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  1. Belladonna Comment:Open mike 05/12/2023

    Date published: 4:43 pm, December 5th, 2023

    Virtually every brand of communist government for starters.

  2. Belladonna Comment:Willis's budget analysis is either deeply cynical or evidence she does not know what she is talking about

    Date published: 4:38 pm, December 5th, 2023

    Given the international trends towards more right-wing governments - it seems unlikely that you will see your nirvana any time in the near future.

  3. Belladonna Comment:Daily review 01/12/2023

    Date published: 6:58 pm, December 3rd, 2023

    I agree. The question is whether it was deliberate (by the publisher) or accidental. Scobie may or may not have known - what he's been very careful to express in interviews is 'plausible deniability' not outrage.

  4. Belladonna Comment:Gangs rejoice as Pseudoephedrine is back

    Date published: 6:54 pm, December 3rd, 2023

    Oh, I don't limit controls on lobbying to alcohol and nicotine - I think we need to manage lobbying in a much broader sense.

  5. Belladonna Comment:Gangs rejoice as Pseudoephedrine is back

    Date published: 12:31 pm, December 3rd, 2023

    Some Kiwis have a drinking problem / habit / hobby – hoo boy. This is certainly true. It is, however, very unlikely that those people will be the ones making home brew, or home distillation of spirits. It's cheaper and easier to just trot down to your ...

  6. Belladonna Comment:Gangs rejoice as Pseudoephedrine is back

    Date published: 6:43 am, December 3rd, 2023

    Craft, yes. Commercial supply, no. Economies of scale. Just as relevant to illegal manufacture as legal.

  7. Belladonna Comment:Why is the right so afraid of Tory Whanau?

    Date published: 6:33 pm, December 2nd, 2023

    I'm not familiar with the Wellington situation - but North Shore mayor, Andrew Williams, got a fair amount of criticism for his drunken antics, in 2010. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/3523169/North-Shore-Mayor-drank-two-bottles-bar-staff ...

  8. Belladonna Comment:Just One Term

    Date published: 6:22 pm, December 2nd, 2023

    Yes, recent research shows that the standard replacement drug 'phenylephrine' - performs no better than a placebo. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/popular-nasal-decongestant-sudafed-doesnt-actually-relieve-congestion-advisers-say/...

  9. Belladonna Comment:Gangs rejoice as Pseudoephedrine is back

    Date published: 6:10 pm, December 2nd, 2023

    Evidence that the wholesale supply of meth into NZ has become industrial in scale - is the (reported) drop in street price from $700-$1K a gram in 2009 - to $200/gram today. https://archive.ph/gJbQS https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/reversing-...

  10. Belladonna Comment:Daily review 01/12/2023

    Date published: 11:55 am, December 2nd, 2023

    Why would you believe that it wasn't the author? His comments have all been carefully crafted around not infringing UK law - he's said nothing about EU or Dutch law. There would have been two editions prepared. The original edition - as written by Scobie, ...

  11. Belladonna Comment:Daily review 01/12/2023

    Date published: 11:41 am, December 2nd, 2023

    Perhaps you could produce a counter example of a country with equivalent political stability - over centuries - which doesn't have any form of monarchy. The problem with your proposal to discard the monarchy - I'm assuming you mean in a non-violent way - ...

  12. Belladonna Comment:Daily review 01/12/2023

    Date published: 9:39 pm, December 1st, 2023

    Which part of French history are you referring to? The execution of Louis XVI? - which was then followed by the Terror - with widespread executions of many 'ordinary' people for not following the party line with sufficient fervour? The execution of the ...

  13. Belladonna Comment:Daily review 01/12/2023

    Date published: 9:14 pm, December 1st, 2023

    I strongly suspect that the Palace will continue their historic policy of 'no comment'. If cornered, the 'recollections may vary' phrase might be used, after all the Sussexes have been caught out in so many .... misrepresentations ... of the truth, it ...

