Vernon Small on what little the National Party and their private state service lapdogs have learned in the past 3 years. He quotes himself from 2014 and 2015:
“The ‘no surprises’ rule … is being stretched, distorted and subverted into something much worse that ought to worry the public and (then-State Services Commissioner Iain) Rennie.
No surprises has morphed into ‘no embarrassment’ and has reached the next stage of evolution – ‘how can we help you avoid embarrassment?’.
The next tentative steps on the journey are already being taken: ‘how we can help you overcome the Opposition?’ ”
A year later, in 2015, after some questionable use of the Official Information Act:
“This latest cluster-failure feeds the suspicion officials are less interested in merely adhering to the principle of ‘no surprises’ … but are distorting it into ‘no embarrassments’ and now into a proactive policy of political assistance by hiding information that could be damaging to the Government.
Given how close Farrar and Williams are to Seymour and how much they knew early, is it too far to suggest Seymour is the leaker? Under Small’s criteria for the leaker Seymour certainly qualifies as ‘no genius’.
Yeah, the smear spinners seem quite desperate in their search for any other source apart from some the likely National people being criminal arseholes playing dirty politics. It might highlight themselves too much eh?
Most implausible if you listen to the interview on RNZ. Unless, of course, Peters is a brilliant actor. If Peters had engineered the situation he would have gone in guns blazing, in high dudgeon, whereas the Peters in the interview was using weak humour to deflect his discomfort. Sorry, Incognito, not a runner. Especially after the reaction to Turei’s gambit.
The disclosure emphasises how old Peters is; that forms are complicated to him or he was setup, you choose which is worse, weak or senile; but I think worst of all it says something about lolly grabs. He took a pension he did not need, now sure he has every right, but it says he wants cash over the political ?casha? of not taking it.
I just think pensioners would want their vote to goto someone who was better.
Who has history for this behaviour? It is just a spalusible, using your low threshold, that having seen the polls, someone in National is ensuring that party will need a new leader soon… https://thestandard.org.nz/all-i-can-do-is-tell-the-truth/
I wish the media would stop repeating like a Buddhist mantra Labour is “weak on the economy” and “vulnerable on taxes” and tonight Jacinda has to compete with “experience and competence”.
These are basically National party talking points. Hosking will of course hammer on about them, in the fairest possible way if you ignore the completely tilted playing field he wants to start the game on.
In a sense, our medias obsession with the talking points of the cosy National, ACT, Banks and big business club and their collusion with the establishment is a perfect illustration of why they failed to detect (until it happened) the mood for change and why the don’t understand that for most Kiwis this election isn’t about tax cuts and “economic competence” (whatever that means) but about hosuing, health and growing inequality. This election isn’t about National party talking points, it is about other things completely.
Personally, if I were Jacinda every time Hosking says the “economy is going gangbusters” I’d ask if it was working for the homeless, people who can’t afford a first home, and those on low wages.
Personally paying down debt before you hand cash back to the family… ..the whole notion that our income reflects our exact value in a rational market is flaky cuckoo musings of fraudster bankers… …govt must target the general malaise growing for 30 years of inaction. National had 9 years… ..Nothing. even their ad has no houses in.
+1 and let her remind Bill Engli$h that he disinvested in Housing NZ, through taking dividends, at a time when unprecedented numbers are homeless and cannot access accommodation.
How long did it take him to reach that surplus, and at what price for Government debt?
“We live in a society which holds fast the belief that being a man makes you more rational, and being white makes you more intelligent, and being old entitles you to a public platform, and being rich proves you’re right about everything. We have a frankly religious attachment to Enlightenment thinking, raising “evidence” on a pedestal which cannot be challenged. It’s a virtue to not have ideology. “We’ll just do what works,” they nod seriously, from seats across the whole political spectrum.
Ardern has been seriously under estimated by, both National and the critics, she is way more than just a “pretty face”, she has provided hope and aspiration to those who wish for a “Brighter Future” for NZ, pardon the pun.
I expect that Ardern will put the likes of Hosking in his place, and we all know where that is.
Total Movements
Overall, a total of 15,382 cyclist movements4 were recorded across the 85 sites monitored in 2015. This figure represents a 19 per cent increase when compared with 2014 (12,877 movements).
Across the 60 sites monitored since the manual cycle monitor began in 2007, in 2015 cyclist movements have increased by 38 per cent.
Of the sites monitored in both 2014 and 2015, the average number of cycle movements in the region across the morning and evening periods has increased (181 per site in 2015, compared with 151 per site in 2014 – an increase of 20 per cent).
Its good to see to see that the rest of the world is getting some coverage on there NATURAL DISASTERS .
And the Muppet’s are leavening my elderly and vulnerable clients alone thanks to
THESTANDARD.
We need to help all the 3 world nations mitigate againts climate change the WEST OWE THIS TO THOSE NATION we no what has gone on for the last 200 years and what is still going on now see what Noam Chomsky has to say on this subject .
Lets talk about tax these businesses so they can claim asset deprecate and all the other expenses small businesses claim 20% of rent power rates or 20% of mortgage
repayments.
And Duncan is pissing in the wind moaning about business having to pay capital gains
tax now capital gains is a profit that no one is working hard for as one sleeps there assets gain capital when one is on holiday there assets gain capital .
So why are the Neo-liberal on news hub bashing this tax we no why because they don’t want
to shear there LOLLIES . They should shear there capital gains profit to help make New Zealand a = and fairer Society.
I do not mind paying more tax so labour can get all these vulnerable people off our streets and into warm healthy houses .
I see these people are gaining every week in my travels .We need more tax to pay to fix all the damage that NATIONAL have done to OUR SOCIETY.
One knows that it all ways cost more to fix something that is broken it is far cheaper to keep something MAINTAINED ESPECIALLY A SOCIETY .
Now come on Us kiwis dont mind paying more tax. Our Scandinavian cousins pay way more tax than we do and they have a much fairer Society
Yo, Emo. How old to your have to be to join the Masons?
Serious thoughts. Milking cows is great, but if I could develop my image, perhaps I could someday be a farm adviser.
…Such opinions are especially prevalent among NZ First supporters.
Thirty-six percent of them ticked Trump, while 29 per cent said the system of government is “completely broken”. And two thirds of NZ First supporters said that the government’s policies towards minorities are “too politically correct”, compared with 39 per cent of the survey sample as a whole.
(My bold)
So next time you hear some minority group member whinging about “political correctness” (which they probably are incapable of defining), ask them if they think minority groups get too much attention. 😈
Must agree, I don’t think it comes from govt policy. But on the other side of the coin, I can think of a few minority groups that get too much attention. There is limit to the benefits of political correctness. I can certainly understand Mohammed Ali explaining some race politics.
Eg. There is a point when the positive politics of feminism tips and becomes the negative politics of neo-feminism. Happens when one starts to generalise a negative aspect of masculinity across men as a group. Like the sun and the moon, male and female will always be. Or religion, there’s a labyrinth.
NZF isn’t my first choose, but they do have plenty of value for the next govt. Hope Labour/Green invite them to join from the start, to make a strong majority. Interesting how differently they can be interpreted, by different folk and different perspectives.
