Right wing bigot pines for days of right wing bigotry

Written By: - Date published: 10:42 am, September 22nd, 2012 - 180 comments
Categories: Media - Tags: , ,

John Roughan has a whinge about Campbell Live’s coverage of the Christchurch school closures in today’s Herald.

Poor John pines for the days when Paul Holmes was broadcasting rightwing bullsh*t nationwide every evening.

How I miss Paul Holmes. He had the rare ability to empathise with everyone, the powerful and powerless. He saw them all as the well-intentioned people they are as they grapple with problems

This is the Paul Holmes that has railed against workers trying to defend their jobs and has come out with some of the most cringe-worthy tory-charity shlock I have ever watched. Roughan sneers at journalists who “side with people against power” and calls feeding hungry kids for $4 million a year a “costly triumph” for interventionist journalism.

Normally I wouldn’t comment on this kind of curmudgeonly trash but there’s a pattern forming of old right-wing journos who made their names in the eighties and nineties lashing out against other younger journalists and commentators.

We’ve seen it in John Armstrong’s attacks on Bryce Edwards and Gordon Campbell and we’ve seen it in the dozens of desperate attacks on the blogs by these old dinosaurs. Most notably in Fran O’Sullivan’s fascist call that Standard authors should lose their jobs.

Well I’ve got news for these soon-to-be-hasbeens. The voodoo economics you made your names cheer-leading for are discredited and your heyday is well and truly over (no matter how hard this tired government tries to bring it back). In a few more years you’ll be as relevant as Garth George. And Gordon Campbell and Bryce Edwards and John Campbell will still be here. And so will we.

But keep up the public squirming. It’s very entertaining…

180 comments on “Right wing bigot pines for days of right wing bigotry ”

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  1. mike e 1
    22 September 2012 at 12:06 pm

    Campbell is calling to account bad policy decisions and the publics reaction!
    Holmes would be crawling up to Parata and writing off the public outcry!

  2. r0b 2
    22 September 2012 at 12:17 pm

    So John’s hero is Paul “cheeky darkie” Holmes. Paul Homes the great uniter. Explains a lot.

    • Morrissey 2.1
      23 September 2012 at 5:59 pm

      Roughan must really HATE the new and stratospherically improved Q+A on TV One.

      This morning I watched Shane Taurima make the Rt. Hon. Paula Bennett perspire with anxiety as he refused to let her evade his questions, and then later in the programme he reduced “Sir” Roger Douglas to a frothing display of incoherence.

      Even better was the sight of Nicky Hager (!!!!!!??!?!?) and Prof. Raymond Miller challenging and disputing every cliché uttered by the floundering former National minister Paul East, who was reduced to a petulant, baffled sulk.

      Holmes—GONE. Therese Arseneau—GONE. Michelle Boag—GONE. Q+A finally has some moral fibre and a bit of intellectual heft. Things are looking up.

      The situation at the BBC, however, is altogether more depressing. Did anyone hear the egregious right wing rant posing as a Reith Lecture this afternoon?

      • Populuxe1 2.1.1
        23 September 2012 at 6:15 pm

        Niall Ferguson might be a prat, but the BBC is dedicated to balanced coverage of viewpoints, as amply evidenced by previous left-wing Reith lecturers. That’s freedom of speech for you.

        • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.1
          23 September 2012 at 6:34 pm

          The cheering on of the Iraq war and the Afghanistan war put me off the BBC somewhat. As was their coverage of the riots in the UK where they tended to take the view of the 1% in charge.

          • Populuxe1 2.1.1.1.1
            23 September 2012 at 7:16 pm

            I demand that you cite reliable evidence that they took an unjustifiable stance on anything. I am open to verifiable evidence, not your subjective POV.

            • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.1.1.1
              23 September 2012 at 7:19 pm

              Oh frak off. “Demand” lol. Who do you believe you are, Mr Self Proclaimed “OPen Minded” Editor-Judge Supreme.

              • Populuxe1 …
                23 September 2012 at 7:29 pm

                Yeah, that’s pretty much your attitude in a nutshell CV – “This is my opinion. You must believe it as fact or you are an idiot. No I don’t have to substantiate it because I say so” !

                • Colonial Viper …
                  23 September 2012 at 7:54 pm

                  Actually, my opinion is that I do not work for you or report to you, and that you are in no position to “demand” jack shit.

                  By the way, please read what I actually wrote, because I think your reading comprehension is way off:

                  The cheering on of the Iraq war and the Afghanistan war put me off the BBC somewhat.

                  That’s a description of my opinion and reaction, in case you didn’t notice.

                  • Populuxe1 …
                    23 September 2012 at 8:13 pm

                    Funny that, I don’t remember much cheering. Perchance you mean reporting on military successes 😀 and failures :'( – I seem to recall a lot of that. I believe they call it journalism.
                    No need to have a hissyfit, CV, but your opinions are subjective and mean “jack shit” (what a quaintly gung-ho Americanism) in the broader scheme of things. Why the allergy to evidence?

              • Jokerman …
                23 September 2012 at 8:38 pm

                even my Lord acknowledged in the gospels that gods had been raised up amongst men
                (judges) a round here anyway, lprent, CV, DTB and many others are amongst them
                Been wanting to articulate that since i began following your thought processes nearly a year ago. Thanks 😉

                • Colonial Viper …
                  23 September 2012 at 8:53 pm

                  Too much credit mate, just figured there must be some way out of here, and it’s nice to have good people here at The Standard helping suggest the way ahead.

        • Morrissey 2.1.1.2
          23 September 2012 at 7:00 pm

          Niall Ferguson might be a prat,

          “Might be” a prat? “Might be”?

          but the BBC is dedicated to balanced coverage of viewpoints,

          That’s not true. You need to watch and listen to the BBC a bit more often, and a lot more carefully.

          as amply evidenced by previous left-wing Reith lecturers.

          When did you hear a Reith Lecture series as partisan as this one? In his first lecture, Ferguson went out of his way to praise the boldness and vision of…. (wait for it)…David Cameron and George Osborne.

          That’s freedom of speech for you.

          That’s the state-controlled BBC for you.

          • Populuxe1 2.1.1.2.1
            23 September 2012 at 7:35 pm

            I think you mean you want me to listen to the BBC through a certain set of ideological prejudices rather than impartially – which is what “listen more carefully” usually means. And as for partisan Reith lecturers with various tubs to thump, take your pick:
            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Reith_Lectures

            • Morrissey 2.1.1.2.1.1
              23 September 2012 at 8:05 pm

              I think you mean you want me to listen to the BBC through a certain set of ideological prejudices rather than impartially – which is what “listen more carefully” usually means.

