‘The future will be green or not at all’

Written By: karol - Date published: 9:41 am, January 2nd, 2015 - 275 comments
Categories: business, child welfare, climate change, Economy, Environment, greens, john key, labour, Metiria Turei, Mining, national, sustainability - Tags: social justice

Yesterday, on Outspoken at RNZ, Craig McCulloch interviewed Jeanette Fitzsimons, Gareth Morgan and Metiria Turei on the future of the Green Party.

Craig McCulloch interview

McCulloch asked should the Greens move towards being able to go into an alliance with a National government. This is largely Gareth Morgan’s desire.

McCulloch raised the issue of the Greens saying, just before last year’s election, that they could work with National. Turei said this was nothing new. They would prefer to be in a government with Labour as they have more in common with them. But if National led the government, they would continue to try to work with them on selected policies where there is common ground, such as with the home insulation scheme and the cycleway.

This was the second time that this had been the Greens’ approach and she thinks the public are coming to understand this. She expected that over time Kiwis would gain a better understanding of their position on this. They prefer to support a progressive government that takes ecological sustainability and social justice more seriously.

Morgan says that he is very admiring of the Green Party’s environment policies. He is frustrated that the current government has been moving further away from extremely important environmental measures. He talks to a lot of people with similar views, but who would never vote Green because “they’re the left of Labour”. He thinks that the Greens need to be equally prepared to go into coalition with National or Labour.

Morgan thinks environmental issues are now very mainstream and they need a less left-leaning Green Party.

Jeanette Fitzsimons said that the current government is very pro fossil fuel industries, putting our environment increasingly in danger. They will not compromise on their core economic policies that (allegedly) will bring faster economic growth, but that are destroying the planet. The Greens could not go into coalition with a government with such core economic policies.

Fitzsimons says says sustainability doesn’t fit well into the old left-right divide. Originally the Greens claimed not to be left or right. Since the 80s, the centre of politics has moved to the right, and now the Greens are clearly to the left of this centre, “but that’s not what defines us”.

Turei argues that Gareth’s frustration is with National so he should take it up with them.

Morgan counters by saying he is looking for an alternative to National, but he is scared by the Greens being “anti-growth”.

Turei responds that Morgan would have seen from the Greens’ work, like their polices on significant investment in R & D and a strong focus on sustainable business, that the Greens aren’t “anti-growth”:

… what we are is pro the development of a New Zealand economy that utilises our environment in the best possible way for the economic opportunities and development of our whole community. And thereby leading to improved social justice outcomes, for example. There’s a deep connection between these parts of our policy. And we simply will not, and cannot, unless we completely change to a different kind of party, give up on our value set that recognises ecological wisdom, social justice and the economy as an opportunity and a tool for improving on both.

Turei adds that politics goes in cycles, and she expects that over the current term, the pendulum will swing against Key’s government and their very radical policies : e.g. that Nicky Hager’s “Dirty Politics” revelations will gain more traction. She says that the government is on shaky ground because its policies and values are out of step with those of most New Zealanders.

Fitzsimons adds that the National government would never be influenced by the Green Party policies as they have other options with other smaller conservative parties. She says that, in contrast, Labour is making some steps towards environmental policies aimed at countering climate change. She says she wouldn’t support a Green party that shifted from it’s principles to get the baubles of office. She further says we desperately need a party with principles that they stick to.

Fitzsimons goes on to point out that Green Parties are a world wide movement, that Green Parties internationally are increasing their support, and,

in the words of one of them, I can’t remember who it was, “the future will be green or not all“, given the seriousness of the threats facing us.

This is the main difference between the arguments of Gareth Morgan and those of Fitzsimons and Turei. Other things are covered in the interview, such as Turei stating that she and Norman work very well together and “have each other’s backs”; and Turei, once again, stating her commitment to supporting those on low incomes and to not pull up the ladder after her.

275 comments on “‘The future will be green or not at all’ ”

Comments are now closed

Karen 1

2 January 2015 at 9:58 am

It was an enlightening programme that everyone interested in the environment and/or politics should listen to in full. Both women were great, while Morgan yet again exposed himself as a very shallow thinker with conservative, right wing economic beliefs, and an inability to consider any evidence that does support his own beliefs.

As Metira told Morgan, he should be trying to educate the National Party MPs about environmental problems, rather than telling the Greens they need to drop their left wing economic policies in order to form a coalition with National.

Businessman Philip Mills declared his support for environmental matters at the last election by making large public donations to both Labour and the Greens. Perhaps if some more of these rich listers who claim they care about the environment had done the same we would have a better government by now.
- One Anonymous Bloke 1.1
  
  2 January 2015 at 10:10 am
  
  +1
  
  If Morgan wants to clean up the environment he can start by paying Hager’s legal bills, and perhaps funding a judicial review or two.
- Gareth 1.2
  
  4 January 2015 at 10:13 am
  
  If he’s a shallow thinker with conservative right wing economic beliefs, why does he advocate a Universal Basic Income? http://www.bigkahuna.org.nz
  
  He also would like all capital gains taxed, including the family home.
  
  Aren’t those left wing radical redistributionist ideas?
  - weka 1.2.1
    
    4 January 2015 at 10:59 am
    
    Someone can be a shallow thinker in one area and deep in another. It’s quite possible to support a UBI from the right, but not get that environmental politics are left wing.
  - les 1.2.2
    
    9 January 2015 at 9:06 pm
    
    Gareth, have you actually read the Big Kahuna? Morgan advocates a capital tax of 6% pa, not a just a capital gains tax, which would not raise enough for the UBI. This is even more redistributive! The UBI is absolutely a left wing policy and would reverse the current inequality
Draco T Bastard 2

2 January 2015 at 10:01 am

Jeanette Fitzsimons said that the current government is very pro fossil fuel industries, putting our environment increasingly in danger. They will not compromise on their core economic policies that (allegedly) will bring faster economic growth, but that are destroying the planet.

What needs to be pointed out is that the ‘economic’ policies of National and Act are uneconomic. Actual economic policies would be protecting and, especially in NZ, increasing the natural environment (That means undoing a lot of the damage done to create farms).

Economising

verb (used without object), economized, economizing.
1.
to practice economy; avoid waste or extravagance.
verb (used with object), economized, economizing.
2.
to manage economically; use sparingly or frugally.

Nowhere in there does it say use up as fast as possible to produce lots of short term profit for the few which is what National’s and Act’s ‘economic’ policies actually do. So do Labour’s to a large degree.

Morgan counters by saying he is looking for an alternative to National, but he is scared by the Greens being “anti-growth”.

Morgan obviously hasn’t learned yet that infinite growth is impossible.

“the future will be green or not all“

QFT

Nature bats last, doesn’t negotiate and doesn’t take prisoners.
- OncewasTim 2.1
  
  3 January 2015 at 12:32 am
  
  Exactery DtB.
  What the Natz haven’t yet learned (and I suspect Gareth too ….. is that there is a BIG difference between growth (as in ‘sustained growth’ – which is what they all try to achieve) and sustainABLE growth – which is what they’re incapable of.
  The whole foundation of their ideological thought process is that resources are unlimited/infinite – i.e. resources including those of the human kind, and its all just a matter of their costs.
  Nice enough bloke that Mr Morgan in many ways, but I hope he learns bloody soon that courting the Natzis (who don’t have 2 original ideas to rub together and can’t see beyond tomorrow – or when the next payout falls due), is a dangerous proposition and one that’ll see SFA of NZ before too long.
  
  Take a bus trip sometime from (say) Te Puke to Wellington, and witness for yourselves the damage being done (long term) to the NZ ‘economy’ (in its broadest sense), as well as the missed ‘tuneties’ (opportunities). As I just did, the felling of trees in favour of proposed dairy conversions; the huge investments in roading (where it seemed to me there’s going to be limited long term value and a need for Tex Pay-ya to provide continued subsidies for road-fucking logging trucks) – whilst a rail-based commuter service seems to me to be viable; that bloody Otaki round-a-about mugger’s buddle; ………….
  ……. all I saw for 9 plus hours were ticket-clippers and Joyce/Key-like disciples getting an undeserved earn, whilst minimum wage earners; international students and Joe and Janine Average pick up the tab (until it comes time for them to have to cash-up when it’ll all become a Jesus Christ moment.
One Anonymous Bloke 3

2 January 2015 at 10:04 am

The difference between the Greens and the Right can be easily demonstrated by a reality check: the Right regards reality as an inconvenience to be denied for personal gain.
weka 4

2 January 2015 at 10:17 am

Morgan says that he is very admiring of the Green Party’s environment policies. He is frustrated that the current government has been moving further away from extremely important environmental measures. He talks to a lot of people with similar views, but who would never vote Green because “they’re the left of Labour”. He thinks that the Greens need to be equally prepared to go into coalition with National or Labour.

Morgan thinks environmental issues are now very mainstream and they need a less left-leaning Green Party.

Here’s the thing, if right wing voters need the Green Party to go into coalition with National this is a very clear sign that the right in general have no intention of doing anything meaningful to protect or stop exploiting the environment. Otherwise there would be a right wing green movement and they would be making progress already. But there isn’t, because right wing politics are inherently anti-environment.

Sorry Gareth, but there is simply no way around that. Green politics are inherently left wing because they prioritise the common good.
- One Anonymous Bloke 4.1
  
  2 January 2015 at 10:24 am
  
  In Morgan’s “Time For A Bluegreen Party”, he mentions the “Dirty Politics distraction”. Says it all really.
  
  Oh, and you have to love the self-serving reality denial of: “An additional dollar of GDP can be generated in either an environmentally dirty and intellectually dumb way, or by clean and clever means – the choice is ours, it is still just one additional dollar of income.”
  
  I hate to break it to you Gareth, but Hodson & Busseri 2012: you can wish for better wingnuts as much as like.
  - greywarshark 4.1.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 10:53 am
    
    Well Morgan has to encourage the wealthy and self interested, not necessarily the one group, to think outside their tummies, their buying power, their elevated lifestyle, their self-indulgence, and their real estate and other assets. It’s a busy time keeping all your balls in the air and still making a real increase in your wealth after inflation and other taxing depreciation.
    - One Anonymous Bloke 4.1.1.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 10:59 am
      
      Not to mention Piff et al 😀
      - greywarshark 4.1.1.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 11:05 am
        
        Thanx OAB I have just learned a new word. Got to keep up, but it’s hard work!
        
        By the way, straying slightly from Gareth’s line of thought, you might give me your opinion on a recent diagnosis I made with my serious doctor hat on, if you will. Feel free to castigate me if you don’t agree! (Is that the one that they had after Watergate?)
        http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-01012015/#comment-946099
        
        The Al1en 4.1.1.1.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 11:48 am
        
        It was sh1t observation in open mic and now it’s a sh1t and totally off topic observation in this thread.
        Searching for validation for a dig is a bit lame at the best of times. You can do a lot better, my friend.
        
        greywarshark …
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:26 pm
        
        @ Allen
        I’ll try. And I’m not your friend. But I read some of your comments when you aren’t castigating too much.
        
        The Al1en …
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:36 pm
        
        It was a figure of speech so no need to take ‘friend’ personally 😆
- Maui 4.2
  
  4 January 2015 at 1:04 am
  
  Great point weka, where is the centre-right green movement? Thats what Morgan wants!
weka 5

2 January 2015 at 10:19 am

Good to see the GP putting Turei and Fitzimons up front and not Norman. I’ll take that as possibly a sign that they’ve learnt from the mistake that Norman made in the week before the election (haven’t listened to the audio yet though, so not sure how well they are explaining the membership mandated policy on working with any party on individual policies).
KenS 6

2 January 2015 at 10:22 am

Somehow, Morgan has got the idea that the Greens can change National’s spots. He believes they will compromise their economic agenda to remain in power as they have their social agenda, e.g. work with the Greens as they have the Maori Party. What he seems not to realise is that National’s core reason for being is to reinforce the capitalist economic paradigm above all else and to protect the priviledged position of the corporate elite. Given that the Green’s environmental policies directly challenge this core principle, working together in govt is just not an option. This is an absolute bottom line that the Nats would give up poewer for rather than compromise.
- Matthew Hooton 6.1
  
  2 January 2015 at 3:05 pm
  
  There is nothing National wouldn’t compromise to remain in power.
  - One Anonymous Bloke 6.1.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 4:45 pm
    
    Someone should hack the Exceltium website so that it quotes you saying that. Yeah, I know, I’m inciting criminal behaviour.
    - greywarshark 6.1.1.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 8:29 pm
      
      Hooton, tootin’ the truth. That’s a graaand statement as the Scots might say it, a Robbie Burns New Year address to the haggis, or the haggard probably.
      - OncewasTim 6.1.1.1.1
        
        3 January 2015 at 4:22 pm
        
        It was a doozy huh? I’m wondering whether Matt blue-hue Hooton is a weenie bit pissed. Such an admission confirms what we all think – Neshnool hev no prince pulls.
        Needless to say there’s an Oik Williams somewhere near spouting “I tend to agree with you Mathew” and a regular gal gearing things up for 2015 when she’s decided what her next affectation will be. (The last one was her attempting not to sound like a Kiwi as far as the ‘a’ vowel goes – give Lucy Hockings a call Rinrin).
        SO ………. @ Mathew: you can really feel fulfilled and fool yourself you’re the voice of reason and loguck (the X spirt commentariat will back ya up in 2015!
        (You’re still Oh So Relevant – there’s probably even a Pagani ready to fawn all over you – just as long as she learns to drive and doesn’t become one of those white crosses littering the Keptea Karse
        
        greywarshark 6.1.1.1.1.1
        
        4 January 2015 at 11:33 am
        
        @ Oncewas Tim
        Rock it and mock it for 2015 eh? What are your wishes for pollies positive action of the kind helpful to our good for 2015? Not promising to wave my magic wand, but if you’ve been a good boy……..
  - tc 6.1.2
    
    2 January 2015 at 8:37 pm
    
    So true…democracy, due process, honesty, integrity, environment, development, education, public transport etc the list of what’s up for grabs to keep power is endless.
  - Matthew Whitehead 6.1.3
    
    5 January 2015 at 6:15 pm
    
    While that’s a great soundbite I’m pretty sure it’s not the case that National would sacrifice ANYTHING. If they would, I can paint you two scenarios that might happen that I think you’ll agree simply will not happen.
    
    In both scenarios, National would need to not have the numbers to govern without a coalition with either Labour or the Greens.
    
    1) National offers an aggressive (ie. better than Labour) renewable energy and climate change policy to contend for the Green Party’s support in coalition negotiations, while still maintaining their other economic policies. I bet you’ll agree National would not do this, and if you don’t, I bet everyone else will agree you’re not a serious commentator.
    
    2) National offers to form a grand coalition with Labour to avoid a Labour-Greens government. I dare anyone to seriously predict that this will happen in the next three elections, not just Hoots.
    
    The reason National refuses to work with either of these parties is that the bottom lines for negotiating with them are concessions on parts of economic policy that National won’t move on because they are core parts of National policy, the same way that certain hacks in the Labour Party won’t move on the idea that an economy can grow forever with a weak refrain of “but that would mean less jobs”, despite it being pretty obvious from the laws of thermodynamics that infinite growth is not possible without an expanding frontier.
    - phillip ure 6.1.3.1
      
      5 January 2015 at 6:28 pm
      
      @ whitehead..
      
      1)..you don’t seem to have yet grasped that this environmental thing is not just a passing phase/annoyance..
      
      ..being ‘green’ in that sense will soon be the norm..(international pressures will guarantee that..)
      
      ..so national having green policies isn’t a matter of ‘if?’..but ‘when?’..
      
      ..and re yr number 2..while studying for masters i investigated that question..
      
      ..and again concluded not ‘if’ but ‘when?’..not as guaranteed as number one..
      
      ..but a definite possibility..
      
      ..and the fact of the matter is that there are lots of labour mp’s..and some greens..who wd be very relaxed about a grand coalition with national..
      
      (.yoo-hoo..!..nash..!..shaw..!..)
      
      ..especially if it kept out of power a new progressive party/coalition..
      
      ..and you are also ignoring what was correct about what hooton said..
      
      ..namely that national wd do anything to gain/retain power..
Anne 7

2 January 2015 at 10:23 am

Turei adds that politics goes in cycles, and she expects that over the current term, the pendulum will swing against Key’s government and their very radical policies : e.g. that Nicky Hager’s “Dirty Politics” revelations will gain more traction.

I think she’s dead right there. DP is one of those stories that only slowly penetrates the average voters’ conscious. Their lack of knowledge of, or interest in, politics means they don’t understand the ins and outs of it so hence the “they all do it” meme gets plenty of early traction – as evidenced by the outcome of the election. But it isn’t going away any time soon, and the voters are going to start appreciating the reality of DP as more knowledge and information comes to light.

I’m sure Turei, Norman, Little and Robertson are more than ready for it.
greywarshark 8

2 January 2015 at 10:46 am

About Dirty Politics and Nicky Hager.
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/NickyHager
The fund for his legal costs is now at $65,610 from 1274 donors. It closes in a few months but people who know say that his costs could be huge, even if he gets a sympathetic lawyer. So don’t hold back from giving him some more in this new year.
Paul 9

2 January 2015 at 10:50 am

You cannot support growth and be Green.
Finite planet. Finite resources.
People may not want to hear that fact, but that’s because they’ve been indoctrinated in consumerism and capitalism.
They won’t pay for it.
Their grandchildren will.
As are millions of other species as we speak.
- Paul 9.1
  
  2 January 2015 at 10:57 am
  
  I suggest folk read Derrick Jensen’s Endgame.
  - Colonial Viper 9.1.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 4:11 pm
    
    Derrick Jensen and Chris Hedges interviewed. Very worthwhile listening.
- One Anonymous Bloke 9.2
  
  2 January 2015 at 4:48 pm
  
  Organic resources are effectively infinite within a sustainable framework. So are many renewables. I suspect the change of trajectory required is actually quite small. Not that we’re making one yet.
  - weka 9.2.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 5:19 pm
    
    “Organic resources are effectively infinite within a sustainable framework. So are many renewables”
    
    yes, but relative to demand and space though. This is why population is such a crucial issue, not just global, but within each watershed.
    - Matthew Whitehead 9.2.1.1
      
      5 January 2015 at 6:24 pm
      
      Within a sustainable framework being the key word. A sustainable framework probably requires changes like reduced global population and increased uptake in vegetarianism and veganism.
      - weka 9.2.1.1.1
        
        6 January 2015 at 10:37 am
        
        “Within a sustainable framework being the key word”
        
        True, although the word sustainable has been so co-opted now that I think it’s always good to be more specific.
        
