And nevermind that the examples given in the article are of of social liberalism (anti-guns, pro-gay, anti-war, pro-divorce, anti-racist, ‘peaceful conflict resolution’, rather than actual radical left class-based policies). Pretty much all the examples given are more centrist, based in notions of individual civil rights. No mention of income inequalities, collectivist politics…. And many are ones embraced by some neoliberals.
They’re also a bunch of socialists, making a buck by pandering to whatever the masses will fork out for never crosses their minds. Commercialism is an antonym of Hollywood.
No doubt he will run a principled campaign before falling on his sword and ceding the seat to ACT. He will of course be rewarded for his loyalty to the right wing cause and I doubt that anyone one else will bother seeking the nomination it being the poisoned chalice that it is.
It is a plan so cunning you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel …
So cunning he will probably end up pinning a deer tail on his own arse and running through the bush during hunting season.
Whispers behind closed doors, playing people against each other without their knowing, deception and lies, saying one thing when there is another in play. I imagine all of this goes on in this duplicitous world of politics.
And people hassle travellerev about conspiracies.
Conspiracies are the bread and butter of sections of the planet.
I thought that in light of John Key’s support for the Zionist cause it would be prudent to place a link to an interview with one of my heroes Rabbi Weitz who calls the state of Israel the work of Satan and who prays for the speedy dissolve of the state of Israel and a return to the peaceful cohabitation of Muslims, Jews and Christians which until 1948 the start of the Nakba was the norm. He and his fellow Interviewees have a few things to say about Anti-Semitism too.
John D,
You should really go back to the library and start reading up on history.
On a personal note I have lived all my life amongst a great variety of Muslims (Moroccan, Tunisian, Turkish, Iraqi, Iranian, Kurd, Egyptian to name a few) and never ever over a period of more than 30 years have I ever encountered a shred of animosity towards Christians, Jews or other religions until after the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq and even then it was few and far between.
My mother travelled alone through Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan and had no problem whatsoever with the people she met. She was respected, invited, fêted, cherished and aided in her journey to India where she met up with her husband who was working for the WHO at the time. And that was the norm for their behaviour towards women at the time.
Ahmadinajad has very cordial relations with the Jews living in Iran (he donates to the Jewish hospital for example) as well as many Jewish organisations in Europe and the US. Here is what he really said about Israel before it was twisted in the MSM.
If you had any idea how ignorant and racist your comment was I’d hope you would hang your head in shame.
Come to think of it I’m not surprised really that while you expect Muslims to “integrate” into the Western world because of the cultural mayhem which would ensue if they didn’t you find it totally acceptable for Westerns not to do the same because “Our” civilisation is “Superior” to “theirs” (Fill in the people we are currently or in the past “saving” from their own “inferior” culture). Your ancestors after all “civilized” New Zealand.
Yes you are correct. I do regard our culture as superior to theirs.
We have equal opportunities (or try to) for women. We have gay rights. We have..etc etc.
Islam is locked in the 7th century. They take the words of the Koran literally. Any discussion of it is taboo.
You sad sack of shit. At least we’ve established that you are a racist. So now for the reality check.
No 1/ Iran. Over 50% of all students are female. On some universities % 70 % of all students are female. What do they study? Applied Physics seems to score high on their list of preffered studies. Not beautician, fashion design or other nampy pampy studies preferred by females in this country but serious Beta studies traditionally the territory of the Pakeha male if he gets around to actually going to an university. Why do they do these studies? Because unhindered by the macho crap of the thicko NZ male they are actually valued workers in the Iranian industry and their input is greatly valued.
No2/ Before the coalition of the killing destroyed Iraq over 50% of the workforce was female. They were doctors, judges and lawyers and they were free to build careers most women in this country can only dream off. Why? Because Healthcare (1800 free healthcare centres reduced to less than half) , Education and daycare for children was free. Women could walk the streets 24/7 safe and sound as they were considered equal to men before the invasion (One of Sadam’s idiocyncracies) You asswipe. Our “superior” culture destroyed that with 4.5 billion years worth of Depleted Uranium and the biggest most imperial army this world has ever seen. The result? Women are wearing the veil again, Religious groups are fighting each other again and poverty and mortality has gone through the roof as all their free institutions have been privatized and cut back by their “imperial” rulers.
No3/ At this moment we are bombing Libya. We are liberating them with humanitarian kinetic military action. (Also known as bombing the shit out of them). Libya was a country with the lowest debt, free healthcare, free education and a guaranteed basic income for everybody as a result of Gaddafi’s financial politics of returning the oil revenues over to his people. He did not believe in the central banking system and as a result his country had no international debts and that is what the international money men didn’t like. that is why we are bombing the shit out of them.
Our “superior” culture is the most barbaric, imperialistic and ignorant culture on the face of this planet. You Moron. Not them. Us.
Here is what Ayla Anwar has to say about imbeciles like you and what they have done to her country:
Iraq has become a disaster area, a health hazard…the levels of toxicity and pollution are so high, none are allowed to measure.
The new Iraq is the Democracy of toxicity and contamination…it is the new democracy where you wish for a quick easy bullet instead of a long agonizing tumor.
OK so you hate Arabs, many of you do. I never really understood where your inferiority complex came from…must be the language barrier, like the radical language barrier…
Oh how I saw you gloat, and you’ve been gloating for 8 years now, gleefully, nastily, slyly, you gloated….and you mocked…you mocked with your airs of intellectual knowledge…what knowledge you garbage, you have no knowledge…you are a self seeking, self promoting, sensationalists third grade columnists, writers, bloggers, activists, and the rest…
You miserable ignorant bastard. You miserable white middle class, male Pakeha ignoramus. “Shame on you, shame on you” and the whole arrogant lot of you who think that you just because you’re white and have a dick have superior civilisation.
I am white and middle class yet I applaud everything you have just said. (Well save for the ad hominem attacks perhaps). I too was once uninformed but my eyes have been opened and my only hope is that more people stop believing the fallacies that we are exposed to on a daily basis. It is certainly not an enjoyable journey going down the rabbit hole – downright scary in fact, but it most certainly is enlightening. I truly hope the world and more importantly NZ, becomes a better place as people wake up to what is truly going on.
Good to meet a fellow traveller.
