Auckland council and Ports of Auckland can’t help themselves to continue to steal the harbour and appropriate more public land to help multibillionaire business at the expense of most Kiwis right to use their own public land freely that they pay for through rates!
BTW – Cruise ships do not have to pay the measly $35 tax to help conservation. Pathetic!
Cruise ships are highly polluting and their so called tourist dollars only help a very tiny amount of businesses (often foreign owned) that are congregated in highly priced locations aka not the little guy who can’t afford the rents.
Phil Goff promised not to take any more land for the harbour and is breaking his promise.
More intergenerational theft by the council!
On top of the ‘funny’ money when apparently the Auckland council are 600 million in surplus, (although borrowing hundreds of millions from the government for yet more spec house development????)
Also on top of America’s cup costing hundreds of millions of dollars that the ratepayers have to pay for and appropriating more harbour for multibillion dollar pursuits.
The world’s largest cruise ship and its supersized pollution problem
As Harmony of the Seas sets sail from Southampton docks on Sunday she will leave behind a trail of pollution – a toxic problem that is growing as the cruise industry and its ships get ever bigger
Clean, Green NZ, no more…turn a blind eye to massive polluters that cruise ships generate…
“But marine pollution analysts in Germany and Brussels said that such a large ship would probably burn at least 150 tonnes of fuel a day, and emit more sulphur than several million cars, more NO2 gas than all the traffic passing through a medium-sized town and more particulate emissions than thousands of London buses.
According to leading independent German pollution analyst Axel Friedrich, a single large cruise ship will emit over five tonnes of NOX emissions, and 450kg of ultra fine particles a day.
Bill Hemmings, marine expert at Brussels-based Transport and Environment group said: “These ships burn as much fuel as whole towns. They use a lot more power than container ships and even when they burn low sulphur fuel, it’s 100 times worse than road diesel.”
“Air pollution from international shipping accounts for around 50,000 premature deaths per year in Europe alone, at an annual cost to society of more than €58bn [ $65bn],” says the group on its website.”
Just the usual ‘funny’ numbers that accountants like to release to media that are meaningless… because you can pretend you are doing a great job fiscally by hiding debts..
What a laugh. That big fat zero H duP is SCORING! Jacinda Ardern. Didn’t waste my time reading it. Maybe I should have. Just the headline was enough though.
Andrea Vance has been providing background info that illuminates how Labour conducted the CTO process: “Further documents revealed the fingerprints of Labour party president Nigel Haworth and former apparatchik GJ Thompson. Ardern was more heavily involved in the process than previously let on. Importantly, the State Services Commission ruled the appointment robust and unbiased.” https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107455388/andrea-vance-a-week-of-grubby-politics-in-contrast-to-new-york-performance
So the SSC reviewed Labour’s conduct of the CTO recruitment process and decided they had run the process appropriately. Curran, as Minister leading that process, can take credit for that presumably. After months of media & political commentary suggesting that Curran’s meetings & emails with Handley were inappropriate, we now know it was all total crap. Several weeks ago I asked onsite here what rule she was supposed to have broken and got no response.
Media blather about nothing, everyone fascinatedly recycling irrelevant speculation, carefully avoiding the lack of evidence. Vance writes “when she gets back home, there’s plenty of murk to cut through.” But Ardern wasn’t displaying any interest in cutting through the murk as it kept building up since summer, so why would she suddenly decide to cut through it now?? If she was a cut-through type of leader she would have issued this public statement long ago: “As far as I know Minister Curran hasn’t broken any rules in her conduct of our CTO process, but the SSC will investigate and report on that.”
“A recruitment firm with close links to the Prime Minister’s office was involved in hiring the Government’s new chief technology officer, new documents reveal. JacksonStone and Partners completed due diligence on two finalists for the job – one of which was Derek Handley. Heather Church is principal consultant at the firm. She is also married to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s chief of staff, Mike Munro.”
“Numerous applications were received and Curran and officials whittled the list down to 18 candidates. They were assessed by Curran’s private secretary “against a criteria matrix consisting of mana, ability to influence, strategic ability and relevant experience.” Vance provides plenty other interesting details too…
Fire the recruiters, they did a hideous job and not only that are compromised by having family members in Jacinda’s office.
If the government had bothered to open the process up to multiple recruiters who actually knew the IT industry then they may have attracted candidates or at least given a heads up what sort of role it was because it certainly was not a CTO one, given advice to the government so it did not turn into a train wreck and run the process appropriately, instead of wasting candidates time for months, humiliating the candidates and running the public service into the muck.
To reject 60 candidates from the get go, is alarming, then to come to Handley after a further 79 is alarming…
If they wanted someone not technical it should have been clearer and certainly the got the basics wrong, like the job title.
Typical NZ, (and bad recruiters) they can’t even get the basics right or even understand why they can’t retain talent in this country, or talent remaining has no interest in becoming involved with the government screw ups.
Once they had seen the first 60 applications, I think they job description was revised substantially, like often happens even for small jobs.
““In particular, I see the chief technology officer working on issues such as improving digital equality, protecting citizens’ rights online, and building a connected nation, alongside the Digital Economy and Digital Inclusion Advisory Group and the other advisory groups I have already signalled I will be establishing.
“Although the role sits within the government context, the chief technology officer will require a collaborative way of working across government, with ministers and officials, and with a range of other stakeholders to shape and drive New Zealand’s digital agenda,” Ms Curran says.
Why bother wasting everybody’s time you have to wonder, it’s clear by the emails that he was discussing the role with Jacinda and got Clare Curren so excited by all the non tech buzz words that she could understand, she thought it was like ‘Star Trek’.
Does the released emails sound impartial? Nope. Bear in mind the guy is not technical at all, never been a CTO before, no qualifications in tech and before even starting he was talking about assembling a massive team to do the work for him, while he (in his head) had a staring role in Davos, aka not really planning to spend much time in NZ then… getting the extensive team of grunts to do his work for him…
It’s like advertising for a doctor, and then getting a person who was involved a medical marketing company decade ago and then been a low level figure head overseas who then asks his mates to find a job for him back in NZ and needs an extensive team to do his job, which he describes as a ‘social’ role not a technical one.
The worldwide focus on tech is getting and retaining the superb tech skills to make ideas work and now every business needs to have suburb tech, the difference between survival and obsolescence.
Tech has moved on from the 1990’s marketing and self promoter types who made a buck a few decades ago, who are a dime a dozen in the industry.
One of the many txts between government and Derek Handley. Does not sound impartial!
To: Jacinda
Hello!
So close to the baby arriving! Then….POP. It’ll be out before you know it 🙂 So exciting.
About a month ago we were texting back and forth, I said I really wanted to put some
ideas to you as to how I could be of service. In my mind I had started to develop
thoughts ranging from Davos to our links to China’s new economy. Things I think I can
pull together and work on from the edges of Govt. Listed some samples below.
But here is where I have landed: over the course of May I was approached by an
increasing number of people I really respect, to strongly consider applying for the CTO
role.
I had never thought about it seriously – mostly probably because the recruiting started
last year when we had not decided about moving back home, I wasn’t paying attention.
I thought very long and deeply about it, and in the end, I concluded that for now I
genuinely believe the most service I could be to you and New Zealand is actually in that
role. I think I could really do it amazingly well.
So on the weekend I submitted an application.
In that light, let’s see how that process pans out independently – whatever happens will
be the right thing. But if that role isn’t in the stars, then I would LOVE to meet up in
September and revisit some ideas and thinking when my wife and I are back in New
Zealand! I’m so keen to come home and help you. I have such unique and weird skills
and networks around the world – I want to put them to work and help so much.
Be well.
dh
Sample of Thoughts
>●
Designing an impactful and surprising Davos presence
●
Alternative to this: New Zealand could design a new model for a Davos type global
collective to shape/steer thinking for our generation
●
Asia summit x New Economy
●
Govt x Sustainability
●
Global next-generation wealth-holder/change-makers
Derek Handlay Sal, Aug 11,2018 319212 AM
To Clale Culran
Hello Clare
So excited to be moving forward with this. It’s such an amazing opponunity and privilege to help shape New Zealand
– has sent me a draft offer letteri which I review and get back to her on logistic and administrative next steps but I
assume I should lay out my more essential questions and thoughts here with you.
As we spoke about below I’m laying out my main questions and thoughts I would like to start to work through with you over
the coming days Let me know if I should be dealing with. on any of the below)
Let’s chat again very soon please!
Derek
1. Resources and team – this is my number one most pressing consideration and has been from the outset – I am
excited to really dive into this as soon as you have time to
All of the obiectives (digital equal 1 economy I connected nation) etc require a lot of thinking, coordination
mapping and communicating – the resources for this are my primary concern
Aside from those above objectives – developing a stakeholder-led strategy requires a dedicated sharp and
creative team lull time
The original cabinet paper notes two dedicated stall members from GDCO and MBIE – is this still the thinking?
Would love to chat more about this with you and whoever else would be involved in resourcing, How would we
handle external hires/contractors/suppon ifdeemed best?
have an idea of the type of team think would be ideal and imagine it to be a mix of internal and external
people – as well as some international thinkers
2. Operational budgeufunding
a To carry out the functions in the role well, there also needs to be some operational budget for things like
convening communications design content etc for stakeholder and community collaboration as well as the
outputs you would need (published maleriaL web contentetc) lorthatengagement
3. Conllicts or Disclosures
submitted a draft proposal of issues and potential conllicts in the intenhew process On the phone you
mentioned it’s best we work through this togetherfitst – I have attached the memo to this email so you can see
howl laid it out.
Each one needs to be worked through carefully so that everybody understands them fully but think the most
sensitive one is- if your advice comes back than can keep and lust be acutely
aware of managing any lwould much prefer this – especially given 0 contract is lust one year
and can be terminated
4, Timing has also asked about this so share the below her too –
amily and I will be on the ground on Monday the 10th of September – my preference would be to announce
in person during thatweek My preference for a start date would be October to give me a lew weeks to get
settled as we have just bought a new house its got renovations etci getting. in school and all that stuff.