        “requires changes like reduced global population and increased uptake in vegetarianism and veganism.”
        
        I think this will work better if it’s framed as ‘semi-vegetarian’. There is not good reason to stop eating meat entirely, and ‘vegetarian/vegan’ are often ethical practices around animal welfare rather than being about the environment as a whole. ie being vegetarian or vegan isn’t inherently more or less green than eating meat. It’s about how it’s done.
- Matthew Whitehead 9.3
  
  5 January 2015 at 6:22 pm
  
  Possibly a better way of putting it is that to be Green, you must support only sustainable growth, and it’s pretty obvious that if you only support sustainable growth, you have to be hoping for some political trend or action that leads to a shrinkage in both the world population, and the overall use of resources. The best way for this to happen would be to shrink both simultaneously by large-scale movements to a sustainable lifestyle, (to maintain quality of life while reducing resource use) to encourage sustainable development in high-population and high birthrate areas, (as higher quality of life and financial security decreases the birthrate) while removing financial incentives to average parents to start families, and perhaps even OFFERING financial incentives to stay childless.
philj 10

2 January 2015 at 11:51 am

Gareth’s a decent person but he is an economist, blinkered. His awakening can’t come soon enough. Clue, Gareth, its not as complicated as all that. The economy is dependent (ultimately) on the ecology. Didn’t they teach that in ECON 101.
- tc 10.1
  
  2 January 2015 at 8:42 pm
  
  He sounds like he’s rolling out a theme that others can run with to me.
  
  He’s never struck me as having alot of integrity just plays the odds having backed son Sam on a winner years ago and another compliant media rent a quote.
The Al1en 11

2 January 2015 at 11:59 am

I have a little sympathy for Morgan’s point that the Greens are wasted outside of government, but don’t think they have to cut their social conscience heart from the party to achieve great things.

Perish the thought that the Greens be pigeon holed into a single issue party, no matter how important an issue saving the planet is.
Let’s not forget the valuable contribution they as a party have made since 08, arguably taking the mantle of main opposition while labour have self destructed in piques of self interest and factionalism.
- weka 11.1
  
  2 January 2015 at 12:37 pm
  
  Yes. It doesn’t really matter what they do, there will always be righties (and some lefties) telling them they’re doing it wrong. In the past they were criticised for being a single issue party (even though they weren’t). Now they get criticised for all that social justices stuff, why can’t they just focus on the environment? Plus, they should really work with National, because.
  
  It’s all rhetoric from people who don’t want the GP to be effective (even Morgan, who wants the GP to work towards his own aims, which is a green tech, growth focussed, BAU economy)
- marty mars 11.2
  
  2 January 2015 at 12:47 pm
  
  “Perish the thought that the Greens be pigeon holed into a single issue party, no matter how important an issue saving the planet is.”
  
  does that make sense? saving the planet is important because that will save humans (as well as the planet and other flora and fauna) and Greens are a subset of that group – what actually is more important than that?
  - The Al1en 11.2.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 2:11 pm
    
    In the political context it makes perfect sense to me mars.
    
    For example, the green party has good policy for the advancement of social justice and removing inequality, so obviously they are much more than an environmental lobby group, so it would be a travesty to class them by a single issue, no matter how important it is.
    Is that clear now?
    - marty mars 11.2.1.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 2:23 pm
      
      lol – didn’t have such a great start to the year eh allen
      
      if the planet is fucked we are fucked so making sure the planet isn’t fucked is a higher priority than anything – tick tock…
      - The Al1en 11.2.1.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 2:30 pm
        
        “didn’t have such a great start to the year eh allen”
        
        If that’s a question, then the answer is yerp, I’ve a great start to the year thanks.
        If it’s an observation, you need to examine your astuteness.
        
        “if the planet is fucked we are fucked so making sure the planet isn’t fucked is a higher priority than anything”
        
        That’s not been argued for or against. The point you contested was whether it is or isn’t a travesty the green be labelled a single issue party. I think that the good social policy and understanding of the issues facing the poor and put upon that they have, as outlined above, which you’ve ignored, is one reason why they should resist all attempts to frame them as just the climate change party, even though that is an important part of their make up.
        
        “tick tock…”
        
        😆
- ghostwhowalksnz 11.3
  
  2 January 2015 at 12:49 pm
  
  Really ?
  
  They are not an opposition in the normal sense of the word. If the voters thought so then they wouldnt be stuck at 11%.
  - Sacha 11.3.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 12:53 pm
    
    The Greens are *part of* the parliamentary opposition.
    - ghostwhowalksnz 11.3.1.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 1:09 pm
      
      Seems like the opposition part is a permanent feature now.
      
      The only legislative achievement is Sue Bradfords bill to stop whacking kids.
      
      The rest, nada, zilch.
      
      And even Bradford was pushed out, in a nice touchy feely way.
      - weka 11.3.1.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 2:48 pm
        
        It’s fine that you don’t like the GP, but please don’t tell lies or try and undermine them with slurs.
        
        Here’s a partial list of achievement (from 2013), but the full list would be much longer, including the very real effects of influencing awareness around crucial issues like AGW.
        
        https://home.greens.org.nz/achievements
        
        ghostwhowalksnz 11.3.1.1.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 4:01 pm
        
        I said legislative achievments. Otherwise you are just doing all the leg work free for Campbell LIve.
        
        Even the marriage equality, you were just doing the light work on that one. I suppose you were otherwise busy on getting bread made with ancient grains more widely available
        
        weka …
        
        2 January 2015 at 5:25 pm
        
        yes you did say legislative, but the clear implication was that that’s the only valid form of achievement for political parties (or is it just the GP?), and therefore the GP are useless. Which is both a lie and a slur as I mentioned.
        
        Always good to know who are the people on the left really interested in change (as opposed to those who will cut off their nose to spite their face).
        
        greywarshark …
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:23 pm
        
        @Ghostwwwwnz
        Ooh snaky. Brains with ancient synapses could think better. There is nothing wrong with thinking about what you are eating and where it came from etc. Why don’t you?
        
        ghostwhowalksnz …
        
        2 January 2015 at 9:42 pm
        
        I see others are thinking about what they are eating too.
        
        “Kennedy Graham succeeded in passing a motion …….
        
        about New Zealand ratification of the Kampala Amendments to the Rome Statute”
        
        keep up with the passing of motions.
        
        phillip ure 11.3.1.1.1.2
        
        2 January 2015 at 4:07 pm
        
        u left off norman saying he’d like to work with national..
        
        ..and that bill english is his favourite politician..
        
        ..and the wholesale betrayal (again!) of the constituency that got you into parliament the very first time..(btw..the aotearoa legalise cannabis party got 11,000 votes..
        
        ..a more bitter pill for harawira possibly to contemplate/swallow..(as to think there were not 800 pot-votes in a seat stretching from west ak to the far north…wd be just silly..and had he not thrown that reactionary-tantrum..and got the internet party pot-advertising campaign pulled..and in the process turned off every pot-smker/advocate from west ak to the north..
        
        ..he wd be again in parliament…along with others we wamted to be there..)
        
        ..but still votes the greens cd also have had/shared..
        
        ..i cd go on…
        
        phillip ure …
        
        2 January 2015 at 4:28 pm
        
        i mean i haven’t even gone near the major election achievement of the greens..
        
        ..gifting that toerag dunne his seat…again…
        
        Sacha …
        
        2 January 2015 at 5:35 pm
        
        The only way that could have worked is if the Greens and Labour *secretly* agreed to pool votes so the Nats could not advise their voters to counter it. Check the totals. It’s much like Epsom. How do you think the right choose these deals?
        
        phillip ure …
        
        2 January 2015 at 5:58 pm
        
        i’ve already blown this self-justifying bullshit out of the water elsewhere..
        
        ..is this the crap they are telling you..?
        
        ..go and look at the election-result numbers..
        
        ..and work it put for yrslf..
        
        ..in a nutshell..100% of the national vote wd have to ‘take direction.’.a la epsom..
        
        ..whereas in epsom..where the orders to national voters cd not have been clearer..there were many thousands of national party votes cast..
        
        ..(and yes..some of that wd have been lab/grns voting strategically..(one wd hope..)..but not all..
        
        ..and what my examination of the ohariu result if the greens had not split the vote..was it was too close to call..
        
        ..whereas..dunne was celebrating his victory from the day the greens announced they wd stand there..
        
        ..he knew he was home and hosed..
        
        ..and you mentioned epsom..?
        
        ..thought of doing i.q. tests on the over 3,000 green party voters there..?
        
        ..who voted with their brains in neutral..
        
        karol …
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:08 pm
        
        Ohariu results 2014:
        
        Anderson (LAB) 12,859
        Woodley (GP) 2,764
        TOTAL = 15,623
        
        Dunne (UFNZ) 13,569
        Hudson (Nat) 6,120
        TOTAL = 19,689
        
        phillip ure …
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:19 pm
        
        yes karol..u prove my point..
        
        ..you conclude that close to 100% of national party voters wd take direction..
        
        ..and vote for dunne..
        
        ..whereas epsom proves that conclusion false..
        
        ..and the accurate-reading of what u posted..
        
        ..is the difference between anderson and dunne..
        
        ..with the green vote factored in..
        
        ..as i said..had the greens not stood a candidate..
        
        ..i think it wd have been too close to call..
        
        ..by standing…they guaranteed dunne his victory..as they have done since day one…
        
        ..i mean..as u show…dunne beat the labour candidate by only 710 votes..
        
        ..the grn party candidate got 2,764 votes…
        
        karol …
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:59 pm
        
        Really you think the 4,000 votes difference between Lab + Green & UF plus Nats are negligible?
        
        You’re dreaming.
        
        Epsom is not a similar scenario. The Nats have already called for strong support for the ACT candidate. Plus how many Goldsmith votes were from the left? And, no doubt some Nats will have factored in that the Epsom ACT candidate will win without their votes.
        
        ghostwhowalksnz …
        
        2 January 2015 at 4:43 pm
        
        pot smoking may be a middle class pakeha pastime for you phil, but for maori of the far north it destroys lives and families and Hone knows that only too well.
        
        phillip ure …
        
        2 January 2015 at 5:04 pm
        
        what absolute fucken bullshit..
        
        ..detail for us how ‘lives/families have been destroyed’..from people puffing on pot..
        
        ..especially in comparison with the legal/advertised intoxicant alcohol..
        
        ..families have been destroyed by people being busted/jailed for pot..
        
        ..yes..!
        
        ..but not from smoking it..
        
        ..and hey..!..if a person is smart or dumb..
        
        ..pot doesn’t make them smarter..or dumber..
        
        ..but c’mon..!..detail how these lives/families ‘have been destroyed’..
        
        Colonial Viper …
        
        2 January 2015 at 5:37 pm
        
        it’s the lack of jobs, solid incomes and economic security up north which destroys lives. Don’t mistake symptoms for causes.
        
        Murray Rawshark …
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:19 pm
        
        How much of the damage you mention is due to the war on drugs? My guess would be quite a bit of it, with most of the rest due to neglect by central government and local governments that only care about pakeha enclaves on the East Coast. The district council moving their offices from Kaikohe to Kerikeri so the mayor could be close to his developer mates and get together with them for the odd braai is one of the latest symptoms.
      - Draco T Bastard 11.3.1.1.2
        
        2 January 2015 at 4:47 pm
        
        I think you’ll find the insulation installed in many homes is also due to the Greens no matter how much National tries to claim that policy as their own.
  - The Al1en 11.3.2
    
    2 January 2015 at 2:15 pm
    
    Yes, In my opinion, despite the election result and opinion polls, the green party have put more in to opposing the government and been much more effective in the role than the labour party.
    - ghostwhowalksnz 11.3.2.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 4:51 pm
      
      Thats nice to know.
      
      But the voters thought otherwise, and thought that little was done by the Greens in last 3 years. The results speak for themselves.
      
      Surely you arent smug about getting slightly less than last time ?.
      
      But thats the Greens all over. Do nothing and call it a great achievement.
      - phillip ure 11.3.2.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 5:13 pm
        
        whereas yr favourite key/nact..preached/promised economic-competence..
        
        ..and then put us in hock up to our eyeballs to international bankers..
        
        ..just to give tax-cuts to their douchebag-mates/backers..
        
        ..is that their/his ‘great achievement’..?
Pete George 12

2 January 2015 at 12:42 pm

She says that the government is on shaky ground because its policies and values are out of step with those of most New Zealanders.

National 47.04%
Greens 10.7%

Greens have quite wide support for some of their environmental aims but have hit a Green ceiling due to their more extreme environmental policies (no drilling, no mining, no fracking, less cars, less cows, less people) and their ‘social equity’ policies.

Many people are happy to see a bit of Green input but not too much. There was widespread respect for the Fitzsimons/Donald Greens.

Turei is correct in her assumption that the pendulum will swing against National (who are criticised more for their moderate conservatism than for being ‘very radical’).

But she is unrealistic to expect Labour to embrace many of their policies, especially their more left leaning ones. Helen Clark chose to cut Greens out of government. The next Labour coalition options may not allow for that but unless they want have a high risk of being a one term government Labour will talk tough in their negotiations with the Greens.

When it comes to the crunch when the Greens finally get a shot at being in Government they will have to compromise. Or force a new election, and that would be unlikely to end well for them.
- ghostwhowalksnz 12.1
  
  2 January 2015 at 12:52 pm
  
  The Green party wouldnt last 18 months as ministers in a government, there would be a split.
  It would be like labour in 98. Thats the real reason Clark kept them out, for their own sanity
  - phillip ure 12.1.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 2:36 pm
    
    why don’t you and that fuckwit above you just talk to each other..?
    
    ..u have so much in common..u should ‘get a room’…
    - ghostwhowalksnz 12.1.1.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 4:40 pm
      
      Tell us more about Greens internal struggles Phil. The battles , the backstabbing
      - phillip ure 12.1.1.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 5:16 pm
        
        i am not a green..have had nothing to do with the green party for about a decade..
        
        ..ask someone else..
        
        ..maybe yr fuckwit-mate..?
  - Tracey 12.1.2
    
    3 January 2015 at 4:27 pm
    
    on what basis do you call that they would split?
- Stephanie Rodgers 12.2
  
  2 January 2015 at 4:59 pm
  
  But she is unrealistic to expect Labour to embrace many of their policies, especially their more left leaning ones.
  
  Why not? It’s been a consistent feature of NZ politics over the past 20 years: the Greens champion a policy, get called extremist nutjobs who don’t know how to run a country, and a few electoral cycles later Labour and/or National present their ideas as obvious common sense.
  - Pete George 12.2.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 5:24 pm
    
    It’s not Green extremist nutjob policies that get picked up by Labour or National though.
    
    Do you suggest the Greens just wait a few electoral cycles and hope National or Labour pick up their AGW policies? The world could have changed quite a bit by then.
    - Sacha 12.2.1.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 5:29 pm
      
      Extremist? You seem to have little idea what’s required to combat climate change – but again that’s not giving you any pause from shooting your mouth off about it. Silence is an option, you know.
    - Draco T Bastard 12.2.1.2
      
      2 January 2015 at 6:55 pm
      
      Doing what needs to be done isn’t extremist but not doing it because a few people won’t get quite as rich is.
    - Stephanie Rodgers 12.2.1.3
      
      2 January 2015 at 7:23 pm
      
      You have wilfully misinterpreted my comment to serve your own agenda. You deserve only 🙄
  - les 12.2.2
    
    2 January 2015 at 7:33 pm
    
    so very true!
  - Lloyd 12.2.3
    
    2 January 2015 at 8:32 pm
    
    +1
  - Tracey 12.2.4
    
    3 January 2015 at 4:33 pm
    
    insulating all homes would have been captured at some stage by the extreme nutty policy catchall at some stage…
    
    nats and act and others RARELY identify what they are calling nutty or extremist.
    
    yesterday i was listening to something about sea shepherd and greenpeace work against illegal fishing. how different would our oceans be without them given no nations actively dissuade the illegal fishing… nutty and extreme…
    
    nutty and extreme is keeping the status quo despite decades of evidence it is not helping even 50% of your people and turning the planet into a toilet
Sacha 13

2 January 2015 at 12:54 pm

Let’s not feed the troll today.
- One Anonymous Bloke 13.1
  
  2 January 2015 at 2:08 pm
  
  He finds having his deceitful methods exposed most unpalatable, I assure you. Today’s attempt to twist Turei’s words is merely the latest of a long stream of lies. He also slips in the fatuous conceit that he speaks for “many” and “most” people.
  
  I suggest we forcefeed his own gobshite back to him.
  - Sacha 13.1.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 2:30 pm
    
    Let’s try starving it of oxygen instead.
    - weka 13.1.1.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 2:43 pm
      
      that only works if everyone does it. Am willing to hold off and give it a try though 🙂
      - Colonial Viper 13.1.1.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:32 pm
        
        Oh OK I guess i should join… lol
        
        Sacha 13.1.1.1.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:46 pm
        
        too late. worked for many hours though
        
        weka …
        
        2 January 2015 at 7:29 pm
        
        and here we all are at the end of the day, having given PG bucket loads of attention and affirmation 🙄 I’ve just had a bath, but feel the need for a shower to remove the beige ooze.
        
        Sacha …
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:19 pm
        
        sorry
        
        weka …
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:34 pm
        
        not your fault 🙂
      - Tracey 13.1.1.1.2
        
        3 January 2015 at 4:05 pm
        
        i am for starving of oxygen
  - Pete George 13.1.2
    
    2 January 2015 at 2:49 pm
    
    “the fatuous conceit that he speaks for “many” and “most” people.”
    
    Did you mean like this? “She says that the government is on shaky ground because its policies and values are out of step with those of most New Zealanders.”
    
    Be careful saying things like “I suggest we forcefeed his own gobshite back to him.”
    
    You seem to make a good job of continually exposing your own deceitful methods. Maybe you should follow Sacha’s advice and not keeping feeding yourself.
    - weka 13.1.2.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 3:02 pm
      
      🙄
    - One Anonymous Bloke 13.1.2.2
      
      2 January 2015 at 3:41 pm
      
      Yes, I mean exactly like that, where you assume similar status to Ms. Turei, who unlike you, has a constituency, and can back up her beliefs with opinion poll after opinion poll that says people think the government isn’t doing enough about AGW, or water quality, or transport issues, or inequality.
      
