Mountain Tui

In Australia?

Nature Forest and Bird have condemned National’s major overhaul of conservation land law, accusing the government of gutting longstanding protections in favour of commercial interests. We should not be making it easier to sell off conservation land for commercial gain. Our laws should uphold the promise to protect nature for its own sake, for future generations and for all those who hold these places dear." National proposes making about five million hectares of public conservation land available for exchange or disposal, if deemed "surplus" or to "support other government priorities".

Opening up 5 million hectares of NZ conservation land to commercial interests is wild, yet didn't make a headline that day

#nzpol

open.substack.com/pub/mountain...

@2covet.bsky.social 🎯

The first email to Mr Seymour is a rare insight into what donors expect for their money. This donor appears to be a low level wealthy - the $430,00 extra tax via Green tax policy that he complains about suggests an individual wealth in the region of $15 million if all this extra tax he/she fears is wealth tax. I expect the even more wealthy expect more for their donations. Mr Seymour was big on the positive feedback he got about the meals. I asked for details and got sent a table setting out extracts from unknown sources. So I followed up asking for the source of each comment and the date it was made. Turns out that roughly 90% of the positive comments were provided by Compass and there was no information available on who made the comments provided or when they were made.

An insightful comment from Andrew Riddell -

TLDR: Seymour hid the tsunami of negative feedback on his school lunch program - and 90% of any "positive" comments he received was from Compass

Also his voters expect bang for buck from Seymour to ensure they don't have to pay taxes

#nzpol

Stanford's NCEA changes have been fraught with stated risks & downsides. Principals and teachers say it's premature and ignores work to date, which has only failed due to resourcing, but Stuff goes with "bold"

Their article also excluded most of the constructive comments

#stuffisstuffed
#nzpol

That's an incredible shot - once again

Jolly convenient to blame Labour’s ban while pleasing fossil fuel sponsors
“But experts, including the government's own officials, warned the ban was not the main driver behind a lack of investment in gas or New Zealand's high energy prices - and won't be a magic fix for them either.”
#nzpol

FYI that's Rupert Murdoch's Sky News

Wouldn't surprise me at all - birds of a feather. Was just interesting 2 days after the INZ win, but possible it was always on the cards and they just wanted until after the Board vote too

YES

I absolutely detest his dishonesty and character. Even when I was newish to political observation, I knew he and Seymour were nefarious.
You're welcome though. :-)

Cool !

Chris Bishop's interview was a real banger once you extricate the spin:

1. If National win a second term, they will privatise NZ without restriction
2. He admits voter suppression laws will help National
3. $64bn+ of their transport plan is unfunded
4. They don't care for business cases

#nzpol

Have been calling it since Oct. I reckon they want a Bish/ES duo

Thank you Kay,

Carterton Councillors Have Heated Debate On Rates Rises Tensions remained high around the council table yesterday [Wednesday] as elected members in Carterton continued Long-Term Plan [LTP] deliberations with numerous points of order made throughout.

Grace is a vocal councillor
www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK24...

She supports Free Speech but not Māori wards
www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/521...

After LG election Jonathan may pick up more church roles too like his parents with Grace International mission to Mozambique
rationalists.nz/articles/jou...

'Rural communities don’t matter': Anger over proposed police cuts Police plan to cut rural officers, boosting resources in central areas.

"It’s understood the proposal could decrease police numbers in parts of rural North Canterbury & Selwyn"

Selwyn is National's safest seat - they're not going anywhere.

Don't forget Erica Stanford also cut many rural school bus routes, prompting Fed Farmers to "try" to help stranded kids.

#nzpol

PS Thanks Kay

URGH

I admit this bugs me because Stuff is so far from the opposite side of "journalism" it's not funny.

If you want to support journalism support media like Newsroom, ODT, NZ Geo etc

#nzpol

Ugh

Chris Bishop demonstrating the mechanics of National Party business cases on Q&A.

Or how about throwing away $400,000 on a road cone hotline without a business case?

Same thing - same methodology.

#nzpol

So what's the deal with Jonathan Ayling being goneburger from Free Speech Union - 2 days after he "won" a Board position at Internet NZ?

Stephen Franks, the lawyer dude who seems to have sent threatening letters to gender affirming healthcare professionals in Feb, is still Chair.

#nzpol
#kiwi

I have driven this road a LOT

There is ZERO need for this bike lane to go - except to appease the rich cunts on Park Tce & their insane addiction to hydrocarbons.

Update: Thistoll v Min J

I left after 90 mins due to my back.

My counsel Ms Van Alphen Fyfe was brilliantly laying out the foundations (HRA, Paris Principles, etc) for our contention that the minister unlawfully appointed Rainbow and Derby.

Can't say more. 66.6/33.3 odds in my favour, I think.

National pins re-election hopes on economy Analysis: Saturday's National Party conference set out an early 2026 challenge to voters - stick with what we've got or risk it on who-knows-what.

I am pinning retirement on hopes of lotto, I think I am in with a shot

#nzpol

www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Why am I not surprised? Is there a source for that?

Your brain does not process information and it is not a computer | Aeon Essays Your brain does not process information, retrieve knowledge or store memories. In short: your brain is not a computer

What a shame our Minister of Education is convinced kids’ brains are computers and is rebuilding our whole education system on junk science.

But then, when you think education is about the replication of cultural power, the brain as computer metaphor is perfect.

HEADING: Someone is lying that the record Kiwi citizens leaving for Australia are 2/3 born overseas - Stats NZ notes who only 1/3 who leave are. Regardless, race based politics only increases violence and division & benefits populist politicians Underneath is a picture of a Shane Jones video where he says "We will not allow NZ to be used as a spring board for people born overseas to get into other countries"

PSA: Noticed some right wing folks trying to change the narrative re: the record number of Kiwi citizens fleeing NZ (one every 7.5 minutes and breaking records since 1991)

They are trying to twist this into an anti-immigrant cause - championed by NZ First & ACT - please be on the lookout.

#nzpol