Open mike 29/08/2024
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6:00 am, August 29th, 2024 - 92 comments
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- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #37 2024
Open access notables Early knowledge but delays in climate actions: An ecocide case against both transnational oil corporations and national governments, Hauser et al., Environmental Science & Policy: Cast within the wide context of investigating the collusion at play between powerful political-economic actors and decision-makers as monopolists and debates about ‘the modern ...2 hours ago - What it is
I liked what Kieran McAnulty had to say about the Treaty Principles bill this morning so much I've written it down and copied it out for you. He was saying that rather than let this piece of ordure spend six months in Select Committee, the Prime Minister could stop making such ...4 hours ago - A government-funded hate campaign
Cabinet discussed National's constitutionally and historically illiterate "Treaty Principles Bill" this week, and decided to push on with it. The bill will apparently receive a full six month select committee process - unlike practically every other policy this government has pushed, and despite the fact that if the government is ...6 hours ago - How Substack works to take (some) craziness out of America’s elections
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- David Seymour is such a loser
For paid subscribersNot content with siphoning off $230,000,000 of taxpayers money for his hobby projects - and telling everyone his passion is education and early childcare - an intersection painfully coincidental to the interests of wealthy private families like Sean Plunkett’s1 backers, the Wright Family, Seymour is back in the ...8 hours ago - Cross-party consensus: there’s no pipeline without good faith
There’s been a lot of talk recently about a cross-party agreement to develop a pipeline for infrastructure, including transport. Last month, outgoing CRL boss Sean Sweeney talked about the importance of securing an enduring infrastructure programme. He outlined the high costs of the relentless political flip-flopping of priorities, which drives ...13 hours ago - Voters love this climate policy they’ve never heard of
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The Inflation Reduction Act is the Biden administration’s signature climate law and the largest U.S. government investment in reducing climate pollution to date. Among climate advocates, the policy is well-known and celebrated, but beyond that, only a minority of Americans ...13 hours ago
- ACC wants to administer inflation at more than double the RBNZ’s target rate
ACC levies are set to rise at more than double the inflation rate targeted by the RBNZ. Photo: Lynn GrievesonKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 12:The state-owned monopoly for accident insurance wants ...13 hours ago - Harris vs Trump
14 hours ago - Treaty Bill “a political stunt”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon appears to have given ACT Leader David Seymour more than he has been admitting in the proposals to go forward with a Treaty Principles Bill.All along, Luxon has maintained that the Government is proceeding with the Bill to honour the coalition agreement.But that is quite specific.It ...16 hours ago
- An average 219 NZers migrated each day in July
Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, September 11:Annual migration of New Zealanders rose to a record-high 80,963 in the year to the end of July, which is more than double its pre-Covid levels.Two ...1 day ago - What you’re wanting to win more than anything is The Narrative
Hubris is sitting down on election day 2016 to watch that pig Trump get his ass handed to him, and watching the New York Times needle hover for a while over Hillary and then move across to Trump where it remains all night to your gathering horror and dismay. You're ...1 day ago - National’s automated lie machine
The government has a problem: lots of people want information from it all the time. Information about benefits, about superannuation, ACC coverage and healthcare, taxes, jury service, immigration - and that's just the routine stuff. Responding to all of those queries takes a lot of time and costs a lot ...1 day ago
- Christopher Luxon: A Man of “Faith” and “Compassion” Speaks on the Treaty Pr...
Synopsis: Today - we explore two different realities. One where National lost. And another - which is the one we are living with here. Note: the footnote on increased fees/taxes may be of interest to some readers.Article open.Subscribe nowIt’s an alternate timeline.Yesterday as news broke that the central North Island ...1 day ago - Member’s Day
Today is a Member's Day. First up is the third reading of Dan Bidois' Fair Trading (Gift Card Expiry) Amendment Bill, which will be followed by the committee stage of Deborah Russell's Family Proceedings (Dissolution for Family Violence) Amendment Bill. This will be followed by the second readings of Katie ...1 day ago
- Northern Expressway Boondoggle
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Kia ora.Last month I proposed restarting The Kākā Project work done before the 2023 election as The Kākā Project of 2026 for 2050 (TKP 26/50), aiming to be up and running before the 2025 Local Government elections, and then in a finalised form by the 2026 General Elections.A couple of ...2 days ago
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Hi,If you’ve read Webworm for a while, you’ll be aware that I’ve spent a lot of time writing about horrific, corrupt megachurches and the shitty men who lead them.And in all of this writing, I think some people have this idea that I hate Christians or Christianity. As I explain ...2 days ago - Inside the public service
In 2023, there were 63,117 full-time public servants earning, on average, $97,200 a year each. All up, that is a cost to the Government of $6.1 billion a year. It’s little wonder, then, that the public service has become a political whipping boy castigated by the Prime Minister and members ...2 days ago
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A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, is how Winston Churchill described the Soviet Union in 1939. How might the great man have described the 2024 government of New Zealand, do we think? I can't imagine he would have thought them all that mysterious or enigmatic. I think ...2 days ago - Motorway madness
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Ever since Wayne Brown became mayor (nearly two years ago now) he’s been wanting to progress an “integrated transport plan” with the government – which sounded a lot like the previous Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) with just a different name. It seems like a fair bit of work progressed ...3 days ago
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Here's a bike on Manchester St, Feilding. I took this photo on Friday night after a very nice dinner at the very nice Vietnamese restaurant, Saigon, on Manchester Street.I thought to myself, Manchester Street? Bicycle? This could be the very spot.To recap from an earlier edition: on a February night ...5 days ago - Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies, Excerpt Five.
