In effect this place pays no tax because the workers work for free (so no PAYE) and despite being worth $38 million and turning $1.8 million profit last year paid no tax. This is because they are registered as a charity. And then they take $199K from you and me to “educate” their children. That (given that they say the outside world is evil) is really taking the piss.
I dont feel charitable. What are our MPs and the IRD doing to ensure they fulfill their obligations as we must as citizens? What is being done to protect the vulnerable young people from these patriarchal predators?
I look forward to hearing sometime in the near future that there has been a police visit with CYFS and any other necessary social services in accompaniment.
Just as long as this is not left to drag. The more media coverage there is the more edgy the elders will get, and there might be open hostility when the authorities eventually do visit.
You gotta hand it to the PM – he’s a supreme actor. Look how gleeful he was on TV3 News last night telling the MSM that shouting to the world the whereabouts of our troops was not “news”. He’d just made it THE news ! and I bet he’s pushed the ponytail saga off the front page by doing so. Distraction politics at its best !
Your right Jenny, Wag the Dog at its best, thats what they do, just like the supposed letters of milk powder contamination….we didnt get to see those or hear anything else about them…..remember the letters were brought to our attention just prior to the Northland bi-election, but that backfired on them, ha.
My partner thought he looked and sounded embarrassed but was trying to cover it with nonchalance. She didn’t think it worked. Red face… cracking voice…
I thought he had been drinking just a little too much.
Whatever, it was disgraceful, careless behaviour from the ‘leader’ who has sent 143 brave soldiers into unknown dangers and just handed their so called ‘secure’ whereabouts to the enemy on a platter……. and in enemies part of the world!
This apology of a man is fast becoming a real liability for our country and it’s citizens.
Here are some interesting articles all of which indicate the fallout from bad US policies.
1. Corporate money (political donations to members of the Senate Finance Committee) is being used to influence the Fast Track vote on TTPA bypass democracy in US.
shame on them all trying to cover this up and I hope brownlie is called out on this today. criminals the lot of them.
“The Earthquake Commission (EQC) is trying to shut down adverse findings about its top engineer Graeme Robinson to avoid reopening his 2500 Canterbury assessments.
EQC is worried the findings, if allowed to stand, will have “serious and far reaching implications” for itself and other insurers.
Robinson was found negligent and incompetent by a disciplinary committee of the Institution of Professional Engineers last year. It also found he did not act honestly and with objectivity and integrity, and cancelled his registration.
The findings have not been released officially, although it is understood most of the complaints from 11 Canterbury homeonwers have been fully or partly upheld. Robinson did more than 2500 assessments in Canterbury for EQC after September 4, 2010, and the commission now faces demands for all his assessments to be reopened.
Robinson appealed the disciplinary committee decisions at a Chartered Professional Engineers Council (CPEC) hearing in Wellington last week. Although the hearing was closed to the media, EQC asked to observe and make submissions but its request was declined.
If the appeal fails, Robinson can still appeal to the District Court.
In a December 2014 letter to the CPEC chairman Graham Shaw, obtained by The Press, EQC chief executive Ian Simpson asked the council to keep decisions about Robinson confidential until any appeal of the decisions was completed.
The letter also said EQC believed the disciplinary committee findings were not supported by the evidence and failed to “properly understand and consider the role of EQC and Mr Robinson”.
Public demands to reopen all Robinson’s assessments illustrated “the difficulties which the decisions will inevitably cause for EQC if they are allowed to stand”.
I read about your “horsing about” and it made me realise you may be able to help me with some answers I need in a hurry.
You see, a couple of weeks ago I was in this café, meeting up with a mate. It was a beautiful Saturday morning and the place was pumping, with friends hooking up at the end of a hectic week. I couldn’t help noticing a very attractive young woman sitting at a table on the other side of the room. Her hair, her beautiful, lustrous, enticing hair; caught up in a pertly perfect pony tail which flicked and twitched as she nodded and smiled with her companion. Oh! How my fingers itched, just to touch that hair!
“Earth to Micko”, said my friend, “you’re drooling, mate”, and the spell was broken.
Later, I needed the loo, so I got up to go. Without even realising it, I found myself passing directly behind the young woman and couldn’t help myself saying, as I passed behind her, “Your hair looks so enticing” and, just to emphasise the point, I gave her pony tail a little tug. She swung round in her seat, looking to do battle, so I did my “cheeky schoolboy” grin and said, ” Just horsing about.” She continued to stare, but I could tell she was feeling flattered behind the ice-maiden gaze.
On the way back out I had to pass behind her, again. She saw me coming and turned her face towards me, which meant that the pony tail was out of my reach.
“Playing hard to get, are we?” I thought, as I passed, so I waited until I had gone right past her then, when she wasn’t expecting it, reached back in and gave her another little tug. “Ha, Gotcha” I said, flashing her the old million watt smile.
I got back to my table and my friend leaned in close and hissed in my ear, “Hey, Bro! Settle! Can’t you see she doesn’t like it?”
“Nah, she’s lovin’ it”, I said. Well, I could tell she was ‘cos of the way she was still switching that enticing little ponytail, all over the place.
A bit later we got to the stage of arguing over whose turn it was to pay. He held out for a while, insisting it was his turn but eventually, as I knew he would, he gave in and I got up to go and flash the plastic. Can’t have Bill thinking I owe him anything.
On the way back I was taking a look at the young woman’s face when she glanced up and we made eye contact for just a second. She looked away so quickly that I just knew she was being coquettish. Well, inspiration struck, and I went into “Cookie-Bear” monster mode, advancing on her and humming the theme from Jaws. It had just the effect I wanted. She played along beautifully, turning in her chair, so her back was to the wall, and feigning mock horror.
“I’ll still get you”, I thought, as I reached to get my hand between her head and the wall.
Next thing, I’m face down on the floor. My wrist is somewhere between my shoulder blades, there’s a knee in my back, and the end of a ponytail is flicking in my eyes, while the young woman is barking in my ear, “I am a police officer and I’m arresting you for assault”.
So, now my questions for you, John.
Do you think that if I offer this police woman a couple of bottles of nice red wine and explain how I didn’t realise, do you think that might help my case? Or do I risk being done for attempted bribery?
And what about my broken nose? My lawyer says it will go worse for me if I continue to maintain that the bit about me stumbling into the cell door isn’t actually true. He reckons I should just do a brain fade on the issue. Says it works for you. So should I put in a complaint to the IPCC or should I just stay schtum?
He also says that if I was to openly acknowledge my trichophilia, and seek help for it, then the court might be favourably inclined towards leniency. What do you think?
Hoping you can provide me with some answers,
Yours, with much feeling,
Mickomarvel.
I originally posted this on TDB, but don’t want it to disappear so I’m reposting here, slightly edited.
How about you sending it to John Key, all the National MPs, leaders of all parties, Tv1, TV3 and some radio stations too? And may be to NZ Herald or some other publications who might even pay you for the article!
You could try a little honey applied to the bruises to ease the pain, Mick, it’s a lot cheaper than counselling. And if you’ve run out you could get in touch via Farcebook instead of TM, I have a few spare jars. Definitely don’t stay schtum though, you know what happens if you bottle it up. Messy, very messy…
I’m so proud of the Dunedin City Council progressively voting for divesting from investments in oil and guns. It nice to see something positive for a change. The Councillors who voted against the move range from the short sighted and crusty, through the plain bonkers, on to the right wing libertarian.
the council would also no longer invest in tobacco, arms, gambling and pornography, but it was the issue of whether to include fossil fuels which prompted the most vigorous debate.
That debate continues with; Woodhouse against, Turei supportive, while Clark & Curran (the actual electorate MPs, not just MPs resident in the electorate) were either not asked for, or didn’t provide, comment.
