National – more women-friendly?

Written By: - Date published: 4:52 pm, May 20th, 2008 - 52 comments
Categories: election 2008, national - Tags: , , , ,

Colin Espiner pointed it out the other week, National “needs more women. Never over-represented in National at the best of times, the party is looking increasingly estrogen-lite.”

So there would have been a sigh of relief in National circles that they can now distance themselves from comments such as these from declared departee Bob Clarkson:

“I don’t want to be mean… but what makes me struggle is why does Labour favour the hairy-legged ladies?… I cross-examine some of these ladies in the select committee, and guys for that matter, and they’ve got warped bloody minds…”

Part of the polling success for National has been their appeal to women who have traditionally been more likely to be Labour supporters. But there is an issue for National in ensuring they have some good women standing as candidates in winnable electorates, or high on their party list. We need to see the promise delivered on.

52 comments on “National – more women-friendly? ”

  1. higherstandard 1

    I couldn’t care less if an entire party was female or male for that matter surely what matters is their competence more than what’s between their legs.

    captcha first-class lists !!!

  2. rjs131 2

    Isnt it also fair to say that Labour has a very high number of women taht make absolutely no contribution? Or are you saying you would rather have equal women but have the likes of Lesley Soper, Dianne Yates, Jill Pettis, Judith Tizard, Sue Moroney and Darien Fenton in the house asking patsy questions. Isnt that demeaning for women to be selected just on their gender?

    The converse can be said about Labour. What are they doing to attract the male vote?

  3. It doesn’t bother me if a politician is a man/woman, Caucasian/Maori/Indian/Asian.

    It doesn’t bother me what a politician’s religion is.

    It doesn’t bother me where that politician’s ancestors come from.

    It seems to bother those on the left though.

    For me its all about their policies.

  4. Funny – I thought it was about having a house of representatives. I guess you righties are pretty sure that white middle-aged straight men still know what’s best for women, Maori and queers. I’m assuming that if the entire parliament consisted of black lesbians you wouldn’t have a problem with it as long as they had “sensible” policies.

  5. Lew 5

    All these `reverse sexism’ and `policy is blind’ answers above are bollocks. At best it’s avoiding the question; at worst it’s justification for entrenching a monoculture.

    Yes, politicians should be judged on the quality of their policy. But the fact is that political actors of diffferent backgrounds and genders advocate and enact different policies. That’s ultimately the issue here.

    L

  6. Robinsod:

    If parliament was full of Black lesbian midgets that looked liked Marion Hobbs and they all voted to the right, I would be thrilled.

    Your post have proved my point, someone on the left would vote for someone just because of their race or gender, (that is bigoted and sexist)

    I vote because of their policies.

    You should try it sometime.

  7. LEW:

    I Agree somewhat with your statement.

  8. higherstandard 8

    Sod and Lew

    Poppycock what you’re advocating is that there should be one of everything in parliament and that for example a male cannot make any useful offering on anything that is deemed a woman’s issue of a Maori member of parliament is incapable of commenting or advocating for policy outside of a Maori sphere of interest.

  9. Phil 9

    “I’m assuming that if the entire parliament consisted of black lesbians you wouldn’t have a problem with it ”

    Well, that all depends on whether or not it’s being videotaped, and whether or not there’s a decent soundtrack, and what part Ron Jeremy will be playing…

    Just kidding…

    Seriously though, I accept that our elected representatives need to be comparatively representative of the population as a whole, but the difference between those on the left and right, as far as I can tell, comes down to a “what are YOU going to do about it for yourself?” vs “what are WE going to do about it?” *

    * By ‘we’ I don’t mean we as a nation, I mean “we” in the same way educated whites in the US sit around their dinner tables asking “what are WE going to do about the fatherless african american childern?”

  10. It is highly likely National will gain four more female MPs at the election, for a net gain of three with the sad departure of Katherine Rich.

    Amy Adams will win Selwyn and Louise Upston is heavily favoured to win Taupo.

    Hekia Parata will find it tough to win Mana, but I will be amazed if she is not in a very winnable list place. In fact I will not be surprised if she becomes a Minister (if National wins) very quickly.