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- Homage to Simeon Brown
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- Government of deceit
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- The professionals actually think and act like our Government has no fiscal crisis at all
Treasury staff at work: The demand for a new 12-year Government bond was so strong, Treasury decided to double the amount of bonds it sold. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September ...6 days ago - Weekly Roundup 6-September-2024
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Internal versus external security. Regardless of who rules, large countries can afford to separate external and internal security functions (even if internal control functions predominate under authoritarian regimes). In fact, given the logic of power concentration and institutional centralization of … Continue reading ...7 days ago
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There's a hole in the river where her memory liesFrom the land of the living to the air and skyShe was coming to see him, but something changed her mindDrove her down to the riverThere is no returnSongwriters: Neil Finn/Eddie RaynerThe king is dead; long live the queen!Yesterday was a ...7 days ago - Bright Blue His Jacket Ain’t But I Love This Fellow: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power E...
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As a child in the 1950s, I thought the British had won the Second World War because that’s what all our comics said. Later on, the films and comics told me that the Americans won the war. In my late teens, I found out that the Soviet Union ...1 week ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #36 2024
Open access notables Diurnal Temperature Range Trends Differ Below and Above the Melting Point, Pithan & Schatt, Geophysical Research Letters: The globally averaged diurnal temperature range (DTR) has shrunk since the mid-20th century, and climate models project further shrinking. Observations indicate a slowdown or reversal of this trend in recent decades. ...1 week ago
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Home, home again to a long warm embrace. Plenty of reasons to be glad to be back.But also, reasons for dejection.You, yes you, Simeon Brown, you odious little oik, you bible thumping petrol-pandering ratfucker weasel. You would be Reason Number One. Well, maybe first among equals with Seymour and Of-Seymour ...1 week ago - A missed opportunity
The government introduced a pretty big piece of constitutional legislation today: the Parliament Bill. But rather than the contentious constitutional change (four year terms) pushed by Labour, this merely consolidates the existing legislation covering Parliament - currently scattered across four different Acts - into one piece of legislation. While I ...1 week ago
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- Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Three.
The notion of geopolitical “periphery.” The concept of periphery used here refers strictly to what can be called the geopolitical periphery. Being on the geopolitical periphery is an analytic virtue because it makes for more visible policy reform in response … Continue reading ...1 week ago
- Venus Hum
Fill me up with soundThe world sings with me a million smiles an hourI can see me dancing on my radioI can hear you singing in the blades of grassYellow dandelions on my way to schoolBig Beautiful Sky!Song: Venus Hum.Good morning, all you lovely people, and welcome to the 700th ...1 week ago - I Went to a Creed Concert
Note: The audio attached to this Webworm compliments today’s newsletter. I collected it as I met people attending a Creed concert. Their opinions may differ to mine. Read more ...1 week ago - Government migration policy backfires; thousands of unemployed nurses
The country has imported literally thousands of nurses over the past few months yet whether they are being employed as nurses is another matter. Just what is going on with HealthNZ and it nurses is, at best, opaque, in that it will not release anything but broad general statistics and ...1 week ago
- A Time For Unity.
Emotional Response: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses mourners at the tangi of King Tuheitia on Turangawaewae Marae on Saturday, 31 August 2024.THE DEATH OF KING TUHEITIA could hardly have come at a worse time for Maoridom. The power of the Kingitanga to unify te iwi Māori was demonstrated powerfully at January’s ...1 week ago - Climate Change: Failed again
National's tax cut policies relied on stealing revenue from the ETS (previously used to fund emissions reduction) to fund tax cuts to landlords. So how's that going? Badly. Today's auction failed again, with zero units (of a possible 7.6 million) sold. Which means they have a $456 million hole in ...1 week ago
- Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Two.
