“We fight our oppressors, and we get branded terrorists. Ukrainians do the same, and they get applauded for their courage.”
Mohammed Rafik Mhawesh Palestinian writer and journalist, based in Gaza city
…..Thousands of Israelis also took to the streets in Tel Aviv “for Ukraine”. And as they marched with Ukrainian flags at hand and chanted “Free Ukraine”, Palestinian residents of the city watched on speechless. After all, that many Israelis have never taken to the streets in Israel to demand a “Free Palestine” or at least equal rights for Palestinians living under their state’s apartheid regime. To make matters worse, they undoubtedly know that whenever Palestinians try to take to the streets in Israel to say “Free Palestine” and raise their own flag, they face immediate arrest, police brutality, or worse.
The shock experienced by the Palestinian people since the beginning of the war in Ukraine was not caused solely by the hypocritical actions and words of Israeli officials and citizens either.
Since February 24, they also came face to face with the inherent hypocrisy of the global community at large….
….all the Western leaders, media organisations and institutions started to passionately talk about “the illegality of occupations”, “occupied peoples’ right to armed resistance”, “the importance of sovereignty and national autonomy” – arguments and concepts that they never seriously put forward in defence of Palestinian people and their decades-long struggle for freedom.
In this past week, we Palestinians have been shocked time and again, realising that the global community has been gaslighting us for years….
The thing about indulging the above hypocrisy, is that it gives succour and ammunition to the supporters of Russian aggression, debasing Zelensky's address to our parliamentarians by turning it into a partisan farce.
"when the natives start using the language of a conqueror they offer the significant concession of participating in their own cultural extinction. Language regularises and describes reality. Change language you change reality. Change enough language and you’ll even change the way people think, because what do most people think in if not words?"
The framework (which Dennis is actually adopting) is the argument that reality is created and re-defined by language.
This framework has some fundamental limitations (though it is true that people will argue for beliefs that they hold true due to how language is formed), and fundamental physics doesn't even thing that intangibly observing something (e.g not about quantum effects on measurements) changes its nature, let alone the language used to describe it. There was a universe and are physical laws before humans reasoned about these and there will be long after humans have ceased.
Its also not true people think in a particular language (despite Dennis adopting this belief). What people do do often, is to form language to describe the thing they have thought (which they may also be able to do in many languages) which forms an internal monologue. But the idea that their thoughts are actually formed in language falls to many counter points, such as which linguistic properties pertain to precise properties of ideas (e.g there are many grammatically correct phrases which clearly mean non-sense, there are also grammatically incorrect phrases and novel phrases which make valid understandable ideas).
It is about colonised speech and forced speech. People being required to signal their fealty to a homophobic and misogynistic ideology in which most do not actually believe.
“Nats to raise Super to 67” piece on RNZ today included an absolute what the…moment during their interview with Christopher Luxon.
Guyon Espiner employed the classic “ how much is a litre of milk?” tactic. He asked Mr Luxon, NZ National leader, and would be PM, what the weekly payment for a couple on National Superannuation is. Baldrick did not know! despite being asked several times.
Yep, and another vote losing interview from Luxon, this morning on the AM show.
Luxon's bullish certainty on inflation – quickly evaporated into a wild eyed spluttering when it was pointed out that – the spending he had highlighted and wants to cut – would not make a material difference to inflation.
It was even worse than the "milk" question. It wasn't even a "gotcha", an unexpected question. It was a major news headline yesterday. The Retirement Commisioner talked about it yesterday. Luxon was asked about it by reporters yesterday.
It is incredible that Luxon did not then say (to his staff, to himself) "OK, super is in the headlines, tomorrow I have my weekly round of interviews, I know it will come up, so let's make sure I've got the most basic facts right".
Five minutes of homework, and he couldn't be arsed. If Ardern did that she would be torn apart.
There's only one empty little lightweight in that comparison, and it's not the girl.
In those terms it doesn't even pass as National policy. Its a policy National is signaling for 10 to 15 years and it will be adopted, unless the government cancels the age adjustment first.
So its going to make no difference to any budgets till then one way or the other, and that's how much Luxon and National believe in it being either the right thing to do, or a good idea.