              Well, you think wrong—yet again.

              More to the point, you have not answered the question I gave you, viz., which of the commentators on that list was as partisan as Ferguson?

              And here’s another one for you: which one of the other Reith lecturers was as intellectually threadbare as Niall Ferguson?

          • Herodotus 2.1.1.2.2
            23 September 2012 at 8:48 pm

            I found his 2 doco’s that I have viewed on the history channel both entertaining and informative: Accent of Money and War of the World
            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niall_Ferguson

      • joe90 2.1.2
        23 September 2012 at 6:32 pm

        Did anyone hear the egregious right wing rant posing as a Reith Lecture this afternoon?

        No. Same old fantasy?.

        http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/08/a-full-fact-check-of-niall-fergusons-very-bad-argument-against-obama/261306/

        • Morrissey 2.1.2.1
          23 September 2012 at 8:12 pm

          Same old fantasy?

          Same old right wing cant, I’m afraid. Ferguson set the moral and intellectual standard of the series in Lecture No. 1, when he saw fit to praise David Cameron and George Osborne.

          At the fourth and last lecture, in Glasgow, he suffered the indignity of open derision and laughter from the audience. That embarrassment no doubt contributed to his truculent tone.

          • Populuxe1 2.1.2.1.1
            23 September 2012 at 8:31 pm

            I never said he wasn’t a twit, a prat, and/or a buffoon, but it was kind of the BBC to let him be so in public because I needed the laugh. I did think, however, he made one or two valid points in his London lecture about Common Law and Civil Law, even if he largely ruined it with the rest of his nonsense and was rightly Pwned by the questioners at the end.

  3. Chris 3
    22 September 2012 at 12:26 pm

    John Roughan is a weak end Herald columnist.What makes him think that the nats have a plan or an economic reason for what they are doing in Christchurch. Nothing they do seems to make much sense. We just get hammered on a daily basis with the latest recommendations of Moombeam,resident cat on Planet key.It’s tiring.Also, do you think that wizzkey makes a point of never reading anything BECAUSE HE CAN’T READ? Just wondered.

    • OneTrack 3.1
      22 September 2012 at 4:59 pm

      Chris, the point is Campbell didn’t even ask to find out. Potentially he could have explained what the plan is, maybe let Brownlee have a go, and then ripped it to shreds. But, no, the “news” component just got skipped over and straight to the emotion. Frankly, the rwnj in me wonders if maybe he did find out what the plan was, decided it was a good plan that he couldnt pull to bits, so he just suppressed the information.

      Actually, no, thats not it – he’s just incompetent as a journalist. Journolist – yep.

    • Jackal 3.2
      22 September 2012 at 6:20 pm

      Chris

      Also, do you think that wizzkey makes a point of never reading anything BECAUSE HE CAN’T READ? Just wondered.

      Unlikely! In my opinion it’s a willful decision on Shonkey’s part not to read in order to be able to give an excuse, no matter how tenuous that excuse might be, it’s better than no excuse at all.

      It’s also not a decision much of our current media has made to just side against the powers that be.

      It’s wrong to think that the decision to side against the wrong type of power that’s currently leading New Zealand into all the wrong places is a mistake… People are justifiably siding against National’s neoliberal agenda whether they’re media or general public because they know it’s wrong!

      Have you noticed that the commentary on politically unassociated blogs is actually working to change things? That’s because the belief the rightwing propagandists have in their Führer is weak and floundering… They themselves invaribly don’t believe the bullshit spouted by the rightwing propagandists.

      It’s interesting Zetetic that Roughan expects people to pine for the good old days of unanswered propaganda, playing upon our sympathy for Holmes having a heart attack in order to justify his bullshit, while the people are suffering one of the worst governments New Zealand has ever faced… A government that has gained power largely due to Holmes’ lies.

      In my opinion, the tory propagandists have had their day and good riddance to them.

    • Vicky32 3.3
      23 September 2012 at 6:13 pm

      John Roughan is a weak end Herald columnist

      Your spelling error is perfectly apt! He is indeed weak, and it’s time for his column to come to an end… 🙂

  4. weka 4
    22 September 2012 at 12:35 pm

    That Fran link is broken…

    [fixed – r0b]

  5. ianmac 5
    22 September 2012 at 1:04 pm

    I did comment on this item from Roughan. But no comments have been published so far.
    In short I asked him if the questions about the reasons/justifications for school closures should be asked. If none of the people concerned, (the school BOT, staff nor the Ministry, ) know why, shouldn’t Roughan find out? Campbell and Katherine and Geoff have asked but the answers are not forthcoming.
    And considering that a lot of ordinary folk will be seriously affected,John Campbell should keep looking. Please do not involve that Holmes fellow. He should retire to an old folks home.

    • Dr Terry 5.1
      22 September 2012 at 4:02 pm

      Please do not wish Holmes off to an old folks home. We should not be punishing our older people like that.

  6. PJ 6
    22 September 2012 at 1:18 pm

    Comment that I tried to post at 9am, not up by now, I guess they didn’t like it.

    “About as one-sided as you, John Armstrong and Fran O’Sullivan. Oh look, I can do it too”

    • ianmac 6.1
      22 September 2012 at 4:24 pm

      Just checked and my post is not up either. Wonder if they really only choose the ones critical of Campbell Live? A bit mean say I!

  7. tc 7
    22 September 2012 at 2:04 pm

    Tv3 seems to grow a pair now and again, it’s a smart play as their target demographic is the generation that distrusts the holmes, roughans etc with good reason.

    Granny is screwed she just doesn’t know it yet like fairfax is as the vultures circle it to rescue their hometown daily papers. I find their new look with the likes of Darby and wells pretty desparate, lightweight and mostly more lipstick on the biased right wing pig of a daily it is.

  8. Paul 8
    22 September 2012 at 2:09 pm

    I just don’t see how the Herald can lecture about biased media.

  9. Jokerman 9
    22 September 2012 at 2:11 pm

    checked the link to F.O; man, these professionals sure get their knickers in a knot.
    They appear to enjoy being paid to dish out personal, political, social, environmental and economic criticism, but very fragile when receiving feedback.

    personally, i watched F.O on tele opinion shows a couple of times and it turned me Right off.

    and, growing up with Paul dominating the prime-time just left me feeling embarrased about our national narrative
    yet,
    he appears more humble now

    Now Campbell? there is a man whose star is in ascendency. Good on you John!

    • RedLogix 9.1
      22 September 2012 at 4:58 pm

      They appear to enjoy being paid to dish out personal, political, social, environmental and economic criticism, but very fragile when receiving feedback.

