A more nuanced view by Reuters back in 2013 when radical Islamists took over eastern Aleppo
"The moderates are losing ground. In many parts of rebel-held Aleppo, the red, black and green revolutionary flag which represents more moderate elements has been replaced with the black Islamic flag. Small shops selling black headbands, conservative clothing and black balaclavas have popped up around the city and their business is booming."
In other words , from 2013 on , there were no moderate rebels in eastern Aleppo .
Or are you saying Al Nusra and the brutal sharia law courts they set up was a desirable model for the rest of Syria?
The full article was written before the western media got their shit together on how it was all meant to play out and what their talking points were meant to be
The mother of "Sama" came to Aleppo from outside. When interviewed on radio recently , she said she had no family in Aleppo, so they lived in the makeshift hospital.She came from outside to wage jihad against the secular govt.
Now, I've stuck up for Andrew Little before …. but he has dropped the ball on this ,,, the john key / Nact security services
Instead of sticking up for a failure ,,,, why can he not admit mistakes were made regarding 'security' ,,,, and we are working on fixing them. 14mins 10sec
There's an entire Royal Commission occurring right now on this question so there's every reason for the Minister to wait until the proposals from that emerge.
That's true Ad …. which is why I would not have expected Andrew Little to deny their was a problem with where the security services were directing their resources.
He stuck his stick in the mud … before the review ….
Unlike you … some of the Muslim victims are offended and hurt by such denials and statements …. did you not watch the video and the people interviewed in it?.
I make it a double knock-on between you and Andy L
….Jenny seems reluctant to admit that her 'good guys' have done the worst war crime / genocidal hail of bombs. …. In either Syria or Iraq.
reason
Putting words in my mouth again reason?
I have never claimed that the US are the "good guys" in Syria. And long before you ever mentioned it I have condemned the slaughter in Raqqa by US and coalition air forces. A slaughter, I might add, that you and other Assad apologists cheered on and encouraged by smearing the whole Syrian people in revolt against the Assad regime as head choppers and terrorists.
And she has not apologized …. or retracted, her loony tunes christchurch / jo cox Assad conspiracy theories
reason
Long before the Christchurch massacre which occurred on the anniversary of the start of the Syrian revolution.
Long before this fascist atrocity I have argued that the Liberal Left's support for Assad style fascism and genocide in Syria would strengthen and embolden fascists globally.
This is a view I still hold.
8 reasons why Syrians will never forget Jo Cox
The murdered MP campaigned for Syrian civilians both on the floor of the House of Commons and in the corridors of power.
1. Jo repeatedly called for real action to protect civilians….
2. Jo didn’t confuse Syria with Iraq….
3. Jo identified the root cause of the killing – Bashar Al-Assad….
4. Jo helped break the silence around starvation sieges………………
She was a politician and she had very strong political views and I believe she was killed because of those views … I think she died because of them and she would want to stand up for those in death as much as she did in life.
Sill telling lies Jenny …. and putting words in peoples mouths.
A slaughter, I might add, that you and other Assad apologists cheered on and encouraged
The problem I have with jennys Ergot infected bread-crumbs regarding Christchurch / Assad … Is she is leading away from the truth.
Out of the 100 odd words and phrases the Christchurch white subpremacist had written on his murder tools ……………… Not even a single one mentioned Assad…..
Same with the thousands of words and testimony at Jo Cox murder trial ……… Zero, zilch, nada, nothing.
To quote some respected people about Jenny….
Basically she acts like a modern-day Joseph Goebbels who in Nazi Germany had the role of making inflammatory and inaccurate memes as minister of propaganda.
Or more to the point …
QoT: Jenny is – and I’m so not ashamed to “resort to obscenties” – a fucking liar.
Tell us how you went from Israel into Syria, Jenny …. tell us about the hard right Apartheid state of Israel …. and their role in attacking Syria.
QoT: Jenny is – and I’m so not ashamed to “resort to obscenties” – a fucking liar.
Tell us how you went from Israel into Syria, Jenny …. tell us about the hard right Apartheid state of Israel …. and their role in attacking Syria.
Tell us something real for a change.
reason
I entered Syria from Turkey. Coming from Adana in Southern Turkey I went to the coastal city of Latakia in North West Syria, I spent most of time in Latakia in the al-Ramel Palestinian refugee camp on the outskirts of the city.
The al-Ramel refugee camp was one of the first, if not the first, civilian area to be attacked by heavy weapons by the Assad regime. In this case gun boats. But there were also straffing runs on the camp by government fighter jets. The attack also included tanks and government snipers. In scenes reminiscent of Pinochet's Chile 5,000 refugees were herded into the Latakia football stadium. From there a number were 'disappeared' into government custody the rest were driven from the city to become refugees, a second time.
How do I know this? October 2010 I was in al-Ramel and got to know it well. On returning to NZ, Palestinian friends I had made in the camp and who I trusted were able to give me first hand and near real time video footage of these attacks as they occurred.
I can personally vouch for the fact that the refugees would have been and were completely unarmed and defenceless in the face of this brutal government assault.
Is that real enough for you reason?
And what was the refugees' crime?
Siding with the anti-regime protests in the city.
So reason, apart from Right Wing commentator Queen Of Thorns, where do you get your information, Stand up comic Jimmy Dore perhaps? Right Wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones maybe? Tea Party founder Ron Paul?
All of this motely grab bag of self appointed experts on Syria have been quoted in these pages at various times by people such as yourself.
Personally I prefer first hand eye witness accounts from people I have met and know.
There is something missing with the issues at Ihumatao..
This site was chosen by the early main migration peoples because it was clearly one of the best living environments around – good soils, easy access, good climate, nice places to build houses, etc.
Those factors apply today too. It is still a good place for people to live for a whole bunch of similar reasons. In addition, peoples are still migrating to the same place.
Nothing has changed has it.
In this light there is a strong argument that the protestors should allow more migrating peoples to live next to them just like they did, for the exact same reasons they did, in exactly similar circumstances as theirs were.
It is a good place for peoples to live. Locking this activity away from the site may look rather selfish and short-sighted in the future and it may be that these realities have been forgotten in the heat of the current storm..
It is a good place to live and we should live there again – just like we did in the past (subject to appropriate acknowledgement and protection for our history).
I was speaking last evening to a young fellow who is off today to do his bit as a protester at Ihumātao. Now, putting aside his take on the politics of it (he had a rather ageist view of the Iwi elders, amongst other potential objections) the meta I took away from listening to him was how much his generation has a yearning for change that the tools a civic society atomised by neoliberalism and social media might not be able to deliver. These days there is little understanding of the sort of civic societies that need to exist to create the circumstances mass movements can bring about change He hoped (rather than expected) that Ihumātao would be his generations "Bastion Point" or "land march" moment. Similar inchoate hopes and desires for peaceful systemic change comes from movement like climate rebellion and earlier from the occupy movement, and IMHO it isn't limited to young people.
I don't think it too long a bow to draw to see this desire for change in a world where the current norm of extreme capitalism is in crisis and neoliberalism has systematically dismantled pathways of civic change the seeds of frustration that have given rise to right wing populism – people want change, and they don't care what side of the political spectrum it comes from. The political climate may be starting to change in NZ to be more in line with overseas trends.
Sure, and I agree with that sentiment. It may be that Ihumatao takes such a place in our society, as a point of change. However, that sentiment sits alongside the points I make above, not in place of.
I think your first point (at 2) is valid, but more for reasons you don't mention. On TDB Bryan Bruce refers to three iwi groups involved with the locality, yet neither he nor anyone else explores the history of that. If the treaty settlement only identified one of those as mana whenua (as seems to be the case), perhaps there was a miscarriage of natural justice which originated the stand-off.
Govt ministers keep saying the situation hinges on mana whenua without explaining why. Tacitly conceding tradition & precedent must prevail over protest is how that seems to me.
Sanctuary's description of `inchoate hopes' driving the protest momentum seems apt. If the system is discriminating against the other stakeholders, everyone needs to spit the dummy & say so! Protestors can't win on inchoate hopes & numbers, they must produce a rational basis for their case. Still no sign of the media reporting any such thing, nor has anyone here done so.
Well, I predict they won't. Unless they produce a credible rationale which the govt can use. Cluelessness has never been an effective political strategy.
The government will back down. The question is by how much.
I had originally thought completely, but now I suspect not. Maybe half.
The government won’t want to give the SOUL a complete win over Te Kawerau a Maki. Much too much of a dangerous precedent.
So maybe half into a public reserve attached to the current reserve, a quarter for Te Kawerau a Maki houses (as is already agreed) and a quarter for Fletcher houses. Fletchers sells the half for $40 million, and also builds the iwi houses.
A deal like that would have much less impact on other treaty settlements. That will be a huge issue for the government.
That does seem a reasonable prescription for a compromise solution that works as win/win all round the table. If the Maori MPs see it that way, perhaps consensus can displace the entrenched inter-iwi rivalries….
Christ! Schedule me some counselling will ya! "I tend to agree with you" @Wayne. I don't 'spose you could get me a gig on the Nayshun could ya (as a member of the commentariat going forward). I'm nearing the Gold Card and the belt has been extended an extra notch. I'd even wear a leisure suit if makeup deemed it necessary. Better still, Mrs OwT (Mother) wouldn't mind a bit.
Perhaps I'm less confident that the govt is capable of pulling that rabbit out of their hat than you are, huh? Normally in negotiations & diplomacy the various sides outline the basis of their position using a rationale to do so.
Protest movements that merely adopt an emotional stance therefore put themselves at a disadvantage. Omission of reasoning leaves a gaping hole where the rational basis of their political stand ought to be.
lol…im not confident about the governments abilities at all, its simply a fact that the problem is theirs….you appear confused by comparing this to a diplomatic negotiation…it is anything but
Well, I'm speaking from experience of having been in that type of situation intensively for several years. Do you have any actual personal track record of political experience?