      That you attempt to twist that into a claim for support for the Green Party is a perfect illustration of your dirty dishonest methods.
      
      Yawns.
- Sacha 13.2
  
  2 January 2015 at 5:31 pm
  
  That worked well. For a while. 🙂
phillip ure 14

2 January 2015 at 2:34 pm

um..!..cd i ask what has happened to my comment on morgan..?

..and his ex-hippie/ayn rand tendencies..?

..it was there..

..and now it seems to have gone walkabout..
- The Al1en 14.1
  
  2 January 2015 at 2:38 pm
  
  Maybe one of those ‘leaders’/media/persons-of-influence who frequent here have realised it was just what they were looking for and snaffled it. 😆
  
  But sadly, for you, not the case.
  It’s in open mic where you posted it. Short term memory issues? 😆
  
  http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-02012015/#comment-946139
- phillip ure 14.2
  
  2 January 2015 at 4:24 pm
  
  ahem..!..maybe because i lodged it in open mike..?
Matthew Hooton 15

2 January 2015 at 3:03 pm

What a lunatic attitude by Fitzsimons. On the one hand, she says that the future existence of the human race is at stake:

“in the words of one of them, I can’t remember who it was, ‘the future will be green or not all’, given the seriousness of the threats facing us.”

Then:

“She says she wouldn’t support a Green party that shifted from it’s principles to get the baubles of office. She further says we desperately need a party with principles that they stick to.”

Yet again, this confirms my belief that Big Green leaders don’t really believe that the future of the world is at stake from the environmental issues they talk about, and that they just use those extremist scenarios as an excuse for what is fundamentally a communist economic agenda.

For example, if people did believe that climate change represented an existential threat to the human race then they would have an entirely different policy framework than the ones the Green Party presents.
- weka 15.1
  
  2 January 2015 at 3:09 pm
  
  lolz, mate that’s just your ethical impairment talking.
  
  “For example, if people did believe that climate change represented an existential threat to the human race then they would have an entirely different policy framework than the ones the Green Party presents.”
  
  Nope, the GP is striking the best balance between what needs to be done and what can be done via the political process. Any party that got up and told the truth about AGW and what really needs to be done would (a) be piloried by the MSM and (b) be shunned by voters because most of them are in cognitive dissonance about CC.
  
  I know you are probably incapable of understanding this, but the GP want change not power. Having power doesn’t necessarily lead to change, and there are other ways of effecting change than being the most powerful.
  
  and that they just use those extremist scenarios as an excuse for what is fundamentally a communist economic agenda.
  
  Assuming you really believe that (doubtful), can we also assume that you will stop promoting the GP working with National?
  - greywarshark 15.1.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 3:33 pm
    
    @Good answer weka – good questions. You are doing matthew h a favour. All this mental action we demand will tend to stop early alzheimers coming on.
  - Pete George 15.1.2
    
    2 January 2015 at 4:01 pm
    
    “the GP is striking the best balance between what needs to be done and what can be done via the political process.”
    
    They can’t be striking the best balance, otherwise they would be getting the best proportion of votes and they would be in the best position to do what they think is essential to save the planet.
    
    “the GP want change not power”
    
    But to get the degree of change they want they need to be influential on power, and they don’t seem to be very satisfied with their current lack of influence.
    
    “Any party that got up and told the truth about AGW and what really needs to be done would (a) be piloried by the MSM and (b) be shunned by voters”
    
    Greens think they are telling ‘the truth’ about AGW and they are proposing what they think really needs to be done – and they are stalled at 10-11%, having said they were good for 15%.
    - Sacha 15.1.2.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 4:29 pm
      
      What’s the best proportion of votes in an MMP coalition? And since when did we hold parties to what they projected before an election?
      
      Who knows what the Greens might reach next time if voters have been shown a coherent alliance beforehand? Smaller parties shares are affected by their larger partners, and the one on the left performed abysmally. The one on the right is not viable beyond smaller specific agreements like the home insulation one because its policies are not remotely congruent – and because the decision-making body about that is Green members, not some disconnected caucus.
      - Pete George 15.1.2.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 5:19 pm
        
        There’s no ‘best proportion’ in a coalition, parties have to deal with what voters give them.
        
        Who knows what the Greens might reach next time. They had a good increase in their vote in 2011, probably largely benefiting from Labour slumping. Labour slid more this year but Greens didn’t benefit this time, which was a bit of a reality check.
        
        If Labour do a decent job of rebuilding and Andrew Little keeps doing a good job then it’s probable they will recover at least some of their vote share.
        
        That should be worrying the Greens. There’s probably a greater chance of them slipping back rather than growing their vote.
      - weka 15.1.2.1.2
        
        2 January 2015 at 5:29 pm
        
        Sacha, what are you doing? 😯
        
        Sacha 15.1.2.1.2.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 5:32 pm
        
        See 13.2. #ownworstenemy
    - The Al1en 15.1.2.2
      
      2 January 2015 at 7:21 pm
      
      “Greens think they are telling ‘the truth’ about AGW ”
      
      Direct question that needs a similar response. Obfuscation being the great exposer.
      
      If the greens only think they’re telling the truth about agw, list precisely what they are getting wrong with as many examples as you can.
      
      Shouldn’t be too difficult seeing as you made the claim, you must know the errors before the fact.
      - The Al1en 15.1.2.2.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:19 pm
        
        Nothing yet?
        
        Sacha 15.1.2.2.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 10:05 pm
        
        crickets
        
        The Al1en …
        
        2 January 2015 at 10:12 pm
        
        Funny that, eh?
  - Pete George 15.1.3
    
    2 January 2015 at 4:08 pm
    
    “promoting the GP working with National”
    
    If National have the power to do something and Greens have all the truth on what needs to be done then why shouldn’t they work together to come up with a practical plan to address AGW?
    
    If AGW is so important to Greens they should be doing everything they can to work with the current Government to do something about it.
    
    Waiting three years and hoping they get to dictate to Labour in the next coalition is a big risk to take when urgency is supposedly required. Isn’t it?
    - mickysavage 15.1.3.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 4:46 pm
      
      Do you think Pete that AGW is important?
      
      Do you think that doing nothing about AGW runs the risk of environmental devastation for large parts of the world?
      - One Anonymous Bloke 15.1.3.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 4:53 pm
        
        Can pollution offer a valid opinion about itself?
      - Pete George 15.1.3.1.2
        
        2 January 2015 at 5:10 pm
        
        Greg – yes, I think it’s important that we do more to address AGW. I think it’s important enough to involve all parties in working out how New Zealand is best to deal with it.
        
        I don’t know the answers. It’s up to our Parliament to find and implement the best answers.
        
        mickysavage 15.1.3.1.2.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 5:22 pm
        
        This is the problem Pete. This particular discussion has been going on for nearly 50 years. There is no political consensus on “the answers” even though the science is really well settled. We cut methane and CO2 production and start planting trees. But while this “debate” continues we lose precious time. The “middle way” is destroying the planet.
        
        Haven’t you read enough on the subject yet to form an opinion?
        
        weka …
        
        2 January 2015 at 5:58 pm
        
        Pete has an opinion. He just won’t state it clearly here because that would show his true colours and then he wouldn’t be able to speak on behalf of muddle NZ.
        
        Pete George …
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:00 pm
        
        It’s a fairly diverse topic but I’ve got some opinions on aspects of it. I’ve read about it.
        
        I’ve had quite a few debates in the past on KB about it but have mostly given up on that, it’s futile. But I still promote action on AGW there. There’s an entrenched views like ‘no problem’ and science conspiracies that are unlikely to change. And I’ve talked a bit about it with my son-in-law who’s an environmental economist and does research. But I’m not an expert by any means.
        
        I think that the NZ market is too small for carbon trading. Some sort of carbon tax would be more appropriate – I think that’s Green policy.
        
        They had an item on the news last night about research into lower methane cows. As cows produce (from memory) 30% of our carbon emissions that’s promising.
        
        Greens announced a solar subsidy policy earlier this year. I asked Metiria if they would include double glazing subsidies but she said no, it wasn’t their current focus. I think power conservation should be given more emphasis. I would have liked the proceeds of the power company asset sales to go towards funding power conservation measures but no chance of that.
        
        mickysavage …
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:10 pm
        
        Specifics Pete, specifics. The clock is ticking and the need to cut GHG production is urgent.
        
        How would you halve NZ’s CO2 output within the next ten years?
        
        Pete George …
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:19 pm
        
        That’s not my call.
        
        How much would halving the CO2 emissions in New Zealand affect AGW?
        
        And how would it affect employment and trade? We could cull all our cows and sheep and try to make sure their emissions aren’t replaced by possums but that would impact dramatically on our employment and trade.
        
        How much would you suggest we cut livestock numbers? If we only cut them in half that means the rest of our emissions would have to be cut in half.
        
        What would you propose? By the sound of things you’ve got it worked out.
        
        One Anonymous Bloke …
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:23 pm
        
        🙄
        
        Colonial Viper …
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:23 pm
        
        Don’t be a dick.
        
        If we create a society and an economy which can run on only half the fossil fuels it uses now, we will be far better placed to maintain our society once the fossil fuel energy depletion curve steepens downwards.
        
        And in the mean time, we will reduce our trade deficit and our reliance on imported energy.
        
        What is your problem, man. You’re going to be dead of old age in the next 20 years. At least work towards a better future for younger Kiwis instead of promoting the game of ‘pretend and extend.’
        
        Sacha …
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:25 pm
        
        “We could cull all our cows and sheep and try to make sure their emissions aren’t replaced by possums but that would impact dramatically on our employment and trade.”
        
        Strawman city. Getting more income from every cow does not mean we need to kill any of them – just not add more, probably. Mainly stop exporting raw milk powder or logs for others to add value to. That’s crucial.
        
        Our trading partners will not tolerate this govt’s opportunistic laziness indefinitely. NZ will face exclusion from markets unless we are seen to be pulling our weight. Smiling and waving won’t cut it.
        
        mickysavage …
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:26 pm
        
        How much would halving the CO2 emissions in New Zealand affect AGW?
        
        Bugger all but if a wealthy country like NZ does not do it then the world is stuffed.
        
        And how would it affect employment and trade? We could cull all our cows and sheep and try to make sure their emissions aren’t replaced by possums but that would impact dramatically on our employment and trade.
        
        Could do. We certainly need to be creating green jobs where people can earn a fair day’s pay doing something that does not trash the environment. Think of all the opportunities. Education, counselling, windmill manufacturing, reengineering the power supply. The opportunities are endless as long as there is some leadership.
        
        How much would you suggest we cut livestock numbers? If we only cut them in half that means the rest of our emissions would have to be cut in half.
        
        Could be. But Pete you have to know how big the problem is to work out how radical the solution is. You and many other right wingers refuse to commit to agreeing on how big the problem is, and then say that inaction is justified because there is no agreement.
        
        What would you propose? By the sound of things you’ve got it worked out.
        
        Not at all but I would start with Auckland’s inner city rail loop.
        
        And how about you answer the question Pete, what would you do?
        
        Pete George …
        
        2 January 2015 at 7:10 pm
        
        Why are you insisting I produce a comprehensive plan when all you can come up with is “start with Auckland’s inner city rail loop”? How much of the 50% reduction will that give you?
        
        It’s way out of my league. It’s up to Government and Parliament. I wasn’t elected. Greens were. They should be prepared to do whatever it takes to make more happen. If that means climbing off their high horse then perhaps they should. They should have learnt by now not to rely on Labour to get them more power.
        
        mickysavage []
        
        2 January 2015 at 7:22 pm
        
        I will give you a huge list if you like Pete. But if it is way out of your league then why not say that if there is a scientific consensus then it should determine the decisions. And the Green “high horse” is actually what needs to be done. So on the one hand you are saying that you should not contribute to the debate but on the other hand you are contributing to the debate by saying that the Green position is not tenable? See the problem?
        
        Pete George …
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:50 pm
        
        Greg – I didn’t say I shouldn’t contribute to the debate, I said I don’t have all the solutions.
        
        “if there is a scientific consensus then it should determine the decisions”
        
        Scientists aren’t elected in a democracy. They can and should advise but they don’t make political or economic decisions.
        
        So you support all of what the Greens want done as opposed to what Labour would do?
        
        Pete George …
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:56 pm
        
        Sacha…
        
        “Getting more income from every cow does not mean we need to kill any of them – just not add more, probably.”
        
        Keeping the same number of cows means it is difficult to cut emissions by 50%.
        
        “Mainly stop exporting raw milk powder or logs for others to add value to. That’s crucial.”
        
        Milk powder is a processed/added value product that there is a substantial market for. Do you mean stop exporting milk that is currently processed into milk powder? Or process the powder into something else? If the latter then what? There would need to be a market for it.
        
        What markets do you think there are for processed logs?
        
        McFlock …
        
        2 January 2015 at 9:00 pm
        
        pete just argued that current markets for raw materials do not indicate markets for things that those raw materials are used to make
        
        🙄
        
        Pete George …
        
        2 January 2015 at 9:14 pm
        
        That’s not what I argued Mcflock. I asked.
        
        If we processed logs into whatever the Chinese process our logs into and tried to sell the processed products to the Chinese there’s no guarantee they would be interested. Their processing costs are likely to be much cheaper than ours.
        
        The Greens seem to think that there will automatically be a market for whatever we make from raw logs or from processed milk powder. At best that’s naive.
        
        If Fonterra could add more value before selling why wouldn’t they be doing that now?
        
        Why aren’t timber companies buying more logs and processing them before selling them? There’s nothing to stop that happening now – except no viable market.
        
        Colonial Viper …
        
        2 January 2015 at 9:23 pm
        
        You have an unreasonably high regard for NZ corporate management and their market intelligence, Pete George.
        
        Your concept that the way things are happening now is the only way things can possibly happen also calls into question your ability and willingness to lead meaningful change and to see new opportunities.
        
        They’re simply pumping out low value volume because that is all they know how to do. The only thing we can conclude with certainty is that they are unwilling to take the risks and make the investments to do anything else.
        
        Don’t give these people an easy pass mate. They are paid highly enough to be doing much better for this nation.
        
        McFlock …
        
        2 January 2015 at 9:29 pm
        
        Great economic thinking there pete – if it’s not being done now, it’s not being done for a reason, therefore we shouldn’t do it.
        
        The entire point is that we need to invest and produce wisely for the good of the planet and the country, not just a company focused on its core business.
        
        Why would our processing costs be much more than say China’s, like for like? They have cheap labour and smart government policy development. We have a culture of innovation and working smarter, no matter how much people like you want to kill it and turn us all into docile wage slaves.
        
        Just think what would happen if we could be innovative and have decent government economic policy.
        
        Poission …
        
        3 January 2015 at 11:51 am
        
        We could cull all our cows and sheep and try to make sure their emissions aren’t replaced by possums but that would impact dramatically on our employment and trade.
        
        The problem is invertible,removing the possum population increases the efficiency of the forest sinks,by around 20-30k tonnes of vegetation per day.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        3 January 2015 at 10:52 pm
        
        Their processing costs are likely to be much cheaper than ours.
        
        Actually, due to their present excessive use of fossil fuels their processing costs must be much higher. It’s only our delusional financial system that makes it appear cheaper.
        
        In real terms, in the amount of resources actually used, the costs will be near enough to exactly the same. It is impossible to build a one tonne car using only 900kg of material.
        
        phillip ure …
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:24 pm
        
        @ m.s..
        
        ..u know he never answers any hard/direct questions..
        
        ..(i mean..imagine being married to him..?..whoar..!
        
        ..you’d run fucken screaming from the house..wouldn’t ya..?..
        
        ..from just trying to get him to say what he wd like for dinner..)
    - karol 15.1.3.2
      
      2 January 2015 at 5:53 pm
      
      You obviously haven’t read and fully digested the post, nor listened to the audio of the interview.
      
      eg this is the post:
      
      Jeanette Fitzsimons said that the current government is very pro fossil fuel industries, putting our environment increasingly in danger. They will not compromise on their core economic policies that (allegedly) will bring faster economic growth, but that are destroying the planet. The Greens could not go into coalition with a government with such core economic policies.
      
      And this:
      
      Fitzsimons adds that the National government would never be influenced by the Green Party policies as they have other options with other smaller conservative parties.
      
      And also in the audio, Turei says they have tried to work with National on specific policies, but the Nats won’t work with them.
      - Pete George 15.1.3.2.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:10 pm
        
        Greens have worked with National:
        
        The Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart home insulation scheme was initiated as a result of the Greens’ Memorandum of Understanding with the National Government. It has now reached its target of 188,500 homes insulated with sufficient remaining budget to bring the total to around 230,000.
        
        https://home.greens.org.nz/press-releases/home-insulation-scheme-green-success-story
        
        Since then there does seem to be greater difficulties between the two parties. I don’t think the problem with that is one sided.
        
        New Zealand has to be pro fossil fuels to an extent. Extreme Green policies could have a potentially severe impact on our economy.
        
        Fracking has the potential to move to cleaner energy but Greens are against fracking. That’s puzzling.
        
        Can you point to details of how much Greens want to reduce fossil fuel use? And what impact that would have on our economy and our way of life?
        
        Sacha 15.1.3.2.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:16 pm
        
        “Extreme Green policies” – like what? You have already misrepresented them here. ‘No new mines’ or ‘no mines on Conservation land’ does not mean ‘no mines’. Any coalition agreement with Labour would dilute that anyway.
        
        Do tell us what is really upsetting you?
        
        One Anonymous Bloke …
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:24 pm
        
        Bland, featureless desert. That’s what’s driving him.
        
        Sacha …
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:32 pm
        
        or the opposite. A scary non-beige world.
        
        One Anonymous Bloke …
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:34 pm
        
        Deep. Probably accurate, too.
        
        Colonial Viper 15.1.3.2.1.2
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:19 pm
        
        the world is currently transitioning to a low carbon zero growth economy, whether it likes it or not.
        
        You are someone who clearly doesn’t understand the linkage between “economy” and “energy” so you can start by studying that.
        
        Either we get onboard proactively and prepare the low carbon infrastructure and expectations we need ahead of time, or be go down your route of denial and strategy of pretend + extend, destroying our mores and environment enroute.
        
        By the way, any child of primary school age or younger, now faces a steep uphill, difficult life, thanks to my generation and your generation wasting the treasures of this Earth. That’s nothing to be pleased about eh.
        
