thedailyblog--2020-04-23--Winston Wronged And HDPA Right – The Unexploded Truth Of The Pension Payment Settling Of Accounts

So earlier this week , two things happened .
Winston got his lawsuit result back … and the National Party started demanding that he pay for it .
Now , in a sense , you could be forgiven ( by somebody else ) for seeing National ’ s point .
The judgement was reasonably clear – the assertion that Paula Bennett and/or Anne Tolley ( inter alia ) had leaked Winston ’ s pension overpayment details to the media as part of some sort of targeted political hit-job , was unproven .
Indeed , would have been very difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So therefore , if Tolley & Bennett were not found guilty – and the taxpayer was footing the bill for the whole fruitless exercise , perhaps some recompense was in order ?
Balderdash .
There are three salient points to be made here .
The first is that the judgement also quite clearly agrees that Winston ’ s privacy was breached , in a highly unusual and improper manner .
The only thing it disagrees with is that the culprit could be positively identified .
And that , as it happens , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Insofar as , if we can not actually prove to a reasonable standard that somebody has done it … then of course the law should not assert that they have .
The second , is that as Winston ’ s privacy was breached in this way , it ’ s good that somebody took both government apparatus and relevant Ministers notionally responsible to task over it .
Bennett has a bit of a history of making improper disclosures about Ministry of Social Development payment recipients for political impact – and previously she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easily than she did this time .
Possibly because impoverished mothers dealing with WINZ are less able to afford High Court lawsuits than veteran pensioner politicians armed with the resources of state .
The utilization of taxpayer money in this way , in other words , while it might seem a vainglorious counter-charge in pursuit of political scalps as part of a personal vendetta … is actually a safeguarding and upholding of our rights as taxpayers to be treated fairly by our state and government .
It is , in short , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be about – “ Keeping The Bastards Honest ” .
But the third point … is that I am not sure the judgement as it was , really lets National off the hook .
At least , not enough for it to be pompously demanding that the victim – and for all his faults , in this he truly was – of malfeasance , pay back the entire sum total of his costs in pursuit of justice .
Now , I am going to astound everybody – not least of which , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plessis-Allan got something right .
Not recently , but a year ago , but of fresh saliency and relevance in light of this week ’ s judicial findings .
To quote her – “ The reason I say that is because in the weeks before the leak , I was told by the Nats that the nats had the information .
They told me they were considering leaking it .
They told me how they would leak it , the process they would follow to cover their tracks .
Without going into details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s exactly how it played out .
So the chances that the Nats leaked it are about 99 per cent.
” That ’ s from a piece upon the subject she wrote in late August of last year .
A veritable lifetime ago in multiple senses of the term .
But nonetheless , an interesting remark in light of what has just occurred .
For while this is not exactly the sort of evidence that one could viably take to court – partially because it is hearsay , and partially because I suspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would mean that it would be difficult to compel her to unveil more details that might actually lead to surety about the situation … … it nevertheless suggests rather strongly that Winston WAS right to point the finger toward National .
And that what has just happened this week , wherein the verdict has come in , and National are demanding that Winston pay up , apologize , and all the rest of it , is a case of a party who were probably actually guilty of wrongdoing having an incredibly lucky escape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of tortured innocence .
Certainly , they have had few strong blows against the Government in recent weeks ( for entirely understandable reasons – blow-BACK on the other hand , being another matter ) , so the chance to actually salvage some shrinking vestige of moral high ground must have proven irresistible .
The fact that Tolley and Bennett have escaped direct and official censure for this gambit , should in no way detract from the fact that Winston has been partially vindicated .
It should also not distract from the very real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the offence that has been charged against it .
It is repugnant for it to be found that Winston was , indeed , the victim of such a breach – and then to expect him to have to pay for the proving that he has been wronged against .
It is also most curious that we can have senior figures of our political and journalistic sphere pretty sure that National as a party WAS actively involved in the leaking which ensued , and because we can not decisively prove WHICH National high-up it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party as a whole and as an entity off the hook .
National can and will spin this as some sort of grandiloquent vindication .
It is nothing of the sort .