“There is a point when the positive politics of feminism tips and becomes the negative politics of neo-feminism. Happens when one starts to generalise a negative aspect of masculinity across men as a group. ” CoroDale 2017
“Femininity is depicted as weakness, the sapping of strength, yet masculinity is so fragile that apparently even the slightest brush with the feminine destroys it.”
― Gwen Sharp
“what saying “not all men” actually does –
refuses to acknowledge that gender violence happens too often
takes the focus off the men who are violent and/or misogynistic
refuses to acknowledge that even “good guys” can enable the problem
makes the conversation about men and semantics instead of the epidemic of levels of violence against women
what saying “not all men” does not do –
reveal a fascinating new insight we did not already know”
+1 Carolyn
Particularly this:
“refuses to acknowledge that even “good guys” can enable the problem”
I wish all those men who spend time berating women calling out sexism claiming “not all men” instead called out the men who engage in sexist and misogynist behaviour. In addition, they should maybe start listening to women for a change.
+1000 tracey We live in 2017 Women are our = not taken for granted or to be oppress by some dick head males . Most Women are more cautious they don’t do stupid shit like some men do they are more compassionate cares .
In a good family you need a good mother and father that treat each other as equals in my view to raze the children successfully.
And this is why I say that all our successful sports women should be payed and promoted by the media as role models for our girls to aspire to and have there confident s razed so we get more women in the top roles in our society so laws are made to benefit females as well as males laws made to benefit all people
not just the 1 %
I won’t respond to that dick head
+3 Some men take it personally and think that critiquing men as a class with privilege means all men are something. It misses the point and as pointed out, misdirects from the issues being raised.
The debate last night was rather robust. Not sure what Seymour was even doing there. Winston is pissed off as about the leak, and made that very clear. Joyce did the usual spin, Grant called him out on his crap, loved that.
James was a stand out again, Grant was fantastic, especially how he handled questions from the blue electorate. Good work.
Gower was pretty good as moderator, but he did let Seymour take plenty of wise cracks at winston about his age, which in my opinion was not warranted.
Tonight 7pm on tvnz the Red Princess will go up against Boring Bill, my eldest is thrilled about the air time, she will be able to watch it. She doesn’t know about Hosking and his bias and attitude, I’ll keep quiet about it as I’m interested in her reaction and assessment.
Cinny
Thanks for linking these reminders about debate times, it is easy for people who don’t watch television to forget about them. I found the camera movement hard to take and only saw part of it, so can’t give a real overview – Bradbury has his assessment over on TDB:
Maybe it was just the portions I watched, but I thought Gower had little control over the barracking (particulary from Joyce) while others were talking which is more a feature of parliamentary than televised debates. Others seem to think he did a good job though, and I assume they watchedthe whole thing.
One thing I’d observe is that the speeches can’t really be compared directly to one another, as it wasn’t really about winning the room over. Each participant was effectively addressing a different portion of the electorate and their success has to be assessed at how well they did in the task they set out to do. I thought Peters did better than Bradbury suggests, and Seymour worse. Joyce he seems spot on about; “smooth as silk and as confident as a porn star at a pissing contest… if you had only been listening for him you would believe all is well in NZ and that we don’t realise how lucky we are”. I’d been thinking of how he reminded me of one of the late great John Clarke’s parodies myself while watching it.
Hosking already showing his ghastly sexist approach by asking Jacinta what she’ll be wearing tonight.
Jacinda asked whether he’ll ask English the same question.
Hosking is a Neanderthal unfit to moderate a 21st century political debate.
Yep Cinny, ably assisted by TVNZ’s celebrity willy sucking management , Newsdorks ZB and those wankers at the Herald who are so thick they thought Jacinda was joking when she said she wanted English treated in the same demeaning manner as she was.
the sicko has probably been having a party in his pants thinking about it. it’s like, if she had answered by describing her choice of garment would it go on to, yeah you would look good in that.. dirty old boys network.
would be interesting to find out how frequent that kind of question has been in the past.
You got that right Cinny Mike is so thick he has not worked out that everything he does can be read like the chauvinistic dick head he is.
He is not the sort of male role model that TV NZ should be displaying to our boys.
Not worried about presenting herself in the best possible light, make up, photo shoots etc etc
Theres nothing wrong with that but it does open the doors to questions about fashion although the questioning did seem light hearted
Ardern said she’d started considering colour schemes yesterday, before questioning the broadcaster whether he’d be asking English the same question.
“Are you asking Bill that question too?
“I want it framed in exactly the same way,” she joked.
Hosking assured Ardern he would be, saying there would be “balance up the wazoo”.
After the interview English was asked by reporters what he would wear for tonight’s debate and said: “I’m going to wear a suit and tie. It might be a new tie, yes it will be a new tie, not a new suit.”
Well he was the one who compared the Green Party shambles to the Jacobins wasn’t he? http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2017/08/have-greens-entered-their-jacobin-phase.html
That seems to have turned out to be a rather accurate prediction so perhaps so will the one you are putting forward.
Somehow I doubt it though. Chris is getting a bit hyperbolic as he sees his dream of the red dawn fading away into a blue sky.
Pat: Last night in Queenstown Winston accused Joyce of promoting the Super story to those National Party people on the Saturday night and/or at the NP launch.
Hence on Daily Blog:
“@KD Try Joyce , he was shopping the story all over the place on Saturday , plenty of witnesses .”
Interesting read, I saw that indicator too Ian, but then I scrolled back up and re read Trotters post and this bit here stands out for me.
“The most damning of these involved the deliberate leaking of confidential information about a senior politician’s financial affairs as part of a broader “strategy of distraction”. Equally shocking was the discovery that an alarming number of public servants had aided and abetted the Government’s strategy.”
Just wanted to stress that the Barclay scandal is dirty as. But maybe that isn’t it either..
Well styles makes fights as they say so can Jacinda prove shes more that just a collection of one liners, can Bill get whats in his brain out of his mouth in a way that doesn’t bore people to death
Not too sure about winning/losing debates millsy. Demonstrate confidence and willingness to find out along with clarity and conciseness.
Just hope Jacinda does well. No doubt there will be some tricky economic/monetary questions well suited to Bill but of course he tends to go on and on and on and on (like Joyce) so may loose his audience.
Who would write this?
“The expectations of a knock-out performance by her will be low, given she has been leader for just over four weeks. She will be considered a success if she comes away looking half-way competent and able to foot it with English. She has an advantage over him in that the camera loves her and she is instantly likeable.”
by Audrey National Young. Almost fair? http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11914406
Mean while, it would appear that the USA state roles on. Who cares how many priests get murdered, who cares how many women, how many innocence, as long as the all mighty dollar is in play.
The Canary has a interesting and horrifying article about Australia’s concentration camps, the damage they are doing and how some Australians are making a stand.
400 men, women and children were flown to Australia from the offshore refugee camps on Nauru and Manus Island (Papua New Guinea). Some due to serious illness; others who were victims of rape or serious assault. All needed medical attention.