I get so angry with guys like him I loose my cool but if you see the amount f interaction between us you will also see it took awhile before I got there.
You miserable ignorant bastard. You miserable white middle class, male Pakeha ignoramus. “Shame on you, shame on you” and the whole arrogant lot of you who think that you just because you’re white and have a dick have superior civilisation
This fucked up comment gets past moderation?
You sad, fucked up, left-wing, Islamofacist-apologist
[and from here it goes pretty crazy. Some really foul language. John D, you can disagree with ev, a lot of people do, you can make moderate use of strong language and say things that might offend within reason, but you can’t go nuts like that]
[lprent: Please label the moderation with who left it.
I think that John D still hasn’t read (or more likely understood) the policy on robust discusion vs pointless insults ]
Islam is locked in the 7th century. They take the words of the Koran literally. Any discussion of it is taboo.
Hmmmm. Given that middle east investors are now cornerstone shareholders of key US tech and banking corporations, i think that your characterisation is simply asinine, just like you are.
Hell, if we were as good as Islam in the 7th century we’d all be a hell of a lot better off. Equal treatment of everybody including the environment, massive research bringing about technology to help people, democracy that makes ancient Athens look dictatorial…
Sure, it fell to the authoritarians as almost all civilisations have but they do seem to be working their way back. As for us? Well, we’ve always been dictatorial, sexist, war-like and generally oppressive. To justify all this psychopathy we’ve built up the illusion that we were better, fairer and more civilised. When we came across a civilisation that actually was better, fairer and more civilised we attacked with extreme prejudice. Still do today.
Very true. Amazing female theologians at the time too. A true liberation theology, which is by the way how a lot of people still see it. It being the fastest growing religion in third world countries.
The John D’s of this world are going to get it very hard at the rate it’s going
I have a friend who was living in Dubai recently. He was living with his girlfriend (engaged).
Stopped by a routine traffic patrol, the cop asked to see their papers, and it was seen that they were living together.
This is illegal in Dubai.
The woman was instantly deported. The man was jailed for three months, then lashed, then deported.
Whilst in jail, the man met an Indian who had been in a minor traffic accident 30 years previously. Because he was involved in an accident with an Arab, it was deemed to be his fault.
Because he didn’t have the “blood money” to pay the Arab out, he languished in jail for 30 years.
I have also seen the appalling conditions that Indian workers have to endure in Dubai. Many are killed in construction accidents, and this never gets reported.
I have lots of friends of many races. I certainly don’t consider myself “racist” by any stretch of the imagination.
I do, however, find regimes (such as Iran) that tolerate stoning of women and executions of homosexuals to be unacceptable.
I know that there are tolerant parts of Arabia (such as Syria). I don’t know about Iraq, I didn’t support the war there, and since I haven’t been there I can’t really comment.
Your statement that “I admit that I am racist and I hate Arabs” is completely unsupported by my comments above.
That’s OK, We’ll bomb the shit out of them and that will sort that.
If it’s OK with you John I’m going to stop this for now because it just doesn’t go anywhere and if you can’t see that what you describe doesn’t in anyway justify the war crimes we perpetrate on the Afghans, Pakistanis, Iraqis and Libyans then that still makes you a racist sad sack of shit. Have a nice day.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner)
It seems OK for travellerev to call me a racist, a “sack of shit”, and for people to swear at me. OK, I did lose my rag last night, for which I apologise.
I don’t approve of the military intervention in the Middle East. It’s all about power and oil, and the same is being played out in Libya.
What I object to is this political correctness that forbids any criticism of Islamic fundamentalism. (I am equally critical of Christian fundamentalism and the Bible Belt, btw)
We are not going to get anywhere unless we acknowledge that there are issues to be dealt with on all sides.
Adam Kokesh is another one of my heroes. He is an Iraq veteran and one of the first veterans to speak out against the wars as illegal wars of aggression with the winter soldier protests.
He and his fellow soldiers went to Iraq and Afghanistan in the aftermath of the events of 911 in order to defend their country against the “terrorists” and to protest their freedoms only to come back to a country in which even dancing in a public space was forbidden. Here is what happened when he in his new position as a reporter and presenter at RT (Russian TV) participated in a flash dance event at the Lincoln memorial.
And this is what he had to say about it in his first interview after the event.
Excellent. There is no doubt in my mind that it is time for the moneylenders to take a back seat. They are loans after all, with a risk of default, hence various interest rates. The Greek, and other, people need to say to the moneylenders “fuck off and wait”. They need to say “we need our money for ourselves first, and once that is in order we will get your money back to you then (at zero interest)”.
Such action may well send shockwaves, which will shudder when they hit, as shockwaves do. But after that we will all just keep on keeping on.
Time for the moneylenders of the world to back off.
It is staggering to me that a guy who seems to be aware about the MSM partial blindness to certain issues is so blind to the obvious propaganda the MSM is espousing about Muslims and Arabs, Persians, Pashtuns and Semites other than Jews.
Racist because most Muslims are brown people with funny names, eating funny food and it is easy to believe whatever anybody tells you about them.
Most Europeans hated Jews for a long time and many of them still do. Just because they live in Europe doesn’t make your friends any less prejudiced, racist and ignorant.
Neither do I but I do defend the right of people to defend themselves against invasions of their territory and illegal wars of aggression and conquest by the international robber barons. See here, here and here for example
Let me ask you a question: If this country had been invaded say 10 years ago by the Iraqis and you had family living in Iraq al that time would you expect you family in Iraq to be angry with the government and the people invading your country? Or would you expect them to shut up and take it up the backside while you are being killed in your own country?
Because you see that is what is happening. Afghanis and Pakistanis and Muslims from all over the Muslim world living in the UK are hearing back from their families in the invaded countries how their families are being bombed by drones and killed with Depleted Uranium and they are angry.
Just like, I imagine, your family would be if they heard you and yours were bombed to smithereens by the war crimes of the country they are living in and just like your family they don’t want to bend over and take it lying down.
If the people who invaded my country replaced a brutal undemocratic regime and offered me the opportunity to partake in the decision making of my country via a democratic process, I think I would take the opportunity to enagage rather than to spend my time fighting the ‘evil oppressors’.
Are you stating you would prefer senseless killing rather than positive non violent opposition and engagement?