So earlier this week, two things happened. Winston got his lawsuit result back … and the National Party started demanding that he pay for it.
Now, in a sense, you could be forgiven (by somebody else) for seeing National’s point. The judgement was reasonably clear – the assertion that Paula Bennett and/or Anne Tolley (inter alia) had leaked Winston’s pension overpayment details to the media as part of some sort of targeted political hit-job, was unproven. Indeed, would have been very difficult to actually prove in the first place.
So therefore, if Tolley & Bennett were not found guilty – and the taxpayer was footing the bill for the whole fruitless exercise, perhaps some recompense was in order?
Balderdash. There are three salient points to be made here. The first is that the judgement also quite clearly agrees that Winston’s privacy was breached, in a highly unusual and improper manner. The only thing it disagrees with is that the culprit could be positively identified.
And that, as it happens, is not necessarily too terrible of a thing. Insofar as, if we cannot actually prove to a reasonable standard that somebody has done it … then of course the law should not assert that they have.
The second, is that as Winston’s privacy was breached in this way, it’s good that somebody took both government apparatus and relevant Ministers notionally responsible to task over it. Bennett has a bit of a history of making improper disclosures about Ministry of Social Development payment recipients for political impact – and previously she has managed to get away much more easily than she did this time. Possibly because impoverished mothers dealing with WINZ are less able to afford High Court lawsuits than veteran pensioner politicians armed with the resources of state.
The utilization of taxpayer money in this way, in other words, while it might seem a vainglorious counter-charge in pursuit of political scalps as part of a personal vendetta … is actually a safeguarding and upholding of our rights as taxpayers to be treated fairly by our state and government. It is, in short, that thing NZ First has so often claimed to be about – “Keeping The Bastards Honest”.
But the third point … is that I am not sure the judgement as it was, really lets National off the hook. At least, not enough for it to be pompously demanding that the victim – and for all his faults, in this he truly was – of malfeasance, pay back the entire sum total of his costs in pursuit of justice.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
Now, I am going to astound everybody – not least of which, myself – by stating that Heather du Plessis-Allan got something right. Not recently, but a year ago, but of fresh saliency and relevance in light of this week’s judicial findings.
To quote her – “The reason I say that is because in the weeks before the leak, I was told by the Nats that the nats had the information.
They told me they were considering leaking it. They told me how they would leak it, the process they would follow to cover their tracks. Without going into details, I can tell you that’s exactly how it played out.
So the chances that the Nats leaked it are about 99 per cent.”
That’s from a piece upon the subject she wrote in late August of last year. A veritable lifetime ago in multiple senses of the term. But nonetheless, an interesting remark in light of what has just occurred.
For while this is not exactly the sort of evidence that one could viably take to court – partially because it is hearsay, and partially because I suspect a journalist’s protections of sources would mean that it would be difficult to compel her to unveil more details that might actually lead to surety about the situation …
… it nevertheless suggests rather strongly that Winston WAS right to point the finger toward National.
And that what has just happened this week, wherein the verdict has come in, and National are demanding that Winston pay up, apologize, and all the rest of it, is a case of a party who were probably actually guilty of wrongdoing having an incredibly lucky escape and then doubling down on their visage of tortured innocence. Certainly, they have had few strong blows against the Government in recent weeks (for entirely understandable reasons – blow-BACK on the other hand, being another matter), so the chance to actually salvage some shrinking vestige of moral high ground must have proven irresistible.
The fact that Tolley and Bennett have escaped direct and official censure for this gambit, should in no way detract from the fact that Winston has been partially vindicated. It should also not distract from the very real possibility that National remains secretly guilty of the offence that has been charged against it.
It is repugnant for it to be found that Winston was, indeed, the victim of such a breach – and then to expect him to have to pay for the proving that he has been wronged against.
It is also most curious that we can have senior figures of our political and journalistic sphere pretty sure that National as a party WAS actively involved in the leaking which ensued, and because we cannot decisively prove WHICH National high-up it came from, this therefore lets the party as a whole and as an entity off the hook.
National can and will spin this as some sort of grandiloquent vindication. It is nothing of the sort.


