course any attempt to keep them in line is labelled ‘censorship’. Persecution politics, stop playing it, we know what you’re doing and we’re damn sick of it.
Not much else to add other than to be ashamed at all those otherwise relatively enlightened people who can’t see the inappropriateness of such a topic for debate. As QOT pointed out in her post, there are plenty of ways to be edgy and challenging without doing this bull
Look, just to be clear – I agree it was an inappropriate topic. But I’ll be damned if I think they should be PREVENTED from debating it by some sort of thought police directed by the likes of Deborah Russell.
I really can’t be bothered engaging too much on this anymore because it is obvious that you are one of those people who will always feel that free speech gives you the right to be a jackass whenever you so wish. And the truth is, it does. That same free speech also extends to those that would criticize your words and/or actions.
For those that wish to make noise about this, the objective is clear – to encourage future debate topics to be more thought through than this one was and make it clear that if it happens again they can expect a similar backlash.
I would also like to point out here that the main reason I even bothered replying was to point out the idiocy in even using the term “thought police” here for those people who dare to have a voice and speak out about their displeasure with the situation. Is not your proposal that these people shouldn’t speak out against this an equivalent “thought police” reaction as you so used it? It is a very overused term and yet you still get it wrong.
I guess I should just be happy you didn’t compare her opinion to the Stasi
As Marama Davidson said, it’s not about (suppression of) “free speech”, it’s about the “privilege of speech/speaking”. And I think that includes the privilege of being the ones who can chose a debating topic in a forum of reasonable status.
But the issue is not the misogyny of the topic, nor the questionable taste of the person who set the topic, nor whether or the topic somehow enforces some sort of patriarchal dominance, for those are simply a matter of your opinion. The issue is a university academic, who has presumptions to nice place on the Labour list, is advocating censorship of views that she happens to disagree with.
So my question to you, and the very offended Te Reo Putake (although to be fair, being offended is a default setting for certain lefty liberal types) is do you, or do you not, support the censorship of debating topics that offend feminists? It is a simple question.
I think you overstate the case Sanctuary. Deborah expressed her opinion that she thinks it wasn’t an ok topic, she said it was “an unwise topic”. She doesn’t say that the University should be prevented from setting the topic. In other words, she isn’t advocating censorship. That you have confused the two things says more about your reactions I’m afraid.
Plus what Zorr said. Misusing concepts of free speech is also unwise.
I am curious though, do you really think any and all topics should be allowed in such a setting (an international competition)? How about debating the merits of having sex with children?
Fourth, take care that your philosophizing is not unintentionally contributing to the problem that you’re discussing. There is a long history of rationalizing away sexual assault, and Amanda Marcotte notes in her post:
Colleges in this country are suffering from a rape problem that is all too real and not some kind of cutesy thought experiment. Rapists and their enablers are known to seize on claims like the one Landsburg is kicking around here, that it doesn’t count if you didn’t have to beat the victim to subdue her. In fact, one of the witnesses who saw the Steubenville rape but didn’t try to stop it used exactly that excuse: “It wasn’t violent. I didn’t know exactly what rape was. I thought it was forcing yourself on someone.” Having a popular professor casually endorse this rationalization through wanky and ultimately irrelevant thought “experiments” isn’t just offensive, but could be dangerous as well.
I am curious though, do you really think any and all topics should be allowed in such a setting (an international competition)? How about debating the merits of having sex with children?
There are very good reasons why academic or parliamentary debate should be given the widest latitudes and freedom from limitations possible.
How about debating the merits of having sex with children?
How about debating the merits of homicide, animal cruelty or arson?
“How about debating the merits of having sex with children?
How about debating the merits of homicide, animal cruelty or arson?”
They’re not really the same though. I can think of instances where homicide, animal cruelty and arson are all justified. Can you think of an instance where sex with a child is?
Here’s another one:
“This House, as a parent, would tell their son how to not get caught if they decide to rape someone”
Interesting that you should bring up that particular debate topic weka because today I am struggling with the recent revelation (to myself) that the front-man of a band I enjoyed some few years back (http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/9451940/Lostprophets-singers-victims-in-the-hundreds) recently plead guilty to some of the most heinous acts I have heard described. It is difficult because I went to a BDO specifically to see them and bought their albums so I feel that my support of their band, despite being just one among many, fed in to the cult of celebrity that enabled the acts.
When we talk rape culture and the multifarious facets that it possesses in our society, we have to confront these evils and debate how to respond to them. The fact in this situation, the topic setter thought it pertinent to return to the Dark Ages mentality of framing the discussion in terms of victim blaming is abhorrent to me. They may as well have made the debate over “In our house, do we keep our women in the kitchen to prevent them from being overly promiscuous?”
When we talk rape culture and the multifarious facets that it possesses in our society, we have to confront these evils and debate how to respond to them.
But apparently some people only want the debate framed on their terms only.
Congratulations on being late to the party and jumping right in to the hole left by Sanctuary
We have been discussing why the framing has been important and that no-one has said the debating panel *had* to choose a different topic but that the choice was “unwise” and now they are suffering some backlash for it. I’m not going to get all indignant over it, all over again but you could actually try go read the entire debate before jumping in with a knee jerk to a single line
Unwise? Or simply distasteful? Or distasteful and controversial? Debating championships shouldn’t use distasteful or contraversial topics?
But if it was a distasteful or contraversial topic framed in the reverse sense, eg in this house we don’t need to teach girls to not be intoxicated, you’d be fine with it?
The example provided in the comments of QOTs post is the reverse (“In this house, we don’t teach boys to rape”), not the example you provide which is just the neg of the debate topic.
And yes, I would still have an issue with it.
I feel like we are being asked to expect *less* of our august institutions and because they are in positions of authority, they shouldn’t have to think their shit through?
As also pointed out by another commenter on QOTs post, the topic fits the mold of “This house as [$AUTHORITY_FIGURE] would tell [$INDIVIDUAL] to [perform $ACTION] to avoid [$MORAL_AND/OR_PHYSICAL_PERIL]”. This is an absurd structure of topic, in a professional sense, without even touching on the morality of the issue.
“Unwise? Or simply distasteful? Or distasteful and controversial? Debating championships shouldn’t use distasteful or contraversial topics?
But if it was a distasteful or contraversial topic framed in the reverse sense, eg in this house we don’t need to teach girls to not be intoxicated, you’d be fine with it?”
You think this is about alcohol consumption?
You think rape is ‘distasteful’?
I suspect you have missed the major part of the objections to the topic. It’s not about distaste, it’s not about controversy (ffs, you think us commenting here have a problem with controversy? Really? Maybe consider how controversial it is talking about rape culture in a culture that is in denial of it). It’s about rape culture and the things that perpetuate it. It’s also about how the powers in the patriarchy get to set the agenda. The issue of women (and probably some men) being triggered in that debate, that alone is worth not having chosen that topic. But the only response I have seen to that issue is that it’s based on one anonymous person’s report therefore it might not be true. No-one has addressed the substance of the issue, and instead the best that can be done is to try and marginalise the experiences. Why is that? Think about that carefully, because it tells alot about this whole situation.
“But apparently some people only want the debate framed on their terms only.”
Or perhaps we want equitable access to setting the agenda. Why should people who know shit about rape culture get to set the agenda?
I read that last night. Very good post about the academic style of debating that puts strategies for winning an argument (just for the sake of winning) above matters of principle.
Too much of parliamentary/mainstream left politics has moved away from matters of principle for my liking: prioritising winning and strategies for winning, over matters of policy, principle and conviction.
And the political Left (or Right) don’t get to define and issue what is principled or what is not, for everyone else, without going through the hard work of justifying the points and persuading people eg. Via things like debates.
Can I take that to mean that you think that teaching women how not to get drunk in order to prevent rape, is a valid approach rape prevention? Because I can’t see any other way to interpret what you just said.
Women can do anything that they want to. And these days, that includes harming themselves more and more with more and more alcohol in increasing numbers and increasing frequency. Women are getting almost as good as men in that regard now. I guess if you have the freedom, you might as well use it. Maybe you might even approve of a debate competition topic on the subject.
The conflict I can also see is that feminism is incompatible with neo liberal ideology as is free speech, both of which are social democratic practices that promote debate and exchange of ideas so better collective outcomes can hopefully be reached for the betterment of us all.
Women can do anything that men can do. Is that a feminist message? And as we have seen, women can be neoliberal CEOs or neoliberal politicians, exactly like men can be, and sometimes even out-do men at being right wing.