Just so you don’t think I’m ignoring you here’s a link about what an Arab woman thinks of the Western occupation of her country.
And if it’s OK with you I’ll leave my interaction with you at that. You are so young so ignorant and so full of yourself still that I prefer to wait for say a couple of decennia to let time and a few female rejections to mellow you out and perhaps by then you could get some sensible clothes instead of that ludicrous cowboy hat and coat you were wearing in the te Papa museum last year.
It was Sarcasm J, Sarcasm, I thought of actually pointing it out at the time but I thought you were smarter than that. No i don’t want to introduce these punishments in New Zealand although a few Act members would probably love too.
But why would a Muslim living in England from say Pakistan whose family was bombed to smithereens by the invading forces illegally bombing villages with unmanned drones not be entitled to protest against these monstrosities perpetrated against his countryman or expect foreigners in his country integrate just like you expect them to so the same.
You see it is this apparent discrepancy in your willingness to accept that what is good for the goose is good for the gander that is the racism you suffer from.
You see
How did these people hear about their families being bombed to smithereens?
Was it was when they were being delivered an anti-west hate sermon at the East London Mosque, or was it on one of their recent trips to Pakistan, to attend Al Qaeda training?
Regardless of who most Muslims are doesn’t mean that having a dislike for Muslim theology is racist. I can have serious concerns over Christian theology and it doesn’t mean I’m anti-European.
I support Muslims who accept and integrate into the culture of their host country. When you have ghettos of disenfranchised youths, as are springing up all over Europe now, you are on the path to cultural and societal oblivion.
Me too, and while we’re at it I think that any foreigner in any country should adapt to the existing culture and integrate and so if as a foreigner you are caught adulterating in a Muslim country and stoning is the accepted punishment he or she should accept that punishment and if drinking is not allowed and women should not drive cars than it speaks for itself that we should not commit to those vices and trespasses.
We, like we expect, from immigrants from other cultures would not want to destroy other peoples cultures like we would expect them to respect ours, now would we.
Beheadings for sabotage of our economic sovereignty and selling off state treasures for the personal gain of friends and family would seem entirely appropriate.
Beheadings for sabotage of our economic sovereignty and selling off state treasures for the personal gain of friends and family would seem entirely appropriate.
Cool. Maybe we can start a campaign?
I’d definitely be into this.
“A Beehive Beheading”. I’m sure it would get better ratings than “Citizen A”
They need to say “we need our money for ourselves first, and once that is in order we will get your money back to you then (at zero interest)”.
Nope, they just need to tell them to fuck off and then remind them that when you loan someone money that you’re taking a risk that you won’t get it back and that the risk just came due.
The economy would be fine. Run a little slower but it’d still be there.
Consider, with Peak Oil now confirmed which means growth is out, how do you think we’re going to pay the debt anyway? Especially when you consider it’s compounding aspect due to interest.
Anyone know what food pukeko’s might eat? There’s a bunch of them wandering around near my work. Would be nice to drop something off by the roadside on my way in. Dripping, like wax-eyes?
I only recently found out why Pukekos frequent motorway verges and often become road kill. Apparently they eat small stones and gravel from the roadside to help digest their diet of ‘juicy lovely grass and other vege’. Your Pukes, Lanthanide my have a bit of indigestion and are looking for some gravelly relief!
Another brilliant refreshing article from Tapu Misa. This time it is a John Key: “that’s after claiming 6000 people would be put out of their jobs as a result of such a rise, and that the Department of Labour had said so – which wasn’t quite true.” (Who would have guessed?) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10728872
OK, one last hero for today: Cynthia McKinny. Black, female, leader of the Green party in the US and former Congress women known for confronting Rumsfeld about the lost trillions at the Pentagon.
She is in Tripoli, Libya this moment to share with the Libyans the “kinetic humanitarian events” perpetrated on the more than 2 million civilians of that city.
This is what she has to say about the murders of Gaddafi’s family members.
First interview on radionz today is about Christchurch contractors not getting paid. Few things if I remember rightly –
1 The EQC call centre is in Queensland.
2 One contractor has been waiting for a payment of $54,000 since September earthquake for replacing windows in an apartment block which required cherry pickers, expensive machinery.
He says that he has never been contacted from EQC, but that is surprising. Perhaps he is talking about recent months. He has made numerous calls to Oz and feels he is starting to pick up the Aussie twang. He says he only gets patsy answers.
3 EQC couldn’t come on to programme but stated as previously that they pay within 21 days if GST number is right and the invoice shows costs apportioned properly as to time and materials.
The contractors feel that the EQC is understaffed and this in itself results in delays and inefficiencies apart from any faults in EQC practices.
4 The above contractor has got in touch with Gerry the Butt but but couldn’t get an answer till he sent his email in bold red letters. Pity that even with his Powers he seems to be gerrybuilt when he should be using them to assist EQC to get more staff to deal with the unchecked details that result in the no-payment which is stifling the recovery.
5 Unpaid workers have been continuing going to work, crawling inside and on top of roofs of unstable buildings doing practical and helpful work which is unsafe in itself, so that safety can be provided for the occupants and surrounds, but have not been paid sometimes for a month because of lack of payment to their employers from the EQC.
6 The red zone contractors are thought to be getting paid all right. Gerry the Butt always does seem to have been more interested in the centre of Christchurch and its businesses rather than the rest of the struggling public. They are SEP, too miniscule for the great men at the forefront of the Christchurch earthquake management to give their immediate attention, ‘Just wait till we are ready to attend to you’ is their message.
Hopefully Roger Sutton will sort it out once he’s on board. It certainly seems like an early impediment to a fast effective recovery if you lose the goodwill from many of the people who’ll be doing the heavy lifting for the next 2-3 years.
He does seem to have a magical ability to make ‘things’ happen, although exactly what it is seems to be a sticking point – recovery of Pike River victims comes to mind (“cost is no barrier”). He also seems to usually get involved too late – where were you 3 months ago on this issue, Key? Or last December?
My adult son had his flat redstickered. He put in his itemised claim for a modest contents insurance claim on the 24 February. No response. No payout to help him get started again. So not only the big players unpaid but the little ones also.
hey it looks like the gunnas are in control at the moment. wee gunna do this and we gunna do that but somehow al they do is get their makeup done for the next piccie in the dompost social pages.
