it is a wee bit confusing in the job market, – from a job vacancy ad on trademe jobs:
“We do not accept online applications if you wish to apply please email mxxxxxxd @ xxxx.net.nz.” (address edited for anonymity)
The breakdown by party support is interesting/amusing, with National Party supporters being the most “trusting” – or stupid, immoral, cognitively dissonant or whatever.
from Sunday on cycling;
two reporters left Te Atatu for TVNZ in the city, 13kms distance. With the motorist having to wait at the on-ramp for 20minutes and travel at approx 40km/h in traffic, find a park and walk the remainder, the cyclist arrived first travelling by cycle-way.
Aucklands transport problems according to Len Brown on Firstline require 60B investment, (under-investment for decades), with a 12B shortfall to be met by tolls, fuel tax proposals etc.
Although 600M could be invested in cycle-ways for Auckland, there would be a 20-1 long-term cost benefit according to cycle-safety specialist Glen Koorey.
from a cyclist-accident victim on the same article; “We have become such a mean-spirited nation…people used to say about Kiwis…” (encouraging things I imagine).
ahhh, missed it; what I haven’t missed are observations of the attitudes and emotions held by many motorists questioned by the media on their approach towards cyclists. freakin’ hicks.
The results of the Brain fade poll , reads as if the question asked was more like,
“Do you think John Key is a liar?”
That would explain the party split , nicely.
I recall somebody here , in the last week or so , saying their partner had been polled by Reids,
and one the questions was pretty much “do you think Key is a liar”
Reids wouldn’t change the question , after the poll result, would they? Na
Wouldn’t it be great if when publishing/referencing a poll the media had to supply the actual poll data, including the questions. Even better than that would be a declaration of whomever had commissioned the poll in the first place.
yes lanthanide, i should have added that the noted article did include the reference to it being a TV3 poll but as a general rule we both know the identity of those commissioning polls is largely anonymous.
“I recall somebody here , in the last week or so , saying their partner had been polled by Reids,
and one the questions was pretty much “do you think Key is a liar””
That is what they said, but they came back and corrected that the question asked of their partner was the polling question we are shown.
The dishonest and irresponsible work of Andrew Wakefield has claimed a victim
Wales has had low Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) vaccination rates for some time … since about 1998, in fact, when Andrew Wakefield published his bogus study in the Lancet falsely linking the MMR vaccine to autism.
So what are you going to say when it comes out that the chronically sick 25 year old in question had already been immunised against measles?
By the way, according to the schedule the dead man should have been vaccinated years before the Wakefield study came out, as an infant, so I think its more likely that he had been immunised. Yet was so sick.
The point of vaccination is not just to protect yourself, but also to protect others.
How he contracted it in the first place is the real issue, not whether his particular jab didn’t work, or whether due to allergies he couldn’t get vaccinated, or whether his parents were nutty even before Wakefield’s fraud.
Bit of a climb down though innit joe, from has, to may! You get some credit, for the climb down, but its been sloppy from you lately, aer you ok?
No matter how hard McFlock tries to spin it, then pulls out the , * you should be guilty*, for not protecting others, what a legend you are McFlock /sarc!
What other illness did this unfortunate individual suffer from?
Article title:Measles Epidemic in Wales Has Roots in Antivax Movement.
Opening line of article: The measles outbreak in Wales may have claimed its first victim..
I never said “you should be guilty”.
I just think that people who refuse to vaccinate for no clear medical reason (e.g. egg allergy) are selfish idiots.
Population perspective: clear link.
Individual case perspective: who knows? There’s always the slim possibility he had some measles-like condition.
When attributing primary cause of mortality in individual cases there’s always oodles of theoretical wriggle room (from poor nutrition to undiagnosed heart problems), and you look set to use every inch of it. A bit like 50 years of tobacco industry wriggling – but then they were intentionally duplicitous, rather than wildly delusional, so I guess you’re not quite in their league.
Each year around Anzac Day, my electorate hosts a social event, the highlight of which is a lecture in memory of a popular former Labour MP who was killed in Crete in 1942. This year’s lecture was given by Nicky Hagar. The basis of the lecture was his latest book “Other People’s Wars”. It was gob-smacking stuff!
There were a number of former and even current senior military personnel – plus senior public servants – who were apparently only too willing to apprise Nicky of the behind the scenes activity particularly in relation to the war in Afghanistan. This was a measure of their profound concern for what they saw… and the blatant lies that we in New Zealand have been told about our involvement in that war. Politicians – on both sides of the fence and including Helen Clark – were tricked into believing we were there as peace keepers. The peace keeping played a role, but from all accounts it turned out not to be their primary function.
Add to that an over-all appraisal by Nicky about what he perceives is happening behind the political front, and I think there would be many here interested in what he had to say.
I know the lecture was recorded (sound-wise at least) and I think it might be possible for the Standard to seek to post that recording here. Labour MP, Phil Twyford would be the person to approach in the first instance, because he initiated the annual lectures and is still heavily involved.
Further to the above are two quotes from the book:
It would be nice for someone to pause and say, “Hell, we’re coming up to the 10th anniversary [Sept.11 attacks], are we better or are we worse?. I think the answer is we’re worse. How stupid are we to have allowed a reaction led by the United States that has actually made it worse for the world? – senior defence official.
People assume that politicians make decisions, but often they are busy, ill informed or actively excluded… The worst decisions were made by senior officials and military officers, often without [the ministers’] knowledge. – senior NZ government official.
People assume that politicians make decisions, but often they are busy, ill informed or
excluded… The worst decisions were made by senior officials and military officers, often without [the ministers’] knowledge. – senior NZ government official.
I think that is a salient point Anne and I’ve repeated it for me and any others who have had naive ideas about politicians and what they are doing with their time and influence while in the House and having some power.
In the USA it may be that the control of the country has largely passed out of the hands of those elected representatives who take their role for the people seriously. Where there is money there is power, which does seem to be a correct saying, and the budget of the Defence there is astro-astronomical. Scary stuff for sincere democracy believers.
I’d recommend anyone (everyone) read the book even though it is a big read.
It makes it pretty clear that senior defence people were determined to go against explicit government foreign policy (and directives) in order to preserve – or resurrect – their contact and ‘relationships’ with the US, UK and Australia. Ever since the nuclear ship ban and the suspension of ANZUS, parts of the defence leadership ran a de facto military foreign policy at odds with government policy, especially in the 2000s.
There’s a word for that, and when you need to apply it to the defence forces it is particularly concerning.
I am shocked that Hager’s book has received so little journalistic follow-through. There are stories in there that I would have thought any journalist worth their salt would have given an arm and a leg to have the opportunity to run with (if that isn’t mixing too many metaphors).
I am shocked that Hager’s book has received so little journalistic follow-through.
A bit of jealousy mixed with narrow, establishment thinking and a naive desire to be part of the American military scenario? Most of the MSM seem happy to go along with the authoritarian and anti-democratic flow if they think that is where their best interests may lie…
But it is heartening to know there were military and public service personnel who were willing to spill the beans in the interest of integrity and transparency.
