How mad of the impractical Auckland City Council to insist that nothing could be done and that this old historic building couldn’t be demolished. No-one wanted it. If the Council wanted it saved it should have bought it itself, sharing with the developer inm a PPP and come to an agreement for low cost homes and apprenticeships.
Turn a lemon into lemonade. But the decision makers aren’t contracted to run their jobs for the benefit of the people and the City as a whole; so stick close to they must stick close to the wording of a narrow contract.
The council didn’t insist that nothing could be done. That’s not their job. They simply applied the rules in the Unitary Plan and gave the building a B Heritage listing. The developer was always able to develop the building into whatever adaptive use they wanted (into apartments for example) within those parameters. But they weren’t happy with that because it wouldn’t deliver the profit they wanted. Well tough luck.
Scott GN
Some facts there. With all the powers that the sub-agencies of the ACC have, I am surprised that they couldn’t pull strings and go over the historic classification to let it be utilised. I have been involved with a lovely old church and a declining congregation. It seemed that the building had right of way over the Christian activity. I really like historic buildings. But they can’t all be kept. We have lost so much in NZ that is far more important.
And there is a lot of money goes into the investment. I presume you didn’t have any to put in. It would have been good to get some good apartments up. If the Council had watched like hawks and spied on their roving checkers to see what they did and didn’t, we would have had buildings to replace those going down the toilet in other areas.
Sorry greywarshark. After decades of greed driven demolition of our finest buildings I’m grateful for whatever scanty protections are now in place to protect our much diminished built heritage in Auckland. And I don’t really give a fuck if that puts developers on the outer.
If you want low cost housing you don’t even have to go a kilometre from the St James Church in Mt Eden to find acres and acres of crappy post 60s cinder block light- industrial buildings perfect for rebuilding as housing stock. Knock yourself out.
Yeah I do actually. And I don’t believe that no one wants them. That’s just a lazy notion on which to base the excuse to demolish and maximise economic potential. Look at Britomart and all the Victorian and Edwardian warehousing in that area that we were told was of no use and that nobody wanted and which came so close to being demolished. It’s now one of the most vibrant downtown neighbourhoods.
Not a bad list marty mars. Thank you. But naughty, naughty… you left off the “e”. 😉
Incognito is also a favourite of mine. His comments are always very thoughtful.
And a plug for Wayne. He comes here frequently so he must enjoy this site. We may not see eye to eye with with him, but his vast experience and knowledge of the subjects he chooses to comment on should be acknowledged. I, for one, have learnt stuff I didn’t know before.
“alwyn is fighting a good retreat”.
Retreat? What on earth do you mean sir?
I take my lead from US Marine General Oliver P Smith.
His most famous statement, made during the Korean War, was
“Retreat Hell! We’re just attacking in another direction”.
I wouldn’t, of course, use the Royal “we” so just change the “We’re” to “I’m”
“And a plug for Wayne. He comes here frequently so he must enjoy this site. We may not see eye to eye with with him, but his vast experience and knowledge of the subjects he chooses to comment on should be acknowledged. I, for one, have learnt stuff I didn’t know before.”
Have to agree regarding McFlock, have thought so for quite a while now. I’ll always read what he has to say as there’s much intelligence and wisdom there. Puddleglum was right up there too but sadly has gone silent both here and on his Political Scientist blog since Aug. 2017.
Thanks lprent and everyone else involved in keeping TS running.
Thanks Marty but mine a pretty insignificant. There are many that make great comments here including your own that are a great mix of wisdom and sometimes crankiness 😀
And thank you for the mention. You are really “brave” making an honours list. One of those situations where we always manage to leave someone out and upset them. LOL!
We (humanity) have a problem, and perversely it is the cause of all our woes but that which we devote all our abilities to, and it is ‘growth’ or alternatively ‘more’.
Irrespective of our political leanings our models are designed to serve this desire no matter how it is dressed…and it would appear the most effective model to deliver to these desires is market capitalism, but it is not the only participant in the race for more, merely the current leader.
Recent volatility indicates a growing fear of missing out , albeit a subliminal understanding, it is like a rush on supermarket shelves when a shortage is announced or the mayhem at a “Black Friday” sale in the US…..but this is a (fire) sale that we cannot choose to avoid when every government pursues an agenda of growth.
Until we recognise this, design and implement a contrary model we will destroy ourselves for in this world of ‘more’ there is one thing that gets less and less …and that is time.
The facts are the population is growing, thus until that is turned around growth is required. The occurrence of a natural imposition forcing major change is years away. Therefore, I can’t see “less” being the word for 2019.
Moreover, what happened to the goal of trying to achieve sustainable growth?
there is no such thing as sustainable growth in a finite environment….the only relevant factors are the size of the environment and the rate of growth….I dont think anyone can seriously argue that we have reached the limits.
As to a growing population driving growth , while that may have some impact the reality is much of the worlds resources (and the downstream impacts) is wasted on non essentials……reduce the non essentials and more resources are available for the essential….and then theres inequality.
Well there is your first hurdle as many believe there is.
“I dont think anyone can seriously argue that we have reached the limits.”
Again, which is why I don’t see “less” being the word for 2019.
However, I agree a lot of resources are wasted on non essentials, thus there will be more publicly acceptable scope for improvement in that regards.
Inequality is a big one to overcome in any transition, less is not a word people that are currently struggling can afford to hear. And having less is not likely to be something the well to do will willingly surrender too.
Our debt based money supply is another (often overlooked) factor driving the need for growth.
“Well there is your first hurdle as many believe there is”
Am well aware its a message that is unlikely to be well received or easy to sell. It remains a message that needs to be expressed however.
“Again, which is why I don’t see “less” being the word for 2019”
That needed to be edited…and wasnt, to read “…have not reached the limits”. And it is ‘aspirational’.
“Inequality is a big one to overcome in any transition, less is not a word people that are currently struggling can afford to hear. And having less is not likely to be something the well to do will willingly surrender too.”
Not only the well to do, though they have more to lose and greater influence…..but again, they have a choice.
“Our debt based money supply is another (often overlooked) factor driving the need for growth.”
Hence…
“Until we recognise this, design and implement a contrary model we will destroy ourselves for in this world of ‘more’ there is one thing that gets less and less …and that is time.”
It may be a message that needs to be expressed but if you can’t sell it and people aren’t willing to take note, it won’t be one that willingly takes hold.
sometimes things develop a life of their own….seeds need to be planted, (and nurtured) and theres quite a bit of unconnected planting happening at the moment.
Humanity is ‘wedded to growth’; it’s basic biology/psychology. So much misdirected intelligence, so little wisdom.
This is wisdom:
“Any discovery which renders consumption less necessary to the pursuit of living is as much an economic gain as a discovery which improves our skills of production. (Kenneth Boulding, 1945)”
There are few indications that humanity can collectively imagine or magic its way out of wedded-to-growth messes.
“The current economic system being utilized and internalized relies on perpetual growth. It has long operated counter to the reality that we are confined to a finite planet with finite resources. Yet, this system continues to be practiced and promoted globally. As the environmental and social repercussions of disbelief in limits become increasingly clear, so does our need for a new economic system —one that is not wedded to growth. Neither growth in the number of consumers nor growth in the amount consumed.”
“So far the politicians and economists are so wedded to growth that they insist that economic growth is itself the main characteristic of sustainable development.” – a fine example of magical thinking; our leaders have so many constraints on their imagination.
People are lost and don’t know what to do or think, so often don’t think, including you The Chairman and you follow the general RW stance of carefully stamping on any idea until it loses all its puff. If we all stick in your rut with you we will likely find when TSHTF that you have a backdoor sorted for yourself and those you consider worthy. But the trouble is, that your world will be so changed that having further time in the world with the remnants of civilisation, will be a poisoned chalice.
To be honest, greywarshark I believe it was Pat that failed to think this out. I can’t see “less” being the word for 2019. Perhaps at some stage in the future, but not in 2019.
At this stage, even the Greens are still talking about sustainable growth.
Or perhaps I have thought it through a little further than yourself….less is a theme of des gilets jaunes. Less tax on the poorest, less inequality, less hypocrisy, less of the elite….and the yellow vests arnt only in France so maybe ‘less’ will be the word for 2019.
“Less tax on the poorest, less inequality, less hypocrisy, less of the elite…”
You must be joking, right? This Government is supportive of regressive taxes. Are full of hypocrisy and are taking a slow and insufficient approach when it comes to addressing inequality.
Unlike the French, we took our petrol tax hikes rather well, thus I can’t see people with yellow vest hitting the streets here in numbers. Well, not in 2019 anyway.
Isnt the point of the post that what governments are promoting at the moment needs to change?….and the French are old hands at public protest so its not surprising they would be among the first…NZ is a ‘fast follower’…well at least according to Key so I wouldnt write it off.
Theres always a tipping point and politicians have a history of being unable to judge it.
“Isnt the point of the post that what governments are promoting at the moment needs to change?”
Indeed. But you are dreaming if you expect that change to happen here in 2019.
“NZ is a ‘fast follower’…
Ha, I get the impression we are more like the land of Pineapple Lumps.
While there is always a tipping point and politicians have a history of being unable to judge it, we a far from it yet.
Many here still believe Jacinda will deliver. Once the disillusionment sets in, we may then see a tipping point. Then again, the majority may just show their discontent by voting for National or more may not vote at all. People taking to the streets in mass is not something I foresee in this country’s near future.
“I can’t see too many people that are currently struggling to cope as it is asking that question but I can see an increase in the number of those struggling going forward.”
Id suggest that those wearing the yellow vests have already asked and answered that question…..Macron is now deciding the current answer on behalf of the French elite….it wont be the last time .
People taking to the streets is only one method….change is coming whether we choose it or not. A question that will be increasingly asked is how much am i willing to give up to avoid losing everything…that question will hit different people and different societies at different times but its unavoidable.
Not in 2019. Well, not the change your are hoping for.
“A question that will be increasingly asked is how much am i willing to give up to avoid losing everything…”
I can’t see too many people that are currently struggling to cope as it is asking that question but I can see an increase in the number of those struggling going forward.
And at this stage, I don’t think there are many that can afford to relinquish feeling as if they are faced with losing it all if they don’t.
The way to go is to understand what can be done now. We have to unerstand and circumvent the wealthy and their running dogs (very communist term that, but i am noticing similarities in capitalism and communism – both attempt to snatch everything for the leaders’ control and advantage).
The links on both of the ‘Ten most…’ posts are acting weird. When I right-click and open in new tab they both open in the new tab and have that page go on to the clicked link. This does not appear to be an issue with Firefox as other pages are working fine.
For diehards like myself (and mickysavage?), the mystery continues of the continuing leaks from someone in the National caucus despite Jami-lee Ross no longer being a member of the Nat Caucus or Party.
Obviously Chris Trotter is also a diehard in this regard, and yesterday he posted a piece on interest.co.nz which has not appeared on his own blog, Bowalley Road or on The Daily Blog.
Well worth taking a few minutes to read, Trotter’s article starts with a quote from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Adventure of Silver Blaze” and then ponders the possibilities …
Gregory (Scotland Yard detective): “Is there any other point to which you would wish to draw my attention?”
Sherlock Holmes: “To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.”
Gregory: “The dog did nothing in the night-time.”
Holmes: “That was the curious incident.”
The Adventure of Silver Blaze – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
What would Sherlock Holmes make of the fact that National’s caucus kept on leaking against Simon Bridges even after Jami-Lee Ross had been thrown out of it?
So much time and effort had been put into tracking down the person responsible for leaking Bridges’ travel expenses – almost as much as that dedicated to disciplining and punishing the alleged culprit. Ross’s response to this latter effort provided what was easily the most spectacular political story of 2018. Having metaphorically poured petrol over himself and struck a match, Ross was, unsurprisingly, hauled off the political stage. End of story? Not at all. The leaks kept coming.
