Defense, like lor’in’orda is a National party shibboleth. And they have failed to deliver. Worse they are planning to shrink it further.
Couple of quick questions…
* is the world in 2011 any safer than before, can we afford to let our gaurd down and be at the mercy of whoever decides to rip off our fisheries, threaten trade routes, attack our strategic partners and interests?
* is it right that we are allowing the private sector to take over key defense roles as opposed to keepig all military related activities independent? Will the corporations and mercenaries end up being the front line as has happened in Iraq with the US military?
The silence on this issue from the left is deafening.
The privatisation of the defence forces is disquieting for a host of reasons. So is Labour’s acquiescence. They have stated they are happy with basic concept of ‘civilianization’.
Vto, the McGillicuddies have been practicising with flour bombs since the 1970s, and furthermore have always been ‘civilianized’ – they also offered the cheapest defence policy. Clearly someone in the National Party has been reading their manifestos…
Putting on my right wing hat, I’d be very pissed off with that. Saving a couple dozen $K on civilianising a few hundred defence force personal’s positions sounds like very lefty government ideals gone mad…
But in this case case, this is the Nats + crew doing the cutting. Personally I think it’s better for our fighting forces to also have capable soldiers defending themselves and building infrastructure is just as important as the frontlines.
Saving a couple dozen $K on civilianising a few hundred defence force personal’s positions sounds like very lefty government ideals gone mad…
You clearly don’t know Left from Right very much. Firing Defence Force personal has nothing to do with Left ideals of community, socialism or direct employment. Quite the opposite.
The last 20 years is educational about defence. During the 1990s, despite how much the RWNJs seem to have a fetish for guns, National ran down the defence forces. Over the 2000s the Left leaning government began to built them up and now we have a National led government, again against their apparent desire to get in to wars and be a credible force, cutting them to the bare bones. This time though it also comes with guaranteed, no risk profits for their rich mates.
Defence is a core government service that also strategic information that you don’t want others to know, ergo, you should never contract any of it out.
I’m just saying, if it was Labour and co doing the cutting the right wingers would be crying blue murder and treason etc. I’m just trying to illustrate the hypocrisy.
I’m never going to marry you, quit the hints, your too limp and unimportant for my liking, you have no true courage, your not manly enough for me, you are sly, sloppy and second-rate and you ALWAYS take the easy way out- cheating, and lying.
You call yourself a wolf; please you are more like a sewer rat.
Bored, the National “Once Were Farmers”, “Once Were Conservatives”, “Once Were Small Businessmen” Party is now just a barely disguised and barely held back implementation group for economic neoliberals and corporate interests.
Anything which can degrade the nations sovereign strength and let them cut even more taxes for the rich boys is welcome by this bunch.
I was just saying to someone yesterday (echoing remarks by DTB), that we should have the local ability to make AK 101’s (or AK 103’s), ammunition and high explosives for our armed forces here in NZ. Relying on fragile Steyrs and imported parts from across the world is stupid in a time of peak oil and supply chain fragilities.
New Zealand needs to build up its local military, home and coastal defence capabilities, not strip it back.
I thought it was sad how that guy that developed lightweight diesel powered helicopter drones (24hr flight time) was bought out and jailed for hiding his Intellectual Property.
Shame our government didn’t capitalise on that kind of technology, could have really helped to give us kiwi-underdogs the edge.
No doubt it was illegal to withold the IP if that was part of the deal, I’m just pointing out that there was some serious potential in the product and tech which could have helped us, and it’s potential was ignored and wasted by our government. Simply yet another tech opportunity wasted and lost AFAIC.
“The silence on this issue from the left is deafening.”
Of for Flying Spaghetti Monster’s sakes – the government is making hundreds redundant throughout the civil sector on an almost daily basis!! It’s frickin’ hard to keep up with the next batch of sackings.
How about the Right taking Personal Responsibility in this matter? It’s right wing/National supporters who voted in this government – you guys deal with it. Why the feck do you expect the left to continually address policies that this government implements, and then some rightwingers happen to take exception to???
The Right claim ‘Personal Responsibility’ as one of their most basic tenets.
I see precious little of any National supporter taking personal responsibility for their government’s behaviour, thus far.
And a third question… how on earth did a trade trip turn into one that increased defence ties with India, including a defence advisor being located there at the same time as jobs are being lost in the military here? I’ve not seen any news about this pact (outside of the Stuff news item ). Nothing here about how, what, where this relationship will operate. It all seems a bit strange to me.
So first the government changed employment law to accommodate Warner Bros.
Then it bowed to Auckland Casino.
And most lately scraped to the insurance companies to protect them from public outrage over cover for Christchurch customers.
Last night on Campbell live the spokeperson for AMI excused insurance companies not doing the morally right thing on the grounds that it would cost money.
So only repairs get paid for on houses in red zones. And then the houses get demolished. The government pays GV, ie insurance companies get off the hook. Which means (among other anomalies) that uninsured Christchurch residents who will receive nothing from either the government nor insurance companies are going to be making a financial contribution to those who were insured…or more accurately, subsidising the insurance companies along with every other tax payer in NZ.
If the government hadn’t essentially bailed the insurance industry, public opinion may well have forced the insurance industry to ‘come to the party’ and either pay replacement value for badly damaged homes regardless of where rebuilding was located or pay for repairs of an order that would avoid land remediation (deep piles sunk to bed rock etc).
I made a comment last week to the effect that the government should compulsorily purchase land to the west of the city and that that land should be treated (for insurance purposes etc) as though it was the original land in the east.
But then, that would have put people’s needs first, cost us all a lot less money and placed insurance companies balance sheets second in the scheme of things.
What is this lot in government doing?
Hmm, not good.
Power in their hands
is not being used with integrity,
fairness and for overall benefit of the many.
How this lot is going about with overseas trade
can give rise to some foreboding.
With a sleight of their hands,
New Zealand’s free trade with other countries
can end up with us being handed over as free gift.
When the AMI chap was asked if the Replacement Insurance issue had been discussed when negotiating with Government, he looked uncomfortable and said that there had been discussions about many aspects, or words to that effect. It suggests that Mr Brownlie knew well what was about to happen but that presumably could not get in the way of Mr Key’s “good” news could it.
(At least the AMI chap fronted.)
I’m amazed to hear that its going to take as long as 6-8 weeks before households start receiving their offer letters from the Government’s deal. Everything is moving so sloooooowwwwly.
Its like its all being improvised on the spot and things which have been announced haven’t actually been thought through or back office systems actually set up to support them (you know, all those useless unproductive bureaucrats).
Christchurch is going to lose National the election. Chickens and roosts haven’t quite hit home time yet though.
It’s really like choosing one pig out of the same crowded shit filled sty. That’s what they call free choice I guess. Sorry I know that’s not much help.
The Government would not want publicity about, and comparisons drawn, regarding the dangers of ACC being privatised and run entirely according to the insurance model (and it’s not far from operating in that mode now). This is exactly what they do. Move heaven and earth to avoid paying out on large and/or longterm liabilities.
Most people’s impression of the reliablility of their insurer (or ACC) comes from their experiences with their less serious and costly claims. Most people never experience dealing with an insurer in the case of catastrophe and hence the dirty tricks they will employ to cheat claimants.
It’s how they make their owners all those glorious profits.
Question. If I had replacement insurance and my house went on fire but was deemed repairable, then insurance would pay repairs. But what if gales three days later were sufficient to knock over the remaining weakened structure? Surely full replacement kicks in.
So what’s the difference between a government mandated bulldozer knocking over weakened structures and a strong wind, second fire or an after shock?
I’m astounded that government is aiding and abetting insurance companies to shirk their responsibilities. No I’m not. I’m sickened and angry.
Again. They could/should have purchased land to the west and passed a law mandating the transfer of insurance policies from land lot ‘a’ to land lot ‘b’. Compulsory purchases are used for roading projects. Why not in the case of housing ‘half’ a city? Surely cheaper than paying GV on eastern properties?
For those who wished to stay on in the east, insurance companies should have been made to pay for effective repairs….including deep piles etc. Where infrastructure was not going to be repaired and replaced, then council insurance payouts should have put towards the installation of quake resistant septic tanks and water tanks.
The trouble is the overseas reinsurers (who are faceless) are the ones saying to NZ insurance companies that they only have to repair unless a total right off; condition of reinsurance. A lot of money is being made off shore by little NZ.
Anyone considered the numerous TV (and internet ads) suggesting we change power companies?
Presumably the government is paying for these, but why? Aren’t we supposed to be looking for savings?
I did the whole powerswitch.org.nz thing a few years back, and following the ads decided to revisit – guess what, the results were the same.
Am I being paranoid in thinking there may be some ulterior motive, fiddling the inflation figures, downscaling the business of certain power companies?
I work in the electric power industry (for a meter reading company) and I tell you the one thing that keeps power prices up is the extensive ticket clipping and duplication throughout the industry. Everything is split up and contracted and subcontracted to point where people don’t know which company does what tasks in what area, and it is quite common for a work order to pass through 2 or 3 different companies before it even gets to someone that does it.
Yeah I went and had a look and wow I can save 150 a year for that I probably have to screw around signing odd bits of paper for direct debit permissions and all the other bull shit. But i’ll stick with who I am with. Because I dont want to have to hassle around every week, or when ever, just to save 3 bucks a week. and they have done nothing to warrant me changing anyway, and their call center is in NZ.
The same company came out as the cheapest – maybe lots of people didn’t know about this, but in a climate where ‘mum and dad investors’ might be interested in buy state assets it seems a strange coincidence for a govt to go messing with peoples power choices.
This line is bs “Cathy Odgers is expected to address one of Act’s weaknesses, its appeal to women and especially to young women.”
What was Heather Roy, an old male? Say what you want about Heather, she’s been pretty effective in her areas and she’s not unappealing to women…at least the women I know across a range of political beliefs seem to rate her. Hard to see how ‘Kate’ will be more appealing…
Yeah thats NACT spin. You don’t replace a known MP who has good name recognition and broad appeal (well, for an ACT MP anyways) with someone known only in highly politicised circles. Unless you have to.
WIMP-WALLOPING: Williams and Ralston vs. Pagani, 28.6.11
The Huddle, NewstalkZB, Tuesday 28 June 2011, 5.40 p.m.
Today’s Huddle is: Larry Williams, Bill Ralston, John Pagani.