“But it is heartening to know there were military and public service personnel who were willing to spill the beans in the interest of integrity and transparency.”
It certainly is – but no matter how heartening, I don’t think that’s the point. After all, the military went its own way despite the integrity of these people and their desire for transparency. The lack of ‘follow through’ reinforces that fact.
As with so many issues, the point is not about individuals and their motives (for good or ill). It’s about structures and institutional processes that bias against (or for) certain kinds of behaviours and, therefore, in favour of certain kinds of people with certain kinds of views.
The historical interweaving of the NZ military with the UK and then US military (training, experience under command, etc.) I imagine meant (and still means) that those with pro-UK/US leanings will have formed the useful overseas connections and ‘upward’ connections within the already established hierarchy that ensure they rise through the ranks and assume positions of power.
That process is common to all institutions – those who align themselves with powerful interests within and around the ‘system’ do better in the ‘system’. It’s Chomsky and Hermann’s point about the media and who ends up being an editor – the very people who agree with the direction.
The older I get the more I think that the interesting questions are hardly ever about motives, character, personal integrity, etc.. They are about the uses that structures make of people.
I’d love to hear the speech on audio or video.
Tried to go to the speech but it was sold out days early. I think you’ll find there is a keen interest for independent voices like Nicky Hager and, if it’s possible, maybe book a larger venue next time.
Thank for your efforts Anne in getting people like Nicky H to speak.
Thanks Paul. The effort was really put in by others including Phil Twyford. Yes, we are going to have to find a bigger venue. We have been fortunate thus far in attracting excellent speakers and the word has got around. So much so, people who are not associated with the Labour Party also want to attend. I think the recording was audio only but still well worth listening to. I will try and contact Phil Twyford and see if it’s possible to have it posted here.
Also from he Sunday Star Times http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8605428/Talking-about-a-New-Zealand-constitution
You should have a look at their poll and see what you think about it. It seems to be quite balanced and requires a bit of thought. They have a space for 130 words about your ideas for NZ which they may tweet.
I went to a meeting in the weekend hosted by a Nelson group. My feelings are that the appointed commissioners seem to be standing aside and leaving the bringing information and discussion to each region which has to find people with something to say and who can project their ideas. The visiting commissioners seem more like window dressing, and there does not seem to be a plan for a tour of the country by informative speakers, the appointees just attend the arranged meeting and give a quick run down of their instructions. Then at our meeting the speakers were invited to make their individual points.
There was a speaker from the country’s numerous old, white anti-Maori bigots, who also were a vocal group in the audience. Overturning agreements already reached, limiting the Treaty to a historical document with narrow meanings, and overturning decisions made already by eminent people in favour of Maori seemed to be their unswerving and bigoted goal. There was the usual white patronising and demeaning attitude to Maori heard from such people, mainly white-haired and probably old age beneficiaries, and I am one of this age so I can be reasonably objective. (Their thinking at base being – Maori are undeserving, they haven’t a case for consideration of their rights and wrongs, and that the decisions made by eminent people in favour of Maori stand for nothing)
Unfortunately for me, the bigot was the second speaker not the last. The first was a criminal lawyer who does good work and is aware of the need of the law to serve the citizens, poor and rich, and I am asking for the right to be able to access his submission paper for The Standard readers. (I now have that okay but have to speak to my advisor on how to go about putting it up tonight.)
But when the second speaker began and started with what to me is poisonous, backward diatribe that would have an acidic effect on good relations between Maori and pakeha and our moves forward to a better future, I had to leave. This man Bruce Moon was a co-author with John Robinson, David Round, Mike Butler, Hugh Barr, Peter Cresswell of a book called Twisting the Treaty – A Tribal Grap for Wealth and Power with a related web page headed Treatygate – The Conning of a Country which pitches it against one called Healing our History by Robert and Joanna Consedine. The large number of biased authors writing for the Twisting book make for a whiteout on the subject, one whole page of google is taken up with headings from their individual comments and initiatives.
Some people who are focussed on one approach with a tunnel vision that pours all their energy on their chosen mission, are a horrible obstacle to gathering wide information and take up the precious time set aside for that purpose. I had better things to do. But I want to see healthy discussion on a good constitution. I don’t trust National to do anything good, they are increasingly adopting fascist, and anti-democratic policies.
My point that NZ government doesn’t care about families much and won’t support them is backed up by the Super Grans business. These people in power are self absorbed social climbers and wealthy isolated types. They could care about a fine racehorse with good breeding but ordinary people – no.
And budget advisory, that would admit there is a necessity, a demand for this, and in a climate where people have to apply for five jobs a day in a recession well there is a certain coherence if they just keep on denying reality.
Following on from some comments concerning the state of private aged care in NZ the other day, this article from ‘The Independent’ on the unfolding crisis in England, Wales and Northern Ireland might be of interest to some – particularly if there are jots to be joined or comparisons made with any debt burden among NZ’s private providers.
“part of a wider collapse in social care driven by spending cuts”. (sound familiar)
“solving the inevitably rocketing (fixed) costs of social care for the elderly and disabled is an issue expected to dog governments for decades to come”. (energy, food, wages, oh wait Ryman et al; will be able to pay lower wages).
Well, NZ Government is already working on the Euthanasia bill…… it will be introduced under the umbrella that there is too much suffering. Watch this space.
Canadian foreign minister John Baird is now a human rights champion!
April 29, 2013
Liberals and human rights activists will welcome the news that the formerly hard right Canadian foreign minister John Baird has made a spectacular and sudden conversion to being a champion of human rights.
After a Canadian friend of mine yesterday damned Mr Baird as “a disgusting piece of sh!t”, and urged me to “Google the useless f+ck” I decided to follow his advice and do a little bit of research on him. What I have found tends to reinforce my friend’s observation.
John Baird has developed a reputation as an hysterical opponent of the Kyoto Protocols, and he has been roundly denounced by virtually everybody who has come into contact with him. After observing Baird’s irresponsible conservation policies, Al Gore called them “a complete and total fraud” and accused him of trying to “mislead the Canadian people”. Baird’s conservation policies have been damned by David Suzuki as a “sham”. Activists at the Cancun climate conference in 2010 were scathing of his environmental policies and awarded Canada three “Fossil” awards for disrupting and undermining U.N. climate talks.
When he is not trashing the environment, John Baird likes to hang out with soldiers. He spent Christmas 2006 in Afghanistan with Canadian occupation troops.
Baird is an aggressive and shameless supporter of the Likud party in Israel, and last year he made a widely condemned statement that Iran was “the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today.”
Wow. He was a really cool guy. The nats gave him a hard time because he did not accord to their concepts of a parliamentarian but he was a very gracious person. On a marae he could not be matched and when talking to kiwis his ability to relate to them was phenomenal.
I had the pleasure of being at the Avondale Markets with him campaigning and I can honestly say that he was without his peers. Even though he was 400 kilometers from home it seemed he knew half the people. I was really, really impressed with his ability to relate to ordinary kiwis.