Keys National lasted 9 years total in government. The chances of this policy coming into effect, let alone "working", are negligible.
The thing is we need to completely rethink retirement, I've got 2 70 year old work mates one full time one works slide time ,both getting the oldies benefit no doubt.
Also it not good for society or the the people them selves to get to 65 and just stop , fit active oldies still contributing on some level is what's needed.
Get real. Many people do not retire until they expire, it is good for mental health.
Paid or unpaid, people often like to do useful stuff for family or community. The thing is the current system is an impediment. ‘Dole bludger’ one day, heroic pensioner “paid my way” the next.
A basic income for all citizens, administered by IRD is needed to even out the generational conflict which is only going to intensify with the Natzos move from 65 to 67 for Super.
Making super cost less isn't that hard from a technical perspective – increasing the age of eligibility is one option, means testing is another option, reducing the payments is another option, and let's not forget that the Cullen Fund was set up to help offset the growing cost of super in decades ahead.
The difficult part is finding an acceptable option among them rather than increasing taxes or cutting services somewhere else to pay the increasing cost.
Increasing the age of eligibility has varying impacts – some people will be capable of working well past 65/67/whatever age, others are physically unable to work by 60 and we haven't got a good system for that yet.
Kiwisaver wasn't set up specifically to allow for means testing or a reduction in Super (by reducing the acceptable rate from 66-72% of the average wage to something less), but it could lead to that, and its existence will help reduce otherwise increased costs of things like the accommodation supplement. Income testing would deal with people continuing to work, but was very unpopular when we did it in late 1980s and 1990s (the surtax).
Increasing the Super fund faster is probably the most palatable option though.
Well he's burnt the Winston bridge, and his boot camps and bracelets is a kick to the goolies to Seymour; his top tax cut reversal is a bit of a filch from Labour.
Now all he need do is chack a bone to TPM, some Green initiative and he can collect the whole set!
A row has blown up at the International Film Festival of India. One of the invited Judges was an Israeli film maker, Nadav Lapid.
Lapid has a reputation of supporting Palestinian film makers and has decried Israeli government subsidies given to Settler Film companies in the occupied West Bank.
The BJP Party that rules India is an extremist right wing Hindu nationalist movement, with close links to openly fascist groups that publicly call for genocide against Muslims.
Lapid had criticised an Indian film, the 'Kashmir Files' as 'vulga propaganda'. According to other commentators and historians, the film Kahsmir Files distorts the history of the Kashmir conflict and depicts Moslems as murderous savages. Showings of this film in India has led to communal clashes and violence against Muslims.
The Zionist Envoy to India, Naor Gilon has lashed out at Lapid and sided with the BJP. Telling Lapid he should be ashamed and should apologise to the Indian people….
…..Lapid has criticized Israel’s treatment of Palestinians loudly, claiming that “the collective soul of Israel is a diseased soul.” He also signed an open letter, along with 250 other Israeli filmmakers, in opposition to the Shomron Film Fund, which gives subsidies to Israeli residents who produce films in the West Bank and to Jewish settlers who live there.
…..Nadav Lapid, an Israeli director, was criticized harshly by Israel's ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, for labeling "The Kashmir Files" "propaganda" and "vulgar" at the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
You made a real dog’s breakfast with the text you quoted in your comment. This can confuse and mislead people, as it is no longer clear which are your own words & commentary and which is quoted from other sources.
Nobody is expecting ‘perfection’ or ‘flawless’ comments but standards have been slipping here lately and there are a few common culprits responsible for this.
I was in England for a substantial amount of the pertinent time as well – plus in sympathy with my Gay brothers at the time when there was a blanket exclusion – no matter what your actual health status was.
Fanatical Irish may only want blood from Ireland and not the north.
I was glad to see Liz Gunn referred to as a conspiracy theorist
Anti-vax campaigner and conspiracy theorist Liz Gunn has posted a video interview with the couple online, apparently from their room at Starship Hospital.
Though I see that the parents have people who they have assessed as being 'suitable'. As a half way house why cannot Blood Transfusion Services/hospital assess these people and test their blood products…….monitoring for possible exposure to mad cow and CJ disease?
