Further evidence that New Zealand is highly vulnerable to the oncoming global economic collapse.
‘Fonterra cuts farmer milk payout
Fonterra has cut its farmgate milk price forecast for the 2015/6 season to $4.15 a kg of milksolids from a previous forecast of $4.60 a kg in response to weak international prices.
Combined with the earnings per share range of 45-55 cents, the total available for payout of $4.60-$4.70 per kg and would currently equate to a forecast cash payout of $4.50-$4.55 per kg for farmers, it said.
Chairman John Wilson said global economic conditions continue to be challenging and are impacting demand for a range of commodities, including dairy.
“Key factors driving dairy demand are declining international oil prices which have weakened the spending power of countries reliant on oil revenues, economic uncertainty in developing economies and a slow recovery of dairy imports into China,” he said in a statement.’
I don’t know about anyone else’s experience but in my personal sphere of life I have yet to come across a man-made climate change denier who isn’t male, white and over 30. I am going to speculate that this is an indirect offshoot of the “white men are right” school of thought (sometimes known as “the white man’s burden) that permeated Anglo-Saxon colonised countries over the past 100-150 years. Today, remnants of this philosophy are expressed in the individual viewpoints of white males, who actually have no more power as individuals in society than women, other cultures etc, but still presume that they possess an innate wisdom thanks to their race and sex that is superior to science and the general facts of the matter.
Perhaps, the same psychological tendency (the cult of superior knowingness due to one’s sex and race) are expressed in other forms in other parts of the world.
I’ve come across one early 20s white female, educated in an engineering field, that appeared to be a climate change denier. Not a definite sighting of a very rare species, I didn’t get a chance to fully confirm it.
Interesting observation. I’d hazard a guess that some of it is the fact that AGW is going to fuck the patriarchy’s stranglehold on things and the older white men who have benefited the most from the patriarchy have the most to lose. Cognitive dissonance. Probably the sociopathic effect too (white men having more socialisation in that direction).
Interesting and plausible theory pineapple. Certainly I have observed this phenomenon in this category of people many many times.
For the record however, I do know of at least 3 women who are active climate change deniers, ages between 45- 55. They are all nat voters and think climate change is a con made up by the loony left to make us feel bad and “bad weather” happens. I kid you not.
To test for the trend amongst conservative white males, the researchers compared the demographic to “all other adults.” Results showed, for instance, that 29.6 percent of conservative white males believe the effects of global warming will never happen, versus 7.4 percent of other adults. In holding for “confident” conservative white males, the study showed 48.4 percent believe global warming won’t happen, versus 8.6 percent of other adults.
Yes, with any luck Goff will be gone but there’s still the group of dissenters, saboteurs and general trouble makers for Labour: Shearer, Nash, Cosgrove , Mallard, King.
There is a small risk that Shearer would use any punishment by Little to resign from Labour and go to his true home, National. There is nothing Mrs & Mr Shearer will not do to become Min for Foreign Affairs or at least an Ambassador.
Neonicotinoids — the pesticides threatening bees — are a vicious neurotoxin used on 100 million acres of farmland, lawns, and gardens across the US. Bees can’t avoid them because they are everywhere. They spread through soil and water, and cannot be washed off of food. A government study even found them in 29% of baby food!
The US is considering action after releasing a study showing that one of the most common neonics is “very highly toxic to adult honey bees.” But without pressure the government may only limit the use of these toxins — even though studies show that low doses can disrupt bees’ learning, memory and motor functions. We’ve already begun by funding leading scientists and engaging stakeholders. Now is the time for millions of voices to demand the US environment agency and the White House stop the use of these dangerous chemicals altogether.
Seventy out of the world’s top 100 food crops are pollinated by bees! We would have food in a world without bees, but the vivid diversity of native plants, fruits and vegetables would be lost. …ps. Bees are just totally amazing. They form matriarchal societies that communicate with each other by dancing … their honeycombs are one of the most efficient structures in nature … and their brains can actually stop aging (possibly giving us signs on how to stop dementia)! Let’s help save these incredible creatures together: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees_global_2016sam/?bRtXRcb&v=71926&cl=9333005379
The chemical companies would like us to believe that what happens to insects has no impact on people. But in our interconnected ecosystem the death of even tiny creatures like bees ripples through us too. As Rachel Carson, who led the charge against DDT, said: “In nature nothing exists alone.” We all depend on each other. We need the bees and the bees need us.
With hope,
Nell, Dalia, Ari, Ben, Emma, Alice, Emily and the entire Avaaz team
i have a nice garden with lots of fruit trees and i don’t use anything ever. Let nature sort it is my motto and so far it worked. However this year i have not seen a single bee, and many people that I know that garden for food are also not seeing them, but are hand pollinating, or contemplating getting someone in with a hive in the future or establishing their own hive. This is not an option for me as I rent in town, but i am contemplating a hive set up once i move permanently to the paddock of paradise.
On Thursday 4 February 2016 – from 12 noon till 1pm a non-violent, family- friendly peaceful protest against the proposed signing of the TPPA is being organised in Auckland – from Aotea Square to Britomart.
Hopefully THOUSANDS of concerned New Zealanders will fill Queen Street over this one hour lunch break – to show our opposition to the proposed signing of the TPPA.
This peaceful protest, called by the ‘It’s Our Future’ group – is NOT going to Sky City – it is going up Queen Street, in hopefully a MASSIVE display of ‘people power’.
Come on folks!
We need Queen PACKED with New Zealanders who care about our country and OUR future!
Be there!
Stand up and be counted for yourself, your family, your children and grandchildren!
Together – in our THOUSANDS let’s show this John Key led Government and THE WORLD how many genuine, caring Kiwis are opposed to increasing global corporate control over our land, our resources and our sovereignty!
Because – on 4 February 2016 – the world WILL be watching …
You could have saved yourself the trouble of typing John Key.
“Ignoring referenda is de rigueur for the Government”
There have been, if my memory is correct, five referenda that got through to a vote. Everyone of them passed and was then ignored by Parliament.
One went to the Bolger Government, two to the Clark Government and two to the Key Government.
Ignoring the results of referenda is common to the lot of them, isn’t it?
I fear you may be confusing me with someone else.
Nothing Corbyn might do would surprise me.
I think he is a total idiot.
I also haven’t the slightest interest in the Falklands except to feel sorry for the people who live in that god-forsaken place.
What happens to them is up to Britain.
If the occupation was fine, then they probably should. But if they’ve been living on stolen land for a couple of hundred years, then it’s still stolen land.
If that is the case we are going to have to hand it back to France then, although I doubt that Hollande would be keen on the idea.
According to Wiki
“The islands were uninhabited when discovered by Europeans. France established a colony on the islands in 1764. In 1765, a British captain claimed the islands for Britain. In early 1770 a Spanish commander arrived from Argentina with five ships and 1400 soldiers forcing the British to leave Port Egmont. Britain and Spain almost went to war over the islands, but the British government decided that it should withdraw its presence from many overseas settlements in 1774. Spain, which had a garrison at Puerto Soledad on East Falklands, ruled the islands from Buenos Aires until 1811 when it was forced to withdraw. In 1833, the British returned to the Falkland Islands. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that forced the Argentines to surrender.”
You work it out. If I read it correctly then Spain abandoned the place in 1811 and Britain has been there continuously from when they came back in 1833.
Anyhoo, not really my problem to work out. That’s what diplomatic processes and international conventions are for. Of course, if bilateral talks manage to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of both parties, for example maybe Britain negotiating compensation to Argentina to keep the territory, and agreeing some sort of sharing thing on mineral rights and fisheries, then none of those processes need to be worked through.
No reason not to talk about it – sticking to some sort of neoThatcherite jingoism might well cost a shedload more than acting like a reasonable human being.
It’s not like Corbyn demanded the islands be turned over to the Argentines as soon as possible, but curse him for daring to mention having a conversation to resolve a longstanding international dispute…
You actually sounded interested in the subject and were presenting an either/or scenario when you said
“If the occupation was fine, then they probably should. But if they’ve been living on stolen land for a couple of hundred years, then it’s still stolen land”
Being a good hearted chap I decided to try and get you something that might help resolve the confusion you were in.
