The EMA must expel Alasdair Thompson if it is to retain any credibility as an organisation.
If they don’t then actions need to be taken against them by those entrusted with ensuring democracy and fairness.
For instance though Parliament never released the name of those lobby groups given privileged access to parliament.
You can bet that the EMA is definitely one of them.
This privilege not available to normal citizens should be suspended from the EMA until the time that they distance themselves from Alasdair Thompson.
In a democracy an organisation that tolerates bigotry should have no special arrangement that allows them to influence public policy.
Every woman MP no matter their political affiliation should demand that the EMA special access ‘keys’ and ‘swipe cards’ should be taken off them, until Thompson is dismissed.
The EMA claim that they can weather the Thompson Storm.
I doubt they could weather that storm. As a lobby group they have been very effective, having the ear of parliament, achieving much of their agenda.
The EMA’s special access to parliament and parliamentarians would be a big part of this success.
Till Thomson is sacked the call on the floor of parliament from every women MP should be:
“Remove the EMA special access now! ”
“EMA say they can weather the Thompson Storm”
The EMA must expel Alasdair Thompson if it is to retain any credibility as an organisation.
If they don’t then actions need to be taken against them by our representatives, those entrusted by us to ensuring fairness.
The EMA need to learn that women are not powerless, and that a group that tolerates the prejudice behind justifying lower pay rates, will pay a price.
Parliament never released the name of those lobby groups given privileged access to parliament.
But you can guarantee that the EMA is definitely one of them.
This privilege not available to normal citizens should be suspended from the EMA until the time that they distance themselves from Alasdair Thompson.
In a democracy an organisation that tolerates bigotry should have no special arrangement that allows them to influence public policy.
This should be a given!
Every female MP no matter their political affiliation should demand that the EMA special access ‘keys’ and ‘swipe cards’ should be taken off them, until Thompson is dismissed.
The EMA have claimed; “The EMA can weather the Thompson Storm.”
Let us see if they can “weather” having their special access removed. As a lobby group they have been very effective in achieving their aims, having the ear of parliament would play a large part in that success.
In my opinion the EMA’s special access to parliament and parliamentarians is an affront to democracy in itself, the fact that this group tolerates bigotry against women makes it worse.
Till Thomson is sacked the call on the floor of parliament from every women MP should be:
“If they don’t then actions need to be taken against them by those entrusted with ensuring democracy and fairness.”
Honestly I didn’t read any further than this.
I would have thought it was democratic and fair to let a private organisation (no matter how public their profile) manage their affairs as best they see fit. If they do something that discredits them in the eye of the public, then that is their just deserts.
(“Women are simply less likely to succumb to bugs, the Telegraph reports.
Compared with men, an Australian study found, women have a “much stronger immune response” to rhinoviruses – the germs responsible for the common cold.”)
I answered and said that 300 extra were put into sth Auckland but this was not under Collins. Good question you ask because there was not an increase in the budget for police.
So, following on from Zetetic’s post at http://thestandard.org.nz/howzat/ where he opined that “If best Key can promise for the economy is an increase in a tiny portion of tourism, some time in the future, when a plane that isn’t even operational might start flying here direct from Mumbai, we’re in trouble”, we have this news:
“New Zealand is one step closer to reaching a free trade agreement with India and Kiwi companies are optimistic about their prospects in one of the world’s fastest growing markets.”
G, the devil is in the detail. If its a “fair” trade agreement as opposed to the standard “free” trade agreement I am all for it. Previous so called free trade agreements have probably alerted Zets “shit radar”.
No, it’s not as it’s unsustainable. All it’ll really do is put a bit more money in some peoples pockets while destroying our ability to live as we will have destroyed the environment to get those dollars.
Oh good, we can buy cheaper T-shirts made in sweat shops whilst their very affluent bosses can holiday here, their film industry can gain big subsidies and we can export, well….. our call centre business (or what’s left of it) to Bangalore…
No one involved with the “Macsynna King” book comes out looking any good, but book banning or burning leads to worse places. I’d rather see piles of them sitting in stores unsold then quietly remaindered, or dumped on Wisharts property.
And while I’m on mike, these FB ‘mobs’ seem like bigoted internet talk back, the last pile of crap page of significance bought us a nice Lord Jackson supported anti union march on Labour Day.
I dunno, TM. The two chains have declined to stock the Smacsyna King book. That’s not a ban, it’s a moral decision to put good taste ahead of profits. That’s rare in business, aye? As I said on Open Mike a couple of days ago, if Tepco or BP put the public good ahead of private gain, the world would be a better place.
Wow, just spent a few minutes trawling through the fb page. The page itself calls for a boycott, not a ban, but the tone of many comments is that hanging is too good for them. An amazing outpouring of ignorance, hatred and bile. As you say, TM, just like talkback!
BTW, just to save people the bother of reading the book, I thhink I can sum it up in four words:
‘It wasn’t me, honest’.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 4.2.1
I did not like the idea of her making money from the deaths for which she was (at best for her) partly responsible. I understand that Wishart has said she is not and, if that’s true, that must be the end of the issue. People write books about all sorts of horrible things, yet no-one suggests that books about, say, the holocaust should be banned on the grounds that someone is profiting from that misery.
I heard on nine to noon that Wishart has said that she will not be making anything from the book. Take that with whatever skepticism you use with Wishart statements.
Decades ago Wishart used to check himself and his sources much more thoroughly. However I suspect that he has been falling subject to hubris more and more over the years and doing less and less checking when he ‘knows’ the answers.
These days Wishart is a classic case of where a lack of knowledge makes him completely credulous when it comes to both the sources of facts as well as the interpretation. It is really hard to find anything in his recent books that stacks up as being of much relevance beyond being Wisharts opinion (ie not his interpretation – because that would have required that he thought about it and judged it).
Moral outrage is so warming at a time of winter frosts isn’t it! And the superior thinking of FB ticking yes/no like/don’t like is an example of deep thought about the King book about the Kahui twins? North and South have often done stories about people who have been involved in violence and crime so what’s the difference here. Ian Wishhart is different of course but shouldn’t be banned as is happening.
Burning/banning books because ‘I don’t like the subject, the author, the opinions’ is dangerous. Inciting hatred by denigrating some person or group might be a valid reason. But shining a light on dark doings through a book is useful. Especially if we absorb the detail and use that knowledge to change behaviour so the dark doings don’t occur again.
Nothing wrong with boycotting a book without reading it, Ian. I’ve personally boycotted Mein Kampf all my life, because I don’t have to read the thing to now what it means. In this case, King and Wishart are trying to gain from the death of the two kids. Wishart intends to profit financially, King intends to promote her own claim of innocence.
Neither of them are likely to be interested in telling the truth anyway, so the book is unlikely to be anything other than a work of fiction.
VOR. I’m reading a book currently about Stalin in the 1930s. I couldn’t tell if it was worth reading until I had read at least part of it. (Excellent by the way. “The Stalin Epigram.”) Sure it is very unlikely that I would ever read a Wishart book but I rather resent others Censoring my reading a legally published book.
But no one is censoring your reading, Ian. Get it off the net if you want it or go to any of the other bookshops that are stocking it. The call is for a boycott, not a ban. The Stalin book sounds interesting. He’s still rather popular in Russia, often ranking just below Putin in the preferred leader polls.
Ian Wishart answers a number of questions about Macsyna King and why he wrote ‘Breaking the Silence’.
This is a HUGE ‘freedom of expression’ issue and I support 100% Ian Wishart’s right to write and publish his book ‘Breaking the Silence’, and MY right as a customer to be able to purchase it from the Warehouse or Paper Plus or Whitcoulls.
For goodness sake – it wasn’t Ian Wishart who killed the Kahui baby boys!
The CRAP that he’s getting for writing about the killing of the Kahui baby boys is worse than the KILLERS?
Duh?
If Ian’s book results in the Police reopening the Kahui case and it results in a conviction for the deaths of those poor little babies – then surely that will be the outcome that most people want?
Who is this ‘Chris’ that set up the ‘Boycott the Macsyna King Book’ facebook and LIED about Macsyna profiting from ‘Breaking the Silence’ when that was NEVER the case?