Mr Woodhouse said the council’s decision to dump fossil fuels from the city’s $82.5 million Waipori Fund was ”narrow minded idealism” that would cause ”significant harm to the city it purports to serve”.
”This decision sends a strong message that [oil and gas companies] are not welcome in Dunedin…
Mr Woodhouse admitted he had not spoken to anyone in the oil and gas industry about whether divestment would affect a choice on where to base operations…
Mr Woodhouse’s comments also appeared to show he was unaware of his own Government’s policy.
”The Government is a signatory to the United Nation’s Framework Convention on climate change and recently that convention endorsed fossil fuel divestment.”
The council was acting on the wishes of Dunedin people, which had been evidenced clearly through a consultation process last year.
Dunedin based Green Party co leader Metiria Turei said the council had shown ”great leadership” in choosing to divest.
”I’m sure that other councils will be looking at this decision very closely.”
thanks Pasupial, that is so good, but close eh? Congrats to the DCC. It’s a pity that Woodhouse had to make a dork of himself, these people are so on the wrong side of history and will be judged very harshly in years to come.
Hallelujah brothers and you sinful sisters…we God fearing righteous Christians here at Gloriavale must keep the sins of the world at bay! Creatures of Satan, worshippers of Mammon.
Verily did you not hear an evil satanic follower of the false prophet Feminism said unto us that our Christian school should be shut down, that the nearly $200,000 of tainted money we receive from the evil devil infested government should be denied us, for our blessed childrens learning!
Have we not rendered unto Ceasar what is Ceasars? Perhaps not in full, Caesar after all has said that we don’t as a charity owe him a thing, that our Gods mercy in the form of $1.8 million this year we can keep. No taxes to the evil rabble out in the world, no, generous devil Caesar, he blesses us with the additional money to educate our children in the ways of the Lord. Hallelujah.
Now brothers and sisters, the Lords work awaits you, go forth and toil, give your labour to the Lord, no taxes, forth slothful servants. To the greater glory of God and Hopeful Christian…..let’s take from the Devils world what evil tainted Mamman that we can and save it for the Lord (plus Hopefuls legal bills for the next evil accusations of sexual deviancy…) http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/68145084/education-researcher-calls-for-gloriavale-school-to-be-closed
“Further detail on the deployment of troops would not be provided “in accordance with our policy on non-identification of personnel and for reasons of operational security,” Brownlee said.
Prime Minister John Key said the first detachment of New Zealand troops – a “fraction” of the total deployment – would go “soonish” but he would not confirm the date.
He said he would not name the exact date for security reasons, on the advice of the Defence Force.
“They don’t go in one group of 106 people, they go in sub-groups of that.”
Oh… and human rights issues in the Middle East and a claim that Key spotted over 70 NZ products during a visit to a local supermarket…. if his lips are moving… there’s a deal to be made.
SNP will take every seat in Scotland.
Labour will get roughly the same percentage as the Tories: 16-18%
Sturgeon does not need to mention Independence: if every seat in Scotland is an SNP one then seperation has commenced.
This is a bloodless revolution. Where is the party on the 8th May? The results will start around 11am on that Friday morning.
538’s projection shows Lib Dems and Labour are highly likely to each win 1 seat in Scotland. There are two other very-close seats for Labour as well, and the southern-most seat only has SNP a hair ahead of both Conservatives and Labour, and Conservatives winning 2 other seats in the south, although one is only just ahead of the Lib Dems:
Either William Hill or Ladbrooks (can’t remember which one) are only offering odds of 3 – 1 for the SNP winning all 59 seats. As way of comparison, they were offering 1000 – 1 at the time of the last election.
Regardless, I guess their up for far more than their present 6 😉
2. Bill Drees said they will win all seats, to which I pointed out some evidence that they won’t. The wager you are offering has you profit, even if SNP doesn’t win all of the seats. So you’re offering a wager on different terms than the claim that I disputed.
3. 538’s model takes into account a lot of available polling data, as well as demographic information. This makes it more reliable than any single poll, especially polls that are written up by media outlets in order to attract readers.
1. Wine?
2. A counter offer wager?
3. I’ve been watching many polls covering Scotland since the beginning of last year. The pollsters have very solid tested data on which to model due to the IndyRef last year. 95% were enrolled and 85% of them voted.
Many, and particularly Ashcroft, have done extensive polling in individual seats around Scotland. Different polling methods, i.e. Phone, Online, Inteview, are coming up with the same trends and similar results. The “Poll of Polls” that Ashcroft presents uses ComRes, ICM, Ipsos-Mori, Opinium, Populus, Survation, TNS-BMRB and YouGov as well as Ashcroft funded polling.
Though I’ve never heard of “538” they are another one to add to the mix. Thank you for drawing them to our attention.
2. The only wager I would consider is my assertion that SNP will not win 100% of the seats in Scotland.
3. 538 correctly predicted the outcome of all 50 states in the 2012 US presidential election, and 49/50 in 2008, far more accurate than any other prediction. Their UK prediction actually comes from this site: http://electionforecast.co.uk/ which rather than a simple ‘poll of polls’, is a mathematical model of UK voting intention, taking the latest polls into account.
Further interesting on Radionz interview with Brit on coming elections there. It sounds hopeful for Labour et al. And apparently there are enough et al to make it work. And there’s more – Ed is talking, now, about limiting ownership of media, capping it or the like. The Brit said that Murdoch’s papers are having a war of words!
UK election race neck and neck – columnist ( 8′ 16″ )
08:41 With eight days to go until the UK General Election, opposition leader Ed Miliband has made a pitch for the youth vote by visiting actor Russell Brand for what’s being called “a kitchen chat” in the comedian’s multi million pound London flat.
I was reminded by my discussion with Tracey yesterday when I read this article. Seems some people want to wrap themselves in cotton wool and not confront anything that they dislike.
All you have done with that link is show me that you completely missed my point, not only in that thread but for posting as I do on this topic (sexual abuse). Which is fine, I need to try to be clearer in my communication of what I mean so that you don’t go off on a wrong tangent in your understanding of my point of view. I did try hard, but must do better to make my writing more understandable for some people..
It wasn’t neccessarily what you personally stated but a number of other commenters expressed opinions around that subject that reflect the views discussed in that article. One person argued that Rugby promotes violence and therefore should not be promoted. You might like to keep a narrow focus but it is an easy step to demanding massive cultural change to accomodate people’s need to feel “Safe” as per the ridiculous attempts outlined in that article.
Lol
On Planet Key a “conversation with Tracey” includes any conversation that Tracey was even slightly involved with before subsequent statements were made, but a “text conversation with the Prime Minister” does not exist if the person who has the job of being Prime Minister declares he was actively texting but only in a private capacity…
I think Cunliffe, Shearer before him, and Goff before him all genuinely believed that if they were matey enough with people like Hooton and Farrar they’d eventually come onside (or at least go easy on them).
It’s a sad delusion and I’m pleased that Andrew doesn’t appear to suffer from it.
Taika Waititi is returning to the small screen in Brown Eye, a satirical look at the news with a Maori perspective which is starting on Maori Television next month.
[…]
Waititi is a producer on the show with Bailey Mackey. He will appear on the show as Uncle Isaac, giving his insight into subjects such as the Treaty of Waitangi.
Taika Waititi is returning to the small screen in Brown Eye, a satirical look at the news with a Maori perspective which is starting on Maori Television next month.
[…]
Waititi is a producer on the show with Bailey Mackey. He will appear on the show as Uncle Isaac, giving his insight into subjects such as the Treaty of Waitangi.