A question of size. Small size generally means large vulnerability. The perception of threat is broader and often more immediate for small countries. The feeling of comparative weakness, of exposure to risk, and of potential intimidation by larger powers often … Continue reading ...1 week ago
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The Minister of Transport’s speed obsession has this week resulted in two new consultations for 110km/h speed limits, one in Auckland and one in Christchurch. There has also been final approval of the Kapiti Expressway to move to 110km/h following an earlier consultation. While the changes will almost certainly see ...1 week ago
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- Potential intelligence sharing with Israel must be investigated
Concerns have been raised that our spy arrangements may mean that intelligence is being shared between Aotearoa and Israel. An urgent inquiry must be launched in response to this. ...3 hours ago - Release: Charter schools undermine our education system
The Government is taking a wrecking ball to our public education system by reinstating charter schools. ...6 hours ago - Youngest MP to travel to Canada to accept Politician of the Year Award
Aotearoa’s Youngest Member of Parliament, and Te Pāti Māori MP, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, will travel to Montreal to accept the One Young World Politician of the Year Award next week. The One Young World Politician of the Year Award was created in 2018 to recognise the most promising young politicians between ...8 hours ago
- Greens celebrate huge step forward for ADHD community
The Greens welcome today’s long-coming announcement by Pharmac of consultation to remove the special authority renewal criteria for methylphenidate, dexamfetamine and modafinil and to fund lisdexamfetamine. ...9 hours ago
- Release: Millions to be spent dividing NZ for no reason
The National Party is wasting millions of dollars allowing David Seymour’s Treaty Principals Bill to be drafted and go to Select Committee. ...11 hours ago
- Release: New Zealanders departing our shores at a record rate
The Migration figures released by Stats NZ today show National is continuing to drive Kiwis away from New Zealand in record numbers. ...12 hours ago
- Te Tai Tokerau MP Slams Govt Overreach in Scrapping Māori Wards
Mema Paremata for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, has reflected on the decisions made by the councils of the North amidst the government’s push to remove Māori Wards and weaken mana whenua representation. “Actions taken by the Kaipara District Council to remove Māori Wards are the embodiment of the eradication ...22 hours ago
- Govt already seeking advice on Treaty referendum
On one hand, the Prime Minister has assured Aotearoa that his party will not support the Treaty Principles Bill beyond first reading, but on the other, his Government has already sought advice on holding a referendum on our founding document. ...1 day ago
- Release: Aged care will be worse off if redesign rushed
New Zealanders needing aged care support and the people who care for them will be worse off if the Government pushes through a flawed and rushed redesign of dementia and aged care. ...1 day ago
- Release: Govt fails hundreds of workers as mills close
Labour is devastated at news hundreds of workers are set to lose their jobs following the closure of Winstone Pulp mills. ...1 day ago
- Job losses from mill closures consequence of Govt inaction
Hundreds of jobs lost as a result of pulp mill closures in the Ruapehu District are a consequence of government inaction in addressing the shortfalls of our electricity network. ...2 days ago
- Ngarewa-Packer devastated for Ruapehu following WPI closure
Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader and MP for Te Tai Hauāuru is devastated for the Ruapehu community following today’s decision to close two Winstone Pulp mills. “My heart goes out to all the workers, their whānau, and the wider Ruapehu community affected by the closure of Winstone Pulp International,” said Ngarewa-Packer. ...2 days ago
- Release: Cabinet should stop the Treaty Principles Bill
National Party Ministers have a majority in Cabinet and can stop David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill, which even the Prime Minister has described as “divisive and unhelpful.” ...3 days ago
- Release: Staff gagged to keep fast track list secret
The National Government is so determined to hide the list of potential projects that will avoid environmental scrutiny it has gagged Ministry for the Environment staff from talking about it. ...3 days ago
- Release: Labour challenges Te Whatu Ora gag orders
Labour has complained to the Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission about the high number of non-disclosure agreements that have effectively gagged staff at Te Whatu Ora Health NZ from talking about anything relating to their work. ...3 days ago
- Greens call on Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned after letter from Christian leaders
The Green Party is once again urging the Prime Minister to abandon the Treaty Principles Bill as a letter from more than 400 Christian leaders calls for the proposed legislation to be dropped. ...4 days ago
- Sign the petition: Keep military-style firearms off our streets
Help us tell the Government that reintroducing military-style firearms should not be up for debate. ...5 days ago
- Vast majority of councils support Māori wards
Councils across the country have now decided where they stand regarding Māori wards, with a resounding majority in favour of keeping them in what is a significant setback for the Government. ...6 days ago
- Release: Government on the wrong side of Māori wards
The National-led government has been given a clear message from the local government sector, as almost all councils reject the Government’s bid to treat Māori wards different to other wards. ...6 days ago
- Release: Labour congratulates Kuīni Ngā Wai hono i te po Paki
The Labour Party congratulates Kuīni Ngā Wai hono i te po Paki on being crowned as the eighth Te Ariki Nui – head of Te Kiingitanga. ...1 week ago
- Green Party welcomes new Maaori Kuiini
The Green Party welcomes the coronation of the new Maaori Kuiini, Te Arikinui Nga Wai Hono i te Po, today in Turangawaewae. ...1 week ago
- ECE teachers deserve better than this Government
The Green Party is unsurprised but disappointed by today’s announcement from the Government that will see our Early Childhood Centre teachers undermined and pay parity pushed further out of reach. ...1 week ago