What are ‘Chris’s motives, and with whom is he connected?
Use some basic logic here folks!
Who stands to benefit most from trying to ‘silence’ Ian wishart who is trying to ‘break the silence’ about the causes of child abuse in general and the Kahui case in particular?
The killed Kahui baby boys – or the KILLERS of the Kahui baby boys?
Our rights to freedom of expression are under siege.
Whatever you may think about Ian Wishart and his views on a number of issues is surely NOT the point here.
It is a matter of principle.
All those who believe in freedom of expression should be stepping up to the plate – because WHO IS NEXT????
Sorry Penny, but you simply don’t have a right as a customer to be able to purchase it from the Warehouse or Paper Plus or Whitcoulls, nor from any other specific outlet.
VoR Until the killer/s of Chris and Cru are charged with murder the King/Wishart book is exploiting the death of Chris and Cru. If there is ever a right time to write a book, it would be once the killer/s are sentenced.
Do I need to read the book to establish if King or Wishart know who murdered Chris and Cru?
Wishart has stated that King mentions the killer. King needs to go down to the police station with a lawyer and tell the police everything, (I would not allow how I feel about the police to stop myself from talking to them were my two babies murdered).
I don’t give a shit about any talk of censorship as the book can be accessed in NZ. What really pisses me off, is that two beautiful babies were murdered and the King/Wishart book is EXPLOITATION.
Something called “Treetop” is just a tad confused.
1.) If there is ever a right time to write a book, it would be once the killer/s are sentenced.
What? Is there a law against writing a book now? Are you some sort of marketing genius that has assessed the optimum time to release books?
2.) Do I need to read the book to establish if King or Wishart know who murdered Chris and Cru?
I don’t think anyone cares what you need to do. If you know who it was, by the way, why don’t you tell the rest of us?
3.) I don’t give a shit about any talk of censorship…
You illiberal dolt. I think it’s offensive to read ignorant comments on The Standard but I wouldn’t dream of censoring you. Why would you stop me being able to buy a book?
4.) What really pisses me off, is that two beautiful babies were murdered and the King/Wishart book is EXPLOITATION.
Every book that’s ever been written is exploitation. What the hell are you on about?
Morrissey in response to your questions below my questions numbered 1 – 4
1. If there is ever a right time to right a book, it would be once the killer/s are sentenced?
1.1 Is there a law about writing a book now?
No there is not and I did not say that there was a law.
1.2 Are you some sort of market genius that has assessed the optimum time to release a book?
The killer/s are still out there and were the book to aid the killer/s in anyway this would not be the case were there a conviction.
2. Do I need to read the book to estabish if King or Wishart know who murdered Chris and Cru?
2.1 If you know who it was why don’t you tell the rest of us?
Well what is stopping King and Wishart from going to the police as they appear to know more than I do about who took two innocent lives.?
3. I don’t give a shit about any talk of censorship?
3.1 Why would you stop me from being able to buy the book?
How am I stopping you from being able to buy the book?
Just because some book stores will not sell it this is not stopping people from buying the book. The book has not been banned, some outlets chose not to stock it.
4.What really pisses me off, is that two beautiful babies were murdered and the King/Wishart book is EXPLOITATION.
4.1 What the hell are you on about?
Had Wishart written a book about the background of the mother’s of murdered children, there may be some common threads on why their babies and children are fatally harmed or were they to have survived been brain damaged. The risk factors of the mother and child would be better understood and hopefully prevented.
Something called Treetop is a tad confused. You are entitled to have an opinion. I note your comment in 4.2.2.1.3.1 “Actually, Vicky, Wishart is a callous systemic liar. He gives pride of place in his ridiculous monthly magazine to notorious liars and hate mongers like Mark Steyn and Miranda Devine. Have you read any of his unhinged rants against Palestinians and Iraqis?
In this case, King and Wishart are trying to gain from the death of the two kids. Wishart intends to profit financially, King intends to promote her own claim of innocence.
Neither of them are likely to be interested in telling the truth anyway, so the book is unlikely to be anything other than a work of fiction.
I couldn’t agree less! You simply assume Wishart intends to profit financially, which I seriously doubt – I think he sees himself as a campaigner….
I know you are against everything Wishart stands for, and so am I (well, 85% of it), but he would not knowingly tell an untruth.
I know you are against everything Wishart stands for, and so am I (well, 85% of it), but he would not knowingly tell an untruth.
Actually, Vicky, Wishart is a callous and systematic liar. He gives pride of place in his ridiculous monthly magazine to notorious liars and hate-mongers like Mark Steyn and Miranda Devine. Have you read any of his unhinged rants against Palestinians and Iraqis?
Yes, Morrissey, you’re right… Scarily, I think it’s because he believes Steyn and Devine and the rest of the rubbish he spouts is the truth! I think he wouldn’t knowingly lie, but I believe he is a “useful idiot”. That’s IMO worse, and rather sad. I would hate to believe he’s actually a knowing liar, which I don’t believe he is.
I have read his evil magazine (my right-wing sister recommended it) but it makes me vomit.
Close-up tonight.
I missed in what capacity Christine-watch-my-earrings-move-with-my-angry-headshake-Rankin was on the show, (assume as Family Commission spokesperson) but she wasn’t half extolling the virtues of Wishart’s book.
“All New Zealanders must read this book. I know what’s in there even though I haven’t read it myself!”
What?
Incidentally, Christine Rankin was appointed to the Family Commission a couple of years ago now but, from memory, she didn’t actually have a job description for her appointment – has one been written for her yet?
I am also uncomfortable about the “boycott”. While it is called a boycott, it is effectively a form of censorship by applying economic pressure on the booksellers. And I am worried that it smacks of the sort of moral panic (a la NY mosque) that we see so often in the US of A – god forbid that we go down that road.
Like someone said, I too would be happy if it just sat on the shelves. Not that I wouldn’t read the book at the library, but I would not want to directly contribute to the promotion of “her side of the story” – not when the police should have been the first ones told.
As an amateur historian, I have often read source material that people would find objectionable but it allows me to see the context first hand.
The FB page is a way for people to express their feelings, though I wish they would cease from the lynch mob comments.
The book is a lightening rod for the frustration people felt in the face of the arrogant wall of silence from the family, the failure of the court case and the fact that there is still no one held accountable for the murders.
More so at the prospect that Macsyna King would be getting attention when she is either guilty or, if not, was part of the cover up to protect the person guilty of murdering babies.
BTW – Someone at the inquest has fingered her as the murder
and while I’m on mike, these FB ‘mobs’ seem like bigoted internet talk back, the last pile of crap page of significance bought us a nice Lord Jackson supported anti union march on Labour Day.
Exactly right… I went to that group and it’s worse than you could possibly imagine! I made the mistake of signing up to comment, and got abused myself, as a “shithead”, “He-she”, “crack addict”, a childless spinster (which is hilarious) and last but not least I was repeatedly told that I must be a relative of Macsyna King! (If I was, I would have said so, but they were missing the point. What’s next – book-burning, a la Texas?)
Have to say I’m loving what is happening in Greece at the moment 😉
I wonder if New Zealanders would ever get hungry and desperate enough to take to the streets, or are we more like German Jews ? Passively going to the shower block?
Interesting times
Robert, I for one applaud all those brave enough to stand against tyranny whether political or financial. What worries me is the escalation of violence – which one could argue might be innevitable- real people get real wounds / real death.
On the issue at hand the Casino is still running but all bets are off as the players run out of chips. Germany and the financial world could be left with a pile of chips backed by IOUs from every country in Europe with no way of collecting. As the masters in these countries look to flog their people so that they can last a little longer at the table things will get ugly.
Those of us in NZ who think these things wont affect us think again, it is going to be an interesting year as Shonkey tries to keep non existent cash coming in to prop up tax cuts etc (based upon non payable IOUs quietly promised against state assets to be sold and rented back to us).
Apparently Goldman Sachs & Co. have quite a few side bets going that Greece will default. The whole thing is rigged so they can’t lose and will make a packet either way.