I see you are one of those who do not wish to have that confusion caused by your ignorance alleviated. I shall try and abstain from taking part in your education in future. I reserve the right to point out any excessively silly comments you make though.
Technically of course it seems to me that they were never part of Argentina. They were ruled by Spain until they abandoned them in 1811. Argentina didn’t exist until 1816, I think.
The question was regarding how much weight should be given to the wishes of 1600 voting-eligible residents.
The answer is pretty simple: if the land is stolen, then very little.
The issue of ownership is a legal question that can be avoided via diplomatic negotiations.
Our opinions of the legality of the British occupation are irrelevant: I know you like thinking that you know better than multiple judicial systems, but the fact is that you probably don’t. Neither do I. And the legal opinions of commenters on a NZ blogsite will almost certainly not affect the policies of either Britain or Argentina.
Spain abandoned them to fight the Argentine war of independence. Territorial legitimacy went from Spain to the newly independent Argentina, according to their point of view. The British left them well before the Spanish did. Even the yanks had a tilt.
But that’s all irrelevant to what was asked: the easiest way to provide long term security for the residents is for Britain to negotiate with Argentina and come to some sort of settlement.
I do like the fact the Islanders were asked, though – that’s something the Chagos islanders never got from Britain.
Well there is one thing we agree on. Neither of us is a lawyer.
As far as “The British left them well before the Spanish did.” goes though it looks as if the British were forced out by the Spanish, if my Wiki extract is accurate.
That was being mean talking about the “Chagos islanders”. I had to google it. If you had said Diego Garcia I wouldn’t have needed to.
Lots of bad things have happened to people living in offshore places of course.
I don’t think the people of Goa had any say in their annexation by India.
The people of Hong Kong didn’t get a choice did they?
Neither did all the countries dominated by the USSR after WW2. At least not until the USSR collapsed.
Russia sold Alaska to the USA. Did anyone ask the residents.
Where do you want to stop. Can we send all the Scots back to Ireland?
I merely mentioned DG/Chagos because I found it humourous that a mere 40 years later the British government/media is pretending to care about what 1600 residents think.
Basically, yeah, it goes back as long as the effects go back. That’s why Canada’s working to redress wrongs against First Nations folk by creating a new province. That’s why Mt McKinly is back to being called Denali. The resolution isn’t “sending people back where they came from”, the resolution is accepting that parties feel wrongs happened and providing some manner of individual, national or systemic reparation to resolve the wrongs that occurred. It’s not being a pushover, it’s just having a conversation to see the other party’s point of view and see if the issue can be addressed, rather than letting it fester so three jerks with a license plate don’t cause a riot.
News flash Fox news becomes Trumps punching bag, how distracting, how boring, how predictable, how did this become headline TV news? Spin cycle USA has no place here
John Milford is pants. I don’t know how or why he gets so much media space. He has been growing his right wing lobbying power for over a decade now, mainly at a local level here in Wellington but alarmingly he seems to be given column space for national political issue which he knows nothing of, eg, the TPPA.
I’m not sure why fairfax look to him as such an oracle of economic wisdom when he was CE of Kirkcaldies and Staines all this time and for so long yet managed to run a successful iconic business that had been standing for over 150 years, into the ground, only to bought out by the aussies.
What an oaf. He’s really got it in for the workers too. It’s just sheer mean spiritedness to take WCC to court over their extension of the payment of the living wage from council staff to their contractors too.
To be honest Rosemary, I’ve discovered how dysfunctional and ineffective our council is, during my constant dealings with them over the last year. I could write an essay about the hypocrisy, undeclared conflicts of interest and arrogance from council managers, council officials and councillors themselves. Quite shocking as I naively thought I’d been voting in the right people over the last two terms.
I think the only thing they have managed to get right in that time is the move to the living wage for council employee’s and the recent extension of that living wage to their contractors – only for Milford to come and stick his oar in……..
That version of what happened to Kirks is a bit distorted Rosie.
It went the way of every small department store. It was to small to have the buying power of the large companies like David Jones or Myer in Australia.
Lots of them died. I remember Daimaru and Georges in Melbourne went the same way. Georges was a wonderful shop but their customers, so the firm said, stopped buying goods from Italy and France from them because they could go to Europe themselves 2 or 3 times a year.
I think Kirks did amazingly well to last as long as they did. You cannot blame the CEO for something that was inevitable.
True, the CE was only part of it, but he could have done more. I met the guy some time ago and was surprised at how out of touch he was with the reality of day to day retailing, for someone in his position.
There were changes in the retail sector and Kirks were faced with a valid challenge but a smart cookie could have done more. He could have started by listening to the floor managers.
PS. As one of our frequent WCC bashers you may be interested to read my response to Rosemary, from the other side of the ideological fence 🙂
Para one I agree with you.
However Para two.
I don’t think very much of the “Living Wage”.
It is calculated on the basis of a hypothetical married couple with two kids if I remember rightly. Then it is supposed to be paid to everyone.
I am a believer that you pay, with a limited minimum, the wage to get people to do the job. Then the state makes up, by things like working for families, the income for those who have dependents and who can’t live on the pay they receive.
Why does a 20 year old single person living with his parents need the hypothetical “living wage”.
When a Council do it it is also being paid by a lot of pensioners whose only income is National Super and whose only asset is their house, to people who are getting a higher income than they are.
alwyn, perhaps you might like to invent an explanation as to why the failed K. & S. CEO has also managed to lose half the members of the Chamber of Commerce since taking over there. It is about time he was relegated to the persona non grata status that his incompetence deserves.
I have no intention of attempting any such thing.
I don’t know the man. I have no way of knowing whether what you say about the CoC is correct and I wasn’t really talking about him at all.
I was talking about what happened to Kirks. Exactly the same thing that happened to the DIC, Radfords and James Smiths in Wellington.
It died in exactly the same way as all singleton department stores died. It was simply too small to compete with the chains and couldn’t match the range of goods in the various specialist shops. It was a business model which had passed its use by date.
Milford happened to be the CEO at the time. However it wouldn’t have mattered who it was. It didn’t fold BECAUSE of him. RIP.
What’s the rush for New Zealand to sign the TPPA when the USA may never pass the TPPA through Congress?
If YOU are opposed to NZ signing the TPPA – there will be a one hour, peaceful protest in Auckland on Thursday 4 February 2016.
Starting at Aotea Square and going up Queen Street to Britomart.
This ‘family-friendly’ peaceful protest will NOT be going to Sky City.
Looking forward to THOUSANDS of New Zealanders ‘standing up to be counted’ for that one hour in Queen St, against more corporate control of our country, our assets and resources, our democracy and national sovereignty.
This was interesting to see so far from Skycity and this far out from the 4th of February. Does anyone know of any other police intimidation tactics re the TPPA (other than announcing riot training)?
a Dunedin transgender activist who goes by the gender-neutral pronoun ‘they’, said an officer knocked on their door at about 10 this morning.
The officer wanted to know what the plans were for anti-TPP action in Dunedin… The Dunedin-based TPP action group – of which Scout is not a member – has planned a talk on the TPP tomorrow, and an “action event” is planned to take place in the Octagon from 12-2:30 on Saturday.
Police could not immediately be reached with a request for comment.
Thats a real worry Pasupial and very intimidating for someone that doesn’t even have anything to do with the anti TPP group. I wonder if Scout can find out if the police have been surveilling them – they must have been to turn up at their doorstep?
On top of that is the fact that police now carry tasers at protests:
Personally, I find this very intimidating and believe it demonstrates an unhealthy aggressive attitude from the police towards people peacefully exercising their democratic right to protest.
Something has changed. During the 2011 (2011? Lost track of time) Occupy movement, police were low key and generally fairly relaxed with people occupying civic square in Wellington. Now though, the level of police preparedness and sense of mild paranoia seems to have increased. Why?