I think this is actually quite a complex set of interrelated ideas. I know that neo-liberalism seeks to breakdown (atomise) collectively operating systems in society so that wealth can be extracted and power can be concentrated into the hands of those already within the wealthy elite classes, and takes into account neither gender, culture, race, age, social strata, etc while this process unfolds, deepens and embeds itself into the economic, political and social systems of national and international territories.
So the average household has more disposable income now?
Weekly household spending has risen more than 9 per cent in the past three years to $1111, as Kiwis cough up more for food, transport, housing and power.
But it’s not all bad news with Statistics NZ figures out today showing that average household income grew even faster over the same time, up 11.5 per cent to an annual income of $85,588.
Since National’s won office in 2008 inflation/CPI has increased by 10.8%, yet the median household income has increased by 15.6%, from $59,345 to $68,626.
Click on the table and you’ll see the median income for year end June 2008 for Total Regular and Recurring Income is $59,345, as I quoted. You’ll also see for the YE 2013 is $68,626. Total increase = 15.6%.
OK, I do not know anybody who earns that kind of money. Is this the average income of a government employee? One would be earning $ 1320 per week. Sorry man, it just shows how far away some of the people are from the daily reality for most. The average spend on food however has gone up by about 13% if I look at the weekly spend of our household. Comparing apples against apples I may add. EVERYBODY who is not a high flyer out there is hurting. Petrol, also bus fares, rent – all the basics have gone up. Talk to people who work in the Warehouse, Petrol Stations or general offices and the true picture will soon emerge. And no, there are no puppets needed for the average battler out there. It could backfire offering such.
In all honesty, I am very confused right now because their own report building tool disagrees with that published household economic survey. If you go use their tool you will see what I mean just by going to:
And then “Income by Region” selecting “All Regions” and that gives the figures I used
Who to believe? Stats NZ or Stats NZ?
EDIT: Apologies – I am looking at the median income (which I though was the figure we were looking at) and the Household Economic Survey focuses on the mean income.
I guess this goes to prove that in NZ, the rich got much richer and the poor got much poorer.
..From just before the impact of the GFC to the beginning of recovery (from HES 2009 to HES 2012, that is, approximately from calendar 2008 to 2011), the net change in median household income in real terms was close to zero (+0.5% over three years)…
2013 Household Income (all sources)
Weekly Average income = $1,601 * 52 = $83,252 pa
Weekly Median income = $ 1,358 * 52 = $70,616 pa
2013 Wage and Salary Income
Weekly Average income = $1,223 * 52 = $63,596 pa
Weekly Median income = $ 1,036 * 52 = $53,872 pa
A higher average (mean) than median means that there are a few households earning some big bucks dragging the average up. 50% households get less than $70K. If you do not earn the average $83K you are in company with over half the households in NZ.
The second set of numbers better reflect households without income earning assets who have to rely on just wages or salaries.
More people need to be informed of inequality in NZ. The news media is rubbish when it come to reporting numbers and worse at analysis. NZ Stats web site is rubbish but numbers can be got and processed a bit better than what I’ve done for a quick post.
The discrepancy between these and reported numbers depends on what SS you look at but the points are the same.
i would say the real figures should be published of the number of the population who earn less than the average prefferably in $10,000 brackets, such a chart should show a ten year time frame and the number of wage earners either moving up or down the wage scale,
Medium and median incomes are a simple ruse to hide the true picture of poverty…
Yes and those ‘averages’ tell an incredibly false story where a third of the population exist relying upon far far less than the ‘average wage’ and has between 1 and 200 dollars a week of disposable income mostly spent upon food at the supermarket…
I see in the Dompost this a.m. that National is getting to ready to privatise the Universities.
Is that so they can give jobs to their mates or let their mates examine the universities for any nice little earners they can sell off to themselves.
It cant be about governance because the universities seem to be doing an ok job at the moment.
I see in the Dompost this a.m. that National is getting to ready to privatise the Universities.
Is that so they can give jobs to their mates or let their mates examine the universities for any nice little earners they can sell off to themselves.
It cant be about governance because the universities seem to be doing an ok job at the moment.
Government plans to change the way our universities are run could damage them, writes Peter Curson [Pof of population and security at Sydney Uni]
THERE is talk in New Zealand of changing the governance structure of universities and quite possibly excluding academic staff and students from a place on such councils.
[…]
The driving force behind this seems to be a belief that universities are not responsive and adaptive enough to modern business practices and an overall desire to see universities behave and be governed more like multinational businesses.
[…]
But in the long run do we want to see the governance of our universities become remote from the people they represent and who strive to make the place attractive, competitive and successful, as well as producing important breakthroughs in science, social sciences and the arts? I think not.
In the final analysis universities are special cases with traditions that extend back centuries. Their system of governance, for all its shortcomings, has always placed emphasis on accountability, transparency, equity and participation. All are values that we should treasure and not expect our universities to be run like factories.
“cross”?
You mean there is a chance he will get off his arse and actually do something constructive for himself and the Labour Party?
The Labour MPs need to kick him off the Labour benches.
Sealord Jones probably costs them a lot of votes. If they want to show that there’s any tinge of red in there, they really do need to boot the useless kupapa.
ruhroh for Amy Adams, making the PM look bad by fucking shit up:
New Zealand First, the Maori Party and United Future are all vowing to oppose any legislation which would overrule the Commerce Commission on broadband pricing
Grrr! Chris Trotter on RNZ “Afternoons” today raised again the matter of Willie and JT’s freedom of speech. They still have their freedom of speech just not paid on air at the moment.
Ironic or is there a more apt word to describe Chris raising this on the very programme that dispatched Bomber Bradbury.
They’re not crude misogynists, they’re “working-class guys”;
Just look who’s sticking up for Willie and J.T. The Panel, Radio NZ National, Thursday 28 November 2013
Jim Mora, Ellen Read, Chris Trotter
If you were bored enough, unfortunate enough or foolhardy enough to be listening to Jim Mora’s light chat show this afternoon, you will have heard Chris Trotter embark on yet another of his windy, wandery exercises in verbal casuistry. Today’s low-grade lecture wasn’t quite as depraved as his pompous oratory on behalf of the Zimmerman jury [1]; however, it was still an odious and pestilential defense of the indefensible, and it clearly upset his fellow guest Ellen Read and even managed to perplex the normally unflappable host Jim Mora.
According to Trotter, Willie and J.T. are misunderstood because they are a couple of working class guys who lack the sophistication and middle class smarts to sound intelligent, and are in reality really nice guys who do a lot of good for young women—-when they are not snarling at rape victims and badgering them on their crummy radio show. [2] Trotter-watchers are all too familiar with his cogitations on this subject; for many years, he has condescendingly and inaccurately pontificated about the need for Labour politicians to understand a sub-species of lowlife he pretentiously labels “Waitakere Man”—a sub-species which is (according to the likes of Trotter) too thick to understand concepts like human rights.
As Trotter vapoured on, and on, and on, Ellen Read became very agitated, protesting several times. Jim Mora also demurred several times, but Trotter bored on for a good three minutes, which seemed much longer.
Appalled, I fired off the following email….
“Middle class reaction”?
Dear Jim,
All of the working class women I know were absolutely disgusted by Willie and JT’s crude bullying of that young girl on their radio show.
Please tell that to Chris Trotter, that self-appointed spokesmen for the working class.
Yours in astonishment at glib “liberal” pundits,
Morrissey Breen
Northcote Point
This time, Jim didn’t read my letter out. One listener’s text did get through, however; just before the end of the show, Jim Mora read this: “Tell Chris Trotter all speech has consequences.”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to say,” said Ellen Read. What a pity she didn’t confront Trotter more assertively as he was actually unloading this latest pile of crap.
Nice work, Moz. Trotter’s conservative wittering should never be mistaken for genuine class analysis. His real constituency is actually confused righties who don’t understand why nobody wants to be their mate.
There was an API outage on November 28th. Switch failures led to cascading problems that took approximately 50 minutes to stabilize.
At 04:19 UTC on the 28th November, a switch began failing. Traffic was routed to an alternate data center. Unfortunately a software bug meant that those servers were attempting to write to a master server in the first data center, and so those servers stalled. As a result from 04:20 UTC to 04:38 UTC the API was not responding.
Between 04:38 UTC and 05:01 UTC we deployed a series of fixes. Availability was between 95% and 50% during that time. The switch came back online at 05:11 UTC and availability returned to 100%.
At 07:20 UTC another switch failed, which caused a very brief outage and availability dropped to 60% during that time. This time however, traffic switched over to an alternate data center and by 07:32 UTC, the API returned to 100% availability.
WordPress users will have seen messages indicating that spam comments were temporarily held in the moderation queue during the outage. The Akismet plugin will re-try those now that the API is back up.