Daniel Webb of the Human Rights Law Centre explained:
We’re talking about women who were sexually assaulted on Nauru. Men who were violently attacked on Manus. Children who were so traumatised by offshore detention that they needed urgent psychiatric care in Australia.
But now, the Australian government has announced that all 400 are to be returned to Nauru or Manus. And the first stage of this process will see 100 men and women issued with a final departure bridging visa. In the meantime, they are to be deprived of all resources – housing, financial, and other support.
Peter Dutton should have New Zealand Citizenship Instantaneously and irrevocably conferred upon him.
He is an evil man – but this would remove him from office and hopefully a more humane human being would take over as Minister for Aussie Immigration.
This sort of stuff has been happening in Australia for more than a century. So much so that it seems to be a part of their country’s culture. So, changing from one Australian to another doesn’t really seem to be an answer.
Making him a NZ citizen is waayyyyyyyy to good for him, interestingly, he will replace Turnbull if the polls continue negatively for him, so far 18 consecutive negative polls for Turnbull, and sliding, the man is NO leader.
Boosting private charity to provide core services. This poor law mentality is disgusting. Even the language is foul. Providing “beds”. They think “beds” is the answer. They are greedy evil fucks who deserve the fucking worst.
I wondered how they can proudly promote rapid and last minute expansion of emergency social services five minutes before and election as an example of a government ‘delivering for New Zealanders’.
‘Homelessness will not be solved by building private homes for sale or for rent. Good quality, supported accommodation needs to be delivered as part of new developments. It needs to be a fundamental part of the planning process and not an afterthought when all the main planning decisions have been made.
When considering development councils must consider the role of temporary and supported housing. We need decent temporary accommodation for single homeless people.’
If Twyford said they were both good ideas then heaven fucking help us. The belief that private charity is a legitimate means for providing for the poor is a most despicable concept imaginable. I remember National in the 1990s together with the BRT brought a right-wing English academic out to NZ to talk about reintroducing poor law based welfare in this country. If Labour doesn’t understand how fundamentally wrong this is then not only is it completely ignorant of its own history as a party but it’s clear that they haven’t got a fucking clue. This is so fucking angering.
From the article you yourself gave us, Chris
“”It’s been our policy for ages to support Housing First as a very successful strategy to deal with chronic homelessness and rough sleepers. But it’s not a good solution to the explosion of people who cannot find affordable rental housing.”
He supported the Auckland City Mission funding too but noted that it wouldn’t deliver any new beds until at least 2020, when they were needed immediately.
Twyford.
Who should provide this support is less important than that it should be provided-and now. State, local authorities, City Mission, whoever.
Chris, would you curse Mother Theresa for being a private charity.
The real evil is that not enough is being provided, surely?
Charity has been around for centuries. There’s always going to be people who need it. Jesus giving the cup of water etc. It’s when it’s regarded as the main way for certain groups to have basic needs met. That’s not participation. Why do you think England and New Zealand replaced the Poor Laws with rights-based access to social security? And no, I’m not necessarily cursing the charities, but it’s certainly naive to think that setting up places with access to “beds” is going to be a temporary thing while things are being done to “fix the housing crisis”. This government is quite happy to see charity-based responses to social problems become the norm and firmly entrenched into mainstream institutions.
Chris + 100 we no that most of the Private Charity funds are used up by there management I.E CEO wages $100.000 ect the government is the organisation
that has to provide for the needs for the vulnerable and not some Charity that is only going to spend half the funds on the vulnerable and the rest on paper pushers .
It is well documented that world aid ect that only 40% of the funds got to the people that need it WTF Gemmon
They probably think Workhouses are enlightenment. Plenty of work the homeless could do, generating electricity on a tredmill, picking tow from old ropes, collecting wool from barbed wire fences, the possibilities for turning a profit from hopelessness are endless.
“Housing First is a wrap-around service that focuses on individual need rather than a one-size-fits all approach. Independent research shows 80 per cent of people who receive the service retain their housing.”
Is nobody but me bothered that this means 1 in 5 DON’T retain their housing? Seems shocking.
A proportion of those living on the streets are very badly damaged and dysfunctional.
If the number of those living on the street can be reduced by 80% I’ll happily take that as a bloody good start.
“We are a socially liberal and economically rational political party focused on securing a better deal for future generations. Give your list vote to UnitedFuture in 2017 and help us become an even more influential support partner to the next government.”
I’m assuming he is still being paid up until such point as he is no longer an MP.
What a self serving shit head. Worm chaser. In his own words…
“strutting earnest ways and the egregious ever-so-keen-to-please and not offend tones….. the absolute worst of politicians focused on nothing more than their own promotion”
He is paid until election day. he took a few weeks off (although he and some of his rabid supporters claimed he was around – even though the media couldn’t find him) . I think they appointed a clone in his place. There is no shortage of young white men to enter parliament for the nats.
Yet these days business has grown complex, super-fast, and hyper-connected. And in this world, top performers may actually be doing more to hurt innovation than helping it.
Unfortunately, many leaders, still employing an industrial-era mindset, aren’t able to recognize this. They can’t see that innovation no longer comes from innovative individuals. As the best companies are now showing us, it comes from innovative cultures.
Thus, innovation–once the exclusive domain of elite problem-solvers–is now a collaborative process involving many.
For many organizations the impact of this shift has been monumental. For instance, David Weinberger has pointed out that “as knowledge becomes networked, the smartest person in the room…is the room itself.”
That can be applied to a nation as well. If we want an innovative nation then we need to build a culture of innovation. And because the the information is diverse and spread across many fields we need to build that up as a culture of cooperation and sharing.
In other words, we need to be doing the exact opposite of what our governments have been doing as they built up privatisation and increased restrictions on ‘intellectual property’.
I’m still wondering how competition (Unless it racing of some form or Medical Research) helps research when most research conducted is a long term not some quick fix solution as its all trail and error. As we say at work “you’re got crawl before you can walk and walk before you can run.”
When one looks on DSIR it was surly amazing organisation that only talk and work with the private sector, but also other Government Depts as well such as the former MoW, the former Forestry Dept, MoD including the other Services, All the universities and the Technical collages etc.
Then have you the Female and Blokes working in their shed out of the house or in the case of my great grandfather at the family run co-op coal mine and the list of notable’s is very long and famous.
Another right wing grumpy old man (Neville Gibson?) blathering on ignorantly about the issues. Climate change and homelessness only an issue because the media mention them, according to him and governments cannot do little about them.
Honestly.
Why are fools like him on the show?
Things that come to bite you on the bum…..
Two weeks ago Trump Scraped the Obama-Era Rule To Protect Infrastructure From Climate-Change Flooding. This required federal, state, and local agencies to take steps to protect infrastructure from flooding caused by climate change. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-executive-order-flooding_us_599323d4e4b04b193360926b
Meanwhile…
House Republicans want to cut almost $1 billion from FEMA’s disaster relief fund, which only has $2.3 billion remaining in its budget. Trump, meanwhile, is promising billions to help Texas rebuild from Harvey-caused flooding. The $876 million cut pays for roughly half the cost of Trump’s down payment on the border wall
And…
Trump tweeted that he intentionally understaffed FEMA in order to shrink the federal government. His tweet came in response to a critical Fox and Friends segment where Laura Ingraham said the damage and flooding in Texas from Hurricane Harvey is proof that the Trump administration needs to be fully staffed. Of the 591 key positions that require Senate confirmation, just 117 have been filled. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/29/trump-shrink-government-laura-ingraham-242128
But no worries…
It’s all due to a Hoax perpetuated by China.
