Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
Cruel
This government.
Govt again vetoes paid parental leave bill
“Legislation seeking to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks has failed in Parliament after the government used its power of financial veto.
Finance Minister Bill English said the extension to paid parental leave would have been too costly.
The bill in the name of Labour MP Sue Moroney had enough support to pass into law but was not voted on at its third reading because of the veto.
Ms Moroney told Parliament that using the veto was an extreme measure, and today was a shameful day for democracy.
Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
Uncaring.
This government’s lack of funding for Lifeline Aotearoa.
“Crisis counselling service Lifeline Aotearoa says it is running out of money and without millions of dollars of donations it will close next year.
Lifeline has been running for 52 years, answering up to 15,000 calls a month on its 24-hour a day helplines.
People call on a raft of issues including loneliness, family violence, financial concerns, homelessness, bullying and relationship issues, mental health and suicidal thoughts.
Last year it lost government contracts and has had to cut a third of its staff.
It said appeals for government and private funding have failed.
Mr Palmer said Lifeline was a unique service and should not be allowed to close.
He said a record 564 people committed suicide last year, a significant social and economic burden on the country.
While there were numerous other helplines, none had the expertise of Lifeline in regard to suicide, crisis, peer-support and other counselling, he said.
It was also the country’s most significant specialist provider of suicide intervention and training and, as such, was on the frontline of suicide prevention in New Zealand.
I’d say the increase in farmer suicide, and our long term youth suicide rate bring one of highest in the OECD suggest that Lifeline aren’t bleating.
Mind you, you could probably make an argument for Lifeline having had its day, being a relic from before neoliberalism, and that its financial problems are a sign of its inability to get with the programme. Too many sheep, not enough wolves. /sarc
Are you unaware of the suicide statistics in this country – the youth rates, the 12 year old killing himself, the underreporting because someone killing themselves isn’t considered suicide, the high rate of Māori suicide – youth and adult.
Thanks marty. Ad’s comment was callous. I’m surprised that an intelligent person is unaware of just how high our rates of suicide are here in NZ.
Also insensitive given the high number, for Ad to not to consider how many people reading may have been suicidal at a point in their lives or lost someone to suicide.
Understand you feel alert to the subject of suicide given your work – and you do valuable and worthy work, probably very tough some days. Big bless to you for the changes you may facilitate in people’s lives.
Children between the ages of 5-9 commit suicide in NZ, imagine being that young & even knowing how to kill yourself! This is truly NZs deep dark shame.
“Maria Bradshaw, whose 17-year-old son Toran Henry took his own life in 2008, said she was aware of a six-year-old girl and seven-year-old boy who had committed suicide in the past 12 months.”
Interesting here too that more unemployed people kill themselves than those in work.
Let’s say I found a tracker in a 10second google.
How would its information affect your position?
What would you say if the suicide rate had been increasing over time, or decreasing, or was static?
Because I don’t see how it’s relevant to whether lifeline is a valuable service.
YouGov (just released – via tweet from UK polling expert. Nothing on YouGov site yet)
Corbyn should Resign ?
………………………………………Yes………….No……….Unsure Entire Sample………………49%………..30%………..21% Labour Voters……………..35%…………54%………..11%
YouGov
Second EU Referendum ? Entire Sample….Yes 31%….No 58%….Unsure 11%
Those Opposed include not only 91% of Leave voters but also just under 30% of Remain supporters.
A second question shows that even if Scotland left the UK, respondents still opposed a Second Referendum by 51% to 30%.
Fun Brexit Stats
A total of 9084 people voted for BOTH Remain and Leave on their ballot paper in the EU Referendum. Rates of double-voting were highest in the London borough of Brent (0.13%).
I suspect they were just taking the piss.
The 200 Labour party MPs who are pushing for Corbyn to go do not represent the country or their own party. They are Tony Blair’s creatures. It is they who should resign.
But all the right wing trolls say Corbyn should resign? They wouldn’t be speaking with forked tongues would they? I noticed they shut up pretty quick last night when Shewan was proven to be another disingenuous wanker. Little comes out smelling like roses again.
I hope Corbyn will keep his leadership & let the cards fall where they may come election time, what are the right so scared about? Labour winning? But that’s impossible under Corbyn they say, then wouldn’t it be better for them to shut up about it? One would think so wouldn’t one (I couldn’t possibly comment).
Almost impossible to hear the views of working class people in England such is the stranglehold of the corporate mainstream media. The Guardian has proven a lackey of Blairite interests ( its bias was also clear during Corbyn’s selection and also during the Scottish referendum last year. The independent has proved it is anything but.
So here are some links for those of you wanting to hear the people’s voice, as opposed to the 200 career Labour MPs.
I feel love & Paul
Corbyn won’t be the first J.C. To be crucified by selfish power brokers & self serving politicians who ignore the wishes of the silenced majority.
@I Feel Love (4.1.1.1) you post “…. I noticed they shut up pretty quick last night when Shewan was proven to be another disingenuous wanker. Little comes out smelling like roses again.”
Thanks for this info which I have missed. I am having trouble finding it and want to know what has come out about Shewan. Of course msm won’t have anything about it and if it does, it will be hidden away in the dark bowels of the publication!
Do you have more details please?
Ditto re Corbyn. Seems the ordinary people on the street want him to stay on as leader. It’s the dirty Blairites in Labour who want him gone! Dirty Politics!
“Until he produced that tiny piece of evidence it looked like he was lying. That’s something Mr Little calls the Prime Minister out on, and if Little’s a prime minister in waiting, then he needs to be able to show that he doesn’t lie.
Today he did that, and I take my hat off to him.
However, it shouldn’t have taken the public battle to get here, it was a simple case of “I did exactly what I was asked — here, let me show you.”
But you can guarantee when there are lawyers involved, things get arduous.
Anyway, it’s over now. Both parties seem happy. Case closed. “
Its a good report eh? Just lays out some facts. Seems surprised to be dealing with an honest politician, something she must not be used to when dealing with the Govt I suppose.
Shewan claimed in a recent Herald editorial piece that there is no Australian money in zero rated company trusts. How does he know this! Does he have authority to request these trusts contents, or some inside network knowledge, or is he just parroting John Key.
For a PM who rarely does not do much in details,
Key seems to be right all over this report.
It begs the question did he actually write it.
People have a tell in how they write, and tone of style with their grammar.
I don’t know what you’re talking about specifically, but the NZ law on foreign trusts has special carve-outs for foreign trusts owned/controlled/whatevered by Australians, due to the Australian government putting pressure on us to change our law just for them.
So that is likely what Shewan basis his claims on.
hah so Aussies are banned from having trusts here.