Not sure how this sits you,
5, Location
it hasn’t been mentioned In any material to date that this role requires being located in Wellington so I have
assumed location is not I understand from that I get an some at (I assume tn
have some ldeas amund location – I would ptefer a mostly work embedded/”In Resldence” Ihe communtly
atvarious organisations around the country – but would like an Auckland base as well
a. “Announcement”
Would like to hear your thoughts on how you have been thinking about this The announcement itself is an
opportunity to kick off a broader engagement campaign and enlist self-selected leaders who to
collaborate My preference would be to not ‘waste’ the announcement by just making it one way — but by using
it to kick off a two way conversation from the outset
SaveNZ @ (3.1.1.1.1.1) … Thanks for the info. Clare Curran was not the best person to be dealing with this.
I could be wrong, but from most of the information I’ve seen and heard, it seems to me in my very humble opinion for all it’s worth, DH is/has been calling the shots.
Never heard of the guy before this fiasco raised its ugly head! For someone supposed to be intelligent, as well as tech savvy, from what I’ve seen, his written communication skills, as well as the presentation of his correspondence is not good for a “professional” … spelling errors, poor sentence and paragraph structure etc. If these English language features are indicative of his job skills, then I sure wouldn’t want to employ him to represent me!
This whole government CTO issue comes across (to me that is), as being very odd indeed!
“Sanction-free welfare” might look like a UBI. But it will be a cold day in hell – this after all is the country of sanction-free capital gain.
We just love it when people get money for doing nothing, as long as that ‘nothing’ is watching the values of their rental properties inflate. But if that ‘nothing’ is staying at home and raising young kids, we go ape-shit at them.
If that sounds like a profound and probably irremediable moral corruption mixed with an unhealthy dose of racism – that’s because it is.
Chris Trotter raises several questions, around why the NZDF have demanded that the inquiry into the deaths of Afghan villagers at the hands of the NZDF should be held in secret.
…..in the book “Hit & Run” by investigative journalists Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson. Was the NZDF responsible for the deaths of six Afghan citizens – including a little girl – or wasn’t it? Did our Special Air Service hand over captured Afghan insurgents to the Afghan security forces to be tortured – or didn’t it?
Such questions put the decency and honesty of the New Zealand military squarely in the cross-hairs of public scrutiny…..
…..Naturally, the NZDF’s defenders have objected that the idea of politicians sending civilian investigators to rifle through the military’s files is outrageous. How can our allies trust the NZDF with their secrets if at some future point they could be revealed for all the world to see?
My question refers to the independence of our Defence Forces from the influence of our Allies.
According to Trotter, protecting the interests of our ally is the motive given by the NZDF for the need for a secret hearing.
Shouldn’t the interests of the New Zealand people and the Afghan villagers who have been sinned against in our name, be put first by our Defence Force before the interests of our allies?
When our closest military ally the USA, is according to commentators like Mike Moore and others, on the brink of fascism, where would this leave our Defence Force? Will they break the strong ties they have with the US, or will the NZDF become a Fifth Column working against the interests of New Zealanders.
As Chris Trotter says:
….a military that could collude in suppressing evidence of murder could collude in all manner of crimes….
No where in the NZDF Statement Of Intent is there any mention of protecting New Zealand’s independence as a sovereign nation. Instead, we read this:
2018 – 2022 STATEMENT OF INTENT
• Be integrated internationally with
our military partners and like–minded
nations;
• Be integrated with domestic agencies
with whom we deliver services in and
around New Zealand; and
• Be integrated internally – as a
Defence Force.
To achieve this we are prioritising our focus
for 2025 in three target investment areas:
• People: Developing a flexible, resilient
and affordable workforce in order to
ensure we have the right mix of people,
with the right skills, in the right place, at
the right time, to deliver our outcomes.
• Information: Providing our people
with secure access to accurate, timely
and relevant information, everywhere
it is needed in order to make the right
decisions.
• Relationships: Building and
maintaining the strength of our
domestic, international and commercial
relationships in order to maximise our
combined effect.
Through integrating our efforts and
reshaping the way we organise and
employ our people, capabilities,
information and relationships, along with
programmed capability enhancements,
and the regeneration of our estate and
infrastructure, we will:
• Realise our full potential as
New Zealand’s armed forces;
• Exploit our advantage at home and
abroad stemming from our unique ‘Kiwi’
ethos, and
• Achieve better security outcomes for
all New Zealanders.
This Statement of Intent sets in place the
foundation for how the Defence Force
will deliver the Integrated Defence Force
strategy by 2025. It focusses on the first
The Integrated phase of the 2025 journey.
The NZDF concentration on becoming “integrated internationally with
our military partners…”, might make it very hard for the NZDF to extricate itself from the US, if that state descends into fascism.
Defence Force planners are supposed to explore all defence scenarios, and forward planning for all contingencies and threats. I wonder if one of our military planners projected contingency plans includes plans to explore cutting NZDF integration with the US military on the US descending into fascism.
My guess is not.
And so they will be caught completely unprepared. To the detriment of us all.
“People: Developing a flexible, resilient
and affordable workforce”
“Relationships: Building and
maintaining the strength of our
domestic, international and commercial
relationships in order to maximise our
combined effect.”
Note the words AFFORDABLE for the defence workforce
Note the words COMMERCIAL relationships needing defence..
Neoliberalism knows no sovereignty, only cost cutting and protecting commercial profits of the elite at the expense of the many, and protecting the elite power…. which are not necessarily domestic, could be international or commercial…
Our relationships for defence also seem to be built around the ego’s of two world leaders, Trump and Xi Jinping. Shared values (sarcasm) that that our military works for in real terms.
You would find the Defence Policy is dictated by the Government of the Day in conjunction with MFAT, MoD/ NZDF IRT with Manning and Capabilities and funding from Treasury.
Since the Salami slicing of Manning and Capability from 1991 onwards, New Zealand how has to rely on its Allies a lot more now since WW2 as a result of Salami cuts in part driven ideology of Treasury and political ideologies base around Free Trade, the Free Market, Globalisation or we are at the ass end of the world no one would bother about us.
If you want the NZDF to have an independent Defence Policy, then more money has to thrown towards, but at what cost to health, education, doc, transport etc?
During East Timor ie INTERFET- 2003 there was an expectation that the penny may’ve or finally dropped to all concern that having and maintaining an independent NZDF was in the best interest to the Country. But no it didn’t happen because of cost and especially once NZDF submitted its lessons learnt or as I would say lessons relearned from INTERFET and the resulting UN Peacekeeping mission, but it was very quietly serve by Government and Treasury.
Even the events of 2006 in the SP region and the after the 2018 Defence Policy review which was released a couple of mths ago Government, Treasury and those other Depts outside of the Ministry for Defence, MoD/ NZDF that you still need to throw more at Defence if you want to be less dependent on your Allies and again at what cost to education, health etc. Thence why we as a nation takes the easy route of less fiction, less money on defence by relying on our allies.
Yes I understand your concerns about the USA atm and I all think that everyone here on is concern about what is happening in the US atm. But until both sides of the house, the policy wonks, treasury and the rest of NZ wake up IRT to Defence, Foreign Affairs, Trade, Aid Development etc then the status quo will prevail every time there is change.
The Greens Defence Policy is not an option either as it doesn’t reflect reality on the ground and again written by someone or persons who are either policy wonks or read to much into Peacekeeping theory in University or out of book instead of looking at lessons learnt from pass Peacekeeping missions amd understanding the environment that NZDF operates in.
Do the Greens understand what the average sea state around NZ and SP? As Landing Ship with a Docking Well can operate up to sea state 6, where as the Landing Ship with a ramp like the current in service RNZN Landing Ship can only operate in sea state or less while conducting Ship to Shore Transfer. Or-
Do the Greens really understand what Defensive Operations is and mean Military POV? I sure do and I have been doing it for the last 19yrs Airbase /Airfield Ground Defence operator in warlike and Peacetime along with my time in NZ Army in NZ Scots (RNZAC) in the 90’s.
Nor is the National Party much chop either Defence and like US Military DFAT food it look’s like ass and tastes like ass.
American soldiers are good at cleaning up locker rooms.
Shame about their less than stellar efforts everywhere else.
This morning I was watching a bit of college football: Baylor University at Oklahoma. Towards the end of the third quarter, during one of the interminable breaks in the game, the commentators drew attention to a picture of a gleaming locker room, after the Army football team had used it the week before. The picture was captioned: “Leave it how you found it.”
This nifty little P.R. exercise by the Army football team had just the effect they no doubt calculated it would have. Any citizen of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Cuba, Central America, Iraq, Afghanistan would have reflected bitterly that the U.S. Army does anything but leave things how they found them. And any U.S. citizen with an I.Q. above room temperature who was watching that Baylor-Oklahoma game would have thought something similar.
Such scruples didn’t seem to afflict the fellows commentating the game, however. One of them burbled:
“Makes you feel great about the people serving our country, protecting our interests abroad.”
If only the U.S. Army treated everywhere like a stadium locker-room. If only….
Ryanair cuts every corner
There is a world of difference between the work of a stewardess in the 1980s and the situation of the cabin crew at Ryanair today. The downgrading of this group of workers is the result of a relentless price war following the deregulation of the airline industry in the 1990s. Ryanair became Europe’s largest airline during this period because of the radical savings made at every turn, most notably in the wages of cabin crews whose work was transformed into that of a flying corps of pushers of snacks and scratch tickets – a major source of revenue for the airline and an essential criterion for promotion.
In order to reduce costs, the airline is exploiting the plight of young people in Southern and Eastern Europe. During the euro crisis, Italy, Spain and Portugal in particular experienced a wave of emigration due to high youth unemployment. Young and often highly qualified migrant workers are welcome cheap labourers in the catering trade, in delivery services – and even in the aviation industry. The wage of around 1200 EUR per month at German Ryanair locations seems generous at first glance, as it is twice as high as an entry-level salary in the countries of origin. However, what many of the young workers do not include in their calculations is the cost of living in the countries in which they are stationed without a say in where they want to go.
The dream of independence quickly fizzles out when the only housing option is a small shared flat near a remote airport. Local social security contributions also have to be paid. Meanwhile, Ryanair’s profits have exploded – tripling between 2014 and 2016. “Ryanair acts cleverly in the interests of its shareholders”, says a Polish flight attendant with many years of experience with the company, “but it’s all on our shoulders”.
Like trying to exist in Auckland or in Queenstown!
The airline industry is a haven for the terminally stupid and irresponsible. Michael O’Leary, the boss of Ryanair, is one of the worst people in the whole world—but he’s no worse than one dipstick that we’ve produced ourselves. A few days after the Fukushima catastrophe in 2011, the Air New Zealand boss Rob “Fuckwit” Fyfe appeared on television to assure New Zealanders that the fuss over so-called nuclear leaks was a beat-up, and there was nothing to worry about. He advised us to do as he did, which was to accept the word of the Japanese government’s PR people, and not to trust the word of so-called “experts”.
