That is more bizarre – to link the two separate things.
Both should be ditched mostly anyway – people show more allegiance today to their ethnicity and other life aspects than to their nationality, which makes more sense. The nation state is both dissipating and being hovered up by global elites hell bent on the coming world order. We are in the midst of this change which future historians will note we lived through and were part of.
They are the two primary representations of national identity, which at least Little should be able to figure.
Fair that the nation-state isn’t as strong as a concept as it once was, but it’s done a couple of millennia already and there’s little replacement on the horizon.
So how many on here prefer to sing along with the Australian anthem?
Where the hell does Little get that idea? I dont know a single person who does (We always sing the anthem at games as a family) – and have never seen this.
In fact as evidence that Little is talking shit – go to a AB game – Listen to the difference in the number of people singing to the NZ vs Aust anthem when we play Australia.
So how many on here prefer to sing along with the Australian anthem?
What’s that got to do with it?
Where the hell does Little get that idea? I dont know a single person who does (We always sing the anthem at games as a family) – and have never seen this.
That’s nice but do you actually like it? Everyone I know absolutely hates the bloody thing.
In fact as evidence that Little is talking shit – go to a AB game – Listen to the difference in the number of people singing to the NZ vs Aust anthem when we play Australia.
1. The Australian National Anthem has nothing to do with NZ’s being shit except possibly that they were both written by Australians
2. Just because people sing it doesn’t mean that they like it
So how many on here prefer to sing along with the Australian anthem?
What’s that got to do with it?
Well – Little stated the “fact” that many NZ’s perferred to sing along to the Oz anthem – Quote from the link:
“Labour leader Andrew Little has described the national anthem as a “dirge” and said many New Zealanders preferred to sing along to the Australian anthem than our own.”
He also said “Most of them sing along to the Australian national anthem before they sing along to our own.””
Im saying what he said was bullshit.
And yes – I do like it.
When I see someone saying something like “Everyone I know absolutely hates the bloody thing.” I think really ….. 100% everyone you know …… You need a wider circle of friends. Variety of views is good.
Why aren’t the revelations about our future medicine buying power under the TPPA the front page news in the Herald? Key says consumers won’t pay more, the Government will – but I wonder where people think the Government gets their revenue from – could it possibly be the taxpayers ?? Pharmac won’t be charging the consumer more for the medicines because Pharmac won’t be able to buy them at all in the future. The extension of patents on medicines will mean that generics will be so long in coming that the medicines will be superseded by others by the time we can buy the generic versions of them. Yet nothing in the country’s major newspaper – Has Key once again calmed the sheeple like the Pied Piper did the rats? Every person in the country except for the multi-millionaires should be very worried about themselves, their children, their parents. None of us know when we might get cancer or some other illness which requires expensive medicines – if we think they’re expensive now, just wait!!
Hami S – Strong words have come out from Labour and Andrew Little on TPPA re Pharmac ….. see below, and personally, I think NZers have started to wake up to the TPPA. It’ll be interesting to see what the next polling shows.
We said Pharmac and its purchasing model had to be protected’ – Little
The Labour Party says the undermining of Pharmac in the Trans Pacific Partnership breaches one of its bottom lines on the trade deal.
Leader Andrew Little said Government had misled the public by not being upfront about the potential impact on the Government agency, which uses bulk-buying power to reduce the costs of medicine for New Zealanders.
He would not rule out removing New Zealand from the controversial TPP if Labour entered Government.
Prime Minister John Key conceded for the first time today that medicine costs could rise if New Zealand signed up to the TPP, which is expected to be finalised this week. ………………………
…..Asked whether that meant Labour could not support the deal, he said: “If that bottom line isn’t met, then we don’t support the TPP.”
The TPP does not need Labour’s support to be ratified, but Government may seek cross-party support on the legislation which would confirm the deal.
Mr Little said he could not comment on whether a future Labour government would pull out of the TPP because the contents of the deal were not yet known.
He said Labour had a number of options if it entered Government, which included “fixing” the agreement or leaving it altogether.
Labour’s trade spokesman David Parker said he was confident that Labour could renegotiate the deal if it did not serve New Zealanders’ interests.
Trade deals usually required a country to give six months’ notice before pulling out. …………………………………..
Little is doing well on the TPP considering the caucus still has Goff in it but on what planet is David Parker living?
Confident we could renegotiate? Yeah sure , Japan and USA would be happy to help out.
David Parker brought his credibility (and that of the Labour Party) into question when he said he was confident that Labour could renegotiate the deal.
Jenny, how on earth can you have so much faith in any lawyer??? What has Parker achieved in the field of international FTAs which gives you so much faith in him?
How do you expect NZ to be able to force the US Congress to meet and agree to the US renegotiating the TPPA after we have signed?
Why should we place so much trust in the judgement of the Labour caucus?
I can’t really see anything changing, what is off patent now and/or contracted by PHARMAC will remain off patent and/or contracted by PHARMAC.
Suggesting that PHARMAC is somehow going to disappear and that suddenly medicines are going to be more expensive in NZ is bizarre and yet another example of Key speaking without thinking, Helen clark would never have made such a silly comment.