thedailyblog--2020-04-24--Life in Lock Down: Day 29 & 30

Life in Lock Down: Day 29 & 30

Three new cases… but two more deaths .
It ’ s a cruel act of Fate that success and good news is tempered with tragedy and death .
With each of those deaths , families are left grieving for the loss of someone who has been entwined in their lives .
There are times I wish that those agitating and making shrill demands to re-open the economy , should be made to be in the room with those grieving families .
No amount of money and economic growth can make up for the loss of a loved one who we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on only in our memories and photographic recordings .
The day starts of as many have in the last four weeks .
Drive past the railway station Park N Ride – still three cars in the open expanse of a carpark built for a hundred times that number .
( Yesterday there were four cars present . )
On the main road to SH2 , the white motorhome is still in place .
It ’ s become a ‘ fixture ’ my gaze automatically looks for in the first ‘ leg ’ of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highway , a Wellington Electricity van ; ‘ JETS ’ van ; ‘ Phoenix Transport ’ van ; an unbranded double-tandem truck ( unbranded commercial vehicles seem more common than I have ever noticed , previous to the lock-down ) ; ‘ Kaibosh ’ van ; a fully laden ‘ PBT ’ container truck ; ‘ Jina ’ s ’ fruit & veg van ; a police car ; a light truck marked ‘ Dandy Candy ’ ( really ?
! )
; ‘ Waste Management ’ truck ; an unbranded light truck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ute ; ‘ Chorus ’ ute ; ‘ Precision ’ glazing van ; ‘ Paint m & Plasterer ’ ute ; ‘ Good Shed ’ light truck ; ‘ L.G .
Anderson ’ covered truck ; ‘ Steinlager ’ branded covered truck ; a firewood truck ( company logo not discernible ) ; ‘ Gilmours ’ truck ; ‘ Arobake ’ van ; a fully laden ‘ KAM ’ container truck ; another police car ; ‘ Coca cola ’ branded truck ; towtruck wagon carrying a car ; ‘ Bundaberg beer ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truck ; ‘ Toll ’ double tandem truck ; ‘ Print Link ’ truck ; ‘ Arrow Hygiene ’ van ; ‘ Budget Rental ’ covered truck ; truck carrying two waste-bins ; ‘ Commonsense Organics ’ van ; ‘ Enviro waste ’ rubbish truck ; ‘ Dimond ’ building ute ; ‘ Inter Waste ’ truck ; an unbranded fully laden container truck ; an ambulance ; a skip bin truck ; scaffolding truck ; ‘ Red Cross ’ blood van ; ‘ Gilmour ’ s ’ truck ; ‘ Cushman & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a police car ; ‘ Tip Top ’ refrigerated truck… Traffic on SH2 was light ; about half a dozen vehicles around me .
The red ship still lay where it was first spotted ; Meanwhile , another large freighter berthed near the Interislander wharf , spotted the previous day , was gone .
If mandatory quarantine does not apply to that vessel , hopefully it ’ s a coastal trader , restricted to Aotearoa ’ s waters .
The road works gang with ‘ Wellington Pipelines Ltd ’ trucks and digger in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footpath .
Still no sign of any social distancing being practiced .
Meanwhile , ‘ Z Energy ’ has made itself out to be practicising high levels of corporate bastardry by getting rid of unwanted fuel stocks back on to the world market .
The reason ?
To keep local fuel prices high .
So there we have it ; Z Energy ’ s chief executive , Mike Bennetts openly admitting that allowing cheap fuel into Aotearoa would result in “ too much fuel that will affect us by way of having to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rules of the free market apply in any way , shape , or form , is deluded .
ACT – the so-called party of the free market – made no comment on this blatant manipulation of fuel prices .
( Quite the opposite , in fact .
ACT has been calling for more corporate welfare – paid by taxpayers . )
The next time David Seymour or any of his ACT cronies bleats on about “ market forces ” – point them to this story .
Then watch them do “ mental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing could happen in an open market like ours .
Back up to five new cases *AND* another death .
With only three more days until we move to Alert Level 3 , we better start hoping that contact tracing is working .
The railway station Park N Ride had the same three cars – but there the similarities to previous days , weeks , ended .
In my driving to Wellington , and around the city , there was a marked increase in both commercial and non-commercial traffic on the roads .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sunny day – more like summer than autumn – also brought a few people out .
Commercial traffic was definitely higher than before .
And whereas there there moments on the open highway when my vehicle was the only one present – today there was a constant flow of traffic around me .
Still not as heavy as in normal times – but still noticeably heavier than at any time in the last four weeks .
On my way home tonight , again , traffic at around 8pm was the highest I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began at 11.59pm , Wednesday , 25 March .
People are starting to revert to “ normality ” .
Meanwhile , the roadworks in Vivian Street , downtown Wellington , had ended ; as had roadworks at the Miramar ‘ cutting ’ ; and new roadworks this afternoon in William Street , Hataitai .
I watched the roadworks gang – at no point was social distancing evident .
It was business-as-usual .
If the police fail to monitor holiday ‘ hot spots ’ as they are promising to do this weekend , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be on the move .
In which case , Professor Shaun Hendy ’ s prediction of a “ re-invasion ” by the virus could become a reality .
Back to square one .
Or rather , back to Alert Level Four .
Meanwhile there are the usual click-bait headlines highlighting bizarre ideas .
Such as Aotearoa prostituting itself to become rich white men ’ s “ bolt hole ” .
Or billionaire Trump supporter and founder of data-collecting company , Palantir , Peter Thiel , wanting to offer his services to help track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yeah , nah , piss off ” to both those suggestions .
And while we ’ re about it , could someone in this government look to stripping Peter Thiel ’ s New Zealand citizenship ?
Mr Thiel bought his citizenship ( the price is unclear ) in 2011 .
Millionaire John Key gave Billionaire Peter Thiel citizenship – even though the latter had only briefly visited this country on a few occassions .
There is no clear reason why this gentleman should hold New Zealand citizenship .
Aside from his money , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see is not “ Billionaires flock to New Zealand and buy up North Island ” – but rather , “ No new covid19 cases today “ .
I know which is worth more to us .
RNZ : Covid-19 – What happened in New Zealand on 23 April RNZ : Covid-19 – Three new cases in NZ , two further deaths reported RNZ : Covid-19 alert level 3 – What you need to know Fairfax/Stuff : Coronavirus – Police checkpoints at the ready ahead of Anzac weekend , Covid-19 level 3 RNZ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease is very strong ’ – Shaun Hendy Fairfax/Stuff : Coronavirus – Rich migrants not solution to New Zealand ’ s Covid-19 problems , economists say RNZ : Controversial tech firm Palantir had talks with govt on Covid-19 RNZ : Covid-19 – Five new cases of Covid-19 in NZ , one further death Democracy Now : Madrid ’ s Ice Rink Turned to Morgue as Spain Exceeds China in Coronavirus Deaths The Independent : Is Sweden having second thoughts on lockdown ?
The Out And Abouter : Reached For Comment , Coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Favour Of Reopening The Economy Immediately Will New Zealand Be Right ?
The Warehouse – where everyone gets a virus Life in Lock Down : Day 22 – Is that a light at the end of a four week long tunnel ?
!
Life in Lock Down : Day 27 – and it ’ s been a shit day Life in Lock Down : Day 28 – An Open Letter to Prime Minister Ardern This blogpost will be re-published on “ Frankly Speaking “ .
Reader ’ s comments may be left here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Frankly Speaking ) .