What does that tell us? The obvious response: if Ross was no longer in a position to leak sensitive information from the National caucus, then somebody else must have done it. And, if that is the case, then it is surely arguable that Ross may never have been the leaker. Except, that would mean that he had been set up. That he was the designated patsy in a complex plot to leave Bridges vulnerable to attack by removing Ross from the equation. (Anyone who’s watched The Godfather will instantly recognise the move. Before “hitting” Don Corleone, his enemies were careful to first eliminate his fearsome bodyguard, Luca Brasi.)
The curious incident of the dog that continues to bark raises a great many subsidiary questions concerning Bridges long-term future as National’s leader. Not the least of these is: Whose conspiracy are we witnessing? Cui bono? …
Any more would be a spoiler so I will leave it at that, other than to say that he has expressed extremely well what I have been thinking but in a much less orderly and rational manner.
AND the comments to date are well worth reading – if only for the contrast in their quality compared for example to those on Stuff articles. I don’t often venture to interest.co.nz but have now bookmarked it for further exploration of existing articles and future ones.
Excellent analysis, & the leaker is the sleeper issue for the new year until another leak wakes everyone up. Trotter’s theorising assumes intelligence in the National camp. Bit of a stretch, that, always.
“If it’s Bridges’ intention simply to act as some sort of Far-Right John the Baptist to Judith Collin’s Messiah, then, from the moderates’ perspective, the sooner he’s politically beheaded the better.”
He’s arguing for the Collins coup not to be delayed till late 2019. Assuming the moderates in National are a credible faction (rather than a vortex of flotsam & jetsam) and will coalesce around a rightist JC semi-plausibly reinvented as a bland moderate. If, in an interview, when asked about any past alignment with Lusk, she replies “Simon who?” she ought to be credited with wit. Journalists would immediately run a plethora of stories claiming it to be a put-down of Bridges.
Until she fronts as that clever, I can’t see caucus moderates being drawn into her orbit – unless she passes Bridges in the preferred PM poll. Nat rats deserting the sinking ship would then tip the balance. Ralston reckons “that Ross has been used by a couple of Machiavellian plotters on the Nats’ periphery to pave the way for Collins to oust Bridges”. Naive. No such leverage from the periphery is ever possible. However, if he means Lusk protégés working with one or more team-builders with current influence on the caucus thinking, the theory is feasible. Seems to me that JLR was indeed set up, but as likely by Bridges working with other leading Nats as by any such Lusk-masterminded operation.
Deeply thoughtful vv. Was that the one where Holmes looked to see if there were limping sheep, having a thought that the favourite for the race could have been knobbled with a small cut to a tendon, and the sheep used for practice so the main job would be perfect.
Yes, but those details are not relevant to Trotter’s specific reference to the conversation between Gregory and Holmes about “the curious incident of the dog in the night-time”, in particular:
Gregory: “The dog did nothing in the night-time.”
Holmes: “That was the curious incident.”
The dog did nothing – eg it did not bark. Why?
Because it was an inside job. There were no strangers and the dog did not bark because it knew the person who took Silver Blaze from its stall and out onto the moor.
That Conan Doyle quote has long been used as a metaphor (?) for inside jobs where the perpetrator may well be “hoist with his/her own petard”. Just to throw in a bit of Shakespeare for what Trotter is intimating in his article. LOL
I wondered whether it had the sheep in it too. I got the bit about the dog that didn’t bark. I wonder if the gang has tried something similar on someone else in the past as a test case?
Go back and read it again – you seem to have not read or ignored almost the entire second half of the article other than the final two paragraphs..
It starts with this teaser (my bold):
Then again, what we have witnessed over the past few months may actually be the preparations for a pre-emptive coup: a blocking move intended to make a Collins takeover impossible. But who could do that? Who possesses the necessary political skills to manoeuvre one poorly performing leader out of his job in order to prevent a colleague determined to shift the National Party sharply to the right from taking his place?
A feasible scenario, but of less import than the others. Why? It requires a level of machiavellian thought I doubt exists within the Nats. We just never get evidence that much happens there above the level of simple-mindedness. I’ve been watching them since the late sixties. The consistency of thought that prevails in National Party culture has always been summed up by their`morons rule, okay?’ mindset.
But hey, if you see evidence of that scenario firming up, I’d be keen for you to share it. Anything other than their usual incompetence would be a pleasant surprise.
Chris Trotter has also been close to the action for many years – probably much closer than you or I as a political commentator. He has shared it as a scenario and I have then shared his thoughts.
IMO you are naive it you think all Nats are simple minded and consistent in their thoughts – and judge them on that singular perception. Machiavellian thought is well within the realms of possibility for some and has been evident over the years – eg how did Key get parachuted in and by whom?
Key told Roughan that he decided to be PM when he was a child. Or maybe he told his mother that, can’t recall. But it’s in the biography. Don’t need Machiavelli. Occam’s razor.
Re Trotter, yeah, no problem apart from the lack of evidence offered. He has to dream up scenarios to make features from. Infotainment is okay.
Yes, Key always wanted to be PM, but the way that he ended up coming back to NZ and being parachuted into the Helensville electorate, etc involved a lot of maginations behind the scenes within National involving people like Michelle Boag etc …
Those moves were certainly not simple-minded, above board maneuvering. Occam’s Razor is not always right.
VIDEO: Staffers caught dragging, slapping, & pushing migrant children at a detention facility operated by Southwest Key (a nonprofit whose CEO makes millions on the backs of undocumented children). Full video as obtained by the Arizona Republic: https://t.co/0rt2KKaqWapic.twitter.com/svGwFemlrb— Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) December 29, 2018
[…]
“Though Southwest Key is, on paper, a charity, no one has benefited more than Mr. Sanchez, now 71. Serving as chief executive, he was paid $1.5 million last year — more than twice what his counterpart at the far larger American Red Cross made.”
[…]
“Mr. Sanchez is central to the administration’s plans. Southwest Key can now house up to 5,000 children in its 24 shelters, including a converted Walmart Supercenter that has drawn criticism as a warehouse for youths.“
[…]
”The system is nearing a breaking point, with a record 14,000 minors at about 100 sites — a human crisis, but also a moneymaking opportunity.”
What’s the bet that Mr Sanchez was originally Cuban. The money making elite driven out by the people attempting to shift power there, have carried a deep grudge that they were forced away from their feeding stalls.
The same will happen here if we can make changes. Be prepared for hard times.
Pretty sad when the most intelligent television commentary
comes from a right wing host on Fox News.
As Jimmy Dore says, “If Tucker Carlson can get it right, then you should get it right, too. You should be embarrassed that Tucker Carlson asks questions that you won’t.”
Over the years Dore’s made dozens of videos monetised Syrian suffering with titles like Truth about Syria etc, but his ignorance about the plight of Rojava and YPG Kurds makes it pretty damn clear that disingenuous prick never really bothered researching the issue.
of course he has
Thats what they all do
Entertainment and click bait Serious journalists who do the hard yards and research are the ones to read, even if you don’t always like what they say
They’re a distinct people trying for a degree of self-determination spread among four different nasty authoritarian regimes, with some sort of war going on involving them for most of those people’s lifetimes. That’s quite a shitty situation to be in. So it’s not entirely surprising some of their ways of dealing with that are in turn shitty as well.
That observation isn’t excusing the shittiness, it’s just acknowledgement of shitty realities. And it’s good reason to be sympathetic and helpful towards their self-determination goals.
But yeah, anyone holding Rojava up as some sort of paragon to be aspired to is either deluded or in possession of some pretty shitty values and priorities themselves.
The thing, to me, about Tucker is hes a smart on to it guy, he knows what hes talking about but he spends far too much time hosting nutters on his show
Yeah its fun watching him dismantle the loons but its easy, low hanging fruit so its good to watch him stretch himself a bit
What was wrong with what I said? Can you explain, no!
I’ll try.
Tucker is good at his job. You may not like him because he works for Fox but that’s irrelevant.
Antifa are an organised group of cowards who cover there faces, and use violence to oppress other people. There arguments get destroyed by people like Tucker, so since there ideas are mostly worthless they resort to violence to get there way. They especially hate free speech, a modus operandi of the radical left. Attacking a persons home because Tucker can so easily mock them was this years most childish act of protest. If they took there masks off, had some signs, and used no violence, and didn’t flee before the police arrived, then they might have had a tiny bit of credibility. They have none.
The KKK and their offshoot the Black Legion are way worse than Antifa will ever be. They used to actually kill black men for even looking at white women. Kill them. 30000 blacks were lynched by the KKK from the 1870’s to the 1960’s, and we now have Trump who wants to encourage that activity again. But you condone that behavior.
Morrissey
I thought that is the opposite of what he said. Your reply does not fit the context.
So apologise. The Black Legion was an authoritarian, quasi-military organization, which forced discipline upon its heavily-armed members by initiating them at the point of a gun and threatening death if they ever disclosed the secrets of the group to outsiders. To join the organization, a person had to swear that he was a white, native-born, Protestant American citizen and agree to take up arms, when called upon, against the group’s enemies. https://www.encyclopedia.com/economics/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/black-legion
But a little non beltway cause and effect analysis could suggest at heart it is a architecture for the systemic creation of black markets on a global scale, exposing ill-equiped societal institutions to organised crime syndicates.
A changing of the guard from that of the political rorting classes to those of mafia type extortion in the body politic.
Political economy is never satiated, it never has enough, & even when the bountiful garden is transformed into a disease festering mud sludge, it will still be demanding more like nothing has changed!!
What’s so difficult to understand? Prof Kelsey demonstrates that she doesn’t understand democracy yet again. Simple. Dunno where you get all that mafioso stuff from!
Will the alt-trade initiative she discusses turn out to be just as ephemeral as Sue Bradford’s leftist think-tank? Probably. But I hope not. We need a credible alternative to the pragmatic neoliberalism the coalition is using.
But Prof Kelsey has good points. She is saying that we aren’t proceeding democratically isn’t she? That we are being forced into a corner with these trade agreements.
The way representative democracy was designed to operate is for electors to elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. When a majority of these form a govt, that govt therefore puts democracy into practice via legislation.
Which is precisely what has happened with the modified TPPA. What part does Kelsey continue to fail to get?? And why try to spin democratic decision-making as being forced into a corner? Is she really that keen to get a public reputation for being delusional? I marched against the thing, but as soon as the Herald published their editorial pointing out that the secret lawyer tribunal that decided in favour of Exxon, when the govt of Ecuador penalised them for failing to clean up their jungle pollution, had been unable to enforce the judgment, I agreed with the Herald that paranoia was unnecessary. Reality has since then continued to prove that the thing has no teeth. Kelsey prefers paranoia to reality, obviously, but I see no reason to agree that bad mental health ought to be contagious…
Well said, Dennis. I had just started drafting a reply to you that had got as far as the quote below when I decided I had wasted too much time here today already and to leave it and get outside.
Dennis, you make some good points re Kelsey and it is good to see some people finally getting there. Kelsey is anti any form of trade agreement – period, And always has been. I have met her and she is a nice person and very intelligent, but she is intransigent on that point.
Whether people like it or not, NZ, and most countries in the modern world are trading nations with imports/exports integral to their economies and ways of living.
People can dream all they like, but until the world as we know it blows apart (through climate change or other factors) trading between nations will continue – with a requirement for agreed methods, procedures etc of doing so.
Like any form of commerce, inter-nation trading requires ongoing negotiation, compromise, agreement etc within agreed parameters for doing so. Such negotiations are ongoing continually and cover a multitude of areas and fields other than just pure trade.
