Scrolling further down, I see that (as far as I can tell with their tortured grammar) Slippery believes that the Sandy Hook shootings and Boston Marathon bombing were “theatre”.
It looks like buying shares in aluminium foil manufacturers will be a good investment.
Hate to sound like im wearing one rino but have you seen and heard the facts of sandy hook ? theres some very wierd stuff gone down there even taking into account the imput from the more dedicated conspiracy theorists and the fact america is a wierd place anyway for example didnt you find it strange that the parents wernt allowed to see the bodies of their slain children ??
Has anyone else noticed what appears to be a deliberate propaganda campaign from the press on housing? These insulting ‘anyone can buy a house if they work hard’ articles have been appearing at regular intervals for quite some time in both major ‘papers. They’re patently misleading to the extent it can’t be just poor research IMO.
The observant will have noticed these articles are puff pieces that don’t fit the stories, they fail to reveal that the house buyer received financial assistance from another party(s). The real message in most of them is that if you don’t have a sugar daddy you’ll not be able to buy a house but they cynically invert that to say the opposite.
the twenty one year old wellingtonians started saving for his house at 7 years old? Or did his parents start.
I actually have nothing against this. I often wonder why parents don’t start a savings account for their kids immediately after birth. Put in 5 bucks a week/month and by the time the kids are of age they have a bit of cash there. This however demands some discipline from the parents to not touch the money if the need arises.
In saying that, getting a mortgage is one thing, being able to then to service it without fault is another thing altogether.
So by the time then man is 35 he may have lost a job, has married and has a child with special needs, has had an accident that left him or his wife with special needs and voila…….he may loose his house.
This is what annoys me about the house porn in the Herald, the easiest thing is getting the mortgage, its the keeping up with the payments, rates, insurance, and upkeep of the property that kills many especially in times of no job security, climate change, etc etc etc. What looked feasible when signing up to it may turn out to be impossible ten years later.
Sabine the general idea is to critique the story, first against what you know and then ask a few pertinent questions from what the story doesn’t say but should.
For starters a student on a low income would not get a mortgage of that size by himself, the banks require you have an income commensurate with the size of the mortgage. Then there’s the fact the ‘house’ was quoted as a “two-flat property” and mentioned a friend as a partner. It’s a fair bet the partner had the financial resources to clinch the deal and I can’t see how that translates into this guy buying his own house.
What i am trying to say is that in terms of commitment over the years getting a deposit together may be the easiest thing. Its the thirty years + of paying that mortgage off where one has not much control over.
So one can get help form parents, may have an inheritance form a grand parent, may team up with half a dozen of mates etc etc etc and eventually scrapes together the requirements of the bank and gets the mortgage, but then that mortgage needs to be paid. Another 30 years of negotiation ahead, this time with the family (what are needs what are wants), the business friends (are they still friend friend or do you need to pay them out), divorce can kill the house dream for ever, sickness, unemployment etc etc etc.
But as i have stated on other such stories is simply that the Guy has not bought a house, he has bought a mortgage and until that mortgage is paid in full he has no house, the bank has. He only has an arse full of debt and a very uncertain future ahead re climate change, changing work conditions, diminishing social net etc etc.
so maybe some of the young today really do only see their going ahead on the back of a mortgage.
The deposit isn’t the easiest part Sabine, that’s what prevents most low income people from buying their own home.
The formula with property is pretty consistent; the difference between rent and mortgage is roughly what you can save for the deposit. Once you buy you can stop saving and put the dosh towards the mortgage which itself is saving.
The main problem people have today is that inflation on deposits and mortgages is higher than wage inflation so they can’t catch up.
This guy didn’t really save a deposit, it looks more like he chipped in on a business deal. The article is dishonest IMO.
I’m afraid I can’t see your point Sabine. Mine was that the press appear to be running a deliberate misinformation campaign. The article was written for a reason and it carries a message, my view was the message is false and deliberately so.
It’s interesting reading the comments on that last story. Clearly few people actually read the article through, most seemed to have absorbed the headline & the jerking knee may have stopped them reading further.
OK he saved 40k. That is note worthy and well done.
BUT there is no way he would be able to borrow 500k (gv of 640k on a minimal odd job income.
Some one has guaranteed the loan.
He worked on his parents farm.
Yes. There’s also other clues in the article that suggest the picture the paper is painting, ie all it takes is hard work & saving to buy a house, is pure fabrication.
I’d question why they’re doing these regular articles, I’ve read at least a dozen from both major dailies that all convey the same false message. How did they get this guys (non) story in the first place?
I suspect you’re right on the money there McFlock, the RE industry must spend a fortune on advertising in the ‘papers & probably demand their pound of flesh in return.
Having recently been down the track of saving for a house and trying to get a mortgage I find these puff pieces insulting and infuriating.
Yeah, these puff pieces are another sign that the market is getting jitterey. The industry is resorting to spin and bullshit to try and maintain market confidence.
Because that’s what it’s all about, confidence that there will be a buyer there tomorrow who will pay more than you paid yesterday.
DH; depends whether you think the media’s job is to reflect or challenge society. If the former, then I’d say that story is a reflection of a rundown deluded market economy.
To suggest that money changed hands in order to run the story is a little idiotic.
The yarn reflects the commercial zeitgeist, sadly.
And a dozen stories from both major dailies over the past few years of the asset credit boom is tiny, given that the proportion of stories now that deal with the housing market is significant. It’s in the news in some form every day.
No-one has said money changed hands to run the story Robertina, you assumed that and incorrectly so. The suggestion was that advertisers who spend big money have some influence over the publisher.
A job of the media is to ensure a reasonable semblance of balance in their reporting. With these articles they’re failing to do so and the imbalance is so obvious it appears to be deliberate misinformation.
One of us has read it wrong then Robertina. McFlock’s post was made as a reply to mine in which I asked the question of how the press found out about the guy buying the house.
In that context I took her/his comment to mean a PR firm may have been engaged to find such feelgood stories and feed them to the press. That doesn’t suggest money changed hands to actually run the story.
Well, you also suggested RE companies demanded a pound of flesh in demand for ad spend, as well as agreeing with McFlock that a PR agency was likely paid to plant stories.