Gotta admire these guys. Goldman makes other investment banks quake in their boots. To bad for the people of Greece though, oh well just more collateral damage. The politicians will do OK out of it no doubt.
The collapse of European pension funds due to defaulting will also cause widespread misery.
Meanwhile, RNZ’s Morning Report regularly interviews Goldman Sachs NZ-branch “experts” as if they are something other than members of a gang of economic terrorists.
Tariana Turia used the word ‘holocaust’ to describe a Māori situation and was severely chastised by many sections of society including the jewish community. Instead, why not say ‘sheep to the slaughter’ which most kiwis can relate to although not many can buy under current pricing.
To ‘soften’ the analogy. The trick is encourage people to hold out hope that a warm shower awaits them at the end of a hard road. So, for example, offer them water or the promise of water if they are thirsty ( ‘a rising tide raises all boats’; ‘no gain without pain’; ‘there is no alternative’ etc) and they will be grateful for any expression of humanity or apparent empathy, hold out hope and be acquiescent.
That’s not something you need to do when dealing with or to sheep.
Good stuff Bill. Its a bit like that pathetic Godwin call when you call a spade a spade, a fascist a fascist. One can be sensative but the issue remains.
For the record Adele, Turiana probably had a point, unfortunately our PC use of language took the sting out of the message.
The nature of the events are different and hence the objection to the use of the word holocaust. Holocaust is a loaded term that has come to represent a degree of intentionality and cold-blooded use of industrial methods to utterly extinguish a people group.
It also has been come to be reserved for a specific event in human history.
Her use of the term was ill advised and she got the blow-back that comes from misusing such a loaded and specific term.
For other, similar events (Rwanda/Armenians etc) we now use the word genocide to describe other events that are intended to destroy a people group. As such we look for the presence of a certain set of characteristics that would qualify the event for the name genocide.
Even if she had used the term genocide I would still think that she was wrong. It would not be an appropriate term for what was a series of events that aimed to subjugate, marginalise, rob, disinherit a people group born of a mixture of greed and cultural arrogance.
If an individual seeks money from me that I believe they have no entitlement to, I tell them to fuck off. Doubtless they apply pressure and issue all manner of threats of how dire the future will be if I insist on retaining what is mine.
Seems that’s the situation with Greece and others. The threat coming from the money men is the supposed dire consequences of default. Truth is that default isn’t dire. Well, it is, but not for the defaulter.
Argentina defaulted. There was no sustained outward rush of investment. There were no starving millions. The Argentinian economy was finally able to stand on its feet when the government pushed back against the financial players who kept pushing it to the ground.
But the Greek government, in concert with others, are cowards and idiots acting as enforcers for bullies rather than as defenders of the Greek people.
The Greeks time of relying on failed socialist policies for their economic properity is coming to an end. They have to face up to the fact they can no longer have their cake and eat it as well.
I’d love to see what alternative some of you lefties are proposing for the Greek economy.
Gosman, being slack collecting your taxes, and letting the investment banks convince you that you should take on more and more debt while you trust them to look after the details are not “socialist policies”.
In Greece??? How so considering most rational commentators are stating the problem in Greece is the fact they spend far mor than they earn and the Government sector is far too large and generous?
There was an interview just before 10:00 this morning on the national Programme with a British woman on the Greek issue .Very interesting especially if someone can put up the link. Lehman Bros were involved re manipulating Greeces entry into the EU, also with the ability for some to retire at 50 on the state and that shipping maginates were tax exempt because of the value they allow society to benefit from. Now here is a country that has no ability to experience reality !!!!
Yes, there are better pictures to use….
Following the Judas goat to slaughter.
Sleep walking our way into oblivion.
Striking up another tune on the deck of the Titanic.
Ordering another round when the roof is falling.
Labour leader Phil Goff has got it wrong again. “Hone took that [TTT] from being the safest Maori Party seat in the country to being the most marginal…”, Mr Goff said to Waatea news. Hone Harawira’s seat had the fourth largest majority out of seven seats in the last election. It is interesting to… note that the three lowest majorities in the maori seats included the only two labour MP’s elected, Parekura with a 1645 majority, and Nanaia with only a 888 majority.
Labour leader Phil Goff is in real trouble, it is most likely that his leadership will end after the next election. Phil Goof’s most dangerous enemies are his own labour MP’s, the knives are being sharpened as we speak…
Oh dear. This is clearly a mortal blow for Goff. I won’t be the least bit surprised if not only resigned the leadership, but went as far as locking himself in a quiet room with a bottle of scotch, a revolver and a single bullet. Given the gravity of this appalling error, it would be the only decent thing to do. Thank you both for alerting us to this shocking chain of events and Godspeed you both in your campaign to re-elect Nact, sorry, rejuvenate the Labour Party.
I couldn’t be bothered. I only have a few hours that I can spend there because of work timetables, and listening to him didn’t met the criteria. Unfortunately neither did Rob Oram or any of the keynote speeches to date.
*grin* Sounds like crap – but he is a credulous soul – someone has probably fed this to him to wind him up. Mind you, I think that if I see a hole on his site from here on out (as has existed several times in the past), I will be publishing it rather than my usual practices.
Please don’t hack my site. I’ve been a RWNJ National (under the table) employed lackey for a long time now and I really have to keep blogging crap right up until the next election, otherwise I don’t get my John Key autographed arse warmer.
If you keep stopping graphics from appearing and limiting my links, I’ll huff and puff and blow your house down… Where do you live again?
I know I hacked the Labour Party website, but nobody is allowed to hack my site. It’s just not fair because I rule everything and I have guns.
There was a real lovers tiff between him and Trevor mallard yesterday on Red Alert, and the blubbery one was dishing the threats to TM, along the lines of
Back off or I’ll release more stuff from your server
Cameron gets really really upset at the mention of his friend Simon Lusk. Every time Simon’s name is mentioned he goes ballistic.
Hmm this could be fun.
Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk …
Yet another hilarious revelation – see Red Alert. (Damm I must learn how to link):
Rodney Hide was seen this morning jumping out of his Crown car and taking a photograph of Phil Twyford’s Te Atatu campaign office. So what was that about? An accusation (in due course) of a supposed rorting of tax-payers money by Phil Twyford? If so, I think Twyford may have already successfully killed it.
The rich aren’t the problem. Rich people (the good kind) know their wealth is earned, the kind that lasts, not won by corruption, not won by speculatively excesses, and they will only remain rich if they stay competitive. Just as in any social situation you have cheaters and short-cutters, who seek economic and social recognition at the expense of their own ethics and morals. Wannabes rich, who want to have hundreds of millions in the bank and be PM, but actually have no social platform and so are tools for those who want to cheat to get rich. The wealthy and poor alike know that true prosperity comes of tangible generous spirit. Now National have none, and Labour had little for 9 years, their goal seems to play along. The question for me is where is the social justice debate, why is the political wealth and history denied us? Why? Because Labour introduced the Human Rights Act partially, and created an organisation too close to government (they actively advise government departments!) so the immediacy of their relationship, snotty better than everyone attitude having every branch of government potentially available to their decisions, becomes yet another barrier to Human Rights. As human rights are essentially breach by governments. So yes, we should be compensated for poor government, the poor and the rich, the rich also stand to lose massively from the neo-liberal paradigm when oil, climate crisis, resource wars and food spikes perpetually. So I ask where is the social justice debate on our MSM, where are the independent Human Rights lawyers the hounders of the oppressed? Gone because the Human Rights Commission serves its own and its paymaster role, to hide human rights abuses, loss of political depth, lose of economic rights, lose of social integrity. I am astonished how poor our laws are, that a person can say have a truck hub land next door to them and they have no real recourse! Articulated trucks are horrendously noisy, in any first world economy they are placed well away from homes since the throbbing of them warming up causes heart murmurs and worse. So to hear that a council just dropped a truck hauler next to a home without any noise abatement breaches the human rights of the surrounding property owners. And all the hauler needs to have done is put up some massively large walls and sound protections. Has NZ forgotten how to build substantial walls of breeze blocks, its a half a day process for the price of a roof!
(this story was on TV last night). There was adequate room in the program for a social justice debate about how residential areas have exclusions against such trucks parking over night.
