Open mike 30/06/2013

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:00 am, June 30th, 2013 - 166 comments
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Morrissey 1

30 June 2013 at 7:14 am

Humbug Corner
 No. 6: BARACK OBAMA

President Obama has called Mandela a “personal hero” and said the imprisoned activist’s willingness to risk his life for the cause of equal rights helped inspire his own political activism.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/obama-paying-tribute-mandela-africa-19530636#.Uc6QFuD7JFQ

“L’hypocrisie est un hommage que le vice rend à la vertu.”
—-François de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Humbug Corner is dedicated to gathering, and highlighting, the most striking examples of faux solicitude, insincere apologies, and particularly stupid recycling of official canards. It is produced by the Insincerity Project®, a division of Daisycutter Sports Inc.
More appalling humbug….
No. 5 John Key: “Yeah well the Greens’ answer to everything is rail, isn’t it.”
No. 4 Mike Bush: “Bruce Hutton’s… integrity beyond reproach…such great character…”
 No. 3 Dean Lonergan: “Y’ know what? The only people who will mock them are people who are dwarfists.” 
No. 2 Peter Dunne: “What a load of drivel and sanctimonious humbug…” 
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09062013/#comment-645811
 No.1 Dominic Bowden: “It’s okay to be speechless.”
 http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-02062013/#comment-642288
- Murray Olsen 1.1
  
  30 June 2013 at 4:07 pm
  
  It does make me a little sicker than normal to see Obama attaching himself to Mandela. Obama barely manages to talk the talk, let alone walk the walk. The equal rights Obama seems most concerned about are the rights of GEC, Monsanto, and the other corporations. As far as humans go, an equal right to be spied on or whacked by a drone is not much of a right at all. Yuck.
  - Populuxe1 1.1.1
    
    1 July 2013 at 4:30 am
    
    But then again I’m assuming you’re not black. Methinks you might want to check your white privilege there.
    - Murray Olsen 1.1.1.1
      
      1 July 2013 at 7:56 pm
      
      Do blacks love Obama and privileged whites dislike him? You are so informative. Thanks.
    - Morrissey 1.1.1.2
      
      1 July 2013 at 8:01 pm
      
      But then again I’m assuming you’re not black. Methinks you might want to check your white privilege there.
      
      ???!!??
      
      He’s not malicious this time, simply bewildered.
      
      As usual.
Morrissey 2

30 June 2013 at 7:39 am

As you read this item, bear in mind that Barack Obama is presently in Africa pretending to be a champion of democracy….

California chalk protester hit with gag order
RT, June 28, 2013 20:56

A California man facing more than a decade in prison for writing with chalk on public sidewalks has been told he’s barred from discussing the details of his controversial case outside of court.

Judge Howard Shore issued a gag-order in a San Diego, California courtroom this week against Jeff Olson, a 40-year-old activist that used washable children’s chalk to scribble anti-bank slogans in public space last year. According to the San Diego Reader, the gag-order issued on Friday also applies to witnesses, members of the jury and potentially others, a measure that Truth-Out editor Mark Karlin said is “unprecedented” for a misdemeanor trial.

Olson has been charged with 13 misdemeanor counts of vandalism for chalking slogans such as “No Thanks, Big Banks” and “Shame on Bank of America” on the sidewalks outside of branches in the San Diego area throughout 2012. Now as the criminal trial against him wages on in Southern California, the defendant and anyone remotely involved in the case are reportedly muzzled by a ban that could…

“I’m am not going out on a limb to say that this is outrageous,” quipped Olson.

http://rt.com/usa/chalk-olson-diego-san-404/

Comments from readers include these anonymous beauties….
“The prosecutors should be hanged as traitors.”
“You can talk vs. Blacks + poor in USA; but you can’t badmouth the rich.”
- Draco T Bastard 2.1
  
  30 June 2013 at 12:49 pm
  
  Yep, we’re seeing a return of Lèse-majesté with the rich as the new aristocrats.
- Rogue Trooper 2.2
  
  30 June 2013 at 1:11 pm
  
  Unfreakin’ believable : Thanks for the link too, Draco.
Morrissey 3

30 June 2013 at 7:58 am

Humbug Corner
 No. 7: BARACK OBAMA

In Pretoria, Mr Obama said Mr Mandela’s example of “the power of principle, of people standing up for what’s right continues to shine as a beacon. The outpouring of love that we’ve seen in recent days shows that the triumph of Nelson Mandela and his nation speaks to something very deep in the human spirit; the yearning for justice and dignity that transcends boundaries of race and class and faith and country.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23109574

“L’hypocrisie est un hommage que le vice rend à la vertu.”
—-François de La Rochefoucauld

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Humbug Corner is dedicated to gathering, and highlighting, the most striking examples of faux solicitude, insincere apologies, and particularly stupid recycling of official canards. It is produced by the Insincerity Project®, a division of Daisycutter Sports Inc.

More egregious humbug….
No. 6 Barack Obama: “Nelson Mandela is my personal hero…”
No. 5 John Key: “Yeah well the Greens’ answer to everything is rail, isn’t it.”
No. 4 Mike Bush: “Bruce Hutton’s… integrity beyond reproach…such great character…”
 No. 3 Dean Lonergan: “Y’ know what? The only people who will mock them are people who are dwarfists.” 
No. 2 Peter Dunne: “What a load of drivel and sanctimonious humbug…” 
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09062013/#comment-645811
 No.1 Dominic Bowden: “It’s okay to be speechless.”
 http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-02062013/#comment-642288
- Populuxe1 3.1
  
  1 July 2013 at 4:37 am
  
  There is something quite gobsmacking about a white person pontificating about what one black man should think about another black man. I imagine Mandela has a far greater significance to someone like Obama who has experienced racism and oppression every day of his life, than he would to you, little angry white person.
  - felix 3.1.1
    
    1 July 2013 at 8:27 am
    
    Odd that you focus on the blackness of the two people in Morrissey’s comment, when that had nothing whatsoever to do with the point he’s making.
    
    Or is it not a black thing at all that you’re bringing up? Is it that we’re not allowed to question the sincerity of a politician’s platitudes if they’re about someone significant to that politician in any way?
    
    Cos I tells ya, there’s something gobsmacking about both those possibilities.
  - Morrissey 3.1.2
    
    1 July 2013 at 8:08 pm
    
    There is something quite gobsmacking about a white person pontificating about what one black man should think about another black man.
    
    The only pontification on show here, other than your own, is the empty pontification, grandiose phraseology and monstrous insincerity of President Hopey Changey—gibbering on about “yearning for justice and dignity”, while pursuing America’s modern versions of Mandela with the zeal of a coon hound going after a fugitive slave in the swamps of Alabama.
    
    I imagine Mandela has a far greater significance to someone like Obama who has experienced racism and oppression every day of his life, than he would to you, little angry white person.
    
    If Mandela has “significance” to Obama, how come Obama shows absolutely none of Mandela’s moral and political courage?
North 4

30 June 2013 at 8:07 am

What the hell is ShonKey Python up to ?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10893823

A charter for abuse and dehumanisation ?

PPP – private profit from punitivism (surprise surprise).

Cheers ShonKey Python. Your Ceaucescu Club colleague David Cameron in Britain has tutored you well.
- JK 4.1
  
  30 June 2013 at 8:43 am
  
  When there are not enough jobs for those who are fit and well, how on earth are the mentally ill expected to find a job for 30 hours a week, and be able to work at it for all those 30 hours.
  - leftriteleft 4.1.1
    
    30 June 2013 at 9:23 am
    
    All is fine. Even Judith Collins, JonKey, et al have a job. Pays well too. Thanks TAXPAYERS.
    - weka 4.1.1.1
      
      30 June 2013 at 9:45 am
      
      And now the private agencies who WINZ will pass their clients with mental health issues to, have jobs as well. Well done NACT.
      - rosy 4.1.1.1.1
        
        30 June 2013 at 10:02 am
        
        “And now the private agencies who WINZ will pass their clients with mental health issues to
        
        Clipping the ticket, money for nothing and all that.
        
        The private agencies also have the private records of mental health patients. Lawyers and the Human Rights Commission will surely have more jobs working out the privacy breaches. Extra well done NAct
        
        Anne 4.1.1.1.1.1
        
        30 June 2013 at 11:38 am
        
        Who are these “private agencies”? This is horrific stuff. Creating an underclass who will be forced to live with the stigma of having been transferred to a privately run mental health work charter programme. That is a sure bet their names and a description of their condition will eventually end up in the public arena.
        
        Benny-basher Bennett has her footprints all over it of course. A “wrap around” service. Her favourite expression – doesn’t mean a thing.
        
        I wish someone would wrap her around and see how she likes it!
        
        Edit: I see rosy has already made the same points. No harm in re-stating them.
        
        Treetop …
        
        30 June 2013 at 7:14 pm
        
        The conclusion I have come to about Bennett is, that if she did not get the help that she got from the state when she was struggling she would not be where she is today.
        
        Bennett’s mind set is that those who are mentally unwell benefit from working. A person can only do what they can manage and what they can manage needs to be instigated by them and to be productive.
        
        Further poverty (sanctions) and an increase in anxiety will occur when a person is forced by a policy which has unrealistic expectations.
    - AmaKiwi 4.1.1.2
      
      30 June 2013 at 10:57 am
      
      So Phil Goff, Trevor Mallard, and Annette King.
      
      If the party members ranked the list, they could end up 60, 61, and 62.
      
      The dead hand of the past versus LP democracy.
      - Murray Olsen 4.1.1.2.1
        
        30 June 2013 at 4:10 pm
        
        How would they get so high? I think those three would be happier in National, not on the Labour list at all.
- muzza 4.2
  
  30 June 2013 at 9:25 am
  
  And the band played on….
  
  These are very sick , dangerous people *in charge*. No its not John Key, in charge!
- AsleepWhileWalking 4.3
  
  30 June 2013 at 10:45 am
  
  The Mad Doctor is hell bent on getting everyone better, or at least off welfare. Suicide = success!
  
  A recent article on the successful UK model which WINZ are now following:
  http://scriptonitedaily.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/atos-boss-earns-44k-a-week-while-disabled-fight-to-keep-just-131/
  - xtasy 4.3.1
    
    30 June 2013 at 11:06 am
    
    AsleepWhileWalking –
    
    The MAD doctor is coming to YOU!
    
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10893823
    
    “Mentally ill people will be moved off state-funded benefits and into work using private employment agencies who will earn hefty fees for the service.
    
    The Herald on Sunday has obtained leaked Ministry of Social Development documents detailing plans to get people suffering from depression, stress and anxiety disorders into paid work.
    
    Private providers are being lined up to deliver “wrap around” case management for sickness beneficiaries with common mental health conditions to help find jobs and co-ordinate clinical support so they stay in work.
    
    If successful, private providers could earn up to $12,000 for placing a client considered to have “entrenched” mental health issues in a job where they are working for 30 hours or more a week.”
    
    It seems the Herald on Sunday is onto something!
    
    So it seems that “mad doctor” David Bratt, Principal Health Advisor for MSD and Work and Income is finally getting his way, and that Paula Bennett and her underlings are going to push the agenda all the way now!
    
    As faithful “disciples” of the teachings of one Professor Mansel Aylward, former Chief Medical Officer of the Department for Work and Pensions in the UK (DWP), and later Unum Insurance sponsored boss of his own department at Cardiff University, pushing the agenda that most “common” mental and other health conditions are basically just not diagnosable and thus “in people’s minds”, they now seem to be trialling a plan to get this put into practice in little old New Zealand, the best real life laboratory already for social and economic “experinments” the developed world offers.
    
    http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/2013/04/18/welfare-reform-the-hidden-agenda-by-mo-stewart/
    
    This is stuff to follow, I presume. “Work sets you free”, getting a whole new meaning, a presumably more “humane” one, right here in New Zealand!
    
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbeit_macht_frei
    - AsleepWhileWorking 4.3.1.1
      
      30 June 2013 at 11:22 am
      
      Mmmm….there are only a limited amount of employers offering jobs for envelope stuffers and none that I have seen over the past few years.
      
      Experienced Case Managers often stuff up benefit entitlements. The idea of lay people trying to manage beneficiaries with serious mental health issues is very concerning and is likely to lead to many more people going without their full and correct entitlement. The contractors may be experienced with mental health consumers but it’s a big jump from there to figuring the ins and outs of the Social Securities Act.
      
      Also disturbing is the amount of money – $12K! Holy heck. That’s enough for most people to boot their own grandma off welfare and into completely unsuitable work.
      - weka 4.3.1.1.1
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:01 pm
        
        Not sure the contractors will be doing entitlements and beneficiary payments. Looks like they’re taking over WINZ’s job seeking functions, not the entitlement ones.
        
        “If successful, private providers could earn up to $12,000 for placing a client considered to have “entrenched” mental health issues in a job where they are working for 30 hours or more a week.”
        