Ha! It’s not like we’re fighting back, so whats changed?
What’s changed? Well, in Dunedin this may provide some link:
Superintendent Mike Pannett, who took over from acting district commander Jason Guthrie this week… Supt Pannett has just returned from four years in Washington DC, where he was chairperson of the Washington DC Liaison Office Association, which covered North, Central and South America.
Supt Pannett is a member of the International Chiefs of Police Committee on Terrorism
Detective Superintendent Mike Pannett, the New Zealand Police Liaison Officer in the United States, monitored “termination activities” against Dotcom’s Megaupload operations in nine countries from the FBI’s Multi-Agency Command Centre. Created by the FBI’s Law Enforcement Online (LEO) network in 2002, the Virtual Command Centre (VCC) enables enforcement agencies to post, track and spread information in a quick, secure environment.
Fed from multiple inputs in the field, the VCC exists on a secure system for any designated audience members online… “Feedback on the New Zealand operation has been extremely positive from our international law enforcement partners including the FBI and the US Department of Justice,” Mr Pannett reported in the February Police online magazine, TenOne.
Detective Superintendent Mike Pannett, New Zealand police liaison officer in Washington, has been ordered to swear an affidavit, setting out full details of the monitoring he was a party to from the FBI’s Multi Agency Command Centre.
Mr Pannett was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009 before he was appointed manager of intelligence operations at the National Intelligence Centre based at Police National Headquarters in Wellington
It does seem strange that when the ODT asked the Dunedin police for comment on their allegedly having harassed an activist, they; “could not immediately be reached with a request for comment”. Yet the very next story to this in the online ODT Dunedin section was a puff piece about how an establishment minion was all set to bring to peace to the region in some unspecified manner.
Which is largely based on this (if you don’t want to expose yourself to Bradbury’s words):
Prominent anti-TPP protestor Professor Jane Kelsey said such monitoring of critics to the controversial agreement was “entirely predictable” behaviour from the Government, and shows the “disrespect the Government has had throughout to people’s right to voice their dissent about this negotiation and this agreement”
“This is perfectly consistent with their attempts to shut down democratic engagement with, almost anything, but certainly with the TPPA.”
The Government was attempting to make a law and order issue out of the opposition to the agreement, she said, by painting those in opposition to it as radicals who posed a national security risk…
“If the Government could “whip up some law and order frenzy” in advance of the signing, she said, it believed it could “claw back some support … for what is largely an unpopular deal”…
Civil liberties lawyer Michael Bott said the police action would have a “chilling” effect on freedom of expression and the right to protest.
“These people haven’t committed any crime and yet the police are going to conduct a search or an interview, and there are legal concerns with that.”
Thanks Pasupial. Very interesting! I’m out of time now but want to return to this tomorrow. Saw the article on 3news about Scout, their dealings with police and Michael Bott’s response.
“Austrian athlete and daredevil, Felix Baumgartner, known for his super-sonic leap from the stratosphere, has bashed EU politicians for their “idiotic” refugee policies in a lengthy post. He added that Washington is destabilizing Europe “on purpose.” “
It is sad to learn of the passing of the very colourful former Labour minister, Bob Tizard this afternoon. I knew Bob and his close friend the late Warren Freer very well in the 1970s and 80s, and they were two of the most likeable rogues that ever graced the treasury benches. Their various escapades over the years are legendary.
A good argument for keeping most of our names hidden for having an opposing view to the Govt http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11581217 Police knocking on doors of (so called) activists to give them a heads up they are keeping an eye on them with regard to TPPA protests.
Paul give it a rest it’s becoming dull. Do you surf the Internet all day looking for doomsday articles, where do you find the time, do something a bit more cheerful some time it will be good for your spirit
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Politics is about compromise, right? And framing it so the voters see your compromise as the better one. John Key was a skilful exponent of this approach (as was Keith Holyoake in an earlier age), and Chris Luxon isn’t too bad either. But in politics, the process whereby an old ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
It’s being explained as an “inadvertent error”. However, National MP David MacLeod’s excuse for failing to disclose $178,000 in donations for his election campaign last year is not necessarily enough to prevent some serious consequences. A Police investigation is now likely, and the result of his non-disclosure could even see ...
The relentless drone coming out of the Prime Minister and his deputy for a million days now has been that the last government was just hosing money all over the show and now at last the grownups are in charge and shutting that drunken sailor stuff down. There is a word ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed a New Zealand Government plane will head to riot-torn New Caledonia in the next hour in the first in a series of proposed flights to begin bringing New Zealanders home. Today’s flight will carry around 50 passengers with the most ...
Precious declaration saysYours is yours and mine you leave alone nowPrecious declaration saysI believe all hope is dead no longerTick tick tick Boom!Unexploded ordnance. A veritable minefield. A National caucus with a large number of unknowns, candidates who perhaps received little in the way of vetting as the party jumped ...
Rex Ahdar writes – The Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, likes to trace his political lineage back to the pioneers of parliamentary Maoridom. I will refer to these as the ‘big four’ or better still, the Four Knights. Just as ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Willie Jackson will participate in the prestigious Oxford Union debate on Thursday, following in David Lange’s footsteps. Coincidentally, Jackson has also followed Lange’s footsteps by living in his old home in South Auckland. And like Lange, Jackson might be the sort of loud-mouth scrapper ...
That is the only way to describe an MP "forgetting" to declare $178,000 in donations. The amount of money involved - more than five times the candidate spending cap, and two and a half times the median income - is boggling. How do you just "forget" that amount of money? ...
In this week’s “A View from Afar” podcast Selwyn Manning and spoke about the upcoming US elections and what the possibility of another Trump presidency means for the US role in world affairs. We also spoke about the problems Joe … Continue reading → ...
Hi,Two years ago I briefly featured in Justin Pemberton’s Web of Chaos documentary, which touched on things like QAnon during the pandemic.I mostly prattled on about how intertwined conspiracy narratives are with Evangelical Christian thinking, something Webworm’s explored in the past.(The doc is available on TVNZ+, if you’re not in ...
The Government is leaving the entire construction sector and the community housing sector in limbo. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government released the long-awaited Bill English-led review of Kāinga Ora yesterday, but delayed key decisions on its build plan and how to help community housing providers (CHPs) build ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Daisy Simmons Farmers who can’t sleep, worrying they’ll lose everything amid increasing drought. Youth struggling with depression over a future that feels hopeless. Indigenous people grief-stricken over devastated ecosystems. For all these people and more, climate change is taking a clear toll ...
New Zealand’s relationship with China is becoming harder to define, and with that comes a worry that a deteriorating political relationship could spill over into the economic relationship. It is about more than whether New Zealand will join Pillar Two of Aukus, though the Chinese Ambassador, more or less, suggested ...
Been hoping we would see something like this from Sir Geoffrey Palmer. This is excellent.The present Bill goes further than the National Development Act 1979 in stripping away procedures designed to ensure that environmental issues are properly considered. The 1979 approach was not acceptable then and this present approach is ...
He’s Got The Moxie: Only Willie Jackson possesses the credentials to meld together a new Labour message that is, at one and the same moment, staunchly working-class, union-friendly, and which speaks to the hundreds-of-thousands of urban Māori untethered to the neo-tribal capitalist elites of the Iwi Leaders Forum.IT’S ONE OF THE ...
Tree-huggers may well accuse the Government of giving them the fingers, after Energy Minister Simeon Brown announced new measures to protect powerlines from trees, rather than measures to protect trees from powerlines. It can be no coincidence, surely, that this has been announced at the same as Fisheries Minister Shane Jones ...
Willie Jackson will participate in the prestigious Oxford Union debate on Thursday, following in David Lange’s footsteps. Coincidentally, Jackson has also followed Lange’s footsteps by living in his old home in South Auckland. And like Lange, Jackson might be the sort of loud-mouth scrapper who could take over the Labour ...
Barrister Gary Judd KC’s complaint to the Regulatory Review Committee has sparked a fierce debate about the place of tikanga Māori – or Māori customs, values and spiritual beliefs – in the law.Judd opposes the New Zealand Council of Legal Education’s plans to make teaching tikanga compulsory in the legal curriculum.AUT ...