One of the main objectives of a democratic elected form of government is that people vote in representatives to act on their behalf in undertaking such negotiations, compromises and agreements. Very little would ever be achieved if every single such agreement had to be put out to a democratic vote by everyone.
So “snap” in terms of the last para above and your first para.
I could write volumes on the subject of trade generally, older style trade agreements, the more recent ones etc but won’t go there today. I grew up as the child of a NZ Trade Commissioner and we lived overseas for my teen years in that capacity; I then went on to similar forms of government jobs involving international govt interaction on specific areas I will not go into.
I think you are onto it. The power base in government has been corrupted, it is full of minor princelings who love their money, the women who never were feminists but have jumped with alacrity into moneyed, prominent positions, they see things along efficiency and class lines. There isn’t much integrity there, it is staying in power, and playing the credulous, incurious or value-bereft society like a fisherman with multi-hook lines.
When Jeremy Corbyn becomes P.M. it will be like this.
Thirty years ago, they predicted the tiresome and absurd smears about being a Russian agent, and even the bitching about him choosing to travel second class on the train…
This Brian Eno thinkpiece was on TS a decade on, but in case anyone misses it I am putting it here also. I like his thinking. What is your feeling? (3 minutes)
Something I don’t like – nasty flesh eating bug and the medical establishment in Australia doesn’t see to know enough about it apart from its name.
Cases are also getting more severe, leading to larger wounds that can take longer than a year to heal.
“It’s got a toxin that actually does three things,” explained Associate Professor Daniel O’Brien from Barwon Health.
“One is dissolve flesh.
“A second thing is it produces is an anaesthetic agent so a lot of the time, especially early on, patients don’t feel it.
“The third thing is it actually paralyses the immune system.”
The flesh-eating bacteria, Mycobacterium ulcerans, is related to the infection that causes leprosy.
It stays dormant in an infected person for months before a wound starts to bulge.
“It is an aggressive disease that’s not easy to treat,” Dr O’Brien said.
“It’s not your usual bacteria, so normal antibiotics don’t work….
Over several weeks, it swells into a much larger and more obvious red bulge.
Eventually, the skin breaks open, exposing a raw and pus-filled wound that continues to grow.
This is how a Buruli ulcer forms, the result of flesh-eating bacteria that is infecting hundreds of Victorians.
“It was really scary,” university student Jacinta Mazzarella said. “I was really worried I might lose my limb.”
Several months ago, the 18-year-old developed a Buruli ulcer that was bigger than an Australian 50-cent coin on her left ankle…
“I couldn’t work because I wasn’t allowed to stand on it for a long period of time, so I had a good four, five months off,” she said.
“I’m a dancer – I had to stop dancing.”
Fortunately, medical advancements have meant treatments are much more effective than in the past, and Ms Mazzarella’s skin is starting to heal after extensive medical care….
Although Labour failed to reduce GP fees down to $8 as announced in their election campaign, they have nonetheless lower them.
The question now is are they going to also lower prescription fees?
A colleague visited the doctor the other day and was charged $18.50. They were then charged $30 for their prescription. While some may think $48.50 in total isn’t much, for those struggling it can be a major setback. It certainly put a dent in their Christmas. Therefore, it would be good to know if Labour are also working on getting these costs down too?
OAB was invariably on the money but one or two moderators didn’t seem to like his style. He copped a few bans and after the last one he never returned.
You don’t have to be a smoker to be negatively impacted by this madness.
Ever had your house, workplace or car burgled? Ever had a knife pulled on you and money demands put on you on the street?
Think of the shop owners and their staff and how many of them have been harmed or killed. Think of the children that have been and are likely to be caught up in a shop holdup.
The continual increases in price are apparently having diminishing results in encouraging people to give up, marty.
In recent months, there has been quite a lot of publicity and calls for this approach to be dropped or relooked at due to the unintended consequences of increased attacks etc on shop keepers etc.
The approach is also seen as out of step etc with the approach to alcohol sales – and more lately, to the moves towards decriminalisation etc of cannabis.
Big subject so above is pretty rough but one for discussion another day.
I’m sure various links could be put up from all sides.
Diminishing returns are expected with this approach.
I’ve read plenty this year about the attacks and what not – anyone being robbed is horrible.
Put the price up and get an increase in robberies is a bit simplistic for me – I think many more variables are in the mix AND that doesn’t diminish the impact of this factor of price.
So a wide approach across a broad front with support and help available and a continued incremental price increase is a plan I like.
There is no law that says people should be allowed to smoke – things change.
The nearest he came was to wait outside the house at night in the hope she forgot to close the bedroom curtains and he might catch a glimpse of her undressing for bed.
My father was a corner grocer from when I was five. I loved using our cash drawer but wanted a proper till à la Arkwright for Christmas. Santa visited our store and I told him i wanted a till. The poor old gent became very hard of hearing until my mother appeared after about three increasingly louder versions of “I want a TILL”!
Surprisingly, he then understood me, I got a little red till for Christmas to play shops with, and an increased understanding about life from then on………
Now I too am a store Santa in the season and get very hard of hearing sometimes.
A great Christmas story thanks mac1. Santa is very important to us all, encouraging us to think of others, to turn towards children and bring some fun and a ritual that is positive into their lives. The commercialisation and stress is because the trend has been away from that, to what’s in it for ‘me’.
The buying and selling, consumption and possession of tobacco products is not a crime. Users are generally addicted, which makes it a health problem.
What I noted was crime related to the soaring cost due to the continued tax hikes.
It wouldn’t surprise me that the Government plans to tax it hard, but unlike tobacco, the marijuana black market is well established, which will make it extremely difficult for the Government to compete if they tax it too hard.
i was agreeing with you.
i’m sure you can follow that.
this government is already preparing a rationale for higher taxes on (future) legalised marijuana even if non-smoked marijuana is less addictive than smoked.
it is doing that by preparing enforcement regimes through the Police showing risk of public harm while driving influenced. Nash will take this to Select Committee first quarter.
this also responds to Nick Smith’s citizen petition on road deaths caused ny drugged drivers.
this comm9n harm rationale sets up the regulatory equivalence between tobacco and marijuana.
Are there tests that can explicitly show a driver is under the influence and is not merely showing they have consumed it sometime in the past week or month? And are the Government planning on introducing these tests as part of this new enforcement regime?
Yes there are, TC. Saliva based testing gives a snapshot of recent use (hours, rather than days). However, the standard for saliva testing at evidential level has not yet been approved. That should happen in the next few months and it will impact on workplace testing as well.
Sarah Leamon (a Vancouver lawyer specializing in cannabis law) said “the bottom line is that all of these devices don’t have any reflection on the level of impairment at all when it comes to the subject of the test”
You are correct that Labour won’t rethink this. It’s nothing to do with them. It’s a statutory body that sets the guidelines, not the Government. There is widespread acceptance in the testing industry that saliva is the way to go as it is more accurate in showing impairment, rather than historical use. However, those wedded to the profits to be made from urine based testing are dead against.
What it comes down to is whether we are testing for safety reasons or because we like to punish people for their lifestyle choices. I can tell you that NZ employers are over the moral argument; they just want good, safe employees who turn up for work. What the workers do in the weekends is no longer the issue.
“What the workers do in the weekends is no longer the issue.”
It is when they are being tested by a device that is unfit for purpose.
It seems these testing devices don’t indicate any reflection on the level of impairment. Therefore, showing someone smoked a joint on Sunday night doesn’t mean they are impaired, thus unfit for work (or to drive) the following morning. Hence, it’s far from fair and just, thus Government shouldn’t support it.
They literally do show the level of impairment. That’s the point of them and why they are superior for evidential purposes. I’d prefer we simply don’t test at all, but if we are going to do it, then best we go for the most accurate devices.
“There is no one blood or oral fluid concentration that can differentiate impaired and not impaired,” says Marilyn Huestis, who spent over 20 years leading cannabinoid-related research projects at the National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/cp-dar011818.php
I’m guessing Labour will try and get around this by creating limits for THC levels in oral fluid concentration. This is essentially a legal shortcut that will allow police to lay an impaired driving charge based on a driver’s oral fluid concentration level, without actually having to prove impairment.
While police already use limits for alcohol impairment, blood alcohol concentration has been shown to have a close, predictable link to impairment. The same is simply not true of saliva testing and blood THC levels, and this is where things become underhanded and unjust.
So that is top of the list to do. This cannabis thing has gone on for years; far too long. Let’s do all that is needed to get a sensible thoroughgoing system in place without room for doubters and ditherers to put their spoke in.
Evidence-based thinking. That is a term i have heard is regarded as best practice. It might be the right way to go in dealing with cannabis in all its issues, which are so clouded with emotion and its history. It would be better than listening to all those who can think of a thousand reasons not to do something. Result, nothing settled and achieved and we can never move on, and the undealt with matters of importance to our lives linger around and cause so much pain that is totally avoidable.
Tobacco companies have sought compensation before when their returns have been threaten. Therefore, surely they would seek compensation over this proposal?
The costs (tax) of smoking has far exceeded compensating the Crown for costs.
Cullen declined increasing tax on tobacco as he said the Crown already recovered costs. Less superannuation etc.
Presently smokers are being ripped off.
Smokers are financially compensating healthcare for other industries like sugar.
Smokers are charged for the cost of healthcare in ordinary taxes, then pay more than full health insurance in descriminatory taxes. They pay more than twice, but only die once.
Health nuts that live to 90, need rest homes, healthcare, super etc for much longer, cost us a fortune and don’t pay there fair share of taxes. Hypocricy.
And to top it off, smoking prevalence is higher among those with lower socioeconomic status.
It’s a regressive tax largely hurting the poor. And the damage (stress and fiscal hardship) it bears down upon families and individuals is largely unreported.
My focus on the roads was more related to Labour’s failure to deliver a 4 lane expressway. And yes, National failed to deliver on it as well. Which just reaffirms they both suck.
Like this one!
Followed up by Mrs Doyle who is as persistent as a National Party political female. And at the back is an example of a a male polly past his use-by date.
2018 seems to be ending with the sound of reality sucking the rug out from underneath Trump. “Right-wing columnist Ann Coulter – author of In Trump We Trust – recently predicted he will not be re-elected. “Without a wall, he will only be remembered as a small cartoon figure who briefly inflamed and amused the rabble,” she wrote.”
“Before leaving, he gave a rare interview to the LA Times, published on Sunday, in which he called the role a “bone-crushing hard job”. “To be honest, it’s not a wall,” Mr Kelly said, when asked about plans for the border. The former Marine Corps general was initially appointed as Mr Trump’s homeland security secretary before becoming chief of staff in July 2017. As soon as he did so, he told the LA Times, he sought advice from those who “actually secure the border”.”
All in all, it’s just another non-brick in the non-wall – Kelly reckons steel slats are the current plan (so the guards can see through). “Trump has tweeted the term “wall” 59 times this month alone.” Gotta keep them rednecks fixated on their dream. Trump has a mandate from voters to build the wall, but cannot give voters what they want until Congress agrees on the funding. And, as Coulter reminded us, voters means rabble.
Stalemate in the haggling process has caused Trump to threaten to close the border. Both Democrats and Republicans tacitly agree that a partial govt shutdown is better than deciding on the amount of expenditure. Neither has been honest enough to explain this to voters/rabble. Agreeing on the wall budget would give voters/rabble the result they elected Trump to produce. Both parties insist the current sham is better than real democracy.
Kid from Remuera gets knighthood: “Sir Timothy Richard Shadbolt KNZM (born 19 February 1947) is a New Zealand politician.” Doesn’t say left-wing. Karl Marx was the name of his concrete mixer (the one that he towed behind the mayoral car in ’83). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Shadbolt
He was “editor of Craccum in 1972. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, he became prominent in the Progressive Youth Movement, a radical left-wing organisation, and was arrested 33 times during political protests”. One News re-ran a selection of shots of young Tim in rabble-rousing mode from the early seventies.