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April 23: Day 29 of living in lock-down…
Three new cases… but two more deaths. It’s a cruel act of Fate that success and good news is tempered with tragedy and death. With each of those deaths, families are left grieving for the loss of someone who has been entwined in their lives.
There are times I wish that those agitating and making shrill demands to re-open the economy, should be made to be in the room with those grieving families. No amount of money and economic growth can make up for the loss of a loved one who we shall never see again, and lives on only in our memories and photographic recordings.
The day starts of as many have in the last four weeks. Drive past the railway station Park N Ride – still three cars in the open expanse of a carpark built for a hundred times that number. (Yesterday there were four cars present.)
On the main road to SH2, the white motorhome is still in place. It’s become a ‘fixture’ my gaze automatically looks for in the first ‘leg’ of my drive to work.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
It was a cloudy, mild, autumn day.
On the highway, a Wellington Electricity van; ‘JETS’ van; ‘Phoenix Transport’ van; an unbranded double-tandem truck (unbranded commercial vehicles seem more common than I have ever noticed, previous to the lock-down); ‘Kaibosh’ van; a fully laden ‘PBT’ container truck; ‘Jina’s’ fruit & veg van; a police car; a light truck marked ‘Dandy Candy’ (really ?!); ‘Waste Management’ truck; an unbranded light truck carrying gas cylinders; ‘Placemakers’ ute; ‘Chorus’ ute; ‘Precision’ glazing van; ‘Paint m& Plasterer’ ute; ‘Good Shed’ light truck; ‘L.G. Anderson’ covered truck; ‘Steinlager’ branded covered truck; a firewood truck (company logo not discernible); ‘Gilmours’ truck; ‘Arobake’ van; a fully laden ‘KAM’ container truck; another police car; ‘Coca cola’ branded truck; towtruck wagon carrying a car; ‘Bundaberg beer’ branded SUV; ‘PBT Transport’ truck; ‘Toll’ double tandem truck; ‘Print Link’ truck; ‘Arrow Hygiene’ van; ‘Budget Rental’ covered truck; truck carrying two waste-bins; ‘Commonsense Organics’ van; ‘Enviro waste’ rubbish truck; ‘Dimond’ building ute; ‘Inter Waste’ truck; an unbranded fully laden container truck; an ambulance; a skip bin truck; scaffolding truck; ‘Red Cross’ blood van; ‘Gilmour’s’ truck; ‘Cushman & Wakefield’ real estate services van; a police car; ‘Tip Top’ refrigerated truck…
Traffic on SH2 was light; about half a dozen vehicles around me.
The red ship still lay where it was first spotted;
.
.
Definitely under fourteen day quarantine.
Meanwhile, another large freighter berthed near the Interislander wharf, spotted the previous day, was gone. If mandatory quarantine does not apply to that vessel, hopefully it’s a coastal trader, restricted to Aotearoa’s waters.
The road works gang with ‘Wellington Pipelines Ltd’ trucks and digger in attendance, were still digging up the footpath. Still no sign of any social distancing being practiced.
Meanwhile, ‘Z Energy’ has made itself out to be practicising high levels of corporate bastardry by getting rid of unwanted fuel stocks back on to the world market. The reason? To keep local fuel prices high.
.
.
So there we have it; Z Energy’s chief executive, Mike Bennetts openly admitting that allowing cheap fuel into Aotearoa would result in “too much fuel that will affect us by way of having to sell“.
Anyone still believing that the rules of the free market apply in any way, shape, or form, is deluded. ACT – the so-called party of the free market – made no comment on this blatant manipulation of fuel prices. (Quite the opposite, in fact. ACT has been calling for more corporate welfare – paid by taxpayers.)
The next time David Seymour or any of his ACT cronies bleats on about “market forces” – point them to this story. Then watch them do “mental gymnastics” to explain how/why such a thing could happen in an open market like ours.
.
Current covid19 cases: 1,451
Cases in ICU: 1
Number of deaths: 16
.
April 24: Day 30 of living in lock-down…
Back up to five new cases *AND* another death. With only three more days until we move to Alert Level 3, we better start hoping that contact tracing is working.
The railway station Park N Ride had the same three cars – but there the similarities to previous days, weeks, ended. In my driving to Wellington, and around the city, there was a marked increase in both commercial and non-commercial traffic on the roads. The fact it was a fine, sunny day – more like summer than autumn – also brought a few people out.