For an op like this they will need access to quite alot of blood products. Can the parents not give their blood through BTS?
I feel these people do not have the best interests of their children at heart, as opposed to furthering their own views much as those who follow religious strictures not to have blood transfusions don't have the children's interests at heart.
They have put their own views or the religion ahead of the health of another human being. This is fine when it is one's own body but when making a decision for another person who is not able to make their own decisions, a different set of moral or ethical reasoning could/should be adopted.
How many parents don't have the best interests of their children at heart?? An exceedingly small number.
These parents agree that the surgery has to take place, so they do have the child's best interests at heart. They also believe their baby should receive blood from a trusted source, rather than blood that may have been affected by a new medical treatment.
You have expanded my comment far wider than my post.
People who place creed or religion above the health of their children are what is the subject here. I place the antivaxxers in the creed part and Seventh day Adventists in the religion part.
What is the new medical treatment? Vaccinations have been around for many years and could hardly be called new or are you referring to the surgical procedure?
Why not a stricture on people who have vaccinations that work using a live attenuated products
e.g. chickenpox, measles, mumps and rubella, rotavirus, and shingles vaccine viruses. The BCG vaccine contains live weakened tuberculosis bacteria.
If I was going to go off half cxxxxd about vaccines these are the ones that 'logic' would tell me were more dangerous than the mRNA ones.
Better example – If one of your kids needed a new kidney, would you go for a random one from the donor bank, or a matching one from within your family?
Even better example…if you had a time critical procedure would you waste days/weeks arguing over whether you have more knowledge than someone who has spent at least a decade of training over your own few hours of Googling?
I think I've heard of them. Were they the ones claiming "safe and effective"? And you won't catch the disease and pass it on if you use our product? You're protected from severe disease too?
I actually can't think of anything I'd want to consult her about nowadays. In the olden days she was a reasonably competent Environmental lawyer. Or to get media input from Liz Gunn.
No, no, no! Kidneys are a bad example because we all know that they filter out the microchips and nanobots in those Covid vaccines. Use brain as an example and see if you can find a matching donor in your family, it shouldn’t be too hard, I reckon.
Were the Bill Gates 'control the world' products contained in the chip or nanobot?
And then there were the magnets. They would play havoc in an operating theatre and I hope BTS have got something that can take them out as well.
I have found that the embarrassment I first encountered with teaspoons leaping from tables in restaurants and attaching themselves to me has waned a little. I was hoping to be able to do some metal detecting but people look at me strangely when I bend over and run my arm along the gutters in search of metal so I've given that up.
When we have quite rightly spent a million bucks on fixing their carpet rat will they reject it because its contaminated. Poor bloody thing, its a hard enough start to life without having to spend the next 20 years with those two dickheads.
He was the chap that former (thank goodness) Labour MPs Clayton Cosgrove and Trevoe Mallard happily addressed as "Tinkerbell" in Parliament when he was Attorney General. Just a merry little jape according to Trevor.
God knows, Mallard really was a dreadful specimen of humanity wasn't he?
The last few days have been a bit too much of a whirl for me to manage a fresh edition each day. It's been that kind of year. Hope you don't mind.I’ve been coming around to thinking that it doesn't really matter if you don't have something to say every ...
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Hi,It’s almost Christmas Day which means it is almost my birthday, where you will find me whimpering in the corner clutching a warm bottle of Baileys.If you’re out of ideas for presents (and truly desperate) then it is possible to gift a full Webworm subscription to a friend (or enemy) ...
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ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...
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Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and , ...
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Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...
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Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...
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Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...
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Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...
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Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...
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I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...
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A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the ...
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...
Kick Back has growing concerns about the impact that denying young people access to shelter is having on the mental health and physical safety of the young people we serve. ...
By Litia Cava, FBC News multimedia journalist Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has revealed how arms and ammunition used to conduct the 1987 military coup were secretly brought into Fiji on board a naval survey ship. Speaking at the commissioning of a new research vessel for the Lands and Mineral ...
Youth advocates are worried tighter rules for emergency housing could lead to someone dying due to the impacts on mental health and physical safety for those denied shelter. ...