Reminds us that saying bullshit in public was illegal back then. Tell that to younger generations now and I bet they refuse to believe you. Try it.
“In the 1996 general election he stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party.” Ah, but will he campaign for legalisation in 2020?
Everything;
Nation – Kiwi – Fern – Black Cap – Sailing – New Zealand – All Black – Triumph – Loss
Has nothing to do with me
I have no influence or control over the outcomes
I have no right to bask in the glory of the success of individual or minor collectives
Just like every other entity bounded by this coastline
Most are deluded
Born here – by accident – like all.
New Zealander ?
WTF
New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Carereport released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced$802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Carereport in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquirypublished its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone iconon the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive:Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloittereport for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’sOliver LewisScoop:Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announcedthe Board of Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Orderimage, ...
Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
Waiting In The Wings:For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSAannounced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
Open access notablesImproving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society:To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
A late change to charter school legislation will cheat educators out of fair pay and negotiating power proving charter schools are just a vehicle to make profit out of our education system. ...
In 2004 te iwi Māori rallied against the Crown’s attempt to confiscate our coastlines and moana with the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This led to the largest hīkoi of a generation and the birth of Te Pāti Māori. 20 years later, history is repeating itself. Today the government has announced ...
It has been five and a half years since the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was established to investigate the abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based institutions. Yesterday, the final report - Whanaketia through pain and trauma, from darkness to light ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. ...
On Friday the International Court of Justice reaffirmed what Palestinian’s have been telling us for decades: that the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands by Israel is illegal and must end immediately. They also called for reparations for Palestinian’s who have lived under Israeli occupation since it began in 1967. ...
Labour calls on the Government to act after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal. ...
The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. ...
Aotearoa could be a country where every child grows up feeling safe, loved and with a sense of belonging in their whānau and community. But for some of our children, this is far from reality. Instead, they are trapped in a maze of intergenerational harm that they can’t escape on ...
Te Pāti Māori are calling for David Seymour to resign as Associate Health Minister in response to his call for Pharmac to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi. “This announcement is just another example of the government’s anti-Tiriti, anti-Māori agenda.” Said Co-leader and spokesperson for health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. “Seymour thinks it ...
The soaring price of renting is driving the rise of inflation in this country - with latest figures from Stats NZ showing rents are up 4.8 per cent on average while annual inflation is at 3.3 per cent. ...
National’s Emissions Reduction Plan will take New Zealand further from the economy we need to ensure the next generation has a stable climate and secure livelihoods. ...
Following consultation with named parties and thorough consideration of privacy interests, the Green Party is in a position to release the Executive Summary of the final report from the independent investigation into Darleen Tana. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon should be asking serious questions of his Minister for Resources Shane Jones now it’s been revealed he misled the public about a dinner with mining companies that he didn’t declare and said wasn’t pre-arranged. ...
Te Pāti Māori have submitted to the Justice Select Committee against the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill. The bill will further entrench racism in our justice system and fails to focus on rehabilitation. “Reinstating Three Strikes will empower a systematically racist system and exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is set to make a determination on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill in the coming weeks. “This legislation will give landlords the power to kick our whānau out onto the street for no reason” said Housing spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “Their solution to the housing ...
“National’s campaign was about tackling crime and the best they can do is a two-year long Ministerial Advisory Group,” Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
“There are more examples of charter schools failing their students than there are success stories. The coalition Government is driving to dismantle our public school system and instead promote a privatised, competitive structure that puts profits before kids,” Jan Tinetti said. ...
“This government is choosing to deliberately mislead and withhold information, keeping our people in the dark about this government’s agenda and the future of our mokopuna,” said co-leader and spokesperson for Health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The call comes after the demand from the Chief Ombudsman that Associate Minister of Health, Casey ...
“Today’s climate announcement by Simon Watts makes clear the National Government is simply paying lip service to meeting its climate change targets,” Megan Woods said. ...
National is choosing to make life harder for workers by taking away the rights our communities have fought hard for. Here's how they’re taking workers backwards. ...
Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views. “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
Tēnā tātou katoa, Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks. “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. At the heart of this report are the ...
For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024. “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane. “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says. “This will be our third visit to ...
Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum. While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation. “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan. “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests. Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone. Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
Last summer when Matairangi burned, Ginny and Tom stood at the window of their lounge, watching kākā shoot skyward from the burning trees. From the distance, they looked to Ginny like pages torn from books and thrown into a bonfire. It was Tom, voice tight, who told her it was ...
Opinion: The Canadian short story writer Alice Munro – winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 – died in May at the age of 92. Her work was about “the damage people inflict on one another in the name of love”, Deborah Treisman wrote in the New Yorker. ...
This month marks two years since the most powerful telescope ever built sent its first pictures back to earth. From its lofty vantage point, beyond the moon in orbit around the sun, the James Webb Space Telescope was tuned to observe the first stars and galaxies being born soon after ...
Comment: After Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ preview several weeks ago, I had some optimism about the Government’s emissions reduction plan. Now I’ve read the discussion document, that hope has been dashed. How can the Government propose a plan that wants to take New Zealand taxpayers’ hard-earned money, and spend ...
Christopher Luxon: hurdles The little man from National jumps hurdles in his sleep. He’s quite good at it in his dreams and even though the reality doesn’t quite match up you have to give him credit for getting up every morning and crashing into the very first hurdle of the ...
Comment: It was a good two hours into the conversation when Tyrone Marks raised the most basic of questions when I first spoke to him in 2017. “They didn’t explain the things they did to me. They never told me why. And they still haven’t. There’s no explanation for it. ...
Madeleine Chapman rounds out Death Week on The Spinoff with a final recommendation. You can read all of our Death Week coverage here. Nothing forces you to reflect on your life and relationships quite like proximity to death. For those whose nearest and dearest have died, there are reasonably obvious ...
Whitney Greene takes us through her life in television, including the TV character she’d like to plan a funeral for and her cow lung catastrophe on The Traitors NZ. “If the phone rings, I have to answer it,” Whitney Greene from The Traitors NZ warns as we begin our My ...
Maddie Ballard reviews the debut essay collection of Pōneke writer Flora Feltham.In ‘The Raw Material’, the longest essay in Flora Feltham’s dazzling debut collection, the author heads out for a run after hours of weaving and sees the world turn to textile. “Pounding along the Parade, I saw the ...
Andy Christiansen, one half of the experimental rock-pop duo TRiPS, shares the tunes inspiring the band’s perfect weekend and new release. “Good speakers, good food, good music, no distractions”: that’s all you need to enjoy the psychedelic stylings of TRiPS, a new band formed by Fly My Pretties’ Barnaby Weir ...
Celebrating our quadrennial opportunity to become experts in a bunch of sports we never normally watch.The games of the XXXIII Olympiad are upon us. Paris will host this year’s showcase of sporting and athletic prowess, which means some late-night and early-morning viewing for us in Aotearoa.But what sports ...
The photograph is striking and beautiful, but also disturbing – a reminder that my love for John was often entangled in shame.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.In the spring of 1980, in Dunedin, shortly before his death, someone took a photograph ...
Get to know Babushka, our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Babu’s humans, Jo and Isabel, for their support. Dog name: Babushka (Babu for short) Age: 2Breed: Border Collie X poodleIf rescued, ...
Pacific Media Watch A Lebanese photojournalist who was severely wounded during an Israeli air strike in south Lebanon carried the Olympic torch in Paris this week in honour of her peers who have been wounded and killed in the field — especially in Gaza and Lebanon. Christina Assi of Agence ...
The first report in a five-part web series focused on the 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women taking place in the Marshall Islands this week.SPECIAL REPORT:By Netani Rika in Majuro Women continue to fight for justice 70 years after the first nuclear tests by the United States caused ...
Christopher Luxon has joined with Australia and Canada's leaders in voicing support for US President Joe Biden's ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The 2022 election brought the “teal wave” into parliament. The next election will test whether teals, who occupy what were Liberal seats, and other independents can maintain their momentum. Joining us on the Podcast ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Musgrave, Senior lecturer in Pharmacology, University of Adelaide Pixavri/Shutterstock A major Federal Court class action has been dismissed this week after Justice Michael Lee ruled there was not enough evidence to prove the weedkiller Roundup causes cancer. Plaintiff Kelvin ...
In The Week in Politics: politicians have to decide what to do about child abuse, Health NZ is booked in for major surgery and Darleen Tana returns. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Corbould, Associate Professor, Contemporary Histories Research Group, Deakin University Mainstream media are surprisingly muted at the prospect of the world’s most powerful nation being led for the first time by a woman – specifically a woman of colour, Vice President Kamala ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Bennett, PhD Student, Associate Research Fellow, Deakin University Last week, a drone delivery company called Wing (owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet) started operating in Melbourne. Some 250,000 residents in parts of the city’s eastern suburbs can now order food from ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Foo, Lecturer, Physiotherapy, Monash University pikselstock/Shutterstock In the next 40 years in Australia, it’s predicted the number of Australians aged 65 and over will more than double, while the number of people aged 85 and over will more than triple. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katrina Grant, Research Associate, Power Institute for Arts and Visual Culture, University of Sydney Jonas Åkerström’s 1790 work, Session of the Accademia dell’Arcadia on August 17 1788.Nationalmuseum/Cecilia Heisser Ever wondered whether you’d have a better chance at winning an Olympic gold ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexandra Jones, Program Lead, Food Governance, George Institute for Global Health wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock On Thursday, Australian and New Zealand food ministers at state, federal and national levels met to thrash out what’s next for health star ratings on packaged foods. Now, after ...
The Abuse in Care report found many Pacific survivors lost their connections to their culture and language, resulting in trauma that has been carried from generation to generation. ...
In the regulatory review, ECC intends to suggest that ERO focus on curriculum delivery reviews rather than the Ministry, because it’s not efficient or effective to have two agencies with radically different approaches climbing over each other. ...
Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori invites the current government to work in partnership with them to develop a pathway forward, including the development of a parallel pathway and meaningful policy and strategy for Kura Kaupapa Māori ...
If you haven’t started watching yet, Tara Ward begs you to reconsider. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. In the world of New Zealand reality television, we have many gems in our crown. There’s the delicious second season of the Celebrity Treasure ...
A new poem by Fiona Kidman. The clothes of the dead I did not keep my mother’s furry red beret for long nor the stringy scarves that adorned the necks of my aunts, although I have kept tag ends of gold, the rings and trinkets they wore, the brooches no ...
The government’s announcement that it will re-open the foreshore and seabed controversy by changing the rules on recognising centuries-old Māori customary title for a third time goes against the rule of law and New Zealand values,” Mr Tipa says. ...
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 Lioness by Emily Perkins (Bloomsbury, $25) Roarrrr! Perkins’ brilliant, award-winning, Marian-Keyes anointed, darkly funny, long ...
The 2004 Act vested ownership of the foreshore and seabed in the Crown, extinguishing any Māori claims to ownership and causing widespread outrage and protests among Māori communities. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Antje Deckert, Associate Professor (Criminology), Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Despite the connection between institutional harm and gang membership made clear in this week’s mammoth royal commission abuse-in care report, the government seems unlikely to soften its “get tough on ...
From Lewis Clareburt in the swimming to the start of the rowing – the first seven days of Paris 2024 promise to be big for New Zealand. There are few events that bring the country together quite like an Olympic Games. Nothing quite matches the excitement of getting up in ...
