Perhaps now she will realise that Sir Peter Leitch is the type of person that Labour used to represent – a man who has never forgotten his working class roots, and who gives unstintingly of his time and energy for those less well off
It just goes to show how much Labour has alienated its support base.
What is it about the liberal-left and its pathological loathing of freedom of speech and open debate? Rather than vilifying Sir Peter, Labour should be asking how they can win his support back.
At least she has finally apologised and withdrawn (whether of her own volition or not) yet Campbell Larsen and a number of others commenting on this site maintain their vitriol towards Peter.
I prefer not to use the Sir. Dont care what anybody says, or what his politics are Leitch is a fantastic bloke. He does for his community with actions, not words. We should all applaud him for what he is.
On that note it sets a bad precedent to criticise people who state their preferences in the public arena, if he was to come out for Labour he would probably get attacked from the other end. Better to not go there.
I call bullshit on the last few words in your comment Bored.
Sir Peter came out for years in support of Helen Clark – visit his museum in Mangere and you’ll still see pictures of her proudly displayed by the Butch. “The other end” never said a bad word about that relationship.
Whats the problem Joe, I think Peter Leitch a great guy, I dont think he or anybody else should be judged for stating a personal political preference.
For the record I think his preference Shonkey is a total pillock, but hey there are a few ABs Graham Henry prefers to my choices……of course I am right and he is wrong.
Your a total cock!!! Sir Peter is everything you and your ilk will never be.An outstanding New Zealander that will go down in history as a real working class hero!
Sir Peter came out for years in support of Helen Clark
I call bullshit on that Joe Bloggs. Sure, he was happy to be seen associating with her when she was the prime-minister but he never claimed to support her politically. Indeed he is on record at the time saying (and I paraphrase) “I prefer not to talk about the politics” Well, he reneged on his word by politically endorsing Key so perhaps Mr. Leitch owes an apology too.
Fenton has said that her reaction was impulsive and silly. A small concession to be sure, but it’s evident from Butch’s reaction that Fenton has not picked up the phone and apologised to him.
Here’s a clue – an apology is an expression of one’s regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, or wronged another.
A fulsome apology might sound something like this: “I’m sorry Butch. I apologise for my pig-ignorance and vilification of your character. I’m truly remorseful for the distress I’ve caused you.”
As for Larsen? Wishing death on the Butch – then whining when someone tells his agent??? Oh grow me some balls, boy! He’s just another piece-of-shit example of how out of touch Labour and its liberal-left supporters are with mainstream New Zealand.
I post a few words in defense of Sir Peter and you imply that I have no concerns about child poverty, undermining the rule of law, environmental devastation, and ratings downgrades????
Well good on you for parading your own moral and socio-political virtue by being seen to express the “right” thoughts on every subject under the sun.
Now back to reality – will Fenton apologise to the Butch?
Whether or not you want to take advice from Mickey, I really think you two really should look up Arkell, it’s still the best response to a lawyer ever formulated.
You guys are an irony and hypocrisy recognition free zone. Wailing and complaining about hate speech and then engaging in attempted character assassination.
You do realise that it is being hypocritical … don’t you?
Sir Peter Leitch himself has clearly indicated why some of us are pissed off by what he has said.
;”I’ve done nothing with John Key that I didn’t do with Helen Clark – I’ve been a little bit more vocal.
;
So whilst he may have supported Labour, he never went on TV rabbiting on about how “John Key was the man to sort out ChCh” (especially when he clearly isn’t).
Of course this sort of story deflects from Blinglish’s financial incompetence, the lack of sensible policies and the smile and wave approach.
Cry me a river Joe. I have never shied away from genuine attempts at discussion and I believe that those that have actually participated in this one, rather than just throwing insults and schoolyard taunts around, are wiser for having taken part.
The questions remain:
Is celebrity endorsement of political leaders a good thing?
Doesn’t this just led us down the path of American style personality politics? Is this what we want?
When does ‘news’ become electioneering? is it a problem? If so how should we respond?
‘Butch’ may very well have been innocently doing what he has always done, selling stuff on tv, but an election is not a sausage. I am convinced by others reports that he is a very generous and well meaning fellow – unfortunately the same cannot be said of Jonkey – the man he supports.
Campbell Larsen said ‘are wiser for having taken part.’
I’ll agree with that, having learned that Peter Leitch has on’sold’ his business to his daughter, pocketed the money in trusts, and with no capital gains tax to reduce that, keeps a huge amount of money that he now helps out the less fortunate blue collars on their $13 per hour wages, if they have a job that is.
Key doesn’t want a CGT; Goff does. There’s a good reason for wanting to get Key back in right there.
What business wouldn’t want to get alongside any PM to advertise their wares and get more huge tax cuts. Look at Matthew Ridge.
Sure Leitch is probably a nice guy. But, he’s not a saint; he’s a businessman who gets tax concessions and helped people with cheap meat, thereby earning him huge advertising for free.
I also heard him say when asked who he supported at the 2008 election; he said he was not telling. That’s a given admission that he already supported Key but did not want to upset his business progress. He said that when in the company of Clark.
Once more; if he has used his cancer card to push voter choice for Key, then he has earned my contempt.
.
Farrrk, Phil Goff agrees with me! I’m doomed with the kiss of death!!
Labour leader Phil Goff said today he did not agree with Ms Fenton’s comments about Sir Peter. “I’m a real Warriors fan. I’ve been going to their matches for years and have caught up with the Mad Butcher many times. He is a great guy and a great ambassador for rugby league. He is absolutely entitled to express whatever opinion he likes.”
Just a pity that Butch has to go to that vile place Red Alert to read Fenton’s apology – instead of receiving a contrite phone call from her directly…
Phil Goff said that another person has a right to say what he likes.
We all accept that. That’s why we all state on here what we like, and the moderators then decide if that is okay or not because it is their site, and I e.g. say Peter Leitch is using his public persona to influence voting, and if he is using his cancer card to do that, that is reprehensible, lowers him in my estimation, and earns him my contempt.
Funny that you don’t want to hear what we have to say, which makes you a fascist.
Go ahead, knock yourself out Jum – say what you like – tar yourself with the same brush as that piece of shit Larsen.
But before you crawl down to that level, take a moment to remind yourself that it was the Butch who got on the BBQ and fed every mourner at David Lange’s funeral. And very grateful we all were for his efforts.
Like I said, the man’s a businessman; there’s nothing like a funeral to advertise…
Nah, I like the guy really, but to make out he’s some sort of national hero is quite frankly bizarre.
I’ll even let him join my cancer club if he stops trying to influence voters.
There’s nothing worse.
Oh yes there was – John Key giving extra money for herceptin, just before the 2008 election, a drug unproven to produce any greater result over a longer period, yet cunningly expected to con women into voting for him. I didn’t like him before the 2008 election knowing he was one of The manipulative Hollow Men, but even I was gobsmacked to find that he had used women’s illnesses to gain extra votes.
The man has no shame. Those who associate with him will eventually be tainted by the brand.
Maybe those herceptin women are the guinea pigs; do they know? That’s the history of New Zealand by men – don’t inform the women you are experimenting on them.
So, since Key used the illness card in 2008, and it proved very successful with women, voting-wise, using the cancer card is being tried again. I hope not; I can’t believe Peter Leitch would do what Key did. I can believe it of Key – not of Leitch, at least I hope not.
No. What she said was mild, it was nothing… Don’t exaggerate! The Mad Butcher (who has the squickiest radio jingle in creation, btw) needs to grow a thicker skin.
Once more; if he has used his cancer card to push voter choice for Key, then he has earned my contempt.
Cheers Jum: on the button. I didn’t have feelings one way or the other about Peter Leitch until he used his cancer as a political tool – and don’t anyone pretend he didn’t because he bloody well did! He plummeted in my estimation as a result. Darien Fenton’s response was fair enough.
Nuance is lost on you isn’t it LS?
There is an important difference between celebrities supporting policies and taking a stance on issues vs celebrities simply endorsing the leader of a party on a superficial basis – you don’t seen to have grasped it yet so I will let you ponder it some more.