Why are the crucial questions about Hurricane Harvey not being asked?
George Monbiot
“It is not only Donald Trump’s government that censors the discussion of climate change; it is the entire body of polite opinion. This is why, though the links are clear and obvious, most reports on Hurricane Harvey have made no mention of the human contribution to it.
In 2016 the US elected a president who believes that human-driven global warming is a hoax. It was the hottest year on record, in which the US was hammered by a series of climate-related disasters. Yet the total combined coverage for the entire year on the evening and Sunday news programmes on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News amounted to 50 minutes. Our greatest predicament, the issue that will define our lives, has been blotted from the public’s mind…..’
The whole article is worth a thread.
I have included excerpts.
‘Bill English fiddles whilst the world burns: our Prime Climate Change Denier
There will be one moment of mismanagement by Bill English this election that will be studied and debated in the future. That moment is neither Todd Barclay’s alleged workplace bullying nor the leaks of Winston Peters’ superannuation over-payment. That moment was captured in his Radio New Zealand interview on 28 August 2017; when he was challenged on his past dismissal of climate change as policy for the ‘elite,’ he doubled down, asserting that:
“well, as a day to day concern, I don’t think people are getting out of bed in the morning saying, look, the most important thing that happens today is that the climate changes…”
This moment will be studied as a recorded example of Bill English misunderstanding climate change; he sees it as a political issue, rather than a survival issue.
I wonder what Bill does think about when he wakes up? What radio station plays to start his day? I didn’t pick him for the Rock. I’d be surprised if its not Radio New Zealand, the AM Show and/or Breakfast before he goes for his walk run. If it’s any of those three, I wonder how he cannot think of climate change.
On the very day that Bill English was interviewed, even our mainstream media was covering the unfolding humanitarian and environmental disaster in Texas and America’s fourth largest city, Houston from Hurricane Harvey. As of today, that state has had 15 trillion litres of rain; you can fill all of the NFL and college stadiums in Texas to the brim one hundred times over. The numbers of dead are climbing, and the displaced from Houston are now displacing the displaced from Corpus Christi who are looking for refuge centres further afield………
On the very day that Bill English was interviewed, one third of the entire country of Bangladesh is underwater. At least 1,200 have died from flooding in Nepal, Bangladesh and India. Seventeen million people have been affected by the flooding in India, with thousands of villages cut off from food and clean water. Ninety thousand homes have been washed away in Nepal……
..Bill English may not wake up thinking about climate change. But that is not a virtue nor indicative of a sober, realistic mindset. It is the statement of a deluded, self-serving man who is no leader for New Zealand. All he has confirmed is that he and his colleagues are a danger to the future of our country. Never trust the ones who say “peace, peace,” when all about us is evidence of war and danger. Change is upon us.’
ED I was going to say he would be thinking about how much he was going to get from the next clip but that is a insult to our farmers . So I say hes thinking I AM PRIME MINISTER and any other topic just goes way over his head.LOL
And after tonight’s polls he probably still thinks National can hold on to that slippery pole of power
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Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
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Vernon Small on what little the National Party and their private state service lapdogs have learned in the past 3 years. He quotes himself from 2014 and 2015:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/96306749/peters-pension-saga-delivers-embarrassed-government-no-surprises-there
Given how close Farrar and Williams are to Seymour and how much they knew early, is it too far to suggest Seymour is the leaker? Under Small’s criteria for the leaker Seymour certainly qualifies as ‘no genius’.
I think it is possible and even plausible that Peters is the ‘leaker’, as I have explained before.
It has given him a huge platform (and moral high ground) to run the election campaign of his life.
We’ll see who is coming out smelling of roses but so far Peters is doing extremely well out of it …
That does not sound credible to me Incognito. Sounds like a deflection. Wonder why you would?
Only a few days ago farrar and Hooton were gossiping about a green party sympathising data operator… now it is Peters himself!
Yeah, the smear spinners seem quite desperate in their search for any other source apart from some the likely National people being criminal arseholes playing dirty politics. It might highlight themselves too much eh?
Most implausible if you listen to the interview on RNZ. Unless, of course, Peters is a brilliant actor. If Peters had engineered the situation he would have gone in guns blazing, in high dudgeon, whereas the Peters in the interview was using weak humour to deflect his discomfort. Sorry, Incognito, not a runner. Especially after the reaction to Turei’s gambit.
The disclosure emphasises how old Peters is; that forms are complicated to him or he was setup, you choose which is worse, weak or senile; but I think worst of all it says something about lolly grabs. He took a pension he did not need, now sure he has every right, but it says he wants cash over the political ?casha? of not taking it.
I just think pensioners would want their vote to goto someone who was better.
Who has history for this behaviour? It is just a spalusible, using your low threshold, that having seen the polls, someone in National is ensuring that party will need a new leader soon…
https://thestandard.org.nz/all-i-can-do-is-tell-the-truth/
I wish the media would stop repeating like a Buddhist mantra Labour is “weak on the economy” and “vulnerable on taxes” and tonight Jacinda has to compete with “experience and competence”.
These are basically National party talking points. Hosking will of course hammer on about them, in the fairest possible way if you ignore the completely tilted playing field he wants to start the game on.
In a sense, our medias obsession with the talking points of the cosy National, ACT, Banks and big business club and their collusion with the establishment is a perfect illustration of why they failed to detect (until it happened) the mood for change and why the don’t understand that for most Kiwis this election isn’t about tax cuts and “economic competence” (whatever that means) but about hosuing, health and growing inequality. This election isn’t about National party talking points, it is about other things completely.
Personally, if I were Jacinda every time Hosking says the “economy is going gangbusters” I’d ask if it was working for the homeless, people who can’t afford a first home, and those on low wages.
Just quote the debt nationals been racking up to defeat the competent BS and the slashing in health etc they’ve done alongside that.
Personally paying down debt before you hand cash back to the family… ..the whole notion that our income reflects our exact value in a rational market is flaky cuckoo musings of fraudster bankers… …govt must target the general malaise growing for 30 years of inaction. National had 9 years… ..Nothing. even their ad has no houses in.
+1 and let her remind Bill Engli$h that he disinvested in Housing NZ, through taking dividends, at a time when unprecedented numbers are homeless and cannot access accommodation.
How long did it take him to reach that surplus, and at what price for Government debt?
“We live in a society which holds fast the belief that being a man makes you more rational, and being white makes you more intelligent, and being old entitles you to a public platform, and being rich proves you’re right about everything. We have a frankly religious attachment to Enlightenment thinking, raising “evidence” on a pedestal which cannot be challenged. It’s a virtue to not have ideology. “We’ll just do what works,” they nod seriously, from seats across the whole political spectrum.