        How long after the placement will the agency be paid? What happens if the client isn’t in the job a year later? Another $12,000?
        
        xtasy 4.3.1.1.1.1
        
        30 June 2013 at 11:01 pm
        
        weka – you are spot on. Queries I made prove, this has nothing to do with delivering extra health care in the way of psychological or other support, it is a new player being put into the agenda, to simply be commissioned to get those “sick” and supposedly “pseudo incapacitated” into work, nothing more or less!
        
        It is a scheme to have some outside providers, and you will be well advised to read up on websites of Te Pou, and The Wise Group, for instance, to know that it is supposed to put another “link” into a “network” of services, so they will give the clients the bit of “extra motivational push”.
        
        WINZ will pre-select, relying on the old network of “designated doctors”, and their internal “advisors” of the Bratt category, and then the short shift is onto a service, that will get paid rewards to get the buggers off the benefit and into “meaningful” employment, for hefty rewards, it seems.
        
        Talk about the UK model hitting the ground here, Mansel Aylward (the Unum paid facilitator, and google UNUM, for god’s sake and Black Triangle, same as ATOS Victims Group also, to get a balance) has done a proper job for Bennett, it is ALL on now, full power ahead, sick or disabled, two thirds are considered to be “illness believers”, short “malingerers”, none else. Face the bloody music, dear folks, the war on beneficiaries has just begun, in little corner of the world islands called Niu Zilliland.
        
        McFlock …
        
        30 June 2013 at 11:09 pm
        
        yeah, it makes my (admittedly overactive) cynicism bell ring like the clappers.
    - mickysavage 4.3.1.2
      
      30 June 2013 at 11:28 am
      
      This has the fingerprints of Paula Bennett all over it.
      
      You can imagine the policy document used to make this proposal. Stripped of all the diplomatic language and public serviceesque it would have read something like this:
      
      “These lazy bludging *&^%s should get of their arse and toughen up and get real work. After all when I was a solo mum I pulled myself up by my shoestraps and look where I am today.”
      
      The paper of course will make no reference to Paula’s removal of assistance for solo mums seeking education so they can get meaningful work and also the fact she is one of the best paid beneficiaries of public largesse in the country.
      - AsleepWhileWorking 4.3.1.2.1
        
        30 June 2013 at 11:33 am
        
        Mental health consumers who also happen to be single parents will be hit particularly hard due to the wide variation of support available to them (eg grandparents taking pressure off, difficulty accessing a GP or second tier health service, no further support from non custodial parent etc, etc)
    - AsleepWhileWorking 4.3.1.3
      
      30 June 2013 at 11:28 am
      
      I just realised that Dr Bratt’s own comments may contradict this new strategy. He did say that it wasn’t just work improved health, specifically he said that meaningful work was needed and that some jobs could be demoralising.
      
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-2C6qL4eAs
      
      I hope that the work they find is meaningful but given the UK example I think I’ll just sit back and watch those comments bite him in the arse.
      - xtasy 4.3.1.3.1
        
        30 June 2013 at 11:19 pm
        
        AsleepWhileWalking –
        
        PLEASE, do not freak out, nor delude yourself. Dr Bratt did keep a relatively low profile while he was hired and employed under a Labour led government, but once the Nats took over, at least since 2010, he has been like “hell break loose”!
        
        He delivered all this, and there has been no denial, regret, repentance or any withdrawal AT ALL!
        
        http://www.gpcme.co.nz/pdf/GP%20CME/Friday/C1%201515%20Bratt-Hawker.pdf
        
        http://www.gpcme.co.nz/pdf/2012/Fri_DaVinci_1400_Bratt_Medical%20Certificates%20are%20Clinical%20Instruments%20too%20-%20June%202012.pdf
        
        http://accforum.org/forums/index.php?/topic/12615-dr-david-bratt/
        
        Have a close look and read, he has gone under the radar, even after others and I raised various issues and aspects here and elsewhere. MSD and WINZ totally SUPPORT the man, and they believe Mansel Aylward, the “mad UK professor, yes, they want to cull people off benefits, same as ACC has tried and is to a degree successful in culling off people off claimants lists.
        
        There will always be a few malingerers and cheats, but they carry it a hell of a lot further, to basically claim that up to two thirds of sick, disabled and injured just believe””or pretend in being ill or sick, while according to them there are NO physical symptoms or proof. So that means, they will declare a full war and hit out across the board, against you, me and many others, challenging them, prove you are too sick and cannot crawl to a job!
        
        Wake damned well up New Zealand, stop sleeping and day dreaming, this is the most hostile attack on sick, disabled and incapacitated in modern day NZ history!!!
    - Rose 4.3.1.4
      
      30 June 2013 at 12:01 pm
      
      There’s a difference between being informed about what is going on and scaremongering. It seems that if you scaremonger, you are actually scaring beneficiaries more and not helping.
      
      Lighten up.
      - xtasy 4.3.1.4.1
        
        30 June 2013 at 11:28 pm
        
        Rose, I cannot believe where you come from, you have no information that I and a fair few others have, it seems, this is very serious stuff here, you are irresponsible to comment as you have.
        
        I do not want to scare people, I am damned well having a duty to WARN them, so they will not fall into traps to be conned into saying, hey, I would try to work, but end up with a profit focused, outsourced provider, who gets paid by WINZ to get benes off the payroll!
        
        I bloody well know what I am talking about, and I have more info than you seem to have. This is bloody serious stuff, but in New Zealand the government always comes across cunning and pretending, once you are there to face the music, they offer you no back door, it will be all your fault to not keep up, and your benefit will be cut, unless you have a solid, supportive doctor or specialist support you.
        
        I have been through the bloody MILL twice, my dear, they are cunning and dishonest bastards, the ones that run MSD and certainly also that is the top dog, called Bennett!
  - Jackal 4.3.2
    
    30 June 2013 at 11:47 am
    
    Great article you’ve linked to there AsleepWhileWalking, although the government is more likely to simply be copying something a bit closer to home: the ACC model. Some people will have been forced off compensation before they’re properly rehabilitated and are now facing the prospect of being forced off the appropriate benefit as well. So much for New Zealand being egalitarian.
    - xtasy 4.3.2.1
      
      30 June 2013 at 11:36 pm
      
      Is this coming from the Jackal, really?
      
      Well, compliments, the Jackal is seeing the light also, what is going on. It was in humble ways started under Labour, the last term under Helen, and I suppose the intentions were good, but they hired the bloody wrong man to lead it all, one damned extreme, bizarre and irrational Dr David Bratt.
      
      Yeah, thanks for seeing the light, Jackal, we are facing an onslaught, and as I am one suffering of serious health issues that they are also focusing on, it is to me a declaration of war. I already was years ago harassed and denied time and security to focus on needed treatment, leading to irreversible damage, now they simply ignore all warnings and want to push others through the same. The true agenda is COST SAVING, none else.
      
      Wake up to the damned music and the truth, that is what it is all about, not about support and assistance. They may as well agree the Nazis “assisted” those struggling to get social acceptance to (forced) labour, that in the end “set them free”, yeah right!
      - Populuxe1 4.3.2.1.1
        
        1 July 2013 at 4:47 am
        
        Given that the Naz1s were more about euthanising people with disabilities, I am not sure you want to be giving them ideas.
- Draco T Bastard 4.4
  
  30 June 2013 at 12:50 pm
  
  Just part of their plan to give our wealth to the rich few.
- Rogue Trooper 4.5
  
  30 June 2013 at 1:31 pm
  
  Exactly how I imagined that this agenda would play out; still, only a 1000 clients (guinea pigs per year). Target is only half of selected clients have to remain in employment; money for jams (just a mental-health statistic).
  Sabotage
  “I’m looking through a Hole in The Sky
  I’m seeing nowhere through the eyes of a lie
  
  I’ve watched the dogs of war enjoying the feast
  I’ve seen the western world go down in the east.
  The food of love become the greed of our time
  But now we’re living on the profits of crime.”
- Murray Olsen 4.6
  
  30 June 2013 at 4:15 pm
  
  This is just more troughfare for the scum who will set up the private services. It’s sick, sick stuff and probably violates any number of UN conventions we’ve signed up to. Do they want sick people to kill themselves? Silly question, of course. Sick sadists like WhaleSpew are loved by them.
North 5

30 June 2013 at 8:16 am

Here, from Britain, the Artist Taxi Driver’s take on the Ceaucescu Club.
North 6

30 June 2013 at 8:42 am

Morrissey…….you gotta give it to Schmooz Obama. He’s good…….

In Pretoria, Nelson Mandela a “beacon” says The Big O. “My personal hero” says he.

Chur Bro’. Mine too.

Oh hang on……..The Schmooz a few months back…….Maggot Thatcher a beacon for freedom and light.

What ??? The fetid sociopath Thatcher who denounced Nelson Mandela as a terrorist ?

Faaarrk ! How does he do it ?
- Populuxe1 6.1
  
  30 June 2013 at 5:55 pm
  
  Some people really can’t handle the fact that it was largely Thatcher’s political will that kept Hong Kong democratic even after the handover
  - Pascal's bookie 6.1.1
    
    30 June 2013 at 6:09 pm
    
    That’s a weird thing to say.
    
    What’s it got to do with S.A for starters?
    
    And you make it sound like Hong Kong had a functioning democracy for decades under the British or something. Rather than giving them a wee taste, (but not too much), a few years before the handover.
    
    But if you think that Thatcher’s efforts, such as they were, in Hong Kong trump her attitudes towards S.A., or South America, or the the fall of the Berlin wall even, then good for you I guess.
    - Populuxe1 6.1.1.1
      
      1 July 2013 at 5:01 am
      
      It was an observation on what may have justified such a statement on Obama’s part – nothing more than that. Unbunch your panties, you’ll live longer. And as for Hong Kong’s wee taste, it certainly seems to have been enough of a taste for Snowden.
      - Pascal's bookie 6.1.1.1.1
        
        1 July 2013 at 5:23 am
        
        Except you didn’t mention Obama at all. Speak for him do you?
        
        Your comment seemed to be expressing your opinion, not some opinion Obama might have.
        
        When asked to justify it, you move on to the attack, and claim that you were just imagining what Obama might reckon. What an arse you are.
        
        And I thought it was your position that Snowden went to Hong Kong because treason or some such mind reading bullshit.
        
        But of course, you can’t defend your claim that Thatcher ‘kept Hong Kong democratic even after the handover’ so you try and introduce some other bullshit as a distraction.
        
        Populuxe1 6.1.1.1.1.1
        
        1 July 2013 at 5:36 am
        
        “Except you didn’t mention Obama at all. Speak for him do you?”
        
        I would have thought that was perfectly self fucking evident to anyone capable of following a thread that it was in reference to North. Of course now that I know you have below average adult reading comprehension, in future I will spoon feed you.
        
        “Your comment seemed to be expressing your opinion, not some opinion Obama might have.”
        
        North was presumably speaking in reference to Obama’s statement: “She knew that with strength and resolve we could win the Cold War and extend freedom’s promise.”
        http://uk.news.yahoo.com/obama-thatcher-america-lost-true-friend-150124594.html#0514ggU
        I was offering another example
        
        “When asked to justify it, you move on to the attack, and claim that you were just imagining what Obama might reckon. What an arse you are.”
        
        Scroll down the thread, my justification is there. If I’m an arse then you are illustrating perfectly a certain proverb involving a pot and a kettle that is probably racially insensitive in this context.
        
        “And I thought it was your position that Snowden went to Hong Kong because treason or some such mind reading bullshit.”
        
        It’s called sarcasm
        
        “But of course, you can’t defend your claim that Thatcher ‘kept Hong Kong democratic even after the handover’ so you try and introduce some other bullshit as a distraction.”
        
        Ah, but I can, if you bother to scroll down the thread.
        
        Pascal's bookie …
        
        1 July 2013 at 5:46 am
        
        It’s not self evident at all Pop, hence the need for all this explanation, which seems to make you rather angry. For some reason.
        
        People were talking about South Aftrica, and Thatcher’s thoughts about that in the 80’s. You piped in saying that
        
        “Some people really can’t handle the fact that it was largely Thatcher’s political will that kept Hong Kong democratic even after the handover”
        
        It isn’t self-evident what that means at all. It’s just another of your typically snide attacks.
        
        I took it mean that you think Thatcher was a hero for democracy and liberty because whatever it is you think she did re Hong Kong trumps what she thought and did elsewhere around the world.
        
        Populuxe1 …
        
        1 July 2013 at 6:11 am
        
        “It’s not self evident at all Pop, hence the need for all this explanation, which seems to make you rather angry. For some reason.”
        
        Not self evident to you, and there was nothing aggressive in the first comment – does it occur to you that your endless focussed and rather pointless attacks are likely to provoke such a response? Or are you a sociopath?
        
