Open mike 29/08/2024
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- A letter to America from an appreciative ally
Donald Trump’s philosophy about the United States’ place in the world is historically selfish and will impoverish his country’s spirit. While he claimed last week to be ‘liberating’ Americans from the exploiters and freeloaders who’ve ...9 hours ago - Myanmar’s scam centres demand ASEAN-Australia collaboration
China’s crackdown on cyber-scam centres on the Thailand-Myanmar border may cause a shift away from Mandarin, towards English-speaking victims. Scammers also used the 28 March earthquake to scam international victims. Australia, with its proven capabilities ...10 hours ago
- The return of dirty politics
At the 2005 election campaign, the National Party colluded with a weirdo cult, the Exclusive Brethren, to run a secret hate campaign against the Greens. It was the first really big example of the rich using dark money to interfere in our democracy. And unfortunately, it seems that they're trying ...11 hours ago - Our MOOC Denial101x has run its course
Many of you will know that in collaboration with the University of Queensland we created and ran the massive open online course (MOOC) "Denial101x - Making sense of climate science denial" on the edX platform. Within nine years - between April 2015 and February 2024 - we offered 15 runs ...13 hours ago - In trade, nothing can replace the US consumer. Still, Asian countries look to each other
How will the US assault on trade affect geopolitical relations within Asia? Will nations turn to China and seek protection by trading with each other? The happy snaps a week ago of the trade ministers ...13 hours ago
- Why Did Police Clear Brian Tamaki Of All Charges?
I mentioned this on Friday - but thought it deserved some emphasis.Auckland Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan has responded to Countering Hate Speech Aotearoa, saying police have cleared Brian Tamaki of all incitement charges relating to the Te Atatu library rainbow event assault.Hassan writes:..There is currently insufficient evidence to ...14 hours ago - Reviewing the intelligence reviews (so far)
With the report of the recent intelligence review by Heather Smith and Richard Maude finally released, critics could look on and wonder: why all the fuss? After all, while the list of recommendations is substantial, ...15 hours ago
- Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures
Well, I don't know if I'm readyTo be the man I have to beI'll take a breath, I'll take her by my sideWe stand in awe, we've created lifeWith arms wide open under the sunlightWelcome to this place, I'll show you everythingSongwriters: Scott A. Stapp / Mark T. Tremonti.Today is ...16 hours ago - Monday 7 April
Staff at Kāinga Ora are expecting details of another round of job cuts, with the Green Party claiming more than 500 jobs are set to go. The New Zealand Defence Force has made it easier for people to apply for a job in a bid to get more boots on ...17 hours ago - Australia’s food security needs national-security frameworks
Australia’s agriculture sector and food system have prospered under a global rules-based system influenced by Western liberal values. But the assumptions, policy approaches and economic frameworks that have traditionally supported Australia’s food security are no ...18 hours ago
- Trump just detonated a neutron bomb under the global economy, but NZ could win
Following Trump’s tariff announcement, US stock values fell by the most ever in value terms (US$6.6 trillion). Photo: Getty ImagesLong story shortest in Aotearoa’s political economy this morning: Donald Trump just detonated a neutron bomb under the globalised economy, but this time the Fed isn’t cutting interest rates to rescue ...19 hours ago - 2025 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #14
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 30, 2025 thru Sat, April 5, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. The formatting is a ...1 day ago
- Trump’s Secret Sauce Spills Over
This is a longer read.Summary:Trump’s tariffs are reckless, disastrous and hurt the poorest countries deeply. It will stoke inflation, and may cause another recession. Funds/investments around the world have tanked.Trump’s actions emulate the anti-economic logic of another right wing libertarian politician - Liz Truss. She had her political career cut ...1 day ago - Wouldn’t really go that far
We are all suckers for hope.He’s just being provocative, people will say, he wouldn’t really go that far. They wouldn’t really go that far.Germany in the 1920s and 30s was one of the world’s most educated, culturally sophisticated, and scientifically advanced societies.It had a strong democratic constitution with extensive civil ...2 days ago - Fact brief – Is Mars warming?