Yet that is not how the world is.”
https://bootstheory.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/the-evidence-gareth-morgan-doesnt-want-to-see/
Ardern has been seriously under estimated by, both National and the critics, she is way more than just a “pretty face”, she has provided hope and aspiration to those who wish for a “Brighter Future” for NZ, pardon the pun.
I expect that Ardern will put the likes of Hosking in his place, and we all know where that is.
Build it and they will come. Guess what, people actually like trains, especially electric ones!
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/08/aucklanders-taking-20-million-train-trips-a-year.html
They like bicycles as well:
Its good to see to see that the rest of the world is getting some coverage on there NATURAL DISASTERS .
And the Muppet’s are leavening my elderly and vulnerable clients alone thanks to
THESTANDARD.
We need to help all the 3 world nations mitigate againts climate change the WEST OWE THIS TO THOSE NATION we no what has gone on for the last 200 years and what is still going on now see what Noam Chomsky has to say on this subject .
Lets talk about tax these businesses so they can claim asset deprecate and all the other expenses small businesses claim 20% of rent power rates or 20% of mortgage
repayments.
And Duncan is pissing in the wind moaning about business having to pay capital gains
tax now capital gains is a profit that no one is working hard for as one sleeps there assets gain capital when one is on holiday there assets gain capital .
So why are the Neo-liberal on news hub bashing this tax we no why because they don’t want
to shear there LOLLIES . They should shear there capital gains profit to help make New Zealand a = and fairer Society.
I do not mind paying more tax so labour can get all these vulnerable people off our streets and into warm healthy houses .
I see these people are gaining every week in my travels .We need more tax to pay to fix all the damage that NATIONAL have done to OUR SOCIETY.
One knows that it all ways cost more to fix something that is broken it is far cheaper to keep something MAINTAINED ESPECIALLY A SOCIETY .
Now come on Us kiwis dont mind paying more tax. Our Scandinavian cousins pay way more tax than we do and they have a much fairer Society
Man Duncan is kissing his own ASS he must be questing his IMAGE he will be able to change that when National slip out of power
Yo, Emo. How old to your have to be to join the Masons?
Serious thoughts. Milking cows is great, but if I could develop my image, perhaps I could someday be a farm adviser.
Some encouraging snippets in one of Stuff’s surveys…
(My bold)
So next time you hear some minority group member whinging about “political correctness” (which they probably are incapable of defining), ask them if they think minority groups get too much attention. 😈
Must agree, I don’t think it comes from govt policy. But on the other side of the coin, I can think of a few minority groups that get too much attention. There is limit to the benefits of political correctness. I can certainly understand Mohammed Ali explaining some race politics.
Eg. There is a point when the positive politics of feminism tips and becomes the negative politics of neo-feminism. Happens when one starts to generalise a negative aspect of masculinity across men as a group. Like the sun and the moon, male and female will always be. Or religion, there’s a labyrinth.
NZF isn’t my first choose, but they do have plenty of value for the next govt. Hope Labour/Green invite them to join from the start, to make a strong majority. Interesting how differently they can be interpreted, by different folk and different perspectives.
Mohammed Ali/Μοχάμεντ Ali, “I love my racial identity, I want my children to look like me.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcWzwwnHAMI
“There is a point when the positive politics of feminism tips and becomes the negative politics of neo-feminism. Happens when one starts to generalise a negative aspect of masculinity across men as a group. ” CoroDale 2017
“Femininity is depicted as weakness, the sapping of strength, yet masculinity is so fragile that apparently even the slightest brush with the feminine destroys it.”
― Gwen Sharp
“what saying “not all men” actually does –
refuses to acknowledge that gender violence happens too often
takes the focus off the men who are violent and/or misogynistic
refuses to acknowledge that even “good guys” can enable the problem
makes the conversation about men and semantics instead of the epidemic of levels of violence against women
what saying “not all men” does not do –
reveal a fascinating new insight we did not already know”
laci green
+1 Carolyn
Particularly this:
“refuses to acknowledge that even “good guys” can enable the problem”
I wish all those men who spend time berating women calling out sexism claiming “not all men” instead called out the men who engage in sexist and misogynist behaviour. In addition, they should maybe start listening to women for a change.
+1000 tracey We live in 2017 Women are our = not taken for granted or to be oppress by some dick head males . Most Women are more cautious they don’t do stupid shit like some men do they are more compassionate cares .
In a good family you need a good mother and father that treat each other as equals in my view to raze the children successfully.
And this is why I say that all our successful sports women should be payed and promoted by the media as role models for our girls to aspire to and have there confident s razed so we get more women in the top roles in our society so laws are made to benefit females as well as males laws made to benefit all people
not just the 1 %
I won’t respond to that dick head
+3 Some men take it personally and think that critiquing men as a class with privilege means all men are something. It misses the point and as pointed out, misdirects from the issues being raised.
The debate last night was rather robust. Not sure what Seymour was even doing there. Winston is pissed off as about the leak, and made that very clear. Joyce did the usual spin, Grant called him out on his crap, loved that.
James was a stand out again, Grant was fantastic, especially how he handled questions from the blue electorate. Good work.
Gower was pretty good as moderator, but he did let Seymour take plenty of wise cracks at winston about his age, which in my opinion was not warranted.
Tonight 7pm on tvnz the Red Princess will go up against Boring Bill, my eldest is thrilled about the air time, she will be able to watch it. She doesn’t know about Hosking and his bias and attitude, I’ll keep quiet about it as I’m interested in her reaction and assessment.
And another poll will be released later today.
If you missed last nights debate here is a link to watch it
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/08/decision-17-livestream-the-asb-great-finance-debate.html
It’s all on like donkey kong. This is the most exciting election I’ve ever seen.
0.4% of the electorate vote and invited.
Another spokesperson for the 0.4% party gets a platform.
Amazing what happens when you are prepared to shill for the uber elite.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11914232
Red Princess…I like it!
Winston won’t deliver, he’s got one term to build a rail line to Northport. Ain’t happening.
Cinny
Thanks for linking these reminders about debate times, it is easy for people who don’t watch television to forget about them. I found the camera movement hard to take and only saw part of it, so can’t give a real overview – Bradbury has his assessment over on TDB:
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/08/31/the-finance-leaders-political-debate-james-shaw-clear-winner/
Maybe it was just the portions I watched, but I thought Gower had little control over the barracking (particulary from Joyce) while others were talking which is more a feature of parliamentary than televised debates. Others seem to think he did a good job though, and I assume they watchedthe whole thing.
One thing I’d observe is that the speeches can’t really be compared directly to one another, as it wasn’t really about winning the room over. Each participant was effectively addressing a different portion of the electorate and their success has to be assessed at how well they did in the task they set out to do. I thought Peters did better than Bradbury suggests, and Seymour worse. Joyce he seems spot on about; “smooth as silk and as confident as a porn star at a pissing contest… if you had only been listening for him you would believe all is well in NZ and that we don’t realise how lucky we are”. I’d been thinking of how he reminded me of one of the late great John Clarke’s parodies myself while watching it.