    And finally Nikki Kaye is Auckland Central is going to have a tough battle with Judith for the seat, but I suspect will also be in a winnable list place.

    On the issue of diversity, it is also pretty likely National will have six Maori MPs – Georgie, Tau and Paula are existing and to be joined by Hekia, Paul Quinn and Simon Bridges (if he is candidate for and wins Tauranga).

  11. Occasional Observer 11

    Louise Upston in Taupo is going to evict Mark Burton from the seat, by a wide margin. Amy Adams is going to have one of the largest majorities in the country, in Selwyn. Hekia Parata will almost certainly be in Parliament. So will Nikki Kaye, who is going to send Judith Tizard packing.

    Four outstanding, high-achieving, brilliant New Zealanders who happen to be women, who will all be in Parliament flying the National flag.

    Meanwhile, in other news, Labour will have no new women MPs after the election. Yet, according to the Standard, National is the party that is anti-women.

  12. Billy 12

    David,

    Is Sam Lotu’liga given a chance? (I know, I know, he’s not a woman, but it’s relevant to the diversity thing).

  13. Lew 13

    HS: I’d prefer you didn’t lump Sod and I in together – we’re not arguing the same in this case.

    ” … for example a male cannot make any useful offering on anything that is deemed a woman’s issue of a Maori member of parliament is incapable of commenting or advocating for policy outside of a Maori sphere of interest.”

    I’m certainly not arguing that men are incapable of advocating on behalf of women; Mill did a fine job of it in his day and others have done since. The point is simply that women are the best people to advocate on their own behalf. and will typically do a better job of it equally-qualified men. Likewise other groups.

    Note that I have no opinion and little knowledge of how each party sits as far as gender representation goes. I was responding to the general `minorities don’t need representation’ line. DPF’s angle, which actually argues against the post’s fact, rather than its premise, is much more enlightening.

    That said, in my research I’ve come across some quite awful things said and agreed to by folks on the right, including John Key, about women.

    L

  14. higherstandard 14

    Sorry Lew accept my apologies I in no way lump you and sod together.

    I’d also point out there have been some horrible things said about men from folks to the political left and horrible things said about racial minorities by people in the racial majority.

    Thankfully most of those on all sides are I believe not sexually or racially biased against one group or another despite their occasional pontification

  15. Lew – that should be “Sod’ and me” as the verb (“lump”) is being applied to only one subject (in this case the two of us as a pair) other than that I agree – I would hate to be lumped in with someone who can’t construct a grammatically correct sentence.

  16. Have a pineapple lump robinsod.
    I wonder if National will start a Ministry of Mens Affairs?
    We need more male role models not more women who should be at home looking after their young children.

  17. Billy: I think Sam will definitely be an MP, and will be an excellent one. Maungakiekie will be a challenge to win, but if anyone can win it for National I think Sam can. Gosche retiring as the electorate MP will also help somewhat.

    Depending on the election result, there is also a reasonable chance of one or two Indian MPs.

    So all up National could have 15 female MPs, six Maori MPs, eight to ten MPs under 40, a Pacific MP, an Indian MP, a Chinese MP and oh yeah a gay MP. All we need is a lesbian for the trifecta 🙂

  18. randal 18

    David I think you are talking a load of old cobblers…this election is going to be the one where the polls and the national party opposition are going to be made to look like the idiots they are!

  19. Billy 19

    Oh…really…randal? Then again…maybe it’s…you…who…looks like an…idiot.

  20. randal 20

    yes really billy…National are going to disintegrate into space dust like the alien in the tim allen space movie…one moment they there the next minute gone…real gone!

    [lprent: less of the personal insults please]

  21. Phil 21

    “So all up National could have 15 female MPs, six Maori MPs, eight to ten MPs under 40, a Pacific MP, an Indian MP, a Chinese MP and oh yeah a gay MP. All we need is a lesbian for the trifecta ”

    PErhaps I’m a little bit sheltered, which one is the third part of the sexual trifecta? Do the Nat’s have a Transgender MP-in-waiting?

  22. Paul Robeson 22

    Brett Dale said: “I vote because of their policies.”

    Phew! For a moment I thought you were a National voter Brett. Let me guess you are an Outdoor Recreation man?