This programme is nothing less than a travesty of broadcasting. It’s never any good, but nevertheless it’s quite interesting as an example of how voices of the right (actually, the extreme right) capture and dominate a discussion unless they are forthrightly challenged or resisted. It ostensibly aims to pit a right winger against a left winger to comment on issues in the news. Of course, it’s always two against one, as host Larry Williams is rabidly and bitterly right wing, and candidly pro-government in all his views. Williams habitually interrupts and scoffs at the liberal guest, and lets the right winger talk all over the left winger and butt in at will.
The right wingers are the usual suspects: Bill Ralston, his ghastly wife Janet Wilson, the superficially jolly but deeply racist and reactionary Jock Anderson, David Farrar, Michele Boag, Ellen Read. Until his death on September 22nd last year, perhaps the most obnoxious wimp-walloper of all was the notoriously rude and intolerant Graeme Hunt (RIP). But all of these people have the same modus operandi—none of them ever concedes a point, and they are encouraged and supported unconditionally by Williams.
Sadly, on “The Huddle”, as on so many other radio programmes, the appointed “left” voice is usually a patsy, playing pretty much the same role as the Washington Generals to the Harlem Globetrotters. Three of the regular patsies are Matt Nippert, John Pagani and Tim Watkin. It’s not that Nippert, Pagani or Watkin are incapable; every one of them is far more intelligent and better informed than any of the people named above, but they all lack one indispensable quality: courage. None of them ever challenges his opponents forthrightly. They are polite and good-humored to a fault; they make good strong points and then let Williams or the other guest snort in derision and make a disparaging, dismissive comment.
Anyway, let’s see how they walloped the wimp on Tuesday 28 June…
LARRY WILLIAMS: All right, first issue is Alisdair Thompson. What’s gonna happen to him? Why is it taking so long?
JOHN PAGANI: He’s got the lawyers in to plead his case. This is rank hypocrisy, because he is totally opposed to workers having the right to use lawyers in employment disputes.
WILLIAMS: [impatiently] Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Bill, what do you think?
BILL RALSTON: We’re seeing this lynch mob come out as they did for Paul Holmes and Paul Henry! It’s a liberal left lynch mob!
WILLIAMS: Yeah!
PAGANI: I take a bit of issue with the lynch-mob comment. He made those comments and—
RALSTON: [brusquely] Oh come on, John! The guy was set up by the liberal left lynch mob!
WILLIAMS: Mmmmm. Yeah!
RALSTON: The guy had no media skills! It was a liberal lynch mob!
WILLIAMS: Mmmmm, yeah. You’re right. Back in a minute, it’s 15 to 6.
——-ADVERTISEMENTS——-
WILLIAMS: We’re back with The Huddle. Issue number two: Vote For Change. Bob Harvey’s changed his mind on MMP, Bill!
RALSTON: It’s a discussion we need to have!
PAGANI: They don’t do themselves much favor, this anti-MMP mob. It’s a very secretive organization, it’s closed and non-democratic. There’s an excellent analysis of them on Tim Watkin’s Pundit site toda—
RALSTON: Arrrrggghh! Watkin’s a left-winger, and his views are biased! He has no credibility!
WILLIAMS: Yeah. All right, issue number three: Ian Wishart’s book about the Kahui twins.
RALSTON: I have no time for Ian Wishart. He’s not an investigative journalist.
—————————-
I remember a neighbour telling me in 1996 that Ralston was a “good left-wing man”, and even back then, I told her to look closer… the rot set in when he left his wife for Janet, then he turned against solo mothers (such as his ex-wife) with a vengeance. Then he extended that to all beneficiaries…
So, Ralston really is the Right-Wing Tosser I always thought him to be !
Like most reasonably discerning people, I make a habit of avoiding Commercial Radio if I can. But back in the early 90s, I’d occassionally listen to Ralston on 2ZB. Richard Griffin was a frequent guest on the programme. Both appeared at the time to have a basic default-setting of banal National Party apologetics.
Over recent years, I’ve only come across Ralston via his dreary, turgid weekly column in the Listener (pure filler material). Good to have my initial instincts all those years ago confirmed. Presumably his “ghastly wife” 🙂 🙂 🙂 Janet Wilson is also a Nactie ? Can’t say I could ever discern her personal politics from her TV current affairs days, but I have to admit her personality always irritated me a little (always preferred ‘Black Janet’ to “White Janet’).
That the authorities had no plan to deal with the aftermath of an earthquake disaster striking one of New Zealand’s main cities. Bloody useless. The bureacrats should be sued. Or at least placed in the stocks for public ridicule and tomato throwing.
Will be tough to execute your suggestion.
NZ has been kissing goodbye to bureaucrats. From being capped to being zapped.
They are not frontline but backroom operators – remember this government making a song and dance about efficiencies and other rhetorical claptrap?
Do you think it’s right for the far left to [deleted]
[lprent: *sigh* If you want to use something like that – then link to it and explain its relevance. Otherwise I just consider it to be diversion trolling. Next time I see you do it, you’ll get an educative holiday. ]
[lprent: Moved to OpenMike as it appears to be a different topic to that of the post it was on. ]
Be keen to see Cactus Kate ‘honestly’ defend her perfect candidacy, especially to Brash’s Exclusive Brethen mates, when she openly boasts to…
– extra marital relations with men(tick)
– weakness for hot male groupies (tick)
– has made a career out of assisting others give less money to governments to waste (tick)
– admitted recreational drug use (tick)
– likes champagne (tick)
– random bouts of tourettes (tick)
– a late night partying record equal to Winston Peters (tick).
– honest about all of the above (tick)
Use your brain lprent. Zetetic says that the comments of one act person are indicative of the misogyny of the far right. If that is true then the comments of bomber towards cactus are indicative of the misogyny and hate of the far left. Bomber’s stupid comment comparing Cactus to Graham Capill are in that vein. But you won’t find it in a link to bomber’s site because bomber deleted it, there are still comments that refer to it. Bomber also tweeted it. You can see screenshots of it here http://asianinvasion2006.blogspot.com/2011/06/new-quotes-of-day-bomber-in-gutter.html
So what’s the relevance lprent? If it is good enough to say that the stupid comments of one indicate the hatred of the right, then it’s equally valid to say that the stupid comments of one on the left indicate the hatred of the left.
[lprent: Then as I said – do the simple thing and link to it explaining why you think it is significant. Then readers can go, look and make up their own mind.
Otherwise what we see is just you spinning your own interpolation on whatever it is without relating it to the post (which you tried to do this time – but didn’t address the post at all). Your interpretations are notably quite suspect (to be precise they look like diversion trolling).
I have bumped this to OpenMike as it appears to be severely off topic
BTW: If I have to say the same thing again I’ll reduce my workload. ]
Do you think someone who admittedly swears like a trooper, uses illegal drugs, parties hard with male groupies and sleeps with other peoples husbands who she’s probably helped dodge taxes and boasts about it online is a good candidate for ACT.
…and really, blowing shit up off throwaway lines from twitter. Is that all she’s got ?
I think the comments made by Act’s Peter McCaffrey on the Act Party website trying to justify Cameron Browne’s “get raped” insult is indicative of the far right’s misogyny.
“The rot and decay at the heart of the global financial system is deepening and extending. This is the conclusion to emerge from the annual report of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) released on Sunday.
The BIS, sometimes referred to as the central bankers’ bank, was one of the few institutions that pointed to the dangerous imbalances in the global financial system that led to the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008. Three years on its annual report gives clear indications that another financial crisis is in the making.”
When the arch-capitalist bankers of the world get this twitchy, though, we can be assured they are planning their next move, whatever that may be (and its not just recommending reducing government debt and spending etc. etc.).
ACT on Campus Auckland vice-president Cameron Wayne Browne recently told somebody to “get raped.” Apparently he was having a heated debate on Facebook when he made the unacceptable comment. Being that rape is not acceptable under any circumstances, using such a chauvinistic remark is disgusting! The use of such derogatory language shows a lack of debating skill, not to mention a level of stupidity as thick as a short plank…
A few reflections, after returning from a visit to relatives in Sydney: firstly, you run into kiwis whichever way you turn; working, eating kebabs at the market, celebrating their birthdays at the pub, etc. Secondly, despite the political dialogue, which I shall get to shortly, an ordinary level of wellbeing is still pretty widespread, and not a reason for self-congratulation – being able to pay your bills, solve your problems and go out with your mates on Friday night is the default rather than the aspiration.
Political statements and current affairs shows are eerie in that the are virtually identical to those in NZ, but peppered with local examples. For instance, Joe Hockey promises tax cuts for “struggling Aussies” to be paid for by cutting down on the “bloated public service,” whose numbers were allegedly inflated by Julia Gillard. Instead of a boxer getting the sickness benefit for tennis elbow while training for a match, we were treated to a woman organising cat shows, carrying cages about while getting the sickness pension for a bad back. These are just two examples, but the overall tone was enough to turn you into a conspiracy theorist. It is as if the pollies and the MSM everywhere have silicone chips planted in their heads, so as to generate utterances formulated by an evil alien for world-wide distribution. It was very odd seeing Hockey saying identical sentences to those of Key or English, with a facial expression suggestive of actual thought. On the positive side, their ABC media watch is hard-hitting and really does call the media out for lying etc.
Looking at the NZ news from there; such as the plans to abolish public housing and reintroduce youth rates, I felt deeply puzzled by the apparent national indifference to the poor and low -paid, especially since there seems to be no positive plan beyond these plans, and I came to think that there are elements in NZ that actually want the poor to bugger off, or to somehow disappear from view. Another relative, waiting to pick me up from the airport, got into conversation with a woman who was also waiting for someone. “My husband left me with six kids,” she said, “Some people blame me for having them, but you just have to get on with it don’t you. It doesn’t make much difference financially whether I work or not, it’s still a struggle either way. I feel frightened every day.”
I/S brings our attention to a couple of things that’s happened lately. The first is this:
So, John Key goes to India seeking progress on a free-trade agreement, and comes back with closer defence ties. Its completely out of the blue, and quite alarming.
It appears that we’ve also signed up to some sort of the defensive pact with India as well as an FTA.
Another day, another 600 job losses – 300 from the NZDF (who will apparently be able to reapply for their old jobs, though with reduced pay and conditions – something which would be unlawful for any other employer), and 300 at a meat works in Waipukurau. This is what happens when you leave the market to “sort itself out”. This is what happens when the government sits on its hands and does nothing: ruined lives, insecurity, and misery.