Beats me why you think these multi-party roundtable discussions don't incorporate negotiation and diplomacy. In my experience, those two elements constituted the fabric of the interactions.
lol…everyone has a track record of political experience….your claimed "multi party roundtable discussions" experience may be the cause of your confusion for that is not what is being demanded nor supplied.
I'm not confused about the situation, and the media has reported the multi-party roundtable discussion the coalition govt organised – someone posted the link here several days ago. Maybe you didn't see that?
At this point I'm convinced that we don't have a housing crisis, it's an affordability issue. The absolute last thing we should be doing is building more housing that we do not need.
When the bubble pops the empty/run down/half built houses next to sacred land will be an even bigger insult than losing it in the first place.
… is but a temporary issue in the scheme of the last 700 years of human migration to these shores and the next 700 years of human migration, particularly the next 100 years when NZs population is going to rise like a water table to similar densities as other long-migrated places such as the UK and Japan…..
The point isn't being made. That a culture that got here first has sites of archaeology that need to be protected. Sure, giving the isthmus is going to be the site of first colonisation by Maori, it's going to need some protection from land demand for mansions with sea views… …or remove all European colonisation. Can't have it one way not other.
People have been arriving in aotearoa for 700 years. They continue to arrive today. They will arrive tomorrow. We that are already here need to move over and make room – particularly on those sites which make for good living and home environments.
This is one of the realities that has been forgotten and doesn't seem to be factored into the current arguments. If this particular reality (along with the other realities such as the confiscation etc) is not dealt with then expect it to re-surface again in the future.
There are plenty of good sites not right on top of the first peoples' connection to the land – something which is a very central part of their culture and a part which has been ripped from them.
You echo Ad's stance on Ihumātao when he said Maori should stop being sentimental about it because that place was once used for commercial activity so it should al ways be used for commercial activity. Presumably this also means Maori should stop being sentimental about their taonga, and their identity.
Let's say you have a nice bach in the Coromandel, you've lived there most of your life and it's been in your family for generations, built by your great grandfather.
There is simply no way you would be "completely fine" with the neighbouring property building high rise apartments housing hundreds of new residents. Embrace them with open arms, like f… you would.
It will be a torrid election year but is made worse by the media obsession with "gotcha" moments like the one from the fill-in Breakfast host this morning on TV One, it was a stance I read that also took place yesterday on current issues. In interviewing Winson Peters a claim was repeatedly made that issues being raised over the Ihumātao stand-off and concerns with the welfare of children as provided by Oranga Tamariki indicated grave divisions between the govt and "Maori".
Thankfully Winston pressed on, inspite of the journalist’s bent towards “division” being the primary problem for govt to focus on and resolve, and repeated his statement that they are serious issues and are issues for all NZ and things the govt is working to resolve. The interviewer’s determination to make claims of divisions over and above the issues and convert every opinion, stake or interest to all of "Maoridom" was ridiculous, within that group as with the rest of NZ their is a variety of opinion.
Media should stick to reporting the news not trying to pre-determine and influence what that news. or the outcome, might be.
It is a NZ issue in my opinion, that is from personally having to step into the lives of some children who were not "Maori" – we learned very quickly that some people hide things better than others – they are often also those who face less scrutiny of their failures as parents and carers. Not all those "protesting" the land issue are "Maori" either, are you blind?
As a result Maori also die faster. In 2013, life expectancy was just 73 years for Māori men and 77.1 years for Māori women. For non-Māori males it was 80.3 years, and for non-Māori females it was 83.9. In other words, inequality between Maori and NZ Europeans contributes to Māori losing seven years of their lives.
And here's the stats on violence against Maori children.
And in straight wealth you get to the big signals: in 2015, the median NZ European had $114,000 of wealth. The median Māori had just $23,000. That’s a gap of $91,000.
The only leader who was prepared to name this as a whole was Helen Clark, after which Don Brash delivered the Orewa speech which basically denied it all and that any explicit weighting towards Maori was unjust. So she nearly lost the election over it.
And then there's the rate at which Maori are in jail: way above anyone else as a group:
When 900 Maori who had been in jail were interviewed, 90% thought structural racism was a factor, but the survey found that most people though greater whanau support, higher incomes, and connected communities would help reduce incarceration rates.
Mostly, well NOT mostly the ones I know and I repeat the real life things I have seen seem, to me, to go unseen. There is some disproportion but that in my opinion once again is reflected in financial circumstances – that does not apply to the "Maori" I know and am also related to. I don't think it is unreasonable to base my opinion on what I know.
Thanks for that extensive backgrounding Ad. Maori have been fighting to get out of the cul de sac that they have been backed into.
And their elders and young ones will have ideas for improvement, as they have been doing for years and achieving success, but the austerity economy and the disconnection of National and RW Labour for the 'strugglers' has meant that fewer opportunities to advance themselves and their standard of living has led to just managing from day to day. Still many shine though, and if government will just get behind each new initiative and ensure it is implemented effectively, and then ensure it keeps going the positive response will spread.
Then a great shake felt over the whole country will be felt as they rise from being stuck in a muddy bog. The rising of every Maori to the full potential of themselves and their hapu with a plan they have chosen to follow and stay with, will give them a positive future which will continue on despite climate change dilemmas – that will be an earthquake which will bring mana to NZ and restore it deservedly, to Maori.
yes Winston is great , does not let them push their agenda . tells them off in no uncertain terms when they being dickheads…. which frankly is most of the time.
ANZ in the headlines once again. Seriously if you are a customer you really should be at least looking at other banks at this point given multiple red flags around this bank in the last two months alone.
An Auckland woman has turned down an offer of $2000 compensation from ANZ because she says she wants a full inquiry into the way the bank treated her.
Can computers cope with us and our priorities appropriately enough? How to manage your time more effectively (according to machines).
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDbdXTMnOmE
TedTalk on Human organisation cf Computers – blockchain technology – (not just bitcoin tech).
Cambridge University: Can computers understand emotions? Can computers express emotions? Can they feel emotions? The latest video from the University of Cambridge shows how emotions can be used to improve interaction between humans and computers.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whCJ4NLUSB8
Went down country to visit the rellies last week. On Sunday morning I got four litres of milk courtesy of Daisy, the cow who inhabits the paddock next to the house I was staying in.
It is an eye popping revelation to use old fashioned, untreated full cream milk from a happy cow with a name. It is delicious on porridge with a bit of home made honey, I will tell you!
They've been selling milk from the farm just up the road from where I live at the edge of New Plymouth for years apparently – so much so the farmer built a special building with a parking area for customers. And when I lived in Ak my old mate Bill (who sailed out here from California in his yacht in the year of Muldoon, '75) has been heading out of town to get his milk fresh from a farmer for many years too. Never got sick from it.
Are you teasing us DF? One person never got sick from it – that's classic that is of taking a particular and applying it to the general – isn't that faulty generalisation?
If you read what I wrote again you ought to be able to ascertain that I didn't mention any generalisation at all – so I have no idea why you assume so.
Not even slightly. I was merely citing a trend I had noticed over the past 15 years or so, and using personal experience to validate it.
I didn't say I had joined that trend (I haven't) nor did I endorse it. Implications arise in the minds of readers sometimes when they jump to conclusions too quickly, and that appears to have happened in this instance.
As to why folks are trending back towards nature, and away from chemicals, you could argue that common sense is prevailing, eh?
Now id be somewhat dubious about the number but if true Ethiopia has just completed 1/3 of our 10 year tree planting programme in 1 day…..and probably at little financial cost.
Yip we have vast areas of tussock and mountains that could grow massive forests of conifers but oh no let's destroy rural communities and plant good farmland so rich people can fly round the world .
Good rant. Actually selling individual farms at a profit to that individual farmer, to financiers who amalgamate them for dairy and overstock them, and employ overseas cheap labour has done the greatest harm to rural communities cohesiveness and friendly co-operation and services. Let's not just on the latest emerging gripe from farmers and blame it on the gummint or such.
And individual farmers have somehow enabled attitudes to diminish to the extent that someone can go round shooting animals, burning down buildings and not get stopped by policing until he shot his relation. Would that have been the sort of rural community you are mourning about?
10 to 7 this morning Winston was in the AM studio & gave us quite a performance, did anyone else see it? As acting-PM. I can't claim to have followed all the rapid-fire dialogue but he sure kicked Colmar Brunton's arse all round the park.
I wonder if they really do have a covert agenda, and have carefully designed the framing of their questions to produce a biased result as he implied. That thesis would get traction if a consistent pattern was evident over time. The discrepancy with recent National & Labour private polls is double the margin of error for National, so does seem suspect.
I saw him on Breakfast and likewise he had no patience for the "gotcha" traps the media try to set instead of the "issues" being discussed and them actually listening.
People will look back at this 3 years and be glad their was an old steady hand in the background. The youthful ideological labour greens would have flown to bits otherwise.
That thesis would get traction if a consistent pattern was evident over time.
It's been my observation over a number of years that the CB poll has been consistent in so far as it nearly always gives National a higher percentage rating than its equivalent polling companies – now down to only Reid Research.
If that latest Colmar Brunton poll is repeated again when the next poll comes around Labour are in real trouble.
This is clear now because the whole media ‘Newshusb, TV one and Radio NZ “National” are all controlled by the spin doctors of the National Party prbablly by Steven Joyce and John Key.
We warned the new labour NZF Government to replace Clare Curren and put another Channel Seven public affairs channel up to sell the Government policy to the people.
But Clare Curren sabotaged Jacinda and the new Government by not providing Government with their own media platform so the result is now obvious.
Who wins the ‘media’ wins the ‘next Government’, and so far this Government are loosing.