What the Hell, why don’t we just do away with elections and instead appoint whichever party can line up the most celebrities? After all if they were on TV a few times, or played rugby, or gave to charity they must be much more important and worthy than that silly old democratic principle of one person, one vote.
Unfortunately, Campbell, your second paragraph has already come to pass. How do you think Key got in in 2008? Taking two sportsmen around the pacific people during the election campaign so they all thought – gee if these two pacifica people like Key, he must be okay. No thoughts about the policies or the mask of Key.
It worked so well in 2008, he’s doing it again, but rarking it up somewhat with visuals from Matthew Ridge and rotundtable financiers and what I once thought were reputable public personalities i.e. Leitch who in 2008 would not say whom he was voting for but in 2011 is happy to.
If people fall for a con once, that’s okay; if they fall for it twice they deserve the fallout.
It was reported that many of the people that voted for National had been told that they would still get Helen Clark as Prime Minister.
Gullible enough to believe anything a NAct campaigner would say is a worry, but far too many people are still too trusting of this government and they will continue to vote for Key for what is basically – nothing.
Sorry,l I honestly don’t see where what Darien Fenton said was so bad! She simply said she wasn’t going near him again, but never said that anyone else should follow suit…
We are classy people at The Standard, because we actually care about what is happening to our beloved country New Zealand and the Kiwis that live here.
Ranged against us are greedy people that will make a huge pile of money out of betraying everything this country stands for or once stood for; an egalitarian style of living.
Too much greed was once a disease, not a career choice.
Then we got Douglas, then we got Richardson – we slowed down with Clark and then we got Key AND Douglas.
Heh. That was a amusing. I popped out to see who you were talking to to find myself looking at two separate moderation notes.
Of course I seldom look at who or what people are responding to because of the nature of the moderation queue. In this case a newbie saying something daft, and millsy walking too close to the edge :twsted:
Mad Butcher, you are dirty stinking flithy traitor……….. Now if that ain’t hate speech, I think you Millsy could teach them a thing or 2………….not good form!!!!!!!
Growth may lag for years, whoopee. There will be middle class angst, hand wringing, wailing and a great gnashing of teeth. That which is held real and precious will become a distant dream.
Guys, even if the MSM cant write it up as it really is get used to the idea, long term growth economics is mortally wounded. prepare forthe new reality of solid state resource limited economics.
Your thoughts please on the impartiality (racism/old boy network/power of the sponsors) of the IRB
Samoan player wears MOUTHGUARD which has an ‘unauthorised sponsors logo’ – fined $10000 – the wearing of such item breaches ‘contracts’ but not ‘the laws of the game’. Player feels it in the pocket.
England trainers (and their most respected/well known player) deliberately change the ball being used for the conversion, breaching the laws of the game (on more than one occasion) – result the trainers are told not to be at Eden park for the next game (one game ban) – nil for the player asking for the ball, nil for the team that cheated, nil for the opposition.
#3 really is true, though. Imagine if all of the depositors at banks all over the world did actually ask for their money back. It would actually be impossible to liquidate everything that represented that money, and what would everyone do with the money anyway? Buy some of the assets? It would just be a huge money-go-round.
I’ve actually had similar thoughts about the concentration of wealth in the hands of the minority – it effectively works as a great big dampener on inflation by preventing money from circulating in the economy.
So listening to Morning Report this morning, it turns out with this cigarette ban in prisons that the prisons now give out patches and nicotine lozenges to prisoners whenever they ask for it, without any restrictions or limitations on consumption. Some prisoners have been spotted wearing 2-3 patches at a time, and others have been going through lozenges “like they were mints”.
These nicotine replacement therapies are paid for by the taxpayer, where previously cigarettes were paid for by the prisoners.
I’ll note just before the ban came into effect 3 months ago there was a nice little story going around about how prisoners were going to be enrolled in singing classes and given carrots as a way to prevent nicotine withdrawal. It seems that that news report was entirely PR spin from the government to make them look “tough on criminals”, when the reality is that they can get all the nicotine they want from the therapies. I expect the prisoners probably prefer the new regime because they aren’t paying for it and may be able to get more nicotine than they used to, and I wouldn’t be surprised if quite a few of them actually preferred these alternatives over cigarettes (I’ve heard quite a few smokers say they don’t really enjoy it, but just do it because they’re addicted).
Be nice to see Labour ask some questions on this in parliament.
Sitting down to a coffee and ciggy for relaxation is enjoyable for a while but it soon palls.
It palled for me when I became aware in a hospital bed with a foreign body stuffed in a artery, and Lyn stating that I’d smoked my last cigarette because she wasn’t going through the trauma of keeping me alive again.
Seven months off the tobacco now after 30 years smoking. But I’d have to say for me it was definitely a straight addiction that I wasn’t getting too much pleasure from….
Coffee is a lot less of an addiction. I can and have stopped using that easily, something that was incredibly difficult with cigarettes
Although it might make life more boring. I’m a big fan of QALY (quality-adjusted life years) when it comes to alcohol, cigars, and avoiding rabbit food 🙂
When my dad was in hospital after his heart attack, he said to my mum “well at least I don’t have to quit smoking!”. They got some rather puzzled looks from other people (patients/nurses) in the room – he had to explain that he never smoked.
Seven months off the tobacco now after 30 years smoking. But I’d have to say for me it was definitely a straight addiction that I wasn’t getting too much pleasure from….
Good on you, and if I were in your position I would probably do the same. The problem is that absent any of the stuff I’ve been told will happen to me, (none of it has), I have no motivation to quit – I know better than to believe that anti-smoking campaigners actually give a monkey’s about the ‘health’ of anyone! They’re simply authoritarians, who will actually have far more credibility with me, (and others!) when they have a word to say against alcohol misuse, air-pollution etc. I used to be on the periphery of a social circle that had at its core several dozen hard-core ASH members. Every one of them drank more alcohol (in the form of expensive wine!) in an evening than I’ve drunk in a lifetime, and than the average non-middle class kiddie would have in a year! I looked on and thought “hello hypocrites!”
I truly believe a lot of it is a class thing…
I’ll note just before the ban came into effect 3 months ago there was a nice little story going around about how prisoners were going to be enrolled in singing classes and given carrots as a way to prevent nicotine withdrawal. It seems that that news report was entirely PR spin from the government to make them look “tough on criminals”, when the reality is that they can get all the nicotine they want from the therapies. I expect the prisoners probably prefer the new regime because they aren’t paying for it and may be able to get more nicotine than they used to, and I wouldn’t be surprised if quite a few of them actually preferred these alternatives over cigarettes (I’ve heard quite a few smokers say they don’t really enjoy it, but just do it because they’re addicted).
I take it you don’t smoke and never have, Lanth… What on earth good were
‘singing classes and carrots’ supposed to do? My son worked at CADS (Community Alcohol and Drug Support) in 2008, and although he’s a fanatical anti-smoker, he was sensible enough to agree with CADS policy – they don’t insist that people trying to deal with alcoholism and P addiction, quit cigarettes. It’s too much to cope with. You can’t force someone to give up anything and expect them to do it. They have to want to themselves!
You’re also either very naive or very authoritarian, if you believe that patches and gum actually come even close to actually supplying “all the nicotine they want”. (I’ve tried the patches, and I assure you that even though I smoke a fraction of the amount that some others do, I barely notice that I have a patch!) Crazy old Tariana came up with the idea of making prisoners all stop smoking, and the “let’s hate on crims” brigade all immediately orgasmed over the prospect of punishing “crim’nals” some more. Very vicious, very authoritarian, just plain nasty. I recommend you read the book ‘Face to face with evil’, written by a psychologist who spent years interviewing Ian Brady (one of the Moors murderers) about his life in a “secure hospital”. He’s 73 now, has been banged up there for 46 years… and periodically gets ‘given the bash’ which I believe is the NZ term… On top of it all, they declared that the secure hospitals (equivalent of the Mason Clinic) would become Smoke Free from 2008. Just lovely!