We’ve fixed several software problems already as a result of the failure. We’ve also identified some systems and software improvements that will prevent the same condition from happening in future, and we’re working to get those in place as soon as possible.
Note my italics… The times quoted are 13 hours behind ours.
Been cleaning comments out of the moderation queue all day. But they’ve been having problems off and on for days now. I boosted the site on to a higher priority at akismet. Also boosted the web servers as they’re having to deal with a much large volume of comments than usual.
I’ll see what it is like in the morning. But I also need to improve the captcha again..
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Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
Today marks a tragic milestone for New Zealanders as the Coalition Government side with big tobacco to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins and Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti. Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Aila Images/Shutterstock Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they ...
He’s bringing ‘Sophie’ back, yeah. Goodshirt’s ‘Sophie’ music video is one of the most instantly recognisable New Zealand music videos of all time. Featuring a woman listening to the song on headphones while her entire house is burgled behind her, the video won the New Zealand music award for Best ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University A year ago, the AUKUS agreement was formally announced between Australian and UK Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden. The agreement mapped out the “optimal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andreas Helwig, Associate Professor, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern Queensland SmartS/Shutterstock Steam locomotives clattering along railway tracks. Paddle steamers churning down the Murray. Dreadnought battleships powered by steam engines. Many of us think the age of steam has ended. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carrie Leonetti, Associate Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Victims who experience family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand are treated differently, depending on which part of the justice system they turn to for help. But a new member’s bill ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Tesch, Visiting Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies, Australian National University In perhaps the least surprising news of the year, Vladimir Putin has triumphed at the Russian ballot box and been enthroned for the fifth time as president. He ...
The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court has stopped a byelection for the Madang Open seat being held until an appeal filed by former MP Bryan Kramer is concluded. Kramer had appealed to the Supreme Court over a National Court decision not to review his application of the Leadership Tribunal decision ...
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The second season of Ryan Murphy’s Feud is a sadder and slower entry into his canon of true story-telling, leaning heavily on a verdict about the cost of a single work of art. Hollywood heavyweight Ryan Murphy has had a bit of “ick” about him in the last few years. ...
Berlusconi gets the boot from the Italian senate for corrupt practices: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/27/silvio-berlusconi-ousted-italian-parliament-tax-fraud-conviction
Meanwhile, Banksusconi barely gets a mention in the NZ Herald despite spending yesterday in court for the same moral failings. Funny old world, eh?
And the exausted wheeze – I mean Geoff Robinson is leaving morning resport – World coming to?
Yes and it gives RNZ a good chance to insert a more right wing person into Morning Report.
Just a thought how do people think Geoff would fit into taking over Chris Laidlaws Sunday morning slot. It would be quite a different slot and with better hours the Morning Report.
And would only occupy a couple of days a week.
Geoff can retire with distinction. But he is too old and right wing to take over from Chris. There seem to be few names brought forward that aren’t already well known. There must be some thoughtful, smart middle aged men who have a wide viewpoint.
And Berlusconi is 77. Why would old men be given so many years in power. It is a job for middle aged not pensioners who can’t give up the baubles. They get into a rut that deepens. Look at Netanyahu.
Rest assured, Europeans have condemned this men. If he goes back into Parliament all hell brakes loose. There are serious problems to be solved and this is no playground for “misunderstood” millionaires trying for a playground.
Berlusconi gets the boot from the Italian senate for corrupt practices: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/27/silvio-berlusconi-ousted-italian-parliament-tax-fraud-conviction
Meanwhile, Banksusconi barely gets a mention in the NZ Herald despite spending yesterday in court for the same moral failings. Funny old world, eh?
Curiouser and curiouser what ?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/9450404/Kiwi-spies-could-be-called-to-court
This’ll be the “on-Broadway” show of 2014. Thank goodness for the excellence of Paul Davison QC. And KDC’s freed-up bucks ensuring it reaches the stage.
bloody hell..!..al gore has gone vegan..
..and george monbiot has issued (another) vegan-retraction/apology…
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/27/al-gore-veganism-eating-words-sceptical-meat-eating
“..Al Gore has gone vegan – a diet I was once sceptical about.
Now I believe it is meat-eating that is more environmentally damaging..”
..phillip ure..
ALL industrial food production is damaging to the environment. Full stop.
Non-industrial food production, well it depends on the population, geography, climate etc whether it’s better to grow meat or plants or both, but there are basically no historical accounts of fully vegan cultures, ever, so what does that tell us?
The expectations of the eaters is a huge part of it as well.
Veganism is a great choice for individuals, but it’s not going to work for populations. I think this is even more true going into a peak resource/AGW world.
This article from todays NZ Herald explains clearly why NZ ends up selling its major assets so cheaply.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/personal-finance/news/article.cfm?c_id=12&objectid=11163100
“Interest rates in NZ are higher than those of most other developed countries around the world and NZ’s cost of equity is certainly not lower than overseas companies so this implies the weighted average cost of capital calculated in an overseas investors DCF model is likely to be lower therefore the DCF valuation of Synlait Farms, Fletcher Forests and NZ Farming Systems is likely to be much higher for a buyer overseas than a local buyer.
If in China the government is prepared to lend the company making the takeover at a low or zero interest rate then their WACC and thus NPV will be much higher so independent experts and independent directors will inevitably say sell. The NZ Takeover Panel, Federated Farmers, politicians etc, need to be urgently aware of these issues.”
Kiwi’s will never be able to compete against overseas buyers…we need to implement a regulatory solution before all of our assets (Dairy Farms) are purchased by overseas buyers. This is scary.
Yep, there is no benefit to two things;
1. Foreign landlords.
2. High capital values.
In fact though, it is worse than that as each of those are not just of no benefit, they are actually a detriment.
Happy to be proved wrong but aint been yet on this ……
You’re not wrong. Foreign ownership brings nothing to NZ except higher prices forcing NZers out of the market for home and business.
Worse. Cant even buy a tin of edible bake beans thanks to the rigged market here. Cheap foods are essential for many but supermarkets are taking unsold tins and reheating them and them dumping them onto the cheaper supermarkets shelves. So the owners get a share boost when they turn unsellable stock into seemingly good food, and you stiff (me) gets to throw out a tin of bake beans. I’ve had rusted kernal corn tin, I’ve had rusted tomato tins, its getting bad when you can’t have a backup food supply in the pantry. And its the cheap foods! No wonder S.Auckland go out for takeout, when they get burnt by supermarkets since its a real risk when you have to write off a meal because bad tin of tomatoes got dumped in with the mince.
And in part its the car cult, that makes it more time consuming to get to the one supermarket, in and out of a large car park and so you’re not about to go to the competitor to check pricing.
We live in a wasteful consumer nightmare.
Much easier and less costly for China to buy the world than to invade it.
Much easier to hire a lawyer and get your former partners employees to rag on them. Revenge in the rich mans world.
Imagine that, nobody surely would believe someone if they said they stole a quarter of a million because the person they were working for was doing drugs and wouldn’t mind. When did self admitted thieves becomes so convincing? Oh, wait, when a rich prick uses their immense media clout to smear their exit.
Its like the roastbusters, why do people believe if they admit wrong their words are now unassailable. Why does Key get away with his open for business, we can sell the farm, its good for NZ? Well because the media here spin the great leaders every waking statement as our last great hope to stave off depression and malaise. Yet the fact is we’ve only have growth because returning kiwis escaping world depression, earthquakes, and foreigners buy low tax rental gain out of the NZ economy.
If I claimed world calamities, natural disasters and selling out cheap (shit in the waterways of NZ and farms selling product overseas and avoiding tax here), as down to me there would be a lynch mob wanting to stop me. Key gets bloody sainted for his handling of the economy.
Its just lies and spin, no wonder people are leaving TV its all lies and spin.
People leaving NZ. It has got so bad that though it’s chancy in Australia, people make a considered decision that, for them, this country has nothing and cares nothing for them as citizens. So they are making a rational decision as to the best of two unsatisfactory options, and choose to go to Australia even with the punitive, discriminatory conditions they have imposed on a slight excuse.
The right wingers in NZ Labour, followed by most of National, are taking (have taken) the country back to the state of Britain when our old relatives left to make a better life! Now is there anywhere in the English-speaking world where it’s the main language, that has a standard of politics that matches the expectations that modern, advanced, educated peoples expect?
The Australian policy toward NZ was introduced by Howard who dumbly ignored good government procedure and decided to (in the vain of Thatcher) to demand fiscal neutrality.
So Howard wanted free trade, common rules, in goods and services, but not in employment.
And Clark could do nothing, because how Australia impliments its laws is its business, and hell it was a damningly stupid policy, as it harms free movement of employees in what essentially is a free market between NZ and OZ.
