Over it.

Written By: - Date published: 10:54 am, December 16th, 2014 - 56 comments
Categories: journalism, Media, newspapers, radio - Tags: , ,

Let me get this straight. An armed guy in a café takes some customers as hostages. As Colonial Rawshark has commented on a couple of threads, this is a standard armed hostage type situation. Can we expect world headlines the next time somebody lingers in a dairy, holding the owner at knife point while the police congregate outside?

This whole Sydney situation has been bullshit and all major news outlets ought to be engaged in some serious self reflection and begging our fucking forgiveness this morning. Actually, no. What any reasonable news outlet would be doing is questioning whether the authorities have finally jumped the shark with all their anti-terrorist hype. But I guess that’s our problem right there. The shark jumping is a tandem affair involving both the authorities and major news outlets.

So it looks like you’ll just have to rely on your own judgement for deciding what is reasonable and sensible and whether or not the shark has been well and truly jumped.

56 comments on “Over it. ”

  1. felix 1

    We are all terrorists now.

    • batweka 1.1

      and we can add people with mental health issues and refugees to the list of people who should expect to be monitored.

      • Bill 1.1.1

        It’s government, their propaganda systems and security policies that ought to be monitored. Unfortunately, all major news outlets are very much part and parcel of the propaganda system.

        I’m listening to Radio NZ right now. No analysis of how they reported events from Sydney yesterday.

        Also just checked the Guardian (that I was none too impressed with yesterday), and it’s carrying this sub-headline – Regardless of suspect’s motives, there is nagging concern over new breed of jihadists inspired by Isis extremism

        And here on ‘ts’ and for some reason completely beyond me, the headline post at the moment “The Sydney Siege Finishes” has been categorised under ‘war’ and ‘Syria’.

        • Tracey 1.1.1.1

          outrage that hager might make money from his book but the media drooling over this for ratings and money is okee dokee

        • spades' A spade 1.1.1.2

          It probably is correct to place such a post under the ‘war’ and ‘Syria’ category for the fact that the news outlets and authorities were spinning it in that direction. The news outlets and authorities caused it to be a ‘war’ and ‘syria’ topic purely through the speculation and/or propaganda that was spewed out. I think it is important for people to be able to find that post under that section so they can see how the authorities in the modern (western) world operate in linking a big group of people to a crime carried out by an individual.

          I wouldn’t be surprised if the authorities are not finished in trying to connect this directly to IS.

        • saveNZ 1.1.1.3

          Totally right. The word ‘terror’ and ‘terrorist’ turn people into salivating zombies, the most inappropriately used words from the past 10 years.

      • Tracey 1.1.2

        i just heard Key say that the 30 or 40 he named in his speech are like this guy…

        that means we just passed laws against the mentally ill

        • emergency mike 1.1.2.1

          “that means we just passed laws against the mentally ill”

          Time to revisit Foucault,

          “Moreover, he argued that the alleged scientific neutrality of modern medical treatments of insanity is in fact a cover for controlling challenges to a conventional bourgeois morality. ”

          “He further argues that the new mode of punishment becomes the model for control of an entire society, with factories, hospitals, and schools modelled on the modern prison.

          To a great extent, control over people (power) can be achieved merely by observing them.”

          • Tracey 1.1.2.1.1

            i should have been clearer… we passed laws to spy on the mentally ill rather than treat them.

            • emergency mike 1.1.2.1.1.1

              I didn’t mean any kind of correction to you Tracey, what you wrote made me think of Foucault is all. As in stomping on the mentally ill to protect the bourgeois status quo from any challenges.

              • Tracey

                No worries Mike, I got what you were meaning having read some Foucault in my time but it made me think my comment may have been misleading.

                • Sacha

                  “control over people (power) can be achieved merely by observing them”

                  I had forgotten that line, thanks. Great writer.

        • tinfoilhat 1.1.2.2

          Has there been some clarification on whether he had mental health issues ?

          • Tracey 1.1.2.2.1

            No, but then it hasn’t been as widely discussed as his being an ISIS brain washing victim.

            It’s interesting to see those who default to

            1. terrorist; or
            2. mentally ill; or
            3. Violent bastard

            I plumped for mentally ill

            • The Al1en 1.1.2.2.1.1

              I haven’t seen lone wolf terrorist mentioned yet, but then I haven’t looked too hard for fear of all the jerked knees, left and right, poking one of my eyes out.

              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_wolf_%28terrorism%29

              And perhaps there should be an option 4 on your list – All of the above.

