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I’ve asked a question on The Standard on a post that is claiming Labour has all the ideas and National has none. I don’t want to get into that specific argument, I’m interested to know what other parties such as National and Act think of one idea.
Currently our politics seems very party centric. Does the party have any ideas on becoming more electorate centric – keeping in touch and liasing and listening to the whole electorate more and acting on the wishes of the electorate/s rather than being focussed within their own party?
An up and coming little gang shit whose sole achievements will be to leave a trail of destruction and to take money off the tax payer for the rest of their lives.
Friggin underclass
I’m sure one of our resident trolls will have plenty to say about how out red-, blue- and yellow-wearing compatriots are the poor vulnerable members of society who must be looked after, as opposed to the nasty, grabbing capitalists who refuse to help said poor, vulnerable society members with free ice-cream cones.
The hottest May, in 2007, had a mean temperature of 12.4C. So far this month, New Zealand has averaged 13.3C, conditions normally experienced in April. Nelson has been the warmest, with temperatures 3.5C above average. Auckland has been 1.8C above normal. This year, Auckland and Nelson had their hottest February in nearly 50 years of record-keeping.
And the month isn’t over yet, but the forecast is looking pretty good, down here anyway.
And can anyone tell me why the Harald won’t state the obvious and name the gang that features red as its symbol colour. No-one in Kawerau who is not associated with that particular gang would wear red so why can they not be named? I believe it is the Mongrel Mob and the story has to be as much about the gangs and their influence on youth as anything else.
QUEENSLAND Premier Anna Bligh has urged Julia Gillard to avoid “radical and extreme politics”, warning that Greens’ proposals to ban new coalmines would cause “a social and economic catastrophe” for her state.
Attacking the Greens as fanciful and unrealistic, Ms Bligh has also strongly defended her state’s burgeoning coal-seam gas industry, telling The Australian it would be an important transitional fuel in coming decades as the world sought to develop “viable” energy alternatives.
Pete George (10,027) Says:
May 26th, 2011 at 8:40 am
It’s just one month. And it may be part of a natural cycle.
May shaping up as hottest ever
The hottest May, in 2007, had a mean temperature of 12.4C. So far this month, New Zealand has averaged 13.3C, conditions normally experienced in April. Nelson has been the warmest, with temperatures 3.5C above average. Auckland has been 1.8C above normal. This year, Auckland and Nelson had their hottest February in nearly 50 years of record-keeping.
And the month isn’t over yet, but the forecast is looking pretty good, down here anyway.
Just something that bothers me, annoying facts and all, but it isn’t ‘ever’, it is in the last 100 years.
The natural interglacial cycle gets another 5 degrees warmer and seas 8 metres higher, we’ve got a long way to go to catch up with that and even warmists are yet to actually predict any AGW. They just tell us warming well within normal cycles is coming our way, when we get to predictions of 6 degrees or more and 10 metres rises, then they are actually sticking their necks out and saying something.
@ david – Kawerau is Mongrel Mob territory through and through. This is just an extension of the intimidation the people suffer every day at the hands of gang members and associates. There are not many things that I agree with Michael Laws on, but the gang patch ban in Wanganui, even if it will have to be reworked has made a visible difference to this city.
Tall poppy syndrome (TPS) is a pejorative term used in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand to describe a social phenomenon in which people of genuine merit are resented, attacked, cut down, or criticised because their talents or achievements elevate them above or distinguish them from their peers.
In New Zealand Labour calls them “rich pricks”.
11% of people already shoulder 51% of the tax bill.
Labour/Greens/Mana want to squeeze these people even harder by introducing a TALL POPPY TAX.
@Fisiani – it’s the corrollary to TPS that bugs me most…people who’ve made a name for themselves as slightly-above-average actors or singers thinking it gives them the right to lecture the rest of us…
…”thinking it gives them the right to lecture the rest of us…”
For the cause of this aggravation we need look no further than our shallow & lazy MSM. Rather than ferret out a story on say AGW, it is easier to shove a microphone up the nostrils of some B grade actor & ask for their opinion.
Questions have been raised about whether a $2.4 million contract for parenting courses should have been put out to tender. Last night, it was reported that Parent Inc had been awarded a contract for its system in which community members are taught how to take a parenting course that comes in a “tool box”.
The programme covers children from birth to 18. Minister Paula Bennett said that was the product the Government was after. “It’s really the tool box that we are buying and no-one else has it, so if we put it out for tender someone else would have to create something that is already there.”
Parent Inc chief executive Bruce Pilbrow worked for the Families Commission until his resignation last week.
I know someone who lives in a miserable block of flats. A crip moves in and makes a lot of noise. My friend goes to work (driving a bus- long distance service) with out sleep. Noise control inaffective as he starts up when they have gone and can take two hours…. I’m unclear on that. The landlord isn’t doing anything as someone who collects the rent has gone broke…. unclear on that too. My friend turned the crips power off and was threatened with death by bullet. The reaction of the police seems to have been: we know who he is but we can’t do anything and the buck stops with you people in your appartment (or wider society). We can’t do a Rodney King or throw back in jail (not PC).
Whether the records are showing warming blips or trends, whether the variations are due to natural or human causes (or both), we should keep monitoring and inquiring. If we are in a continuing warming trend then we should be aware and we should be ready to respond and adapt to the benefits and problems.
The ODT reported what appears to be a nutty response.
The 24ha of pine trees at the northwest entrance to Alexandra were planted decades ago to hold the sandy soil in place, and their continuing presence also holds off a potential bill for $500,000 under the emissions trading scheme.