- Urgent intervention needed on supermarkets
The Green Party is calling on the Government to intervene in the supermarket duopoly dominating our supply of groceries following today’s report from the Commerce Commission. ...1 week ago
- Release: Rainbow youth neglected in mental health funding
Labour backs the call from The Rainbow Support Collective members for mental health funding specifically earmarked for grassroots and peer led community organisations to be set up in a way that they are able to access. ...1 week ago
- Release: Transport in NZ has to be more than just roads
As expected, the National Land Transport Programme lacks ambition for our cities and our country’s rail network and puts the majority of investment into roads. ...1 week ago
- Speech: Barbara Edmonds Building Nations 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa, Thank you for your warm welcome and for having my colleagues and I here today. Earlier you heard from the Labour Leader, Chris Hipkins, on our vision for the future of infrastructure. I want to build on his comments and provide further detail on some key elements ...1 week ago
- Govt transport plan deepens fossil fuel fix
The Green Party says the Government’s new National Land Transport Programme marks another missed opportunity to take meaningful action to fight the climate crisis. ...1 week ago
- Greens call for public to back Wrybill in BOTY and beyond
The Green Party is calling on the public to support the Ngutu Pare Wrybill not just in this year’s Bird of the Year competition but also in pushing back against policies that could lead to the destruction of its habitat and accelerate its extinction. ...1 week ago
- Building consents data bad news for construction
News that the annual number of building consents granted for new homes fell by more than 20 percent for the year ended July 2024, is bad news for the construction industry. ...2 weeks ago
- Te Pāti Māori Pay Tribute to Kiingi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII
Papā te whatitiri, hikohiko te uira, i kanapu ki te rangi, i whētuki i raro rā, rū ana te whenua e. Uea te pou o tōku whare kia tū tangata he kapua whakairi nāku nā runga o Taupiri. Ko taku kiri ka tōkia ki te anu mātao. E te iwi ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Gaps still to be addressed in callouts response
The Government must guarantee New Zealanders will not be at risk after making changes to the way mental health callouts are handled. ...2 weeks ago
- Poroporoaki: Kiingi Tuheitia passing
Haere e te Kīngi o te kotahitangi Haere ki o nui, ki o rahi I te pō ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party pays respects to Kiingi Tuuheitia
The Green Party is paying tribute to the Māori King, Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero XVII, after he passed away earlier this morning. ...2 weeks ago
- Potaka Brings Whakaata Māori to its Knees
Today’s Whakaata Māori announcement is yet another colossal failure from Minister Potaka, who has turned his back on te reo Māori, forcing a channel offline, putting whānau out of jobs, and cutting Māori content, says Te Pāti Māori. “A Senior Māori Minister has turned his back on Te Reo Māori. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National restricts access to disability care homes
With disability communities still reeling from the diminishing of Whaikaha, a leaked document now reveals another blow with National restricting access to residential care homes. ...2 weeks ago
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- Joint Statement between the Republic of Korea and New Zealand 4 September 2024, Seoul
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- Treasury urged govt to scrap Gumboot Friday funding, delay changes to tax package
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https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/526409/darleen-tana-files-legal-action-to-prevent-green-party-ousting-them-from-parliament
This is as per a US saying–a whackadoodle effort alright–trying to stop a main stream political party from holding a constituted forum of its members–imagine trying that on Natzos, Act, NZ First or Labour!
Tana seems an opportunistic spinner of the first order, and if any Greens had doubts about booting her from Parliament they may change their view now.
All parties need to pay more attention to candidate selection in terms of their bona fides and what happens for non disclosure etc., the other parties will likely be thinking today–whew…glad it is not us…
Chloe would probably have got a lot of thumbs up if she had simply filed a notice to sack Tana from parliament without all the duck shoveling. Sometimes the Greens are TOO democratic.
NZFist MP Jones being descriptive about a NZ High Court Judge
PM Luxon attempts damage control ?!
I never had time for Shane Jones…..a loud mouthed idiot. Proven.
Is being called a communist an insult?
Not to me…
Why Jones will get in trouble with this is his inference that the Judge will have a predetermined position due to political belief. Not to mention it is rather unlikely said Judge is a commo anyway! The other reason is he appears to have breached the Cabinet Manual which has seen various Ministers run aground over the years.
It is just unacceptable that a senior Minister even of ‘tugger’ Jones calibre should criticise the Judiciary who are meant to operate and rule on the evidence and the law.
I thought it was common knowledge that the judge used to be a member of a far left party.
Many students experiment with politics of various stripes and are encouraged to do so. Act was always present at Auckland Uni and they are finally getting called out for the Atlas Network links which now run deep in this CoC Govt.
Cheryl Gwyn was previously appointed the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security in 2014. A currently committed marxist would have been highly unlikely to be appointed to the State Security Apparatus.
Masturbation Jones is just being a smarty here, trying to appear more clever than he really is as per usual and already has been slapped down by legal professionals.
Correct Jones is a right Pull Dicky and is trying to palm off his poorly chosen words.
You are exercising your deluded fantasies again Jimmy, it's becoming a habit. There are professionals who can help you.
I think that you will find it commonly known that a communist and far left are actually not the same thing. One can be far left and not a communist. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far-left_politics
Yes far left can be further left than communism.