      It’s a feature of right wingers. Ever keen to dish it out, not so much being on the receiving end. Not very good at all.

      But you’ve hit the nail on the head. The Fran O’Sullivan’s of this world are PAID by big powerful entities like the Herald to have opinions. They have a ready-made bully platform, legal teams and protection if it goes wrong and deepish pockets to defend themselves with.

      The authors here by contrast are for the most very ordinary working people with zilch .. nothing… with which to defend themselves. Yet Fran openly calls for us to ‘lose our jobs’. This tells you all you really need to know about her.

      Hoich sput.

  10. Jokerman 10
    22 September 2012 at 2:14 pm

    btw, what is so ‘professional”about all the invective on WO and KB?

    Do these people not realise that people of all cultures around the world can read this nonsense?

    What sort of immigration is encouraged to a sewer?

  11. OneTrack 11
    22 September 2012 at 4:50 pm

    Alright, I’ll say it – Campbell is a left-wing nut job who wouldn’t know a journalist if he fell over one (not that there are many to find in NZ).

    All his stories are strangely negative to any centre to centre-right parties, but the Greens, Mana and some elements of Labour get a free ride, if not glowing endorsement. I guess he is counting on being rewarded after the revolution.

    Nb This post and comments supporting Campbell virtually proves the point – you all like what he tells you and woe betide John Roughan suggesting he is really useless at his job (that obviously depends on what his job actually is – informing the public, asking real questions, nah, thats not it)

    • quartz 11.1
      22 September 2012 at 4:53 pm

      I give this comment 15 out of a possible 327.

      • OneTrack 11.1.1
        22 September 2012 at 5:00 pm

        Damn. I’m going for zero. Almost there though. The next one should do it.

        • quartz 11.1.1.1
          22 September 2012 at 5:13 pm

          I give this comment 8 out of a possible eleven. Although OneTrack has difficulty following simple arguments he has recently started to show a degree of self-awareness that may lead to him developing greater critical faculties with time.

          However he needs to recognise that his continual attempts to disrupt other commenters with nonsensical ejaculations hinder his own learning more than that of others.

          • Colonial Viper 11.1.1.1.1
            22 September 2012 at 6:24 pm

            attempts to disrupt other commenters with nonsensical ejaculations

            I’m sure you mean “nonsensical interjections”. Right? 😎

            • OneTrack 11.1.1.1.1.1
              22 September 2012 at 6:27 pm

              Even I was too polite to point that one out 🙂

            • Anne 11.1.1.1.1.2
              22 September 2012 at 7:04 pm

              Didn’t a certain Richard Worth make the same mistake in answer to a parliamentary question umm… shortly before he resigned.

              Edit: oh no, it was the other one wot also starts with ‘e’. 😀

            • quartz 11.1.1.1.1.3
              22 September 2012 at 10:08 pm

              e·jac·u·late (-jky-lt)
              v. e·jac·u·lat·ed, e·jac·u·lat·ing, e·jac·u·lates
              v.tr.
              1. To eject or discharge abruptly, especially to discharge (semen) in orgasm.
              2. To utter suddenly and passionately; exclaim.

  12. captain hook 12
    22 September 2012 at 5:12 pm

    sounds like its your turn next roughan.

  13. lefty 13
    22 September 2012 at 5:18 pm

    The media elite of the likes of Paul Holmes, Bill Ralston, Fran O’Sullivan, Jim Mora , John Armstrong, John Roughan and Sean Plunkett all played an important part in promoting the sick neo liberal revolution this country has been through in the last thirty years.

    For many years these self serving hacks have brought us right wing spin under the guise of journalism.

    They are masters at making obscene greed,stupidity and prejudice seem economically reasonable and ethically acceptable.

    They, and others like them, played a major part in facilitating and legitimising the theft of many of our state owned assetts, the diminishing of our democracy and the dumbing down of public discourse.

    They have collaborated with a small ruling class to replace a culture that was proud of its egalitarian aspirations (even if they were not achieved) with one that puts a few worthless greedy and rich scumbags on a pedestal.

    They have become very wealthy in the process.

    As new internet based media has given fresh and opposing views a voice the increasingly senile ramblings of the old elite have become just too far removed from reality to be taken seriously by anyone with half a brain.

    They are reaching the end of their use by date and history will judge them harshly.

    Future generations will gag at the mention of their names.

    No wonder they are upset.

    • OneTrack 13.1
      22 September 2012 at 5:28 pm

      Are they enemies of the people? Will they be first up against the wall when the revolution comes?

      • RedLogix 13.1.1
        22 September 2012 at 5:33 pm

        What revolution One Track?

        I’m thinking that they’ll be fairly safe from a Labour-led govt. (Despite the fact that these same hacks will strive their utmost to betray it.)

        • OneTrack 13.1.1.1
          22 September 2012 at 5:40 pm

          Ok. What about a Green-Mana-Labour government? Labour drives me to despair at the moment but at least they would be better than either of the other two. The problem is that at the moment, the only option going seems to be a three-headed hydra and I cant yet even imagine what that will mean in practice.

          • McFlock 13.1.1.1.1
            22 September 2012 at 5:44 pm

            The current government isn’t a three-headed hydra. It’s got one head and a couple of pricks.

            • Draco T Bastard 13.1.1.1.1.1
              22 September 2012 at 7:11 pm

              And some klingons – don’t forget the klingons.

            • felix 13.1.1.1.1.2
              23 September 2012 at 12:05 pm

              “the only option going seems to be a three-headed hydra and I cant yet even imagine what that will mean in practice.”

              You must have a terrible time imagining how the current 4-or-5-headed hydra functions in practice then OneCell.

          • Populuxe1 13.1.1.1.2
            22 September 2012 at 11:21 pm

            I can’t imagine Labour getting into coalition with Mana, not if the world was flooded with piss and Hone had the only waka.

      • blue leopard 13.1.2
        22 September 2012 at 5:37 pm

        “”Are they enemies of the people? Will they be first up against the wall when the revolution comes?

        Nah, just when enough people come to their senses they will simply be seen for the dull, uninsightful regurgitaters of spin that they are and ignored …as they should have been all along.

    • kousei 13.2
      22 September 2012 at 5:53 pm

      Michael Laws, Carl de fresne and bob Jones spring to mind in that vein. While one would defend their right to freedom of speech and opinion, still leaves me wondering why they are given such cosy little soapboxes to wax lyrical from when the quality of their comment in terms of adding something useful to a debate is so obviously poor.