I really haven’t the words to express how angry I feel about this issue. My anger is just exacerbated by all these news stories invited the Garth McVicar types (and the anti-smoking hysterics) to cream their jeans and laugh at the stupid crims…
Given the Credit Rating downgrade I expected that the Herald would have large headlines. And commentary on why so.
Fraid not. The Mad Butcher having his feelings hurt is much more important.
NO sign of Hooten, though I bet he is snooping around (or does he do that in the early hours)? Not such good news today Matthew regarding the credit rating – seem to remember Joky Hen wouldn’t implement some measure a couple of months back on the grounds that it might affect our AAAAAA+++ standing. Seems the agencies have done it anyway so he might just as well have implemented the change.
Jon Stephenson clarified the role of SAS troops in Afghanistan on Morning Report today
He made the point that the soldiers (especially the dead ones) had a right to be acknowledged for the actual role they are playing. He was not kind about John Key’s continuing claims that their role is ‘mentoring’ and argued that it amounted to using the soldiers deaths to support the PR spin and, consequently, misrepresenting the brave, individual efforts they were putting in to their role.
Wish I was surprised. I’m really starting to get my head around the death of the Labour movement. I’ve been talking about it for a while, but that didn’t mean I’d accepted it.
It scares the shit out of me cos there’s this big vacuum on the left, at the worst possible time, and no way of knowing what, if anything, will takes its place. I realise Labour hasn’t been anything like Labour for yonks, and that was never going to be sustainable. We couldn’t pretend forever. The financial crisis has just brought things to a head. And Labour turned further right/authoritarian because there just wasn’t enough Labour left in Labour.
Hope you’re proud of yourselves, Labour parliamentarians (and the likes of John Pagani). The Opposition (must give you a wry laugh when we call you that), putting the last nails in the coffin, kicking the working class in the teeth.
There’s no doubt that climate change is one of the biggest issues we’ve ever faced, and that the planet is warming, mostly due to human activity.
Despite unequivocal evidence that we’re responsible, those most able to make changes to reduce emissions are failing to act. Some openly deny that climate change exists while others have a vested interest in allowing polluting industries to continue their destructive practices…
Joky Hen – talk about political interference and friends in high places. There used to be a programme on BBC TV hosted by Jimmy Saville – it was called “Jim’ll fix it.”
Hey nobody has picked up on John Boscawen complaining that life as an MP was “too” hard”.
what a softcock he turned out to be. All those priniciples and all the rest weren’t wortha tin of it when it came down to his personal comfort.
‘Anne 1.1.1.1.2
30 September 2011 at 7:21 pm said,
in reply to Joe Bloggs saying ‘Sir Peter came out for years in support of Helen Clark’
“I call bullshit on that Joe Bloggs. Sure, he was happy to be seen associating with her when she was the prime-minister but he never claimed to support her politically. Indeed he is on record at the time saying (and I paraphrase) “I prefer not to talk about the politics” Well, he reneged on his word by politically endorsing Key so perhaps Mr. Leitch owes an apology too.” ‘
@ Anne
I heard him say that he did not get involved with the politics when asked if he supported Helen Clark.
I am beginning to be a little concerned for Peter Leitch now. If Leitch is so adored by the blue collars and they are usually the ones to be laid off when greed for profit becomes the catchcry of NAct, will they thank him later for helping Key to get back in to put into practice everything he needed to wait for the second term to do, everything that erodes still further the working rights their fathers and grandfathers fought to obtain. I doubt it.
Damned right Leitch owes an apology; it is patently obvious that he did not support Helen Clark politically but was happy to use that connection to his own advantage. If he did support Helen Clark he would have said so then, just as he is saying now that he supports John Key.
Court Game set and match against Peter Leitch. Apology please, Peter Leitch.
“blue collars”????
You arogant arse.
I’m a “blue collar” & don’t vote left…..just re-read the bile your spewing.
If it was posted by someone from the right you lot would be all over them.
It’s called the Right for a reason, so get your head out of your arse!!!!
I have no interest in how you vote; the term ‘blue collars’ was used by another blogger from the rightwing (small r) i.e. the sewer, your neck of the woods, a couple of threads ago.
I just recycled it.
So get your facts right and then return to the sewer – kiwiblog – from whence you came.
Latest Roy Morgan is out. It happened at the time of the RWC launch. National down 6%, Labour up 4.5%, Greens at 11%, all that I would like to say in a self conscious restrained way is …
Yeah, baby! You bet me by a nano-second, MS, I just checked in an idle moment and there ya have it. A top start to the weekend and I sniff a change in the media’s attitude to Key in the last couple of weeks too.
Wow down 1.5% to 1%, and the bad part of the result is that confidence is up …. How can this be … The country and the world are facing huge problems and kiwis think that she will be right …
I wonder however if Key finally jumped the shark today. For the sake of my country I hope so …
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Waitangi Day is a time to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and stand together for a just and fair Aotearoa. Across the motu, communities are gathering to reflect, kōrero, and take action for a future built on equity and tino rangatiratanga. From dawn ceremonies to whānau-friendly events, there are ...
Subscribe to Mountain Tūī ! Where you too can learn about exciting things from a flying bird! Tweet.Yes - I absolutely suck at marketing. It’s a fact.But first -My question to all readers is:How should I set up the Substack model?It’s been something I’ve been meaning to ask since November ...
Here’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s political economy on politics and in the week to Feb 3:PM Christopher Luxon began 2025’s first day of Parliament last Tuesday by carrying on where left off in 2024, letting National’s junior coalition partner set the political agenda and dragging ...
The PSA have released a survey of 4000 public service workers showing that budget cuts are taking a toll on the wellbeing of public servants and risking the delivery of essential services to New Zealanders. Economists predict that figures released this week will show continued increases in unemployment, potentially reaching ...
The Prime Minister’s speech 10 days or so ago kicked off a flurry of commentary. No one much anywhere near the mainstream (ie excluding Greens supporters) questioned the rhetoric. New Zealand has done woefully poorly on productivity for a long time and we really need better outcomes, and the sorts ...
President Trump on the day he announced tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, unleashing a shock to supply chains globally that is expected to slow economic growth and increase inflation for most large economies. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 9 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 3Politics: New Zealand Government cabinet meeting usually held early afternoon with post-cabinet news conference possible at 4 pm, although they have not been ...
Trump being Trump, it won’t come as a shock to find that he regards a strong US currency (bolstered by high tariffs on everything made by foreigners) as a sign of America’s virility, and its ability to kick sand in the face of the world. Reality is a tad more ...
A listing of 24 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, January 26, 2025 thru Sat, February 1, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
What seems to be the common theme in the US, NZ, Argentina and places like Italy under their respective rightwing governments is what I think of as “the politics of cruelty.” Hate-mongering, callous indifference in social policy-making, corporate toadying, political bullying, intimidation and punching down on the most vulnerable with ...
If you are confused, check with the sunCarry a compass to help you alongYour feet are going to be on the groundYour head is there to move you aroundSo, stand in the place where you liveSongwriters: Bill Berry / Michael Mills / Michael Stipe / Peter Buck.Hot in the CityYesterday, ...
Shane Jones announced today he would be contracting out his thinking to a smarter younger person.Reclining on his chaise longue with a mouth full of oysters and Kina he told reporters:Clearly I have become a has-been, a palimpsest, an epigone, a bloviating fossil. I find myself saying such things as: ...
Warning: This post contains references to sexual assaultOn Saturday, I spent far too long editing a video on Tim Jago, the ACT Party President and criminal, who has given up his fight for name suppression after 2 years. He voluntarily gave up just in time for what will be a ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is global warming ...
Our low-investment, low-wage, migration-led and housing-market-driven political economy has delivered poorer productivity growth than the rest of the OECD, and our performance since Covid has been particularly poor. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty this ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.As far as major government announcements go, a Three Ministers Event is Big. It can signify a major policy development or something has gone Very Well, or an absolute Clusterf**k. When Three Ministers assemble ...
One of those blasts from the past. Peter Dunne – originally neoliberal Labour, then leader of various parties that sought to work with both big parties (generally National) – has taken to calling ...