The Cromwell board has a similar decision to make at its meeting next week and, under the scheme, its potential bill is $1.1 million if it harvests 73ha of forestry and does not replant.
The Maniototo board decided to replant a 40ha block rather than face a potential bill of $373,160, and the Roxburgh board voted to maintain its 10ha forestry block rather than harvest and risk a bill of $146,433.
The Central Otago District Council owns 159.4ha of forests and, under the scheme, it will face a total bill of up to $2.1 million if all its blocks of pre-1990 forest are cleared and not replanted within four years. All but 24ha of the council’s forestry was planted before 1990.
An odd headline when the problem is much bigger than the glory town – but this is just one small bunch of provincial towns that are severely restricted and possibly penalised.
Murray, the following quote from John Wayne resonates here I think.
“I know all about that. In the late Twenties, when I was a sophomore at USC, I was a socialist myself — but not when I left. The average college kid idealistically wishes everybody could have ice cream and cake for every meal. But as he gets older and gives more thought to his and his fellow man’s responsibilities, he finds that it can’t work out that way — that some people just won’t carry their load…. I believe in welfare — a welfare work program. I don’t think a fella should be able to sit on his backside and receive welfare. I’d like to know why well-educated idiots keep apologizing for lazy and complaining people who think the world owes them a living. I’d like to know why they make excuses for cowards who spit in the faces of the police and then run behind the judicial sob sisters. I can’t understand these people who carry placards to save the life of some criminal, yet have no thought for the innocent victim.”
Rooster Cockburn might have said it different but it wouldn’t have been said better.
Manolo – point taken.
What I meant was there’s probably not the greatest need to warn Kiwibloggers (on a daily basis) to vote to keep Labour and co. out.
david Wayne was from a very special generation of people. Its a real shame he didn’t live to run for president. There was a lot more to him than just an actor.
and the obligitory Wikipedia which although is naturally opposed to it (thanks to its leftist editors) has a lot more specific technical information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_seam_gas
In Australia about two years ago the CSG industry was the darling of clean energy, it is now being demonised because of the percieved (read extremely low) risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (fracturing is a process of raising the pressure across a coal seam to fracture it, then pump in some material to hold it open. It increases the effective surface area of a well). This perception is largely thanks to the scaremongering movie-doco Gasland which finds the worst of the industry in the USA. Footage of kitchen taps on fire were taken from that doco and put in a biased 60 minutes show over here, and were quite out of context. The chemicals used in the USA are also different to those used in Australia; the worst used in QLD is Acetic Acid (ie vinegar).
Farmers have very real concerns about the impact on the Great Artesian Basin which overlies the coal bearing strata. These haven’t been dealt with very well by the CSG companies in the past so there is not much trust, particularly in the Surat Basin (Darling Downs). The truth is that there isn’t really any risk of cross contamination into the GAB – the wells are cased to just above the coal seams and are sealed with cement.
The CSG industry has been in the news this week because of a blowout over the weekend on a workover rig (which is still pending investigation). The blowout was mostly pressurised water, however it was an uncontrolled release, and it is the gas that gets sensationalised by the press. To make matters worse, there was also a diesel spill on another site the following day which was notifyable (you have to notify any spill of 20l or greater, meaning that it could have been a jerry can, but of course the media call it a serious spill). It is fair to say both incidents didn’t do the industry any favours.
A very good interview with Jacqueline Rowarth this morning on morning report. I suggest people go to their website(rnz.co.nz @8.28am) and listen to it. She outlines how agriculture in NZ fits into the climate debate with out the politics.
Murray (7,653) Says:
May 26th, 2011 at 9:59 am
david Wayne was from a very special generation of people. Its a real shame he didn’t live to run for president. There was a lot more to him than just an actor.
Queer as a two bob watch, to cowardly to fight for his country and a lousy actor who ruined so many potentially good westerns.
Fisiani, what are National policies that you like? C’mon, list them here. I’m pretty much sure that most that you’re going to list here, I can find similar or exactly the same policy from Labour.
Do you understand the term randomized double-blind trial (RDBT) used in clinical studies? If you (or any of your National blind faith believers) are put into a RDBT, there is very high chance that you will come out at the end of the study not being able to differentiate the policies (either Labour one or National) given to you in the trial? This means that you don’t think/care about policies at all. Your rationality is out the window, but your herd/affinity mentality runs you? It is akin to a robot where its moves & manoeuvrings instructions have been pre-programmed and it can’t change anything in its course when it encounters an unexpected scenario that it didn’t pre-program to do. It means that you’re a voter who can’t think about the issues.
If you disagree here, then please list policies by National (N) that you like and I’m gonna reply to you with same/similar policies from Labour (N). My point is, if L==N and you only like N, then one can follow that you must also like L . But this is not the case with you. You only have an affinity to N and not L, therefore the policy equality relation of L==N is violated. The reason for the (logical) violation is ignorant and not based on rationality.
How does one change Google to Google NZ from Google UK and make it stick as ones home page.
I’m using Firefox 4.0.1, the latest version for Windows, and works a treat.
Just change the Home Page (under General from the Tools Options menu) to google.co.nz
Falafulu, have you considered the possibility you’re conflating a political party with a position on the spectrum.
I know which conservative policies I like and I know which lefty policies I don’t like.
I don’t give a flying fuck which party(s) enuciates the ones I like, be it ACT or National.
I always use my party and electoral vote strategically, depending on the circumstance at the time. For example, when I was in Epsom in 2005 I badly wanted ACT in Parliament and I knew the idiot MSM were wrong when they were saying a vote for Rodney would be a wasted vote so I voted Rodney for my electorate and National for my party.