At the same time as the Fuckwit was making that infamous appearance, the Japanese government was seriously contemplating the evacuation of Tokyo.
@Savenz and one or two others.
I’ve been thinking (and so far it hasn’t really hurt that much, although I might need a bit of a lay down soon)
Kind of a bit of a yea/nah moment in terms of responses to that Brian Easton contribution on Pundit, and then ….. what was that running joke about recruiters?.
Something about what do you do when you’re not very good at [insert profession here (such as prgrammer/web developer/entrepreneur)]?. Answer: become a recruitment agency ticket clipper specialising in your failed field. Alternatively, a real estate agent or even immigration advisor (or maybe even a gNat politician). No credentials or sense of morality required.
And then I was thinking about the growing ‘tribal’ phenomenon – the label in and of itself a bit problematic. The difference between a tribe and it’s preparedness for a co-operative approach .v. one of uber-competitiveness, ego and a desire for dominance.
And then I was thinking that the co-alition ekshully have quite a few things that COULD earn them a few brownie points that even the dysfunctional MSM (Garners and DuplicityAirheads and grumpy old men and others) could get ‘on board with going forward’.
Actually they should be ‘positioning’ themselves now. OR is that ‘pivoting’? I think it’s the latter.
One such ‘populist’ ussue (in light of the MSM’s increasing reportage of gun related crime) would be the creation of a proper register – i.e. not just gun owners, but the weaponry they own.
Another might actually be to stop paying lip service to open government and to provide us with one or two examples that matter.
But you know …… incrementailsm, Rome wasn’t built in a day, Hope and Change, and its a FUCKING sight better than what we had before.
I can’t cope! Anyone got a pill for me? Never mind …. I’ll sleep it off
Don’t be Rip van Winkle though Once was Tim. We need the thinking ones with a desire for positive outcomes good for us all to counter the trolls. (And I apologise to any of Terry Pratchett’s trolls who now live in a relatively mixed society and feel the freedom blowing across their lichen.)
I thought that our PM had worked in the office of Helen Clark in when she was PM.
Did she learn nothing? https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12134068
So we, the taxpayer, had to pay for a professional 3 person crew from a US Ad Agency to film propaganda that would be used, according to Ms Ardern, in her Political campaigning.campaign material. The money comes out of the Labour Party Leaders fund.
Does she not remember Helen doing exactly the same thing in 2005 when they used the funds to pay for the Pledge Card? Highly illegal according to the Auditor-General. However Ardern, like Clark, appears to believe that she is above the law.
As with Ardern’s stuff up when she didn’t even know what GDP is her office has come out and announced that “She didn’t really mean” what she so clearly said she meant.
Is she really as dumb as she appears, or is it that she simply doesn’t give a damn about obeying the law?
I wonder if it was these professional Ad agency staff who told her to try and get her daughter into every public appearance?
We deserve better from our Peters’ led Government.
I have no idea what if anything was spent there and what might have gone on.
This is illegal.
Was that?
And do you agree that this is disgraceful, or is this all hunky-dory?
Also, one must remember that Barclay is no longer an MP.
Do you propose that Ms Ardern should quit?
We don’t know how much of the Leaders Fund was spent on the Barclay scandal because National went to great lengths to keep that information from the public.
Using the Leaders Fund for comms purposes is not illegal and whatever Paula Bennett might say won’t make it illegal. Anyway the Claire Trevett piece in the Herald points out that Embassies would sometimes hire local photographers to film Key in exactly the same way.
Let’s face it the Leaders Fund is basically a slush fund used for a myriad of dodgy purposes by all participants. Your hypocrisy on the issue is a tad distasteful though.
Barclay was eventually thrown under the bus by his political masters and that’s the only reason he’s no longer an mp. He used to be my mp and believe me if he could still have his nose in the trough he surely would.
I propose that Ms Ardern just keep trucking along, she’s doing great.
That is of course the “But they did it to, defence”.
Did National really steal more than $800,000?
And then claim that it should be legal and pass a law to validate the theft?
Well no, but that doesn’t seem to bother you. Your heroine can clearly do no wrong.
I’ll bet that you supported that little fraudster Meteria T in her little fraud as well.
And you have the gall to accuse me of hypocrisy! You really are the prime example of hypocrisy in todays examples, aren’t you?
You are losing it you rwnj – all you’ve got is lies and putrid putdowns of everyone especially women. Are you a sad lonely little man or are you just a sicko?
There is a deepening rift within the American left over the war in Syria. It is unfortunate that this rift is eclipsing actual activism to stop the suffering of Syrians. But since apparent support for Bashar Assad and Vladimir Putin is so strong among some sectors of the left, it is worth tackling the debate if only to try to get past it and on to the more urgent job of shining a light on the plight of Syrians and considering nonmilitary alternatives to ending the complex war…..
……Assad, a dictator by any definition, and his ally Putin are both seen as bastions of anti-U.S. resistance. The leaps of logic that some on the left are engaging in, in order to vilify Syrian rebels and civilians in favor of these two leaders, are breathtaking.
Many are casting the chemical attack on Douma as self-inflicted. The theory is that the rebels who until recently occupied the area inflicted the damage on Syrian civilians as part of some elaborate scheme to frame Assad……
Apparently, acknowledging the reality of the chemical attacks by Assad is akin to inviting the U.S. to expand its Syria war to Assad’s targets. And so in order to oppose that, are we to deny the real suffering of Syrians? Are we to bend reality to suit our desire?….
…..Just as there is a chorus contradicting the lived experiences of Syrian civilians, there has been an effort to undermine the White Helmets, a rescue program that has been accused both of receiving U.S. funding (it has gotten U.S. Agency for International Development money just as other projects have) and of being a front for al-Qaida…..
How are so many on the left falling for such fakery? The Guardian’s extensive investigation into a propaganda effort to discredit the White Helmets offers some answers. Just as it is all too easy to fall for fake news these days, it is also easy to corroborate sources and determine veracity with a little effort.
……..When the left accuses conservatives of falling for fake news, we may imagine our rational approach to the world makes us more immune to falsehoods. Sadly, in the case of Syria (and Afghanistan and other nations), the left may be just as vulnerable to seeing all things through the lens of our political worldview rather than through facts. This does little to help ordinary people the world over who are victims of violence.
Take your pick:
Common Dreams
Truth Dig
The Guardian
Democracy Now
Fact Checker
Bellingcat
Snopes
Vs Bill and Ed and Mike Smith’s favourite pro-Assad sources
Is this the same Latakia football stadium, where in scenes reminiscent of the Pinochet regime, the Assad regime herded Palestinian refugees, before disappearing some of them and driving the rest out of the city?
And then went on to level the Al Ramel refugee camp?
Wow Jenny
An unattributed report from a newspaper that publishes “Like” diatribes of Luke Harding and is 7 years dated – give us some FACTS !
Um – So Assad is Hezbollah friendly – but targets Palestinian refugees ?
I did some thinking, and – consequently – thought otherwise.
“National’s behaviour since the election has only confirmed our good sense in choosing Labour. National is leaderless, moribund, and vacuous. It’s a shell of its former self because it’s been seduced by marketing. Substance will always trump shallowness so remember this, Simon Bridges will not lead National into the next election.
I 100% agree with you. The acting PM, Peters should have been more direct and called a spade a spade:
National’s torpor since the election has only confirmed our good sense in choosing Labour. National is like a headless chicken, a walking corpse, without a soul. It’s a zombie seduced by marketing. Substance will always trump shallowness so remember this, Simon Bridges is a dead man walking.
Think you are on the wrong platform BM if you seriously want anybody here to vote for National, whatever the faults of the Coalition. Anyway, Winnie said he’d still be around in 25 years time, so National may have a long time to wait!
Kia ora The Am Show the people who got riped off Duncan are the common people for the last nine year’s billion’s flowing up to the % 0.1 .
The young people from Gisborne deserved the win I say the Auction worked out I seen people make no money on some of the other Block episodes Is Mark hung over lol off to Anura Bay you did good with the young one’s kia kaha it is a good show Mark all the best to all the contestants.
simon how does petrol and diesel prices affect electricity prices or rent we know that government’s don’t throw out new revenue stream’s when they first get elected I see a few bitter move’s made by national . I think it’s a good idea to vet our new resident’s so we get people with the same values as us respect all .
I tau toko Andrew Becroft approach to our problem children a local community Marae based care that teaches them morels and there culture.
Sam the League man its been a good season for League .
Kia Kaha Marama you advocate for the people who have lost the most over the last 9 years ka pai Did you know that the mokopuna’s are the ones who suffer when the state cut’s or freezes benefits.
Duncan if Marama had of given you figures you would have attracted her with them do you still need a tisue.
I say the neutral tax plan is a way of re balancing our tax to be more fairer to all.
The tax system’s of the last 150 year’s has been un fair as it is Te tangata whenua who have been TAX THE MOST.
Ka kite ano P.S I back the advocating for councils to bad advertising alcohol in public places.
Kia ora Newshub I will have to be more care full but I have my reasons for my statements one will have to check my old post to figure that out.
The housing market is going up in provincial Aotearoa and that is opposite to the reality national are trying to paint .
Alfred I think its a little dumb for a brown person to back national when one can see what has happened to a lot of brown people under the bridge I could say more about your reality but I have my morels .
I wonder if our teacher’s have read the book golden goose I hope they got the story line.
The Right whales coming to Aotearoa is a good sign that there populations are the up .
That albino calf was cute.
I have read on the amount of whaling stations we had in Aotearoa there were a lot in the 1800 we had a lot of whales to .
trump will cheat on the Kavanaugh investigation hes a cheat he can’t help himself.
Tesla will be fine there is a new report from the World scientist about human caused climate change I can see it won’t be good for us the lobbyist briber’s money has stop people seeing reality .
Ka kite ano
Kia ora The Crowd Goes Wild James & Mulls you wiped the big smile off Mulls face James we spent a couple of years in Hams
The Golf was good in Europe this weekend E hoa enough said .
T J 50 a congrats E hoa .
The Rosters won the grand final. Eco a Roster so I’m quite happy with that out come.
The Wahine Rugby and League player’s have some good tackles. Yes the Ausses are still trying to get there heads around that subject .