      • BernyD 13.2.1
        22 September 2012 at 11:34 pm

        Don’t mind Bob Jones, he strikes me as civilised , a man that’d listen.
        Dunno bout the others.

        • Populuxe1 13.2.1.1
          22 September 2012 at 11:40 pm

          Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaa The casual bigotries and assumptions of the rich do not automatically equate with “civilised”!

        • Morrissey 13.2.1.2
          23 September 2012 at 7:31 pm

          You “dunno” about Bob Jones either, quite obviously.

          • BernyD 13.2.1.2.1
            23 September 2012 at 7:33 pm

            Can only go by what I’ve read, admittedly not much to go on.

            • Morrissey 13.2.1.2.1.1
              23 September 2012 at 8:16 pm

              Can only go by what I’ve read, admittedly not much to go on.

              Good Lord! What he’s written is as bad as his verbal statements. But dear old Graham Humphries on Radio Live thinks “Sir” Robert is a genius, so he has at least one fan.

              • felix …
                23 September 2012 at 8:27 pm

                Dear old Graham Humphries hasn’t had a coherent thought for about 15 years, at least not in the presence of a camera or a microphone.

                Very sad. He showed a lot of promise in the early days.

    • BernyD 13.3
      22 September 2012 at 5:57 pm

      Usually a sign of an emotional reaction to previously spoken/written “Answers”.
      i.e a denial response, it may be well thought through, but their heart/direction is transparent otherwise the denial is unsatisfied and their heartbreaks(stops beating).
      One thing I should add is, I think because of editorial policies they have two articles prepared, a left and a right view, depending on eidtorial edict they cut and paste the final copy together.
      I say this because they were tending to start “Left” and then finish with 3+ paras of right wing justification, they’ve probably stopped this practise recently.

    • BernyD 13.4
      22 September 2012 at 6:13 pm

      I’d suggest they need more civilised ground to stand on, which means all the people of Aotearoa.
      Try and stand in the shoes of someone without an education maybe …
      a civilised understanding and acceptance of their existence on earth and “Do no harm”.

  14. Bruno 32 14
    22 September 2012 at 6:16 pm

    When the revolution comes ,all you whinging,lefty priks will need to get a real job. Your basically a bunch of losers with short dicks and no money.

  15. the sprout 15
    22 September 2012 at 10:51 pm

    well said zet.

    unless they’re completely deluded, which is not out of the question, these journalists should be starting to get that berlin bunker feeling by now.

    • xtasy 15.1
      22 September 2012 at 11:01 pm

      They don’t, because they, or their masters, actually “own” that bunker. So they get away with anything, and that is the sad state of affairs with the NZ media. It is “owned” by the “wrong” people!

      So maybe get the bunker busting mechanisms into place!?

  16. Georgecom 16
    22 September 2012 at 11:40 pm

    One thing I wil say about Roughan is that he seems to have his knickers in a knot a wee bit regarding teachers taking on bad Government policy. The Campbell story attack may have stemmed from his dislike of the Government being challenged by the education sector, not a direct dislike of Campbell himself.

  17. xtasy 17
    22 September 2012 at 11:58 pm

    OK –

    I put my voice to Roughan, have done so before, but give paul Holmes a break, in all respect, he had serious heart surgery, thanks:

    So move on and take the real nasty ones on, thank you! Sometimes you just need to be human.

    viva el pueblo!

    • lprent 17.1
      23 September 2012 at 7:51 am

      Many of us have. We are a society with a large number of nascent cyborgs with our stents, joint replacements and embedded Teflon.

      Doesn’t mean that we are right all the time or untouchable.

      Paul Holmes has mostly impressed me as being a bit of a lightweight in the thinking department and a clear indication in NZ media of the rise of the lowest common denominator. He is a great exponent of wrapping dumb bigotry and resentment in a bright cheery package. In other words – lousy talkback.

      • Jenny 17.1.1
        23 September 2012 at 8:49 am

        Here here, Lynn.

        Having just had a severe bout of hospitalisation myself. I can vouch for the wonderful human creation that is Socialised Medicine. As well as the clever stents and teflon inserts, the anesthetics, the antibiotics, the surgical techniques, the nursing science, the hygiene, the orderlies, the meals, the cleaning the ambos, the genuine human care of the people who run it all.

        It is such a complex system and it relies on many other complex systems. But at it’s heart it is human beings massively organised to help other human beings.

        Long may it continue.

    • Populuxe1 18.1
      23 September 2012 at 12:27 am

      Armed revolution is never the answer. Castro’s Cuba was only a paradise for the mentally addled living elsewhere.

      • Colonial Viper 18.1.1
        23 September 2012 at 12:30 am

        Much better child mortality rates, life expectancy and literacy outcomes than the USA. All this even with the USA’s punitive multi-generational economic sanctions.

        • Populuxe1 18.1.1.1
          23 September 2012 at 12:37 am

          Cling to your fiction if you must, but do cite your sources. Literacy is not much good if there are heavy restrictions on what you can read, and you might spare a thought for the gays, the Catholics and anyone who disagreed with the regime. That is not how a humane country behaves.

          • McFlock 18.1.1.1.1
            23 September 2012 at 12:46 am

            lol
                 
            Cuba decriminalised homosexuality before NZ did. 
            Cuba’s not perfect by any means, but your sudden concern for “the gays” seems a bit late.

            • Populuxe1 18.1.1.1.1.1
              23 September 2012 at 1:04 am

              I was talking about the entire period of the regime
              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Cuba
              Perhaps you can explain why the Mariel boat lift (1980) took place the year after homosexuality was supposedly decriminalised? (1979)
               

              • McFlock …
                23 September 2012 at 1:26 am

                Probably similar reasons for why when I was sharing an office with queer support workers ten years ago or so the police were still doing George Michael-style cottaging operations in local parks. Under “offensive behaviour” laws, of course, nothing to do with homosexuality…

                • Populuxe1 …
                  23 September 2012 at 6:40 pm

                  2002? In any case (1) I doubt anything very serious was going to happen to anyone nabbed, and (2) cruising public parks for sex (and I say this as a gay man myself) is fairly offensive and illegal, as any sex in a public place is.

                  • McFlock …
                    23 September 2012 at 7:04 pm

                    Slightly more recent.
                    Fairly offensive to ask someone for sex and retire to a private area (toilets should be fairly private, no?).
                       
                    And it’s not like they were running similar ops against het couples doing the same thing of a Friday night. 

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 7:25 pm

                      For the most part heterosexuals and most homosexuals know they have homes and motels to go and do that sort of thing in – I doubt there’s much police need. Toilets have only one legitimate purpose.
                       