        “People were talking about South Aftrica, and Thatcher’s thoughts about that in the 80′s. You piped in saying that
        
        “Some people really can’t handle the fact that it was largely Thatcher’s political will that kept Hong Kong democratic even after the handover”
        
        It isn’t self-evident what that means at all. It’s just another of your typically snide attacks.”
        
        Ok, I did promise I would spoon feed you so here goes –
        North: “Oh hang on……..The Schmooz a few months back…….Maggot Thatcher a beacon for freedom and light.”
        
        Now I trust that you do realise that this is the internet and I am perfectly at liberty to comment on whatever part of someone’s statement I choose – I really didn’t expect you to fly in on your broomstick of righteous indignation and deraill the thread entirely.
        
        “I took it mean that you think Thatcher was a hero for democracy and liberty because whatever it is you think she did re Hong Kong trumps what she thought and did elsewhere around the world.”
        
        Which I did not say – I provided a possible justification for the statemen and passed no more judgment upon it than that, however like all historical personages Thatcher’s career isn’t all black and white, and it is quite possible to interpret some of her acts in a more positive light. Especially as some of you have an unusually specific form of amnesia when it comes to anything involving the Cold War, the PRC or Central and South America.
        
        Pascal's bookie …
        
        1 July 2013 at 6:45 am
        
        I took it that you disagreeing with North. that you were saying that Thtacher was a beacon for freedom and light because of her actions in Hong Kong.
        
        For that to be the case, it would have to outweigh her actions and beliefs in other areas. as you say, it isn[t all black and white, People have to make judgements based on the totality. But at the end of the day a judgement can still be made.
        
        Yuo dragged in HK as if to say that it was a thing that people had to ignore in order to reach the conclusion she was not a beacon for freedom and light.
        
        And passive aggression, is still aggression.
        
        If you don;t want people to respond badly to you try not to write things like :
        
        “Some people really can’t handle the fact that it was largely Thatcher’s political will that kept Hong Kong democratic even after the handover”
        
        That’s apassive aggression is spades. Just because people don;t mention Thatcher’s HK record, (such as it is) doesn’t mean they haven’t factored it in to their judgement, If you think it balances out everything else she did, make that argument.
        
        Pascal's bookie …
        
        1 July 2013 at 5:54 am
        
        And on the ‘sarcasm’ thing.
        
        Are you saying that Hong Kong doesn’t have much in the way of democracy then? What is your point exactly?
        
        You always resort to sarcasm and ad hom attacks (see above, or pretty much any other discussion we’ve had) in place of actually explaining yourself.
        
        It’s quite revealing.
        
        Populuxe1 …
        
        1 July 2013 at 6:12 am
        
        You don’t discuss, you badger, and then shriek with glee should I make an error – that sort of behaviour is guaranteed to piss me off and get the response you described.
        
        Pascal's bookie …
        
        1 July 2013 at 6:28 am
        
        I usually just ask for clarification of what you mean.
        
        You usually respond in the way people can see in this thread. With sarcasm and abuse.
        
        Populuxe1 …
        
        1 July 2013 at 6:44 am
        
        Get. a. hobby.
        
        felix …
        
        1 July 2013 at 9:01 am
        
        “North was presumably speaking in reference to Obama’s statement: “She knew that with strength and resolve we could win the Cold War and extend freedom’s promise.” [link to article]”
        
        What’s that old saying about presumption? Making a cunt of yourself and no-one else or some such.
        
        You don’t suppose it’s more likely North was referring to this quote from Obama, do you?
        
        “With the passing of Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the world has lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty”
        
        … which contains a phrase very close to what North attributed to him, unlike the one you picked, from further down the same article, which bears no relation at all.
  - karol 6.1.2
    
    30 June 2013 at 6:32 pm
    
    Stuff I’ve read indicate Thatcher’s heart wasn’t as much in the Hong Kong negotiations as they were in war mongering over the Falklands. And many think she c=got done over by the Chinese leaders.
    
    How Mrs Thatcher lost Hong Kong
    
    Graceless and reluctant Thatcher stumbling her way through Hong Kong negotiations.
    - Populuxe1 6.1.2.1
      
      1 July 2013 at 4:59 am
      
      Which would be to ignore the sterling efforts of the last governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, as Thatcher’s representative, in securing those vital agreements with Beijing, backed by Thatcher’s hard-nosed reputation, relationship with the US, and four state visits to China at the highest levels – it didn’t appear half-hearted to me. The reality was the British were always going to lose Hong Kong because, quelle surprise, the lease was up.
      
      Also, what you call “war mongering” was the legitimate defense of British citizens against an illegal and unprevoked invasion.
      
      Yes, much of what she did in the UK was horrific, but at least try to retain some objectivity.
      - Pascal's bookie 6.1.2.1.1
        
        1 July 2013 at 5:26 am
        
        Patten was appointed in 92. Thatcher left office in 90.
        
        Thatcher’s meetings with China were to try and renegotiate the lease, and she wanted to not give up various areas.
        
        Her agreement around one countryu two systems was about Hong Kong retaining capitalism, not democracy, which HK had none of under Thatcher.
        
        Populuxe1 6.1.2.1.1.1
        
        1 July 2013 at 5:56 am
        
        Thatcher’s successor was John Major, annointed by her and something of a puppet for her – or at least was expected to be so. He might as well have not even been there, but I suppose I shouldn’t have elided them.
        http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/major-has-every-right-to-shop-lady-thatcher-1112948.html
        
        There are multiple reasons why Thatcher wanted to renegotiate the lease – they are not mutually exclusive.
        
        Hong Kong’s constitution was approved in 1990, but well before that, following the historic meeting in 1979 between Deng Xiaoping and then governor Murray MacLehose, a Green paper on development of representative government was issued by the colonial government in July 1984. It included proposals aimed at developing a system of more localised government, which included the introduction of indirect elections to the Legco the following year. The government proposed 12 legislators elected by nine trade-based seats, or ‘functional bodies’ – commercial, industrial, financial, labour, social services, education, legal, medical and engineering – the following year. Martin Lee and Szeto Wah were among those elected in 1985. Considerably more democratic that the PRC, no? There is a reason why Hong Kong wanted autonomy from the PRC, yes?
        
        Pascal's bookie …
        
        1 July 2013 at 6:05 am
        
        Yes, but it’s along way away from :
        
        “Some people really can’t handle the fact that it was largely Thatcher’s political will that kept Hong Kong democratic even after the handover”
        
        which implies that Hong Kong had a tradition of democracy under the UK to protect.
        
        Also worth noting that the 90’s reform process didn’t go anywhere near as far as local democratic activists would have liked. Patten wasn’t as gung-ho at the time as later articles paint it. The indicative referenda around whther or not people wanted democractic representation, were controversial in how they were treated, to say the least.
        
        And this:
        
        Thatcher’s successor was John Major, annointed by her and something of a puppet for her – or at least was expected to be so. He might as well have not even been there, but I suppose I shouldn’t have elided them.
        
        Jesus wept man. Show some pride.
        
        Populuxe1 …
        
        1 July 2013 at 6:14 am
        
        Or had a democratic tradition compared to the PRC, which had begun to evolve and grow from 1984 onwards.
        
        Pascal's bookie …
        
        1 July 2013 at 6:26 am
        
        “kept Hong Kong democratic”
        
        Populuxe1 …
        
        1 July 2013 at 6:42 am
        
        God, even I’m bored now. I would have thought that it was patently obvious to most people that there are degrees of democracy and that Hong Kong is more democratic than PRC, or are you just going to go on and on like a broken record because you don’t have anything better in your life to be getting on with?
        
        Pascal's bookie …
        
        1 July 2013 at 6:51 am
        
        laugh.
  - Morrissey 6.1.3
    
    30 June 2013 at 7:24 pm
    
    Our good friend Populuxe1, has for the last few days been notable by his absence. Fans of the truly crazed will, like me, have been jonesing for more of our friend’s dependably daft yet always amusing ouput; the wait has just been killing this writer, i.e. moi.
    
    And now, this gem suddenly appears under our friend’s aegis…..
    
    …it was largely Thatcher’s political will that kept Hong Kong democratic even after the handover…
    
    That’s Margaret Thatcher, not Tom Sawyer’s girlfriend Becky, that he’s holding up as a champion of democracy there! Yes, that’s right—MARGARET THATCHER, the friend and mentor and protector and advocate of (to name just a few off the top of my head) Pinochet, Saddam, Suharto, Reagan, Begin, Peres, Pol Pot and Osama Bin Laden himself! This monster of hypocrisy, this darling of dictators, this mortal enemy of protestors, unionists and human rights activists all over the world has been reborn in the fertile brain of Populuxe1 as another Nelson Mandela or Aung San Suu Kyi or Hugo Chávez.
    
    Here it is again, fellas, in all it’s glory…
    
    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
    …it was largely Thatcher’s political will that kept Hong Kong democratic…
    
    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
    
    Gotta say that, even for Populuxe1, this is one for the ages. It was worth the wait!
    - Populuxe1 6.1.3.1
      
      1 July 2013 at 5:11 am
      
      What is it with you pathetic people that you must leap on a simple, objective statement, and twist and pervert it into something else? I never said Thatcher wasn’t a nasty piece of work who brought untold suffering to the people of Britain, I said that she was quite significant in events in Hong Kong in 1997 and after regarding Hong Kong’s relative independance from the PRC. Possibly the fact that the two things aren’t neccisarily mutually exclusive is too much for your stunted intellect and Owen Glenn levels of self regard, but it is by no means a particularly fringe view. Specifically I refer you to Thatcher’s first September 1982 visit to meet with Deng Xiaoping on the matter. Throughout their meeting, she sought the PRC’s agreement to a continued British presence in the territory. Deng stated clearly the PRC’s sovereignty on Hong Kong was non-negotiable, but he was willing to settle the sovereignty issue with Britain through formal negotiations, and both governments promised to maintain Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity. You should read Michael B. Yahuda’s Hong Kong: China’s Challenge. (London: Routledge, 1996) – even you should be able to follow it.
      - Pascal's bookie 6.1.3.1.1
        
        1 July 2013 at 5:30 am
        
        “Some people really can’t handle the fact that it was largely Thatcher’s political will that kept Hong Kong democratic even after the handover”
        
        Maybe you should phrrase your ‘simple objective statements ‘in ways that aren’t so arrogantly aggressive? Maybe try, simple and objective as guidlines?
        
        Populuxe1 6.1.3.1.1.1
        
        1 July 2013 at 6:00 am
        
        You have a nerve to accuse me of being “arrogantly aggressive”, which is a subjective interpretation more honoured in spirit than in the breach around here. Spare me your sanctimonious hypocrisy. If you disagree with me then disagree, don’t latch on like a dog with a bone with your ad hominems and your oxygen-wasting attacks on the fripperies of style.
        
        Pascal's bookie …
        
        1 July 2013 at 7:04 am
        
        Not really.
        
        I don’t think I’ve seen you add much here at all beyond arrogant snide bullshit personal attacks on people.
        
        I, on the other hand, regularly season my arrogant takedowns of folk like you with stimulating links to pieces of general interest. Also and too, jokes.
        
        Murray Olsen …
        
        1 July 2013 at 8:00 pm
        
        Impossible to argue with that view, Pb.
chris73 7

30 June 2013 at 10:35 am

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10893846

I can understand the family grieving but when the police tell you to stop and when you then shoot at the police theres only going to be one likely outcome

I feel for the cop whos going to have to carry the burden of taking someones life
- Te Reo Putake 7.1
  
  30 June 2013 at 10:49 am
  
  “I feel for the cop whos going to have to carry the burden of taking someones life”
  
  Well, at least he didn’t have to look him in the eye before executing him.
  - chris73 7.1.1
    
    30 June 2013 at 11:00 am
    
    Seriously? Its dark, the crim was told to surrender, the crim shot at the cop, the cop fired back and you call it an execution…
    - Morrissey 7.1.1.1
      
      30 June 2013 at 11:20 am
      
      Seriously? Its dark, the crim was told to surrender, the crim shot at the cop, the cop fired back and you call it an execution…
      
      I think he was serious. Unlike you, you complacent fool.
      - chris73 7.1.1.1.1
        
        30 June 2013 at 11:35 am
        
        I realise that the left have a problem with accepting the consequences of ones actions but I’ll make it real simple for you.
        
        The crim chose to carry a firearm, the crim chose to break into the golf club, the crim chose to ignore the polices warnings and the crim chose to shoot at the police
        
        The policeman gave the crim fair warning, chose to use the taser and fired after the crim fired first, the blame for this is squarely on the crim and he paid the for his actions
        
        Unfortunately the cop is the one thats going to suffer the consequences
        
        Te Reo Putake 7.1.1.1.1.1
        
        30 June 2013 at 11:37 am
        
        Yep, I’m certainly hoping the cop suffers the consequences, but the history of previous killer cops in Taranaki and elsewhere suggests otherwise. Two shots in the back. What a hero.
        
        chris73 …
        
        30 June 2013 at 11:49 am
        
        Its dark so we don’t know how well the cop could see the crim, whether the crim was reloading etc etc
        
        What we do know is that the cop fired in self-defence (you know after the crim fired at him) also if the crim hadn’t been committing a crime, hadn’t had a firearm, had stopped when the cops told him to or not fired at the police he’d be alive today
        
        But no call the cop carrying out his duty a killer…nice one
        
        Te Reo Putake …
        
        30 June 2013 at 11:55 am
        
        I have no problem with the police acting in self defence, or in the defence of others. Two shots in the back suggests that is not the case here.
        
        chris73 …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:02 pm
        
        “Two shots in the back suggests that is not the case here.”
        – Why?
        