“some scholars consider it to be the left of communist parties,”
If you look at the political spectrum from the point of view of two axes, then you'll find that fascism and communism can be both found on the authoritarian end of one axis- the social axis, the other being the economic axis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Political_Compass
That is one reason why Shane Jones is wrong to have been so 'descriptive'.
Take the political compass test yourself, Jimmy, and see where you stand. It's genuinely interesting.
Not to a communist.
NZ First politicians certainly have form for political insults such as 'woke' and 'communist'. To answer Jimmy above at 2.1, yes it is when to insult is the intention.
Mind you, reading the Press front page article this morning, "Ecan refuses Brown's request", I found myself saying. "He's a young, born-again prat". Purely descriptive…….
Well, there are many reasons why in NZ we should have disconnection between Political parties and such influence.
Prime for me would be
NZ Fist incl MP Jones already quite Trumpian. They need to be (like all NACT1), held to account.
Bombastic Jones was held to account by Katherine this morning. His tone became a whisper.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018953247/minerals-potential-mapped-now-what
PM Luxon has sure been running around in NACT1 Coalition damage control lately. IMO he will be finding much more damage to come.
And this is quite…surreal. Must have been borderline hilarious to hear it in Parliament..
Fark…Peters acting PM answering for his Leader PM Luxon?! Insanity
So, is Luxie backing Shane's claim that the judge is communist?
King.. PM Luxon…is away. However, he wishes it to be known, that he really really wishes he didnt need NZFirst..or ACT.Even if Cluxon did back Shame's claim, who cares what self-serving fascists say – that's just a bit of banter by the way.
I have a "description" for Shane Jones.
"Pork barrel".
Under National, he doesn't even care to hide it.
The arrogant blowhard has become even more so. I would not have thought that possible. But there you go….
Still, at least this time the dumbass has picked the wrong people to slur….
‘The New Zealand Bar Association on Wednesday complained recent statements by ministers including Jones amounted to an attack on the judiciary, with president Maria Dew saying they could not be explained away as “political rhetoric”.’
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/526522/minister-shane-jones-to-get-another-talking-to-over-judiciary-commentary
Darleen Tana really being a thorn in the side of the Greens. Surely she cannot expect a court to rule that a party she is no longer a member of are not allowed to meet?
Seems ridiculous to me.
Law expert Andrew Geddis discusses Darleen Tana’s decision to take the Green Party to court – NZ Herald
And who is paying Darleen's legal costs? I thought she was broke?
Greens need to get on and use the waka jumping (even though they are against that law) to get rid of her asap.
Suspect we are…. legal aid.
Oh great! What a waste of money. I should have known.
Yes Jimmy, you really should have.
Apologies for the link to "the personal blog of David Farrar".
Legal Aid is considered a loan though but I'd say the chances of her paying it back are rather low.
No disrespect to the Greens, but it goes to show that excessive entitlement exists in all political parties. It's just they are more numerous among the right leaning parties. Unfortunately, they are also more likely to get away with it because we expect it of them.
Darleen 1; Greens Nil
No meeting this weekend due to Tana.
Darleen Tana still a MP as Green Party puts waka jumping meeting on hold | Stuff
It's this sort of caper that causes people to lose faith in the legal system. Cosy little stitch-ups between opposing sets of lawyers. Whatever's going on here may be the law, but it sure ain't justice.
(PS: wonder if it's worth trying to abort a meeting of my local council next time a double-digit rates increase is on the agenda?)
Perhaps you can follow up, and inform us when you actually have any evidence
Apologies for the link to a site "founded by Cam Slater, a multi-award winning blogger and journalist".
Goodness, you do seem to be fascinated by right wing sites.
Are you implying that someone other than legal aid is funding Tana's appeal? Who would that be? Perhaps you could follow up, and find out….
On the contrary, I find them repugnant – normally wouldn't go there, honest
It's just that a quick Google search found your reply to Jiminy's questions @3 also addressed a couple of questions posted on 'Slater's site' earlier today.
No, that’s an innocent misintepretation of my comment @3.1.4 – I was asking about your evidence.
Any evidence yet to support your unoriginal reckon that "legal aid is funding Tana's appeal"?
My reckon is original – I certainly haven't been reviewing Kiwiblog lately. And I also can't help it if you find trawling Kiwiblog amusing. It hardly seems that you find it repugnant, since you seem to visit so frequently.
I did use the word 'suspect' – one factor is that her lawyer of record is on the legal aid register.
Now, your evidence the someone else is funding Tana's appeal? I can hardly wait for your high quality findings.
More evidence-free and increasingly bizarre reckons – “frequently“?!!! Contrary to your reckon that I "find trawling Kiwiblog amusing", I find Farrar's right wing Kiwiblog, and 'Cam Slater's site' repugnant (extremely distasteful).
The most charitable explanation for your comprehension fail is that you can't be bothered to Google Darleen Tana and "legal aid".
https://www.google.com.au/search?as_q=Darleen+Tana&as_epq=legal+aid&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&lr=&cr=countryNZ&as_qdr=m&as_sitesearch=&as_occt=any&as_filetype=&tbs=
Got proof? Or are you trolling again?