But the media were silent, nice neo-liberals must not be threatened by bad press at their communism/national socialism.
Enter Key, who is just as naive about looking fiscally stupid when legislating. The Casino license wasn’t the first and wont be the last neo-liberal ideological policy that harms free trade.
They should already be aware of those issues. If they’re not then they either aren’t doing their job or are selling NZ out on purpose.
We need to ban foreign ownership now.
I think it highlights the calibre of directors on boards in New Zealand. They contract an outfit like Grant Samuels to do the analysis, and Brent Sheather has shown that the analysis is a crock of bull shit (maybe they put new graduates onto work like this). Then BoD rely on this lightweight analysis to support enormous decisions….NZ BoD are still a pack of the old boys club. I understand that Labour have a policy to put a halt to sales of farm land to foreigners…maybe someone can confirm?
Can’t recall if it was Goff or Shearer who said that Labour would limit sales of land greater than 5ha. Which I considered a little stupid as it would do nothing for the house prices which were also being driven up by foreign buyers.
how much longer will the political-deniers be able to deny..?
http://www.alternet.org/environment/ticking-time-bomb-could-cause-such-rapid-global-warming-wed-be-unable-prevent-extinction
“..Our planet has experienced five major extinctions over the past billion or so years –
– do we really want to launch an irreversible 6th?..”
..and yep..!..it’s our cows/diet.. again..
..the future is really in all our hands..
..a future dependant on our choices..now..
..for how much longer will we pretend it is nothing to do with us..?
..that there is nothing we as individuals can do..?
..’cos that ‘helplessness’ is complete and utter bullshit..
..eh..?
..and as for drooling-denialists like that fucken clown colon craig..
..they can just fuck right off..
..phillip ure..
Agree.
I just dont get why people are willing to risk their health, the environment and be complicit in the terrible cruelty involved with eating meat and dairy. A vegan diet can be delicious so what is the problem?
Most people get sick on a vegan diet.
Eating meat or dairy per se doesn’t damage health (plenty of healthy people and cultures that eat meat). It’s the kind of meat and how it’s eaten that affects health.
I know a couple of vegans, and they don’t get sick.
They have however spent a great deal of time researching and educating themselves on food and dietery requirements. Both take small amounts of suppliments, trace elements, selenium etc.
A fair amount of time each week is also spent on sourcing top quality fresh foods.
Being a vegan is not a decision that should be taken lightly, and involves significant effort and time to ensure you remain healthy.
“I know a couple of vegans, and they don’t get sick.”
Yes, I do too. I also know some vegans who have significant health problems. But that is all beside the point. I didn’t say some people can’t do well on a vegan diet, I said most people can’t. The fact that some people do well doesn’t mean everyone can, and the illogic of trying to argue that is astounding.
There have been no vegan cultures historically. IMO that’s because it doesn’t work at the societal level. Humans can’t sustain themselves and reproduce on a vegan diet. If they could, we would have veganism turning up in the biodiversity of evolution.
I think the main reason there are so many vegans around now is because it’s easier to be vegan in an oil economy. Try doing it pre-industrial and it gets much harder. There are some people who will have the kind of metabolism to handle only plant nutrients, but I just don’t see any evidence that large numbers of humans are adapted to this.
serious lying there..eh weka..?
..i have been vegan for 15 yrs..
..i know people who have been vegan for over 30 yrs..
..one thing all these vegans share..
..is a kind of glowing good health..
..it was bad enough enduring yr lies that raising meat doesn’t have a heavier environmental-footprint than raising vegetables on that same land..
..(worthy of one of the annual whopper-awards..that one..)
..now you are reaching for the really big one..
..claiming that going vegan will make ‘most people’ sick..
..which means we can all just laff @ yr silliness..eh..?
..do you earn yr daily bread from the animal exploitation industry..?
..what else explains this campaign of lies from you..?
..phillip ure..
“..i have been vegan for 15 yrs..
..i know people who have been vegan for over 30 yrs..
..one thing all these vegans share..
..is a kind of glowing good health..”
That’s great phillip. And I can find plenty of people who can make the same claims for eating meat/dairy. I’m sure you know some yourself.
But I didn’t say no-one can do well on a vegan diet, I said most people can’t. That is two different things. See my reply to Ns above.
The majority of people eat a high meat/dairy diet hence the high rates of heart disease, cancer etc.
You eat vegan to get well!
Heart disease, and probably the high rates of cancer are much more likely to be related to a high and refined carbohydrate diet than a meat one. But like I said, it’s not the meat per se, it’s the kind of meat and how it is eaten. Lots of cultures have meat in their diets and don’t have high rates of heart disease. I bet that grain and antibiotic fed beef in the US is a contributor to poor health stats there. But that’s a very different kind of meat than what humans have been eating historically and in evolutionary terms.
Some people’s health improves on a vegan diet for sure. Others can do it for a period of time and then return to eating meat/dairy etc for health reasons. Others never to well on it. If you are unaware of the people that have stopped being vegan for health reasons I suggest this is because you are evangelical and those people don’t talk to you, or you don’t listen to them.
The majority of people eat a high meat/dairy diet hence the high rates of heart disease, cancer etc.
You eat vegan to get well!
Roy Morgan Poll Reality Check!
We are only now back at the point where we lost in 2008!
Of every 20 people 9 are still supporting National, 7 Labour, 2 the Greens, 1 NZFirst and 1 between the Maori and small parties.
In conventional terms, David Cunliffe has to get two more people to move from another camp into the Labour camp: however engaging with the enrolled non voters is where the icing on the cake is to be found.
We must get the re-organisation of new (mainly Auckland) LECs sorted before Christmas and get on quickly with engaging the ENVs and the swing voters.
I know there’s lots of water to flow under the bridge yet before the Christchurch Town Hall restoration is realized but Warren and Mahoney’s plans look awesome. Good on the Christchurch Councillors for doing the right thing in choosing restoration for one of NZ’s most important post-war buildings in spite of Gerry Brownlee.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9450595/Town-Hall-call-likely-to-proceed
yeah..that’s a good use of $127 million..eh..?
..a homage to post-war dick-stroking/building the biggest/best town-hall competitions..
..(why not go the whole hog..?..throw a few more mill down that piss-hole..and build a big phallic-symbol next to/towering over..this new/flash town hall..?.)
..for once i agree with brownlee..
..christchurch was offered a much better multi-use building for that same money..
..a real asset..
..and these idiots wedded/welded to colonial-pastiches of/from the past..
..they won..
..$127 million for a photo-set for when the mayor gets all flashed out in that drag that they wear..
..f.f.s..!
..phillip ure..
It’s a hideously ugly building and the performing arts community in Christchurch don’t want it kept because it doesn’t suit their needs. They’d rather have new purpose-built venues with the money instead.
Not everyone thinks it’s ‘hideously ugly’ Lanth. In fact quite a lot of people think it’s Sir Miles Warren’s finest building and arguably the most important public building built in the post-war period in NZ.
Good result,
We need some of the fabric of our previous city to stitch the new one to. Waaay too much of the city has been knocked down, leaving the place barren and bereft of any reference to our previous place. Imo this referencing is essential for our city but it has been forgotten in all the hubbub and charge to the bright and shiny.
The building has nationally significant architectural kudos and is a fantastic example of the pre-earthquake Christchurch / Warren & Mahoney style.
Bring it on.
The Christchurch Housing situation
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/christchurch-earthquake/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502981&objectid=11163599
“..We need some of the fabric of our previous city to stitch the new one to..”
um..!..yr ‘fabric’ was a colonial-pastiche..a facade..
..yr ‘fabric’ was scraps of british wannabe/forelock-tugging-cloth..(shopfronts..?.)
..the town hall a screen for the elites to rule from behind..to give them some kind of (ultimately) false-gravitas..
…(and a physical manifestation of that class-system/snobbery that made/makes christchurch so hideous..?..(‘what school did you go to..?’..)
..yr ‘fabric’ is a tired/ old/ borrowed cloth..
..time to seize the chance to get a new one..
..phillip ure..
Your assessment is inaccurate. Not all that fabric was colonial by any means – that indicates your lack of intimate knowledge of the city. And anyway, so what re some colonial fabric… is one of the most significant aspects of NZ history. I am part colonial background and proud of what my people achieved.
Your comments about british / what school did you go to / class system is common with Christhurch and it has cred, but the town hall fits into that not one iota.
And finally I think the idea behind linking the past and the future via a stitch in fabric has flown way over your head (“get a new one”).
You have let your personal prejudices about Chch blinker yourself…. silly … eh
not really..vto..it is the $127 million..
..and what could be done with that..
..and as for /prejudices’ about christchurch..?
..how about facts..?