Even though there is some small variance in patents between the US and NZ in relation to medicines it is often the case that the relevant patent expires in the US before it expires in NZ. In relation to your comment about medicines for cancer the prices for those that are currently funded by the DHBs/PHARMAC will not change under a TPP except during a tender round wherein the price usually (but not always) declines quite significantly.
I can’t really see anything changing, what is off patent now and/or contracted by PHARMAC will remain off patent and/or contracted by PHARMAC.
As you well know it will be the new medicines that are going to cost more and they’ll do so for longer. We don’t keep using the same medicines forever.
At present PHARMAC drip feeds new medicines into the market anyway. Quite often we’ve had to wait for a products patent to expire before pHARMAC funded a product…
If people really think the PHARMAC issue is the biggest hook in the TPPA they rally aren’t looking in the right place.
“Quite often we’ve had to wait for a products patent to expire before pHARMAC funded a product…”
So now we’ll have to wait even longer for the patent to expire. How many people are going to die in the meantime?
There was a story on stuff the other day about a drug that will cure hepatitis C. It costs something like $174,000 per patient in New Zealand, precisely because it is patented and the company can therefore charge monopoly rates.
It is a literal life-saving drug. Pharmac cannot justify the current price. If prices like that (or slightly cheaper) stay around for more years, it means more people will go without the treatment than otherwise might have it, had we not agreed to longer patents.
This is all so terribly basic, I don’t know why it needs to be spelt out to someone called “northshoredoc”.
Someone from the Doctors for Public Health against Trade Agreements association (obviously biased) this on an interview on National Radio this morning that adding 1 year to patent lengths will cost Pharmac an extra $25-50 million per year. Frankly I trust their numbers more than your “nothing to see here” charade.
There are also stories about new cancer drugs that are available in Australia, but not in NZ. Is increasing patent lengths on drugs generally going to lead to more drugs being available in NZ, or fewer? The answer is obviously fewer.
This is a step forward from what we had available previously. The new medications from abbott and gilead are certainly a further improvement with reported ‘cure’ rates in the high 90% range. They are extremely expensive and many western 1st world jurisdictions around the world have struggled to fund them as the manufacturer’s pricing is exorbitant to reflect this price per cure (and saving on a liver transplant).
With or without a TPPA these medications will struggle to be funded in NZ, of note the patent on these particular products expires earlier in the USA than in NZ. This is the same case for the new cancer medications I believe you may be alluding to .. biologics for malignant melanoma perhaps ?
While you may consider this a ‘simple’ or ‘basic’ area I can assure you it is not and the simplistic comments on this website and by morons like key does little to inform anyone.
I refer you to the NZMJ, 14th February 2014, Volume 127 Number 1389
Through the TPPA, the United States (US) is seeking to eliminate therapeutic reference pricing, introduce appeals processes for pharmaceutical companies to challenge formulary listing and pricing decisions, and introduce onerous disclosure and “transparency” provisions that facilitate industry involvement in decision-making around coverage and pricing of medicines (and medical devices).
This editorial examines trends in pharmaceutical industry conduct and strategy over the past 15–20 years and argues that if the TPPA (based on the US proposals) is successfully prosecuted, it will contribute to adverse health outcomes by increasing costs and reducing access to affordable medicines for New Zealanders. This in turn can be expected to disproportionally affect disadvantaged population groups, including Māori and Pacific peoples.
CV, Yes if any of those things are in the TPPA, most especially the inability to reference price it would make things more difficult for PHARMAC… do you have any information to suggest that they are ?
Interestingly PHARMAC don’t tend to apply reference pricing to generics as the prices are so low there’s no real need and it would just lead to certain medicines no longer being available.
As I have stated a number of times I think the PHARMAC issue is a red herring and we should be far more concerned regarding other issues of the TPPA most importantly… what’s actually in it for us in terms of better access to overseas markets, really we are all in the dark until there is an agreement in front of us to peruse.
Not sure, Sanctuary. NZers don’t like early elections – they punished the Nats last time they tried it.
Also – haven’t you seen the Maori Party (minus Sharples and Turiana) rolling over like good dogs for the Nats – they won’t vote against them.
I think you’re absolutely right xianmac I doubt we’ll get anything meaningful for our agricultural/horticultural industries in the next 20 years which begs the question why do it ?
Yup. We simply need to behave like a good little colony of the economic imperium of the United States, a supine position our Hawaii based, and paid up member of the globalised elite, prime minister is more than happy to adopt.
@CV, Yes I think it’s more about wanting to be part of the club and free trade ideology than anything else. I’m also of the opinion that Labour and National will OK the deal regardless.
Tell that to Switzerland or Greece of the UK in relation to the EU…. many more example where being outside the tent hasn’t particularly harmed a national or in Greeces case where being inside has harmed them.
I don’t really believe in absolutes as many do on these blog sites.
lol
that’s neoliberalism right there – 1% fart in the tent and then tell everyone else to stay inside because what they’re really smelling is chocolate.
