Have you noticed that we have very few visits from leaders of major countries to NZ these days? I was thinking about that watching Key give himself '10 out of 10' for his trip to China and reading Audrey Young's piece, which basically asks 'what…
Heard of this one a few weeks ago: Tomas Rousek, Katarina Eriksson and Dr. Ondrej Doule are collaborating with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on plans for a modular architectural structure at the lunar south pole. Each module would be printed using a NASA robotic system,…
Stand up for kids is "a campaign for parents, families, teachers and other educators who all want the best for our children". They are holding street marches in centers all round NZ today: Join our street marches around New Zealand - Saturday 13 April Educators…
In the current series of posts we're looking at the Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCCC) 2012 report "Child Poverty in New Zealand evidence for action". Continuing from last week... Chapter 2 What You Told Us This is a brief chapter, and I will summarise…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
Weekend social is for non political chat. What's on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no aggro, why can't we all just get along?
Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here. John Key Picture taken when he was at the height of his lying powers John Key is promising to work on his lying, after a…
We do a lot of words here at The Standard - but sometimes a picture is worth 1000. Among his many other activities, Bryce Edwards does occasional compilations of political images. Check out his latest on images of the GCSB scandal - it's a parade…
From RNZ: 3D printers a border security threat - minister Customs Minister Maurice Williamson says he is extremely worried about what 3D printers will do to border security ... He says household printers will soon be able to produce drugs and weapons, and the country's…
I have mentioned before how John Key's government having been bringing in a range of seemingly small law changes that add up to a major shift. I particularly mentioned it in relation to the Crown Minerals (Permitting and Crown Land) Bill. This has been debated in…
As reported last night: Leaked EQC details posted online Christchurch residents can now get their information from a leaked Earthquake Commission (EQC) email thanks to a blogger’s defiance of a court order. The blogger tonight announced an overseas website which holds the information from the…
National's 3 quarters of the way through its time at the crease now. And what has it achieved? A record debt pile. 300,000 jobless. 100,000 underemployed. Rising poverty. 1,000 a week fleeing to Australia. A new housing bubble. A record high dollar that's killing our…
Last week WCC narrowly voted to outsource street cleaning work but also to cease all future outsourcing of jobs pending a review. At the meeting councillors claimed they were unaware of the outsourcing that had been happening in the Council’s Citi Operations unit. However the…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
From I/S at No Right Turn... Paula Bennett giggles at child poverty Paula Bennett, the Minister of Social Development, giggles at child poverty. Don't believe me? Watch the video [from 5:28]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?f&v=jeMkg3kGjhA Asked how the government knows it is reducing child poverty, she says that it depend…
Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here. This government is committed to protecting the security and safety of all its citizens. But we also take very seriously the failings of the GCSB laid…
I have been doing some digging to try to find answers to some questions raised by John Key's role in the appointment of Ian Fletcher as chief of the GCSB. Why did Key try to cover up the fact that he had intervened in the…
Today is Love DOC Day, where lots of people are organising to visit a DOC office and give them cakes and messages of support etc. Organised by by Forest & Bird, and supported by the PSA, The Greens and Labour's Environment Sector, today is your…
Before the soft-headed repetition of the Nats' line goes on too long, here's an analogy. The GCSB Act says "Neither the Director, nor an employee of the Bureau ... may ... intercept the communications of ... a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident". The…
Check out The Scoop Foundation Project. Here is their first media release... 10 April: A New Foundation For Public Interest Journalism In New Zealand <Media Release: Wednesday 10 April 2013> In a push to offer new support and momentum for public interest journalism, the country’s leading…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejvyDn1TPr8 "When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal" - Richard Nixon John Key would have you believe the same thing, that when his agency, the GCSB, has been breaking the law, the problem lies with the law. No - the problem…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
Labour is breaking some good stories lately. Here's one that might interest all you Mum and Dad investors out there in Mum and Dad Investorland: Incentive to sell MRP shares offshore The Government's three major brokers will get double the commission for selling Mighty River…
This government is leaking data and documents at a truly unbelievable rate. There were three cases yesterday alone: • The leak of the Kitteridge report to Farifax Media (who had copies? who leaked it and why?). • Yet another Novopay stuff-up, 1600 schools are sent…
Yesterday more planks in the NAct raft of small changes, were before the House. These small changes add up to major changes that whittle away the rights of individuals, undermine democracy, and increase hardship and insecurity for those on low incomes. Meanwhile the government is…
So, the GCSB has been systemically breaking its own law by assisting the SIS and Police to spy on New Zealanders - a clear violation of the GCSB Act and, potentially, the Crimes Act. Key leaked the report revealing this while he was overseas so…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
So, here's the play. Key's been caught asleep at the wheel of our spies. 88 people illegally spied on. Key knew last July, but didn't act until the Dotcom case brought things out in September. The Nats' goal is to deflect blame from Key (and…
Following the leaking of the Kitteridge GCSB report to the media (who had copies? who leaked?) and ructions in Parliament's question time today, the report has been released early. It is available here (or direct link to pdf). The timing is awfully convenient for the…