Hey, this is the 21st century and we still get this crap happening, those poor folks who were forced to risk being hauled away themselves by police when they blocked the entrance.
So where are the social justice, and why are they so put down by the likes of Holmes or Henry, if they do show up. Moustache! I think the blind worship of God, Communism, or profit at the expense of anything else is dangerous and we need to rain them in. The Profit God must be brought back down to size and fast.
I think I speak for all of New Zealand when I say our hearts go out to the families of those killed in the Pike River mine disaster. Not only have the families of the deceased had to wait an incessant amount of time for the recovery process to begin, it now appears that it’s been financially mismanaged, and will stall because of a lack foresight by the receivers to set aside enough money to complete the task.
Open letter to Doris Mousdale of the Arcadia Bookshop
Re: your decision to boycott the Macsyna King book
Dear Ms. Mousdale,
I was interested to hear you will refuse to sell the Macsyna King book on moral grounds. That’s a laudable decision.
I presume that you have also refused to sell A Life by Tony Blair, Giving by Bill Clinton and Decision Points by George W. Bush. Each of these authors is directly culpable for the deaths of far more than just two children.
If, however, you do sell any or all of those books, could you please explain why?
With Blair, as with the other two, the terms are interchangeable. One of my favourite press conferences of all time was in London, 2003, when Bush told the assembled media outside No. 10 Downing Street: “I like Tony ‘cos he tells the truth!”
Actually, there is a tape of Bush speaking the truth on just one occasion…
Another open letter this time to lady from Unity Bookshop. Women seem to take the high moral tone to uncomfortable heights often. Are they more sensitive and caring than men or just unable to look directly at unpleasant reality?
Are they more sensitive and caring than men or just unable to look directly at unpleasant reality?
Doris Mousdale does her anodyne book reviews for Leighton Smith and Paul Holmes, two of the most racist, hateful broadcasters in the country. It is absurd to imagine that she is too “sensitive” or “caring” to stock a book which, however bad it might be, will be no worse than an hour of Smith’s or Holmes’s ranting.
Women seem to take the high moral tone to uncomfortable heights often.
I go with the theory that people who protest too much are uncomfortably close to the subject they are protesting about – in this case I’d looking at paid-up members of the smacking brigade or their own close shave with being in the underclass as driving unreasonably high levels of book-banning and hang’em rhetoric.
Why isn’t Jerry the Butt getting off his and organising some package to help the Canterbury regional government with their disaster insurance? He has King-like powers hasn’t he? What a useless type he is. He must have wormed his way into the inner circle to be favoured boy to get his role – or has it just been done on a location thing – he is elected for Christchurch and so everyone has to reap the meagre pickings of what Chch NACTS voted in.
In countries such as Australia, the US, Canada, Spain and Italy, weak planning has ensured that the distinction between town and countryside is blurred. Here you can find the worst of both worlds: a wildly unsustainable, disagregated urban nightmare, in which infrastructure is stretched across sprawling suburbs, people have no choice but to drive, and anonymous dormitory estates seem perfectly designed to generate alienation and anomie.
The uncontrolled growth of our cities that we’ve seen over the last 50 odd years has got to come to and end as we just can’t afford it.
Highly dense urban areas with large numbers of people per sq km will need highly efficient systems of bringing (labour intensive) produce in from rural areas.
Basically the fossil fuels we have left at this stage all need to be reserved for ambulances, tractors and harvesters. Full stop.
New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Carereport released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced$802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Carereport in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquirypublished its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone iconon the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive:Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloittereport for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’sOliver LewisScoop:Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announcedthe Board of Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Orderimage, ...
Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
Waiting In The Wings:For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSAannounced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
Open access notablesImproving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society:To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
A late change to charter school legislation will cheat educators out of fair pay and negotiating power proving charter schools are just a vehicle to make profit out of our education system. ...
In 2004 te iwi Māori rallied against the Crown’s attempt to confiscate our coastlines and moana with the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This led to the largest hīkoi of a generation and the birth of Te Pāti Māori. 20 years later, history is repeating itself. Today the government has announced ...
It has been five and a half years since the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was established to investigate the abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based institutions. Yesterday, the final report - Whanaketia through pain and trauma, from darkness to light ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. ...
On Friday the International Court of Justice reaffirmed what Palestinian’s have been telling us for decades: that the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands by Israel is illegal and must end immediately. They also called for reparations for Palestinian’s who have lived under Israeli occupation since it began in 1967. ...
Labour calls on the Government to act after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal. ...
The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. ...
Aotearoa could be a country where every child grows up feeling safe, loved and with a sense of belonging in their whānau and community. But for some of our children, this is far from reality. Instead, they are trapped in a maze of intergenerational harm that they can’t escape on ...
Te Pāti Māori are calling for David Seymour to resign as Associate Health Minister in response to his call for Pharmac to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi. “This announcement is just another example of the government’s anti-Tiriti, anti-Māori agenda.” Said Co-leader and spokesperson for health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. “Seymour thinks it ...
The soaring price of renting is driving the rise of inflation in this country - with latest figures from Stats NZ showing rents are up 4.8 per cent on average while annual inflation is at 3.3 per cent. ...
National’s Emissions Reduction Plan will take New Zealand further from the economy we need to ensure the next generation has a stable climate and secure livelihoods. ...
Following consultation with named parties and thorough consideration of privacy interests, the Green Party is in a position to release the Executive Summary of the final report from the independent investigation into Darleen Tana. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon should be asking serious questions of his Minister for Resources Shane Jones now it’s been revealed he misled the public about a dinner with mining companies that he didn’t declare and said wasn’t pre-arranged. ...
Te Pāti Māori have submitted to the Justice Select Committee against the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill. The bill will further entrench racism in our justice system and fails to focus on rehabilitation. “Reinstating Three Strikes will empower a systematically racist system and exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is set to make a determination on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill in the coming weeks. “This legislation will give landlords the power to kick our whānau out onto the street for no reason” said Housing spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “Their solution to the housing ...
“National’s campaign was about tackling crime and the best they can do is a two-year long Ministerial Advisory Group,” Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
“There are more examples of charter schools failing their students than there are success stories. The coalition Government is driving to dismantle our public school system and instead promote a privatised, competitive structure that puts profits before kids,” Jan Tinetti said. ...
“This government is choosing to deliberately mislead and withhold information, keeping our people in the dark about this government’s agenda and the future of our mokopuna,” said co-leader and spokesperson for Health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The call comes after the demand from the Chief Ombudsman that Associate Minister of Health, Casey ...
“Today’s climate announcement by Simon Watts makes clear the National Government is simply paying lip service to meeting its climate change targets,” Megan Woods said. ...
National is choosing to make life harder for workers by taking away the rights our communities have fought hard for. Here's how they’re taking workers backwards. ...
Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views. “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
Tēnā tātou katoa, Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks. “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. At the heart of this report are the ...
For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024. “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane. “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says. “This will be our third visit to ...
Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
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‘
EMA say they can weather the Thompson Storm.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10735208'>EMA
The EMA must expel Alasdair Thompson if it is to retain any credibility as an organisation.
If they don’t then actions need to be taken against them by those entrusted with ensuring democracy and fairness.
For instance though Parliament never released the name of those lobby groups given privileged access to parliament.
You can bet that the EMA is definitely one of them.
This privilege not available to normal citizens should be suspended from the EMA until the time that they distance themselves from Alasdair Thompson.
In a democracy an organisation that tolerates bigotry should have no special arrangement that allows them to influence public policy.
Every woman MP no matter their political affiliation should demand that the EMA special access ‘keys’ and ‘swipe cards’ should be taken off them, until Thompson is dismissed.
The EMA claim that they can weather the Thompson Storm.
I doubt they could weather that storm. As a lobby group they have been very effective, having the ear of parliament, achieving much of their agenda.
The EMA’s special access to parliament and parliamentarians would be a big part of this success.
Till Thomson is sacked the call on the floor of parliament from every women MP should be:
“Remove the EMA special access now! ”
“EMA say they can weather the Thompson Storm”
The EMA must expel Alasdair Thompson if it is to retain any credibility as an organisation.