Jenny Kirk – of course they will – their bottom lines as they are, will be found not to be in conflict with supporting signing the TPPA if it comes down to it.
Kathryn Ryan claims big pharmaceutical companies are “not the bad guy”;
Does she actually do any preparation for her interviews? Nine to Noon, Radio NZ National, Wednesday 29 July 2015
We have expressed our concern on many occasions at the shallowness and the lack of knowledge exhibited by Kathryn Ryan.
This morning she perhaps scraped the very bottom of the barrel during an interview with a medical oncologist about the government’s reckless endangerment of our public health system by exposing us to the predations of the pharmaceutical conglomerates….
KATHRYN RYAN: Let’s be clear here; Pharma, or the big pharmaceutical companies, is not the bad guy here.
DR. BERNIE FITZHARRIS: No, and that’s fair enough. They want to maximise the return to their shareholders.
Agree also. Does Kathryn Ryan not know WHY Pharmac was formed? The big pharmaceuticals WERE playing bad guys in the 19802 and forcing the cost of medicines up high – too high for NZers.
They don’t even try to justify the price of the drug…..
“The price of Sovaldi and Harvoni is determined on a country-by-country basis taking into account the burden of disease in the country, its economic means and the value of the medicine in terms of its impact on improving overall health outcomes.”
In other words they’re saying they charge as much as they can possibly get away with. They’re little more than hostage takers demanding ransom.
I wonder if our consumer laws might be used to some advantage here. They should at least be required to refund if the cure doesn’t cure……
And if you could work out which countries it is cheap in a little internet buying or even a trip overseas ( and arrangements with customs to bring it back in) would see a solid price drop
The Labour (or Labor) Parties in Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia are currently afflicted with mealy-mouthed, inept and pretty much useless leaders.
But in Britain, at least, there is a real sense of hope emerging….
“The crisis (in the British Labour party) consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born”
Corbyn is merely reflecting what is happening across the wider European left – an acceptance on the ground that the left is no longer defenders of social democratic welfare states but is again weak enough institutionally to be in a position to champion revolutionary action.
The comfortably institutionalised elite leadership cadres centre-left parties are either going to be shaken out their torpor and into this new revolutionary paradigm (and be part of the new that is being born) or be the old, and die/merge with the right wing establishment so many of them are in reality part of.
In the short to medium turn, that’ll probably involve a split in British Labour, with a bunch of Blairites moving to occupy the ground left by the recently massacred Liberal Democrats.
ENERGY prices have been falling for a year. Over the last month that trend has accelerated. On July 24th, the price of a barrel of oil in America reached a low of $48. In spite of this, governments are still splurging on subsidies to prop up production. Fossil fuels are reaping support of $550 billion annually, according the International Energy Agency (IEA), an organisation that represents oil- and gas-consuming countries, more than four times those given for renewable energy. The International Monetary Fund’s estimates are substantially higher. It said in May that countries will spend $5.3 trillion subsiding oil, gas and coal in 2015, versus $2 trillion in 2011. That is equivalent to 6.5% of global GDP, and is more than what governments across the world spend on healthcare. At a time of low energy prices, high government debt and rising concern over emissions there is scant justification for such spending. So why is the world addicted to energy subsidies?
Apparently to help the rich
This is a problem because it wastes fiscal resources and hardly benefits the poor, as the wealthy drive more and guzzle more power. The IEA believes that only 8% of subsidies accrue to the poorest fifth of the population.
Just think, if we took those $5.3 trillion of subsidies and put them fully onto renewables we’d easily be able to achieve 0 emissions by 2050 across the world.
“Ummmm, ahhhh, you know”: The Eloquence of Fran O’Sullivan
The NZ Herald‘s Fran O’Sullivan is a regular commentator on business and politics. While she is capable of speaking clearly and effectively, as she does when she is on television, or when addressing a gathering of business people, it’s quite clear that she doesn’t put a lot of effort in when she talks to someone for whom she doesn’t respect….
1.) Monday 16 February 2009, 6:14 to 6:21 p.m.
Fran O’Sullivan on Larry Williams Drive, NewstalkZB…
“Um”………. 51 times
“Ahh”……….15 times
“y’ know”…….9 times
“um, er”………4 times
2.) Monday 23 February 2009, 6:12 to 6:19 p.m.
Larry Williams Drive, NewstalkZB…
“Umm, aah, errrr”…….. 39 times
“y’ know”…….7 times
“Sort of”……..2 times
“I mean”……..1 time
“At the end of the day”….2 times
3.) Thursday 26 February 2009, 6:10 to 6:20 p.m.
Larry Williams Drive, NewstalkZB,
In a rambling ten-minute chat with Williams, O’Sullivan said “um” or “aaah” 76 times. That’s SEVENTY-SIX times. She said “You know” 20 (TWENTY) times.
4.) Monday 11 July 2011, 6:20 to 6:25 p.m.
Larry Williams Drive, NewstalkZB….
“Umm, ahhh”………. 47 times
“y’ know”…….23 times
5.) Monday 18 July 2011, 6:25 to 6:29 p.m.
