Seymour is a dangerous person seeking to sacrifice NZ polity on an alter of a stuffed ideology and hero worship of Ruth Richardson His lost decades bemoan the fact that there is still public education, a public health system, ACC, public roads, state ownership of key assets in energy and transport.
I think that he will not be happy unless he becomes NZ version of Pol Pot: an ideolgue driving insane extremism.
That and much more efficient fracking has turned the US into a net energy exporter for some time. Doesn't make it energy independent, just much less vulnerable to external pressure.
Also as of Friday President Biden has paused all the new LNG investment, which is a spectacular win for environmentalists that I am sure will play into the campaign.
Both Mr Micheal and Ms King said all proposals — from royalty relief to sweeping royalty reforms — were on the table to support the industries.
Capitalists lining up, cap in hand, palm outstretched for govt handout… No market failure tho, just the usual boom/bust cycle. Neolib as drunken sailor.
in the past year the price of lithium has dropped by more than 80 per cent. Meanwhile, nickel is down more than 40 per cent.
Everyone hold hands & chant normalcy shall prevail in unison & everything will be alright again.
Except it requires massive amounts of water for its extraction and processing. Water that they do not have unless it is diverted from farming or other vital uses. The American Public Broadcasting Service had a good discussion on this a couple of days ago,
A funny story from Newsroom by Margaret Mills. Sounds to be true but???
One morning during the weekend the line for coffee was out on the street and not very fast moving. Part way down the line stood our local bald-headed politician (the same one who has a luxury bach on our beach and drove his boat through a rahui because it wasn’t marked) with his bouncer. The Egg goes everywhere with him.
They were getting a tad impatient.
After a bit of muttering The Egg called out, “Would you serve us next, please?”
The barista is rumoured to be Argentinian. He answered, “Listen, Mate, I don’t know who you think you are, but you get served in line, just like everybody else.”
The room was full, everyone else knew who he was, a roar of laughter went up and within seconds there was a phone in every hand.
A notice is often erected for rahui, given that your suggested method is not an effective one in terms of any message that needs to be universally shared.
often solutions need multiple elements in place. If we consider that rahui come from cultures with an oral tradition, then connection to place and people is pretty core.
If I owned a crib on Waiheke, I'd be connecting into the local community in whatever ways were available. Community wellbeing comes from engagement and connection, not just a noticeboard committee.
That makes criticism of the ignorance of a rahui a flawed one. If you are going to criticise people for not respecting a rahui when notifications are in place, then do so. But to criticise someone when none are is petty-mindedness.
Don't employ a step up from a psychic network, to inadequately achieve wider knowledge of a rahui when it is in place.
If you can't see that criticising someone for not having knowledge of a temporary rahui in place, when the location is unmarked then I can't help you.
Either accept the limitations of a verbal communication on a network of linked people (not all) in a community, or do something that will reach all members in that community – linked or not.
"Either accept the limitations of a verbal communication on a network of linked people (not all) in a community, or do something that will reach all members in that community – linked or not."
How to communicate something important in a community (a non-exhaustive list):
signs
MSM messaging
SM messaging
emailing local groups
talking at meetings/hui
Now, please explain how the location could be marked so that everyone knew where it was. Because I don't think that is possible.
“I’ve seen notice at local beaches at boat ramps and on the main waterfront.
This is not unusual.”
Of course. And it’s not going to reach everyone eg someone who comes to the area by sea. Which is why I said community wellbeig (eg a rahui) requires engagement from people as well as public notifications.
“And the issue is criticising someone – when the location is unmarked. There is not enough detail provided by the anecdote to assume anything else.”
I think there wasn’t enough detail in the anecdote to assume anything at all other than that the writer was signalling something pointed about Luxon and that community.
FFS I knew the rahui was in place and I don't even live there. It was in the mainstream media quite a few times. Anyone who lives in NZ should know that when certain things happen that rahui might be in place.
This goes from someone drowning, to polluted shellfish, to depleted fishing stocks or in this case invasive weeds.
How do you know? – you make the effort to find out. It is a pretty normal check for many people. Finding out is about showing respect for the area you are going to, about acknowledging that you are a visitor – you need to have some emotional intelligence to check and not just barge in as if you own the place.
Interestingly there was a feature on fishing on the news tonight about fishing and that different areas have different fishing rules and requirements and that you need to check there before sticking your boat in the water. You can be fined significantly for getting it wrong doing so – though educating is preferred.
If ignorance is no excuse for fishing rules then ignorance is no excuse for rahui either. Stop making excuses for him and his party.
Aboriginal tradition in Oz puts it quite nicely.
"Protocols for welcoming visitors to Country have always been a part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Boundaries were clear, and crossing into another group’s Country required a request for permission to enter.
When permission was granted the hosting group would welcome the visitors, offering them safe passage and protection of their spiritual being during the journey. Visitors had to respect the protocols and rules of the land owner group while on their Country. "
It is a courtesy. No different than when on the odd occasion non-religious me has to go into a church. I always make some effort to understand the particular rules of that church – no different to visiting a marae either – what are the local protocols and customs.
the rahui was across some bays and coastal areas, pretty hard to put signs up everywhere and at sea. This is what I mean about solutions coming from multiple elements. You put signs at the boat ramps, do media and social media work, use local groups and so on. Last time there was a rahui in my area, I learned about it from FB.
Whatever bee you have in your bonnet about criticism of Luxon, my points still stand. Even if there had been signs at the boat ramps, moorings etc, that still isn't going to inform everyone. There is an onus on people to engage as well. Pretty basic community comms, and I would expect Luxon to pay someone to keep him up to date, even just for the real politik and competency side of it.
“Yeah. I guess any opportunity to criticise Luxon needs to be taken if that is where you want to go.”
Or the opportunity to criticise people for criticising Luxon 😉
“I would assume that other locals may have made the same transgression through ignorance, and wouldn’t criticise them either.”
Myself, I hold leaders to a higher standard than the general public. And people with greater resources. Like I said, if he’s not going to engage himself, he can just pay someone to do that for him
maybe try reading and understanding my comments and then you might get it, because I already covered this multiple times:
COMMUNITY WELLBEING NECESSITATES ENGAGEMENT BY PEOPLE AS WELL AS NOTIFICATION.
So yeah, I would expect the PM of NZ to make a considerable effort to understand what is happening in the community where he has a holiday home. As opposed to say a visitor from outside the area, or someone who is working three jobs and trying to look after their kids and just wanted to get out on the beach/water but wasn’t paying attention.
@weka I understand your comments, I am simply disagreeing with them.
While you consider this particular skill in this particular case a priority for our PM – I don't.
The anecdote related an example of arrogant behaviour, that did not need further window dressing by an irrelevance. You consider it relevant, because of your idea of higher standards for community wellbeing. Mine differs.
the problem here for me is that you don’t state disagreement, you just ignore my input and then continue to talk with me as if I hadn’t said those things.
In this case, if you disagree that community wellbeing needs people to actively participate, or that PMs should be held to a higher standard, then please say that up front and I won’t keep repeating myself.
We've lost the large grey quote marks which used to be next to the indent. Now we just have the indent which I don't think is particularly clear. No need to panic, I did make it clear it was an edit of your original quote.
It was a response to highlight the current de-Maorification of New Zealand done to placate the fears and frustrations of the Pakeha far right.