If they don’t then actions need to be taken against them by our representatives, those entrusted by us to ensuring fairness.
The EMA need to learn that women are not powerless, and that a group that tolerates the prejudice behind justifying lower pay rates, will pay a price.
Parliament never released the name of those lobby groups given privileged access to parliament.
But you can guarantee that the EMA is definitely one of them.
This privilege not available to normal citizens should be suspended from the EMA until the time that they distance themselves from Alasdair Thompson.
In a democracy an organisation that tolerates bigotry should have no special arrangement that allows them to influence public policy.
This should be a given!
Every female MP no matter their political affiliation should demand that the EMA special access ‘keys’ and ‘swipe cards’ should be taken off them, until Thompson is dismissed.
The EMA have claimed; “The EMA can weather the Thompson Storm.”
Let us see if they can “weather” having their special access removed. As a lobby group they have been very effective in achieving their aims, having the ear of parliament would play a large part in that success.
In my opinion the EMA’s special access to parliament and parliamentarians is an affront to democracy in itself, the fact that this group tolerates bigotry against women makes it worse.
Till Thomson is sacked the call on the floor of parliament from every women MP should be:
“Remove the EMA special access now! “
“If they don’t then actions need to be taken against them by those entrusted with ensuring democracy and fairness.”
Honestly I didn’t read any further than this.
I would have thought it was democratic and fair to let a private organisation (no matter how public their profile) manage their affairs as best they see fit. If they do something that discredits them in the eye of the public, then that is their just deserts.
The poor man is trying hard not to join the masses at the dole queue.
I wipe away a tear.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10735421
Maybe he’s come down with man flu.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/get-well-soon-guys-man-flu-is-real-study-finds/article2077962/
(“Women are simply less likely to succumb to bugs, the Telegraph reports.
Compared with men, an Australian study found, women have a “much stronger immune response” to rhinoviruses – the germs responsible for the common cold.”)
This may have been answered before but does anyone have actual numbers of extra police in sth akl under Collins.
Also the number/cost of all the extra consultants and various toe cutters the nats have brought in to do ministerial portfolios dirty work?
I answered and said that 300 extra were put into sth Auckland but this was not under Collins. Good question you ask because there was not an increase in the budget for police.
So, following on from Zetetic’s post at http://thestandard.org.nz/howzat/ where he opined that “If best Key can promise for the economy is an increase in a tiny portion of tourism, some time in the future, when a plane that isn’t even operational might start flying here direct from Mumbai, we’re in trouble”, we have this news:
“New Zealand is one step closer to reaching a free trade agreement with India and Kiwi companies are optimistic about their prospects in one of the world’s fastest growing markets.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10735338
Good news, hmmm?
Of course, I guess Zetetic will still be outraged about the lack of tourism …
G, the devil is in the detail. If its a “fair” trade agreement as opposed to the standard “free” trade agreement I am all for it. Previous so called free trade agreements have probably alerted Zets “shit radar”.
Still. Good news that we line up our Defence Force with that of a Nuclear Armed Country. Cosy bedfellows?
ianmac – Saves on uniforms too! To be cheap is our aim isn’t it? And getting nastier too.
See http://www.thestandard.org.nz/keys-to-do-list/ , third to last.
No, it’s not as it’s unsustainable. All it’ll really do is put a bit more money in some peoples pockets while destroying our ability to live as we will have destroyed the environment to get those dollars.
Oh good, we can buy cheaper T-shirts made in sweat shops whilst their very affluent bosses can holiday here, their film industry can gain big subsidies and we can export, well….. our call centre business (or what’s left of it) to Bangalore…
No one involved with the “Macsynna King” book comes out looking any good, but book banning or burning leads to worse places. I’d rather see piles of them sitting in stores unsold then quietly remaindered, or dumped on Wisharts property.
And while I’m on mike, these FB ‘mobs’ seem like bigoted internet talk back, the last pile of crap page of significance bought us a nice Lord Jackson supported anti union march on Labour Day.
I dunno, TM. The two chains have declined to stock the Smacsyna King book. That’s not a ban, it’s a moral decision to put good taste ahead of profits. That’s rare in business, aye? As I said on Open Mike a couple of days ago, if Tepco or BP put the public good ahead of private gain, the world would be a better place.
That’s not a ban, it’s a moral decision to put good taste ahead of profits
These bookshop owners are moral, are they? Have you checked whether they have refused to stock A Life by Tony Blair?
I think their morality may well be selective, Mozza. But I have nothing but praise for the decision in this case.
Wow, just spent a few minutes trawling through the fb page. The page itself calls for a boycott, not a ban, but the tone of many comments is that hanging is too good for them. An amazing outpouring of ignorance, hatred and bile. As you say, TM, just like talkback!
BTW, just to save people the bother of reading the book, I thhink I can sum it up in four words:
‘It wasn’t me, honest’.
Hanging is too good for Macsyna King.
I did not like the idea of her making money from the deaths for which she was (at best for her) partly responsible. I understand that Wishart has said she is not and, if that’s true, that must be the end of the issue. People write books about all sorts of horrible things, yet no-one suggests that books about, say, the holocaust should be banned on the grounds that someone is profiting from that misery.
I heard on nine to noon that Wishart has said that she will not be making anything from the book. Take that with whatever skepticism you use with Wishart statements.
Meh, he’s not always wrong. In fact, I believe he’s seldom if ever wrong on matters of fact – just his interpretation of them.
Decades ago Wishart used to check himself and his sources much more thoroughly. However I suspect that he has been falling subject to hubris more and more over the years and doing less and less checking when he ‘knows’ the answers.
These days Wishart is a classic case of where a lack of knowledge makes him completely credulous when it comes to both the sources of facts as well as the interpretation. It is really hard to find anything in his recent books that stacks up as being of much relevance beyond being Wisharts opinion (ie not his interpretation – because that would have required that he thought about it and judged it).
He is wrong in facts as well as interpretation. The codswallop he has used about Takuu was a classic example – where he seems to have used newspaper clippings from journalists about other islands thousands of kms away as what he made his mind up from. Not to mention his other rationales for being too lazy to actually investigate.
eg…
http://thestandard.org.nz/there-once-was-an-island-in-theatres-this-week/#comment-343639
http://thestandard.org.nz/there-once-was-an-island-in-theatres-this-week/#comment-343925
http://www.baptist.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1429:clearing-the-air&catid=172:general&Itemid=196
Umm I wrote a post about a particularly daft example…. Yep here.
Moral outrage is so warming at a time of winter frosts isn’t it! And the superior thinking of FB ticking yes/no like/don’t like is an example of deep thought about the King book about the Kahui twins? North and South have often done stories about people who have been involved in violence and crime so what’s the difference here. Ian Wishhart is different of course but shouldn’t be banned as is happening.
Burning/banning books because ‘I don’t like the subject, the author, the opinions’ is dangerous. Inciting hatred by denigrating some person or group might be a valid reason. But shining a light on dark doings through a book is useful. Especially if we absorb the detail and use that knowledge to change behaviour so the dark doings don’t occur again.
Fancy banning or boycotting a book unread!
Nothing wrong with boycotting a book without reading it, Ian. I’ve personally boycotted Mein Kampf all my life, because I don’t have to read the thing to now what it means. In this case, King and Wishart are trying to gain from the death of the two kids. Wishart intends to profit financially, King intends to promote her own claim of innocence.
Neither of them are likely to be interested in telling the truth anyway, so the book is unlikely to be anything other than a work of fiction.
VOR. I’m reading a book currently about Stalin in the 1930s. I couldn’t tell if it was worth reading until I had read at least part of it. (Excellent by the way. “The Stalin Epigram.”) Sure it is very unlikely that I would ever read a Wishart book but I rather resent others Censoring my reading a legally published book.
But no one is censoring your reading, Ian. Get it off the net if you want it or go to any of the other bookshops that are stocking it. The call is for a boycott, not a ban. The Stalin book sounds interesting. He’s still rather popular in Russia, often ranking just below Putin in the preferred leader polls.