No doubt you mean well. But it’s no different from righties whinging about the likes of the substandard unconsented rentals series on Newshub.
And a series with follow ups like the one on Newshub has way more impact than a one-off yarn.
Oh, I don’t think the paper was bribed to print the story.
Not every paper is like the one I know of that, when informed of a small cultural group’s anniversary, offered to do a puff piece if the group bought some advertising space.
But the recent flurry of good news stories that roll the property bubble in glitter is an interesting phenomenon which I doubt has occurred spontaneously.
.
.How did we get here !
To those who Love New Zealand
.
There is only one message to be noted from this past 8 years in New Zealand.
That is, this Government and its supporters have Shipwrecked Finance; Housing; Rentals; Assets and Morals (mostly dishonesty but also corruption and cronyism).
They are the worst ever managers of a once fine Nation.
The managers are: Nationals, Act, Maori Party, United Future.
.
A toxic Lot of bad Managers – with a ragtail of supporters who could have saved NZ from the havoc.
.
There is only one message to be noted from this past 8 years in New Zealand.
That is, this Government and its supporters have Shipwrecked Finance; Housing; Rentals; Assets and Morals (mostly dishonesty but also corruption and cronyism).
It’s not just over the last 8 years but the last thirty. It just happens that it’s got a lot worse over the last 8 years.
good. He was elected as an independent, he should have stayed an independent all along. If he would have run as an independent we would not have the current mess in the States as he would have won the election down pat.
In saying that, he can give Hillary a good time going to the social democratic left that the US needs and want.
Well that throws a spanner in the works for the Democrats. Maybe they should have been more compromising on policy to retain Bernie… instead of their big gamble, Bernie will fall into line and kow tow to bankers and Wall St and abandon his ideals…
I actually think it is the best that could happen to the Democratic Party. Sometimes people have to be dragged into the right direction, no matter how much the kick and scream.
There are some really big elections coming up re Senate and Congress. Bernie Sanders will have his work cut out for him. And his supporters too if they still want to change the system.
Claim: Sen. Bernie Sanders left the Democratic Party during the DNC (possibly as part of the #Demexit protest).
mostly false
WHAT’S TRUE: Sen. Bernie Sanders told reporters that when he returns to the Senate, it will be as an Independent; Sanders was elected as an Independent.
WHAT’S FALSE: Sanders did not formally “leave” the Democratic Party, nor did he do so in protest.
[…]
The story made it sound as though Sanders had left the party in protest over “DNCLeaks,” which revealed that the Democratic National Committee apparently worked to sabotage his candidacy. A 26 July 2016 Wall Street Journal story provided more context:
Bernie Sanders said he plans to return to the Senate as an independent, despite winning 13 million votes in the Democratic Party’s presidential primary contest.
“I was elected as an independent; I’ll stay two years more as an independent,” Mr. Sanders said.
Speaking at the Bloomberg Politics breakfast on Tuesday, Mr. Sanders also said the resignation of Debbie Wasserman Schultz as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee doesn’t go far enough in fixing the situation and that more staff members need to leave following embarrassing disclosures of thousands of internal emails.
“We need a DNC which has as very different direction,” he said. “I honestly don’t know many of the people there. But my guess is we’re going to need new leadership, a new direction and new personnel.”
Asked after the event whether Mr. Sanders considers himself a Democrat or an independent, a campaign aide said, “He ran for president as a Democrat but was elected to a six-year term in the Senate as an independent.”
So while it’s true Sanders was returning to his Senate seat as an Independent, it is not true that he “left the party” to protest any leaked information.
A couple of things Ad makes that difficult. The desire for Vermont to have an independent voice. If Green, loses that independance – I know Greens can argue they are independant, but it’s more complex than that. Also as Colonial Viper so crudely puts it, guns. Vermont is a big 2nd ammendment state, and a big arms producer.
I’d say ballot issues as well. With this proviso that Vermont is one state which sees this as an issue, and is actively doing somthing about it.
Actually A cool web site is http://ballot-access.org Shows just how bent and twisted this issue is in the USA, with the duleolopy fighting every step of the way to keep people, and voices out.
I think Jill is more concerned in expanding the Green’s right across the country rather than winning a seat for herself. So that would be the last, and probably the biggest roadblock.
There is a wealth of great ideas out there coming from commenters on various blogs. I wish I had written this myself as it is food for thought. Just substitute NZ for USA:
“No-one discusses whether there should be a taxation system which says:
1. If you treat your workers right, you will pay a lower rate of corporation tax and dividends will be entirely free of tax. But if you treat your workers badly, your corporation tax rate will go up on a sliding scale the worse you treat your workers and your shareholders dividends will be taxed at higher rates too.
2. If you retain jobs in this country rather than outsource them to low cost economies overseas, you will pay lower rates of taxation, as we, the Government, don’t have more people needing state aid. We will not punish you for letting products for foreign markets be manufactured in those foreign markets, as you will be being a good corporate citizen overseas too in that scenario.
3. We will reduce your corporation tax if you make investments in plant and offices which reduce your energy bills to zero. We want America to be a country with efficient and effective infrastructure, so we will modify the tax system to reflect that.
4. We will reduce your taxation burden if you can demonstrate an ongoing use of suppliers in the developing world who treat their own workers well, since this will reduce our requirements to spend money on foreign aid to ease our consciences.
5. As financial services organisations, we will reduce your tax rates if you invest a greater amount of your available funds in the USA economy, up to a suitable ceiling, since efficient asset allocation may indicate that significant overseas investment is appropriate. This is because a financial services industry is a service industry to America, not a bunch of pigs with their trotters in the trough……
6. We will tax higher those who replace humans with robots, since they expect the state to subsidise such people. We expect all companies using robots to automate the preparation of all their financial statements with attendant loss of salary for the Finance Director and numerous other financial staff. This will be particularly true in all Wall Street Firms who should see the loss of high paid jobs just as much as on Main Street………
This is not a final solution, but a set of ideas to be discussed.
The principle is how you integrate morality into corporate economics and government taxation policy.
What is critical is that you distinguish between big companies perfectly capable of doing these things and young companies struggling to survive.
It’s not simple, but unless people engage in this manner, nothing will change.”
B Corporations already have a lower tax rate in some US states if they meet the criteria, – some for the reasons you have outlined.