Groundbreaking local science just showed up in the most surprising of places: the season finale of The Kardashians. In the season five finale of The Kardashians last night, several members of the family gathered together in one of their signature empty, cream-coloured rooms to hear test results that had been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Australian National University The Middle East is on the brink of a possibly devastating regional war, with hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah reaching an extremely dangerous level. Washington has engaged in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Elizabeth Eades, Rheumatologist, Monash University Lupus is an inflammatory autoimmune illness, where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks itself. Lupus can affect virtually any part of the body, although it most commonly affects the skin, joints and kidneys. The symptoms ...
A law firm that specialises in working with survivors of abuse in State care is disappointed that the Government fails to recognise that its boot camps can be directly compared to previous boot camps from the 1990s and 2000s. ...
Dying is a natural part of life, like updating your Wof or seeing your hairdresser, but without the word-of-mouth recs that help guarantee a good service. What if we changed that? Dying Reviews received by The Spinoff have had the names of organisations redacted while Hospice NZ collects further data. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland Mike Lewinski/Flickr, CC BY On any clear night, if you gaze skywards long enough, chances are you’ll see a meteor streaking through the sky. Some nights, however, are better than others. At ...
Despite having no bars or other designated spaces for lesbians, Auckland boasts a small but mighty lesbian museum. So how did it get here? The past 18 months has brought increasing hostility towards the queer community across Aotearoa. Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull’s anti-trans rally in Tamaki Makaurau last March led to a ...
Poneke Antifascist Coalition has invited Wellingtonians to stand in solidarity with the Kanak people at 12pm today outside the French Embassy in Wellington. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Layton, Visiting Fellow, Strategic Studies, Griffith University Drones are the signature technology of the Ukraine war. A few miniature aircraft designs were used in the war’s early days, but an incredible array of drones have now evolved. There are different types, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Slee, Associate Professor, Clinical Academic Neurologist, Flinders University Francisco Gonzelez/Unsplash Migraine is many things, but one thing it’s not is “just a headache”. “Migraine” comes from the Greek word “hemicrania”, referring to the common experience of migraine being predominantly ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lee White, Senior Lecturer and Horizon Fellow, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Sydney Australia was slow to introduce minimum building standards for energy efficiency. The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) only came into force in 2003. Older homes ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Sherwood, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW Sydney The past century of human-induced warming has increased rainfall variability over 75% of the Earth’s land area – particularly over Australia, Europe and eastern North America, new research shows. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Heynen, Program Coordinator, Sustainable Energy, The University of Queensland A temporary stadium in the Champ-de-Mars, ParisEkaterina Pokrovsky/Shutterstock As Paris prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the sustainability of the event is coming under scrutiny. The organisers have promoted ...
A night of karaoke and community in a pub that feels like a memory. You’d barely even notice it, unless you knew to look. Tucked away behind a liquor store on busy Constable Street is the capital’s last great pub. Newtown Sports Bar is an emblem of the pub culture ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Wright, Professor in Marine Geology, University of Canterbury Louise Corcoran/Getty Images The decline in the number of doctoral candidates at New Zealand universities is a worrying sign for the country’s effort to build a knowledge-based economy. Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laurie Berg, Associate Professor, University of Technology Sydney defotoberg/Shutterstock Migrant worker exploitation is entrenched in workplaces across Australia. Tragically, a deep fear of immigration consequences means most unlawful employer conduct goes unreported. On Wednesday, however, the government officially launched a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vaughan Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania Paris is about to host its third summer Olympics. While we don’t yet know what the legacy of this year’s games will be, let’s take the opportunity to reflect on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hugh Breakey, Deputy Director, Institute for Ethics, Governance & Law, Griffith University In the wake of the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump, there were calls from bothsides of US politics, as well as internationally, to reduce the brutal, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keith Rathbone, Senior Lecturer, Modern European History and Sports History, Macquarie University Two high-profile assaults on Australians in Paris have raised concerns about security ahead of the Olympic Games. On Saturday evening, a young woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by a ...
Dying is inevitable and, so it seems, is it costing a lot, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here.The cost of dying ...
The government took Joyce Harris's first baby and sent her off to a girls' home. Half a century on - and out of oceans of hurt - it asked her to be a mother figure. ...
It’s the deadliest fictional town in the country, but which death has been the most bonkers? Alex Casey looks back at 10 seasons of The Brokenwood Mysteries to find out. Warning: The following ranking story contains famous New Zealand actors appearing to be dead (not alive). The Spinoff has been ...
Water cremation is the biggest thing to happen to the death industry in the last 100 years. Alex Casey meets the people trying to bring it to Aotearoa. Through a set of mirrored doors down the industrial end of Christchurch’s St Asaph Street, death is getting a new lease on ...
If sprinter Zoe Hobbs lines up in the 100m final in Paris this year, her Olympic campaign will have been a success. Even if she doesn’t climb the podium, her presence will be as good as gold. But if Dame Lisa Carrington comes fourth, the country will record it as ...
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12183918
How convenient for the developer who has been trying to approval to demolish for ages?
How mad of the impractical Auckland City Council to insist that nothing could be done and that this old historic building couldn’t be demolished. No-one wanted it. If the Council wanted it saved it should have bought it itself, sharing with the developer inm a PPP and come to an agreement for low cost homes and apprenticeships.
Turn a lemon into lemonade. But the decision makers aren’t contracted to run their jobs for the benefit of the people and the City as a whole; so stick close to they must stick close to the wording of a narrow contract.
The council didn’t insist that nothing could be done. That’s not their job. They simply applied the rules in the Unitary Plan and gave the building a B Heritage listing. The developer was always able to develop the building into whatever adaptive use they wanted (into apartments for example) within those parameters. But they weren’t happy with that because it wouldn’t deliver the profit they wanted. Well tough luck.
Scott GN
Some facts there. With all the powers that the sub-agencies of the ACC have, I am surprised that they couldn’t pull strings and go over the historic classification to let it be utilised. I have been involved with a lovely old church and a declining congregation. It seemed that the building had right of way over the Christian activity. I really like historic buildings. But they can’t all be kept. We have lost so much in NZ that is far more important.
And there is a lot of money goes into the investment. I presume you didn’t have any to put in. It would have been good to get some good apartments up. If the Council had watched like hawks and spied on their roving checkers to see what they did and didn’t, we would have had buildings to replace those going down the toilet in other areas.
Sorry greywarshark. After decades of greed driven demolition of our finest buildings I’m grateful for whatever scanty protections are now in place to protect our much diminished built heritage in Auckland. And I don’t really give a fuck if that puts developers on the outer.
If you want low cost housing you don’t even have to go a kilometre from the St James Church in Mt Eden to find acres and acres of crappy post 60s cinder block light- industrial buildings perfect for rebuilding as housing stock. Knock yourself out.
So you think all historic buildings should be kept even if no-one wants them? Sounds impractical to me.
Yeah I do actually. And I don’t believe that no one wants them. That’s just a lazy notion on which to base the excuse to demolish and maximise economic potential. Look at Britomart and all the Victorian and Edwardian warehousing in that area that we were told was of no use and that nobody wanted and which came so close to being demolished. It’s now one of the most vibrant downtown neighbourhoods.
The Honour’s system.
Best overall commenter – McFlock – rarely goes overboard, often deadly accurate, always relevant.
Best mod – mickey cos he hardly ever does much
Best rightie – tough one but puckish gets it for excessive wit.
Best try and make it different initiative – robert guyton – you’ll be a mod soon if you don’t watch out.
Most missed – so many
Most provocative (personal view) – TRP close but I’m going with bill
Most important – lprent you are a legend
Important mentions – Ann – thank you, VV – good you are vocal, muttonbird – keeping us on track, macro – love your comments.
And of course many others, too many to name such as joe, ed, grey, maui, rosemary, dennis, pat, andre, Patricia, gabby and so on…
All the best for the next year everyone.
Not a bad list marty mars. Thank you. But naughty, naughty… you left off the “e”. 😉
Incognito is also a favourite of mine. His comments are always very thoughtful.
And a plug for Wayne. He comes here frequently so he must enjoy this site. We may not see eye to eye with with him, but his vast experience and knowledge of the subjects he chooses to comment on should be acknowledged. I, for one, have learnt stuff I didn’t know before.
Oh and btw, Sanctuary should receive a mention although his forth-rightness does upset some people. Oh dear, the list goes on …….
BM too and alwyn is fighting a good retreat. The morrie too – we are indeed blessed. Sorry about the e.
“alwyn is fighting a good retreat”.
Retreat? What on earth do you mean sir?
I take my lead from US Marine General Oliver P Smith.
His most famous statement, made during the Korean War, was
“Retreat Hell! We’re just attacking in another direction”.
I wouldn’t, of course, use the Royal “we” so just change the “We’re” to “I’m”
“And a plug for Wayne. He comes here frequently so he must enjoy this site. We may not see eye to eye with with him, but his vast experience and knowledge of the subjects he chooses to comment on should be acknowledged. I, for one, have learnt stuff I didn’t know before.”
Yeah agree with that Anne.
Test. (3rd time lucky)
Have to agree regarding McFlock, have thought so for quite a while now. I’ll always read what he has to say as there’s much intelligence and wisdom there. Puddleglum was right up there too but sadly has gone silent both here and on his Political Scientist blog since Aug. 2017.
Thanks lprent and everyone else involved in keeping TS running.
Happy new year all.
Was it the Political Scientist link that stopped previous comments getting through(?)
edit: No, maybe just Mondayitis..
Bugger sorry I didn’t add you too fender – love your comments.
Thanks Marty but mine a pretty insignificant. There are many that make great comments here including your own that are a great mix of wisdom and sometimes crankiness 😀
You’ve got a good sense of humor and a sharp wit. We need more of that imo.
Oh thanks mate. Hey with your interest in the cosmos I recommend this talk with graphic renderings on the Milky Way that I came across recently.
I’ll accept half wit 🙂
You’ll have no choice but to accept halfwit if you are going to continue to promote the nasty JC 😀
And to you and your whanau, marty.
And thank you for the mention. You are really “brave” making an honours list. One of those situations where we always manage to leave someone out and upset them. LOL!
Ha for sure. It is my way of expressing that whakataukī that gets used alot – it is about people and if so, who are the people.
I couldn’t do it but I know someone who writes memoirs – be cool to see one about the people of The Standard imo from then to now.
Marty, Thanks. You get the most sincere prize. xx
Gosh. Thanks for that!
Word for 2019…..LESS.
We (humanity) have a problem, and perversely it is the cause of all our woes but that which we devote all our abilities to, and it is ‘growth’ or alternatively ‘more’.
Irrespective of our political leanings our models are designed to serve this desire no matter how it is dressed…and it would appear the most effective model to deliver to these desires is market capitalism, but it is not the only participant in the race for more, merely the current leader.
Recent volatility indicates a growing fear of missing out , albeit a subliminal understanding, it is like a rush on supermarket shelves when a shortage is announced or the mayhem at a “Black Friday” sale in the US…..but this is a (fire) sale that we cannot choose to avoid when every government pursues an agenda of growth.
Until we recognise this, design and implement a contrary model we will destroy ourselves for in this world of ‘more’ there is one thing that gets less and less …and that is time.
With a growing population (locally and internationally) I don’t think growth can be avoided.
I’d suggest one way or another it will be….either by choice or imposition. One gives an outside chance of control and success, the other?
“Either by choice or imposition” – is that going to be the new slogan for the Greens?
i doubt any political party would choose to be so blunt, but it dosnt change the facts…..and the imposition is not necessarily human though it may be.
or perhaps it would be better to say…not necessarily political
The facts are the population is growing, thus until that is turned around growth is required. The occurrence of a natural imposition forcing major change is years away. Therefore, I can’t see “less” being the word for 2019.