If it's not legal aid, then follow the money. Which side of politics benefits most from drawing out this debacle.
Just saying.
Oh, yes. This is a side show for sure. All the trolls here are obsessed with it and the government will be quite happy for it to occupy the news to distract from their horror handling all things governance and economy.
NZ going backwards at a great rate on all measures right now.
In regards going backwards and right win distractions, I think you would enjoy Hooten's efforts on The Working Group.
joe linked to it below.
Thanks, I can't see the video on any link there but we know that Damien Grant a criminal and has done prison time for fraud.
He reminds me of a drunk, molesting uncle who says and does really inappropriate things, while believing he’s the most clever in the room. But he knows he’s a wrong ‘un, so self-depreciates hard in order to invite sympathy and mitigate any scrutiny.
You seem unfamiliar with the word 'suspect'
Try a dictionary.
So you're trolling then.
No, sunshine – I leave that to you.
So, no evidence? You ask for it all the time but refuse to provide it when asked.
Sums you up.
Gave you indicative evidence. If you don't like it, you're free to suggest an alternative.
That is what debate is.
You do realize the cost of a High Court action?
https://newsroom.co.nz/2023/01/25/devika-dhir-the-insurmountable-147725-cost-to-fight-your-corner-in-court/
If you're expecting that I have copies of Tana's legal bills, I suggest that the level of proof that you seem to require would prevent all commentary on TS.
Meanwhile – you seem to feel free to imply that someone, whose politics you dislike, is both alcoholic and a child predator – entirely fact-free, as far as I can see.
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-29-08-2024/#comment-2009655
[In your Newsroom link there’s a whole section on eligibility for legal aid. Why don’t you check out the eligibility criteria for receiving legal aid in NZ and report back here on whether you still think Darleen Tana is eligible. You’re in Pre-Mod until then – Incognito]
Yeah no proof, or even rudimentary evidence, as I expected.
On Damien Grant: he has been to prison, so that is some description of his moral and ethical base. Not good!
But a bigger question is why, as a self-described centrist, do you defend far right commenters here so often?
Unless he's been to prison for those crimes, your comment is actionable.
Mind you – it gives us a horrific insight into your own family life… since "He reminds me of a drunk, molesting uncle"
My sympathies.
stop flaming. Clearly MB was making a comparison to show character. He wasn’t saying DG is a drunk paedophile.
Oh dear, the mask slips when you are caught out. My sympathies.
Fairly sure the referencing of and intimating about a commenter’s family situation on this site is frowned upon here. We shall see.
you need to stop flaming as well.
Mod note
Thanks for an actual response on the topic, Incognito.
The original article didn't give the information, however looking at the NZ Legal service regulations would seem to indicate that Tana's parliamentary salary as an MP would put her over the limit.
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2011/0144/latest/DLM3743601.html?src=qs
If this is the case, then my suspicion was unjustified.
Thank you. There were clear hints in the Newsroom article regarding eligibility for legal aid in NZ. Given the discussion thread here on TS I’d have thought this would have been a prompt and trigger some fact-checking before continuing wasting more time on increasingly flaming comments from all involved.
How's that special Greens kaupapa working out?
Feb. Allegations
March. Tana suspended. Independent MP.
July. Investigation summary released
August. Green AGM. No action except membership walkout.
Proposed special meeting. Court upheld to delay this, by agreement.
September 12 Judicial review sought by Tana.
All of above because Green caucus don't want to make a decision.
Slowly and carefully. It's important to simulate progressive action whenever possible – particularly when real parliamentary opposition seems an infeasible stance.
Quite clever, given that Labour still hasn't figured out what to do. The Left Greens inevitably have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the consensus process – their compulsive need to grandstand whenever possible will always defer any reasonable suggestion that its time to be constructive and responsible.
Dead rat munchies still haven't become their favoured repast. I suspect that handing Winston a moral victory is viewed as a loathsome prospect…
"Dead rat munchies still haven't become their favoured repast. I suspect that handing Winston a moral victory is viewed as a loathsome prospect…"
For sure, being principled folk 'n' all them rats aren't tasty.
But… acknowledging other principles. Tana's actions, exploiting the rules with vulnerable migrant workers then causing a ruccus in a former employee's new place of work surely trump any gloating Peters may enjoy.
Still getting it wrong Ad. It's not the caucus' decision.
While on the face of it the canvassing of members seems honourable, my reckons say you have a caucus and or a leadership group for a reason.
From the outside, the lack of leadership is frustrating akin to an infant's tanty in a supermarket with a parent that indulges it.
Oblivious to the discomfort of the others in the vacinity.
"“I want the private sector to invest here, because they are confident in the pipeline and are enabled to get on with it by an efficient and fair consenting system,”
[From speech by Chris Bishop MP in a Building Nations event held 28 August].
Bishop was talking about the government's proposed National Infrastructure Plan.
Is this a return to the old Ministry of Works, which acted as a law unto itself?
As for the "efficient and fair consenting system", that may well copy the Queenstown approach and be based on one word: "Yes".