  14. Belladonna Comment:Open mike 30/11/2023

    Date published: 12:56 pm, November 30th, 2023

    But misses out on Sport, to Peeni Henare.

  15. Belladonna Comment:Highlights quoted out of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement

    Date published: 5:07 pm, November 28th, 2023

    Yes indeed - it's unfortunate for the South Auckland boys sexually assaulted by Alosio Taimo - that the same remedy isn't available for them. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/383123/auckland-school-rugby-coach-alosio-taimo-jailed-for-22-years-for-...

  16. Belladonna Comment:Highlights quoted out of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement

    Date published: 5:22 pm, November 27th, 2023

    So your examples are: St Kents (a private school - not state integrated); and Auckland Grammar (a higher decile state school) Still waiting for the examples of the state integrated schools 'poaching' students for either academic or sporting reasons. ...

  17. Belladonna Comment:Highlights quoted out of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement

    Date published: 1:03 pm, November 27th, 2023

    And have they made a difference under Labour? Looking at the most recent school absentee figures (released after the election) - it appears, not.

  18. Belladonna Comment:Highlights quoted out of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement

    Date published: 1:01 pm, November 27th, 2023

    Their spend per pupil is usually significantly higher due to their other sources of funding OK. Now time to provide some evidence for your reckons. AFAICS - there is zero evidence that the cost per pupil for kids in state integrated schools is higher than...

  19. Belladonna Comment:Highlights quoted out of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement

    Date published: 8:53 am, November 27th, 2023

    And having sat on the board of a low decile school I became acutely aware of the disparities in funding (especially compared to the high school I went to), the white flight, the pinching of our best students and athletes by other schools – often with job ...

  20. Belladonna Comment:Highlights quoted out of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement

    Date published: 8:43 am, November 27th, 2023

    I can't say that I love Janet and John (they'd pretty much gone by the time I was at school). But I've seen the misery of kids in the early years classrooms, who just don't get the whole-language approach - and flounder at reading. Kids who are put into ...

  21. Belladonna Comment:Highlights quoted out of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement

    Date published: 8:27 am, November 27th, 2023

    I fear that phonic teaching will cause kids to revert to ability grouping in order to manage the logistics. Ability grouping is already used within the classroom (reading groups, at different reader levels). There is no other way that a teacher could ...

  22. Belladonna Comment:The Left Do Not Own Maori

    Date published: 11:01 pm, November 26th, 2023

    Gotcha. Everyone who disagrees with you is just plain wrong. Have a nice life in your bubble, 'Astrophe'

  23. Belladonna Comment:Open mike 26/11/2023

    Date published: 10:43 pm, November 26th, 2023

    We can blame the 1%, but who are burning the other 50% of emissions? In NZ, it's the ordinary Kiwis (including many of those active on TS), who believe that it is still their unquestioned right to fly, both locally and internationally. And, while ...

  24. Belladonna Comment:The Left Do Not Own Maori

    Date published: 10:37 pm, November 26th, 2023

    This seems to be an inherently racist statement. The assertion that there is any such thing as "Maori" behaviour. Do people have to don 'blackface' to meet your standards of Maori-ness?

  25. Belladonna Comment:The Left Do Not Own Maori

    Date published: 10:25 pm, November 26th, 2023

    Kiri Allen did the most damage' I disagree with this. Everyone that I know, on all sides of the political spectrum, was highly sympathetic to Allen. And recognized that her behaviour was the result of intolerable pressure due to personal circumstances (...

  26. Belladonna Comment:Highlights quoted out of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement

    Date published: 10:05 pm, November 26th, 2023

    If, by this you mean they can exclude students who blatantly and repeatedly break the school code of conduct, not to mention the law. Then, yes they can. And so can State schools. The 'rules' are the same for both of them with the MoE. If, you mean, that ...

  27. Belladonna Comment:Highlights quoted out of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement

    Date published: 9:54 pm, November 26th, 2023

    I read this as: This is the National/NZF agreement. There is a comparable National/ACT agreement. All elements in both agreements are policies that all 3 parties can live with.