        We know the crim fired at the police and:
        
        The crim could have still been armed
        The crim could have been reloading
        The crim could have surrendered
        
        instead the crim chose to shoot at the police and the police fired back
        
        felix …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:26 pm
        
        According to the article you linked to he had already been tasered and was on his knees.
        
        weka …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:31 pm
        
        No, according to the article a friend said he was on his knees.
        
        And according to the article, someone close to the police said he’d already been tasered and that the taser wasn’t working – implication is that despite being tasered, he was still a threat.
        
        We don’t know if either of those things are true. The article is one long speculation, as is most of this discussion.
        
        btw, just because someone with a shotgun is on their knees, it doesn’t mean they’re not capable of shooting someone else. It may be just as you say felix, but that you can’t consider another explanation is irrational.
        
        felix …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:45 pm
        
        “implication is that despite being tasered, he was still a threat.”
        
        That’s not an implication, weka, it’s an inference on your part. And it’s an inference which relies heavily on a couple of dubious assumptions about the NZ Police.
        
        The key word is “after”.
        
        You can give these “close to police sources” (lolz) all the benefit of the doubt you like, but I’ve read enough of these reports to know better.
        
        weka …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:54 pm
        
        you mean this ‘after’?
        
        Police say Adam Te Rata Charles Morehu, 33, was first Tasered, then shot twice in the torso with a police-issue Glock handgun after he acted aggressively towards the officers, twice threatening to kill them and firing a shot from a rifle.
        
        For what it is worth, I would tend to believe the family’s sources over the vague police ones, but my point was really that the article was full of hearsay and speculation so why debate as if it were fact?
        
        “You can give these “close to police sources” (lolz) all the benefit of the doubt you like, but I’ve read enough of these reports to know better.”
        
        Ok, so you have a preformed judgement irrespective of the facts. Just don’t pretend you are any better than chris (apart from the politics of course).
        
        felix …
        
        30 June 2013 at 11:35 pm
        
        “Ok, so you have a preformed judgement irrespective of the facts.”
        
        Bullshit weka. I’m just not going to play your silly game of pretending we have to look at this event in total isolation, devoid of any context, history, or long-established patterns of behaviour.
        
        I’m not under any obligation to give equal weight to every statement, every opinion, every piece of information I encounter. That’s not having a preformed judgement, it’s having a functioning mind.
        
        “Just don’t pretend you are any better than chris (apart from the politics of course).”
        
        Nonsense, I’m considerably better than chris in every conceivable way.
        
        weka …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:08 pm
        
        Right, so the policeman should have waited until the man turned around and then shot him in the front, even though that puts the policeman’s life at risk?
        
        Given we have no idea what happened, I do tend to agree that someone who shoots at the police can expect the possibility of being shot and killed. It’s not right or good, but it’s reasonable.
        
        “What a hero.”
        
        Why should the police be expected to be heroes?
        
        chris73 …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:23 pm
        
        “Right, so the policeman should have waited until the man turned around and then shot him in the front, even though that puts the policeman’s life at risk?”
        
        – Yes thats what should have happened because this situation is just like a hollywood movie where the cop would have then shot him in the hand to make him drop his weapon , at least thats what some of the posters on here are thinking
        
        BM …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:03 pm
        
        You have to laugh at these sad old Che Guevara wannabes trying to act all bad ass and revolutionary.
        At their age, It’s just sad and pathetic.
        
        felix …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:15 pm
        
        That’s no way to talk about the NZ Police. Two shots in the back for you.
        
        felix …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:14 pm
        
        chris, not only are you a nasty piece of work, you’re also naive as all fuck.
        
        The guy was on his knees, being tasered, and was shot twice in the back.
        
        That’s an execution. And yeah you’re right, they likely executed him because he fired at them first. They do tend to take that personally. It’s an unwritten code that no-one shoots at the NZ Police and lives.
        
        But drop the bullshit about “self defence” and “duty”. It’s revenge, plain and simple.
        
        chris73 …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:20 pm
        
        “chris, not only are you a nasty piece of work, you’re also naive as all fuck.”
        – and you are as played as easily as a puppet on a string
        
        “The guy was on his knees, being tasered, and was shot twice in the back”
        – Lets have some evidence on that please
        
        felix …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:21 pm
        
        “Lets have some evidence on that please”
        
        You linked to the article, dick.
        
        “played as easily as a puppet on a string”
        
        Says the guy who believes everything the police say because they always tell the truth.
        
        weka …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:24 pm
        
        “The guy was on his knees, being tasered, and was shot twice in the back.”
        
        With all due respect, none of us know what exactly happened. The crucial bit is whether the police were in danger. We can’t tell that from the report. Maybe they weren’t and the shooting was completely illegitimate. Or maybe not.
        
        Morehu and Kevin Bishell were reportedly trying to flee the burglary on Morehu’s motorbike…
        
        Police say Adam Te Rata Charles Morehu, 33, was first Tasered, then shot twice in the torso with a police-issue Glock handgun after he acted aggressively towards the officers, twice threatening to kill them and firing a shot from a rifle.
        
        But they have refused to confirm to the Herald on Sunday that he was shot in the back, saying only that the officer believed he heard Morehu reloading his rifle in the darkness….
        
        Another source, close to police, said: “The Taser wasn’t working properly. It just made him angry and he said he was going to shoot the police. He had already fired a shot.
        
        “An officer tried to move around to flank him and it is quite possible that he was shot in the back.”…
        
        A friend claimed Morehu was on his knees at the time…
        
        “If individuals decide to make comments it does not change the fact that it is inappropriate for police to discuss details publicly until the investigation is complete and the findings have been tested by peer legal review, the Independent Police Complaints Authority and the coroner.”
        
        It is understood that police have been candid with the family about the circumstances of Morehu’s death, though their account changed as more facts have emerged.
        
        Diane Richardson said he was Tasered as many as four times, before and after he was shot, before a blow to the head with a police torch. The blow left a head wound visible to mourners at his tangi….
        
        “It is important to us as a whanau that we, our friends and the community of Waitara, receive, listen and absorb these facts in understanding this tragedy,” said whanau spokesman John Niwa.
        
        “Our conclusions and what we do about it are a long way off.”
        
        felix …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:29 pm
        
        “With all due respect, none of us know what exactly happened.”
        
        chris is quoting one version of events as fact so I thought I’d quote another.
        
        Both versions are from the article he linked to, so he can’t have a problem with me doing that.
        
        weka …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:33 pm
        
        Ok, so you’re not interested in the reality of someone who just got shot, or their family, or the police involved, you just want to score points in a useless debate. Good to know, thanks for clarifying.
        
        felix …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:36 pm
        
        Sorry, I didn’t realise that the relationship between law enforcement and the citizenry was such a useless debate.
        
        I’ll let you get back to your useless posturing now.
        
        weka …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:48 pm
        
        Well felix, by your own words you just said that you are arguing with chris because he’s making out the Herald is gospel so you will too. How useful is that in the debate? You can’t have it both ways – either you are taunting chris for stating hearsay as fact, or you yourself believe that treating hearsay as fact is valid. Can’t do both (or you can and thus be a hypocrite).
        
        Maybe there is some clever tactic here that is too subtle for me (which means it’s way to subtle for chris), but all I can see is that you are having a go at chris because you think him and his politics are a tosser. Or, which is what I first thought, you assume the police are evil and therefore chris is an arse for what he said.
        
        “Sorry, I didn’t realise that the relationship between law enforcement and the citizenry was such a useless debate.”
        
        It’s an important debate. I’m just not sure how you think you are contributing to it.
        
        Also important is how the media report stories. I don’t think the Herald did a very good job on this one.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        30 June 2013 at 1:22 pm
        
        All this discussion proves is that police need to have cameras on them at all times as part of their uniform. Ones that they can’t manipulate and, if possible, stream live to several backup servers. With today’s technology it’s easily done.
        
        weka …
        
        30 June 2013 at 3:27 pm
        
        good idea. apart from the civil rights issues.
        
        Arfamo …
        
        30 June 2013 at 3:43 pm
        
        I dunno. One good reason not to do a burglary with a loaded gun is you might end up getting shot dead by someone else with a loaded gun. This seems to be what happened. The best start of any argument about what shouldn’t have happened is probably the decision to do a burglary.
        
        felix …
        
        30 June 2013 at 11:20 pm
        
        “all I can see is that you are having a go at chris because you think him and his politics are a tosser.”
        
        I’m sorry that’s all you can see, weka. Your problem though.
        
        Murray Olsen …
        
        30 June 2013 at 4:37 pm
        
        The existence of such an unwritten code certainly fits in with my experience and prejudices. Revenge, and even the spreading of fear, seem to play a huge part in the motivations of many police officers. We’ll never really know what happened, except for those who slavishly believe everything the boys in blue say, and those who self righteously portray every act as police brutality, barbarism, and murder. We need some method of holding them accountable. With the power to take life legally must come an extremely high level of accountability. What we have now is a joke.
        
        weka …
        
        30 June 2013 at 5:34 pm
        
        +1
        
        Morrissey …
        
        30 June 2013 at 11:57 am
        
        Two shots in the back. What a hero.
        
        If this cowardly shooting lands him in court, Dirty Harry from Taranaki will no doubt get a glowing character testimonial from Deputy Police Commissioner Mike Bush…..
        http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-18062013/#comment-650248
        
        chris73 …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:03 pm
        
        You must have inside information on this case, care to share it with the rest of us?
        
        Te Reo Putake …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:09 pm
        
        Yep!
        
        Morrissey 7.1.1.1.1.2
        
        30 June 2013 at 11:53 am
        
        I realise that the left have a problem…
        
        You realise nothing, you fool. You read nothing, and know nothing.
        
        Is your name….Leighton Smith?
        
        chris73 …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:06 pm
        
        Ok so educate me on what happened oh wise and all-knowing purveyor of truth and enlightenment
        
        Let me guess, you think Bains innocent and deserves compenation?
        
        Morrissey …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:17 pm
        
        Let me guess, you think Bains innocent and deserves compensation?
        
        No, fool, I do not. You are simply incapable of construing intelligently from what I have written in the past. Nothing I have ever written would suggest I support Bain.
        
        chris73 …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:27 pm
        
        You are simply incapable of construing intelligently from what I have written in the past
        
        – Ever consider that, maybe, what you write is particularly intelligent?
        
        Nothing I have ever written would suggest I support Bain.
        
        – My bad, its just that I don’t follow what you write (see above)
        
        fender …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:19 pm
        
        Your sick Judith Collins fantasy has clouded your thinking soldier.
        
        chris73 …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:29 pm
        
        My fantasies towards Judith Collins aside, tell me how my thinking (on this matter as we don’t have all day) is clouded
        
        fender …
        
        30 June 2013 at 12:46 pm
        
        You said: “Let me guess, you think Bains innocent and deserves compensation?”
        
        I’m suggesting your Collins fetish determines your stance, and it’s sick.
        
        Draco T Bastard 7.1.1.1.1.3
        
        30 June 2013 at 1:40 pm
        
        The policeman gave the crim fair warning…
        
        The real problem is that the police have a strange notion of “Reasonable force” and because of that and the fact that they keep getting away with obvious crimes of violence means that no-one trusts them. I certainly don’t.
        
        chris73 …
        
        30 June 2013 at 10:01 pm
        
        I certainly trust them more than the family of the career crim
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        1 July 2013 at 12:40 am
        
        I don’t.
Sosoo 8

30 June 2013 at 11:03 am

So the Rolling Stones are headlining Glastonbury… over 35 years since they last released a half decent record.

This is like having Bing Crosby headline Woodstock.
- logie97 8.1
  
  30 June 2013 at 12:40 pm
  
  … Yeah but bet you wish we had a festival like Glastonbury here though don’t you – with or without the Stones. What’s your problem? It’s a bummer having to go midweek to see the occasional stars (still crowd pullers) in New Zealand. Most of them only come as far as Australia.
- Te Reo Putake 8.2
  
  30 June 2013 at 7:31 pm
  
  Nailed it, apparently. And with a guest appearence from Mick Taylor. Nice.
  
  http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/jun/30/rolling-stones-glastonbury-debut
  
  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23111268
  - felix 8.2.1
    
    1 July 2013 at 8:47 am
    
    Nailed it, eh? Well done those lads, keep at it and they could really go places 😉
Morrissey 9

30 June 2013 at 11:42 am

Rabuka on National Radio
National Radio, Sunday 30 June 2013

Listening right now (11:34 a.m.) to Chris Laidlaw interviewing that reptile Sitiveni Rabuka. It’s unusual to hear Chris so clearly hostile to an interviewee; he obviously despises Rabuka.