Alwyn Poole writes – In New Zealand we have approximately 460 high schools. The gaps between the schools that produce the best results for students and those at the other end of the spectrum are enormous.In terms of the data for their leavers, the top 30 schools have ...
Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand First Cabinet Minister Shane Jones has become the best advertisement against the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill. In selling the radical new resource consenting processes, in which ministers can green light any mine, dam, or other major development, Jones seems to be ...
Brian Eastonwrites – The Fast-Track Approvals Bill enables cabinet ministers to circumvent key environmental planning and protection processes for infrastructure projects. Its difficulties have been well canvassed. This column suggests a different way of thinking about the proposal. I am ...
The split opening up in Israel’s “War Cabinet” is not just between PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his long-term rival Benny Gantz. It is actually a three-way split, set in motion by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. It was Gallant’s open criticism of Netanyahu that finally flushed Gantz out into the open. ...
On Thursday 17 May, the Mayoral Proposal for Auckland’s Long Term Plan 2024-2034 was passed by Auckland Council, 20 to 1. It is set to be formally adopted by the Governing Body at its June 27th meeting. The entire process took 8 hours, with the vast majority of that time ...
Pakanga o muaTukua, ka ngaroPuritia taku ringaNgaro ana te ara ki pae rauThere's a battle aheadMany battles are lostBut you'll never see the end of the roadWhile you're travelling with meLate yesterday morning I headed to Wynyard Quarter to see Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick give their pre-budget State of ...
Maybe the Prime Minister and his Finance Minister expected the worst, so they mounted a stout defence of the Budget tax cuts to their party faithful at a party conference over the weekend. In turn, they were greeted with applause, which, though it may have been less than wildly enthusiastic, ...
A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 12, 2024 thru Sat, May 18, 2024. Story of the week “The legislation I signed today [will] keep windmills off our beaches, gas in our tanks, and ...
TL;DR: Here’s six links that stood out to me in the last day in Aotearoa’s political economy to 6:06am on Sunday, May 19:Aotearoa-NZ is the seventh worst in the OECD’s homelessness rankings, just behind the United States and just ahead of Australia. BlackRock thinks rate hikes actually worsen inflation because ...
Halfway up a historic tower in York, we are neither up nor down. At the top you will have views of a city steeped in antiquity, made and remade by Romans, Normans, Vikings, Tescos. Below, you will find a retired minister happy to tell you all about this most astonishing ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Does breathing contribute to CO2 ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: KiwiRail’s seemingly endless requests for more money is damning. At one point, KiwiRail assured Robertson when he was the Finance Minister that the worst-case scenario would be an extra $300 million before requesting $1.2 billion a few months later. Not what most people ...
No one knows what it's likeTo be the bad manTo be the sad manBehind blue eyesNo one knows what it's likeTo be hatedTo be fatedTo telling only liesHave you ever wondered what life must be like for Mike Hosking? Seeing things in black and white through blue tinted specs? In ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two week’s editions.Share More Than A FeildingBike bling, London Read more ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect New Zealanders' right of free speech. The “Protection of Freedom of Expression Bill” will ensure that no organisation or individual, when acting within the law, is unreasonably denied use of a public venue for an organised event or ...
Disabled children and families nationwide have recently found out they’re no longer able to use disability support funding for programmes during school hours in another quiet update from the Government. ...
Following a horrific case of stalking that ended in tragedy, Labour’s police spokesperson Ginny Andersen has drafted a bill that would add stalking to the Crimes Act. ...
The Rt Hon Winston Peters, joined by Mike King, has announced $24 million over four years for the ‘I Am Hope Foundation’, and will provide young people aged between 5 to 25 years with free mental health counselling services. This funding will help I Am Hope’s ‘Gumboot Friday’ initiative give ...
Te Pāti Māori have launched a petition to stop the repeal of Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act. This announcement comes prior to the first reading of the Section 7AA repeal bill in Parliament today. “Section 7AA forces the Government to adhere to Te Tiriti o Waitangi with respect ...
The Government has yet again failed to do the one thing that needs to happen to ensure houses can be built – commit to ongoing funding, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Treasury officials have outlined many ways in which the Fast Track Approvals Bill is deeply flawed, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking says. ...
Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick used this year's State of the Planet to call on the Government to prioritise people and planet as the delivery of the Budget approaches. A full transcript of their speeches can be found below. ...
Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick have used their State of the Planet speeches to challenge the Government to prioritise people and planet over profit as the delivery of the Budget approaches. ...
The Government’s introduction of legislation that would enable landlords to end tenancies with no reason marks a dark day for the 1.4 million people who rent their home in Aotearoa. ...
The Minister for Mental Health has found the Suicide Prevention Office and mental health support for 111 calls slipping through his fingers, says Labour spokesperson for Mental Health Ingrid Leary. ...
Today’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. ...
The Green Party says the Government’s misguided policy on gangs will fail, following the announcement of the establishment of a national gang unit and district gang disruption units to target gang activities. ...
“With Police pay negotiations still unresolved after six months in Government, Mark Mitchell has today rolled the Commissioner out for a rebrand of their approach to gang crime,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said. ...
The Government bringing back 50 charter schools will not increase achievement and is a distraction from the core mission of the education system, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Te Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill. Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to a ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
Nine highly respected experts have been appointed to the inaugural board of the new Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission is a new independent Crown entity which was established under the Integrity Sport and Recreation Act last year, ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters confirmed today that Vote Foreign Affairs in Budget 2024 will balance two crucial priorities of the Coalition Government. While Budget 2024 reflects the constrained fiscal environment, the Government also recognises the critical role MFAT plays in keeping New Zealanders safe and prosperous. “Consistent with ...
New social housing funding in Budget 2024 will ensure the Government can continue supporting more families into warm, dry homes from July 2025, Housing Ministers Chris Bishop and Tama Potaka say. “Earlier this week I was proud to announce that Budget 2024 allocates $140 million to fund 1,500 new social ...
Introduction Today, we are sharing a red-letter occasion. A Blackball event on hallowed ground. Today we underscore the importance of our mineral estate. A reminder that our natural resource sector has much to offer. Such a contribution will not come to pass without investment. However, more than money is needed. ...
Increasing national and regional prosperity, providing the minerals needed for new technology and the clean energy transition, and doubling the value of minerals exports are the bold aims of the Government’s vision for the minerals sector. Resources Minister Shane Jones today launched a draft strategy for the minerals sector in ...
The coalition Government’s legislation to restore the rights of communities to determine whether to introduce Māori wards has passed its first reading in Parliament, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says. “Divisive changes introduced by the previous government denied local communities the ability to determine whether to establish Māori wards.” The ...
The coalition Government has today introduced legislation to slash the tangle of red and green tape throttling some of New Zealand’s key sectors, including farming, mining and other primary industries. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says the Government is committed to unlocking development and investment while ensuring the environment is ...
Kia ora, Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou kātoa Tāmaki Herenga Waka, Tāmaki Herenga tangata Ngā mihi ki ngā mana whenua o tēnei rohe Ngāti Whātua ō Ōrākei me nga iwi kātoa kua tae mai. Mauriora. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the EMA for hosting this event. Let me acknowledge ...
The coalition Government is investing in social housing for New Zealanders who are most in need of a warm dry home, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. Budget 2024 will allocate $140 million in new funding for 1,500 new social housing places to be provided by Community Housing Providers (CHPs), not ...
Thousands more young New Zealanders will have better access to mental health services as the Government delivers on its commitment to fund the Gumboot Friday initiative, says Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey. “Budget 2024 will provide $24 million over four years to contract the ...
The Coalition Government’s Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill, which will improve tenancy laws and help increase the supply of rental properties, has passed its first reading in Parliament says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The Bill proposes much-needed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 that will remove barriers to increasing private ...