How to use quote marks correctly while making your irrelevant point:
“How do you know if a rahui is in place if it isn't marked" in English"?"
Another example:
"It was a response to highlight the current de-Maorification of New Zealand done to placate the fears and frustrations of the Pakeha far right."
Your response mechanism is predicated on a number of suppositions and fallacies that you can continue to hold.
(Just as I can continue to think they are ludicrous, unless someone can explain persuasively otherwise.)
BTW, it was @ianmac who stated “and drove his boat through a rahui because it wasn’t marked) “. Are you saying that you consider a rahui unmarked because a notice may or may not have been written – because it was in Te Reo?
We've lost the large grey quote marks which used to be next to the indent. Now we just have the indent which I don't think is particularly clear. No need to panic, I did make it clear it was an edit of your original quote.
Good point. That should have been in the css for something like 'div.comment blockquote'. I wonder what plugin (that I have turned off for simplicity) was providing that.
I will add it onto my to-do list for today – but after I get into aircond. Have to have one of the doors closed today because the apartment is getting washed. Feels like the temperature and humidity inside is rising…
Ummm 26C and 52% on a gardening sensor. Not too bad
Simeon Brown punishing the Wellington and Upper Hutt Mayors using specific powers to seek information on water supply investment shows National's tactic for water supply amounts to clubbing the weak.
Which regrettably in NZ's punitive electorate will work just fine.
In public, during stops in states such as New Hampshire, South Carolina and Georgia, Manchin says he believes there’s a role for him as a national icon in the “fiscally responsible and socially compassionate” middle… As Biden tries to assert the success of his presidency, Manchin says he shaped “everything” in the president’s agenda. In an interview with CNN as he drove in New Hampshire, Manchin said the country would have been worse off if he hadn’t used the 50-50 Senate to force Biden to do things his way, arguing, “The way it was presented and the way it ended up are two different things.”
Manchin called the president a “good, decent man” but said he worries about a second Biden term with a White House staff who he believes is dominated by a group of “far, far-left liberals.”
Yeah, could be a goer, given both other contenders are problematic currently.
I would guess Iran is playing to Russia's tune. Russia got the world off it's back over Ukraine when Iran set the Palestinian attacks on Israel in motion. What's the bet some rubles changed hands to get that going.
Craig Murray queued through two wintry nights in The Hague to be one of the 14 people to get admitted to the ICJ hearings. He is a very experienced ex diplomat, used to unpacking these types of documents and is quietly surprised by the depth of trouble Istael now finds itself in. The main points from his analysis are that:
1. The only time "self defence" is mentioned is in acknowledging that a major part of the Israeli defense is around "self defence". The ICJ has thus left off stating the obvious. An occupying power can not claim self defense. They must first leave all occupied territories. It would be absurd to give occupied people the right to fight their oppressors at the same time as their oppressors had the right to self defense. To the ICJ, this is so obvious it does not need to be stated.
2. The genocidal incitement of the senior Israeli government cabinet are written up not as alleged by SA but rather as statements of fact.
3. Statements by the head of UNRWA on the extreme conditions in Gaza and the approaching famine and disease amongst the huge displaced population are written as statements of fact. This will explain the sudden attempt to villify and withdraw funding from the UNRWA.
4. The genocide convention is written into UK law. All supporting military aid, intelligence and logistical support will now need to cease. There is already a case started in the US to put Biden on trial for aiding and abetting genocide. How this will go is anyones guess.
Murray finishes by saying none of these processes will be quick as justice moves slowly but unless there is a massive escalation of the war, it's not looking good for the Israeli government nor for the US and UK.
"This will explain the sudden attempt to vilify and withdraw funding from the UNRWA."
There is no logical/legal/moral reason to defund UNRWA, and therefore starve the Palestinians, on the basis of the actions of (maybe) 12 of its employees.
Keeping in mind UNRWA has lost, as in they are dead, at least 150 employees to the Israeli bombing of civilian infrastructure and the people sheltering there. Not to mention its 13,000 employees who are now refugees themselves.
This is simply the Wests way of showing its support for Israel, and the Wests/Israels unwavering willingness to see this destruction of a country and a people through to the bitter end.
That in itself answers your question as to how any attempt to put Biden on trial will go…
Things may not "Look Good" for these governments, but I see no evidence whatsoever that they care…and lets be honest..those people within the system who supposedly could help hold their co workers in governments to moral account are failing miserably.
People like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez..the darling of many a Standard commentator..who thinks that voting these genocidal war mongers, who are also failing to care for the basic needs of their own populations btw, how voting them back in scot-free is somehow "Being adult about the situation".
Which Nations even temporarily cut diplomatic ties with America over these 12 individuals??…
For my part, given UNRWA's previous form for supporting antisemitic terrorism, I'm unsurprised many of the countries funding it don't find "Look, only 12 of our employees participated in a pogrom" very persuasive.
So UNRWA should have its own police to check every one of its 13,000 employees [IN GAZA] and out of work activities.
After all theres 5.6 mill Palestinians registered with UWRA , Im surprised that theres not many many more than 13 amoung the 30,000 employees in the countries surrounding Israel
Those countries 'finding problems' here , werent they the same ones that said it was 'outrageous' that Israel is being even taken to the International Court over a claim of genocide
The whole existence of 5.6 mill refugees is of course soley laid at the feet of Israel and its Zionist existence
"We have many employees so it's unsurprising some of them participate in pogroms" is likely to be similarly unpersuasive to western donors.
The reason there are so many refugees is highly disputable and disputed. Govts that invaded Israel/Palestine in 1948 for the purpose of dividing the place among themselves and then losing the fight after causing massive population displacement seem to me like more plausible candidates. Those govts are notable for their absence from the list of top UNRWA donors.
The majority of the horrific torture operations, according to the testimonies, start as soon as people are taken from their homes or asylum centres where many Gazans are sheltering from the ongoing Israeli attacks. Soldiers then beat the detained people and strip them naked, except for their undergarments, forcing them to sit on their knees in the street for hours while being harassed and treated with contempt
They are then forced to curse themselves and other Palestinian groups and are violently transfered in trucks to open air detention centres for further beatings.
In 2016 Israel arrested Mohammed El Halabi who was a World Vision worker on fabricated charges of funneling money to Hamas. It is alleged that the confession was beaten out of him and this was the only evidence ever presented.
The Australian government comissioned an audit that found no evidence of any money going anywhere it wasn't supposed to but nevertheless suspended funding to World vision in Gaza.
World Vision stood behind El Halabi and stated on his conviction in 2022 that the arrest, conviction and unjust verdict and (12 year) sentence are emblamatic of actions that hinder humanitarian work in Gaza and the West Bank.
This experience caused World Vision to leave Gaza so you could say a pretty encouraging result for Israel. Worked a treat and seems to be going well this time too.
I'd like to know if these employees actually participated in a pogrom, of if there was a pogrom at all because it looked like a hostage taking mission to neutral observers.
If some UNRWA employees were involved on the day, what was their role? To neutral observers there was plenty of effort to transport hostages safely to Gaza apparently under fire from the IDF. Perhaps this was their role.
These people are resisting a creeping, murderous occupation. Remember?