Unbeflippinglievable! I have just heard on 3News, that the Warehouse and Paper Plus are “banning” Macsyna King’s forthcoming book. Where do they get off doing that? The 3 News reporter said that between them they have 195 “stores” (sic) and so that amounts to censorship, not that I would ever buy a book at the Whorehouse…
Normally, I don’t read books by Ian Wishart, (my blood pressure can’t take it), but I want to read this one, even if only to see what the woman has to say for herself. But have we become even more like the USA where this kind of thing would (from what I see) fine?
Actually, Vicky, there would be an even more compelling case for people to boycott Paper Plus until it gets rid of its “book reviewer” Kerre Woodham, and the Warehouse for its deleterious effects on local shops wherever it goes (not to mention its shoddy merchandise and the bored, overworked staff).
Kerre Woodham is their reviewer? Oh no…. I hadn’t known. Yet another reason, then.
The Facebook page shows a “mob mentality”, which my sister (!) who’s in favour of the boycott openly accused me of showing when I opposed the boycott! Insane…
It’s called free choice. The bookstores have the right to decide not to stock whatever they want. Where do you get off feeling that you can tell them that they MUST stock such-and-such book?
Anyway, the book will be sold through other vendors, so you will be quite able to read it.
The bookstores have the right to decide not to stock whatever they want.
And I have a right to boycott those “stores” (sic) and call for others to do so, as Gary McCormick reportedly is doing…
As the former Publishers Association head said on the radio this morning, it sets a very dangerous precedent. No book on a ‘controversial’ subject would be safe. I think most of it is a bunch of illiterate talkback listeners but some of it is simply an anti-Wishart campaign.
They’ve bombed TradeMe, and 87% against 13% on the poll, have got TradeMe refusing to sell it. So, what other vendors are those then?
I have absolutely no time for Wishart, but placing restrictions on books like this is a bit too uncomfortably like regimes and groups that ban, bowdlerize and burn books.
I have absolutely no time for Wishart, but placing restrictions on books like this is a bit too uncomfortably like regimes and groups that ban, bowdlerize and burn books.
According to NewstalkZB’s own website Bruce Russell “likes to bring his sense of humour to his overnight talk show, but the serious issues are also tackled.” It also claims that Russell “is widely read, and can talk with people on just about any subject they raise…” http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/featdetailnew.asp?recnumber=2&menu=3&menuitem=2
Well, let’s have a look how Russell performed last night from eight till midnight. Let’s check out that vaunted “sense of humour”, see how he tackles a very serious issue, and how his “wide reading” elevates the tone of his show….
28.6.11 NewstalkZB, 8:00 to 12 midnight
CALLER GEOFF: That lady who said Maori kids should be taken out of their homes and put into a Pakeha family was ridiculous.
BRUCE RUSSELL: It was a generalization.
CALLER: It wasn’t a generalization, it was downright backward.
RUSSELL: I don’t know why you’re upset and aggressive! The statistics show that 54 per cent of bashed kids are Maori!
Later another woman tells Russell that it’s not as simple as he says and his statistics are bogus. Such namby-pamby liberal claptrap infuriates this widely read host…
RUSSELL: See, I don’t agree with that disadvantage thing! Hopelessness is not a reason to bash your kids! Pacific Islanders don’t bash their kids. Why do I have to be careful with statistics?
MALE CALLER: It’s due to savagery, animal instinct. These people have just come out of cannibalism. It’s still in their gene pool. Samoans are a very bad violent race as well.
FEMALE CALLER: They’re violent, and they won’t work! They have loads of money! They’re lazy!
RUSSELL: Well they are just enjoying life on the dole. No responsibility. I honestly don’t believe that because your land was taken off you, that you bash your kids. See Hone Harawira is a good example. The rhetoric and the racism that comes from that joker is appalling!
CALLER: It’s these flaming left liberals, Bruce! And why the hell are the police showing bloody cultural sensitivity to Maori?
RUSSELL: I’ve got quite a few e-mails here, all about the topic under discussion tonight. The first one reads: “Culture schmulture.” Thank you Jackie. “Why do we pay these dropouts to have children?” That was another Jackie. “It’s the warrior gene”, says Richie. Hello, Diane.
CALLER DIANE: I live next door to a Maori and he is so embarrassed. He wishes he was a Fijian! What’s the pronunciation these days, Maori or Marry?
RUSSELL: I’m afraid I’m still very condemning of the sort of lifestyle of people like Macsyna King. You come to the conclusion that some people should not be allowed to have children.
MALE CALLER: They have all this Treaty money, Bruce! But they spend it all on drink and weed!
RUSSELL: You would think they would be a very wealthy society and wouldn’t need to lay around on the benefit.
Im getting really sick of these redneck brownshirt douchebags/douchettes.
One thing wrong, there, Millsy. These people are bigots, not rednecks. Bruce Russell has done about as much work in the hot sun as he has “read widely”.
Please don’t confuse rednecks (i.e., working men) with moronic bigots.
All you need to know about the country’s commander-in-chief … headlines taken from Newstalk ZB:
1) 29/06/2011 13:56:01 No Kiwis caught in attack in Kabul – PM
2) 29/06/2011 17:46:00 Two SAS soldiers have been injured during a firefight with insurgents in Afghanistan today
That’s right. The Prime Minister knew diddly squat about what was going on in Kabul, and what NZ troops were doing, but that didn’t stop him pretending he did.
So, let’s ask again – who’s better informed on Afghanistan and the SAS? John Stephenson or John Key? A reporter who goes there and investigates, or a puppety-parrot?
I know. Between him and Murray Mc’Present’ it’s the worst foreign affairs team in living memory. I wonder how much input Mfat had into this ‘closer defence relationship’ with India surprise!!
this journo on the ground seems to be on the kabul story too BTW:
John Key recently sent out a personally addressed letter entitled Budget 2011 – Back to surplus sooner, better services for families. It was sent to people who are not National Party members or registered with National in any way and was mainly targeted at pensioners. There are two ways National might have attained the addresses that they sent their unsolicited letter to: 1. The Work and Income database. 2. The electoral role.
Yeah, could be something like that. But it’s definitely worth asking the question and it’ll be interesting to see the official response to the complaint Jackal has made to the Privacy Commissioner.
At last, we can see security camera footage of IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn gauchely propositioning a maid at the Sofitel Hotel, New York City on May 14, 2011.
Not happy with inferring that government could cure all sick beneficiaries within two years, when Bennett exclaimed the sickness benefit was on meant to be temporary, as if all illnesses last only two years. Bennett has gone further, her Ministry now believes forcing people into work will cure them, with the miracle that her department does not need to consider the nature of the illness, the unsuitable of the work. Work will set them free. Adequate work is a social right of all citizens, does not mean government can ignore the rest of the civil rights of citizens, their capacity, their needs, and force via threats to seek more than adequate work, inappropriate work, or be dismissed as a new class of untouchable marginalize and deprived. Has serfdom arrived under National? Surely not? Well you could move to Australia so ignore the role of government to run the economy fairly for all, hardly a choice.
What a mess this country is in .One of the worlds worst ongoing disasters and did the PM go to the UN for help? not that Ive heard .When all the available engineering brains in the country can work out what needs to be done with ChCh and create a blue print for future may be the Govt can get their bearings instead of this unqualified crap that they see as being the way forward .They have put the people of ChCh at the mercy of the insurance industry who clearly dont have the funds to finance all their obligations . AMI stadium is living proof a statement to that particular company .
Then we have our disintegrating democracy ,the same bunch of right wing fascists once again trying to rid the country of any true representation of the vote in our general elections.Hammering the masses out of their rights to any power in their govt .This govt should be put on a boat and feed to the sharks
Michael Reddell writes – I got curious yesterday about how the Australia/New Zealand real exchange rate had changed over the last decade, and so dug out the data on the changes in the two countries’ CPIs. Over the 10 years from March 2014 to March 2024, New Zealand’s ...
Graham Adams writes that 20 years after the land march, judges are quietly awarding a swathe of coastal rights to iwi. Early this month, an hour-long documentary was released by TVNZ to mark the 20th anniversary of the land-rights march to oppose Helen Clark’s Foreshore and Seabed Act. The account ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: Suspended Green MP Darleen Tana has passed an unpleasant milestone: she has now been absent for as many parliamentary sitting days as she has been present for this year. Tana is on full pay while she is suspended, and will benefit from a ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is no coincidence that two Labour should-have-been MPs are making the most noise about public sector cuts. As assistant general secretary of the Public Service Association, Fleur Fitzsimons has been at the forefront of revealing where the next round of state sector job ...
Bryce Edwards writes – It’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a ...
This is one of the (extra) weekly columns on music or movies. Plenty of solid analyses of Possession exist online and most of them – inevitably – contain spoilers. This column is more in the way of a first-timer’s aid to getting your initial bearings. You don’t need to have ...
I am painting in oil, a portrait of a manWho has taken all the heart aches,And all the pain he can stand.I am using all the colors of blue,I have here on my stand.I am painting in oil, a portrait of a man.This has been an interesting week for me. ...
Helen Clark joins the Hoon as a special guest talking whether Aotearoa should join Aukus II, and her views on the fast track legislation and how Luxon and the new Government are performing. File Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts ...
With an election due in less than nine months, Britain’s embattled PM, Rishi Sunak, gave a useful speech earlier this week. He made a substantial case for his government, perhaps as compelling as is possible in the current environment. Quite an achievement. His overall theme was security, first pulling ...
Open access notablesPublicly expressed climate scepticism is greatest in regions with high CO2 emissions, Pearson et al., Climatic Change:We analysed a recently released corpus of climate-related tweets to examine the macro-level factors associated with public declarations of climate change scepticism. Analyses of over 2 million geo-located tweets in the U.S. showed that climate ...
You can be all negative about these charter schools if you want, but I’m here to accentuate the positive. You can get all worked up, if you want to, by the contradiction of Luxon saying We’re going to make sure that every school in the country is teaching exactly the same ...
Losing The Room: One can only speculate about what has persuaded the Coalition Government that it will pay no electoral price for unreasonably pushing ahead with policies that are so clearly against the national interest. They seem quite oblivious to the risk that by doing so they will convince an increasing ...