It reminded me of the famous occasion in 2006 when Eva Radich pursued another politician who hated democracy: Tony Blair.

Rabuka is incapable of giving a straight or honest answer; he’s a South Seas version of Tony Blair.
- Murray Olsen 9.1
  
  30 June 2013 at 4:48 pm
  
  I think Rabuka is more honest, civilised, and democratic than Tony Blair. For a start, Rabuka was a soldier, not someone pretending to be a democratic “socialist saviour”. One more point is that he is an indigenous Fijian, and was fighting for some distorted view of indigenous rights. To equal Blair here, he would have had to be an Indian unionist pro-democracy campaigner and still do the things he did.
  
  Blair lowered standards and defined slipperiness to a level not beaten until Obama turned up, and if British military and economic power hadn’t decayed so much, Obama would probably only equal him.
  - Morrissey 9.1.1
    
    30 June 2013 at 8:27 pm
    
    I think Rabuka is more honest, civilised, and democratic than Tony Blair.
    
    That is damning Rabuka with faint praise, as I’m sure you are aware, Murray. Yes, Blair has a body count that puts Rabuka, Speight and Bainimarama to shame, and he is despicable, but that doesn’t make those Fijian thugs any more acceptable, I am afraid.
    - Murray Olsen 9.1.1.1
      
      30 June 2013 at 9:52 pm
      
      Oh, I found Rabuka totally unacceptable at the time and nothing has happened to change my mind. Sorry if I didn’t make that clear. It’s just that I reserve a special level of hell for treacherous dogs like Blair, Douglas, Prebble, and Obama.
Te Reo Putake 10

30 June 2013 at 12:13 pm

Don’t know if business goobermensch ‘yes’ is around today, but he won’t like this:

http://union-news.co.uk/2013/06/union-wins-landmark-case-after-company-refuses-to-allow-worker-to-be-represented-at-disciplinary/
Morrissey 11

30 June 2013 at 12:15 pm

Humbug Corner
 No. 8: “SIR” OWEN GLENN

Millionaire businessshit Sir Owen Glenn’s inquiry into domestic violence and child abuse is under further pressure with revelations he was accused of physically abusing a young woman in Hawaii in 2002.

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/sir-owen-glenn-defends-decision-not-reveal-abuse-claim-5481044

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Humbug Corner is dedicated to gathering, and highlighting, the most striking examples of faux solicitude, insincere apologies, and particularly stupid recycling of official canards. It is produced by the Insincerity Project®, a division of Daisycutter Sports Inc.

More egregious humbug….
No. 7 Barack Obama: “…people standing up for what’s right…yearning for justice and dignity…”
No. 6 Barack Obama: “Nelson Mandela is my personal hero…”
No. 5 John Key: “Yeah well the Greens’ answer to everything is rail, isn’t it.”
No. 4 Mike Bush: “Bruce Hutton’s… integrity beyond reproach…such great character…”
 No. 3 Dean Lonergan: “Y’ know what? The only people who will mock them are people who are dwarfists.” 
No. 2 Peter Dunne: “What a load of drivel and sanctimonious humbug…” 
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09062013/#comment-645811
 No.1 Dominic Bowden: “It’s okay to be speechless.”
 http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-02062013/#comment-642288
- muzza 11.1
  
  30 June 2013 at 2:34 pm
  
  Mozza, Owen Glenn has a past which is *underwraps*, a key component of the *Sir* title, is part of the *underwraps*.
  
  The article you link to, is a very brief insight to him, and the forces, which control him. His history is *known*, and at a time, and with a purpose, it is used against him, or the investigation, to be more precise, wonder what the significance of the timing is…
  
  The calling card of the puppet masters, is to take down the target, using something which is supposed to represent a positive aspect of the individual.
  
  Note:
  
  – Glenn *instigates/sponsors* an inquirey into abuse.
  
  – Glenn has a past, which is used against him, by way of *abuse charges*
  
  See how its done, its an occurance, which is as frequent, as it is transparent!
  
  There are powers, which do not want this investigation to serve a positive function that much was always apparant. Its why Owen Glenn was given the go ahead to sponsor it, because they already knew he could be discredited, anytime!
Colonial Viper 12

30 June 2013 at 12:47 pm

Glen Greenwald – Presentation At Hampshire College

Massively important presentation by Glen Greenwald. This will change the way you look at what is happening both internationally and locally.
- Colonial Viper 12.1
  
  30 June 2013 at 2:08 pm
  
  PS this is a different presentation to the one I linked to last night.
  - Rogue Trooper 12.1.1
    
    30 June 2013 at 2:14 pm
    
    do you think some of us have all day to sit around in front of a monitor? hmm? hmm? 😉
    (although, it is fortuitous to have secured a three-day a week position with all the tools at one’s disposal) Nudge nudge, wink wink. 😉
    - fender 12.1.1.1
      
      30 June 2013 at 4:26 pm
      
      Just plug it into the stereo and listen, as I did while doing some chores. Was an excellent presentation, thanks for the link CV.
      - Colonial Viper 12.1.1.1.1
        
        30 June 2013 at 5:43 pm
        
        Always welcome. The more we learn, the more powerful we are. That’s why they prefer to keep the masses dumb and distracted.
        
        Jim Nald 12.1.1.1.1.1
        
        30 June 2013 at 8:39 pm
        
        Running a cable from the laptop to the amplifier and then streaming video/audio files while cooking or doing chores is a good way to get educated with these pieces 🙂
        
        lprent …
        
        30 June 2013 at 11:10 pm
        
        Look at dlna/upnp. I use minidlna on my Linux server and pick it up on the bluray attached to the tv (used to use an amp – but it had no visual listings), my tablet usually with headphones on, my phone, and amarok on my workstation. I can also pick it up at work via ssh.
        
        Skifta on the nexus7 kind of acts as the universal remote. Select something off the server like a playlist or a movie, and then tell it what to play out off.
        
        I have a pile of laminated plastic in the cupboard gathering dust. Kind of a waste of time transcribing from those DVDs and peanut sized CDs when they arrive.
        
        felix …
        
        1 July 2013 at 8:49 am
        
        Think I’ll just plug the lappy into an amp, thanks.
chris73 13

30 June 2013 at 12:49 pm

You said: “Let me guess, you think Bains innocent and deserves compensation?”

I’m suggesting your Collins fetish determines your stance, and it’s sick.

– I thought Bain was guilty long before Judith Collins came on the scene, its just coincidence we both appear to have the same views
- fender 13.1
  
  30 June 2013 at 1:01 pm
  
  To continue the thread you just click on the lowest reply button.
  
  Yes as you say it’s just coincidental your views always align with those of the authoritarian Collins, the same Collins you want to have perform dominatrix acts on you.
  - chris73 13.1.1
    
    30 June 2013 at 1:04 pm
    
    the same Collins you want to have perform dominatrix acts on you.
    
    – that made me chuckle
    - fender 13.1.1.1
      
      30 June 2013 at 1:30 pm
      
      The day you said you wanted Collins to whip you made me chuckle too, but that was quickly followed by an urge to chuck-up!
      - chris73 13.1.1.1.1
        
        30 June 2013 at 1:35 pm
        
        I may not have been speaking figuratively…
        
        fender 13.1.1.1.1.1
        
        30 June 2013 at 1:46 pm
        
        With your wife looking over your shoulder that’s probably the best response.
        
        Personally I have no respect for Collins as either a lawyer, politician or sex-symbol. But I’m sure Adolf would have welcomed her onto his side.
        
        Rogue Trooper …
        
        30 June 2013 at 2:24 pm
        
        wottabout all those DueDiff ‘concerns’ (34) that the Collinic one sent to Robert Fisher, QC?
        
        Murray Olsen 13.1.1.1.1.2
        
        1 July 2013 at 8:03 pm
        
        I for one assumed that you weren’t speaking figuratively. Thanks for confirming it.
Tim 14

30 June 2013 at 1:22 pm

And now for the “Big Con” (another one).
Wellington Electricity is trying to butter up ‘consumers’ for the possibility of a power price increase – because of damage caused by recent storms.
They apparently spent up to $5m fixing problems.
They really must be running their operation on a shoestring if $5m damage can cause such devastation to their ‘bottom line’ that they think they now have to go ‘groveling’ (NOT) to what will probably be compliant authorities.

No no no.
Admitedly WE, since its acquisition has invested in lamp post replacement, and various other improvements to improve the reliability of “THEIR” network.
That’s only because it had been left to run down since privatisation because of deferred maintenance and quick-fix mickey mouse solutions by previous owners.
What that tells us is that they’ve either not adequately considered their risks (they need to find another shaista ‘risk management’ consultant maybe), OR they paid too much for a dog in the first place, and now they want consumers to pay for it so they can keep getting their ‘adequate return on investment’.

Now …. if they increased my line charge 1 cent per day ….. you do the maths, BUT given the number of households and businesses in their jurisdiction, $5m could be recovered within a very short time – at which time there could/should be a line charge DEcrease. Does anyone seriously think that is going to happen?

.. I could go on, but these buggers try it on at any opportunity! (sad thing is that they often get away with it)

Now I think about it … they could probably clip a CEO and underlings salary and benefits a little, and come up with about 10% of that $5m. Justify it because of obvious poor performance – they cudda shudda wudda taken account of the potential for severe damage – just as old Power Boards and MEDs used to do
- Rogue Trooper 14.1
  
  30 June 2013 at 1:43 pm
  
  The location and topography of Wellington is going to be increasingly problematic in these disruptive times. ( a quote from a geographical scientist informing RNZ listeners following the recent storm).
Draco T Bastard 15

30 June 2013 at 1:44 pm

Torchwood

When the state rolls up to reduce real access to state allowances for those parenting, or introduce new measures to allow employers to pay less than a living wage for parents, or sells off state assets meaning essential services like power cost more, what we are really doing is treating some children as less important than other children.

It’s got a prettier face than Torchwood. But the psychological process is the same, make no mistake. Distance. Othering. Outright denial. Killing off empathy.
- Rogue Trooper 15.1
  
  30 June 2013 at 2:19 pm
  
  How many blogs you follow in flight Draco? Have your own ‘looking glass’?
  - Draco T Bastard 15.1.1
    
    30 June 2013 at 2:53 pm
    
    More often than not these days I pick up interesting reading from the Twitter feed.
    - Rogue Trooper 15.1.1.1
      
      30 June 2013 at 3:13 pm
      
      do you think / find that the feeds duplicate the International news sites / International journals such as IBT, Bloomberg etc? Feck, considering the data channeling / siphoning from mobile devices (as below) , think I’ll buy a flat-screen to watch films before I’d buy a cell-phone.
      - Draco T Bastard 15.1.1.1.1
        
        1 July 2013 at 12:48 am
        
        The “twitter feed” is just what the people I follow consider interesting. This includes news items, pictures of babies/cats and random thoughts that don’t really connect with anything.
Poission 16

30 June 2013 at 2:48 pm

The Germans are not happy,

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/nsa-spied-on-european-union-offices-a-908590.html
- Rogue Trooper 16.1
  
  30 June 2013 at 3:09 pm
  
  The Slatest
  http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/06/29/edward_snowden_nsa_leaks_glenn_greenwald_on_the_guardian_s_next_scoop.html
  Greenwald on how the NSA direct 1 Billion cell-phone calls a day into their data sup / repositories.
  
  Forbes on Greenwald
  http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnmcquaid/2013/06/29/why-glenn-greenwald-drives-the-media-crazy/
  
  Question: “What is journalism” (today).
Morrissey 17

30 June 2013 at 3:31 pm

Humbug Corner
 No. 10: “SIR” OWEN GLENN

“I do care that every person, especially children, have [sic] the right to feel safe.”

—-“Sir” Owen Glenn, Herald on Sunday, 9 June 2013
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10889282

Humbug, n., a person or thing that tricks, deceives, talks, or behaves in a way that is deceptive, dishonest, false, or insincere, often a hoax or in jest. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

See also: fraud, gaff, impostor, spoof, swindle, bastard, brummagem, duffer, shoddy.

Humbug Corner is dedicated to gathering, and highlighting, the most striking examples of faux solicitude, insincere apologies, and particularly stupid recycling of official canards. It is produced by the Insincerity Project®, a division of Daisycutter Sports Inc.