Commercial traffic was definitely higher than before. And whereas there there moments on the open highway when my vehicle was the only one present – today there was a constant flow of traffic around me. Still not as heavy as in normal times – but still noticeably heavier than at any time in the last four weeks.
On my way home tonight, again, traffic at around 8pm was the highest I’ve seen it since Level 4 lock-down began at 11.59pm, Wednesday, 25 March.
People are starting to revert to “normality”.
Meanwhile, the roadworks in Vivian Street, downtown Wellington, had ended; as had roadworks at the Miramar ‘cutting’; and new roadworks this afternoon in William Street, Hataitai. I watched the roadworks gang – at no point was social distancing evident. It was business-as-usual.
If the police fail to monitor holiday ‘hot spots’ as they are promising to do this weekend, it will be a free-for-all for people to be on the move. In which case, Professor Shaun Hendy’s prediction of a “re-invasion” by the virus could become a reality.
Back to square one. Or rather, back to Alert Level Four.
Meanwhile there are the usual click-bait headlines highlighting bizarre ideas. Such as Aotearoa prostituting itself to become rich white men’s “bolt hole”. Or billionaire Trump supporter and founder of data-collecting company, Palantir, Peter Thiel, wanting to offer his services to help track covid19.
That’s a ‘Yeah,nah,piss off” to both those suggestions.
And while we’re about it, could someone in this government look to stripping Peter Thiel’s New Zealand citizenship? Mr Thiel bought his citizenship (the price is unclear) in 2011. Millionaire John Key gave Billionaire Peter Thiel citizenship – even though the latter had only briefly visited this country on a few occassions.
There is no clear reason why this gentleman should hold New Zealand citizenship. Aside from his money, maybe.
The one headline I want to see is not “Billionaires flock to New Zealand and buy up North Island” – but rather, “No new covid19 cases today“. I know which is worth more to us.
.
Current covid19 cases: 1,456
Cases in ICU: 1
Number of deaths: 17
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.
.
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References
RNZ: Z Energy selling fuel back to world market
ACT: News
ACT: Good call, now set clear rules and support Level 3 losers
RNZ: Covid-19 – What happened in New Zealand on 23 April
RNZ: Covid-19 – Three new cases in NZ, two further deaths reported
RNZ: Covid-19 alert level 3 – What you need to know
Fairfax/Stuff: Coronavirus – Police checkpoints at the ready ahead of Anzac weekend, Covid-19 level 3
RNZ: ‘The possibility of reinvasion of the disease is very strong’ – Shaun Hendy
Fairfax/Stuff: Coronavirus – Rich migrants not solution to New Zealand’s Covid-19 problems, economists say
RNZ: Controversial tech firm Palantir had talks with govt on Covid-19
NZ Herald: Citizen Thiel
RNZ: Covid-19 – Five new cases of Covid-19 in NZ, one further death
Must Read
Democracy Now: Madrid’s Ice Rink Turned to Morgue as Spain Exceeds China in Coronavirus Deaths
The Independent: Is Sweden having second thoughts on lockdown?
The Out And Abouter: Reached For Comment, Coronavirus Says It’s Also Very In Favour Of Reopening The Economy Immediately
Elemental: Hold the Line
Other Blogs
Will New Zealand Be Right?
Previous related blogposts
The Warehouse – where everyone gets a virus
Life in Lock Down: Day 1
Life in Lock Down: Day 2
Life in Lock Down: Day 3
Life in Lock Down: Day 4
Life in Lock Down: Day 5
Life in Lock Down: Day 6
Life in Lock Down: Day 7
Life in Lock Down: Day 7 (sanitised version)
Life in Lock Down: Day 8
Life in Lock Down: Day 8 (sanitised version)
Life in Lock Down: Day 9
Life in Lock Down: Day 10
Life in Lock Down: Day 11
Life in Lock Down: Day 12
Life in Lock Down: Day 13
Life in Lock Down: Day 14
Life in Lock Down: Day 15
Life in Lock Down: Day 16 – Bad Friday
Life in Lock Down: Day 17
Life in Lock Down: Day 18
Life in Lock Down: Day 19
Life in Lock Down: Day 20
Life in Lock Down: Day 21
Life in Lock Down: Day 22 – Is that a light at the end of a four week long tunnel?!
Life in Lock Down: Day 23
Life in Lock Down: Day 24 & 25
Life in Lock Down: Day 27 – and it’s been a shit day
Life in Lock Down: Day 28 – An Open Letter to Prime Minister Ardern
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.
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Acknowledgement: Slane
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This blogpost will be re-published on “Frankly Speaking“. Reader’s comments may be left here (The Daily Blog) or there (Frankly Speaking).
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= fs =