        Sacha 15.1.3.2.1.3
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:20 pm
        
        “Since then there does seem to be greater difficulties between the two parties. I don’t think the problem with that is one sided.”
        
        National terminated the agreement. Doesn’t get more one-sided than that. Do stop lying and misrepresenting. It’s embarrassing.
        
        Pete George …
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:58 pm
        
        Which agreement did National terminate? When?
        
        Less than two weeks before the election in September
        
        Greens signalled yesterday that they may be open to a memorandum of understanding with National similar to that struck in 2011.
        
        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10492794/John-Key-nixes-deal-with-Greens
        
        That’s probably the worst possible time to suggest something like that. Labour had already turned down a suggestion of a joint approach with Greens. It’s not surprising Key said he wasn’t interested then.
        
        “In the course of having that MOU we had some considerable discussions with the Greens and I think what came out at the end of it was the Greens don’t want to be with National,” he said.
        
        Tracey Watkins on Possible coalition line-ups after election
        
        National and the Greens. The Greens and Key have all but ruled this out
        
        Until Green’s signalling in the middle of the election campaign from what I remember they had clearly signalled they would be very very unlikely to do a post-election deal with National.
        
        karol …
        
        2 January 2015 at 7:08 pm
        
        It wasn’t a new suggestion, just the Greens re-stating their basic position – that they will collaborate with any party on selected policies
        
        And Turei explained it in the audio referred to in my post.
        
        I thought Key and the Nats had turned the Greens down on collaborating on selected policies following the 2011 election.
        
        Ah, the 2011 MOU was made before the election in 2011, and was an extension of their 2009 MOU.
        
        After the 2011 election the Nats turned the GP down.
        
        The National Government’s lurch to the right has scuppered prospects of a new policy deal between it and the Greens, the smaller party says, but National claims the Greens wanted policies that were unaffordable.
        
        Tracey …
        
        3 January 2015 at 4:01 pm
        
        if it is new to pete, it is by definition, new.
        
        Sacha …
        
        3 January 2015 at 4:06 pm
        
        Senility has its perks. #alwaysnew
        
        Tracey …
        
        3 January 2015 at 4:12 pm
        
        it also helps if your world view is,
        
        whoever has the most votes must be “right” and have struck the right “balance”; and
        
        unfettered by reading articles or listening to audio you already intuitively know you know is wrong
        
        excitedly influenced by hooton sharing your viewpoint
        
        nothing much can really be done about bad stuff, sigh, so just keep doing pretty much what we do now until something beyond our control changes
        
        tc 15.1.3.2.1.4
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:59 pm
        
        It’s multi choice Petey, go with the beige vague one that allows no clear position and plenty of weasel room for a change.
        
        Lloyd 15.1.3.2.1.5
        
        2 January 2015 at 9:09 pm
        
        Why does New Zealand have to be pro-fossil fuel use?
        
        We have a clear ability to make more cheap zero-fossil generated electricity than all our present generation. Electric heating could meet all of Fronterra’s milk powder manufacturing needs, If road transport rapidly adopted electric propulsion or transport was diverted to electric rail where possible, we would rapidly need fossil fuel only for air travel and for making steel at Glenbrook, (and the Glenbrook plant could use tyres and wood-chips for at least some of its carbon needs). The economic benefits of using electricity generated by renewable sources wherever possible would have a great positive benefit to the economy.
        
        Be pro-fossil fuel? Bah. humbug! Sounds like crap government to me.
        
        Fracking has produced more fossil fuel. In the US the fuel produced is natural gas which has less effects than coal. Fortunately we have less need for vast amounts of propane, so much so that we have wasted huge amounts of natural gas on converting it into petrol and nitrogen fertilizer.
        
        WE DON’T NEED MORE FOSSIL FUEL – WE NEED TO BURN LESS.
        
        Lloyd 15.1.3.2.1.6
        
        2 January 2015 at 9:15 pm
        
        Why does New Zealand have to be pro-fossil fuel use?
        
        We have a clear ability to make more cheap zero-fossil generated electricity than all our present generation. Electric heating could meet all of Fronterra’s milk powder manufacturing needs, If road transport rapidly adopted electric propulsion or transport was diverted to electric rail where possible, we would rapidly need fossil fuel only for air travel and for making steel at Glenbrook, (and the Glenbrook plant could use tyres and wood-chips for at least some of its carbon needs). The economic benefits of using electricity generated by renewable sources wherever possible would have a great positive benefit to the economy.
        
        Be pro-fossil fuel? Bah. humbug! Sounds like crap government to me.
        
        Fracking has produced more fossil fuel. In the US the fuel produced is natural gas which has less effects than coal. Fortunately New Zealand has less need for vast amounts of propane, so much so that in the past we have wasted huge amounts of natural gas on converting it into petrol and nitrogen fertilizer.
        
        WE DON’T NEED MORE FOSSIL FUEL – WE NEED TO BURN LESS.
        
        Tautoko Mangō Mata …
        
        2 January 2015 at 10:18 pm
        
        “Landfarming is the process of spreading oil drilling waste across marginal land. The soil breaks down the waste and new pasture is sown on top.
        
        The practice drew attention last year when Fonterra announced it would no longer pick up milk from landfarms, although it continues to collect milk from six landfarms in Taranaki.
        
        In one inspection of Remediation NZ’s landfarm, council officers found cattle grazing within the waste spreading area, which had recently been spread but not yet tilled or sown.”
        
        http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/9712030/Taranaki-council-cracking-down-hard-on-landfarms
        Would you be happy to eat meat from the cattle grazing on the landfarms? There is also concern at the accumulation of heavy metals after repeated applications of drilling waste on the same land. This would render the land unusable for producing food.
    - Lloyd 15.1.3.3
      
      2 January 2015 at 8:46 pm
      
      Basically rational long-term survival policies are everything National isn’t doing. Irrational short-term gain for your rich mates which at the same time will guarantee New Zealand’s long term economy and the planet will be fucked policies are what John Key’s government has been introducing/promoting for the last six years. Why would a party which has the long-term good of the planet and the country as its central basis get involved with the disaster of the National Party?
      - mickysavage 15.1.3.3.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:48 pm
        
        +1
  - One Anonymous Bloke 15.1.4
    
    2 January 2015 at 4:34 pm
    
    Having power doesn’t necessarily lead to change, and there are other ways of effecting change than being the most powerful.
    
    +∞
- phillip ure 15.2
  
  2 January 2015 at 3:37 pm
  
  @ hooton..
  
  u do realise everytime you accuse people of being ‘communist’..
  
  ..u sound like some unhinged mccarthy era throwback..?
  
  ..and thus clownish..?
  
  ..seeing as you are big on manipulating ‘perceptions’ in service to yr clients..
  
  ..(so..essentially..every word out of yr mouth is snakeoil-drenched..)
  
  ..i thought u shd know that is the perception u create..
  
  ..what next..?..urging searching under beds for them..?
  
  ..’look..!..a green..!’..
  
  ..sheesh..!..talk about parking yrslf up in a cul de sac..eh..?..
  
  ..(and heads-up..!..shouting ‘you’re just a fabian’..repeatedly..
  
  ..moves the whole thing up into high-farce..)
  
  ..i’ll invoice you for this advice..
  
  (tho’ i do agree..grading political parties by depth of green..
  
  ..would see our dairy-farmer-friendly model coming in a very pale shade..
  
  ..but..unfortunately..it’s all we’ve got..
  
  ..mind you..you have act..eh..?..tee-hee..!..aren’t/weren’t they funny..?..the dweeb and the philosopher..)
  
  ..(and seriously..!..you are still a climate-change-denier..?..really..?.
  
  ..i mean i know you are paid to be one..so will lie/spin for those dollars..
  
  ..but really..?..deep down..?..(if there is such a thing/place..)
- One Anonymous Bloke 15.3
  
  2 January 2015 at 4:42 pm
  
  if people did believe that climate change represented an existential threat to the human race then they would have an entirely different policy framework than the ones the Green Party presents.
  
  “People” do believe that. Especially the ones with the most information.
- Tracey 15.4
  
  3 January 2015 at 4:08 pm
  
  lunatic
  extremist
  communist
  
  try these two for size matthew,
  self awareness
Tautoko Mangō Mata 16

2 January 2015 at 3:49 pm

@Matthew
Becoming a coalition partner does not necessarily give you power over the major party in government. Just look at how little change for the better for Māori was achieved by the Maori Party!
- ghostwhowalksnz 16.1
  
  2 January 2015 at 4:06 pm
  
  MP really was a vanity project for Dame Tariana. ( Sharples was in just for the baubles)
  Even I can see the Greens have a greater ambition than that.
  - les 16.1.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 7:48 pm
    
    are you serious?..surprised she accepted a damehood,but always impressed me as a genuine,sincere person with plenty of courage and commonsense.
Sacha 17

2 January 2015 at 4:31 pm

Funny how both Hooten and Pete preach that the ends justify the means.

Abandoning principle has a great history which is why human cultures have learned to use ethics and regulatory structures around people exercising power.
Ad 18

2 January 2015 at 5:06 pm

In 2017 the Greens could find themselves in the same place as NZFirst 2006: play Labour and National off each other for the optimum deal. That would require non-Green gaming ie squeeze both sets of balls in each hand and the winner is the first one to cry.

I think this approach would reduce the developing risk of the German Realos v Fundies quandary of the 1990s.

Both Labour and National need to shift toward the greening of the world. To teach the lesson, the Greens should learn Winston’s hard realpolitik lessons.
- weka 18.1
  
  2 January 2015 at 5:33 pm
  
  The membership wouldn’t stand for such tactics, and if the GP did go with National a huge chunk of the membership would walk over night. Electoral suicide, which I’m sure the GP are well aware of. If you look at the AGM remit (two years running now), it’s pretty clear that the membership only allowed the right wing of the party a small concession – that the GP would work with any party on a policy by policy basis. The GP will only support National as a govt if National and the GP share common core policy. What that means for the GP is that National has to change. Ain’t gonna happen.
  - One Anonymous Bloke 18.1.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 5:37 pm
    
    The National Party is capable of change when its owners say it is and not before. At that point, they will claim the credit.
    - weka 18.1.1.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 5:56 pm
      
      and in terms of AGW, that will be at the point that people start voting against them, which of course will be far too late.
  - Ad 18.1.2
    
    2 January 2015 at 6:25 pm
    
    Loathe as I am to tell the Green membership what to do, they should have no part in a coalition negotiation. Let the MPs do their job.
    
    Not saying it would be easy, but its play or be played. Greens need to be in power, and exercise it. IMHO, Garth represents progressive green capitalists of whom there are many.
    
    Business can take on board the Greens than with Labour because Labour threaten both capital and labour, whereas Greens only threaten land.
    - Colonial Viper 18.1.2.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 6:28 pm
      
      We you talk about “business” you have to distinguish between small and medium NZ enterprises, and transnational corporations and banks. They are two completely different groups.
      
      Also, your promoting anti-democratic decision making in the Greens doesn’t really sound like a good idea for anyone else apart from powerbrokers and those earning over $150K pa.
      - Ad 18.1.2.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:41 pm
        
        They are smart enough to make those distinctions themselves, don’t you think?
        
        Coalition Negotiations happen after nationsl elections, so no there’s nothing anti-democratic going on.
        
        They could use the next three years to thrash out coalition agreement options with both National and Labour -openly – so everyone sees the price to pay. They’ve got nothing else to do.
        
        weka 18.1.2.1.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 7:21 pm
        
        The GP already have a process for that Ad. That’s where the remit comes from that says they GP will work with any party on a policy by policy basis. There’s no point in going through a coalition development process re National, because the GP simply won’t go into a coalition deal with them until National change, and that’s not going to happen in the next 3 years. They’ve been pretty clear about working with Labour. Beyond that, how can you thrash out a one sided coalition deal? It’s Labour that’s refused to dance (although that may change this term).
    - Sacha 18.1.2.2
      
      2 January 2015 at 6:35 pm
      
      You might find new Green MP James Shaw’s background interesting, moreso than Gareth’s.
      - Ad 18.1.2.2.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:43 pm
        
        Shaw is going to take a couple of years to be useful. But would be a good back channel in time.
      - phillip ure 18.1.2.2.2
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:19 pm
        
        gordon campbell on james shaw..
        
        “.. Excitedly, the likes of Matthew Hooton have been hailing Shaw in NBR as a Green MP with whom National can do business..”
        
        ..isn’t that sooo reassuring…?
        
        ..rightwing stalking-horse..?..anyone..?
    - weka 18.1.2.3
      
      2 January 2015 at 7:25 pm
      
      “Loathe as I am to tell the Green membership what to do, they should have no part in a coalition negotiation. Let the MPs do their job.”
      
      I don’t think the wider membership does have a part in post-election negotiations, but am pretty sure the senior party members do. It’s not just about the MPs, and as CV points out, you are suggesting something that is anti-democratic. Look how that’s worked for Labour.
      
      Nevertheless, my point stands. If the GP tried to break the remit a big chunk of the membership would walk.
      - phillip ure 18.1.2.3.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:00 pm
        
        a handpicked bunch of representitives consult with the actual negotiators..
        
        ..and the party then ratifies that at a special meeting of members..
        
        ..that’s how it used to happen..anyway..
        
        weka 18.1.2.3.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:37 pm
        
        a special meeting of reps presumably, not members.
        
        phillip ure …
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:42 pm
        
        i seem to remember that if it happened..it wd have to be ratified by a meeting open to all members who cd get there..
        
        ..held in wellington..naturally..
    - Tracey 18.1.2.4
      
      3 January 2015 at 2:13 pm
      
      to date The Green MPs have adhered to the core values/principles set down by their members. It is only when the membership dont trust MPs they want to make the big decisions for them. eg Labour Party.
  - Colonial Viper 18.1.3
    
    2 January 2015 at 11:05 pm
    
    The membership wouldn’t stand for such tactics, and if the GP did go with National a huge chunk of the membership would walk over night.
    
    Nah, walking away from your political party when your MPs are shit does only two things: gifts the shit MPs (and their hangers-on) control of your party without a fight, and leaves you stranded without a political vehicle.
    
    Better to make the shit MPs walk the plank, making it clear to them and all associated careerist types that their perspective and their services are no longer required.
    - Murray Rawshark 18.1.3.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 11:27 pm
      
      Speaking from bitter experience, CV? More than a few should have walked the plank after 1984, but was there a way to ensure that?
      - Colonial Viper 18.1.3.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 11:38 pm
        
        If thousands of Labour Party members had not walked out for New Labour/Alliance (or just walked outright) we would have a far more left wing Labour Party than we do today.
        
        weka 18.1.3.1.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 11:59 pm
        
        Or, if more members had walked back then, we might have a new left wing by now.
        
        Although I’m not sure the situations are comparable.
        
        Murray Rawshark 18.1.3.1.1.2
        
        3 January 2015 at 1:40 am
        
        Maybe, but if they’d stayed instead, how would they have forced the Rogernomes down the plank and into the sea? What mechanism did they have?
        
        dave brown …
        
        4 January 2015 at 11:53 am
        
        They wouldn’t have know until they tried.
        Anderton had a third of Congress yet chose to walk.
        He did not try to activate his support in the Party to defeat the caucus.
        The damage was to split the left and gift the Nats a decade.
        http://situationsvacant.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/how-the-labour-left-sold-out-nz-workers-in-the-1990s/
      - Tracey 18.1.3.1.2
        
        3 January 2015 at 2:15 pm
        
        and didnt a whole bunch go to UF…
    - weka 18.1.3.2
      
      2 January 2015 at 11:58 pm
      
      It’s not about the MPs being shit, it’s about breaking the democracy of the party. You commented on the GP democracy above. There has been a process, a remit passed at the AGM, multiple years. The GP can’t support a National govt at this point in time. If the Exec overruled the membership on this it would be a breaking of core principles so bad that the party would be seriously damaged.
      
      I can’t find the recent one, but here’s the remit from 2011.
      
      1. Overall political positioning
      
      Agrees that, until such time as we are in a position to lead a government, the Green Party will campaign on the basis of the following political position:
      
      (i) The Green Party is an independent and distinct party, which in order to urgently advance Green Party policy goals, will attempt to work constructively with, and challenge, whichever party leads the government after an election;
      
      (ii) To enable any party or parties to form a government, we would need significant progress on Green Party environmental, economic and social policies and initiatives that would give effect to the Green Party Charter.
      
      2. 2011 election positioning
      
      Agrees that for the 2011 general election, the Green Party, as an independent party, will campaign on the following political position:
      
      (i) Based on current Labour and National Party policy positions, the Green Party has a preference to consider supporting a Labour-led government in the right circumstances, ahead of a National-led government;
      
      (ii) The Green Party could work with a National-led government to progress particular Green Party policies as we have over the last three years; but based on current National Party policy positions and track record it is highly unlikely that we could support a National-led government on confidence and supply.
      
      Full remit here, https://home.greens.org.nz/press-releases/independent-greens-could-support-labour-national-unlikely
      
      The negotiating process is also outlined in that, including as phil says above that the decision has to be endorsed at and SGM. There is an out for the Exec though.
- phillip ure 18.2
  
  2 January 2015 at 5:39 pm
  
  the realos are already firmly in control of the nz green party..
  
  ..in public/policy..not a fundi to be seen..
  
  ..but fundis is what the world/environment needs..
  
  ..green party policies are better than national..sure..
  
  ..but they are still just deckchair-re-arranging on the titanic..
  
  (”yoo-hoo..!..polluting dairy-farmers..!..we still love you..!”..)
  
  ..and this abrogation of duties…
  
  ..as the environmental-iceberg hoves into view..
  
  ..(and u couldn’t get a clearer example of how realo/timid they are..
  
  ..when u have a poll showing 87% of nz’ers want cannabis prohibition to end..
  
  ..and yet norman was vocal/firm that this was not even on their ‘to-do’ list..
  
  ..is their timidity ‘cos they are hanging out/waiting for 100%..?
  
  ..if not that..what the fuck are they scared of..?..
  
  ..’angry’ of taumaranui ringing talkback..?
  
  ..and to boil it down to a schoolyard-insult..
  
  ..basically..the greens are scaredy-cats..
  
  ..but also scared of the wrong things..
  - Sacha 18.2.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 5:42 pm
    
    You may be confusing the roles of political parties and activist movements. We need both of them.
    - phillip ure 18.2.1.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 6:09 pm
      
      no..i am not ‘confusing’ them..
      