Labour MP and former Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia has died from health complications at his home in Tolaga Bay.
The 62-year-old, who is survived by three sons and one grandchild, was surrounded by family, friends and Parliamentary colleagues when he passed away a short time ago.
His condition deteriorated rapidly since his health problems were made public this morning.
The cause of his death has not been confirmed and his family has requested privacy.
RIP Parekura. Few would have a bad word to say about him. Shocking news.
Meanwhile, this piece of sh*t works for Auckland radio stations. I’ll be writing to them telling them what I think, and why I’ll be boycotting them and their ads – you may want to as well …
Jim Mora poses the Ironic Question of the Month
The Panel, Radio NZ National, Monday 29 April 2013
Jim Mora, Jonathan Krebs, Tim Watkin
Today, due to unforeseen circumstances, host Jim Mora found himself in the position of having ten minutes at the end of the program to fill up somehow. Being an experienced and competent operator, this was no problem for him. “We have a spare ten minutes,” he told his two guests, “so we’ll just have a chat about various issues that have come up lately.”
First up, he read out an exceptionally foolish statement by an English chemical analysis, who after she had debunked the false claims that Syria has used chemical weapons, had gone on to claim that even if the “evidence” was entirely false, the “rebels” had done it because they were “desperate”.
The Panelists, including Mora, actually did a good job here, discussing the Syrian question with intelligence and a degree of responsibility—thank God that Panel regulars Dr Michael Bassett or Barry Corbett or Garth “Gaga” George were not on today—and mentioned that the “rebels” were largely Al Qaeda terrorists.
Then, in a deadly serious tone, Jim Mora asked the following question: “Is there a tendency in our society for people to voice their opinion on subjects that they know nothing about?”
To their credit, both Jonathan Krebs and Tim Watkin stifled the guffaws and pretended to ignore the screaming irony of that screamingly funny question.
DISCUSS:
Is Jim Mora the world’s most brilliant deadpan comic? Or did he simply forget, for a brief time this afternoon, that the guest Panelists on his show have included such Ignorami for the Ages as John Barnett, Graham Bell, Barry Corbett, Garth “Gaga” George, Denise L’Estrange-Corbet, Nevil “Breivik” Gibson, Claudette Hauiti, and Jordan Williams?
Here it is, one more time. Enjoy…
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * “Is there a tendency in our society for people to voice their opinion on subjects that they know nothing about?”
Hah1. The ‘voice of the people’, the everyman’s best, bester, bestest EVER friend Jum’, the wordsmuth, the intellect…… it’s just so overwhelming.
Save yourself the stress Morissey. Best policy is to just ignore the gittus.
I had some conversation with the guy a few years ago. Back then he promised how he was going to rejuvinate things.
Instead ….. same old shit, same old hacks, same old yearning to be liked, same old kaka to be perceived as the voice of reason…..
(Same shit – different stink).
Not sure why the Slacks et al bother these days – perhaps they just like the same brand of CHardonnay.
IF RNZ ever consider its time for a shapkeup – it’s be Mora in the afternoon, closely followed by Kethluk Guuuuurl in the mourn
Yes Tim I agree. The Mora Borer Show has become almost unlistenable. Coast, Breeze, whatever, at least they deliver what they promise. Often in my car 4-5 pm weekdays. As a consciously careful and attentive driver over the 33 km to home Radio Live and other talkback is just too dangerous. Mora seemed the safe bet.
Unfortunately it’s now just Aunty Affable and his unconscionable gushing over a series of wankers (in the main) who fancy themselves “celebs”. Thus emboldening them in the ignorant mouthing off of which Morrissey complains. I think the name’s Chris Wikaira, an aggressive wahanui on everything who brews yuppie fucking beer for God’s Sake. He’s one of the worst. If that’s not him I apologise to the less offensive Chris Wikaira. Not to overlook Mrs Brassy Voyeur Private Investigator………forget her name, Julia double barrelled something. David Slack is one of the few exceptions. He’s genuinely wry as well.
I think the obnoxious brewer you are thinking of is actually Neil Miller. Your concerns about him are entirely justified.
Chris Wikaira is a National Party-sympathizing dope that manages to say nothing serious or interesting whenever he is on the programme. Last time he was on, his Soapbox contribution consisted of a rant about what he reckons is the poor quality of contributions to the Minecraft discussion boards.
Publicly funded radio fulfills a very important role in our society, but “Afternoons with Jim Mora” always leaves me wondering why we’re publicly funding what is essentially talkback radio.
The five year old whom the pakeha school bus passed on by. Surprisingly, never bitter. Lovely man living magnificent wairua.
In brief answer to Morrissey: yes, ugly mouthing is not merely a tendency, it is positively encouraged. It’s in the nature of an opiate for dullards, their spittle then harnessed by unscrupulous self-promoters and careerists.
man, this Auckland Transport problem is gonna cost; “a multi-billion dollar shortfall”
-tolls
-fuel tax
-rates rises
-possible public transport tax
-congestion tax
(any 2 or more of the above)
“even this is not a silver bullet”- Simon Lambourne.
The Christchurch rebuild needs 17000 more workers before 18 months time passes.
Heard Joyce talking of the need for flexibility from “officials” and “immigration” in the same sentence.
more migrant workers will be required.
Apparently, there is no guarantee of the entire “private investment” counted on by the government for Christchurch.
Anyway – Those that may bother to get out of their little spaces, and away from blogs and PC or laptop screens:
01 May 2013:
Labour Action against the owners of Pak’n Save supermarket, at Royal Oak, Manukau Road, Auckland (just near the roundabout), due to decision by that employer to introduce and accept the new youth wage rate at about $ 11 per hour, below the minimum wage of $ 13 something, close to $ 14, as it applies to adults! Also are there other employment issues of staff employed there, First Union have more info. AAAP and others are preparing to take action and present a picket there.
As far as I know they used to have a collective agreement, but only on that site, and it appears to be under threat.
I encourage all in the area to join and support the workers at that supermarket, especially the youth ones, 16 to 19. They are in award negotiations and need all support. Also consider doing your shopping somewhere else, at least for a time, until they have come to the party to pay staff what they deserve.
The minimum wage, also there paid to largely migrant workers, is not sufficient to survive on, and it is an insult as it is. A living wage would be better, but we are fighting to simply even defend the minimum legal wage for those that will likely be short changed!
Also on 01 May 2013:
Joe Carolan communicated that due to a breakdown in negotiations with Mc Donald’s, there will be a 01 May picket outside McDonald’s in Queen Street at 03:30 pm on Mayday.
If any have questions about Mayday, perhaps do a search, look up Wikipedia or else, it has tradition with workers being shot and killed in Chicago some many years ago, for standing up for their worker’s rights, but Mayday is a celebrated Worker’s Day in many countries, in Europe, some countries in Asia, and for some here in Aotearoa NZ.
Labour Day is another affair, but some of us think that Mayday is the day to stand up, take a stand, join others and make a point. So a couple of pickets at mentioned venues will serve the purpose to a degree, and all are asked and invited to join!