“We urge the Health Select Committee to extend the date for submissions,” concluded Rev Bush. “There is too much at stake to leave the outcome of this review only in the hands of politicians or those with vested interests.” ...
A separate passport, citizenship and membership of the United Nations are only available to fully independent nations, Winston Peters' office says. ...
By Emma Andrews, Henare te Ua Māori Journalism Intern at RNZ News The New Zealand fuel company Z Energy is swapping out street names for “correct” kupu on service stops around the country, with the help of local hapū. When Z took over 226 fuel sites from Shell in 2010, ...
Summer reissue: Was it a false measurement, a full-blown conspiracy or just some mild incompetence? Mad Chapman uncovers the truth of Maddi Wesche’s final throw. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Old, Associate Professor, Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Western Sydney University Dmitry Chulov, Shutterstock At this time of year, images of reindeer are everywhere. I’ve had a soft spot for reindeer ever since I was a little girl. Doesn’t everyone? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grozdana Manalo, Career Services Manager (Education), University of Sydney hedgehog94/Shutterstock Getting casual work over summer, or a part-time job that you might continue once your tertiary course starts, can be a great way to get workplace experience and earn some extra ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ty Ferguson, Research associate in exercise, nutrition and activity, University of South Australia Peera_Stockfoto/Shutterstock It’s never been easier to stay connected to work. Even when we’re on leave, our phones and laptops keep us tethered. Many of us promise ourselves we ...
The NZ Media Council upheld the complaint under principle four: comment and fact On 5 September 2024, The Spinoff published a brief article titled Made in Palestine, found in 1970s Hastings, which highlighted an upcoming art exhibition featuring photographs of vintage cosmetic products labelled “Made in Palestine.” The piece, described ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kasey Symons, Lecturer of Communication, Sports Media, Deakin University We are well and truly in cricket season. The Australian men’s cricket team is taking centre stage against India in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series while the Big Bash League is underway, as ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Woods, Lecturer, Nursing, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University FTiare/Shutterstock Summer is here and for many that means going to the beach. You grab your swimmers, beach towel and sunscreen then maybe check the weather forecast. Did you think to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Saman Khalesi, Senior Lecturer and Discipline Lead in Nutrition, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity Australia Dean Clarke/Shutterstock The holiday season can be a time of joy, celebration, and indulgence in delicious foods and meals. However, for many, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ari Mattes, Lecturer in Communications and Media, University of Notre Dame Australia Late Night With The Devil. Maslow Entertainment Marketing is critical to the success of commercial films, and companies will often spend half as much again on top of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Francisco Jose Testa, Lecturer in Earth Sciences (Mineralogy, Petrology & Geochemistry), University of Tasmania The Conversation As a kid, it was tough for me to grasp the massive time scale of Earth’s history. Now, with nearly two decades of experience as ...
Te Pāti Māori has had to adopt a new way of debating, operating and even thinking in Parliament in response to the Government’s “onslaught” against te ao Māori, co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says.In an end-of-year interview with Newsroom, the Te Tai Hauauru MP reflected on how 2024 has differed from her ...
Opinion: The latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science report was announced earlier this month, yet it didn’t get the flurry of media attention and political hand-wringing that typically accompanies these announcements. This might be because it presented good news, or you could argue, no news; the results paint a ...
NewsroomBy Dr Lisa Darragh, Dr Raewyn Eden and Dr David Pomeroy
At long last, The Spinoff shells out for a nut ranking. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today.It recently came to The Spinoff’s attention ...
I was one of hundreds of people who lost my government job this week. Here’s exactly how it played out. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a ...
Summer reissue: One anxiously attentive passenger pays attention to an in-flight safety video, and wonders ‘Why can’t I pick up my own phone?’ The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up ...
Summer reissue: Why do those Lange-Douglas years cast such a long shadow 40 years on? The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today. First published June ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 23 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The Government’s social housing agency has backed out of a billion-dollar infrastructure alliance that would have built about 6000 new homes in Auckland – less than 18 months after signing a five-year extension.Labour says the decision to rip up the contract and sell off existing state houses could lead to ...