Q&A last night. Jack Tane asked the right questions of the dreadful Simon Bridges about the Cancer plan. And he pushed Bridges to actually answer which made poor little Simon to get frantic. Jack is the first journalist that I have heard to actually address the issues. Well done Jack.
Just quickly, two things in response to that interview:
They will fund only “proven drugs”. This is disingenuous and misleading as many patients don’t respond at all to those “proven drugs” and yet still suffer the major side effects.
The PHARMAC budget was increased by $10 million per year in Budget-2019 but lifted by $114.2 million in the previous Budget despite Simon Bridges saying “last year they [the CoL Government] put zero dollars into that …”. https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news/media-2018-05-17-pharmac-budget-2018-19/
But Jack was trapped by his guest Hooton who let strip a tirade of very negative bilge water and assisted by exGreen Sue Bradford who was just as negative. Nothing but negatives! No one for the Government.
My empathy mode kicked in full this morning when I clicked onto the Herald. I could understand deep feelings of insecurity, loneliness and desperation on seeing Hosking's latest go at Jacinda Ardern. When mum left the room when I was about seven months old I'm sure I felt the same.
Maybe the PM can add issues to do with desertion to the Mental Health basket. When she gets back from 'wandering around the Pacific.' Mike Hosking might be a good case study or used as an expert in the field.
That poor bloke. Fancy having the footage and being able to see the set-up. He can be seen lying and the time is clearly shown. And at the end on the right hand side of the frame it appears someone else is down on the floor.
People have been working to create better conditions in jails, to limit the number of people who go into them, and to work with the inmates so they can control their impulses and to try and instil some understanding of their own life difficulties, so they can feel empathy for themselves instead of trying to be tough all the time. Then they are on the way to be able to have some concern for others.
But the ruling class like to emphasise the failures of the lower classes. If they fail themselves there is a case made for exceptional circumstances.
Let us start with abolishing double bunking, and carefully controlled civilised treatment of prisoners. There must be concern for warders so they are safe but not having thuggish types. It would be hard to find that tough but fair sort.
That incident was in 2013 and Corrections is back to running Mt Eden…
"and carefully controlled civilised treatment of prisoners. "
The real problem (as I see it) is prisoners have far too many rights (and boy do they know them) but care nothing for responsibilities so the first thing I'd do is make prisoners earn their privileges eg you want a TV you earn the privilege of renting a tv by showing compliance and good behavior and if you damage a tv you don't get it back until you've both shown contrition and paid back the cost of the repair
You want something to read same deal, same with the P119s, same with more than two showers a day, same with doing hobbies etc etc
"There must be concern for warders so they are safe but not having thuggish types. It would be hard to find that tough but fair sort."
Increase the Corrections budget so more staff can be hired, improve the working conditions (pay, overtime, rosters etc etc) and give more support (through the courts and media) and you'll get more people applying
The next day, the beginning of an ethical crisis began to take shape.
Coleen Boyle, Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp and Diana Schendel participated in a Denmark Grantees Autism/CP conference call.
Paul Thorsen participated and presumably helped bring the two new principal investigators up to speed.
He was asked to provide Aarhus University a copy of all permissions in his files ASAP.
Coleen commented that from what they had discussed, most of the activities were completed. Diana began discussing additional projects.
Soren raised the issue of bringing the CP biomarker data to Aarhus for safekeeping.
Then, there was a discussion about who had the various data and whether it could be gathered and secured all in one place.
Diana and Poul were asked to provide historical context to this.
The biggest concern the CDC-Danish colluders had that point was getting ethical coverage for Diana Schendel’s paper that was about to be published on autism and inflammatory markers.
They decided to extend the permissions obtained by another researcher (Rikke Maimburg from Aarhus)to Diana because Rikke had been approved in 2000 for a study entitled ‘Obstetric factors and autism’.
Their thinking was that since Diana’s study used mothers’ obstetric files, the 2000 Ethics Committee approval could be extended to her study (even though the committee never reviewed Schendel’s study design.)
These acts were clearly not ethical.
Thorsen failed to provide evidence post study that he had obtained ethical committee permissions for the bio and genetic markers and autism research.
The team eventually determined no requests had ever been submitted.
By all appearances, they determined that studies related to the two papers, already published, were done without legally-required ethical approval.
Sounds a bit Brave New World approach to me. And also how people might be when we are discouraged from 'breeding'. Because being really committed and being together as a permanent couple with legal obligations goes with accepting the parental role, when it makes sense to indicate the acceptance of that responsibility publically and legally.
People brought up in the ways of monetising everything as in neo lib, have trouble getting excited about a tree trunk if there is money to be made for someone. The Labour Coalition would have to introduce new legislation to ban exports to keep our unique kauri here I think.
Not enough lucrative ‘opportunities’ for MPs in opposition?
National party MPs who (a) left parliament at the last election, (b) left parliament after the last election, or (c) have announced that they will leave parliament at the next election.
Yep. Another rat jumps ship. Nathan Guy was full of shit and useless anyway. Maybe Simon just told him to fuck off.
The National Party team will be full of inexperienced novices by 2020. Most of their tallent has already gone. I doubt they could run a Maccas drive through these days.
23 July 2019 Northland Age by editor Peter Jackson "Flawed Northland Regional Council decision bound for court"
Northland Regional Council chairman Bill Shepherd's use of his casting vote to break a 4-4 deadlock over the issue of whether or not to include provisions for the management of genetically modified organisms in the council's proposed regional plan has outraged critics of the technology, who have vowed to fight it in court.
(It is necessary to ensure that people have the training and wisdom to handle power roles these days. Decisions over matters of science, with large unknown factors and worrying known ones, should not be made by someone who is merely known in the area, has knowledge of farming practices and management, pays his bills on time, and likes a drink with the rugby club after the game. The time to recognise that many have reached beyond their level of understanding and are heading the glass ceiling of The Peter Principle, is now so change can be made within say, two years to something better.)
Great piece, actually well balance on Pania Newton #Ihumātao gives concise history.
Now we need a story on who these guys are
Te Warena Taua, who chairs both the Makaurau Marae Trust and Te Kawerau ā Maki Tribal Authority, has been openly dismissive, questioning her legitimacy and status.
Remember, these were invasions of Iran – not by Iran. As strategic analyst, Dr Paul Buchanan, observes:
“[I]t should be remembered that modern Iran has not engaged in an unprovoked attack on another country. Although it supports and uses irregular military proxies, it is nowhere close to being the sponsor of terrorism that several Sunni Arab petroleum oligarchies are. In spite of its anti-Israel rhetoric (destined for domestic political consumption), it has not fired a shot in anger towards it.”…
The Americans are not daunted. When it comes to the Middle East (and its oil) the behaviour of the United States can only be described as unhinged. When Saddam dared to act independently of the US, the debt America owed his country, for its costly – and ultimately futile – war against its Iranian neighbour, was forgotten in a heartbeat.
And it wasn’t just Saddam who paid dearly for his failure to comprehend the full extent of America’s derangement. When US Secretary of State, Madeline Albright, was asked by CBS’s Lesley Stahl: “We have heard that half a million [Iraqi] children have died. I mean, that’s more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?” Albright replied: “I think this is a very hard choice, but the price — we think the price is worth it.”
We worry about poverty, he says, but we should be as concerned about inequality. “Concentrated wealth could undermine our entire political system”.
“There needs to be a register of global wealth to bring more money into the tax system for redistribution. Governments should also be assessing all policies by their effect on inequality,” he says.
Business School public lecture Monday 12 August
Professor Robert H. Wade: “Why the ‘Trump era’ could last for 30 years.”
6-8pm
University of Auckland
12 Grafton Road.
Register at https://nvite.com/universityofauckland/e76de
Notes: Professor Robert H. Wade was educated at Wellington College, University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington, and the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex. He has worked at the Institute of Development Studies, the World Bank, Woodrow Wilson School (Princeton University), MIT Sloan School and Brown University.
Good riddance to Nathan Guy he was one of the WORST examples of the last corrupt National government.
Under his watch Mycoplasma Bovis was spread through a large part of our livestock and caused irreparable damage to the rural community but the farmers ( god bless them ) still support and VOTE this type of incompetence !!!
He stood for nothing and never intervened in the worst cases of rural animal cruelty , and cruelty to the under class of this country by the policies he supported.
But that’s ok he is a top kiwi bloke.
He will no doubt end up in a cushy council job or similar job in the private sector.
One of the worst examples of the National and the people who vote for and support this party.
A good practical piece from Greenpeace about Federated Farmers and how ineffectual and irresponsible they are. I think you might find it says what the true situation is bwaghorn?
I feel that someone who does this hates him or her self. I think they should be operated on to prevent further children. Also have talking sessions so they can get out what is in their minds and see if they can turn around. Something needs to be done with them.
Jyniah was left in a closed freezer, hung on the back of a wardrobe door, held against a gas heater, swung around by her short hair and hung on a clothesline.
Her fatal head injury was the result of being kicked, thrown against a wall, shaken and smothered.
Her babysitter Tiana Mary-Anne Odessa Kapea – a relative and close friend of Te Awa – pleaded guilty to murdering the baby and was sentenced to life in prison.
National's Todd Muller will take over outgoing Otaki MP Nathan Guy's primary industry focused portfolios and loses his climate change responsibilities.
So that is how National gets away with sinking an annoying voice of reason?
Kia kaha students who strike for the preservation of your I Am living off the grid now to minimize Eco Maori carbon footprint.
Tell me again how the school climate strike was 'just a day of your future climate. I am
OPINION: Hi, it's a student here. Yes, one of those students. One of the students that cares about climate change and is all for a strike that will be taking place this Friday. Now that being a student who also cares about the environment is somehow considered a controversial stance, let me explain my point of view.