The action at Pak’ Save Royal Oak, Auckland is planned for 08:30 am on Wednesday (“benefit day” for the unemployed), 01 May 2013 – MAYDAY!
Unemployed be mindful, a new, harsh, draconian regime for yours and other beneficiaries will start 15 July this year, due to law changes, so be prepared. Also sick and disabled, the onslaught and harassment will hit you and force you to look for work, so show solidarity thanks!
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I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone iconon the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive:Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloittereport for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’sOliver LewisScoop:Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announcedthe Board of Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Orderimage, ...
Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
Waiting In The Wings:For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSAannounced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
Te Rangi e tu nei (The sky above us) Te Papa e takoto nei (The land beneath us) Tatou katoa te hunga ora (To us all the living) Tena koutou katoa (Greetings) ...
A late change to charter school legislation will cheat educators out of fair pay and negotiating power proving charter schools are just a vehicle to make profit out of our education system. ...
In 2004 te iwi Māori rallied against the Crown’s attempt to confiscate our coastlines and moana with the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This led to the largest hīkoi of a generation and the birth of Te Pāti Māori. 20 years later, history is repeating itself. Today the government has announced ...
It has been five and a half years since the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was established to investigate the abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based institutions. Yesterday, the final report - Whanaketia through pain and trauma, from darkness to light ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. ...
On Friday the International Court of Justice reaffirmed what Palestinian’s have been telling us for decades: that the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands by Israel is illegal and must end immediately. They also called for reparations for Palestinian’s who have lived under Israeli occupation since it began in 1967. ...
Labour calls on the Government to act after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal. ...
The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. ...
Aotearoa could be a country where every child grows up feeling safe, loved and with a sense of belonging in their whānau and community. But for some of our children, this is far from reality. Instead, they are trapped in a maze of intergenerational harm that they can’t escape on ...
Te Pāti Māori are calling for David Seymour to resign as Associate Health Minister in response to his call for Pharmac to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi. “This announcement is just another example of the government’s anti-Tiriti, anti-Māori agenda.” Said Co-leader and spokesperson for health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. “Seymour thinks it ...
The soaring price of renting is driving the rise of inflation in this country - with latest figures from Stats NZ showing rents are up 4.8 per cent on average while annual inflation is at 3.3 per cent. ...
National’s Emissions Reduction Plan will take New Zealand further from the economy we need to ensure the next generation has a stable climate and secure livelihoods. ...
Following consultation with named parties and thorough consideration of privacy interests, the Green Party is in a position to release the Executive Summary of the final report from the independent investigation into Darleen Tana. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon should be asking serious questions of his Minister for Resources Shane Jones now it’s been revealed he misled the public about a dinner with mining companies that he didn’t declare and said wasn’t pre-arranged. ...
Te Pāti Māori have submitted to the Justice Select Committee against the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill. The bill will further entrench racism in our justice system and fails to focus on rehabilitation. “Reinstating Three Strikes will empower a systematically racist system and exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is set to make a determination on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill in the coming weeks. “This legislation will give landlords the power to kick our whānau out onto the street for no reason” said Housing spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “Their solution to the housing ...
“National’s campaign was about tackling crime and the best they can do is a two-year long Ministerial Advisory Group,” Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
“There are more examples of charter schools failing their students than there are success stories. The coalition Government is driving to dismantle our public school system and instead promote a privatised, competitive structure that puts profits before kids,” Jan Tinetti said. ...
“This government is choosing to deliberately mislead and withhold information, keeping our people in the dark about this government’s agenda and the future of our mokopuna,” said co-leader and spokesperson for Health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The call comes after the demand from the Chief Ombudsman that Associate Minister of Health, Casey ...
“Today’s climate announcement by Simon Watts makes clear the National Government is simply paying lip service to meeting its climate change targets,” Megan Woods said. ...
National is choosing to make life harder for workers by taking away the rights our communities have fought hard for. Here's how they’re taking workers backwards. ...
Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views. “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
Tēnā tātou katoa, Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks. “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. At the heart of this report are the ...
For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024. “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane. “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says. “This will be our third visit to ...
Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum. While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation. “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan. “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests. Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone. Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
Last summer when Matairangi burned, Ginny and Tom stood at the window of their lounge, watching kākā shoot skyward from the burning trees. From the distance, they looked to Ginny like pages torn from books and thrown into a bonfire. It was Tom, voice tight, who told her it was ...
Opinion: The Canadian short story writer Alice Munro – winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 – died in May at the age of 92. Her work was about “the damage people inflict on one another in the name of love”, Deborah Treisman wrote in the New Yorker. ...
This month marks two years since the most powerful telescope ever built sent its first pictures back to earth. From its lofty vantage point, beyond the moon in orbit around the sun, the James Webb Space Telescope was tuned to observe the first stars and galaxies being born soon after ...
Comment: After Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ preview several weeks ago, I had some optimism about the Government’s emissions reduction plan. Now I’ve read the discussion document, that hope has been dashed. How can the Government propose a plan that wants to take New Zealand taxpayers’ hard-earned money, and spend ...
Christopher Luxon: hurdles The little man from National jumps hurdles in his sleep. He’s quite good at it in his dreams and even though the reality doesn’t quite match up you have to give him credit for getting up every morning and crashing into the very first hurdle of the ...
Comment: It was a good two hours into the conversation when Tyrone Marks raised the most basic of questions when I first spoke to him in 2017. “They didn’t explain the things they did to me. They never told me why. And they still haven’t. There’s no explanation for it. ...
Madeleine Chapman rounds out Death Week on The Spinoff with a final recommendation. You can read all of our Death Week coverage here. Nothing forces you to reflect on your life and relationships quite like proximity to death. For those whose nearest and dearest have died, there are reasonably obvious ...
Whitney Greene takes us through her life in television, including the TV character she’d like to plan a funeral for and her cow lung catastrophe on The Traitors NZ. “If the phone rings, I have to answer it,” Whitney Greene from The Traitors NZ warns as we begin our My ...
Maddie Ballard reviews the debut essay collection of Pōneke writer Flora Feltham.In ‘The Raw Material’, the longest essay in Flora Feltham’s dazzling debut collection, the author heads out for a run after hours of weaving and sees the world turn to textile. “Pounding along the Parade, I saw the ...
Andy Christiansen, one half of the experimental rock-pop duo TRiPS, shares the tunes inspiring the band’s perfect weekend and new release. “Good speakers, good food, good music, no distractions”: that’s all you need to enjoy the psychedelic stylings of TRiPS, a new band formed by Fly My Pretties’ Barnaby Weir ...
Celebrating our quadrennial opportunity to become experts in a bunch of sports we never normally watch.The games of the XXXIII Olympiad are upon us. Paris will host this year’s showcase of sporting and athletic prowess, which means some late-night and early-morning viewing for us in Aotearoa.But what sports ...
The photograph is striking and beautiful, but also disturbing – a reminder that my love for John was often entangled in shame.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.In the spring of 1980, in Dunedin, shortly before his death, someone took a photograph ...