This year, at the mo, I’m voting for Quinn, although I think he’s a loser and he doesn’t have a snowballs against Mallard, and giving my party vote to ACT, because Key and National generally have greatly disappointed me.
Usually it works out that both my party and my electoral votes make the right difference: i.e. I win, with both votes, as I did in 2005.
This time, I know I’ll lose with my electoral vote, but you can’t win both times all the time.
As I say, I don’t care which party enuciates it, if they have the correct policies, that’s who I go with.
Now you can understand why the residents of the Howick Ward take an alternate route through the area rather than drive past the PB hoarding in Cook Street.
A Canadian couple have decided to raise their 4-month-old baby to be “genderless” to protect its right to choose its own sex.
Kathy Witterick, 38, and David Stocker, 39, refuse to say whether their child Storm is male or female, the Toronto Star reports.
The couple say they want to spare the child the pressures of social norms. The only people who know the child’s biological sex are 5-year-old brothers Jazz and Kio, a close family friend, and two midwives who delivered the baby.
Will these parents never allow themselves to be seen naked in front of this boy/girl in case she/he figures it out for him/her self?
Longknives: I’m a bit late here today, but thanks to the three strikes law this mongrel’s criminal career is going to be much shorter than it otherwise would have been. If the events are as described, he has just committed aggravated robbery, a strike offence.
The first second striker has just been locked up….he was on bail awaiting sentence for this first strike, (a series of aggravated robberies) when he committed a second strike offence…. wait for it….another aggravated robbery. He’s now serving 6.5 years without parole. If he doesnt learn from that, and comes out and does another agg robb he’ll be away for 14 years, no parole.
Unless of course the socialists get in and repeal it….
David G @ 1.04
14 years sounds good to me.
It seems there are three reasons to lock people up.
a. Rehabilitation. Pretty much proven to not work. So why bother. (it does seems a lot of young thugs sometime in their late twenties meet a girl, settle a bit, and stop offending. But thats was going to happen anyway.
b. Punishment and deterrence. I am not bothered to get people back by punishment. I don’t need to give people a hard time. There is a deterrence effect, but mostly for people like me who most likely are not going to offend anyway. And are easily deterred. The hard core are not deterred, and indeed psychopaths are deficient in seeing the downside anyway. Thats part of the diagnosis.
c. Confinement. For the years these arses are on the otherside of the wall from society. They can’t offend. Confinement works.
14 years is good productive confinement. If you don’t like it. You got choices.
KH: Exactly sir (or madam)….the criminologists call the three purposes rehabilitation, retribution and incapacitation. You can also add specific (to the individual) and general (to encourage the others) deterrence.
That prison per se rehabilitates – or can rehabilitate is a total myth. We should however provide every opportunity for those who want to change their direction – literacy, numeracy, trade training etc.
I notice with some wry amusement Kim Workman’s latest focus on Singapore as a model we should follow. He conveniently leaves out of the story about training courses in prison and incentives to hire prisoners the fact that Singapore has a three strikes law – and you really are “out” on the third strike – and the death penalty. In other words those who have a willingness to change are given every assistance – twice. If they commit a third serious crime, they are locked up for the good of society and nothing further is done to attempt to rehabilitate them. If the crime is serious drug dealing or aggravated murder, the criminal is hanged.
Result? a crime rate (when I last checked) about 1/50th that of NZ. Funny that.
If Obamacare is so great, why do so many people want to get out from under it? Especially the unions that were among the biggest supporters of Obamacare.
Union members are only 12 percent of all employees but have gotten 50.3 percent of Obamacare waivers.
Earlier this year (16 Jan) you handed “Redbaiter” his arse with a beautifully crafted article where our “hero” fought off the handwringing lefties. If your current boredom continues perhaps Water Woman could inspire another masterpiece.
Obama has essentially ended the rule of law (a process started decades ago and which continued under both Democrat and Republican administrations.) The US has become a corrupt banana-republic controlled by special-interest groups who see the ordinary worker as a mark to be fleeced.
Penny Bright, with polling closing at 12 noon tomorrow, Friday 27 May, in the Auckland Council Howick Ward by-election of a new councillor for the area, I wish you and the Council a satisfactory outcome to meet the needs that you both have.
It was a good articile and so very relevant with Goof factionalising the country with targetted taxes and costs increases.
And he is not even honest about it. I know someone with a good qualification and a $20,000 student loan on $15 per hour. If a 17 year old out of school, no experience and no known work ethic can waltz into $15 per hour then you can bet your last dollar that anyone on $15 now is going to demand relativity and so the spiral will start. Goff preys on envy, jealousy and prejudice.
Don’t forget Nookin that after 30yr in the trough and a substantial landowner/property investor Goofy is right up there in the ranks of the “Rich Pricks”.
A scenario the sad socialist fucks who support him seem to conveniently overlook.
I’m curious, so just a question or two for Kiwiblog regulars (from all all sides of the spectrum and completely unscientific).
Would it be fair to say that both TVNZ and TV3 are left-leaning in their polictical reporting?
If you agree with the first statement, do you think it is because they are biased, or that they report news that indulge or represent a majority of NZ?
If you don’t agree with the above two statements, do you think there is room for a right-leaning broadcaster (i.e. distributed via Sky?)
• both TVNZ and TV3 are left-leaning? Yes
• they are biased? Yes
• do you think there is room for a right-leaning broadcaster? It would be a good balance.
However is it exactly bias or an extension of political correctness.
See BREAKFAST’s Corrin Whatshisname on Global Warming, or any other topic viewpoint they think they should ‘support’.
And they are just bloody lazy as far as ‘journalism’ goes – don’t question the press releases.