Where was the Maori Party?
Have to say it again, the more I see Shaw the more impressed I am. I reckon he could eat the lot of them for lunch.
Yes Shaw got a good IQ weka
Hosking already showing his ghastly sexist approach by asking Jacinta what she’ll be wearing tonight.
Jacinda asked whether he’ll ask English the same question.
Hosking is a Neanderthal unfit to moderate a 21st century political debate.
Fire the TVNZ board.
Boycott their advertisers.
Ewwwwwwwwww what a creepy pervert
Yep Cinny, ably assisted by TVNZ’s celebrity willy sucking management , Newsdorks ZB and those wankers at the Herald who are so thick they thought Jacinda was joking when she said she wanted English treated in the same demeaning manner as she was.
Yes his behaviour is endorsed and encouraged by those boards.
the sicko has probably been having a party in his pants thinking about it. it’s like, if she had answered by describing her choice of garment would it go on to, yeah you would look good in that.. dirty old boys network.
would be interesting to find out how frequent that kind of question has been in the past.
You got that right Cinny Mike is so thick he has not worked out that everything he does can be read like the chauvinistic dick head he is.
He is not the sort of male role model that TV NZ should be displaying to our boys.
Why not, shes shown in the past shes not worried about that kind of thing
https://static2.stuff.co.nz/1267862442/078/3414078.jpg
http://d3lp4xedbqa8a5.cloudfront.net/s3/digital-cougar-assets/nzww/2015/07/24/post-97942/P_Jacinda4.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7DqbpZ3ISKU/VahFi1wcVCI/AAAAAAAAKYo/Y-vvQMUOis0/s1600/Jacinda1509187_867606473275719_3213297850476094987_n.jpg
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/jacindaarden_152c5456_mx.300jpg_187urki-187urqn.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7DqbpZ3ISKU/VahFi1wcVCI/AAAAAAAAKYo/Y-vvQMUOis0/s1600/Jacinda1509187_867606473275719_3213297850476094987_n.jpg
I agree some questions shouldn’t be asked of politicians unless the politician brings it up themselves
Also ignore the double up of pics
Not worried about what kind of thing Dirk? Wearing clothes?
Not worried about presenting herself in the best possible light, make up, photo shoots etc etc
Theres nothing wrong with that but it does open the doors to questions about fashion although the questioning did seem light hearted
Ardern said she’d started considering colour schemes yesterday, before questioning the broadcaster whether he’d be asking English the same question.
“Are you asking Bill that question too?
“I want it framed in exactly the same way,” she joked.
Hosking assured Ardern he would be, saying there would be “balance up the wazoo”.
After the interview English was asked by reporters what he would wear for tonight’s debate and said: “I’m going to wear a suit and tie. It might be a new tie, yes it will be a new tie, not a new suit.”
The tie that looks like a pizza slice?
Or perhaps he’ll wear an albatross around his neck – his “Toddy” tie.
[lprent: How about logging in and reducing the moderators workload. We have to release your comments from automoderation. ]
I’d suggest no tie and his shirt open to the waist, get some sex appeal going
Why not – he certainly has nothing else to offer.
My apologies! Done. And thank you for going to the trouble.
You don’t want to see Blinglish’s chest. One of my brothers was at St Pats with him and says he had a very hollow chest.
Not just his chest….
What’s your bro got against hollow chests? He hasn’t bought into some outmoded stereotype of masculinity has he?
Going for the ladies vote:
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-10-at-7.26.59-PM-600×565.png
“presenting herself in the best possible light, make up, photo shoots ”
…opens herself up?
And if she wore nothing?
Would probably get Waitakere Man back on board I’d say
Do you ever read your posts before you hit submit?
Depends on how busy I am at work 🙂
She’s a stylist and fashion designers dream to dress up.
Normal transmission resumed!
Hosking is so vain he’s probably worried Ardern might outshine him.
Hosking is unfit to be on national television.
Considering that he is we therefore have to assume that those who are running it are unfit to do so.
+1
I get the impression the public broadcaster will see some significant changes after the election, maybe return it to a public broadcaster.
I see their profit just plummetted by 85%
Not even Hosking can save them from being run down by the government.
Cover up.
Second Climate Change Report Withheld By Government
Paula Bennett failing to do her job again.
Not delivering for New Zealanders.
https://teggtalk.wordpress.com/2017/08/30/second-climate-change-report-withheld-by-government/amp/
Not releasing a report until post election, reeks of a coverup. Our species depends on the climate
Thanks for the link
Ardern will be on this pronto. Afterall it is the Nuclear issue of our times.
Not to worry ED Bennett will be warming the opposition seats very soon
When they decide to give Wayne Eagleson a knighthood, will the information be leaked before the embargoed date?
He certainly crops up a lot in the incidents which are driving the increase in government and public sector corruption in NZ.
Yup
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/08/30/tales-from-a-possible-future-the-mother-of-all-scandals-breaks/
Fiction?….or prophetic?
Well he was the one who compared the Green Party shambles to the Jacobins wasn’t he?
http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2017/08/have-greens-entered-their-jacobin-phase.html
That seems to have turned out to be a rather accurate prediction so perhaps so will the one you are putting forward.
Somehow I doubt it though. Chris is getting a bit hyperbolic as he sees his dream of the red dawn fading away into a blue sky.
Pat: Last night in Queenstown Winston accused Joyce of promoting the Super story to those National Party people on the Saturday night and/or at the NP launch.
Hence on Daily Blog:
“@KD Try Joyce , he was shopping the story all over the place on Saturday , plenty of witnesses .”
promoting which angle of the super story?…the Trotter version or the Hooten (original) version?…or something else?
Interesting read, I saw that indicator too Ian, but then I scrolled back up and re read Trotters post and this bit here stands out for me.
“The most damning of these involved the deliberate leaking of confidential information about a senior politician’s financial affairs as part of a broader “strategy of distraction”. Equally shocking was the discovery that an alarming number of public servants had aided and abetted the Government’s strategy.”
Just wanted to stress that the Barclay scandal is dirty as. But maybe that isn’t it either..
Certainly prophetic, but accurately predictive? weshallsee.
Jacinda needs to win these debates. No ifs, buts or maybes. Starting with the first tonight,
If Jacinda wins the debate (as agreed by most), this debate, Labour will take the election
All the pressure is on the 2-time anti-Midas, taking an enormous dump on Key’s entire 9 years of electoral capital, and setting it on fire.
How to make a small political party: give a big political party to Bill English and wait a week.
Well styles makes fights as they say so can Jacinda prove shes more that just a collection of one liners, can Bill get whats in his brain out of his mouth in a way that doesn’t bore people to death
Lets get it on!
John Key dumped on his own political capital. Eight years of arguably unprecedented popularity… and did sweet fuck all with it.
But yeah… all the pressure is on English.
Not too sure about winning/losing debates millsy. Demonstrate confidence and willingness to find out along with clarity and conciseness.
Just hope Jacinda does well. No doubt there will be some tricky economic/monetary questions well suited to Bill but of course he tends to go on and on and on and on (like Joyce) so may loose his audience.