The way I see it, older generations don't seem to care about the environment, mainly because by the time the consequences of their actions come about, they'll already be six feet under. Pretty easy life, right? I don't blame them. What's the point of changing anything when it won't affect you, right
Well, I, and everyone else my age, don't get that luxury. We're the ones that are going to have to deal with the consequences. Your children, your grandchildren, and possibly, if the planet is still around, your great-grandchildren. We're going to have to deal with fossil fuels heating up the planet, polluted oceans filled with millions of tonnes of dumped plastic congregating into literal islands of trash, the ice caps melting and a raising the sea level. We're going to to be the ones left with the mess we had little part in creating ka kite ano links below.
Maori and the youth can do lots. Once you get older and start thinking about having a partner and then children, it is harder to go after changing stuff, your time is split up between your various duties and interests. Maori have been splitting themselves for a long time, its been hard but they have persevered and had great leaders to inspire them also. Good for you and us, belatedly stirring ourselves.
Eco Maori thanks Rod Schoonover for making a stand against te climate change deniering fools
White House ‘undercutting evidence' of climate crisis, says analyst who resigned
Rod Schoonover, who was an intelligence analyst for 10 years, said the Trump administration halted his report on global heating
A former senior government analyst has accused the Trump administration of “undercutting evidence” of the threat to national security from the climate crisisafter his report on the issue was blocked by the White House.
Rod Schoonover, who worked as an intelligence analyst for the federal government for 10 years before resigning earlier this month, submitted a written testimony on the “wide-ranging implications” of global heating over the next 20 years, for submission to the House intelligence committee last month.
'People are dying': how the climate crisis has sparked an exodus to the US
But he said on Tuesday that the report was stopped by the White House because his findings “did not comport with administration’s position on climate change”.
That prompted him to leave his post – one of a stream of scientists sidelined or forced out over what critics of the Trump administration characterize as a war on science, because warnings for the dangers of human-caused global heating conflict with the Donald Trump’s industrial objectives. Ka kite ano link below.
I agree with Ming Foon tamariki should be able to walk to school safely.
Problems liveing off grid the power system went do but Eco Maori has been out cutting wood all day can you guess who could be tampering with my solar powered system the sandflys.
Its quirky that my solar system plays up when im not home but is charging my battery and running my TV's system with low light the sandflys are turning on my electric and disableing my solar system when im away.
The Fire in Russia is not good for the Papatuanuku Economy Lloyd.
My devices are being tampered with to someone tried to rip the back off my ph .
Duncan I see you changed the color of your underwear once again blue ain't your color.
Ka kite ano P.S last day tomorrow and weekend off a guys
Here you go Whanau successive Governments have not invested enough money in The East Cape region for 30 years once we had the economy that was the backbone of Aotearoa that was in the 50s to the 80s .
People always talk about North Land having it tough but Te taiwhiti has a lack of basic services Eco Maori see what they are up to trying to suppress Ngati Porou Mana Yea Right they will never succeed.
The East Cape is one of the most remote regions in New Zealand.
Corrina Parata is the only midwife for 200kilometres along this rugged coastline, delivering the first babies in the world in heartland Ngāti Porou territory.
Whanau The Sandflys are swarming marked cop cars everywhere don't they have real criminals to find but Eco Maori has the skills to counteract their bullies bullshit Thanks for the MANA
So because 1 persons dies and Mark Mitchell wants to lock up more Maori because of his ancient values and views on Weed isn't he a x cop and a contractor for the cops for years Eco Maori say throw his views into the history books.
The road spikes left on a road by the cops You see Whanau they are not perfect as they try a portray but suppressing most bad things they do it's a illusion. More proof the gun lobbyists issues.
I think it's a great Idea to have a council watch dog as there are to many issues with our water and other services that should be provided by the councils
That would be awesome having a tax on fatty and sugary foods and drinks. Thanks for that study that provides that a tax on those foods will work. Ma te Wa.
That's not on trading Moar bones can be legally traded extinct animals parts
Ingrid its cold in Hawksbay but not as cold as so were trying to spin
I think the Water service bill is needed to make sure our taonga wai still has a healthy environment forever .
There was a gas station stunt bp giving away free gas looks like it made a lot of people happy.
Its awesome to see that Our Coalition Governments and the Provincial growth fund is investing more money in Te taiwhiti roads they are bad one can easily notice the difference from the reads in Opotiki they are good roads but once you go through the gorge the roads are bad Eco Maori gives thanks for that.
It is hard to sorte out bad students Eco Maori feels for the teachers who have to attend to mischief tamariki its worst with the anti smacking bill that has just created a lot of tamariki who have respect for no one they don't even know the meaning of the words Eco Maori solar system is going great
Its Its awesome that the Hawaiians have been given some respect from the ruling class in Hawaii kia kaha Eco Maori tau toko you
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Asia Pacific Report Following an open letter by Auckland University academics speaking out in support of their students’ right to protest against the genocidal Israeli war on Gaza, a group of academics at Otago University have today also called on New Zealand academic institutions to “repair colonial violence” and end ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda J. Graham, Professor and Director of the Centre for Inclusive Education, Queensland University of Technology Ryan Tauss/ Unsplash, CC BY Two male students have been expelled from a Melbourne private school for their involvement in a list ranking female students. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The Reserve Bank is now assuming Australians will see no interest rate cuts this year – and quite possibly none before the next federal election, due next May. That’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University The Victorian budget offered more of the same on Tuesday, with the only change being how the budget papers were packaged. The usual shrink wrap was gone, hinting at savings in the pages ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Coalition is demanding extensive amendments to the government’s legislation targeting non-citizens who refuse to co-operate with their removal. In a dissenting report to the senate inquiry into the legislation, the Coalition says it ...
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International audiences are starting to discover what New Zealand already knew about After the Party.When After the Party aired in New Zealand last year, the response was fast and furious. In his preview for Rec Room, Duncan Greive said it was a “gritty, wrenching and highly confronting” series. By ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shahram Akbarzadeh, Convenor of the Middle East Studies Forum (MESF), and Acting Director the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University Iran’s leadership has been a direct beneficiary of the months-long war in Gaza. With every missile that Israel fires ...
Claire Mabey reviews the haunting and sexy debut novel from Sinéad Gleeson, who is about to touch down in Aotearoa for a string of live events.When Irish writer Sinéad Gleeson was in Aotearoa in 2018 with her spectacular collection of essays, Constellations, she told me she was working on ...
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Where some saw the worst press conference given by the government to date, Anna Rawhiti-Connell recognised girl maths game.Nicola Willis, recently exasperated by comparisons to Ruth Richardson, said she was “a bit sick of being compared with every female finance minister that’s ever been out there.”Some think that’s ...
The March results are reported against forecasts based on the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2023 (HYEFU 2023), published on 20 December 2023 and the results for the same period for the previous year. ...
Jamie Arbuckle, the district councillor who became an MP but decided to keep getting paid for both roles, will instead donate one salary to charity. ...
Adding gender to the Human Rights Act would simply make the implicit explicit. So why is it so controversial? Paul Thistoll explain. At present, Aotearoa’s 1993 Human Rights Act (HRA) includes sex, marital status, religious belief, ethical belief (meaning a lack of religious belief), colour, race, ethnicity or national origin, ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Kelsey, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Resources Minister Shane Jones has reportedly asked officials for advice on whether oil and gas companies could be offered “bonds” as compensation if drilling rights offered by ...
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Harm Reduction Coalition Aotearoa, a new incorporated society dedicated to ending harmful drug policies, officially launched today, seeks a new fit-for-purpose drug law for Aotearoa New Zealand, rooted in science, experience and evidence. ...
The Corrections Minister admits he "muddied the water" after he and the Prime Minister repeatedly provided incorrect information about a $1.9 billion prison spend-up. ...
It took a post-post-cabinet statement to confirm that 810 new beds will be built at Waikeria, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Lili Tokaduadua was only 15 when she left her family in Fiji to pursue her netball dream in New Zealand. She’d been playing the sport for 10 years and was offered a netball scholarship at Auckland’s Howick College. Now, in her first year out of high school, the 19-year-old defender ...
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[Some stray text in your name field Jenny. Might want to check it – MS]
‘For Sama’
See the documentary they don’t want you to see.
New Zealand International Film festival, Auckland, Thursday August 1, 8.45pm
https://www.nziff.co.nz/2019/auckland/ticketing/buying-tickets/
A must see first person account of living under the Assad regime's genocidal hail of bombs.
https://www.indiewire.com/2019/07/for-sama-review-documentary-aleppo-1202161309/
A more nuanced view by Reuters back in 2013 when radical Islamists took over eastern Aleppo
"The moderates are losing ground. In many parts of rebel-held Aleppo, the red, black and green revolutionary flag which represents more moderate elements has been replaced with the black Islamic flag. Small shops selling black headbands, conservative clothing and black balaclavas have popped up around the city and their business is booming."
In other words , from 2013 on , there were no moderate rebels in eastern Aleppo .
Or are you saying Al Nusra and the brutal sharia law courts they set up was a desirable model for the rest of Syria?
The full article was written before the western media got their shit together on how it was all meant to play out and what their talking points were meant to be
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-rebels-islamists-specialreport/special-report-syrias-islamists-seize-control-as-moderates-dither-idUSBRE95I0BC20130619
The mother of "Sama" came to Aleppo from outside. When interviewed on radio recently , she said she had no family in Aleppo, so they lived in the makeshift hospital.She came from outside to wage jihad against the secular govt.
And in 2016 this report from Open Democracy
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/what-russia-and-rest-of-us-are-doing-in-syria/
Things hadn't got any better
Here are the words of Colonel Stephen Warren in April 2016:
“It's primarily al-Nusra who holds Aleppo, and of course, al-Nusra is not part of the cessation of hostilities.”
He was the spokesman for the US anti-ISIS military campaign in Iraq and Syria.