              • Tracey

                His alleged murder of his wife and over 40 sexual charges don’t seem to have been as a lone wolf terrorist, or as any terrorist.

                he is not the first person who has finally had his life of fakery and shame and crime catch up with him decide to go out in what they consider a blaze of glory but in my mind, that doesn’t make him a terrorist, just cos he had part of the Saudi flag with him.

                To my untrained ye most terrorist acts are done by people who go out of their way to be secretive until they commmit the act, not parade themselves in front of authorities for years first.

                • The Al1en

                  I don’t think previous history has much relevance when profiling lone wolf terrorists as anyone can turn, criminals or grade a students.
                  I’m not saying this guy was a wolfie, but it’s a legitimate scenario with many previous examples on record, so proper to proffer it.

                • emergency mike

                  My thoughts too. A guy who loses his rag and goes full fruit loop with a gun a la David Gray isn’t a terrorist. He’s just a guy who’s lost the plot. It doesn’t matter what cause or flag he thinks he’s waving.

                  Having said that, it’s notoriously difficult to define terrorism. Mostly because whatever definition you come up with, Western powers have been doing it with bells on in the Middle East.

                  But the point is that we don’t really need to define it. Attacks like this are simply criminal acts. We already have laws against them. More spy powers isn’t going to do anything to stop other people like this.

                  Quit shitting on Middle Eastern countries could be the way to go imo.

                  • Tracey

                    agree and having it hard to define plays into the hands of the hysterics. people are never easier to manipulate than when scared.

            • tinfoilhat 1.1.2.2.1.2

              “I plumped for mentally ill”

              I think we all struggle to find a reason why anyone would do such things, probably because they vast majority of us can never imagine going there ourselves.

              • Tracey

                and because some very seriously mentally unwell people who dont get help have committed some murder and violence in the past.

          • Anne 1.1.2.2.2

            For god’s sake tinfoilhat the media has been full of his past. It seems he was in one of those notorious Australian detention centres and we all know (or should know) that many of those refugees ended up seriously damaged for life. So, you could say… Australia was instrumental in producing this disturbed individual in the first place.

            He was a profoundly deranged person who, as Dr Paul Buchanan puts it, cloaked himself as an apparent extremist.

            http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20161223

            • tinfoilhat 1.1.2.2.2.1

              ‘..it seems……’

              ‘..we all know……’

              ‘… so you could say…..’

              Yes there’s a lot of that going about at the moment Anne.

  2. Bill 2

    And still Radio NZ is giving uncritical airtime to that twat Abbot wanking on about how the gunman had (paraphrasing) “a symbol of the ISIS death cult”…

    Now, as far as I can figure, something along the lines of ‘Allah is the one god and Muhammad is his prophet’ is benign and a widely used slogan within Islam.

    Meanwhile, a quick google search confirms that ‘all’ major news outlets are running apologist lines to the effect that Man Haron Monis was kinda sorta almost a terrorist and the only reason he wasn’t actually one is because of the small and to be quietly brushed over detail, that he didn’t actually belong to any terrorist organisation…

    The fuckers peddled hype and lies that have only served to permit a ramping up of anti-Islamic sentiment and bullshit by bigots. That they are thus far refusing to acknowledge their part in this particularly rancid piece of propaganda is, at best, disturbing.

    • emergency mike 2.1

      “While this was the work of a disturbed individual, Islamic State was also running an outreach campaign trying to tap into such people, he said.

      The Prime Minister said the holding up of an Islamic flag in the Lindt cafe in Sydney made it feel like ISIS (Islamic State) was the driving force behind what happened.”

      That’s on the RNZ site.

      I realise that they then printed a comment from Grant Robertson about how Key is conflating issues, but hey RNZ let me show you how to rephrase that in a less arse-licking spin-repeating way:

      While this was the work of a disturbed individual, Islamic State was also running an outreach campaign trying to tap into such people, he said. When pressed for evidence of this claim, Mr Key made a lame joke about how Andrew Little might be a terrorist because he ‘looks bit angry’. He then said that ‘Labour made stuff up too’. He really is a dick.

      The Prime Minister said the holding up of an Islamic flag in the Lindt cafe in Sydney made it feel like ISIS (Islamic State) was the driving force behind what happened. However he became confused and looked like a dick when asked if he thought that Islamic symbols were exclusively used by ISIS, or whether they are actually quite common in the Islamic world. “Look, I didn’t have that feeling in my capacity as Prime Minister.” It was pretty embarrassing slippery shit.

      You’re welcome.