Larry Williams Drive, NewstalkZB…
“Umm, ahhh”………. 45 times
“y’ know”……………….14 times
6.) Wednesday 21.3.2012, 6:38 to 6:41 p.m.
Still dumbing it down for Larry Williams…
“Umm, ahhh”………. 56 times
“y’ know”……………….6 times
7.) Wednesday 11 June 2013, 11:07 to 11:24 a.m.
Fran O’Sullivan, interviewed by Kathryn Ryan, Radio NZ National…
“um, ahh”…. 89 times
“Well” …….….11 times
An OPEN LETTER from some of the world’s leading citizens
10236 Charing Cross Road,
Los Angeles,
California
Wednesday, 29 July 2015
Dear World,
What exactly is it that Lord Sewel did that is wrong?
Sincerely,
H.R.H. Prince Harry
Alan Dershowitz
H.R.H. Prince Andrew
Silvio Berlusconi
Senator John Edwards
Gary Condit
Ed Schrock
Congressman Mark Foley
Newt Gingrich
Donald “Buz” Lukens
Senator Brock Adams
Gary Hart
William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton
William Henry “Bill” Cosby Jr.
Rolf Harris
Rob Lowe
Lord Lambton
Lord Archer
Eliot Spitzer
Senator Robert “Bob” Packwood
Max Mosley
Richard Worth
David Letterman
Paul Gadd
Max Clifford
Sir Cyril Smith
David Wu
Vance McAllister
Anthony Weiner
In this interview in Australia, Professor Steve Keen of Kingston University predicts a full market crash in China and explains why the crushing of Greek democracy by the European Union may well open the doors to fascism in Greece.
The discussion is noteworthy for the economist’s very pessimistic views on Greece, Europe and China that chime with comments made by fund manager and Planet Ponzi author Mitch Feierstein.
In addition, there is some discussion of the Australian property market and, although the focus is on Australian housing, his comments on private debt also provide lessons for the UK market.
Even an arch-Tory sees problems with hot and dirty money being allowed into the housing market. Pity our arch-Tories are blind to it.
“David Cameron will promise to act against corrupt foreigners who buy up luxury properties in the UK using secretive holding companies to hide their “dirty money”.
The prime minister will use a visit to Singapore to make an anti-corruption speech on Tuesday in which he will express concern that some properties, mainly in London, “are being bought by people overseas through anonymous shell companies, some with plundered or laundered cash”.
Drawing on proposals advanced by campaign group Transparency International, Cameron will set out his determination to ensure that “the UK must not become a safe haven for corrupt money from around the world”.
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Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
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A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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Couldn’t agree more, good on you Mr Little
“Labour leader Andrew Little has described the national anthem as a “dirge”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11488272
I like Mr Little.
He is not scared of calling things out.
He shows strength.
He is unafraid to stand up to things wrong.
Keep going Mr Little – and let a bit of that humour that we all know you have in spades out for some sunlight
Hes not wrong about the anthem
It’s a bizarre comment.
Why complain about the national anthem when you don’t want to change the national flag?
That is more bizarre – to link the two separate things.
Both should be ditched mostly anyway – people show more allegiance today to their ethnicity and other life aspects than to their nationality, which makes more sense. The nation state is both dissipating and being hovered up by global elites hell bent on the coming world order. We are in the midst of this change which future historians will note we lived through and were part of.
They are the two primary representations of national identity, which at least Little should be able to figure.
Fair that the nation-state isn’t as strong as a concept as it once was, but it’s done a couple of millennia already and there’s little replacement on the horizon.
I’ll take the nation state over global governance and control any day of the week. In fact I’ll fight tooth and nail to defend it.
What a pity he doesn’t speak out so forcefully about something that actually matters—like the persecution of journalists in this country.
So how many on here prefer to sing along with the Australian anthem?
Where the hell does Little get that idea? I dont know a single person who does (We always sing the anthem at games as a family) – and have never seen this.
In fact as evidence that Little is talking shit – go to a AB game – Listen to the difference in the number of people singing to the NZ vs Aust anthem when we play Australia.
What’s that got to do with it?
That’s nice but do you actually like it? Everyone I know absolutely hates the bloody thing.
1. The Australian National Anthem has nothing to do with NZ’s being shit except possibly that they were both written by Australians
2. Just because people sing it doesn’t mean that they like it
So how many on here prefer to sing along with the Australian anthem?
What’s that got to do with it?
Well – Little stated the “fact” that many NZ’s perferred to sing along to the Oz anthem – Quote from the link:
“Labour leader Andrew Little has described the national anthem as a “dirge” and said many New Zealanders preferred to sing along to the Australian anthem than our own.”
He also said “Most of them sing along to the Australian national anthem before they sing along to our own.””
Im saying what he said was bullshit.
And yes – I do like it.
When I see someone saying something like “Everyone I know absolutely hates the bloody thing.” I think really ….. 100% everyone you know …… You need a wider circle of friends. Variety of views is good.
Ever since I can remember, my mum has said she always thought the NZ national anthem was crappy and Australia’s was much better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NXnxTNIWkc
Song for Karol wherever she is, and women of the left in general.