“You’ll see on the video he walked very slow so there was nothing aggressive about him. He didn’t see the humvee coming, he didn’t hear the humvee coming,” Beatty said. “All he knew was that suddenly he was cut off from the cameras. Then he was grabbed by multiple people in riot gear.”
It’s a video and shows that the police went to a great deal of effort to hide their actions from the camera. I suppose this is what to expect in a police state.
Caught a story at lunch today saying there is a 1,000,000 black men in jail in america and as most of there prisons are working ones it made me think it’s slavery by stealth.
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Vietnamese victory over imperialism and the day the last American military and ‘diplomatic’ forces left Vietnam, scurrying away on their choppers. A day of abject humiliation for Washington, as they had too many choppers and not enough aircraft carriers, so a whole bunch of Hueys had to be pushed off the aircraft carriers and into the sea.
Not quite. They wanted to make room for the many hundreds of Vietnamese who understandably didn’t want to live under a communist dictatorship. Aircraft Carriers aren’t usually designed to take the land based choppers that were being flown.
They didn’t want to leave too many collaborators behind because (1) many of them had paid huge bribes, and (2) it would look bad next time they invaded a country if they were seen to abandon the torturers and black marketeers who had helped them. A bit like what they’ve done with their little helpers in Afghanistan, in fact.
There is absolutely no reason a land based helicopter can’t be accommodated on an aircraft carrier. Many makes have air force and navy versions, usually differing in the alloys used in some parts. There were just too many trying to land.
They left very many “collaborators” behind, to their eternal shame.
And as to the local losers in that tragic war, the suffering goes on.
In the 1990s if you rode a cycle-rickshaw in Ho Chi Minh City there was every chance it was being pedaled by a former South Vietnam military officer. It was the only sort of work permitted them.
Similarly, the various hill tribes lived under cruel and restrictive laws for many years after the war. Probably still do.
And as to the helicopters – you can’t operate an aircraft carrier with the decks covered in other people’s aircraft. The US Navy had no use for Vietnamese helicopters, land-based or not.
“Dame Jenny Shipley says her appointment as the first independent chair of Oravida is an important move for the company as it seeks to expand its presence in China.”
must go specially alongside her chair of the Chinese bank in Auckland and how well she did as chair of Mainzeal.
maybe someone can investigate the more secret chinese holdings she held previously with drapac … how did they get the lab space at the old DSIR in Mt Albert ? Hard to imagine without largesse and her matronage.
I love the way Fonterra is calling milk prices “volatile”. Prices have plummeted.
And the way they blame the fall on overproduction and lack of demand. NZ milk production has gone from 9.8 billion litres to 20.7 billion litres between 1996-2015
Govt inaction on housing keeping rates high
The Government’s failure to rein in the housing crisis means the Reserve Bank Governor cannot lower interest rates despite inflation being at 15-year lows, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson.
“Inflation is below the target band and the economy has actually deflated in the past two quarters, yet we have among the highest interest rates in the developed world.
“As the Reserve Bank has repeatedly pointed out the biggest reason for that is the Government’s refusal to tackle the housing crisis.
“If it wasn’t for skyrocketing housing prices in Auckland and the increased spending that comes off the back of that, there’s no doubt the Governor would be looking to lower rates.
“That would lower our overvalued dollar, make our exporters more competitive, create jobs and boost incomes, as well as lower mortgage costs for stretched families. Not to mention reduce the serious financial stability risk the Reserve Bank Governor is so worried about.
“In his commentary today, it is clear the Governor is very concerned about the impact of a high dollar on our exporters.
“National is failing to build enough houses and refuses to take action on property speculators. That failure is keeping rates high which is hurting businesses, homeowners, and all Kiwis looking to get ahead.
This is all a brilliant angle from Grant Robertson, he is actually showing he is a better Finance Spokesperson than I thought he was going to be, but then he ruins it all with his last paragraph:
“The decision on interest rates is usually seen as a headache for the Reserve Bank Governor. It’s quickly turning into a headache for everyone, thanks to John Key,” says Grant Robertson.
Come on Grant! You have just put forward a reasoned argument for why National should be doing more to tackle the housing issue, then instead of finishing with what Labour plan to do about it, or just leave it as a well reasoned attack on National’s credibility, he has to bring the political battle back to John Key vs Andrew Little rather than National vs Labour!
National use this tactic because john Key has an almost 4:1 preferred Prime Minister advantage over Andrew Little (according to the latest Colmar Brunton poll), so bringing the arguments back to man against man works for them, but the tenuous links back to John Key at the end of this Media Release is one of the reasons Labour is making no traction in the polls, lot’s of complaints about National using personality politics, then try to counter it with personality politics when you don’t have an overly popular person leading the party (only 1/3rd of his own voters want him as PM)!
When the Prime Minister says the movement of New Zealand forces through a foreign country is not newsworthy, that is the surest signal he no longer trusts the media.
If the Prime Minister, the most accountable public servant, no longer trusts the media, his/her days with that title should be numbered.
the photographic and video images of him they have selected today makes it very clear how they all feel about his ‘middle finger’ to them.
oh, surprise surprise, they have all been changed !! But the Herald one of him with stretching jaws wide open stuffing a burger in his mouth was a perfect derogation of the hollow man.
also, stuff had a most unflattering image of him, but no links .. all gone !! funny that.
‘Gather you cynics throughout all the land,
and don ‘t criticise what you can’t understand …. ‘
( with apologies to Mr Bob Zimmerman), but this:
“The Swiss government has a long and widely-respected history of neutrality, and therefore, reports from this government on controversial subjects need to be taken more seriously than other reports from countries that are more strongly influenced by present economic and political constituencies. When one considers that two of the top five largest drug companies in the world have their headquarters in Switzerland, one might assume that this country would have a heavy interest in and bias toward conventional medicine, but such assumptions would be wrong.
In late 2011, the Swiss government’s report on homeopathic medicine represents the most comprehensive evaluation of homeopathic medicine ever written by a government and was just published in book form in English (Bornhoft and Matthiessen, 2011).
This breakthrough report affirmed that homeopathic treatment is both effective and cost-effective and that homeopathic treatment should be reimbursed by Switzerland’s national health insurance program.
The Swiss government’s inquiry into homeopathy and complementary and alternative (CAM) treatments resulted from the high demand and widespread use of alternatives to conventional medicine in Switzerland, not only from consumers but from physicians as well. Approximately half of the Swiss population have used CAM treatments and value them. Further, about half of Swiss physicians consider CAM treatments to be effective. Perhaps most significantly, 85 percent of the Swiss population wants CAM therapies to be a part of their country’s health insurance program.”
There has been many, many, more peaceful protests than violent ones – and still the MSM media won’t discuss the fact some 300 people have been murder by police in the last year. And the overwhelming majority of these people being killed are Black Americans.
I mention that I did a piece honouring Ettie Rout late yesterday which probably will drop out of sight. She was a WW1 war heroine who receved little ackowledgement and lost her position in society and friends resuting in her taking her life. http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-29042015/#comment-1007830
absolutely she deserves a retrospective award … wonderful heroine who saved so many lives from syphilis and other venereal death sentences. thanks for posting, grey.
did you see the fine sam neill doco on maori tv on anzac day .. he gave her an elegant and deserved eulogy.
link for you, and it reminds well of what very good television looks like …
Earlier today, Ingleby, a postdoc at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, posted two excerpts of the anonymous review. “It would probably … be beneficial to find one or two male biologists to work with (or at least obtain internal peer review from, but better yet as active co-authors)” to prevent the manuscript from “drifting too far away from empirical evidence into ideologically biased assumptions,” the reviewer wrote in one portion.