Completed reads for January: I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson The Black Spider, by Jeremias Gotthelf The Spider and the Fly (poem), by Mary Howitt A Noiseless Patient Spider (poem), by Walt Whitman August Heat, by W.F. Harvey Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White The Shrinking Man, by Richard Matheson ...
Do its Property Right Provisions Make Sense?Last week I pointed out that it is uninformed to argue that the New Zealand’s apparently poor economic performance can be traced only to poor regulations. Even were there evidence they had some impact, there are other factors. Of course, we should seek to ...
Richard Wagstaff It was incredibly jarring to hear the hubris from the Prime Minister during his recent state of the nation address. I had just spent close to a week working though the stories and thoughts shared with us by nearly 2000 working people as part of our annual Mood ...
Odd fact about the Broadcasting Standards Authority: for the last few years, they’ve only been upholding about 5% of complaints. Why? I think there’s a range of reasons. Generally responsible broadcasters. Dumb complaints. Complaints brought under the wrong standard. Greater adherence to broadcasters’ rights to freedom of expression in the ...
And I said, "Mama, mama, mama, why am I so alone"'Cause I can't go outside, I'm scared I might not make it homeWell I'm alive, I'm alive, but I'm sinking inIf there's anyone at home at your place, darlingWhy don't you invite me in?Don't try to feed me'Cause I've been ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ star is on the rise, having just added the Energy, Local Government and Revenue portfolios to his responsibilities - but there is nothing ambitious about the Government’s new climate targets. Photo: SuppliedLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate ...
It may have been a short week but there’s been no shortage of things that caught our attention. Here is some of the most interesting. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt took a look at public transport ridership in 2024 On Thursday Connor asked some questions ...
The East Is Red: Journalists and commentators are referring to the sudden and disruptive arrival of DeepSeek as a second “Sputnik moment”. (Sputnik being the name given by the godless communists of the Soviet Union to the world’s first artificial satellite which, to the consternation and dismay of the Americans, ...
Hi,Back on inauguration day we launched a ridiculous RFK Jr. “brain worms” tee on the Webworm store, and I told you I’d be throwing my profits over to Mutual Aid LA and Rainbow Youth New Zealand. Just to show I am not full of shit, here are the receipts. I ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump over Gaza and Ukraine.Health expert and author David Galler ...
In an uncompromising paper Treasury has basically told the Government that its plan for a third medical school at Waikato University is a waste of money. Furthermore, the country cannot afford it. That advice was released this week by the Treasury under the Official Information Act. And it comes as ...
Back in November, He Pou a Rangi provided the government with formal advice on the domestic contribution to our next Paris target. Not what the target should be, but what we could realistically achieve, by domestic action alone, without resorting to offshore mitigation. Their answer was startling: depending on exactly ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guest David Patman and ...
I don't like to spend all my time complaining about our government, so let me complain about the media first.Senior journalistic Herald person Thomas Coughlan reported that Treasury replied yeah nah, wrong bro to Luxon's claim that our benighted little country has been in recession for three years.His excitement rose ...
Back in 2022, when the government was consulting internally about proactive release of cabinet papers, the SIS opposed it. The basis of their opposition was the "mosaic effect" - people being able to piece together individual pieces of innocuous public information in a way which supposedly harms "national security" (effectively: ...
With The Stroke Of A Pen:Populism, especially right-wing populism, invests all the power of an electoral/parliamentary majority in a single political leader because it no longer trusts the bona fides of the sprawling political class among whom power is traditionally dispersed. Populism eschews traditional politics, because, among populists, traditional politics ...
I’ve spent the last week writing a fairly substantial review of a recent book (“Australia’s Pandemic Exceptionalism: How we crushed the curve but lost the race”) by a couple of Australian academic economists on Australia’s pandemic policies and experiences. For all its limitations, there isn’t anything similar in New Zealand. ...
Mr Mojo Rising: Economic growth is possible, Christopher Luxon reassures us, but only under a government that is willing to get out of the way and let those with drive and ambition get on with it.ABOUT TWELVE KILOMETRES from the farm on the North Otago coast where I grew up stands ...
You're nearly a good laughAlmost a jokerWith your head down in the pig binSaying, 'Keep on digging.'Pig stain on your fat chinWhat do you hope to findDown in the pig mine?You're nearly a laughYou're nearly a laughBut you're really a crySongwriter: Roger Waters.NZ First - Kiwi Battlers.Say what you like ...
This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Climate denial is dead. Renewable energy denial is here. As “alternative facts” become the norm, it’s worth looking at what actual facts tell us about how renewable energy sources like solar and wind are lowering the price of electricity. As ...
SIR GEOFFREY PALMER is worried about democracy. In his Newsroom website post of 27 January 2025 he asserts that “the future of democracy across the world now seems to be in question.” Following a year of important electoral contests across the world, culminating in Donald Trump’s emphatic recapture of the ...
The Government hasn’t stopped talking about growth since the Prime Minister made his “yes” speech at the Auckland Chamber of Commerce last week. But so far, the measures announced would seem hardly likely to suddenly pitch New Zealand into the fast-growth East Asian league. The digital nomad announcement hardly deserved ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to stand firm and work with allies to progress climate action as Donald Trump signals his intent to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords once again. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
The Judicial Conduct Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken in an incident last November, Attorney-General Judith Collins said today. “I referred the matter of Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct during an incident ...
Students who need extra help with maths are set to benefit from a targeted acceleration programme that will give them more confidence in the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Last year, significant numbers of students did not meet the foundational literacy and numeracy level required to gain NCEA. To ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three 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 Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi – without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
The opening of Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development will have a significant impact for whānau in need of safe, warm, dry housing, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The minister visited the development today at North Street where a total of 50 two, three, and four-bedroom homes plus a ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the new membership of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control (PACDAC), who will serve for a three-year term. “The Committee brings together wide-ranging expertise relevant to disarmament. We have made six new appointments to the Committee and reappointed two existing members ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora, good morning, talofa, malo e lelei, bula vinaka, da jia hao, namaste, sat sri akal, assalamu alaikum. It’s so great to be here and I’m ready and pumped for 2025. Can I start by acknowledging: Simon Bridges – CEO of the Auckland ...
The Government has unveiled a bold new initiative to position New Zealand as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) that will create higher paying jobs and grow the economy. “Invest New Zealand will streamline the investment process and provide tailored support to foreign investors, to increase capital investment ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced the largest reset of the New Zealand science system in more than 30 years with reforms which will boost the economy and benefit the sector. “The reforms will maximise the value of the $1.2 billion in government funding that goes into ...
Turbocharging New Zealand’s economic growth is the key to brighter days ahead for all Kiwis, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. In the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Speech in Auckland today, Christopher Luxon laid out the path to the prosperity that will affect all aspects of New Zealanders’ lives. ...
The latest set of accounts show the Government has successfully checked the runaway growth of public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “In the previous government’s final five months in office, public spending was almost 10 per cent higher than for the same period the previous year. “That is completely ...
The Government’s welfare reforms are delivering results with the number of people moving off benefits into work increasing year-on-year for six straight months. “There are positive signs that our welfare reset and the return consequences for job seekers who don't fulfil their obligations to prepare for or find a job ...
Jon Kroll and Aimee McCammon have been appointed to the New Zealand Film Commission Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “I am delighted to appoint these two new board members who will bring a wealth of industry, governance, and commercial experience to the Film Commission. “Jon Kroll has been an ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hailed a drop in the domestic component of inflation, saying it increases the prospect of mortgage rate reductions and a lower cost of living for Kiwi households. Stats NZ reported today that inflation was 2.2 per cent in the year to December, the second consecutive ...
Two new appointed members and one reappointed member of the Employment Relations Authority have been announced by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today. “I’m pleased to announce the new appointed members Helen van Druten and Matthew Piper to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and welcome them to ...
Health NZ's CEO has resigned, but frontline healthworkers are sceptical that installing new leadership will make any difference to a system grappling with problems. ...
