Big Hole With Bulldozer

BigHoleWithBulldozer
Originally uploaded by kakariki.

It seems that Dr Don can’t seem to help himself at the moment and KEEPS SAYING DUMB SHIT. So to further his campaign for political irrelevance, here’s my early christmas present. This should be easier to climb into as well.

Deep digging yourself Don, I’m loving it.

Support Democracy

This came over the email today. I am appalled at the attitude taken by this man. I hope members of Grey Power will stand up and demand that the Maori Party be included in this debate.

The Maori Party is angry at being locked out of a political meeting by Grey Power North Shore president Alan McCulloch. Mr McCulloch says the reason is that he has “no interest in racial separatism”. East Coast Bays Maori Party candidate Rahuia Kapa says Mr McCulloch’s comments are “insensitive and inappropriate”. Ms Kapa urges Mr McCulloch to rethink his decision. She says Warkworth Grey Power has invited the Maori Party to its political meeting. The party is inclusive and does not have separatist attitudes, Ms Kapa says. It has non-Maori candidates and its supporters are from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, she says.

Candidates from five other political parties, plus an independent candidate, are expected to attend the meeting in Northcote next Friday but Mr McCulloch says they’re not interested in hearing from the Maori Party. Party representation became an issue this month when the High Court ruled TV3 had to include two extra political leaders in its election debate. Mr McCulloch says a survey nine months ago found about 92 percent of North Shore Grey Power members believed the country should stop dividing itself into Maori and non-Maori.

“Our people are patently not interested in that nonsense,” he says. “We really invited people to come who will be of interest to our members and say things of significance. “We have far more Koreans on the North Shore than we have Maoris.” Mr McCulloch says when people keep telling kids they’ve been robbed and cheated and the world owes them a living they start to believe it. He says separatist attitudes are leading to an increasing number of Maori in prison.

Mr McCulloch is a former president of One New Zealand and stood for the party in 2002 as its East Coast Bays candidate. He says he’s no longer with the party. He is also a former mayor of East Coast Bays and was a North Shore councillor. In 2002 he ignored a request from Grey Power New Zealand’s then president John Jefferson to stand down as the organisation’s North Shore president
during the election campaign. Mr Jefferson also urged Mr McCulloch not to chair a political leaders debate in 2002. Mr McCulloch stood his ground, saying it was a North Shore matter.

The Grey Power North Shore political meeting is on August 26 at 1pm at the Netball North Harbour centre in Northcote Rd.

*****************************************
MAORI PARTY EMAIL FOLLOWS…

Many of you will be aware of the article that was in the North Shore Times last week (dated 19 August, Friday) where Mr Alan McCulloch, President of the North Shore Grey Power Association makes comments on Maori and on the Maori Party. His views, I would regard, as generally very divisive. He indicates in the article that Maori Party representation is not required (or invited) or more to the point, not even welcome to attend a meeting of NS Grey Power being held this Friday!! To sum it up we have been shut out in a very undemocratic way and as far as we are aware, the only Party to have been singled out in this manner!!

The Maori Party has decided to make a strong, peaceful presence outside this meeting. Details are as follows

DATE: 26th August, Friday

VENUE: North Shore Netball Courts, Northcote Rd, Northcote. (If you are coming from over the Bridge it is the Northcote Rd turnoff). The netball courts are on the left of the off-ramp as you come off the motorway – you can’t miss them!!

TIME: 12.15 – 1.00pm

If you wish to support this ‘kaupapa’ please be aware that:

OUR PRESENCE IS ONE OF ‘DIGNITY AND GRACE’ AS WE MUST ENDEAVOUR TO UPHOLD THE MANA OF THE MAORI PARTY. OUR BEHAVIOUR MUST REFLECT THE CONTEXT OF OUR PRINCIPLES WHICH INCLUDE MANAAKITANGA (Respect), KOTAHITANGA (Unity), MANA WHENUA (Our place to stand) AND RANGATIRATANGA (Self-determination).

WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THIS IS THE VIEW OF ONE MAN (ALTHOUGH) HE INDICATES IT IS THE VIEW OF MANY WITHIN THE GREY POWER ORGANISATION. TO DATE I AM NOT AWARE OF OTHERS COMING OUT TO PUBLICLY SUPPORT HIS VIEW.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE MEMBERSHIP OF THIS GROUP ARE ELDERLY!! SO THE NEED FOR OUR BEHAVIOUR NOT TO BE SEEN AS INTIMIDATING, INSENSITIVE OR INAPPROPRIATE IN ANY WAY IS A ‘MUST’. MANY OF THIS GENERATION HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE, AND I FEEL OUR PRESENCE WILL CHALLENGE THEIR CONSCIENCE IN THIS RESPECT.

MEDIA PRESENCE IS ALSO VERY LIKELY SO THE MANNER IN WHICH WE CONDUCT OURSELVES IS PARAMOUNT!!

We are well aware that our Maori candidates once in parliament will be ‘our voice’…..but right NOW, in our community we need to be that ‘voice’!! We need to send a very strong, clear message that this sort of verbal and destructive behaviour whether it be directed at Maori or any other group of people (ethnic or otherwise) is not acceptable and will not be tolerated!! Please come and support us if you believe in this ‘kaupapa’…..bring all the whanau!! Invite along your PI friends, Pakeha friends, Asian friends, all of your friends……..this stand is not just about ‘us’ but is about ‘us all’.

Remember the War?

A whole lot of people I’ve been talking to recently seem to have forgotten that the USA is still wagin an illegal war in Iraq. Sorry folks, it’s still going on. Thousands of Iraqi people are still dying because a certain global superpower has an insatiable appetite for oil.

But awesome to see the protest movement having another swell at the moment around Cindy, a mother who wants to talk to Bush about her son dying in Iraq. The photo above was from one of the many protests across the US and the world. It’s from this awesome photo set at Dee’s Dotes.

Ask yourself, how much oil have I used today? And even better for those of you who hate to recycle plastic, how much oil have you thrown in the ground today?

What a wimp

I am absolutely horrified at Don’s pathetic justification of his performance on the Leaders Debate last night. I mean, c’mon! What century is he living in? He restrained himself because Helen is a woman?

What I am wondering is what he actually hopes to achieve by this statement. Hypotheses as follows:

1) He genuinely thought that people would respect him if he showed tolerance towards women being in positions of power.

Possible, he does seem to have Montgomery Burns type attitudes towards gender. Although if he thought that this would be a good strategy then it shows how out of touch he is with the electorate.

2) He was so embarrased by his performance he thought it would be a good excuse.

More likely and shows his complete political naievity. If you don’t think you performed too well, keep your mouth shut. Don’t try and justify yourself, EVER. Especially if you want to be a National Party Prime Minister.

3. He actually meant it. And he actually decided to be nice to her because she’s a woman.

Highly unlikely cause that would have come out as an excuse earlier. And if he did actually mean it I think he’s going to have some serious issues trying to convince even National Party women that he’s worth having a conversation with ever again.

But really, I can’t figure it out logically. I think he’s just stupid.

I see this as another example of the electorate to see just how backwards in his thinking this man actually is. No way in hell would I want him as PM. Three years of him bumblibng about the world trying to represent this nation? Stuff that, I’d rather have George Bush.

Is that actually any better?

Is that actually any better?
Originally uploaded by kakariki.

So ACT change their billboard to meet their obligations under the Electoral Act. But really? Is it any different? I think the only difference is that it makes them look even more desperate than they already were…

Photo credit Cameron Burnell

UFOs vs reality

At bfm you can find Russell Brown interviewing Nandor and Dr Richard Goode on drug policy. Rather entertaining interview.

This was of course, in response to UFO’s spack-out earlier this week about what sort of unpredicatibility we will be getting ourselves into if the Greens are in power. This is of course opposed to the continuing sense of Peter and his posse, who insist on talking about fictional drugs and contradicting themselves. Seriously, what are they on?

Peter Dunne wants to make cannabis a bottom line in this election. He is ignoring all evidence including his own submissions to parliament in defending prohibition as a workable policy. Sure, that’s why we have the highest youth cannabis use rates in the western world even though we have the second highest rate of enforcement?