It doesn’t matter how many extensions there are as it’s the length of the wharves that’s the problem. One will still be narrowing the width of the harbour.
“The workers and their union are asking New Zealanders not to eat at McDonald’s on May Day, and if you drive past a picket line, please toot your horn and wave in support.”
Felix Geiringer is so tongue in cheek it’s easy to miss what he really means … he is neither fisi or bob jones … suffice to know he was tweeting the other day that he was very happy to help Amanda Bailey if she needed legal advice or representation ? -)
Oh rawshark-yeshe. I immediately and fully understood that Felix was demonstrating just how absurd the Key supporters position is. (Just in case anyone thought I took him seriously. But Fisi and Jones do sound just like Felix writes.) And being very funny as well. The Geiringer family has a long and noble history of doing the right thing
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Carereport released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced$802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Carereport in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquirypublished its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone iconon the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive:Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloittereport for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’sOliver LewisScoop:Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announcedthe Board of Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Orderimage, ...
Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
Waiting In The Wings:For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSAannounced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
Te Rangi e tu nei (The sky above us) Te Papa e takoto nei (The land beneath us) Tatou katoa te hunga ora (To us all the living) Tena koutou katoa (Greetings) ...
A late change to charter school legislation will cheat educators out of fair pay and negotiating power proving charter schools are just a vehicle to make profit out of our education system. ...
In 2004 te iwi Māori rallied against the Crown’s attempt to confiscate our coastlines and moana with the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This led to the largest hīkoi of a generation and the birth of Te Pāti Māori. 20 years later, history is repeating itself. Today the government has announced ...
It has been five and a half years since the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was established to investigate the abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based institutions. Yesterday, the final report - Whanaketia through pain and trauma, from darkness to light ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. ...
On Friday the International Court of Justice reaffirmed what Palestinian’s have been telling us for decades: that the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands by Israel is illegal and must end immediately. They also called for reparations for Palestinian’s who have lived under Israeli occupation since it began in 1967. ...
Labour calls on the Government to act after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal. ...
The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. ...
Aotearoa could be a country where every child grows up feeling safe, loved and with a sense of belonging in their whānau and community. But for some of our children, this is far from reality. Instead, they are trapped in a maze of intergenerational harm that they can’t escape on ...
Te Pāti Māori are calling for David Seymour to resign as Associate Health Minister in response to his call for Pharmac to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi. “This announcement is just another example of the government’s anti-Tiriti, anti-Māori agenda.” Said Co-leader and spokesperson for health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. “Seymour thinks it ...
The soaring price of renting is driving the rise of inflation in this country - with latest figures from Stats NZ showing rents are up 4.8 per cent on average while annual inflation is at 3.3 per cent. ...
National’s Emissions Reduction Plan will take New Zealand further from the economy we need to ensure the next generation has a stable climate and secure livelihoods. ...
Following consultation with named parties and thorough consideration of privacy interests, the Green Party is in a position to release the Executive Summary of the final report from the independent investigation into Darleen Tana. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon should be asking serious questions of his Minister for Resources Shane Jones now it’s been revealed he misled the public about a dinner with mining companies that he didn’t declare and said wasn’t pre-arranged. ...
Te Pāti Māori have submitted to the Justice Select Committee against the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill. The bill will further entrench racism in our justice system and fails to focus on rehabilitation. “Reinstating Three Strikes will empower a systematically racist system and exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is set to make a determination on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill in the coming weeks. “This legislation will give landlords the power to kick our whānau out onto the street for no reason” said Housing spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “Their solution to the housing ...
“National’s campaign was about tackling crime and the best they can do is a two-year long Ministerial Advisory Group,” Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
“There are more examples of charter schools failing their students than there are success stories. The coalition Government is driving to dismantle our public school system and instead promote a privatised, competitive structure that puts profits before kids,” Jan Tinetti said. ...
“This government is choosing to deliberately mislead and withhold information, keeping our people in the dark about this government’s agenda and the future of our mokopuna,” said co-leader and spokesperson for Health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The call comes after the demand from the Chief Ombudsman that Associate Minister of Health, Casey ...
“Today’s climate announcement by Simon Watts makes clear the National Government is simply paying lip service to meeting its climate change targets,” Megan Woods said. ...
National is choosing to make life harder for workers by taking away the rights our communities have fought hard for. Here's how they’re taking workers backwards. ...
Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views. “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
Tēnā tātou katoa, Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks. “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. At the heart of this report are the ...
For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024. “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane. “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says. “This will be our third visit to ...
Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum. While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation. “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan. “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests. Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone. Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
Last summer when Matairangi burned, Ginny and Tom stood at the window of their lounge, watching kākā shoot skyward from the burning trees. From the distance, they looked to Ginny like pages torn from books and thrown into a bonfire. It was Tom, voice tight, who told her it was ...
Opinion: The Canadian short story writer Alice Munro – winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 – died in May at the age of 92. Her work was about “the damage people inflict on one another in the name of love”, Deborah Treisman wrote in the New Yorker. ...
This month marks two years since the most powerful telescope ever built sent its first pictures back to earth. From its lofty vantage point, beyond the moon in orbit around the sun, the James Webb Space Telescope was tuned to observe the first stars and galaxies being born soon after ...
Comment: After Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ preview several weeks ago, I had some optimism about the Government’s emissions reduction plan. Now I’ve read the discussion document, that hope has been dashed. How can the Government propose a plan that wants to take New Zealand taxpayers’ hard-earned money, and spend ...
Christopher Luxon: hurdles The little man from National jumps hurdles in his sleep. He’s quite good at it in his dreams and even though the reality doesn’t quite match up you have to give him credit for getting up every morning and crashing into the very first hurdle of the ...
Comment: It was a good two hours into the conversation when Tyrone Marks raised the most basic of questions when I first spoke to him in 2017. “They didn’t explain the things they did to me. They never told me why. And they still haven’t. There’s no explanation for it. ...
Madeleine Chapman rounds out Death Week on The Spinoff with a final recommendation. You can read all of our Death Week coverage here. Nothing forces you to reflect on your life and relationships quite like proximity to death. For those whose nearest and dearest have died, there are reasonably obvious ...
Whitney Greene takes us through her life in television, including the TV character she’d like to plan a funeral for and her cow lung catastrophe on The Traitors NZ. “If the phone rings, I have to answer it,” Whitney Greene from The Traitors NZ warns as we begin our My ...
Maddie Ballard reviews the debut essay collection of Pōneke writer Flora Feltham.In ‘The Raw Material’, the longest essay in Flora Feltham’s dazzling debut collection, the author heads out for a run after hours of weaving and sees the world turn to textile. “Pounding along the Parade, I saw the ...
Andy Christiansen, one half of the experimental rock-pop duo TRiPS, shares the tunes inspiring the band’s perfect weekend and new release. “Good speakers, good food, good music, no distractions”: that’s all you need to enjoy the psychedelic stylings of TRiPS, a new band formed by Fly My Pretties’ Barnaby Weir ...
Celebrating our quadrennial opportunity to become experts in a bunch of sports we never normally watch.The games of the XXXIII Olympiad are upon us. Paris will host this year’s showcase of sporting and athletic prowess, which means some late-night and early-morning viewing for us in Aotearoa.But what sports ...
The photograph is striking and beautiful, but also disturbing – a reminder that my love for John was often entangled in shame.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.In the spring of 1980, in Dunedin, shortly before his death, someone took a photograph ...
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Pacific Media Watch A Lebanese photojournalist who was severely wounded during an Israeli air strike in south Lebanon carried the Olympic torch in Paris this week in honour of her peers who have been wounded and killed in the field — especially in Gaza and Lebanon. Christina Assi of Agence ...