                    • felix …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:39 pm

                      “For the most part heterosexuals and most homosexuals know they have homes and motels to go and do that sort of thing in “

                      Even-stevens then. So if homosexuals are targeted, there’s something seriously awry.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      24 September 2012 at 12:06 am

                      Context, Felix, context.
                      A fine for public nuisance or indecency is not quite the same as being rounded up by the hundred and being “lost” in a work camp or exiled by sea.

                    • felix …
                      24 September 2012 at 9:23 am

                      Goodo, harassing “the gays” doesn’t count either then.

                      Do you realise that it’s you who is ruling out your own arguments here?

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      24 September 2012 at 11:57 am

                      Goodo, harassing “the gays” doesn’t count either then.
                      Do you realise that it’s you who is ruling out your own arguments here?

                       
                      Only if you’re the sort of person who thinks a puddle and the Pacific Ocean are the same thing because they are both wet.

          • Colonial Viper 18.1.1.1.2
            23 September 2012 at 12:51 am

            That is not how a humane country behaves.

            WTF planet are you on mate? Do you even know that the USA has over 3,000 of its citizens on death row right now?

            • Populuxe1 18.1.1.1.2.1
              23 September 2012 at 1:05 am

              I am presumably on a planet that does not assume one thinks the US is all that great either, but frankly I’d rather be at the mercy of the US legal system than the Cuban one.

              • Colonial Viper …
                23 September 2012 at 1:53 am

                The US legal system kills people almost every week. It makes your claim to prefer to be at their “mercy” ironic, considering that Cuba no longer uses capital punishment.

                • Populuxe1 …
                  23 September 2012 at 5:00 pm

                  Don’t be a dick, CV – capital punishment is still on the books in Cuba – just because they’ve been commuting it since 2003 doesn’t mean the firing squads have gone away forever. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Cuba

                  • McFlock …
                    23 September 2012 at 6:42 pm

                    As opposed to the US execution needles, which are running hot…

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 7:21 pm

                      While I don’t condone capital punishment, I would point out that the vast majority of those executed were found guilty of homicide-related crimes, and the bulk of executions are confined to one or two wackjob southern states.

                    • McFlock …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:36 pm

                      and the racial thing is purely coincidental

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:49 pm

                      I guess P1’s idea of what makes a humane and civilised country is pretty damn flexible. A government can execute citizens if they, like, really really deserve it, for instance.

              • Vicky32 …
                23 September 2012 at 6:21 pm

                but frankly I’d rather be at the mercy of the US legal system than the Cuban one.

                Oh dear, you do seem to be rather naive!

                • Populuxe1 …
                  23 September 2012 at 6:43 pm

                  …says she who believes in Bronze Age myths about invisible beardy weirdy sky fairies.

                  • Vicky32 …
                    23 September 2012 at 6:45 pm

                    Bronze Age myths about invisible …

                    Irrelevant ad hominem… is that the best you’ve got? Sad.

                • Morrissey …
                  23 September 2012 at 7:27 pm

                  Oh dear, you do seem to be rather naive!

                  Vicky, do you think this poor fellow (Populuxe) thinks that illegal torture camp at Guantanamo is run by the Cuban government?

                  • Vicky32 …
                    23 September 2012 at 7:30 pm

                    do you think this poor fellow (Populuxe)

                    That’s scarily possible, Morrissey! 😀

                  • Populuxe1 …
                    23 September 2012 at 7:41 pm

                    Actually I don’t, and I think it should be shut down immediately, but we were talking domestic, not foreign policy.

              • Morrissey …
                23 September 2012 at 7:24 pm

                frankly I’d rather be at the mercy of the US legal system than the Cuban one.

                And what exactly do YOU know about the Cuban legal system?

                • Populuxe1 …
                  23 September 2012 at 7:45 pm

                  Well Morrissey, there’s this thing called research. I have access to a large university library and then there’s this crazy new invention called the “Internet” that all the kids are raving about. Also I know a few Cubans (admittedly expats, but there are reasons for that) and speak Spanish. But what would I know, eh? It would be so much easier to pontificate out of my arse like a lot of commentators on here.

                  • Morrissey …
                    23 September 2012 at 8:01 pm

                    But what would I know, eh?

                    On what I’ve seen of you, you would know very little about anything.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:08 pm

                      Oh noes! Someone snaked at me tit-for-tat on the Internet because I hold a different opinion to them and they haven’t got anything else relevant to say. Mercy me! Waaaaaaah! 😀

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:26 pm

                      Morrisey, I’m glib (which is hardly unusual on here) because some of the opinions on here are so extreme as to be impossible to take seriously (defending Castro for any reason is just such an instance), and I at least take the trouble to cite references for the more challenging opinions I hold as a courtesy, whereas all too often the common reaction on here is that anything contrary to capitalism, the United States, or the National Party, must somehow be a good thing. It ain’t necessarily so, but the casuistry attempted to justify it is often amusing.
                       

                  • felix …
                    23 September 2012 at 8:08 pm

                    Well you probably know a fair bit then.

                    As long as you stay away from the topics of incarceration, capital punishment, education, health, and government torture camps.

                    According to the thread so far, anyway.

                    • Morrissey …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:19 pm

                      Oh noes! Someone snaked at me tit-for-tat on the Internet because I hold a different opinion to them

                      Errr, not quite. People “snake” at you not because you hold a different opinion, but because you are glib and ignorant.

                      and they haven’t got anything else relevant to say.

                      Again, you’re way off.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:20 pm

                      Well you can’t be Debra Evanson, because she’s dead, so unless you are Pedro Freyre of Columbia University’s law department, or David Abraham or the school of law at Miami University, or similar authority on Cuban law, I doubt you are in any position to judge.

                    • Jokerman …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:44 pm

                      heehee

                    • felix …
                      23 September 2012 at 10:51 pm

                      I’m judging solely on your own admissions in this very thread, Pop.

                      For instance according to what you yourself has said, torture camps don’t count against a country’s human rights record if they’re illegally sited on militarily occupied ground in another country, capital punishment doesn’t count against a country’s human rights record if it only occurs in half of the jurisdictions in the country.

                      I’m quite confident of my qualification to judge you on the basis of those cretinous, evasive, weasely statements, thanks.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:11 pm

                      For instance according to what you yourself has said, torture camps don’t count against a country’s human rights record if they’re illegally sited on militarily occupied ground in another country, capital punishment doesn’t count against a country’s human rights record if it only occurs in half of the jurisdictions in the country.
                      I’m quite confident of my qualification to judge you on the basis of those cretinous, evasive, weasely statements, thanks.