Dr Fred Fastier, a pharmacologist who was heavily involved in the creation of the Misuse of Drugs Act said it will either work, or fail badly, and we must ensure the legislation is reviewed. Well, it failed badly, and we still haven’t had a decent review of the Act. And it’s about time we did.

“Future of Food” FREE SCREENING

What: FREE screening of ‘The Future of Food’ hosted by Green MP Sue Kedgley
When: 4pm Sunday 21 August
Where: Aro Valley Community Hall, Aro Street

Sue Kedgley will introduce the film, and answer questions afterwards.

‘The Future of Food’ was a hit at the recent Film Festival, and explores
the GE food industry in North America and proposes safer and healthier
alternatives.
More details at Future of Food

Contact Quentin on 381-4640 if any queries.

New fun game

Heard about politics.org.nz through a friend. It’s an opinion gauging site for election and political issues. What I liked about it is the fact that you see how your opinions reflect other participants reactions as you go. Interesting. I’d like to see how well this gets picked up by voters and politicians.

Give it a go!

Yay Scoop

Brilliant advertisement! Made me chuckle and go “yeah, stick it to the man! woohoo!”

A mighty kahikatea has fallen

I couldn’t think of a more apt description of Kevin.

For those of you how knew Kevin Smith, the first thing that you will remember is his delightful cynicysm. But the other thing you remember is a man with a heart and soul bigger than any you will ever meet.

Kevin Smith, current advisor to Chris Carter and former head of Forest and Bird passed away suddenly yesterday, while out cycling. Kevin will be remembered by many as for being a ruthless lobbyist, a deep cynic, having a biting sense of humour but most of all a tremendous vision as to how we can live sustainably on this planet.

I remember one day running into Kevin on the street and asking him how he was doing and he relpied “oh, you know, selling my soul to the devil”. This was typical of Kevin, always realistic of the state of the world but with a steady resolve to do his bit to make it a better place for our children and grandchildren.

For me, I will remember Kevin as partner and wonderful support to my dear friend Tania. The relationship those two share is truly inspirational and it pains me to think how hard this must be for her. But I know that loving family, friends and colleagues will be there to support her, I will certainly be among them.

So I say goodbye and thank you to a great man, an inspirational man, and a man who made a real difference to the protection of this land.

Whaia e koe ki te iti kahurangi
ki te tuohu koe
me Maunga Teitei

Toitu he whenua
Whatungarongaro he tangata

Jesus this is brilliant

Listen to Winston lose the plot on bfm. Priceless.

This is what happens when a real journalist who doesn’t sit around Pickwicks bar adoring Winston gets an interview.

Big ups to Noelle.

Public meetings to check out

Andrew Wilkie
the AXIS OF DECEIT speaking tour

Hear Andrew Wilkie – the Iraq war whistle-blowing Australian intelligence analyst – speak on

Why New Zealand shouldn’t be Bush and Howard’s ally

AUCKLAND, Wednesday August 24, 8 p.m.
Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn

WELLINGTON, Friday August 26, 7:30 p.m.
St John’s Hall, cnr Dixon and Willis Sts

CHRISTCHURCH, Monday August 29, 7:30 p.m.
Oxford Terrace Baptist Church Lounge
cnr Oxford Tce and Madras St

Wellington only:
Book signing, Saturday August 27,
10:30 – 11:30 a.m., Unity Books, 57 Willis St
Have your copy of Axis of Deceit signed by Andrew.

Meetings hosted by Green MP Keith Locke

Andrew Wilkie was the senior transnational intelligence analyst in Australia’s Office of National Assessments in 2002 and early 2003, dealing with the intelligence being gathered on Iraq, and providing reports to the government. He resigned from the ONA in March 2003 and went public with his concerns that John Howard’s government was manipulating and distorting the intelligence for political reasons.

He stands by the assertions he made at the time – that Iraq did not pose a serious enough threat to justify a war, that too many things could go wrong, and that it was bad policy to resort to force so long as alternative options remained. He thinks that they have all been proven accurate.

In June 2004 his book Axis of Deceit was published. It is an account of the reasons for his resignation, including why and how ONA’s work was being manipulated for political purposes. In October 2004 he stood for the Green Party against John Howard in the federal election. He won 16.5% of the vote and made Howard’s formerly blue-ribbon seat marginal.