More horrifying humbug….
No. 9 “Sir” Owen Glenn: His abuse inquiry is floundering after revelations he was accused of physically abusing a young woman in 2002.
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30062013/#comment-655616
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10889282
No. 8 Barack Obama: “…people standing up for what’s right…yearning for justice and dignity…” 
No. 7 Barack Obama: “Nelson Mandela is my personal hero…”
No. 6 John Key: “Yeah well the Greens’ answer to everything is rail, isn’t it.”
No.5 Dr. Rodney Syme: “If you want good, open, honest practice, you have to make it transparent.”
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09062013/#comment-645826
No. 4 Mike Bush: “Bruce Hutton’s… integrity beyond reproach…such great character…” 
No. 3 Dean Lonergan: “Y’ know what? The only people who will mock them are people who are dwarfists.” 
No. 2 Peter Dunne: “What a load of drivel and sanctimonious humbug…” 
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09062013/#comment-645811
 No.1 Dominic Bowden: “It’s okay to be speechless.” 
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-02062013/#comment-642288
Rogue Trooper 18

30 June 2013 at 3:31 pm

just Clowning around – “constantly search and persist”
Rogue Trooper 19

30 June 2013 at 3:59 pm

The AML (and Countering Financing of Terrorism) Act
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10893662
-Enhanced due diligence of the “politically exposed”.
Rosetinted 20

30 June 2013 at 7:09 pm

Constitution Conversation.
Ranginui Walker was talking on Radionz Te Ahi Kaa this evening on how the Conversation meetings are going. He made a point that with an unwritten constitution people who consider change is needed can press for it through certain processes, whereas a written constitution is relatively fixed (there may be matters of interpretation) but consider ‘The Right to bear Arms’. What a difficulty there is in trying to govern this dangerous culture. How many years ago was that piece of legislation drawn up and how can a restrictive piece of legislation that governs over all be relevant over centuries, even over decades in our fast moving environment and culture.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/teahikaa
Ranginui Walker ( 21′ 15″ ) 18:31 What’s becoming glaringly apparent to Constitutional Advisory Panel member
Ranginui Walker, is that New Zealand’s education system is in need of a solid civics and history revamp. He discusses that and more with Maraea Rakuraku.

What do you think about it? Make a submission.
http://www.ourconstitution.org.nz/search.html?q=meetings
Some info from the Media Centre
http://www.ourconstitution.org.nz/Media-Centre
- Rogue Trooper 20.1
  
  30 June 2013 at 7:28 pm
  
  tell us do, Rosetinted, what is becoming glaringly obvious? Another ‘living document” proposal.
Rosetinted 21

30 June 2013 at 7:50 pm

Rogue T
Don’t know Rogue. I went to a CC meeting and left as the second speaker bombarded us with a lot of revisionist stuff against Maori, questioned the Treaty, and seemed to want to have a Constitution that would allow overturning all the conciliatory and justice work that has been done.

I was angry to have to listen to these old male pakeha who seemed to want to shatter what we have – not build on the good, and get something that is not so distributed throughout the legislation.

But I thought Ranginui Walker would have something wise to say, and in commenting that we should be careful in thinking whether we actually want a written prescriptive constitution, I believe that he made a good point.
Rosetinted 22

30 June 2013 at 8:11 pm

I had a little nut tree, / Nothing would it bear.
I have tried twice to put something on the solar cycle and a warning on a science program on how sun extreme cycles can cut out whole electronic systems. There is an 11 year cycle. Let’s see if my nut tree will bear something now. It’s driving me nuts – first I lost it and the second gave me the fingers with ‘not a good http address.’

Some interesting links.
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/01mar_twinpeaks/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cycle
http://www.auroraborealispage.net/solarmax.html
- Chooky 22.1
  
  1 July 2013 at 8:41 pm
  
  Interesting links .Thanx
Colonial Viper 23

30 June 2013 at 9:50 pm

“Attacks from America” – EU missions in Washington DC and New York targeted by NSA

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/nsa-spied-on-european-union-offices-a-908590.html
- Colonial Viper 23.1
  
  30 June 2013 at 10:00 pm
  
  Right I see Poisson already posted this link…
logie97 24

30 June 2013 at 10:16 pm

Q+A this morning.
One of the panel had a Cheshire cat smile on the issue of the big transport U-turn.
Did he say, “It’s great really, my company has already done some work.”
What would he have been privy to “already”, when Key only announced the plan on
Friday.
xtasy 25

1 July 2013 at 12:40 am

ALL I want is to get out of this SHIT COUNTRY that is NEW ZEALAND, I have no MORE time for cowards and shits that inhabit these lost islands, I HATE YOU LOSERS, I spent years fighting for your interests, I worked even to get YOUR shit into the media that most of you people would never know to organise or do, the revolution is NEVER going to happen in this country, it is a dumb country a shit country, not worth even thinking about!!!

I just before wrote a long post, to get some thinking, and what fucking happened? The website and system crashed. So get on with your damned life in this damned country, that I wish I never had come back to, I HATE NEW ZEALAND, A TOTAL LOST PLACE OF LOSERS AND ARSEHOLE BACK STABBERS AND OPPORTUNISTS.

You will NEVER SEE AND HEAR FROM ME AGAIN ON THIS WEBSITE. I put hope into this site, but you are all losers, a minority and not even communicating, i.e. getting anything across, this country is there for the capitalist vultures to clean and rape, and they are doing it. I t is the gutlessness of ordinary Kiwis to just blog and ponder, and do NONE else to sell your own damned country out under your own arses!!!
- Murray Olsen 25.1
  
  1 July 2013 at 8:10 pm
  
  Bye. You’re not the first left wing messiah to lose patience with the masses and blame them for the evils of capitalism, and you won’t be the last. Meanwhile, I’ll keep doing what I can.
amirite 26

1 July 2013 at 9:47 am

Is it a coincidence that Owen Glenn’s anti violence campaign has started going downhill ever since he received his knighthood? Maybe that’s all he was interested in.
Chooky 27

1 July 2013 at 1:58 pm

xstasy

Come back…We are listening to you!. ( Don’t throw a tantrum!…the website is under crash attack from bad bots…Dont take it personally because it is happening to everyone….shows just how scared is the opposition of the collective voice of the Standard)

You have a valuable voice and important thoughts ….You speak for the underdog and those at the very bottom who have no confidence and hence have lost their voice….We all have bad days….Take a breather and come back stronger…The Labour Party must represent New Zealanders like you , or it is doomed!!!!… Historically the people you are talking for have been the backbone of the Labour Party…Maybe you could also forge links with the activist Mana Party….But keep speaking out!

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2 days ago
Kinleith mill closure shows need for industrial strategy

NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to deliver an economic and industrial strategy for regional manufacturing, rather than just expressing sympathy for job losses, following the announced closure of Kinleith mill in Tokoroa. “The closure Kinleith mill in Tokoroa is not just devastating for ...

NZCTUBy Jeremiah Boniface

2 days ago
27% of kids going hungry, up from 21% in a year

One in four Kiwi children live in households where food runs out often or sometimes. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, November 20: The lead: The official annual Health Survey found sharp ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

2 days ago
Transport modelling is an illusion

This guest post by Tim Adriaansen, an advocate for accessibility and sustainable transport, originally published on LinkedIn and cross posted here with permission. People prefer cars, right? Probably not. Here’s why. Granted, most people in English-speaking countries use a car to get around. This simple reality underpins our transport ...

Greater AucklandBy Guest Post

2 days ago
Young Maori take over

Neither Wellington nor Parliament has ever seen anything like it before. The Police said there were more than 40,000 but however many there were, yesterday’s Hikoi to Parliament was a monumental event. It was almost three times the Foreshore and Seabed martch of 2004 and many,many times bigger than ...

PolitikBy Richard Harman

2 days ago
Gordon Campbell On The Hikoi Aftermath

The euphoria from yesterday’s hikoi may be transitory, but is no less valuable for that. It is pretty rare for the left to feel itself to be in the overwhelming majority, and speaking as the voice of the people. Lest that momentum be lost, the organisers will no doubt be ...

WerewolfBy ScoopEditor

2 days ago
Sabin 33 #3 – Solar panels generate too much waste and will overwhelm landfills

On November 1, 2024 we announced the publication of 33 rebuttals based on the report "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles" written by Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine and published by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia ...

Skeptical Science

3 days ago
What’s the time Mr Seymour?

Mr David Seymour crawling up to the ceilingThe sun don't shine the sun don't shine the sun don't shine at allMamma Pappa say you should go to school, I don't know what forNow that I've grown up and seen the world and all its liesSong: Southside of Bombay"Ake, ake, ake" ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

3 days ago
Submit to defend te Tiriti!

The Justice Committee has called for submissions on National's racist and constitutionally radical Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. Submissions can be made at the link above or by post, and are due by Tuesday, 7 January 2025. But I'd get in quick, in case National grows a spine ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

3 days ago
We need to talk about Kevin

All happy families are alike; each unhappy family has a Drunk Uncle Kevin in there somewhere. If your Kevin is anything like the ones I know, he was getting along happily enough without having to think too much about the Treaty Principles Bill apart from bloody good job, onya guys ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

3 days ago
The hikoi

Like everyone else (everyone who wasn't there, anyway), I've spent the morning watching the hikoi march on Parliament. The pictures are astounding: parliament grounds and the surrounding streets are full, and there are still people backed up along Lambton Quay. The police are estimating 35,000 people, and that's a floor ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

3 days ago
Why Govt & NZ Inc should boycott & regulate Facebook

The CEOs of Westpac NZ and Kiwibank say Facebook is rife with fraud but reporting scam ads gets no response. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, November 19: The ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

3 days ago
How should we talk about change?

A better world isn’t just possible, it’s desirable. And that’s how we should frame a lot of our conversations around making a greater Auckland. As an example take urban climate action. A climate friendly Auckland: Is free from congestion Enables people to travel how they choose Is filled with ...

Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp

3 days ago
AMA + Holiday Webworm Merch!

Hi,It’s AMA time again — so anything that’s on your mind that you wanna ask, ask away in the comments. This is one of my favourite things to do with full Webworm members, who are the heart of this community of Worms. Journalism? Documentary making? Short Poppies? Cats? Podcasting? What ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

3 days ago
Discount Code for Webworm Merch!

Hi,So there’s a bunch of new stuff on the Webworm store (www.webworm.store) — just in time for the Holidays. Read more ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

3 days ago
Trying to defuse the tension

There were urgent moves yesterday at Parliament to try and defuse the tension building up over ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill. The Bill’s author, ACT leader David Seymour, told reporters that he understood the Justice Select Committee met yesterday to discuss how long it should take to consider submissions on the ...

PolitikBy Richard Harman

3 days ago
An Irritable NZ Pawn – David Seymour Admits Treaty Principles Bill will clear the way for deve...

This morning I discovered a post I’d written 10-11 months ago, lamenting how New Zealand’s ACT Party and their foreign and local surrogates would play out anti-Māori propaganda - which I believe they have long prepared for.At the time, it was a plea for action and readiness from my fellow ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui

3 days ago
Gordon Campbell On The Hikoi Arrival, And Tyler Childers

Politicians like to bang on all about the need to heal society’s racial/economic divisions, but in their actions they’re more keen on stoking those divisions, with the Treaty Principles Bill being the classic example. The Bill seeks to dilute the Crown’s responsibilities to Māori at the same time as it ...

WerewolfBy ScoopEditor

3 days ago
Socially Backwards and Fiscally Forwards: the False Ideological Divide and the “Conservative” Li...

Nearly two weeks on from the US election, and we are still mentally wrangling with the results. How did this happen? Which voter demographics went where? What did the Democrats do wrong? Meanwhile here in New Zealand, we’re left wondering how this will apply to us and what this means ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

3 days ago
Kaamos: Accepted

I appreciate that A Phuulish Fellow has been fairly quiet recently. That’s a combination of two things – comparatively little in the way of relevant material to discuss (at least until The War of the Rohirrim comes out next month), and my general work on The Secret Non-Fiction Writing Project. ...

A Phuulish FellowBy strda221

4 days ago
Here’s how governments could fix their Paris climate commitment failures

This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Governments around the world face a conundrum. Virtually none are on track to meet their Paris climate commitments. That includes the United States, which committed to cut its emissions at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 but is only on track for 32-43% cuts ...

Skeptical Science

4 days ago
Unstoppable.

Too Big To Fail: Forty-three years after the 1981 Springbok Tour protests, Maori defenders of te Tiriti, by their own efforts, and using their own resources, are poised to descend on the capital with upwards of 100,000 followers at their back, and no force in front of them even remotely ...

Bowalley Road

4 days ago
Katherine Trebeck – An Alternative Economic Narrative

The era of neoliberalism has been destructive on so many levels, with a huge growth in wealth and privilege for the one percent. A hollowing out of the state; fraying of the safety net; inadequate government investment in infrastructure; and continued environmental degradation has resulted in damage on a vast ...