I'm curious about how many Israeli spies were in UNRWA given their history of infiltrating overseas organisations, using false passports etc. I mean they spy on their allies. It would be naive to think they didn't have spies in UNWRA. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
The 2004 Israel–New Zealand passport scandal was an incident of passport fraud in July 2004 that led New Zealand to take diplomatic sanctions against Israel. High-level contacts between the two countries were suspended after two Israeli citizens suspected of being Mossad agents, Uriel Kelman and Eli Cara, were caught trying to fraudulently acquire a New Zealand passport using the identity of a man with cerebral palsy. Prime Minister Helen Clark declared that New Zealand government viewed the acts carried out by Kelman and Cara as "not only utterly unacceptable but also a breach of New Zealand sovereignty and international law."
Another reading of this record, though, shows that Pollard’s activities fit a pattern of Israeli espionage efforts. As John Davitt, a 30-year veteran of the Justice Department who resigned in 1980, told the New York Times: “When the Pollard case broke, the general media and public perception was that this was the first time this had ever happened. No, that’s not true at all. The Israeli intelligence service, when I was in the Justice Department, was the second most active in the United States, to the Soviets.”
I think the successes of Israel's espionage capabilities lead people to overestimate them. Spying within Gaza for Israel is incredibly high-risk, it makes spying on the USSR look a doddle. And people who are credible locals are highly unlikely to want to help Israel for obvious reasons.
I'm just not sure why anyone would be surprised that an organisation as large as the UNWRA working in Gaza would not have infiltrators or at the very least sympathisers from Hamas. Israel has certainly accused it of being so in the past.
It would be quite challenging I would think to prevent it. Israel's push to defund (and force further hardship) on the population in Gaza has been ongoing and any discrediting will do.
It's true that as long as UNRWA is employing Palestinians in Gaza its schools will teach Islamist terrorism as a noble virtue and many of its staff will be candidates to participate in pogroms. It's just not obvious to me why we or other liberal democracies would fund that.
What always interested me about the Mossad spies trying to get NZ passports is that someone who has a New Zealand passport has to verify your identity and endorse the photograph. I don't recall ever hearing of someone being prosecuted for making these false statements.
The GOP is taking on Biden over his post Gaza plan for a restoration of the peace process – they call that rewarding Hamas.
Trump ended funding to UNRWA back in 2018, Biden resumed it.
And there is this also
Republicans have also taken Israel's lead on criticizing the Biden administration's continued support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Top GOP lawmakers have demanded clarification on reports that Hamas is diverting humanitarian aid from the UN agency, which is accordingly failing to prevent such incidents, despite the U.S. being UNRWA's single largest donor.
On Friday, the U.S. announced it is suspending funding to UNRWA due to an investigation into 12 employees suspected of involvement in the October 7 attacks in Israel by Hamas. It has since been joined by the United Kingdom, Australia, Finland, Italy, and Canada.
Trump partially cut funding. Biden cut the whole lot off. You might find that part of the problem with Bidens collapsing vote is that people are thouroughly nauseated by endless lesser evil arguments.
You're right on funding. The ICJ says there is a case to answer on genocide, specifically stating the extent with statements of facts as they stand, and Biden's answer is to cut the one last line of humanitarian aid, the effect of which will be to hasten the genocide, and you are making lesser evil arguments?
The decision to suspend funding during an investigation is questionable given the need to improve aid provision in the immediate term.
The GOP pressure in the House for Biden to do so is obvious, but giving BN's government what they want could easily backfire, if they are then seen as in breach on an interim decision that their judge on the ICJ supported.
"The GOP is taking on Biden over his post Gaza plan for a restoration of the peace process"
You are obviously aware that Biden is arming Israel with 2000lb bombs and thousands probably tens of thousands main tank round + lots lots more, which are both the back bone of the Genocide that is taking place right now, and further the USA has never been a peace broker in the ME during it's entire position as world hegemony, let alone in this affair, so please don't offer up that total load of rubbish "restoration of the peace process" wtf…
….the outrageous cognitive dissonance that the Liberal class display out in the open…seemingly totally unaware of the moral and ethical quick sand that is about to finally cover them is nothing short of astounding.
And now Biden stops aid because the country that has just been implicated in a horrific genocide tells him that there are some Hamas fighters working there….this all coming from Israel, one of the most flagrant bullshitters on the face of the planet….the rules based order…yeah right.
Biden is in power..Biden is aiding and abetting Genocide, right now as we speak,humans are starving, dying, being mutilated, humiliated, in their hundreds of thousands..by Biden…not Trump…vote Blue no matter Who,…even a war criminal…is that what you are seriously advocating?
1.The ICJ would have made no statement about the right of Israel to exercise military power in the occupied territories in its self defence because it was focused on the genocide issue before it (and there was also the issue of Hamas taking the fight into Israeli territory – there being no Israeli occupation within Gaza).
4.There has been decision on whether there has been genocide to influence UK government obligation nor therefore a case to answer in the USA either.
Given the time frame of the ICJ process to the duration of the Israeli Gaza offensive the real issue is Israeli response to the interim decisions and UK and USA reaction to that.
The Israeli case centred on self defence. The only other argument was that the ICJ did not have jurisdiction. Its incredible that you can believe that a state can invade and occupy another state and then claim self defence when the locals fight back. The right to fight back is enshrined in the UN Charter. What you propose is contradictory rubbish. You've even called them "occupied territories". Lebanon was also in the right when they evicted the IDF from Southern Lebanon in the 2000s. Im afraid you've just drunk the US and UK cool aid that says empires have the right to invade if they invoke self defence. They do not
The Israeli case may have been based on self defence, but that does not allow war crimes and these war crimes after incitement to genocide is why the case was accepted, is proceeding and Israel is expected to abide by interim decisions, so as to prevent an escalation to genocide.
The occupied territories were not the territory of another state when occupied, no state of Palestine in the area had been declared or even advocated for – the population had accepted Egyptian and Jordan presence as part of a cease-fire in an earlier war to prevent the existence of a Jewish majority nation state.
Gender identity ideology still falling, one case at a time. I couldn't list how many of these there have been. A couple of examples just from today.
1. Vice Chancellor of the Open University in the UK making a public statement apologising to Professor Jo Phoenix, criminologist, for failing to protect her in her work environment from harassment when she starting set up the Gender Critical Research Network.
GCRN is crucial because of the immense pressure on academics to not talk about and research sex-based phenomena. eg in crime, it's the impact of males in women's prisons, or women who have been raped having to listen to their rapist being referred to as she, or safety implications for women where their single sex spaces are now designated as mixed sex.
2. Rip Curl drops one if its women ambassadors and brand wearers because of her gender critical views. Then it chose a trans-identified male to represent women's surfing in an ad campaign. Now it's been boycotted and had to remove its social media featuring the trans identified male.
In the 4pm RNZ news bulletin, in an item about an Auckland physiotherapist who has been censured for inappropriate behaviour has to under go ethics training before he "…can treat female identifying patients…"
I don't think I've heard that term in that sort of context on 'red radio' before.
yeah, that's damn insulting given he was sexually assaulting women*. I wonder if it's RNZ's language, or the language of the ruling against the man?
*although I guess we don't actually know now if it was women he was assaulting, because currently in NZ the word woman has been made a mockery and nonsense.
North and South have published an important article about puberty blockers – very balanced and apolitical. We could be close to a break in the one-sided rhetoric.