      • Corokia 2.1.1

        Is there a link to where Key said ” Andrew Little might be a terrorist because he ‘looks bit angry’?
        If that was on record Key should be confronted on that. It looks like he is up and running with the Nats latest spin on Little and he’s such a lowlife that he’ll never let a chance go by to slur his political opponents, even trying to link them to the murderous acts of a madman.

        • emergency mike 2.1.1.1

          No Corokia, I made that bit up as a joke. The first part of my comment is the actual quote from the article. I did say, “hey RNZ let me show you how to rephrase that”. Sorry if I wasn’t clear.

          Just annoyed that RNZ didn’t bother to call Key out on that crap.

    • …something along the lines of ‘Allah is the one god and Muhammad is his prophet’ is benign and a widely used slogan within Islam.

      “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.” It’s not a widely-used slogan, it’s the shahada, the declaration of Islam. It’s the declaration flown on the flag of Saudi Arabia, because it’s a symbol of Muslim ideology, much as nazi germany had a swastika on theirs and the Soviet Union a hammer and sickle on theirs. It’s also featured on the ISIS flag, for the same reason. If any violent nutbars don’t want government officials saying they’re carrying a “symbol of the ISIS death cult,” I suggest not carrying a black flag with the shahada on it.

      • Bill 2.2.1

        It’s not a widely-used slogan, it’s the shahada…

        …that’s been reproduced on coins and walls and whatever since…well, a long time back. In other words, fairly widespread.

        btw. You trying to claim with your swastika reference that Nazis were adherents to Hinduism, Buddhism or Jainism?

        • Psycho Milt 2.2.1.1

          Yes, much like the swastika, the red star and the hammer-and-sickle. It’s a symbol of an ideology. What purpose do you imagine that particular symbol had at this event?

          • Bill 2.2.1.1.1

            Any chance of you writing in complete sentences and being coherent?

            • Psycho Milt 2.2.1.1.1.1

              My comment appears incoherent because you added to yours while I was typing it. Apologies, I should have noticed the update.

              btw. You trying to claim with your swastika reference that Nazis were adherents to Hinduism, Buddhism or Jainism?

              See, this is the kind of sophistry you have to resort to when trying to pretend there’s no political dimension to this guy displaying the shahada at his hostage party. You end up quibbling about whether the swastika is a fascist symbol or not.

              • Colonial Rawshark

                The guy showed the shahada because he knew the media would be all over it and the eyes of the world would be focussed on him, for once. That’s not political; that’s narcisstic, deluded or just plain confused.

                The MSM and the security state politicians have been breeding this kind of over-hyped over-reaction for a long time now. Waiting for a chance to justify their own entrenched positions.

                • The guy showed the shahada because he knew the media would be all over it and the eyes of the world would be focussed on him, for once.

                  Asked him, did you?

                  • One Anonymous Bloke

                    Did you?

                    Hoist, meet petard. Run up some other flagpole.

                    • I didn’t need to. He helpfully made a bunch of declarations and hoisted a flag. This may come as a shock, but flags serve a purpose.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      CR’s interpretation is at least as likely as yours.

                      What “political dimension” do you attach to the violent actions of a violent man facing prison?

                      It emerges that the gun went off as someone grabbed it. What political dimension can we ascribe to that?

          • One Anonymous Bloke 2.2.1.1.2

            Yes, let’s pretend that assigning ‘purpose’ to the actions of a deranged criminal hostage taker isn’t projecting much.

          • Tracey 2.2.1.1.3

            to get attention, and you have fallen, hook line and sinker.

      • Tracey 2.2.2

        and

        In God we trust

        or
        God save the Queen

        or prayers in parliament.

        Are you saying the Saudis are carrying a symbol of the isis death cult” when they go tot he Olympic Games?

        • Psycho Milt 2.2.2.1

          Are you saying the Saudis are carrying a symbol of the isis death cult” when they go tot he Olympic Games?

          Last time I looked, the Saudi flag was green, so hardly likely to be mistaken for the ISIS one, but it does carry the shahada on it for the express purpose of declaring Saudi Arabia beholden to a particular ideology. The one this particular nutter put up was a generic Jihadi one, not the particular one ISIS uses, but it’s hardly surprising your average Aussie doesn’t know the difference.

          • Tracey 2.2.2.1.1

            it was not an isis flag… no matter how much you say it and that it is not counts as much against your argument as being like it counts for you. a genuinely ideologically driven jihadist would probably have a symbol which accurately reflects his ideology rather than just what came to hand on the way to the cafe.