Yes …. and Jenny seems reluctant to admit that her 'good guys' have done the worst war crime / genocidal hail of bombs. …. In either Syria or Iraq.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZRRIXH4GxI&t=650s
And she has not apologized …. or retracted, her loony tunes christchurch / jo cox Assad conspiracy theories
Now, I've stuck up for Andrew Little before …. but he has dropped the ball on this ,,, the john key / Nact security services
Instead of sticking up for a failure ,,,, why can he not admit mistakes were made regarding 'security' ,,,, and we are working on fixing them. 14mins 10sec
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQkNKSEdKUNpxrj10qGE2mB1w5cSH3ohqFgXq-dKH7-MpsWBezUpQ
A variation of the three monkeys …. Speak evil ….. while refusing to see or hear it.
There's an entire Royal Commission occurring right now on this question so there's every reason for the Minister to wait until the proposals from that emerge.
That's true Ad …. which is why I would not have expected Andrew Little to deny their was a problem with where the security services were directing their resources.
He stuck his stick in the mud … before the review ….
Unlike you … some of the Muslim victims are offended and hurt by such denials and statements …. did you not watch the video and the people interviewed in it?.
I make it a double knock-on between you and Andy L
Putting words in my mouth again reason?
I have never claimed that the US are the "good guys" in Syria. And long before you ever mentioned it I have condemned the slaughter in Raqqa by US and coalition air forces. A slaughter, I might add, that you and other Assad apologists cheered on and encouraged by smearing the whole Syrian people in revolt against the Assad regime as head choppers and terrorists.
Long before the Christchurch massacre which occurred on the anniversary of the start of the Syrian revolution.
Long before this fascist atrocity I have argued that the Liberal Left's support for Assad style fascism and genocide in Syria would strengthen and embolden fascists globally.
This is a view I still hold.
Sill telling lies Jenny …. and putting words in peoples mouths.
The problem I have with jennys Ergot infected bread-crumbs regarding Christchurch / Assad … Is she is leading away from the truth.
Out of the 100 odd words and phrases the Christchurch white subpremacist had written on his murder tools ……………… Not even a single one mentioned Assad…..
Same with the thousands of words and testimony at Jo Cox murder trial ……… Zero, zilch, nada, nothing.
To quote some respected people about Jenny….
Or more to the point …
Tell us how you went from Israel into Syria, Jenny …. tell us about the hard right Apartheid state of Israel …. and their role in attacking Syria.
Tell us something real for a change.
I entered Syria from Turkey. Coming from Adana in Southern Turkey I went to the coastal city of Latakia in North West Syria, I spent most of time in Latakia in the al-Ramel Palestinian refugee camp on the outskirts of the city.
The al-Ramel refugee camp was one of the first, if not the first, civilian area to be attacked by heavy weapons by the Assad regime. In this case gun boats. But there were also straffing runs on the camp by government fighter jets. The attack also included tanks and government snipers. In scenes reminiscent of Pinochet's Chile 5,000 refugees were herded into the Latakia football stadium. From there a number were 'disappeared' into government custody the rest were driven from the city to become refugees, a second time.
How do I know this? October 2010 I was in al-Ramel and got to know it well. On returning to NZ, Palestinian friends I had made in the camp and who I trusted were able to give me first hand and near real time video footage of these attacks as they occurred.
I can personally vouch for the fact that the refugees would have been and were completely unarmed and defenceless in the face of this brutal government assault.
Is that real enough for you reason?
And what was the refugees' crime?
Siding with the anti-regime protests in the city.
So reason, apart from Right Wing commentator Queen Of Thorns, where do you get your information, Stand up comic Jimmy Dore perhaps? Right Wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones maybe? Tea Party founder Ron Paul?
All of this motely grab bag of self appointed experts on Syria have been quoted in these pages at various times by people such as yourself.
Personally I prefer first hand eye witness accounts from people I have met and know.
[Jenny can you change your name please. You have too many words there … MS]
There is something missing with the issues at Ihumatao..
This site was chosen by the early main migration peoples because it was clearly one of the best living environments around – good soils, easy access, good climate, nice places to build houses, etc.
Those factors apply today too. It is still a good place for people to live for a whole bunch of similar reasons. In addition, peoples are still migrating to the same place.
Nothing has changed has it.
In this light there is a strong argument that the protestors should allow more migrating peoples to live next to them just like they did, for the exact same reasons they did, in exactly similar circumstances as theirs were.
It is a good place for peoples to live. Locking this activity away from the site may look rather selfish and short-sighted in the future and it may be that these realities have been forgotten in the heat of the current storm..
It is a good place to live and we should live there again – just like we did in the past (subject to appropriate acknowledgement and protection for our history).
I was speaking last evening to a young fellow who is off today to do his bit as a protester at Ihumātao. Now, putting aside his take on the politics of it (he had a rather ageist view of the Iwi elders, amongst other potential objections) the meta I took away from listening to him was how much his generation has a yearning for change that the tools a civic society atomised by neoliberalism and social media might not be able to deliver. These days there is little understanding of the sort of civic societies that need to exist to create the circumstances mass movements can bring about change He hoped (rather than expected) that Ihumātao would be his generations "Bastion Point" or "land march" moment. Similar inchoate hopes and desires for peaceful systemic change comes from movement like climate rebellion and earlier from the occupy movement, and IMHO it isn't limited to young people.
I don't think it too long a bow to draw to see this desire for change in a world where the current norm of extreme capitalism is in crisis and neoliberalism has systematically dismantled pathways of civic change the seeds of frustration that have given rise to right wing populism – people want change, and they don't care what side of the political spectrum it comes from. The political climate may be starting to change in NZ to be more in line with overseas trends.
Sure, and I agree with that sentiment. It may be that Ihumatao takes such a place in our society, as a point of change. However, that sentiment sits alongside the points I make above, not in place of.
I think your first point (at 2) is valid, but more for reasons you don't mention. On TDB Bryan Bruce refers to three iwi groups involved with the locality, yet neither he nor anyone else explores the history of that. If the treaty settlement only identified one of those as mana whenua (as seems to be the case), perhaps there was a miscarriage of natural justice which originated the stand-off.
Govt ministers keep saying the situation hinges on mana whenua without explaining why. Tacitly conceding tradition & precedent must prevail over protest is how that seems to me.
Sanctuary's description of `inchoate hopes' driving the protest momentum seems apt. If the system is discriminating against the other stakeholders, everyone needs to spit the dummy & say so! Protestors can't win on inchoate hopes & numbers, they must produce a rational basis for their case. Still no sign of the media reporting any such thing, nor has anyone here done so.
"Protestors can't win on inchoate hopes & numbers, they must produce a rational basis for their case."
Indeed they can….especially if all that is required is ‘change’ and the backing down of the elite
Well, I predict they won't. Unless they produce a credible rationale which the govt can use. Cluelessness has never been an effective political strategy.
The government will back down. The question is by how much.
I had originally thought completely, but now I suspect not. Maybe half.
The government won’t want to give the SOUL a complete win over Te Kawerau a Maki. Much too much of a dangerous precedent.
So maybe half into a public reserve attached to the current reserve, a quarter for Te Kawerau a Maki houses (as is already agreed) and a quarter for Fletcher houses. Fletchers sells the half for $40 million, and also builds the iwi houses.
A deal like that would have much less impact on other treaty settlements. That will be a huge issue for the government.
That does seem a reasonable prescription for a compromise solution that works as win/win all round the table. If the Maori MPs see it that way, perhaps consensus can displace the entrenched inter-iwi rivalries….
That seems reasonable Wayne.
Christ! Schedule me some counselling will ya! "I tend to agree with you" @Wayne. I don't 'spose you could get me a gig on the Nayshun could ya (as a member of the commentariat going forward). I'm nearing the Gold Card and the belt has been extended an extra notch. I'd even wear a leisure suit if makeup deemed it necessary. Better still, Mrs OwT (Mother) wouldn't mind a bit.
The only thing SOUL could do is depose Te Warena Taua as the primary elder on the marae, and then call the deal off. And then no one gets anything.
The deal has more or less been called off now anyway. Impossible for a housing development to go ahead from this point.
I think it will go ahead pretty much as written now, just with slightly fewer houses, and tens of millions of taxpayer compensation to Fletchers.
I would think Winston would have to agree to it and I can't see that happening
'They 'dont need to produce any rationale for the government ….thats the governments job and the rationale is forJoe publics consumption
Perhaps I'm less confident that the govt is capable of pulling that rabbit out of their hat than you are, huh? Normally in negotiations & diplomacy the various sides outline the basis of their position using a rationale to do so.
Protest movements that merely adopt an emotional stance therefore put themselves at a disadvantage. Omission of reasoning leaves a gaping hole where the rational basis of their political stand ought to be.
lol…im not confident about the governments abilities at all, its simply a fact that the problem is theirs….you appear confused by comparing this to a diplomatic negotiation…it is anything but
Well, I'm speaking from experience of having been in that type of situation intensively for several years. Do you have any actual personal track record of political experience?
Beats me why you think these multi-party roundtable discussions don't incorporate negotiation and diplomacy. In my experience, those two elements constituted the fabric of the interactions.
lol…everyone has a track record of political experience….your claimed "multi party roundtable discussions" experience may be the cause of your confusion for that is not what is being demanded nor supplied.
I'm not confused about the situation, and the media has reported the multi-party roundtable discussion the coalition govt organised – someone posted the link here several days ago. Maybe you didn't see that?
Any talks…once they happen, will be bipartisan…they can dress it up any way they like
I was referring to the one they had before the PM announced her change of stance. I was not referring to any hypothetical future.
Of course you were
Just to clarify, then, I am assuming they will replicate the format they used if they organise another…
At this point I'm convinced that we don't have a housing crisis, it's an affordability issue. The absolute last thing we should be doing is building more housing that we do not need.
When the bubble pops the empty/run down/half built houses next to sacred land will be an even bigger insult than losing it in the first place.