How about John Key having written the report, Key usually doesnt do details, but he had the report down pat. Though, he has claimed not to be a expert in trusts.
Swordfish
This is a good YouGov chart that shows the demographics of the Brexit vote. I can’t find the original (too many charts to sift through!), this is a repost from a(n Italian?) facebook page:
Despite what “public servants” John Key and Bill English say, ordinary working Kiwis are struggling to make ends meet. Yet the problems of inequality and impoverishment continue to be NZ’s fastest growing industry! Disgraceful and disturbing!
Here is Guyon Espiner’s interview with Bill English this morning re the growing inequality in NZ!
It’s pure spun out arrogant, uncaring BS! I am so angry that someone like English is in such a prominent position where he and his government can do so much more for disadvantaged NZers. But he doesn’t and he won’t! Laugh or cry at his responses to the questioning, the choice is yours! I was close to tears listening to his cold hearted replies to Espiner!
Now that Andrew Little has proved John Shewan was happy with the statement Little made, would you like to offer an apology to Mr Little this morning for calling him a liar and political smearer?
Andrew Little could have easily ended this right at the very beginning, he didn’t because he was trying to draw as much publicity as he could and to try to paint himself as the underdog
You know when you try to spin other peoples lies, you look like an idiot Puckish Rouge, and we both know you are not.
The problem was Paddy Gower, he is like a five year old demanding a toy, he stamps his feet and screams in the street. But really he is just a naughty little boy.
Ridiculous hypothesis. He’d want Shewan’s needy claim to go away as soon as possible.
More likely Andrew Little is very busy trying to make New Zealand a better place by holding this government to account (something which they themselves do not do), and by planning strategy to change the government next election.
He’s got better things to do than mollify over-sensitive trust accountants.
What arrogance in you PR ! Not only do you reserve the right to tell everyone on the Left how they must ‘lose’, you also purport to tell Andrew Little how he should ‘win’. And when he wins in a way not approved of by you…….you’re down his throat. Who the fuck are you ? Concern troll.
PR
I don’t agree with you about much (especially trusting Shewan’s word about anything), but yes; I’ve been having OM and older posts go blank on me too this past week. Worse than usual I mean, there’d always be the odd glitch (probably when you try to open a page at the same time a comment is being posted); but these are persistent for hours, even with reopening the browser (firefox).
Respect to Nanaia Mahuta and Kelvin Davis for challenging Te Ureroa Flavell on the efficacy and lack of accountability of the Maori Party flagship Whanau Ora.
“Mr Keung, of Maniapoto and Ngāti Porou, said the idea was to share key documents and learnings that tāngata whenua had gained in order to bring better health and social outcomes for American Indians and Alaskan Natives.
“It will be the things that have been developed with Waipareira, our owner, over 35 years of the work they’ve been doing, but more recently in the Whānau Ora space in delivering a more integrated and whānau-centric suite of services to our whānau.
“They are looking to get more strategically developed in the way they deliver services and they see this as an opportunity to do something.””
Hmmm…..
Again….Nanaia and Kelvin step up and do their job as elected representatives.
Thanks Adrian-worth a listen. English is actually a nasty bit of work behind the spin. What he fails to mention is that it is this government that got the family into the situation in the first place.
There is billions for roading, billions for defence, billions in tax cuts for the better off, but peanuts for those in poverty.
The top rate of tax in Denmark is 59%-it is one of the most successful and happy countries in the world.
Of course as we know, most economic debates or discussions will quickly become a debate about class war.
What English essentially, and unwittingly said in that slip, was to deal with inequality in a real way, some wealth would need to be removed from those who own it now.
A very rare albeit brief look at the ideology in it’s pure form, of National and enabled by a neo liberal left.
Henry had Don Mc Kinnon talking about Brexit. Man did Don Mc Kinnon have his finger on the pulse. He gave a very good opinion without the usual bullshit we have come to expect these days.
But there again Don Mc Kinnon is an officer and a gentleman, old school National who did care for NZ. Not like this shower of fucking incompetent crooks we have now who would sell their grandmothers for a quick Buck.
The Parliamentary Watchdog Dr Jan Wright is critical of the Government’s latest environmental report and says it doesn’t go far enough on climate change. As a subtle boot up the nether regions of the Government she has submitted her views on what should have been included in the report and she is very scathing about it.
Somehow methinks there will be another early retirement or a slur against her professionalism by our useless government for the temerity of her to question their report. They will say she is straying beyond the brief of the report and treat her like they did the Canadian Judge over his findings on the Bain Affair by rubbishing her professionalism and reputation. It will be sickening as per usual.
And No Right Turn is even more explicit Kate. The Environmental Report:
“The criticisms are serious. The report is poorly structured, which obfuscates key issues. The indicators are poorly chosen. There is no forecasting of future trends. But above all, there are no conclusions, and no assessment of the seriousness of problems.
BBC Radio 4’s Moral Maze is well worth a listen to. Discusses morality in context of winners and losers of Brexit. Raises some fundamental questions about belief sets in representative democracy. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07hgh5f
What a tragedy. I had wondered what the situation was with the man found crushed in the cardboard baling.
From the article I got the impression that it was speculation that the man was homeless. If he was, then it is extremely sad – it means his death would have been avoided and entirely preventable if he were in safe warm accommodation.
Thanks Lanthanide. I was being remarkably lazy by not googling it myself. I was unaware that a 78 year old man was stabbed in the process of trying to defend Jo Cox.
“When the dairy downturn started biting, Daniel Bindner’s world started unravelling.
The Waikato father lost his job as a farm worker, broke up with the mother of his children and ended up homeless before he disappeared.
It was almost a week after he was last seen that workers at a Hamilton recycling plant discovered the father of three’s body in a compressed bale of cardboard.”
Federated Farmers union are sure helping kiwi dairy workers, during this downturn,, retaining experienced workforce and all that.
Is John Key keeping the visa worker numbers high hoping for a dairy market swing upwards.
Any chance of an off topic, general, meeting place type hangout here, so some of us can offer things like fridges dryers, or arrange meetings, declare our love, get married, have kids, you know more us who love democracy and share a passion for all things wonderful great and small can small talk.
There used to be Weekend Social posts where that sort of thing could be discussed. Haven’t seen one of those for quite a few months now, though. They were never particularly highly commented on, though.
A long time ago now there was also a movement called Drinking Liberally which I think was mainly in Wellington, a frequent get-together for lefties to go to bars and drink together.
Also The Standard has strict rules around pseudonymity, which puts a bit of a crimp on the sorts of things you list in this comment, although commentators are allowed to publicise their own identities if they choose to, in practice very few have chosen that.