            • Psycho Milt 2.2.2.1.1.1

              it was not an isis flag… no matter how much you say it…

              I haven’t said it was an ISIS flag. I’ve said “If any violent nutbars don’t want government officials saying they’re carrying a “symbol of the ISIS death cult,” I suggest not carrying a black flag with the shahada on it.” That still seems to me to be sound advice.

              a genuinely ideologically driven jihadist would probably have a symbol which accurately reflects his ideology…

              A black flag with the shahada on it is a Jihadi flag, so probably did accurately reflect this guy’s ideology.

        • Murray Rawshark 2.2.2.2

          “Are you saying the Saudis are carrying a symbol of the isis death cult” when they go tot he Olympic Games?”

          There’s probably some truth to that, Tracey. I think the House of Saud has quite a role in backing ISIL.

      • How about the flag of the United Kingdom, which bears not one but three symbols of an organised religion which celebrates death and self-sacrifice. Two of the symbols are used explicitly to honour victory in battle granted by their god!

        *clutches pearls*

    • Anne 2.3

      Haron Monis was kinda sorta almost a terrorist and the only reason he wasn’t actually one is because of the small and to be quietly brushed over detail, that he didn’t actually belong to any terrorist organisation…

      And he was holding a Shiite flag when apparently he was a Sunne – or was it the other way around. Whatever,that was bit strange for starters.

  3. Marksman33 3

    I am fucking appalled at the hype of this hostage drama. The media has blown this so far out of proportion to absolve themselves for their support for the GCSB fiasco. I lost count of how many times Muppet Ryan tried to get someone anyone to say that this nutter was part of IS, on 9 to Noon this morning. Fucking unbelievable.

  4. Nick K 4

    There *could* be a connection, but its more like the connection between violent behaviour and violent video games.

    People with certain mental disorders who have violent thoughts are looking for ways or reasons to attach their actions to something. If they don’t have one thing they have something else, and if it aligns with things that are making the news already then it’ll get more media hype.

    In this case he was certainly trying to associate himself with ISIS or other Islamic extremists when actually he was a sexual abuser from a cult he made up himself.

    Meanwhile in America some things are just the same old tragic news without any connection to terrorism (yet).

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/64190542/six-dead-suspect-on-loose-in-us

    • Tracey 4.1

      Nick

      It is looking more and more like he is a very violent man who craved attention from his magical healing and self professed muslim leader to his barrage of letter writing and radio calls and used the ISIS thing to get the attention he craved. He may be violent and deranged but if that turns out to have been his motivation he has played the media like fiddles.

      His wife was burned to death…

      “Monis was on bail on a charge of colluding with his girlfriend, Amirah Droudis, to murder Noleen Hayson Pal.

      Ms Pal was lured to the Werrington apartment block in western Sydney where Monis was living in April last year and allegedly doused with accelerant, set alight and then stabbed 18 times by Droudis.”

      Interestingly no one has suggested the murder is connected to ISIS.

      “40 sexual assault charges.

      Additional charges were laid against Monis two months ago, and conviction for sexual assault would have ruined Monis, who was outed as a bogus Islamic cleric by Australian Shia scholars in 2009.”

      No one has suggested a link to ISIS for these crimes either

      Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2874295/Police-investigate-Sydney-siege-gunman-calling-Brother-lone-wolf-fanatic-wider-terror-network.html#ixzz3M1Kbu5xh

      The police on the other hand appear to have handled it as a gunman holding innocent people hostage.

  5. Iron Sky 5

    The likelihood you will loose life years as a consequence of bullshit Nanny Nat Economic decisions = Extreme. There is a GAP between how much money you earn and your life expectancy (it sucks being poor)

    The likelihood you will die of a Terror attack in NZ, make up your own mind (not saying past = future but) see belwo

    Oh, just aside I thought Guyon on RNZ was going to shit himself we sounded so excited.

    KNOW YOUR RISK: 6 Reported events relating to “Terrorism” in NZ

    Acts of terrorism[edit]
    There is no internationally agreed definition of terrorism but in New Zealand it is defined by the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002.

    Rail bridge bombing 1951waterfront dispute a rail bridge was blown up near Huntly.

    Wanganui Computer Centre bombingi. The attacker, a “punk rock” anarchist named Neil Roberts, was the only person killed, and the computer system was undamaged.

    Wellington Trades Hall bombing[edit] 1984, a suitcase bomb was left in the foyer of the Trades Hall in Wellington.Ernie Abbott, the building’s caretaker, was killed

    Rainbow Warrior bombing[edit]
    Fernando Pereira, was drowned when he returned to the vessel to retrieve his cameras, just before it sank.