Andrew continues to research, write and speak out against the dangers of getting to close to the US and helping implement its foreign and defence policies. He is especially concerned that Australia’s closeness to the US is now putting NZ at risk, and has come to NZ at this time to warn about the dangers of being too close to Howard and Bush.

What the Sam Hill is going on?

It appears that United Future has lost the plot. Not sure what’s going on but for a sensible common-sense party, they are getting rather loopy.

First of all Mr Dunne delivered a speech to the Wellington Rotary club today claiming that it’s all doom and gloom with a Green/Labour or NZ First/Labour coalition. In this speech he claims:

He said if a Labour/Greens coalition comes to power:

- No new roads will be built, with gridlock in Auckland and Wellington crippling those cities and the regional economies.
- Cannabis will be legalised and pseudo methamphetamine or “P” downgraded as a serious drug.
- There will be even more social engineering and politically correct social legislation.
- New taxes will be introduced on foods considered to be unhealthy.
- Nandor Tanczos will sit in Cabinet as Attorney-General.

- If a National/New Zealand First takes office, Mr Dunne said:
- Tax cuts will be gone by lunchtime.
- Immigration will be based on the colour of a person’s skin, rather than the skills and qualifications they possess.
- There will be racial tension and social division.
- The government will be paralysed by divisions over its leadership.
- There will be an election in 18 months.

Now I have to say he’s probably reasonably accurate with the NZ First predictions that it would be unstable but I bet Labour wouldn’t let it go as far as the first few points.

But as for his rant about the Greens, sure there might not be any more roads built in Auckland or Wellington but there will be a massive investment in public transport which WILL deal with congestion issues in the long run. Then he claims (again) that the Greens will legalise cannabis even though it isn’t Green policy and it is far from what Nandor has been proposeing in his Private Members Bill which incidentally, isn’t too different to what the United Future Party submission to the Health Select Committee Inquiry into Cannabis said. And as for downgrading “pseudo methamphetamine” what the hell is he on about? It isn’t even a drug!!

And I for one am amused that he thinks Nandor will be AG. If anyone from the Greens is going to get that position it would be likely to be Metiria since she has a law background. But as a Green I’m flattered to think he wants to promote us into high-ranked cabinet posts. But Jeanette for Minister of Energy will be fine thanks.

Then it gets better.

United Future launched their Health Policy today. Frog has the details. The cute bit is that it’s the same as the Green policy launched yesterday!

Then it gets even better.

Paul Adams is announcing today that he is not running as a United Future candidate. Instead he will be running as an independent. It is expected that his daughter, Sheree Adms will follow the same path. Mr Adams is expected to make an announcement about it all this afternoon. Rumours are abound of course, the lead rumour that he is disgruntled by the Outdoor Wreckreation hijacking of the party list and the drop in prioritisation of ‘Christian values’ by United Future. But we shall see what comes out this afternoon.

And for those that are wondering Sam Hill was a champion of roads. He he.

End of an era

For those of you who haven’t heard, David Lange passed away last night. The last of our great public speakers, he will always be remembered for his fantastic oratory. And of course the great Oxford debate. He didn’t have an easy time as PM and some seriously crap stuff went down when he was in charge but at least he was nice. Not like the previous wanker. Although Mr Lange never played the Narrator…

I’m sure better tributes will flow from people who were alive/not in primary school when he was PM. But wanted to say on ya mate to David and arohanui to his family.

10, no make that 11, things I like

I’m now going to indulge in a moment of positivity

1. Fake Jewish fables
2. The Feminist Conspiracy in action
3. Stupid Nazi kids going down for DUMB ASS SHIT
4. Midnight getting lolly cake, oh yes, lolly cake )
5. Elections – yes I know I’m sick, but they are fun.
6. Asher – cause he said that if I didn’t put him here, he’d stop being my friend
7. Gigs at the Cake Shop
8. The West Coast
9. Hot Lemon and Honey drinks
10. All Blacks dealing with homophobia (That doesn’t mean I like rugby, for the record)
11. Celebrating great protests