The Drinking Liberally also happened in Dunedin for a while, but then they moved it from a bar to a vegan place and it became overly weighted with hippies for my taste so I stopped going.
There were also a few gatherings of standardistas in the botanic gardens, some people outing their pseudonyms and others not. Those were ok for a bit.
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Work begins today at Wainuiomata High School to ensure buildings and teaching spaces are fit for purpose, Education Minister Chris Hipkins says. The Minister joined principal Janette Melrose and board chair Lynda Koia to kick off demolition for the project, which is worth close to $40 million, as the site ...
A skilled and experienced group of people have been named as the newly established Oranga Tamariki Ministerial Advisory Board by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis today. The Board will provide independent advice and assurance to the Minister for Children across three key areas of Oranga Tamariki: relationships with families, whānau, and ...
The green light for New Zealand’s first COVID-19 vaccine could be granted in just over a week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said today. “We’re making swift progress towards vaccinating New Zealanders against the virus, but we’re also absolutely committed to ensuring the vaccines are safe and effective,” Jacinda Ardern said. ...
The Minister for ACC is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to join the Board of ACC on 1 February 2021. “All three bring diverse skills and experience to provide strong governance oversight to lead the direction of ACC” said Hon Carmel Sepuloni. Bella Takiari-Brame from Hamilton ...
The Government is investing $9 million to upgrade a significant community facility in Invercargill, creating economic stimulus and jobs, Infrastructure Minister Grant Robertson and Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirikatene have announced. The grant for Waihōpai Rūnaka Inc to make improvements to Murihiku Marae comes from the $3 billion set ...
[Opening comments, welcome and thank you to Auckland University etc] It is a great pleasure to be here this afternoon to celebrate such an historic occasion - the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This is a moment many feared would never come, but ...
The Government is providing $3 million in one-off seed funding to help disabled people around New Zealand stay connected and access support in their communities, Minister for Disability Issues, Carmel Sepuloni announced today. The funding will allow disability service providers to develop digital and community-based solutions over the next two ...
Border workers in quarantine facilities will be offered voluntary daily COVID-19 saliva tests in addition to their regular weekly testing, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. This additional option will be rolled out at the Jet Park Quarantine facility in Auckland starting on Monday 25 January, and then to ...
The next steps in the Government’s ambitious firearms reform programme to include a three-month buy-back have been announced by Police Minister Poto Williams today. “The last buy-back and amnesty was unprecedented for New Zealand and was successful in collecting 60,297 firearms, modifying a further 5,630 firearms, and collecting 299,837 prohibited ...
Upscaling work already underway to restore two iconic ecosystems will deliver jobs and a lasting legacy, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. “The Jobs for Nature programme provides $1.25 billion over four years to offer employment opportunities for people whose livelihoods have been impacted by the COVID-19 recession. “Two new projects ...
The Government has released its Public Housing Plan 2021-2024 which outlines the intention of where 8,000 additional public and transitional housing places announced in Budget 2020, will go. “The Government is committed to continuing its public house build programme at pace and scale. The extra 8,000 homes – 6000 public ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has congratulated President Joe Biden on his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States of America. “I look forward to building a close relationship with President Biden and working with him on issues that matter to both our countries,” Jacinda Ardern said. “New Zealand ...
A major investment to tackle wilding pines in Mt Richmond will create jobs and help protect the area’s unique ecosystems, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor says. The Mt Richmond Forest Park has unique ecosystems developed on mineral-rich geology, including taonga plant species found nowhere else in the country. “These special plant ...
To further protect New Zealand from COVID-19, the Government is extending pre-departure testing to all passengers to New Zealand except from Australia, Antarctica and most Pacific Islands, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “The change will come into force for all flights arriving in New Zealand after 11:59pm (NZT) on Monday ...
Bay Conservation Cadets launched with first intake Supported with $3.5 million grant Part of $1.245b Jobs for Nature programme to accelerate recover from Covid Cadets will learn skills to protect and enhance environment Environment Minister David Parker today welcomed the first intake of cadets at the launch of the Bay ...
The Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown have announced passengers from the Cook Islands can resume quarantine-free travel into New Zealand from 21 January, enabling access to essential services such as health. “Following confirmation of the Cook Islands’ COVID ...
Jobs for Nature funding is being made available to conservation groups and landowners to employ staff and contractors in a move aimed at boosting local biodiversity-focused projects, Conservation Minister Kiritapu Allan has announced. It is estimated some 400-plus jobs will be created with employment opportunities in ecology, restoration, trapping, ...
The Government has approved an exception class for 1000 international tertiary students, degree level and above, who began their study in New Zealand but were caught offshore when border restrictions began. The exception will allow students to return to New Zealand in stages from April 2021. “Our top priority continues ...
Today’s deal between Meridian and Rio Tinto for the Tiwai smelter to remain open another four years provides time for a managed transition for Southland. “The deal provides welcome certainty to the Southland community by protecting jobs and incomes as the region plans for the future. The Government is committed ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appointed Anna Curzon to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). The leader of each APEC economy appoints three private sector representatives to ABAC. ABAC provides advice to leaders annually on business priorities. “ABAC helps ensure that APEC’s work programme is informed by business community perspectives ...
The Government’s prudent fiscal management and strong policy programme in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic have been acknowledged by the credit rating agency Fitch. Fitch has today affirmed New Zealand’s local currency rating at AA+ with a stable outlook and foreign currency rating at AA with a positive ...
The Government is putting in place a suite of additional actions to protect New Zealand from COVID-19, including new emerging variants, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Given the high rates of infection in many countries and evidence of the global spread of more transmissible variants, it’s clear that ...
$36 million of Government funding alongside councils and others for 19 projects Investment will clean up and protect waterways and create local jobs Boots on the ground expected in Q2 of 2021 Funding part of the Jobs for Nature policy package A package of 19 projects will help clean up ...
The commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the Battle of Ruapekapeka represents an opportunity for all New Zealanders to reflect on the role these conflicts have had in creating our modern nation, says Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Kiri Allan. “The Battle at Te Ruapekapeka Pā, which took ...
Vodafone has suspended advertising on the radio station amid calls for talkback host John Banks to be taken off air after yet another racist outburst. Alex Braae reports. In an alarming segment of talkback radio, former Auckland mayor John Banks endorsed the views of a caller who described Māori as a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Welch, Senior Lecturer, University of Auckland When a COVID-19 case was found in Northland last Sunday, Aotearoa’s second-longest period with no detected community case came to an end. ESR scientists worked late into Sunday night to obtain a whole genome sequence ...