    2007 anti-terror raids[edit] Although the search warrants used indicated that terrorism related offense were involved, no charges were even laid under the 2002 Terrorism Suppression Act –

  6. Iron Sky 6

    News Flash: Terrorists activate Project: Benign Death

    Realizing statistically, they have not a sweet chance in hell of hurting that many people their analysts have realized a cunning plan. They have worked out that statistically you are more extremely, extremely, extremely, extremely significantly more likely to die dancing or playing table games.

    Their cunning plan……….. wait for it, wait for it………

    To train Jihadists in the black arts of event management.

    Yes, that’s correct folks, death by Black Ops Event Management Squads (BOEMs).

    In addition, they have worked out that by combing certain events, their kill rates will be higher. There cunning plan is to organise DEATH Dance Table Game events all across NZ. Just see the stats:

    Dance parties: 1 in 100,000 chance of dying
    Table games: 1 in 100 million chance of dying
    http://www.besthealthdegrees.com/health-risks/

    KNOW YOUR RISK

    There next “JOB” will be to infiltrate the National Party to study the fine arts of DEATH by ECOMONICS. This is the Pièce de résistance for any terrorist organisation, control the money supply.

  7. Iron Sky 7

    KNOW YOUR RISK:

    Exert taken from:

    http://www.besthealthdegrees.com/health-risks/

    Your Chances of Dying

    The National Center for Health Statistics reports the average life expectancy in the United States is 77.9 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the leading causes of death in the United States are (in descending order) heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases, accidents, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. (ref: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm)

    There are so many ways to die early; from risky outdoor activities to smoking. At Best Health Degrees we decided to take a look at just how much you increase your chances of dying through these activities. Life after all is one big series of risks. And some risks are worth the shot. One study shows people have a 1 in 100,000 chance of dying while attending a dance party. Another study shows the odds of dying while skydiving in the United States is 1 in 101,083 jumps. What follows is a list of activities, from the ordinary to the extraordinary, and your chances of dying from them.

    Sports and Recreational Activities

    Overall, snow boarding fatality rate: 0.455 per million participant visits. (Source: Shealy, Ettlinger and Johnson )

    Overall, skiing fatality rate: 0.702 per million participant visits. (Source: Shealy, Ettlinger and Johnson)

    Long distance cross-country ski races in Sweden mortality rate: 0.11 per million1 (Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal)

    Skiing at downhill ski resorts in Utah: 2.46 deaths per million exposure days. (Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal)

    The mortality rate for specific activities undertaken in the United States:

    Mountaineering Mortality rate: 0.5988 (/100 participants)
    Hang gliding Mortality rate 0.1786 (/100 participants)
    Parachuting Mortality rate: 0.1754 (/100 participants)
    Boxing Mortality rate: 0.0455 (/100 participants)
    Mountain hiking Mortality rate: 0.0064 (/100 participants)
    Scuba diving Mortality rate: 0.0029 (/100 participants)
    American football Mortality rate: 0.0020 (/100 participants)
    (Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal)
    The Risk of Hiking and Mountain Climbing

    Expert mountain climbers: Annual mortality risk of 1 in 167.

    Recreational climbing – Annual mortality risk of 1 in 1,750.

    Mountain hiking – Annual mortality risk of 1 in 15,700.

    (Source for all three activities: Russell Newcombe & Sally Woods Centre for Applied Psychology, School of Human Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Henry Cotton Campus, Webster St., Liverpool, L3 2ET, England )

    Regarding Yosemite trad climbing, the chances of dying when climbing actively every third weekend for two days for a year are: 35 days/year x 2.5 deaths/year / 37,500 climber-days/year or 1/429 (John Dill, article about death and injury in Yosemite 1970 through 1990).

    The mortality rates among trekkers in Nepal during two periods between 1984 and 1991: 0.014 and 0.015 per 100 trekkers.

    On Denali, the highest mountain in Alaska: 0.308 deaths for every 100 mountaineers who register with the National Park Service.

    On Mt. Rainier: Estimated mortality rate of approximately 0.031 per 100 mountaineers.

    Climbing above 6000 m in the Himalayas: 10 to 12.6 deaths for every 100 mountaineers.