Get to know Babushka, our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Babu’s humans, Jo and Isabel, for their support. Dog name: Babushka (Babu for short) Age: 2Breed: Border Collie X poodleIf rescued, ...
Pacific Media Watch A Lebanese photojournalist who was severely wounded during an Israeli air strike in south Lebanon carried the Olympic torch in Paris this week in honour of her peers who have been wounded and killed in the field — especially in Gaza and Lebanon. Christina Assi of Agence ...
The first report in a five-part web series focused on the 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women taking place in the Marshall Islands this week.SPECIAL REPORT:By Netani Rika in Majuro Women continue to fight for justice 70 years after the first nuclear tests by the United States caused ...
Christopher Luxon has joined with Australia and Canada's leaders in voicing support for US President Joe Biden's ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The 2022 election brought the “teal wave” into parliament. The next election will test whether teals, who occupy what were Liberal seats, and other independents can maintain their momentum. Joining us on the Podcast ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Musgrave, Senior lecturer in Pharmacology, University of Adelaide Pixavri/Shutterstock A major Federal Court class action has been dismissed this week after Justice Michael Lee ruled there was not enough evidence to prove the weedkiller Roundup causes cancer. Plaintiff Kelvin ...
In The Week in Politics: politicians have to decide what to do about child abuse, Health NZ is booked in for major surgery and Darleen Tana returns. ...
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In the regulatory review, ECC intends to suggest that ERO focus on curriculum delivery reviews rather than the Ministry, because it’s not efficient or effective to have two agencies with radically different approaches climbing over each other. ...
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The government’s announcement that it will re-open the foreshore and seabed controversy by changing the rules on recognising centuries-old Māori customary title for a third time goes against the rule of law and New Zealand values,” Mr Tipa says. ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Lioness by Emily Perkins (Bloomsbury, $25) Roarrrr! Perkins’ brilliant, award-winning, Marian-Keyes anointed, darkly funny, long ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Australian National University The Middle East is on the brink of a possibly devastating regional war, with hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah reaching an extremely dangerous level. Washington has engaged in ...
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it is a wee bit confusing in the job market, – from a job vacancy ad on trademe jobs:
“We do not accept online applications if you wish to apply please email mxxxxxxd @ xxxx.net.nz.” (address edited for anonymity)
Poll on public attitudes to “brain fades”.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10880335
The breakdown by party support is interesting/amusing, with National Party supporters being the most “trusting” – or stupid, immoral, cognitively dissonant or whatever.
from Sunday on cycling;
two reporters left Te Atatu for TVNZ in the city, 13kms distance. With the motorist having to wait at the on-ramp for 20minutes and travel at approx 40km/h in traffic, find a park and walk the remainder, the cyclist arrived first travelling by cycle-way.
Aucklands transport problems according to Len Brown on Firstline require 60B investment, (under-investment for decades), with a 12B shortfall to be met by tolls, fuel tax proposals etc.
Although 600M could be invested in cycle-ways for Auckland, there would be a 20-1 long-term cost benefit according to cycle-safety specialist Glen Koorey.
from a cyclist-accident victim on the same article; “We have become such a mean-spirited nation…people used to say about Kiwis…” (encouraging things I imagine).
ghost
There was an interesting discussion on transport in the city on radionz soon after 9am today.
ahhh, missed it; what I haven’t missed are observations of the attitudes and emotions held by many motorists questioned by the media on their approach towards cyclists. freakin’ hicks.
Yup TPTB (the backers of them at least), can’t wait to get tolls on roads all over AKL.
Just look at the mess that the nothern tunnel toll road has become!
NZ has become a *mean spirited nation* – Thats the result of being used as an experiment!
It seems the whale and his followers have been involved in a stoush over a Facebook page aiming at generating discussion over the (non) merits of Charter Schools. Here’s the page owner’s take on it.
http://howmelulaterseesit.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/beware-bullies-who-dont-want-you-to.html?spref=fb
an interesting read at the link
And this is what they teach in charter schools. Can you imagine that child ever being employable if they keep on believing that bullshit?
plenty of Exclusive Brethren employers dotted all through-out New Zealand.
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Internet Blogger
The results of the Brain fade poll , reads as if the question asked was more like,
“Do you think John Key is a liar?”
That would explain the party split , nicely.
I recall somebody here , in the last week or so , saying their partner had been polled by Reids,
and one the questions was pretty much “do you think Key is a liar”
Reids wouldn’t change the question , after the poll result, would they? Na
Wouldn’t it be great if when publishing/referencing a poll the media had to supply the actual poll data, including the questions. Even better than that would be a declaration of whomever had commissioned the poll in the first place.
This was part of the standard TV3 Reid Research poll, so we know who commissioned it.
yes lanthanide, i should have added that the noted article did include the reference to it being a TV3 poll but as a general rule we both know the identity of those commissioning polls is largely anonymous.
Actually for the main political polling, it’s done by the newspapers or the TV networks or Roy Morgan.
Not sure why you’d want individual names for those polls.
Now for other polling, sure, we don’t necessarily know. But other polling doesn’t tend to be national-level political polls.
“I recall somebody here , in the last week or so , saying their partner had been polled by Reids,
and one the questions was pretty much “do you think Key is a liar””
That is what they said, but they came back and corrected that the question asked of their partner was the polling question we are shown.
So no conspiracy here, sorry.
Reids have done well to link Shearer with Keys’ lies.
The ambiguous question, helped in this regard . (that and Shearers memory)
Most ,surely would have answered that question ,with Key in mind.
That would explain party split
Would have been interesting if to know what angle the MSM would taken ,if Shearers’ memory hadn’t let him down.
The dishonest and irresponsible work of Andrew Wakefield has claimed a victim
Wales has had low Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) vaccination rates for some time … since about 1998, in fact, when Andrew Wakefield published his bogus study in the Lancet falsely linking the MMR vaccine to autism.
So what are you going to say when it comes out that the chronically sick 25 year old in question had already been immunised against measles?
By the way, according to the schedule the dead man should have been vaccinated years before the Wakefield study came out, as an infant, so I think its more likely that he had been immunised. Yet was so sick.
The dishonest and irresponsible work of Andrew Wakefield
hasmay have claimed a victim.has most likely claimed a victim
The point of vaccination is not just to protect yourself, but also to protect others.
How he contracted it in the first place is the real issue, not whether his particular jab didn’t work, or whether due to allergies he couldn’t get vaccinated, or whether his parents were nutty even before Wakefield’s fraud.
Bit of a climb down though innit joe, from has, to may! You get some credit, for the climb down, but its been sloppy from you lately, aer you ok?
No matter how hard McFlock tries to spin it, then pulls out the , * you should be guilty*, for not protecting others, what a legend you are McFlock /sarc!
What other illness did this unfortunate individual suffer from?
Article title:Measles Epidemic in Wales Has Roots in Antivax Movement.
Opening line of article: The measles outbreak in Wales may have claimed its first victim..
I never said “you should be guilty”.