It is *so* similar to the Unfortunate Experiment. From an article about medical abuse, and how it happens:
In New Zealand [Herb] Green is infamous as the physician behind the “unfortunate experiment.” His tragic flaw was signaled by a phrase written on his office chalkboard: “Don’t confuse me with the facts—my mind is made up.” Green was convinced that cervical carcinoma in situ (CIS)—a condition in which abnormal cells are found on the surface of the cervix but not yet any deeper—would not progress to invasive cervical cancer. Never mind the scientific evidence, or expert consensus, or even the policy at his hospital, all of which instructed that CIS should be treated, not simply left alone.
Gender identity ideology still holding up in NZ higher circles: this example from the NZ Midwifery Council: who have removed the words -women – and even -baby- from a midwives scope of practice
Not to mention the RSE School curriculum which tells kids that they have a "gendered soul" and can change their sex. And we dish out so called "Puberty Blockers" (off brand) more than many other comparable countries..
Good to see some local light shone on this reckless and ideological practice.
According to the NZEI, your concerns are 'conspiracy based thinking'. And Jan Tinetti, says it's part of some 'imported culture war', and there really is no problem at all.
“We have a really good curriculum in this country. The guidelines are not the curriculum, they are adding to how we can make sure the curriculum is taught well. They are not compulsory, but they are absolutely superb.”
Do you know what No Debate is? It affects gender identity ideologists too. They end up looking stupid, but it's probably ignorance as well as ideological blindness.
Remember when Sean Plunket asked then PM Hipkins the 'what is a woman?' question? And Hipkins stumbled over his answer. He seem unprepared, which was extraordinary given this was post Kellie Jay Keen's visit, and UK Labour had been through years of challenge over that question to the point that they had to change their policy position. It was mindblowing seeing Hipkins unprepared, but it does suggest his advisors are ignorant of what is going on.
Not hard to see it being the same with Tinetti. The other option I guess is that she understands well enough and is being disingenuous.
That was a truly astonishing moment (Hipkins having had no briefing on what to say if asked 'What is a woman?'). Mindblowing alright. The self-confidence that no-one could reasonably disagree with them leaves them completely defenceless if someone does.
Thanks Weka. Yes, I'm well aware of No Debate and the impact it's having on the free exchange of ideas. Or should I say the freedom of gender critical ideas.
Love him or loathe him, Plunkett gives this issue a robust airing, and published this piece by Yvonne Van Dongen just last week. Identity crisis | The Platform
Sean Plunket has platformed a couple of women involved in the Albert Park debacle, who have given succinct accounts. However, when speaking of the himself, his grasp of the topic and the underlying safeguarding and evidence failures seem to be lacking.
Garwhoungle who used to comment (and perhaps author) here, has some good posts on their blog: The Ministry Has Fallen, about some of the aspects and impacts of this ideology:
Many people are unaware that TKI provides education guidelines, not curriculum itself. Curriculum can be sourced, and also delivered by third parties.
The Ministry of Education in the RSE guidelines gives recommendations for which providers to go to for curriculum.
InsideOut is one such organisation. As third-party providers their material is not accessible under an OIA request, because of commercial privacy. This means that parents and caregivers are unable to view and assess for themselves much of the content being delivered. https://insideout.org.nz/resources/
One module – published by the Ministry of Education that can be viewed is the one on pornography. It provides no assessment of the harms of pornography production and viewing, and is intended to remove the shame associated with pornography. There is also no assessment of the supposed advantage to students of consumption of pornography in terms of personal sexual well-being, behaviour or understanding of consent:
NZ is many years behind the UK. We can only hope that the work done by progressive GCFs and others will be something we can use here instead of going down the conservative backlash route.
We are very lucky to have Ovens, and actual left wing person.
And Speak Up For Women did get a court ruling that established to some extent that you can't discriminate on the basis of gender critical belief (in that case, it was for venue hire).
Paula cares, she cares so much she ended the TIA for those on the DPB when Minister.
Now her care extends to those under 25 on the Job Seeker Benefit.
She calls obligations on these people caring. She does not mention the PM's policy in this area – she is preparing the public for that. He has mentioned appointing non W and I people for these people to be accountable to while unemployed.
Damien also cares, here he shills for the governments plans to open up New Zealand to foreign investment, leaving only a national security test.
This will allow land on the coast to be flicked on to foreigners who want investments in scarce assets, not subject to a CGT. And given we have no public domain on the F and S, locals will lose access to the coast as a result.
He pretends that such investment will enable us to produce more goods and services, when in fact it is just leveraging ownership of a scarce resource for an untaxed CGT.
The reason why we lack domestic investment in the productive economy is that our tax system incentivises ownership of assets for CG – opening that up to foreign involvement is not an improvement.
I've been on X and can report about the cancel culture that operates there – Sean Plunkett opposes the National led government funding UNRWA and Leo Molloy wants to defund the UN.
It seems that those who want to rewrite the Treaty have an empathy for those who want all the land without any responsibilityto others it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine. Or un-sign the problematic UNDRIP (indigenous peoplerights)againshowing a disregard for another peoples identity – there the UN determined area for a state for Arab Palestinians.
I think he's pointing to a flash-point, independent of personalities, but typical of meaningful change. My position is; oppose the proposition, but am mindful of the danger of iterative, "soft" change and its vulnerability to unpleasant agents.
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Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
The pair opened their first fully collaborative exhibition, Nina for Flowers, last Saturday. Gabi Lardies visited their studio to find out who Nina is and what working together was like.‘It didn’t start out like, ‘This is a show about Nina,’” says Josephine Jelicich, gripping a thermos of peppermint tea. ...
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Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 26 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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Appalled, I tell you, appalled.
Seymour is a dangerous person seeking to sacrifice NZ polity on an alter of a stuffed ideology and hero worship of Ruth Richardson His lost decades bemoan the fact that there is still public education, a public health system, ACC, public roads, state ownership of key assets in energy and transport.
I think that he will not be happy unless he becomes NZ version of Pol Pot: an ideolgue driving insane extremism.
https://nationalinterest.org/feature/new-lithium-discoveries-can-secure-america%E2%80%99s-clean-energy-future-208808
California now has lithium valley.
That and much more efficient fracking has turned the US into a net energy exporter for some time. Doesn't make it energy independent, just much less vulnerable to external pressure.
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/us-energy-facts/imports-and-exports.php
Also as of Friday President Biden has paused all the new LNG investment, which is a spectacular win for environmentalists that I am sure will play into the campaign.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/biden-pauses-approval-new-lng-export-projects-win-climate-activists-2024-01-26/#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2C%20Jan%2026%20(Reuters),5%20election.
Continues to make me wonder at how quickly and completely we have drained out sovereign energy independence.
Oz consternation: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-26/examining-the-drastic-downturn-in-nickel-and-lithium-prices/103388902
Capitalists lining up, cap in hand, palm outstretched for govt handout… No market failure tho, just the usual boom/bust cycle. Neolib as drunken sailor.
Everyone hold hands & chant normalcy shall prevail in unison & everything will be alright again.
Except it requires massive amounts of water for its extraction and processing. Water that they do not have unless it is diverted from farming or other vital uses. The American Public Broadcasting Service had a good discussion on this a couple of days ago,
A funny story from Newsroom by Margaret Mills. Sounds to be true but???
https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/01/29/an-incident-in-onetangi/
How do you know if a rahui is in place if it isn't marked?
connection to place and people.