Thanks Bunji… Murray McCully treating NZAID as a business model, to support economic development (and use aid to profit NZ) rather than the poor. Excellent article by Terence Wood deconstructing this ideology of aid distribution.
“However, it is worth stressing that a projected 65 seats is not bulletproof. The House is forecast to have 123 MPs, so you will need 62 to govern. On the plus side ACT and United Future look like they can deliver a further four seats. On the negative side, there is the possibility NZ First makes 5%.”
Since when do independent commentators in a national daily use words like – “on the plus side ” and “On the negative side” – in the context of a balanced report. The plus and negative from whose point of view, Farrar? You are not talking to the blue rinse brigade only. (Obviously, from now on you probably will be).
At least Granny now have a weird apologia at the foot of the page:
“David Farrar is affiliated to the National Party and is a centre right blogger.”
Affiliated? Are National a gang? Will Farrar be able to go to Whangaz wearing his colours?
If you call destroying livelihoods via derivative trading “theft”, they’re probably worse than the stereotypical “gang”
count amongst their most valued members an ‘elite’ 1% of the population
some of them seem to regard themselves outside the law
use of front organisations and/or “affiliates” (e.g. the penguin, Brethren)
Points against:
violence is not usually used – that’s what their economic policies are for
[lprent: Are you trying to get those dumbarses from the anti-terrorism squads watching this site? Based on their reaction to the idea of catapulting objects I get the idea that they have no sense of proportion or a sense of humor. They’ll assume you misspelt. (After reading the material on operation 8 it is hard to treat treat those clowns with any respect) ]
“The welfare system should send a clear message that if you could work and support yourself, then you must, [Mr Key] said” http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5075404/Ministers-to-consider-controversial-welfare-plans
Here we go again. The flaw in the logic is that people can be capable of working, but unable to find a job due to National’s stunning management of the economy.
So, Mr Key, if someone is capable of working, and keen to work, and there are no impediments to them doing work, but they can’t find a job because National have managed to get unemployment soaring, should they be eligible for a benefit?
I will play the broken record again.
Perhaps if they allowed Kiwis to work say at the RWC and did not manipulate vista extensions for tourists to work. Pity AC when the govt imposes its own impediments on letting those who do want to work !!! and for a govt dept to actively go out promoting this. A case I believe to reintroduce repealling S59, and give allow MP’s to be smacked for corrective means 😉 http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/visit/rugby/
Key’s mentor from Singapore, the businessrotundtable visits from Pinochet’s economic advisor and the GG designate parlaying with all. We now have a military man paraded in front of us as some sort of role model for the young; the message is: go get dressed in your flaks and go out to play with America, carrying the associated appendages that’ll get ya coming back in a body bag, all for the egomaniac leader of the new neo-nz.
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The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
Chris Trotter writes – MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three. ...
Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blogIn 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
Headline: The moment of friction. – 36th Parallel Assessments In strategic studies “friction” is a term that it is used to describe the moment when military action encounters adversary resistance. “Friction” is one of four (along with an unofficial fifth) “F’s” in military strategy, which includes force (kinetic mass), ...
The Fast-track Bill, if passed, would allow three Ministers, unchallenged and unchecked, to approve the immediate extraction and exhaustion of one-off resources. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne iamharin/Shutterstock For many people, the term “bulk billed” refers to a GP visit they don’t have to pay ...
Emmas Hislop, Sidnam and Wehipeihana discuss what’s in a name. Emma Sidnam: Hello Emmas! Thank you so much for agreeing to do this with me. My first question for you is related to what’s been on my mind for a while. It’s very important. You see we’ve recently had some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Sievers, Research Fellow, Global Wetlands Project, Australia Rivers Institute, Griffith University Chris Brown Humans love the coast. But we love it to death, so much so we’ve destroyed valuable coastal habitat – in the case of some types of habitat, ...
Josh Thomson on the 80s milk ad jingle he can’t stop singing, the beauty of The Simpsons, why Jersey Shore is as good as Shakespeare and more. For someone who spends a lot of time on our screens, popping up in everything from 7 Days to Taskmaster, Educators to Good ...
In apparent defiance of the Biden administration, the Netanyahu government has now initiated missile strikes against Iran. Last Saturday night (Sunday morning in New Zealand) Iran launched more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles against Israeli military targets. With the assistance of US, UK and possibly French forces, ...
Māori representation brings a perspective that encompasses not only the interests of Māori communities but also a broader, holistic approach to environmental stewardship and community well-being, principles deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori (the Māori ...
This week in Auckland, a group of young people took over the microphone at a ministerial press conference, to explain why they oppose the Fast-Track Approvals Bill. One young woman said, ‘We’re here because we love Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to raise our children in an environment that’s thriving, ...
The summer was wonderful. Evie was wonderful, too; finally a teenager, finally worthy of long, hot days. She shaved her legs for the first time and bought cut-off shorts from the op-shop that made them look long. She got a Warehouse singlet so tight on her new shape that her ...
When Thomas James was on his solo camp as part of Outward Bound, the keen outdoorsman didn’t find it too challenging, as others often do. In what might just be the perfect illustration of his character, he saw it as a great opportunity to solve a few problems. “I thought, ...
From the unstable and drippy to the hi-tech and pretty, here’s our ranking of all the tunnels you can drive through in this country. The first tunnel seems to have been built in 2200BC in Babylonia, kicking off a global phenomenon for digging holes in order to get places more ...
Lucinda Bennett on the art of being greedy but resourceful. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. When I picture the market, it is always this time of year. Crisp air, dripping nose, counting coins with cold fingers. Sunlight pale, filtered through specks of dew still ...
Zoë Colling’s favourite piece in the ‘That’s So Last Century’ collection is a lubrication chart for a sewing machine from the ’60s. It’s about the size of a postcard, and carefully maintained. “I like it that this piece of ephemera highlights that manual and technical side of the skill involved ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
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Barcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...