An unrelenting faith in “swift transition” has driven Tauranga Whai to their first Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship. At a boisterous Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, the visiting Tokomanawa Queens were blown away 90-71 in the final.Whai led by 20 points at halftime as their urgent movement and unflinching faith in three-point shooting from anywhere ...
ByKoroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor New Zealand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) says impending bad weather for Port Vila is now the most significant post-quake hazard. A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to move into Vanuatu waters, bringing heavy rainfall. Authorities have issued warnings to people ...
Cosmic CatastropheThe year draws to a close.King Luxon has grown tired of the long eveningsListening to the dreary squabbling of his Triumvirate.He strolls up to the top floor of the PalaceTo consult with his Astronomer Royal.The Royal Telescope scans the skies,And King Luxon stares up into the heavensFrom the terrestrial ...
Spinoff editor Mad Chapman and books editor Claire Mabey debate Carl Shuker’s new novel about… an editor. Claire: Hello Mad, you just finished The Royal Free – overall impressions? Mad: Hi Claire, I literally just put the book down and I would have to say my immediate impression is ...
Christmas and its buildup are often lonely, hard and full of unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to make it to Jesus’s birthday and find the little bit of joy we all deserve. Have you found this year relentless? Has the latest Apple update “fucked up your life”? Have you lost two ...
Despite overwhelming public and corporate support, the government has stalled progress on a modern day slavery law. That puts us behind other countries – and makes Christmas a time of tragedy rather than joy, argues Shanti Mathias. Picture the scene on Christmas Day. Everyone replete with nice things to eat, ...
Asia Pacific Report “It looks like Hiroshima. It looks like Germany at the end of World War Two,” says an Israeli-American historian and professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University about the horrifying reality of Gaza. Professor Omer Bartov, has described Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza as an ...
The New Zealand government coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech. The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues. Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” ...
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. This news comes out at the same time as ...
Pacific Media Watch The union for Australian journalists has welcomed the delivery by the federal government of more than $150 million to support the sustainability of public interest journalism over the next four years. Combined with the announcement of the revamped News Bargaining Initiative, this could result in up to ...
In our increasingly connected world the Green Party makes a good point.
On balance the leader of the Palestinians, also being invaded and occupied by a hostile foreign power, should be invited to address our parliament.
“We fight our oppressors, and we get branded terrorists. Ukrainians do the same, and they get applauded for their courage.”
Mohammed Rafik Mhawesh Palestinian writer and journalist, based in Gaza city
The thing about indulging the above hypocrisy, is that it gives succour and ammunition to the supporters of Russian aggression, debasing Zelensky's address to our parliamentarians by turning it into a partisan farce.
Confirming Russia’s supporters worst conspiracies
Finally understanding that the world is a complicated place.
It's not that I don't support the Palestinian cause, but shouldn't we hear both sides of the story.
"when the natives start using the language of a conqueror they offer the significant concession of participating in their own cultural extinction. Language regularises and describes reality. Change language you change reality. Change enough language and you’ll even change the way people think, because what do most people think in if not words?"
https://dennisnoelkavanagh.substack.com/p/slight-of-words-why-the-function?r=72ui0&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post&fbclid=IwAR20oKmHhHN19BUQI5G8D513FjHZ4AMubgSSepn2MOnCSVyC29akSsBkHes
Not sure this is well reasoned.
The framework (which Dennis is actually adopting) is the argument that reality is created and re-defined by language.
This framework has some fundamental limitations (though it is true that people will argue for beliefs that they hold true due to how language is formed), and fundamental physics doesn't even thing that intangibly observing something (e.g not about quantum effects on measurements) changes its nature, let alone the language used to describe it. There was a universe and are physical laws before humans reasoned about these and there will be long after humans have ceased.
Its also not true people think in a particular language (despite Dennis adopting this belief). What people do do often, is to form language to describe the thing they have thought (which they may also be able to do in many languages) which forms an internal monologue. But the idea that their thoughts are actually formed in language falls to many counter points, such as which linguistic properties pertain to precise properties of ideas (e.g there are many grammatically correct phrases which clearly mean non-sense, there are also grammatically incorrect phrases and novel phrases which make valid understandable ideas).