I just think that people who refuse to vaccinate for no clear medical reason (e.g. egg allergy) are selfish idiots.
Population perspective: clear link.
Individual case perspective: who knows? There’s always the slim possibility he had some measles-like condition.
When attributing primary cause of mortality in individual cases there’s always oodles of theoretical wriggle room (from poor nutrition to undiagnosed heart problems), and you look set to use every inch of it. A bit like 50 years of tobacco industry wriggling – but then they were intentionally duplicitous, rather than wildly delusional, so I guess you’re not quite in their league.
Each year around Anzac Day, my electorate hosts a social event, the highlight of which is a lecture in memory of a popular former Labour MP who was killed in Crete in 1942. This year’s lecture was given by Nicky Hagar. The basis of the lecture was his latest book “Other People’s Wars”. It was gob-smacking stuff!
There were a number of former and even current senior military personnel – plus senior public servants – who were apparently only too willing to apprise Nicky of the behind the scenes activity particularly in relation to the war in Afghanistan. This was a measure of their profound concern for what they saw… and the blatant lies that we in New Zealand have been told about our involvement in that war. Politicians – on both sides of the fence and including Helen Clark – were tricked into believing we were there as peace keepers. The peace keeping played a role, but from all accounts it turned out not to be their primary function.
Add to that an over-all appraisal by Nicky about what he perceives is happening behind the political front, and I think there would be many here interested in what he had to say.
I know the lecture was recorded (sound-wise at least) and I think it might be possible for the Standard to seek to post that recording here. Labour MP, Phil Twyford would be the person to approach in the first instance, because he initiated the annual lectures and is still heavily involved.
Further to the above are two quotes from the book:
It would be nice for someone to pause and say, “Hell, we’re coming up to the 10th anniversary [Sept.11 attacks], are we better or are we worse?. I think the answer is we’re worse. How stupid are we to have allowed a reaction led by the United States that has actually made it worse for the world? – senior defence official.
People assume that politicians make decisions, but often they are busy, ill informed or actively excluded… The worst decisions were made by senior officials and military officers, often without [the ministers’] knowledge. – senior NZ government official.
Thanks, Anne. It is significant stuff, and I would be interested to see or read Hager’s latest lecture.
People assume that politicians make decisions, but often they are busy, ill informed or
excluded… The worst decisions were made by senior officials and military officers, often without [the ministers’] knowledge. – senior NZ government official.
I think that is a salient point Anne and I’ve repeated it for me and any others who have had naive ideas about politicians and what they are doing with their time and influence while in the House and having some power.
In the USA it may be that the control of the country has largely passed out of the hands of those elected representatives who take their role for the people seriously. Where there is money there is power, which does seem to be a correct saying, and the budget of the Defence there is astro-astronomical. Scary stuff for sincere democracy believers.
Eisenhowers departure speech warning of the dangers of the military industrial complex
I’d recommend anyone (everyone) read the book even though it is a big read.
It makes it pretty clear that senior defence people were determined to go against explicit government foreign policy (and directives) in order to preserve – or resurrect – their contact and ‘relationships’ with the US, UK and Australia. Ever since the nuclear ship ban and the suspension of ANZUS, parts of the defence leadership ran a de facto military foreign policy at odds with government policy, especially in the 2000s.
There’s a word for that, and when you need to apply it to the defence forces it is particularly concerning.
I am shocked that Hager’s book has received so little journalistic follow-through. There are stories in there that I would have thought any journalist worth their salt would have given an arm and a leg to have the opportunity to run with (if that isn’t mixing too many metaphors).
A bit of jealousy mixed with narrow, establishment thinking and a naive desire to be part of the American military scenario? Most of the MSM seem happy to go along with the authoritarian and anti-democratic flow if they think that is where their best interests may lie…
But it is heartening to know there were military and public service personnel who were willing to spill the beans in the interest of integrity and transparency.
“But it is heartening to know there were military and public service personnel who were willing to spill the beans in the interest of integrity and transparency.”
It certainly is – but no matter how heartening, I don’t think that’s the point. After all, the military went its own way despite the integrity of these people and their desire for transparency. The lack of ‘follow through’ reinforces that fact.
As with so many issues, the point is not about individuals and their motives (for good or ill). It’s about structures and institutional processes that bias against (or for) certain kinds of behaviours and, therefore, in favour of certain kinds of people with certain kinds of views.
The historical interweaving of the NZ military with the UK and then US military (training, experience under command, etc.) I imagine meant (and still means) that those with pro-UK/US leanings will have formed the useful overseas connections and ‘upward’ connections within the already established hierarchy that ensure they rise through the ranks and assume positions of power.
That process is common to all institutions – those who align themselves with powerful interests within and around the ‘system’ do better in the ‘system’. It’s Chomsky and Hermann’s point about the media and who ends up being an editor – the very people who agree with the direction.
The older I get the more I think that the interesting questions are hardly ever about motives, character, personal integrity, etc.. They are about the uses that structures make of people.
You have hit the nail, on the head!
Structure exists to ensure a couple of things, primarily:
1: Control
2: To ensure that the structure which are necessary to support society, and humanity’s best social interests, remain broken!
To what end!
I’d love to hear the speech on audio or video.
Tried to go to the speech but it was sold out days early. I think you’ll find there is a keen interest for independent voices like Nicky Hager and, if it’s possible, maybe book a larger venue next time.
Thank for your efforts Anne in getting people like Nicky H to speak.
Thanks Paul. The effort was really put in by others including Phil Twyford. Yes, we are going to have to find a bigger venue. We have been fortunate thus far in attracting excellent speakers and the word has got around. So much so, people who are not associated with the Labour Party also want to attend. I think the recording was audio only but still well worth listening to. I will try and contact Phil Twyford and see if it’s possible to have it posted here.
See Anne at 9 above concerning Nicky Hager’s speech.
Message for Paul, karol, prism, Puddleglum, muzza and anyone else who is interested:
Phil Twyford will be posting the Hagar lecture on Red Alert as soon as he’s received it. Will keep you posted.
Mark Steel on the demonisation of the poor and the dickensian meanness of neoliberalism plus an extra on the french revolution.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5kcOpzwl48
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_O2tI3X6tg
On the present submission time for a constitution. First Chris Trotter makes important points.
http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/not-debating-constitution.html
Also from he Sunday Star Times
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8605428/Talking-about-a-New-Zealand-constitution
You should have a look at their poll and see what you think about it. It seems to be quite balanced and requires a bit of thought. They have a space for 130 words about your ideas for NZ which they may tweet.
I went to a meeting in the weekend hosted by a Nelson group. My feelings are that the appointed commissioners seem to be standing aside and leaving the bringing information and discussion to each region which has to find people with something to say and who can project their ideas. The visiting commissioners seem more like window dressing, and there does not seem to be a plan for a tour of the country by informative speakers, the appointees just attend the arranged meeting and give a quick run down of their instructions. Then at our meeting the speakers were invited to make their individual points.