Seen this? http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10735464&ref=rss
Ian Wishart answers a number of questions about Macsyna King and why he wrote ‘Breaking the Silence’.
This is a HUGE ‘freedom of expression’ issue and I support 100% Ian Wishart’s right to write and publish his book ‘Breaking the Silence’, and MY right as a customer to be able to purchase it from the Warehouse or Paper Plus or Whitcoulls.
For goodness sake – it wasn’t Ian Wishart who killed the Kahui baby boys!
The CRAP that he’s getting for writing about the killing of the Kahui baby boys is worse than the KILLERS?
Duh?
If Ian’s book results in the Police reopening the Kahui case and it results in a conviction for the deaths of those poor little babies – then surely that will be the outcome that most people want?
Who is this ‘Chris’ that set up the ‘Boycott the Macsyna King Book’ facebook and LIED about Macsyna profiting from ‘Breaking the Silence’ when that was NEVER the case?
What are ‘Chris’s motives, and with whom is he connected?
Use some basic logic here folks!
Who stands to benefit most from trying to ‘silence’ Ian wishart who is trying to ‘break the silence’ about the causes of child abuse in general and the Kahui case in particular?
The killed Kahui baby boys – or the KILLERS of the Kahui baby boys?
Our rights to freedom of expression are under siege.
Whatever you may think about Ian Wishart and his views on a number of issues is surely NOT the point here.
It is a matter of principle.
All those who believe in freedom of expression should be stepping up to the plate – because WHO IS NEXT????
Penny Bright
http://waterpressure.wordpress.com
Sorry Penny, but you simply don’t have a right as a customer to be able to purchase it from the Warehouse or Paper Plus or Whitcoulls, nor from any other specific outlet.
I would have if The Warehouse and Paper Plus – who originally WERE going to stock ‘Breaking the Silence’ were pressured into not doing so.
That is NOT ok.
WHO IS NEXT????
Penny Bright
http://waterpresure.wordpress.com
With respect, you would have an opportunity, not a right.
Ian can write it. You can read it. The rights don’t extend much further than that, do they?
Ian’s a publisher. Does he have to publish my books? Why not?
Yes, that’s the question that matters… People need to see that!
An interesting question! Amongst the abusive names I got called when I went there and spoke against the boycott (they included crack whore, lmao,
Opps, I meant to add – that the other accusation against me was that I was a member of Macsyna’s family! (If I was, I’d have said so.)
VoR Until the killer/s of Chris and Cru are charged with murder the King/Wishart book is exploiting the death of Chris and Cru. If there is ever a right time to write a book, it would be once the killer/s are sentenced.
Do I need to read the book to establish if King or Wishart know who murdered Chris and Cru?
Wishart has stated that King mentions the killer. King needs to go down to the police station with a lawyer and tell the police everything, (I would not allow how I feel about the police to stop myself from talking to them were my two babies murdered).
I don’t give a shit about any talk of censorship as the book can be accessed in NZ. What really pisses me off, is that two beautiful babies were murdered and the King/Wishart book is EXPLOITATION.
Something called “Treetop” is just a tad confused.
1.) If there is ever a right time to write a book, it would be once the killer/s are sentenced.
What? Is there a law against writing a book now? Are you some sort of marketing genius that has assessed the optimum time to release books?
2.) Do I need to read the book to establish if King or Wishart know who murdered Chris and Cru?
I don’t think anyone cares what you need to do. If you know who it was, by the way, why don’t you tell the rest of us?
3.) I don’t give a shit about any talk of censorship…
You illiberal dolt. I think it’s offensive to read ignorant comments on The Standard but I wouldn’t dream of censoring you. Why would you stop me being able to buy a book?
4.) What really pisses me off, is that two beautiful babies were murdered and the King/Wishart book is EXPLOITATION.
Every book that’s ever been written is exploitation. What the hell are you on about?
Morrissey in response to your questions below my questions numbered 1 – 4
1. If there is ever a right time to right a book, it would be once the killer/s are sentenced?
1.1 Is there a law about writing a book now?
No there is not and I did not say that there was a law.
1.2 Are you some sort of market genius that has assessed the optimum time to release a book?
The killer/s are still out there and were the book to aid the killer/s in anyway this would not be the case were there a conviction.
2. Do I need to read the book to estabish if King or Wishart know who murdered Chris and Cru?
2.1 If you know who it was why don’t you tell the rest of us?
Well what is stopping King and Wishart from going to the police as they appear to know more than I do about who took two innocent lives.?
3. I don’t give a shit about any talk of censorship?
3.1 Why would you stop me from being able to buy the book?
How am I stopping you from being able to buy the book?
Just because some book stores will not sell it this is not stopping people from buying the book. The book has not been banned, some outlets chose not to stock it.
4.What really pisses me off, is that two beautiful babies were murdered and the King/Wishart book is EXPLOITATION.
4.1 What the hell are you on about?
Had Wishart written a book about the background of the mother’s of murdered children, there may be some common threads on why their babies and children are fatally harmed or were they to have survived been brain damaged. The risk factors of the mother and child would be better understood and hopefully prevented.
Something called Treetop is a tad confused. You are entitled to have an opinion. I note your comment in 4.2.2.1.3.1 “Actually, Vicky, Wishart is a callous systemic liar. He gives pride of place in his ridiculous monthly magazine to notorious liars and hate mongers like Mark Steyn and Miranda Devine. Have you read any of his unhinged rants against Palestinians and Iraqis?
Ian Wishart is dedicated to telling untruth.”
Yes I know my name is not Vicky
I couldn’t agree less! You simply assume Wishart intends to profit financially, which I seriously doubt – I think he sees himself as a campaigner….
I know you are against everything Wishart stands for, and so am I (well, 85% of it), but he would not knowingly tell an untruth.
I know you are against everything Wishart stands for, and so am I (well, 85% of it), but he would not knowingly tell an untruth.
Actually, Vicky, Wishart is a callous and systematic liar. He gives pride of place in his ridiculous monthly magazine to notorious liars and hate-mongers like Mark Steyn and Miranda Devine. Have you read any of his unhinged rants against Palestinians and Iraqis?
Ian Wishart is dedicated to telling untruth.
Yes, Morrissey, you’re right… Scarily, I think it’s because he believes Steyn and Devine and the rest of the rubbish he spouts is the truth! I think he wouldn’t knowingly lie, but I believe he is a “useful idiot”. That’s IMO worse, and rather sad. I would hate to believe he’s actually a knowing liar, which I don’t believe he is.
I have read his evil magazine (my right-wing sister recommended it) but it makes me vomit.
Close-up tonight.
I missed in what capacity Christine-watch-my-earrings-move-with-my-angry-headshake-Rankin was on the show, (assume as Family Commission spokesperson) but she wasn’t half extolling the virtues of Wishart’s book.
“All New Zealanders must read this book. I know what’s in there even though I haven’t read it myself!”
What?
Incidentally, Christine Rankin was appointed to the Family Commission a couple of years ago now but, from memory, she didn’t actually have a job description for her appointment – has one been written for her yet?
I am also uncomfortable about the “boycott”. While it is called a boycott, it is effectively a form of censorship by applying economic pressure on the booksellers. And I am worried that it smacks of the sort of moral panic (a la NY mosque) that we see so often in the US of A – god forbid that we go down that road.
Like someone said, I too would be happy if it just sat on the shelves. Not that I wouldn’t read the book at the library, but I would not want to directly contribute to the promotion of “her side of the story” – not when the police should have been the first ones told.
As an amateur historian, I have often read source material that people would find objectionable but it allows me to see the context first hand.
The FB page is a way for people to express their feelings, though I wish they would cease from the lynch mob comments.
The book is a lightening rod for the frustration people felt in the face of the arrogant wall of silence from the family, the failure of the court case and the fact that there is still no one held accountable for the murders.
More so at the prospect that Macsyna King would be getting attention when she is either guilty or, if not, was part of the cover up to protect the person guilty of murdering babies.