They tend to cater for children, who don’t watch them.
Does TV1 news still consist of 20m ads, 20m great sporting hero crap, 10m crazy arm waving weather freak, 10m so called news. If so who the hell would watch it other than a bloody retard?
Johnboy, you left out Mandatory Pike River Update, free Phil Goff Plug [but he inevitably buggers it up], Cute Kiwi Chick story and bad quality but-we’ll-show-it-to-you-anyway popular clip from the Internet which was already been and gone passé three days ago.
Mais je ne suis pas retardé, juste déshérité des chaînes de télévision
Try listening to Danny Yvette. Its enough to make you cry when some barely literate fellow talks to him and after a garbled exchange Danny says “Your on to it”.
God save us. I try to assume he is talking mainly to Jaffas so I dont feel quite so bad about our poor little Nation.
Alas, Johnboy, I did hear him once. He did say “You’re on to it!” so often I thought everyone knew everything – we were all so ‘on to it’ there was no need for talkback any more, so I turned him off.
Sad about the Scottish dolphin Manolo, and disappointing to see how promiscuous it has made married woman away from their spouses but nevertheless, good to see the impact of GW on pirate numbers.
Barack Obama has snubbed Britain’s most eminent scientists by refusing to attend a Royal Society banquet in his honour at which he was to be awarded with a prestigious medal
[::]
Had Mr Obama accepted the invitation, he would have been greeted by Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, who won a Nobel prize in 2001 for advances in genetics and cell biology.
Instead he met pupils at the Globe Academy who had won an award for designing a lunchbox which folds out into a plate.
The Messiah is a complete fool by snubbing the eminent organisation the Royal Society is.
Sources close to the state visit said members of the Royal Society were “deeply offended” by the snub and had accused Mr Obama of being obsessed with his “street cred”.
Perhaps Manolo … but the Royal Society is chock-full of worshipers at the altar of climate change, so maybe meeting some kids was better outcome for the planet
May 26th, 2011 at 8:07 am
ssshhhh
She’s still over on GD for the 24th.
Keep your voices down.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:12 am
Seriously- This is bloody disgusting…I know I sound like my own Grandad but what the hell has happened to this country?
Vote:http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10728086
May 26th, 2011 at 8:15 am
sotto voce,
Vote:I chucked a rock in the pond over there. she will chew on it for a while.
May 26th, 2011 at 8:17 am
I’ve asked a question on The Standard on a post that is claiming Labour has all the ideas and National has none. I don’t want to get into that specific argument, I’m interested to know what other parties such as National and Act think of one idea.
Currently our politics seems very party centric. Does the party have any ideas on becoming more electorate centric – keeping in touch and liasing and listening to the whole electorate more and acting on the wishes of the electorate/s rather than being focussed within their own party?
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:21 am
@Longknives
An up and coming little gang shit whose sole achievements will be to leave a trail of destruction and to take money off the tax payer for the rest of their lives.
Vote:Friggin underclass
May 26th, 2011 at 8:22 am
May not be a problem for a few hours anyway. Its Thursday so she’s probably off to pick up her cheque and maybe have a coffee with the silly magpie.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:24 am
Rahui Katene was excellent on Back Benches last night. No rubbish, just saying what she wanted to say
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:25 am
@Longknives
wearing a red scarf covering his face
I’m sure one of our resident trolls will have plenty to say about how out red-, blue- and yellow-wearing compatriots are the poor vulnerable members of society who must be looked after, as opposed to the nasty, grabbing capitalists who refuse to help said poor, vulnerable society members with free ice-cream cones.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:25 am
Happy birthday John Wayne, the other notorious gunslinger born this day.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:40 am
It’s just one month. And it may be part of a natural cycle.
And the month isn’t over yet, but the forecast is looking pretty good, down here anyway.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:42 am
Longknives et al
And can anyone tell me why the Harald won’t state the obvious and name the gang that features red as its symbol colour. No-one in Kawerau who is not associated with that particular gang would wear red so why can they not be named? I believe it is the Mongrel Mob and the story has to be as much about the gangs and their influence on youth as anything else.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:48 am
[thump]
The sound of me hitting the floor in shock that there’s a climate change comment here that includes some balance and notes its own limitations.
Kiwibloggers seem to prefer absolutism in their AGW comments, but well done Pete George!
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:52 am
The congregation of the Church of Al Gore of the Holt Carbon Offest will still burn him for heresy Rick.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:54 am
Can anyone explain “coal seam gas industry” ?
The following from today’s Australian:
QUEENSLAND Premier Anna Bligh has urged Julia Gillard to avoid “radical and extreme politics”, warning that Greens’ proposals to ban new coalmines would cause “a social and economic catastrophe” for her state.
Vote:Attacking the Greens as fanciful and unrealistic, Ms Bligh has also strongly defended her state’s burgeoning coal-seam gas industry, telling The Australian it would be an important transitional fuel in coming decades as the world sought to develop “viable” energy alternatives.
May 26th, 2011 at 9:01 am
Just something that bothers me, annoying facts and all, but it isn’t ‘ever’, it is in the last 100 years.
The natural interglacial cycle gets another 5 degrees warmer and seas 8 metres higher, we’ve got a long way to go to catch up with that and even warmists are yet to actually predict any AGW. They just tell us warming well within normal cycles is coming our way, when we get to predictions of 6 degrees or more and 10 metres rises, then they are actually sticking their necks out and saying something.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:05 am
Other? Is this a hint that felicitations of the day are due to your good self Murray?