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Mars warming? Mars’ climate varies due to completely different reasons than Earth’s, and available data indicates no temperature trends comparable to Earth’s ...2 days ago
- Maxing out – next steps for progressives
Max Harris and Max Rashbrooke discuss how we turn around the right wing slogans like nanny state, woke identity politics, and the inefficiency of the public sector – and how we build a progressive agenda. From Donald Trump to David Seymour, from Peter Dutton to Christopher Luxon, we are subject to a ...2 days ago - Maxing out – next steps for progressives
Max Harris and Max Rashbrooke discuss how we turn around the right wing slogans like nanny state, woke identity politics, and the inefficiency of the public sector – and how we build a progressive agenda. From Donald Trump to David Seymour, from Peter Dutton to Christopher Luxon, we are subject to a ...2 days ago
- FACT CHECKING DAVID SEYMOUR
I was interested in David Seymour's public presentation of the Justice Select Committee's report after the submissions to the Treaty Principles Bill.I noted the arguments he presented and fact checked him. I welcome corrections and additions to what I have written but want to keep the responses concise.The Treaty of ...3 days ago - It’s All Over Now
Well, he runs around with every racist in townHe spent all our money playing his pointless gameHe put us out; it was awful how he triedTables turn, and now his turn to cryWith apologies to writers Bobby Womack and Shirley Womack.Eight per cent, asshole, that’s all you got.Smiling?Let me re-phrase…Eight ...3 days ago - Bernard’s Pick ‘n’ Mix on Saturday, April 5
In short this morning in our political economy:The S&P 500 fell another 5.6% this morning after China retaliated with tariffs of 34% on all US imports, and the Fed warned of stagflation without rate cut relief.Delays for heart surgeries and scans are costing lives, specialists have told Stuff’s Nicholas Jones.Meanwhile, ...3 days ago - Unlike China’s flotilla, the Great White Fleet came in friendship
When the US Navy’s Great White Fleet sailed into Sydney Harbour in 1908, it was an unmistakeable signal of imperial might, a flexing of America’s newfound naval muscle. More than a century later, the Chinese ...3 days ago
- Resource Management and Property Rights
While there have been decades of complaints – from all sides – about the workings of the Resource Management Act (RMA), replacing is proving difficult. The Coalition Government is making another attempt.To help answer the question, I am going to use the economic lens of the Coase Theorem, set out ...3 days ago - Bookshelf: the evolution and future of amphibious warfare
2027 may still not be the year of war it’s been prophesised as, but we only have two years left to prepare. Regardless, any war this decade in the Indo-Pacific will be fought with the ...3 days ago
- Parliament’s secret “transparency” regime
When the Parliament Bill Committee rejected calls for Parliamentary agencies to be subject to the Official Information Act last month, their excuse was interesting: Parliament didn't need the transparency of the OIA because it already had its own transparency regime! Which came as rather a surprise to everyone working in ...3 days ago
- Centring people of colour to close the climate justice gap
Australia must do more to empower communities of colour in its response to climate change. In late February, the Multicultural Leadership Initiative hosted its Our Common Future summits in Sydney and Melbourne. These summits focused ...3 days ago
- Presidency of doom
Questions 1. In his godawful decree, what tariff rate was imposed by Trump upon the EU?a. 10% same as New Zealandb. 20%, along with a sneer about themc. 40%, along with an outright lie about France d. 69% except for the town Melania comes from2. The justice select committee has ...4 days ago - The ideology of grovelling to Trump
Yesterday the Trump regime in America began a global trade war, imposing punitive tariffs in an effort to extort political and economic concessions from other countries and US companies and constituencies. Trump's tariffs will make kiwis nearly a billion dollars poorer every year, but Luxon has decided to do nothing ...4 days ago
- $6m later, 90% against, 8% for, Treaty Principles Bill Committee recommends Bill be shelved
Here’s 7 updates from this morning’s news:90% of submissions opposed the TPBNZ’s EV market tanked by Coalition policies, down ~70% year on yearTrump showFossil fuel money driving conservative policiesSimeon Brown won’t say that abortion is healthcarePhil Goff stands by comments and makes a case for speaking upBrian Tamaki cleared of ...4 days ago - Thanks, Folks: Mountain Tūī Hits A Milesone
4 days ago - The people have spoken
The Justice Committee has reported back on National's racist Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill, and recommended by majority that it not proceed. So hopefully it will now rapidly go to second reading and be voted down. As for submissions, it turns out that around 380,000 people submitted on ...4 days ago