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Christopher Luxon has joined with Australia and Canada's leaders in voicing support for US President Joe Biden's ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. ...
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In the regulatory review, ECC intends to suggest that ERO focus on curriculum delivery reviews rather than the Ministry, because it’s not efficient or effective to have two agencies with radically different approaches climbing over each other. ...
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The 2004 Act vested ownership of the foreshore and seabed in the Crown, extinguishing any Māori claims to ownership and causing widespread outrage and protests among Māori communities. ...
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Gloriavale. A place run by a convicted sex offender and his patriarchal mates. Heres what they take from you and me. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/68145084/education-researcher-calls-for-gloriavale-school-to-be-closed
In effect this place pays no tax because the workers work for free (so no PAYE) and despite being worth $38 million and turning $1.8 million profit last year paid no tax. This is because they are registered as a charity. And then they take $199K from you and me to “educate” their children. That (given that they say the outside world is evil) is really taking the piss.
I dont feel charitable. What are our MPs and the IRD doing to ensure they fulfill their obligations as we must as citizens? What is being done to protect the vulnerable young people from these patriarchal predators?
Nothing.
I look forward to hearing sometime in the near future that there has been a police visit with CYFS and any other necessary social services in accompaniment.
Just as long as this is not left to drag. The more media coverage there is the more edgy the elders will get, and there might be open hostility when the authorities eventually do visit.
You gotta hand it to the PM – he’s a supreme actor. Look how gleeful he was on TV3 News last night telling the MSM that shouting to the world the whereabouts of our troops was not “news”. He’d just made it THE news ! and I bet he’s pushed the ponytail saga off the front page by doing so. Distraction politics at its best !
Your right Jenny, Wag the Dog at its best, thats what they do, just like the supposed letters of milk powder contamination….we didnt get to see those or hear anything else about them…..remember the letters were brought to our attention just prior to the Northland bi-election, but that backfired on them, ha.
I call it big noting – a little man on the world stage getting his jollies off – he is not a very insightful person – a hollow man.
My partner thought he looked and sounded embarrassed but was trying to cover it with nonchalance. She didn’t think it worked. Red face… cracking voice…
He always does this. He is desperate to impress those in power so he runs his mouth off.
spot on
I thought he had been drinking just a little too much.
Whatever, it was disgraceful, careless behaviour from the ‘leader’ who has sent 143 brave soldiers into unknown dangers and just handed their so called ‘secure’ whereabouts to the enemy on a platter……. and in enemies part of the world!
This apology of a man is fast becoming a real liability for our country and it’s citizens.
I am so mad at him and his blind followers.
Here are some interesting articles all of which indicate the fallout from bad US policies.
1. Corporate money (political donations to members of the Senate Finance Committee) is being used to influence the Fast Track vote on TTPA bypass democracy in US.
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/04/29/corporate-cash-vs-rest-us-fast-track
2. An example of how US foreign policy created the incentive for a journalist to become a terrorist.
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/04/29/life-death-al-qaeda-spokesman/
3. Yet another report on the rorts of Charter Schools in the US
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/04/29/fraud-waste-and-lies-charter-schools-cheating-communities-out-millions-dollars
shame on them all trying to cover this up and I hope brownlie is called out on this today. criminals the lot of them.
“The Earthquake Commission (EQC) is trying to shut down adverse findings about its top engineer Graeme Robinson to avoid reopening his 2500 Canterbury assessments.
EQC is worried the findings, if allowed to stand, will have “serious and far reaching implications” for itself and other insurers.
Robinson was found negligent and incompetent by a disciplinary committee of the Institution of Professional Engineers last year. It also found he did not act honestly and with objectivity and integrity, and cancelled his registration.
The findings have not been released officially, although it is understood most of the complaints from 11 Canterbury homeonwers have been fully or partly upheld. Robinson did more than 2500 assessments in Canterbury for EQC after September 4, 2010, and the commission now faces demands for all his assessments to be reopened.
Robinson appealed the disciplinary committee decisions at a Chartered Professional Engineers Council (CPEC) hearing in Wellington last week. Although the hearing was closed to the media, EQC asked to observe and make submissions but its request was declined.
If the appeal fails, Robinson can still appeal to the District Court.
In a December 2014 letter to the CPEC chairman Graham Shaw, obtained by The Press, EQC chief executive Ian Simpson asked the council to keep decisions about Robinson confidential until any appeal of the decisions was completed.
The letter also said EQC believed the disciplinary committee findings were not supported by the evidence and failed to “properly understand and consider the role of EQC and Mr Robinson”.
Public demands to reopen all Robinson’s assessments illustrated “the difficulties which the decisions will inevitably cause for EQC if they are allowed to stand”.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/68135509/eqc-fights-adverse-findings-against-its-top-engineer
Dear John,
I read about your “horsing about” and it made me realise you may be able to help me with some answers I need in a hurry.
You see, a couple of weeks ago I was in this café, meeting up with a mate. It was a beautiful Saturday morning and the place was pumping, with friends hooking up at the end of a hectic week. I couldn’t help noticing a very attractive young woman sitting at a table on the other side of the room. Her hair, her beautiful, lustrous, enticing hair; caught up in a pertly perfect pony tail which flicked and twitched as she nodded and smiled with her companion. Oh! How my fingers itched, just to touch that hair!
“Earth to Micko”, said my friend, “you’re drooling, mate”, and the spell was broken.
Later, I needed the loo, so I got up to go. Without even realising it, I found myself passing directly behind the young woman and couldn’t help myself saying, as I passed behind her, “Your hair looks so enticing” and, just to emphasise the point, I gave her pony tail a little tug. She swung round in her seat, looking to do battle, so I did my “cheeky schoolboy” grin and said, ” Just horsing about.” She continued to stare, but I could tell she was feeling flattered behind the ice-maiden gaze.
On the way back out I had to pass behind her, again. She saw me coming and turned her face towards me, which meant that the pony tail was out of my reach.
“Playing hard to get, are we?” I thought, as I passed, so I waited until I had gone right past her then, when she wasn’t expecting it, reached back in and gave her another little tug. “Ha, Gotcha” I said, flashing her the old million watt smile.
I got back to my table and my friend leaned in close and hissed in my ear, “Hey, Bro! Settle! Can’t you see she doesn’t like it?”
“Nah, she’s lovin’ it”, I said. Well, I could tell she was ‘cos of the way she was still switching that enticing little ponytail, all over the place.
A bit later we got to the stage of arguing over whose turn it was to pay. He held out for a while, insisting it was his turn but eventually, as I knew he would, he gave in and I got up to go and flash the plastic. Can’t have Bill thinking I owe him anything.
On the way back I was taking a look at the young woman’s face when she glanced up and we made eye contact for just a second. She looked away so quickly that I just knew she was being coquettish. Well, inspiration struck, and I went into “Cookie-Bear” monster mode, advancing on her and humming the theme from Jaws. It had just the effect I wanted. She played along beautifully, turning in her chair, so her back was to the wall, and feigning mock horror.
“I’ll still get you”, I thought, as I reached to get my hand between her head and the wall.
Next thing, I’m face down on the floor. My wrist is somewhere between my shoulder blades, there’s a knee in my back, and the end of a ponytail is flicking in my eyes, while the young woman is barking in my ear, “I am a police officer and I’m arresting you for assault”.
So, now my questions for you, John.
Do you think that if I offer this police woman a couple of bottles of nice red wine and explain how I didn’t realise, do you think that might help my case? Or do I risk being done for attempted bribery?
And what about my broken nose? My lawyer says it will go worse for me if I continue to maintain that the bit about me stumbling into the cell door isn’t actually true. He reckons I should just do a brain fade on the issue. Says it works for you. So should I put in a complaint to the IPCC or should I just stay schtum?