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:11 am
@ david – Kawerau is Mongrel Mob territory through and through. This is just an extension of the intimidation the people suffer every day at the hands of gang members and associates. There are not many things that I agree with Michael Laws on, but the gang patch ban in Wanganui, even if it will have to be reworked has made a visible difference to this city.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Tall poppy syndrome (TPS) is a pejorative term used in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand to describe a social phenomenon in which people of genuine merit are resented, attacked, cut down, or criticised because their talents or achievements elevate them above or distinguish them from their peers.
In New Zealand Labour calls them “rich pricks”.
11% of people already shoulder 51% of the tax bill.
Labour/Greens/Mana want to squeeze these people even harder by introducing a TALL POPPY TAX.
Party vote National. Save the poppies…….
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:14 am
@Fisiani – it’s the corrollary to TPS that bugs me most…people who’ve made a name for themselves as slightly-above-average actors or singers thinking it gives them the right to lecture the rest of us…
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:17 am
John Wayne notorius?
He was almost always the good guy!!!
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:20 am
In reality the only thing John Wayne was notorious for was having a girl’s name…
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:22 am
James Stephenson
…”thinking it gives them the right to lecture the rest of us…”
For the cause of this aggravation we need look no further than our shallow & lazy MSM. Rather than ferret out a story on say AGW, it is easier to shove a microphone up the nostrils of some B grade actor & ask for their opinion.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:28 am
And a quick search on Google shows Fisani REALLY cares about those poppies:
Fisiani (432) Says:
May 4th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Grant Robertson and the Labour Party TALL POPPY TAX
Fisiani (430) Says:
May 22nd, 2011 at 11:12 am
Labour are going to bring in a TALL POPPY TAX.
Fisiani (432) Says:
May 24th, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Labour will bring in a TALL POPPY TAX
Fisiani (433) Says:
May 25th, 2011 at 11:11 am
If the people vote Labour we will get a TALL POPPY TAX
Fisiani (434) Says:
May 26th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Tall poppy syndrome (TPS)..
> vote National.
Kind of preaching to the converted here, I suspect
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:29 am
A ver rewarding coincidence.
Questions have been raised about whether a $2.4 million contract for parenting courses should have been put out to tender. Last night, it was reported that Parent Inc had been awarded a contract for its system in which community members are taught how to take a parenting course that comes in a “tool box”.
The programme covers children from birth to 18. Minister Paula Bennett said that was the product the Government was after. “It’s really the tool box that we are buying and no-one else has it, so if we put it out for tender someone else would have to create something that is already there.”
Parent Inc chief executive Bruce Pilbrow worked for the Families Commission until his resignation last week.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:31 am
I know someone who lives in a miserable block of flats. A crip moves in and makes a lot of noise. My friend goes to work (driving a bus- long distance service) with out sleep. Noise control inaffective as he starts up when they have gone and can take two hours…. I’m unclear on that. The landlord isn’t doing anything as someone who collects the rent has gone broke…. unclear on that too. My friend turned the crips power off and was threatened with death by bullet. The reaction of the police seems to have been: we know who he is but we can’t do anything and the buck stops with you people in your appartment (or wider society). We can’t do a Rodney King or throw back in jail (not PC).
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:32 am
F**k no!
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:33 am
Whether the records are showing warming blips or trends, whether the variations are due to natural or human causes (or both), we should keep monitoring and inquiring. If we are in a continuing warming trend then we should be aware and we should be ready to respond and adapt to the benefits and problems.
The ODT reported what appears to be a nutty response.
An odd headline when the problem is much bigger than the glory town – but this is just one small bunch of provincial towns that are severely restricted and possibly penalised.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:35 am
Pdm John Waybe was the also-ran in that comment. Notorious applies to the actuall subject of the comment.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:40 am
Climate inertia shows ugly side of the Australian character
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/climate-inertia-shows-ugly-side-of-the-australian-character-20110524-1f2dj.html#ixzz1NP21dRz1
Where’s the big news on climate change isn’t happening (quality not quantity)?
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:48 am
Murray, the following quote from John Wayne resonates here I think.
“I know all about that. In the late Twenties, when I was a sophomore at USC, I was a socialist myself — but not when I left. The average college kid idealistically wishes everybody could have ice cream and cake for every meal. But as he gets older and gives more thought to his and his fellow man’s responsibilities, he finds that it can’t work out that way — that some people just won’t carry their load…. I believe in welfare — a welfare work program. I don’t think a fella should be able to sit on his backside and receive welfare. I’d like to know why well-educated idiots keep apologizing for lazy and complaining people who think the world owes them a living. I’d like to know why they make excuses for cowards who spit in the faces of the police and then run behind the judicial sob sisters. I can’t understand these people who carry placards to save the life of some criminal, yet have no thought for the innocent victim.”
Rooster Cockburn might have said it different but it wouldn’t have been said better.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:50 am
Manolo – point taken.
Vote:What I meant was there’s probably not the greatest need to warn Kiwibloggers (on a daily basis) to vote to keep Labour and co. out.
May 26th, 2011 at 9:50 am
Flipper: Google is your friend http://www.dme.qld.gov.au/mines/coal_seam_gas.cfm
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:55 am
The health food nazis strike in Denmark: http://recipefinder.msn.co.nz/foodnews/8253662/marmite-banned-in-denmark
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:58 am
Pete,
You may find this interesting.
Prof David Skelly on rapid evolution.
Vote:
May 26th, 2011 at 9:58 am
I don’t see any problem with that Manolo, there or here, as long as we are still allowed vegemite.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:59 am
david Wayne was from a very special generation of people. Its a real shame he didn’t live to run for president. There was a lot more to him than just an actor.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 10:03 am
Bastard vikings, last time i stick up for their catoonists and promote their goods to fight an Islamist boycott.