He has the perfect moustache, an exceptional mullet, and he uses terms like ‘face hole’ on national TV. Who or what is Dr Joel Rindelaub?I was drawn in by the moustache, but it was the mullet that really kept me there. Watching TVNZ’s Breakfast yesterday morning I was fixated. Often, ...
We’ll never be royals with nearly a quarter of declined baby names featuring “Royal” in some form or another. Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs has released the list of names declined in 2020 by the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and ...
After a raft of inquiries delving into and recommending what should be done about the politically beleaguered Orangi Tamaraki, along with the briefing papers we suppose he has been given, we imagined Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis would have no more need for expert advice. Wrong. He has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vincent Ho, Senior Lecturer and clinical academic gastroenterologist, Western Sydney University There’s a common assumption men take longer than women to poo. People say so on Twitter, in memes, and elsewhereonline. But is that right? What could explain it? And if ...
Just as sexuality is a spectrum, so too is asexuality. In Ace of Hearts, members of New Zealand’s asexual community talk about the challenges and misconceptions of identifying as ace.First published November 17, 2020.Ace of Hearts is part of Frame, a series of short documentaries produced by Wrestler for The Spinoff.“A ...
Sam Brooks wasn’t allowed to watch kids TV as a kid. Now, as a 30 year old man, he watches it for the first time.My mother’s approach to parenting was unorthodox. I wrote weekly book reports on top of my actual homework, I did maths equations in Roman numerals and ...
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk More leading Indonesian figures have made racial slurs against Natalius Pigai, former chair of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) – and all West Papuans, says United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) interim president Benny Wenda. “Since the illegal Indonesian invasion in 1963, Indonesian ...
“The Government’s failure to even conduct a standard cost-benefit analysis for the most expensive infrastructure project in New Zealand’s history is mind-bogglingly arrogant,” says New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke. “A ...
The Ministry of Health is today drawing backlash from the local New Zealand vaping industry following its release of proposed regulations for the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act. Vaping Trade Association New Zealand (VTANZ) President, ...
Sophie Gilmour and Simon Day are joined by special guest Hugo Baird, co-owner of Grey Lynn’s Honey Bones and Lilian, to talk about opening new pub Hotel Ponsonby.Auckland is a city of many bars but few really good pubs – the kind of places you’d be just as comfortable going ...
The appointment of an advisory board for Oranga Tamariki is welcome and should be a step toward a total transformation of the care and protection system to a by Māori, for Māori approach, Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft said today. Minister ...
Taking control of your financial wellbeing can have cascading positive impacts for your life and it can also be fun. With the help of the team at Kiwi Wealth, we’ve compiled some simple tricks for balancing your books in 2021. There’s something about the beginning of a new year, especially after ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kris Gledhill, Professor of Law, Auckland University of Technology As we know, getting into New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult. There are practicalities, such as high airfare and managed isolation costs. And there are legal requirements, including pre-flight testing, mandatory ...
New Zealand faces the risk of a generation being locked out of the housing market unless land is freed up and more houses built, National Party leader Judith Collins says. ...
On Sunday, Stuff published a months-long investigation by Alison Mau detailing allegations of harassment and exploitation within the local music industry.The piece, ‘Music industry professionals demand change after speaking out about its dark side’, includes allegations of inappropriate behaviour and abuse of power by male artists, international acts and executives; ...
“The Government is all at sea on timelines for Australia and New Zealand’s respective vaccine roll-outs, with the worst news coming from the mouth of Pfizer Australia CEO Anne Harris,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “Yesterday, under increasing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claire Higgins, Senior Research Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW As a presidential candidate, Joe Biden promised the US would demonstrate “global leadership on refugees”. Once elected, he pledged to vastly increase refugee resettlement in the US. If history is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Baumann, Casual Academic, School of Social Sciences & Psychology, Western Sydney University Among the many hard truths exposed by COVID-19 is the huge disparity between the world’s rich and poor. As economies went into freefall, the world’s billionaires increased their already ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jan Lanicek, Senior Lecturer in Modern European History and Jewish History, UNSW On January 27 communities worldwide commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz — the largest complex of concentration camps and extermination centres during the Holocaust. This is the first year the International ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lorinda Cramer, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Australian Catholic University The summer break is over, marking a return to the office. For some, this ends almost a year of working from home in lockdown. Some analysts are predicting it might also mark an enduring ...
Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for January 27, keeping you up to date with the latest local and international news. Reach me on stewart@thespinoff.co.nzOur members make The Spinoff happen! Every dollar contributed directly funds our editorial team – click here to learn more about how you can support us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato New Zealand has a strong history of protecting and promoting human rights at home and internationally, and prides itself on being an outspoken critic and global leader in this area. So, when the most ...
Good morning and welcome to the Bulletin. In today’s edition: Collins outlines the plan forward for National, no spread of Covid spotted yet in Northland, and students return for climate protest.In front of a Rotary Club at the Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, National leader Judith Collins yesterday set out her ...
*This articlefirst appeared on RNZ and is republished with permission. The tourism industry isn't holding its breath for a trans-Tasman travel bubble being in place after Australia temporarily closed its borders to New Zealand. New Zealanders could be waiting even longer for a full trans-Tasman bubble, with the ...
We continue our week-long examination of New Zealand writer Roderick Finlayson with an essay by Anahera Gildea on cultural appropriation Every night at 7pm sharp, my Irish Catholic father and his eight siblings would have to kneel on the carpet of the living room, facing the freshly polished nudity of ...
Children's Minister Kelvin Davis will have independent eyes and ears across Oranga Tamariki over the next five months as the Government tries to change the work and practices of the ministry. The Government has created a Māori-led watchdog to oversee how the children's ministry, Oranga Tamariki, deals with parents and ...
A Covid reset will force costly and inflexible cities to take a hard look at their planning systems, or people will vote with their feet. Broken urban planning systems make for misery even in the best of times. If land use and housing regulations prevent metropolitan areas from growing up or out as ...
When an Auckland school classroom went up in flames in December last year, exploding asbestos over neighbouring houses, five separate government agencies were involved. Yet stressed residents dealing with the aftermath on their homes say the response felt chaotic and uncoordinated; even local MPs who got involved couldn't get the information they wanted. Hundreds of thousands of ...
The pandemic has accelerated the trend of doing our banking online instead of in person. This rapid digital embrace has, in turn, sped up the closure of many smaller bank branches. But, as Mark Jennings writes, there are new branches springing up with a different look and purpose. Auckland’s Wynyard ...