He also says that if I was to openly acknowledge my trichophilia, and seek help for it, then the court might be favourably inclined towards leniency. What do you think?
Hoping you can provide me with some answers,
Yours, with much feeling,
Mickomarvel.
I originally posted this on TDB, but don’t want it to disappear so I’m reposting here, slightly edited.
Mickomarvel – very funny. Perhaps you can meet up at a cafe to discuss your mutual fascination with ponytails! ?
Mickomarvel, you’re on planet earth remember, not planet key
That needs to go here
https://www.facebook.com/groups/657685857619031/?pnref=lhc
Nice one.
Best ‘Dear John” letter ever written lol .. please ensure you will advise us any reply received from said ‘john’.
How about you sending it to John Key, all the National MPs, leaders of all parties, Tv1, TV3 and some radio stations too? And may be to NZ Herald or some other publications who might even pay you for the article!
You could try a little honey applied to the bruises to ease the pain, Mick, it’s a lot cheaper than counselling. And if you’ve run out you could get in touch via Farcebook instead of TM, I have a few spare jars. Definitely don’t stay schtum though, you know what happens if you bottle it up. Messy, very messy…
I’m so proud of the Dunedin City Council progressively voting for divesting from investments in oil and guns. It nice to see something positive for a change. The Councillors who voted against the move range from the short sighted and crusty, through the plain bonkers, on to the right wing libertarian.
Which way did the vote go?
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/340505/dcc-quitting-its-fossil-fuel-shares
That debate continues with; Woodhouse against, Turei supportive, while Clark & Curran (the actual electorate MPs, not just MPs resident in the electorate) were either not asked for, or didn’t provide, comment.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/340602/dcc-fossil-fuel-divestment-decision-raises-row
Weka
The vote was split 7/7 for/against amongst the councilors, with the mayor casting the deciding vote for divestment.
thanks Pasupial, that is so good, but close eh? Congrats to the DCC. It’s a pity that Woodhouse had to make a dork of himself, these people are so on the wrong side of history and will be judged very harshly in years to come.
I just found the a few links too,
http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2015/04/council-joins-global-movement/
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1405/S00253/dunedin-becomes-first-nz-city-to-divest-from-fossil-fuels.htm
Hallelujah brothers and you sinful sisters…we God fearing righteous Christians here at Gloriavale must keep the sins of the world at bay! Creatures of Satan, worshippers of Mammon.
Verily did you not hear an evil satanic follower of the false prophet Feminism said unto us that our Christian school should be shut down, that the nearly $200,000 of tainted money we receive from the evil devil infested government should be denied us, for our blessed childrens learning!
Have we not rendered unto Ceasar what is Ceasars? Perhaps not in full, Caesar after all has said that we don’t as a charity owe him a thing, that our Gods mercy in the form of $1.8 million this year we can keep. No taxes to the evil rabble out in the world, no, generous devil Caesar, he blesses us with the additional money to educate our children in the ways of the Lord. Hallelujah.
Now brothers and sisters, the Lords work awaits you, go forth and toil, give your labour to the Lord, no taxes, forth slothful servants. To the greater glory of God and Hopeful Christian…..let’s take from the Devils world what evil tainted Mamman that we can and save it for the Lord (plus Hopefuls legal bills for the next evil accusations of sexual deviancy…)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/68145084/education-researcher-calls-for-gloriavale-school-to-be-closed
WTF!!!
Russell Brand and Ed Miliband on the Trews. Guardian link
The full Trews here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDZm9_uKtyo
Just watching it now, good value so far. Miliband is going to be a great PM, I reckon!
“Further detail on the deployment of troops would not be provided “in accordance with our policy on non-identification of personnel and for reasons of operational security,” Brownlee said.
Prime Minister John Key said the first detachment of New Zealand troops – a “fraction” of the total deployment – would go “soonish” but he would not confirm the date.
He said he would not name the exact date for security reasons, on the advice of the Defence Force.
“They don’t go in one group of 106 people, they go in sub-groups of that.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/67756596/first-new-zealand-troops-set-to-deploy-to-iraq
Oh… and human rights issues in the Middle East and a claim that Key spotted over 70 NZ products during a visit to a local supermarket…. if his lips are moving… there’s a deal to be made.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/business/economy/2015/04/27/New-Zealand-ISIS-fighters-prompt-security-talks.html
SNP will take every seat in Scotland.
Labour will get roughly the same percentage as the Tories: 16-18%
Sturgeon does not need to mention Independence: if every seat in Scotland is an SNP one then seperation has commenced.
This is a bloodless revolution. Where is the party on the 8th May? The results will start around 11am on that Friday morning.
538’s projection shows Lib Dems and Labour are highly likely to each win 1 seat in Scotland. There are two other very-close seats for Labour as well, and the southern-most seat only has SNP a hair ahead of both Conservatives and Labour, and Conservatives winning 2 other seats in the south, although one is only just ahead of the Lib Dems:
http://fivethirtyeight.com/interactives/uk-general-election-predictions/
Based solely on these predictions, the chances of SNP winning all seats in Scotland is essentially nil.
Either William Hill or Ladbrooks (can’t remember which one) are only offering odds of 3 – 1 for the SNP winning all 59 seats. As way of comparison, they were offering 1000 – 1 at the time of the last election.
Regardless, I guess their up for far more than their present 6 😉
Are you a betting person Lanthanide?
The Scotsman -Edinburgh: SNP on course to win every Scottish Seat.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/snp-on-course-to-win-every-scottish-seat-1-3757713
The Herald – Glasgow: Poll: SNP could win all 59 Scottish seats in general election.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/scottish-politics/poll-snp-could-win-all-59-scottish-seats-in-general-election.1430300172
The Independent – London: “….as new poll predicts SNP will win all seats north of the border”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/general-election-2015-labours-scottish-leader-predicts-cameron-will-remain-as-pm-as-new-poll-predicts-snp-will-win-all-seats-north-of-the-border-10214211.html
What say I buy you an pint for every non SNP seat and you buy me a pint for every SNP seat over 50?
1. I don’t drink beer.
2. Bill Drees said they will win all seats, to which I pointed out some evidence that they won’t. The wager you are offering has you profit, even if SNP doesn’t win all of the seats. So you’re offering a wager on different terms than the claim that I disputed.
3. 538’s model takes into account a lot of available polling data, as well as demographic information. This makes it more reliable than any single poll, especially polls that are written up by media outlets in order to attract readers.
1. Wine?
2. A counter offer wager?
3. I’ve been watching many polls covering Scotland since the beginning of last year. The pollsters have very solid tested data on which to model due to the IndyRef last year. 95% were enrolled and 85% of them voted.
Many, and particularly Ashcroft, have done extensive polling in individual seats around Scotland. Different polling methods, i.e. Phone, Online, Inteview, are coming up with the same trends and similar results. The “Poll of Polls” that Ashcroft presents uses ComRes, ICM, Ipsos-Mori, Opinium, Populus, Survation, TNS-BMRB and YouGov as well as Ashcroft funded polling.
Though I’ve never heard of “538” they are another one to add to the mix. Thank you for drawing them to our attention.
1. Wine comes in Pints?
2. The only wager I would consider is my assertion that SNP will not win 100% of the seats in Scotland.
3. 538 correctly predicted the outcome of all 50 states in the 2012 US presidential election, and 49/50 in 2008, far more accurate than any other prediction. Their UK prediction actually comes from this site: http://electionforecast.co.uk/ which rather than a simple ‘poll of polls’, is a mathematical model of UK voting intention, taking the latest polls into account.