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Sickening faux news from the Herald this morning. Sesame St, MASH, Happy Days part of vast left wing conspiracy. Never mind the fact that US politics is further right than ACT
And nevermind that the examples given in the article are of of social liberalism (anti-guns, pro-gay, anti-war, pro-divorce, anti-racist, ‘peaceful conflict resolution’, rather than actual radical left class-based policies). Pretty much all the examples given are more centrist, based in notions of individual civil rights. No mention of income inequalities, collectivist politics…. And many are ones embraced by some neoliberals.
Ah yes, the hidden anti-gun, anti-violence agenda of Hollywood.
They’re cunning, aren’t they.
They’re also a bunch of socialists, making a buck by pandering to whatever the masses will fork out for never crosses their minds. Commercialism is an antonym of Hollywood.
Commercialism is an antonym of Hollywood
What the?
I am now convinced that PeteG and I occupy different dimensions.
I think he was being sarcastic in this particular case, following on from felix’s comment.
Oh yes, pro-gay Hollywood. That’s the reason so many gay stars come out of the closet.
How can anyone not like Mash the greatest programme ever.
How bizarre!
Simon Lusk’s cunning plan is now falling into place.
Former Banks staffer and Auckland City Councillor Aaron Bhatnagar has put his hand up for the Epsom nomination for the ACT National Party.
No doubt he will run a principled campaign before falling on his sword and ceding the seat to ACT. He will of course be rewarded for his loyalty to the right wing cause and I doubt that anyone one else will bother seeking the nomination it being the poisoned chalice that it is.
It is a plan so cunning you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel …
So cunning he will probably end up pinning a deer tail on his own arse and running through the bush during hunting season.
Whispers behind closed doors, playing people against each other without their knowing, deception and lies, saying one thing when there is another in play. I imagine all of this goes on in this duplicitous world of politics.
And people hassle travellerev about conspiracies.
Conspiracies are the bread and butter of sections of the planet.
We’ve gone from a Nation of laws to a nation of powerful men making secret laws.
No, no conspiracies here. Yeah right! Every time the government goes into urgency they are conspiring against We the people”!!!
These days with this government in power it’s more like that every time they sit down they’re conspiring against We the People.
I thought that in light of John Key’s support for the Zionist cause it would be prudent to place a link to an interview with one of my heroes Rabbi Weitz who calls the state of Israel the work of Satan and who prays for the speedy dissolve of the state of Israel and a return to the peaceful cohabitation of Muslims, Jews and Christians which until 1948 the start of the Nakba was the norm. He and his fellow Interviewees have a few things to say about Anti-Semitism too.
The stated aim of the Islamofascists is the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people. (and the rest of us infidels too)
John D,
You should really go back to the library and start reading up on history.
On a personal note I have lived all my life amongst a great variety of Muslims (Moroccan, Tunisian, Turkish, Iraqi, Iranian, Kurd, Egyptian to name a few) and never ever over a period of more than 30 years have I ever encountered a shred of animosity towards Christians, Jews or other religions until after the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq and even then it was few and far between.
My mother travelled alone through Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan and had no problem whatsoever with the people she met. She was respected, invited, fêted, cherished and aided in her journey to India where she met up with her husband who was working for the WHO at the time. And that was the norm for their behaviour towards women at the time.
Ahmadinajad has very cordial relations with the Jews living in Iran (he donates to the Jewish hospital for example) as well as many Jewish organisations in Europe and the US. Here is what he really said about Israel before it was twisted in the MSM.
If you had any idea how ignorant and racist your comment was I’d hope you would hang your head in shame.
Why was my comment racist? Islam is not a race.
And have you been to Bradford recently? There the Muslims spit on the whiteys for not wearing a veil.
Yes of course, because that racist comment makes it OK.
Come to think of it I’m not surprised really that while you expect Muslims to “integrate” into the Western world because of the cultural mayhem which would ensue if they didn’t you find it totally acceptable for Westerns not to do the same because “Our” civilisation is “Superior” to “theirs” (Fill in the people we are currently or in the past “saving” from their own “inferior” culture). Your ancestors after all “civilized” New Zealand.
Yes you are correct. I do regard our culture as superior to theirs.
We have equal opportunities (or try to) for women. We have gay rights. We have..etc etc.
Islam is locked in the 7th century. They take the words of the Koran literally. Any discussion of it is taboo.
If this makes me racist, then so be it.
Over to you, Guardian reader.
John D,
You sad sack of shit. At least we’ve established that you are a racist. So now for the reality check.
No 1/ Iran. Over 50% of all students are female. On some universities % 70 % of all students are female. What do they study? Applied Physics seems to score high on their list of preffered studies. Not beautician, fashion design or other nampy pampy studies preferred by females in this country but serious Beta studies traditionally the territory of the Pakeha male if he gets around to actually going to an university. Why do they do these studies? Because unhindered by the macho crap of the thicko NZ male they are actually valued workers in the Iranian industry and their input is greatly valued.
No2/ Before the coalition of the killing destroyed Iraq over 50% of the workforce was female. They were doctors, judges and lawyers and they were free to build careers most women in this country can only dream off. Why? Because Healthcare (1800 free healthcare centres reduced to less than half) , Education and daycare for children was free. Women could walk the streets 24/7 safe and sound as they were considered equal to men before the invasion (One of Sadam’s idiocyncracies) You asswipe. Our “superior” culture destroyed that with 4.5 billion years worth of Depleted Uranium and the biggest most imperial army this world has ever seen. The result? Women are wearing the veil again, Religious groups are fighting each other again and poverty and mortality has gone through the roof as all their free institutions have been privatized and cut back by their “imperial” rulers.
No3/ At this moment we are bombing Libya. We are liberating them with humanitarian kinetic military action. (Also known as bombing the shit out of them). Libya was a country with the lowest debt, free healthcare, free education and a guaranteed basic income for everybody as a result of Gaddafi’s financial politics of returning the oil revenues over to his people. He did not believe in the central banking system and as a result his country had no international debts and that is what the international money men didn’t like. that is why we are bombing the shit out of them.
Our “superior” culture is the most barbaric, imperialistic and ignorant culture on the face of this planet. You Moron. Not them. Us.
Here is what Ayla Anwar has to say about imbeciles like you and what they have done to her country:
You miserable ignorant bastard. You miserable white middle class, male Pakeha ignoramus. “Shame on you, shame on you” and the whole arrogant lot of you who think that you just because you’re white and have a dick have superior civilisation.