Name suppression decisions can be tough sometimes. No matter your views on free speech, you have to be hard-hearted not to be torn by the tug of the competing arguments. I think you can feel the Supreme Court wrestling with that in M v The King. The case for ...
The Merchants of Menace: The Coalition Government has convinced itself that the “Brahmins’” emollient functions have become much too irksome and expensive. Those who see themselves as the best hope of rebuilding New Zealand’s ailing capitalist system, appear to have convinced themselves that a little bit of blunt trauma is what their mollycoddled ...
When National first proposed its Muldoonist "fast-track" law, they were warned that it would inevitably lead to corruption. And that is exactly what has happened, with Resources Minister Shane Jones taking secret meetings with potential applicants:On Tuesday, in a Newsroom story, questions were raised about a dinner Jones ...
Buzz from the Beehive One day – hopefully – we will push that Russian rascal, Vladimir Putin, beyond breaking point. Perhaps it will happen today, when he learns that Foreign Minister Winston Peters is again tightening the thumbscrews. Peters announced further sanctions, this time on 28 individuals and 14 entities ...
How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought New Zealand to the brink of economic and cultural chaos.TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition Government’s failure to retain, and build upon, the public ...
“Members of Parliament don’t work for us, they represent us, an entirely different thing. As with so much that has turned out badly, the re-organising of MPs’ responsibilities began with the Fourth Labour Government. That’s when they began to be treated like employees – public servants – whose diaries had ...
It’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a third medical school in New Zealand, ...
Time To Choose: Like it or not, the Kiwis are either going into AUKUS’s “Pillar 2” – or they are going to China.HAD ZHENG HE’S FLEET sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks ...
Henry Ergas writes – When in Randall Jarrell’s Pictures from an Institution, a college president is accused of being a hypocrite, the novel’s narrator retorts that the description is grossly unfair. After all, the man is still far from the stage of moral development at which the charge ...
David Farrar writes – Radio NZ reports: The Education Review Office says too many new teachers feel poorly prepared for their jobs. In a report published on Monday, the review office said 60 percent of the principals it interviewed said their new teachers were not ready. ...
New Zealand’s economic performance and the PM’s vision Michael Reddell writes – When I wrote yesterday morning’s post, highlighting how poorly both New Zealand and its Anglo peer countries have been doing in respect of productivity in recent times (ie, in the case of New ...
Hi all,Firstly - thank you! You guys are awesome. The response I’ve received to last night’s mail has been quite overwhelming. It’s a ghastly day outside, but there are no clouds in here.In case you didn’t read my email and are wondering what on earth I’m talking about you can ...
If there was still any doubt as to who is actually running this government – and it isn’t the buffoon from Botany – then this week’s announcement of a huge spend up on charter schools has settled the matter. While jobs and public services continue to be cut in the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Gaye Taylor As widespread drought raises expectations for a repeat of last year’s ferocious wildfire season, response teams across Canada are grappling with the rapidly changing face of fire in a warming climate. No longer quenched by winter, nor quelled by the ...
Half of Christchurch City Holdings Ltd’s directors and its chair resigned en masse last night in protest at Christchurch City Council’s demand to front-load dividends File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The chair of Christchurch City Council’s investment company and four of its independent directors resigned in protest last ...
The University of Waikato has reworded an advertisement that begins the tender process for its new $300 million-plus medical school even though the Government still needs to approve it. However, even the reworded ad contains an architect’s visualisations of what the school might look like. ACT leader David Seymour told ...
As a follow-up to the Rings of Power trailer discussion, I thought I needed to add something. There has been some online mockery about the use of the same actor for both the Halbrand and Annatar incarnations of Sauron. The reasoning is that Halbrand with a shave and a new ...
This isn’t quite as dramatic as the title might suggest. I’m not going anywhere, but there is something I wanted to talk to you about.Let’s start with a typical day.Most days I send out a newsletter in the morning. If I’ve written a lot the previous evening it might be ...
Buzz from the Beehive The promise of tax relief loomed large in his considerations when the PM delivered a pre-Budget speech to the Auckland Business Chamber. The job back in Wellington is getting government spending back under control, he said, bandying figures which show that in per capita terms, the ...
Yesterday de facto Prime Minister David Seymour announced that his glove puppet government would be re-introducing charter schools, throwing $150 million at his pet quacks, donors and cronies and introducing an entire new government agency to oversee them (the existing Education Review Office, which actually knows how to review schools, ...
Seeing that, in order to discredit the figures and achieve moral superiority while attempting to deflect attention away from the military assault on Rafa, Israel supporters in NZ have seized on reports that casualty numbers in Gaza may be inflated … Continue reading → ...
David Farrar writes – Newstalk ZB report: The man responsible for a horror hit and run in central Wellington last year was on a suspended licence and was so drunk he later asked police, “Did I kill someone?” Jason Tuitama injured two women when he ran a red ...
Muriel Newman writes – Former US President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.” The fight for ...
Why Courts should have said Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Karen Chhour Gary Judd writes – In the High Court, Justice Isacs declined to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal to compel Minister for Children, Karen Chhour, to appear before it to be ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The number of voices raising concerns about the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill is rapidly growing. This is especially apparent now that Parliament’s select committee is listening to submissions from the public to evaluate the proposed legislation. Twenty-seven thousand submissions have been made to Parliament ...
An average of 166 New Zealand citizens left the country every day during the March quarter, up 54% from a year ago.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy and housing market is sinking into a longer recession through the winter after a slump in business and consumer confidence in ...
The government has made it abundantly clear they’re addicted to the smell of new asphalt. On Tuesday they introduced a new term to the country’s roading lexicon, the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS), a little brother for the Roads of National (Party) Significance (RoNS). Driving ahead with Roads of Regional ...
School is outAnd I walk the empty hallwaysI walk aloneAlone as alwaysThere's so many lucky penniesLying on the floorBut where the hell are all the lucky peopleI can't see them any moreYesterday morning, I’d just sent out my newsletter on Tama Potaka, and I was struggling to make the coffee. ...
Hi,I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing.This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment.Misery loves company, that sort of deal.Some context.I wish I could say I got ...
I have hitherto been fairly quiet on the new season of Rings of Power, on the basis that the underwhelming first season did not exactly build excitement – and the rumours were fairly daft. The only real thing of substance to come out has been that they have re-cast Adar ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
“The thing is,” Chris Luxon says, leaning forward to make his point, “this has always been my thing.”“This goes all the way back to the first multinational I worked for. I was saying exactly the same thing back then. The name of our business needs to be more clear; people ...
Buzz from the Beehive It’s been a momentous few days for Children’s Minister Karen Chhour. The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which blocked a summons order from the Waitangi Tribunal for her. And today she has announced the Government is putting children first by introducing to ...
In 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – According to the respected Pew Research Centre, “In seven of eight [European] countries surveyed, the most trusted news outlet asked about is the public news organization in each country”. For example, “in Sweden, an overwhelming majority (90%) say they trust the public broadcaster SVT”. ...
David Farrar writes – Kata MacNamara reports: Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...
Chris Trotter writes – Are you a Brahmin or a Merchant? Or, are you merely one of those whose lives are profoundly influenced by the decisions of Brahmins and Merchants? Those are the questions that are currently shaping the politics of New Zealand and the entire West. ...
RNZ reports – It’s supposed to be a haven of healing and spiritual awakening but residents of the Kawai Purapura community say they’ve been hurt and deceived. It’s the successor to the former Centrepoint commune, and has been on the bush block opposite Albany shopping centre since 2008. It ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. Usually we have a video chat to go with this wrap, but were unable to do one this week. We’ll be back next week.Several reports ...
The Transport Minister has set a hard 'fiscal envelope' of $6.54 billion for transport capital spending. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy is settling into a state of suspended animation as the Government’s funding freezes and job cuts chill confidence and combine with stubbornly high interest rates to ...
To be precise, the term “anti- Zionism” refers to (a) criticism of the political movement that created a modern Jewish state on the historical land of Israel, and to (b)the subjugation of Palestinians by the Israeli state. By contrast, the term “anti-Semitism” means bigotry and racism directed at Jewish people, ...
This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Because hurricanes are one of the big-ticket weather disasters that humanity has to face, climate misinformers spend a lot of effort muddying the waters on whether climate change is making hurricanes more damaging. With the official start to the hurricane ...
Yesterday the Mayor released what he calls his “plan to save public transport” which is part of his final proposal for the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). This comes following consultation on the draft version that occurred in March which showed, once again, that people want more done on transport, especially ...
And it's a pleasure that I have knownAnd it's a treasure that I have gainedAotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them. The ...
The Select Committee hearing submissions on the fast-track consenting legislation is starting to become a beat-up of regional councils. The inflexibility and slow workings of the Councils were prominent in two submissions yesterday. One, from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, simply said that the Waikato Regional Council’s planning decisions were ...
Back in April, the High Court surprised everyone by ruling that Ministers are above the law, at least as far as the Waitangi Tribunal is concerned. The reason for this ruling was "comity" - the idea that the different branches of government shouldn't interfere with each other's functions. Which makes ...
Buzz from the BeehiveTolling was mentioned when Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the government was re-introducing the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, with 15 “crucial” projects to support economic growth and regional development across New Zealand. All RoNS would be four-laned, grade-separated highways, and all funding, financing, and ...
or the past 14 years, ever since the Spanish government cheated on an autonomy deal, Catalonia has reliably given pro-independence parties a majority of seats in their regional parliament. But now that seems to be over. Catalans went to the polls yesterday, and stripped the Catalan parties of their majority. ...
David Farrar writes – Radio NZ report: Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said the Electoral Commission should make sure the system ran smoothly and “taking away the right of thousands of people to vote” was not the answer. “Thousands of people enroled and voted on the day. If ...
Don Brash writes – There was a rather revealing headline in the Herald on Sunday today (12 May). It read “One in 8 Auckland homes on market were bought during boom, may now sell for loss”. The first line of text noted that “New data shows one in ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – At a time when universities are understandably nervous regarding the establishment of the University Advisory Group (UAG) and the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) it may seem strange – or even fool-hardy – to state that there are long-standing issues in the tertiary sector ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – A lack of perspective can make something quite large or important seem small or irrelevant. Against a backdrop of high-profile, negative statistics it is easy to overlook the positive. For instance, the fact that 64 percent of Maori are employed is rarely reported. For ...