                       
                      Felix, if you can get that from me saying that I think it should be closed down immediately, I can only assume you are insane or smoking P.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:13 pm

                      While I don’t condone capital punishment, I would point out that the vast majority of those executed were found guilty of homicide-related crimes, and the bulk of executions are confined to one or two wackjob southern states.

                      Felix read you right. Sounds like you’re condoning capital punishment to me too mate.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:17 pm

                      @ CV

                      Sounds like you’re condoning capital punishment to me mate.

                      No – I was making the point they weren’t political prisoners.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:22 pm

                      So you were simply condoning the death penalty for murderers and for the Southern States, but not political prisoners. Right-O.

                      At least Cuba is humane and civilised enough not to have a justice system which routinely murders its own citizens.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:36 pm

                      @CV

                      So you were simply condoning the death penalty for murderers and for the Southern States, but not political prisoners. Right-O.

                       
                      To quote you, CV: “whatever.”
                       

                      At least Cuba is humane and civilised enough not to have a justice system which routinely murders its own citizens.

                       
                      No, they just let the horrific conditions of their prisons and medical neglect do it for them..

          • xtasy 18.1.1.1.3
            23 September 2012 at 1:05 am

            Just another, more modern version for your own personal pleasure, dear matey and comrade:

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=N2o83FQ1xTs&feature=endscreen

            It is getting better all the time! Viva!

            • Morrissey 18.1.1.1.3.1
              23 September 2012 at 9:07 pm

              Morrisey, I’m glib (which is hardly unusual on here) because some of the opinions on here are so extreme as to be impossible to take seriously (defending Castro for any reason is just such an instance), and I at least take the trouble to cite references for the more challenging opinions I hold as a courtesy

              Sorry, my friend, I was overheated and recklessly quick with the rejoinders. I can see you’re not as foolish or as thoughtless as I said you were. I’ll try to be calmer in future when I see your contributions.

          • Draco T Bastard 18.1.1.1.4
            23 September 2012 at 1:07 am

            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Cuba
            Child Mortality (XLS) seems to be comparable to NZ
            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy

            37 Cuba 78.3 76.2 80.4
            38 United States 78.2 75.6 80.8

            Certainly not the most perfect place in the world but not quite as bad as the USians would have us believe.

            • Populuxe1 18.1.1.1.4.1
              23 September 2012 at 1:13 am

              Nor much better – which is my point.

              • Colonial Viper …
                23 September 2012 at 9:18 am

                A tiny blockaded nation doing better than the world’s one remaining hyperpower. Oh you are hard to please.

                • Populuxe1 …
                  23 September 2012 at 5:02 pm

                  You can gloat when Cuba has it’s first free election.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    23 September 2012 at 6:28 pm

                    FFS. You can gloat when the US manages a Presidential or congressional one which isn’t a sham.

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    23 September 2012 at 8:26 pm

                    Cuba: Electoral System

                    Elections in Cuba have two phases:

                    election of delegates to the Municipal Assembly, and
                    election of deputies to the Provincial and National Assemblies.

                    Candidates for municipal assemblies are nominated on an individual basis at local levels by the local population at nomination assemblies.[6] Candidates for provincial assemblies and the National Assembly are nominated by the municipal assemblies from lists compiled by national, provincial and municipal candidacy commissions.[6] Anyone older than 16 other than those mentally incapacitated, imprisoned, or deprived of their political rights can vote and be nominated to these posts.

                    Sounds reasonably free to me.

                    Article 88(h) of the Cuban constitution, adopted in 1976, provides for citizen proposals of law, prerequisite that the proposal be made by at least 10 000 citizens who are eligible to vote.

                    Might even be more democratic than the representative democracies that we’re used to.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:38 pm

                      Riiiiight. And that chap in charge… The one who makes all the decisions… El Presidente for life…. What’s his name…. Oh, that’s right, FIDEL FRACKING CASTRO! Except he’s frail, so the VP, HIS FRACKING BROTHER is running things. That’s perfectly democratic then. We should immediately adopt the same system.

                    • weka …
                      23 September 2012 at 10:25 pm

                      Yes, because the US for instance would never have family stepping in to do something like ‘influence’ an election.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      23 September 2012 at 10:31 pm

                      P1’s got a real bee in his bonnet about that tiny small country. I wonder why.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:04 pm

                      P1′s got a real bee in his bonnet about that tiny small country. I wonder why.

                       
                      Probably because I am utterly flummoxed as to how an apparently thinking person can be so ideologically blinkered as to get all warm and fuzzy about a dictatorship with a diabolical human rights record.
                      Are you going to accuse me of being a CIA plant again? That was fun.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:07 pm

                      well you definitely have the anti-Castro bee in your bonnet. Let it go mate, Bay of Pigs was a long time ago.

                      For all your concern about humane, civilised countries and humane, civilised justice systems you sure pick funny role models.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      23 September 2012 at 11:28 pm

                      well you definitely have the anti-Castro bee in your bonnet. Let it go mate, Bay of Pigs was a long time ago.
                      For all your concern about humane, civilised countries and humane, civilised justice systems you sure pick funny role models.

                      FFS! You would have to be mad to advocate the US as a role model! I know you’re not very good with logic, or the real world (seeing as you like to delude yourself that I am some CIA spy, a nostalgic pro-Batista hack, or something equally romantic) – however the US is a democracy, a flawed democracy overrun with capitalist greed, but still a democracy. I oppose any and all dictatorships, and you are a sad dick. Why don’t you do something useful and read:
                      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Cuba
                      https://www.hrw.org/americas/cuba
                      http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/countries/americas/cuba
                      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thor-halvorssen/testimony-at-the-united-n_b_1635544.html
                      http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/wha/154501.htm

      • xtasy 18.1.2
        23 September 2012 at 12:38 am

        Food is there, health care and education, denied many in USA, dictated by wealth factors, even worse in much of latin america, I know what I am talking about, mate! Cuba surely is lacking and no paradise, but it was the sabotage by the western, supposedly “free enterprise” economies that were happy to see “the wall” come down in Europe and elsewhere, but what have they replaced to societies there with?

        They were malfunctioning, but now rich and poor divide is the worst it has ever been in those countries, what a bloody achievement. Add corruption, bankruptcy and more, so what has your fucked, favoured system achieve “pupuluxurious” mood and mindset?

        • Populuxe1 18.1.2.1
          23 September 2012 at 12:47 am

          Suck my balls. US (not the rest of the west actually) embargoes have little to do with Cuba’s shit human rights record
          http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/cuba

          • xtasy 18.1.2.1.1
            23 September 2012 at 1:44 am

            How many on death row in the US by any chance?