There was a speaker from the country’s numerous old, white anti-Maori bigots, who also were a vocal group in the audience. Overturning agreements already reached, limiting the Treaty to a historical document with narrow meanings, and overturning decisions made already by eminent people in favour of Maori seemed to be their unswerving and bigoted goal. There was the usual white patronising and demeaning attitude to Maori heard from such people, mainly white-haired and probably old age beneficiaries, and I am one of this age so I can be reasonably objective. (Their thinking at base being – Maori are undeserving, they haven’t a case for consideration of their rights and wrongs, and that the decisions made by eminent people in favour of Maori stand for nothing)
Unfortunately for me, the bigot was the second speaker not the last. The first was a criminal lawyer who does good work and is aware of the need of the law to serve the citizens, poor and rich, and I am asking for the right to be able to access his submission paper for The Standard readers. (I now have that okay but have to speak to my advisor on how to go about putting it up tonight.)
But when the second speaker began and started with what to me is poisonous, backward diatribe that would have an acidic effect on good relations between Maori and pakeha and our moves forward to a better future, I had to leave. This man Bruce Moon was a co-author with John Robinson, David Round, Mike Butler, Hugh Barr, Peter Cresswell of a book called Twisting the Treaty – A Tribal Grap for Wealth and Power with a related web page headed Treatygate – The Conning of a Country which pitches it against one called Healing our History by Robert and Joanna Consedine. The large number of biased authors writing for the Twisting book make for a whiteout on the subject, one whole page of google is taken up with headings from their individual comments and initiatives.
Some people who are focussed on one approach with a tunnel vision that pours all their energy on their chosen mission, are a horrible obstacle to gathering wide information and take up the precious time set aside for that purpose. I had better things to do. But I want to see healthy discussion on a good constitution. I don’t trust National to do anything good, they are increasingly adopting fascist, and anti-democratic policies.
There is an academic Dr Paul Moon at AUT so don’t confuse the two. This link has something about him.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/auckland-city-harbour-news/8382933/Key-bits-of-history
‘neonicotinoids’ may yet Bee banned’
so much for “SuperGrans” to the rescue…
and don’t expect the Army to be able to afford picking up the pieces
My point that NZ government doesn’t care about families much and won’t support them is backed up by the Super Grans business. These people in power are self absorbed social climbers and wealthy isolated types. They could care about a fine racehorse with good breeding but ordinary people – no.
And budget advisory, that would admit there is a necessity, a demand for this, and in a climate where people have to apply for five jobs a day in a recession well there is a certain coherence if they just keep on denying reality.
Thoughts and prayers to Parekura Horomia and his whanau.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10880438
Yes. Best wishes to Parekura and his whanau and friends.
Na, kia noho te Atua o te rangimarie ki a koutou katoa, Amene.
Following on from some comments concerning the state of private aged care in NZ the other day, this article from ‘The Independent’ on the unfolding crisis in England, Wales and Northern Ireland might be of interest to some – particularly if there are jots to be joined or comparisons made with any debt burden among NZ’s private providers.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-5bn-care-home-crisis-that-is-seeing-record-numbers-of-providers-close-their-doors-8591849.html
“part of a wider collapse in social care driven by spending cuts”. (sound familiar)
“solving the inevitably rocketing (fixed) costs of social care for the elderly and disabled is an issue expected to dog governments for decades to come”. (energy, food, wages, oh wait Ryman et al; will be able to pay lower wages).
Well, NZ Government is already working on the Euthanasia bill…… it will be introduced under the umbrella that there is too much suffering. Watch this space.
Canadian foreign minister John Baird is now a human rights champion!
April 29, 2013
Liberals and human rights activists will welcome the news that the formerly hard right Canadian foreign minister John Baird has made a spectacular and sudden conversion to being a champion of human rights.
After a Canadian friend of mine yesterday damned Mr Baird as “a disgusting piece of sh!t”, and urged me to “Google the useless f+ck” I decided to follow his advice and do a little bit of research on him. What I have found tends to reinforce my friend’s observation.
John Baird has developed a reputation as an hysterical opponent of the Kyoto Protocols, and he has been roundly denounced by virtually everybody who has come into contact with him. After observing Baird’s irresponsible conservation policies, Al Gore called them “a complete and total fraud” and accused him of trying to “mislead the Canadian people”. Baird’s conservation policies have been damned by David Suzuki as a “sham”. Activists at the Cancun climate conference in 2010 were scathing of his environmental policies and awarded Canada three “Fossil” awards for disrupting and undermining U.N. climate talks.
When he is not trashing the environment, John Baird likes to hang out with soldiers. He spent Christmas 2006 in Afghanistan with Canadian occupation troops.
Baird is an aggressive and shameless supporter of the Likud party in Israel, and last year he made a widely condemned statement that Iran was “the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today.”
Oh! There is one person who thinks that Baird is all right. He has been praised for his “bold leadership” by THIS fellow….
http://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/netanyahu-bomb-un.jpg
But all this has changed suddenly! John Baird has now joined the struggle for human rights!
Read the following and cheer….
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22322999
In terms of guise and process alone and mark it, not personal at all, shades of last appointment of Race Relations Commissioner ?
RIP Parekura Horomia.
RIP.
Wow. He was a really cool guy. The nats gave him a hard time because he did not accord to their concepts of a parliamentarian but he was a very gracious person. On a marae he could not be matched and when talking to kiwis his ability to relate to them was phenomenal.
I had the pleasure of being at the Avondale Markets with him campaigning and I can honestly say that he was without his peers. Even though he was 400 kilometers from home it seemed he knew half the people. I was really, really impressed with his ability to relate to ordinary kiwis.
Best wishes to his whanau.
Labour MP and former Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia has died from health complications at his home in Tolaga Bay.
The 62-year-old, who is survived by three sons and one grandchild, was surrounded by family, friends and Parliamentary colleagues when he passed away a short time ago.
His condition deteriorated rapidly since his health problems were made public this morning.
The cause of his death has not been confirmed and his family has requested privacy.
Read more: Labour MP Parekura Horomia dies, age 62 – Story – Politics – 3 News http://www.3news.co.nz/Labour-MP-Parekura-Horomia-dies-age-62/tabid/1607/articleID/295933/Default.aspx#ixzz2RpOsKktE
Very sad. A good man with a big heart.
A very sad loss. May he rest in peace.
RIP Parekura. Few would have a bad word to say about him. Shocking news.
Meanwhile, this piece of sh*t works for Auckland radio stations. I’ll be writing to them telling them what I think, and why I’ll be boycotting them and their ads – you may want to as well …
https://twitter.com/rikdog72/status/328746848175153152
Speaking of wankers, the wankers at David Farrar’s troll farm are comparing him to Thatcher.
Who is rikdog?
So sad to read of the passing of Parekura Horomia. R.I.P
Jim Mora poses the Ironic Question of the Month
The Panel, Radio NZ National, Monday 29 April 2013
Jim Mora, Jonathan Krebs, Tim Watkin
Today, due to unforeseen circumstances, host Jim Mora found himself in the position of having ten minutes at the end of the program to fill up somehow. Being an experienced and competent operator, this was no problem for him. “We have a spare ten minutes,” he told his two guests, “so we’ll just have a chat about various issues that have come up lately.”