      ..and if political partys don’t get their shit together..we are totally fucked..
      
      ..some argue it is already too late..
      
      ..u tell me/us how the nz greens are (the needed) fundi..?
      
      ..in any way at all..
      
      ..or do you think realo is enough…?
      - tinfoilhat 18.2.1.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:21 pm
        
        Go away phil – the greens are just fine thank you very much.
        
        Take your single issue whining to a party of stoners that cares.
        
        phillip ure 18.2.1.1.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:26 pm
        
        rightwing-green are ya..?
        
        yeah..!..we fucken need more of you..eh..?
        
        ..and my ‘issues’ are many..
        
        ..and care to give us yr definition of ‘just fine’..?
        
        The Al1en 18.2.1.1.1.2
        
        2 January 2015 at 7:14 pm
        
        Agree with the first, but wouldn’t wish pu on my worst enemy, least of all the befuddled legalise cannabis crowd.
      - Sacha 18.2.1.1.2
        
        2 January 2015 at 6:53 pm
        
        NORML and ALCP complement one another. Some of what you seem to be expecting the Greens to do for you needs to come from elsewhere, because that’s how the system is. Not because it’s right.
        
        phillip ure 18.2.1.1.2.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 7:25 pm
        
        what are you saying..?
        
        ..’expecting the greens to do for you’..?
        
        ..do you know who first got the greens into parliament..?
        
        ..which constituency turned out in force for them…?
        
        ..and who they have pissed on/ignored since then..?
        
        ..and are you now saying cannabis as an issue should just continue to be ghettoised in alcp..?
        
        ..seriously..?
        
        ..whoar..!
        
        ..’fings r even worse than i thought..
        
        Sacha …
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:23 pm
        
        Sorry to burst your bubble, Phil. The Values party was not composed mainly of pothead activists. Nor were the Greens that they evolved into. Nice try, though.
        
        phillip ure …
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:26 pm
        
        and you are just displaying yr ignorance of g.p history..
        
        ..i am talking about the cannabis-activists who got out the vote for the greens..
        
        ..that got them over the line..and into parliament for the first time..
        
        (ask those who know/were there..they may blush and look away..as they fucken should..but they will be able to confirm that fact for you..)
        
        ..i am not talking about the values party..
        
        ..(tho’ i wd think cannabis law reform wd have been on their ‘to-do’ list..)
        
        ..and values to greens was devolve..not evolve..
        
        Sacha …
        
        2 January 2015 at 10:09 pm
        
        cling to that, dude
        
        phillip ure …
        
        3 January 2015 at 11:05 am
        
        cd u translate that meaningless-phrase/riposte..?
        
        The Al1en …
        
        3 January 2015 at 11:14 am
        
        So you can understand it in your faked pigeon English, sure.
        
        ….You fucken..thicko….yr not worth it….
        
        …….and …you a… quack… eh, fucken eh?….
        
        …..cannabis…pot….weed…i’m..the….queen of smokers…..
        
        …you eat dead animals….. you… fucken….butcher…..
        
        …..I’m..better…. than.. you all…..
        
        ….i’m the… only…lefty in…. the village……
        
        ….power bills…… big…as ….. ur…. fucken… fundus….eh?
        
        …bullshit…ur…fucken…shit…eh???…..
        
        …ur..back on ….ignore…..
        
        Does that help?
  - The Al1en 18.2.2
    
    2 January 2015 at 7:12 pm
    
    “and yet norman was vocal/firm that this was not even on their ‘to-do’ list..”
    
    No he didn’t. He didn’t say that at all.
    
    “.when u have a poll showing 87% of nz’ers want cannabis prohibition to end..”
    
    Funny how you remember what RN didn’t say, yet can’t remember what you were told about spamming your single issue nonsense in unrelated topics.
    
    And do write in proper English ffs. Realo? Fundi? Get a grip on yourself man.
    - phillip ure 18.2.2.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 7:30 pm
      
      “..No he didn’t. He didn’t say that at all..”
      
      ..yes he did..repeatedly..
      
      “.And do write in proper English ffs. Realo? Fundi? ..”
      
      ..and that just displays the width/depth of yr ignorance..
      
      ..(hint:..try googling them..eh..?..fucken learn something for once..eh..?
      
      ..instead of just braying absolute crap from yr position of utter fucken ignorance..
      
      ..u have the general i.q. of a fucken lump of wood..)
      - tinfoilhat 18.2.2.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 7:36 pm
        
        I doubt there are better examples of why recreational drugs are to be avoided than you and Ozzy Osbourne.
        
        phillip ure 18.2.2.1.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 7:41 pm
        
        ‘i doubt there are better examples’ of the rightwing greens who have taken control of the green party…
        
        ..and who have dominion..’than you’..
        
        ..you wd be sweet with the greens coalescing with the ratbags in national..
        
        ..wouldn’t ya..?
        
        ..and somehow..i don’t think it was pot that got ozzie to where he is now..eh..?
        
        ..and..like a cold one’?..d’ya..?
        
        ..you steaming pile of fucken hypocrisy..
        
        tinfoilhat …
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:04 pm
        
        That pot hasn’t really mellowed you at all has it Phil ?
        
        phillip ure …
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:52 pm
        
        i am very ‘mellow’..
        
        ..u r mistaking strong language for not being ‘mellow’
        
        ..and pissheads moralistically preaching against pot..
        
        ..deserves the strongest language..
        
        ..as do rightwing greens..
        
        ..and you tick both of those boxes..
        
        Tinfoilhat …
        
        3 January 2015 at 8:13 am
        
        You really are mind numbingly foolish.
        
        Firstly I am teatotal and have been for many a decade.
        
        Just because someone disagrees with your stance on open slather of cannabis and the Green Party taking this up as a key platform does not a right winger make them.
        
        phillip ure …
        
        3 January 2015 at 8:26 am
        
        “..You really are mind numbingly foolish…”
        
        well..yes..looking back @ the many screw-ups in my life..i’ll have to concede/give ya that one..
        
        ..but i’m not ‘teatotal’..
        
        ..and i do recommend ‘kenya bold’..
        
        ..as a bracing-brew..
        
        Tracey …
        
        3 January 2015 at 4:23 pm
        
        lucky boy is phil.
        
        lprent is on hols.
        
        last time he derailed this much with taking his “waa waah legalise cannabis show” on the road, he got a ban.
        
        McFlock …
        
        3 January 2015 at 6:09 pm
        
        The derail, and his pwned comment.
        
        When the big and grumpy cat’s away…
  - Tracey 18.2.3
    
    3 January 2015 at 2:08 pm
    
    87% want to be able to use subjective interpretation of discipline so they can assault their children. you in favour of that to?
    - phillip ure 18.2.3.1
      
      3 January 2015 at 3:33 pm
      
      wow..!
      
      ..a special false-equivalence award will be couriered to you..
      - Tracey 18.2.3.1.1
        
        3 January 2015 at 4:19 pm
        
        🙄
    - greywarshark 18.2.3.2
      
      3 January 2015 at 5:43 pm
      
      I think both The Allen and tinfoil hat (a well-known right trial) are winding phil u up.
      Using patronising superiority to other sincere bloggers is an interesting approach.
      - The Al1en 18.2.3.2.1
        
        3 January 2015 at 5:53 pm
        
        “Using patronising superiority to other sincere bloggers ”
        
        😆 piss off, you’re having a bubble.
        
        Dry your eyes and get over it quick smart, otherwise it’s going to cost you loads in kleenex.
        
        Sincer blogger 😆
      - tinfoilhat 18.2.3.2.2
        
        3 January 2015 at 7:16 pm
        
        “tinfoil hat (a well-known right trial)”
        
        Examples please or apologise and withdraw.
Michael 19

2 January 2015 at 7:32 pm

What this says to me is:

“You know, I’m pretty scared of your party. People are liking your party and you’re doing pretty well with left-wing economic policies. And that’s a threat to the powerful, please move to the right to appease the rich… it’s scary for, well, us. Thanks.”

This isn’t some “idea” – it’s fear. And that’s why the greens need to remain a force for the sustainable environment: the social environment, the economic environment, and the natural environment.

I am unsure if I support Labour or the Greens, as there are things I like about both, but IMO the Greens are respectable for remaining a principled party that cements a position for the sustainable left. and they’re doing well, why would they change? With Little as Labour leader and the amazing job that Turei+Norman do, I think that a Lab-Green coalition will be an unstoppable force for progressive change.
- Colonial Viper 19.1
  
  2 January 2015 at 8:48 pm
  
  If the Greens were that principled they wouldn’t have backed down on the issuing of new money to help resolve our country’s poverty and infrastructure issues, nor would they have run a major election policy launch centred around $50K-$100K electric cars.
  - Lanthanide 19.1.1
    
    3 January 2015 at 11:47 am
    
    I must have missed their electric car policy, can you link that?
    
    That does make me regret voting Greens a little.
    - Colonial Rawshark 19.1.1.1
      
      3 January 2015 at 11:55 am
      
      Hi Lanth. Govt subsidies for rich people buying electric cars…
      
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/policies/10485790/Greens-plug-in-motorists-with-cash-tempter
      
      Also related:
      
      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11350244
      - Lanthanide 19.1.1.1.1
        
        3 January 2015 at 1:36 pm
        
        Bit of a silly policy, but $1,000 wouldn’t make much of a difference in anyone purchasing decisions I don’t think.
        
        weka 19.1.1.1.1.1
        
        3 January 2015 at 2:51 pm
        
        What’s wrong with the policy?
        
        “nor would they have run a major election policy launch centred around $50K-$100K electric cars.”
        
        “Govt subsidies for rich people buying electric cars…”
        
        And yet here is what your first link says CV,
        
        He took Norman for a spin around the Viaduct in a Nissan Leaf, which costs about $39,000. Imported second-hand from Japan, it would sell for about $25,000.
        
        Lanthanide …
        
        3 January 2015 at 3:02 pm
        
        What’s wrong with the policy is, like I said, $1,000 is not likely to change anyone’s decision from buying a petrol car to an electric one, given the price of electric cars. It’s not clear whether the $1,000 applies to the $25k second hand car you mention here (it says “$1,000 for the first 10,000 new electric cars”).
        
        It very much is only targeted at individuals / businesses that can afford to buy new cars; this therefore excludes about 80% of the public.
        
        $1,000 isn’t enough to change behaviour – in other words the government is giving money to people to do things they would have done anyway. At around $4-5,000 you might see a change in behaviour, but again it only targets the top 20% and of course would then cost the government a lot more money.
        
        There are much better things for a government to be spending money on than this. Push that extra $10M into the insulation programme which targets the lower-end of society, or into the solar PV programme they outlined which genuinely would be changing consumer behaviour.
        
        weka …
        
        3 January 2015 at 3:54 pm
        
        Transport is a huge part of the AGW problem, so it makes sense for the GP to prioritise it. At a guess I would say targetting the upper middle classes makes sense because that’s where the motivated EV buyers are with the money to make the shift at this time. The point of the subsidy is to kick start the industry and get enough cars out there so that a shift in thinking occurs. Once that happens, the price will come down, and govt, the industry and the public will come up with additional solutions.
        
        I think $1,000 would be enough to tip the people who want to buy and EV, can afford it but are dithering. At this stage you don’t have to get the people who can’t afford it or the people who aren’t already philosophically aligned.
        
        This is what the GP tried to do with solar years ago, but were largely unsupported. They wanted to subsidised solar power as a way of supporting the industry so that eventually solar became normal and affordable.
        
        The EV policy needs to be understood within the GP’s larger energy policy, including how they would regulate and support the production and sale of electricity.
        
        Putting that $10M into solar or insulation is a redundancy (they’ve already budgeted for those), and doesn’t do anything to solve the extremely urgent problem of transport carbon. You have to start somewhere on the transport issue. If not here, how would you suggest they approach this?
        
        Lanthanide …
        
        3 January 2015 at 4:29 pm
        
        “The point of the subsidy is to kick start the industry and get enough cars out there so that a shift in thinking occurs. Once that happens, the price will come down, and govt, the industry and the public will come up with additional solutions.”
        
        10,000 cars sold in NZ aren’t going to make a toss of difference to whether the industry makes electric cars, sorry. That 10,000 number is using the Greens policy, but as I outlined already, this isn’t going to change buying habits to any real extent – easily 9,500 of those electric cars would have been sold to people wanting an electric car anyway, and the $1,000 is just a small bonus on top.
        
        The country would do more for emissions to spend that $10M on better bus routes, or hell, converting buses into electric ones. Buses are more efficient than cars – assuming they’re actually patronised. Seeing several buses in a row go past which each have 2-3 passengers obviously isn’t doing that much for the environment as far as CO2 emissions go.
        
        “Putting that $10M into solar or insulation is a redundancy (they’ve already budgeted for those),”
        
        Wow, that’s a strange attitude to take. If you put that extra money into the insulation/PV schemes, then maybe those schemes can be rolled out to more people, or the amount subsidised can be increased, driving demand?
        
        “You have to start somewhere on the transport issue. If not here, how would you suggest they approach this?”
        
        Spend the $10M somewhere that will have a much bigger bang for buck than private EV ownership, where the subsidy is so small as to be meaningless. You know what’d have more bang for buck? Give free bicycles to primary school students somewhere. Give them a start towards a life of biking, while removing parental cars from the roads.
        
        Sacha …
        
        3 January 2015 at 4:35 pm
        
        Better still, spend that money on separated cycle or bus lanes. #infrastructure
        
        weka …
        
        3 January 2015 at 6:23 pm
        
        “Better still, spend that money on separated cycle or bus lanes. #infrastructure”
        
        Does the GP not have this elsewhere in their policy? As always with GP policy, you need to look at individual projects within the context of the wider policy and overall kaupapa.
        
        weka …
        
        3 January 2015 at 8:57 pm
        
        “10,000 cars sold in NZ aren’t going to make a toss of difference to whether the industry makes electric cars, sorry.”
        
        It’s not about what gets made, it’s about what gets bought. 10,000 cars sold through car dealers and all of a sudden you have people trained to push the advantages of EVs and incentive to do so.
        
        “That 10,000 number is using the Greens policy, but as I outlined already, this isn’t going to change buying habits to any real extent – easily 9,500 of those electric cars would have been sold to people wanting an electric car anyway, and the $1,000 is just a small bonus on top.”
        
        [citation needed] or at least some rationale for your statement. We both have our opinions on this, but when it comes down to it I’m going to trust the research unit and policy development team in the GP, because they’re experts in this. This doesn’t mean they can’t get it wrong, but I don’t see anything in your argument to suggest they’ve got this wrong other than your belief.
        
        The country would do more for emissions to spend that $10M on better bus routes, or hell, converting buses into electric ones.
        
        Have you looked at the GP transport policy? What makes you think they’re not doing this already?
        
        “Putting that $10M into solar or insulation is a redundancy (they’ve already budgeted for those),”
        
        “Wow, that’s a strange attitude to take. If you put that extra money into the insulation/PV schemes, then maybe those schemes can be rolled out to more people, or the amount subsidised can be increased, driving demand?”
        
        True. but you are still looking at the policies in isolation, and I’m looking at them as a whole and in context.
        
        “You have to start somewhere on the transport issue. If not here, how would you suggest they approach this?”
        
        “Spend the $10M somewhere that will have a much bigger bang for buck than private EV ownership, where the subsidy is so small as to be meaningless. You know what’d have more bang for buck? Give free bicycles to primary school students somewhere. Give them a start towards a life of biking, while removing parental cars from the roads.”
        
        Even if we had enough time for that, it won’t be enough to overcome the car addiction that NZ has. How would you remove parental cars?
        
        We need multiple strategies in order to change the culture. Yes, bikes in schools, good idea. But more bang for buck? You’re still looking at policies in isolation. Look at the overall plan and how the policies interact.
        
        Plus, again, the GP are pretty experienced at this stuff, they’ve been thinking about it and working on it for decades.
        
        Colonial Rawshark …
        
        3 January 2015 at 9:14 pm
        
        Plus, again, the GP are pretty experienced at this stuff, they’ve been thinking about it and working on it for decades.
        
        I don’t think the leadership team of Rod Donald and Jeanette Fitzsimons would have ever pushed a tax payer subsidy for the comfortable upper middle class for $50K to $100K electric cars.
        
        As for NZ’s car addiction – that’s guaranteed to end, one way or another. Any kid in school today will see it in their lifetime.
        
        Draco T Bastard …
        
        3 January 2015 at 4:30 pm
        
        Transport is a huge part of the AGW problem, so it makes sense for the GP to prioritise it.
        
        Yep but it requires a societal transformation and not just a few at the top.
        
        weka …
        
        3 January 2015 at 6:21 pm
        
        Yes. And I am sure that the GP are well aware of that. I haven’t had a look at the detailed policy but on the face of it it seems an ok place to start. Not least because no-one has a viable plan for societal transformation in ways that don’t require the political process.
        
        Colonial Rawshark …
        
        3 January 2015 at 6:46 pm
        
        Not least because no-one has a viable plan for societal transformation in ways that don’t require the political process.
        
        We do it for ourselves in our own local communities. I suspect this is what we will have to do, and Wellington will be more hindrance than help over the next 10 years. After that it will be too late anyway.
        
        weka …
        
        3 January 2015 at 8:49 pm
        
        Yep. But I’d much rather go through the next twenty years with the GP still pushing the mainstream towards sanity, than having them lose ground at this point in time because they start telling people the truth.
        
        I can see a time when I will think that govt is a completely lost cause and whoever is there may as well start shouting from the rooftops, but I’m not there yet and I still see the GP polices (taken as a whole) as being a force for good.
        
        What we really need is a radical left wing green voice. Unfortunately with Mana and the IP getting knocked back we’ve lost crucial ground. Time to organise and here we all are still arguing on the internet.
        
        Colonial Rawshark …
        
        3 January 2015 at 4:43 pm
        
        But how many people in NZ can afford a $25K second hand hybrid car, let alone a $60K new one? From that perspective DTB is right, society needs to change; simply finding less carbon intensive ways of keeping doing what we are used to is not going to work.
        
        Manufacturing hybrid (and electric) cars require plenty of mining, resource extraction and coal burning.
        