Ka kite ano P.S that’s a good battle wound James
Kia ora I say get rid of the Sugar thats the way to lose weight when one can not afford the expensive fresh vegetables .
I’m not going to pick a favorite bird Eco favors all bird’s this is a good way to promote our bird’s I can here them singing at the minute.
I say that a 4 day week would work for some forestry silver culture keep the van’s full mo to thur 3 days off ad a xtra hour a day for production so you will only lose 4 hours but save a days costs and have happy workers .
Red light cameras will slow down our vehicle accident rate . I say reducing the speed in Auckland central city is a good thing .
I see Massey University is promoting te tangata whenua at its 3 sites the first in Australasia to do this Ka pai
Ka kite ano
Here is another solution to our rivers pollution problem’s .
Our Awa has problems from 150 years ago were our tipuna were scared of unproductive land being taken they clear felled all the trees the whenua slipped into the river now the river floods often this has eroded thousands of acres of good land into the river. The manuka has grown all around the whenua now Ka pai ka kite ano.
The Block 2018 was a great season Giss greats won .
I remember the Australian first block they renovated a block of brick 2 story flat’s .
I enjoy watching people renovating building house’s I would be good at it the wife is the artist good with colors well I’m color blind so that’s not my job but I can fix most things don’t give up is Eco Maori moto I won’t say never one has to leave room for negotiation Kia kaha Ka kite ano link below.
Here we go some more disturbing fact’s on inequality for tangata whenua health .
Our bowel cancer screening we need a big push to extend maori & Pacific tangata life expectancy up to European New Zealanders .
A lot of us die before we reach retirement age we are dieing way to young for my liking’s .
All that has to happen is early screening and treatment of this cancer ka kite ano.
Link is below .
The drug companies have twisted the system to buy drugs in their favour .
Rebate have grown to over $500 million this system will be used by the companies to manipulate Pharmac into buy there old lines of drugs which will not be the best drugs for the people at the best price link is below ka kite ano P.S see how fast these rebates have grown under shonky’s rule
There has been a break through for cancer treatment drugs will the browns get access to these drugs well we will be last once again .
There is more information on how these rip off drug companies behave.
One cure to this is to make campany’s charters law so they have to have humane intentions before profits quite simple solution for a lot of Papatuanuku ill’s .
But no the power full company’s won’t let the worlds governments make these change’s link below
Kia ora Newshub the someone has taken over the teacher’s union’s that’s clear for me to see who ever in charge deliberately stiring up a storm in a tea cup.
Does any one else see that there were troubles with the Wellington Bus services now Auckland some one is deliberately interfering with these service’s .
All the other ex prime ministers except shonky stayed out of the media for at least 3 years so why is shonky still hanging around. He has made a lot of money and he is still interfering with our political seen . I heard some one say they are bitter Eco got a sore face.
Tegel mega chicken farm it looks like it was going to be built on flood prone land .
I say that new neighbors should not be aloud to affect the lives of the people in a negative way so good that its been stopped in Kaipara.
That Waikato Ruakura transport hub is huge.
Ka kite ano
Kia ora The Crowd Goes Wild James & Mulls yes it would be cool if they brought the trophy to Tokoroa I smell some thing with Greg .
Its the amazing powers of mans best friend the drug sniffer dog the drug some sport people use will STUFF U up.
Yes James I’m not into all the hiking evolved in hunting all tho it was a 8 hour walk in and 8 out packing a pig and stag in the Matawai between 3 of us I was unfit and stuffed after that hunt
The Irish no how to get the fan’s attention Fury likes the jab
Ka kite ano
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 ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
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 ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
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 English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. 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 ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
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. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
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 ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government will introduce legislation to ban deepfake pornography and provide more funding for the eSafety Commission to pilot age-assurance technologies. The contribution of internet sites to gender-based violence was one major issue ...
Average ordinary time hourly earnings, as measured by the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES), increased 5.2 percent in the year to the March 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. Annual wage cost inflation, as measured by the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dimitrios Salampasis, FinTech Capability Lead | Senior Lecturer, Emerging Technologies and FinTech, Swinburne University of Technology Clem Onojeghuo/Unsplash In the digital era, the job market is increasingly becoming a minefield – demanding and difficult to navigate. According to the Australian Bureau ...
As of the March 2024 quarter, we can now look back on 20 years of data related to youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET), as collected by the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS), according to figures released by Stats NZ today. "The ...
Thousands of workers attended public events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch today to celebrate International Workers’ Day (May Day), but union representatives are urging caution and vigilance over the Government’s blatantly "anti-worker" ...
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in the March 2024 quarter, compared with 4.0 percent in the previous quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. ...
The PSA is warning the Government that the sensitive information of New Zealanders held by various agencies will fall into the wrong hands if the latest round of proposed cuts goes ahead. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Talitha Best, Professor of Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Victoria Rodriguez/Unsplash How do sugar rushes work? – W.H, age nine, from Canberra What a terrific question W.H! Let’s explore this, starting with some of the basics. What is sugar? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karinna Saxby, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne MART PRODUCTION/Pexels Increasing income support could help keep women and children safe according to new work demonstrating strong links between financial insecurity and domestic violence. ...
ANALYSIS:By Olli Hellmann, University of Waikato When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day today on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also to mark a defining event for national identity. The battle of Gallipoli against ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark A Gregory, Associate Professor, School of Engineering, RMIT University The telecommunications industry faces a major shakeup following the release of the post-incident report on last November’s 12-hour Optus outage. Telecommunications companies will have to share more information with customers during future ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Bookseller Confessional, in which we get to know Aotearoa’s booksellers. This week: Eden Denyer, bookseller at Unity Books Auckland.Weirdest question/request you’ve had on the shop floorA mother came in looking for anything we might have on Alaskan bison as that was her little boy’s ...
NZCTU Economist Craig Renney said new data released by Statistics New Zealand shows the need for Government to act now, with unemployment rising from 3.4% to 4.3%. ...
The outpouring of anger over Maiki Sherman’s hyperbolic presentation of this week’s ‘nightmare’ poll is itself an overreaction, argues Stewart Sowman-Lund. Politicians love nothing more than to pretend they don’t care about polls. This week, deputy prime minister Winston Peters said he didn’t give a “rat’s derriere” about a TVNZ ...
Asia Pacific Report Ngāti Kahungunu in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay region has become the first indigenous Māori iwi (tribe) to sign a resolution calling for a “ceasefire in Palestine”, reports Te Ao Māori News. Reporter Te Aniwaniwa Paterson talked to Te Otāne Huata, who has been organising peace rallies ...
By Dale Luma in Port Moresby “We want grants and not concessional loans,” is the crisp message from Papua New Guinea businesses directly affected by the Black Wednesday looting four months ago. The businesses, which lost millions after the January 10 rioting and looting, say they need grants as part ...
Happy May Day. Join a union. Q: What’s worse than a staff break room where the only place to sit and have a cup of tea is on a teetering stack of old pornography magazines? A: Your boss replacing the magazine stacks with chairs that are “heartily encrusted with ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Former opposition leader Matthew Wale has been announced as the second prime ministerial candidate ahead of the election in Solomon Islands tomorrow. He will face off against former foreign affairs minister Jeremiah Manele, who was announced by the Coalition for National Unity and Transformation ...
We get but one birthday a year – why not make it last as long as possible by scheduling as many meals with friends and family as you can? This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. How do you celebrate your birthday? Do you celebrate at ...
A Koi Tū discussion paper released today proposes sweeping changes to New Zealand’s media industry. The principal’s key author, Gavin Ellis, explains how journalists have a key role to play in making others value their role in society. This is an abridged version of a piece first published on knightlyviews.com ...
The Government’s spending cuts are again targeting support for Māori with proposed reform of the agency charged with advising on Māori wellbeing and development. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Douglas, Honorary Senior Lecturer, UNSW Aviation., UNSW Sydney The history of budget jet airlines in Australia is a long road littered with broken dreams. New entrants have consistently struggled to get a foothold. Low-cost carrier Bonza has just become the industry’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rosalind Dixon, Director, Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, UNSW Sydney Australia is finally having a sustained conversation about violence against women and what we can do about it. It is more than time. Australian women and girls continue to experience ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne stockfour/Shutterstock Preliminary bulk billing data released this week shows a 2.1% rise in bulk billing up to March. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Schulz, Senior Lecturer, University of Adelaide Australia is once again grappling with how we can stop gendered violence in our country. Protests over the weekend show there is enormous community anger over the number of women who are dying and National ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University AnastasiaDudka/Shutterstock What if the government was doing everything it could to stop thieves making off with our money, except the one thing that could really work? That’s how it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harrington, Senior Lecturer in English and Cultural Studies, University of Canterbury The Conversation It seems to be a time of old favourites. This month our experts have recommended two new seasons – the second season of Alone Australia (although ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland A bright Eta Aquariid meteor photobombed this photo of comet C/2020 F8 (SWAN) in May 2020.Jonti Horner Meteors – commonly known as shooting stars – can be seen on any night of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Flannery, Honorary fellow, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Current concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in Earth’s atmosphere are unprecedented in human history. But CO₂ levels today, and those that might occur in coming decades, did occur millions of years ago. ...
Winston Peters has been keen to dismiss speculation on our involvement in Aukus but will give a speech tonight on the direction of our foreign policy, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Usmar, Lecturer in Critical Media Literacies, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images With the coalition government’s ban of student mobile phones in New Zealand schools coming into effect this week, reaction has ranged from the sceptical (kids will just get ...
Hospitals around the country are not allowed to make a single hiring decision without the approval of Te Whatu Ora's head office, including for cleaners and administration staff. ...
A new report on protecting journalism and democracy in New Zealand recommends a levy be charged on global platforms like Facebook and Google to fund media firms undertaking public interest reporting. It also calls for the reinstatement of a powerful Broadcasting Commission to distribute public funding for journalism and other ...
On International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi and the wider union movement are celebrating the proud history of the labour movement during a tough time for working people. ...
From bills to beards, a walk through the former Green co-leader’s time in politics. After close to a decade in politics, James Shaw is preparing to bid farewell to parliament. Tonight will see the former minister deliver his valedictory address, certain to be a speech filled with Shaw’s trademark wit ...
Two months ago, MPs unanimously voted to give themselves a week off in Efeso Collins’ honour. On Tuesday, most were too busy to give even an hour of their time. The day Fa’anānā Efeso Collins died, parliament felt different. In a building that operates at a breakneck pace, everyone stopped ...