Four non-blondes – What’s Going On?
Had me right there at the boots 😉
cheers js!
Why aren’t the revelations about our future medicine buying power under the TPPA the front page news in the Herald? Key says consumers won’t pay more, the Government will – but I wonder where people think the Government gets their revenue from – could it possibly be the taxpayers ?? Pharmac won’t be charging the consumer more for the medicines because Pharmac won’t be able to buy them at all in the future. The extension of patents on medicines will mean that generics will be so long in coming that the medicines will be superseded by others by the time we can buy the generic versions of them. Yet nothing in the country’s major newspaper – Has Key once again calmed the sheeple like the Pied Piper did the rats? Every person in the country except for the multi-millionaires should be very worried about themselves, their children, their parents. None of us know when we might get cancer or some other illness which requires expensive medicines – if we think they’re expensive now, just wait!!
Hami S – Strong words have come out from Labour and Andrew Little on TPPA re Pharmac ….. see below, and personally, I think NZers have started to wake up to the TPPA. It’ll be interesting to see what the next polling shows.
We said Pharmac and its purchasing model had to be protected’ – Little
The Labour Party says the undermining of Pharmac in the Trans Pacific Partnership breaches one of its bottom lines on the trade deal.
Leader Andrew Little said Government had misled the public by not being upfront about the potential impact on the Government agency, which uses bulk-buying power to reduce the costs of medicine for New Zealanders.
He would not rule out removing New Zealand from the controversial TPP if Labour entered Government.
Prime Minister John Key conceded for the first time today that medicine costs could rise if New Zealand signed up to the TPP, which is expected to be finalised this week. ………………………
…..Asked whether that meant Labour could not support the deal, he said: “If that bottom line isn’t met, then we don’t support the TPP.”
The TPP does not need Labour’s support to be ratified, but Government may seek cross-party support on the legislation which would confirm the deal.
Mr Little said he could not comment on whether a future Labour government would pull out of the TPP because the contents of the deal were not yet known.
He said Labour had a number of options if it entered Government, which included “fixing” the agreement or leaving it altogether.
Labour’s trade spokesman David Parker said he was confident that Labour could renegotiate the deal if it did not serve New Zealanders’ interests.
Trade deals usually required a country to give six months’ notice before pulling out. …………………………………..
Further details in this link – NZ Herald
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11488237
I sure hope the population starts thinking long and hard about this – they haven’t done much of that for the last few years!
Little is doing well on the TPP considering the caucus still has Goff in it but on what planet is David Parker living?
Confident we could renegotiate? Yeah sure , Japan and USA would be happy to help out.
Little is doing well on the TPP considering the caucus still has Goff in it…
I thought the same thing. I haven’t caught up with David Parker’s stance so I can’t comment on that.
David Parker brought his credibility (and that of the Labour Party) into question when he said he was confident that Labour could renegotiate the deal.
Nonsense, TC. Parker is a lawyer, and he’s a very bright guy. He doesn’t say anything he doesn’t mean.
Jenny, how on earth can you have so much faith in any lawyer??? What has Parker achieved in the field of international FTAs which gives you so much faith in him?
How do you expect NZ to be able to force the US Congress to meet and agree to the US renegotiating the TPPA after we have signed?
Why should we place so much trust in the judgement of the Labour caucus?
hi cr, speaking of labour and lawyers, makes me think of langes quip about never trust a lawyer, half of them are always wrong.
heh Lange was good with his one liners
Jenny, it was a silly comment for a supposedly “bright guy”.
His confidence may be genuine but the reality of Labour renegotiating the deal is slim to none.
I suppose it is no secret, but my sense is that Parker is not personally opposed to the TPPA.
I can’t really see anything changing, what is off patent now and/or contracted by PHARMAC will remain off patent and/or contracted by PHARMAC.
Suggesting that PHARMAC is somehow going to disappear and that suddenly medicines are going to be more expensive in NZ is bizarre and yet another example of Key speaking without thinking, Helen clark would never have made such a silly comment.
Even though there is some small variance in patents between the US and NZ in relation to medicines it is often the case that the relevant patent expires in the US before it expires in NZ. In relation to your comment about medicines for cancer the prices for those that are currently funded by the DHBs/PHARMAC will not change under a TPP except during a tender round wherein the price usually (but not always) declines quite significantly.
As you well know it will be the new medicines that are going to cost more and they’ll do so for longer. We don’t keep using the same medicines forever.
How will the new medicines cost more ?
At present PHARMAC drip feeds new medicines into the market anyway. Quite often we’ve had to wait for a products patent to expire before pHARMAC funded a product…
If people really think the PHARMAC issue is the biggest hook in the TPPA they rally aren’t looking in the right place.
“Quite often we’ve had to wait for a products patent to expire before pHARMAC funded a product…”
So now we’ll have to wait even longer for the patent to expire. How many people are going to die in the meantime?
There was a story on stuff the other day about a drug that will cure hepatitis C. It costs something like $174,000 per patient in New Zealand, precisely because it is patented and the company can therefore charge monopoly rates.