Rev,
I am white and middle class yet I applaud everything you have just said. (Well save for the ad hominem attacks perhaps). I too was once uninformed but my eyes have been opened and my only hope is that more people stop believing the fallacies that we are exposed to on a daily basis. It is certainly not an enjoyable journey going down the rabbit hole – downright scary in fact, but it most certainly is enlightening. I truly hope the world and more importantly NZ, becomes a better place as people wake up to what is truly going on.
Cheers.
Good to meet a fellow traveller.
I get so angry with guys like him I loose my cool but if you see the amount f interaction between us you will also see it took awhile before I got there.
You miserable ignorant bastard. You miserable white middle class, male Pakeha ignoramus. “Shame on you, shame on you” and the whole arrogant lot of you who think that you just because you’re white and have a dick have superior civilisation
This fucked up comment gets past moderation?
You sad, fucked up, left-wing, Islamofacist-apologist
[lprent: Please label the moderation with who left it.
I think that John D still hasn’t read (or more likely understood) the policy on robust discusion vs pointless insults ]
Hmmmm. Given that middle east investors are now cornerstone shareholders of key US tech and banking corporations, i think that your characterisation is simply asinine, just like you are.
Hell, if we were as good as Islam in the 7th century we’d all be a hell of a lot better off. Equal treatment of everybody including the environment, massive research bringing about technology to help people, democracy that makes ancient Athens look dictatorial…
Sure, it fell to the authoritarians as almost all civilisations have but they do seem to be working their way back. As for us? Well, we’ve always been dictatorial, sexist, war-like and generally oppressive. To justify all this psychopathy we’ve built up the illusion that we were better, fairer and more civilised. When we came across a civilisation that actually was better, fairer and more civilised we attacked with extreme prejudice. Still do today.
Very true. Amazing female theologians at the time too. A true liberation theology, which is by the way how a lot of people still see it. It being the fastest growing religion in third world countries.
The John D’s of this world are going to get it very hard at the rate it’s going
I have a friend who was living in Dubai recently. He was living with his girlfriend (engaged).
Stopped by a routine traffic patrol, the cop asked to see their papers, and it was seen that they were living together.
This is illegal in Dubai.
The woman was instantly deported. The man was jailed for three months, then lashed, then deported.
Whilst in jail, the man met an Indian who had been in a minor traffic accident 30 years previously. Because he was involved in an accident with an Arab, it was deemed to be his fault.
Because he didn’t have the “blood money” to pay the Arab out, he languished in jail for 30 years.
I have also seen the appalling conditions that Indian workers have to endure in Dubai. Many are killed in construction accidents, and this never gets reported.
I have lots of friends of many races. I certainly don’t consider myself “racist” by any stretch of the imagination.
I do, however, find regimes (such as Iran) that tolerate stoning of women and executions of homosexuals to be unacceptable.
I know that there are tolerant parts of Arabia (such as Syria). I don’t know about Iraq, I didn’t support the war there, and since I haven’t been there I can’t really comment.
Your statement that “I admit that I am racist and I hate Arabs” is completely unsupported by my comments above.
That’s OK, We’ll bomb the shit out of them and that will sort that.
If it’s OK with you John I’m going to stop this for now because it just doesn’t go anywhere and if you can’t see that what you describe doesn’t in anyway justify the war crimes we perpetrate on the Afghans, Pakistanis, Iraqis and Libyans then that still makes you a racist sad sack of shit. Have a nice day.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner)
It seems OK for travellerev to call me a racist, a “sack of shit”, and for people to swear at me. OK, I did lose my rag last night, for which I apologise.
I don’t approve of the military intervention in the Middle East. It’s all about power and oil, and the same is being played out in Libya.
What I object to is this political correctness that forbids any criticism of Islamic fundamentalism. (I am equally critical of Christian fundamentalism and the Bible Belt, btw)
We are not going to get anywhere unless we acknowledge that there are issues to be dealt with on all sides.
I find it rather amusing that, when Pākehā argue for integration, they do it in English…
Adam Kokesh is another one of my heroes. He is an Iraq veteran and one of the first veterans to speak out against the wars as illegal wars of aggression with the winter soldier protests.
He and his fellow soldiers went to Iraq and Afghanistan in the aftermath of the events of 911 in order to defend their country against the “terrorists” and to protest their freedoms only to come back to a country in which even dancing in a public space was forbidden. Here is what happened when he in his new position as a reporter and presenter at RT (Russian TV) participated in a flash dance event at the Lincoln memorial.
And this is what he had to say about it in his first interview after the event.
Oh oops, that would be to PROTECT their freedoms of course.
This amused me. Forget the astroturfers. Beware of Microsoft…
Here’s the non-facebook link: http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2011/05/semantic_analysis
100,000 protesting in Athens right now
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/100000-protesting-athens-right-now
Excellent. There is no doubt in my mind that it is time for the moneylenders to take a back seat. They are loans after all, with a risk of default, hence various interest rates. The Greek, and other, people need to say to the moneylenders “fuck off and wait”. They need to say “we need our money for ourselves first, and once that is in order we will get your money back to you then (at zero interest)”.
Such action may well send shockwaves, which will shudder when they hit, as shockwaves do. But after that we will all just keep on keeping on.
Time for the moneylenders of the world to back off.
VTO,
I love ya!
When the PIIGS fails, and the Euro project is close behind, this will have profound effects on the world economy.
It is staggering that the MSM is completely blind to this.
It is staggering to me that a guy who seems to be aware about the MSM partial blindness to certain issues is so blind to the obvious propaganda the MSM is espousing about Muslims and Arabs, Persians, Pashtuns and Semites other than Jews.
Just because I don’t adopt your revisionist view of the world makes me blind?
I don’t get my information about Muslims from the MSM, I get it from my friends in Europe.
Members of the British National party are they?
Racist because most Muslims are brown people with funny names, eating funny food and it is easy to believe whatever anybody tells you about them.
Most Europeans hated Jews for a long time and many of them still do. Just because they live in Europe doesn’t make your friends any less prejudiced, racist and ignorant.
Members of the BNP? No, just the regular blacks, whites, Chinese and Jews who live in the country.
I don’t support Islamic fundamentalism.