India’s election involves hundreds of millions of people and is a months-long affair. Here’s how voting works and what’s at stake.The biggest-ever election in world history started on April 19, with more than 10% of the world’s population eligible to vote. Elections in India, the world’s most populous country ...
“I had just come off the end of a major robbery case which I had been working on for six months when I got a call on the afternoon of September 1, 1992, that some remains had been found at a building site in Devonport, so I drove over with ...
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Comment: Journalists are very good at telling other people’s stories, but they fall well short when writing about their own profession. Perhaps that is why it is so undervalued. Every successive poll on the public’s attitude toward journalism is more alarming than the last. In the last month we have ...
Opinion: A young Māori woman and her Pacific partner arrive at their local hospital by ambulance. She has gone into labour at just under 24 weeks, but the couple haven’t recognised the symptoms – and don’t know the risks of premature birth for their baby. By the time they arrive, ...
Behind closed doors, NZ First will be arguing fiercely against any watering down of the ministerial decision-making powers in the Bill The post Bishop backtracks after fast-track backlash appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Emotional scenes played out in the Invercargill courthouse on the first two days of the coronial inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones, in which the boy’s mother was accused of disposing of her son’s body. The second season of Newsroom’s award-nominated podcast The Boy in the Water ...
Opinion: The impression from the carpark is very inviting. The area is well fenced but barred so there is easy visibility of loved ones. Inside, the spaces are welcoming and clean and staff are friendly and clearly comfortable. I am greeted by ‘Kim’. She has worked here for three years, ...
After the Christchurch earthquake, the then-national civil defence boss compared his experience to “putting a team on the rugby field who have never ever played together before”. Now, eight years later – and following a damning inquiry into the emergency response of cyclones Gabrielle, Hale and the Auckland anniversary weekend floods – ...
Asia Pacific Report A Pacific civil society alliance has condemned French neocolonial policies in Kanaky New Caledonia, saying Paris is set on “maintaining the status quo” and denying the indigenous Kanak people their inalienable right to self-determination. The Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations (PRNGOs) Alliance, representing some 15 groups, said in ...
Koi Tū New Zealand cannot sit back and see the collapse of its Fourth Estate, the director of Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, Sir Peter Gluckman, says in the foreword of a paper published today. The paper, “If not journalists, then who?” paints a picture of an industry ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Foreign investment proposals with implications for Australia’s strategic or economic security will face tougher scrutiny, under a policy overhaul to be announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Wednesday. At the same time, the government ...
A Waitangi Tribunal inquiry report has warned government that a repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act could cause harm to children in care. ...
The Treasury has published today three new papers covering government consumption multipliers, automatic stabilisers and the impacts of global shocks on New Zealand’s economy. ...
Asia Pacific Report The Pacific state of Hawai’i’s House of Representatives has joined the state’s Senate in calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza, becoming the first state to pass such a resolution, reports Hawaii News Now. In March, the Senate passed a ceasefire resolution with a 24–1 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Ferrie, A/Prof, UTS Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research and ARC DECRA Fellow, University of Technology Sydney PsiQuantum The Australian government has announced a pledge of approximately A$940 million (US$617 million) to PsiQuantum, a quantum computing start-up company based in Silicon Valley. Half ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Bennett, Lecturer in Exercise Science, University of South Australia Cameron Prins/Shutterstock If you spend a lot of time exploring fitness content online, you might have come across the concept of heart rate zones. Heart rate zone training has become more ...
SPECIAL REPORT:By Eugene Doyle He is the most popular Palestinian leader alive today — and yet few people in the West even know his name. Absolutely no one in Gaza or the West Bank does not know him. That difference speaks volumes about who dominates the media narrative that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Will McCallum, PhD Candidate – School of Communication and Creative Arts, Deakin University Earlier this year, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of not supporting Operation Sovereign Borders – the military-led border security operation that has “closed Australia’s borders ...
By Melyne Baroi in Port Moresby A Papua New Guinea MP, Peter Isoaimo, who had been ousted by the National Court in an alleged bribery case, has been reinstated by the Supreme Court on appeal. A three-member Supreme Court bench found that the National Court had erred in finding that ...
Stop 90m Queens Wharf extension, community groups tell Phil Goff
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12133598
Auckland council and Ports of Auckland can’t help themselves to continue to steal the harbour and appropriate more public land to help multibillionaire business at the expense of most Kiwis right to use their own public land freely that they pay for through rates!
BTW – Cruise ships do not have to pay the measly $35 tax to help conservation. Pathetic!
Cruise ships are highly polluting and their so called tourist dollars only help a very tiny amount of businesses (often foreign owned) that are congregated in highly priced locations aka not the little guy who can’t afford the rents.
Phil Goff promised not to take any more land for the harbour and is breaking his promise.
More intergenerational theft by the council!
On top of the ‘funny’ money when apparently the Auckland council are 600 million in surplus, (although borrowing hundreds of millions from the government for yet more spec house development????)
Also on top of America’s cup costing hundreds of millions of dollars that the ratepayers have to pay for and appropriating more harbour for multibillion dollar pursuits.
The world’s largest cruise ship and its supersized pollution problem
As Harmony of the Seas sets sail from Southampton docks on Sunday she will leave behind a trail of pollution – a toxic problem that is growing as the cruise industry and its ships get ever bigger
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/21/the-worlds-largest-cruise-ship-and-its-supersized-pollution-problem
Clean, Green NZ, no more…turn a blind eye to massive polluters that cruise ships generate…
“But marine pollution analysts in Germany and Brussels said that such a large ship would probably burn at least 150 tonnes of fuel a day, and emit more sulphur than several million cars, more NO2 gas than all the traffic passing through a medium-sized town and more particulate emissions than thousands of London buses.
According to leading independent German pollution analyst Axel Friedrich, a single large cruise ship will emit over five tonnes of NOX emissions, and 450kg of ultra fine particles a day.
Bill Hemmings, marine expert at Brussels-based Transport and Environment group said: “These ships burn as much fuel as whole towns. They use a lot more power than container ships and even when they burn low sulphur fuel, it’s 100 times worse than road diesel.”
“Air pollution from international shipping accounts for around 50,000 premature deaths per year in Europe alone, at an annual cost to society of more than €58bn [ $65bn],” says the group on its website.”
“Auckland council are 600 million in surplus”
That is completely a a false flag. They still have huge capital spending which isnt counted in that sort of accounting procedure.
600 million in surplus? Must be time to update their IT then.
Just the usual ‘funny’ numbers that accountants like to release to media that are meaningless… because you can pretend you are doing a great job fiscally by hiding debts..
A “dolphin” floats. It is not a wharf extension. It enables larger ships to tie up.
What a laugh. That big fat zero H duP is SCORING! Jacinda Ardern. Didn’t waste my time reading it. Maybe I should have. Just the headline was enough though.
Andrea Vance has been providing background info that illuminates how Labour conducted the CTO process: “Further documents revealed the fingerprints of Labour party president Nigel Haworth and former apparatchik GJ Thompson. Ardern was more heavily involved in the process than previously let on. Importantly, the State Services Commission ruled the appointment robust and unbiased.” https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107455388/andrea-vance-a-week-of-grubby-politics-in-contrast-to-new-york-performance
So the SSC reviewed Labour’s conduct of the CTO recruitment process and decided they had run the process appropriately. Curran, as Minister leading that process, can take credit for that presumably. After months of media & political commentary suggesting that Curran’s meetings & emails with Handley were inappropriate, we now know it was all total crap. Several weeks ago I asked onsite here what rule she was supposed to have broken and got no response.
Media blather about nothing, everyone fascinatedly recycling irrelevant speculation, carefully avoiding the lack of evidence. Vance writes “when she gets back home, there’s plenty of murk to cut through.” But Ardern wasn’t displaying any interest in cutting through the murk as it kept building up since summer, so why would she suddenly decide to cut through it now?? If she was a cut-through type of leader she would have issued this public statement long ago: “As far as I know Minister Curran hasn’t broken any rules in her conduct of our CTO process, but the SSC will investigate and report on that.”
“A recruitment firm with close links to the Prime Minister’s office was involved in hiring the Government’s new chief technology officer, new documents reveal. JacksonStone and Partners completed due diligence on two finalists for the job – one of which was Derek Handley. Heather Church is principal consultant at the firm. She is also married to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s chief of staff, Mike Munro.”
“The firm also carried out recruitment for Ardern’s vacant chief press secretary earlier this year. It has been a member of the All-of-Government Recruitment and Consulting panel since 2012, which allows companies to pitch for specialist contracts.” https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107422821/no-bias-in-handley-recruitment-report-concludes
“Numerous applications were received and Curran and officials whittled the list down to 18 candidates. They were assessed by Curran’s private secretary “against a criteria matrix consisting of mana, ability to influence, strategic ability and relevant experience.” Vance provides plenty other interesting details too…
Fire the recruiters, they did a hideous job and not only that are compromised by having family members in Jacinda’s office.
If the government had bothered to open the process up to multiple recruiters who actually knew the IT industry then they may have attracted candidates or at least given a heads up what sort of role it was because it certainly was not a CTO one, given advice to the government so it did not turn into a train wreck and run the process appropriately, instead of wasting candidates time for months, humiliating the candidates and running the public service into the muck.
To reject 60 candidates from the get go, is alarming, then to come to Handley after a further 79 is alarming…
If they wanted someone not technical it should have been clearer and certainly the got the basics wrong, like the job title.
Typical NZ, (and bad recruiters) they can’t even get the basics right or even understand why they can’t retain talent in this country, or talent remaining has no interest in becoming involved with the government screw ups.
Where did you get the ‘further 79 from’
Once they had seen the first 60 applications, I think they job description was revised substantially, like often happens even for small jobs.
““In particular, I see the chief technology officer working on issues such as improving digital equality, protecting citizens’ rights online, and building a connected nation, alongside the Digital Economy and Digital Inclusion Advisory Group and the other advisory groups I have already signalled I will be establishing.
“Although the role sits within the government context, the chief technology officer will require a collaborative way of working across government, with ministers and officials, and with a range of other stakeholders to shape and drive New Zealand’s digital agenda,” Ms Curran says.
Why bother wasting everybody’s time you have to wonder, it’s clear by the emails that he was discussing the role with Jacinda and got Clare Curren so excited by all the non tech buzz words that she could understand, she thought it was like ‘Star Trek’.