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After copping criticism for not releasing the report for nearly eight months, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released the Independent Intelligence Review on 28 March. It makes for a heck of a read. The review makes ...4 days ago
- The surprise of the Independent Intelligence Review: economic security
After copping criticism for not releasing the report for nearly eight months, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released the Independent Intelligence Review on 28 March. It makes for a heck of a read. The review makes ...4 days ago
- Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Friday, April 4
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- Weekly Roundup 04-April-2025
On a very wet Friday, we hope you have somewhere nice and warm and dry to sit and catch up on our roundup of some of this week’s top stories in transport and urbanism. The header image shows Northcote Intermediate Students strolling across the Te Ara Awataha Greenway Bridge in ...4 days ago - Weekly Roundup 04-April-2025
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- The Hoon around the week to April 4
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and Elaine Monaghan on the week in geopolitics and climate, including Donald Trump’s tariff shock yesterday; and,Labour’s Disarmament and Associate ...4 days ago
- Stranger Days
I'm gonna try real goodSwear that I'm gonna try from now on and for the rest of my lifeI'm gonna power on, I'm gonna enjoy the highsAnd the lows will come and goAnd may your dreamsAnd may your dreamsAnd may your dreams never dieSongwriters: Ben Reed.These are Stranger Days than ...4 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #14 2025
Open access notables A pronounced decline in northern vegetation resistance to flash droughts from 2001 to 2022, Zhang et al., Nature Communications: Here we show that vegetation resistance to flash droughts declines by up to 27% (±5%) over the Northern Hemisphere hotspots during 2001-2022, including eastern Asia, western North America, ...4 days ago
- Trump’s tariffs: Australia’s worry is the effect on its trading partners
With the execution of global reciprocal tariffs, US President Donald Trump has issued his ‘declaration of economic independence for America’. The immediate direct effect on the Australian economy will likely be small, with more risk ...4 days ago
- In national security, governments still struggle to work with startups
AUKUS governments began 25 years ago trying to draw in a greater range of possible defence suppliers beyond the traditional big contractors. It is an important objective, and some progress has been made, but governments ...4 days ago
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- The fix is in
So, having broken its promise to the nation, and dumped 85% of submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill in the trash, National's stooges on the Justice Committee have decided to end their "consideration" of the bill, and report back a full month early: Labour says the Justice Select Committee ...5 days ago
- Intelligence review is strong on workforce issues. Implementation may be harder
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- Corruption Tsunami
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Southeast Asia’s three most populous countries are tightening their security relationships, evidently in response to China’s aggression in the South China Sea. This is most obvious in increased cooperation between the coast guards of the ...5 days ago
- Technology can make Team Australia fit for strategic competition
In the late 1970s Australian sport underwent institutional innovation propelling it to new heights. Today, Australia must urgently adapt to a contested and confronting strategic environment. Contributing to this, a new ASPI research project will ...5 days ago
- Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Thursday, April 3
In short this morning in our political economy:The Nelson Hospital waiting list crisis just gets worse, including compelling interviews with an over-worked surgeon who is leaving, and a patient who discovered after 19 months of waiting for a referral that her bowel and ovaries were fused together with scar tissue ...5 days ago - Gordon Campbell On The Clash Between Auckland Airport And Air New Zealand
Plainly, the claims being tossed around in the media last year that the new terminal envisaged by Auckland International Airport was a gold-plated “Taj Mahal” extravagance were false. With one notable exception, the Commerce Commission’s comprehensive investigation has ended up endorsing every other aspect of the airport’s building programme (and ...5 days ago - Just what does drive so much of this global, Right-wing populism we all see at present?