It is about colonised speech and forced speech. People being required to signal their fealty to a homophobic and misogynistic ideology in which most do not actually believe.
“Nats to raise Super to 67” piece on RNZ today included an absolute what the…moment during their interview with Christopher Luxon.
Guyon Espiner employed the classic “ how much is a litre of milk?” tactic. He asked Mr Luxon, NZ National leader, and would be PM, what the weekly payment for a couple on National Superannuation is. Baldrick did not know! despite being asked several times.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018869146/christopher-luxon-commits-to-raising-super-age
Mr “7 pads Luxury Luxon” displayed once again why he is not likely to be a long term NZ National leader, let alone Prime Minister of this country.
Interesting
"waits for the smell of burning rubber from the impending u turn"
Yep, and another vote losing interview from Luxon, this morning on the AM show.
Luxon's bullish certainty on inflation – quickly evaporated into a wild eyed spluttering when it was pointed out that – the spending he had highlighted and wants to cut – would not make a material difference to inflation.
It was even worse than the "milk" question. It wasn't even a "gotcha", an unexpected question. It was a major news headline yesterday. The Retirement Commisioner talked about it yesterday. Luxon was asked about it by reporters yesterday.
It is incredible that Luxon did not then say (to his staff, to himself) "OK, super is in the headlines, tomorrow I have my weekly round of interviews, I know it will come up, so let's make sure I've got the most basic facts right".
Five minutes of homework, and he couldn't be arsed. If Ardern did that she would be torn apart.
There's only one empty little lightweight in that comparison, and it's not the girl.
In those terms it doesn't even pass as National policy. Its a policy National is signaling for 10 to 15 years and it will be adopted, unless the government cancels the age adjustment first.
So its going to make no difference to any budgets till then one way or the other, and that's how much Luxon and National believe in it being either the right thing to do, or a good idea.
Keys National lasted 9 years total in government. The chances of this policy coming into effect, let alone "working", are negligible.
Or it could start next year:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300583039/act-party-alternative-budget-would-raise-super-age-slash-taxes-and-future-spending
Another thing for Luxon to rule out, if the media can be bothered to ask. His answer will be waffle as always, but let's get that on the record.
I don't think people have even begun to grasp what a change of government will mean. It won't be nice Mr Key.
Your saying there will be one very well paid
beneficiaryfigure head whiletheircuckoo partyACT does all the actual policy?The thing is we need to completely rethink retirement, I've got 2 70 year old work mates one full time one works slide time ,both getting the oldies benefit no doubt.
Also it not good for society or the the people them selves to get to 65 and just stop , fit active oldies still contributing on some level is what's needed.
Get real. Many people do not retire until they expire, it is good for mental health.
Paid or unpaid, people often like to do useful stuff for family or community. The thing is the current system is an impediment. ‘Dole bludger’ one day, heroic pensioner “paid my way” the next.
A basic income for all citizens, administered by IRD is needed to even out the generational conflict which is only going to intensify with the Natzos move from 65 to 67 for Super.
Making super cost less isn't that hard from a technical perspective – increasing the age of eligibility is one option, means testing is another option, reducing the payments is another option, and let's not forget that the Cullen Fund was set up to help offset the growing cost of super in decades ahead.
The difficult part is finding an acceptable option among them rather than increasing taxes or cutting services somewhere else to pay the increasing cost.
Increasing the age of eligibility has varying impacts – some people will be capable of working well past 65/67/whatever age, others are physically unable to work by 60 and we haven't got a good system for that yet.
Kiwisaver wasn't set up specifically to allow for means testing or a reduction in Super (by reducing the acceptable rate from 66-72% of the average wage to something less), but it could lead to that, and its existence will help reduce otherwise increased costs of things like the accommodation supplement. Income testing would deal with people continuing to work, but was very unpopular when we did it in late 1980s and 1990s (the surtax).
Increasing the Super fund faster is probably the most palatable option though.
If they earn more than a certain amount per year their super is reduced.
Well he's burnt the Winston bridge, and his boot camps and bracelets is a kick to the goolies to Seymour; his top tax cut reversal is a bit of a filch from Labour.
