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An oldie but a goodie opinion piece on David Cameron by Guardian columnist Charlie Booker. It was written three years ago, but arguably more relevant now with Cameron poised to take 10 Downing St. Also, one can't but help make comparisons with John Key. Enjoy!…
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Comment from an international expert reported in The Herald today reminded me that National Standards aren't the only ideologically driven folly that Tolley is forcing down the throats of schools. She's also doing her bit to contribute to a major health problem: Professor James said…
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Remember back in 2007 when Gerry Brownlee took some really bad PR advice and unfathomably released a video entitled "Sexy Coal"? It was bound to come back and bite him; it's the 21st century after all. What's particularly salacious is that Lucy Lawless is doing…
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The other day, Chris Finlayson described himself as a Pollyanna - it's an American term (of derision) for someone who sees everything as positive, ignoring unhappy realities. I couldn't help but think of that listening to Morning Report's coverage this morning of the last Foreshore…
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These farmers. They've got a good scam going, eh? Got us paying for their greenhouse emissions. Bludgers. Get to put all their untreated sh*t in our rivers for free. Bludgers. When a council won't give them more free water, they get their corrupt government to…
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Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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While digging out the poppy that graces our banner this weekend, I also dug out this bit of history from nzhistory.net.nz. Anzac Day notice, New Zealand Gazette, 1, 1916, p. 977 Observances respecting Anzac Day. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 5th April, 1916. I Hereby notify,…
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We're in a transition time for news media. Online media is growing, printed forms are fading. Within the online space distinctions between newspapers and blogs are blurring, and fundamental issues of the balance between pay-walled vs free media remain to be decided. Media is going…
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Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Labour leader Phil Goff has come out swinging against National's proposal to cut the top tax rate. In TV3's The Nation Goff said he would reverse any reduction National pushes through of the top tax rate from 38 cents in the dollar. This is common-sense…
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The Government is trying to run a campaign to try and minimise public outcry of its plan to desecrate areas areas of our National Parks. By purposefully releasing its mad initial plan, Minister of Energy Gerry Brownlee hoped his second-choice would appear more palatable. I…
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There is an interesting post by Jeremy Harris at the Auckland Transport Blog - "Independent Inquiry On Sydney's PT". Sydney has higher PT use than Auckland though for two main reasons: It has a very dense, large CBD, where 70% of workers arrive by public…
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The full extent of just how far the Government would like to push mining on conservation land has been revealed in documents obtained by Radio NZ. The documents show the Nats wanted 90% of Rakiura/Stewart Island, which is still on the table, open to mining…
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Last month our PM was boldly telling the IMF to back off: PM rejects IMF call for spending cuts Prime Minister John Key has rejected suggestions by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the government needs to go further in cutting spending, saying plenty of…
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Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Anyone who still thinks the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is going to have any real world effect in New Zealand needs their head read. The first thing that a court will do when someone cites the DRIP as authoritative is check what…
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Reprinted with permission from No Right Turn. The government has announced its dictators for Canterbury. Besides Margaret Bazley, the list is mostly grey technocrats (including former finance minister David Caygill), though they do have a dairy farmer and a token environmentalist. Apart from Bazley, all…
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A few weeks ago someone said that 3,000 whales a year are being killed. Morons have repeated it ever since as evidence that the moratorium is failing. The reality is that it is the quotas that total 3,000. The number they kill is far less. About…
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Last year, Nick Smith argued until he was red in the face that National was not moving to privatise ACC. You and I knew that was bollocks all along. After a year and a half of softening up the public, with Smith telling outright lies…
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On Wednesday, I asked whether we, the Left, could save the Maori Party. The response from Maori Party supporters was a lot of misplaced invective at Labour. Labour isn't making the Maori Party support a government that is working against its core values. Perhaps, my…
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Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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John Key is planning to slash and burn $2 billion out of our public services. Key says the slashing is needed to pay for increasing health and education costs. Bullshit. It's about paying for John Key's and his rich mates' tax cuts. TVNZ reports: The government…
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The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c Bernie Goldberg Fires Back www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party When will conservative commentators stop picking fights with Jon Stewart? It never ends well for them. If you have a…
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John Armstrong was quite gentle on the release of internal 'brand' survey. He says: Think Labour, think funky. Think Labour, think edgy. Think Labour, think cheeky. Think what? Labour is worried that when people think Labour they don't think anything. And if they do, they…
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The Great National Mining Corporation has chosen Earth Day to announce its plans to seek government approval to mine in Dunedin's Octagon. Commenting on the irony of the timing of the release of their plans, GNMC spokesman Doug de Houlle said 'What better day than…
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The other week Vernon Small wrote "the Government has missed out on an extra $1 million a week because of its decision to axe contributions to the Cullen superannuation fund" and said that canceling the Cullen Fund contributions was "a dumb, short-sighted decision that has…
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We all know that long before John Key got into the gold and uranium mining industry, Crosby Textor Chairman, Robert J Champion de Crespigny was pushing the mining industry's cause in New Zealand. So, who is this CT man who has been called Australia's ‘Mr…
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Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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The New Zealand banking sector made a tax-paid profit of $1.05 billion in the most recently reported quarter. That is a huge amount of money. It's over $11 million a day or $479,000 an hour - 24/7. The result is all the more remarkable when…
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"Labour has been rumbled secretly polling its own members" reports TVNZ. Jesus, what are things coming to when Labour can't even poll its own members without the media playing silly buggers? They're polling their own members about the party's branding (not its values, its branding).…