A notice is often erected for rahui, given that your suggested method is not an effective one in terms of any message that needs to be universally shared.
often solutions need multiple elements in place. If we consider that rahui come from cultures with an oral tradition, then connection to place and people is pretty core.
If I owned a crib on Waiheke, I'd be connecting into the local community in whatever ways were available. Community wellbeing comes from engagement and connection, not just a noticeboard committee.
That makes criticism of the ignorance of a rahui a flawed one. If you are going to criticise people for not respecting a rahui when notifications are in place, then do so. But to criticise someone when none are is petty-mindedness.
Don't employ a step up from a psychic network, to inadequately achieve wider knowledge of a rahui when it is in place.
What makes you think there were no notifications in place? The piece says it wasn't marked. I took that to mean on site.
If you think how communities function in addition to physical signs is a step up from a psychic network, I probably can't help you.
If you can't see that criticising someone for not having knowledge of a temporary rahui in place, when the location is unmarked then I can't help you.
Either accept the limitations of a verbal communication on a network of linked people (not all) in a community, or do something that will reach all members in that community – linked or not.
How to communicate something important in a community (a non-exhaustive list):
Now, please explain how the location could be marked so that everyone knew where it was. Because I don't think that is possible.
I've seen notice at local beaches at boat ramps and on the main waterfront.
This is not unusual.
And the issue is criticising someone – when the location is unmarked. There is not enough detail provided by the anecdote to assume anything else.
Of course. And it’s not going to reach everyone eg someone who comes to the area by sea. Which is why I said community wellbeig (eg a rahui) requires engagement from people as well as public notifications.
I think there wasn’t enough detail in the anecdote to assume anything at all other than that the writer was signalling something pointed about Luxon and that community.
FFS I knew the rahui was in place and I don't even live there. It was in the mainstream media quite a few times. Anyone who lives in NZ should know that when certain things happen that rahui might be in place.
This goes from someone drowning, to polluted shellfish, to depleted fishing stocks or in this case invasive weeds.
How do you know? – you make the effort to find out. It is a pretty normal check for many people. Finding out is about showing respect for the area you are going to, about acknowledging that you are a visitor – you need to have some emotional intelligence to check and not just barge in as if you own the place.
Interestingly there was a feature on fishing on the news tonight about fishing and that different areas have different fishing rules and requirements and that you need to check there before sticking your boat in the water. You can be fined significantly for getting it wrong doing so – though educating is preferred.
If ignorance is no excuse for fishing rules then ignorance is no excuse for rahui either. Stop making excuses for him and his party.
Aboriginal tradition in Oz puts it quite nicely.
"Protocols for welcoming visitors to Country have always been a part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Boundaries were clear, and crossing into another group’s Country required a request for permission to enter.
When permission was granted the hosting group would welcome the visitors, offering them safe passage and protection of their spiritual being during the journey. Visitors had to respect the protocols and rules of the land owner group while on their Country. "
It is a courtesy. No different than when on the odd occasion non-religious me has to go into a church. I always make some effort to understand the particular rules of that church – no different to visiting a marae either – what are the local protocols and customs.
the rahui was across some bays and coastal areas, pretty hard to put signs up everywhere and at sea. This is what I mean about solutions coming from multiple elements. You put signs at the boat ramps, do media and social media work, use local groups and so on. Last time there was a rahui in my area, I learned about it from FB.
https://waihekegulfnews.co.nz/rahui-placed-as-caulerpa-takes-hold/
https://waihekegulfnews.co.nz/caulerpa-in-crosshairs-for-new-pm-after-rahui-gaffe/
Whatever bee you have in your bonnet about criticism of Luxon, my points still stand. Even if there had been signs at the boat ramps, moorings etc, that still isn't going to inform everyone. There is an onus on people to engage as well. Pretty basic community comms, and I would expect Luxon to pay someone to keep him up to date, even just for the real politik and competency side of it.
Yeah. I guess any opportunity to criticise Luxon needs to be taken if that is where you want to go.
I would assume that other locals may have made the same transgression through ignorance, and wouldn't criticise them either.
Or the opportunity to criticise people for criticising Luxon 😉
Myself, I hold leaders to a higher standard than the general public. And people with greater resources. Like I said, if he’s not going to engage himself, he can just pay someone to do that for him
A higher standard? In terms of not knowing about a temporary (supposedly unmarked location) rahui?
What standard is that exactly?
maybe try reading and understanding my comments and then you might get it, because I already covered this multiple times:
COMMUNITY WELLBEING NECESSITATES ENGAGEMENT BY PEOPLE AS WELL AS NOTIFICATION.
So yeah, I would expect the PM of NZ to make a considerable effort to understand what is happening in the community where he has a holiday home. As opposed to say a visitor from outside the area, or someone who is working three jobs and trying to look after their kids and just wanted to get out on the beach/water but wasn’t paying attention.
@weka I understand your comments, I am simply disagreeing with them.
While you consider this particular skill in this particular case a priority for our PM – I don't.
The anecdote related an example of arrogant behaviour, that did not need further window dressing by an irrelevance. You consider it relevant, because of your idea of higher standards for community wellbeing. Mine differs.
the problem here for me is that you don’t state disagreement, you just ignore my input and then continue to talk with me as if I hadn’t said those things.
In this case, if you disagree that community wellbeing needs people to actively participate, or that PMs should be held to a higher standard, then please say that up front and I won’t keep repeating myself.
FIFY.
How exactly is that an informative response rather than a made up (and irrelevant) supposition?
BTW, quote marks are usually used for quotations, not creative writing.
We've lost the large grey quote marks which used to be next to the indent. Now we just have the indent which I don't think is particularly clear. No need to panic, I did make it clear it was an edit of your original quote.
It was a response to highlight the current de-Maorification of New Zealand done to placate the fears and frustrations of the Pakeha far right.
How to use quote marks correctly while making your irrelevant point:
“How do you know if a rahui is in place if it isn't marked" in English"?"
Another example:
"It was a response to highlight the current de-Maorification of New Zealand done to placate the fears and frustrations of the Pakeha far right."
Your response mechanism is predicated on a number of suppositions and fallacies that you can continue to hold.
(Just as I can continue to think they are ludicrous, unless someone can explain persuasively otherwise.)
BTW, it was @ianmac who stated “and drove his boat through a rahui because it wasn’t marked) “. Are you saying that you consider a rahui unmarked because a notice may or may not have been written – because it was in Te Reo?
Actually, FIFY formatting is used a lot online, along the lines of how MB did it.
Still misuse of the quotation marks, if so. (Social media is not really my go-to for English grammar… which you probably understand.)
Good point. That should have been in the css for something like 'div.comment blockquote'. I wonder what plugin (that I have turned off for simplicity) was providing that.
I will add it onto my to-do list for today – but after I get into aircond. Have to have one of the doors closed today because the apartment is getting washed. Feels like the temperature and humidity inside is rising…
Ummm 26C and 52% on a gardening sensor. Not too bad
Thank you. I think they're useful. Nice, big graphic which added to the look of the site and made the quote clear.
Odd problem. The inclusion directory appears to be having problems.