Does the released emails sound impartial? Nope. Bear in mind the guy is not technical at all, never been a CTO before, no qualifications in tech and before even starting he was talking about assembling a massive team to do the work for him, while he (in his head) had a staring role in Davos, aka not really planning to spend much time in NZ then… getting the extensive team of grunts to do his work for him…
It’s like advertising for a doctor, and then getting a person who was involved a medical marketing company decade ago and then been a low level figure head overseas who then asks his mates to find a job for him back in NZ and needs an extensive team to do his job, which he describes as a ‘social’ role not a technical one.
The worldwide focus on tech is getting and retaining the superb tech skills to make ideas work and now every business needs to have suburb tech, the difference between survival and obsolescence.
Tech has moved on from the 1990’s marketing and self promoter types who made a buck a few decades ago, who are a dime a dozen in the industry.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12130986
One of the many txts between government and Derek Handley. Does not sound impartial!
To: Jacinda
Hello!
So close to the baby arriving! Then….POP. It’ll be out before you know it 🙂 So exciting.
About a month ago we were texting back and forth, I said I really wanted to put some
ideas to you as to how I could be of service. In my mind I had started to develop
thoughts ranging from Davos to our links to China’s new economy. Things I think I can
pull together and work on from the edges of Govt. Listed some samples below.
But here is where I have landed: over the course of May I was approached by an
increasing number of people I really respect, to strongly consider applying for the CTO
role.
I had never thought about it seriously – mostly probably because the recruiting started
last year when we had not decided about moving back home, I wasn’t paying attention.
I thought very long and deeply about it, and in the end, I concluded that for now I
genuinely believe the most service I could be to you and New Zealand is actually in that
role. I think I could really do it amazingly well.
So on the weekend I submitted an application.
In that light, let’s see how that process pans out independently – whatever happens will
be the right thing. But if that role isn’t in the stars, then I would LOVE to meet up in
September and revisit some ideas and thinking when my wife and I are back in New
Zealand! I’m so keen to come home and help you. I have such unique and weird skills
and networks around the world – I want to put them to work and help so much.
Be well.
dh
Sample of Thoughts
>●
Designing an impactful and surprising Davos presence
●
Alternative to this: New Zealand could design a new model for a Davos type global
collective to shape/steer thinking for our generation
●
Asia summit x New Economy
●
Govt x Sustainability
●
Global next-generation wealth-holder/change-makers
Derek Handlay Sal, Aug 11,2018 319212 AM
To Clale Culran
Hello Clare
So excited to be moving forward with this. It’s such an amazing opponunity and privilege to help shape New Zealand
– has sent me a draft offer letteri which I review and get back to her on logistic and administrative next steps but I
assume I should lay out my more essential questions and thoughts here with you.
As we spoke about below I’m laying out my main questions and thoughts I would like to start to work through with you over
the coming days Let me know if I should be dealing with. on any of the below)
Let’s chat again very soon please!
Derek
1. Resources and team – this is my number one most pressing consideration and has been from the outset – I am
excited to really dive into this as soon as you have time to
All of the obiectives (digital equal 1 economy I connected nation) etc require a lot of thinking, coordination
mapping and communicating – the resources for this are my primary concern
Aside from those above objectives – developing a stakeholder-led strategy requires a dedicated sharp and
creative team lull time
The original cabinet paper notes two dedicated stall members from GDCO and MBIE – is this still the thinking?
Would love to chat more about this with you and whoever else would be involved in resourcing, How would we
handle external hires/contractors/suppon ifdeemed best?
have an idea of the type of team think would be ideal and imagine it to be a mix of internal and external
people – as well as some international thinkers
2. Operational budgeufunding
a To carry out the functions in the role well, there also needs to be some operational budget for things like
convening communications design content etc for stakeholder and community collaboration as well as the
outputs you would need (published maleriaL web contentetc) lorthatengagement
3. Conllicts or Disclosures
submitted a draft proposal of issues and potential conllicts in the intenhew process On the phone you
mentioned it’s best we work through this togetherfitst – I have attached the memo to this email so you can see
howl laid it out.
Each one needs to be worked through carefully so that everybody understands them fully but think the most
sensitive one is- if your advice comes back than can keep and lust be acutely
aware of managing any lwould much prefer this – especially given 0 contract is lust one year
and can be terminated
4, Timing has also asked about this so share the below her too –
amily and I will be on the ground on Monday the 10th of September – my preference would be to announce
in person during thatweek My preference for a start date would be October to give me a lew weeks to get
settled as we have just bought a new house its got renovations etci getting. in school and all that stuff.
Not sure how this sits you,
5, Location
it hasn’t been mentioned In any material to date that this role requires being located in Wellington so I have
assumed location is not I understand from that I get an some at (I assume tn
have some ldeas amund location – I would ptefer a mostly work embedded/”In Resldence” Ihe communtly
atvarious organisations around the country – but would like an Auckland base as well
a. “Announcement”
Would like to hear your thoughts on how you have been thinking about this The announcement itself is an
opportunity to kick off a broader engagement campaign and enlist self-selected leaders who to
collaborate My preference would be to not ‘waste’ the announcement by just making it one way — but by using
it to kick off a two way conversation from the outset
SaveNZ @ (3.1.1.1.1.1) … Thanks for the info. Clare Curran was not the best person to be dealing with this.
I could be wrong, but from most of the information I’ve seen and heard, it seems to me in my very humble opinion for all it’s worth, DH is/has been calling the shots.
Never heard of the guy before this fiasco raised its ugly head! For someone supposed to be intelligent, as well as tech savvy, from what I’ve seen, his written communication skills, as well as the presentation of his correspondence is not good for a “professional” … spelling errors, poor sentence and paragraph structure etc. If these English language features are indicative of his job skills, then I sure wouldn’t want to employ him to represent me!
This whole government CTO issue comes across (to me that is), as being very odd indeed!
It sounds like a bullshit job consisting of wasting other people’s time on pointless makework.
Greens are going for more change.
Better to kill off the glitter covered shit that is social security legislation and start again from scratch imo
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/367581/greens-campaign-for-sanction-free-welfare-system
“Sanction-free welfare” might look like a UBI. But it will be a cold day in hell – this after all is the country of sanction-free capital gain.
We just love it when people get money for doing nothing, as long as that ‘nothing’ is watching the values of their rental properties inflate. But if that ‘nothing’ is staying at home and raising young kids, we go ape-shit at them.
If that sounds like a profound and probably irremediable moral corruption mixed with an unhealthy dose of racism – that’s because it is.
AB
+100
Chris Trotter raises several questions, around why the NZDF have demanded that the inquiry into the deaths of Afghan villagers at the hands of the NZDF should be held in secret.
Operation Burnham Inquiry To Proceed Under Cover Of Darkness
Chris Trotter – Bowalley Road, September 29, 2018
My question refers to the independence of our Defence Forces from the influence of our Allies.
According to Trotter, protecting the interests of our ally is the motive given by the NZDF for the need for a secret hearing.
Shouldn’t the interests of the New Zealand people and the Afghan villagers who have been sinned against in our name, be put first by our Defence Force before the interests of our allies?
When our closest military ally the USA, is according to commentators like Mike Moore and others, on the brink of fascism, where would this leave our Defence Force? Will they break the strong ties they have with the US, or will the NZDF become a Fifth Column working against the interests of New Zealanders.
As Chris Trotter says:
The irony is that the US is often far more open about many of these things- the secrecy is really about protecting NZDF
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900008922/pentagon-restricts-release-of-afghanistan-war-data.html
The US will still spin the investigation process and take no further action but at least an investigation is done
No where in the NZDF Statement Of Intent is there any mention of protecting New Zealand’s independence as a sovereign nation. Instead, we read this:
The NZDF concentration on becoming “integrated internationally with
our military partners…”, might make it very hard for the NZDF to extricate itself from the US, if that state descends into fascism.
Defence Force planners are supposed to explore all defence scenarios, and forward planning for all contingencies and threats. I wonder if one of our military planners projected contingency plans includes plans to explore cutting NZDF integration with the US military on the US descending into fascism.
My guess is not.
And so they will be caught completely unprepared. To the detriment of us all.
Also telling..
“People: Developing a flexible, resilient
and affordable workforce”
“Relationships: Building and
maintaining the strength of our
domestic, international and commercial
relationships in order to maximise our
combined effect.”
Note the words AFFORDABLE for the defence workforce
Note the words COMMERCIAL relationships needing defence..
Neoliberalism knows no sovereignty, only cost cutting and protecting commercial profits of the elite at the expense of the many, and protecting the elite power…. which are not necessarily domestic, could be international or commercial…
Our relationships for defence also seem to be built around the ego’s of two world leaders, Trump and Xi Jinping. Shared values (sarcasm) that that our military works for in real terms.
Michael Moore talks about the threat of fascism in the US.
You would find the Defence Policy is dictated by the Government of the Day in conjunction with MFAT, MoD/ NZDF IRT with Manning and Capabilities and funding from Treasury.
Since the Salami slicing of Manning and Capability from 1991 onwards, New Zealand how has to rely on its Allies a lot more now since WW2 as a result of Salami cuts in part driven ideology of Treasury and political ideologies base around Free Trade, the Free Market, Globalisation or we are at the ass end of the world no one would bother about us.
If you want the NZDF to have an independent Defence Policy, then more money has to thrown towards, but at what cost to health, education, doc, transport etc?
During East Timor ie INTERFET- 2003 there was an expectation that the penny may’ve or finally dropped to all concern that having and maintaining an independent NZDF was in the best interest to the Country. But no it didn’t happen because of cost and especially once NZDF submitted its lessons learnt or as I would say lessons relearned from INTERFET and the resulting UN Peacekeeping mission, but it was very quietly serve by Government and Treasury.
Even the events of 2006 in the SP region and the after the 2018 Defence Policy review which was released a couple of mths ago Government, Treasury and those other Depts outside of the Ministry for Defence, MoD/ NZDF that you still need to throw more at Defence if you want to be less dependent on your Allies and again at what cost to education, health etc. Thence why we as a nation takes the easy route of less fiction, less money on defence by relying on our allies.
Yes I understand your concerns about the USA atm and I all think that everyone here on is concern about what is happening in the US atm. But until both sides of the house, the policy wonks, treasury and the rest of NZ wake up IRT to Defence, Foreign Affairs, Trade, Aid Development etc then the status quo will prevail every time there is change.