Fabians

4 days ago
In a Manner of Speaking

In a manner of speakingI just want to sayThat I could never forget the wayYou told me everythingBy saying nothingOh, give me the wordsGive me the wordsThat tell me nothingOh, give me the wordsGive me the wordsThat tell me everythingSongwriter: Winston TongNext Tuesday, the subscription price for Nick’s Kōrero will ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

4 days ago
Monday 18 November 2024

The NZNO have announced a nationwide strike for December over its pay dispute with Health NZ, who have put a 1 per cent cap on pay rises. The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti and Treaty Principles Bill remain front and centre in the media, with the impacts of the Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke-led ...

NZCTUBy Jeremiah Boniface

4 days ago
Shipley warns Seymour’s bill is ‘inviting civil war’

The divisive Treaty Principles Bill is not just a risk for the National Party, it’s a risk to civil order and unity, warns a National Party grandee. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

4 days ago
A clearer network for the City Rail Link?

This post was originally published on Linked In by Nicolas Reid. It is republished here with permission. Auckland is now just a year or so away from having the keystone of its urban rail network complete. As I wrote about here, the City Rail Link will be a literal game changer for ...

Greater AucklandBy Guest Post

4 days ago
National’s support base is wobbling

If ACT leader David Seymour intended the Treaty Principles Bill to drive a wedge into National’s support base, he may well already be succeeding. By midnight on Thursday after the Maori Party haka in Parliament, National MPs were being deluged with emails and messages from their members calling them out ...

PolitikBy Richard Harman

4 days ago
2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #46

A listing of 33 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, November 10, 2024 thru Sat, November 16, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is completely "meta" (no, not that Meta). It's about our exploring how ...

Skeptical Science

4 days ago
Grifter Eftpos Tamaki at it again

..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Self-appointed “Bishop” and proto-fascist, Brian Tamaki was at it again on 16 November, blocking Auckland’s southern motorway, SH1.This time, the target of his ire wasn’t the Civil Unions Act; covid lock-downs; mask mandates; or ...

Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy

5 days ago
Rip up a bill, lead a haka are words to live by

I cannot stop grabbing people by the lapels, or shoulders, or similar, and raving at them about the tiny miracles in my ears.I can hear again! There could not be a more satisfied customer in all the world.In a noisy cafe I am even catching words that Karren cannot, she ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

5 days ago
Unintended Consequences

Take the baitYou pay the priceIt's much too lateFor good adviceYou know and I know that our good things' throughBecause there's consequences for what we doConsequences for me and youWriters: Kevin Robert Hayes, David Nagier, Bonnie Adele Hayes.Fallout from the first readingOne News began last night by saying that tens ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

6 days ago
Thank you, driver!

Today, Saturday 16th of November, is Auckland Transport’s Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Saturday 16 November marks the third annual Auckland Transport (AT) ‘Bus Driver Appreciation Day’, and this year we are encouraging all of New Zealand to thank their driver or let the bus go first if you are in ...

Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland

6 days ago
Totally Normal: Holiday Edition

Hi,If I was to accurately sum up my mental state over the week, I’d just say that I got a huge fright from my own shadow.I’d nipped out for an 11pm neighborhood stroll, just to calm down after a day of stress and screens. The Cure and Fazerdaze’s new record ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

6 days ago
We Are Not Listening

The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...

PunditBy Brian Easton

7 days ago
More lawlessness from National

On Tuesday, sick of government stonewalling, the Waitangi Tribunal issued a rare court order, ordering the Minister of Health to release unredacted documents within 48 hours showing its reasoning for disestablishing Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority. The government's response to the lawful order of a court? Yeah, ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

7 days ago
National’s tyrannical “foreign interference” law

Yesterday, under cover the the biggest political fight of the year, National quietly - covertly, even - introduced anti-foreign interference legislation. The bill is the product of a years-long work-program aimed at countering shit like this and this, and there's unquestionably a need to do something to counter foreign states' ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

7 days ago
The Haka Represents The Best Of Us

A few months ago, I was in an audience watching a Haka-Kapa and as I watched children dance and sing and sway and shout and beat, I couldn’t help but think “The Haka represents the best of us.”Yes, yes - there will be a thousand voices that rush forth to ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui

7 days ago
Adding up the climate cost

St Mary’s Bay housing left hanging: Climate risk is systemically underestimated in the climate scenarios used by central banks, and a new report warns 10,000 houses are set to become uninsurable in Aotearoa. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

7 days ago
Auckland chafing at Bishop’s housing intensification orders

One of the major problems the Government has in implementing its ‘going for housing growth’ strategy is that it isn’t giving much funding help to councils. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

7 days ago
Friday 15 November 2024

The Treaty Principles Bill continues to dominate political news, with it passing its first reading in the House. Parliament was briefly suspended and Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke suspended for 24 hours after leading a haka that was joined by opposition MPs and the public in the gallery. Willie ...

NZCTUBy Jeremiah Boniface

1 week ago
Weekly Roundup 15-November-2024

Happy Friday, welcome to another round-up of interesting stories about what’s happening in Auckland and other cities. Feel free to add your links in the comments! This post, like all our work, is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew and made possible by generous donations from our readers ...

Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland

1 week ago
Are We The Waiting?

And screamingAre we we are, are we we are the waitingAnd screamingAre we we are, are we we are the waitingForget me nots, second thoughts live in isolationHeads or tails and fairy tales in my mindAre we we are, are we we are the waiting unknownThe rage and love, the ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 week ago
The Hoon around the week to November 15

The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate news, including from COP29 this week; on the US Presidential elections, Israel vs Gaza/Iran/Lebanon, Ukraine/Nato vs Russia/North ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

1 week ago
First Tea and Toast, now Milo — why do NZ’s best beverages need so much defending?

Only two months ago, Nicola Willis had to step in to stop Health New Zealand cutting tea and toast for post-birth parents, and now Lester Levy is riding to the rescue with a welcome message for all: our health workers can once again drink Milo, and will no longer need ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

1 week ago
Gordon Campbell on the folly of making apologies in a social vacuum.

Day One of the Treaty Principles Bill…and everyone got what they wanted, and did what they liked. Heated words were exchanged. Culturally appropriate acts of outrage were performed. David Seymour got to play the victim card. Willie Jackson got kicked out of class. A comically red-faced Mr Speaker bellowed “Order, ...

WerewolfBy ScoopEditor

1 week ago
Skeptical Science New Research for Week #46 2024

Open access notables Microbial solutions must be deployed against climate catastrophe, Peixoto et al., Nature Communications [comment]: The climate crisis is escalating. A multitude of microbe-based solutions have been proposed, and these technologies hold great promise and could be deployed along with other climate mitigation strategies. However, these solutions have ...

Skeptical Science

1 week ago
The PM gets some extremely valuable legal advice for free

You can pay a great deal of money for the services of a KC. So just what would some peerless legal writing from 40 or so of them be worth, do you reckon?Priceless, that’s what. It’s not even the half of it, but this is my favourite part of the ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

1 week ago
D-day for the government

The government's Treaty Principles Bill is up for its first reading today - bought forward in a rush in a desperate effort to avoid the hikoi which is currently marching on Wellington. But the Prime Minister won’t be there for it – he’s literally running away to Peru! But he ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

1 week ago
97% of submissions did not want no-cause evictions, Trump chooses a Russian spy for US Intelligence ...

Good morning, and I’m sorry I’ve been away for a couple of days.I’ve been focusing on the Hikoi, and also testing out sentiment on the Treaty Principles Bill. It’s complicated, and the Treaty Principles Bill will be debated in the House today. The Government’s own lawyers have told them the ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui

1 week ago
Government must vote down ACT Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights

NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to vote down an ACT Party Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights by making it easier for employers to fire workers. Last week ACT MP Laura Trask’s Employment Relations (Termination of Employment by Agreement) Amendment Bill was ...

NZCTUBy Jeremiah Boniface

1 week ago
Seymour causes thousands of unjustified absences by forcing kids to fight for their rights instead o...

The State would like to remind you that they are in control. They manage your employment prospects, and can destroy the job market you and yours rely on by mass-cancelling construction projects, cutting funding, and firing a good chunk of our public servants. They wield the mechanisms that provide scrutiny ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

1 week ago
The Weight of the World

As the weight of the world Hangs on your shoulders The weight of the world Starts to take over again And over again All that you once loved, now you hate So slowly relearn how to meditate To have and to hold And never let go Can you feel it ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 week ago
Thursday 14 November 2024

The Treaty Principles Bill is set to have its First Reading in the House today, as the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti continues. More than 40 KCs have written to the Prime Minister and Attorney-General outlining their “grave concerns” about the substance of the Treaty Principles Bill, while an academic and ...

NZCTUBy Jeremiah Boniface

1 week ago
Trump’s return to White House brings the climate’s ‘find out’ phase closer

As we absorb the news of Trump's victory in the US Presidential election, here’s a wrap compiled just before the result of what it might mean for climate action: The UN Secretary General says the prospective departure of the United States would cripple the Paris Agreement, likening it to the ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

1 week ago
Time and Space in the City Centre

Patrick Reynolds is deputy chair of the City Centre Advisory Panel. The header image is from Walthamstow, London The city centre now has a few stretches of street where the space has been repurposed to a people and place focused design from full time traffic use. These are a great ...

Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds

1 week ago
An opportunity for a pro-growth tax switch

As the Hikoi against it swells into the tens of thousands, KCs call on National to kill off ACT’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 14: The ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

1 week ago

Release: Government should be transparent on live exports

Targeted consultation on reinstating live cattle exports by sea won’t allow the New Zealand public to have their say. ...

Labour Blog

1 hour ago
NZ’s global climate rankings plummet as Govt removes agriculture from ETS

The Government has passed legislation to remove agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) while Aotearoa’s reputation on climate action plummets. ...

Greens

16 hours ago
Failed boot camp experiment must end

As legislation to set up boot camps passed its first reading, the Green Party urged the Government to abandon this failed policy experiment for the good of our rangatahi. ...

Greens

17 hours ago
Gender-affirming care must centre evidence and health needs, not political posturing

The Ministry of Health has today released an evidence brief regarding the use of puberty blockers in gender-affirming healthcare, amid moves by the government to limit access. ...

Greens

17 hours ago
Release: National doesn’t care about manufacturing

The National Government is walking away from our manufacturing sector with constant reports of closures and job losses. ...

Labour Blog

19 hours ago
Release: David Parker speech – Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change

David Parker's speech from the University of Auckland's forum on Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change in September 2024. ...

Labour Blog

19 hours ago
Release: Youth mental wellbeing no longer a priority for Child Poverty Minister

Louise Upston has revealed her diminished vision for vulnerable youth against a backdrop of snubbed advice, scrapped priorities, shifted goal posts and thousands more children projected to fall into poverty. ...

Labour Blog

20 hours ago
Release: National’s lack of climate action taking NZ backwards

National Government’s backward-looking climate policy has seen New Zealand fall seven places on the Climate Change Performance Index to 41 out of 63 countries measured. ...

Labour Blog

20 hours ago
Release: Simple reason for drop in emergency housing

When the Government says it has reduced the number of people in emergency housing, what it means is it is stopping people from accessing it in the first place. ...

Labour Blog

23 hours ago
Govt’s child wellbeing strategy ‘shallow and shameful’

The Government is turning its back on children by not only weakening child poverty reduction targets, but also removing child mental wellbeing as a priority focus in their Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. ...

Greens

24 hours ago
Release: A historic win for Samoan communities

Labour warmly welcomes the Restoring Samoan Citizenship Bill as it passes its third reading, before becoming law. ...

Labour Blog

1 day ago
Government plan to reinstate live animal exports a “national disgrace”

The Government has taken a giant step backwards by reinstating live animal exports. ...

Greens

2 days ago
Pasifika justice as Member’s Bill passes final reading

Teanau Tuiono’s Member’s Bill, the Citizenship (Western Samoa Restoration) Amendment Bill, has passed its third reading and will become law. ...

Greens

2 days ago
Release: Minister of Education thinks New Zealand ends at the Bombay Hills

The Minister of Education has shown complete disregard for rural communities and their school bus routes in Question Time today. ...

Labour Blog

2 days ago
Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach

A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...

Greens

2 days ago
Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch

National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...

Labour Blog

2 days ago
Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs

Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...

Labour Blog

2 days ago
Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions

Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...

Greens

3 days ago
Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament

Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...

Greens

3 days ago
Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons

Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...

Labour Blog

4 days ago
Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill

The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...

Labour Blog

5 days ago
Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope

The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...

Greens

7 days ago
Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill

The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Stand Up for Te Tiriti

Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...

Labour Blog

1 week ago
Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon

As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...

Labour Blog

1 week ago
Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation

The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned

The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors

...

Labour Blog

1 week ago
Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors

Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...

Labour Blog

1 week ago
Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care

Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill

The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect

The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Without action, an apology will be empty air

For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference

Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Urgent wake-up call on climate

The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world

Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies

Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill

The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...