Further interesting on Radionz interview with Brit on coming elections there. It sounds hopeful for Labour et al. And apparently there are enough et al to make it work. And there’s more – Ed is talking, now, about limiting ownership of media, capping it or the like. The Brit said that Murdoch’s papers are having a war of words!
UK election race neck and neck – columnist ( 8′ 16″ )
08:41 With eight days to go until the UK General Election, opposition leader Ed Miliband has made a pitch for the youth vote by visiting actor Russell Brand for what’s being called “a kitchen chat” in the comedian’s multi million pound London flat.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201752458
I was reminded by my discussion with Tracey yesterday when I read this article. Seems some people want to wrap themselves in cotton wool and not confront anything that they dislike.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/22/opinion/sunday/judith-shulevitz-hiding-from-scary-ideas.html?_r=0
Yes mean the way you refuse to discuss anything you can’t quantify as an economic equation?
All you have done with that link is show me that you completely missed my point, not only in that thread but for posting as I do on this topic (sexual abuse). Which is fine, I need to try to be clearer in my communication of what I mean so that you don’t go off on a wrong tangent in your understanding of my point of view. I did try hard, but must do better to make my writing more understandable for some people..
It wasn’t neccessarily what you personally stated but a number of other commenters expressed opinions around that subject that reflect the views discussed in that article. One person argued that Rugby promotes violence and therefore should not be promoted. You might like to keep a narrow focus but it is an easy step to demanding massive cultural change to accomodate people’s need to feel “Safe” as per the ridiculous attempts outlined in that article.
Then why name me specifically if it was what “other commenters expresed opinions around”?
Sigh, cos asking to be respected requires a “massive” cultural change just so lsome people can feel “safe” … do you ever re-read what you write?
Because the discussion was around a topic you kicked off.
Lol
On Planet Key a “conversation with Tracey” includes any conversation that Tracey was even slightly involved with before subsequent statements were made, but a “text conversation with the Prime Minister” does not exist if the person who has the job of being Prime Minister declares he was actively texting but only in a private capacity…
Starting right now on Nine to Noon, Muslim women’s rights with Mona Eltahawy, Egyptian author of Headscarves and Hymens.
need a laff..?
hooton and little are clawing at each other..
..little has called hooton a ‘total nutbar’…
http://whoar.co.nz/2015/andrew-little-and-matthew-hooton-have-a-twit-spat-little-calls-hooton-a-total-nutbar/
Thems fighting words!
Can’t imagine Cunliffe would’ve said something like that.
I think Cunliffe, Shearer before him, and Goff before him all genuinely believed that if they were matey enough with people like Hooton and Farrar they’d eventually come onside (or at least go easy on them).
It’s a sad delusion and I’m pleased that Andrew doesn’t appear to suffer from it.
and two of them weren’t sure they could oppose some issues with a straight face
Shearer? YES.
Cunliffe? NO.
Māori Television takes the lead, again.
Taika Waititi is returning to the small screen in Brown Eye, a satirical look at the news with a Maori perspective which is starting on Maori Television next month.
[…]
Waititi is a producer on the show with Bailey Mackey. He will appear on the show as Uncle Isaac, giving his insight into subjects such as the Treaty of Waitangi.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11440530
Thanks joe
Something to look forward to on Māori Television.
Taika Waititi is returning to the small screen in Brown Eye, a satirical look at the news with a Maori perspective which is starting on Maori Television next month.
[…]
Waititi is a producer on the show with Bailey Mackey. He will appear on the show as Uncle Isaac, giving his insight into subjects such as the Treaty of Waitangi.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11440530
Baltimore activist ‘kidnapped’ on live TV is in jail despite having hands up ‘the whole time’
It’s a video and shows that the police went to a great deal of effort to hide their actions from the camera. I suppose this is what to expect in a police state.
He was calmly urging others to refrain from violence and to go home peacefully.
Can’t be having that. The only peace that counts is a peace imposed by force and fear.
The KKK is alive and well in the USA. And it wears blue. The Grand Dragons are now ‘Police Commissioners’.
Caught a story at lunch today saying there is a 1,000,000 black men in jail in america and as most of there prisons are working ones it made me think it’s slavery by stealth.
The new Jim Crow.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Jim_Crow
http://newjimcrow.com/about
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Vietnamese victory over imperialism and the day the last American military and ‘diplomatic’ forces left Vietnam, scurrying away on their choppers. A day of abject humiliation for Washington, as they had too many choppers and not enough aircraft carriers, so a whole bunch of Hueys had to be pushed off the aircraft carriers and into the sea.
I’ve written about the Vietnam War, or as the Vietnamese called it, The Great Patriotic War, here: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/29/vietnam-40th-anniversary-of-the-triumph-over-imperialism/
Phil
Not quite. They wanted to make room for the many hundreds of Vietnamese who understandably didn’t want to live under a communist dictatorship. Aircraft Carriers aren’t usually designed to take the land based choppers that were being flown.
http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/312/563/05d.jpg
They didn’t want to leave too many collaborators behind because (1) many of them had paid huge bribes, and (2) it would look bad next time they invaded a country if they were seen to abandon the torturers and black marketeers who had helped them. A bit like what they’ve done with their little helpers in Afghanistan, in fact.
There is absolutely no reason a land based helicopter can’t be accommodated on an aircraft carrier. Many makes have air force and navy versions, usually differing in the alloys used in some parts. There were just too many trying to land.
They left very many “collaborators” behind, to their eternal shame.
And as to the local losers in that tragic war, the suffering goes on.
In the 1990s if you rode a cycle-rickshaw in Ho Chi Minh City there was every chance it was being pedaled by a former South Vietnam military officer. It was the only sort of work permitted them.
Similarly, the various hill tribes lived under cruel and restrictive laws for many years after the war. Probably still do.
And as to the helicopters – you can’t operate an aircraft carrier with the decks covered in other people’s aircraft. The US Navy had no use for Vietnamese helicopters, land-based or not.
Indeed. And it wasn’t a “war” and it was a draw not a loss /sarc
:pokey tongue out face:
Library access to scoop.co.nz denied
Independent of what/who
“Dame Jenny Shipley says her appointment as the first independent chair of Oravida is an important move for the company as it seeks to expand its presence in China.”
must go specially alongside her chair of the Chinese bank in Auckland and how well she did as chair of Mainzeal.
maybe someone can investigate the more secret chinese holdings she held previously with drapac … how did they get the lab space at the old DSIR in Mt Albert ? Hard to imagine without largesse and her matronage.
Shipley would be the ideal candidate to be independent of integrity, accountability, honesty, public service, and ethics.
Engish as NZ traitor: headline says it all.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/68152582/government-offloads-2800-state-houses-to-auckland-development-company
nb: use of the verb “offload’ in the headline.
nb2: English’s action includes givng the developer a $200 million instant line of credit to get them start !
Brian Donnelly has been involved in “developing” state housing for a while now.
http://www.nzsef.org.nz/the-2007-fellowship/brian-donnelly
Thanks for the link Murray. It is well worth a read folks.
It is kind of what the Housing Corporation used to do? Now they rely on direct funding from the public.
But quick. Look over there, people are taking up the grants to buy their own houses… Govt is good for low income folks looking for a home..
I love the way Fonterra is calling milk prices “volatile”. Prices have plummeted.
And the way they blame the fall on overproduction and lack of demand. NZ milk production has gone from 9.8 billion litres to 20.7 billion litres between 1996-2015
Power problem. Fallback failed yet again.
Sneaker fallback worked. May as well take lunch back with me.
When are Labour going to learn!
Press release this morning from Grant Robertson:
Govt inaction on housing keeping rates high
The Government’s failure to rein in the housing crisis means the Reserve Bank Governor cannot lower interest rates despite inflation being at 15-year lows, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson.