They have a fairly stringent rubric of societal, environment and cooperative measures that need to be met.
This kind of model could be used as a method to encourage smaller sustainable local businesses while ensuring larger, multi-national still pay reasonable levels of tax.
Some of you may recall a comment I made about Trump and Cruz being like professional wrestlers because their language, moves, and narratives are so precise.
Here’s Gordon Campbell doing the long version, building on the same idea from Roland Barthes:
Yelena Isinbayeva breaks down in tears in front of Putin
2 time Russian Olympic pole vault gold medallist addresses the Russian Olympic team on the lawless, arbitrary injustice foisted on to Russian athletes who have been collectively banned from the Rio Olympic games without individual evidence and without individual recourse to appeal.
Ruining the dreams of many athletes about to perform in the first, or the last, Olympic games of their careers.
Hi PR. She’s not arguing that drug cheats should not be banned. But she does talk about the arbitrary, political and unfair action to ban Russian athletes who have passed their drug tests and how clean athletes are not getting any opportunity to state their case and appeal this collective punishment.
While I have some sympathy for her if shes clean, and being that shes Russian that’s a very big call, I have more for the athletes that have missed out
Come on Colonial Viper, the olympic games have been a political football since their inception. And I don’t mean the revived games, the original games were as much politics, as sport. I’m sure we get the idea that politics as a spectator sport, because of the olympic games.
Just let the games go, who cares, it’s just a case of who got the better masking agents anyway. And this time Russia did not invest enough in that – sorry for them. Who remembers anyone who won anyway, the only reason I remember John Walker, is his slow descent into far right wingnut.
Mallard says it’s because he wants to be the speaker of the next parliament and being a list MP makes it easier to act impartially and avoid conflicts of interest..
Like most Labour MPs his only political ground has been denouncing National. Long ago they gave up advocating policies for the poor, the oppressed and marginalised. They can go to hell. Mallard argued strongly for Labour to retain the benefit cuts imposed by Ruth Richardson in the early 1990s. He argued the need for “incentives” to pressure those on benefits to find work as hard as he argued against extending the Working for Families assistance package to the poorest children in New Zealand.
As a senior Labour MP Mallard must shoulder a lot of the blame for the 175,000 children Labour left living in Poverty in 2008 despite three successive terms of a Labour government in times of marvellous economic conditions.
As Minister of Education he will be remembered for going out of his way to congratulate Cambridge High School for its exceptional NCEA pass rates (subsequently found to be bogus) and his closing of dozens of schools in small communities through the country. National has never had a regional growth strategy but neither has it had a regional annihilation strategy such as that employed by Mallard as he cut the heart from dozens of small kiwi communities.
For the last eight years in opposition Mallard has been one of Labour’s dead-wood MPs who have stayed in parliament to prevent the party changing direction from the dogmatic right-wing economic agenda he espoused and advocated all his political career.
<The parade of useful idiots, the bankrupt liberal class that long ago sold its soul to corporate power, is now led by Sen. Bernie Sanders. His final capitulation, symbolized by his pathetic motion to suspend the roll call, giving Hillary Clinton the Democratic nomination by acclamation, is an abject betrayal of millions of his supporters and his call for a political revolution.
I like ‘the humanist report’ but don’t watch it that often. A friend sent this link so I watched, and really enjoyed. For those who find the whole USA elections hard to fathom, later in the show he explains some aspects of the electoral system and why it needs to be replaced with somthing more democratic. Most of that stuff is common place for us, as we have a large dose of proportional representation.
The first part is an attack from Dan Savage on Jill Stein. Please note the heavy use of curse language from Savage here. Followed by a comprehensive rebuttal. What I like about this, if you have difficulty understanding some of the criticisms around the two party system, or how the stranglehold actually works on the USA – ‘the humanist report’ covers quite succinctly some of those issue.
“More homeless people in Auckland could soon go straight from the streets into their own apartments or houses instead of being shuffled through emergency shelters or state housing under a new Government-backed move.”
IMO it helps to address the “one size fits all approach” and will make a positive difference.
Just thought I’d re-post a comment I’ve just made on Danyl’s Dim Post because it addresses a common misunderstanding among some of the local punditry:
Danyl: “Key is actually less popular than his party nowadays”
Bloke who refers to himself as ‘swordfish’: I’m not quite so sure about that. It’s a common assumption (Matthew Hooton, amongst others, has emphasised it), but I think Nat/Key support is actually a damn sight closer than a number of pundits realise.
No one I’ve read seems to realise that the Party-Vote support figures (in both the One News Colmar Brunton and Newshub Reid Research Polls) exclude those unlikely to vote as well as the Undecided – hence a smaller base than the sample as a whole.
Whereas, crucially, the Preferred PM stats take the entire sample as their base. In the last CB, for example, Party-Vote base was 1245 / Preferred PM base was 1509. Once you re-calculate, looks to me like the Nats were only a smidgen higher than Key himself.
One of the fundamentals it is said that defines a society is not just how it treats its most vunerable citizens but also how it treats its animals who are in most cases just as reliant on humans too protect them whether they are domesticated, farm stock or are housed in a zoo or wildlife park.
One of the most appalling acts of cruelty to be made public this year was the case of the bobby calves who were tortured and butchered by someone who was responsible for their care and welfare.
This man was charged and appeared in court and was sentenced yesterday to ten months home detention.
When i saw this footage i could not believe that someone could be this cruel and in human and oblivious to the suffering of these poor creatures who had done nothing to this scumbag to warrant this behaviour and butchery and savagery he meeted out to them and that if he can do this too animals who cant defend themselves what is too stop him doing this too vunerable humans.
I was sure that once the judge saw the cruelty involved it would warrant a prison sentence but no, home detention.
We have an animal welfare act much good it does the animals it is supposed too protect when the sentences handed out are in no way a deterrent or punish the offenders, it sends the message that animals have no value, feel no pain or fear and that as living creatures they have no rights at all.
The judge in this case had an opportunity too send a clear message here and failed miserably.
The SPCA wont feel vindicated by this decision and the judge has no compassion or human decency or responsibility too do whats right in this case.