Gail Duncan, Chairperson of the St Peter’s on Willis Social Justice Group, one of the organisations invited to submit on the Bill, says the Government’s actions are unprecedented. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amani Kasherwa, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland In late January, a rebel group that has long caused mayhem in the sprawling African nation of Democratic Republic of Congo took control of Goma, a major city of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yee-Fui Ng, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Monash University An ad falsely depicting independent candidate Alex Dyson as a Greens member.ABC News/Supplied The highly pertinent case of a little-known independent candidate in the Victorian seat of Wannon has exposed a gaping ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Ball, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland Nik/Unsplash You might have heard that eating too many eggs will cause high cholesterol levels, leading to poor health. Researchers have examined the science behind this myth again, and ...
Everything you missed from the third day of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard four hours of oral submission. Read our recaps of day one of the hearings here, and day two here. Parliament was quiet on Friday for the third day of hearings on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Western Sydney University Tijana Simic/Shutterstock The news last week that three people in Sydney were hospitalised with botulism after receiving botox injections has raised questions about the regulation of the cosmetic injectables industry. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jens Blotevogel, Principal Research Scientist and Team Leader for Remediation Technologies, CSIRO Mino Surkala, Shutterstock Lithium-ion batteries are part of everyday life. They power small rechargeable devices such as mobile phones and laptops. They enable electric vehicles. And larger versions store ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edith Jennifer Hill, Associate Lecturer, Learning & Teaching Innovation, Flinders University Netflix Netflix’s new limited series, Apple Cider Vinegar, tells the story of the elaborate cancer con orchestrated by Australian blogger Annabelle (Belle) Gibson. The first episode opens with Gibson’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University Greece’s government has just declared a state of emergency on the island of Santorini, as earthquakes shake the island multiple times a day and sometimes only minutes apart. The “earthquake swarm” is also affecting other ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Western Australian state election will be held on March 8. A Newspoll, conducted January 29 to February 4 from a sample ...
She’s back behind the wheel, and this time, she wants to find out what it is that makes us tick. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. After a prolific career on stage and screen, 83-year-old Miriam Margolyes is on the road again. ...
A new poem by Jordan Hamel. Real Poet Every word earned its place and so did he, so should you. Real poet lives in the capital but writes himself into the Mackenzie country golden hour, man of the paper land, he neglects to mention his pollen ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Understanding Te Tiriti by Roimata Smail (Wai Ako Press, $25) No better time to get ...
The committee has published this list to inform the public about its work, and to give clarity to submitters who have contacted the committee asking if they will be invited to make an oral submission. ...
Alex Casey and Gabi Lardies dissect their Laneway 2025 experience. Gabi Lardies: Hi Alex :))))))) Congratulations on not getting sunburnt. Everyone I talked to at Laneway yesterday was braving the sun for one thing. Charli XCX. How was your brat experience?Alex Casey: We will talk about the rest of ...
The US President's suggestion, which sparked enormous debate globally, has been labelled as a threat, not a proposal, by the Federation of Islamic Associations. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christine McCarthy, Senior Lecturer in Interior Architecture, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Interior of Auckland South Men’s Prison.Getty Images Prisons are not colourful places. Typically, they are grey or some variation of a monochrome colour scheme. But increasingly, ...
FICTION1Tree of Nourishment (Kāwai 2) by Monty Soutar (David Bateman, $39.99)Interesting to note that the author of the biggest-selling New Zealand novel in Waitangi Week is Māori (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tai, and Ngāti Kahungunu).2 Kāwai: For Such a Time as This (Kāwai 1) by Monty Soutar (David ...
Remembering the renowned New Zealand writer, who died on February 5, 2025. The Stopover When the trout rise like compassion It is worth watching when the hinds come down from the hills with a new message it will be as well to listen. – Brian Turner Poet, environmentalist, sportsman, journalist, ...
Survivors can choose to have former High Court judge Paul Davison assess their individual claims to tailor payments to their personal circumstances. ...
Are we too modest when it comes to celebrating our putrid plant life?She’s beauty. She’s grace. She smells like a decaying corpse and lurks in the backrooms of Auckland Zoo, wallowing tragically in a bucket. In recent weeks an Australian corpse plant named Putricia has captured the noses and ...
Politicians from the coalition government received a frosty reception at Waitangi this year, but Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says the pōwhiri that received so much attention was just one part of many events throughout the week. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Allen, Postdoctoral research associate, Griffith University A humpback whale mother and calf on the New Caledonian breeding grounds.Mark Quintin All known human languages display a surprising pattern: the most frequent word in a language is twice as frequent as ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Keogh, Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University Jordan Mailata is an Australian-born NFL star who plays for the Philadelphia Eagles as an offensive left tackle. This position favours very tall, heavy and strong athletes who ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nigel Tucker, Research Associate in Environment and Sustainability, James Cook University TREAT volunteers planting treesTREAT Like ferns and the tides, community conservation groups come and go. Many achieve their goal. Volunteers restore a local wetland or protect a patch of urban ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karyn Healy, Honorary Principal Research Fellow in Psychology, The University of Queensland Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock The start of the school year means new classes, routines, after-school activities and sometimes even a new school. This can be a really exciting time for ...
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At last, MSM attention has been focused on Darien Fenton’s hate speech.
Perhaps now she will realise that Sir Peter Leitch is the type of person that Labour used to represent – a man who has never forgotten his working class roots, and who gives unstintingly of his time and energy for those less well off
It just goes to show how much Labour has alienated its support base.
What is it about the liberal-left and its pathological loathing of freedom of speech and open debate? Rather than vilifying Sir Peter, Labour should be asking how they can win his support back.
At least she has finally apologised and withdrawn (whether of her own volition or not) yet Campbell Larsen and a number of others commenting on this site maintain their vitriol towards Peter.
I prefer not to use the Sir. Dont care what anybody says, or what his politics are Leitch is a fantastic bloke. He does for his community with actions, not words. We should all applaud him for what he is.
On that note it sets a bad precedent to criticise people who state their preferences in the public arena, if he was to come out for Labour he would probably get attacked from the other end. Better to not go there.
I call bullshit on the last few words in your comment Bored.
Sir Peter came out for years in support of Helen Clark – visit his museum in Mangere and you’ll still see pictures of her proudly displayed by the Butch. “The other end” never said a bad word about that relationship.
Whats the problem Joe, I think Peter Leitch a great guy, I dont think he or anybody else should be judged for stating a personal political preference.
For the record I think his preference Shonkey is a total pillock, but hey there are a few ABs Graham Henry prefers to my choices……of course I am right and he is wrong.
Your a total cock!!! Sir Peter is everything you and your ilk will never be.An outstanding New Zealander that will go down in history as a real working class hero!
Calm down, dale – take a pill, breathe, and use your words…
Sir Peter came out for years in support of Helen Clark
I call bullshit on that Joe Bloggs. Sure, he was happy to be seen associating with her when she was the prime-minister but he never claimed to support her politically. Indeed he is on record at the time saying (and I paraphrase) “I prefer not to talk about the politics” Well, he reneged on his word by politically endorsing Key so perhaps Mr. Leitch owes an apology too.
mad butcher fairweatrher friend just like glenn.H’ell back any horse so long as he thinks its a winning one.Working class hero he has shown he is not
Apologise? Not really.
Fenton has said that her reaction was impulsive and silly. A small concession to be sure, but it’s evident from Butch’s reaction that Fenton has not picked up the phone and apologised to him.
Here’s a clue – an apology is an expression of one’s regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, or wronged another.
A fulsome apology might sound something like this: “I’m sorry Butch. I apologise for my pig-ignorance and vilification of your character. I’m truly remorseful for the distress I’ve caused you.”
As for Larsen? Wishing death on the Butch – then whining when someone tells his agent??? Oh grow me some balls, boy! He’s just another piece-of-shit example of how out of touch Labour and its liberal-left supporters are with mainstream New Zealand.
Typical RWNJ’s. Child poverty, undermining the rule of law, environmental devastation, ratings downgrades, pwah and who cares.
But find a leftie who used a couple of not very nice words about an old guy and there is hell to play …
troll alert!
I post a few words in defense of Sir Peter and you imply that I have no concerns about child poverty, undermining the rule of law, environmental devastation, and ratings downgrades????