BTW – Someone at the inquest has fingered her as the murder
Exactly right… I went to that group and it’s worse than you could possibly imagine! I made the mistake of signing up to comment, and got abused myself, as a “shithead”, “He-she”, “crack addict”, a childless spinster (which is hilarious) and last but not least I was repeatedly told that I must be a relative of Macsyna King! (If I was, I would have said so, but they were missing the point. What’s next – book-burning, a la Texas?)
Have to say I’m loving what is happening in Greece at the moment 😉
I wonder if New Zealanders would ever get hungry and desperate enough to take to the streets, or are we more like German Jews ? Passively going to the shower block?
Interesting times
http://www.democracynow.org/2011/6/29/inside_greeks_general_strike_video_report
Robert, I for one applaud all those brave enough to stand against tyranny whether political or financial. What worries me is the escalation of violence – which one could argue might be innevitable- real people get real wounds / real death.
On the issue at hand the Casino is still running but all bets are off as the players run out of chips. Germany and the financial world could be left with a pile of chips backed by IOUs from every country in Europe with no way of collecting. As the masters in these countries look to flog their people so that they can last a little longer at the table things will get ugly.
Those of us in NZ who think these things wont affect us think again, it is going to be an interesting year as Shonkey tries to keep non existent cash coming in to prop up tax cuts etc (based upon non payable IOUs quietly promised against state assets to be sold and rented back to us).
Apparently Goldman Sachs & Co. have quite a few side bets going that Greece will default. The whole thing is rigged so they can’t lose and will make a packet either way.
Gotta admire these guys. Goldman makes other investment banks quake in their boots. To bad for the people of Greece though, oh well just more collateral damage. The politicians will do OK out of it no doubt.
The collapse of European pension funds due to defaulting will also cause widespread misery.
Meanwhile, RNZ’s Morning Report regularly interviews Goldman Sachs NZ-branch “experts” as if they are something other than members of a gang of economic terrorists.
Teenaa koe, RobAttack
I think the analogy you paint is a bit raw.
Tariana Turia used the word ‘holocaust’ to describe a Māori situation and was severely chastised by many sections of society including the jewish community. Instead, why not say ‘sheep to the slaughter’ which most kiwis can relate to although not many can buy under current pricing.
To ‘soften’ the analogy. The trick is encourage people to hold out hope that a warm shower awaits them at the end of a hard road. So, for example, offer them water or the promise of water if they are thirsty ( ‘a rising tide raises all boats’; ‘no gain without pain’; ‘there is no alternative’ etc) and they will be grateful for any expression of humanity or apparent empathy, hold out hope and be acquiescent.
That’s not something you need to do when dealing with or to sheep.
Good stuff Bill. Its a bit like that pathetic Godwin call when you call a spade a spade, a fascist a fascist. One can be sensative but the issue remains.
For the record Adele, Turiana probably had a point, unfortunately our PC use of language took the sting out of the message.
The nature of the events are different and hence the objection to the use of the word holocaust. Holocaust is a loaded term that has come to represent a degree of intentionality and cold-blooded use of industrial methods to utterly extinguish a people group.
It also has been come to be reserved for a specific event in human history.
Her use of the term was ill advised and she got the blow-back that comes from misusing such a loaded and specific term.
For other, similar events (Rwanda/Armenians etc) we now use the word genocide to describe other events that are intended to destroy a people group. As such we look for the presence of a certain set of characteristics that would qualify the event for the name genocide.
Even if she had used the term genocide I would still think that she was wrong. It would not be an appropriate term for what was a series of events that aimed to subjugate, marginalise, rob, disinherit a people group born of a mixture of greed and cultural arrogance.
kia ora adele – well said
If an individual seeks money from me that I believe they have no entitlement to, I tell them to fuck off. Doubtless they apply pressure and issue all manner of threats of how dire the future will be if I insist on retaining what is mine.
Seems that’s the situation with Greece and others. The threat coming from the money men is the supposed dire consequences of default. Truth is that default isn’t dire. Well, it is, but not for the defaulter.
Argentina defaulted. There was no sustained outward rush of investment. There were no starving millions. The Argentinian economy was finally able to stand on its feet when the government pushed back against the financial players who kept pushing it to the ground.
But the Greek government, in concert with others, are cowards and idiots acting as enforcers for bullies rather than as defenders of the Greek people.
The Greeks time of relying on failed socialist policies for their economic properity is coming to an end. They have to face up to the fact they can no longer have their cake and eat it as well.
I’d love to see what alternative some of you lefties are proposing for the Greek economy.
Gosman, being slack collecting your taxes, and letting the investment banks convince you that you should take on more and more debt while you trust them to look after the details are not “socialist policies”.
The RWNJs are rewriting history already. Gosman, it was failed capitalist policies that caused the financial collapse.
In Greece??? How so considering most rational commentators are stating the problem in Greece is the fact they spend far mor than they earn and the Government sector is far too large and generous?
Funny how the Bankers survive and get bonus payments regardless of how the peasants suffer.
There will certainly be issues for greece if it turns to custard, just one small example as below.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303936704576399273733104288.html
Got me thinking: Is Greece still paying for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games?
Good point. Wouldn’t surprise me, anyone who’d take on that kind of debt for their own aggrandisement needs their head reading.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3649268.stm
Thanks for the link.
….are we more like German Jews ? Passively going to the shower block?
This is without question the most ignorant and offensive comment of the year so far. You idiot.
There was an interview just before 10:00 this morning on the national Programme with a British woman on the Greek issue .Very interesting especially if someone can put up the link. Lehman Bros were involved re manipulating Greeces entry into the EU, also with the ability for some to retire at 50 on the state and that shipping maginates were tax exempt because of the value they allow society to benefit from. Now here is a country that has no ability to experience reality !!!!
Shipping magnates are exempt from paying tax. Aristole Onassis from Greece became extremely wealthy through shipping.
And hairdressers, pastry chefs and radio announcers were deemed able to retire on 95% of their final wage aged 50 – wish I had gone and lived there!
robert attack – German Jews deserve not to be slighted by such insensitive, unthinking types as you.
Yes, there are better pictures to use….
Following the Judas goat to slaughter.
Sleep walking our way into oblivion.
Striking up another tune on the deck of the Titanic.
Ordering another round when the roof is falling.
Labour Leader Phil Goff wrong again.
Labour leader Phil Goff has got it wrong again. “Hone took that [TTT] from being the safest Maori Party seat in the country to being the most marginal…”, Mr Goff said to Waatea news. Hone Harawira’s seat had the fourth largest majority out of seven seats in the last election. It is interesting to… note that the three lowest majorities in the maori seats included the only two labour MP’s elected, Parekura with a 1645 majority, and Nanaia with only a 888 majority.
Labour leader Phil Goff is in real trouble, it is most likely that his leadership will end after the next election. Phil Goof’s most dangerous enemies are his own labour MP’s, the knives are being sharpened as we speak…
“… the knives are being sharpened as we speak…”
God I hope they are using power-tools.
If a job’s worth doing…..
…..and this need is urgent!
Oh dear. This is clearly a mortal blow for Goff. I won’t be the least bit surprised if not only resigned the leadership, but went as far as locking himself in a quiet room with a bottle of scotch, a revolver and a single bullet. Given the gravity of this appalling error, it would be the only decent thing to do. Thank you both for alerting us to this shocking chain of events and Godspeed you both in your campaign to re-elect Nact, sorry, rejuvenate the Labour Party.
Goff is doing far more to help National get re-elected, than all blog commenters combined could possibily achieve.
watch Joyce getting loved at nethui;
https://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23NetHui
I couldn’t be bothered. I only have a few hours that I can spend there because of work timetables, and listening to him didn’t met the criteria. Unfortunately neither did Rob Oram or any of the keynote speeches to date.
Fantastic contribution from the genius. An embarrassment of riches.
I was trying hard to get to it and now I am glad I didn’t.
Cameron is claiming the Labour Party has entered into a contract to bring his site down!!
To quote “Labour has put out a contract amongst the hacking community to deface or take down my site”.
Traffic volume must be down so he needs to boost it up. Honestly though …
Perhaps he should be invited to put up proof or apologise.
*grin* Sounds like crap – but he is a credulous soul – someone has probably fed this to him to wind him up. Mind you, I think that if I see a hole on his site from here on out (as has existed several times in the past), I will be publishing it rather than my usual practices.
