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It's an incredibly sad day for NZ. Today the country mourns for the 29 miners who have lost their lives after a second explosion at the Pike River mine. Our thoughts are now with the families, the communities, and the people of the Coast. The…
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What is the role of the media in a democracy? Is it to inform? Is it to make money? Is "the public's right to know" paramount, or can other factors, such as respecting the wishes of a grieving family, take precedence? Who decides what the…
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It's official: the Auckland CBD rail loop would bring more benefit to the country for its cost than any of National's 'Roads of National Significance'. And that's even before we talk about peak oil. Any rational government would put the money into the project that…
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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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There has been a second explosion at the Pike River mine. Superintendent Gary Knowles told the Herald the miners couldn't have survived a blast of that magnitude, which occurred at 2.37pm. Family members were seen crying as they left a police briefing a short time…
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In Question Time yesterday, Bill English said Ireland is an example of how bad the recession might have gone in New Zealand. That triggered a memory of John Key three years ago saying we should follow the Irish economic model. I guess we can just…
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As of April 1 next year, I'm going to be a whole lot less confident moving to a new job. If I do, I'll probably find the new contract gives the boss the right to fire me without giving me the right to justice if…
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Reading the news on the current plight of the Irish with a economy in a tailspin and a tottering government. I can but reflect that it was a bloody good thing that the National party wasn't in power after 1999. For instance, John Key as…
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9/11 seems to have driven America crazy. The wars. The torture. The new surveillance powers and the roll back of civil rights. Most Americans, I think, don't realise how much their country has changed around them. But one very visible manifestation of the change is…
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Two Friday's ago, corrupt Nat Pansy Wong resigns as minister. Key tells her not to talk to media. As if she can't remember her own overseas trips. Gives her a week's leave. Wong disappears. Week's up - no Wong. Where is she? Mallard's heard she's…
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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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George Galloway has never been known for pulling his punches. In 2005 he travelled to US Senate Committee hearings to answer charges that he had accepted bribes from Saddam Hussein in a food for oil scam. By simply speaking truth to power, he wiped the…
broadcasting democratic participation Media Politics tv uk politics
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You remember John Key's 'blind trust' that turned out not to be so blind. Key denied all but anyone could easily see into the 'blind trust'. Key certainly knew of his wine and dairy interests, giving him a conflict of interest he failed to declare.…
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Standard and Poor's shock move to downgrade our credit rating caused markets to plunge late yesterday. Bill English's reaction, predictably, is to pretend nothing is wrong. John Key says it's about debt, even as he borrows for tax cuts. But let's look at what S&P…
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Remember 2008 and the Electoral Finance Act? Remember "Democracy Under Attack!"? Remember the hate filled comparisons of Helen Clark to Hitler? Remember David Farrar's shameful series of billboards comparing Clark to various violent dictators? Yeah, me too. And then National became the government and decided…
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Why are we waiting for Pansy Wong to resign from Parliament for her corrupt use of her MP's perks or, failing that, for the Nats to evict her? The theory is the Nats want to avoid a by-election over summer. As Trevor Mallard puts it…
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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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I opened the New Zealand Listener today (I know, I know) and something happened that summed up what really makes me annoyed about Nationals Standards. A brochure for the very worthwhile charity Kids Can fell out of the magazine. The charity provides shoes, raincoats and…
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Key talking on Breaskfast about Mana: "we slashed the majority from 6,155 to 1,080. So by any measure, you've got to take that as a win." Apart from the one measure that counts. Eh John? Of course, this is also the dude who reckons that…
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Damn. Can't figure how to embed the vid. Help anyone? Here's the link in the meantime. "I don't think we can be entirely happy seeing such misery around us. Unless you live in a pod. But then there is a chance... there is something to…
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The Commissioner for the Environment says New Zealand's greenhouse emissions will be 26% above 1990 levels in 2020, compared to the Nats' promise to cut them by 10-20% - leaving us with a $1b bill. Worse, the IEA shows that even if we and other…
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It can only be an unthinkably tough time for all Pike River miners, their families, and the communities on the Coast. I'm sure I speak for all The Standard writers and contributors when I say that our thoughts are with them. Despite all the dire…
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A new Horizon poll shows that the vast majority of Kiwis at all incomes level, but especially low-income families, feel worse off after the Nats' October 1 tax swindle. John Key claimed the vast bulk of us would be better off but clearly we aren't;…
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All leading scientific bodies agree - Our World is Burning Up. Scientific American: A new analysis using a standard drought index augurs that by the end of the century devastating drought conditions will take hold over much of the populated areas of the world So…
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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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Financial journalist Bernard Hickey of interest.co.nz and Selwyn Pellett of the Productive Economy Council will discuss the need for a complete rethink of our approach to economic policy Monday evening in Wellington at Connolly Hall at 5:30pm. Besides writing regular opinion pieces and providing information…
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Labour can be reasonably pleased with the Mana result. The majority is small but that does not mean anything for the wider party. To win Labour had to overcome 1) a weak candidate 2) a ferocious Key-centred National campaign 3) a threat to its left…
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We've written quite a bit at The Standard on The Spirit Level, including Bunji's excellent 6 part "digested read" (check out the archives here). Although the science is solid and the argument common sense, those inclined to the loony right of the political spectrum can't…
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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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With a majority of votes counted it's clear that Kris Fa'afoi is going to be the next Labour MP for Mana. We're sure Kris will show his mettle in standing up for the people of Porirua and Mana in Parliament. All the best Kris. Show…