  23. Randal: Obviously if National does not do as well as current polling, then they will have less MPs. My comments are based on National getting say 55 MPs, which will be 12 new MPs. Current polling has National up to 68 MPs so they should hold true even if things fall back a fair way.

    Phil: I used trifecta in a general sense of a winning combination, not in a literal sense. No transgender candidate that I know of.

  24. Ari 24

    HS- being a man or a woman is not about what’s in between your legs. Well, at least, not entirely. It’s about how you’re “socialised”- that is, how people treat you, and how you treat other people. Women are treated very differently in New Zealand, like in most parts of the world, and thus offer a useful and different political perspective. In short, women are part of identity politics- whether they want to be, or not. Men too, for that matter.

    Of course, opening up to this perspective involves a lot of baggage that the National Party doesn’t want, and only very rarely finds women patriarchal enough to oppose. When you start valuing good mothers as being as productive as professional working women, that involves having to lay off bashing single welfare mums, which National thinks is okay because they’ve gotten their antifeminist women MPs to do it.

    I also find the implication that the National Party is picking people based on their qualifications to be quite absurd. There are more ways to be qualified to be an MP than just succeeding in traditionally male roles, and if they opened their eyes to that fact, National could have plenty of qualified female MPs that fit their new, more centrist outlook. Unless, of course, that centrism is just a facade.

    I’m going to be simplistic here and say that any party that doesn’t have a list with at least forty percent female MPs isn’t trying hard enough to find qualified women. They compose half of the population, and hold some very respected positions in New Zealand. There’s so many good candidates to pick that the only thing I can see stopping National is the idea that women have to be “like men” to be qualified. Not being sexist involves acknowledging that the genders have some differences as well as acknowledging that our equal rights and common humanity bring us together as a society.

    Of course, I’ll be the first to admit that being heavily into identity politics and in particular gender rights, I have high standards regarding “not being sexist”.

  25. AncientGeek 25

    With apologies to DPF.

    The only thing that is stopping National from selecting woman is the type of opinions you see everyday in the comments section of Kiwiblog. You’d think that a lot of the people in there are straight out of the 19th century.

    National can’t afford to piss off people that vote for them.

  26. Craig Ranapia 26

    I’ve got to admit to finding Espiner’s “estrogen-lite” cracks ever so slight ironic — considering that on either side of the pond, Fairfax Media isn’t exactly over-loaded with women in senior editorial or management. (And would be sexist to suggest that Cate Brett, who is editor of the Sunday Star-Times, is hardly a shining role model for women in media? Though I guess it does prove that ‘girls can do anything’ — including running a profoundly mediocre tabloid as badly as any man.)

    I guess you righties are pretty sure that white middle-aged straight men still know what’s best for women, Maori and queers.

    Not to let facts get in the way of a good head of froth, Robinsod, but I’m rather grateful to a white, middle-class (presumably) heterosexual woman called Fran Wilde whose name was on a private member’s bill that decriminalised private, consensual sexual activities between adult men. It’s called the Homosexual Law Reform Act. Look it up some time.

    I also think “you lefties” might want to check the tendencies of testosterone-heavy blog comment boards to pontificate too loudly on what women think, or patronisingly reduce a majority of the human race to a collective noun.

  27. Phil 27

    “…being a man or a woman is not about what’s in between your legs. Well, at least, not entirely. It’s about how you’re “socialised’- that is, how people treat you, and how you treat other people.”

    On a related note Ari, What also matters is whether or not you have daughters

  28. randal 28

    david…polls schmollss.there is still five months to go to the election and keys will choke by then. hahahahahaha

  29. You know I really don’t obsess about John Key… much, but since he might be the next prime minister I have had to dedicate a lot of time researching the man.

    Remember how he fronted up about the visits to strip clubs while working oversees, claiming that it was just the way banking business works.
    I thought it was about money but it appears some people need softening up, I wonder why, anyway I digress.

    It turns out that Merrill Lynch, the bank he was working for has a bit of a problem: It’s banking structure was so sexist that it has been sued numerous times by thousands of women for discrimination and has had to pay out millions of dollars to women after they won court cases against the bank. Was it limited to the US. Well no, in a word.