First up, he read out an exceptionally foolish statement by an English chemical analysis, who after she had debunked the false claims that Syria has used chemical weapons, had gone on to claim that even if the “evidence” was entirely false, the “rebels” had done it because they were “desperate”.
The Panelists, including Mora, actually did a good job here, discussing the Syrian question with intelligence and a degree of responsibility—thank God that Panel regulars Dr Michael Bassett or Barry Corbett or Garth “Gaga” George were not on today—and mentioned that the “rebels” were largely Al Qaeda terrorists.
Then, in a deadly serious tone, Jim Mora asked the following question: “Is there a tendency in our society for people to voice their opinion on subjects that they know nothing about?”
To their credit, both Jonathan Krebs and Tim Watkin stifled the guffaws and pretended to ignore the screaming irony of that screamingly funny question.
DISCUSS:
Is Jim Mora the world’s most brilliant deadpan comic? Or did he simply forget, for a brief time this afternoon, that the guest Panelists on his show have included such Ignorami for the Ages as John Barnett, Graham Bell, Barry Corbett, Garth “Gaga” George, Denise L’Estrange-Corbet, Nevil “Breivik” Gibson, Claudette Hauiti, and Jordan Williams?
Here it is, one more time. Enjoy…
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“Is there a tendency in our society for people to voice their opinion on subjects that they know nothing about?”
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Hah1. The ‘voice of the people’, the everyman’s best, bester, bestest EVER friend Jum’, the wordsmuth, the intellect…… it’s just so overwhelming.
Save yourself the stress Morissey. Best policy is to just ignore the gittus.
I had some conversation with the guy a few years ago. Back then he promised how he was going to rejuvinate things.
Instead ….. same old shit, same old hacks, same old yearning to be liked, same old kaka to be perceived as the voice of reason…..
(Same shit – different stink).
Not sure why the Slacks et al bother these days – perhaps they just like the same brand of CHardonnay.
IF RNZ ever consider its time for a shapkeup – it’s be Mora in the afternoon, closely followed by Kethluk Guuuuurl in the mourn
Yes Tim I agree. The Mora Borer Show has become almost unlistenable. Coast, Breeze, whatever, at least they deliver what they promise. Often in my car 4-5 pm weekdays. As a consciously careful and attentive driver over the 33 km to home Radio Live and other talkback is just too dangerous. Mora seemed the safe bet.
Unfortunately it’s now just Aunty Affable and his unconscionable gushing over a series of wankers (in the main) who fancy themselves “celebs”. Thus emboldening them in the ignorant mouthing off of which Morrissey complains. I think the name’s Chris Wikaira, an aggressive wahanui on everything who brews yuppie fucking beer for God’s Sake. He’s one of the worst. If that’s not him I apologise to the less offensive Chris Wikaira. Not to overlook Mrs Brassy Voyeur Private Investigator………forget her name, Julia double barrelled something. David Slack is one of the few exceptions. He’s genuinely wry as well.
Helpful redirection would be appreciated.
I think the obnoxious brewer you are thinking of is actually Neil Miller. Your concerns about him are entirely justified.
Chris Wikaira is a National Party-sympathizing dope that manages to say nothing serious or interesting whenever he is on the programme. Last time he was on, his Soapbox contribution consisted of a rant about what he reckons is the poor quality of contributions to the Minecraft discussion boards.
That horrible P.I. is Julia Hartley-Moore.
Indeed North.
Publicly funded radio fulfills a very important role in our society, but “Afternoons with Jim Mora” always leaves me wondering why we’re publicly funding what is essentially talkback radio.
Respects for Parekura Horomia.
The five year old whom the pakeha school bus passed on by. Surprisingly, never bitter. Lovely man living magnificent wairua.
In brief answer to Morrissey: yes, ugly mouthing is not merely a tendency, it is positively encouraged. It’s in the nature of an opiate for dullards, their spittle then harnessed by unscrupulous self-promoters and careerists.
Haere ra Parekura Horomia, takoto mai, e koro.
man, this Auckland Transport problem is gonna cost; “a multi-billion dollar shortfall”
-tolls
-fuel tax
-rates rises
-possible public transport tax
-congestion tax
(any 2 or more of the above)
“even this is not a silver bullet”- Simon Lambourne.
The Christchurch rebuild needs 17000 more workers before 18 months time passes.
Heard Joyce talking of the need for flexibility from “officials” and “immigration” in the same sentence.
more migrant workers will be required.
Apparently, there is no guarantee of the entire “private investment” counted on by the government for Christchurch.
Brian Easton will have a few words to say on the austerity program in the economy on radionz between 8.30 and 9 I think.
No Combrendo, still, aye, Standardistas?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jppkff5mk34
Anyway – Those that may bother to get out of their little spaces, and away from blogs and PC or laptop screens:
01 May 2013:
Labour Action against the owners of Pak’n Save supermarket, at Royal Oak, Manukau Road, Auckland (just near the roundabout), due to decision by that employer to introduce and accept the new youth wage rate at about $ 11 per hour, below the minimum wage of $ 13 something, close to $ 14, as it applies to adults! Also are there other employment issues of staff employed there, First Union have more info. AAAP and others are preparing to take action and present a picket there.
As far as I know they used to have a collective agreement, but only on that site, and it appears to be under threat.
I encourage all in the area to join and support the workers at that supermarket, especially the youth ones, 16 to 19. They are in award negotiations and need all support. Also consider doing your shopping somewhere else, at least for a time, until they have come to the party to pay staff what they deserve.
The minimum wage, also there paid to largely migrant workers, is not sufficient to survive on, and it is an insult as it is. A living wage would be better, but we are fighting to simply even defend the minimum legal wage for those that will likely be short changed!
Also on 01 May 2013:
Joe Carolan communicated that due to a breakdown in negotiations with Mc Donald’s, there will be a 01 May picket outside McDonald’s in Queen Street at 03:30 pm on Mayday.
If any have questions about Mayday, perhaps do a search, look up Wikipedia or else, it has tradition with workers being shot and killed in Chicago some many years ago, for standing up for their worker’s rights, but Mayday is a celebrated Worker’s Day in many countries, in Europe, some countries in Asia, and for some here in Aotearoa NZ.
Labour Day is another affair, but some of us think that Mayday is the day to stand up, take a stand, join others and make a point. So a couple of pickets at mentioned venues will serve the purpose to a degree, and all are asked and invited to join!
Thank you.
The action at Pak’ Save Royal Oak, Auckland is planned for 08:30 am on Wednesday (“benefit day” for the unemployed), 01 May 2013 – MAYDAY!
Unemployed be mindful, a new, harsh, draconian regime for yours and other beneficiaries will start 15 July this year, due to law changes, so be prepared. Also sick and disabled, the onslaught and harassment will hit you and force you to look for work, so show solidarity thanks!