Well good on you for parading your own moral and socio-political virtue by being seen to express the “right” thoughts on every subject under the sun.
Now back to reality – will Fenton apologise to the Butch?
JB to you and Lowerstandard can I suggest that you adopt the action proposed in the case of Arkell v Pressdram?
MS – I would rather ‘place my John Thomas in the hands of a madman with a meat cleaver’ than take the advice from NZ’s answer to Lionel Hutz.
Priceless!
Higher Standard
Thats a bit below the belt.
I understand Lionel Hutz is much better thought of in the legal profession than MS
Whether or not you want to take advice from Mickey, I really think you two really should look up Arkell, it’s still the best response to a lawyer ever formulated.
Will do.
You guys are an irony and hypocrisy recognition free zone. Wailing and complaining about hate speech and then engaging in attempted character assassination.
You do realise that it is being hypocritical … don’t you?
Her comment
; is far removed from Campbell’s death wish.
Sir Peter Leitch himself has clearly indicated why some of us are pissed off by what he has said.
;
So whilst he may have supported Labour, he never went on TV rabbiting on about how “John Key was the man to sort out ChCh” (especially when he clearly isn’t).
Of course this sort of story deflects from Blinglish’s financial incompetence, the lack of sensible policies and the smile and wave approach.
So whilst he may have supported Labour,
He never said he supported Labour. He was happy to support Helen Clark when she was prime-minster but he never endorsed her politically!
Sorry, but in some respects at least, he’s a home grown Owen Glenn.
Cry me a river Joe. I have never shied away from genuine attempts at discussion and I believe that those that have actually participated in this one, rather than just throwing insults and schoolyard taunts around, are wiser for having taken part.
The questions remain:
Is celebrity endorsement of political leaders a good thing?
Doesn’t this just led us down the path of American style personality politics? Is this what we want?
When does ‘news’ become electioneering? is it a problem? If so how should we respond?
‘Butch’ may very well have been innocently doing what he has always done, selling stuff on tv, but an election is not a sausage. I am convinced by others reports that he is a very generous and well meaning fellow – unfortunately the same cannot be said of Jonkey – the man he supports.
Frankly I don’t give a flying fuck for you or your thoughts on having ‘become wiser’
“The questions remain:
Is celebrity endorsement of political leaders a good thing?”
Well according to you ‘yes’ if they are on your team and ‘no’ if they’re on the opposition team.
Now back off to your latte with the luuuuuuurvies.
Oh and by the way……. MACBETH.
Campbell Larsen said ‘are wiser for having taken part.’
I’ll agree with that, having learned that Peter Leitch has on’sold’ his business to his daughter, pocketed the money in trusts, and with no capital gains tax to reduce that, keeps a huge amount of money that he now helps out the less fortunate blue collars on their $13 per hour wages, if they have a job that is.
Key doesn’t want a CGT; Goff does. There’s a good reason for wanting to get Key back in right there.
What business wouldn’t want to get alongside any PM to advertise their wares and get more huge tax cuts. Look at Matthew Ridge.
Sure Leitch is probably a nice guy. But, he’s not a saint; he’s a businessman who gets tax concessions and helped people with cheap meat, thereby earning him huge advertising for free.
I also heard him say when asked who he supported at the 2008 election; he said he was not telling. That’s a given admission that he already supported Key but did not want to upset his business progress. He said that when in the company of Clark.
Once more; if he has used his cancer card to push voter choice for Key, then he has earned my contempt.
What a muppet thing to say by Fenton.
Some people need to be media managed.
.
Farrrk, Phil Goff agrees with me! I’m doomed with the kiss of death!!
Labour leader Phil Goff said today he did not agree with Ms Fenton’s comments about Sir Peter. “I’m a real Warriors fan. I’ve been going to their matches for years and have caught up with the Mad Butcher many times. He is a great guy and a great ambassador for rugby league. He is absolutely entitled to express whatever opinion he likes.”
Just a pity that Butch has to go to that vile place Red Alert to read Fenton’s apology – instead of receiving a contrite phone call from her directly…
Yes Joe Bloggs,
Phil Goff said that another person has a right to say what he likes.
We all accept that. That’s why we all state on here what we like, and the moderators then decide if that is okay or not because it is their site, and I e.g. say Peter Leitch is using his public persona to influence voting, and if he is using his cancer card to do that, that is reprehensible, lowers him in my estimation, and earns him my contempt.
Funny that you don’t want to hear what we have to say, which makes you a fascist.
Go ahead, knock yourself out Jum – say what you like – tar yourself with the same brush as that piece of shit Larsen.
But before you crawl down to that level, take a moment to remind yourself that it was the Butch who got on the BBQ and fed every mourner at David Lange’s funeral. And very grateful we all were for his efforts.
joe bloggs, crawl? No.
Like I said, the man’s a businessman; there’s nothing like a funeral to advertise…
Nah, I like the guy really, but to make out he’s some sort of national hero is quite frankly bizarre.
I’ll even let him join my cancer club if he stops trying to influence voters.
There’s nothing worse.
Oh yes there was – John Key giving extra money for herceptin, just before the 2008 election, a drug unproven to produce any greater result over a longer period, yet cunningly expected to con women into voting for him. I didn’t like him before the 2008 election knowing he was one of The manipulative Hollow Men, but even I was gobsmacked to find that he had used women’s illnesses to gain extra votes.
The man has no shame. Those who associate with him will eventually be tainted by the brand.
Maybe those herceptin women are the guinea pigs; do they know? That’s the history of New Zealand by men – don’t inform the women you are experimenting on them.
So, since Key used the illness card in 2008, and it proved very successful with women, voting-wise, using the cancer card is being tried again. I hope not; I can’t believe Peter Leitch would do what Key did. I can believe it of Key – not of Leitch, at least I hope not.
No. What she said was mild, it was nothing… Don’t exaggerate! The Mad Butcher (who has the squickiest radio jingle in creation, btw) needs to grow a thicker skin.
Once more; if he has used his cancer card to push voter choice for Key, then he has earned my contempt.
Cheers Jum: on the button. I didn’t have feelings one way or the other about Peter Leitch until he used his cancer as a political tool – and don’t anyone pretend he didn’t because he bloody well did! He plummeted in my estimation as a result. Darien Fenton’s response was fair enough.
Nuance is lost on you isn’t it LS?
There is an important difference between celebrities supporting policies and taking a stance on issues vs celebrities simply endorsing the leader of a party on a superficial basis – you don’t seen to have grasped it yet so I will let you ponder it some more.
What the Hell, why don’t we just do away with elections and instead appoint whichever party can line up the most celebrities? After all if they were on TV a few times, or played rugby, or gave to charity they must be much more important and worthy than that silly old democratic principle of one person, one vote.
Campbell Larsen,
Unfortunately, Campbell, your second paragraph has already come to pass. How do you think Key got in in 2008? Taking two sportsmen around the pacific people during the election campaign so they all thought – gee if these two pacifica people like Key, he must be okay. No thoughts about the policies or the mask of Key.
It worked so well in 2008, he’s doing it again, but rarking it up somewhat with visuals from Matthew Ridge and rotundtable financiers and what I once thought were reputable public personalities i.e. Leitch who in 2008 would not say whom he was voting for but in 2011 is happy to.
If people fall for a con once, that’s okay; if they fall for it twice they deserve the fallout.
Key got in via the 2008 election because the swing voters wanted to vote Helen and Labour out – you really are in Lala land you naughty teletubby.
No higherstandard(who is slipping as we blog).
It was reported that many of the people that voted for National had been told that they would still get Helen Clark as Prime Minister.
Gullible enough to believe anything a NAct campaigner would say is a worry, but far too many people are still too trusting of this government and they will continue to vote for Key for what is basically – nothing.
MACBETH
higherstandard,
get thee behind me you wicked warlock and take your damned ghosts with you – crosby and textor to go by the modern titles.
Sorry,l I honestly don’t see where what Darien Fenton said was so bad! She simply said she wasn’t going near him again, but never said that anyone else should follow suit…
Hate speech? RWNJ’s really do have thin skin.