            • Colonial Viper 18.1.2.1.1.1
              23 September 2012 at 1:59 am

              Ask P1 how many people the USA has executed in its justice system in the last 10 years, compared to Cuba. And how many foreigners the USA has summarily executed with drone attacks over the last 10 years. Judge jury and executioner with no right of defence nor appeal.

              How’s that for a human rights record?

              • Populuxe1 …
                23 September 2012 at 5:06 pm

                Would you like me to compare it on a per capita with how many Cubans got sent for “re-education” in work camps for such crimes as disagreeing with the regime or trying to leave?

                • Colonial Viper …
                  23 September 2012 at 6:30 pm

                  Sure. But that’s incarceration and forced labour you are talking about (which the US does too btw). Not sanctioned killing of dozens of your own citizens a year like the US does. Like you prefer.

                  • Populuxe1 …
                    23 September 2012 at 7:02 pm

                    First of all you are generalising about the whole US – it’s a federation of states and quite a few of those states don’t have death penalties: Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine,
                    Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Mexico, and the District of Columbia don’t have death penalties. The overwhelming majority of those executed were charged homicide-related crime. I think comparisons are a bit of a stretch. I don’t condone capital punishment, I think there are outrageous abuses in Arizona and Texas and I don’t think they should be executing the mentally retarded, but it is all done within the rule of law.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      23 September 2012 at 8:32 pm

                      but it is all done within the rule of law.

                      LOL. At least Cuba has a civilised enough legal systen not to kill its own citizens.

          • xtasy 18.1.2.1.2
            23 September 2012 at 2:06 am

            Don’t like “balls”, so I won’t oblige!

      • xtasy 18.1.3
        23 September 2012 at 12:42 am

        You live the Batista kind of rule do ya? Casinos, prostitution, slavery and beggars in the streets, right, that is where NZ will perhaps end with another casino operator friend like Key! We are already seeing the first signs of it. F that kind of shit society. We should deport all wealth travellers that do not commit to invest for longer term and the future here, get rid of bludgers of the wrong kind, Id say.

        • Populuxe1 18.1.3.1
          23 September 2012 at 12:49 am

          Are you really that stupid?
          Batista is a horrible corrupt shit =/= Castro is a misjudged saint.
          Yes, lets attack the tourists – how important is that to our economy again?
          Fuck you are a moron.

  19. xtasy 19
    23 September 2012 at 12:33 am

    Natalie Cardone sings about “par platar de bandeira”, I wonder is this legal or not here in NZ? It is where I come from. So maybe ask how “free” NZ really is. I have some worries and concerns. I see this video solely in a “historic” and “cultural” context, that must at least be as acceptable as the “anti Mohammed” video going around:

    • Populuxe1 19.1
      23 September 2012 at 12:42 am

      Don’t be an arse – you can say whatever you like provided you are not inciting hatred or trying to provoke violence.  Why don’t you ask someone who lived in a police state how free New Zealand is?

      • xtasy 19.1.1
        23 September 2012 at 12:46 am

        NZ is “free”? Hah, what a joke that is! Free for freeloaders, money speculators, ruthless investors syphoning off profits with no regard, not committing themselves for living here and actually doing the work that is needed to get a country going. F Off, I come from a country where revolution is part of history, where also people dedicate t o work and share, and where progressive ideas are the norm. That is not your country’s goal, as too many idiots vote in bastards that just suck the blood of the country and have no bloody plan, like John f ing Key no hoper, what a hopeless country this has become under that rule!

      • xtasy 19.1.2
        23 September 2012 at 12:53 am

        Before your rant will get out of hand: I will NOT disclose my native heritage, as that will only be an invitation for your continued racist and class rant, which I resolutely deny you as a conscientious human being seeking equal and fair rights to all, whatever colour, race, religion and more. So I am sorry, I am going to frustrate from the very outset your already detectable attempts of an attack on me and others. Populuxe, sometimes you contribute, although rarely, but you have to learn the fair play of the game, thank you and have a very good night. I believe in a fair, social and progressive society, that may not be Cuban style, but at least is social democratic. So we split on that term. Good night.

        • Populuxe1 19.1.2.1
          23 September 2012 at 1:11 am

          Before your rant will get out of hand: I will NOT disclose my native heritage, as that will only be an invitation for your continued racist and class rant, which I resolutely deny you as a conscientious human being seeking equal and fair rights to all, whatever colour, race, religion and more.

          Then you are in no position to criticise my country’s freedoms because obviously you are so insecure about those of wherever you’re from that you refuce to disclose your country of origin. My psychic senses suggest Venezuela for some reason. Ethnicity has very little to do with governance (hello Nazi Germany!), so you can shove the racism accusation.

          So I am sorry, I am going to frustrate from the very outset your already detectable attempts of an attack on me and others. Populuxe, sometimes you contribute, although rarely, but you have to learn the fair play of the game, thank you and have a very good night. I believe in a fair, social and progressive society, that may not be Cuban style, but at least is social democratic. So we split on that term. Good night.

          Fair play does not, ipso facto, mean that I have to be patient when people spout nonsense or misinformation. The right to loudly tell people they are talking crap is part of our national heritage as a democracy with the freedom of speech.

          • xtasy 19.1.2.1.1
            23 September 2012 at 1:23 am

            Popaluxurius: I enjoy your rants every time, they are really entertaining, never letting me down, so get on with it, have a great time and indulge in whatever you wish to entertain yourself with.

            I love NZ for some reasons, but I also reserve my right as a logn term resident to be critical, thank you so much.

          • xtasy 19.1.2.1.2
            23 September 2012 at 1:24 am

            Hahaha, I leave you guessing then, so Venezolano, for that sake?

  20. xtasy 20
    23 September 2012 at 1:18 am

    Populoxe and others, Latin America is a musical treasure land, and when you rubbish Cuba, that is just one cheap crap shot at a region with immense cultural and other significance. There is more bloody cultural activity there than ever happened in Aoteaoroa NZ for the las 200 years, I am afraid.

    I suggest just a brief impression on some common popular music clips covering music of the last two decades or so:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppdpae0EWDU&feature=related
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmK9GylXRh0
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB6Cpy-X7A8&feature=related
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkzwNOTkGOs&feature=related
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Dhn5zUjR-0&feature=related

    This is a scratch on the bloody surface, as you seem to think anglo saxon cuture rules the bloody world. You are misled. You are now the bloody MINORITY in culural affairs on the planet. Wake up to reality, thanks. We welcome you!