..there is that hideous class system you admit to..
..the degree/levels of outright racism against anyone who isn’t white is at old south america standards..(as in truly vile..)
..christchurch has the most junkies in new zealand..
..it sits in a hollow..so has high levels of pollution/dirty air….
..it is arse-bitingly cold..
..i dunno why you all didn’t just grab the insurance monies..
..and move somewhere better..
..anywhere..really..
..eh..?
..phillip ure..
Here is an interesting graph about debt, showing the stunning increase of the debt by the Nats
http://theirasciblecurmudgeon.blogspot.co.nz
The Nats will blame it on the GFC.
Nothing to do with the Tax cuts then!!
Yep it is but the Nats will not say so. External forces beyond our control is a plausible excuse. CEO’s, directors etc do it all the time.
Realistically the tax cuts are only responsible for about $10B of it (plus interest)
But they’ve been throwing money like its going out of fashion at various contractors and corporates.
That it still manages to trade on a “fiscally responsible” image does my head in.
Actual link
Top marks David. Now keep the foot down.
Joint LAGR pledge of zillions to save the SI Kokako.
Visit Mike McIvor.
I suspect, and hope, we will see more of this type of protest action. Blocking roads is a visible way of showing dissent and it does disturb their exploitative activities, at least for a while.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11164021
Very good.
“Mr Halliday said they were legally entitled to block the stretch of highway as it was on Maori customary land.”
Anyone know what that’s about?
Explained more on RNZ site:
Very generous to only close the road for 2.5 hours then, all things considered.
iwi really know how to do this shit.
You make a point, you flex your muscles, then you back off graciously under your own power. You get all the upside of the media coverage, looking in full control, and being generous to boot.
There’s a similar piece of road on the way to Whananaki North, where a certain route was surveyed, but when the road was built, the contractors decided there was an easier route to take. Although those are the only two instances I know about, I wouldn’t be surprised if it were common all over Northland.
Geoff Robinson is retiring from Morning Report on National Radio, after 37 years. Last day will be 1st April 2014.
Older, more powerful, much wealthier partner admits domestic assault on roofer husband
I wonder how many times this has happened to him before he decided to call the police.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/445486/Melanie-Sykes-arrested-and-cautioned-over-assault-on-toyboy-husband-Jack-Cockings
Interesting point. It relates to this article too I believe even though it is man on man.
http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2013/11/20/man-up-nfl-hazing-and-jonathan-martins-man-card/
How many times do we here this phase ‘man up’ ? It seems very common indeed, in fact someone said it to me just last week!
‘hear’ of course
A good question: Just how much damage is being done to the boys, and thus society, when they don’t get the support that they need?
As a guy at school you fight back, and you lose
And the next day you fight back, and you lose again.
And you keep fighting back whenever you are bullied no matter how much damage you sustain.
Even if you never win. Every day.
And other people will start to intervene, because they know when it starts, you will keep getting up no matter how much punishment you take. Because people start to feel sick when they a small boy get beaten ot a pulp every day by a larger boy.
But even if no one intervenes the bullies eventually give up because you are simply too much work and it’s no fun anymore.
And when they eventually give up you’ve won. But you have to be prepared to take a lot of punishment.
That only works for physical bullying though. The way girls bullied other girls at school using all of the social tools available to them to isolate, vilify and harrass them, that stuff would go on for months.
At least as a guy you could do something, even when you lost and got the shit kicked out of you, you were still in control.
We’re actually trying to stop the bullying and the violence – not encourage it.
Naturesong – and what if you don’t fight back but go to the teachers, parents or police – what do you think of those boys? What adjective would you use to describe them?
This attitude of fighting back is detrimental and absurd imo.
I think the boys are trying to figure out how to prevent the abuse from continuing, and are doing whatever they must to make it stop.
The only boys I would pass judgement on in this instance are the ones doing the bullying.
If going to parents, school teachers, police makes it stop, that would be the best outcome.
But, having been down that road myself as a child, it didn’t work for me. It just made it worse.
As a child, if you bring in authority from the outside of your peer group to solve an issue within your peer group, you lose the respect of your peer group, making you a target for bullying.
Don’t you remember what the social norms were like when you were a kid?
If you are not able to walk away or talk your way out of it, I absolutely advocate defending yourself as vigorously as you are able. If someone whats to bully you, make it cost them.
Not because of any judgement of whether you are more of a “man” if you use your fist.
Generally speaking if you are using your fists, it means you already lost the first part of the battle by not being able to walk away or talk yourself out of the situation.
Maybe you didn’t get bullied at school, I did.
I remember living in fear for months, and the only thing that stopped it was when I realised that I really didnt have anything to lose, I was already getting the snot beaten out of me on a regular basis.
So yes, fight back with every ounce of your being!
And when you see someone else being bullied, make those bullies stop as well.
What social norms? Might is right? What about the autistic children who don’t pick up on the “social norms” at all, ever?
IMO, one of the reasons that we have continuing rape culture and violence is because children aren’t taught how to socialise – they’re left to work it themselves. Unsurprisingly, they don’t do to well.
It is concerning. There was this article in the Independent (UK) a day or 2 ago, about how children as young as 12 are being sexually abused and raped by other children, including gangs, of a similar age:
Good to see that sort of questioning of those particular codes of masculinity.
The way girls bullied other girls at school using all of the social tools available to them to isolate, vilify and harrass them, that stuff would go on for months.
And for rape and sexual violence, which is most usually against those with less social or physical power, (especially women/children) there’s usually a mix of physical and psychological abuse/torture (see for instance Titford).
Lanth.
I am pleased to see him go but will hoots replace him
joke
the ‘oirish’-lady would be up for/to it…
..who better..?
..phillip ure..
“Len Brown’s office last night confirmed that the Auckland Mayor has not complied with the council code of conduct rules over a trip to Hong Kong.Responding to an urgent request under official information laws by the Herald, Mr Brown’s chief of staff, Phil Wilson, owned up after chief executive Doug McKay allowed the issue to simmer for two days.Mr Wilson said he understood Mr Brown did not file an annual return of interests by July 31 under the code of conduct because it was under review at the time.”As a consequence, elected members – and myself on Len’s behalf – did not file returns understanding they would be requested to do so at a later date,” Mr Wilson said.”
Apart from Penny, who cares?
quite a few people ‘care’..
..this one has such an odor about it..
..and it is not the whiff of/from poontang..
..this is more serious than lens’ mid-life crisis..
..who did brown meet with..?
..and for why..?
..and why all the secrecy..?
..what is he hiding..?
..phillip ure..
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11163996
GCSB staff wouldn’t be interviewed by police.
I suggest the public start using this defence. Won’t talk to you, sorry.
Bill Ralston: “You have to trust Anadarko, really”
As you read this, remember that Ralston calls himself a “journalist”
The Huddle, NewstalkZB, Tuesday 26 November 2013, 5:40 p.m.
Larry “Lackwit” Williams, Jock Anderson, Bill Ralston
“Newstalk ZB is for ignorant louts, the intellectually challenged and the modern day version of the 1930s brown shirts.”—Anne, The Standard, 9 August 2013
LARRY “LACKWIT” WILLIAMS: Issue number one: the Greenpeace protest against Anadarko off the Raglan coast.
JOCK ANDERSON: Yes, it’s nothing but a publicity stunt, and they went there in their boat probably powered by a diesel engine in the calm seas.
WILLIAMS: Yep.
BILL RALSTON: Exactly! Greenpeace is now trying to create this sense of urgency, but it’s not going to work! They should have tried to take legal action earlier! Perhaps the courts will restore some sanity and sensibility to the question. Look, we’ve had deep-sea drilling for years! And if Anadarko say they have the best systems in the world, you have to trust them, really. [1] This is nothing more than grandstanding by Greenpeace!
WILLIAMS: They’re flush with cash!
BILL RALSTON: Ha ha ha! They’re as rich as some of the oil companies! Ha ha ha ha ha!
WILLIAMS: Ha ha ha ha ha!
JOCK ANDERSON: Greenpeace twists the arms of the friendly media.
WILLIAMS: Yep.
BILL RALSTON: Yep.
JOCK ANDERSON: Anadarko has been consistent throughout, but Greenpeace are just in it for the publicity!
BILL RALSTON: They do phased campaigns, so they will have to step it up from now on. Next they will try to board the vessel.
JOCK ANDERSON: [drily] They’ll chain someone to the drilling rig underwater perhaps.
……[Long, awkward pause]……
BILL RALSTON: Ahhh, ha ha ha ha ha!
WILLIAMS: Back after the break.
……Advertisements……
WILLIAMS: Issue number two: David Cunliffe might buy the assets back!
BILL RALSTON: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! He might, he might not!