That is meant to be the theme directory background: url(resource/image/blockquote.gif)
But what I got in inspect was …..
background: url('andard/resource/image/blockquote.gif?x45913') 5px 0 no-repeat;
Something weird is going on.
Updated my UserStyle to fix that… (installed with 'Stylus' browser extension)
https://gist.github.com/roblogic/09d2bb93a67483f05158ccda0ae3fe53
Looks pretty decent IMO… adjust font-family to your preference
Thats priceless
Probably true.
Doesn't Willie Jackson have a place there?
Simeon Brown punishing the Wellington and Upper Hutt Mayors using specific powers to seek information on water supply investment shows National's tactic for water supply amounts to clubbing the weak.
Which regrettably in NZ's punitive electorate will work just fine.
Wild card awaits launch opportunity:
Yeah, could be a goer, given both other contenders are problematic currently.
🙄
This is the guy who singlehandedly sabotaged any sensible move by the US to move towards addressing climate action.
BTW he is heavily involved in Coal production and intends to keep it that way.
So after the attack on the US outpost in Jordan, we get Republicans already messaging "Target Tehran".
Trump being anti-interventionist but stupid will just shout the MAGA instinct whatever it is.
Biden though must be getting similar pressure both via Pentagon and via media.
No one say "Wag the Dog". It's too real.
I would guess Iran is playing to Russia's tune. Russia got the world off it's back over Ukraine when Iran set the Palestinian attacks on Israel in motion. What's the bet some rubles changed hands to get that going.
Craig Murray queued through two wintry nights in The Hague to be one of the 14 people to get admitted to the ICJ hearings. He is a very experienced ex diplomat, used to unpacking these types of documents and is quietly surprised by the depth of trouble Istael now finds itself in. The main points from his analysis are that:
1. The only time "self defence" is mentioned is in acknowledging that a major part of the Israeli defense is around "self defence". The ICJ has thus left off stating the obvious. An occupying power can not claim self defense. They must first leave all occupied territories. It would be absurd to give occupied people the right to fight their oppressors at the same time as their oppressors had the right to self defense. To the ICJ, this is so obvious it does not need to be stated.
2. The genocidal incitement of the senior Israeli government cabinet are written up not as alleged by SA but rather as statements of fact.
3. Statements by the head of UNRWA on the extreme conditions in Gaza and the approaching famine and disease amongst the huge displaced population are written as statements of fact. This will explain the sudden attempt to villify and withdraw funding from the UNRWA.
4. The genocide convention is written into UK law. All supporting military aid, intelligence and logistical support will now need to cease. There is already a case started in the US to put Biden on trial for aiding and abetting genocide. How this will go is anyones guess.
Murray finishes by saying none of these processes will be quick as justice moves slowly but unless there is a massive escalation of the war, it's not looking good for the Israeli government nor for the US and UK.
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2024/01/has-international-law-survived-or-has-the-western-political-class-killed-it/
"This will explain the sudden attempt to vilify and withdraw funding from the UNRWA."
There is no logical/legal/moral reason to defund UNRWA, and therefore starve the Palestinians, on the basis of the actions of (maybe) 12 of its employees.
Keeping in mind UNRWA has lost, as in they are dead, at least 150 employees to the Israeli bombing of civilian infrastructure and the people sheltering there. Not to mention its 13,000 employees who are now refugees themselves.
This is simply the Wests way of showing its support for Israel, and the Wests/Israels unwavering willingness to see this destruction of a country and a people through to the bitter end.
That in itself answers your question as to how any attempt to put Biden on trial will go…
Things may not "Look Good" for these governments, but I see no evidence whatsoever that they care…and lets be honest..those people within the system who supposedly could help hold their co workers in governments to moral account are failing miserably.
People like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez..the darling of many a Standard commentator..who thinks that voting these genocidal war mongers, who are also failing to care for the basic needs of their own populations btw, how voting them back in scot-free is somehow "Being adult about the situation".
Which Nations even temporarily cut diplomatic ties with America over these 12 individuals??…
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/sep/09/us-soldiers-afghan-civilians-fingers
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/01/24/lgmk-j24.html
I don't believe I have ever been more ashamed of my World than I am today.
For my part, given UNRWA's previous form for supporting antisemitic terrorism, I'm unsurprised many of the countries funding it don't find "Look, only 12 of our employees participated in a pogrom" very persuasive.
So UNRWA should have its own police to check every one of its 13,000 employees [IN GAZA] and out of work activities.
After all theres 5.6 mill Palestinians registered with UWRA , Im surprised that theres not many many more than 13 amoung the 30,000 employees in the countries surrounding Israel
Those countries 'finding problems' here , werent they the same ones that said it was 'outrageous' that Israel is being even taken to the International Court over a claim of genocide
The whole existence of 5.6 mill refugees is of course soley laid at the feet of Israel and its Zionist existence
"We have many employees so it's unsurprising some of them participate in pogroms" is likely to be similarly unpersuasive to western donors.
The reason there are so many refugees is highly disputable and disputed. Govts that invaded Israel/Palestine in 1948 for the purpose of dividing the place among themselves and then losing the fight after causing massive population displacement seem to me like more plausible candidates. Those govts are notable for their absence from the list of top UNRWA donors.
Well, show me an organisation with 100% purity. Further, 0.04% alleged contamination is a good approximation to zero.
Also, speaking of form, Israel has form both in targeting aid agencies working in Gaza and extracting confessions through torture.
From Euromed Human Rights Monitor:
They are then forced to curse themselves and other Palestinian groups and are violently transfered in trucks to open air detention centres for further beatings.
In 2016 Israel arrested Mohammed El Halabi who was a World Vision worker on fabricated charges of funneling money to Hamas. It is alleged that the confession was beaten out of him and this was the only evidence ever presented.
The Australian government comissioned an audit that found no evidence of any money going anywhere it wasn't supposed to but nevertheless suspended funding to World vision in Gaza.
This experience caused World Vision to leave Gaza so you could say a pretty encouraging result for Israel. Worked a treat and seems to be going well this time too.
Ah yes, how many organisations can honestly say none of their employees have participated in a pogrom? None, surely!
I'd like to know if these employees actually participated in a pogrom, of if there was a pogrom at all because it looked like a hostage taking mission to neutral observers.
If some UNRWA employees were involved on the day, what was their role? To neutral observers there was plenty of effort to transport hostages safely to Gaza apparently under fire from the IDF. Perhaps this was their role.
These people are resisting a creeping, murderous occupation. Remember?
I'm curious about how many Israeli spies were in UNRWA given their history of infiltrating overseas organisations, using false passports etc. I mean they spy on their allies. It would be naive to think they didn't have spies in UNWRA. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Israel%E2%80%93New_Zealand_passport_scandal
The 2004 Israel–New Zealand passport scandal was an incident of passport fraud in July 2004 that led New Zealand to take diplomatic sanctions against Israel. High-level contacts between the two countries were suspended after two Israeli citizens suspected of being Mossad agents, Uriel Kelman and Eli Cara, were caught trying to fraudulently acquire a New Zealand passport using the identity of a man with cerebral palsy. Prime Minister Helen Clark declared that New Zealand government viewed the acts carried out by Kelman and Cara as "not only utterly unacceptable but also a breach of New Zealand sovereignty and international law."
https://merip.org/1986/01/israeli-spies-in-the-us/
Another reading of this record, though, shows that Pollard’s activities fit a pattern of Israeli espionage efforts. As John Davitt, a 30-year veteran of the Justice Department who resigned in 1980, told the New York Times: “When the Pollard case broke, the general media and public perception was that this was the first time this had ever happened. No, that’s not true at all. The Israeli intelligence service, when I was in the Justice Department, was the second most active in the United States, to the Soviets.”