Corrina Gage has represented New Zealand in a trio of water sports. But it's her love for waka ama - and the opportunities it gives paddlers from 5 to 85 - that keeps her racing and coaching around the world. Lake Karāpiro is quiet and still now. But last week, it was all noise ...
Telling a Rotary Club audience that housing is a serious problem and they should care deeply about it landed flat but took some daring from the National leader, writes Justin Giovannetti.Judith Collins’ level of control over the National Party is still a question best answered by a shrug.Elevated to her ...
A gang turf war gripped the South Auckland suburb in late 2020, forcing schools to lock down and armed police to patrol the streets. Community leaders are now warning the cycle of violent retribution could continue in 2021, unless radical interventions are made.The violent altercations that loomed large in Ōtara ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Véronique Duché, A.R. Chisholm Professor of French, University of Melbourne In this series, writers pay tribute to fictional detectives on the page and on screen. When I first heard that Rowan Atkinson was to put on Maigret’s velvet-collared overcoat, I wondered ...
Auckland writer Olivia Hayfield* explains how she resurrected 16th-century playwright Christopher Marlowe to star in her new novel, Sister to Sister. Olivia Hayfield is a pen name. Real name: Sue Copsey. When I’m planning my modern retellings of historical tales, I read widely on the characters and see who leaps out at ...
The Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine could be approved as early as next week, Marc Daalder reports Medsafe will be asked to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine against Covid-19 on February 2, the Government has announced. The Medicines Assessment Advisory Committee (MAAC) is an independent panel that provides advice on some medicine approvals in ...
COMMENT:By Bryan Kramer, PNG’s Minister of Police who has defended Commissioner Manning’s appointment today in The National My last article, announcing that I intend to make a submission to the National Executive Council (NEC) to amend the Public Service regulation to no longer require the Commissioner of Police to ...
The Point of Order Trough Monitor was triggered today by the announcement of a $9 million handout for Southlanders – sorry, some Southlanders. The news came from the office of Grant Robertson who, as Minister of Finance, prefers to invest public money rather than give it away – especially when ...
Few people outside of her campaign team gave Chlöe Swarbrick any chance of winning in Auckland Central this year – but the Green Party MP was too busy to listen. Here’s how they turned the electorate green.First published November 12, 2020.Three Ticks Chlöe is part of Frame, a series of short ...
Interactions between parents and healthcare providers could have a big impact on the wellbeing of our children, according to new research. The way parents and healthcare providers interact has lasting implications for children’s health, new research has found – and that includes immunisation uptake.Released today, the report is based on research ...
The Opposition starts the political year calling for emergency, temporary legislation to free up house building National leader Judith Collins has set five priorities for her party over the next three years - but excluded climate change, education and Crown-Māori relations. Giving her first 'state of the nation' speech as party ...
One of the biggest challenges facing the Ardern government is in public health. New Zealand may have escaped the pressures heaped on other health systems by the Covid-19 pandemic but its health service has had its problems, not least those exposed in the first report from Heather Simpson and her ...
New Zealand’s Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has revealed that 14 close contacts of the Northland community case have returned negative test results. Yesterday he announced two close contacts – her husband and hair dresser – were negative. In his tweet, Hipkins described the news as “encouraging”. However, New ...
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the arbitrary and opaque experiments that Google is conducting with its search engine in Australia, with the consequence that many national news websites are no longer appearing in the search results seen by some users. The Australian, ABC, Australian Financial ...
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta says councils can take stronger action against companies dumping contaminated waste water, even though they have identified loopholes in the law on fines. ...
Drag Race Down Under, part of the popular RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise, is filming in New Zealand. In their own words, local drag talent share what drag means to them and how it might be impacted by the show.RuPaul’s Drag Race is, quite simply, a television phenomenon. Love it or ...
For a long time, weighted blankets were considered a specialist device. Now they’re popular with even the most normal sleepers.Growing up, Temple Grandin spent time on her aunt’s cattle ranch in America, watching cow after stressed cow enter a squeeze chute and come out calm as the dead sea. She ...
Increased provisional tax thresholds, immediate low-value asset write offs and allowing the deferral of tax payments and use of money interest (UOMI) write offs were the most popular tax measures introduced by the Government to help businesses survive ...
The latest fleeing driver statistics show the numbers of incidents sky-rocketing out of control through 2020 with Police deciding the only tactic is to give up on chasing altogether, says Sensible Sentencing Trust. “The inconvenient truth is ...
With new revelations of the appalling racism behind Israel’s refusal to provide Covid-19 vaccines to 4.5 million Palestinians under its occupation and control, PSNA has renewed our call for the government to speak out alongside the United Nations ...
The Youth of NZ will be standing up for climate action once again, on January 26th outside of Parliament for School Strike 4 Climate NZ’s 100 Days 4 Action campaign rally. “COVID-19 may have stopped us in our tracks in the past. However, I tend ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Parwinder Kaur, Associate Professor | Director, DNA Zoo Australia, University of Western Australia Koalas are unique in the animal kingdom, living on a eucalyptus diet that would kill other creatures and drinking so little their name comes from the Dharug word gula, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By S. Anna Florin, Research fellow, University of Wollongong Archaeological research provides a long-term perspective on how humans survived various environmental conditions over tens of thousands of years. In a paper published today in Nature Ecology and Evolution, we’ve tracked rainfall in northern ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Binoy Kampmark, Senior Lecturer in Global Studies, Social Science & Planning, RMIT University Since 2005, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel has been one of the most stable and enduring of political forces, both in Europe and on the global stage. During her 16 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Véronique Duché, A.R. Chisholm Professor of French, University of Melbourne In this series, writers pay tribute to fictional detectives on the page and on screen. When I first heard that Rowan Atkinson was to put on Maigret’s velvet-collared overcoat, I wondered ...
*This article first appeared on RNZ and is republished with permission. Experts are calling for hotels with sub-par ventilation systems to no longer be used as managed isolation facilities as health officials investigate how a Northland woman became infected with Covid-19 while staying at the Pullman hotel, Rowan Quinn reports. ...
Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for January 26, keeping you up to date with the latest local and international news. Reach me on stewart@thespinoff.co.nzOur Members make The Spinoff happen! Every dollar contributed directly funds our editorial team – click here to learn more about how you can support us ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Questions to be answered about case in the community, major companies flagrantly breaching wastewater consents, and Tenancy Tribunal decisions harming abuse survivors.As of this morning, we’re still waiting on some crucial information about the situation in Northland, after a person travelled ...
With democracy what now separates the US from its adversaries, Wellington can bet on more continuity than change in Washington’s hardline view of China. ...
Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
Cruel
This government.