Movements clustered around the Right, and Far Right as well, are rising globally. Despite the recent defeats we’ve seen in the last day or so with the win of a Democrat-backed challenger, Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, over her Republican counterpart, Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, in the battle for ...5 days ago - Two-part webinar about the scientific consensus on human-caused global warming
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- Bookshelf: ‘Vampire state: The rise and fall of the Chinese economy’
After three decades of record-breaking growth, at about the same time as Xi Jinping rose to power in 2012, China’s economy started the long decline to its current state of stagnation. The Chinese Communist Party ...5 days ago
- Too complacent, too greedy
The Pike River Coal mine was a ticking time bomb.Ventilation systems designed to prevent methane buildup were incomplete or neglected.Gas detectors that might warn of danger were absent or broken.Rock bolting was skipped, old tunnels left unsealed, communication systems failed during emergencies.Employees and engineers kept warning management about the … ...5 days ago - It’s time to imagine how China would act as regional hegemon
Regional hegemons come in different shapes and sizes. Australia needs to think about what kind of hegemon China would be, and become, should it succeed in displacing the United States in Asia. It’s time to ...5 days ago
- We don’t need the fast track to kill fossil fuels
RNZ has a story this morning about the expansion of solar farms in Aotearoa, driven by today's ground-breaking ceremony at the Tauhei solar farm in Te Aroha: From starting out as a tiny player in the electricity system, solar power generated more electricity than coal and gas combined for ...6 days ago
- How world order changes
After the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, and almost a year before the Soviet Union collapsed in late 1991, US President George H W Bush proclaimed a ‘new world order’. Now, just two months ...6 days ago
- Social Contracts Are Breaking
Warning: Some images may be distressing. Thank you for those who support my work. It means a lot.A shopfront in Australia shows Liberal leader Peter Dutton and mining magnate Gina Rinehart depicted with Nazi imageryUS Government Seeks Death Penalty for Luigi MangioneMangione was publicly walked in front of media in ...6 days ago - Wednesday 2 April
Aged care workers rallying against potential roster changes say Bupa, which runs retirement homes across the country, needs to focus on care instead of money. More than half of New Zealand workers wish they had chosen a different career according to a new survey. Consumers are likely to see a ...6 days ago
- The Green’s Identity Bubble Problem.
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- That’s Democracy?
The landedAnd the wealthyAnd the piousAnd the healthyAnd the straight onesAnd the pale onesAnd we only mean the male ones!If you're all of the above, then you're ok!As we build a new tomorrow here today!Lyrics Glenn Slater and Allan Menken.Ah, Democracy - can you smell it?It's presently a sulphurous odour, ...6 days ago - Think laterally: government air and shipping services can boost Australian defence
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- Reserve Bank, bank capital etc
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Long story short: PM Christopher Luxon said in January his Government was ‘going for growth’ and he wanted New Zealanders to develop a ‘culture of yes.’ Yet his own Government is constantly saying no, or not yet, to anchor investments that would unleash real private business investment and GDP growth. ...6 days ago - Luxon’s ‘going for growth’ actually means ‘going for debt reduction’
Long story short: PM Christopher Luxon said in January his Government was ‘going for growth’ and he wanted New Zealanders to develop a ‘culture of yes.’ Yet his own Government is constantly saying no, or not yet, to anchor investments that would unleash real private business investment and GDP growth. ...6 days ago
- Life after D-notices: Australia can learn from Britain’s updated system
For decades, Britain and Australia had much the same process for regulating media handling of defence secrets. It was the D-notice system, under which media would be asked not to publish. The two countries diverged ...6 days ago
- Life after D-notices: Australia can learn from Britain’s updated system
For decades, Britain and Australia had much the same process for regulating media handling of defence secrets. It was the D-notice system, under which media would be asked not to publish. The two countries diverged ...6 days ago
- Should Auckland demolish Spaghetti Junction?
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- Should Auckland demolish Spaghetti Junction?