    Women in England and the US have sued Merrill Lynch on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, so John Key would have been well aware of its policy towards female employees.

    By the way John Key himself describes himself as having lived of and on in New York on the National Website in a speech commemorating the attacks of 911 for the America/NZ friendship association.

    Since John Key rose to the very top I think we can assume that sexism didn’t bother John Key much and he will have participated in it.

    In fact taking customers to Strip joints is a well known way of keeping women out of the negotiations unless they are prepared to sit around while the boys were getting their jollies.

    I’ll only put in two links to show that I don’t make this up but I suggest you google Merrill Lynch and women and find out how bad their attitude was at the time Johnny boy was working there.

    http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05E0DD1631F936A35756C0A96E958260
    http://www.njentrepreneur.com/articles/new_jersey_legal/women-workplace_20051209142/

    oh what the heck, here is another one, just for the fun of it.

    http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1295/is_9_63/ai_55671578

    So what do you say ladies, is this the man we want for our next prime minister.

  30. Oh this just to good,

    it seems Merrill Lynch doesn’t like Muslims much either:
    http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0D91F3FF934A15755C0A9619C8B63
    And this is not about Merrill Lynch alone but supports my remark about using strip clubs and prostitutes as a way to keep women out of the top jobs:
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2006/jan/10/genderissues

    I put it to you that John key took part in a sleazy bussines and with the links provided I think we can safely assume that he is a sleaze himself, and since he is the leader of National and capable women politicians are leaving I can only assume that this sleaze is permeating throughout the party as a whole.

    It’s a rich prick angry sexist white guy party.

    And no, I have nothing against wealthy people. In fact I count some extremely wealthy people among my close personal friends.
    But with some many nasty characteristics within one party combined I find it rather repulsive.

    And no, I have nothing against strip clubs but when used as a weapon against female colleagues I find it extremely objectionable and not something I want to see in the past of a man who together with his ministers of the same ilk is going make decisions that will impact on women, such as health care, pregnancy leave, childcare support for single mothers etc.

  31. higherstandard 32

    I think you should let Georgina Te Heuheu know that National is a rich prick angry sexist white guy party.

  32. r0b 33

    My guess is that she’s already worked that out HS.

  33. Probably about the time Gerry took shadow Maori affairs off her.

  34. higherstandard 35

    rOb

    Yes indeed I wonder if all the other women in the National party and the wives, partners and girlfriends of current MPs have figured out the secret as well.

    Gosh it’s lucky we’ve got fine people like yourself and Eve to flush this all out in the open

  35. higherstandard 36

    Yes sod absolutely perhaps he can do it at the same time as Phil rolls Helen

  36. r0b 37

    All part of the service HS. No charge.

  37. HS – he did it in 2005.

  38. HS,

    It’s not a secret. It is out there in the open.
    Just because you were not exposed to it doesn’t mean nobody knows.
    Hell, it only took one search attempt.

    And just because men are sexist (no not all men, this is not an anti men rant)at work doesn’t mean they are at home.

    See, no conspiracy just a bit of investigative journalism.
    Something our press has forgotten how to do.

    You should try it sometime.

  39. dad4justice

    -I wonder if National will start a Ministry of Mens Affairs?
    We need more male role models not more women who should be at home looking after their young children.-

    Did you really just say that? Guess your wife and you are no longer together judging by your name.

    HP This is an excellent example of a rich prick angry sexist white guy voter, I guess.

    While it would be wonderful if both fathers and mothers could spend more quality time together with their kids wages are now such that both mothers and fathers have to work and don’t have much choice in the matter. I’m sure a lot of women doing menial jobs to feed and cloth their offspring would love to chuck it in.

    See no conspiracy, just out in the open.

    By the way can anybody tell me how to change that avatar thingy

    Captcha: Street broidery. ?

  40. r0b 41

    Eve – for the avatar thingy see here:

    http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?page_id=1799

  41. Wow, that was really easy, Thanks again r0b, oh oops not so easy. lol
    try again

    [lprent: it is showing an gravator on my screen. Sometimes takes a little while to get around your local caching]

  42. r0b 44

    Thanks again r0b

    All thanks are due to our sysadmin Lynn / lprent (who added to your comment just above). Lynn puts heaps of time into improving the technology behind the site, providing more tools, and a faster more reliable blog for all of us. Thanks Lynn!