thedailyblog--2020-04-26--On The Curious Un-Death Of Kim Jong Un – Schrodinger’s Dictator

So for the past 48 hours , I ’ ve witnessed a lot of excited chatter about the alleged incapacitation of Kim Jong Un .
First it was because he ’ d had surgery and was having a tough time of recovery ; then it was because he was in a coma ; then it was a vegetative state ( which some wag imputed to mean he ’ d just sampled his first vegetable ) ; and then it was a death , with his sister poised to take over and make totalitarian autocracy the equal-opportunity sport it had always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the thing .
There ’ s no actual proof that this has occurred .
What there is , are a range of predominantly American news-sites , falling over themselves to report that he ’ s dead , on the strength of what appear to be unconfirmed rumours .
Meanwhile , South Korea – who are both figuratively and literally closer to the situation than just about anyone – have expressed considerable skepticism , and believe everything ’ s basically normal ( or , at least , as normal as the DPRK-o-sphere ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fairness , it is possible that Kim Jong Un is dead .
It is possible that there ’ s some sort of coup underway and the news he is dead has been put out for some intentionally aimed-for impact .
It is possible that Kim Jong Un himself put out the news he is dead , because he saw how much “ fun ” the whole ‘ inject disinfectant ’ thing was , and wants to have a go at “ JUST A PRANK , BRO – WORLD LEADER EDITION ” himself .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ although I am not sure how many , if any , are actually likely .
For now , he is Schrodinger ’ s Dictator .
The Man In The Box .
And until there is actually some sign one way or ‘ tuther from the DPRK , it would be entirely premature to actually believe that these “ rumours ” you ’ re all suddenly placing massive credence in , have a solid ring of truth to them .
[ And seriously , looking at the American right-wingers around the place – you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go inside 24 hours from claiming the media makes up anything and everything to make a leader you like look bad ( potentially by playing unaltered clips of him speaking ) … through to just taking everything that ’ s being said about a leader you don ’ t like ( but that your leader kinda likes ) at face value because you like how it sounds ! ]
If one looks into it , it turns out that the DPRK appears to be run by a cabal of necromancers .
Because on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a report of this or that general or senior official or music-star that ’ s supposedly been executed in cartoonish supervillain style ways – only to have them turn up alive and well at some function in public view looking surprisingly healthy for a corpse .
Particularly one that ’ s supposedly been used as mortar or anti-aircraft gun target practice .
This has taught me to have a reasonable degree of skepticism whenever such claims are made .
It doesn ’ t mean that executions , disappearances , or dynastic transfers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that rumours of some deaths are greatly exaggerated , often by people with an agenda – whether that ’ s to make the DPRK seem more relatably evil as a narrative antagonist , or simply to sell you something , or especially both at once as they both feed of each other .
( the shifting stories o some DRPK defectors can also be viewed in this light ) But who cares .
Many of you seem to want a “ feel good ” news story .
Because if the death of one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statistic .. the deaths of tens of thousands amidst the present pandemic can apparently be eclipsed by the admittedly rather large figure of one Hermit King in a missile-transporter hearse .
Have a bit of skepticism , and some care – we don ’ t know that Kim is Dead .
It ’ s possible that his shade is chilling right now with Saddam ’ s Weapons of Mass Destruction , instead .