“I will be publishing it rather than my usual practices.”
Don’t sink to his level.
Of course because the Labour party are just so gosh darned nice and would never, ever think of doing anything underhanded would they
Perhaps he should write a formal complaint:
Dear Anonymous,
Please don’t hack my site. I’ve been a RWNJ National (under the table) employed lackey for a long time now and I really have to keep blogging crap right up until the next election, otherwise I don’t get my John Key autographed arse warmer.
If you keep stopping graphics from appearing and limiting my links, I’ll huff and puff and blow your house down… Where do you live again?
I know I hacked the Labour Party website, but nobody is allowed to hack my site. It’s just not fair because I rule everything and I have guns.
Yours respectfully,
Cameron Slater.
PS Can you super size my arse warmer please?
There was a real lovers tiff between him and Trevor mallard yesterday on Red Alert, and the blubbery one was dishing the threats to TM, along the lines of
The man is a tosser
“Man” might be stretching it a bit.
Aye Ian
Cameron gets really really upset at the mention of his friend Simon Lusk. Every time Simon’s name is mentioned he goes ballistic.
Hmm this could be fun.
Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk, Simon Lusk …
‘Perhaps he should be invited to put up proof or apologise’ nice one mickey, bit early for a friday funny but hilarious none the less.
Slater/Wishart/DPF at times are bottom feeders, reminds me of a t-shirt at Despair.com that goes ‘more people have read this t-shirt than your blog’
Yet another hilarious revelation – see Red Alert. (Damm I must learn how to link):
Rodney Hide was seen this morning jumping out of his Crown car and taking a photograph of Phil Twyford’s Te Atatu campaign office. So what was that about? An accusation (in due course) of a supposed rorting of tax-payers money by Phil Twyford? If so, I think Twyford may have already successfully killed it.
The rich aren’t the problem. Rich people (the good kind) know their wealth is earned, the kind that lasts, not won by corruption, not won by speculatively excesses, and they will only remain rich if they stay competitive. Just as in any social situation you have cheaters and short-cutters, who seek economic and social recognition at the expense of their own ethics and morals. Wannabes rich, who want to have hundreds of millions in the bank and be PM, but actually have no social platform and so are tools for those who want to cheat to get rich. The wealthy and poor alike know that true prosperity comes of tangible generous spirit. Now National have none, and Labour had little for 9 years, their goal seems to play along. The question for me is where is the social justice debate, why is the political wealth and history denied us? Why? Because Labour introduced the Human Rights Act partially, and created an organisation too close to government (they actively advise government departments!) so the immediacy of their relationship, snotty better than everyone attitude having every branch of government potentially available to their decisions, becomes yet another barrier to Human Rights. As human rights are essentially breach by governments. So yes, we should be compensated for poor government, the poor and the rich, the rich also stand to lose massively from the neo-liberal paradigm when oil, climate crisis, resource wars and food spikes perpetually. So I ask where is the social justice debate on our MSM, where are the independent Human Rights lawyers the hounders of the oppressed? Gone because the Human Rights Commission serves its own and its paymaster role, to hide human rights abuses, loss of political depth, lose of economic rights, lose of social integrity. I am astonished how poor our laws are, that a person can say have a truck hub land next door to them and they have no real recourse! Articulated trucks are horrendously noisy, in any first world economy they are placed well away from homes since the throbbing of them warming up causes heart murmurs and worse. So to hear that a council just dropped a truck hauler next to a home without any noise abatement breaches the human rights of the surrounding property owners. And all the hauler needs to have done is put up some massively large walls and sound protections. Has NZ forgotten how to build substantial walls of breeze blocks, its a half a day process for the price of a roof!
(this story was on TV last night). There was adequate room in the program for a social justice debate about how residential areas have exclusions against such trucks parking over night.
Hey, this is the 21st century and we still get this crap happening, those poor folks who were forced to risk being hauled away themselves by police when they blocked the entrance.
So where are the social justice, and why are they so put down by the likes of Holmes or Henry, if they do show up. Moustache! I think the blind worship of God, Communism, or profit at the expense of anything else is dangerous and we need to rain them in. The Profit God must be brought back down to size and fast.
Who Pays for Pike River?
I think I speak for all of New Zealand when I say our hearts go out to the families of those killed in the Pike River mine disaster. Not only have the families of the deceased had to wait an incessant amount of time for the recovery process to begin, it now appears that it’s been financially mismanaged, and will stall because of a lack foresight by the receivers to set aside enough money to complete the task.
Open letter to Doris Mousdale of the Arcadia Bookshop
Re: your decision to boycott the Macsyna King book
Dear Ms. Mousdale,
I was interested to hear you will refuse to sell the Macsyna King book on moral grounds. That’s a laudable decision.
I presume that you have also refused to sell A Life by Tony Blair, Giving by Bill Clinton and Decision Points by George W. Bush. Each of these authors is directly culpable for the deaths of far more than just two children.
If, however, you do sell any or all of those books, could you please explain why?
Yours sincerely,
Morrissey Breen
Northcote Point
Was that ‘A Life’ by Tony Blair or ‘A Lie’ by Tony Blair ?
With Blair, as with the other two, the terms are interchangeable. One of my favourite press conferences of all time was in London, 2003, when Bush told the assembled media outside No. 10 Downing Street: “I like Tony ‘cos he tells the truth!”
Actually, there is a tape of Bush speaking the truth on just one occasion…
Another open letter this time to lady from Unity Bookshop. Women seem to take the high moral tone to uncomfortable heights often. Are they more sensitive and caring than men or just unable to look directly at unpleasant reality?
Are they more sensitive and caring than men or just unable to look directly at unpleasant reality?
Doris Mousdale does her anodyne book reviews for Leighton Smith and Paul Holmes, two of the most racist, hateful broadcasters in the country. It is absurd to imagine that she is too “sensitive” or “caring” to stock a book which, however bad it might be, will be no worse than an hour of Smith’s or Holmes’s ranting.
I go with the theory that people who protest too much are uncomfortably close to the subject they are protesting about – in this case I’d looking at paid-up members of the smacking brigade or their own close shave with being in the underclass as driving unreasonably high levels of book-banning and hang’em rhetoric.
Sad but true Rosy.
There are also those who are just using the issue to push their racist agendas, and vent their hatred of Maori.
Good on you Morrissey! Let us know if she replies…
Looks like I will have to look at the spam stuff again this weekend. People have started getting auto-moderated again.
The reason is pretty clear from the akismet anti-spam chart.
Why isn’t Jerry the Butt getting off his and organising some package to help the Canterbury regional government with their disaster insurance? He has King-like powers hasn’t he? What a useless type he is. He must have wormed his way into the inner circle to be favoured boy to get his role – or has it just been done on a location thing – he is elected for Christchurch and so everyone has to reap the meagre pickings of what Chch NACTS voted in.
Tom Petty won’t let the right use his songs – and there are many others!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/29/michele-bachmann-tom-petty
Read yesterday I think, that he wouldn’t let the Democrats use “I won’t back down”, on the grounds that they probably would. WIN.
No, wouldn’t let Bush use that song
Hero of the Week Award – Anonymous Donor
The Christchurch Earthquake Appeal has received an anonymous donation of $5 million, which is the largest individual donation yet.
Well done that man! (Probably a right-winger)
Anyone on here got a Kindle? Comments please
When the global economic system goes down you are going to want good old fashioned paper books.
PS I understand that Amazon can “kill switch” your books at will e.g. if they have a disagreement with a publisher etc.
Urban density and transport-related energy consumption
Why we need to look at making our cities much smaller. The energy used in large, sprawling cities is astronomical.
And then we have Monbiot’s Sustainable cities must be compact.
The uncontrolled growth of our cities that we’ve seen over the last 50 odd years has got to come to and end as we just can’t afford it.
Highly dense urban areas with large numbers of people per sq km will need highly efficient systems of bringing (labour intensive) produce in from rural areas.
Basically the fossil fuels we have left at this stage all need to be reserved for ambulances, tractors and harvesters. Full stop.