Earlier this year, the Herald ran a series of articles amounting to a sustained campaign against raised pedestrian crossings, by reporter Bernard Orsman. A key part of that campaign concerned the raised crossings being installed as part of the Pt Chevalier to Westmere project, with at least 10 articles over ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 19 include:PM Christopher Luxon is expected to hold his weekly post-cabinet news conference at 4:00pm on Monday.Parliament is not sitting this week. It resumes next week for a two-week sitting session up to and ...
Hi,Thanks to all the beautiful Worms who came to the LA Webworm popup on Saturday.It was a way to celebrate the online store we launched last week — and it was super special.As I talk about a lot, I really value our community here — and it was a BLAST ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 5, 2024 thru Sat, May 11, 2024. (Unfortunate) Story of the week "Grief that stops at despair is an ending that I and many others, most notably ...
Last night the largest solar storm in decades resulted in Aurorae being seen across Aotearoa, causing many to ask why?Why was the sky pink? What was all this stuff about the power grid? Have we, as so many have wondered since the election, reached the end of days?I had a ...
We have been on the road in England, squeezing down narrow lanes, flying up the M6, loving hedgerows and villages and cathedrals, liking the 21st century less.There have been moments when it’s felt like a movie trope. The pub in Exford, lovely seventeenth century bar, almost more dogs than people, ...
There’s a solar-storm on at the moment, and since the South Island is having a day and night with clear skies, that means Aurorae. I have just got back from a midnight visit to Tunnel Beach – southwards-looking over the Sea, and without the light pollution. Quite a few others ...
Michael Bassett writes – I’m not sure that it’s much comfort to anyone to know that the post-Covid surge in violent crimes, gang activity, ram raids, random shootings, thuggery and stabbings is occurring in other countries as well as New Zealand. These days, wagging school, out-of-control welfare and ...
The Government’s introduction of legislation that would enable landlords to end tenancies with no reason marks a dark day for the 1.4 million people who rent their home in Aotearoa. ...
The Minister for Mental Health has found the Suicide Prevention Office and mental health support for 111 calls slipping through his fingers, says Labour spokesperson for Mental Health Ingrid Leary. ...
Today’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. ...
The Green Party says the Government’s misguided policy on gangs will fail, following the announcement of the establishment of a national gang unit and district gang disruption units to target gang activities. ...
“With Police pay negotiations still unresolved after six months in Government, Mark Mitchell has today rolled the Commissioner out for a rebrand of their approach to gang crime,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said. ...
The Government bringing back 50 charter schools will not increase achievement and is a distraction from the core mission of the education system, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Te Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill. Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to a ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools. “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. “It is my pleasure ...
New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says. “This ...
Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners. “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
“The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office. “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
"In future I should walk away," Green MP Julie Anne Genter says after complaints over an exchange in Parliament and from two members of the public. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Graffam, PhD Candidate in Theatre, Monash University Gianna Rizzo/Malthouse Music pumps; lights pulsate; two sweaty bodies sway together, touching, breathing in each other’s scent. A male body framed by downlight restlessly shifts between stances and gestures. He undresses. The intensity ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sandra van der Laan, Professor of Accounting, University of Sydney Mtaya/Shutterstock At some point, you or someone else will need to make a decision about your “send-off”. Most Australians die in an institution, such as a hospital or aged care facility. ...
Asia Pacific Report Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai — who is also Chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group — has reaffirmed MSG’s support of the pro-independence umbrella group Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) stance opposing the French government’s constitutional bill “unfreezing” the New Caledonia Electoral Roll. It is ...
Producer Susan Leonard remembers her father Ernie, a pioneer of Māori television, and how his legacy lives on in Pathfinders.My father was a fabulous man. His name was Ernie Leonard and he started in TV in the 1970s when it was still glamorous – when TVNZ made behind the ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk, and Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist The suspected ringleaders of the unrest in New Caledonia have been placed in home detention and the social network TikTok has been banned as French security forces struggle to restore law and order. The French ...
Multi-year appropriations - which give the government authority to spend money without reapplying annually - are loosening Parliament's control of the public purse, auditor-general says. ...
Dr. Eric Chuah who stood for a centrist NZ political party in the October 2023 NZ Elections for Maungakiekie Auckland will stand as a candidate for Tauranga City Council Ward of Matua-=Otumoetai and Mayor of Tauranga. ...
If you can’t get to the comedy fest, let us bring the comedy fest to you. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. The New Zealand International Comedy Festival is in full swing at the moment, with a veritable smorgasboard of comedy treats ...
A new poll commissioned by Unions Wellington shows an overwhelming majority of Wellingtonians oppose the Council’s plan to sell the 34% public stake in Wellington Airport. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aruna Sathanapally, Chief Executive, Grattan Institute, Grattan Institute A central focus of this week’s budget is the treasury’s forecast for inflation. By this time next year, inflation is projected to be back within the Reserve Bank’s 2-3% target range. Inflation has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yolanda van Heezik, Professor of Ecology, University of Otago Getty Images Cities across Aotearoa New Zealand are trying to solve a housing crisis, with increasing residential density a key solution. But not everyone is happy about the resulting loss of natural ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Reeve, Deputy Program Director, Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute WDG Photo/Shutterstock For years, the electricity sector has been the poster child for emissions cuts in Australia. The sector achieved a stunning 26% drop in emissions over the past 15 ...
It’s often the last thing people want to do, but asking someone if they’re having suicidal thoughts is a critical first step to helping them. Content warning: this story discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. For a list of resources that can help if you or someone you know is feeling ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy J. Ralph, Associate Professor, Macquarie University The pyramids at Giza, like dozens of others, are located several kilometres west of the current path of the Nile.Alex Cimbal / Shutterstock The largest field of pyramids in Egypt – consisting of 31 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Diepstraten, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute ABO PHOTOGRAPHY/Shutterstock Receiving a cancer diagnosis is life-changing and can cause a range of concerns about ongoing health. Fear of cancer returning is one ...
Winston Peters has been on tour around the Pacific while two unrelated crises unfolded, explains Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Two separate ...
This is the Mount Everest of artificial meatcraft.Ah, bacon. Pig’s gold. Toast’s consolation. Dawn’s savoury embrace. If meat was a currency, bacon would be the Benjamin Franklin. Or if you’re feeling patriotic, the Lord Rutherford. When it comes to fake bacon, the obvious question is: why bother? In the ...
From illegal milk to sprinkler bans and airplane ticket scams, Tyrone Barugh is on a one-man mission through New Zealand’s most obscure legal loopholes. I’m deep undercover, investigating Wellington’s criminal underworld. Inside this store, I’ve been told there is a million-dollar trade in illicit substances. A man dressed in black ...
It’s been a recess week at Parliament, which might indicate slim pickings for conversation topics for the Raw Politics team. But things are never dull in politics, especially with a new Government keen to follow through on its law and order promises, and a NZ First minister who wants to ...
Dear Hon Judith Collins, Minister of Defence, and Hon Christopher Penk, Associate Minister of Defence I have written to you, to attempt to give you an insight into the incredible hardship of being an NZDF family. Whilst I cannot speak on behalf of serving personnel, I can speak from my ...
Analysis: What a difference a year makes. In mid 2023, Wayne Brown the Auckland Mayor was a politician diminished by a calamitous response to the region’s Anniversary Weekend storm emergency and later forced against his preference into a half sale only of the city’s airport shares. His demeanour among his ...
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New Zealand’s drug legislation hasn’t been overhauled in nearly 50 years, in spite of a recommendation from the Law Commission in 2011 to do so. Our Misuse of Drugs Act was passed in 1975 and is based on a United Nations framework set in 1961. Now a new organisation, Harm ...
NONFICTION 1 The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour & Jude Dobson (Allen & Unwin, $37.99) A free copy of this amazing story of a woman who operated behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied France was up for grabs this past fortnight. Readers were asked to share a story of wartime bravery, ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When he was opposition leader, Bill Shorten faced Coalition criticism for attacking “the top end of town”, a phrase he used in his 2019 budget reply. Now Peter Dutton is finding the line “billions of ...
By Adam Burns, RNZ News reporter Worried New Caledonian expats in Aotearoa admit they are “terrified” for friends and family amid ongoing violence and civil unrest in the French Pacific territory. The death toll remained at four tonight, and hundreds have been injured after electoral changes sparked widespread rioting by ...
French President Emmanuel Macron has declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia after several days of civil unrest in the capital. Four people are dead due to the unrest and violence in the capital, Nouméa. France TV reports that a 22-year-old gendarme who had been seriously wounded has become ...
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They held a noisy but peaceful demonstration against the ongoing genocide being carried out by the State of Israel, condemning the Israeli ambassador who was hosting an invitation-only event to celebrate the establishment of the State of Israel. ...
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Karen Chhour wants Oranga Tamiriki to establish more partnerships with Māori, despite introducing a bill to Parliament removing their obligation to do so. ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ryan Storr, Research fellow, Swinburne University of Technology The topic of homophobia in sport has recently made headlines in Australia, with a series of homophobic incidents involving men’s AFL players. These homophobic incidents are usually well-reported in news media, but research ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ryan Storr, Research fellow, Swinburne University of Technology The topic of homophobia in sport has recently made headlines in Australia, with a series of homophobic incidents involving men’s AFL players. These homophobic incidents are usually well-reported in news media, but research ...
Asia Pacific Report France has declared a state of emergency on the Pacific territory of New Caledonia — New Zealand’s closest neighbour — after four people, including a police officer, have been killed in pro-independence riots over voting changes that further marginalise indigenous Kanaks, news agencies report. The move came ...
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With funding ending for Archives New Zealand’s digitisation programme, Hera Lindsay Bird shares a taste of what’s being lost – because history isn’t just about the big-ticket items. On Tuesday morning the PSA held a snap protest outside the National Library in Wellington, urging the government to continue funding the ...
“North Korea would better serve its people by meaningfully re-engaging with the international community through diplomacy rather than threats” says Mr Peters. ...
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Defense, like lor’in’orda is a National party shibboleth. And they have failed to deliver. Worse they are planning to shrink it further.
Couple of quick questions…
* is the world in 2011 any safer than before, can we afford to let our gaurd down and be at the mercy of whoever decides to rip off our fisheries, threaten trade routes, attack our strategic partners and interests?