I think the successes of Israel's espionage capabilities lead people to overestimate them. Spying within Gaza for Israel is incredibly high-risk, it makes spying on the USSR look a doddle. And people who are credible locals are highly unlikely to want to help Israel for obvious reasons.
I'm just not sure why anyone would be surprised that an organisation as large as the UNWRA working in Gaza would not have infiltrators or at the very least sympathisers from Hamas. Israel has certainly accused it of being so in the past.
It would be quite challenging I would think to prevent it. Israel's push to defund (and force further hardship) on the population in Gaza has been ongoing and any discrediting will do.
It's true that as long as UNRWA is employing Palestinians in Gaza its schools will teach Islamist terrorism as a noble virtue and many of its staff will be candidates to participate in pogroms. It's just not obvious to me why we or other liberal democracies would fund that.
What always interested me about the Mossad spies trying to get NZ passports is that someone who has a New Zealand passport has to verify your identity and endorse the photograph. I don't recall ever hearing of someone being prosecuted for making these false statements.
From memory the man they tried to get to do so had significant disabilities.
Lol, "neutral observers." Very droll sir, very droll.
It's not supposed to be droll. Any neutral observer views October 07 a hostage taking mission. All the actual evidence points to that.
The GOP is taking on Biden over his post Gaza plan for a restoration of the peace process – they call that rewarding Hamas.
Trump ended funding to UNRWA back in 2018, Biden resumed it.
And there is this also
https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2024-01-25/ty-article-magazine/.premium/republicans-are-looking-at-netanyahu-for-how-to-combat-bidens-post-war-gaza-plans/0000018d-4162-d35c-a39f-eb7a4a6e0000?gift=77e2c95918264f3585e10ec0d656c57a
Trump partially cut funding. Biden cut the whole lot off. You might find that part of the problem with Bidens collapsing vote is that people are thouroughly nauseated by endless lesser evil arguments.
Biden “suspended” the funding.
And your reference for a only a partial funding cut by Trump?
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/in-one-move-trump-eliminated-us-funding-for-unrwa-and-the-us-role-as-mideast-peacemaker/
You're right on funding. The ICJ says there is a case to answer on genocide, specifically stating the extent with statements of facts as they stand, and Biden's answer is to cut the one last line of humanitarian aid, the effect of which will be to hasten the genocide, and you are making lesser evil arguments?
The decision to suspend funding during an investigation is questionable given the need to improve aid provision in the immediate term.
The GOP pressure in the House for Biden to do so is obvious, but giving BN's government what they want could easily backfire, if they are then seen as in breach on an interim decision that their judge on the ICJ supported.
"The GOP is taking on Biden over his post Gaza plan for a restoration of the peace process"
You are obviously aware that Biden is arming Israel with 2000lb bombs and thousands probably tens of thousands main tank round + lots lots more, which are both the back bone of the Genocide that is taking place right now, and further the USA has never been a peace broker in the ME during it's entire position as world hegemony, let alone in this affair, so please don't offer up that total load of rubbish "restoration of the peace process" wtf…
….the outrageous cognitive dissonance that the Liberal class display out in the open…seemingly totally unaware of the moral and ethical quick sand that is about to finally cover them is nothing short of astounding.
And now Biden stops aid because the country that has just been implicated in a horrific genocide tells him that there are some Hamas fighters working there….this all coming from Israel, one of the most flagrant bullshitters on the face of the planet….the rules based order…yeah right.
Biden is in power..Biden is aiding and abetting Genocide, right now as we speak,humans are starving, dying, being mutilated, humiliated, in their hundreds of thousands..by Biden…not Trump…vote Blue no matter Who,…even a war criminal…is that what you are seriously advocating?
The GOP of the House is demanding Biden do that and more. Trump has made no criticism of any of it.
The idea that no true leftie should have any preference for Biden over Trump because of … when he is the less worse of the two … is a strange one.
And when one adds in GW activism, labour rights and environment etc, it is rather surprising.
1.The ICJ would have made no statement about the right of Israel to exercise military power in the occupied territories in its self defence because it was focused on the genocide issue before it (and there was also the issue of Hamas taking the fight into Israeli territory – there being no Israeli occupation within Gaza).
4.There has been decision on whether there has been genocide to influence UK government obligation nor therefore a case to answer in the USA either.
Given the time frame of the ICJ process to the duration of the Israeli Gaza offensive the real issue is Israeli response to the interim decisions and UK and USA reaction to that.
The Israeli case centred on self defence. The only other argument was that the ICJ did not have jurisdiction. Its incredible that you can believe that a state can invade and occupy another state and then claim self defence when the locals fight back. The right to fight back is enshrined in the UN Charter. What you propose is contradictory rubbish. You've even called them "occupied territories". Lebanon was also in the right when they evicted the IDF from Southern Lebanon in the 2000s. Im afraid you've just drunk the US and UK cool aid that says empires have the right to invade if they invoke self defence. They do not
The Israeli case may have been based on self defence, but that does not allow war crimes and these war crimes after incitement to genocide is why the case was accepted, is proceeding and Israel is expected to abide by interim decisions, so as to prevent an escalation to genocide.
The occupied territories were not the territory of another state when occupied, no state of Palestine in the area had been declared or even advocated for – the population had accepted Egyptian and Jordan presence as part of a cease-fire in an earlier war to prevent the existence of a Jewish majority nation state.
Gender identity ideology still falling, one case at a time. I couldn't list how many of these there have been. A couple of examples just from today.
1. Vice Chancellor of the Open University in the UK making a public statement apologising to Professor Jo Phoenix, criminologist, for failing to protect her in her work environment from harassment when she starting set up the Gender Critical Research Network.
GCRN is crucial because of the immense pressure on academics to not talk about and research sex-based phenomena. eg in crime, it's the impact of males in women's prisons, or women who have been raped having to listen to their rapist being referred to as she, or safety implications for women where their single sex spaces are now designated as mixed sex.
https://twitter.com/JoPhoenix1/status/1750950590861971530
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/22/open-university-academic-wins-tribunal-case-over-gender-critical-views
2. Rip Curl drops one if its women ambassadors and brand wearers because of her gender critical views. Then it chose a trans-identified male to represent women's surfing in an ad campaign. Now it's been boycotted and had to remove its social media featuring the trans identified male.
https://twitter.com/WomensForumAust/status/1751790204514685058
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13003985/Rip-Curl-transgender-Sasha-Lowerson-Bethany-Hamilton.html
The resistance is still there.
In the 4pm RNZ news bulletin, in an item about an Auckland physiotherapist who has been censured for inappropriate behaviour has to under go ethics training before he "…can treat female identifying patients…"
I don't think I've heard that term in that sort of context on 'red radio' before.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018923844 at about 2 mins 28secs.
yeah, that's damn insulting given he was sexually assaulting women*. I wonder if it's RNZ's language, or the language of the ruling against the man?