Neither do I but I do defend the right of people to defend themselves against invasions of their territory and illegal wars of aggression and conquest by the international robber barons. See here, here and here for example
Let me ask you a question: If this country had been invaded say 10 years ago by the Iraqis and you had family living in Iraq al that time would you expect you family in Iraq to be angry with the government and the people invading your country? Or would you expect them to shut up and take it up the backside while you are being killed in your own country?
Because you see that is what is happening. Afghanis and Pakistanis and Muslims from all over the Muslim world living in the UK are hearing back from their families in the invaded countries how their families are being bombed by drones and killed with Depleted Uranium and they are angry.
Just like, I imagine, your family would be if they heard you and yours were bombed to smithereens by the war crimes of the country they are living in and just like your family they don’t want to bend over and take it lying down.
If the people who invaded my country replaced a brutal undemocratic regime and offered me the opportunity to partake in the decision making of my country via a democratic process, I think I would take the opportunity to enagage rather than to spend my time fighting the ‘evil oppressors’.
Are you stating you would prefer senseless killing rather than positive non violent opposition and engagement?
Hi Cowboy hat boy,
Just so you don’t think I’m ignoring you here’s a link about what an Arab woman thinks of the Western occupation of her country.
And if it’s OK with you I’ll leave my interaction with you at that. You are so young so ignorant and so full of yourself still that I prefer to wait for say a couple of decennia to let time and a few female rejections to mellow you out and perhaps by then you could get some sensible clothes instead of that ludicrous cowboy hat and coat you were wearing in the te Papa museum last year.
You know when you’ve won a debate when the other person resorts to ridiculous personal insults rather than to deal with the points raised.
BTW is this sort of behaviour by travellerev acceptable to The Standard moderators?
LOL. Whatever. Cowboy hat boy, Whatever.
It was Sarcasm J, Sarcasm, I thought of actually pointing it out at the time but I thought you were smarter than that. No i don’t want to introduce these punishments in New Zealand although a few Act members would probably love too.
But why would a Muslim living in England from say Pakistan whose family was bombed to smithereens by the invading forces illegally bombing villages with unmanned drones not be entitled to protest against these monstrosities perpetrated against his countryman or expect foreigners in his country integrate just like you expect them to so the same.
You see it is this apparent discrepancy in your willingness to accept that what is good for the goose is good for the gander that is the racism you suffer from.
You see
How did these people hear about their families being bombed to smithereens?
Was it was when they were being delivered an anti-west hate sermon at the East London Mosque, or was it on one of their recent trips to Pakistan, to attend Al Qaeda training?
Over to you, Guardian Reader.
John D you are a joke. A bad one, but a joke nonetheless.
Regardless of who most Muslims are doesn’t mean that having a dislike for Muslim theology is racist. I can have serious concerns over Christian theology and it doesn’t mean I’m anti-European.
Well said Gosman.
I support Muslims who accept and integrate into the culture of their host country. When you have ghettos of disenfranchised youths, as are springing up all over Europe now, you are on the path to cultural and societal oblivion.
Me too, and while we’re at it I think that any foreigner in any country should adapt to the existing culture and integrate and so if as a foreigner you are caught adulterating in a Muslim country and stoning is the accepted punishment he or she should accept that punishment and if drinking is not allowed and women should not drive cars than it speaks for itself that we should not commit to those vices and trespasses.
We, like we expect, from immigrants from other cultures would not want to destroy other peoples cultures like we would expect them to respect ours, now would we.
Great comment travellerev
No we wouldn’t want to stop beheadings, stonings etc. Not at all, in fact we should introduce them into NZ.
Might spice up Saturday night telly.
Beheadings for sabotage of our economic sovereignty and selling off state treasures for the personal gain of friends and family would seem entirely appropriate.
Beheadings for sabotage of our economic sovereignty and selling off state treasures for the personal gain of friends and family would seem entirely appropriate.
Cool. Maybe we can start a campaign?
I’d definitely be into this.
“A Beehive Beheading”. I’m sure it would get better ratings than “Citizen A”
Nope, they just need to tell them to fuck off and then remind them that when you loan someone money that you’re taking a risk that you won’t get it back and that the risk just came due.
We need to be doing the same thing.
Yes that will do wonders for our international credit rating and ability to purchase oil and run the economy …
The economy would be fine. Run a little slower but it’d still be there.
Consider, with Peak Oil now confirmed which means growth is out, how do you think we’re going to pay the debt anyway? Especially when you consider it’s compounding aspect due to interest.
Anyone know what food pukeko’s might eat? There’s a bunch of them wandering around near my work. Would be nice to drop something off by the roadside on my way in. Dripping, like wax-eyes?
Various grasses. Juicy lovely grass and other vege. But not rolled up grass unless looking for some post-consumption amusement…
I only recently found out why Pukekos frequent motorway verges and often become road kill. Apparently they eat small stones and gravel from the roadside to help digest their diet of ‘juicy lovely grass and other vege’. Your Pukes, Lanthanide my have a bit of indigestion and are looking for some gravelly relief!
Thanks for that one, JB. I was wondering about that but my chooks need the same so that makes perfect sense.
Certainly where they’re trekking is along the side of a road that has lots of gravel and loose stones, almost like a river.
They are happy to share bread with ducks. Awesome birds Pukeko’s. Little velociraptors fiercely defending their tribe if need be. Love em.
Another brilliant refreshing article from Tapu Misa. This time it is a John Key: “that’s after claiming 6000 people would be put out of their jobs as a result of such a rise, and that the Department of Labour had said so – which wasn’t quite true.” (Who would have guessed?)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10728872
So much for the recession helping keep a lid on carbon emissions.
Yes and 4 G8 nations have dumped Kyoto.
We’re DOOMED!!!!!
Yes, correct, we are.
Well, John D might actually get away OK, but his grandkids are fucked.
OK, one last hero for today: Cynthia McKinny. Black, female, leader of the Green party in the US and former Congress women known for confronting Rumsfeld about the lost trillions at the Pentagon.
She is in Tripoli, Libya this moment to share with the Libyans the “kinetic humanitarian events” perpetrated on the more than 2 million civilians of that city.
This is what she has to say about the murders of Gaddafi’s family members.