* is it right that we are allowing the private sector to take over key defense roles as opposed to keepig all military related activities independent? Will the corporations and mercenaries end up being the front line as has happened in Iraq with the US military?
The silence on this issue from the left is deafening.
The privatisation of the defence forces is disquieting for a host of reasons. So is Labour’s acquiescence. They have stated they are happy with basic concept of ‘civilianization’.
Didn’t the left experiment successfully with flour bombs in 1981?
Vto, the McGillicuddies have been practicising with flour bombs since the 1970s, and furthermore have always been ‘civilianized’ – they also offered the cheapest defence policy. Clearly someone in the National Party has been reading their manifestos…
Labour has not abandoned their support for much of the Neo-Liberal paradigm.
Makes you wonder how serious they are about being a credible alternative to national.
Putting on my right wing hat, I’d be very pissed off with that. Saving a couple dozen $K on civilianising a few hundred defence force personal’s positions sounds like very lefty government ideals gone mad…
But in this case case, this is the Nats + crew doing the cutting. Personally I think it’s better for our fighting forces to also have capable soldiers defending themselves and building infrastructure is just as important as the frontlines.
You clearly don’t know Left from Right very much. Firing Defence Force personal has nothing to do with Left ideals of community, socialism or direct employment. Quite the opposite.
The last 20 years is educational about defence. During the 1990s, despite how much the RWNJs seem to have a fetish for guns, National ran down the defence forces. Over the 2000s the Left leaning government began to built them up and now we have a National led government, again against their apparent desire to get in to wars and be a credible force, cutting them to the bare bones. This time though it also comes with guaranteed, no risk profits for their rich mates.
Defence is a core government service that also strategic information that you don’t want others to know, ergo, you should never contract any of it out.
I’m just saying, if it was Labour and co doing the cutting the right wingers would be crying blue murder and treason etc. I’m just trying to illustrate the hypocrisy.
I’m never going to marry you, quit the hints, your too limp and unimportant for my liking, you have no true courage, your not manly enough for me, you are sly, sloppy and second-rate and you ALWAYS take the easy way out- cheating, and lying.
You call yourself a wolf; please you are more like a sewer rat.
Bored, the National “Once Were Farmers”, “Once Were Conservatives”, “Once Were Small Businessmen” Party is now just a barely disguised and barely held back implementation group for economic neoliberals and corporate interests.
Anything which can degrade the nations sovereign strength and let them cut even more taxes for the rich boys is welcome by this bunch.
I was just saying to someone yesterday (echoing remarks by DTB), that we should have the local ability to make AK 101’s (or AK 103’s), ammunition and high explosives for our armed forces here in NZ. Relying on fragile Steyrs and imported parts from across the world is stupid in a time of peak oil and supply chain fragilities.
New Zealand needs to build up its local military, home and coastal defence capabilities, not strip it back.
I thought it was sad how that guy that developed lightweight diesel powered helicopter drones (24hr flight time) was bought out and jailed for hiding his Intellectual Property.
Shame our government didn’t capitalise on that kind of technology, could have really helped to give us kiwi-underdogs the edge.
Kiwi underdog? Dya mean the former National Party MP who lied to the receivers of his failed business about a significant asset he was hiding?
Get it right, the scumbag sold the IP with the business. Him trying to hide it was effectively theft.
No doubt it was illegal to withold the IP if that was part of the deal, I’m just pointing out that there was some serious potential in the product and tech which could have helped us, and it’s potential was ignored and wasted by our government. Simply yet another tech opportunity wasted and lost AFAIC.
“The silence on this issue from the left is deafening.”
Of for Flying Spaghetti Monster’s sakes – the government is making hundreds redundant throughout the civil sector on an almost daily basis!! It’s frickin’ hard to keep up with the next batch of sackings.
How about the Right taking Personal Responsibility in this matter? It’s right wing/National supporters who voted in this government – you guys deal with it. Why the feck do you expect the left to continually address policies that this government implements, and then some rightwingers happen to take exception to???
The Right claim ‘Personal Responsibility’ as one of their most basic tenets.
I see precious little of any National supporter taking personal responsibility for their government’s behaviour, thus far.
The silence from the left has been deafening for far too long.
The Real Left, not a vague imitation pretend left 😈
And a third question… how on earth did a trade trip turn into one that increased defence ties with India, including a defence advisor being located there at the same time as jobs are being lost in the military here? I’ve not seen any news about this pact (outside of the Stuff news item ). Nothing here about how, what, where this relationship will operate. It all seems a bit strange to me.
So first the government changed employment law to accommodate Warner Bros.
Then it bowed to Auckland Casino.
And most lately scraped to the insurance companies to protect them from public outrage over cover for Christchurch customers.
Last night on Campbell live the spokeperson for AMI excused insurance companies not doing the morally right thing on the grounds that it would cost money.
So only repairs get paid for on houses in red zones. And then the houses get demolished. The government pays GV, ie insurance companies get off the hook. Which means (among other anomalies) that uninsured Christchurch residents who will receive nothing from either the government nor insurance companies are going to be making a financial contribution to those who were insured…or more accurately, subsidising the insurance companies along with every other tax payer in NZ.
If the government hadn’t essentially bailed the insurance industry, public opinion may well have forced the insurance industry to ‘come to the party’ and either pay replacement value for badly damaged homes regardless of where rebuilding was located or pay for repairs of an order that would avoid land remediation (deep piles sunk to bed rock etc).
I made a comment last week to the effect that the government should compulsorily purchase land to the west of the city and that that land should be treated (for insurance purposes etc) as though it was the original land in the east.
But then, that would have put people’s needs first, cost us all a lot less money and placed insurance companies balance sheets second in the scheme of things.
And even after being bailed out by the Government, insurance companies are not going to cover Christchurch City Council assets any more.
What are you fraking doing, National.
What is this lot in government doing?
Hmm, not good.
Power in their hands
is not being used with integrity,
fairness and for overall benefit of the many.
How this lot is going about with overseas trade
can give rise to some foreboding.
With a sleight of their hands,
New Zealand’s free trade with other countries
can end up with us being handed over as free gift.
Protecting the profits of Big Business. It’s what they do.
When the AMI chap was asked if the Replacement Insurance issue had been discussed when negotiating with Government, he looked uncomfortable and said that there had been discussions about many aspects, or words to that effect. It suggests that Mr Brownlie knew well what was about to happen but that presumably could not get in the way of Mr Key’s “good” news could it.
(At least the AMI chap fronted.)
I’m amazed to hear that its going to take as long as 6-8 weeks before households start receiving their offer letters from the Government’s deal. Everything is moving so sloooooowwwwly.
Its like its all being improvised on the spot and things which have been announced haven’t actually been thought through or back office systems actually set up to support them (you know, all those useless unproductive bureaucrats).
Christchurch is going to lose National the election. Chickens and roosts haven’t quite hit home time yet though.
I was staying loyal to AMI, now I am wavering… any recommendations
It’s really like choosing one pig out of the same crowded shit filled sty. That’s what they call free choice I guess. Sorry I know that’s not much help.
AA – according to my sources most likely to pay out in the event of disaster.
Do you know who provides the insurance to AA?
No idea
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/4981220/More-disaster-insuring-a-home-up-50pc
Looks like Australian finance giant Suncorp (who also owns Vero)
Well now, that’s interesting CV because Vero was an insurance company I was told had been instructed to ‘drag their heels’ on payouts to ChCh victims.
The Government would not want publicity about, and comparisons drawn, regarding the dangers of ACC being privatised and run entirely according to the insurance model (and it’s not far from operating in that mode now). This is exactly what they do. Move heaven and earth to avoid paying out on large and/or longterm liabilities.
Most people’s impression of the reliablility of their insurer (or ACC) comes from their experiences with their less serious and costly claims. Most people never experience dealing with an insurer in the case of catastrophe and hence the dirty tricks they will employ to cheat claimants.
It’s how they make their owners all those glorious profits.
Question. If I had replacement insurance and my house went on fire but was deemed repairable, then insurance would pay repairs. But what if gales three days later were sufficient to knock over the remaining weakened structure? Surely full replacement kicks in.
So what’s the difference between a government mandated bulldozer knocking over weakened structures and a strong wind, second fire or an after shock?
I’m astounded that government is aiding and abetting insurance companies to shirk their responsibilities. No I’m not. I’m sickened and angry.
Again. They could/should have purchased land to the west and passed a law mandating the transfer of insurance policies from land lot ‘a’ to land lot ‘b’. Compulsory purchases are used for roading projects. Why not in the case of housing ‘half’ a city? Surely cheaper than paying GV on eastern properties?
For those who wished to stay on in the east, insurance companies should have been made to pay for effective repairs….including deep piles etc. Where infrastructure was not going to be repaired and replaced, then council insurance payouts should have put towards the installation of quake resistant septic tanks and water tanks.
The trouble is the overseas reinsurers (who are faceless) are the ones saying to NZ insurance companies that they only have to repair unless a total right off; condition of reinsurance. A lot of money is being made off shore by little NZ.
from not by
Anyone considered the numerous TV (and internet ads) suggesting we change power companies?
Presumably the government is paying for these, but why? Aren’t we supposed to be looking for savings?
I did the whole powerswitch.org.nz thing a few years back, and following the ads decided to revisit – guess what, the results were the same.
Am I being paranoid in thinking there may be some ulterior motive, fiddling the inflation figures, downscaling the business of certain power companies?
What do you mean that “the results were the same?”
I work in the electric power industry (for a meter reading company) and I tell you the one thing that keeps power prices up is the extensive ticket clipping and duplication throughout the industry. Everything is split up and contracted and subcontracted to point where people don’t know which company does what tasks in what area, and it is quite common for a work order to pass through 2 or 3 different companies before it even gets to someone that does it.
Yeah I went and had a look and wow I can save 150 a year for that I probably have to screw around signing odd bits of paper for direct debit permissions and all the other bull shit. But i’ll stick with who I am with. Because I dont want to have to hassle around every week, or when ever, just to save 3 bucks a week. and they have done nothing to warrant me changing anyway, and their call center is in NZ.
The same company came out as the cheapest – maybe lots of people didn’t know about this, but in a climate where ‘mum and dad investors’ might be interested in buy state assets it seems a strange coincidence for a govt to go messing with peoples power choices.
Cactus Kate on the ACT list?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10734367
This line is bs “Cathy Odgers is expected to address one of Act’s weaknesses, its appeal to women and especially to young women.”