Govt again vetoes paid parental leave bill
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/307590/govt-again-vetoes-paid-parental-leave-bill
Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
Selfish.
This government’s lack of action on climate change.
Emmerson’s cartoon today sums it up.
http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201627/cartoon1.jpg
Maybe our Climate Change Minister Bennett could think of these people….
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/81601127/i-worry-about-family-all-the-time–a-nz-student-from-kiribati-and-the-future-of-his-homeland
Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
Uncaring.
This government’s lack of funding for Lifeline Aotearoa.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/307597/lifeline-counselling-service-may-have-to-close
What’s the medium-run stats for NZ suicide?
Better or worse than say 1980 per capita?
Or just another bleating NGO?
Where’s the measure?
I’d say the increase in farmer suicide, and our long term youth suicide rate bring one of highest in the OECD suggest that Lifeline aren’t bleating.
Mind you, you could probably make an argument for Lifeline having had its day, being a relic from before neoliberalism, and that its financial problems are a sign of its inability to get with the programme. Too many sheep, not enough wolves. /sarc
jeeze ad wtf is wrong with you
Are you unaware of the suicide statistics in this country – the youth rates, the 12 year old killing himself, the underreporting because someone killing themselves isn’t considered suicide, the high rate of Māori suicide – youth and adult.
here is some fucking facts for you
http://wakahourua.co.nz/suicide-facts
read it and weep
Just a simple tracker overtime is what I asked for.
Plenty of health ngo’s bleat but honestly make little measurable difference.
“Plenty of health ngo’s bleat but honestly make little measurable difference”
so says you – and what would you know? 0:0
Thanks marty. Ad’s comment was callous. I’m surprised that an intelligent person is unaware of just how high our rates of suicide are here in NZ.
Also insensitive given the high number, for Ad to not to consider how many people reading may have been suicidal at a point in their lives or lost someone to suicide.
Yes Rosie – not many of us unaffected. I work with people who struggle with suicide ideation daily so I’m a little sensitive on this subject 🙂
Understand you feel alert to the subject of suicide given your work – and you do valuable and worthy work, probably very tough some days. Big bless to you for the changes you may facilitate in people’s lives.
Thanks Rosie – we work hard to help people here and the results with very vulnerable people can be magical.
! ! ! R and MM.
Children between the ages of 5-9 commit suicide in NZ, imagine being that young & even knowing how to kill yourself! This is truly NZs deep dark shame.
“Maria Bradshaw, whose 17-year-old son Toran Henry took his own life in 2008, said she was aware of a six-year-old girl and seven-year-old boy who had committed suicide in the past 12 months.”
Interesting here too that more unemployed people kill themselves than those in work.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10831455
Let’s say I found a tracker in a 10second google.
How would its information affect your position?
What would you say if the suicide rate had been increasing over time, or decreasing, or was static?
Because I don’t see how it’s relevant to whether lifeline is a valuable service.
Latest UK Poll Stats
YouGov (just released – via tweet from UK polling expert. Nothing on YouGov site yet)
Corbyn should Resign ?
………………………………………Yes………….No……….Unsure
Entire Sample………………49%………..30%………..21%
Labour Voters……………..35%…………54%………..11%
YouGov
Second EU Referendum ?
Entire Sample….Yes 31%….No 58%….Unsure 11%
Those Opposed include not only 91% of Leave voters but also just under 30% of Remain supporters.
A second question shows that even if Scotland left the UK, respondents still opposed a Second Referendum by 51% to 30%.
Fun Brexit Stats
A total of 9084 people voted for BOTH Remain and Leave on their ballot paper in the EU Referendum. Rates of double-voting were highest in the London borough of Brent (0.13%).
I suspect they were just taking the piss.
“Labour Voters……………..35%…………54%………..11%” – Well that is interesting isn’t it?
The 200 Labour party MPs who are pushing for Corbyn to go do not represent the country or their own party. They are Tony Blair’s creatures. It is they who should resign.
But all the right wing trolls say Corbyn should resign? They wouldn’t be speaking with forked tongues would they? I noticed they shut up pretty quick last night when Shewan was proven to be another disingenuous wanker. Little comes out smelling like roses again.
I hope Corbyn will keep his leadership & let the cards fall where they may come election time, what are the right so scared about? Labour winning? But that’s impossible under Corbyn they say, then wouldn’t it be better for them to shut up about it? One would think so wouldn’t one (I couldn’t possibly comment).
Almost impossible to hear the views of working class people in England such is the stranglehold of the corporate mainstream media. The Guardian has proven a lackey of Blairite interests ( its bias was also clear during Corbyn’s selection and also during the Scottish referendum last year. The independent has proved it is anything but.
So here are some links for those of you wanting to hear the people’s voice, as opposed to the 200 career Labour MPs.
http://labourlist.org/2016/06/the-plot-to-oust-corbyn-is-anti-democratic-and-offensive-to-labour-members/
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/29/labour-mps-vs-corbyn-war-party-members-tories-brexit
https://twitter.com/hashtag/deselectthem?src=hash
https://twitter.com/hashtag/imwithCorbyn?src=hash
I feel love & Paul
Corbyn won’t be the first J.C. To be crucified by selfish power brokers & self serving politicians who ignore the wishes of the silenced majority.
@I Feel Love (4.1.1.1) you post “…. I noticed they shut up pretty quick last night when Shewan was proven to be another disingenuous wanker. Little comes out smelling like roses again.”
Thanks for this info which I have missed. I am having trouble finding it and want to know what has come out about Shewan. Of course msm won’t have anything about it and if it does, it will be hidden away in the dark bowels of the publication!
Do you have more details please?
Ditto re Corbyn. Seems the ordinary people on the street want him to stay on as leader. It’s the dirty Blairites in Labour who want him gone! Dirty Politics!
http://www.newshub.co.nz/opinion/opinion-case-closed-in-andrew-little-v-john-shewan-stoush-2016062918#axzz4CurifRPg
“Until he produced that tiny piece of evidence it looked like he was lying. That’s something Mr Little calls the Prime Minister out on, and if Little’s a prime minister in waiting, then he needs to be able to show that he doesn’t lie.
Today he did that, and I take my hat off to him.
However, it shouldn’t have taken the public battle to get here, it was a simple case of “I did exactly what I was asked — here, let me show you.”
But you can guarantee when there are lawyers involved, things get arduous.
Anyway, it’s over now. Both parties seem happy. Case closed. “
@I Feel Love … Many thanks for the link 🙂
Its a good report eh? Just lays out some facts. Seems surprised to be dealing with an honest politician, something she must not be used to when dealing with the Govt I suppose.