WILLIAMS: Yep.
BILL RALSTON: It’s the classic stance of politicians: a foot in both camps. And it will DOOM him in the end! He is a coward. Give the government credit: they do tell you what they will do. But with Labour, there’s this duplicity. I just think it’s duplicitous.
WILLIAMS: Duplicitous.
JOCK ANDERSON: This thing’s going to cost nine million dollars, and it’s a strangely worded referendum. Bill’s one hundred per cent right on this. This guy should be picking his campaigns very carefully. He’s trying to be all things to all men.
BILL RALSTON: He needs to take a strong stand!
WILLIAMS: Bill, I think Key’s got him cornered on this!
BILL RALSTON: Yep.
WILLIAMS: Jock, issue number three: MM Bubbles. It’s charging extra to wax up fat people! [2]
BILL RALSTON: Ha ha ha ha ha!
JOCK ANDERSON: Bubbles is the gross character in Little Britain!
WILLIAMS: That Bubbles, and that series, that was a classic!
BILL RALSTON: Ha ha ha ha ha!
WILLIAMS: Bill Ralston and Jock Anderson on the Huddle. It’s ten to six.
[1] The "best systems in the world" in action….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ8ksAqdB0s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oupAJHchG_o
[2] http://www.refinery29.com/2013/11/57967/waxing-fat-tax-mm-bubbles
Doesn’t Bill Ralston’s partner do the media training for The National Party?
Bill Ralston is very light weight, always surprised how much commentating work he gets.
As always, Morrissey, these quotes just make me want to punch the pundits in the face. We have to trust a fucking oil company? These people are psychotic.
No Tigger, they’re just ignorant louts, intellectually challenged and modern day versions of the 1930s brown shirts. 🙂
They are not psychotic, just intellectually lazy, and obedient repeaters of government talking-points. NewstalkZB, like Radio Live, is pretty much a National Party megaphone.
Sounds like Key’s got him (Ralston) on the payroll. Who’d have thunk it ? Billy Boy aye ?
Paddy Gower in his farticle on TV3 claims that the Greens’ leadership challenge is way crazier than Colon Cray’s belief in chemtrails. I guess that mindset is sort of expected when you’ve been a Right Wing’s colon-dweller for too long.
The day I agree with David Farrar is an exceptionally sad one, but I have to say I was horrified to hear Deborah Russell, Massey university lecturer, regular feminist blogger, and wannabe Labour party candidate, on Jim Moras show yesterday basically advocating censorship of debating topics in relation to the mild storm in a teacup being generated by the New Zealand British Parliamentary Debating Championships which were hosted by Victoria University last weekend when they debated that “This House, as a parent, would tell their daughter to drink responsibly to avoid sexual assault”.
Universities are meant to be bastions of free speech. End of story. No ifs. No buts. The idea that anything an ivory tower feminist deems a thought crime must not be discussed is simply intolerable in a free society.
Deborah Russell is everything that is wrong with modern feminism – middle class, middle aged, academic, completely out of touch and now wanting to dictate what people are allowed to discuss in public.
Labour needs her as a candidate like it needs a hole in the head.
Yeah, what we need is ageist, sexist, anti-academic gits like yourself to tell us who to put up as candidates. That’ll really help.
And as to the debate, whoever thought that topic was appropriate should be prevented from ever making such an awful decision again. That’s the actual ivory tower academic thought crime, right there.
Sanctuary has a point imo. You watch Labour sink back to its usual position in the eyes of many people if it gets back into power next year. The sinking will be due to the those same factors which drove people mad when Helen had the wheel – being told what to do and think by certain types. Betcha. I see no evidence that this particular feature of the left has changed. At all.
Running alongside this monumental risk with Labour is the fact that the Nats will dump neoliberalism and morph their economic policies to line up with the general populace mood change for less neolib shit.
But its your party, you do as you wish…
1.) That’s a great example of ensuring Labour loses a voter. Not that I’m overly concerned as I think it’d be great if Labour lost a lot more.
2.) Nothing wrong with the topic of the debate
Fair enough, DtB, the topic only reduced some participants to tears; but who cares, they were only women, eh. Probably their time of the month or something equally trivial.
From the news report:
“The spectator said many of the female participants in the tournament were adamant they did not wish to engage in the debate, but were pressured into “hardening up” and arguing the motion.
“What resulted were many of the male debaters literally laughing at their female peers as they tried to defend their own rights to consume alcohol and have consensual sex, and there was also much joking about the circumstances in which sexual assault occurs,” she said.
Participants were reduced to tears both during and after the debate, she said.
“One woman began crying during the debate which she participated in, and others were crying after the debate, for reasons ranging from personal experiences with rape, to the sheer shock of feeling they had to defend those rapists.” “
“…The spectator said…”
One person point of view, uncorroberated by anyone else there, is enough to trigger the censorship police? Good grief, what sort of country do you want? One where sort of commissar can stand up at a debate and invoke their powers under the suppression of disagreeable thoughts act and shut the debate down?
Actually, I expect that our august institutions are capable of saying to themselves, in their decision making process, “Hey, this might just be a little bit of an inappropriate topic and maybe we should use our supposed incredible intelligence to sidestep the issue by choosing another topic”
How dare we demand that they think their bs through – if someone does something jerky then they deserve to be called on it. This *is* free speech. They said/did something stupid. People responded. Ball is now back in their court.
Love how things like this reveal the thin facade that “civilized” citizens hide behind when it comes to progressive issues – the lessons haven’t been internalized, it’s all just an act and when these situations come along they no longer have any lines to follow and the mask slips
“Laid it right on the line
When a guy with a chip on his shoulder said,
‘Toss off buddy she’s mine’ ,
Shot Down in Flames “
There was an inherent misogyny in the topic, it was a wolf whistle to male debaters to attack the female debates on nothing but their gender. Guidelines should rule out any topic that enables debaters to attack the others at this level. But as a institution it’s my experience debating is ruled by heterosexual, older white males – of course any attempt to keep them in line is labelled ‘censorship’. Persecution politics, stop playing it, we know what you’re doing and we’re damn sick of it.
+1 to both TRP and Tigger
Not much else to add other than to be ashamed at all those otherwise relatively enlightened people who can’t see the inappropriateness of such a topic for debate. As QOT pointed out in her post, there are plenty of ways to be edgy and challenging without doing this bull
Look, just to be clear – I agree it was an inappropriate topic. But I’ll be damned if I think they should be PREVENTED from debating it by some sort of thought police directed by the likes of Deborah Russell.
I really can’t be bothered engaging too much on this anymore because it is obvious that you are one of those people who will always feel that free speech gives you the right to be a jackass whenever you so wish. And the truth is, it does. That same free speech also extends to those that would criticize your words and/or actions.
For those that wish to make noise about this, the objective is clear – to encourage future debate topics to be more thought through than this one was and make it clear that if it happens again they can expect a similar backlash.
I would also like to point out here that the main reason I even bothered replying was to point out the idiocy in even using the term “thought police” here for those people who dare to have a voice and speak out about their displeasure with the situation. Is not your proposal that these people shouldn’t speak out against this an equivalent “thought police” reaction as you so used it? It is a very overused term and yet you still get it wrong.
I guess I should just be happy you didn’t compare her opinion to the Stasi
As Marama Davidson said, it’s not about (suppression of) “free speech”, it’s about the “privilege of speech/speaking”. And I think that includes the privilege of being the ones who can chose a debating topic in a forum of reasonable status.
Privilege? You don’t think that the panel who conferred on whether or not the topic was appropriate earned the right to do so?
uh… CV… you have managed to focus on a singular meaning of “privilege” and completely missed the actual point made by karol
But the issue is not the misogyny of the topic, nor the questionable taste of the person who set the topic, nor whether or the topic somehow enforces some sort of patriarchal dominance, for those are simply a matter of your opinion. The issue is a university academic, who has presumptions to nice place on the Labour list, is advocating censorship of views that she happens to disagree with.
So my question to you, and the very offended Te Reo Putake (although to be fair, being offended is a default setting for certain lefty liberal types) is do you, or do you not, support the censorship of debating topics that offend feminists? It is a simple question.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2577836/the-panel-with-dita-de-boni-and-lisa-scott-part-1
Starts at 15:45
I think you overstate the case Sanctuary. Deborah expressed her opinion that she thinks it wasn’t an ok topic, she said it was “an unwise topic”. She doesn’t say that the University should be prevented from setting the topic. In other words, she isn’t advocating censorship. That you have confused the two things says more about your reactions I’m afraid.
Plus what Zorr said. Misusing concepts of free speech is also unwise.
I am curious though, do you really think any and all topics should be allowed in such a setting (an international competition)? How about debating the merits of having sex with children?