Who would write this?
“The expectations of a knock-out performance by her will be low, given she has been leader for just over four weeks. She will be considered a success if she comes away looking half-way competent and able to foot it with English. She has an advantage over him in that the camera loves her and she is instantly likeable.”
by Audrey National Young. Almost fair?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11914406
Jacinda will win the debates 🙂 Unless James is there, he is kicking arse on the debating front have been super impressed with him.
Mean while, it would appear that the USA state roles on. Who cares how many priests get murdered, who cares how many women, how many innocence, as long as the all mighty dollar is in play.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oowY_2SVk-Y&ab_channel=TeleSUREnglish
The Canary has a interesting and horrifying article about Australia’s concentration camps, the damage they are doing and how some Australians are making a stand.
400 men, women and children were flown to Australia from the offshore refugee camps on Nauru and Manus Island (Papua New Guinea). Some due to serious illness; others who were victims of rape or serious assault. All needed medical attention.
Daniel Webb of the Human Rights Law Centre explained:
We’re talking about women who were sexually assaulted on Nauru. Men who were violently attacked on Manus. Children who were so traumatised by offshore detention that they needed urgent psychiatric care in Australia.
But now, the Australian government has announced that all 400 are to be returned to Nauru or Manus. And the first stage of this process will see 100 men and women issued with a final departure bridging visa. In the meantime, they are to be deprived of all resources – housing, financial, and other support.
https://www.thecanary.co/2017/08/29/army-citizens-takes-stand-modern-day-concentration-camps-tweets/
Good. God!!
Peter Dutton should have New Zealand Citizenship Instantaneously and irrevocably conferred upon him.
He is an evil man – but this would remove him from office and hopefully a more humane human being would take over as Minister for Aussie Immigration.
This sort of stuff has been happening in Australia for more than a century. So much so that it seems to be a part of their country’s culture. So, changing from one Australian to another doesn’t really seem to be an answer.
You’re absolutely right Draco, but IMO Dutton is the most sadistic bastard in a long line. He has taken the abuse of others to extreme.
Making him a NZ citizen is waayyyyyyyy to good for him, interestingly, he will replace Turnbull if the polls continue negatively for him, so far 18 consecutive negative polls for Turnbull, and sliding, the man is NO leader.
This is sickening:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96344311/government-pledges-two-funding-boosts-to-combat-homelessness
Boosting private charity to provide core services. This poor law mentality is disgusting. Even the language is foul. Providing “beds”. They think “beds” is the answer. They are greedy evil fucks who deserve the fucking worst.
I wondered how they can proudly promote rapid and last minute expansion of emergency social services five minutes before and election as an example of a government ‘delivering for New Zealanders’.
Methinks they have to nights poll result fed to them already.
If that’s the case then they truely are desperate.
Charities can’t be expected to solve homeless crisis
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/charities-cant-be-expected-to-solve-homeless-crisis-higgins-31598077.html
‘Homelessness will not be solved by building private homes for sale or for rent. Good quality, supported accommodation needs to be delivered as part of new developments. It needs to be a fundamental part of the planning process and not an afterthought when all the main planning decisions have been made.
When considering development councils must consider the role of temporary and supported housing. We need decent temporary accommodation for single homeless people.’
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/07/homelessness-will-not-be-solved-building-private-homes-we-need-radical-solution
Labour’s Phil Twyford said both initiatives were good ideas but their announcement this close to the election was “cynical politicking”.
Isn’t it extraordinary how compassionate this National government gets close to an election?
Yet extraordinarily close-fisted with public information as with the climate change report.
Yet extraordinarily loose with their security about the superannuation details of private citizens.
Extraordinary. Don’t get it at all………..
If Twyford said they were both good ideas then heaven fucking help us. The belief that private charity is a legitimate means for providing for the poor is a most despicable concept imaginable. I remember National in the 1990s together with the BRT brought a right-wing English academic out to NZ to talk about reintroducing poor law based welfare in this country. If Labour doesn’t understand how fundamentally wrong this is then not only is it completely ignorant of its own history as a party but it’s clear that they haven’t got a fucking clue. This is so fucking angering.
From the article you yourself gave us, Chris
“”It’s been our policy for ages to support Housing First as a very successful strategy to deal with chronic homelessness and rough sleepers. But it’s not a good solution to the explosion of people who cannot find affordable rental housing.”
He supported the Auckland City Mission funding too but noted that it wouldn’t deliver any new beds until at least 2020, when they were needed immediately.
Twyford.
Who should provide this support is less important than that it should be provided-and now. State, local authorities, City Mission, whoever.
Chris, would you curse Mother Theresa for being a private charity.
The real evil is that not enough is being provided, surely?
As Twyford says.
Charity has been around for centuries. There’s always going to be people who need it. Jesus giving the cup of water etc. It’s when it’s regarded as the main way for certain groups to have basic needs met. That’s not participation. Why do you think England and New Zealand replaced the Poor Laws with rights-based access to social security? And no, I’m not necessarily cursing the charities, but it’s certainly naive to think that setting up places with access to “beds” is going to be a temporary thing while things are being done to “fix the housing crisis”. This government is quite happy to see charity-based responses to social problems become the norm and firmly entrenched into mainstream institutions.
Chris + 100 we no that most of the Private Charity funds are used up by there management I.E CEO wages $100.000 ect the government is the organisation
that has to provide for the needs for the vulnerable and not some Charity that is only going to spend half the funds on the vulnerable and the rest on paper pushers .
It is well documented that world aid ect that only 40% of the funds got to the people that need it WTF Gemmon
They probably think Workhouses are enlightenment. Plenty of work the homeless could do, generating electricity on a tredmill, picking tow from old ropes, collecting wool from barbed wire fences, the possibilities for turning a profit from hopelessness are endless.
The comments under that article!
Oh dear, National!
“I actually don’t believe a word National says right now”
(One of the mildest).
From the article
“Housing First is a wrap-around service that focuses on individual need rather than a one-size-fits all approach. Independent research shows 80 per cent of people who receive the service retain their housing.”
Is nobody but me bothered that this means 1 in 5 DON’T retain their housing? Seems shocking.
A proportion of those living on the streets are very badly damaged and dysfunctional.
If the number of those living on the street can be reduced by 80% I’ll happily take that as a bloody good start.
How odd, what with there being no crisis and all
Panic has set in well and truly.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96347978/longtime-mp-peter-dunne-calls-political-landscape-superficial
This is rich, coming from him, of all people!
He is now an irrelevance
“We are a socially liberal and economically rational political party focused on securing a better deal for future generations. Give your list vote to UnitedFuture in 2017 and help us become an even more influential support partner to the next government.”
http://unitedfuture.org.nz/
Did he do a plug for the new leader of UnitedFuture?
“UnitedFuture has appointed Damian Light as the new Party Leader, Deputy Leader Judy Turner announced today.
Mr Light will takes over from Hon. Peter Dunne, who will remain as Parliamentary Leader.”
Has National pulled the plug on their candidate in Mr Light’s seat?
I’m assuming he is still being paid up until such point as he is no longer an MP.