Shewan claimed in a recent Herald editorial piece that there is no Australian money in zero rated company trusts. How does he know this! Does he have authority to request these trusts contents, or some inside network knowledge, or is he just parroting John Key.
For a PM who rarely does not do much in details,
Key seems to be right all over this report.
It begs the question did he actually write it.
People have a tell in how they write, and tone of style with their grammar.
I don’t know what you’re talking about specifically, but the NZ law on foreign trusts has special carve-outs for foreign trusts owned/controlled/whatevered by Australians, due to the Australian government putting pressure on us to change our law just for them.
So that is likely what Shewan basis his claims on.
hah so Aussies are banned from having trusts here.
How about John Key having written the report, Key usually doesnt do details, but he had the report down pat. Though, he has claimed not to be a expert in trusts.
No, they’re not banned, they just have extra rules that apply to them, that don’t apply to other countries.
I approve the sign saying “Eton Mess”.
Great clip thankyou Paul.
Swordfish
This is a good YouGov chart that shows the demographics of the Brexit vote. I can’t find the original (too many charts to sift through!), this is a repost from a(n Italian?) facebook page:
https://twitter.com/you_trend/status/746114516308606976/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Despite what “public servants” John Key and Bill English say, ordinary working Kiwis are struggling to make ends meet. Yet the problems of inequality and impoverishment continue to be NZ’s fastest growing industry! Disgraceful and disturbing!
Here is some evidence from RNZ.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/307607/three-jobs-but-still-struggling
After yesterday throwing her own ministry under the bus, today she throws Housing New Zealand under the bus.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/greens-defend-housing-nz-over-under-occupied-properties-2016063007#axzz4CxfsstdI
The bus has now ground to a halt with the bodies of so many government agencies underneath.
Here is Guyon Espiner’s interview with Bill English this morning re the growing inequality in NZ!
It’s pure spun out arrogant, uncaring BS! I am so angry that someone like English is in such a prominent position where he and his government can do so much more for disadvantaged NZers. But he doesn’t and he won’t! Laugh or cry at his responses to the questioning, the choice is yours! I was close to tears listening to his cold hearted replies to Espiner!
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201806441/porirua-family-can-only-afford-biscuits
Does anyone else sometimes find that the open comments page won’t load, that it just sometimes goes straight to a blank screen?
It’s just you.
Now that Andrew Little has proved John Shewan was happy with the statement Little made, would you like to offer an apology to Mr Little this morning for calling him a liar and political smearer?
I think he could have released this information at any time but he chose to try to make a big deal out of it for political gain
Amateurish at best but ok he didn’t lie in this particular instance
Sorry really is the hardest word eh Puckish?
Damn straight
“Amateurish at best but ok he didn’t lie in this particular instance”
When weasels speak, they use weasel words.
Andrew Little could have easily ended this right at the very beginning, he didn’t because he was trying to draw as much publicity as he could and to try to paint himself as the underdog
Amateurish and cynical as well
You know when you try to spin other peoples lies, you look like an idiot Puckish Rouge, and we both know you are not.
The problem was Paddy Gower, he is like a five year old demanding a toy, he stamps his feet and screams in the street. But really he is just a naughty little boy.
Ridiculous hypothesis. He’d want Shewan’s needy claim to go away as soon as possible.
More likely Andrew Little is very busy trying to make New Zealand a better place by holding this government to account (something which they themselves do not do), and by planning strategy to change the government next election.
He’s got better things to do than mollify over-sensitive trust accountants.
If he wanted it to go away asap then he could have released everything right away rather then drip feed it out
What arrogance in you PR ! Not only do you reserve the right to tell everyone on the Left how they must ‘lose’, you also purport to tell Andrew Little how he should ‘win’. And when he wins in a way not approved of by you…….you’re down his throat. Who the fuck are you ? Concern troll.
The weasel, Puckish Rogue, I can smell it on your breath.
I didn’t think you’d be speciest, that’s not a good look you know.
I admire the weasel, but have no *truck with humans who behave as they do.
*no, I’m not vehicleist
Actually, the only people being amateurish is Shewan and the RWNJs who jumped on the Attack AL bandwagon.
PR
I don’t agree with you about much (especially trusting Shewan’s word about anything), but yes; I’ve been having OM and older posts go blank on me too this past week. Worse than usual I mean, there’d always be the odd glitch (probably when you try to open a page at the same time a comment is being posted); but these are persistent for hours, even with reopening the browser (firefox).
That’s interesting because I put it down to the server I’m on (govt) and that we have to use explorer but if its happening to others…
A government server, eh? So you are a paid troll.
If it helps you feel better, your taxes pay my wages 🙂
Get to work then!
I’m multi-tasking 🙂
Respect to Nanaia Mahuta and Kelvin Davis for challenging Te Ureroa Flavell on the efficacy and lack of accountability of the Maori Party flagship Whanau Ora.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/307598/whanau-ora-not-living-up-to-promise-labour
It is way past time that Whanau Ora was held to account….where the hell were the WO providers when Te Puea Marae was taking in homeless whanau???
And yet….while here in NZ, Whanau Ora has completely failed to address any of the issues affecting struggling Maori (in real measurable terms) it is a program that is being exported….http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/286073/whanau-ora-goes-international
“Mr Keung, of Maniapoto and Ngāti Porou, said the idea was to share key documents and learnings that tāngata whenua had gained in order to bring better health and social outcomes for American Indians and Alaskan Natives.
“It will be the things that have been developed with Waipareira, our owner, over 35 years of the work they’ve been doing, but more recently in the Whānau Ora space in delivering a more integrated and whānau-centric suite of services to our whānau.
“They are looking to get more strategically developed in the way they deliver services and they see this as an opportunity to do something.””
Hmmm…..
Again….Nanaia and Kelvin step up and do their job as elected representatives.
‘Confiscating the wealth’ a nice little Freudian slip from Bill English this morning during an interview with Guyon on RNZ’s morning report.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201806441/porirua-family-can-only-afford-biscuits
Thanks Adrian-worth a listen. English is actually a nasty bit of work behind the spin. What he fails to mention is that it is this government that got the family into the situation in the first place.
There is billions for roading, billions for defence, billions in tax cuts for the better off, but peanuts for those in poverty.
The top rate of tax in Denmark is 59%-it is one of the most successful and happy countries in the world.
Of course as we know, most economic debates or discussions will quickly become a debate about class war.
What English essentially, and unwittingly said in that slip, was to deal with inequality in a real way, some wealth would need to be removed from those who own it now.
A very rare albeit brief look at the ideology in it’s pure form, of National and enabled by a neo liberal left.