Moreover, what happened to the goal of trying to achieve sustainable growth?
there is no such thing as sustainable growth in a finite environment….the only relevant factors are the size of the environment and the rate of growth….I dont think anyone can seriously argue that we have reached the limits.
As to a growing population driving growth , while that may have some impact the reality is much of the worlds resources (and the downstream impacts) is wasted on non essentials……reduce the non essentials and more resources are available for the essential….and then theres inequality.
“There is no such thing as sustainable growth…”
Well there is your first hurdle as many believe there is.
“I dont think anyone can seriously argue that we have reached the limits.”
Again, which is why I don’t see “less” being the word for 2019.
However, I agree a lot of resources are wasted on non essentials, thus there will be more publicly acceptable scope for improvement in that regards.
Inequality is a big one to overcome in any transition, less is not a word people that are currently struggling can afford to hear. And having less is not likely to be something the well to do will willingly surrender too.
Our debt based money supply is another (often overlooked) factor driving the need for growth.
“Well there is your first hurdle as many believe there is”
Am well aware its a message that is unlikely to be well received or easy to sell. It remains a message that needs to be expressed however.
“Again, which is why I don’t see “less” being the word for 2019”
That needed to be edited…and wasnt, to read “…have not reached the limits”. And it is ‘aspirational’.
“Inequality is a big one to overcome in any transition, less is not a word people that are currently struggling can afford to hear. And having less is not likely to be something the well to do will willingly surrender too.”
Not only the well to do, though they have more to lose and greater influence…..but again, they have a choice.
“Our debt based money supply is another (often overlooked) factor driving the need for growth.”
Hence…
“Until we recognise this, design and implement a contrary model we will destroy ourselves for in this world of ‘more’ there is one thing that gets less and less …and that is time.”
It may be a message that needs to be expressed but if you can’t sell it and people aren’t willing to take note, it won’t be one that willingly takes hold.
sometimes things develop a life of their own….seeds need to be planted, (and nurtured) and theres quite a bit of unconnected planting happening at the moment.
https://mahb.stanford.edu/
Humanity is ‘wedded to growth’; it’s basic biology/psychology. So much misdirected intelligence, so little wisdom.
This is wisdom:
There are few indications that humanity can collectively imagine or magic its way out of wedded-to-growth messes.
https://archive.org/stream/fe_Ecological_Economics_and_Sustainable_Development-Selected_Essays_of_Herman_Daly/Ecological_Economics_and_Sustainable_Development-Selected_Essays_of_Herman_Daly_djvu.txt
“So far the politicians and economists are so wedded to growth that they insist that economic growth is itself the main characteristic of sustainable development.” – a fine example of magical thinking; our leaders have so many constraints on their imagination.
Totally agree, Drowsy. We are a society largely wedded to growth and there is little sign of that changing anytime soon.
People are lost and don’t know what to do or think, so often don’t think, including you The Chairman and you follow the general RW stance of carefully stamping on any idea until it loses all its puff. If we all stick in your rut with you we will likely find when TSHTF that you have a backdoor sorted for yourself and those you consider worthy. But the trouble is, that your world will be so changed that having further time in the world with the remnants of civilisation, will be a poisoned chalice.
To be honest, greywarshark I believe it was Pat that failed to think this out. I can’t see “less” being the word for 2019. Perhaps at some stage in the future, but not in 2019.
At this stage, even the Greens are still talking about sustainable growth.
Or perhaps I have thought it through a little further than yourself….less is a theme of des gilets jaunes. Less tax on the poorest, less inequality, less hypocrisy, less of the elite….and the yellow vests arnt only in France so maybe ‘less’ will be the word for 2019.
“Less tax on the poorest, less inequality, less hypocrisy, less of the elite…”
You must be joking, right? This Government is supportive of regressive taxes. Are full of hypocrisy and are taking a slow and insufficient approach when it comes to addressing inequality.
Unlike the French, we took our petrol tax hikes rather well, thus I can’t see people with yellow vest hitting the streets here in numbers. Well, not in 2019 anyway.
Isnt the point of the post that what governments are promoting at the moment needs to change?….and the French are old hands at public protest so its not surprising they would be among the first…NZ is a ‘fast follower’…well at least according to Key so I wouldnt write it off.
Theres always a tipping point and politicians have a history of being unable to judge it.
“Isnt the point of the post that what governments are promoting at the moment needs to change?”
Indeed. But you are dreaming if you expect that change to happen here in 2019.
“NZ is a ‘fast follower’…
Ha, I get the impression we are more like the land of Pineapple Lumps.
While there is always a tipping point and politicians have a history of being unable to judge it, we a far from it yet.
Many here still believe Jacinda will deliver. Once the disillusionment sets in, we may then see a tipping point. Then again, the majority may just show their discontent by voting for National or more may not vote at all. People taking to the streets in mass is not something I foresee in this country’s near future.
“I can’t see too many people that are currently struggling to cope as it is asking that question but I can see an increase in the number of those struggling going forward.”
Id suggest that those wearing the yellow vests have already asked and answered that question…..Macron is now deciding the current answer on behalf of the French elite….it wont be the last time .
People taking to the streets is only one method….change is coming whether we choose it or not. A question that will be increasingly asked is how much am i willing to give up to avoid losing everything…that question will hit different people and different societies at different times but its unavoidable.
“Change is coming”
Not in 2019. Well, not the change your are hoping for.
“A question that will be increasingly asked is how much am i willing to give up to avoid losing everything…”
I can’t see too many people that are currently struggling to cope as it is asking that question but I can see an increase in the number of those struggling going forward.
And at this stage, I don’t think there are many that can afford to relinquish feeling as if they are faced with losing it all if they don’t.
The way to go is to understand what can be done now. We have to unerstand and circumvent the wealthy and their running dogs (very communist term that, but i am noticing similarities in capitalism and communism – both attempt to snatch everything for the leaders’ control and advantage).
Great pivoting platforms and leverages going forward Chairperson, I do hope you’re wrong.
I often hope I’m wrong.
Today in the US it’s National Bacon Day.
Gives this feeling when living with a vegetarian. It’s a GIF so just let it sink in while it loads.
https://goo.gl/images/uz6wKV
The perfect gif
It’s John Key!
Yes! His catwalk face
It’s that face he got right after tugging a ponytail.
Yeah the face that only his wife should have to endure.
The links on both of the ‘Ten most…’ posts are acting weird. When I right-click and open in new tab they both open in the new tab and have that page go on to the clicked link. This does not appear to be an issue with Firefox as other pages are working fine.
Actually, maybe it does have something to do with Firefox as it’s not doing it in Chrome.
I am heading up north for a week, so have a happy new year and see everyone in 2019!
For diehards like myself (and mickysavage?), the mystery continues of the continuing leaks from someone in the National caucus despite Jami-lee Ross no longer being a member of the Nat Caucus or Party.
Obviously Chris Trotter is also a diehard in this regard, and yesterday he posted a piece on interest.co.nz which has not appeared on his own blog, Bowalley Road or on The Daily Blog.
https://www.interest.co.nz/opinion/97532/jami-lee-ross-gone-chris-trotter-wonders-why-national-party-leaks-continue-against
Well worth taking a few minutes to read, Trotter’s article starts with a quote from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Adventure of Silver Blaze” and then ponders the possibilities …
Any more would be a spoiler so I will leave it at that, other than to say that he has expressed extremely well what I have been thinking but in a much less orderly and rational manner.
AND the comments to date are well worth reading – if only for the contrast in their quality compared for example to those on Stuff articles. I don’t often venture to interest.co.nz but have now bookmarked it for further exploration of existing articles and future ones.
Excellent analysis, & the leaker is the sleeper issue for the new year until another leak wakes everyone up. Trotter’s theorising assumes intelligence in the National camp. Bit of a stretch, that, always.
“If it’s Bridges’ intention simply to act as some sort of Far-Right John the Baptist to Judith Collin’s Messiah, then, from the moderates’ perspective, the sooner he’s politically beheaded the better.”
He’s arguing for the Collins coup not to be delayed till late 2019. Assuming the moderates in National are a credible faction (rather than a vortex of flotsam & jetsam) and will coalesce around a rightist JC semi-plausibly reinvented as a bland moderate. If, in an interview, when asked about any past alignment with Lusk, she replies “Simon who?” she ought to be credited with wit. Journalists would immediately run a plethora of stories claiming it to be a put-down of Bridges.
Until she fronts as that clever, I can’t see caucus moderates being drawn into her orbit – unless she passes Bridges in the preferred PM poll. Nat rats deserting the sinking ship would then tip the balance. Ralston reckons “that Ross has been used by a couple of Machiavellian plotters on the Nats’ periphery to pave the way for Collins to oust Bridges”. Naive. No such leverage from the periphery is ever possible. However, if he means Lusk protégés working with one or more team-builders with current influence on the caucus thinking, the theory is feasible. Seems to me that JLR was indeed set up, but as likely by Bridges working with other leading Nats as by any such Lusk-masterminded operation.
Deeply thoughtful vv. Was that the one where Holmes looked to see if there were limping sheep, having a thought that the favourite for the race could have been knobbled with a small cut to a tendon, and the sheep used for practice so the main job would be perfect.
Yes, but those details are not relevant to Trotter’s specific reference to the conversation between Gregory and Holmes about “the curious incident of the dog in the night-time”, in particular:
Gregory: “The dog did nothing in the night-time.”
Holmes: “That was the curious incident.”
The dog did nothing – eg it did not bark. Why?
Because it was an inside job. There were no strangers and the dog did not bark because it knew the person who took Silver Blaze from its stall and out onto the moor.
That Conan Doyle quote has long been used as a metaphor (?) for inside jobs where the perpetrator may well be “hoist with his/her own petard”. Just to throw in a bit of Shakespeare for what Trotter is intimating in his article. LOL
I wondered whether it had the sheep in it too. I got the bit about the dog that didn’t bark. I wonder if the gang has tried something similar on someone else in the past as a test case?
Go back and read it again – you seem to have not read or ignored almost the entire second half of the article other than the final two paragraphs..
It starts with this teaser (my bold):
Then again, what we have witnessed over the past few months may actually be the preparations for a pre-emptive coup: a blocking move intended to make a Collins takeover impossible. But who could do that? Who possesses the necessary political skills to manoeuvre one poorly performing leader out of his job in order to prevent a colleague determined to shift the National Party sharply to the right from taking his place?
A feasible scenario, but of less import than the others. Why? It requires a level of machiavellian thought I doubt exists within the Nats. We just never get evidence that much happens there above the level of simple-mindedness. I’ve been watching them since the late sixties. The consistency of thought that prevails in National Party culture has always been summed up by their`morons rule, okay?’ mindset.
But hey, if you see evidence of that scenario firming up, I’d be keen for you to share it. Anything other than their usual incompetence would be a pleasant surprise.
Chris Trotter has also been close to the action for many years – probably much closer than you or I as a political commentator. He has shared it as a scenario and I have then shared his thoughts.
IMO you are naive it you think all Nats are simple minded and consistent in their thoughts – and judge them on that singular perception. Machiavellian thought is well within the realms of possibility for some and has been evident over the years – eg how did Key get parachuted in and by whom?
Key told Roughan that he decided to be PM when he was a child. Or maybe he told his mother that, can’t recall. But it’s in the biography. Don’t need Machiavelli. Occam’s razor.
Re Trotter, yeah, no problem apart from the lack of evidence offered. He has to dream up scenarios to make features from. Infotainment is okay.
Yes, Key always wanted to be PM, but the way that he ended up coming back to NZ and being parachuted into the Helensville electorate, etc involved a lot of maginations behind the scenes within National involving people like Michelle Boag etc …
Those moves were certainly not simple-minded, above board maneuvering. Occam’s Razor is not always right.