What was Heather Roy, an old male? Say what you want about Heather, she’s been pretty effective in her areas and she’s not unappealing to women…at least the women I know across a range of political beliefs seem to rate her. Hard to see how ‘Kate’ will be more appealing…
Yeah thats NACT spin. You don’t replace a known MP who has good name recognition and broad appeal (well, for an ACT MP anyways) with someone known only in highly politicised circles. Unless you have to.
WIMP-WALLOPING: Williams and Ralston vs. Pagani, 28.6.11
The Huddle, NewstalkZB, Tuesday 28 June 2011, 5.40 p.m.
Today’s Huddle is: Larry Williams, Bill Ralston, John Pagani.
This programme is nothing less than a travesty of broadcasting. It’s never any good, but nevertheless it’s quite interesting as an example of how voices of the right (actually, the extreme right) capture and dominate a discussion unless they are forthrightly challenged or resisted. It ostensibly aims to pit a right winger against a left winger to comment on issues in the news. Of course, it’s always two against one, as host Larry Williams is rabidly and bitterly right wing, and candidly pro-government in all his views. Williams habitually interrupts and scoffs at the liberal guest, and lets the right winger talk all over the left winger and butt in at will.
The right wingers are the usual suspects: Bill Ralston, his ghastly wife Janet Wilson, the superficially jolly but deeply racist and reactionary Jock Anderson, David Farrar, Michele Boag, Ellen Read. Until his death on September 22nd last year, perhaps the most obnoxious wimp-walloper of all was the notoriously rude and intolerant Graeme Hunt (RIP). But all of these people have the same modus operandi—none of them ever concedes a point, and they are encouraged and supported unconditionally by Williams.
Sadly, on “The Huddle”, as on so many other radio programmes, the appointed “left” voice is usually a patsy, playing pretty much the same role as the Washington Generals to the Harlem Globetrotters. Three of the regular patsies are Matt Nippert, John Pagani and Tim Watkin. It’s not that Nippert, Pagani or Watkin are incapable; every one of them is far more intelligent and better informed than any of the people named above, but they all lack one indispensable quality: courage. None of them ever challenges his opponents forthrightly. They are polite and good-humored to a fault; they make good strong points and then let Williams or the other guest snort in derision and make a disparaging, dismissive comment.
Anyway, let’s see how they walloped the wimp on Tuesday 28 June…
LARRY WILLIAMS: All right, first issue is Alisdair Thompson. What’s gonna happen to him? Why is it taking so long?
JOHN PAGANI: He’s got the lawyers in to plead his case. This is rank hypocrisy, because he is totally opposed to workers having the right to use lawyers in employment disputes.
WILLIAMS: [impatiently] Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Bill, what do you think?
BILL RALSTON: We’re seeing this lynch mob come out as they did for Paul Holmes and Paul Henry! It’s a liberal left lynch mob!
WILLIAMS: Yeah!
PAGANI: I take a bit of issue with the lynch-mob comment. He made those comments and—
RALSTON: [brusquely] Oh come on, John! The guy was set up by the liberal left lynch mob!
WILLIAMS: Mmmmm. Yeah!
RALSTON: The guy had no media skills! It was a liberal lynch mob!
WILLIAMS: Mmmmm, yeah. You’re right. Back in a minute, it’s 15 to 6.
——-ADVERTISEMENTS——-
WILLIAMS: We’re back with The Huddle. Issue number two: Vote For Change. Bob Harvey’s changed his mind on MMP, Bill!
RALSTON: It’s a discussion we need to have!
PAGANI: They don’t do themselves much favor, this anti-MMP mob. It’s a very secretive organization, it’s closed and non-democratic. There’s an excellent analysis of them on Tim Watkin’s Pundit site toda—
RALSTON: Arrrrggghh! Watkin’s a left-winger, and his views are biased! He has no credibility!
WILLIAMS: Yeah. All right, issue number three: Ian Wishart’s book about the Kahui twins.
RALSTON: I have no time for Ian Wishart. He’s not an investigative journalist.
—————————-
Was that transcript for real, or a pisstake?
Which one would you hope for? 🙂
I’m in dread to think…
If real, Bill Ralston has turned into a very strange man.
I remember a neighbour telling me in 1996 that Ralston was a “good left-wing man”, and even back then, I told her to look closer… the rot set in when he left his wife for Janet, then he turned against solo mothers (such as his ex-wife) with a vengeance. Then he extended that to all beneficiaries…
It’s for real. I did not make up a single thing.
So, Ralston really is the Right-Wing Tosser I always thought him to be !
Like most reasonably discerning people, I make a habit of avoiding Commercial Radio if I can. But back in the early 90s, I’d occassionally listen to Ralston on 2ZB. Richard Griffin was a frequent guest on the programme. Both appeared at the time to have a basic default-setting of banal National Party apologetics.
Over recent years, I’ve only come across Ralston via his dreary, turgid weekly column in the Listener (pure filler material). Good to have my initial instincts all those years ago confirmed. Presumably his “ghastly wife” 🙂 🙂 🙂 Janet Wilson is also a Nactie ? Can’t say I could ever discern her personal politics from her TV current affairs days, but I have to admit her personality always irritated me a little (always preferred ‘Black Janet’ to “White Janet’).
Unexpected Earthquake Observation #120;
That the authorities had no plan to deal with the aftermath of an earthquake disaster striking one of New Zealand’s main cities. Bloody useless. The bureacrats should be sued. Or at least placed in the stocks for public ridicule and tomato throwing.
Will be tough to execute your suggestion.
NZ has been kissing goodbye to bureaucrats. From being capped to being zapped.
They are not frontline but backroom operators – remember this government making a song and dance about efficiencies and other rhetorical claptrap?
Do you think it’s right for the far left to [deleted]
[lprent: *sigh* If you want to use something like that – then link to it and explain its relevance. Otherwise I just consider it to be diversion trolling. Next time I see you do it, you’ll get an educative holiday. ]
[lprent: Moved to OpenMike as it appears to be a different topic to that of the post it was on. ]
Be keen to see Cactus Kate ‘honestly’ defend her perfect candidacy, especially to Brash’s Exclusive Brethen mates, when she openly boasts to…
– extra marital relations with men(tick)
– weakness for hot male groupies (tick)
– has made a career out of assisting others give less money to governments to waste (tick)
– admitted recreational drug use (tick)
– likes champagne (tick)
– random bouts of tourettes (tick)
– a late night partying record equal to Winston Peters (tick).
– honest about all of the above (tick)
Yes the perfect candidate.
http://asianinvasion2006.blogspot.com/2011/04/act-sequel.html#282247340283307413
…and then to see Brash defend her candidacy to the electorate.
Jeez Polly, excitable little lass methinks. Sounds like shes selling, but is anybody buying? Suspect not…….
Use your brain lprent. Zetetic says that the comments of one act person are indicative of the misogyny of the far right. If that is true then the comments of bomber towards cactus are indicative of the misogyny and hate of the far left. Bomber’s stupid comment comparing Cactus to Graham Capill are in that vein. But you won’t find it in a link to bomber’s site because bomber deleted it, there are still comments that refer to it. Bomber also tweeted it. You can see screenshots of it here http://asianinvasion2006.blogspot.com/2011/06/new-quotes-of-day-bomber-in-gutter.html
So what’s the relevance lprent? If it is good enough to say that the stupid comments of one indicate the hatred of the right, then it’s equally valid to say that the stupid comments of one on the left indicate the hatred of the left.
[lprent: Then as I said – do the simple thing and link to it explaining why you think it is significant. Then readers can go, look and make up their own mind.
Otherwise what we see is just you spinning your own interpolation on whatever it is without relating it to the post (which you tried to do this time – but didn’t address the post at all). Your interpretations are notably quite suspect (to be precise they look like diversion trolling).
I have bumped this to OpenMike as it appears to be severely off topic
BTW: If I have to say the same thing again I’ll reduce my workload. ]
Forget Bomber and his off kilter comparisons…
Do you think someone who admittedly swears like a trooper, uses illegal drugs, parties hard with male groupies and sleeps with other peoples husbands who she’s probably helped dodge taxes and boasts about it online is a good candidate for ACT.
…and really, blowing shit up off throwaway lines from twitter. Is that all she’s got ?
PFFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTT…
Amoral and self interested. Perfect ACT material.
Aha. New age of Feminism!
I think the comments made by Act’s Peter McCaffrey on the Act Party website trying to justify Cameron Browne’s “get raped” insult is indicative of the far right’s misogyny.
An “educative holiday” at one of those nice socialist re-education camps
Warnings from the central bankers’ bank
“The rot and decay at the heart of the global financial system is deepening and extending. This is the conclusion to emerge from the annual report of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) released on Sunday.
The BIS, sometimes referred to as the central bankers’ bank, was one of the few institutions that pointed to the dangerous imbalances in the global financial system that led to the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008. Three years on its annual report gives clear indications that another financial crisis is in the making.”
Except this is not a crisis of finance. Its a crisis of the broader capitalist system of which the financial sector is but one part of.
When the arch-capitalist bankers of the world get this twitchy, though, we can be assured they are planning their next move, whatever that may be (and its not just recommending reducing government debt and spending etc. etc.).
Asshole of the Week Award – Cameron Browne
ACT on Campus Auckland vice-president Cameron Wayne Browne recently told somebody to “get raped.” Apparently he was having a heated debate on Facebook when he made the unacceptable comment. Being that rape is not acceptable under any circumstances, using such a chauvinistic remark is disgusting! The use of such derogatory language shows a lack of debating skill, not to mention a level of stupidity as thick as a short plank…
A few reflections, after returning from a visit to relatives in Sydney: firstly, you run into kiwis whichever way you turn; working, eating kebabs at the market, celebrating their birthdays at the pub, etc. Secondly, despite the political dialogue, which I shall get to shortly, an ordinary level of wellbeing is still pretty widespread, and not a reason for self-congratulation – being able to pay your bills, solve your problems and go out with your mates on Friday night is the default rather than the aspiration.