Eat more marmite and harden up you sons of Thor!
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 10:05 am
Flipper –
I’ll point you in the direction of Arrow Energy http://www.arrowenergy.com.au/page/Our_Company/What_is_Coal_Seam_Gas/
and the obligitory Wikipedia which although is naturally opposed to it (thanks to its leftist editors) has a lot more specific technical information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_seam_gas
In Australia about two years ago the CSG industry was the darling of clean energy, it is now being demonised because of the percieved (read extremely low) risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (fracturing is a process of raising the pressure across a coal seam to fracture it, then pump in some material to hold it open. It increases the effective surface area of a well). This perception is largely thanks to the scaremongering movie-doco Gasland which finds the worst of the industry in the USA. Footage of kitchen taps on fire were taken from that doco and put in a biased 60 minutes show over here, and were quite out of context. The chemicals used in the USA are also different to those used in Australia; the worst used in QLD is Acetic Acid (ie vinegar).
Vote:Farmers have very real concerns about the impact on the Great Artesian Basin which overlies the coal bearing strata. These haven’t been dealt with very well by the CSG companies in the past so there is not much trust, particularly in the Surat Basin (Darling Downs). The truth is that there isn’t really any risk of cross contamination into the GAB – the wells are cased to just above the coal seams and are sealed with cement.
The CSG industry has been in the news this week because of a blowout over the weekend on a workover rig (which is still pending investigation). The blowout was mostly pressurised water, however it was an uncontrolled release, and it is the gas that gets sensationalised by the press. To make matters worse, there was also a diesel spill on another site the following day which was notifyable (you have to notify any spill of 20l or greater, meaning that it could have been a jerry can, but of course the media call it a serious spill). It is fair to say both incidents didn’t do the industry any favours.
May 26th, 2011 at 10:06 am
A very good interview with Jacqueline Rowarth this morning on morning report. I suggest people go to their website(rnz.co.nz @8.28am) and listen to it. She outlines how agriculture in NZ fits into the climate debate with out the politics.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 10:15 am
As long as it’s that weird stuff that you Kiwis think is Marmite, not the real British stuff.
Denmark: Sex with a 15 year old is legal, but Marmite is banned…how does that work?
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 10:16 am
Murray (7,653) Says:
May 26th, 2011 at 9:59 am
david Wayne was from a very special generation of people. Its a real shame he didn’t live to run for president. There was a lot more to him than just an actor.
Queer as a two bob watch, to cowardly to fight for his country and a lousy actor who ruined so many potentially good westerns.
President?
Yeah right!
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 10:24 am
Stop press:
Canadian couple making brave attempt to breed future Labour Party MP’s.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10728081
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 10:26 am
The Messiah’s speech flops: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/8536541/Barack-Obamas-speech-failed-to-live-up-to-his-own-high-standards.html
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 10:26 am
Whats happened to the woman of my dreams today?
Penny where are you?
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 10:27 am
Johnboy – wash your mouth son, we’ll have none of that blasphemy here …. y’hear
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 10:30 am
How does one change Google to Google NZ from Google UK and make it stick as ones home page.
I have had several goes without success – using Firefox latest version – 10 I think.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 10:52 am
Fisiani, what are National policies that you like? C’mon, list them here. I’m pretty much sure that most that you’re going to list here, I can find similar or exactly the same policy from Labour.
Do you understand the term randomized double-blind trial (RDBT) used in clinical studies? If you (or any of your National blind faith believers) are put into a RDBT, there is very high chance that you will come out at the end of the study not being able to differentiate the policies (either Labour one or National) given to you in the trial? This means that you don’t think/care about policies at all. Your rationality is out the window, but your herd/affinity mentality runs you? It is akin to a robot where its moves & manoeuvrings instructions have been pre-programmed and it can’t change anything in its course when it encounters an unexpected scenario that it didn’t pre-program to do. It means that you’re a voter who can’t think about the issues.
If you disagree here, then please list policies by National (N) that you like and I’m gonna reply to you with same/similar policies from Labour (N). My point is, if L==N and you only like N, then one can follow that you must also like L . But this is not the case with you. You only have an affinity to N and not L, therefore the policy equality relation of L==N is violated. The reason for the (logical) violation is ignorant and not based on rationality.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 11:13 am
John Wayne, no surprise he was a right wing hero as he was a draft dodger.
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1055/was-john-wayne-a-draft-dodger
Now Clark Gable was a real deal conservative, going into combat at the age of forty two as a air gunner/movie maker
Vote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5C4F98O9VA
May 26th, 2011 at 11:19 am
I’m using Firefox 4.0.1, the latest version for Windows, and works a treat.
Vote:Just change the Home Page (under General from the Tools Options menu) to google.co.nz
May 26th, 2011 at 11:30 am
Falafulu you must be mad
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 11:33 am
Ender said…
Falafulu you must be mad
Yes, I just came out from a mental institution.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 11:34 am
Not at all. His logic is impeccable and summarises well the attitude shown by many Labour lite apologists and Key worshippers.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 11:35 am
Johnboy says: “Whats happened to the woman of my dreams today? Penny where are you? ”
Does your Momma know you talk like that? Tut tut…
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 11:37 am
Falafulu, have you considered the possibility you’re conflating a political party with a position on the spectrum.
I know which conservative policies I like and I know which lefty policies I don’t like.
I don’t give a flying fuck which party(s) enuciates the ones I like, be it ACT or National.