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission. In this article, I make a not-entirely-serious case for ripping out Spaghetti Junction in Auckland, replacing it with a motorway tunnel, and redeveloping new city streets and neighbourhoods above it instead. What’s ...6 days ago
- Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Wednesday, April 2
In short this morning in our political economy:The Nelson Hospital crisis revealed by 1News’ Jessica Roden dominates the political agenda today. Yet again, population growth wasn’t planned for, or funded.Kāinga Ora is planning up to 900 house sales, including new ones, Jonathan Milne reports for Newsroom.One of New Zealand’s biggest ...6 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Wednesday, April 2
In short this morning in our political economy:The Nelson Hospital crisis revealed by 1News’ Jessica Roden dominates the political agenda today. Yet again, population growth wasn’t planned for, or funded.Kāinga Ora is planning up to 900 house sales, including new ones, Jonathan Milne reports for Newsroom.One of New Zealand’s biggest ...6 days ago
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- Release: Flaws in Govt’s climate strategy will cost us money
The Government’s plan to achieve our climate goals falls short, and will cost New Zealanders money and jobs. ...9 hours ago - Green Party differing view on the Treaty Principles Bill
Read the Green Party's differing view on the Treaty Principles Bill, prepared by Tamatha Paul. ...15 hours ago - Te Pāti Māori Urges Governor-General to Block Repeal of 7AA
Today, the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill has passed its third and final reading, but there is one more stage before it becomes law. The Governor-General must give their ‘Royal assent’ for any bill to become legally enforceable. This means that, even if a bill gets voted ...4 days ago
- Release: Abortion care quietly shelved amid staff shortage
Abortion care at Whakatāne Hospital has been quietly shelved, with patients told they will likely have to travel more than an hour to Tauranga to get the treatment they need. ...4 days ago
- Release: Govt guts Kāinga Ora, third of workforce under axe
The gutting of Kāinga Ora shows public housing is not a priority for this Government as it removes a third of the roles at the housing agency. ...4 days ago
- Release: Thousands of submissions excluded from Treaty Principles Bill report
Thousands of New Zealanders’ submissions are missing from the official parliamentary record because the National-dominated Justice Select Committee has rushed work on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...5 days ago
- Release: Uncertainty remains over the impact of tariffs
Today’s announcement of 10 percent tariffs for New Zealand goods entering the United States is disappointing for exporters and consumers alike, with the long-lasting impact on prices and inflation still unknown. ...5 days ago
- Release: Worst February for building consents in over a decade
The National Government’s choices have contributed to a slow-down in the building sector, as thousands of people have lost their jobs in construction. ...6 days ago
- Release: Labour supports Willie Apiata’s selfless act
Willie Apiata’s decision to hand over his Victoria Cross to the Minister for Veterans is a powerful and selfless act, made on behalf of all those who have served our country. ...6 days ago
- Te Pāti Māori MPs Denied Fundamental Rights in Privileges Committee Hearing
The Privileges Committee has denied fundamental rights to Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Rawiri Waititi and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, breaching their own standing orders, breaching principles of natural justice, and highlighting systemic prejudice and discrimination within our parliamentary processes. The three MPs were summoned to the privileges committee following their performance of a haka ...7 days ago
- Release: Govt health and safety changes put workers at risk
Changes to New Zealand’s health and safety laws will strip back key protections for small businesses and put working Kiwis at greater risk. ...1 week ago
- Release: Kiwis worse off this April thanks to Govt choices
April 1 used to be a day when workers could count on a pay rise with stronger support for those doing it tough, but that’s not the case under this Government. ...1 week ago
- Release: Three more years for Interislander ferries
Winston Peters is shopping for smaller ferries after Nicola Willis torpedoed the original deal, which would have delivered new rail enabled ferries next year. ...1 week ago
- Release: Myanmar junta must stop the airstrikes
The Government should work with other countries to press the Myanmar military regime to stop its bombing campaign especially while the country recovers from the devastating earthquake. ...1 week ago
- Release: National failing to deliver on supermarkets
National is paying lip service to its promises to bring down the cost of living, failing to make any meaningful change in the grocery sector. ...1 week ago
- Release: Labour backs farmers’ call for better process on GE
Labour shares farmers’ concerns that the Gene Technology Bill is moving too fast. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Bar still too high for small mental health providers
Small mental health providers will still be locked out of co-funding from the Mental Health Innovation Fund despite a lower threshold. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens call for Govt to scrap proposed ECE changes