… is but a temporary issue in the scheme of the last 700 years of human migration to these shores and the next 700 years of human migration, particularly the next 100 years when NZs population is going to rise like a water table to similar densities as other long-migrated places such as the UK and Japan…..
The Big Picture
The erasing of culture is at the root of this. Not great to make the same mistakes all over again.
The point isn't being made. That a culture that got here first has sites of archaeology that need to be protected. Sure, giving the isthmus is going to be the site of first colonisation by Maori, it's going to need some protection from land demand for mansions with sea views… …or remove all European colonisation. Can't have it one way not other.
https://soundcloud.com/pete-dnanz/truth
That misses the point entirely.
People have been arriving in aotearoa for 700 years. They continue to arrive today. They will arrive tomorrow. We that are already here need to move over and make room – particularly on those sites which make for good living and home environments.
This is one of the realities that has been forgotten and doesn't seem to be factored into the current arguments. If this particular reality (along with the other realities such as the confiscation etc) is not dealt with then expect it to re-surface again in the future.
There are plenty of good sites not right on top of the first peoples' connection to the land – something which is a very central part of their culture and a part which has been ripped from them.
You echo Ad's stance on Ihumātao when he said Maori should stop being sentimental about it because that place was once used for commercial activity so it should al ways be used for commercial activity. Presumably this also means Maori should stop being sentimental about their taonga, and their identity.
Disgraceful.
+ 1 yep I agree
No I have not said that at all – go re-read and stop being rude and putting words in my mouth
“(subject to appropriate acknowledgement and protection for our history)”
I'm not re-reading colonialist crap. Once was enough.
then shove it all and more up your arse wanker
Will do, racist.
Nope there was nothing racist in there. It was a global comment. You need to learn to read
Let's say you have a nice bach in the Coromandel, you've lived there most of your life and it's been in your family for generations, built by your great grandfather.
There is simply no way you would be "completely fine" with the neighbouring property building high rise apartments housing hundreds of new residents. Embrace them with open arms, like f… you would.
Happening in every city in New Zealand for 160 years.
has happened since manwoman first arrived. will keep happening until manwoman leaves.
It will be a torrid election year but is made worse by the media obsession with "gotcha" moments like the one from the fill-in Breakfast host this morning on TV One, it was a stance I read that also took place yesterday on current issues. In interviewing Winson Peters a claim was repeatedly made that issues being raised over the Ihumātao stand-off and concerns with the welfare of children as provided by Oranga Tamariki indicated grave divisions between the govt and "Maori".
Thankfully Winston pressed on, inspite of the journalist’s bent towards “division” being the primary problem for govt to focus on and resolve, and repeated his statement that they are serious issues and are issues for all NZ and things the govt is working to resolve. The interviewer’s determination to make claims of divisions over and above the issues and convert every opinion, stake or interest to all of "Maoridom" was ridiculous, within that group as with the rest of NZ their is a variety of opinion.
Media should stick to reporting the news not trying to pre-determine and influence what that news. or the outcome, might be.
Not unreasonable to call Oranga Tamariki reviews a Maori issue.
It is a NZ issue in my opinion, that is from personally having to step into the lives of some children who were not "Maori" – we learned very quickly that some people hide things better than others – they are often also those who face less scrutiny of their failures as parents and carers. Not all those "protesting" the land issue are "Maori" either, are you blind?
No, but it mostly is.
Maori are the most deprived people in New Zealand.
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/populations/maori-health/tatau-kahukura-maori-health-statistics/nga-awe-o-te-hauora-socioeconomic-determinants-health/neighbourhood-deprivation
By strong averages, Maori are:
– the least qualified
– the highest unemployed
– have the least income
– receive the most state income support
– are more likely to be renting
– are more likely to be living in an overcrowded house
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/populations/maori-health/tatau-kahukura-maori-health-statistics/nga-awe-o-te-hauora-socioeconomic-determinants-health/socioeconomic-indicators
– are by a wee way more likely to self-report racial discrimination
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/populations/maori-health/tatau-kahukura-maori-health-statistics/nga-awe-o-te-hauora-socioeconomic-determinants-health/racial-discrimination
– have a higher smoking and alcohol abuse rate
– eat poorly and be overweight
– go to the doctor less
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/populations/maori-health/tatau-kahukura-maori-health-statistics/nga-ratonga-hauora-kua-mahia-health-service-use/primary-health-care
As a result Maori also die faster. In 2013, life expectancy was just 73 years for Māori men and 77.1 years for Māori women. For non-Māori males it was 80.3 years, and for non-Māori females it was 83.9. In other words, inequality between Maori and NZ Europeans contributes to Māori losing seven years of their lives.
And here's the stats on violence against Maori children.
https://nzfvc.org.nz/family-violence-statistics#maori
And in straight wealth you get to the big signals: in 2015, the median NZ European had $114,000 of wealth. The median Māori had just $23,000. That’s a gap of $91,000.
The only leader who was prepared to name this as a whole was Helen Clark, after which Don Brash delivered the Orewa speech which basically denied it all and that any explicit weighting towards Maori was unjust. So she nearly lost the election over it.
And then there's the rate at which Maori are in jail: way above anyone else as a group:
http://archive.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/snapshots-of-nz/yearbook/society/crime/corrections.aspx
When 900 Maori who had been in jail were interviewed, 90% thought structural racism was a factor, but the survey found that most people though greater whanau support, higher incomes, and connected communities would help reduce incarceration rates.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/367940/study-why-do-so-many-maori-end-up-behind-bars
And this gets to the head of all of the above: more Maori children in care have increased since 2013, while Pakeha children in care have declined:
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/108092032/10000-child-removal-orders-in-five-years-is-this-system-working
So when Winston Peters says Maori need to address violence against women and children, he's right, Maori do.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12253867
At some point we will hear from some of the 4 four reviews. Hopefully Maori have some answers as well.
deleted (slow hand clap)
Why dont they delete you Marty Mars, and send you back to your name sake.
'Us Earthlings' would be far the better off for it.
I am not capitalised I'll thank you to remember
Mostly, well NOT mostly the ones I know and I repeat the real life things I have seen seem, to me, to go unseen. There is some disproportion but that in my opinion once again is reflected in financial circumstances – that does not apply to the "Maori" I know and am also related to. I don't think it is unreasonable to base my opinion on what I know.
Thanks for that extensive backgrounding Ad. Maori have been fighting to get out of the cul de sac that they have been backed into.
And their elders and young ones will have ideas for improvement, as they have been doing for years and achieving success, but the austerity economy and the disconnection of National and RW Labour for the 'strugglers' has meant that fewer opportunities to advance themselves and their standard of living has led to just managing from day to day. Still many shine though, and if government will just get behind each new initiative and ensure it is implemented effectively, and then ensure it keeps going the positive response will spread.
Then a great shake felt over the whole country will be felt as they rise from being stuck in a muddy bog. The rising of every Maori to the full potential of themselves and their hapu with a plan they have chosen to follow and stay with, will give them a positive future which will continue on despite climate change dilemmas – that will be an earthquake which will bring mana to NZ and restore it deservedly, to Maori.
Nobody would dispute your figures Ad. At least I wouldn't……
How would reversing the Fletcher deal make any of that better. But maybe that wasn't your point.
My point was a few life experiences are a stupidly weak truth when any and every other statistical measure points out that you are wrong.
yes Winston is great , does not let them push their agenda . tells them off in no uncertain terms when they being dickheads…. which frankly is most of the time.
ANZ in the headlines once again. Seriously if you are a customer you really should be at least looking at other banks at this point given multiple red flags around this bank in the last two months alone.
An Auckland woman has turned down an offer of $2000 compensation from ANZ because she says she wants a full inquiry into the way the bank treated her.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/114587354/customer-rejects-2000-compensation-from-anz-over-hardship-application
'A declined hardship claim doesn't bring increased scrutiny from collections."
Of course not !The old,reliable 'Chinese Wall' so favoured by financial institutions.
Trust the banks…yeah right!
This one from Westpac shows the importance of businesses and powerful entities keeping a 'human' watch over their customers concerns, not leaving it up to some machine and its algorithms. Get a new rhythm you
s!*ts.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/114572494/westpac-loan-customer-take-my-kiwisaver-and-cant-we-call-it-quits
Can computers cope with us and our priorities appropriately enough?
How to manage your time more effectively (according to machines).
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDbdXTMnOmE
TedTalk on Human organisation cf Computers – blockchain technology – (not just bitcoin tech).
.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/dec/22/bridgewater-associates-ai-artificial-intelligence-management
Did Cambridge Analytica study this vid?
Cambridge University: Can computers understand emotions? Can computers express emotions? Can they feel emotions? The latest video from the University of Cambridge shows how emotions can be used to improve interaction between humans and computers.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whCJ4NLUSB8
Went down country to visit the rellies last week. On Sunday morning I got four litres of milk courtesy of Daisy, the cow who inhabits the paddock next to the house I was staying in.
It is an eye popping revelation to use old fashioned, untreated full cream milk from a happy cow with a name. It is delicious on porridge with a bit of home made honey, I will tell you!
They've been selling milk from the farm just up the road from where I live at the edge of New Plymouth for years apparently – so much so the farmer built a special building with a parking area for customers. And when I lived in Ak my old mate Bill (who sailed out here from California in his yacht in the year of Muldoon, '75) has been heading out of town to get his milk fresh from a farmer for many years too. Never got sick from it.
Are you teasing us DF? One person never got sick from it – that's classic that is of taking a particular and applying it to the general – isn't that faulty generalisation?
If you read what I wrote again you ought to be able to ascertain that I didn't mention any generalisation at all – so I have no idea why you assume so.
I'm disappointed in you DF. You are quick to feign surprise that anyone could find a point of possible error in your pronouncements.
?? I'm surprised, genuinely, that you read into what I wrote something that is not actually there. It's a normal human reaction.