The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
NZ must pursue independent foreign policy

The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago

Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements

The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

17 hours ago
Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending

The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

17 hours ago
Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review

Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

18 hours ago
State of the art radiology machine for Auckland

People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

18 hours ago
Foreign Minister to visit Europe

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

19 hours ago
First arrests made under gang patch ban

Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

20 hours ago
Better support for victims of sexual violence

The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

21 hours ago
Government moving forward with Regional Deals

Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

21 hours ago
MSA pilot participant update

One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

22 hours ago
Fighting for Kiwis in Trade

Delivered at Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School Good morning and thank you Deputy Vice Chancellor Lithander for your warm welcome and for inviting me to open Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School today. A Special thanks to the University of Auckland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

23 hours ago
Attendance rates increase, again

Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

23 hours ago
Improving the lives of young New Zealanders

Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 day ago
Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea

The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024

Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement

Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Latest Quarterly Investment Report released

The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight

The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils

The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed

The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double

Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference

Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance

Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Health survey results to help drive change

Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025

A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
New diplomatic appointments

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill

Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Red Tape Tipline goes live

Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Youth Parliament 2025 announced

The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Police stats show promising change

After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Better coordination of anti-scam efforts

With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Minister to consider 7AA select committee report

Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting

Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Launching the White Ribbon Ride

The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in Whakatāne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury

Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

6 days ago
NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland

Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealand’s sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. “The Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

6 days ago
Government and iwi work together on aquaculture

Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure Ngāi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southland’s economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) I’m announcing today set aside space so the Crown and Ngāi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

7 days ago
Government launches review to ensure electricity market is fit-for-purpose

The terms of reference for a review of the performance of the electricity market have been released. The review, initiated by the Coalition Government during the power crisis in winter will look at whether current regulations and market design support economic growth and access to reliable and affordable electricity, Energy Minister ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

7 days ago
Speech to Social Investment Hui: Jack and his whānau need our help

Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai. Ki te mihi atu ahau, ki te manwhenua nei, Te Atiawa, Ngāti toa rangatira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you, Andy, for your introduction. Let me acknowledge you as the new Chief Executive of the Social Investment ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

7 days ago
Minister of State for Trade heads to Brisbane for PACER Plus meeting

Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg has travelled to Australia to attend the PACER Plus Ministers Meeting in Brisbane. “Trade plays a critical role in driving employment, economic growth, and improving the standards of living in the Pacific Region. The Government is strongly committed to supporting Pacific Island countries ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago

RNA editing is the next frontier in gene therapy – here’s what you need to know

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne IoanaB/Shutterstock The United States Food and Drug Administration has just approved the first-ever clinical trial that uses CRISPR-Cas13 RNA editing. Its ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

52 minutes ago
Yes, you still need to use sunscreen, despite what you’ve heard on TikTok

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Lee, PhD Candidate, Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland Karolina Grabowska/Pexels Summer is nearly here. But rather than getting out the sunscreen, some TikTokers are urging followers to chuck it out and go sunscreen-free. They claim it’s healthier ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

52 minutes ago
Humans are killing off the old and wise animals that hold nature together. Here’s what must change

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keller Kopf, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Charles Darwin University Laxmikant Ameenagad, Shutterstock In humans and other animals, ageing is generally associated with a decline in biological function. But scientists are now discovering older animals perform vital roles in populations and ecosystems. ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

52 minutes ago
A man scouring Google Earth found a mysterious scar in the Australian outback – and now scientists...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matej Lipar, Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University Author provided/Google Earth Earlier this year, a caver was poring over satellite images of the Nullarbor Plain when he came across something unexpected: an enormous, mysterious scar etched ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

52 minutes ago
Design as a movement: how First Nations people take ownership of their cultural stories through fash...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Treena Clark, Chancellor’s Indigenous Research Fellow, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, University of Technology Sydney Once located 250 metres to the east of the Art Gallery of South Australia, the grand beaux-arts style Jubilee Exhibition Building was constructed to house the ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

52 minutes ago
‘We need more doctors’ – Support for new Waikato medical school

The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says a third medical school and more students in Auckland and Otago are both needed. ...

Radio NZ – political

1 hour ago
Cricket balls can concuss and even kill batters – at all levels, helmet use must be taken seriousl...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Annette Greenhow, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Bond University Linda George/Shutterstock The ten-year anniversary of the death of much-loved Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes falls on November 27. The 25-year-old’s life was tragically cut short in 2014 when a bouncer ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

1 hour ago
Hold the roosters, no economic dawn yet

Treasury likely to downgrade economic forecast while Chris Bishop says the government won’t be ‘a slave to a surplus’, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Recession will be deeper and last longer — Treasury At a recent Spinoff ...

The SpinoffBy Anna Rawhiti-Connell

2 hours ago
Knowing superstitions aren’t real doesn’t stop us behaving superstitiously – why?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie Gomes-Ng, Senior Lecturer of Psychology, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Former New Zealand prime minister John Key has three white rabbits painted on his helicopter, a nod to his “massively superstitious” habit of repeating “white rabbits” three times at ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

3 hours ago
Government slammed for pushing ahead with boot camps while trial still under way

The coalition has "absolutely no intention of listening to the evidence that comes out of their experiment", Labour MP says. ...

Radio NZ – political

4 hours ago
Smoke and mirrors in heated tobacco debate

Labour claims Government is ‘cherry-picking’ smoking trends data to hide decade-first increase in daily smokers The post Smoke and mirrors in heated tobacco debate appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Fox Meyer

4 hours ago
Smoke and mirrors in tobacco debate

Labour claims Government is ‘cherry-picking’ smoking trends data to hide decade-first increase in daily smokers The post Smoke and mirrors in tobacco debate appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Fox Meyer

4 hours ago
Treasury bangs the drum on ‘unsustainable’ superannuation

The Government’s economic adviser is sending a message it doesn’t want to hear – superannuation is increasingly unaffordable The post Treasury bangs the drum on ‘unsustainable’ superannuation appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Tina Morrison

4 hours ago
Victims of sex offending welcome shift on name suppression laws

A man abused by a former political figure is "immensely relieved" at a government proposal to end secrecy around sex offenders' identities. ...

Radio NZ – political

4 hours ago
This week three parties stood together – can they withstand the storm to come?

There is plenty yet to play out, but the next election is at this rate shaping up as trio versus trio, writes Toby Manhire. A subplot of this week’s historic hīkoi mō te Tiriti has been the sight of the three opposition parties presenting a unified front. Te Pāti Māori ...

The SpinoffBy Toby Manhire

5 hours ago
All 33 malls in Auckland ranked from worst to best

From the low lows of abandon empires to the high highs of a mall done just right. This is the second in the Malls of New Zealand series, where we rank the malls in major centres. Next week: Wellington. A note from the editor: This is the hardest ranking we’ve ...

The SpinoffBy Group Think

5 hours ago
The cost of being: A clothes-mad 20-something who walks everywhere

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 27-year-old apartment-dwelling marketing exec explains her approach to spending and saving. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Female. Age: 27. Ethnicity: Pākehā. Role: Marketing exec at ...

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5 hours ago
Taken to the brink, Govt is now close to selling big Whakapapa ski field

Bidder Whakapapa Holdings walked away from the sales process last year, but says it’s now ‘95% there’ on a purchase agreement – so who blinked first? The post Taken to the brink, Govt is now close to selling big Whakapapa ski field appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Andrew Bevin

5 hours ago
Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 22 November

Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 22 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles

5 hours ago
Daily crossword, Friday 22 November

The post Daily crossword, Friday 22 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles

5 hours ago
China likely to strengthen regional relationships in response to another Trump term

Opinion: Recent discussions in Shanghai provide some insight into what’s likely to be on the table The post China likely to strengthen regional relationships in response to another Trump term appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Jason Young

5 hours ago
Nuclear winters know no borders

Opinion: The immediate horror of nuclear weapon explosions – the blinding flash, crushing blast wave, and radioactive inferno – is well documented.But what nuclear-armed nations either don’t grasp or won’t admit, is far more chilling: how their weapons could devastate even countries thousands of kilometres from any mushroom clouds.The collapse ...

NewsroomBy Nick Wilson and Matt Boyd

5 hours ago
This week’s bestselling books – November 22

FICTION1 Kāwai: Tree of Nourishment by Monty Soutar (David Bateman, $39.99)Sample dialogue, all from one chapter:“That can’t be,” replied Taona doubtfully.“You were right. The pā is unnervingly quiet,” Taona murmured.“The Hākuwai,” Motukia breathed. “Our grandfathers told us they rarely saw the Hākuwai in daylight,” Motukia muttered.“Their fight would have been futile ...

NewsroomBy Steve Braunias

5 hours ago
Burma the flying elephant

After about two and a half years of planning and waiting, New Zealand’s last elephant has moved to her new home at Monarto Safari Park in South Australia.Burma and her “human herd”, that is, her keepers, arrived last week, and she’s settling in well, according to Auckland Zoo’s Andrew Coers.“Something ...

NewsroomBy Gwen McClure

5 hours ago
NZ’s membership of Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance in jeopardy

Senior ministers in the coalition suggested NZ’s membership will be re-evaluated if it restarts offshore oil and gas drilling The post NZ’s membership of Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance in jeopardy appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Marc Daalder

5 hours ago
Raw Politics: Six months in a leaky Bill

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon did not meet the Treaty Principles Bill hikoi crowd, sees “nothing” of merit in the Act-proposed law but the Parliament his Government dominates will spend six months debating a “divisive” measure.That’s because he has accepted there needs to be “aeration” of people’s views on the Treaty, ...

NewsroomBy Newsroom Staff

5 hours ago
Watts nears a landmark deal on global carbon trading

A framework for global carbon trading under the Paris Agreement is finally nearing completion at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan after years of halting talks.Climate Change Minister Simon Watts is one of two ministers tasked by the COP29 hosts with landing a long-sought deal on Article 6 of the climate accord, ...

NewsroomBy Marc Daalder

5 hours ago
Grattan on Friday: Marles plays a defensive bat on nuclear as the government rushes to get though la...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Richard Marles is an ambitious man who hasn’t given up the dream of one day reaching the top job. But, despite being deputy prime minister, his profile is much lower than that of Treasurer Jim ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

10 hours ago
Fears Māori will pay heaviest price if police carry guns

"Overwhelmingly, those people who die will be young Māori men," the spokesperson for People Against Prisons Aotearoa says. ...

Radio NZ – political

12 hours ago
NEW POLL: Kiwis Overwhelmingly Support MPs’ Expenses Transparency Law Change

62% of respondents support the extension of the OIA to cover MPs’ spending, compared to just 13% opposed and 24% were unsure. ...

Scoop politics

12 hours ago
The House: Meanwhile, a week of passing law

The political week has been packed with worthy distractions, but all week Parliament has focused on passing new laws. Here are the highlights. ...

Radio NZ – political

12 hours ago
The biggest difference between Hīkoi mō te Tiriti and past hīkoi: More support from non-Māori

Analysis - The diversity of voices during the hīkoi was noticeable - from tangata moana to young immigrants to elderly Pākehā from the South Island. ...

Radio NZ – political

13 hours ago
The House: Samoan citizenship restoration – ‘It means we belong to this land’

When the bill to restore NZ citizenship to some Samoans passed this week, Parliament's galleries were full to the brim with members of the community. ...

Radio NZ – political

14 hours ago
More Delays In Action On Use Of Puberty Blockers With Children

Women’s Rights Party Co-leader Jill Ovens says the Ministry has put New Zealand children at risk by continuing to allow “off-label” prescribing of puberty blockers at far higher rates than other similar countries. ...

Scoop politics

15 hours ago
Police Minister adamant he wasn’t aware of gang members training at gun clubs

That is despite two papers from police that raised the matter with him. ...

Radio NZ – political

15 hours ago
Shorten declares himself ‘a proud moderate’, saying Australians ‘in the middle’ shouldn’t ...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten has declared himself “a proud moderate” in a valedictory speech declaring parliament has the responsibility to ensure the extremes of left and right do not set the terms of political debate. Shorten, ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

16 hours ago
New ‘best practice’ principles for superannuation products are coming. We asked a panel of exper...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Garrow, Editorial Web Developer Studio Romantic/Shutterstock We all know how important it is to save enough money for retirement – but what about spending it wisely when we get there? Even for those who have built up a suitable ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

16 hours ago
Government accused of betraying Kiwis’ trust over lack of consultation on live exports

The government has always vowed to reinstate live exports by sea, which was banned by the previous Labour government. ...

Radio NZ – political

16 hours ago
7 things you can do if you think you sweat too much

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Freeman, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Bond University ERIK Miheyeu/Shutterstock Sweating is our body’s way of cooling down, a bit like an internal air conditioner. When our core temperature rises (because it’s hot outside, or you’re exercising), sweat glands all ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

16 hours ago
Phenergan for under 6s is now banned due to hallucination fears. Here’s what to use instead

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macquarie University Australia’s drug regulator has issued a safety warning over the medicine Phenergan and related products containing the antihistamine drug promethazine. The Therapeutic Goods Administration said the over-the-counter products should not be given to children ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

16 hours ago

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