  43. Matthew Pilott 45

    ‘Sod, billy, you’re going to let Farrar’s less MPs slide? Cripes.

    DPF – good on your for not apostrophosising (sic) “MPs” though, full credit there.

  44. yep, I was to impatient. I went back and it said wait 5 to 10 minutes.
    Thanks Lynn

  45. Scribe 47

    Ari,

    Not being sexist involves acknowledging that the genders have some differences as well as acknowledging that our equal rights and common humanity bring us together as a society.

    Being chosen to run for National — or Labour for that matter — is not a right, regardless of whether you’re a woman, man or half-and-half. And if National is so “anti-woman”, why are women steadily drifting over to them in the polls?

    Travellerev,

    I put it to you that John key took part in a sleazy bussines and with the links provided I think we can safely assume that he is a sleaze himself, and since he is the leader of National and capable women politicians are leaving I can only assume that this sleaze is permeating throughout the party as a whole.

    As far as I can tell, one woman has left (Katherine Rich), and as I said above, women voters are coming to the Nats in pretty large numbers.

    And I think it’s a long bow to draw to call John Key a sleaze because of where he worked. And it’s borderline outrageous to say the National party is full of sleazy people. It’s guilt by association, with tenuous proof that the original person is actually guilty of anything.

  46. Phil 48

    “It’s guilt by association”

    You forgot that guilt by association is OK when you’re on the same team as Nicky Hagar

  47. I said: I can only assume that this sleaze is permeating throughout the party as a whole. That is not the same as saying that National is full of sleazy people. In fact I think that most National voters and politicians are your everyday salt of the earth hardworking people, who want a change of government after having seen the same faces for 9 years.(hope that is correct, it seems NZ is the only country in the western world that elects every three years)which is why it is so sad that National with leaders with a proven track record of screwing up the economy and privatization is the only alternative.
    I am sure that a lot of women are driven by the need for change as well.

    About the quilt by association remark the following: since the boys club seems to have precious few women in its ranks period and from the mistresses from Don Brash to the racist remarks of English’s son(don’t they say like father like son) and John “it’s only banking business” Key’s strip club visits while his employer Merrill Lynch has to fight court battle after court battle for it’s sexist policies I have to say it looks pretty sleazy at the National top. Sleazy, sexist, racist and poorist( i.e. they don’t like poor people). lol.

    oh by the way I have read Nicky Hager’s book, and I can understand why National politicians hate his guts. But since they could not refute a word he wrote and it in fact was the end of Don Brash I have to assume he does his home work.

    captcha: rarest husband. I do have indeed a rare husband, and I love him to bits

  48. Scribe 50

    I do have indeed a rare husband, and I love him to bits

    You’re fortunate, because Mrs Key and Mrs English and Mrs Brownlee and Mrs Power and Mrs Smith and Mrs Ryall all have husbands who are “Sleazy, sexist, racist and poorist”.

    Count your blessings, Travellerev

  49. I do Scribe, I do.

    Perhaps the ladies share their husbands prejudices. It is after all not uncommon for females to be racist, sexist, sleazy and poorist as well.
    Not to mention elitist and ambitious.

    I suppose Mrs Key knew of her husband’s “it’s only business” trips to strip joints. It didn’t seem to bother Key to talk about it so there you go, that’s bit sleazy right there.

    I can just here her say: “Ok baby, you go and do your “it’s just business” evening “to the strip club with the next customer that needs softening up before you get him to invest heavily in Sub prime bonds and derivatives and I’ll stay home with the kids telling them fairy tales about how you make your money.”

  50. Oh oops it should be: “hear her say”. My bad

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    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    1 day ago
  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    1 day ago
  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    1 day ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    1 day ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    1 day ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    1 day ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    1 day ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    1 day ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    2 days ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    2 days ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    2 days ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    2 days ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    2 days ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    2 days ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    2 days ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    4 days ago
  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    4 days ago
  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    4 days ago
  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    5 days ago
  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
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