It is a literal life-saving drug. Pharmac cannot justify the current price. If prices like that (or slightly cheaper) stay around for more years, it means more people will go without the treatment than otherwise might have it, had we not agreed to longer patents.
This is all so terribly basic, I don’t know why it needs to be spelt out to someone called “northshoredoc”.
Someone from the Doctors for Public Health against Trade Agreements association (obviously biased) this on an interview on National Radio this morning that adding 1 year to patent lengths will cost Pharmac an extra $25-50 million per year. Frankly I trust their numbers more than your “nothing to see here” charade.
There are also stories about new cancer drugs that are available in Australia, but not in NZ. Is increasing patent lengths on drugs generally going to lead to more drugs being available in NZ, or fewer? The answer is obviously fewer.
Lanthanide I have no idea who these “Doctors for Public Health against Trade Agreements association ” are, perhaps you could enlighten me.
In relation to the new medications for Hep C, PHARMAC has recently funded new products for Hep C as below.
http://www.pharmac.health.nz/assets/notification-2013-08-09-boceprevir-and-pegylated-interferon.pdf
This is a step forward from what we had available previously. The new medications from abbott and gilead are certainly a further improvement with reported ‘cure’ rates in the high 90% range. They are extremely expensive and many western 1st world jurisdictions around the world have struggled to fund them as the manufacturer’s pricing is exorbitant to reflect this price per cure (and saving on a liver transplant).
With or without a TPPA these medications will struggle to be funded in NZ, of note the patent on these particular products expires earlier in the USA than in NZ. This is the same case for the new cancer medications I believe you may be alluding to .. biologics for malignant melanoma perhaps ?
While you may consider this a ‘simple’ or ‘basic’ area I can assure you it is not and the simplistic comments on this website and by morons like key does little to inform anyone.
“With or without a TPPA these medications will struggle to be funded in NZ”
At best, the TPPA changes nothing.
At worst, it means these drugs will stay expensive for longer, hence less access.
It really is very simple.
🙄
northshoredoc
I refer you to the NZMJ, 14th February 2014, Volume 127 Number 1389
CV, Yes if any of those things are in the TPPA, most especially the inability to reference price it would make things more difficult for PHARMAC… do you have any information to suggest that they are ?
Interestingly PHARMAC don’t tend to apply reference pricing to generics as the prices are so low there’s no real need and it would just lead to certain medicines no longer being available.
As I have stated a number of times I think the PHARMAC issue is a red herring and we should be far more concerned regarding other issues of the TPPA most importantly… what’s actually in it for us in terms of better access to overseas markets, really we are all in the dark until there is an agreement in front of us to peruse.
Agree with your contention that there may be bigger fish to fry in the TPPA in terms of things that we need to look out for.
You’re right Hami. Perhaps Auckland is in a Housing Bubble and in “TPP Free”
Bubble.
A great talk on Morning Report after 8 this morning.
here are the various TPPA articles from this morning’s Morning Report
6:40 a.m. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201764256/tim-groser-says-tppa-finish-line-is-in-sight
7:11 a.m. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201764266/final-tpp-negotiations-begin-in-hawaii-this-morning
7:49 a.m. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201764273/maori-voice-their-tpp-related-claims-on-eve-of-negotiations
8:11a.m. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201764276/smoke-screen-put-up-on-ballooning-medicine-costs-tpp-objector
8:16 a.m. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201764277/tppa-and-canadian-concerns-about-any-agreement
8:39 a.m. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201764283/tppa-from-the-canadian-angle
but there is a heavy question overhanging another story from this morning’s broadcast –
How can NZ reform its regulations when the TPPA has not been signed and how can this reform continue in any meaningful manner until the rules of our new obligations are known?
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/businessnews/audio/201764262/business-nz-gives-thumbs-up-to-government-reform-plans
and from Nine to Noon
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201764290/clinicians-alarmed-over-impact-of-tpp-on-drug-costs
from Nine to Noon
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/279978/cancer-specialist-warns-tpp-will-delay-medicines
John Key simply bullshitted New Zealand yesterday when he said that Pharmac costs will not affect New Zealanders…
liar
liar
liar
deceiver extraordinaire
deceitful
snake-oil salesman
can’t stand liars and deceit
Constitutional question:
National unilaterally signs up to the TPP. Cabinet and Select committee use government majority to rubber stamp deal.
National fails to pass enabling Pharmac legislation, being defeated by Labour/Green/NZ First/Maori Party votes.
Constitutional crisis? Early election?
Sigh….what pHARMAC enabling legislation ?
There won’t be any..
Not sure, Sanctuary. NZers don’t like early elections – they punished the Nats last time they tried it.
Also – haven’t you seen the Maori Party (minus Sharples and Turiana) rolling over like good dogs for the Nats – they won’t vote against them.
My guess is that Countries with high tariffs and subsidised farming will only free trade after about 25 year lead in. Just wait.
I think you’re absolutely right xianmac I doubt we’ll get anything meaningful for our agricultural/horticultural industries in the next 20 years which begs the question why do it ?
Suggests that this commercial agreement is primarily directed by power politics, not by good economics.