The Greens Defence Policy is not an option either as it doesn’t reflect reality on the ground and again written by someone or persons who are either policy wonks or read to much into Peacekeeping theory in University or out of book instead of looking at lessons learnt from pass Peacekeeping missions amd understanding the environment that NZDF operates in.
Do the Greens understand what the average sea state around NZ and SP? As Landing Ship with a Docking Well can operate up to sea state 6, where as the Landing Ship with a ramp like the current in service RNZN Landing Ship can only operate in sea state or less while conducting Ship to Shore Transfer. Or-
Do the Greens really understand what Defensive Operations is and mean Military POV? I sure do and I have been doing it for the last 19yrs Airbase /Airfield Ground Defence operator in warlike and Peacetime along with my time in NZ Army in NZ Scots (RNZAC) in the 90’s.
Nor is the National Party much chop either Defence and like US Military DFAT food it look’s like ass and tastes like ass.
American soldiers are good at cleaning up locker rooms.
Shame about their less than stellar efforts everywhere else.
This morning I was watching a bit of college football: Baylor University at Oklahoma. Towards the end of the third quarter, during one of the interminable breaks in the game, the commentators drew attention to a picture of a gleaming locker room, after the Army football team had used it the week before. The picture was captioned: “Leave it how you found it.”
This nifty little P.R. exercise by the Army football team had just the effect they no doubt calculated it would have. Any citizen of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Cuba, Central America, Iraq, Afghanistan would have reflected bitterly that the U.S. Army does anything but leave things how they found them. And any U.S. citizen with an I.Q. above room temperature who was watching that Baylor-Oklahoma game would have thought something similar.
Such scruples didn’t seem to afflict the fellows commentating the game, however. One of them burbled:
If only the U.S. Army treated everywhere like a stadium locker-room. If only….
https://wikileaks.org/wiki/Fallujah,_the_information_war_and_U.S._propaganda
Fly Ryanair – (Wryanair?) – Why?
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2018/09/30/airline-workers-take-on-ryanairs-reign-of-fear/
Those recruited by Ryanair usually work there for a few years, either on a temporary basis or on an Irish employment contract that grants hardly any rights. A regime of repression and fear has so far been able to keep workers submissive.
Ryanair cuts every corner
There is a world of difference between the work of a stewardess in the 1980s and the situation of the cabin crew at Ryanair today. The downgrading of this group of workers is the result of a relentless price war following the deregulation of the airline industry in the 1990s. Ryanair became Europe’s largest airline during this period because of the radical savings made at every turn, most notably in the wages of cabin crews whose work was transformed into that of a flying corps of pushers of snacks and scratch tickets – a major source of revenue for the airline and an essential criterion for promotion.
In order to reduce costs, the airline is exploiting the plight of young people in Southern and Eastern Europe. During the euro crisis, Italy, Spain and Portugal in particular experienced a wave of emigration due to high youth unemployment. Young and often highly qualified migrant workers are welcome cheap labourers in the catering trade, in delivery services – and even in the aviation industry. The wage of around 1200 EUR per month at German Ryanair locations seems generous at first glance, as it is twice as high as an entry-level salary in the countries of origin. However, what many of the young workers do not include in their calculations is the cost of living in the countries in which they are stationed without a say in where they want to go.
The dream of independence quickly fizzles out when the only housing option is a small shared flat near a remote airport. Local social security contributions also have to be paid. Meanwhile, Ryanair’s profits have exploded – tripling between 2014 and 2016. “Ryanair acts cleverly in the interests of its shareholders”, says a Polish flight attendant with many years of experience with the company, “but it’s all on our shoulders”.
Like trying to exist in Auckland or in Queenstown!
Grumpy graffiti – Competition Rules OK!
The airline industry is a haven for the terminally stupid and irresponsible. Michael O’Leary, the boss of Ryanair, is one of the worst people in the whole world—but he’s no worse than one dipstick that we’ve produced ourselves. A few days after the Fukushima catastrophe in 2011, the Air New Zealand boss Rob “Fuckwit” Fyfe appeared on television to assure New Zealanders that the fuss over so-called nuclear leaks was a beat-up, and there was nothing to worry about. He advised us to do as he did, which was to accept the word of the Japanese government’s PR people, and not to trust the word of so-called “experts”.
At the same time as the Fuckwit was making that infamous appearance, the Japanese government was seriously contemplating the evacuation of Tokyo.
Here’s a picture of the great man, characteristically deep in thought…
http://www.iata.org/iata/sites/agm/2009/file/agm2009-02.jpg
@Savenz and one or two others.
I’ve been thinking (and so far it hasn’t really hurt that much, although I might need a bit of a lay down soon)
Kind of a bit of a yea/nah moment in terms of responses to that Brian Easton contribution on Pundit, and then ….. what was that running joke about recruiters?.
Something about what do you do when you’re not very good at [insert profession here (such as prgrammer/web developer/entrepreneur)]?. Answer: become a recruitment agency ticket clipper specialising in your failed field. Alternatively, a real estate agent or even immigration advisor (or maybe even a gNat politician). No credentials or sense of morality required.
And then I was thinking about the growing ‘tribal’ phenomenon – the label in and of itself a bit problematic. The difference between a tribe and it’s preparedness for a co-operative approach .v. one of uber-competitiveness, ego and a desire for dominance.
And then I was thinking that the co-alition ekshully have quite a few things that COULD earn them a few brownie points that even the dysfunctional MSM (Garners and DuplicityAirheads and grumpy old men and others) could get ‘on board with going forward’.
Actually they should be ‘positioning’ themselves now. OR is that ‘pivoting’? I think it’s the latter.
One such ‘populist’ ussue (in light of the MSM’s increasing reportage of gun related crime) would be the creation of a proper register – i.e. not just gun owners, but the weaponry they own.
Another might actually be to stop paying lip service to open government and to provide us with one or two examples that matter.
But you know …… incrementailsm, Rome wasn’t built in a day, Hope and Change, and its a FUCKING sight better than what we had before.
I can’t cope! Anyone got a pill for me? Never mind …. I’ll sleep it off
Don’t be Rip van Winkle though Once was Tim. We need the thinking ones with a desire for positive outcomes good for us all to counter the trolls. (And I apologise to any of Terry Pratchett’s trolls who now live in a relatively mixed society and feel the freedom blowing across their lichen.)
Helllo
“The Daily Blog” bombastic as always, has declared Jacinda “Shallow”.
The Standard
Fills its escarpment with reams of strange retarded Trolls .
Micky Savage being almost the only defender.
But I suppose it keeps the wealthy amused and on top of the greed game.
I thought that our PM had worked in the office of Helen Clark in when she was PM.
Did she learn nothing?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12134068
So we, the taxpayer, had to pay for a professional 3 person crew from a US Ad Agency to film propaganda that would be used, according to Ms Ardern, in her Political campaigning.campaign material. The money comes out of the Labour Party Leaders fund.
Does she not remember Helen doing exactly the same thing in 2005 when they used the funds to pay for the Pledge Card? Highly illegal according to the Auditor-General. However Ardern, like Clark, appears to believe that she is above the law.
As with Ardern’s stuff up when she didn’t even know what GDP is her office has come out and announced that “She didn’t really mean” what she so clearly said she meant.
Is she really as dumb as she appears, or is it that she simply doesn’t give a damn about obeying the law?
I wonder if it was these professional Ad agency staff who told her to try and get her daughter into every public appearance?
We deserve better from our Peters’ led Government.
Sure beats spending money from Bill English’s Leaders fund to pay off the complainant in the Todd Barclay scandal though eh?
I have no idea what if anything was spent there and what might have gone on.
This is illegal.
Was that?
And do you agree that this is disgraceful, or is this all hunky-dory?
Also, one must remember that Barclay is no longer an MP.
Do you propose that Ms Ardern should quit?
We don’t know how much of the Leaders Fund was spent on the Barclay scandal because National went to great lengths to keep that information from the public.
Using the Leaders Fund for comms purposes is not illegal and whatever Paula Bennett might say won’t make it illegal. Anyway the Claire Trevett piece in the Herald points out that Embassies would sometimes hire local photographers to film Key in exactly the same way.
Let’s face it the Leaders Fund is basically a slush fund used for a myriad of dodgy purposes by all participants. Your hypocrisy on the issue is a tad distasteful though.
Barclay was eventually thrown under the bus by his political masters and that’s the only reason he’s no longer an mp. He used to be my mp and believe me if he could still have his nose in the trough he surely would.
I propose that Ms Ardern just keep trucking along, she’s doing great.
It’s ok the PM’s office has said Ardern “misspoke” and the photo’s / movie will not be used for electioneering purposes…which is illegal.
“I propose that Ms Ardern just keep trucking along, she’s doing great.”
So do I ScottGN. At this rate, she will run out of ministers before 2020.
That is of course the “But they did it to, defence”.
Did National really steal more than $800,000?
And then claim that it should be legal and pass a law to validate the theft?
Well no, but that doesn’t seem to bother you. Your heroine can clearly do no wrong.
I’ll bet that you supported that little fraudster Meteria T in her little fraud as well.
And you have the gall to accuse me of hypocrisy! You really are the prime example of hypocrisy in todays examples, aren’t you?
You are losing it you rwnj – all you’ve got is lies and putrid putdowns of everyone especially women. Are you a sad lonely little man or are you just a sicko?
Oh dear.
Forgot to take your pills I see.
You really are going to have to find a better system to remind you.
Whine harder! Come on you can do it. Whine harder!
It really is time you joined AA isn’t it Barfy?
It might prevent this effect of your gross overindulgence in alcohol.
https://www.google.com/search?q=barf&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-NZ:IE-Address&ie=&oe=
Why Are Some on the Left Falling for Fake News on Syria?
Sonali Kolhatkar – Common Dreams, September 20, 2018
Take your pick:
Common Dreams
Truth Dig
The Guardian
Democracy Now
Fact Checker
Bellingcat
Snopes
Vs Bill and Ed and Mike Smith’s favourite pro-Assad sources
Liberty Report
RT
Fox News
Mint Press
The Canary
Jimmy Dore
meanwhile in secular liberal syria at the footie match.
https://twitter.com/ahmadalissa/status/1045791651858448389
Is this the same Latakia football stadium, where in scenes reminiscent of the Pinochet regime, the Assad regime herded Palestinian refugees, before disappearing some of them and driving the rest out of the city?