Totally agree mosa especially since it seems this cruelty has been going on since foreva As a kid in the sixties i was very aware as was our whole family that my father would not touch any meat or by product coming from bobby calves like gelatine for ex. His experiences working in freezing works and butcheries in his younger life meant also that he had a personal commitment to never hurting or killing any animal again such was his disgust of what he had observed .Theres no excuse for this shit and no excuse for the judge either that i can think of .Did he say why he was so lenient ?
Thanks Weston for your input.
The news report on this was short and i didnot hear the judges ruling.
Does anybody else out there feel revulsion for this type of behaviour and want too see tougher sentences for this type of cruelty or is it in the scheme of things not that important ?
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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 ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
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 ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarctica’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Security forces reinforcements were sent from France ahead of two rival marches in the capital Nouméa today, at the same time and only two streets away one from the other. One march, called by Union Calédonienne party (a component of the ...
A poll last August found that just 16% of New Zealanders oppose bringing back the ‘Three Strikes’ law. The nationwide poll of 1,000 New Zealanders was commissioned by Family First NZ and carried out by Curia Market Research. ...
The solo show from Ana Scotney is both sprawling and intimate, and a must-see, writes Mad Chapman. In the opening moments of Scattergun: After the Death of Rūaumoko, writer and performer Ana Scotney lays out the groundwork, literally. Silently moving around the square stage, Scotney is not so much dancing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Burridge, Professor of Linguistics, Monash University Who makes the words? Why are trees called trees and why are shoes called shoes and who makes the names? – Elliot, age 5, Eltham, Victoria Good question Elliot! Let’s start with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne at amRawpixel.com/Shutterstock Roles of health professionals are still unfortunately often stuck in the past. That is, before the ...
COMMENTARY:By Malcolm Evans Last week’s leaked New York Times staff directive, as to what words can and cannot be used to describe the carnage Israel is raining on Palestinians, is proof positive, since those reports are published verbatim here in New Zealand, that our understanding of the conflict is ...
In the case of New Zealand, the results confirm that there is no popular support for the vicious austerity program being imposed by the National Party-led government, which is backed in all fundamental respects by the opposition Labour Party. ...
The ‘Vampire’ singer has never visited our part of the world, but that might all be about to change. We assess the evidence.Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour is pulling in massive crowds as it whips around the US and Europe, even helping to catapult regular supporting act Chappell Roan ...
Testing of drinking water in rural Canterbury over the weekend by Greenpeace revealed that several public town supplies were reaching levels of nitrate above 5 mg/L - the threshold which a growing body of scientific evidence has linked to increased ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rohan Fisher, Information Technology for Development Researcher, Charles Darwin University It may come as a surprise to hear 2023 was Australia’s biggest bushfire season in more than a decade. Fires burned across an area eight times as big as the 2019–20 Black ...
Responding to the Government’s announcement of changes to resource management laws, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said: “These changes are a step in the right direction in terms of removing ideological and unworkable ...
More than two years after the Human Rights Council called for the establishment of a national human rights commission, such a body has yet to be formed. ...
Comment:An emergency management system with wide variations in performance, significant capability gaps, funding shortfalls and above all a setup that is not meeting the needs of New Zealanders at times of crisis. The Government’s inquiry into the response to Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events in the North ...
Welcome to the whirring wonders of one brain trying to align its actions with its beliefs within a system it thinks is evil. My brain has been spiralling in a woke conundrum ever since I found out a bookshop I’ve never been to was shutting down. Good Books, a bookshop ...
We repeat our call for criminal justice policy to be based on evidence, something the three strikes regime neglects to recognise – with no evidence that it either reduces crime or assists with rehabilitation. ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara With only four more seats in the 50-member Parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner in the Solomon Islands elections. As of Monday, the two largest blocs in the winner’s circle, independents and the incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh ...
Two/fiftyseven is a multi-purpose space hidden in the heart of Wellington that is paving a way for sustainable building and responsible landlording in Aotearoa and beyond.By 2060 the world is predicted to double its entire building stock, which equates to building an entire New York City every 34 days, ...
Popstars wasn’t just a reality television revolution, it was also a huge moment for Y2K fashion.It’s 25 years since girl group TrueBliss was formed on New Zealand national television, breaking new ground for both the reality television industry and the shiny clothing industry. With the first episode on NZ ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Pepping, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, Griffith University Marvin / Shutterstock Are all single people insecure? When we think about people who have been single for a long time, we may assume it’s because single people have insecurities that make ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William Geary, Lecturer in Quantitative Ecology & Biodiversity Conservation, The University of Melbourne Trismegist san, Shutterstock Landscapes that have escaped fire for decades or centuries tend to harbour vital structures for wildlife, such as tree hollows and large logs. But these ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher, Lecturer in Marine Science, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Shutterstock/S Curtis Why are we crossing ecological boundaries that affect Earth’s fundamental life-supporting capacity? Is it because we don’t have enough information about how ecosystems respond to change? Or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Crocker, PhD Student in Economics, Deakin University Here’s something for the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia to ponder as it meets next month to set interest rates. It has pushed up rates on 13 occasions since it began its ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a charity director outlines how she’s saving for retirement and buying secondhand. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Female Age: 45 Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: Charity director, mum of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sophie Yates, Research Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Many Australians with disability feel on the edge of a precipice right now. Recommendations from the disability royal commission and the NDIS review were released late last year. Now a ...
It’s been called a failed experiment and a judicial straightjacket but the government says the revised three strikes law will be a more workable regime, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Three ...
New Zealand’s Palestinian community and Palestinian Youth Aotearoa are voicing alarm and disappointment with the lack of factual rigour present during the Israeli Ambassador’s appearance as a guest on TVNZ’s Q+A With Jack Tame Sunday (21/04). ...
Both ACT leader David Seymour, who played a key role in drawing up the assisted dying law, and hospice leaders say it's time the legislation was changed. ...
Public submissions on proposed gang control laws are being heard today. Rising gang membership has been cited as rationale for a crackdown – but what do we actually know about how many people belong to gangs in New Zealand?What’s all this then?A rise in the number of gang ...