Poor Shane Jones, he is inarticulate in stating the obvious
1.the gentailers were set up to be driven by profit motive by National and that included a spot market – which is high price whenever there is a dry and calm year.
2.he wants a business subsidy price for New Zealand industry as per Comalco.
But the thing is Comalco has set up with its own hydro supply arrangement and agrees to reduce production in low supply years.
The business that closed had to have an arrangement not to operate in 1992-2024 like years to get a cheaper power deal.
3.He is an apologist for carbon and this is not the future.
The sort of arrangements made with NZ Steel – reducing carbon use.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/nz%E2%80%99s-biggest-ever-emissions-reduction-project-hits-milestone
Battery storage
https://contact.co.nz/aboutus/our-story/our-projects/glenbrook-battery
Otherwise deals with Methanex.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/526151/what-would-happen-to-jobs-and-emissions-if-methanex-left-new-zealand
The future is solar, a wind farm off Taranaki and battery storage
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/genesis-energy-to-use-kupe-profits-for-strategic-reset/PDPED7IRJNHHJLGDCI2N6OOFZE/
Anyone want to stretch their legs and write a new energy policy for NZ?
The Meridian boss says they plan to use hydro as back-up and have solar and wind as primary. Hydro can be turned on and off quickly and in other countries "pump storage" is that used for peaking.
A lot more solar on the rooftop’s of homes and business … and for some arrays on sections.
And a range of options/power deals for large business operations.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/challenge-to-meridians-claim-power-bills-taking-less-of-household-spending/F2UCXH4UTBA2VJZLQWFYIGXX44/
I wiggled my little toe and have to say my customer ie people focussed policy would revolve around renationalising the energy gentailers, ensuring that increases to prices were no more than an agreed to way of fixng the cost of living%. perhaps a freeze first, then a fair means of increases with the extremely large clobbering stick being the renationalising. That is at the customer level
I'd have to give it more thought to 'stretch' a macro energy policy.
But can we all not have a think and write our wishlist here?
can we all not have a think and write our wishlist here?
Yeah, the old notion of an informed citizenry. Most would wish for politicians who can do sensible decision-making. Yet we could let the pols default to laziness on this point since everyone seems to have gotten sucked into market thinking during the past 40 years. Market failure is therefore hard to think about.
Notice how reportage of big capitalist ventures closing down due to high electrical prices has been carefully evasive: pointing out that this effect is a symptom of market failure must have seemed too much like truth-telling to the journos.
Neither the left nor the right want to face the fact either: they are guilty of making it happen via left/right collusion. How many players in the electricity game make a cartel inevitable? Media ought to feature economists chanting in unison "Question too hard. We dumb – can't even think of it. Like slippery eel."
I'd vote for yr 2nd paragraph.
Couple that with a decentralising (not very left wing, I know) of power supply ie rooftop solar for new builds and retrofit on existing and we are 3/4s of the way there.
I've posted this link a coupla days ago but this is a professor and he covers it off way more competently than me. A worthwhile 27 mins.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018953071/electrification-could-save-nz-95-billion-by-2040-report
Ginny Anderson seemed to be caught out by a journalist actually doing research on TVNZ news last night.
She was comparing figures for police patrols for June with December figures and claimed that the number of police patrols under National had dropped. However, it was pointed out to her that patrol figures traditionally spike in December due to seasonality factors. So, it did actually appear that she was cherry picking data to suit her claim.
The journalist pointed out when month to month comparisons (e.g. June 23 with June 24) were considered, then patrols had increased consistently month by month. And had increased by 10% for the year to date compared to the previous year (according to police figures).
Undeterred by facts, Ginny continued to maintain her position to the point of incredulity.
It turned out to be a bit of an own goal IMO because the net effect was to demonstrate that police patrols had gone up under National which was the opposite to what Ginny had claimed.
Hipkins doubled down, by backing Anderson’s statement, despite the inconvenient facts. Perhaps it was considered too damaging to consider the alternative of admitting getting something wrong.
From a non-political perspective, it is good to see journalists actually doing their job rather than just blindly accepting what they are told. Perhaps politicians from all sides of the fence will be a bit more careful and accurate with their claims if they know they will likely be called out in public.
I noted that to , maybe stuff tv3 nees might be worth watching,
Well that’s a pity.
But tbh it was too late.
I heard the message on the news yesterday. I came here to say Labour is doing well catching out government incompetence.
I’ve seen a few different Labour shadow ministers doing good work. This is how governments fall. Not through pointing out their moral failings, but through pointing out their incompetence and failure.
As the kids say tldr. There are fewer police patrols! I heard it yesterday. Tut tut.
Unfortunately the facts tripped Ginny up. She needs to up her game. Being caught out and having to have your leader back you up knowing it is wrong is embarrassing. Next she will be coming out to say Mark Mitchell is all talk and no action, then next minute…….
Every member of Christchurch Comancheros chapter arrested | Stuff
Jimmy, the Comancheros raid was to aid the provision of housing, according to National MP Dan Bidois. 🙂 See today's The Standard post https://thestandard.org.nz/nationals-solution-to-the-housing-crisis/
Great stuff NZPolice!