The Green Party is calling for the Government to scrap proposed changes to Early Childhood Care, after attending a petition calling for the Government to ‘Put tamariki at the heart of decisions about ECE’. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ First Introduces Bill That Gives Democracy Back To The People
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill today that will remove the power of MPs conscience votes and ensure mandatory national referendums are held before any conscience issues are passed into law. “We are giving democracy and power back to the people”, says New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters. ...2 weeks ago - Speech: Navigating the New World (Dis)order in Turbulent Times
Welcome to members of the diplomatic corp, fellow members of parliament, the fourth estate, foreign affairs experts, trade tragics, ladies and gentlemen. ...2 weeks ago
- Te Pāti Māori Call for Mandatory Police Body Cameras
In recent weeks, disturbing instances of state-sanctioned violence against Māori have shed light on the systemic racism permeating our institutions. An 11-year-old autistic Māori child was forcibly medicated at the Henry Bennett Centre, a 15-year-old had his jaw broken by police in Napier, kaumātua Dean Wickliffe went on a hunger ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Kiwis lose faith in job market
Confidence in the job market has continued to drop to its lowest level in five years as more New Zealanders feel uncertain about finding work, keeping their jobs, and getting decent pay, according to the latest Westpac-McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens question Govt commitment to environmental protection with RMA reform
The Greens are calling on the Government to follow through on their vague promises of environmental protection in their Resource Management Act (RMA) reform. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt must tackle meth use crisis
New data shows methamphetamine use is spiralling out of control while the Government sits on its hands. ...2 weeks ago
- “Make New Zealand First Again”
“Make New Zealand First Again” Ladies and gentlemen, First of all, thank you for being here today. We know your lives are busy and you are working harder and longer than you ever have, and there are many calls on your time, so thank you for the chance to speak ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt’s continued lack of action on Gaza condemned
Hundreds more Palestinians have died in recent days as Israel’s assault on Gaza continues and humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, is blocked. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National at sea over Defence jobs
National is looking to cut hundreds of jobs at New Zealand’s Defence Force, while at the same time it talks up plans to increase focus and spending in Defence. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: National standards returning by stealth
It’s been revealed that the Government is secretly trying to bring back a ‘one-size fits all’ standardised test – a decision that has shocked school principals. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Kiwis still struggling as economy stumbles along
Kiwis aren’t feeling any better off despite figures showing a very slight growth in GDP in the December quarter. ...3 weeks ago
- Greens call for compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe
The Green Party is calling for the compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe, a 77-year-old kaumātua on hunger strike at the Spring Hill Corrections Facility, after visiting him at the prison. ...3 weeks ago
- Another failed ETS auction, another indictment on the Govt’s climate credibility
The ETS auction’s failure today is yet another clear sign that the Government is failing us all on climate action. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Luxon quick to give away principled position on nukes
Christopher Luxon seems to have thrown New Zealand’s principled anti-nuclear advocacy under a bus. ...3 weeks ago
- NZ must act on Israel’s slaughter of children
The Green Party is calling on Government MPs to support Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence and illegal actions in Palestine, following another day of appalling violence against civilians in Gaza. ...3 weeks ago
- New planning laws to end the culture of ‘no’
The Government’s new planning legislation to replace the Resource Management Act will make it easier to get things done while protecting the environment, say Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop and Under-Secretary Simon Court. “The RMA is broken and everyone knows it. It makes it too hard to build ...2 weeks ago - New Zealand & India Comprehensive FTA consultation begins
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has today launched a public consultation on New Zealand and India’s negotiations of a formal comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. “Negotiations are getting underway, and the Public’s views will better inform us in the early parts of this important negotiation,” Mr McClay says. We are ...2 weeks ago
- Cost of living support coming for 1.5 million New Zealanders
More than 900 thousand superannuitants and almost five thousand veterans are among the New Zealanders set to receive a significant financial boost from next week, an uplift Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says will help support them through cost-of-living challenges. “I am pleased to confirm that from 1 ...2 weeks ago
- Iwi join discussion on geothermal potential
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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!
/
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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