I always use my party and electoral vote strategically, depending on the circumstance at the time. For example, when I was in Epsom in 2005 I badly wanted ACT in Parliament and I knew the idiot MSM were wrong when they were saying a vote for Rodney would be a wasted vote so I voted Rodney for my electorate and National for my party.
This year, at the mo, I’m voting for Quinn, although I think he’s a loser and he doesn’t have a snowballs against Mallard, and giving my party vote to ACT, because Key and National generally have greatly disappointed me.
Usually it works out that both my party and my electoral votes make the right difference: i.e. I win, with both votes, as I did in 2005.
This time, I know I’ll lose with my electoral vote, but you can’t win both times all the time.
As I say, I don’t care which party enuciates it, if they have the correct policies, that’s who I go with.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 11:38 am
I can’t help it. I’ve been smitten since I first saw her lovely picture!
http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/Welcome.html
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 11:43 am
Johnboy! Stop it!
Now you can understand why the residents of the Howick Ward take an alternate route through the area rather than drive past the PB hoarding in Cook Street.
EEEK!
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 11:52 am
“Yes, I just came out from a mental institution.”
Victoria or Auckland?
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 11:57 am
Interesting, Johnboy, but probably very silly –
A Canadian couple have decided to raise their 4-month-old baby to be “genderless” to protect its right to choose its own sex.
Kathy Witterick, 38, and David Stocker, 39, refuse to say whether their child Storm is male or female, the Toronto Star reports.
The couple say they want to spare the child the pressures of social norms. The only people who know the child’s biological sex are 5-year-old brothers Jazz and Kio, a close family friend, and two midwives who delivered the baby.
Will these parents never allow themselves to be seen naked in front of this boy/girl in case she/he figures it out for him/her self?
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
Yes Yvette. It’s an abrogation of biology, isn’t it. Feminism, I mean.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
Don’t forget James Stewart. Great actor and brave bomber pilot on numerous missions over Europe.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
Background to Yvette’s post:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1389593/Kathy-Witterick-David-Stocker-raising-genderless-baby.html
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
Manolo (4234) – Thank you – I knew there would be a simple solution.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
pdm (722) Says:
May 26th, 2011 at 10:30 am
How does one change Google to Google NZ from Google UK and make it stick as ones home page.
I have had several goes without success – using Firefox latest version – 10 I think.
I have both saved as bookmarks so I can chose.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
NZ making news around the world, not sure if it’s for the right reasons though:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1390617/Vampire-teens-repeatedly-bit-victim-mountainside-attack.html
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/05/25/man-turns-human-balloon-falling-air-hose/
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Longknives: I’m a bit late here today, but thanks to the three strikes law this mongrel’s criminal career is going to be much shorter than it otherwise would have been. If the events are as described, he has just committed aggravated robbery, a strike offence.
The first second striker has just been locked up….he was on bail awaiting sentence for this first strike, (a series of aggravated robberies) when he committed a second strike offence…. wait for it….another aggravated robbery. He’s now serving 6.5 years without parole. If he doesnt learn from that, and comes out and does another agg robb he’ll be away for 14 years, no parole.
Unless of course the socialists get in and repeal it….
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Happy birthday John Wayne, the other notorious gunslinger born this day
Why thanks, Murray – but I prefer a Mk.IV .303 Jungle Carbine – must say, haven’t dusted it off recently.
So you too are celebrating today, then? Aging is a problem the scientists are yet to cure.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
Longknives 8:12 am. World War I, World War II, and seventy years of socialisim, and relativisim.
cheers
David Prosser
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
David G @ 1.04
Vote:14 years sounds good to me.
It seems there are three reasons to lock people up.
a. Rehabilitation. Pretty much proven to not work. So why bother. (it does seems a lot of young thugs sometime in their late twenties meet a girl, settle a bit, and stop offending. But thats was going to happen anyway.
b. Punishment and deterrence. I am not bothered to get people back by punishment. I don’t need to give people a hard time. There is a deterrence effect, but mostly for people like me who most likely are not going to offend anyway. And are easily deterred. The hard core are not deterred, and indeed psychopaths are deficient in seeing the downside anyway. Thats part of the diagnosis.
c. Confinement. For the years these arses are on the otherside of the wall from society. They can’t offend. Confinement works.
14 years is good productive confinement. If you don’t like it. You got choices.
May 26th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
KH: Exactly sir (or madam)….the criminologists call the three purposes rehabilitation, retribution and incapacitation. You can also add specific (to the individual) and general (to encourage the others) deterrence.
That prison per se rehabilitates – or can rehabilitate is a total myth. We should however provide every opportunity for those who want to change their direction – literacy, numeracy, trade training etc.
I notice with some wry amusement Kim Workman’s latest focus on Singapore as a model we should follow. He conveniently leaves out of the story about training courses in prison and incentives to hire prisoners the fact that Singapore has a three strikes law – and you really are “out” on the third strike – and the death penalty. In other words those who have a willingness to change are given every assistance – twice. If they commit a third serious crime, they are locked up for the good of society and nothing further is done to attempt to rehabilitate them. If the crime is serious drug dealing or aggravated murder, the criminal is hanged.
Result? a crime rate (when I last checked) about 1/50th that of NZ. Funny that.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
Excellent writing by Lindsay Mitchell. A must read: http://lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com/2011/05/who-are-real-enemies.html
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
A fine article by Karl du Fresne on the double standards of those chardonnay-drinking, caviar-eating, socialists:
Vote:http://karldufresne.blogspot.com/2011/05/dsk-fine-standard-bearer-for-socialism.html
May 26th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
If Obamacare is so great, why do so many people want to get out from under it? Especially the unions that were among the biggest supporters of Obamacare.