I watched Henry this morning, for a change.
Henry had Don Mc Kinnon talking about Brexit. Man did Don Mc Kinnon have his finger on the pulse. He gave a very good opinion without the usual bullshit we have come to expect these days.
But there again Don Mc Kinnon is an officer and a gentleman, old school National who did care for NZ. Not like this shower of fucking incompetent crooks we have now who would sell their grandmothers for a quick Buck.
ahh,
what ya gonna do,
a grifter got to grift
after all that’s how a grifter makes a living
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/fec-complaint-trump-emails-foreign-fundraising
http://www.campaignlegalcenter.org/sites/default/files/FEC%20Complaint%20Against%20Trump.pdf
The Parliamentary Watchdog Dr Jan Wright is critical of the Government’s latest environmental report and says it doesn’t go far enough on climate change. As a subtle boot up the nether regions of the Government she has submitted her views on what should have been included in the report and she is very scathing about it.
Somehow methinks there will be another early retirement or a slur against her professionalism by our useless government for the temerity of her to question their report. They will say she is straying beyond the brief of the report and treat her like they did the Canadian Judge over his findings on the Bain Affair by rubbishing her professionalism and reputation. It will be sickening as per usual.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/environmental-watchdog-says-nz-must-do-more-oceans-health?autoPlay=5005648246001
And No Right Turn is even more explicit Kate. The Environmental Report:
“The criticisms are serious. The report is poorly structured, which obfuscates key issues. The indicators are poorly chosen. There is no forecasting of future trends. But above all, there are no conclusions, and no assessment of the seriousness of problems.
That, of course, was the point: National wanted people to think it cared about the environment, so it had to produce reporting – but forecasts, assessment of seriousness, and conclusions are the last things it wanted….”
http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2016/06/the-pce-on-environmental-reporting.html
OOps! From Dimpost:
“Te Papa has pulled the plug on the purchase of the singlet worn by Peter Snell in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
They have questioned its authenticity saying it is not the singlet that the Olympian wore when he won his gold medals….”
https://dimpost.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/f-for-fake-2/
BBC Radio 4’s Moral Maze is well worth a listen to. Discusses morality in context of winners and losers of Brexit. Raises some fundamental questions about belief sets in representative democracy. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07hgh5f
Slater standing down from his corrosive blog indefinitely.
Perhaps he might find time to get a real job which contributes to society instead of destroying it.
I believe that the writers who actually write the Whaleoil stuff are continuing so they say.
North.relax…he believes he’s just fomenting happy mischief…as they do.
John Key’s brighter future…
Homeless man forced to find shelter in a rubbish skip bin crushed to death.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11666202
There’s been an alarming increase in homelessness under John Key’s watch. Deaths will follow.
What a tragedy. I had wondered what the situation was with the man found crushed in the cardboard baling.
From the article I got the impression that it was speculation that the man was homeless. If he was, then it is extremely sad – it means his death would have been avoided and entirely preventable if he were in safe warm accommodation.
Amusing. Can easily be watched without sound:
Lorde donates $20,000 to struggling Hutt Valley charity feeding impoverished hungry Kiwi children.
Go Lorde. A star indeed in almost every respect.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11666099
Did I entirely miss it or was Jo Cox’s funeral not covered in the media? Or did her family wish her funeral to remain private?
Quick google: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jun/24/body-of-mp-jo-cox-released-to-family-for-funeral
Looks like the funeral was private.
Thanks Lanthanide. I was being remarkably lazy by not googling it myself. I was unaware that a 78 year old man was stabbed in the process of trying to defend Jo Cox.
if the banks & corporate war machine decide there’s profit in it, anything is possible, but need an excuse like 9/11 first
Spruiking his book or not Shirreff paints a rather dire picture.
[audio src="http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ntn/ntn-20160531-0925-top_brass_warns_nato_on_course_for_war_with_russia-048.mp3" /]
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201802711/top-brass-warns-nato-on-course-for-war-with-russia
sad, just sad
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/81607939/Bale-body-dad-had-been-laid-off-amid-dairy-slump?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
“When the dairy downturn started biting, Daniel Bindner’s world started unravelling.
The Waikato father lost his job as a farm worker, broke up with the mother of his children and ended up homeless before he disappeared.
It was almost a week after he was last seen that workers at a Hamilton recycling plant discovered the father of three’s body in a compressed bale of cardboard.”
= its the ultimate risk men take with being in any relationship, why isnt it tragic…?
@ Sabine yeah.
Hopefully they can figure out what happened pretty quickly.
Federated Farmers union are sure helping kiwi dairy workers, during this downturn,, retaining experienced workforce and all that.
Is John Key keeping the visa worker numbers high hoping for a dairy market swing upwards.
We don’t know what happened, yet.
So from a certain perspective you might blame fed farmers, or the lack of income support, or whatever your comment about relationship risks meant.
But really, it could be anything at this stage.
He lost his farm job, and his relationship broke up, drawing a conclusion they had a farm house thrown in. she moved.
Im just making a dig at Fed Far after Bill said kiwi’s didnt want to work hard.
So what happens to experienced farm workers forced out of the industry,
start importing foreign workers instead on the back of a recovery?
at the same time he couldn’t hold another job his previous boss had lined up, we don’t know why the relationship broke up, and so on.
I get you were making a dig at a convenient target, but the guy is still in the morgue and we have no idea wtf happened. So, good for you.
Brighter Future, innit?
Any chance of an off topic, general, meeting place type hangout here, so some of us can offer things like fridges dryers, or arrange meetings, declare our love, get married, have kids, you know more us who love democracy and share a passion for all things wonderful great and small can small talk.
As an idea.
There used to be Weekend Social posts where that sort of thing could be discussed. Haven’t seen one of those for quite a few months now, though. They were never particularly highly commented on, though.
A long time ago now there was also a movement called Drinking Liberally which I think was mainly in Wellington, a frequent get-together for lefties to go to bars and drink together.
Also The Standard has strict rules around pseudonymity, which puts a bit of a crimp on the sorts of things you list in this comment, although commentators are allowed to publicise their own identities if they choose to, in practice very few have chosen that.
The Drinking Liberally also happened in Dunedin for a while, but then they moved it from a bar to a vegan place and it became overly weighted with hippies for my taste so I stopped going.
There were also a few gatherings of standardistas in the botanic gardens, some people outing their pseudonyms and others not. Those were ok for a bit.
Im sure I’d score with love, it has to be better than nzdating, which has gone stale,
I dont have a smarter phone for Tinder 🙁 cries.
Thugs.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/81626052/hearing-impaired-man-didnt-know-why-police-were-arresting-him