Seems that the right can dish it out, but they cannot take it.
I see right wingers dish out hate speech galore, especially on kiwiblog.
And Peter Leitch is a fat idiot. So what if he ‘donates to charity’. Charites always pick and choose who they help anyway.
Darien should have stood by her comments. The world needs more people like her, who would stick it to the powerful in the name of the powerless.
Mad Butcher, you are dirty stinking flithy traitor.
[lprent: You are getting very close to the bounds of deliberate flame starting. I would suggest modifying the style in a hurry. ]
Wow classy people at this site.
[lprent: Is that a question?
We don’t segregate by class or anything else part from behaviors.
Read the policy if you want to figure out what we allow from commentators (and where we would interfere) ]
Yes bemused.
We are classy people at The Standard, because we actually care about what is happening to our beloved country New Zealand and the Kiwis that live here.
Ranged against us are greedy people that will make a huge pile of money out of betraying everything this country stands for or once stood for; an egalitarian style of living.
Too much greed was once a disease, not a career choice.
Then we got Douglas, then we got Richardson – we slowed down with Clark and then we got Key AND Douglas.
Greed and selfishness is now a career choice.
Heh. That was a amusing. I popped out to see who you were talking to to find myself looking at two separate moderation notes.
Of course I seldom look at who or what people are responding to because of the nature of the moderation queue. In this case a newbie saying something daft, and millsy walking too close to the edge :twsted:
Right wingers hate speech??????
Mad Butcher, you are dirty stinking flithy traitor……….. Now if that ain’t hate speech, I think you Millsy could teach them a thing or 2………….not good form!!!!!!!
Comments yesterday on the MSMs inability to say anything that reflects reality (as opposed to the interest driven orthodoxy)…and in this mornings New York Times we see more front page fantasy.. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/business/global/even-if-europe-averts-crisis-growth-may-lag-for-years.html?_r=1&hp
Growth may lag for years, whoopee. There will be middle class angst, hand wringing, wailing and a great gnashing of teeth. That which is held real and precious will become a distant dream.
Guys, even if the MSM cant write it up as it really is get used to the idea, long term growth economics is mortally wounded. prepare forthe new reality of solid state resource limited economics.
Your thoughts please on the impartiality (racism/old boy network/power of the sponsors) of the IRB
Samoan player wears MOUTHGUARD which has an ‘unauthorised sponsors logo’ – fined $10000 – the wearing of such item breaches ‘contracts’ but not ‘the laws of the game’. Player feels it in the pocket.
England trainers (and their most respected/well known player) deliberately change the ball being used for the conversion, breaching the laws of the game (on more than one occasion) – result the trainers are told not to be at Eden park for the next game (one game ban) – nil for the player asking for the ball, nil for the team that cheated, nil for the opposition.
Gin swilling gits.
IRB = International Racist Board
Perfectly consistent. One hits their income stream, the other merely drags the integrity of the game closer to stadium wrestling.
Although they should probably remove “rugby” from their name, otherwise they’ll eventually run foul of fair trading act.
Fractional reserve banking is a great system because.:
1. It fuels economies.
2. Makes heaps of money for banks.
3. Works because depositors will never all ask for their money back at the same time.
What was number 3 again?
Oh dear!
#3 really is true, though. Imagine if all of the depositors at banks all over the world did actually ask for their money back. It would actually be impossible to liquidate everything that represented that money, and what would everyone do with the money anyway? Buy some of the assets? It would just be a huge money-go-round.
I’ve actually had similar thoughts about the concentration of wealth in the hands of the minority – it effectively works as a great big dampener on inflation by preventing money from circulating in the economy.
If the 5% or less who own 95% of the deposits asked for their money………
Indeed – will be interesting to see how the Australian banks weather the oncoming storm.
Bank run
It seems that which will never happen has happened quite often.
I don’t recall any bank runs in which every single person in the world took out all of their money at the same time. Which is what I said.
Watch Mary Poppins and you’ll see what happens when people ask for what is rightfully theirs.
So listening to Morning Report this morning, it turns out with this cigarette ban in prisons that the prisons now give out patches and nicotine lozenges to prisoners whenever they ask for it, without any restrictions or limitations on consumption. Some prisoners have been spotted wearing 2-3 patches at a time, and others have been going through lozenges “like they were mints”.
These nicotine replacement therapies are paid for by the taxpayer, where previously cigarettes were paid for by the prisoners.
I’ll note just before the ban came into effect 3 months ago there was a nice little story going around about how prisoners were going to be enrolled in singing classes and given carrots as a way to prevent nicotine withdrawal. It seems that that news report was entirely PR spin from the government to make them look “tough on criminals”, when the reality is that they can get all the nicotine they want from the therapies. I expect the prisoners probably prefer the new regime because they aren’t paying for it and may be able to get more nicotine than they used to, and I wouldn’t be surprised if quite a few of them actually preferred these alternatives over cigarettes (I’ve heard quite a few smokers say they don’t really enjoy it, but just do it because they’re addicted).
Be nice to see Labour ask some questions on this in parliament.
That’s how I was for quite some time before I gave up. Sitting down to a coffee and ciggy for relaxation is enjoyable for a while but it soon palls.
Sitting down to a coffee and ciggy for relaxation is enjoyable for a while but it soon palls.
It palled for me when I became aware in a hospital bed with a foreign body stuffed in a artery, and Lyn stating that I’d smoked my last cigarette because she wasn’t going through the trauma of keeping me alive again.
Seven months off the tobacco now after 30 years smoking. But I’d have to say for me it was definitely a straight addiction that I wasn’t getting too much pleasure from….
Coffee is a lot less of an addiction. I can and have stopped using that easily, something that was incredibly difficult with cigarettes
The good news is after cessation of smoking your risk decreases quite sharply over time – as should your insurance costs.
Haven’t noticed the latter yet. I should investigate because as I get older the rates go up.
True enough.
Although there’s still a measurable long term effect.
Indeed – Never starting to smoke is one of the best things you can do for your health.
Although it might make life more boring. I’m a big fan of QALY (quality-adjusted life years) when it comes to alcohol, cigars, and avoiding rabbit food 🙂
Good on you Lyn, first sensible thing you’ve said for a while. More power to you.
And I didn’t know that you cared… 😈
Yeah well, we’re all human (sort of)
it took me 20 years to knock the habit. I wish someone had told me that nicotine was more addictive than heroin 🙁 🙁 when I first started smoking…
So like I said more power to you…
But that’s no reason to get all cosy with me – I’m also a reformed liberal 😆
When my dad was in hospital after his heart attack, he said to my mum “well at least I don’t have to quit smoking!”. They got some rather puzzled looks from other people (patients/nurses) in the room – he had to explain that he never smoked.
Good on you, and if I were in your position I would probably do the same. The problem is that absent any of the stuff I’ve been told will happen to me, (none of it has), I have no motivation to quit – I know better than to believe that anti-smoking campaigners actually give a monkey’s about the ‘health’ of anyone! They’re simply authoritarians, who will actually have far more credibility with me, (and others!) when they have a word to say against alcohol misuse, air-pollution etc. I used to be on the periphery of a social circle that had at its core several dozen hard-core ASH members. Every one of them drank more alcohol (in the form of expensive wine!) in an evening than I’ve drunk in a lifetime, and than the average non-middle class kiddie would have in a year! I looked on and thought “hello hypocrites!”
I truly believe a lot of it is a class thing…
I take it you don’t smoke and never have, Lanth… What on earth good were
‘singing classes and carrots’ supposed to do? My son worked at CADS (Community Alcohol and Drug Support) in 2008, and although he’s a fanatical anti-smoker, he was sensible enough to agree with CADS policy – they don’t insist that people trying to deal with alcoholism and P addiction, quit cigarettes. It’s too much to cope with. You can’t force someone to give up anything and expect them to do it. They have to want to themselves!