And then went on to level the Al Ramel refugee camp?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/15/syria-palestinians-latakia-assault
Wow Jenny
An unattributed report from a newspaper that publishes “Like” diatribes of Luke Harding and is 7 years dated – give us some FACTS !
Um – So Assad is Hezbollah friendly – but targets Palestinian refugees ?
I did some thinking, and – consequently – thought otherwise.
Still pushing snopes – frightening.
what’s wrong with them?
You mean apart from their relationship with facebook?
The one we are have no access to assess, review or criticise – do you mean apart from that?
Well if they are your issues so be it. Seems small time to me.
The largest censorship program in modern times is small time to you.
Good to know.
Which sites do you use that allow you to “assess, review or criticise” ?
Not sure about the censorship thing – like what you’re actually talking about.
Hey Jenny
I take these daily, in addition to “some of yours” and all the MSM;
sputnik.abkhazia.ru
sputniknews.com
craigmurray.org.uk
antiwar.com
zerohedge.com
rt.com
salisburyjournal.co.uk
wiltshiretimes.co.uk
presstv.ir
dninews.com (deprecated)
qanon.pub
Assume the prescription – then your ascription will be only what is prescribed !
Kiwibuild homes in Wanaka?
OMG pass me the smelling salts it can’t be true.
It most certainly is, and I’m waiting for them to be announced in Queenstown too.
Next one for Mr Twyford down here will be the airport problem. A new regional airport and associated transport infrastructure?
https://crux.org.nz/community/air-nz-says-its-time-for-a-bigger-bolder-braver-conversation-about-a-new-regional-airport/
truth hurts eh gnats lol
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/367608/peters-calls-national-leaderless-moribund-and-vacuous
and the big slam back by si?
“Mr Bridges said he wouldn’t dignify the comments with a response.”
Ha ha classic
Another quote from Winnie’s speech: (https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107491740/winston-peters-attacks-simon-bridges-and-national-in-conference-speech)
“Peters said his party was formed in opposition to neoliberalism and trickle-down economics, and it still held that position.
“To quote Clint Eastwood, don’t piddle on me and tell me it’s raining.”
With Labour and the Greens, he had found two parties who agreed with this.”
Is opposition to neoliberalism now coalition policy?
Pretty childish comments from the PM.
You’d expect a bit more gravitas
He’s wearing the Leader of NZ First hat at this Party event, don’t you think?
I 100% agree with you. The acting PM, Peters should have been more direct and called a spade a spade:
If I was calling the shots I’d say fuck the old prick and rule out NZ first.
Tell the voters, you want a centre-right government your only option is to vote National.
2020 could be the first one-party MMP government we’ve had.
Think you are on the wrong platform BM if you seriously want anybody here to vote for National, whatever the faults of the Coalition. Anyway, Winnie said he’d still be around in 25 years time, so National may have a long time to wait!
Winnie said he’d still be around in 25 years time, so National may have a long time to wait!
Good one, the pickled old fuck could be dead tomorrow.
But anyway, look at the way he’s treating Labour/Greens, they’re his bitches, they’re only there to do his bidding.
Why the fuck would National want to sign up to that?
oh deary getting sweary, try being left and you might be merry
mate you are on the wrong side of history – the gnats are useless and si is even worse – what a rabble lol
Yep Winston and NZF definitely dodged a bullet by going into a Coalition with Labour & the Greens.
she just ignores simon – seems to work cos nobody rates him do they?
Its classic Winston, he is currently in Governing mode however come election time he will change over to survive mode.
classic Winston – skewering si that’s for sure – he’ll never come back from that roasting – his whole caucus is laughing behind his back I bet.
National need to Bring Back Don Brash if they want any hope of winning the 2020 Election, time for another Orewa Speech perhaps ?
Brash is a bigoted hate monger imo so most of his speech is vile.
Winston reckons Bridges will be gone burger b4 the 2020 General Election ?
“Winston Peters had harsh words for National, saying the party had become ‘bitter and jealous’.”
National: ‘bitter and jealous’.”
Bitter and jealous.
Kia ora The Am Show the people who got riped off Duncan are the common people for the last nine year’s billion’s flowing up to the % 0.1 .
The young people from Gisborne deserved the win I say the Auction worked out I seen people make no money on some of the other Block episodes Is Mark hung over lol off to Anura Bay you did good with the young one’s kia kaha it is a good show Mark all the best to all the contestants.
simon how does petrol and diesel prices affect electricity prices or rent we know that government’s don’t throw out new revenue stream’s when they first get elected I see a few bitter move’s made by national . I think it’s a good idea to vet our new resident’s so we get people with the same values as us respect all .
I tau toko Andrew Becroft approach to our problem children a local community Marae based care that teaches them morels and there culture.
Sam the League man its been a good season for League .
Kia Kaha Marama you advocate for the people who have lost the most over the last 9 years ka pai Did you know that the mokopuna’s are the ones who suffer when the state cut’s or freezes benefits.
Duncan if Marama had of given you figures you would have attracted her with them do you still need a tisue.
I say the neutral tax plan is a way of re balancing our tax to be more fairer to all.
The tax system’s of the last 150 year’s has been un fair as it is Te tangata whenua who have been TAX THE MOST.
Ka kite ano P.S I back the advocating for councils to bad advertising alcohol in public places.
I don’t believe in luck Duncan its all skills thank’s to my tipuna’s genetic gift’s
Some Music from Eco Maori
Kia ora Newshub I will have to be more care full but I have my reasons for my statements one will have to check my old post to figure that out.
The housing market is going up in provincial Aotearoa and that is opposite to the reality national are trying to paint .
Alfred I think its a little dumb for a brown person to back national when one can see what has happened to a lot of brown people under the bridge I could say more about your reality but I have my morels .
I wonder if our teacher’s have read the book golden goose I hope they got the story line.
The Right whales coming to Aotearoa is a good sign that there populations are the up .
That albino calf was cute.
I have read on the amount of whaling stations we had in Aotearoa there were a lot in the 1800 we had a lot of whales to .
trump will cheat on the Kavanaugh investigation hes a cheat he can’t help himself.
Tesla will be fine there is a new report from the World scientist about human caused climate change I can see it won’t be good for us the lobbyist briber’s money has stop people seeing reality .
Ka kite ano
Kia ora The Crowd Goes Wild James & Mulls you wiped the big smile off Mulls face James we spent a couple of years in Hams
The Golf was good in Europe this weekend E hoa enough said .
T J 50 a congrats E hoa .
The Rosters won the grand final. Eco a Roster so I’m quite happy with that out come.
The Wahine Rugby and League player’s have some good tackles. Yes the Ausses are still trying to get there heads around that subject .
Ka kite ano P.S that’s a good battle wound James
Kia ora I say get rid of the Sugar thats the way to lose weight when one can not afford the expensive fresh vegetables .
I’m not going to pick a favorite bird Eco favors all bird’s this is a good way to promote our bird’s I can here them singing at the minute.
I say that a 4 day week would work for some forestry silver culture keep the van’s full mo to thur 3 days off ad a xtra hour a day for production so you will only lose 4 hours but save a days costs and have happy workers .
Red light cameras will slow down our vehicle accident rate . I say reducing the speed in Auckland central city is a good thing .
I see Massey University is promoting te tangata whenua at its 3 sites the first in Australasia to do this Ka pai
Ka kite ano
Here is another solution to our rivers pollution problem’s .
Our Awa has problems from 150 years ago were our tipuna were scared of unproductive land being taken they clear felled all the trees the whenua slipped into the river now the river floods often this has eroded thousands of acres of good land into the river. The manuka has grown all around the whenua now Ka pai ka kite ano.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/10/01/260029/another-approach-to-our-freshwater-crisis
The Block 2018 was a great season Giss greats won .
I remember the Australian first block they renovated a block of brick 2 story flat’s .
I enjoy watching people renovating building house’s I would be good at it the wife is the artist good with colors well I’m color blind so that’s not my job but I can fix most things don’t give up is Eco Maori moto I won’t say never one has to leave room for negotiation Kia kaha Ka kite ano link below.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/107498406/the-block-ratings-was-season-7-a-success
Here we go some more disturbing fact’s on inequality for tangata whenua health .
Our bowel cancer screening we need a big push to extend maori & Pacific tangata life expectancy up to European New Zealanders .
A lot of us die before we reach retirement age we are dieing way to young for my liking’s .
All that has to happen is early screening and treatment of this cancer ka kite ano.
Link is below .
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/367705/health-officials-under-pressure-for-earlier-bowel-cancer-screening-for-maori
The drug companies have twisted the system to buy drugs in their favour .
Rebate have grown to over $500 million this system will be used by the companies to manipulate Pharmac into buy there old lines of drugs which will not be the best drugs for the people at the best price link is below ka kite ano P.S see how fast these rebates have grown under shonky’s rule
https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2018/10/drug-deals/
There has been a break through for cancer treatment drugs will the browns get access to these drugs well we will be last once again .
There is more information on how these rip off drug companies behave.
One cure to this is to make campany’s charters law so they have to have humane intentions before profits quite simple solution for a lot of Papatuanuku ill’s .
But no the power full company’s won’t let the worlds governments make these change’s link below
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/10/1/17923720/immunotherapy-cancer-cost
Kia ora Newshub the someone has taken over the teacher’s union’s that’s clear for me to see who ever in charge deliberately stiring up a storm in a tea cup.
Does any one else see that there were troubles with the Wellington Bus services now Auckland some one is deliberately interfering with these service’s .
All the other ex prime ministers except shonky stayed out of the media for at least 3 years so why is shonky still hanging around. He has made a lot of money and he is still interfering with our political seen . I heard some one say they are bitter Eco got a sore face.
Tegel mega chicken farm it looks like it was going to be built on flood prone land .
I say that new neighbors should not be aloud to affect the lives of the people in a negative way so good that its been stopped in Kaipara.
That Waikato Ruakura transport hub is huge.
Ka kite ano
Kia ora The Crowd Goes Wild James & Mulls yes it would be cool if they brought the trophy to Tokoroa I smell some thing with Greg .
Its the amazing powers of mans best friend the drug sniffer dog the drug some sport people use will STUFF U up.
Yes James I’m not into all the hiking evolved in hunting all tho it was a 8 hour walk in and 8 out packing a pig and stag in the Matawai between 3 of us I was unfit and stuffed after that hunt
The Irish no how to get the fan’s attention Fury likes the jab
Ka kite ano