Yup. We simply need to behave like a good little colony of the economic imperium of the United States, a supine position our Hawaii based, and paid up member of the globalised elite, prime minister is more than happy to adopt.
quote John Kerry…’when it comes to NZ ..we dont even have …to ask!’
@CV, Yes I think it’s more about wanting to be part of the club and free trade ideology than anything else. I’m also of the opinion that Labour and National will OK the deal regardless.
Always better to be inside the tent than out.
Tell that to Switzerland or Greece of the UK in relation to the EU…. many more example where being outside the tent hasn’t particularly harmed a national or in Greeces case where being inside has harmed them.
I don’t really believe in absolutes as many do on these blog sites.
Switzerland isn’t in the EU and never has been (due to their policy of neutrality).
Yes ..that was my point..being outside the tent hasn’t done them any noticeable harm.
Not always. Being inside the tent as a slave certainly isn’t and that seems to be NZ’s position inside the TPPA.
Not if someone farts.
Depends: http://www.pilulepet.com/en/15-pilule-qui-parfume-les-flatulences.html
lol
that’s neoliberalism right there – 1% fart in the tent and then tell everyone else to stay inside because what they’re really smelling is chocolate.
NSdoc – Nonsense – Labour won’t okay the deal if their bottom lines are knocked out. Please get a bit real about this.
Jenny Kirk – of course they will – their bottom lines as they are, will be found not to be in conflict with supporting signing the TPPA if it comes down to it.
Dim Post makes the same point via dear ole Fran.
https://dimpost.wordpress.com/2015/07/29/nuanced/
Kathryn Ryan claims big pharmaceutical companies are “not the bad guy”;
Does she actually do any preparation for her interviews?
Nine to Noon, Radio NZ National, Wednesday 29 July 2015
We have expressed our concern on many occasions at the shallowness and the lack of knowledge exhibited by Kathryn Ryan.
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-18072014/#comment-850765
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-17072014/#comment-850188
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-21012014/#comment-760529
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-13122013/#comment-744053
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-24102013/#comment-715845
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-12042012/#comment-458258
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-04062013/#comment-643309
This morning she perhaps scraped the very bottom of the barrel during an interview with a medical oncologist about the government’s reckless endangerment of our public health system by exposing us to the predations of the pharmaceutical conglomerates….
KATHRYN RYAN: Let’s be clear here; Pharma, or the big pharmaceutical companies, is not the bad guy here.
DR. BERNIE FITZHARRIS: No, and that’s fair enough. They want to maximise the return to their shareholders.
Anyone who wishes to go a step further than Kathryn Ryan and actually do some reading about this should click on the following link….
http://www.citizen.org/publications/publicationredirect.cfm?ID=7065
@Morrissey
Agreed. Ryan let her right wing leanings show this morning. I’m always amazed how few people on TS realise she favours the right.
She’s hopeless and clueless.
I was also disappointed by the muddle-headed response by Dr Fitzharris.
Agree also. Does Kathryn Ryan not know WHY Pharmac was formed? The big pharmaceuticals WERE playing bad guys in the 19802 and forcing the cost of medicines up high – too high for NZers.
There’s a good article here on how big Pharmas are ripping nations off….
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/70539656/cost-keeps-cure-out-of-reach-for-those-with-hepatitis-c
They don’t even try to justify the price of the drug…..
“The price of Sovaldi and Harvoni is determined on a country-by-country basis taking into account the burden of disease in the country, its economic means and the value of the medicine in terms of its impact on improving overall health outcomes.”
In other words they’re saying they charge as much as they can possibly get away with. They’re little more than hostage takers demanding ransom.
I wonder if our consumer laws might be used to some advantage here. They should at least be required to refund if the cure doesn’t cure……
And if you could work out which countries it is cheap in a little internet buying or even a trip overseas ( and arrangements with customs to bring it back in) would see a solid price drop
🙄
Finally, some good news from the United Kingdom
The Labour (or Labor) Parties in Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia are currently afflicted with mealy-mouthed, inept and pretty much useless leaders.
But in Britain, at least, there is a real sense of hope emerging….
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-takes-22point-lead-in-labour-leadership-race-10422523.html
dont worry, his Blairite caucus will sort him out
“The crisis (in the British Labour party) consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born”
Corbyn is merely reflecting what is happening across the wider European left – an acceptance on the ground that the left is no longer defenders of social democratic welfare states but is again weak enough institutionally to be in a position to champion revolutionary action.
The comfortably institutionalised elite leadership cadres centre-left parties are either going to be shaken out their torpor and into this new revolutionary paradigm (and be part of the new that is being born) or be the old, and die/merge with the right wing establishment so many of them are in reality part of.
In the short to medium turn, that’ll probably involve a split in British Labour, with a bunch of Blairites moving to occupy the ground left by the recently massacred Liberal Democrats.
Why Labour is considered National Lite and losing voters. From the herald on TPPA
Already the Labour Party has given conditional support only to the deal. It not only wants to see the fine-print but has signaled five no go areas.
How can Labour give conditional support to a deal they have not even seen?
Ideology.