        I guess I am being critical because the Greens proposals go only 10%-20% of the way to what NZ really requires to become a successful low carbon economy. Also I admit that its probably political suicide for any political party to step up and declare the kinds of steps we really need to take right now, without watering it down or pandering to upper middle class delusions.
        
        weka …
        
        3 January 2015 at 8:45 pm
        
        I don’t know, you tell me, given you are the one criticising the policy. Do you get that the point is to start the process, not convert the whole population to EV straight away? Why does it matter that they’ve targeted the policy at people who can afford the cars? The benefit isn’t for the people, it’s part of the transition for the environment.
        
        From that perspective DTB is right, society needs to change; simply finding less carbon intensive ways of keeping doing what we are used to is not going to work.
        
        Yes, of course. Got ideas about how the GP could do that effectively in today’s climate? How do you propose to get the population from petrol and consumption addiction to powerdown without such steps as EVs? Where does a minority political party fit into your ideas?
        
        I guess I am being critical because the Greens proposals go only 10%-20% of the way to what NZ really requires to become a successful low carbon economy. Also I admit that its probably political suicide for any political party to step up and declare the kinds of steps we really need to take right now, without watering it down or pandering to upper middle class delusions.
        
        And working class and underclass delusions as well. Everyone is in denial. I don’t see anyone really stepping up class wise to address AGW.
        
        I don’t see GP policies as pandering to the upper middle classes so much as targeted interventions that have the most chance of success at changing mentality while building some infrastructure so we’re not all left hanging when the shit hits the fan.
        
        Have been intrigued by the knock the GP line you’ve run over the past few days. Am curious what the strategy is?
        
        Colonial Rawshark …
        
        3 January 2015 at 9:10 pm
        
        the Greens get the “knocks” because they are the ones claiming to know better in the subject area of fossil fuel depletion and climate change. Also I am annoyed that they are targetting households with incomes over $100K with their nonsense EV policy, as well as continuing the pretense that even more private personal transport is the answer to anything, from reducing carbon emissions to over-roading of the entire country.
        
        In the end, I think that Wellington will fail to help NZ transition to a low carbon economy, and will fail in implementing strategic measures to prepare for climate chaos.
        
        Regardless, the political parties need some pressure put on them so they don’t fully contribute to total disaster.
        
        weka …
        
        3 January 2015 at 11:30 pm
        
        the Greens get the “knocks” because they are the ones claiming to know better in the subject area of fossil fuel depletion and climate change.
        
        Only in the mainstream, which is where they are working. Who do you think is doing better? I don’t think they are best, nor do I think they are above making mistakes.
        
        Also I am annoyed that they are targetting households with incomes over $100K with their nonsense EV policy,
        
        But they have to target that group because that’s the group that can afford EVs at this stage. You still seem to be missing the point that the policy isn’t for people it’s for the environment.
        
        as well as continuing the pretense that even more private personal transport is the answer to anything, from reducing carbon emissions to over-roading of the entire country.
        
        Not really true though. Look at the rest of their policies (which I’m sure you have). If you think it’s possible for a party in their position to tell people to powerdown now and be successful at that, please share how.
        
        In the end, I think that Wellington will fail to help NZ transition to a low carbon economy, and will fail in implementing strategic measures to prepare for climate chaos.
        
        Yes, but not really teh point. The point is to stop the right fucking things more than they already are, and to get as much mainstream prep done as possible. As we both know the real work will be done outside parliament, but having some good things done legislatively will help that.
        
        I think we are going round in circles 🙂
        
        Colonial Rawshark …
        
        4 January 2015 at 12:07 am
        
        I guess the idea that EVs can do a single thing for the environment – knowing how much mining, sweat shop labour and resource extraction/processing it will take to build 10,000 or 100,000 or 1M new EV cars – is what really grates on me.
        
        greywarshark …
        
        3 January 2015 at 5:35 pm
        
        @ Lanthanide
        $1,000 isn’t enough to change behaviour – in other words the government is giving money to people to do things they would have done anyway.
        
        You damn if the govt does and damn if the govt doesn’t. On one hand, you say, $1,000 is hardly enough to bother with and only a few people will be likely to receive the subsidy. It should be more like a $4,000 to $5,000 subsidy. They would have done good things anyway.
        
        I question that. It is a conservative meme that no effort has to be made to introduce innovative, fairer and intelligent changes to behaviour. The attitude is that in good time everything comes to those who wait. One word, bollocks!
        
        Then you say the money would be better spent elsewhere. But if it is only $1,000 per car, then it doesn’t amount to much anyway. The govt can afford that, plu spend elsewhere. And if govt can start a trend in the conformist, trendy wealthy good on it. It is disappointing to see people so ready to nitpack about details in new initiatives that should be encouraged as one step in the right direction. The climate change and energy-efficient drives have to have multiple targets.
The Al1en 20

2 January 2015 at 7:40 pm

“..yes he did..repeatedly..”

No, no he didn’t. He said cannabis wasn’t in the top 10 priorities. Similar wording, but not the same meaning at all. You were also told about this, on a few occasions by a few other contributors here when you first started making things up about what RN was supposed to have said. Check back in the archives if you can’t recall.

“‘..and that just displays the width/depth of yr ignorance..”

Because you can’t write proper words, or I’m not a code breaker it exposes my ignorance? Okay 🙄

“..(hint:..try googling them..eh..?..fucken learn something for once..eh..?.instead of just braying absolute crap from yr position of utter fucken ignorance….u have the general iq of a fucken lump of wood..)”

“..not a fundi to be seen..”

fundi
ˈfʊndiː/
plural form of fundus.

fundus
ˈfʌndəs/Submit
nounANATOMY
the part of a hollow organ (such as the uterus or the gall bladder) that is furthest from the opening.
the upper part of the stomach, which forms a bulge above the level of the opening of the oesophagus (furthest from the pylorus).
the part of the eyeball opposite the pupil.

I’ll give you a google of realo brings up

realo
ˈriːələʊ,reɪˈaləʊ/
nouninformal
noun: realo; plural noun: realos
a member of the pragmatic, as opposed to the radical, wing of the Green movement

But it’s origin is 1980s: from German, from Realist ‘realist’.
So point stands, write in English, if you want debate, not that bullshit you peddle for kicks.
- phillip ure 20.1
  
  2 January 2015 at 7:46 pm
  
  great to see u aren’t bashful about displaying that general ignorance of yrs..
  
  ..i think..
  - The Al1en 20.1.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 7:50 pm
    
    Just write in a language that makes sense which we can all understand, there’s a good chap. 🙂
    
    By the way, I think your brain is stuck right up your fundus 😆
    “the part of a hollow organ that is furthest from the opening.”
- phillip ure 20.2
  
  2 January 2015 at 7:52 pm
  
  “..if you want debate,..”
  
  fuck off..!..i wd rather u didn’t fucken exist in this forum…
  
  ..let alone fucken ‘debate’ with u..
  
  ..u r too fucken thick to debate with..
  
  ..u r like p.g..
  
  ..u r so thick/ignorant..i don’t know where to begin..
  
  ..so..best to ignore..(except to insult at will..)
  
  ..allen and p.g..sitting in a tree..
  
  ..a piece of wood/ignorant-prick joined them..and that made three..
  - The Al1en 20.2.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 7:53 pm
    
    😉
    - Tracey 20.2.1.1
      
      3 January 2015 at 2:02 pm
      
      chuckle
  - marty mars 20.2.2
    
    2 January 2015 at 7:58 pm
    
    Good call phil – allen is like a red whine stain on the carpet – just a fucken mess 🙂
    - The Al1en 20.2.2.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 8:07 pm
      
      Still doing the michael laws thing and refusing to acknowledge the correct spelling of my user name? 😉
      - phillip ure 20.2.2.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:22 pm
        
        alien..?
      - marty mars 20.2.2.1.2
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:37 pm
        
        I got whiner right this time tho eh the – oh so sorry forgot the capital The – all better now?
        
        The Al1en 20.2.2.1.2.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 8:44 pm
        
        Of course I dispute whiner, but it’s not really worth getting in to it with you, cause you’re obviously just bum hurting for some reason.
        Highlighting your hypocrisy over the deliberate misspelling of my log in name, with the ‘Laws effect’ in plain view of all, well that’s just devilishly funny on my part as exposing those with double standards is a bit of a guilty pleasure.
        
        Thanks for the attention and all, but surprisingly it’s not about me. 😉
        Sure you’re not getting just a bit obsessive?
        
        marty mars …
        
        2 January 2015 at 9:09 pm
        
        oh here comes the ‘bum’ innuendo – this year same as last year? Where’s the personal growth, the originality, the actual wit? yeah nah same old The 🙂
        
        The Al1en …
        
        2 January 2015 at 9:12 pm
        
        Yep, definitely looking a bit obsessed down there in marty mars town 😉
        
        phillip ure …
        
        2 January 2015 at 9:13 pm
        
        he is ‘wit’-less..
        
        marty mars …
        
        2 January 2015 at 9:36 pm
        
        that’s cruel The has half a wit for sure
        
        The Al1en …
        
        2 January 2015 at 9:49 pm
        
        Can only be viewed as a compliment coming from the chuckle brothers 😆
        
        phillip ure …
        
        2 January 2015 at 9:53 pm
        
        you’ve been owned..
        
        ..in another world you’d be ordered to yr knees..
        
        The Al1en …
        
        2 January 2015 at 9:55 pm
        
        Sorry, I meant knuckle brothers 😆
        
        “you’ve been owned..”
        
        By people who have to continue to alter log in names because they’ve painted themselves in to a corner, and have to carry on with it for ever more, even though it’s childish, bordering on the psychological disturbed? And just for being an effective rebuker? I doubt it.
        
        “..in another world you’d be ordered to yr knees..”
        
        In another world you might have half a chance of succeeding 😉
        
        phillip ure …
        
        2 January 2015 at 9:59 pm
        
        was that meant to be funny..?
        
        ..u cant do ‘funny’..
        
        ..as already noted..you just ‘whine’..
        
        The Al1en …
        
        2 January 2015 at 10:08 pm
        
        pu, I’m not taking a ban for you or mars for derailing a thread.
        Just because you both have some deep issues, I can’t be held responsible for them, and as I’m not an enabler by rights, if you want to keep going you’ll have to do it on your own, which I suspect you’re both quite accomplished at.
        
        Like I said, be better, not bitter.
Murray Rawshark 21

2 January 2015 at 9:02 pm

I say the future must be red/green or not at all. And this future is already starting. If the Greens go with NAct, or even Labour, with both party’s addictions to GDP growth as a measure of success, they lose their reason to exist.

We urgently need to change our behaviour in the face of global warming. I’ve changed mine as much as I can at the moment, and will change it more. I can’t see capitalist mechanisms such as carbon taxes or carbon prices working. All they seem to do is make money for a few and shift the problem elsewhere.

On watermelons – I’d love it if the Greens were communists, but sadly for Horton and the like, they’re far from it.
- phillip ure 21.1
  
  2 January 2015 at 9:18 pm
  
  @ murray..
  
  “..We urgently need to change our behaviour in the face of global warming…”
  
  i use about $5 of petrol a week..
  
  ..my power bills are $25 a week..
  
  ..i eat no animals..
  
  ..i eat no animal bye-products..
  
  ..i haven’t mowed my lawns in five yrs..
  
  ..any suggestions of any more i cd do..?
  - phillip ure 21.1.1
    
    2 January 2015 at 9:30 pm
    
    and i don’t use a dishwasher..
    
    ..or a clothes dryer..
  - Murray Rawshark 21.1.2
    
    2 January 2015 at 9:33 pm
    
    Turn off your computer? 🙂
    
    You’re probably doing ok, actually. Plenty of people aren’t, and I am very inclusive with who I define as “we”. I use no petrol, I have no lawn, and I eat meat. I won’t be making more of a difference until I can get my own house and make it energy efficient. Or maybe I’ll die first and the cremation will be the last time I’ll use energy. Who knows?
  - ghostwhowalksnz 21.1.3
    
    2 January 2015 at 9:37 pm
    
    $25 a week on power ??
    
    Do you have your own server farm ? Or every electronic gadget on standby.
    Mine is $16
    - phillip ure 21.1.3.1
      
      2 January 2015 at 9:47 pm
      
      i also run whoar on that $25..
      
      ..and my son consumes too..
      - Sacha 21.1.3.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 10:28 pm
        
        which tells you more about traffic than any number of ‘reports’
        
        phillip ure 21.1.3.1.1.1
        
        2 January 2015 at 11:08 pm
        
        cheap-shot fail..i don’t host it..
        
        ..hurting from being demolished elsewhere in the thread..?
        
        ..feeling the need to lash out..?
        
        ..and care to point us @ what u ‘do?’..
        
        ..anyway..i start working on that whoar @ 5.00 a.m..
        
        ..so the fun must end..
        
        Sacha …
        
        3 January 2015 at 10:05 am
        
        ‘demolished’ by your maths skills? hilarious
        
        phillip ure …
        
        3 January 2015 at 10:12 am
        
        no..by yr ignorance of g.p. history/facts..
        
        ..and the false claims u made from that position of ignorance..
        
        ..and cd u detail yr challenge to the maths i posited..
        
        ..tell/show me where i am incorrect..
Tracey 22

3 January 2015 at 1:04 pm

thanks karol
.

fitzsimons continues to make sense. the difference is nat and labour and nat sycophants see the economy as the starting and finishing point t but greens see the economy as a tool by which environmental sustainability and social justice can be achieved.

gareth morgan ought to be able to grasp this distinction and help the greens to get more kiwis understanding it. it is not about ignoring the economy but seeing it as a tool for achieving people first. making the several economic theories and variations the starting point has failed the majority of people, one of the least painful “tinkerings” could be as simple as the shift to the greens’ prioritising . gareth has the money networks and media savvy to assist this instead of wanting the greens to become more palatable to national… speak to the 47% of voters supporting a party that is failing to leave the world a better place than they found it.
Ecosse_Maidy 23

4 January 2015 at 7:30 pm

GP form a Coalition/Alliance and or a confidence and supply arrangement with Nats/Banksters in order to pursue a policy that is above traditional Party Politics, as they and climate change can’t wait till the pendulum swings back to Labour, ok.
Also it isn’t about power it’s about policy and definately not about Baubels of Office, ok.Yet it never happened.How could that be?

Now, hold tight, all aboard the time machine to hopefully 2017, where The Abs are reigning world champions, John Keys gets caught in running a business brothel scandal in a Hawaiian golf complex & Pete George has another change of political heart and is elected co leader of The Greens before his committal to one of the few remaining public mental health institutions.
So the pendulum has swung and Labour form a minority/majority Govt .
By being in an accommodation with the Natcists, the GP is about as popular as the Lib Dems in UK as The Tories get off relatively scotfree. They are held (unfairly, and wholly) responsible for the wholesale sell off of all public services to the private sector. They are also held responsible for what is left of social housing and the crackdown by WINZs whom are insisting that children are capable of working up chimneys and don’t need an education. The GP opposed wholesale fraking/Cracking/Smacking and the turning of cycleways into open sewers. The GPs tried their best to put a brake on The Nats and get some policies in place..
Yet it never happened,Oh Shock horror Why was that they cried? Because the Nats despite their earlier friendly overtures didn’t give a rats flax bottom about actually implementing any substantial GP policies. They just wanted the GP as political cover and to give a few of their polices a green tinge whitewash..a PR dream.
In the meantime, by default ,the GP Mps, are given, by the Naughty Nats a few Baubel unleaded Limos, expense accounts,vegetarian and tofu meal accounts, free access to ministerial Twatter accounts ,and oddly, a membership to a golf club in Hawaii.The very things they said they didn’t need or want from the Flax Roots Up.
So the electorate based on guilt by association, rightly or wrongly, condemn the GP(who are now holding their conference in the backseat of a taxi due to the low numbers of MPs squabbling about which bookshop they want to go to,to read about their parties history and who is going to pay for the coffee)relegating them back to the uber fringe interest group they once were and Labour reflecting the electorates views, decide to go no where near the GP even with a very long pointy stick. An Interesting Future.

So the future isn’t green, with blue spots…its Labour red
…I cant wait.
- Sacha 23.1
  
  4 January 2015 at 7:39 pm
  
  Green and Red is brown. A skin colour an awful lot of New Zealanders still need to get more comfortable with. That’s our future.
  - McFlock 23.1.1
    
    4 January 2015 at 8:40 pm
    
    only if there’s more red than green. If red and green are equal, it makes yellow 😉
    - Sacha 23.1.1.1
      
      4 January 2015 at 8:42 pm
      
      you must be thinking of light rather than paint
      - McFlock 23.1.1.1.1
        
        4 January 2015 at 8:51 pm
        
        ah, true
        Smart enough to cut meself 😉
Ron 24

7 January 2015 at 5:23 pm

I wonder who first said ‘the future will be green or not at all.’ A quick internet search also shows a reference to Australia’s Bob Brown
http://quotes.lifehack.org/quote/bob-brown/the-future-will-either-be-green-or

Comments are now closed

Articles RSS

CommentsOpinions

FeedsPartyGovtMedia

Treasury warns deeper recession worsening Budget deficit

The gift that keeps giving: David Seymour has now opened a split in the coalition over the future of National’s promise to build a new medical school. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / TheKakaKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

1 hour ago
Weekly Roundup 22-November-2024

It’s another Friday and we’re inching closer to the end of the year. Here’s some of the stories that have caught our attention this week. This post, like all our work, is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew and made possible by generous donations from our readers and ...

Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland

2 hours ago
Beyond Question?

Record Numbers: The Hīkoi mō te Tiriti, which began at the tip of the North, and the tail of the South, on 11 November, culminated outside Parliament on Tuesday, 19 November 2024, in one of the largest demonstrations in New Zealand’s political history.ACCORDING TO TE ARA, the Ministry of Culture ...

Bowalley Road

3 hours ago
The Rush To Blame “The Activists”

Activists are such easy scapegoats. The right and center have been conditioned for decades to roll their eyes at all protests. The left are easily aggravated over students leading movements they see as belonging to grownups, who have more important concerns like the economy and whether the trains come on ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

3 hours ago
Cutting Through An Inundation of Dipshit Racists

Hi,Watching New Zealand from afar offers a strange perspective. It can be a good thing — distance from Aotearoa helped keep me sane while I reported on abuse at New Zealand’s biggest megachurch over the course of a year. It helps fuel my silly podcast. But it can also be ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

3 hours ago
This is bad news

The speech yesterday by Treasury’s Chief Economic Advisor warning that the books are in worse shape than forecasted looks like it’s part of a softening-up process for either more cuts or a longer wait to get back into surplus. The speech was a highly unusual public preview of Treasury’s Half-Yearly ...