Standing here in Cassino War Cemetery, among the graves looking up at the beautiful Abbey of Montecassino, it is hard to imagine the utter devastation left behind by the battles which ended here in May 1944. Hundreds of thousands of shells and bombs of every description left nothing but piled ...
I present a legislative statement on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill Mr. Speaker, I move that the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Social Services and Community Committee to consider the Bill. Thank you, Mr. ...
The Bill to repeal Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has had its first reading in Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the care and safety of children in care, says Minister for Children Karen Chhour. “When I became the Minister for Children, I made ...
Kia ora koutou, good morning, and zao shang hao. Thank you Fran for the opportunity to speak at the 2024 China Business Summit – it’s great to be here today. I’d also like to acknowledge: Simon Bridges - CEO of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. His Excellency Ambassador - Wang ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed a New Zealand Government plane will head to New Caledonia in the next hour in the first in a series of proposed flights to begin bringing New Zealanders home. “New Zealanders in New Caledonia have faced a challenging few days - and bringing ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed a New Zealand Government plane will head to New Caledonia in the next hour in the first in a series of proposed flights to begin bringing New Zealanders home. “New Zealanders in New Caledonia have faced a challenging few days - and bringing them ...
The Coalition Government will introduce legislation this year that will enable roadside drug testing as part of our commitment to improve road safety and restore law and order, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Alcohol and drugs are the number one contributing factor in fatal road crashes in New Zealand. In ...
The Government has announced a series of immediate actions in response to the independent review of Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “Kāinga Ora is a large and important Crown entity, with assets of $45 billion and over $2.5 billion of expenditure each year. It ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour is pleased that Pseudoephedrine can now be purchased by the general public to protect them from winter illness, after the coalition government worked swiftly to change the law and oversaw a fast approval process by Medsafe. “Pharmacies are now putting the medicines back on their ...
Tēnā koutou katoa. Da jia hao. Good morning everyone. Prime Minister Luxon, your excellency, a great friend of New Zealand and my friend Ambassador Wang, Mayor of what he tells me is the best city in New Zealand, Wayne Brown, the highly respected Fran O’Sullivan, Champion of the Auckland business ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced that the Government will make it easier for lines firms to take action to remove vegetation from obstructing local powerlines. The change will ensure greater security of electricity supply in local communities, particularly during severe weather events. “Trees or parts of trees falling on ...
Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani were the top winners at this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy awards recognising the best in Māori dairy farming. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced the winners and congratulated runners-up, Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board, at an awards celebration also attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister ...
"On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden. “I raised my concerns after being ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools. “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. “It is my pleasure ...
New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says. “This ...
Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney This should be a golden age for Australian soccer. After all, the big picture is good: the Matildas are waltzing, the Socceroos are well supported and Australia was just awarded hosting ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Wellings, Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Monash University Assuming a Labour win in the UK general election – always a risky assumption given Labour’s proclivity for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory – the “Global Britain” bombast emanating ...
The community group People Against Prisons Aotearoa is holding a protest against mass incarceration tomorrow against the Government’s proposed expansion of Waikeria prison. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University Shutterstock OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT, and News Corp, the international media conglomerate, have signed a deal that will let OpenAI use and learn from News Corp’s content. In ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jaimon Kelly, Senior Research Fellow in Telehealth delivered health services, The University of Queensland Shutterstock/Nils Versemann For many Australians the emergency department (ED) is the physical and emblematic front door to accessing urgent health-care services. But health-care services are evolving rapidly ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Trelease, Senior Lecturer in Communication Studies, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Following the hugely successful recent season of Married At First Sight (MAFS) Australia, fans of the format – and the reality romance genre in general – will be ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic Redfern, Associate Professor, School of Art, RMIT University We Are All Unique by Universal Everything commissioned by Hyundai Motorstudio Senayan Park in Beings at ACMI.Image by Michelle Tran At this week’s launch of Beings by Universal Everything, ACMI board member ...
As Married at First Sight New Zealand returns to our screens this Sunday, Tara Ward speaks to the show’s new relationship experts about what lies ahead. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. John Aiken is teasing Jo Robertson about her cup of ...
A new poem by Wellington writer Erin Donohue. The body’s score Here is what happens if you starve yourself for years. Your body will forget herself. She will have to learn new how a heart beats and she will not get it right. She will need MRIs and a quiet ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Picador, $25)A charming, smash-hit book about ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle “Only the struggle counts . . . death is nothing.” Éloi Machoro — “the Che Guevara of the Pacific” — said this shortly before he was gunned down by a French sniper on 12 January 1985. Machoro, one of the leaders of the newly-formed FLNKS (Kanak ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexandra Wake, Associate Professor, Journalism, RMIT University Photo by Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels The news media play a vital role in shaping the public conversation and covering complex issues such as war, the economy, climate change and technology. Yet our new research ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aviroop Gupta, PhD Candidate, Curtin University Narendra Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has resorted to religious polarisation as it tries to rally its Hindu nationalist base in India’s ongoing general election, which ends on June 1. Just days after voting started ...
Lana Walters’ new show is playing in Auckland for the NZ International Comedy Festival. Madeleine Holden (a parent) and Liv Sisson (not) went along to review. I hadn’t heard of comedian Lana Walters until a colleague posted the following message in one of The Spinoff’s Slack channels: “Has anyone been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paola A. Magni, Associate Professor of Forensic Science, Murdoch University Microgen / Shutterstock When you think of a criminal investigation, you might picture detectives meticulously collecting and analysing evidence found at the scene: weapons, biological fluids, footprints and fingerprints. However, this ...
Recent price falls in the New Zealand market for carbon credits leaves the Government facing the prospect of a significant loss of revenue from carbon auctions this year. The March financial statements from Treasury highlight lower-than-expected revenue ...
ANALYSIS:By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French President Emmanuel Macron has ended a meeting-packed whirlwind day in New Caledonia with back-to-back sessions including opposing leaders in the French Pacific territory. Macron left New Caledonia this morning, leaving some members of his entourage to deal with details ...
"The government's 'Draft Mineral Strategy' released this week by Minister for Resources Shane Jones is a disaster in the making for the environment, the climate and people as more and more rural communities will have to battle these companies ...
Behind the pretty flower beds at Auckland Botanic Gardens, conservation mahi is under way for the region’s 357 threatened plants. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. At Auckland Botanic Gardens, conservation specialist Ella Rawcliffe has been trying to plant a seed that’s smaller ...
One financial hopeful looks to MPs for inspiration on how to be savvy with money.As a person whose search history includes “easy ways to make money” and “what should I do with $1,000 savings”, my interest was piqued when parliament released the pecuniary interests register this week. Since 2005, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Barbara Mintzes, Professor, School of Pharmacy and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney Monster Ztudio/Shutterstock Drug companies are paying Australian doctors millions of dollars a year to fly to overseas conferences and meetings, give talks to other doctors, and to serve ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trivess Moore, Associate Professor, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University The Victorian government is planning Australia’s largest urban renewal project. The plan is to knock down and rebuild 44 large public housing towers in Melbourne. The government says these ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karen Scott, Professor in Law, University of Canterbury Christian Charisius/dpa/Getty Images In a significant development for small island nations threatened by rising seas, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) has found greenhouse gases constitute marine pollution. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pi-Shen Seet, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Edith Cowan University William Fortunato/Pexels Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of any innovative economy. New business creation has been shown to have a significant and positive impact on economic growth, innovation and job creation. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Treena Clark, Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Indigenous Research Fellow, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, University of Technology Sydney Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains names, images and stories of deceased people. Around the world, fashion researchers, ...
Gumboot Friday pocketed a significant budget boost this week, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin, but concerns have been raised over transparency. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
It’s 40 years since Lorraine Moller and her peers broke a glass ceiling at the Los Angeles Olympics. The Games in 1984 saw the inclusion of the women’s marathon for the first time and for Moller, then 29, it was the first of four consecutive appearances in the Olympic race ...
While New Zealand writers festivals are reporting record audiences, booksellers and publishers are struggling under financial pressure. Books editor Claire Mabey looks at the challenges faced by the industry, and what can be done about it.Last week the Auckland Writers Festival broke all attendance records with more than 85,000 ...