To be fair, Dennis, was there not a subtle implication rather than a direct statement?
Not even slightly. I was merely citing a trend I had noticed over the past 15 years or so, and using personal experience to validate it.
I didn't say I had joined that trend (I haven't) nor did I endorse it. Implications arise in the minds of readers sometimes when they jump to conclusions too quickly, and that appears to have happened in this instance.
As to why folks are trending back towards nature, and away from chemicals, you could argue that common sense is prevailing, eh?
Ewwww!
Good article by Glen Herud about what/why they do all that stuff to milk.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/opinion/114578157/history-holds-simple-solutions-for-modern-problems
Wow! That was very informative and now I know what permeate is.
"Ethiopia’s minister of innovation and technology, Dr Getahun Mekuria, tweeted estimates of the number of trees planted throughout the day. By early evening on Monday, he put the number at 353m."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/29/ethiopia-plants-250m-trees-in-a-day-to-help-tackle-climate-crisis
Now id be somewhat dubious about the number but if true Ethiopia has just completed 1/3 of our 10 year tree planting programme in 1 day…..and probably at little financial cost.
Note to Uncle Shane
Yip we have vast areas of tussock and mountains that could grow massive forests of conifers but oh no let's destroy rural communities and plant good farmland so rich people can fly round the world .
bwaghorn
Good rant. Actually selling individual farms at a profit to that individual farmer, to financiers who amalgamate them for dairy and overstock them, and employ overseas cheap labour has done the greatest harm to rural communities cohesiveness and friendly co-operation and services. Let's not just on the latest emerging gripe from farmers and blame it on the gummint or such.
And individual farmers have somehow enabled attitudes to diminish to the extent that someone can go round shooting animals, burning down buildings and not get stopped by policing until he shot his relation. Would that have been the sort of rural community you are mourning about?
10 to 7 this morning Winston was in the AM studio & gave us quite a performance, did anyone else see it? As acting-PM. I can't claim to have followed all the rapid-fire dialogue but he sure kicked Colmar Brunton's arse all round the park.
I wonder if they really do have a covert agenda, and have carefully designed the framing of their questions to produce a biased result as he implied. That thesis would get traction if a consistent pattern was evident over time. The discrepancy with recent National & Labour private polls is double the margin of error for National, so does seem suspect.
I saw him on Breakfast and likewise he had no patience for the "gotcha" traps the media try to set instead of the "issues" being discussed and them actually listening.
People will look back at this 3 years and be glad their was an old steady hand in the background. The youthful ideological labour greens would have flown to bits otherwise.
That thesis would get traction if a consistent pattern was evident over time.
It's been my observation over a number of years that the CB poll has been consistent in so far as it nearly always gives National a higher percentage rating than its equivalent polling companies – now down to only Reid Research.
Dennis at 7
If that latest Colmar Brunton poll is repeated again when the next poll comes around Labour are in real trouble.
This is clear now because the whole media ‘Newshusb, TV one and Radio NZ “National” are all controlled by the spin doctors of the National Party prbablly by Steven Joyce and John Key.
We warned the new labour NZF Government to replace Clare Curren and put another Channel Seven public affairs channel up to sell the Government policy to the people.
But Clare Curren sabotaged Jacinda and the new Government by not providing Government with their own media platform so the result is now obvious.
Who wins the ‘media’ wins the ‘next Government’, and so far this Government are loosing.
@cleangreen: 43+6 means a Labour/Green government. Rather than "real trouble" it sounds perfect.
I wonder how long it will be before Jacinda realises she is missing out and becomes a stay at home mum ?
Kelvin for PM ?
Q&A last night. Jack Tane asked the right questions of the dreadful Simon Bridges about the Cancer plan. And he pushed Bridges to actually answer which made poor little Simon to get frantic. Jack is the first journalist that I have heard to actually address the issues. Well done Jack.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/q-and-a
Giles Beckford had his measure on RNZ Checkpoint last night, and bluntly challenged the whiny bullshit from about 4m30 onwards: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018706170/simon-bridges-criticises-govt-s-cancer-treatment-spending
Never heard anything like it. Brilliant.
Just quickly, two things in response to that interview:
Yes ianmac, Jack Tame does his homework and skewers subtefuges pulled by slippery politicians
Also on Q&A:
But Jack was trapped by his guest Hooton who let strip a tirade of very negative bilge water and assisted by exGreen Sue Bradford who was just as negative. Nothing but negatives! No one for the Government.
My empathy mode kicked in full this morning when I clicked onto the Herald. I could understand deep feelings of insecurity, loneliness and desperation on seeing Hosking's latest go at Jacinda Ardern. When mum left the room when I was about seven months old I'm sure I felt the same.
Maybe the PM can add issues to do with desertion to the Mental Health basket. When she gets back from 'wandering around the Pacific.' Mike Hosking might be a good case study or used as an expert in the field.
Lol Peter. I make a point of not reading Hoskings. Sounds like he was guilt tripping Jacinda about being a parent and being PM. What a low tactic….
Prison life at Mt Eden.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/95380015/former-inmate-releases-video-of-disturbing-assault-inside-mt-eden-corrections-facility?rm=m
Real mapower shortage in our prisons.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/104927354/prisons-across-the-country-are-short-hundreds-of-staff-corrections-reveals?rm=a
That poor bloke. Fancy having the footage and being able to see the set-up. He can be seen lying and the time is clearly shown. And at the end on the right hand side of the frame it appears someone else is down on the floor.
People have been working to create better conditions in jails, to limit the number of people who go into them, and to work with the inmates so they can control their impulses and to try and instil some understanding of their own life difficulties, so they can feel empathy for themselves instead of trying to be tough all the time. Then they are on the way to be able to have some concern for others.
But the ruling class like to emphasise the failures of the lower classes. If they fail themselves there is a case made for exceptional circumstances.
Let us start with abolishing double bunking, and carefully controlled civilised treatment of prisoners. There must be concern for warders so they are safe but not having thuggish types. It would be hard to find that tough but fair sort.
That incident was in 2013 and Corrections is back to running Mt Eden…
"and carefully controlled civilised treatment of prisoners. "
The real problem (as I see it) is prisoners have far too many rights (and boy do they know them) but care nothing for responsibilities so the first thing I'd do is make prisoners earn their privileges eg you want a TV you earn the privilege of renting a tv by showing compliance and good behavior and if you damage a tv you don't get it back until you've both shown contrition and paid back the cost of the repair
You want something to read same deal, same with the P119s, same with more than two showers a day, same with doing hobbies etc etc
"There must be concern for warders so they are safe but not having thuggish types. It would be hard to find that tough but fair sort."
Increase the Corrections budget so more staff can be hired, improve the working conditions (pay, overtime, rosters etc etc) and give more support (through the courts and media) and you'll get more people applying
Ethics Violations: CDC / Aarhus University
Sounds a bit Brave New World approach to me. And also how people might be when we are discouraged from 'breeding'. Because being really committed and being together as a permanent couple with legal obligations goes with accepting the parental role, when it makes sense to indicate the acceptance of that responsibility publically and legally.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018706096/mandy-len-catron-what-you-lose-when-you-gain-a-spouse
People brought up in the ways of monetising everything as in neo lib, have trouble getting excited about a tree trunk if there is money to be made for someone. The Labour Coalition would have to introduce new legislation to ban exports to keep our unique kauri here I think.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/395522/sculptor-says-art-work-exported-to-china-looks-like-giant-log
Not enough lucrative ‘opportunities’ for MPs in opposition?
National party MPs who (a) left parliament at the last election, (b) left parliament after the last election, or (c) have announced that they will leave parliament at the next election.
1. Barclay*
2. Borrows
3. Foss
4. Foster-Bell
5. Goodhew
6. Lotu-liga
7. McCully
8. Naylor
9. Parata
10. Tisch
11. Williamson
12. English
13. Coleman
14. Joyce
15. Finlayson
16. Korako
17. Scott
18. Adams
19. Guy…
* https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/98382581/how-the-todd-barclay-story-got-here
Well done Drowsy M Kram, 100%
Excellent list you produced.
Yep. Another rat jumps ship. Nathan Guy was full of shit and useless anyway. Maybe Simon just told him to fuck off.
The National Party team will be full of inexperienced novices by 2020. Most of their tallent has already gone. I doubt they could run a Maccas drive through these days.
Mid week Democratic debates kick off with Biden hoping to improve from last time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/29/opinion/democratic-debate.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage
The Chairman, Northland Regional Council, took the casting vote for allowing genetic engineering even though public submissions were 82-1 against.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=12251870
23 July 2019
Northland Age by editor Peter Jackson
"Flawed Northland Regional Council decision bound for court"
Northland Regional Council chairman Bill Shepherd's use of his casting vote to break a 4-4 deadlock over the issue of whether or not to include provisions for the management of genetically modified organisms in the council's proposed regional plan has outraged critics of the technology, who have vowed to fight it in court.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018706360/genetic-modification-northland-council-chair-defends-stance
(It is necessary to ensure that people have the training and wisdom to handle power roles these days. Decisions over matters of science, with large unknown factors and worrying known ones, should not be made by someone who is merely known in the area, has knowledge of farming practices and management, pays his bills on time, and likes a drink with the rugby club after the game. The time to recognise that many have reached beyond their level of understanding and are heading the glass ceiling of The Peter Principle, is now so change can be made within say, two years to something better.)
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11149980
Mr Shepherd, 68, is a dairy farmer and company director from Purua.
The chairman's role carries a remuneration package of $106,650, which includes a vehicle. The deputy chairman is paid $73,780 and councillors a base salary of $52,700.
Background: http://web.gefreenorthland.org.nz/
Great piece, actually well balance on Pania Newton #Ihumātao gives concise history.