So for the past 48 hours, I’ve witnessed a lot of excited chatter about the alleged incapacitation of Kim Jong Un. First it was because he’d had surgery and was having a tough time of recovery; then it was because he was in a coma; then it was a vegetative state (which some wag imputed to mean he’d just sampled his first vegetable); and then it was a death, with his sister poised to take over and make totalitarian autocracy the equal-opportunity sport it had always longed to be.
Except here’s the thing. There’s no actual proof that this has occurred.
What there is, are a range of predominantly American news-sites, falling over themselves to report that he’s dead, on the strength of what appear to be unconfirmed rumours.
Meanwhile, South Korea – who are both figuratively and literally closer to the situation than just about anyone – have expressed considerable skepticism, and believe everything’s basically normal (or, at least, as normal as the DPRK-o-sphere ever really gets).
Now, in fairness, it is possible that Kim Jong Un is dead. It is possible that there’s some sort of coup underway and the news he is dead has been put out for some intentionally aimed-for impact. It is possible that Kim Jong Un himself put out the news he is dead, because he saw how much “fun” the whole ‘inject disinfectant’ thing was, and wants to have a go at “JUST A PRANK, BRO – WORLD LEADER EDITION” himself.
All of these things are possible, although I am not sure how many, if any, are actually likely.
For now, he is Schrodinger’s Dictator. The Man In The Box.
And until there is actually some sign one way or ‘tuther from the DPRK, it would be entirely premature to actually believe that these “rumours” you’re all suddenly placing massive credence in, have a solid ring of truth to them.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
[And seriously, looking at the American right-wingers around the place – you people turn on a dime! You go inside 24 hours from claiming the media makes up anything and everything to make a leader you like look bad (potentially by playing unaltered clips of him speaking) … through to just taking everything that’s being said about a leader you don’t like (but that your leader kinda likes) at face value because you like how it sounds!]
If one looks into it, it turns out that the DPRK appears to be run by a cabal of necromancers. Because on a reasonably regular basis, we hear a report of this or that general or senior official or music-star that’s supposedly been executed in cartoonish supervillain style ways – only to have them turn up alive and well at some function in public view looking surprisingly healthy for a corpse. Particularly one that’s supposedly been used as mortar or anti-aircraft gun target practice.
This has taught me to have a reasonable degree of skepticism whenever such claims are made. It doesn’t mean that executions, disappearances, or dynastic transfers of power are all an illusion. Only that rumours of some deaths are greatly exaggerated, often by people with an agenda – whether that’s to make the DPRK seem more relatably evil as a narrative antagonist, or simply to sell you something, or especially both at once as they both feed of each other. (the shifting stories o some DRPK defectors can also be viewed in this light)
But who cares. Many of you seem to want a “feel good” news story. Because if the death of one is a tragedy and a million a statistic .. the deaths of tens of thousands amidst the present pandemic can apparently be eclipsed by the admittedly rather large figure of one Hermit King in a missile-transporter hearse.
Have a bit of skepticism, and some care – we don’t know that Kim is Dead. It’s possible that his shade is chilling right now with Saddam’s Weapons of Mass Destruction, instead.


thedailyblog--2020-04-26--Dr Liz Gordon: Weighing the options

Dr Liz Gordon: Weighing the options

It has been interesting to see the increasing fractiousness in the USA and UK over the question of when to re-open the economy .
The UK has just had one of its worst days for new cases and the death numbers are now 20,000 , expected to treble .
Huge numbers of health workers are getting the virus .
And none of this even counts the number of deaths in rest homes or other places ( only in hospitals ) .
And yet there is huge pressure to urgently open the economy up to … .
ummm… huge further infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealt with the crisis much as it deals with everything nowadays – with confusion and an acrimonious spirit .
It is not only the Dear Leader ’ s ramblings .
Trumpism is obviously a virus that has attacked the whole of the nation , and , in particular , Republican leaders .
There is no doubt that the ‘ freedom ’ called for by those wanting to open the economy will also be a freedom to die of the virus .
There is still nothing , except our own resolve , to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , whereby millions die , from coming to pass .
The danger is so far from over that I despair of the political games being played across these countries and others .
I see that 200,000 have now died ( of those recorded ) and what we have learned , with death rates of 5 % to 15 % , is that it would only take a re-opening in populous countries to see that rate rise by a factor of one or two more zeros .
Here I might quote Thomas Hobbes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out the theory of legitimate government and the social contract .
He argued that we cede freedoms to government in order that good things can happen in the public interest .
In the state of nature , he says , without such government , all of our collective endeavours are eradicated : In such condition , there is no place for industry ; because the fruit thereof is uncertain : and consequently no culture of the earth ; no navigation , nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving , and removing , such things as require much force ; no knowledge of the face of the earth ; no account of time ; no arts ; no letters ; no society ; and which is worst of all , continual fear , and danger of violent death ; and the life of man , solitary , poor , nasty , brutish , and short .
I would not consider myself much of a fan of Hobbes , but it is undeniable that an overt social contract has been to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zealand , this has been achieved by an unprecedented level of social support .
People ( everyone except the idiots ) have actively chosen to support the strategy so clearly laid out by this government , because they can see the public interest in it .
And it is also possible to see in Hobbes what happens if this breaks down , either because of the ‘ freedom ’ rallies in States throughout the US , or because governments and leaders fail to do the work that the social contract requires , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that case , we can add to Hobbes ’ equation , in addition to lives being poor , nasty , brutish and short , people will die alone in the corridors of overwhelmed hospitals ( or at home ) having lost the painful struggle to breathe , and world deaths will pile up in their millions .
The fact of our success to date in Aotearoa belies that this is a very serious business .
The pandemic will one day pass , as will the economic losses , but at what cost ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , despite all warnings , throw open the doors of infection/economy too early .
Dr Liz Gordon is a researcher and a barrister , with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society .
She usually blogs on justice , social welfare and education topics .