When the publisher of NZ Lifestyle Block announced it was closing down, its editor had a scary decision to make. Michael Andrew tells what happened next. At three in the morning a few months ago, I sat at my desk with two windows open on my computer. One was a ...
National promised a “back pocket boost” when it unveiled a tax package before the election, and now in Government in tough economic times its Budget next week will sort the easy promises from reality. The tax bracket changes and other in-work and family payment adjustments might need to land with ...
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Further evidence that New Zealand is highly vulnerable to the oncoming global economic collapse.
‘Fonterra cuts farmer milk payout
Fonterra has cut its farmgate milk price forecast for the 2015/6 season to $4.15 a kg of milksolids from a previous forecast of $4.60 a kg in response to weak international prices.
Combined with the earnings per share range of 45-55 cents, the total available for payout of $4.60-$4.70 per kg and would currently equate to a forecast cash payout of $4.50-$4.55 per kg for farmers, it said.
Chairman John Wilson said global economic conditions continue to be challenging and are impacting demand for a range of commodities, including dairy.
“Key factors driving dairy demand are declining international oil prices which have weakened the spending power of countries reliant on oil revenues, economic uncertainty in developing economies and a slow recovery of dairy imports into China,” he said in a statement.’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11580883
I don’t know about anyone else’s experience but in my personal sphere of life I have yet to come across a man-made climate change denier who isn’t male, white and over 30. I am going to speculate that this is an indirect offshoot of the “white men are right” school of thought (sometimes known as “the white man’s burden) that permeated Anglo-Saxon colonised countries over the past 100-150 years. Today, remnants of this philosophy are expressed in the individual viewpoints of white males, who actually have no more power as individuals in society than women, other cultures etc, but still presume that they possess an innate wisdom thanks to their race and sex that is superior to science and the general facts of the matter.
Perhaps, the same psychological tendency (the cult of superior knowingness due to one’s sex and race) are expressed in other forms in other parts of the world.
I’ve come across one early 20s white female, educated in an engineering field, that appeared to be a climate change denier. Not a definite sighting of a very rare species, I didn’t get a chance to fully confirm it.
Interesting observation. I’d hazard a guess that some of it is the fact that AGW is going to fuck the patriarchy’s stranglehold on things and the older white men who have benefited the most from the patriarchy have the most to lose. Cognitive dissonance. Probably the sociopathic effect too (white men having more socialisation in that direction).
Interesting and plausible theory pineapple. Certainly I have observed this phenomenon in this category of people many many times.
For the record however, I do know of at least 3 women who are active climate change deniers, ages between 45- 55. They are all nat voters and think climate change is a con made up by the loony left to make us feel bad and “bad weather” happens. I kid you not.
To test for the trend amongst conservative white males, the researchers compared the demographic to “all other adults.” Results showed, for instance, that 29.6 percent of conservative white males believe the effects of global warming will never happen, versus 7.4 percent of other adults. In holding for “confident” conservative white males, the study showed 48.4 percent believe global warming won’t happen, versus 8.6 percent of other adults.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-conservative-white-maes-are-more-likely-climate-skeptics/
It looks like it’s not a white dude thing so much as a conservative white dude thing.
I really hope they got this wrong:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/12117736/NUT-leaders-colluding-to-undermine-anti-terror-policies.html
Little has to drop Shearer from any spokesman role and sanction him if Shearer votes for TPP.
+100
Yes, with any luck Goff will be gone but there’s still the group of dissenters, saboteurs and general trouble makers for Labour: Shearer, Nash, Cosgrove , Mallard, King.
Any more ?
Can Labour risk, financially that is, one possibly two by-elections?
There is a small risk that Shearer would use any punishment by Little to resign from Labour and go to his true home, National. There is nothing Mrs & Mr Shearer will not do to become Min for Foreign Affairs or at least an Ambassador.
So who blinks first? Of course the most likely outcome is that nothing will actually happen…
AVAAZ have just sent out a request for support for their petition about bee protection to the USA. This is really important, and I need to do more about it so am going to add my name and I give the link here. And this below is what they say:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees_global_2016sam/?bRtXRcb&v=71926&cl=9333005379
Neonicotinoids — the pesticides threatening bees — are a vicious neurotoxin used on 100 million acres of farmland, lawns, and gardens across the US. Bees can’t avoid them because they are everywhere. They spread through soil and water, and cannot be washed off of food. A government study even found them in 29% of baby food!
The US is considering action after releasing a study showing that one of the most common neonics is “very highly toxic to adult honey bees.” But without pressure the government may only limit the use of these toxins — even though studies show that low doses can disrupt bees’ learning, memory and motor functions. We’ve already begun by funding leading scientists and engaging stakeholders. Now is the time for millions of voices to demand the US environment agency and the White House stop the use of these dangerous chemicals altogether.
Seventy out of the world’s top 100 food crops are pollinated by bees! We would have food in a world without bees, but the vivid diversity of native plants, fruits and vegetables would be lost. …ps. Bees are just totally amazing. They form matriarchal societies that communicate with each other by dancing … their honeycombs are one of the most efficient structures in nature … and their brains can actually stop aging (possibly giving us signs on how to stop dementia)! Let’s help save these incredible creatures together: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees_global_2016sam/?bRtXRcb&v=71926&cl=9333005379
SOURCES
Neonicotinoids are the new DDT killing the natural world (The Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/georgemonbiot/2013/aug/05/neonicotinoids-ddt-pesticides-nature
Bees threatened by a common pesticide, EPA finds (LA Times)
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pesticide-bees-20160106-story.html
The public consultation has just opened. Join the call below to protect bees, and the foods and plants we love — and tell everyone.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees_global_2016sam/?bRtXRcb&v=71926&cl=9333005379
The chemical companies would like us to believe that what happens to insects has no impact on people. But in our interconnected ecosystem the death of even tiny creatures like bees ripples through us too. As Rachel Carson, who led the charge against DDT, said: “In nature nothing exists alone.” We all depend on each other. We need the bees and the bees need us.
With hope,
Nell, Dalia, Ari, Ben, Emma, Alice, Emily and the entire Avaaz team
BACKGROUND
The EPA Finally Admitted That the World’s Most Popular Pesticide Kills Bees—20 Years Too Late (Mother Jones)
http://m.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2016/01/epa-finds-major-pesticide-toxic-bees
EPA Study Finds Insecticide Imidacloprid Poses Threat to Bees (Bloomberg)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-06/epa-study-finds-insecticide-imidacloprid-poses-threat-to-bees
What Is Killing America’s Bees and What Does It Mean for Us? (Rolling Stone)
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/what-is-killing-americas-bees-and-what-does-it-mean-for-us-20150818#ixzz3x4W3XznX
i have a nice garden with lots of fruit trees and i don’t use anything ever. Let nature sort it is my motto and so far it worked. However this year i have not seen a single bee, and many people that I know that garden for food are also not seeing them, but are hand pollinating, or contemplating getting someone in with a hive in the future or establishing their own hive. This is not an option for me as I rent in town, but i am contemplating a hive set up once i move permanently to the paddock of paradise.
we should worry.
Grow some lavender in your garden, it attracts bees like moths to a flame, the ones that are left that is!
Parata closes Whangaruru, we lose $4.2 million dollars, vulnerable students face further upheaval and discontinuity of education.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/76334545/hekia-parata-closes-whangaruru-charter-school-after-two-years
Any winners here? The guy who the board bought the farm off, I suppose. Well done him!
Parata closes Whangaruru, we lose $4.2 million dollars, vulnerable students face further upheaval and discontinuity of education.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/76334545/hekia-parata-closes-whangaruru-charter-school-after-two-years
Any winners here? The guy who the Whangaruru board bought the farm off, I suppose. Well done him!
Since it’s not clear that assets return to the government that paid for them, there may be trustees or trust beneficiaries that get a windfall.
Good little earthquake in Christchurch just now, 4.2. Haven’t felt one in about a year.