    • Populuxe1 20.1
      23 September 2012 at 1:28 am

      (1) I have nothing against Latin America, it’s a vibrant place rich in culture and full of lovely wonderful people. In terms of governance, however, it leaves much to be desired.
      (2) Trying to insult my country’s heritage really does you no credit. I would point out that Maori arrived in New Zealand in around 1300 CE and that the European settlers brought their own fully developed cultures with them, which formed the basis of Pakeha culture – and quite frankly it’s pretty rich and interesting and has produced individuals of world significance.
      (3) For much of its history from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century, New Zealand was the widely admired model of liberal social reform for the world. We know what we’ve lost, however we had it in the first place and can hopefully construct it again. New Zealand has also lacked for dictators and military juntas. I don’t think on either point Latin America can compare.

      • xtasy 20.1.1
        23 September 2012 at 1:51 am

        It is an insult to Maori and Polynesian people to be told that they did not arrive before 13 hundred AC or so in this country, as the earlier traces go back to at leat 400 AC.

        Also is it now proved that NZ was largely populated through eastern polynesia, which was having contact to high civilisations in South and Central America well before Christ was ever born or accounted for. So stick your Anglo Saxon and Euro Centric cultural obsession up where the sun never shines, because you have no idea how diverse and long other cultures have ever existed. Easter Island, Marquesan Islands, Society Islands, Cook Islands and so forth, resembling great similarities to ancient cultures in South America by the way. Only brainwashed, selective culturalists ignore realities proved decades ago by Thor Heyerdahl and also other scientists, even genetic evidence exists. Where do Kumara, Umu and the like come from? The same words and products have 2 to 3 thousand year history in South America, dear Pupucapetl wannabe never gettabe. Learn history please.

        • Populuxe1 20.1.1.1
          23 September 2012 at 5:19 pm

          You really are a sad little person. Polynesians arrived in New Zealand in waves, but permanent habitation by the group that came to be Maori dates to around 1300, give or take a century.
          http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/12/22/1015876108.full.pdf+html
          Where did you get the impression I didn’t agree with elements of Heyerdahl’s hypothesis, you silly little person, contact between Polynesia and South America been proved by genetic testing, however his theory that Polynesians came from South America is crap as the linguistic evidence shows that Pacific migration came from east to west.
          Do you have a point, or are you just an annoying idiot?

      • xtasy 20.1.2
        23 September 2012 at 2:10 am

        Populuxe1: I really like you, just for the sake of adding spice to this forum! That is great at all times, we need it, want it and are never shy of it, right!

        Get a life and be a bit more kind to others, because hate and envy is the worst of enemies.

        I am sure we can all learn from each other, provided “we” want to!

      • xtasy 20.1.3
        23 September 2012 at 2:17 am

        Popu: My favourite, by the way:

  21. Carol 21
    23 September 2012 at 7:05 am

    And this morning Bomber has a go at Roughan too:

    http://www.tumeke.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/first-nz-herald-came-for-bloggers-then.html

    First the NZ Herald came for the bloggers, then they came for John Campbell.

    With their relaunch as a tabloid butterfly, the neo-liberal opinion shapers at the NZ Herald which Gordon Campbell refers to in his brilliant and must read take down of John Armstrong’s criticism of bloggers, have sharpened their attacks on those Society see as providing an alternative narrative to the Planet Key fantasy the NZ Herald subscribes to.
    …
    What planet does John Roughan live on? Oh, that’s right. Planet Key.
    …
    What is occurring in Christchurch is nothing short of a political coup. The drum beat to sell city assets, the taking of democracy from Environment Canterbury, Charter Schools and the enforced rebuild with minimum community input combine with this latest slap in the face over school closures.

    Note it wasn’t the Government’s inept manner of ‘consultation’ that’s the problem. It’s not the Government’s inept Hekia Parata screwing up another education announcement. It’s not a communication strategy that has ended up spreading public panic.

    Oh no, it’s none of those things. It’s that bloody John Campbell and his one sided television.

    When the newspaper of choice for conservative kneejerks and beige bigots starts publicly hunting the bloggers and the few journalists prepared to critique the Planet Key narrative, you know there is a PR struggle going on for the hearts and minds of NZers.

    I like the way Bomber most often presents a sound analysis using colourful turns of phrase…. although I don’t always agree with him…. just mostly.

    But, it’s rationale, Bomber, not rational

    • Jokerman 21.1
      23 September 2012 at 8:58 am

      great post Carol ta.
      Christchurch-the NZ lab rat for disaster and/or anarcho capitalism
      liquifaction-the gift that keeps on giving

  22. Suzanne 22
    23 September 2012 at 11:59 am

    Apropos Fran O’Sullivan: I just checked out that link and frankly, I don’t see a “fascist call that The Standard authors should lose their jobs”. What I DO see is a discussion of anonymity, especially when it’s used by people making personal attacks.

    OK, the woman doesn’t like a lot of what is said on this site and she sure doesn’t like some of the personal stuff, but that doesn’t make her a fascist any more than contributing to this site makes any of us similar to the KK (a comparison she was called on by on of her respondents).

    • RedLogix 22.1
      23 September 2012 at 4:32 pm

      Read it again. She makes it quite clear she’d like various authors here ‘outed’ and if that was to have bad consequences for them …”tough”. Slightly different phrasing but the same essential meaning.

      Besides ask yourself this. What possible reason would she have to know who we are? And would any of those reasons be good ones?

      • Colonial Viper 22.1.1
        23 September 2012 at 4:46 pm

        She’s offering all of us a chance to win a holiday cruise. Just email your name and address to her.

        • BernyD 22.1.1.1
          23 September 2012 at 4:52 pm

          You’ll be cruising on your own M8!
          Give me cash refund option and ya can have mine M8
          I’m a sick, semi retired cat that could use cash M8
          It’s just a blog M8!
          Sweet M8! 🙂

          • BernyD 22.1.1.1.1
            23 September 2012 at 5:05 pm

            I take it back, that’s gonna be an expensive cruize M8!
            How many aliases per week can this site handle?.
            Free cruize up for grabs people, sign onto the Standard and make some dumb arse comment M8!

  23. captain hook 23
    23 September 2012 at 7:49 pm

    heyerdahl is an idiot and anyone who beleives what heyerdahl says is an idiot too.
    as for fran sullivan she is another idiot.
    she has never made any real contribution to new zealand.
    she has just sat there and carped and ciriticised and specilaised in backbiting.
    the question is who does she think she is?

  24. Rich 24
    24 September 2012 at 3:27 pm

    Surprised Cam Slater hasn’t lost his job. Oh, wait…

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    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    23 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
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    1 day ago
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