Racist talking heads spouting diseased foreigners rhetoric, inciting hate, popularising indifference, identification, isolation, mass detention….you’re almost there, ‘Murica….
[…]
“Though Southwest Key is, on paper, a charity, no one has benefited more than Mr. Sanchez, now 71. Serving as chief executive, he was paid $1.5 million last year — more than twice what his counterpart at the far larger American Red Cross made.”
[…]
“Mr. Sanchez is central to the administration’s plans. Southwest Key can now house up to 5,000 children in its 24 shelters, including a converted Walmart Supercenter that has drawn criticism as a warehouse for youths.“
[…]
”The system is nearing a breaking point, with a record 14,000 minors at about 100 sites — a human crisis, but also a moneymaking opportunity.”
https://twitter.com/ashtonpittman/status/1079102587985645570
What’s the bet that Mr Sanchez was originally Cuban. The money making elite driven out by the people attempting to shift power there, have carried a deep grudge that they were forced away from their feeding stalls.
The same will happen here if we can make changes. Be prepared for hard times.
But… But, profit always brings about Good Things – the economists told us so.
Pretty sad when the most intelligent television commentary
comes from a right wing host on Fox News.
As Jimmy Dore says, “If Tucker Carlson can get it right, then you should get it right, too. You should be embarrassed that Tucker Carlson asks questions that you won’t.”
Dore’s the comedian who admitted that until last week, he knew nothing about Rojava and YPG Kurds.
/
https://youtu.be/_QoUYP7gU1I?t=100
I suspect there’s a lot more to the Kurds than our own hopeful projections
https://theintercept.com/2018/12/28/syria-withdrawal-kurds-pkk/
https://www.thenation.com/article/americas-favorite-syrian-militia-rules-with-an-iron-fist/
Over the years Dore’s
made dozens of videosmonetised Syrian suffering with titles like Truth about Syria etc, but his ignorance about the plight of Rojava and YPG Kurds makes it pretty damn clear that disingenuous prick never really bothered researching the issue.of course he has
Thats what they all do
Entertainment and click bait Serious journalists who do the hard yards and research are the ones to read, even if you don’t always like what they say
They’re a distinct people trying for a degree of self-determination spread among four different nasty authoritarian regimes, with some sort of war going on involving them for most of those people’s lifetimes. That’s quite a shitty situation to be in. So it’s not entirely surprising some of their ways of dealing with that are in turn shitty as well.
That observation isn’t excusing the shittiness, it’s just acknowledgement of shitty realities. And it’s good reason to be sympathetic and helpful towards their self-determination goals.
But yeah, anyone holding Rojava up as some sort of paragon to be aspired to is either deluded or in possession of some pretty shitty values and priorities themselves.
The thing, to me, about Tucker is hes a smart on to it guy, he knows what hes talking about but he spends far too much time hosting nutters on his show
Yeah its fun watching him dismantle the loons but its easy, low hanging fruit so its good to watch him stretch himself a bit
Spouting white supremacist claptrap about immigrants making America poorer and dirtier will have consequences.
He’ll be gone soon enough.
https://twitter.com/JuddLegum/status/1075943331799199744
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/dec/18/tucker-carlson-immigrants-poorer-dirtier-advertisers-pull-out
I rate Tucker as one of the best question askers there is.
Antifa who attacked his home are LWNJ who Trump correctly said are as bad as the White racists.
Jesus, you are actually stupid.
MEMO EDITORS:
Are there no checks on what this fool says?
What was wrong with what I said? Can you explain, no!
I’ll try.
Tucker is good at his job. You may not like him because he works for Fox but that’s irrelevant.
Antifa are an organised group of cowards who cover there faces, and use violence to oppress other people. There arguments get destroyed by people like Tucker, so since there ideas are mostly worthless they resort to violence to get there way. They especially hate free speech, a modus operandi of the radical left. Attacking a persons home because Tucker can so easily mock them was this years most childish act of protest. If they took there masks off, had some signs, and used no violence, and didn’t flee before the police arrived, then they might have had a tiny bit of credibility. They have none.
The KKK and their offshoot the Black Legion are way worse than Antifa will ever be. They used to actually kill black men for even looking at white women. Kill them. 30000 blacks were lynched by the KKK from the 1870’s to the 1960’s, and we now have Trump who wants to encourage that activity again. But you condone that behavior.
You think black civil rights activists are the equivalent of the KKK.
You’re a moron.
Morrissey
I thought that is the opposite of what he said. Your reply does not fit the context.
So apologise.
The Black Legion was an authoritarian, quasi-military organization, which forced discipline upon its heavily-armed members by initiating them at the point of a gun and threatening death if they ever disclosed the secrets of the group to outsiders. To join the organization, a person had to swear that he was a white, native-born, Protestant American citizen and agree to take up arms, when called upon, against the group’s enemies.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/economics/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/black-legion
Carlson was lying but hey, the bow-tied coxcomb lies for a living.
https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/tucker-carlson-protest-twitter/
But in the interview with that hapless ex-Obama underling, Carlson was not lying—apart from when he smoothly claimed that Israel was democratic.
Another Tucker, critique by Dore.
He also comments, contrary to Joe90 at 9.1.1.1 that he has been de-monetised.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DbQB1EQ32CE
We don’t really understand what’s under the hood in this:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1812/S00292/progressive-alternatives-needed-as-failed-tppa-model-enters.htm
But a little non beltway cause and effect analysis could suggest at heart it is a architecture for the systemic creation of black markets on a global scale, exposing ill-equiped societal institutions to organised crime syndicates.
A changing of the guard from that of the political rorting classes to those of mafia type extortion in the body politic.
Political economy is never satiated, it never has enough, & even when the bountiful garden is transformed into a disease festering mud sludge, it will still be demanding more like nothing has changed!!
What’s so difficult to understand? Prof Kelsey demonstrates that she doesn’t understand democracy yet again. Simple. Dunno where you get all that mafioso stuff from!
Will the alt-trade initiative she discusses turn out to be just as ephemeral as Sue Bradford’s leftist think-tank? Probably. But I hope not. We need a credible alternative to the pragmatic neoliberalism the coalition is using.
But Prof Kelsey has good points. She is saying that we aren’t proceeding democratically isn’t she? That we are being forced into a corner with these trade agreements.
The way representative democracy was designed to operate is for electors to elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. When a majority of these form a govt, that govt therefore puts democracy into practice via legislation.
Which is precisely what has happened with the modified TPPA. What part does Kelsey continue to fail to get?? And why try to spin democratic decision-making as being forced into a corner? Is she really that keen to get a public reputation for being delusional? I marched against the thing, but as soon as the Herald published their editorial pointing out that the secret lawyer tribunal that decided in favour of Exxon, when the govt of Ecuador penalised them for failing to clean up their jungle pollution, had been unable to enforce the judgment, I agreed with the Herald that paranoia was unnecessary. Reality has since then continued to prove that the thing has no teeth. Kelsey prefers paranoia to reality, obviously, but I see no reason to agree that bad mental health ought to be contagious…
Well said, Dennis. I had just started drafting a reply to you that had got as far as the quote below when I decided I had wasted too much time here today already and to leave it and get outside.
So “snap” in terms of the last para above and your first para.
I could write volumes on the subject of trade generally, older style trade agreements, the more recent ones etc but won’t go there today. I grew up as the child of a NZ Trade Commissioner and we lived overseas for my teen years in that capacity; I then went on to similar forms of government jobs involving international govt interaction on specific areas I will not go into.
But fresh air time. Happy New Year.
I think you are onto it. The power base in government has been corrupted, it is full of minor princelings who love their money, the women who never were feminists but have jumped with alacrity into moneyed, prominent positions, they see things along efficiency and class lines. There isn’t much integrity there, it is staying in power, and playing the credulous, incurious or value-bereft society like a fisherman with multi-hook lines.
When Jeremy Corbyn becomes P.M. it will be like this.
Thirty years ago, they predicted the tiresome and absurd smears about being a Russian agent, and even the bitching about him choosing to travel second class on the train…
This Brian Eno thinkpiece was on TS a decade on, but in case anyone misses it I am putting it here also. I like his thinking. What is your feeling? (3 minutes)
Something I don’t like – nasty flesh eating bug and the medical establishment in Australia doesn’t see to know enough about it apart from its name.
Cases are also getting more severe, leading to larger wounds that can take longer than a year to heal.
“It’s got a toxin that actually does three things,” explained Associate Professor Daniel O’Brien from Barwon Health.
“One is dissolve flesh.
“A second thing is it produces is an anaesthetic agent so a lot of the time, especially early on, patients don’t feel it.
“The third thing is it actually paralyses the immune system.”
The flesh-eating bacteria, Mycobacterium ulcerans, is related to the infection that causes leprosy.
It stays dormant in an infected person for months before a wound starts to bulge.
“It is an aggressive disease that’s not easy to treat,” Dr O’Brien said.
“It’s not your usual bacteria, so normal antibiotics don’t work….
Over several weeks, it swells into a much larger and more obvious red bulge.
Eventually, the skin breaks open, exposing a raw and pus-filled wound that continues to grow.
This is how a Buruli ulcer forms, the result of flesh-eating bacteria that is infecting hundreds of Victorians.
“It was really scary,” university student Jacinta Mazzarella said. “I was really worried I might lose my limb.”
Several months ago, the 18-year-old developed a Buruli ulcer that was bigger than an Australian 50-cent coin on her left ankle…
“I couldn’t work because I wasn’t allowed to stand on it for a long period of time, so I had a good four, five months off,” she said.
“I’m a dancer – I had to stop dancing.”
Fortunately, medical advancements have meant treatments are much more effective than in the past, and Ms Mazzarella’s skin is starting to heal after extensive medical care….
Over the past four years, the annual number of infections reported in Victoria has almost quadrupled.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/379250/buruli-ulcer-is-infecting-hundreds-of-victorians-and-doctors-don-t-know-why
Here’s one that put a smile on my dial. I’ve posted it before but some may have missed it, so here it is again.
Although Labour failed to reduce GP fees down to $8 as announced in their election campaign, they have nonetheless lower them.
The question now is are they going to also lower prescription fees?
A colleague visited the doctor the other day and was charged $18.50. They were then charged $30 for their prescription. While some may think $48.50 in total isn’t much, for those struggling it can be a major setback. It certainly put a dent in their Christmas. Therefore, it would be good to know if Labour are also working on getting these costs down too?
Now is also a good time to remember those who have passed on. Armed Offenders Bloke, Psycho Milk, MalcolmInTHeMiddle to name a few.
What happened to One Anonymous Bloke? – I liked his commentary.
OAB was invariably on the money but one or two moderators didn’t seem to like his style. He copped a few bans and after the last one he never returned.
Same with Psycho Milt.
Yes me too. One of the kindest commenters too.
Dude’s still got lottsa snark.
https://twitter.com/1anonymousbloke
Good he’s still going. What about weka? Is she back tweeting regular.
Āe.
https://twitter.com/wekatweets
https://twitter.com/search?q=%40wekatweets&src=typd
The price of tobacco is set to increase again tomorrow. Increasing the fiscal hardship for smokers and no doubt spurring more violence and crime.
When will we put an end to this madness?
Time to stop smoking perhaps. The madness ends quickly after that.
You don’t have to be a smoker to be negatively impacted by this madness.
Ever had your house, workplace or car burgled? Ever had a knife pulled on you and money demands put on you on the street?
Think of the shop owners and their staff and how many of them have been harmed or killed. Think of the children that have been and are likely to be caught up in a shop holdup.
“Ever had your house, workplace or car burgled? Ever had a knife pulled on you and money demands put on you on the street?”
