Dr Oliver Hartwich: Europe will not be able to fight the return of conscription

More than two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shattered the continent’s illusion of perpetual peace, Europe finds itself confronting a once-unthinkable question: is it time to bring back the draft?

For decades, conscription seemed like a relic of a bygone era. As the Cold War faded into history, countries across Europe eagerly embraced the model of all-volunteer, professional militaries. Compulsory service was consigned to the history books.

Simon O'Connor: When silence fails

What to make of being cyber-attacked by a foreign spy agency, and yet your own country's authorities don't think its worth telling you or others affected.

It is difficult to describe the experience of knowing you have been targeted by hackers from a foreign power. There is a novelty, but it is mostly disconcerting and unsettling.

Thomas Cranmer: A Waste of Everyone’s Money and Time

Prime Minister Luxon ended his post Cabinet press conference by addressing the question about whether the government will continue to support Jacinda Ardern as the special envoy for the Christchurch Call.

“We will have more to say about that very very shortly, obviously there’s been a good series of conversations about how that model continues to evolve; it’s important work but watch this space, we’ll talk about that very shortly,” Luxon said.

Cam Slater: Roy Morgan Poll Tells a Different Story

While Maiki Sherman was getting sticky knickers over the 1News/Verian Poll on Monday night, Roy Morgan released their poll the very next day, and it tells a different story from the gushing fantasy of 1News.

Ele Ludemann: Conduct unbecoming

Green MP Julie Anne Genter showed a complete lack of self-control in parliament yesterday:

David Farrar: TVNZ and poll results

The Herald reports:

TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report.

TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman’s reporting of the poll results – all three parties that make up the coalition Government have lost support – was described by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon earlier today as “a little frothy and sensationalist”.

Kerre Woodham: When is the right time to give MPs a pay rise?

Happy International Workers Day to all the labourers and workers out there. All right, brother. All right, sister. Dedicated to recognizing the contributions and achievements of workers worldwide and taking the opportunity to promote workers rights and opportunities so. Go us, all of us paid grunts.

Patrick Usmar: Will New Zealand’s school phone ban work?

Will New Zealand’s school phone ban work? Let’s see what it does for students’ curiosity

With the coalition government’s ban of student mobile phones in New Zealand schools coming into effect this week, reaction has ranged from the sceptical (kids will just get sneakier) to the optimistic (most kids seem okay with it).

In a world where nearly everyone has a smartphone, it’s to be expected nearly everyone will have an opinion. The trick is to sort the valid from the kneejerk, and not rush to judgement.

Erica Stanford: Education Priorities Focused on Lifting Achievement

Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success.

“I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they can achieve to the best of their ability and gain skills and qualifications that will support them into further study and employment,” Ms Stanford says.

Wednesday May 1, 2024 

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Mike's Minute: Today we say goodbye to James Shaw MP

So, bye bye James Shaw; Valedictory Day today.

He is in the interesting position of having left behind something potentially quite substantive.

The Net Zero laws, we will be neutral by 2050. But then that’s the problem isn't it? My bet is we wont.

David Farrar: The upcoming MPs pay rise

The Remuneration Authority will soon decide what pay rise MPs get. This used to be an annual exercise. I lobbied for years that they should avoid the pressure of annual pay rises, and just have their pay set for each term of Parliament.

They have partly moved towards that. There is only one determination for the term, but it occurs after the election, not before – which I prefer. My preferred model would be the salaries are deterred three months prior to an election, so anyone elected knows in advance what the salary will be, and it won’t increase during the term.

Cam Slater: Ain’t That the Truth

Audrey Young provides a dose of reality for Winston Peters and NZ First in the wake of the strange poll from 1 News on Monday night. The broadcast showed Maiki Sherman wetting her knickers at the prospect of a left-leaning government, but the reality of the situation is that the election is more than two years away. But, that doesn’t mean Audrey Young is wrong:

Bruce Moon: The Treaty Debate - again!

With some recent correspondents raising again an article in the Guardian by Morgan Godfery, dated 23rd April 2022, it becomes necessary to look once again at that article and identify again the manner in which it is so blatantly wrong.

There Godfery claims that “the Māori language version reaffirming Māori sovereignty” which is profoundly the most utter nonsense.  The entire point of the activities of early February 1840 was to ascertain whether the assembled Maori chiefs assented to the transfer of such sovereignty as each possessed to the Queen in return for the undoubted benefits to the Maori people of becoming British subjects.

Perce Harpham: New Zealand is Whucked!

Wanganui was once the name of what is now written as Whanganui and the “wh” is pronounced as an “f”. This change took about 3 years of public discussion before it occurred so there was some semblance of due legal process. 

I do try to accept such changes even though in 2024 I have lived half of the time since the Treaty was signed and the Queen’s writ became the law. And that law was set down as applying to all the “PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND”. I have respected that law all of my life. But I do have difficulty with the changes in our administration which have occurred without any public discussion or semblance of due legal process.

Graham Adams: NZ’s trans lobby is fighting a rearguard action

The Cass Review is a turning point in the war on reality.

The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass report’ key to protecting girls from serious harm” — should have made news editors around the country sit up instantly and take notice.

Kerre Woodham: It's just a poll

Well, the 1News Verian poll released last night shows that support for the coalition government, after seeing an operation for a few months, has dropped since election night. Hardly surprising. Well, to my mind. Anyway, clearly there were others who were simply gob smacked and amazed, but on to them in a moment.

David Farrar: Or the banks could find it, instead of taxpayers

The Herald reports:

Banks want government support for a national anti-scam centre – and say other industries and search engines should help out too.

The banking sector has been under fire for deficiencies in its payment system which overseas criminals have exploited to steal an estimated $200 million from Kiwi victims last year.

Professor Robert MacCulloch: Beware Political Propaganda

Beware Political Propaganda: the unfolding economics & health statistics are pointing to Grant Robertson never protecting "Lives and Livelihoods"

Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over & over that he saved "lives and livelihoods". As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently.

Tuesday April 30, 2024 

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