Oh and really you should read this (h/t QoT)
http://freethoughtblogs.com/brutereason/2013/04/03/my-oppression-is-not-your-thought-experiment/
Fourth, take care that your philosophizing is not unintentionally contributing to the problem that you’re discussing. There is a long history of rationalizing away sexual assault, and Amanda Marcotte notes in her post:
Colleges in this country are suffering from a rape problem that is all too real and not some kind of cutesy thought experiment. Rapists and their enablers are known to seize on claims like the one Landsburg is kicking around here, that it doesn’t count if you didn’t have to beat the victim to subdue her. In fact, one of the witnesses who saw the Steubenville rape but didn’t try to stop it used exactly that excuse: “It wasn’t violent. I didn’t know exactly what rape was. I thought it was forcing yourself on someone.” Having a popular professor casually endorse this rationalization through wanky and ultimately irrelevant thought “experiments” isn’t just offensive, but could be dangerous as well.
There are very good reasons why academic or parliamentary debate should be given the widest latitudes and freedom from limitations possible.
How about debating the merits of homicide, animal cruelty or arson?
“How about debating the merits of having sex with children?
How about debating the merits of homicide, animal cruelty or arson?”
They’re not really the same though. I can think of instances where homicide, animal cruelty and arson are all justified. Can you think of an instance where sex with a child is?
Here’s another one:
“This House, as a parent, would tell their son how to not get caught if they decide to rape someone”
Is that useful to debate? Why?
Interesting that you should bring up that particular debate topic weka because today I am struggling with the recent revelation (to myself) that the front-man of a band I enjoyed some few years back (http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/9451940/Lostprophets-singers-victims-in-the-hundreds) recently plead guilty to some of the most heinous acts I have heard described. It is difficult because I went to a BDO specifically to see them and bought their albums so I feel that my support of their band, despite being just one among many, fed in to the cult of celebrity that enabled the acts.
When we talk rape culture and the multifarious facets that it possesses in our society, we have to confront these evils and debate how to respond to them. The fact in this situation, the topic setter thought it pertinent to return to the Dark Ages mentality of framing the discussion in terms of victim blaming is abhorrent to me. They may as well have made the debate over “In our house, do we keep our women in the kitchen to prevent them from being overly promiscuous?”
*rage* *rant* *seethe*
But apparently some people only want the debate framed on their terms only.
Congratulations on being late to the party and jumping right in to the hole left by Sanctuary
We have been discussing why the framing has been important and that no-one has said the debating panel *had* to choose a different topic but that the choice was “unwise” and now they are suffering some backlash for it. I’m not going to get all indignant over it, all over again but you could actually try go read the entire debate before jumping in with a knee jerk to a single line
Unwise? Or simply distasteful? Or distasteful and controversial? Debating championships shouldn’t use distasteful or contraversial topics?
But if it was a distasteful or contraversial topic framed in the reverse sense, eg in this house we don’t need to teach girls to not be intoxicated, you’d be fine with it?
uh CV… you continue to miss the point
The example provided in the comments of QOTs post is the reverse (“In this house, we don’t teach boys to rape”), not the example you provide which is just the neg of the debate topic.
And yes, I would still have an issue with it.
I feel like we are being asked to expect *less* of our august institutions and because they are in positions of authority, they shouldn’t have to think their shit through?
As also pointed out by another commenter on QOTs post, the topic fits the mold of “This house as [$AUTHORITY_FIGURE] would tell [$INDIVIDUAL] to [perform $ACTION] to avoid [$MORAL_AND/OR_PHYSICAL_PERIL]”. This is an absurd structure of topic, in a professional sense, without even touching on the morality of the issue.
They failed hard on so many levels.
“Unwise? Or simply distasteful? Or distasteful and controversial? Debating championships shouldn’t use distasteful or contraversial topics?
But if it was a distasteful or contraversial topic framed in the reverse sense, eg in this house we don’t need to teach girls to not be intoxicated, you’d be fine with it?”
You think this is about alcohol consumption?
You think rape is ‘distasteful’?
I suspect you have missed the major part of the objections to the topic. It’s not about distaste, it’s not about controversy (ffs, you think us commenting here have a problem with controversy? Really? Maybe consider how controversial it is talking about rape culture in a culture that is in denial of it). It’s about rape culture and the things that perpetuate it. It’s also about how the powers in the patriarchy get to set the agenda. The issue of women (and probably some men) being triggered in that debate, that alone is worth not having chosen that topic. But the only response I have seen to that issue is that it’s based on one anonymous person’s report therefore it might not be true. No-one has addressed the substance of the issue, and instead the best that can be done is to try and marginalise the experiences. Why is that? Think about that carefully, because it tells alot about this whole situation.
“But apparently some people only want the debate framed on their terms only.”
Or perhaps we want equitable access to setting the agenda. Why should people who know shit about rape culture get to set the agenda?
Hi Sanctuary.
Why are you advocating for the censorship of Deborah Russel’s free speech?
You sound like a wonderful fellow.
Deborah is awesome. I didn’t hear the piece, but read QoT’s take on it yesterday.
http://ideologicallyimpure.wordpress.com/2013/11/27/university-debating-supports-patriarchy/
I read that last night. Very good post about the academic style of debating that puts strategies for winning an argument (just for the sake of winning) above matters of principle.
Too much of parliamentary/mainstream left politics has moved away from matters of principle for my liking: prioritising winning and strategies for winning, over matters of policy, principle and conviction.
unfortunately if you don’t win an election your policies will just be smoke in the wind
And the political Left (or Right) don’t get to define and issue what is principled or what is not, for everyone else, without going through the hard work of justifying the points and persuading people eg. Via things like debates.
Can I take that to mean that you think that teaching women how not to get drunk in order to prevent rape, is a valid approach rape prevention? Because I can’t see any other way to interpret what you just said.
Women can do anything that they want to. And these days, that includes harming themselves more and more with more and more alcohol in increasing numbers and increasing frequency. Women are getting almost as good as men in that regard now. I guess if you have the freedom, you might as well use it. Maybe you might even approve of a debate competition topic on the subject.
self-harm from alcohol has nothing to do with harm from others.
The first might be your choice, the second is someone else’s avoidable decision.
Nope Sanctuary, that is a shocking point to debate.
as Tigger identifies; wash your mouth out with soap 😉
The conflict I can also see is that feminism is incompatible with neo liberal ideology as is free speech, both of which are social democratic practices that promote debate and exchange of ideas so better collective outcomes can hopefully be reached for the betterment of us all.
Women can do anything that men can do. Is that a feminist message? And as we have seen, women can be neoliberal CEOs or neoliberal politicians, exactly like men can be, and sometimes even out-do men at being right wing.
I think this is actually quite a complex set of interrelated ideas. I know that neo-liberalism seeks to breakdown (atomise) collectively operating systems in society so that wealth can be extracted and power can be concentrated into the hands of those already within the wealthy elite classes, and takes into account neither gender, culture, race, age, social strata, etc while this process unfolds, deepens and embeds itself into the economic, political and social systems of national and international territories.
NSA sniffs ‘radicals’ porn habits
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11164046
So the average household has more disposable income now?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/9453094/Household-spending-on-the-rise
The important word there is the “average” income
What is the median income?
Since National’s won office in 2008 inflation/CPI has increased by 10.8%, yet the median household income has increased by 15.6%, from $59,345 to $68,626.
How the hell do you get your figures?
I went straight to the horses mouth (NZ.Stat) and dragged the same figures out that Flee has:
Median household income in 2008 – $65364
Median household income in 2013 – $70616
Total %age increase in that period is 8.035%
Thank you, thank you
I’ll be here all evening
make sure you rehydrate.
gotta’ keep ya’ flammable fluids up.
oooooooh burn 😛
Do I need to break out the sock puppets?
Go here – Stats NZ Household Economic Survey.
Click on the table and you’ll see the median income for year end June 2008 for Total Regular and Recurring Income is $59,345, as I quoted. You’ll also see for the YE 2013 is $68,626. Total increase = 15.6%.
Dunno what you’re looking at.
OK, I do not know anybody who earns that kind of money. Is this the average income of a government employee? One would be earning $ 1320 per week. Sorry man, it just shows how far away some of the people are from the daily reality for most. The average spend on food however has gone up by about 13% if I look at the weekly spend of our household. Comparing apples against apples I may add. EVERYBODY who is not a high flyer out there is hurting. Petrol, also bus fares, rent – all the basics have gone up. Talk to people who work in the Warehouse, Petrol Stations or general offices and the true picture will soon emerge. And no, there are no puppets needed for the average battler out there. It could backfire offering such.