“Inflation is below the target band and the economy has actually deflated in the past two quarters, yet we have among the highest interest rates in the developed world.
“As the Reserve Bank has repeatedly pointed out the biggest reason for that is the Government’s refusal to tackle the housing crisis.
“If it wasn’t for skyrocketing housing prices in Auckland and the increased spending that comes off the back of that, there’s no doubt the Governor would be looking to lower rates.
“That would lower our overvalued dollar, make our exporters more competitive, create jobs and boost incomes, as well as lower mortgage costs for stretched families. Not to mention reduce the serious financial stability risk the Reserve Bank Governor is so worried about.
“In his commentary today, it is clear the Governor is very concerned about the impact of a high dollar on our exporters.
“National is failing to build enough houses and refuses to take action on property speculators. That failure is keeping rates high which is hurting businesses, homeowners, and all Kiwis looking to get ahead.
This is all a brilliant angle from Grant Robertson, he is actually showing he is a better Finance Spokesperson than I thought he was going to be, but then he ruins it all with his last paragraph:
“The decision on interest rates is usually seen as a headache for the Reserve Bank Governor. It’s quickly turning into a headache for everyone, thanks to John Key,” says Grant Robertson.
Come on Grant! You have just put forward a reasoned argument for why National should be doing more to tackle the housing issue, then instead of finishing with what Labour plan to do about it, or just leave it as a well reasoned attack on National’s credibility, he has to bring the political battle back to John Key vs Andrew Little rather than National vs Labour!
National use this tactic because john Key has an almost 4:1 preferred Prime Minister advantage over Andrew Little (according to the latest Colmar Brunton poll), so bringing the arguments back to man against man works for them, but the tenuous links back to John Key at the end of this Media Release is one of the reasons Labour is making no traction in the polls, lot’s of complaints about National using personality politics, then try to counter it with personality politics when you don’t have an overly popular person leading the party (only 1/3rd of his own voters want him as PM)!
When the Prime Minister says the movement of New Zealand forces through a foreign country is not newsworthy, that is the surest signal he no longer trusts the media.
If the Prime Minister, the most accountable public servant, no longer trusts the media, his/her days with that title should be numbered.
the photographic and video images of him they have selected today makes it very clear how they all feel about his ‘middle finger’ to them.
oh, surprise surprise, they have all been changed !! But the Herald one of him with stretching jaws wide open stuffing a burger in his mouth was a perfect derogation of the hollow man.
also, stuff had a most unflattering image of him, but no links .. all gone !! funny that.
the ice is thinning under key’s feet.
but this odd choice of image survives on TV3 .. proves my point !
http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/key-troop-deployment-not-newsworthy-2015042911#axzz3Yb448UjV
‘Gather you cynics throughout all the land,
and don ‘t criticise what you can’t understand …. ‘
( with apologies to Mr Bob Zimmerman), but this:
“The Swiss government has a long and widely-respected history of neutrality, and therefore, reports from this government on controversial subjects need to be taken more seriously than other reports from countries that are more strongly influenced by present economic and political constituencies. When one considers that two of the top five largest drug companies in the world have their headquarters in Switzerland, one might assume that this country would have a heavy interest in and bias toward conventional medicine, but such assumptions would be wrong.
In late 2011, the Swiss government’s report on homeopathic medicine represents the most comprehensive evaluation of homeopathic medicine ever written by a government and was just published in book form in English (Bornhoft and Matthiessen, 2011).
This breakthrough report affirmed that homeopathic treatment is both effective and cost-effective and that homeopathic treatment should be reimbursed by Switzerland’s national health insurance program.
The Swiss government’s inquiry into homeopathy and complementary and alternative (CAM) treatments resulted from the high demand and widespread use of alternatives to conventional medicine in Switzerland, not only from consumers but from physicians as well. Approximately half of the Swiss population have used CAM treatments and value them. Further, about half of Swiss physicians consider CAM treatments to be effective. Perhaps most significantly, 85 percent of the Swiss population wants CAM therapies to be a part of their country’s health insurance program.”
Full article here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-ullman/homeopathic-medicine-_b_1258607.html
“For the times, they are a changin’ ” …
Well worth watching – Good work by the activist. Great media work.
Also good analysis from the folks from Young Turks.
https://twitter.com/deray
https://twitter.com/ShaunKing
#baltimoreuprising
There has been many, many, more peaceful protests than violent ones – and still the MSM media won’t discuss the fact some 300 people have been murder by police in the last year. And the overwhelming majority of these people being killed are Black Americans.
Lest we forget – Freddie Gray.
In four months 386 people have been killed by police.
http://www.killedbypolice.net/
https://www.facebook.com/KilledByPolice?fref=nf
Maybe it was 300 people since the start of the year, was the quote I heard.
That said, any figure over 0 is a tragedy. 300+ is morally bankrupt, corrupt system that is failing.
I mention that I did a piece honouring Ettie Rout late yesterday which probably will drop out of sight. She was a WW1 war heroine who receved little ackowledgement and lost her position in society and friends resuting in her taking her life.
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-29042015/#comment-1007830
absolutely she deserves a retrospective award … wonderful heroine who saved so many lives from syphilis and other venereal death sentences. thanks for posting, grey.
did you see the fine sam neill doco on maori tv on anzac day .. he gave her an elegant and deserved eulogy.
link for you, and it reminds well of what very good television looks like …
https://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/anzac-2015/S01E001/anzac-2015-anzac-tides-blood
Thanks for thinking of that r-yeshe. I haven’t got tv at moment but should get set up for Maori TV.
you can watch online if you have a computer … just use the same link …
Updated: Sexist peer review elicits furious Twitter response, PLOS apology
Bold mine and all I can say to that is: WTF???
wow
comments are an interesting read (plus that video, lolz).
Can’t say I’m too surprised. Women talking about gender, how could they not be biased 😉
Is Len Brown a corporate stooge or is it just that he’s overly thick and mendacious ?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11441189
A bit of both?
It doesn’t matter how many extensions there are as it’s the length of the wharves that’s the problem. One will still be narrowing the width of the harbour.
@Draco..yes pretty much.
They say we get the leaders we deserve… not sure what we did to deserve our current local and government leaders.
Boycott McDonald’s Tomorrow : May 1 :
“The workers and their union are asking New Zealanders not to eat at McDonald’s on May Day, and if you drive past a picket line, please toot your horn and wave in support.”
See more at:
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/04/30/guest-blog-anonymous-mcdonalds-worker-old-mcdonalds-had-a-strike/#sthash.cBVnfPll.dpuf
I’m glad to say that will be very easy for me…never eaten there and never intend to do so.
“Louise Upston spouts meaningless waffle when she talks about women’s issues.”
Dita de BonI writes:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11440715
Felix Geiringer: “Will ‘bit of fun’ end up like pate polishing? “A very funny look at the Hair Pulling Brigade. Sounds just like Fisi or Bob Jones.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11440603
(Funny thing is that to click on the agree hand the vote evaporates when reloading page.)
Felix Geiringer is so tongue in cheek it’s easy to miss what he really means … he is neither fisi or bob jones … suffice to know he was tweeting the other day that he was very happy to help Amanda Bailey if she needed legal advice or representation ? -)
Oh rawshark-yeshe. I immediately and fully understood that Felix was demonstrating just how absurd the Key supporters position is. (Just in case anyone thought I took him seriously. But Fisi and Jones do sound just like Felix writes.) And being very funny as well. The Geiringer family has a long and noble history of doing the right thing
it was the fisi reference that had me fooled ! no insult to you intended ianmac!