QC describes Pike River mine as a ‘homicide scene’
On Checkpoint Nigel Hampton QC described the Pike River mine as a ‘crime scene’ and a ‘homicide scene’, and he questioned the motives of those rushing to seal the mine.
Brownlee should stop vilifying scientists
Gerry Brownlee has attacked a public servant firstly for not approached the Government for increased Geonet monitoring and then for raising the issue but not telling him personally.
Chester Borrows goes to trial, Barry Soper goes to pieces
Nat MP Chester Borrows is to stand trial for injuring a protestor with his car. Barry Soper is outraged, because “elderly female, placard waving protesters” just don’t deserve the protection of the law.
Open Mike 22/11/2016
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Note: Open Mike is now for US politics too.
Daily Review 21/11/2016
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
More fossil awards for NZ
With two more Fossil awards to add to its collection, New Zealand is called out yet again for its lack of action on climate change.
Brownlee bullies GNS staff
Gerry Brownlee has chosen to respond to the cautious words of a public servant by publicly attacking him.
The eternal tax-cut mirage
Despite the unknown cost of the quakes, and the host of other urgent needs, Key is once again talking up election-bribe tax cuts.
Post-US election post
A general discussion thread about the US election.
Open Mike 21/11/2016
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Netsafe finally gets its act together on the HDCA – sort of… and inadequately
Apparently today, Netsafe will start acting as the “Approved Agency” of the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015. This is an act that is meant to deal with some of the excessive online abuse and bullying. Unfortunately it doesn’t appear to me that Netsafe is currently capable of dealing with the task. Instead they look like incompetent monkeys.
Andrew Little: Promises to Pike families must be kept
Yesterday marked the sixth anniversary of the Pike River disaster. Here is a statement released by Andrew Little urging that the mine not be sealed and the deaths of the miners be investigated and their bodies brought home.
Grannies for Peace make tea not war!
The peace grannies are out in force this afternoon (1 – 2pm Auckland waterfront)
Rewarding incompetence with a 4th term?
Disaster response is about more than showing up for photos and cancelling a trip or two. National has made a mess of Christchurch and comprehensively failed to learn its lessons. They should in no way be rewarded with a 4th term.
The Essential Forest-Gardener – “don’t destroy life”
Robert Guyton continues his series on life in a Riverton Food Forest, exploring diversity, stability and the concept of Complexity Gardening.
Open Mike 20/11/2016
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Six years on, the government still lies about Pike River
For six years the families of the men who died at Pike River have not had clear answers about what happened. From the Pike River Royal Commission, they got some answers. From the government, nothing but lies.
Pike River anniversary: what have we become?
Six years ago this morning, 31 men went to work in a coal mine. 29 of them still lay there.
National tries to have it both ways
Despite the Kaikoura earthquakes, the damage to the Capital and the fact the EQC fund is now in deficit, the Government is still holding out the possibility of tax cuts in election year.
Angela Merkel’s values
Angela Merkel has offered Donald Trump close cooperation on world issues, but with a rather important tag.
Open Mike 19/11/2016
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Daily Review 18/11/2016
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
As politicians go…(II)
Two paths. One choice.
As politicians go….
Following voters in the USA adding yet another to a growing list of defeats for the radical centre….
Move the capital?
Recent events have highlighted Wellington’s geographical vulnerabilities. There is some chatter about the possibility of moving the capital.
Nats politicising earthquake response
Oh look, National are nakedly politicising government earthquake response.
Open Mike 18/11/2016
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Pike River Mine can be safely re-entered – but the Government says no
Damien O’Connor and Denise Roche have taken it to Nick Smith in the House today over the government’s plan to seal Pike River mine forever.
Daily Review 17/11/2016
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This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day.
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Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Kindness
It has been a terrible year. People should think about being kind to each other and looking after each other.
Dirty politics past and present
A couple of dirty politics related stories that slipped under the radar in the last hectic week.
The hottest year
As 2016 lines up for its place in the record books – what if every year from now is the hottest year ever?
Celebrity Debate: Will a Universal Transaction Tax benefit the NZ economy?
Details of a celebrity debate happening this Friday in Auckland on the benefit of a Universal Transaction Tax or Robin Hood tax. The affirmative side will feature Peter Nielson, Jane Kelsey and Rod Oram and the negative side will include Deborah Russell, Nigel Haworth and Shamubeel Eaqub.
Open Mike 17/11/2016
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[In order to keep Open Mike and Daily Review free for other conversations, please put all discussion, comments, link postings etc about the US election under one of the posts about the Election]
Daily Review 16/11/2016
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Kia ora Takahanga Marae
Ngai Tahu should be congratulated for opening up Takahanga Marae to the victims of the Kaikoura earthquake and for providing for and looking after them.