PolitikBy Richard Harman

5 hours ago
Skeptical Science New Research for Week #47 2024

Open access notables Projected increase in the frequency of extremely active Atlantic hurricane seasons, Lopez et al., Science Advances: Future changes to the year-to-year swings between active and inactive North Atlantic tropical cyclone (TC) seasons have received little attention, yet may have great societal implications in areas prone to hurricane ...

Skeptical Science

14 hours ago
Chicken Kiev

Chatting in the supermarket this morning, I found I needed to lunge for the chicken drumsticks.Coping mechanisms: who hasn’t felt a greater need for them lately?When it all gets too much, I turn to demonstrating handy butchery hacks.It wasn’t that she’d said anything wrong, our friend, not at all. We ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

17 hours ago
The year is 2024 and it’s 1984

This is written in response to the highly significant open letter from a group of economists that was today addressed to Christopher Luxon. The year is 2024, and it’s 1984. The country is reeling from a record Olympic medal gold haul, while the globe grapples with the choice of the ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

18 hours ago
The IPCA has failed

Back in 2022, RNZ took an in-depth look at the "Independent" Police Conduct Authority and its handling of killings by police. These are the most serious test of oversight, and you would expect the police's use of lethal force to receive the most severe scrutiny. But despite the police regularly ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

22 hours ago
Thursday 21 November 2024

The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti arrived at Parliament on Tuesday – the size is being debated but estimates range from 42,000 to 100,000. The Prime Minister is defending not attending due to some of the organisers being affiliated with Te Pāti Māori. The national gang patch ban came into force ...

NZCTUBy Jeremiah Boniface

22 hours ago
‘These budget cuts are counter-productive and make no sense’

I spoke to former Productivity Chair Nana this morning about the letter he and a group of other economists sent to PM Christopher Luxon to urge the Government to urgently suspend cuts to spending and investment for the sake of the economy, struggling businesses and the wellbeing of vulnerable ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

24 hours ago
ACT’s Astroturfing & A Co-ordinated Attack on Te Pati Māori

Unity on the Streets / Unity at the TableAfter the Hīkoi, all three right wing Coalition leaders came together to push the idea that the 42,000 - 50,000 + strong Hikoi was somehow less potent and brave, and more illegitimate than the energy and crowd displayed.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon 20-November: ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui

1 day ago
Durability of carbon dioxide removal is critical for stabilizing temperatures

This is a re-post from the Climate Brink The world is emitting over 40 gigatons of CO2 per year, contributing to an accelerating warming of the planet. The world needs to cut emissions rapidly to be remotely on track to meet our Paris Agreement goals of limiting warming to well-below 2C, and we ...

Skeptical Science

1 day ago
I Love My Leather Jacket

I wear my leather jacket like a great big hugRadiating charm - a living cloak of luckIt's the only concrete link with an absent friendIt's a symbol I can wear 'till we meet againOr it's a weight around my neck while the owner's freeBoth protector and reminder of mortalityIt's a ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 day ago
Throwback Thursday: Will “Auckland Transport” Survive?

With Auckland Transport’s future up in the air under Mayor Wayne Brown’s proposed CCO reform, we’ve dug way back into the archives, to unearth this post originally published in March 2010. As you’ll see, many of the debates that were being had when AT was first proposed continue to ...

Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland

1 day ago
Economists call on PM to suspend budget cuts for the sake of the economy

Nicola Willis’ budget cuts are under fire from economists for having no clear rationale and worsening the recession. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 21: The news at ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

1 day ago
The end of policing by consent

National has appointed a new police commissioner. And he explicitly rejects policing by consent: Asked if he subscribed to policing by consent, he said he did not. “I don’t talk about policing by consent. I talk about trust and confidence, and it is fundamentally important that the police have ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

2 days ago
The Treaty Principles Bill: A Who’s Who

David Horatio Waterbed SeymourFringe politician and dweeb transformed successfully by ThinkTank money into a well-oiled soundbite robot.Currently programmed to say: Equal rights for all New Zealanders Equal rights for all New Zealanders Equal rights for all New Zealanders Was previously programmed to say:I am a proud libertarian andI am a ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

2 days ago
Kinleith mill closure shows need for industrial strategy

NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to deliver an economic and industrial strategy for regional manufacturing, rather than just expressing sympathy for job losses, following the announced closure of Kinleith mill in Tokoroa. “The closure Kinleith mill in Tokoroa is not just devastating for ...

NZCTUBy Jeremiah Boniface

2 days ago
27% of kids going hungry, up from 21% in a year

One in four Kiwi children live in households where food runs out often or sometimes. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, November 20: The lead: The official annual Health Survey found sharp ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

2 days ago
Transport modelling is an illusion

This guest post by Tim Adriaansen, an advocate for accessibility and sustainable transport, originally published on LinkedIn and cross posted here with permission. People prefer cars, right? Probably not. Here’s why. Granted, most people in English-speaking countries use a car to get around. This simple reality underpins our transport ...

Greater AucklandBy Guest Post

2 days ago
Young Maori take over

Neither Wellington nor Parliament has ever seen anything like it before. The Police said there were more than 40,000 but however many there were, yesterday’s Hikoi to Parliament was a monumental event. It was almost three times the Foreshore and Seabed martch of 2004 and many,many times bigger than ...

PolitikBy Richard Harman

2 days ago
Gordon Campbell On The Hikoi Aftermath

The euphoria from yesterday’s hikoi may be transitory, but is no less valuable for that. It is pretty rare for the left to feel itself to be in the overwhelming majority, and speaking as the voice of the people. Lest that momentum be lost, the organisers will no doubt be ...

WerewolfBy ScoopEditor

2 days ago
Sabin 33 #3 – Solar panels generate too much waste and will overwhelm landfills

On November 1, 2024 we announced the publication of 33 rebuttals based on the report "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles" written by Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine and published by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia ...

Skeptical Science

3 days ago
What’s the time Mr Seymour?

Mr David Seymour crawling up to the ceilingThe sun don't shine the sun don't shine the sun don't shine at allMamma Pappa say you should go to school, I don't know what forNow that I've grown up and seen the world and all its liesSong: Southside of Bombay"Ake, ake, ake" ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

3 days ago
Submit to defend te Tiriti!

The Justice Committee has called for submissions on National's racist and constitutionally radical Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. Submissions can be made at the link above or by post, and are due by Tuesday, 7 January 2025. But I'd get in quick, in case National grows a spine ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

3 days ago
We need to talk about Kevin

All happy families are alike; each unhappy family has a Drunk Uncle Kevin in there somewhere. If your Kevin is anything like the ones I know, he was getting along happily enough without having to think too much about the Treaty Principles Bill apart from bloody good job, onya guys ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

3 days ago
The hikoi

Like everyone else (everyone who wasn't there, anyway), I've spent the morning watching the hikoi march on Parliament. The pictures are astounding: parliament grounds and the surrounding streets are full, and there are still people backed up along Lambton Quay. The police are estimating 35,000 people, and that's a floor ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

3 days ago
Why Govt & NZ Inc should boycott & regulate Facebook

The CEOs of Westpac NZ and Kiwibank say Facebook is rife with fraud but reporting scam ads gets no response. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, November 19: The ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

3 days ago
How should we talk about change?

A better world isn’t just possible, it’s desirable. And that’s how we should frame a lot of our conversations around making a greater Auckland. As an example take urban climate action. A climate friendly Auckland: Is free from congestion Enables people to travel how they choose Is filled with ...

Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp

3 days ago
AMA + Holiday Webworm Merch!

Hi,It’s AMA time again — so anything that’s on your mind that you wanna ask, ask away in the comments. This is one of my favourite things to do with full Webworm members, who are the heart of this community of Worms. Journalism? Documentary making? Short Poppies? Cats? Podcasting? What ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

3 days ago
Discount Code for Webworm Merch!

Hi,So there’s a bunch of new stuff on the Webworm store (www.webworm.store) — just in time for the Holidays. Read more ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

3 days ago
Trying to defuse the tension

There were urgent moves yesterday at Parliament to try and defuse the tension building up over ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill. The Bill’s author, ACT leader David Seymour, told reporters that he understood the Justice Select Committee met yesterday to discuss how long it should take to consider submissions on the ...

PolitikBy Richard Harman

3 days ago
An Irritable NZ Pawn – David Seymour Admits Treaty Principles Bill will clear the way for deve...

This morning I discovered a post I’d written 10-11 months ago, lamenting how New Zealand’s ACT Party and their foreign and local surrogates would play out anti-Māori propaganda - which I believe they have long prepared for.At the time, it was a plea for action and readiness from my fellow ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui

3 days ago
Gordon Campbell On The Hikoi Arrival, And Tyler Childers

Politicians like to bang on all about the need to heal society’s racial/economic divisions, but in their actions they’re more keen on stoking those divisions, with the Treaty Principles Bill being the classic example. The Bill seeks to dilute the Crown’s responsibilities to Māori at the same time as it ...

WerewolfBy ScoopEditor

3 days ago
Socially Backwards and Fiscally Forwards: the False Ideological Divide and the “Conservative” Li...

Nearly two weeks on from the US election, and we are still mentally wrangling with the results. How did this happen? Which voter demographics went where? What did the Democrats do wrong? Meanwhile here in New Zealand, we’re left wondering how this will apply to us and what this means ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

3 days ago
Kaamos: Accepted

I appreciate that A Phuulish Fellow has been fairly quiet recently. That’s a combination of two things – comparatively little in the way of relevant material to discuss (at least until The War of the Rohirrim comes out next month), and my general work on The Secret Non-Fiction Writing Project. ...

A Phuulish FellowBy strda221

4 days ago
Here’s how governments could fix their Paris climate commitment failures

This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Governments around the world face a conundrum. Virtually none are on track to meet their Paris climate commitments. That includes the United States, which committed to cut its emissions at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 but is only on track for 32-43% cuts ...

Skeptical Science

4 days ago
Unstoppable.

Too Big To Fail: Forty-three years after the 1981 Springbok Tour protests, Maori defenders of te Tiriti, by their own efforts, and using their own resources, are poised to descend on the capital with upwards of 100,000 followers at their back, and no force in front of them even remotely ...

Bowalley Road

4 days ago
Katherine Trebeck – An Alternative Economic Narrative

The era of neoliberalism has been destructive on so many levels, with a huge growth in wealth and privilege for the one percent. A hollowing out of the state; fraying of the safety net; inadequate government investment in infrastructure; and continued environmental degradation has resulted in damage on a vast ...

Fabians

4 days ago
In a Manner of Speaking

In a manner of speakingI just want to sayThat I could never forget the wayYou told me everythingBy saying nothingOh, give me the wordsGive me the wordsThat tell me nothingOh, give me the wordsGive me the wordsThat tell me everythingSongwriter: Winston TongNext Tuesday, the subscription price for Nick’s Kōrero will ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

4 days ago
Monday 18 November 2024

The NZNO have announced a nationwide strike for December over its pay dispute with Health NZ, who have put a 1 per cent cap on pay rises. The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti and Treaty Principles Bill remain front and centre in the media, with the impacts of the Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke-led ...

NZCTUBy Jeremiah Boniface

4 days ago
Shipley warns Seymour’s bill is ‘inviting civil war’

The divisive Treaty Principles Bill is not just a risk for the National Party, it’s a risk to civil order and unity, warns a National Party grandee. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

4 days ago
A clearer network for the City Rail Link?

This post was originally published on Linked In by Nicolas Reid. It is republished here with permission. Auckland is now just a year or so away from having the keystone of its urban rail network complete. As I wrote about here, the City Rail Link will be a literal game changer for ...

Greater AucklandBy Guest Post

4 days ago
National’s support base is wobbling

If ACT leader David Seymour intended the Treaty Principles Bill to drive a wedge into National’s support base, he may well already be succeeding. By midnight on Thursday after the Maori Party haka in Parliament, National MPs were being deluged with emails and messages from their members calling them out ...

PolitikBy Richard Harman

4 days ago
2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #46

A listing of 33 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, November 10, 2024 thru Sat, November 16, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is completely "meta" (no, not that Meta). It's about our exploring how ...

Skeptical Science

5 days ago
Grifter Eftpos Tamaki at it again

..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Self-appointed “Bishop” and proto-fascist, Brian Tamaki was at it again on 16 November, blocking Auckland’s southern motorway, SH1.This time, the target of his ire wasn’t the Civil Unions Act; covid lock-downs; mask mandates; or ...

Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy

5 days ago
Rip up a bill, lead a haka are words to live by

I cannot stop grabbing people by the lapels, or shoulders, or similar, and raving at them about the tiny miracles in my ears.I can hear again! There could not be a more satisfied customer in all the world.In a noisy cafe I am even catching words that Karren cannot, she ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

5 days ago
Unintended Consequences

Take the baitYou pay the priceIt's much too lateFor good adviceYou know and I know that our good things' throughBecause there's consequences for what we doConsequences for me and youWriters: Kevin Robert Hayes, David Nagier, Bonnie Adele Hayes.Fallout from the first readingOne News began last night by saying that tens ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

6 days ago
Thank you, driver!

Today, Saturday 16th of November, is Auckland Transport’s Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Saturday 16 November marks the third annual Auckland Transport (AT) ‘Bus Driver Appreciation Day’, and this year we are encouraging all of New Zealand to thank their driver or let the bus go first if you are in ...

Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland

6 days ago
Totally Normal: Holiday Edition

Hi,If I was to accurately sum up my mental state over the week, I’d just say that I got a huge fright from my own shadow.I’d nipped out for an 11pm neighborhood stroll, just to calm down after a day of stress and screens. The Cure and Fazerdaze’s new record ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

6 days ago
We Are Not Listening

The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...

PunditBy Brian Easton

7 days ago
More lawlessness from National

On Tuesday, sick of government stonewalling, the Waitangi Tribunal issued a rare court order, ordering the Minister of Health to release unredacted documents within 48 hours showing its reasoning for disestablishing Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority. The government's response to the lawful order of a court? Yeah, ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

7 days ago
National’s tyrannical “foreign interference” law

Yesterday, under cover the the biggest political fight of the year, National quietly - covertly, even - introduced anti-foreign interference legislation. The bill is the product of a years-long work-program aimed at countering shit like this and this, and there's unquestionably a need to do something to counter foreign states' ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

7 days ago
The Haka Represents The Best Of Us

A few months ago, I was in an audience watching a Haka-Kapa and as I watched children dance and sing and sway and shout and beat, I couldn’t help but think “The Haka represents the best of us.”Yes, yes - there will be a thousand voices that rush forth to ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui

7 days ago
Adding up the climate cost

St Mary’s Bay housing left hanging: Climate risk is systemically underestimated in the climate scenarios used by central banks, and a new report warns 10,000 houses are set to become uninsurable in Aotearoa. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

7 days ago
Auckland chafing at Bishop’s housing intensification orders

One of the major problems the Government has in implementing its ‘going for housing growth’ strategy is that it isn’t giving much funding help to councils. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

7 days ago
Friday 15 November 2024

The Treaty Principles Bill continues to dominate political news, with it passing its first reading in the House. Parliament was briefly suspended and Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke suspended for 24 hours after leading a haka that was joined by opposition MPs and the public in the gallery. Willie ...

NZCTUBy Jeremiah Boniface

1 week ago
Weekly Roundup 15-November-2024

Happy Friday, welcome to another round-up of interesting stories about what’s happening in Auckland and other cities. Feel free to add your links in the comments! This post, like all our work, is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew and made possible by generous donations from our readers ...

Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland

1 week ago
Are We The Waiting?

And screamingAre we we are, are we we are the waitingAnd screamingAre we we are, are we we are the waitingForget me nots, second thoughts live in isolationHeads or tails and fairy tales in my mindAre we we are, are we we are the waiting unknownThe rage and love, the ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 week ago
The Hoon around the week to November 15

The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate news, including from COP29 this week; on the US Presidential elections, Israel vs Gaza/Iran/Lebanon, Ukraine/Nato vs Russia/North ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

1 week ago
First Tea and Toast, now Milo — why do NZ’s best beverages need so much defending?

Only two months ago, Nicola Willis had to step in to stop Health New Zealand cutting tea and toast for post-birth parents, and now Lester Levy is riding to the rescue with a welcome message for all: our health workers can once again drink Milo, and will no longer need ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

1 week ago
Gordon Campbell on the folly of making apologies in a social vacuum.

Day One of the Treaty Principles Bill…and everyone got what they wanted, and did what they liked. Heated words were exchanged. Culturally appropriate acts of outrage were performed. David Seymour got to play the victim card. Willie Jackson got kicked out of class. A comically red-faced Mr Speaker bellowed “Order, ...

WerewolfBy ScoopEditor

1 week ago
Skeptical Science New Research for Week #46 2024

Open access notables Microbial solutions must be deployed against climate catastrophe, Peixoto et al., Nature Communications [comment]: The climate crisis is escalating. A multitude of microbe-based solutions have been proposed, and these technologies hold great promise and could be deployed along with other climate mitigation strategies. However, these solutions have ...

Skeptical Science

1 week ago
The PM gets some extremely valuable legal advice for free

You can pay a great deal of money for the services of a KC. So just what would some peerless legal writing from 40 or so of them be worth, do you reckon?Priceless, that’s what. It’s not even the half of it, but this is my favourite part of the ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

1 week ago
D-day for the government

The government's Treaty Principles Bill is up for its first reading today - bought forward in a rush in a desperate effort to avoid the hikoi which is currently marching on Wellington. But the Prime Minister won’t be there for it – he’s literally running away to Peru! But he ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

1 week ago
97% of submissions did not want no-cause evictions, Trump chooses a Russian spy for US Intelligence ...

Good morning, and I’m sorry I’ve been away for a couple of days.I’ve been focusing on the Hikoi, and also testing out sentiment on the Treaty Principles Bill. It’s complicated, and the Treaty Principles Bill will be debated in the House today. The Government’s own lawyers have told them the ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui

1 week ago
Government must vote down ACT Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights

NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to vote down an ACT Party Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights by making it easier for employers to fire workers. Last week ACT MP Laura Trask’s Employment Relations (Termination of Employment by Agreement) Amendment Bill was ...

NZCTUBy Jeremiah Boniface

1 week ago
Seymour causes thousands of unjustified absences by forcing kids to fight for their rights instead o...