*although I guess we don't actually know now if it was women he was assaulting, because currently in NZ the word woman has been made a mockery and nonsense.
North and South have published an important article about puberty blockers – very balanced and apolitical. We could be close to a break in the one-sided rhetoric.
A Terrible Trap — North & South Magazine (northandsouth.co.nz)
It is *so* similar to the Unfortunate Experiment. From an article about medical abuse, and how it happens:
thanks! I hadn't seen that before. Charlotte Paul is another one we are very lucky to have.
Gender identity ideology still holding up in NZ higher circles: this example from the NZ Midwifery Council: who have removed the words -women – and even -baby- from a midwives scope of practice
“ Women’s Rights Party co-leader Jill Ovens:
The scope of practice for all regulated professions should be clear and specific as it sets the boundaries of each profession’s practice. This protects both the professionals and their consumers,” Ms Ovens says.
https://community.scoop.co.nz/2024/01/midwifery-council-erasing-the-words-women-and-mothers/
Petition of Deb Hayes: Investigate Midwifery Council’s removal of ‘woman & baby’ from Scope of Practice
https://petitions.parliament.nz/6e261231-b54c-4a00-a98c-08dc109c0ada
Not to mention the RSE School curriculum which tells kids that they have a "gendered soul" and can change their sex. And we dish out so called "Puberty Blockers" (off brand) more than many other comparable countries..
Good to see some local light shone on this reckless and ideological practice.
https://northandsouth.co.nz/2023/12/24/puberty-blockers-new-zealand/
According to the NZEI, your concerns are 'conspiracy based thinking'. And Jan Tinetti, says it's part of some 'imported culture war', and there really is no problem at all.
“We have a really good curriculum in this country. The guidelines are not the curriculum, they are adding to how we can make sure the curriculum is taught well. They are not compulsory, but they are absolutely superb.”
Government accused of ‘conspiracy’ thinking in sexual education curriculum changes – NZ Herald
Do you know what No Debate is? It affects gender identity ideologists too. They end up looking stupid, but it's probably ignorance as well as ideological blindness.
Remember when Sean Plunket asked then PM Hipkins the 'what is a woman?' question? And Hipkins stumbled over his answer. He seem unprepared, which was extraordinary given this was post Kellie Jay Keen's visit, and UK Labour had been through years of challenge over that question to the point that they had to change their policy position. It was mindblowing seeing Hipkins unprepared, but it does suggest his advisors are ignorant of what is going on.
Not hard to see it being the same with Tinetti. The other option I guess is that she understands well enough and is being disingenuous.
That was a truly astonishing moment (Hipkins having had no briefing on what to say if asked 'What is a woman?'). Mindblowing alright. The self-confidence that no-one could reasonably disagree with them leaves them completely defenceless if someone does.
Thanks Weka. Yes, I'm well aware of No Debate and the impact it's having on the free exchange of ideas. Or should I say the freedom of gender critical ideas.
Love him or loathe him, Plunkett gives this issue a robust airing, and published this piece by Yvonne Van Dongen just last week. Identity crisis | The Platform
Sean Plunket has platformed a couple of women involved in the Albert Park debacle, who have given succinct accounts. However, when speaking of the himself, his grasp of the topic and the underlying safeguarding and evidence failures seem to be lacking.
The article you have linked to is paywalled, but the website for Resist Gender Education can be found here: https://www.resistgendereducation.nz/
Garwhoungle who used to comment (and perhaps author) here, has some good posts on their blog: The Ministry Has Fallen, about some of the aspects and impacts of this ideology:
https://theministryhasfallen.substack.com/
Sean is an arse, but he is one of only a very few who platform gender critical commentators.
Many people are unaware that TKI provides education guidelines, not curriculum itself. Curriculum can be sourced, and also delivered by third parties.
The Ministry of Education in the RSE guidelines gives recommendations for which providers to go to for curriculum.
InsideOut is one such organisation. As third-party providers their material is not accessible under an OIA request, because of commercial privacy. This means that parents and caregivers are unable to view and assess for themselves much of the content being delivered.
https://insideout.org.nz/resources/
One module – published by the Ministry of Education that can be viewed is the one on pornography. It provides no assessment of the harms of pornography production and viewing, and is intended to remove the shame associated with pornography. There is also no assessment of the supposed advantage to students of consumption of pornography in terms of personal sexual well-being, behaviour or understanding of consent:
https://t.co/NN3v7kVj9i
"This means that parents and caregivers are unable to view and assess for themselves much of the content being delivered."
Is that information able to be accessed by parents from the school direct without recourse to OIA? Or are schools resisting releasing that material?
NZ is many years behind the UK. We can only hope that the work done by progressive GCFs and others will be something we can use here instead of going down the conservative backlash route.
We are very lucky to have Ovens, and actual left wing person.
And Speak Up For Women did get a court ruling that established to some extent that you can't discriminate on the basis of gender critical belief (in that case, it was for venue hire).
Paula cares, she cares so much she ended the TIA for those on the DPB when Minister.
Now her care extends to those under 25 on the Job Seeker Benefit.
She calls obligations on these people caring. She does not mention the PM's policy in this area – she is preparing the public for that. He has mentioned appointing non W and I people for these people to be accountable to while unemployed.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/paula-bennett-young-people-on-jobseeker-benefits-need-sanctions/R4N4FCWEWZBZRLOPB6RVWKQDVU/
Damien also cares, here he shills for the governments plans to open up New Zealand to foreign investment, leaving only a national security test.
This will allow land on the coast to be flicked on to foreigners who want investments in scarce assets, not subject to a CGT. And given we have no public domain on the F and S, locals will lose access to the coast as a result.
He pretends that such investment will enable us to produce more goods and services, when in fact it is just leveraging ownership of a scarce resource for an untaxed CGT.
The reason why we lack domestic investment in the productive economy is that our tax system incentivises ownership of assets for CG – opening that up to foreign involvement is not an improvement.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/350160439/we-do-not-produce-enough-goods-and-services-maintain-our-lifestyle
PS The mention of Ireland is misleading, they simply used their membership in the EU to act as a low tax centre for non European actors.
How I wish we had First Dog on the Moon here.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2024/jan/29/toto-the-tax-cut-cavoodle-explains-the-updated-stage-three-tax-cuts?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
I've been on X and can report about the cancel culture that operates there – Sean Plunkett opposes the National led government funding UNRWA and Leo Molloy wants to defund the UN.
https://twitter.com/SeanPlunket/status/1751388665870459138?cn=ZmxleGlibGVfcmVjcw%3D%3D&refsrc=email
https://twitter.com/LeoMolloyNZ/status/1751057158794621128?cn=ZmxleGlibGVfcmVjcw%3D%3D&refsrc=email
It seems that those who want to rewrite the Treaty have an empathy for those who want all the land without any responsibility to others it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine. Or un-sign the problematic UNDRIP (indigenous people rights) again showing a disregard for another peoples identity – there the UN determined area for a state for Arab Palestinians.
sprezzatura
This, from Trotter, is genius, imo.
https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-cuckoos-nest.html
He's pimping for Seymour. You like that?
I think he's pointing to a flash-point, independent of personalities, but typical of meaningful change. My position is; oppose the proposition, but am mindful of the danger of iterative, "soft" change and its vulnerability to unpleasant agents.