Now all he need do is chack a bone to TPM, some Green initiative and he can collect the whole set!
Is that this Broad Church thing?
I thought rather it seemed that he’s actively trying to get Winston over the 5% in the polls in the hope that he then takes votes from Labour…
A row has blown up at the International Film Festival of India. One of the invited Judges was an Israeli film maker, Nadav Lapid.
Lapid has a reputation of supporting Palestinian film makers and has decried Israeli government subsidies given to Settler Film companies in the occupied West Bank.
The BJP Party that rules India is an extremist right wing Hindu nationalist movement, with close links to openly fascist groups that publicly call for genocide against Muslims.
Lapid had criticised an Indian film, the 'Kashmir Files' as 'vulga propaganda'. According to other commentators and historians, the film Kahsmir Files distorts the history of the Kashmir conflict and depicts Moslems as murderous savages. Showings of this film in India has led to communal clashes and violence against Muslims.
The Zionist Envoy to India, Naor Gilon has lashed out at Lapid and sided with the BJP. Telling Lapid he should be ashamed and should apologise to the Indian people….
…..Lapid has criticized Israel’s treatment of Palestinians loudly, claiming that “the collective soul of Israel is a diseased soul.” He also signed an open letter, along with 250 other Israeli filmmakers, in opposition to the Shomron Film Fund, which gives subsidies to Israeli residents who produce films in the West Bank and to Jewish settlers who live there.
You made a real dog’s breakfast with the text you quoted in your comment. This can confuse and mislead people, as it is no longer clear which are your own words & commentary and which is quoted from other sources.
Nobody is expecting ‘perfection’ or ‘flawless’ comments but standards have been slipping here lately and there are a few common culprits responsible for this.
I was trying to edit the post and slipped the paragraph I wanted to add into the wrong space and couldn't correct it before the timer ran down.
My apologies.
If one of our kids needs surgery can I stipulate to the doctors that I do not want blood from Catholics or Muslims?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/supporters-gather-as-health-nz-heads-to-court-over-baby-guardianship-after-parents-request-unvaccinated-blood-for-heart-surgery/KARDMXINANC37L2AUB4KIGRYJM/
Or the Irish ! See Blazing Saddles.
Irish,Poms,french with specific timelines are prohibited from supplying blood in NZ,due to mad cow disease.
https://www.nzblood.co.nz/become-a-donor/am-i-eligible/variant-creutzfeldt-jakob-disease-vcjd/
My partner and I – along with other NZers – are included in that cohort.
Have you tried giving blood in New Zealand? If so were you asked about this limitation or was it overlooked?
Lived in England at the time. There'd be a few of my age in the same boat.
I was in England for a substantial amount of the pertinent time as well – plus in sympathy with my Gay brothers at the time when there was a blanket exclusion – no matter what your actual health status was.
I can't I was in the UK in the mid 90s, no sign of mad cow yet but I've meet a few
Most working at the local council I presume.
In Wellington most of the Councillors seem to have the disease.
Symptoms include big idearism,
Mostly the 4 legged variety, although the last boss fitted the category.
Fanatical Irish may only want blood from Ireland and not the north.
I was glad to see Liz Gunn referred to as a conspiracy theorist
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/479764/te-whatu-ora-going-to-court-after-parents-refuse-vaccinated-donor-blood-for-sick-baby-s-surgery
Good to see there are some still versed in the classics, although the young no longer watch TV, ad free Christmas or not..!
The only court hearing that should be held in this case is one against the parents for child abuse/neglect.
Little difference between these extremists than the religious fundamentalists who would rather their child die than receive a blood transfusion
Though I see that the parents have people who they have assessed as being 'suitable'. As a half way house why cannot Blood Transfusion Services/hospital assess these people and test their blood products…….monitoring for possible exposure to mad cow and CJ disease?
For an op like this they will need access to quite alot of blood products. Can the parents not give their blood through BTS?
I feel these people do not have the best interests of their children at heart, as opposed to furthering their own views much as those who follow religious strictures not to have blood transfusions don't have the children's interests at heart.