The State would like to remind you that they are in control. They manage your employment prospects, and can destroy the job market you and yours rely on by mass-cancelling construction projects, cutting funding, and firing a good chunk of our public servants. They wield the mechanisms that provide scrutiny ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

1 week ago
The Weight of the World

As the weight of the world Hangs on your shoulders The weight of the world Starts to take over again And over again All that you once loved, now you hate So slowly relearn how to meditate To have and to hold And never let go Can you feel it ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 week ago
Thursday 14 November 2024

The Treaty Principles Bill is set to have its First Reading in the House today, as the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti continues. More than 40 KCs have written to the Prime Minister and Attorney-General outlining their “grave concerns” about the substance of the Treaty Principles Bill, while an academic and ...

NZCTUBy Jeremiah Boniface

1 week ago
Trump’s return to White House brings the climate’s ‘find out’ phase closer

As we absorb the news of Trump's victory in the US Presidential election, here’s a wrap compiled just before the result of what it might mean for climate action: The UN Secretary General says the prospective departure of the United States would cripple the Paris Agreement, likening it to the ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

1 week ago
Time and Space in the City Centre

Patrick Reynolds is deputy chair of the City Centre Advisory Panel. The header image is from Walthamstow, London The city centre now has a few stretches of street where the space has been repurposed to a people and place focused design from full time traffic use. These are a great ...

Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds

1 week ago
An opportunity for a pro-growth tax switch

As the Hikoi against it swells into the tens of thousands, KCs call on National to kill off ACT’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 14: The ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

1 week ago

Release: Government should be transparent on live exports

Targeted consultation on reinstating live cattle exports by sea won’t allow the New Zealand public to have their say. ...

Labour Blog

2 hours ago
NZ’s global climate rankings plummet as Govt removes agriculture from ETS

The Government has passed legislation to remove agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) while Aotearoa’s reputation on climate action plummets. ...

Greens

16 hours ago
Failed boot camp experiment must end

As legislation to set up boot camps passed its first reading, the Green Party urged the Government to abandon this failed policy experiment for the good of our rangatahi. ...

Greens

17 hours ago
Gender-affirming care must centre evidence and health needs, not political posturing

The Ministry of Health has today released an evidence brief regarding the use of puberty blockers in gender-affirming healthcare, amid moves by the government to limit access. ...

Greens

18 hours ago
Release: National doesn’t care about manufacturing

The National Government is walking away from our manufacturing sector with constant reports of closures and job losses. ...

Labour Blog

19 hours ago
Release: David Parker speech – Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change

David Parker's speech from the University of Auckland's forum on Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change in September 2024. ...

Labour Blog

19 hours ago
Release: Youth mental wellbeing no longer a priority for Child Poverty Minister

Louise Upston has revealed her diminished vision for vulnerable youth against a backdrop of snubbed advice, scrapped priorities, shifted goal posts and thousands more children projected to fall into poverty. ...

Labour Blog

21 hours ago
Release: National’s lack of climate action taking NZ backwards

National Government’s backward-looking climate policy has seen New Zealand fall seven places on the Climate Change Performance Index to 41 out of 63 countries measured. ...

Labour Blog

21 hours ago
Release: Simple reason for drop in emergency housing

When the Government says it has reduced the number of people in emergency housing, what it means is it is stopping people from accessing it in the first place. ...

Labour Blog

24 hours ago
Govt’s child wellbeing strategy ‘shallow and shameful’

The Government is turning its back on children by not only weakening child poverty reduction targets, but also removing child mental wellbeing as a priority focus in their Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. ...

Greens

1 day ago
Release: A historic win for Samoan communities

Labour warmly welcomes the Restoring Samoan Citizenship Bill as it passes its third reading, before becoming law. ...

Labour Blog

1 day ago
Government plan to reinstate live animal exports a “national disgrace”

The Government has taken a giant step backwards by reinstating live animal exports. ...

Greens

2 days ago
Pasifika justice as Member’s Bill passes final reading

Teanau Tuiono’s Member’s Bill, the Citizenship (Western Samoa Restoration) Amendment Bill, has passed its third reading and will become law. ...

Greens

2 days ago
Release: Minister of Education thinks New Zealand ends at the Bombay Hills

The Minister of Education has shown complete disregard for rural communities and their school bus routes in Question Time today. ...

Labour Blog

2 days ago
Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach

A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...

Greens

2 days ago
Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch

National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...

Labour Blog

2 days ago
Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs

Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...

Labour Blog

2 days ago
Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions

Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...

Greens

3 days ago
Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament

Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...

Greens

3 days ago
Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons

Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...

Labour Blog

4 days ago
Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill

The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...

Labour Blog

5 days ago
Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope

The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...

Greens

7 days ago
Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill

The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Stand Up for Te Tiriti

Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...

Labour Blog

1 week ago
Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon

As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...

Labour Blog

1 week ago
Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation

The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned

The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors

...

Labour Blog

1 week ago
Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors

Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...

Labour Blog

1 week ago
Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care

Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill

The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect

The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Without action, an apology will be empty air

For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference

Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Urgent wake-up call on climate

The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world

Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies

Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill

The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...

The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
NZ must pursue independent foreign policy

The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago

New facility in Christchurch will improve the lives of young New Zealanders

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey today opened Kahurangi, an innovative and much-needed facility for Canterbury’s Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health Services. “The new state of the art outpatient facility opened today will be a gamechanger for the way mental health is delivered for young people in Canterbury,” says Mr ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

9 minutes ago
Driver safety screens to be installed on Auckland buses

Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) that bus driver protection screens will be installed across Auckland’s bus fleet by 2026.“The Government is committed to improving the safety of working environments for bus drivers, and Budget 2024 allocated $15 million of Crown funding over ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

38 minutes ago
Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements

The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

17 hours ago
Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending

The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

18 hours ago
Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review

Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

18 hours ago
State of the art radiology machine for Auckland

People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

18 hours ago
Foreign Minister to visit Europe

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

19 hours ago
First arrests made under gang patch ban

Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

20 hours ago
Better support for victims of sexual violence

The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

21 hours ago
Government moving forward with Regional Deals

Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

22 hours ago
MSA pilot participant update

One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

22 hours ago
Fighting for Kiwis in Trade

Delivered at Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School Good morning and thank you Deputy Vice Chancellor Lithander for your warm welcome and for inviting me to open Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School today. A Special thanks to the University of Auckland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

23 hours ago
Attendance rates increase, again

Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

24 hours ago
Improving the lives of young New Zealanders

Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 day ago
Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea

The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024

Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement

Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Latest Quarterly Investment Report released

The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight

The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils

The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed

The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double

Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference

Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance

Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Health survey results to help drive change

Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025

A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
New diplomatic appointments

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill

Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Red Tape Tipline goes live

Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Youth Parliament 2025 announced

The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Police stats show promising change

After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Better coordination of anti-scam efforts

With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Minister to consider 7AA select committee report

Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting

Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Launching the White Ribbon Ride

The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in Whakatāne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury

Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

6 days ago
NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland

Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealand’s sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. “The Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

6 days ago
Government and iwi work together on aquaculture

Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure Ngāi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southland’s economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) I’m announcing today set aside space so the Crown and Ngāi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

7 days ago
Government launches review to ensure electricity market is fit-for-purpose

The terms of reference for a review of the performance of the electricity market have been released. The review, initiated by the Coalition Government during the power crisis in winter will look at whether current regulations and market design support economic growth and access to reliable and affordable electricity, Energy Minister ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

7 days ago

RNA editing is the next frontier in gene therapy – here’s what you need to know

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne IoanaB/Shutterstock The United States Food and Drug Administration has just approved the first-ever clinical trial that uses CRISPR-Cas13 RNA editing. Its ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

1 hour ago
Yes, you still need to use sunscreen, despite what you’ve heard on TikTok

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Lee, PhD Candidate, Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland Karolina Grabowska/Pexels Summer is nearly here. But rather than getting out the sunscreen, some TikTokers are urging followers to chuck it out and go sunscreen-free. They claim it’s healthier ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

1 hour ago
Humans are killing off the old and wise animals that hold nature together. Here’s what must change

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keller Kopf, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Charles Darwin University Laxmikant Ameenagad, Shutterstock In humans and other animals, ageing is generally associated with a decline in biological function. But scientists are now discovering older animals perform vital roles in populations and ecosystems. ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

1 hour ago
A man scouring Google Earth found a mysterious scar in the Australian outback – and now scientists...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matej Lipar, Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University Author provided/Google Earth Earlier this year, a caver was poring over satellite images of the Nullarbor Plain when he came across something unexpected: an enormous, mysterious scar etched ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

1 hour ago
Design as a movement: how First Nations people take ownership of their cultural stories through fash...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Treena Clark, Chancellor’s Indigenous Research Fellow, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, University of Technology Sydney Once located 250 metres to the east of the Art Gallery of South Australia, the grand beaux-arts style Jubilee Exhibition Building was constructed to house the ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

1 hour ago
‘We need more doctors’ – Support for new Waikato medical school

The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says a third medical school and more students in Auckland and Otago are both needed. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 hours ago
Cricket balls can concuss and even kill batters – at all levels, helmet use must be taken seriousl...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Annette Greenhow, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Bond University Linda George/Shutterstock The ten-year anniversary of the death of much-loved Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes falls on November 27. The 25-year-old’s life was tragically cut short in 2014 when a bouncer ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

2 hours ago
Hold the roosters, no economic dawn yet

Treasury likely to downgrade economic forecast while Chris Bishop says the government won’t be ‘a slave to a surplus’, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Recession will be deeper and last longer — Treasury At a recent Spinoff ...

The SpinoffBy Anna Rawhiti-Connell

2 hours ago
Knowing superstitions aren’t real doesn’t stop us behaving superstitiously – why?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie Gomes-Ng, Senior Lecturer of Psychology, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Former New Zealand prime minister John Key has three white rabbits painted on his helicopter, a nod to his “massively superstitious” habit of repeating “white rabbits” three times at ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

4 hours ago
Government slammed for pushing ahead with boot camps while trial still under way

The coalition has "absolutely no intention of listening to the evidence that comes out of their experiment", Labour MP says. ...

Radio NZ – political

4 hours ago
Smoke and mirrors in heated tobacco debate

Labour claims Government is ‘cherry-picking’ smoking trends data to hide decade-first increase in daily smokers The post Smoke and mirrors in heated tobacco debate appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Fox Meyer

4 hours ago
Smoke and mirrors in tobacco debate

Labour claims Government is ‘cherry-picking’ smoking trends data to hide decade-first increase in daily smokers The post Smoke and mirrors in tobacco debate appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Fox Meyer

4 hours ago
Treasury bangs the drum on ‘unsustainable’ superannuation

The Government’s economic adviser is sending a message it doesn’t want to hear – superannuation is increasingly unaffordable The post Treasury bangs the drum on ‘unsustainable’ superannuation appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Tina Morrison

5 hours ago
Victims of sex offending welcome shift on name suppression laws

A man abused by a former political figure is "immensely relieved" at a government proposal to end secrecy around sex offenders' identities. ...

Radio NZ – political

5 hours ago
This week three parties stood together – can they withstand the storm to come?

There is plenty yet to play out, but the next election is at this rate shaping up as trio versus trio, writes Toby Manhire. A subplot of this week’s historic hīkoi mō te Tiriti has been the sight of the three opposition parties presenting a unified front. Te Pāti Māori ...

The SpinoffBy Toby Manhire

5 hours ago
All 33 malls in Auckland ranked from worst to best

From the low lows of abandon empires to the high highs of a mall done just right. This is the second in the Malls of New Zealand series, where we rank the malls in major centres. Next week: Wellington. A note from the editor: This is the hardest ranking we’ve ...

The SpinoffBy Group Think

5 hours ago
The cost of being: A clothes-mad 20-something who walks everywhere

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 27-year-old apartment-dwelling marketing exec explains her approach to spending and saving. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Female. Age: 27. Ethnicity: Pākehā. Role: Marketing exec at ...

The SpinoffBy The Cost of Being

5 hours ago
Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 22 November

Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 22 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles

5 hours ago
Daily crossword, Friday 22 November

The post Daily crossword, Friday 22 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles

5 hours ago
China likely to strengthen regional relationships in response to another Trump term

Opinion: Recent discussions in Shanghai provide some insight into what’s likely to be on the table The post China likely to strengthen regional relationships in response to another Trump term appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Jason Young

5 hours ago
Nuclear winters know no borders

Opinion: The immediate horror of nuclear weapon explosions – the blinding flash, crushing blast wave, and radioactive inferno – is well documented.But what nuclear-armed nations either don’t grasp or won’t admit, is far more chilling: how their weapons could devastate even countries thousands of kilometres from any mushroom clouds.The collapse ...

NewsroomBy Nick Wilson and Matt Boyd

5 hours ago
This week’s bestselling books – November 22

FICTION1 Kāwai: Tree of Nourishment by Monty Soutar (David Bateman, $39.99)Sample dialogue, all from one chapter:“That can’t be,” replied Taona doubtfully.“You were right. The pā is unnervingly quiet,” Taona murmured.“The Hākuwai,” Motukia breathed. “Our grandfathers told us they rarely saw the Hākuwai in daylight,” Motukia muttered.“Their fight would have been futile ...

NewsroomBy Steve Braunias

5 hours ago
Burma the flying elephant

After about two and a half years of planning and waiting, New Zealand’s last elephant has moved to her new home at Monarto Safari Park in South Australia.Burma and her “human herd”, that is, her keepers, arrived last week, and she’s settling in well, according to Auckland Zoo’s Andrew Coers.“Something ...

NewsroomBy Gwen McClure

5 hours ago
NZ’s membership of Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance in jeopardy

Senior ministers in the coalition suggested NZ’s membership will be re-evaluated if it restarts offshore oil and gas drilling The post NZ’s membership of Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance in jeopardy appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Marc Daalder

5 hours ago
Raw Politics: Six months in a leaky Bill

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon did not meet the Treaty Principles Bill hikoi crowd, sees “nothing” of merit in the Act-proposed law but the Parliament his Government dominates will spend six months debating a “divisive” measure.That’s because he has accepted there needs to be “aeration” of people’s views on the Treaty, ...

NewsroomBy Newsroom Staff

5 hours ago
Taken to the brink, Govt is now close to selling big Whakapapa ski field

Bidder Whakapapa Holdings walked away from the sales process last year, but says it’s now ‘95% there’ on a purchase agreement – so who blinked first? The post Taken to the brink, Govt is now close to selling big Whakapapa ski field appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Andrew Bevin

5 hours ago
Watts nears a landmark deal on global carbon trading

A framework for global carbon trading under the Paris Agreement is finally nearing completion at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan after years of halting talks.Climate Change Minister Simon Watts is one of two ministers tasked by the COP29 hosts with landing a long-sought deal on Article 6 of the climate accord, ...

NewsroomBy Marc Daalder

5 hours ago
Grattan on Friday: Marles plays a defensive bat on nuclear as the government rushes to get though la...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Richard Marles is an ambitious man who hasn’t given up the dream of one day reaching the top job. But, despite being deputy prime minister, his profile is much lower than that of Treasurer Jim ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

11 hours ago
Fears Māori will pay heaviest price if police carry guns

"Overwhelmingly, those people who die will be young Māori men," the spokesperson for People Against Prisons Aotearoa says. ...

Radio NZ – political

12 hours ago
NEW POLL: Kiwis Overwhelmingly Support MPs’ Expenses Transparency Law Change

62% of respondents support the extension of the OIA to cover MPs’ spending, compared to just 13% opposed and 24% were unsure. ...

Scoop politics

13 hours ago
The House: Meanwhile, a week of passing law

The political week has been packed with worthy distractions, but all week Parliament has focused on passing new laws. Here are the highlights. ...

Radio NZ – political

13 hours ago
The biggest difference between Hīkoi mō te Tiriti and past hīkoi: More support from non-Māori

Analysis - The diversity of voices during the hīkoi was noticeable - from tangata moana to young immigrants to elderly Pākehā from the South Island. ...

Radio NZ – political

14 hours ago
The House: Samoan citizenship restoration – ‘It means we belong to this land’

When the bill to restore NZ citizenship to some Samoans passed this week, Parliament's galleries were full to the brim with members of the community. ...

Radio NZ – political

14 hours ago
More Delays In Action On Use Of Puberty Blockers With Children

Women’s Rights Party Co-leader Jill Ovens says the Ministry has put New Zealand children at risk by continuing to allow “off-label” prescribing of puberty blockers at far higher rates than other similar countries. ...

Scoop politics

15 hours ago
Police Minister adamant he wasn’t aware of gang members training at gun clubs

That is despite two papers from police that raised the matter with him. ...

Radio NZ – political

16 hours ago
Shorten declares himself ‘a proud moderate’, saying Australians ‘in the middle’ shouldn’t ...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten has declared himself “a proud moderate” in a valedictory speech declaring parliament has the responsibility to ensure the extremes of left and right do not set the terms of political debate. Shorten, ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

16 hours ago
New ‘best practice’ principles for superannuation products are coming. We asked a panel of exper...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Garrow, Editorial Web Developer Studio Romantic/Shutterstock We all know how important it is to save enough money for retirement – but what about spending it wisely when we get there? Even for those who have built up a suitable ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

16 hours ago
Government accused of betraying Kiwis’ trust over lack of consultation on live exports

The government has always vowed to reinstate live exports by sea, which was banned by the previous Labour government. ...

Radio NZ – political

16 hours ago
7 things you can do if you think you sweat too much

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Freeman, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Bond University ERIK Miheyeu/Shutterstock Sweating is our body’s way of cooling down, a bit like an internal air conditioner. When our core temperature rises (because it’s hot outside, or you’re exercising), sweat glands all ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

17 hours ago
Phenergan for under 6s is now banned due to hallucination fears. Here’s what to use instead

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macquarie University Australia’s drug regulator has issued a safety warning over the medicine Phenergan and related products containing the antihistamine drug promethazine. The Therapeutic Goods Administration said the over-the-counter products should not be given to children ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

17 hours ago

The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.

‘The future will be green or not at all’

Related Posts

275 comments on “‘The future will be green or not at all’ ”

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

Related Posts

Related Posts

Related Posts

Related Posts

‘The future will be green or not at all’

Share this:

Related Posts

275 comments on “‘The future will be green or not at all’ ”

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

Share this:

Related Posts

Share this:

Related Posts

Share this:

Related Posts

Share this:

Related Posts