Climate activists are setting their sights on an unpopular target, and hoping to bring lots of the public with them. It’s hard to miss the Majestic Princess: the enormous cruise ship, docked at Auckland’s Prince’s Wharf, looms over the nearby buildings. The ship, which can fit nearly 6,000 people, ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 23 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The following korero between Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku, author of the newly published memoir Hine Toa, one of the year’s most important books, and Dale Husband from e-tangata, was first published in October. It traverses her involvement with the activist group Ngā Tamatoa at Auckland University in the early 1970s, her ...
In the 16 years since it was bought by the government for $690 million, KiwiRail has had several overhauls and turnaround plans worth billions of dollars. Its ambitions as a successful, profitable operator of tourism, freight and ferries have often been derailed by disasters from earthquakes to cyclones, mine explosions ...
Black Ferns trailblazer Kendra Cocksedge was on the verge of tears when her young protégé, Hannah King, unassumingly broke the news. Three-time Rugby World Cup winner Cocksedge and Lincoln agriculture student King meet every few weeks over a hot chocolate, in an enduring mentorship that’s spanned years. “Before we even ...
Opinion: We’ve kicked the tyres on the perception NZ’s economy is in a parlous state compared to Australia. We take a quick tour of relative trends in GDP, housing markets, labour markets, trade, the fiscal situation, and the outlooks for inflation and interest rates. We find the cyclical positions of ...
Opinion: Making sure developers, local and central government, and landowners are all on the same page makes sense The post A new kind of city deal appeared first on Newsroom. ...
By Russell Palmer, RNZ News digital political journalist New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters is putting off recognition of Palestine as a state, despite opposition Labour’s formal request that he make the move. Peters said diplomatic recognition of Palestine was a matter of “when not if”, but doing so now ...
The opposition has laid into the government's plan to reintroduce a "three strikes" regime, saying it's inequitable and there's very little evidence it works. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Nicholls, Senior research associate, University of Sydney Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has ordered social media platform “X” (formerly known as Twitter) to remove graphic videos of the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in Sydney last week from the site. The incident ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Turnbull, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Sydney John Turnbull, CC BY-NC-ND In past bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef, the southern region has sometimes been spared worst of the bleaching. Not this time. This year’s intense underwater heat has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Austin, Lecturer in Theatre, The University of Melbourne Darren Gill/Mackey, Darling & Collaborators The relationship between witchcraft and teenage girls has been the subject of many books, films and television shows. Over time, the traditional image of witch as crone ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Becky Freeman, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Sydney Andres Siimon/Unsplash There are no silver bullets, magic tricks or secret hacks to solving complex public health problems. Taking on the global tobacco industry and reducing the devastating consequences of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam B. Watts, Research Associate in galaxy evolution, The University of Western Australia ESO/A. Watts et al., CC BY We breathe oxygen and nitrogen gas in our atmosphere every day, but did you know that these gases also float through space, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Nielsen, Professor and Deputy Director, Monash Addiction Research Centre, Monash University Maxime Bhm/Unsplash A new group of drugs called nitazenes has been detected in Australia. They have been sold as heroin as well as other drugs like ketamine. Concerns ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Twomey, Professor emerita, University of Sydney Image from Bradlow + Bock campaign Can the job of being a federal member of parliament be shared by two or more persons? Two prospective candidates for the inner-Melbourne federal seat of Higgins, Lucy ...
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A must read over on the Daily Blog. Go to ” the horror of Turkey” and scroll down to Slippery’s comment.
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/07/27/the-horror-of-turkey/#comment-346502
[lprent: Try using links. Right click on the date of the comment and copying the link. Then paste it here. You will get the link above. ]
Scrolling further down, I see that (as far as I can tell with their tortured grammar) Slippery believes that the Sandy Hook shootings and Boston Marathon bombing were “theatre”.
It looks like buying shares in aluminium foil manufacturers will be a good investment.
Hate to sound like im wearing one rino but have you seen and heard the facts of sandy hook ? theres some very wierd stuff gone down there even taking into account the imput from the more dedicated conspiracy theorists and the fact america is a wierd place anyway for example didnt you find it strange that the parents wernt allowed to see the bodies of their slain children ??
Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has made white nationalism fashionable. But the notion of white identity is based not only on bigotry but on pseudo-history: http://readingthemaps.blogspot.co.nz/2016/07/kendrick-smithymans-rebuke-to-trump.html
Like Farage found it’s an easily held core of support.
Angry, racist, looking for someone to blame with negligible critical thought process so a few slogans and some passionate rhetoric gets them on board.
Like Farage, trumps unlikely to have to deal with the consequences either.
Awesome Scott thanks
Has anyone else noticed what appears to be a deliberate propaganda campaign from the press on housing? These insulting ‘anyone can buy a house if they work hard’ articles have been appearing at regular intervals for quite some time in both major ‘papers. They’re patently misleading to the extent it can’t be just poor research IMO.
Stuff ran this one a week ago;
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/82318579/Anyone-can-buy-a-house-in-four-years-broker-says
Now this one…
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/home-property/82571726/wellington-man-becomes-home-owner-at-21-after-saving-since-he-was-7
The observant will have noticed these articles are puff pieces that don’t fit the stories, they fail to reveal that the house buyer received financial assistance from another party(s). The real message in most of them is that if you don’t have a sugar daddy you’ll not be able to buy a house but they cynically invert that to say the opposite.
the twenty one year old wellingtonians started saving for his house at 7 years old? Or did his parents start.
I actually have nothing against this. I often wonder why parents don’t start a savings account for their kids immediately after birth. Put in 5 bucks a week/month and by the time the kids are of age they have a bit of cash there. This however demands some discipline from the parents to not touch the money if the need arises.
In saying that, getting a mortgage is one thing, being able to then to service it without fault is another thing altogether.
So by the time then man is 35 he may have lost a job, has married and has a child with special needs, has had an accident that left him or his wife with special needs and voila…….he may loose his house.
This is what annoys me about the house porn in the Herald, the easiest thing is getting the mortgage, its the keeping up with the payments, rates, insurance, and upkeep of the property that kills many especially in times of no job security, climate change, etc etc etc. What looked feasible when signing up to it may turn out to be impossible ten years later.
Sabine the general idea is to critique the story, first against what you know and then ask a few pertinent questions from what the story doesn’t say but should.