  28. Belladonna Comment:Highlights quoted out of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement

    Date published: 9:41 pm, November 26th, 2023

    Imagine a 5 year old "doing reading" for an hour per day every day What do you think goes on in primary schools? It sounds as though you've not been inside one, for quite some time. 'Reading' in Year one involves using age-based and levelled readers (the ...

  29. Belladonna Comment:Highlights quoted out of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement

    Date published: 9:28 pm, November 26th, 2023

    Aren't most "'religious' schools" part of the "state system" anyway? About two thirds of NZ schools with a religious affiliation are Catholic and so integrated into the state education system. Yes, they are state integrated special character schools (not ...

  30. Belladonna Comment:Highlights quoted out of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement

    Date published: 9:21 pm, November 26th, 2023

    I do not think there is any evidence that the teaching of a particular religion in a school has any influence on success. I invite you to look at McAuley. Heavily non-white (Polynesian and Maori) - integrated Catholic school. Way out-performs its decile ...

  31. Belladonna Comment:Highlights quoted out of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement

    Date published: 9:10 pm, November 26th, 2023

    Actually, the research-based evidence is that Phonics/Decodable text works for close to 100% of kids. [There are always a few with complex learning disabilities, who need a tailored solution]. Importantly, every child who learns to read using 'balanced' or...

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  • DAVID FARRAR: Hysterical bullshit
    Radio NZ reports: Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has accused the new government of “deliberate .. systemic genocide” over its policies to roll back the smokefree policy and the Māori Health Authority. The left love hysterical language. If you oppose racial quotas in laws, you are a racist. And now if you sack ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #48 2023
    Open access notables From this week's government/NGO section, longitudinal data is gold and Leisorowitz, Maibachi et al. continue to mine ore from the US public with Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy, Fall 2023: Drawing on a representative sample of the U.S. adult population, the authors describe how registered ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • ELE LUDEMANN: It wasn’t just $55 million
    Ele Ludemann writes –  Winston Peters reckons media outlets were bribed by the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund. He is not the first to make such an accusation. Last year, the Platform outlined conditions media signed up to in return for funds from the PJIF: . . . ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 1-December-2023
    Wow, it’s December already, and it’s a Friday. So here are few things that caught our attention recently. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt covered the new government’s coalition agreements and what they mean for transport. On Tuesday Matt looked at AT’s plans for fare increases ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    6 days ago

  • Shane MacGowan Is Gone.
    Late 1996, The Dogs Bollix, Tamaki Makaurau.I’m at the front of the bar yelling my order to the bartender, jostling with other thirsty punters on a Friday night, keen to piss their wages up against a wall letting loose. The black stuff, long luscious pints of creamy goodness. Back down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 1
    Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop and other National, ACT and NZ First MPs applaud the signing of the coalition agreements, which included the reversal of anti-smoking measures while accelerating tax cuts for landlords. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: November (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for November: A Modern Utopia, by H.G. Wells The Vampire (poem), by Heinrich August Ossenfelder The Corpus Hermeticum The Corpus Hermeticum is Mead’s translation. Now, this is indeed a very quiet month for reading. But there is a reason for that… You see, ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

  • Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    7 days ago

  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • Finally
    Henry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...
    Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    7 days ago

  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    7 days ago

  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    1 week ago

  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Minister sets expectations of Commissioner
    Today I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • New Zealand needs a strong and stable ETS
    New Zealand needs a strong and stable Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that is well placed for the future, after emission units failed to sell for the fourth and final auction of the year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  At today’s auction, 15 million New Zealand units (NZUs) – each ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • PISA results show urgent need to teach the basics
    With 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids.  The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Collins leaves for Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
    Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped
    The Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in Gaza
    New Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Condolences on passing of Henry Kissinger
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Backing our kids to learn the basics
    Every child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through trade
    I would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber.  I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, Auckland
    Good morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States.  This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic Priority
    Good morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Coalition Government unveils 100-day plan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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