Shit didn’t think things had got so bad – freaking pulling a knife because of tobacco – ffs I gave up smoking no point holding me up.
Seems you are out of touch, Marty. Things are bad out there and this madness will only worsen it.
Even more reason to get them off the ciggies – maybe a much bigger increase would help them even more to quit.
The continual increases in price are apparently having diminishing results in encouraging people to give up, marty.
In recent months, there has been quite a lot of publicity and calls for this approach to be dropped or relooked at due to the unintended consequences of increased attacks etc on shop keepers etc.
The approach is also seen as out of step etc with the approach to alcohol sales – and more lately, to the moves towards decriminalisation etc of cannabis.
Big subject so above is pretty rough but one for discussion another day.
Not about to search links etc out today!
Yes a big subject.
I’m sure various links could be put up from all sides.
Diminishing returns are expected with this approach.
I’ve read plenty this year about the attacks and what not – anyone being robbed is horrible.
Put the price up and get an increase in robberies is a bit simplistic for me – I think many more variables are in the mix AND that doesn’t diminish the impact of this factor of price.
So a wide approach across a broad front with support and help available and a continued incremental price increase is a plan I like.
There is no law that says people should be allowed to smoke – things change.
I gave up 2 years ago because of price.
Tax increases are no cure for addiction, Marty.
However, it may lead to more beating their partner due to the related stress it will create, but you won’t see too many reports highlighting that.
On the bright side, less stubbing out on skin cherry. Swings and roundies.
When there’s thousands behind the counter, and pennies in the till, guess what happens.
Isn’t the till behind the counter too? It should be otherwise it’s just asking for trouble.
The most famous till in the world:
Nurse Gladys Emmanuel!
I don’t think he ever got to even kiss her.
The nearest he came was to wait outside the house at night in the hope she forgot to close the bedroom curtains and he might catch a glimpse of her undressing for bed.
Priceless comedy.
My father was a corner grocer from when I was five. I loved using our cash drawer but wanted a proper till à la Arkwright for Christmas. Santa visited our store and I told him i wanted a till. The poor old gent became very hard of hearing until my mother appeared after about three increasingly louder versions of “I want a TILL”!
Surprisingly, he then understood me, I got a little red till for Christmas to play shops with, and an increased understanding about life from then on………
Now I too am a store Santa in the season and get very hard of hearing sometimes.
A great Christmas story thanks mac1. Santa is very important to us all, encouraging us to think of others, to turn towards children and bring some fun and a ritual that is positive into their lives. The commercialisation and stress is because the trend has been away from that, to what’s in it for ‘me’.
When tobacco is reclassified as a class A drug.
Little will have his hands full reducing prison numbers and taxpayers will be gutted at the high cost of imprisoning them.
It’s a health issue, hence time we treat it as one.
Tobacco is already a crime issue as you note.
Marijuana will in time be just as regulated, with tax and with access. The referendum in 2020 will propose declasdafication.
commodification comes next.
The buying and selling, consumption and possession of tobacco products is not a crime. Users are generally addicted, which makes it a health problem.
What I noted was crime related to the soaring cost due to the continued tax hikes.
It wouldn’t surprise me that the Government plans to tax it hard, but unlike tobacco, the marijuana black market is well established, which will make it extremely difficult for the Government to compete if they tax it too hard.
i was agreeing with you.
i’m sure you can follow that.
this government is already preparing a rationale for higher taxes on (future) legalised marijuana even if non-smoked marijuana is less addictive than smoked.
it is doing that by preparing enforcement regimes through the Police showing risk of public harm while driving influenced. Nash will take this to Select Committee first quarter.
this also responds to Nick Smith’s citizen petition on road deaths caused ny drugged drivers.
this comm9n harm rationale sets up the regulatory equivalence between tobacco and marijuana.
Are there tests that can explicitly show a driver is under the influence and is not merely showing they have consumed it sometime in the past week or month? And are the Government planning on introducing these tests as part of this new enforcement regime?
yes and yes.
that is what will be brought to Select Committee.
Yes there are, TC. Saliva based testing gives a snapshot of recent use (hours, rather than days). However, the standard for saliva testing at evidential level has not yet been approved. That should happen in the next few months and it will impact on workplace testing as well.
Sarah Leamon (a Vancouver lawyer specializing in cannabis law) said “the bottom line is that all of these devices don’t have any reflection on the level of impairment at all when it comes to the subject of the test”
https://www.straight.com/cannabis/1116586/saliva-tests-cannabis-wont-provide-accurate-depiction-impaired-driving#
Seems Labour may have to rethink this, bet they won’t.
You are correct that Labour won’t rethink this. It’s nothing to do with them. It’s a statutory body that sets the guidelines, not the Government. There is widespread acceptance in the testing industry that saliva is the way to go as it is more accurate in showing impairment, rather than historical use. However, those wedded to the profits to be made from urine based testing are dead against.
What it comes down to is whether we are testing for safety reasons or because we like to punish people for their lifestyle choices. I can tell you that NZ employers are over the moral argument; they just want good, safe employees who turn up for work. What the workers do in the weekends is no longer the issue.
“What the workers do in the weekends is no longer the issue.”
It is when they are being tested by a device that is unfit for purpose.
It seems these testing devices don’t indicate any reflection on the level of impairment. Therefore, showing someone smoked a joint on Sunday night doesn’t mean they are impaired, thus unfit for work (or to drive) the following morning. Hence, it’s far from fair and just, thus Government shouldn’t support it.
They literally do show the level of impairment. That’s the point of them and why they are superior for evidential purposes. I’d prefer we simply don’t test at all, but if we are going to do it, then best we go for the most accurate devices.
“There is no one blood or oral fluid concentration that can differentiate impaired and not impaired,” says Marilyn Huestis, who spent over 20 years leading cannabinoid-related research projects at the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-01/cp-dar011818.php
I’m guessing Labour will try and get around this by creating limits for THC levels in oral fluid concentration. This is essentially a legal shortcut that will allow police to lay an impaired driving charge based on a driver’s oral fluid concentration level, without actually having to prove impairment.
While police already use limits for alcohol impairment, blood alcohol concentration has been shown to have a close, predictable link to impairment. The same is simply not true of saliva testing and blood THC levels, and this is where things become underhanded and unjust.
So that is top of the list to do. This cannabis thing has gone on for years; far too long. Let’s do all that is needed to get a sensible thoroughgoing system in place without room for doubters and ditherers to put their spoke in.
Evidence-based thinking. That is a term i have heard is regarded as best practice. It might be the right way to go in dealing with cannabis in all its issues, which are so clouded with emotion and its history. It would be better than listening to all those who can think of a thousand reasons not to do something. Result, nothing settled and achieved and we can never move on, and the undealt with matters of importance to our lives linger around and cause so much pain that is totally avoidable.
If tobacco were to be reclassified as a class A drug, wouldn’t we then have to compensate the tobacco companies?
legal precedent where?
Tobacco companies have sought compensation before when their returns have been threaten. Therefore, surely they would seek compensation over this proposal?
they keep losing in court.
The costs (tax) of smoking has far exceeded compensating the Crown for costs.
Cullen declined increasing tax on tobacco as he said the Crown already recovered costs. Less superannuation etc.
Presently smokers are being ripped off.
Smokers are financially compensating healthcare for other industries like sugar.
Smokers are charged for the cost of healthcare in ordinary taxes, then pay more than full health insurance in descriminatory taxes. They pay more than twice, but only die once.
Health nuts that live to 90, need rest homes, healthcare, super etc for much longer, cost us a fortune and don’t pay there fair share of taxes. Hypocricy.
And to top it off, smoking prevalence is higher among those with lower socioeconomic status.
It’s a regressive tax largely hurting the poor. And the damage (stress and fiscal hardship) it bears down upon families and individuals is largely unreported.
If the tax helps more poor people than rich ones give up smoking, its outcome is progressive in health and social terms.
Clearly, for them (the poor that quit) it will be. But that overlooks the impact for those that don’t. And of course, the wider ramifications.
That’s funny logic or not really logic at all.
You want to punish those that could quit because some won’t quit?
Not at all. Hence, the “funny logic” is all yours.
Yep so no logic then as I noted.
When every stupid idiot stops smoking?
Isn’t that the day that will never come? Akin to the day we totally stop other forms of drug use?
Aren’t you supposed to be focusing on the roads while those billboards are up cherry?
My focus on the roads was more related to Labour’s failure to deliver a 4 lane expressway. And yes, National failed to deliver on it as well. Which just reaffirms they both suck.
Our “cheerie” Chairman and Pete George have a similar “footprint”. They both clothe their antipathy for Labour in a cloak of reasonableness.
“failure to deliver a 4 lane expressway”
and a pony.
Like this one!
Followed up by Mrs Doyle who is as persistent as a National Party political female. And at the back is an example of a a male polly past his use-by date.
2018 seems to be ending with the sound of reality sucking the rug out from underneath Trump. “Right-wing columnist Ann Coulter – author of In Trump We Trust – recently predicted he will not be re-elected. “Without a wall, he will only be remembered as a small cartoon figure who briefly inflamed and amused the rabble,” she wrote.”
“The idea of a concrete wall on the US-Mexico border was dropped early on Donald Trump’s presidency, his outgoing chief of staff John Kelly says.” https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/379276/mexico-wall-trump-aide-says-concrete-wall-idea-was-dropped-early-on
“Before leaving, he gave a rare interview to the LA Times, published on Sunday, in which he called the role a “bone-crushing hard job”. “To be honest, it’s not a wall,” Mr Kelly said, when asked about plans for the border. The former Marine Corps general was initially appointed as Mr Trump’s homeland security secretary before becoming chief of staff in July 2017. As soon as he did so, he told the LA Times, he sought advice from those who “actually secure the border”.”
All in all, it’s just another non-brick in the non-wall – Kelly reckons steel slats are the current plan (so the guards can see through). “Trump has tweeted the term “wall” 59 times this month alone.” Gotta keep them rednecks fixated on their dream. Trump has a mandate from voters to build the wall, but cannot give voters what they want until Congress agrees on the funding. And, as Coulter reminded us, voters means rabble.
Stalemate in the haggling process has caused Trump to threaten to close the border. Both Democrats and Republicans tacitly agree that a partial govt shutdown is better than deciding on the amount of expenditure. Neither has been honest enough to explain this to voters/rabble. Agreeing on the wall budget would give voters/rabble the result they elected Trump to produce. Both parties insist the current sham is better than real democracy.
Kid from Remuera gets knighthood: “Sir Timothy Richard Shadbolt KNZM (born 19 February 1947) is a New Zealand politician.” Doesn’t say left-wing. Karl Marx was the name of his concrete mixer (the one that he towed behind the mayoral car in ’83). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Shadbolt
He was “editor of Craccum in 1972. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, he became prominent in the Progressive Youth Movement, a radical left-wing organisation, and was arrested 33 times during political protests”. One News re-ran a selection of shots of young Tim in rabble-rousing mode from the early seventies.
Reminds us that saying bullshit in public was illegal back then. Tell that to younger generations now and I bet they refuse to believe you. Try it.
“In the 1996 general election he stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party.” Ah, but will he campaign for legalisation in 2020?
went to Southland and built community for multiple decades.
its an all-consuming job.
tim has earned it.
Yay, Tim!
Sir.
“primus inter pares – the first among equals.”
http://www.bryangould.com/no-more-one-man-bands/
Everything;
Nation – Kiwi – Fern – Black Cap – Sailing – New Zealand – All Black – Triumph – Loss
Has nothing to do with me
I have no influence or control over the outcomes
I have no right to bask in the glory of the success of individual or minor collectives
Just like every other entity bounded by this coastline
Most are deluded
Born here – by accident – like all.
New Zealander ?
WTF