For starters a student on a low income would not get a mortgage of that size by himself, the banks require you have an income commensurate with the size of the mortgage. Then there’s the fact the ‘house’ was quoted as a “two-flat property” and mentioned a friend as a partner. It’s a fair bet the partner had the financial resources to clinch the deal and I can’t see how that translates into this guy buying his own house.
What i am trying to say is that in terms of commitment over the years getting a deposit together may be the easiest thing. Its the thirty years + of paying that mortgage off where one has not much control over.
So one can get help form parents, may have an inheritance form a grand parent, may team up with half a dozen of mates etc etc etc and eventually scrapes together the requirements of the bank and gets the mortgage, but then that mortgage needs to be paid. Another 30 years of negotiation ahead, this time with the family (what are needs what are wants), the business friends (are they still friend friend or do you need to pay them out), divorce can kill the house dream for ever, sickness, unemployment etc etc etc.
But as i have stated on other such stories is simply that the Guy has not bought a house, he has bought a mortgage and until that mortgage is paid in full he has no house, the bank has. He only has an arse full of debt and a very uncertain future ahead re climate change, changing work conditions, diminishing social net etc etc.
so maybe some of the young today really do only see their going ahead on the back of a mortgage.
The deposit isn’t the easiest part Sabine, that’s what prevents most low income people from buying their own home.
The formula with property is pretty consistent; the difference between rent and mortgage is roughly what you can save for the deposit. Once you buy you can stop saving and put the dosh towards the mortgage which itself is saving.
The main problem people have today is that inflation on deposits and mortgages is higher than wage inflation so they can’t catch up.
This guy didn’t really save a deposit, it looks more like he chipped in on a business deal. The article is dishonest IMO.
DH, i am speaking generally. Not only for poor people.
Poor people should have access to a government loan as Paula Bennett had.
I am speaking of Joe and Jane Ordinary New Zealanders.
As for people now buying houses together with the option of selling it later on in order to raise a deposit to then buy their own mortgage.
I’m afraid I can’t see your point Sabine. Mine was that the press appear to be running a deliberate misinformation campaign. The article was written for a reason and it carries a message, my view was the message is false and deliberately so.
It’s interesting reading the comments on that last story. Clearly few people actually read the article through, most seemed to have absorbed the headline & the jerking knee may have stopped them reading further.
OK he saved 40k. That is note worthy and well done.
BUT there is no way he would be able to borrow 500k (gv of 640k on a minimal odd job income.
Some one has guaranteed the loan.
He worked on his parents farm.
Mort ca $2000 per month
Yes. There’s also other clues in the article that suggest the picture the paper is painting, ie all it takes is hard work & saving to buy a house, is pure fabrication.
I’d question why they’re doing these regular articles, I’ve read at least a dozen from both major dailies that all convey the same false message. How did they get this guys (non) story in the first place?
I suspect it’s real estate agents paying a pr firm. As soon as the market cools off there will be a sharp drop in estate agents’ incomes.
As long as they can hold off government intervention, the more money they can fleece out of NZ and overseas speculators.
Anyone buying a first home right now is in serious danger of going under water if the government does anything effective about the home shortage.
I suspect you’re right on the money there McFlock, the RE industry must spend a fortune on advertising in the ‘papers & probably demand their pound of flesh in return.
Having recently been down the track of saving for a house and trying to get a mortgage I find these puff pieces insulting and infuriating.
Yeah, these puff pieces are another sign that the market is getting jitterey. The industry is resorting to spin and bullshit to try and maintain market confidence.
Because that’s what it’s all about, confidence that there will be a buyer there tomorrow who will pay more than you paid yesterday.
Yes, it’s all a big confidence game
DH; depends whether you think the media’s job is to reflect or challenge society. If the former, then I’d say that story is a reflection of a rundown deluded market economy.
To suggest that money changed hands in order to run the story is a little idiotic.
The yarn reflects the commercial zeitgeist, sadly.
And a dozen stories from both major dailies over the past few years of the asset credit boom is tiny, given that the proportion of stories now that deal with the housing market is significant. It’s in the news in some form every day.
No-one has said money changed hands to run the story Robertina, you assumed that and incorrectly so. The suggestion was that advertisers who spend big money have some influence over the publisher.
A job of the media is to ensure a reasonable semblance of balance in their reporting. With these articles they’re failing to do so and the imbalance is so obvious it appears to be deliberate misinformation.
You need to read the thread again. The suggestion was that a PR firm was paid to plant the story and you agreed with that suggestion.
One of us has read it wrong then Robertina. McFlock’s post was made as a reply to mine in which I asked the question of how the press found out about the guy buying the house.
In that context I took her/his comment to mean a PR firm may have been engaged to find such feelgood stories and feed them to the press. That doesn’t suggest money changed hands to actually run the story.
Well, you also suggested RE companies demanded a pound of flesh in demand for ad spend, as well as agreeing with McFlock that a PR agency was likely paid to plant stories.
No doubt you mean well. But it’s no different from righties whinging about the likes of the substandard unconsented rentals series on Newshub.
And a series with follow ups like the one on Newshub has way more impact than a one-off yarn.
Oh, I don’t think the paper was bribed to print the story.
Not every paper is like the one I know of that, when informed of a small cultural group’s anniversary, offered to do a puff piece if the group bought some advertising space.
But the recent flurry of good news stories that roll the property bubble in glitter is an interesting phenomenon which I doubt has occurred spontaneously.
.
.How did we get here !
To those who Love New Zealand
.
There is only one message to be noted from this past 8 years in New Zealand.
That is, this Government and its supporters have Shipwrecked Finance; Housing; Rentals; Assets and Morals (mostly dishonesty but also corruption and cronyism).
They are the worst ever managers of a once fine Nation.
The managers are: Nationals, Act, Maori Party, United Future.
.
A toxic Lot of bad Managers – with a ragtail of supporters who could have saved NZ from the havoc.
.
It’s not just over the last 8 years but the last thirty. It just happens that it’s got a lot worse over the last 8 years.
Breaking news, Bernie has left the democrats!!!
good. He was elected as an independent, he should have stayed an independent all along. If he would have run as an independent we would not have the current mess in the States as he would have won the election down pat.
In saying that, he can give Hillary a good time going to the social democratic left that the US needs and want.