A little bit of a shake out near Rolleston
On this matter – I agree with Chris Trotter.
The 0.004% Mandate: Why opponents of the TPPA should boycott Real Choice’s “blockade” on 4 February
– See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/01/28/the-0-004-mandate-why-opponents-of-the-tppa-should-boycott-real-choices-blockade-on-4-february/#.dpuf
Please be reminded:
On Thursday 4 February 2016 – from 12 noon till 1pm a non-violent, family- friendly peaceful protest against the proposed signing of the TPPA is being organised in Auckland – from Aotea Square to Britomart.
Hopefully THOUSANDS of concerned New Zealanders will fill Queen Street over this one hour lunch break – to show our opposition to the proposed signing of the TPPA.
This peaceful protest, called by the ‘It’s Our Future’ group – is NOT going to Sky City – it is going up Queen Street, in hopefully a MASSIVE display of ‘people power’.
Come on folks!
We need Queen PACKED with New Zealanders who care about our country and OUR future!
Be there!
Stand up and be counted for yourself, your family, your children and grandchildren!
Together – in our THOUSANDS let’s show this John Key led Government and THE WORLD how many genuine, caring Kiwis are opposed to increasing global corporate control over our land, our resources and our sovereignty!
Because – on 4 February 2016 – the world WILL be watching …
Please help to pass the word!
Penny Bright
The UK Government taking our Governments fawning relationship with the Saudi Regime to the next level…
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/27/un-report-into-saudi-led-strikes-in-yemen-raises-questions-over-uk-role
Anyone got any idea why the herald on the eve of wisharts book has suddenly decided to print a flood of sounds murder stuff they have been sitting on?
As an experiment
Does anyone here agree with ignoring a referendum where 99.8% voted for the status quo? Are is it just Jeremy Corbyn who is anti-democratic?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/argentina/12117755/Jeremy-Corbyn-wants-a-Northern-Ireland-style-power-sharing-deal-for-the-Falklands.html
Ignoring referenda is de rigueur for the John Key government.
You could have saved yourself the trouble of typing John Key.
“Ignoring referenda is de rigueur for the Government”
There have been, if my memory is correct, five referenda that got through to a vote. Everyone of them passed and was then ignored by Parliament.
One went to the Bolger Government, two to the Clark Government and two to the Key Government.
Ignoring the results of referenda is common to the lot of them, isn’t it?
So why are you surprised Corbyn might do the same?
I fear you may be confusing me with someone else.
Nothing Corbyn might do would surprise me.
I think he is a total idiot.
I also haven’t the slightest interest in the Falklands except to feel sorry for the people who live in that god-forsaken place.
What happens to them is up to Britain.
Apologies, you all sound the same to me.
A constant drone.
that is still 3 for National and 2 for Labour.
Your guys win. 🙂
True, your arithmetic is impeccable.
On the other hand it was 13 years National and only 9 for Labour. The scheme started in 1993.
It is quite amazing really how few got right through the process.
There were about 45 that were proposed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Referendums_in_New_Zealand#Table_of_petitions_and_referendums
Hard to say without a full background on how the Falklands ended up in British hands.
So the people living on the island and have lived there for generations don’t have a say in the matter?
If the occupation was fine, then they probably should. But if they’ve been living on stolen land for a couple of hundred years, then it’s still stolen land.
If that is the case we are going to have to hand it back to France then, although I doubt that Hollande would be keen on the idea.
According to Wiki
“The islands were uninhabited when discovered by Europeans. France established a colony on the islands in 1764. In 1765, a British captain claimed the islands for Britain. In early 1770 a Spanish commander arrived from Argentina with five ships and 1400 soldiers forcing the British to leave Port Egmont. Britain and Spain almost went to war over the islands, but the British government decided that it should withdraw its presence from many overseas settlements in 1774. Spain, which had a garrison at Puerto Soledad on East Falklands, ruled the islands from Buenos Aires until 1811 when it was forced to withdraw. In 1833, the British returned to the Falkland Islands. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that forced the Argentines to surrender.”
You work it out. If I read it correctly then Spain abandoned the place in 1811 and Britain has been there continuously from when they came back in 1833.
That’s about as cut and dried as you’re likely to get in international relations I’d have thought
lol
what’s this “we”?
Anyhoo, not really my problem to work out. That’s what diplomatic processes and international conventions are for. Of course, if bilateral talks manage to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of both parties, for example maybe Britain negotiating compensation to Argentina to keep the territory, and agreeing some sort of sharing thing on mineral rights and fisheries, then none of those processes need to be worked through.
No reason not to talk about it – sticking to some sort of neoThatcherite jingoism might well cost a shedload more than acting like a reasonable human being.
It’s not like Corbyn demanded the islands be turned over to the Argentines as soon as possible, but curse him for daring to mention having a conversation to resolve a longstanding international dispute…
You actually sounded interested in the subject and were presenting an either/or scenario when you said
“If the occupation was fine, then they probably should. But if they’ve been living on stolen land for a couple of hundred years, then it’s still stolen land”
Being a good hearted chap I decided to try and get you something that might help resolve the confusion you were in.
I see you are one of those who do not wish to have that confusion caused by your ignorance alleviated. I shall try and abstain from taking part in your education in future. I reserve the right to point out any excessively silly comments you make though.
Technically of course it seems to me that they were never part of Argentina. They were ruled by Spain until they abandoned them in 1811. Argentina didn’t exist until 1816, I think.
The question was regarding how much weight should be given to the wishes of 1600 voting-eligible residents.
The answer is pretty simple: if the land is stolen, then very little.
The issue of ownership is a legal question that can be avoided via diplomatic negotiations.
Our opinions of the legality of the British occupation are irrelevant: I know you like thinking that you know better than multiple judicial systems, but the fact is that you probably don’t. Neither do I. And the legal opinions of commenters on a NZ blogsite will almost certainly not affect the policies of either Britain or Argentina.
Spain abandoned them to fight the Argentine war of independence. Territorial legitimacy went from Spain to the newly independent Argentina, according to their point of view. The British left them well before the Spanish did. Even the yanks had a tilt.
But that’s all irrelevant to what was asked: the easiest way to provide long term security for the residents is for Britain to negotiate with Argentina and come to some sort of settlement.
I do like the fact the Islanders were asked, though – that’s something the Chagos islanders never got from Britain.
Well there is one thing we agree on. Neither of us is a lawyer.
As far as “The British left them well before the Spanish did.” goes though it looks as if the British were forced out by the Spanish, if my Wiki extract is accurate.
That was being mean talking about the “Chagos islanders”. I had to google it. If you had said Diego Garcia I wouldn’t have needed to.
Lots of bad things have happened to people living in offshore places of course.
I don’t think the people of Goa had any say in their annexation by India.
The people of Hong Kong didn’t get a choice did they?
Neither did all the countries dominated by the USSR after WW2. At least not until the USSR collapsed.
Russia sold Alaska to the USA. Did anyone ask the residents.
Where do you want to stop. Can we send all the Scots back to Ireland?
I merely mentioned DG/Chagos because I found it humourous that a mere 40 years later the British government/media is pretending to care about what 1600 residents think.
Basically, yeah, it goes back as long as the effects go back. That’s why Canada’s working to redress wrongs against First Nations folk by creating a new province. That’s why Mt McKinly is back to being called Denali. The resolution isn’t “sending people back where they came from”, the resolution is accepting that parties feel wrongs happened and providing some manner of individual, national or systemic reparation to resolve the wrongs that occurred. It’s not being a pushover, it’s just having a conversation to see the other party’s point of view and see if the issue can be addressed, rather than letting it fester so three jerks with a license plate don’t cause a riot.
Ad the referendum results to alwns link below and I would go with leave it with the brits.
News flash Fox news becomes Trumps punching bag, how distracting, how boring, how predictable, how did this become headline TV news? Spin cycle USA has no place here
And speaking about TPPA protests, John Mitford from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce says…
‘It’s time to stand up and be counted on the TPPA’
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/76349813/john-milford-time-to-stand-up-and-be-counted-on-tppa
with a nice inspiring pic of anti TPP protesters….wtf???