First interview on radionz today is about Christchurch contractors not getting paid. Few things if I remember rightly –
1 The EQC call centre is in Queensland.
2 One contractor has been waiting for a payment of $54,000 since September earthquake for replacing windows in an apartment block which required cherry pickers, expensive machinery.
He says that he has never been contacted from EQC, but that is surprising. Perhaps he is talking about recent months. He has made numerous calls to Oz and feels he is starting to pick up the Aussie twang. He says he only gets patsy answers.
3 EQC couldn’t come on to programme but stated as previously that they pay within 21 days if GST number is right and the invoice shows costs apportioned properly as to time and materials.
The contractors feel that the EQC is understaffed and this in itself results in delays and inefficiencies apart from any faults in EQC practices.
4 The above contractor has got in touch with Gerry the Butt but but couldn’t get an answer till he sent his email in bold red letters. Pity that even with his Powers he seems to be gerrybuilt when he should be using them to assist EQC to get more staff to deal with the unchecked details that result in the no-payment which is stifling the recovery.
5 Unpaid workers have been continuing going to work, crawling inside and on top of roofs of unstable buildings doing practical and helpful work which is unsafe in itself, so that safety can be provided for the occupants and surrounds, but have not been paid sometimes for a month because of lack of payment to their employers from the EQC.
6 The red zone contractors are thought to be getting paid all right. Gerry the Butt always does seem to have been more interested in the centre of Christchurch and its businesses rather than the rest of the struggling public. They are SEP, too miniscule for the great men at the forefront of the Christchurch earthquake management to give their immediate attention, ‘Just wait till we are ready to attend to you’ is their message.
Hopefully Roger Sutton will sort it out once he’s on board. It certainly seems like an early impediment to a fast effective recovery if you lose the goodwill from many of the people who’ll be doing the heavy lifting for the next 2-3 years.
Edit: Never mind, John Key has put his oar in it already, so something will start happening: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/5071405/Pay-up-EQC-told-by-firms
He does seem to have a magical ability to make ‘things’ happen, although exactly what it is seems to be a sticking point – recovery of Pike River victims comes to mind (“cost is no barrier”). He also seems to usually get involved too late – where were you 3 months ago on this issue, Key? Or last December?
My adult son had his flat redstickered. He put in his itemised claim for a modest contents insurance claim on the 24 February. No response. No payout to help him get started again. So not only the big players unpaid but the little ones also.
hey it looks like the gunnas are in control at the moment. wee gunna do this and we gunna do that but somehow al they do is get their makeup done for the next piccie in the dompost social pages.
Watch out! They will come gunna ing for you randal!
Good guest post on NZAID at Public Address.
Thanks Bunji… Murray McCully treating NZAID as a business model, to support economic development (and use aid to profit NZ) rather than the poor. Excellent article by Terence Wood deconstructing this ideology of aid distribution.
The Penguin gives a political analysis of the polls.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/blogs/david-farrar-by-the-numbers/5072622/Sixty-five-seats-is-not-bulletproof
“However, it is worth stressing that a projected 65 seats is not bulletproof. The House is forecast to have 123 MPs, so you will need 62 to govern. On the plus side ACT and United Future look like they can deliver a further four seats. On the negative side, there is the possibility NZ First makes 5%.”
Since when do independent commentators in a national daily use words like – “on the plus side ” and “On the negative side” – in the context of a balanced report. The plus and negative from whose point of view, Farrar? You are not talking to the blue rinse brigade only. (Obviously, from now on you probably will be).
At least Granny now have a weird apologia at the foot of the page:
“David Farrar is affiliated to the National Party and is a centre right blogger.”
Affiliated? Are National a gang? Will Farrar be able to go to Whangaz wearing his colours?
Heh – intriguing:
Points that support National being called a gang:
If you call destroying livelihoods via derivative trading “theft”, they’re probably worse than the stereotypical “gang”
count amongst their most valued members an ‘elite’ 1% of the population
some of them seem to regard themselves outside the law
use of front organisations and/or “affiliates” (e.g. the penguin, Brethren)
Points against:
violence is not usually used – that’s what their economic policies are for
Ah, but the threat of violence is never far from the lips of the likes of Collins, eh?
i gunna get me a gum too!
[lprent: Are you trying to get those dumbarses from the anti-terrorism squads watching this site? Based on their reaction to the idea of catapulting objects I get the idea that they have no sense of proportion or a sense of humor. They’ll assume you misspelt. (After reading the material on operation 8 it is hard to treat treat those clowns with any respect) ]
“The welfare system should send a clear message that if you could work and support yourself, then you must, [Mr Key] said”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5075404/Ministers-to-consider-controversial-welfare-plans
Here we go again. The flaw in the logic is that people can be capable of working, but unable to find a job due to National’s stunning management of the economy.
So, Mr Key, if someone is capable of working, and keen to work, and there are no impediments to them doing work, but they can’t find a job because National have managed to get unemployment soaring, should they be eligible for a benefit?
I will play the broken record again.
Perhaps if they allowed Kiwis to work say at the RWC and did not manipulate vista extensions for tourists to work. Pity AC when the govt imposes its own impediments on letting those who do want to work !!! and for a govt dept to actively go out promoting this. A case I believe to reintroduce repealling S59, and give allow MP’s to be smacked for corrective means 😉
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/visit/rugby/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5075056/Govenor-General-receives-military-award-from-Singapore
It’s all coming together nicely.
Key’s mentor from Singapore, the businessrotundtable visits from Pinochet’s economic advisor and the GG designate parlaying with all. We now have a military man paraded in front of us as some sort of role model for the young; the message is: go get dressed in your flaks and go out to play with America, carrying the associated appendages that’ll get ya coming back in a body bag, all for the egomaniac leader of the new neo-nz.
Climate Change vs John Key
http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/05/climate-change-vs-john-key.html
In a recent survey conducted by the WWF, 73% of New Zealanders believe that the Government should prioritise increased development of renewable energy to provide electricity and transport fuel in New Zealand. Only 18% said the government’s energy strategy should prioritise more exploration and mining for fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas.
Brian is having a laugh on his site tonight… more Chardonnay anyone?
http://brianedwardsmedia.co.nz/2011/05/i-devise-a-failsafe-recipe-for-full-employment-lowering-the-minimum-wage-with-thanks-to-john-key/