The global addiction to energy subsidies
Apparently to help the rich
Just think, if we took those $5.3 trillion of subsidies and put them fully onto renewables we’d easily be able to achieve 0 emissions by 2050 across the world.
“Ummmm, ahhhh, you know”: The Eloquence of Fran O’Sullivan
The NZ Herald‘s Fran O’Sullivan is a regular commentator on business and politics. While she is capable of speaking clearly and effectively, as she does when she is on television, or when addressing a gathering of business people, it’s quite clear that she doesn’t put a lot of effort in when she talks to someone for whom she doesn’t respect….
1.) Monday 16 February 2009, 6:14 to 6:21 p.m.
Fran O’Sullivan on Larry Williams Drive, NewstalkZB…
“Um”………. 51 times
“Ahh”……….15 times
“y’ know”…….9 times
“um, er”………4 times
2.) Monday 23 February 2009, 6:12 to 6:19 p.m.
Larry Williams Drive, NewstalkZB…
“Umm, aah, errrr”…….. 39 times
“y’ know”…….7 times
“Sort of”……..2 times
“I mean”……..1 time
“At the end of the day”….2 times
3.) Thursday 26 February 2009, 6:10 to 6:20 p.m.
Larry Williams Drive, NewstalkZB,
In a rambling ten-minute chat with Williams, O’Sullivan said “um” or “aaah” 76 times. That’s SEVENTY-SIX times. She said “You know” 20 (TWENTY) times.
4.) Monday 11 July 2011, 6:20 to 6:25 p.m.
Larry Williams Drive, NewstalkZB….
“Umm, ahhh”………. 47 times
“y’ know”…….23 times
5.) Monday 18 July 2011, 6:25 to 6:29 p.m.
Larry Williams Drive, NewstalkZB…
“Umm, ahhh”………. 45 times
“y’ know”……………….14 times
6.) Wednesday 21.3.2012, 6:38 to 6:41 p.m.
Still dumbing it down for Larry Williams…
“Umm, ahhh”………. 56 times
“y’ know”……………….6 times
7.) Wednesday 11 June 2013, 11:07 to 11:24 a.m.
Fran O’Sullivan, interviewed by Kathryn Ryan, Radio NZ National…
“um, ahh”…. 89 times
“Well” …….….11 times
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-11082011/#comment-363119
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/07/27/whistleblower-exposes-torture-and-child-abuse-profit-prison?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork
An OPEN LETTER from some of the world’s leading citizens
10236 Charing Cross Road,
Los Angeles,
California
Wednesday, 29 July 2015
Dear World,
What exactly is it that Lord Sewel did that is wrong?
Sincerely,
H.R.H. Prince Harry
Alan Dershowitz
H.R.H. Prince Andrew
Silvio Berlusconi
Senator John Edwards
Gary Condit
Ed Schrock
Congressman Mark Foley
Newt Gingrich
Donald “Buz” Lukens
Senator Brock Adams
Gary Hart
William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton
William Henry “Bill” Cosby Jr.
Rolf Harris
Rob Lowe
Lord Lambton
Lord Archer
Eliot Spitzer
Senator Robert “Bob” Packwood
Max Mosley
Richard Worth
David Letterman
Paul Gadd
Max Clifford
Sir Cyril Smith
David Wu
Vance McAllister
Anthony Weiner
Auckland you need to put on the biggest turn out that Queen St has ever seen!
Join
TPPA – Walk Away! AUCKLAND
Saturday, August 15 at 1:00pm
Aotea Square in Auckland, New Zealand
1,755 people are going
TPPA Nationwide Protests – Christchurch
Saturday, August 15 at 12:30pm
Hagley Park in Christchurch, New Zealand
840 people are going
Professor Steve Keen on Greece, China and private debt
Well worth watching/listening to.
http://www.vox.com/2015/7/28/9014491/bernie-sanders-vox-conversation
A great interview with US Sen Bernie Sanders. I hope this man becomes President.
Im sure that a few on here will love this news: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11488774
Colin Craig taking people to court, again.
Looking for $650k from Cameron Slater.
Of course this will be interesting if its defended – If Whale has material to back up his post.
Colin Craig is a gift to the left.
The mans cheese has slid off the cracker
Even an arch-Tory sees problems with hot and dirty money being allowed into the housing market. Pity our arch-Tories are blind to it.
“David Cameron will promise to act against corrupt foreigners who buy up luxury properties in the UK using secretive holding companies to hide their “dirty money”.
The prime minister will use a visit to Singapore to make an anti-corruption speech on Tuesday in which he will express concern that some properties, mainly in London, “are being bought by people overseas through anonymous shell companies, some with plundered or laundered cash”.
Drawing on proposals advanced by campaign group Transparency International, Cameron will set out his determination to ensure that “the UK must not become a safe haven for corrupt money from around the world”.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/28/david-cameron-fight-dirty-money-uk-property-market-corruption
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/70653837/men-charged-with-500-sex-offences-against-girl-in-australia
At some point i’d like to see a discussion started on the merits (or not) of the death penelty but i doubt it’ll ever happen
There are no merits. End of discussion.