What a self serving shit head. Worm chaser. In his own words…
“strutting earnest ways and the egregious ever-so-keen-to-please and not offend tones….. the absolute worst of politicians focused on nothing more than their own promotion”
As I presume Todd Barclay is still getting paid? Did he abandon his duties as an MP? Are there parliamentary rules about dereliction of duties?
Probably, but Gnats would think it only applies to other people
He is paid until election day. he took a few weeks off (although he and some of his rabid supporters claimed he was around – even though the media couldn’t find him) . I think they appointed a clone in his place. There is no shortage of young white men to enter parliament for the nats.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=8NpirIDH&id=B6170E56484CDF34B6CF521DE36FCC57E69F6B5C&thid=OIP.8NpirIDHuypJLOEmrb9aAAEsCm&q=hamish+walker+nz&simid=608043946341894058&selectedIndex=1&ajaxhist=0
I think an outgoung MP is paid for 3 months after leaving. That would be Xmas for Barclay I think.
Innovation Is Essential. But Are Your Best and Brightest Killing It?
That can be applied to a nation as well. If we want an innovative nation then we need to build a culture of innovation. And because the the information is diverse and spread across many fields we need to build that up as a culture of cooperation and sharing.
In other words, we need to be doing the exact opposite of what our governments have been doing as they built up privatisation and increased restrictions on ‘intellectual property’.
+1
Innovation is one of the keys to a successful nation, there was a time when NZ was considered an innovative nation and then there was National
+100 Draco
The Culture of innovation died when DSIR was killed off by the last National government under old Ruthie and her Muppet colleagues of the 90’s.
Yup – our aquaculture came out of there – not MAF, much less the fatuous MPI.
That was certainly a part of it. The other part was the emphasis on ‘competition’ while making a few people rich and then expecting them to do it.
I’m still wondering how competition (Unless it racing of some form or Medical Research) helps research when most research conducted is a long term not some quick fix solution as its all trail and error. As we say at work “you’re got crawl before you can walk and walk before you can run.”
When one looks on DSIR it was surly amazing organisation that only talk and work with the private sector, but also other Government Depts as well such as the former MoW, the former Forestry Dept, MoD including the other Services, All the universities and the Technical collages etc.
Then have you the Female and Blokes working in their shed out of the house or in the case of my great grandfather at the family run co-op coal mine and the list of notable’s is very long and famous.
Another right wing grumpy old man (Neville Gibson?) blathering on ignorantly about the issues. Climate change and homelessness only an issue because the media mention them, according to him and governments cannot do little about them.
Honestly.
Why are fools like him on the show?
Things that come to bite you on the bum…..
Two weeks ago Trump Scraped the Obama-Era Rule To Protect Infrastructure From Climate-Change Flooding. This required federal, state, and local agencies to take steps to protect infrastructure from flooding caused by climate change.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-executive-order-flooding_us_599323d4e4b04b193360926b
Meanwhile…
House Republicans want to cut almost $1 billion from FEMA’s disaster relief fund, which only has $2.3 billion remaining in its budget. Trump, meanwhile, is promising billions to help Texas rebuild from Harvey-caused flooding. The $876 million cut pays for roughly half the cost of Trump’s down payment on the border wall
And…
Trump tweeted that he intentionally understaffed FEMA in order to shrink the federal government. His tweet came in response to a critical Fox and Friends segment where Laura Ingraham said the damage and flooding in Texas from Hurricane Harvey is proof that the Trump administration needs to be fully staffed. Of the 591 key positions that require Senate confirmation, just 117 have been filled.
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/29/trump-shrink-government-laura-ingraham-242128
But no worries…
It’s all due to a Hoax perpetuated by China.
Why are the crucial questions about Hurricane Harvey not being asked?
George Monbiot
“It is not only Donald Trump’s government that censors the discussion of climate change; it is the entire body of polite opinion. This is why, though the links are clear and obvious, most reports on Hurricane Harvey have made no mention of the human contribution to it.
In 2016 the US elected a president who believes that human-driven global warming is a hoax. It was the hottest year on record, in which the US was hammered by a series of climate-related disasters. Yet the total combined coverage for the entire year on the evening and Sunday news programmes on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News amounted to 50 minutes. Our greatest predicament, the issue that will define our lives, has been blotted from the public’s mind…..’
The Panel talking about the floods in Mumbai and India now.
And sure enough, no mention of climate change.
Good on you, Jim.
You really are a spineless broadcaster.
Keep saying this is the irony election but this one takes the cake. It involves Sean Plunket, TOP, a MSM journo and some sweary abuse,
https://mobile.twitter.com/duncangreive/status/903096415433351168
The whole article is worth a thread.
I have included excerpts.
‘Bill English fiddles whilst the world burns: our Prime Climate Change Denier
There will be one moment of mismanagement by Bill English this election that will be studied and debated in the future. That moment is neither Todd Barclay’s alleged workplace bullying nor the leaks of Winston Peters’ superannuation over-payment. That moment was captured in his Radio New Zealand interview on 28 August 2017; when he was challenged on his past dismissal of climate change as policy for the ‘elite,’ he doubled down, asserting that:
“well, as a day to day concern, I don’t think people are getting out of bed in the morning saying, look, the most important thing that happens today is that the climate changes…”
This moment will be studied as a recorded example of Bill English misunderstanding climate change; he sees it as a political issue, rather than a survival issue.
I wonder what Bill does think about when he wakes up? What radio station plays to start his day? I didn’t pick him for the Rock. I’d be surprised if its not Radio New Zealand, the AM Show and/or Breakfast before he goes for his walk run. If it’s any of those three, I wonder how he cannot think of climate change.
On the very day that Bill English was interviewed, even our mainstream media was covering the unfolding humanitarian and environmental disaster in Texas and America’s fourth largest city, Houston from Hurricane Harvey. As of today, that state has had 15 trillion litres of rain; you can fill all of the NFL and college stadiums in Texas to the brim one hundred times over. The numbers of dead are climbing, and the displaced from Houston are now displacing the displaced from Corpus Christi who are looking for refuge centres further afield………
On the very day that Bill English was interviewed, one third of the entire country of Bangladesh is underwater. At least 1,200 have died from flooding in Nepal, Bangladesh and India. Seventeen million people have been affected by the flooding in India, with thousands of villages cut off from food and clean water. Ninety thousand homes have been washed away in Nepal……
..Bill English may not wake up thinking about climate change. But that is not a virtue nor indicative of a sober, realistic mindset. It is the statement of a deluded, self-serving man who is no leader for New Zealand. All he has confirmed is that he and his colleagues are a danger to the future of our country. Never trust the ones who say “peace, peace,” when all about us is evidence of war and danger. Change is upon us.’
https://firstwetakemanhattan.org/2017/08/30/bill-english-fiddles-whilst-the-world-burns-our-prime-climate-change-denier/
ED I was going to say he would be thinking about how much he was going to get from the next clip but that is a insult to our farmers . So I say hes thinking I AM PRIME MINISTER and any other topic just goes way over his head.LOL
And after tonight’s polls he probably still thinks National can hold on to that slippery pole of power