Don’t panic! All is well, stuff’s attempt at humour….or…are the only pics they have on file associated with John Mitford protest oriented?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/73778014/Wellington-City-Council-will-have-to-defend-its-living-wage-policy-in-court
John Milford is pants. I don’t know how or why he gets so much media space. He has been growing his right wing lobbying power for over a decade now, mainly at a local level here in Wellington but alarmingly he seems to be given column space for national political issue which he knows nothing of, eg, the TPPA.
I’m not sure why fairfax look to him as such an oracle of economic wisdom when he was CE of Kirkcaldies and Staines all this time and for so long yet managed to run a successful iconic business that had been standing for over 150 years, into the ground, only to bought out by the aussies.
What an oaf. He’s really got it in for the workers too. It’s just sheer mean spiritedness to take WCC to court over their extension of the payment of the living wage from council staff to their contractors too.
Respect for the WCC.
How many other councils have had the guts to try and install a Living Wage culture?
Mean, miserable and short -sighted Mr Mitford.
To be honest Rosemary, I’ve discovered how dysfunctional and ineffective our council is, during my constant dealings with them over the last year. I could write an essay about the hypocrisy, undeclared conflicts of interest and arrogance from council managers, council officials and councillors themselves. Quite shocking as I naively thought I’d been voting in the right people over the last two terms.
I think the only thing they have managed to get right in that time is the move to the living wage for council employee’s and the recent extension of that living wage to their contractors – only for Milford to come and stick his oar in……..
That version of what happened to Kirks is a bit distorted Rosie.
It went the way of every small department store. It was to small to have the buying power of the large companies like David Jones or Myer in Australia.
Lots of them died. I remember Daimaru and Georges in Melbourne went the same way. Georges was a wonderful shop but their customers, so the firm said, stopped buying goods from Italy and France from them because they could go to Europe themselves 2 or 3 times a year.
I think Kirks did amazingly well to last as long as they did. You cannot blame the CEO for something that was inevitable.
True, the CE was only part of it, but he could have done more. I met the guy some time ago and was surprised at how out of touch he was with the reality of day to day retailing, for someone in his position.
There were changes in the retail sector and Kirks were faced with a valid challenge but a smart cookie could have done more. He could have started by listening to the floor managers.
PS. As one of our frequent WCC bashers you may be interested to read my response to Rosemary, from the other side of the ideological fence 🙂
Para one I agree with you.
However Para two.
I don’t think very much of the “Living Wage”.
It is calculated on the basis of a hypothetical married couple with two kids if I remember rightly. Then it is supposed to be paid to everyone.
I am a believer that you pay, with a limited minimum, the wage to get people to do the job. Then the state makes up, by things like working for families, the income for those who have dependents and who can’t live on the pay they receive.
Why does a 20 year old single person living with his parents need the hypothetical “living wage”.
When a Council do it it is also being paid by a lot of pensioners whose only income is National Super and whose only asset is their house, to people who are getting a higher income than they are.
alwyn, perhaps you might like to invent an explanation as to why the failed K. & S. CEO has also managed to lose half the members of the Chamber of Commerce since taking over there. It is about time he was relegated to the persona non grata status that his incompetence deserves.
I have no intention of attempting any such thing.
I don’t know the man. I have no way of knowing whether what you say about the CoC is correct and I wasn’t really talking about him at all.
I was talking about what happened to Kirks. Exactly the same thing that happened to the DIC, Radfords and James Smiths in Wellington.
It died in exactly the same way as all singleton department stores died. It was simply too small to compete with the chains and couldn’t match the range of goods in the various specialist shops. It was a business model which had passed its use by date.
Milford happened to be the CEO at the time. However it wouldn’t have mattered who it was. It didn’t fold BECAUSE of him. RIP.
TPPA: chances of support from US politicians ‘extremely remote’
http://i.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/76317668/TPPA-chances-of-support-from-US-politicians-extremely-remote
So folks – where’s the fire?’
What’s the rush for New Zealand to sign the TPPA when the USA may never pass the TPPA through Congress?
If YOU are opposed to NZ signing the TPPA – there will be a one hour, peaceful protest in Auckland on Thursday 4 February 2016.
Starting at Aotea Square and going up Queen Street to Britomart.
This ‘family-friendly’ peaceful protest will NOT be going to Sky City.
Looking forward to THOUSANDS of New Zealanders ‘standing up to be counted’ for that one hour in Queen St, against more corporate control of our country, our assets and resources, our democracy and national sovereignty.
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
Who opposes New Zealand signing the TPPA.
This was interesting to see so far from Skycity and this far out from the 4th of February. Does anyone know of any other police intimidation tactics re the TPPA (other than announcing riot training)?
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/371216/cops-visit-activist-over-tpp-protest-plans
The talk is at 7pm tomorrow (friday 29th) at Burns Hall; 415 Lower Moray Place, Dunedin (Burlington St side of first church).
Thats a real worry Pasupial and very intimidating for someone that doesn’t even have anything to do with the anti TPP group. I wonder if Scout can find out if the police have been surveilling them – they must have been to turn up at their doorstep?
On top of that is the fact that police now carry tasers at protests:
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/08/16/citizens-face-police-armed-with-tasers-at-wellington-tppa-protest-march/
but then withdraw the presence of their weapons at a later event:
https://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/2015/11/22/citizens-march-against-tppa-in-wellington-what-were-the-police-up-to/
Personally, I find this very intimidating and believe it demonstrates an unhealthy aggressive attitude from the police towards people peacefully exercising their democratic right to protest.
Something has changed. During the 2011 (2011? Lost track of time) Occupy movement, police were low key and generally fairly relaxed with people occupying civic square in Wellington. Now though, the level of police preparedness and sense of mild paranoia seems to have increased. Why?
Ha! It’s not like we’re fighting back, so whats changed?
Rosie
What’s changed? Well, in Dunedin this may provide some link:
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/371217/south-could-be-safest-place-world
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1210/S00006/key-dotcom-and-hollywood.htm
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11084360
It does seem strange that when the ODT asked the Dunedin police for comment on their allegedly having harassed an activist, they; “could not immediately be reached with a request for comment”. Yet the very next story to this in the online ODT Dunedin section was a puff piece about how an establishment minion was all set to bring to peace to the region in some unspecified manner.
More on this at:
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/01/28/police-noose-tightens-around-activists-before-tppa/
Which is largely based on this (if you don’t want to expose yourself to Bradbury’s words):
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11581217
Thanks Pasupial. Very interesting! I’m out of time now but want to return to this tomorrow. Saw the article on 3news about Scout, their dealings with police and Michael Bott’s response.
Who destabilised the Middle East and are they taking their share of the refugee crisis and chaos they have created?
‘US destabilized Europe’: Austrian record-holding athlete lashes out at ‘idiotic’ refugee policies
https://www.rt.com/news/330256-baumgartner-blasts-refugee-crisis-america/
“Austrian athlete and daredevil, Felix Baumgartner, known for his super-sonic leap from the stratosphere, has bashed EU politicians for their “idiotic” refugee policies in a lengthy post. He added that Washington is destabilizing Europe “on purpose.” “
It is sad to learn of the passing of the very colourful former Labour minister, Bob Tizard this afternoon. I knew Bob and his close friend the late Warren Freer very well in the 1970s and 80s, and they were two of the most likeable rogues that ever graced the treasury benches. Their various escapades over the years are legendary.
RIP Bob Tizard.
‘
RIP – Bob Tizard.
A good argument for keeping most of our names hidden for having an opposing view to the Govt http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11581217 Police knocking on doors of (so called) activists to give them a heads up they are keeping an eye on them with regard to TPPA protests.
Further evidence
A China bank contagion could blow up global markets
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/26/chinese-bank-outlook-in-2016.html
Paul give it a rest it’s becoming dull. Do you surf the Internet all day looking for doomsday articles, where do you find the time, do something a bit more cheerful some time it will be good for your spirit