In all honesty, I am very confused right now because their own report building tool disagrees with that published household economic survey. If you go use their tool you will see what I mean just by going to:
http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx#
And then “Income by Region” selecting “All Regions” and that gives the figures I used
Who to believe? Stats NZ or Stats NZ?
EDIT: Apologies – I am looking at the median income (which I though was the figure we were looking at) and the Household Economic Survey focuses on the mean income.
I guess this goes to prove that in NZ, the rich got much richer and the poor got much poorer.
Kiaora Seti
The Ministry of Social Development has published Household Incomes in NZ: trends in indicators of inequality and hardship 1982-2012 which essentially says the complete opposite to your assertions. To quote:
..From just before the impact of the GFC to the beginning of recovery (from HES 2009 to HES 2012, that is, approximately from calendar 2008 to 2011), the net change in median household income in real terms was close to zero (+0.5% over three years)…
http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx#
2013 Household Income (all sources)
Weekly Average income = $1,601 * 52 = $83,252 pa
Weekly Median income = $ 1,358 * 52 = $70,616 pa
2013 Wage and Salary Income
Weekly Average income = $1,223 * 52 = $63,596 pa
Weekly Median income = $ 1,036 * 52 = $53,872 pa
A higher average (mean) than median means that there are a few households earning some big bucks dragging the average up. 50% households get less than $70K. If you do not earn the average $83K you are in company with over half the households in NZ.
The second set of numbers better reflect households without income earning assets who have to rely on just wages or salaries.
More people need to be informed of inequality in NZ. The news media is rubbish when it come to reporting numbers and worse at analysis. NZ Stats web site is rubbish but numbers can be got and processed a bit better than what I’ve done for a quick post.
The discrepancy between these and reported numbers depends on what SS you look at but the points are the same.
i would say the real figures should be published of the number of the population who earn less than the average prefferably in $10,000 brackets, such a chart should show a ten year time frame and the number of wage earners either moving up or down the wage scale,
Medium and median incomes are a simple ruse to hide the true picture of poverty…
Yes and those ‘averages’ tell an incredibly false story where a third of the population exist relying upon far far less than the ‘average wage’ and has between 1 and 200 dollars a week of disposable income mostly spent upon food at the supermarket…
I see in the Dompost this a.m. that National is getting to ready to privatise the Universities.
Is that so they can give jobs to their mates or let their mates examine the universities for any nice little earners they can sell off to themselves.
It cant be about governance because the universities seem to be doing an ok job at the moment.
I see in the Dompost this a.m. that National is getting to ready to privatise the Universities.
Is that so they can give jobs to their mates or let their mates examine the universities for any nice little earners they can sell off to themselves.
It cant be about governance because the universities seem to be doing an ok job at the moment.
Have you got a link for that Cpt. Hook please?
I looked everywhere on the DomPost but couldnt find anywhere.
Wouldnt suprise me though — Shipley’s government tried to pull off a stunt like that in 98/99, but time ran out, and Bradford was run out.
Is it this article?
pA 15: Opinion section.
[deleted]
[lprent: Already banned. Another IP for autospam. ]
Probably, people do make mistakes.
Having a great deal of difficulty with the site today. Whenever I make a comment I get directed to
http://thestandard.org.nz/wp-comments-post.php
And it’s also really slow.
The site is experiencing problems, anyhoo
Scoop : Blogs have become more influential and prominent in NZ
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1311/S00336/blogs-have-become-more-influential-and-prominent-in-nz.htm
echo…echo…….echo……Echo…………ECho………….ECHo………….
Through random wanderings of the interwebs I found this which I considered worth sharing:
jesus wept… Shane Jones may as well cross the floor and sit with his mates
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11164241&ref=rss
“cross”?
You mean there is a chance he will get off his arse and actually do something constructive for himself and the Labour Party?
The Labour MPs need to kick him off the Labour benches.
Sealord Jones probably costs them a lot of votes. If they want to show that there’s any tinge of red in there, they really do need to boot the useless kupapa.
ruhroh for Amy Adams, making the PM look bad by fucking shit up:
New Zealand First, the Maori Party and United Future are all vowing to oppose any legislation which would overrule the Commerce Commission on broadband pricing
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9454120/NZ-First-won-t-overule-on-copper-pricing
Grrr! Chris Trotter on RNZ “Afternoons” today raised again the matter of Willie and JT’s freedom of speech. They still have their freedom of speech just not paid on air at the moment.
Ironic or is there a more apt word to describe Chris raising this on the very programme that dispatched Bomber Bradbury.
Ironic indeed. You could also use the descriptors: self-serving, ignorant, hypocrites.
CBC is reporting that Snowden files reveal that Stephen Harper and the Conservative Government in Canada allowed the U.S. to use the NSA to spy in Canada (based in their Ottawa Embassy) during the 2010 G8 and G20 meetings.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/new-snowden-docs-show-u-s-spied-during-g20-in-toronto-1.2442448
They’re not crude misogynists, they’re “working-class guys”;
Just look who’s sticking up for Willie and J.T.
The Panel, Radio NZ National, Thursday 28 November 2013
Jim Mora, Ellen Read, Chris Trotter
If you were bored enough, unfortunate enough or foolhardy enough to be listening to Jim Mora’s light chat show this afternoon, you will have heard Chris Trotter embark on yet another of his windy, wandery exercises in verbal casuistry. Today’s low-grade lecture wasn’t quite as depraved as his pompous oratory on behalf of the Zimmerman jury [1]; however, it was still an odious and pestilential defense of the indefensible, and it clearly upset his fellow guest Ellen Read and even managed to perplex the normally unflappable host Jim Mora.
According to Trotter, Willie and J.T. are misunderstood because they are a couple of working class guys who lack the sophistication and middle class smarts to sound intelligent, and are in reality really nice guys who do a lot of good for young women—-when they are not snarling at rape victims and badgering them on their crummy radio show. [2] Trotter-watchers are all too familiar with his cogitations on this subject; for many years, he has condescendingly and inaccurately pontificated about the need for Labour politicians to understand a sub-species of lowlife he pretentiously labels “Waitakere Man”—a sub-species which is (according to the likes of Trotter) too thick to understand concepts like human rights.
As Trotter vapoured on, and on, and on, Ellen Read became very agitated, protesting several times. Jim Mora also demurred several times, but Trotter bored on for a good three minutes, which seemed much longer.
Appalled, I fired off the following email….
“Middle class reaction”?
Dear Jim,
All of the working class women I know were absolutely disgusted by Willie and JT’s crude bullying of that young girl on their radio show.
Please tell that to Chris Trotter, that self-appointed spokesmen for the working class.
Yours in astonishment at glib “liberal” pundits,
Morrissey Breen
Northcote Point
This time, Jim didn’t read my letter out. One listener’s text did get through, however; just before the end of the show, Jim Mora read this: “Tell Chris Trotter all speech has consequences.”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to say,” said Ellen Read. What a pity she didn’t confront Trotter more assertively as he was actually unloading this latest pile of crap.
[1] http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-19072013/#comment-664870
[2] http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11151911
Nice work, Moz. Trotter’s conservative wittering should never be mistaken for genuine class analysis. His real constituency is actually confused righties who don’t understand why nobody wants to be their mate.
lol, even funnier virtually
Gotcha 😉 But virtually will never beat actually, as Grace Jones can testify: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkL8slW6bdQ&list=PLA28421C2F3ED6464
intriguing lyrics.
Ex-marine does a Titford?
Very good contributions from Cunliffe on Citizen A.
Hitting the right/left notes – clear and articulate as usual.
Okay, time to fess up, who was there?.
http://djrioblog.com/2013/11/26/new-wave-artists-aging-gracefully-an-80s-world-gone-by/
Thanks. Some growing old gracefully – others got an “Oh, dear” response from me. Especially the botoxed/face lifted ones – looking at you Marc Almond.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood now looks like a businessman.
The Things That Dreams are Made Of . 😀
Terri Nunn, yummy!
Lynn, are you around? Any idea why I keep going into moderation? It’s been going on for the past week or so. Anything I can do at my end?
Akismet does our main spam filtering. All comments go through it. It was a bad day for them, and us…
http://blog.akismet.com/2013/11/28/api-outage-november-28th/
Note my italics… The times quoted are 13 hours behind ours.
Been cleaning comments out of the moderation queue all day. But they’ve been having problems off and on for days now. I boosted the site on to a higher priority at akismet. Also boosted the web servers as they’re having to deal with a much large volume of comments than usual.
I’ll see what it is like in the morning. But I also need to improve the captcha again..
Ok, thanks. I’ve been going into moderation for a week or so, but will keep an eye out over the next day or two.