Well that throws a spanner in the works for the Democrats. Maybe they should have been more compromising on policy to retain Bernie… instead of their big gamble, Bernie will fall into line and kow tow to bankers and Wall St and abandon his ideals…
I actually think it is the best that could happen to the Democratic Party. Sometimes people have to be dragged into the right direction, no matter how much the kick and scream.
There are some really big elections coming up re Senate and Congress. Bernie Sanders will have his work cut out for him. And his supporters too if they still want to change the system.
Meanwhile, Snopes –
Claim: Sen. Bernie Sanders left the Democratic Party during the DNC (possibly as part of the #Demexit protest).
mostly false
WHAT’S TRUE: Sen. Bernie Sanders told reporters that when he returns to the Senate, it will be as an Independent; Sanders was elected as an Independent.
WHAT’S FALSE: Sanders did not formally “leave” the Democratic Party, nor did he do so in protest.
[…]
The story made it sound as though Sanders had left the party in protest over “DNCLeaks,” which revealed that the Democratic National Committee apparently worked to sabotage his candidacy. A 26 July 2016 Wall Street Journal story provided more context:
So while it’s true Sanders was returning to his Senate seat as an Independent, it is not true that he “left the party” to protest any leaked information.
http://www.snopes.com/bernie-sanders-leaves-the-democratic-party/
Would Jill Stein have a good shot at his Vermont Senate seat when he retires?
If she likes guns and farmers. Otherwise, no hope.
A couple of things Ad makes that difficult. The desire for Vermont to have an independent voice. If Green, loses that independance – I know Greens can argue they are independant, but it’s more complex than that. Also as Colonial Viper so crudely puts it, guns. Vermont is a big 2nd ammendment state, and a big arms producer.
I’d say ballot issues as well. With this proviso that Vermont is one state which sees this as an issue, and is actively doing somthing about it.
http://ballot-access.org/?s=vermont
Actually A cool web site is http://ballot-access.org Shows just how bent and twisted this issue is in the USA, with the duleolopy fighting every step of the way to keep people, and voices out.
I think Jill is more concerned in expanding the Green’s right across the country rather than winning a seat for herself. So that would be the last, and probably the biggest roadblock.
That’s very honourable.
I would hope for her that she goes for a Senate seat. Maybe Oregon or Washington would be a better shot.
The US needs the Greens with a voice in the Senate. The have leveraged their small voice in the Australian Senate to good effect.
Crudely put it? Heh I prefer “succinctly” lol
One thing I really like about John Oliver, is when he is on, he is ON!!
Don’t use our songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32n4h0kn-88
that whole episode was something special
There is a wealth of great ideas out there coming from commenters on various blogs. I wish I had written this myself as it is food for thought. Just substitute NZ for USA:
“No-one discusses whether there should be a taxation system which says:
1. If you treat your workers right, you will pay a lower rate of corporation tax and dividends will be entirely free of tax. But if you treat your workers badly, your corporation tax rate will go up on a sliding scale the worse you treat your workers and your shareholders dividends will be taxed at higher rates too.
2. If you retain jobs in this country rather than outsource them to low cost economies overseas, you will pay lower rates of taxation, as we, the Government, don’t have more people needing state aid. We will not punish you for letting products for foreign markets be manufactured in those foreign markets, as you will be being a good corporate citizen overseas too in that scenario.
3. We will reduce your corporation tax if you make investments in plant and offices which reduce your energy bills to zero. We want America to be a country with efficient and effective infrastructure, so we will modify the tax system to reflect that.
4. We will reduce your taxation burden if you can demonstrate an ongoing use of suppliers in the developing world who treat their own workers well, since this will reduce our requirements to spend money on foreign aid to ease our consciences.
5. As financial services organisations, we will reduce your tax rates if you invest a greater amount of your available funds in the USA economy, up to a suitable ceiling, since efficient asset allocation may indicate that significant overseas investment is appropriate. This is because a financial services industry is a service industry to America, not a bunch of pigs with their trotters in the trough……
6. We will tax higher those who replace humans with robots, since they expect the state to subsidise such people. We expect all companies using robots to automate the preparation of all their financial statements with attendant loss of salary for the Finance Director and numerous other financial staff. This will be particularly true in all Wall Street Firms who should see the loss of high paid jobs just as much as on Main Street………
This is not a final solution, but a set of ideas to be discussed.
The principle is how you integrate morality into corporate economics and government taxation policy.
What is critical is that you distinguish between big companies perfectly capable of doing these things and young companies struggling to survive.
It’s not simple, but unless people engage in this manner, nothing will change.”
B Corporations already have a lower tax rate in some US states if they meet the criteria, – some for the reasons you have outlined.
They have a fairly stringent rubric of societal, environment and cooperative measures that need to be met.
This kind of model could be used as a method to encourage smaller sustainable local businesses while ensuring larger, multi-national still pay reasonable levels of tax.
Some of you may recall a comment I made about Trump and Cruz being like professional wrestlers because their language, moves, and narratives are so precise.
Here’s Gordon Campbell doing the long version, building on the same idea from Roland Barthes:
http://werewolf.co.nz/2016/07/gordon-campbell-on-why-the-opinion-polls-for-key-and-trump-defy-gravity/
Not a bad summation actually
On a lighter note if you really want to know what is (and isn’t) then watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYvMOf3hsGA
Its from Max Landis (son of John) and its very informative (and entertaining)
Hard case PR.
As an aside, bob mould, american axeman for husker du and sugar, spent a few years ‘writing’ scenarios for WWE.
He found it really satisfying.
The attempt to get Jeremy Corbyn removed from the leadership ballot by the courts has failed: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/28/jeremy-corbyn-fights-off-court-challenge-labour-leadership-ballot So his opponents have not been granted an easy ride back to what they think of as normal.
Toby Morris’ brilliant Rent Rage vent….
http://thewireless.co.nz/articles/the-pencilsword-rent-rage
Brilliant!
Yelena Isinbayeva breaks down in tears in front of Putin
2 time Russian Olympic pole vault gold medallist addresses the Russian Olympic team on the lawless, arbitrary injustice foisted on to Russian athletes who have been collectively banned from the Rio Olympic games without individual evidence and without individual recourse to appeal.