Political statements and current affairs shows are eerie in that the are virtually identical to those in NZ, but peppered with local examples. For instance, Joe Hockey promises tax cuts for “struggling Aussies” to be paid for by cutting down on the “bloated public service,” whose numbers were allegedly inflated by Julia Gillard. Instead of a boxer getting the sickness benefit for tennis elbow while training for a match, we were treated to a woman organising cat shows, carrying cages about while getting the sickness pension for a bad back. These are just two examples, but the overall tone was enough to turn you into a conspiracy theorist. It is as if the pollies and the MSM everywhere have silicone chips planted in their heads, so as to generate utterances formulated by an evil alien for world-wide distribution. It was very odd seeing Hockey saying identical sentences to those of Key or English, with a facial expression suggestive of actual thought. On the positive side, their ABC media watch is hard-hitting and really does call the media out for lying etc.
Looking at the NZ news from there; such as the plans to abolish public housing and reintroduce youth rates, I felt deeply puzzled by the apparent national indifference to the poor and low -paid, especially since there seems to be no positive plan beyond these plans, and I came to think that there are elements in NZ that actually want the poor to bugger off, or to somehow disappear from view. Another relative, waiting to pick me up from the airport, got into conversation with a woman who was also waiting for someone. “My husband left me with six kids,” she said, “Some people blame me for having them, but you just have to get on with it don’t you. It doesn’t make much difference financially whether I work or not, it’s still a struggle either way. I feel frightened every day.”
I/S brings our attention to a couple of things that’s happened lately. The first is this:
It appears that we’ve also signed up to some sort of the defensive pact with India as well as an FTA.
The other is a bit more blasé but goes towards John Key’s promise to lower wages:
Unbeflippinglievable! I have just heard on 3News, that the Warehouse and Paper Plus are “banning” Macsyna King’s forthcoming book. Where do they get off doing that? The 3 News reporter said that between them they have 195 “stores” (sic) and so that amounts to censorship, not that I would ever buy a book at the Whorehouse…
Normally, I don’t read books by Ian Wishart, (my blood pressure can’t take it), but I want to read this one, even if only to see what the woman has to say for herself. But have we become even more like the USA where this kind of thing would (from what I see) fine?
Actually, Vicky, there would be an even more compelling case for people to boycott Paper Plus until it gets rid of its “book reviewer” Kerre Woodham, and the Warehouse for its deleterious effects on local shops wherever it goes (not to mention its shoddy merchandise and the bored, overworked staff).
Kerre Woodham is their reviewer? Oh no…. I hadn’t known. Yet another reason, then.
The Facebook page shows a “mob mentality”, which my sister (!) who’s in favour of the boycott openly accused me of showing when I opposed the boycott! Insane…
It’s called free choice. The bookstores have the right to decide not to stock whatever they want. Where do you get off feeling that you can tell them that they MUST stock such-and-such book?
Anyway, the book will be sold through other vendors, so you will be quite able to read it.
I agree.
But what I really want to know is: Will the book be sold by other vendors in which The Warehouse or Paper Plus have an interest?
Cos this boycott is gonna drum up some pretty awesome publicity for whoever does retail the book, eh?
Which would make the whole thing seem a wee bit cynical IMHO…
And I have a right to boycott those “stores” (sic) and call for others to do so, as Gary McCormick reportedly is doing…
As the former Publishers Association head said on the radio this morning, it sets a very dangerous precedent. No book on a ‘controversial’ subject would be safe. I think most of it is a bunch of illiterate talkback listeners but some of it is simply an anti-Wishart campaign.
They’ve bombed TradeMe, and 87% against 13% on the poll, have got TradeMe refusing to sell it. So, what other vendors are those then?
Is this the new “counter-intuitive” marketing ploy to increase publicity for a book?
I have absolutely no time for Wishart, but placing restrictions on books like this is a bit too uncomfortably like regimes and groups that ban, bowdlerize and burn books.
That’s exactly the issue! It’s well scary…
I wonder if they will boycott the David Bain book that Joe Karam is writing?
The people who need to read the book are forensic psychiatrists and the police team investigating the death of Chris and Cru.
NewstalkZB Personalities
No. 1: BRUCE RUSSELL
According to NewstalkZB’s own website Bruce Russell “likes to bring his sense of humour to his overnight talk show, but the serious issues are also tackled.” It also claims that Russell “is widely read, and can talk with people on just about any subject they raise…”
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/featdetailnew.asp?recnumber=2&menu=3&menuitem=2
Well, let’s have a look how Russell performed last night from eight till midnight. Let’s check out that vaunted “sense of humour”, see how he tackles a very serious issue, and how his “wide reading” elevates the tone of his show….
28.6.11 NewstalkZB, 8:00 to 12 midnight
CALLER GEOFF: That lady who said Maori kids should be taken out of their homes and put into a Pakeha family was ridiculous.
BRUCE RUSSELL: It was a generalization.
CALLER: It wasn’t a generalization, it was downright backward.
RUSSELL: I don’t know why you’re upset and aggressive! The statistics show that 54 per cent of bashed kids are Maori!
Later another woman tells Russell that it’s not as simple as he says and his statistics are bogus. Such namby-pamby liberal claptrap infuriates this widely read host…
RUSSELL: See, I don’t agree with that disadvantage thing! Hopelessness is not a reason to bash your kids! Pacific Islanders don’t bash their kids. Why do I have to be careful with statistics?
MALE CALLER: It’s due to savagery, animal instinct. These people have just come out of cannibalism. It’s still in their gene pool. Samoans are a very bad violent race as well.
FEMALE CALLER: They’re violent, and they won’t work! They have loads of money! They’re lazy!
RUSSELL: Well they are just enjoying life on the dole. No responsibility. I honestly don’t believe that because your land was taken off you, that you bash your kids. See Hone Harawira is a good example. The rhetoric and the racism that comes from that joker is appalling!
CALLER: It’s these flaming left liberals, Bruce! And why the hell are the police showing bloody cultural sensitivity to Maori?
RUSSELL: I’ve got quite a few e-mails here, all about the topic under discussion tonight. The first one reads: “Culture schmulture.” Thank you Jackie. “Why do we pay these dropouts to have children?” That was another Jackie. “It’s the warrior gene”, says Richie. Hello, Diane.
CALLER DIANE: I live next door to a Maori and he is so embarrassed. He wishes he was a Fijian! What’s the pronunciation these days, Maori or Marry?
RUSSELL: I’m afraid I’m still very condemning of the sort of lifestyle of people like Macsyna King. You come to the conclusion that some people should not be allowed to have children.
MALE CALLER: They have all this Treaty money, Bruce! But they spend it all on drink and weed!
RUSSELL: You would think they would be a very wealthy society and wouldn’t need to lay around on the benefit.
et cetera, ad absurdum, ad nauseam…
Why don’t just go and dress up in white and burn a fucking cross at the local domain.
Im getting really sick of these redneck brownshirt douchebags/douchettes.
Im getting really sick of these redneck brownshirt douchebags/douchettes.
One thing wrong, there, Millsy. These people are bigots, not rednecks. Bruce Russell has done about as much work in the hot sun as he has “read widely”.
Please don’t confuse rednecks (i.e., working men) with moronic bigots.
Studies in leadership, chapter one.
All you need to know about the country’s commander-in-chief … headlines taken from Newstalk ZB:
1) 29/06/2011 13:56:01
No Kiwis caught in attack in Kabul – PM
2) 29/06/2011 17:46:00
Two SAS soldiers have been injured during a firefight with insurgents in Afghanistan today
That’s right. The Prime Minister knew diddly squat about what was going on in Kabul, and what NZ troops were doing, but that didn’t stop him pretending he did.
So, let’s ask again – who’s better informed on Afghanistan and the SAS? John Stephenson or John Key? A reporter who goes there and investigates, or a puppety-parrot?
I know. Between him and Murray Mc’Present’ it’s the worst foreign affairs team in living memory. I wonder how much input Mfat had into this ‘closer defence relationship’ with India surprise!!
this journo on the ground seems to be on the kabul story too BTW:
https://twitter.com/#!/jeromestarkey
National in Breach of Privacy Law
John Key recently sent out a personally addressed letter entitled Budget 2011 – Back to surplus sooner, better services for families. It was sent to people who are not National Party members or registered with National in any way and was mainly targeted at pensioners. There are two ways National might have attained the addresses that they sent their unsolicited letter to: 1. The Work and Income database. 2. The electoral role.
They could have used the occupation section of the electoral role and sent it to all those who described themselves as being ‘retired’.
Or retarded, as only an idiot would believe those leaflets
Yeah, could be something like that. But it’s definitely worth asking the question and it’ll be interesting to see the official response to the complaint Jackal has made to the Privacy Commissioner.
‘roll’ btw.
Thanks VoR. Note to self. Don’t blog after a hard day.
From today’s Herald – John Armstrong
Couldn’t have put it better
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10735152
STRAUSS-KAHN IN ACTION
WORLD EXCLUSIVE!!
At last, we can see security camera footage of IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn gauchely propositioning a maid at the Sofitel Hotel, New York City on May 14, 2011.
Just click on the following….
http://www.doctormacro.com/Images/Karloff,%20Boris/Annex/Annex%20-%20Karloff,%20Boris%20(Bride%20of%20Frankenstein,%20The)_05.jpg
Not happy with inferring that government could cure all sick beneficiaries within two years, when Bennett exclaimed the sickness benefit was on meant to be temporary, as if all illnesses last only two years. Bennett has gone further, her Ministry now believes forcing people into work will cure them, with the miracle that her department does not need to consider the nature of the illness, the unsuitable of the work. Work will set them free. Adequate work is a social right of all citizens, does not mean government can ignore the rest of the civil rights of citizens, their capacity, their needs, and force via threats to seek more than adequate work, inappropriate work, or be dismissed as a new class of untouchable marginalize and deprived. Has serfdom arrived under National? Surely not? Well you could move to Australia so ignore the role of government to run the economy fairly for all, hardly a choice.
What a mess this country is in .One of the worlds worst ongoing disasters and did the PM go to the UN for help? not that Ive heard .When all the available engineering brains in the country can work out what needs to be done with ChCh and create a blue print for future may be the Govt can get their bearings instead of this unqualified crap that they see as being the way forward .They have put the people of ChCh at the mercy of the insurance industry who clearly dont have the funds to finance all their obligations . AMI stadium is living proof a statement to that particular company .
Then we have our disintegrating democracy ,the same bunch of right wing fascists once again trying to rid the country of any true representation of the vote in our general elections.Hammering the masses out of their rights to any power in their govt .This govt should be put on a boat and feed to the sharks