Now we need a story on who these guys are
Te Warena Taua, who chairs both the Makaurau Marae Trust and Te Kawerau ā Maki Tribal Authority, has been openly dismissive, questioning her legitimacy and status.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12254056
Irish bookie:
UK Government to officially announce food rationing in 2019 – 12/1
https://www.paddypower.com/politics/uk-brexit
Lol
Dinosaur bites the dust: "Nathan Guy has announced he will not be seeking re-election next year." https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12254079
"I advocated hard for water-storage projects and helped secure funding for a variety of projects including Central Plains stages one and two."
On the idea of an attack on Iran. Chris Trotter looks at historic dates and reasons.
https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2019/07/another-war-with-iran.html
Remember, these were invasions of Iran – not by Iran. As strategic analyst, Dr Paul Buchanan, observes:
“[I]t should be remembered that modern Iran has not engaged in an unprovoked attack on another country. Although it supports and uses irregular military proxies, it is nowhere close to being the sponsor of terrorism that several Sunni Arab petroleum oligarchies are. In spite of its anti-Israel rhetoric (destined for domestic political consumption), it has not fired a shot in anger towards it.”…
The Americans are not daunted. When it comes to the Middle East (and its oil) the behaviour of the United States can only be described as unhinged. When Saddam dared to act independently of the US, the debt America owed his country, for its costly – and ultimately futile – war against its Iranian neighbour, was forgotten in a heartbeat.
And it wasn’t just Saddam who paid dearly for his failure to comprehend the full extent of America’s derangement. When US Secretary of State, Madeline Albright, was asked by CBS’s Lesley Stahl: “We have heard that half a million [Iraqi] children have died. I mean, that’s more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?” Albright replied: “I think this is a very hard choice, but the price — we think the price is worth it.”
NZ academic giving lecture in August: Professor Robert H Wade
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/07/30/the-democratic-cost-of-inequality-university-of-auckland/
We worry about poverty, he says, but we should be as concerned about inequality. “Concentrated wealth could undermine our entire political system”.
“There needs to be a register of global wealth to bring more money into the tax system for redistribution. Governments should also be assessing all policies by their effect on inequality,” he says.
Business School public lecture
Monday 12 August
Professor Robert H. Wade: “Why the ‘Trump era’ could last for 30 years.”
6-8pm
University of Auckland
12 Grafton Road.
Register at https://nvite.com/universityofauckland/e76de
Notes: Professor Robert H. Wade was educated at Wellington College, University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington, and the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex. He has worked at the Institute of Development Studies, the World Bank, Woodrow Wilson School (Princeton University), MIT Sloan School and Brown University.
I put in a submission on the Zero Carbon Bill and have got 22 confirmations for it one after the other.
Good riddance to Nathan Guy he was one of the WORST examples of the last corrupt National government.
Under his watch Mycoplasma Bovis was spread through a large part of our livestock and caused irreparable damage to the rural community but the farmers ( god bless them ) still support and VOTE this type of incompetence !!!
He stood for nothing and never intervened in the worst cases of rural animal cruelty , and cruelty to the under class of this country by the policies he supported.
But that’s ok he is a top kiwi bloke.
He will no doubt end up in a cushy council job or similar job in the private sector.
One of the worst examples of the National and the people who vote for and support this party.
A good practical piece from Greenpeace about Federated Farmers and how ineffectual and irresponsible they are. I think you might find it says what the true situation is bwaghorn?
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/07/30/feds-must-stop-kicking-farmers-greenpeace/
I feel that someone who does this hates him or her self. I think they should be operated on to prevent further children. Also have talking sessions so they can get out what is in their minds and see if they can turn around. Something needs to be done with them.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12044444 EXCLUSIVE: Dad of murdered baby Jyniah Te Awa jailed over years of abuse 9/5/2018
Jyniah was left in a closed freezer, hung on the back of a wardrobe door, held against a gas heater, swung around by her short hair and hung on a clothesline.
Her fatal head injury was the result of being kicked, thrown against a wall, shaken and smothered.
Her babysitter Tiana Mary-Anne Odessa Kapea – a relative and close friend of Te Awa – pleaded guilty to murdering the baby and was sentenced to life in prison.
SaveNZ put this up on The Daily Blog O/M
So that is how National gets away with sinking an annoying voice of reason?
Kia kaha students who strike for the preservation of your I Am living off the grid now to minimize Eco Maori carbon footprint.
Tell me again how the school climate strike was 'just a day of your future climate. I am
OPINION: Hi, it's a student here. Yes, one of those students. One of the students that cares about climate change and is all for a strike that will be taking place this Friday. Now that being a student who also cares about the environment is somehow considered a controversial stance, let me explain my point of view.
The way I see it, older generations don't seem to care about the environment, mainly because by the time the consequences of their actions come about, they'll already be six feet under. Pretty easy life, right? I don't blame them. What's the point of changing anything when it won't affect you, right
Well, I, and everyone else my age, don't get that luxury. We're the ones that are going to have to deal with the consequences. Your children, your grandchildren, and possibly, if the planet is still around, your great-grandchildren. We're going to have to deal with fossil fuels heating up the planet, polluted oceans filled with millions of tonnes of dumped plastic congregating into literal islands of trash, the ice caps melting and a raising the sea level. We're going to to be the ones left with the mess we had little part in creating ka kite ano links below.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/opinion/111239644/high-school-student-explains-school-strike-4-climate-nz-to-her-elders?rm=a
Maori and the youth can do lots. Once you get older and start thinking about having a partner and then children, it is harder to go after changing stuff, your time is split up between your various duties and interests. Maori have been splitting themselves for a long time, its been hard but they have persevered and had great leaders to inspire them also. Good for you and us, belatedly stirring ourselves.
Eco Maori thanks Rod Schoonover for making a stand against te climate change deniering fools
White House ‘undercutting evidence' of climate crisis, says analyst who resigned
Rod Schoonover, who was an intelligence analyst for 10 years, said the Trump administration halted his report on global heating
A former senior government analyst has accused the Trump administration of “undercutting evidence” of the threat to national security from the climate crisisafter his report on the issue was blocked by the White House.
Rod Schoonover, who worked as an intelligence analyst for the federal government for 10 years before resigning earlier this month, submitted a written testimony on the “wide-ranging implications” of global heating over the next 20 years, for submission to the House intelligence committee last month.
'People are dying': how the climate crisis has sparked an exodus to the US
But he said on Tuesday that the report was stopped by the White House because his findings “did not comport with administration’s position on climate change”.
That prompted him to leave his post – one of a stream of scientists sidelined or forced out over what critics of the Trump administration characterize as a war on science, because warnings for the dangers of human-caused global heating conflict with the Donald Trump’s industrial objectives. Ka kite ano link below.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/30/rod-schoonover-trump-administration-undercutting-climate-crisis-national-security
Kia Ora Newshub.
I agree with Ming Foon tamariki should be able to walk to school safely.
Problems liveing off grid the power system went do but Eco Maori has been out cutting wood all day can you guess who could be tampering with my solar powered system the sandflys.
Ka kite ano
Kia Ora The Am Show.
Its quirky that my solar system plays up when im not home but is charging my battery and running my TV's system with low light the sandflys are turning on my electric and disableing my solar system when im away.
The Fire in Russia is not good for the Papatuanuku Economy Lloyd.
My devices are being tampered with to someone tried to rip the back off my ph .
Duncan I see you changed the color of your underwear once again blue ain't your color.
Ka kite ano P.S last day tomorrow and weekend off a guys
Eco Maori watched the last hour of the Am Show but I had my ph on low power so my words got wiped out every time the screen went blank
Here you go Whanau successive Governments have not invested enough money in The East Cape region for 30 years once we had the economy that was the backbone of Aotearoa that was in the 50s to the 80s .
People always talk about North Land having it tough but Te taiwhiti has a lack of basic services Eco Maori see what they are up to trying to suppress Ngati Porou Mana Yea Right they will never succeed.
The East Cape is one of the most remote regions in New Zealand.
Corrina Parata is the only midwife for 200kilometres along this rugged coastline, delivering the first babies in the world in heartland Ngāti Porou territory.
She might be the last ka kite ano link below.
https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2019/08/last-midwife-east-coast-maori-te-puia-springs/
Whanau The Sandflys are swarming marked cop cars everywhere don't they have real criminals to find but Eco Maori has the skills to counteract their bullies bullshit Thanks for the MANA
Kia Ora Newshub.
So because 1 persons dies and Mark Mitchell wants to lock up more Maori because of his ancient values and views on Weed isn't he a x cop and a contractor for the cops for years Eco Maori say throw his views into the history books.
The road spikes left on a road by the cops You see Whanau they are not perfect as they try a portray but suppressing most bad things they do it's a illusion. More proof the gun lobbyists issues.
I think it's a great Idea to have a council watch dog as there are to many issues with our water and other services that should be provided by the councils
That would be awesome having a tax on fatty and sugary foods and drinks. Thanks for that study that provides that a tax on those foods will work. Ma te Wa.
That's not on trading Moar bones can be legally traded extinct animals parts
Ingrid its cold in Hawksbay but not as cold as so were trying to spin
Ka kite ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
I think the Water service bill is needed to make sure our taonga wai still has a healthy environment forever .
There was a gas station stunt bp giving away free gas looks like it made a lot of people happy.
Its awesome to see that Our Coalition Governments and the Provincial growth fund is investing more money in Te taiwhiti roads they are bad one can easily notice the difference from the reads in Opotiki they are good roads but once you go through the gorge the roads are bad Eco Maori gives thanks for that.
It is hard to sorte out bad students Eco Maori feels for the teachers who have to attend to mischief tamariki its worst with the anti smacking bill that has just created a lot of tamariki who have respect for no one they don't even know the meaning of the words Eco Maori solar system is going great
Its Its awesome that the Hawaiians have been given some respect from the ruling class in Hawaii kia kaha Eco Maori tau toko you
Ka kite ano