Ruining the dreams of many athletes about to perform in the first, or the last, Olympic games of their careers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v660CA_lI6k
Does she have the same tears for the dreams of other athletes that’ve been denied medals by those on peds?
Hi PR. She’s not arguing that drug cheats should not be banned. But she does talk about the arbitrary, political and unfair action to ban Russian athletes who have passed their drug tests and how clean athletes are not getting any opportunity to state their case and appeal this collective punishment.
While I have some sympathy for her if shes clean, and being that shes Russian that’s a very big call, I have more for the athletes that have missed out
Come on Colonial Viper, the olympic games have been a political football since their inception. And I don’t mean the revived games, the original games were as much politics, as sport. I’m sure we get the idea that politics as a spectator sport, because of the olympic games.
Just let the games go, who cares, it’s just a case of who got the better masking agents anyway. And this time Russia did not invest enough in that – sorry for them. Who remembers anyone who won anyway, the only reason I remember John Walker, is his slow descent into far right wingnut.
Sure; just making a point about how the western empire of chaos operates against its opposition.
The sad political career of Trevor Mallard.
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/07/29/the-sad-political-career-of-trevor-mallard/
Mallard says it’s because he wants to be the speaker of the next parliament
What utterly shameless entitlement. Unfortunately he’s not the only one.
John Minto’s last line rings sadly true:
It’s too much to expect him to resign – he still has a few more stops at the trough ahead of him.
The 1 Percent’s Useful Idiots
by Chris Hedges
<The parade of useful idiots, the bankrupt liberal class that long ago sold its soul to corporate power, is now led by Sen. Bernie Sanders. His final capitulation, symbolized by his pathetic motion to suspend the roll call, giving Hillary Clinton the Democratic nomination by acclamation, is an abject betrayal of millions of his supporters and his call for a political revolution.
Read it all here.
https://off-guardian.org/2016/07/28/the-1-percents-useful-idiots/
Reading this is saddening, for sure.
I like ‘the humanist report’ but don’t watch it that often. A friend sent this link so I watched, and really enjoyed. For those who find the whole USA elections hard to fathom, later in the show he explains some aspects of the electoral system and why it needs to be replaced with somthing more democratic. Most of that stuff is common place for us, as we have a large dose of proportional representation.
The first part is an attack from Dan Savage on Jill Stein. Please note the heavy use of curse language from Savage here. Followed by a comprehensive rebuttal. What I like about this, if you have difficulty understanding some of the criticisms around the two party system, or how the stranglehold actually works on the USA – ‘the humanist report’ covers quite succinctly some of those issue.
Enjoy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8VXTzzctKk
Announced today by Paula Bennett, a new approach to assist with housing the homeless called “Housing First Programme”.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11683905
“More homeless people in Auckland could soon go straight from the streets into their own apartments or houses instead of being shuffled through emergency shelters or state housing under a new Government-backed move.”
IMO it helps to address the “one size fits all approach” and will make a positive difference.
If only they’d address the structural causes too. The emphasis on evidence is encouraging. I wonder if it will survive Cabinet Club.
That said, I won’t be in any way surprised if this turns out to be usual combinations of lie and rort.
Just thought I’d re-post a comment I’ve just made on Danyl’s Dim Post because it addresses a common misunderstanding among some of the local punditry:
Danyl: “Key is actually less popular than his party nowadays”
Bloke who refers to himself as ‘swordfish’: I’m not quite so sure about that. It’s a common assumption (Matthew Hooton, amongst others, has emphasised it), but I think Nat/Key support is actually a damn sight closer than a number of pundits realise.
No one I’ve read seems to realise that the Party-Vote support figures (in both the One News Colmar Brunton and Newshub Reid Research Polls) exclude those unlikely to vote as well as the Undecided – hence a smaller base than the sample as a whole.
Whereas, crucially, the Preferred PM stats take the entire sample as their base. In the last CB, for example, Party-Vote base was 1245 / Preferred PM base was 1509. Once you re-calculate, looks to me like the Nats were only a smidgen higher than Key himself.
Sharp
Razor !
One of the fundamentals it is said that defines a society is not just how it treats its most vunerable citizens but also how it treats its animals who are in most cases just as reliant on humans too protect them whether they are domesticated, farm stock or are housed in a zoo or wildlife park.
One of the most appalling acts of cruelty to be made public this year was the case of the bobby calves who were tortured and butchered by someone who was responsible for their care and welfare.
This man was charged and appeared in court and was sentenced yesterday to ten months home detention.
When i saw this footage i could not believe that someone could be this cruel and in human and oblivious to the suffering of these poor creatures who had done nothing to this scumbag to warrant this behaviour and butchery and savagery he meeted out to them and that if he can do this too animals who cant defend themselves what is too stop him doing this too vunerable humans.
I was sure that once the judge saw the cruelty involved it would warrant a prison sentence but no, home detention.
We have an animal welfare act much good it does the animals it is supposed too protect when the sentences handed out are in no way a deterrent or punish the offenders, it sends the message that animals have no value, feel no pain or fear and that as living creatures they have no rights at all.
The judge in this case had an opportunity too send a clear message here and failed miserably.
The SPCA wont feel vindicated by this decision and the judge has no compassion or human decency or responsibility too do whats right in this case.
Totally agree mosa especially since it seems this cruelty has been going on since foreva As a kid in the sixties i was very aware as was our whole family that my father would not touch any meat or by product coming from bobby calves like gelatine for ex. His experiences working in freezing works and butcheries in his younger life meant also that he had a personal commitment to never hurting or killing any animal again such was his disgust of what he had observed .Theres no excuse for this shit and no excuse for the judge either that i can think of .Did he say why he was so lenient ?
Ewww Rio….
http://www.thedailysheeple.com/rio-doc-warns-2016-olympic-athletes-will-literally-be-swimming-in-human-crap_072016
Can someone tell me why there are three comments here with no reply icons under them ?
reached the nesting limit of replies.
Each reply is indented so you can follow threads, but if you did that infinitely each comment would end up being three chars wide and
har
d t
o r
ead
Thanks Weston for your input.
The news report on this was short and i didnot hear the judges ruling.
Does anybody else out there feel revulsion for this type of behaviour and want too see tougher sentences for this type of cruelty or is it in the scheme of things not that important ?