    (Source for all five activities: Postgraduate Medical Journal)

    Mortality rate while mountaineering in Mt McKinley National Park, United States: 100 per 1,000,000 exposure days (Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal)

    BASE jumping is one of the world’s most dangerous recreational activities, with overall fatalities in 2002 estimated at approximately one fatality per sixty participants (Source). With base jumping, a person jumps with a parachute from a fixed object.

    Annual mortality risk (AMR)

    Grand Prix racing: 1 in 100
    Motorbike racing: 1 in 1,000
    Canoeing: 1 in 10,000
    Soccer & rugby: 1 in 100,000
    Running/jogging: 1 in 1 million
    Swimming: 1 in 1 million
    (Source for all seven activities: Russell Newcombe & Sally Woods Centre for Applied Psychology, School of Human Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Henry Cotton Campus, Webster St., Liverpool, L3 2ET, England )
    Bicycling death rate: 7.1 deaths per one million participants (National Safety Council)

    Odds of dying while skydiving in the United States: 1 in 101,083 jumps. (Source)

    Odds of dying while bungee jumping: About two in one million chances of death. (Source).

    The risk of sudden death during a marathon: 0.8 per 100,000 people. (Source).

    The risk of sudden death while participating in a triathlon: 1.5 in 100,000. (Source).

    Odds of dying while playing high school or college football: 1 in 59 million ( Harvard School of Public Health).

    The Risks of Transportation

    Risk of dying in a car accident: 1 in 6,700 (Harvard School of Public Health)

    Fatalities per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled: 1.14

    Fatalities per 100,000 population: 11.01

    Fatalities per 100,000 Licensed Drivers: 16.13

    Motorcycles: Fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 21.45

    (National Highway traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2009))

    U.S. general aviation fatalities: 447; flight hours: 20,900,000 (National Transportation safety board 2010).

    U.S. general aviation: Fatal accidents per 100,000 Flight Hours 1.27 (National Transportation safety board 2010).

    Airliner (Scheduled and nonscheduled Part 21) fatalities per million flight hours: 4.03

    Commuter Airline (Scheduled Part 135) Fatalities per million flight hours: 10.74

    Commuter plane (Nonscheduled Part 135 – Air taxi on demand) fatalities per million flight hours: 12.24

    General aviation (Private Part 91) fatalities per million flight hours: 22.43

    (Sources: NTSB Accidents and Accident Rates by NTSB Classification 1998 – 2007)

    Men who smoke are 22 times more likely to die from lung cancer than non-smokers. Women who smoke are 12 times more likely to die from the disease. Smoking triples the risk of dying from heart disease among middle-aged men and women. People who smoke increase their risk of death from emphysema and bronchitis by almost 10 times.

    (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

    Lifelong smokers on average have a 50 percent chance of dying from tobacco-related illnesses, with half of them dying before the age of 70. Studies show cigar smokers have 4-10 times the risk of nonsmokers of dying from laryngeal, oral, or esophageal cancers.

    (Source: Oral Cancer Foundation)

    People who had a medium number of years lived with obesity (between five years and 14.9 years), the risk of mortality more than doubled than for people who had never been obese. The risk of mortality almost tripled for those with the longest duration of obesity (more than 15 years) (Source: Monash University researchers )

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  • How to Take a Screenshot on an Asus Laptop A Comprehensive Guide with Detailed Instructions and Illu...
    In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
    54 mins ago
  • How to Factory Reset Gateway Laptop A Comprehensive Guide
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    56 mins ago
  • The Folly Of Impermanence.
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    3 hours ago
  • A crisis of ambition
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 hours ago
  • Have 308 people in the Education Ministry’s Curriculum Development Team spent over $100m on a 60-p...
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 hours ago
  • 'This bill is dangerous for the environment and our democracy'
    Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 hours ago
  • The Bank of our Tamariki and Mokopuna.
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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 hours ago
  • The worth of it all
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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    9 hours ago
  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
    Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
    11 hours ago
  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
    The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
    11 hours ago
  • Pickleball On the Cusp of Olympic Glory
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    11 hours ago
  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
    11 hours ago
  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
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    11 hours ago
  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    11 hours ago
  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
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    11 hours ago
  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
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    11 hours ago
  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
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    12 hours ago
  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    18 hours ago
  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    20 hours ago
  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
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    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    20 hours ago
  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
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    PunditBy Brian Easton
    22 hours ago
  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    23 hours ago
  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    1 day ago
  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago
  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    2 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    2 days ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    2 days ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    2 days ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    2 days ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
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    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
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    2 days ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
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    2 days ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
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    2 days ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
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    2 days ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    2 days ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    2 days ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    3 days ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    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 ...
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    2 days ago
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