They have put their own views or the religion ahead of the health of another human being. This is fine when it is one's own body but when making a decision for another person who is not able to make their own decisions, a different set of moral or ethical reasoning could/should be adopted.
How many parents don't have the best interests of their children at heart?? An exceedingly small number.
These parents agree that the surgery has to take place, so they do have the child's best interests at heart. They also believe their baby should receive blood from a trusted source, rather than blood that may have been affected by a new medical treatment.
"rather than blood that (they mistakenly believe) may have been affected by a new (globally-tested) medical treatment."
If they're mistaken, it should be easy to prove that a young baby is not at any risk receiving transfused blood from possible vaccinated donors then?
You have expanded my comment far wider than my post.
People who place creed or religion above the health of their children are what is the subject here. I place the antivaxxers in the creed part and Seventh day Adventists in the religion part.
What is the new medical treatment? Vaccinations have been around for many years and could hardly be called new or are you referring to the surgical procedure?
Why not a stricture on people who have vaccinations that work using a live attenuated products
e.g. chickenpox, measles, mumps and rubella, rotavirus, and shingles vaccine viruses. The BCG vaccine contains live weakened tuberculosis bacteria.
If I was going to go off half cxxxxd about vaccines these are the ones that 'logic' would tell me were more dangerous than the mRNA ones.
Better example – If one of your kids needed a new kidney, would you go for a random one from the donor bank, or a matching one from within your family?
Even better example…if you had a time critical procedure would you waste days/weeks arguing over whether you have more knowledge than someone who has spent at least a decade of training over your own few hours of Googling?
I'd go with the advice from the "new kidney" experts, rather than Sue Grey.
I think I've heard of them. Were they the ones claiming "safe and effective"? And you won't catch the disease and pass it on if you use our product? You're protected from severe disease too?
I actually can't think of anything I'd want to consult her about nowadays. In the olden days she was a reasonably competent Environmental lawyer. Or to get media input from Liz Gunn.
No, no, no! Kidneys are a bad example because we all know that they filter out the microchips and nanobots in those Covid vaccines. Use brain as an example and see if you can find a matching donor in your family, it shouldn’t be too hard, I reckon.
Were the Bill Gates 'control the world' products contained in the chip or nanobot?
And then there were the magnets. They would play havoc in an operating theatre and I hope BTS have got something that can take them out as well.
I have found that the embarrassment I first encountered with teaspoons leaping from tables in restaurants and attaching themselves to me has waned a little. I was hoping to be able to do some metal detecting but people look at me strangely when I bend over and run my arm along the gutters in search of metal so I've given that up.
When we have quite rightly spent a million bucks on fixing their carpet rat will they reject it because its contaminated. Poor bloody thing, its a hard enough start to life without having to spend the next 20 years with those two dickheads.
https://twitter.com/wekatweets/status/1597788947119476736
Thanks weka.
The age old question, Who is watching the watchers?
He was the chap that former (thank goodness) Labour MPs Clayton Cosgrove and Trevoe Mallard happily addressed as "Tinkerbell" in Parliament when he was Attorney General. Just a merry little jape according to Trevor.
God knows, Mallard really was a dreadful specimen of humanity wasn't he?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5781365/Upset-over-Mallard-comment
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[Exactly 2 weeks ago, you received your last warning for disrupting discussion with your diversions (https://thestandard.org.nz/what-happened-to-nationals-policy-machine/#comment-1921468). Since you don’t learn and want to change you now receive an educational ban of 3 weeks – Incognito]
Mod note
Did anyone else notice the Stuff headline earlier this morning. (N.B. appears to have been taken down now as the editor may have thought better).
Words along the lines "Jacinda Adern to meet partying Finnish PM.".
I didn't realise that our papers had sunk to the UK Sun's disgraceful levels. How disrespectful can you get?
"Tabloid size is 27.9 x 43.2 cm or 279 x 432 mm or 11 x 17 inches."
Even though it is just a paper's size.
The word 'Tabloid' has a negative connotation for a reason
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabloid_(newspaper_format)
The army of the rich have an air force
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/28-11-2022/where-and-who-is-getting-buzzed-by-the-eagle-police-helicopter