Union members are only 12 percent of all employees but have gotten 50.3 percent of Obamacare waivers.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/2011/05/obama-skirts-rule-law-reward-pals-punish-foes
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
thedavincimode
Earlier this year (16 Jan) you handed “Redbaiter” his arse with a beautifully crafted article where our “hero” fought off the handwringing lefties. If your current boredom continues perhaps Water Woman could inspire another masterpiece.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
RightNow
Thanks for that link.
Obama has essentially ended the rule of law (a process started decades ago and which continued under both Democrat and Republican administrations.) The US has become a corrupt banana-republic controlled by special-interest groups who see the ordinary worker as a mark to be fleeced.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
I, for one, look forward to that.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
The USSR could only have dreamt of such powers:
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/05/secret-patriot-act/
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
Penny Bright, with polling closing at 12 noon tomorrow, Friday 27 May, in the Auckland Council Howick Ward by-election of a new councillor for the area, I wish you and the Council a satisfactory outcome to meet the needs that you both have.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
Manolo 2.25
It was a good articile and so very relevant with Goof factionalising the country with targetted taxes and costs increases.
Vote:And he is not even honest about it. I know someone with a good qualification and a $20,000 student loan on $15 per hour. If a 17 year old out of school, no experience and no known work ethic can waltz into $15 per hour then you can bet your last dollar that anyone on $15 now is going to demand relativity and so the spiral will start. Goff preys on envy, jealousy and prejudice.
May 26th, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Don’t forget Nookin that after 30yr in the trough and a substantial landowner/property investor Goofy is right up there in the ranks of the “Rich Pricks”.
A scenario the sad socialist fucks who support him seem to conveniently overlook.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:11 pm
I’m curious, so just a question or two for Kiwiblog regulars (from all all sides of the spectrum and completely unscientific).
Would it be fair to say that both TVNZ and TV3 are left-leaning in their polictical reporting?
If you agree with the first statement, do you think it is because they are biased, or that they report news that indulge or represent a majority of NZ?
If you don’t agree with the above two statements, do you think there is room for a right-leaning broadcaster (i.e. distributed via Sky?)
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Though I haven’t watched either since the second to last leaders debate between Clark and Key as I can’t stand the mindless adverts.
They may have improved since then but I doubt it.
I think the majority of NZ is fucking thick.
If you don’t agree try listening to talkback, particularly that sad old bone-wearer Danny Watson.
He really seems to attract the dregs of society or perhaps it is just because he is Auckland based.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
• both TVNZ and TV3 are left-leaning? Yes
• they are biased? Yes
• do you think there is room for a right-leaning broadcaster? It would be a good balance.
However is it exactly bias or an extension of political correctness.
Vote:See BREAKFAST’s Corrin Whatshisname on Global Warming, or any other topic viewpoint they think they should ‘support’.
And they are just bloody lazy as far as ‘journalism’ goes – don’t question the press releases.
They tend to cater for children, who don’t watch them.
May 26th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
noskire if only this could happen. Actually TVNZ has got worse. Even a half hour current affairs show would be a start.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
“I think the majority of NZ is fucking thick.” This is why ‘planking’ is so popular?
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:39 pm
Does TV1 news still consist of 20m ads, 20m great sporting hero crap, 10m crazy arm waving weather freak, 10m so called news. If so who the hell would watch it other than a bloody retard?
Oh half of NZ does.
I rest my case your Honour.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 8:45 pm
And what ACT candidates are standing in the Christchurch area?
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Johnboy, you left out Mandatory Pike River Update, free Phil Goff Plug [but he inevitably buggers it up], Cute Kiwi Chick story and bad quality but-we’ll-show-it-to-you-anyway popular clip from the Internet which was already been and gone passé three days ago.
Vote:Mais je ne suis pas retardé, juste déshérité des chaînes de télévision
May 26th, 2011 at 9:19 pm
Try listening to Danny Yvette. Its enough to make you cry when some barely literate fellow talks to him and after a garbled exchange Danny says “Your on to it”.
God save us. I try to assume he is talking mainly to Jaffas so I dont feel quite so bad about our poor little Nation.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 9:43 pm
..is it safe to come home to Christchurch yet?…Ive been in Bangkok for the last month.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Alas, Johnboy, I did hear him once. He did say “You’re on to it!” so often I thought everyone knew everything – we were all so ‘on to it’ there was no need for talkback any more, so I turned him off.
Vote:May 26th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
starboard, I’m not sure you can say Christchurch is “safe” yet. See Wikipedia for “earthquake storm”.
Vote:May 27th, 2011 at 7:47 am
An interesting list of things attributed to AGW: http://www.numberwatch.co.uk/warmlist.htm
Vote:May 27th, 2011 at 7:56 am
Sad about the Scottish dolphin Manolo, and disappointing to see how promiscuous it has made married woman away from their spouses but nevertheless, good to see the impact of GW on pirate numbers.
Vote:May 27th, 2011 at 8:43 am
Vote:May 27th, 2011 at 8:50 am
The Messiah is a complete fool by snubbing the eminent organisation the Royal Society is.
Sources close to the state visit said members of the Royal Society were “deeply offended” by the snub and had accused Mr Obama of being obsessed with his “street cred”.
Vote:May 27th, 2011 at 9:02 am
Perhaps Manolo … but the Royal Society is chock-full of worshipers at the altar of climate change, so maybe meeting some kids was better outcome for the planet
Vote:May 27th, 2011 at 10:05 am
Sticking to her true Green credentials she wouldn’t fly, would she?
Vote:http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5062580/Wade-Brown-off-to-Asia-on-first-official-overseas-trip