More!
The 501's Oz caught were always going to be on that path.
Taking over another gangs base to supply drugs … not subtle.
Now there is a case to be made that any gang formed overseas and caught operating illegally here is banned.
The days of the Comancheros and HA (work in snappier clothing than Gareth Morgan and motor bike club at weekends).
She’s just playing your game, bud.
Remember how crime was wildly out of control? Miraculously it was all solved at the ballot box and by cashing some people on the outside.
Now foot patrols are down. That’s what we’re hearing. All the fact checks do is repeat the original story that foot patrols are down.
Yes. I saw that item and wondered what the hell had happened. I suspect a Labour Party researcher gave her the wrong figures. If correct, I wouldn't like to be them today.
The moral of the story. Never take figures given to you at face value. Do your own checking before releasing them.
I think this is just a symptom of a lazy media. If they can't be bothered fact checking and just parrot whatever they are told, then of course politicians will spin and obsfuscate as much as the can.
A lot more fact checking from journalists so far as I am concerned.
Once upon a time, many, many moons ago, journalists were very good at doing their homework. It kept politicians reasonably honest. Even Muldoon had to be careful with his figures.
Sad to read Rod Vaughan (a true investigative journalist) died 25 August.
He ran Ray "Goldcorp" Smith to earth in the USA after the company folded and it really was something to see. Smith, who was out on a camping trip, hid in his little tent rather than face a few questions.
We rely on the 4th estate to probe critically and demand accountability, not blithely pass on corporate media releases as if they were fact.
The Headhunters may have to move out of their pad in Mt. Wellington, Auckland too.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/head-hunters-asset-case-judge-grants-police-application-to-force-gang-and-wayne-doyle-to-forfeit-ellerslie-pad-15m/GO2Y3U6SSNEUPPFXRJU7A4G2OQ/#google_vignette
So they’ll have to move somewhere else? Police no longer know where gang hq is?
Also foot patrols are down since police cuts.
Millions to Seymour, 350k a job to find waste. Millions to landlords and other groups.
Police pay was unsatisfactory and foot patrols are down.
Perceptions of strength and consistency are important for governments.
Luxon comes as a weak and inconsistent character.
But for example the way the outrageous Costello behaviour will hurt them is if the opposition can paint the PM as not knowing what is going on and being too weak to be able to fire non-National ministers.
The subservience to the tobacco industry and the lying doesn’t help. But the appearance of weak and inconsistent leadership is what will change the polls.
More on No-right turn 24 August re Costello deceit:
https://norightturn.blogspot.com/2024/08/simply-not-credible.html
Holy relics are back!
/
.
Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he is selling a new collection of digital trading cards, and that supporters who buy 15 or more cards will receive a physical card adorned with a piece of the suit he wore for the presidential debate against Joe Biden in June.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/27/trump-debate-suit-fundraising
As long as we don't see the Trumpian equivalent of the Holy Prepuce.
Reminds me of a Blackadder episode:
Blackadder – Relics
Something for Labour's manifesto coz National …
https://www.stuff.co.nz/wellbeing/350393474/verity-johnson-nz-needs-right-disconnect-work-law-too
Agreed, SPC. Something already in place in France, Germany, Slovakia, Philippines, Luxembourg, Italy, Canada and now Australia. It links strongly to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which asserts the human right to rest and leisure.
New Zealand was first in the world to assert the right to a 8 hour working day. Part of Samuel Parnell's rationale was to allow rest and leisure. “There are 24 hours per day given us; eight of these should be for work, eight for sleep, and the remaining eight for recreation and in which for men to do what little things they want for themselves.”
https://theconversation.com/nzs-always-on-culture-has-stretched-the-8-hour-workday-should-the-law-contain-a-right-to-disconnect-215444
Wingnut fight! (I'm with Hoots)
@secondzeit
God, this barney between Matthew Hooton and Damien Grant about Hobson's Pledge is something else. It's the last 15 mins on the video. https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2024/08/27/7-3
https://x.com/secondzeit/status/1829005730713940239
https://www.youtube.com/live/jftYmBsfnVw?t=2735s
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2024/08/27/7-30pm-live-tonight-the-working-group-with-brad-olsen-matthew-hooton-and-damien-grant/
Thanks for the tip joe.
Grant got owned, I haven't seen Hooten that enthused. Spectacular.
Brash doesn't believe what he says, Hobson's Pledge is communist, the inflammatory behaviour of Seymour and Brash.
The idea that words just tumble from Luxon’s mouth.
I haven’t felt sorry for an economist like I did for Brad Olsen.
Hooten is a very clever orator.
Taken down. Video is down.
Someone's feels are hurt.
(video)
@patbrittenden
#BHN Is Dr Don Brash about to sue Matthew Hooton for defamation based on some apparent honest held beliefs shared on The Working Group podcast? #nzpol
https://x.com/patbrittenden/status/1829316191002968246
edit: Hooton excerpt still up on Brittenden’s twitter account