You’re also either very naive or very authoritarian, if you believe that patches and gum actually come even close to actually supplying “all the nicotine they want”. (I’ve tried the patches, and I assure you that even though I smoke a fraction of the amount that some others do, I barely notice that I have a patch!) Crazy old Tariana came up with the idea of making prisoners all stop smoking, and the “let’s hate on crims” brigade all immediately orgasmed over the prospect of punishing “crim’nals” some more. Very vicious, very authoritarian, just plain nasty. I recommend you read the book ‘Face to face with evil’, written by a psychologist who spent years interviewing Ian Brady (one of the Moors murderers) about his life in a “secure hospital”. He’s 73 now, has been banged up there for 46 years… and periodically gets ‘given the bash’ which I believe is the NZ term… On top of it all, they declared that the secure hospitals (equivalent of the Mason Clinic) would become Smoke Free from 2008. Just lovely!
I really haven’t the words to express how angry I feel about this issue. My anger is just exacerbated by all these news stories invited the Garth McVicar types (and the anti-smoking hysterics) to cream their jeans and laugh at the stupid crims…
Given the Credit Rating downgrade I expected that the Herald would have large headlines. And commentary on why so.
Fraid not. The Mad Butcher having his feelings hurt is much more important.
I was listening to morning report at 7:30 and they were saying “it’s only just come out” and so the markets hadn’t had much time to react.
So the print edition will have nothing on it. Online will probably doing some scrambling to get stories out, too. I’d expect more this afternoon.
NO sign of Hooten, though I bet he is snooping around (or does he do that in the early hours)? Not such good news today Matthew regarding the credit rating – seem to remember Joky Hen wouldn’t implement some measure a couple of months back on the grounds that it might affect our AAAAAA+++ standing. Seems the agencies have done it anyway so he might just as well have implemented the change.
Too busy sucking up to the Chinese, and working out how to ensure our ports wind up in their hands.
Someone should remind him that they actually hanged Petain. They didnt give him a pat on the back,
Elvis says hi.
Tramp The Dirt Down – for NZ PM John Phillip Key.
Lprent – has the WYSIWYG interface got screwed; things like the blockquote button are misbehaving.
I always had troubles with it any way. So now I just use regular style.
I tend to post then edit in tags afterwards. But then at work I also prefer to programme directly, rather than using the project GUIs 🙂
Spreading with at least 52 cities in America occupied or organizing.
http://occupytogether.org/
You know you can have all the huffington posts and michael moore web sites you like, until the MSM start giving this coverage it wont work.
brett dale,
a citizen class action against the NZ media might bring some notice.
The action would be that foreign-owned media are actively trying to rort a fair election in New Zealand.
What would it cost to take it to court and how many people would be interested in funding it?
Are you in some kind of a competition with Trav ?
Jon Stephenson clarified the role of SAS troops in Afghanistan on Morning Report today
He made the point that the soldiers (especially the dead ones) had a right to be acknowledged for the actual role they are playing. He was not kind about John Key’s continuing claims that their role is ‘mentoring’ and argued that it amounted to using the soldiers deaths to support the PR spin and, consequently, misrepresenting the brave, individual efforts they were putting in to their role.
An interesting observation.
Labour sells out – again.
Yeah Draco,
Wish I was surprised. I’m really starting to get my head around the death of the Labour movement. I’ve been talking about it for a while, but that didn’t mean I’d accepted it.
It scares the shit out of me cos there’s this big vacuum on the left, at the worst possible time, and no way of knowing what, if anything, will takes its place. I realise Labour hasn’t been anything like Labour for yonks, and that was never going to be sustainable. We couldn’t pretend forever. The financial crisis has just brought things to a head. And Labour turned further right/authoritarian because there just wasn’t enough Labour left in Labour.
Hope you’re proud of yourselves, Labour parliamentarians (and the likes of John Pagani). The Opposition (must give you a wry laugh when we call you that), putting the last nails in the coffin, kicking the working class in the teeth.
Slow clap.
United States is a Joke
There’s no doubt that climate change is one of the biggest issues we’ve ever faced, and that the planet is warming, mostly due to human activity.
Despite unequivocal evidence that we’re responsible, those most able to make changes to reduce emissions are failing to act. Some openly deny that climate change exists while others have a vested interest in allowing polluting industries to continue their destructive practices…
Joky Hen – talk about political interference and friends in high places. There used to be a programme on BBC TV hosted by Jimmy Saville – it was called “Jim’ll fix it.”
Rushed Visas
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5684460/Michael-Luck-Junior-may-get-help-from-PM
The wheels have been put in motion for a fast-tracked passport but there is a backup plan, with rugby league and Warriors ambassador Sir Peter Leitch calling upon his mate Key for help in the event of any glitches in the process.
Coronation Street schedules.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/john-key-pledges-fight-coro-switch-4428912
He said he would talk to “someone important” at TVNZ about the change of timeslot.
Suggest all the unemployed write to him in person – god knows what he’ll turn up for you.
Hey nobody has picked up on John Boscawen complaining that life as an MP was “too” hard”.
what a softcock he turned out to be. All those priniciples and all the rest weren’t wortha tin of it when it came down to his personal comfort.
‘Anne 1.1.1.1.2
30 September 2011 at 7:21 pm said,
in reply to Joe Bloggs saying ‘Sir Peter came out for years in support of Helen Clark’
“I call bullshit on that Joe Bloggs. Sure, he was happy to be seen associating with her when she was the prime-minister but he never claimed to support her politically. Indeed he is on record at the time saying (and I paraphrase) “I prefer not to talk about the politics” Well, he reneged on his word by politically endorsing Key so perhaps Mr. Leitch owes an apology too.” ‘
@ Anne
I heard him say that he did not get involved with the politics when asked if he supported Helen Clark.
I am beginning to be a little concerned for Peter Leitch now. If Leitch is so adored by the blue collars and they are usually the ones to be laid off when greed for profit becomes the catchcry of NAct, will they thank him later for helping Key to get back in to put into practice everything he needed to wait for the second term to do, everything that erodes still further the working rights their fathers and grandfathers fought to obtain. I doubt it.
Damned right Leitch owes an apology; it is patently obvious that he did not support Helen Clark politically but was happy to use that connection to his own advantage. If he did support Helen Clark he would have said so then, just as he is saying now that he supports John Key.
Court Game set and match against Peter Leitch. Apology please, Peter Leitch.
@ JUM
“blue collars”????
You arogant arse.
I’m a “blue collar” & don’t vote left…..just re-read the bile your spewing.
If it was posted by someone from the right you lot would be all over them.
It’s called the Right for a reason, so get your head out of your arse!!!!
Kenelle,
I have no interest in how you vote; the term ‘blue collars’ was used by another blogger from the rightwing (small r) i.e. the sewer, your neck of the woods, a couple of threads ago.
I just recycled it.
So get your facts right and then return to the sewer – kiwiblog – from whence you came.
what ever………..
Which just proves that you’re a stupid RWNJ voting against your interests.
i’m stupid…..yeah thats right….
No, you just have a bit of difficulty with punctuation, capitalisation, and basic political comprehension.
who asked you
Nobody asked me, because Who is outside talking to Somebody.
McFlock,
LOL.
Kenelle,
Maybe we can start again – have a truce maybe? I always prefer a conversation not a slanging match.
Latest Roy Morgan is out. It happened at the time of the RWC launch. National down 6%, Labour up 4.5%, Greens at 11%, all that I would like to say in a self conscious restrained way is …
FCUK YEAH!
Yeah, baby! You bet me by a nano-second, MS, I just checked in an idle moment and there ya have it. A top start to the weekend and I sniff a change in the media’s attitude to Key in the last couple of weeks too.
One question though. Where’s Winny?
Wow down 1.5% to 1%, and the bad part of the result is that confidence is up …. How can this be … The country and the world are facing huge problems and kiwis think that she will be right …
I wonder however if Key finally jumped the shark today. For the sake of my country I hope so …
Keep everything crossed for the next eight weeks mates. 😀
Anne,
Done.
My eyes rolled when I heard on TV 3 news that English wants people to pay off personal debt and save. Yeah right, don’t do as the government does.
Saving would be nice, many can’t feed their kids!