It has been interesting to see the increasing fractiousness in the USA and UK over the question of when to re-open the economy. The UK has just had one of its worst days for new cases and the death numbers are now 20,000, expected to treble. Huge numbers of health workers are getting the virus. And none of this even counts the number of deaths in rest homes or other places (only in hospitals). And yet there is huge pressure to urgently open the economy up to …. ummm… huge further infection?
Not surprisingly, the USA has dealt with the crisis much as it deals with everything nowadays – with confusion and an acrimonious spirit. It is not only the Dear Leader’s ramblings. Trumpism is obviously a virus that has attacked the whole of the nation, and, in particular, Republican leaders.
There is no doubt that the ‘freedom’ called for by those wanting to open the economy will also be a freedom to die of the virus. There is still nothing, except our own resolve, to stop the numbers I discussed a few weeks ago, whereby millions die, from coming to pass. The danger is so far from over that I despair of the political games being played across these countries and others.
I see that 200,000 have now died (of those recorded) and what we have learned, with death rates of 5% to 15%, is that it would only take a re-opening in populous countries to see that rate rise by a factor of one or two more zeros.
Here I might quote Thomas Hobbes, who was the first to set out the theory of legitimate government and the social contract. He argued that we cede freedoms to government in order that good things can happen in the public interest. In the state of nature, he says, without such government, all of our collective endeavours are eradicated:
In such condition, there is no place for industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the earth; no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea; no commodious building; no instruments of moving, and removing, such things as require much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth; no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.
I would not consider myself much of a fan of Hobbes, but it is undeniable that an overt social contract has been to the fore in the virus. In New Zealand, this has been achieved by an unprecedented level of social support. People (everyone except the idiots) have actively chosen to support the strategy so clearly laid out by this government, because they can see the public interest in it.
And it is also possible to see in Hobbes what happens if this breaks down, either because of the ‘freedom’ rallies in States throughout the US, or because governments and leaders fail to do the work that the social contract requires, and open up economies too early.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
In that case, we can add to Hobbes’ equation, in addition to lives being poor, nasty, brutish and short, people will die alone in the corridors of overwhelmed hospitals (or at home) having lost the painful struggle to breathe, and world deaths will pile up in their millions.
The fact of our success to date in Aotearoa belies that this is a very serious business. The pandemic will one day pass, as will the economic losses, but at what cost? History will judge harshly those leaders that, despite all warnings, throw open the doors of infection/economy too early.
Dr Liz Gordon is a researcher and a barrister, with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society. She usually blogs on justice, social welfare and education topics.


thedailyblog--2020-04-26--Honouring all victims of war, not just on ANZAC Day

This year ANZAC Day parades were cancelled for the first time ever .
Instead we were invited to stand at dawn and remember the war dead .
For this one day of the year we were called to think of the cost of war .
We ’ re called to be mindful of suffering , conflict , the forging of a nation , and Trans-Tasman solidarity .
In my area , people in lockdown adorned their driveways with signs and giant home-made poppies and wreaths , adding to the existing heart shaped messages to our rural postie , the giant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stay home NZ .
Fight ” , which is sadly accurate given domestic violence increases during confinement .
There are driveway signs , “ We will remember them ” , and even “ Whiti whiti e ” honouring the Maori fighters of World War One– who were fresh from fighting their own war against imperial colonists here , and off to fight for them abroad , suffering disproportionate losses for an Imperial foreign Queen and country who had killed and dispossessed them too .
I have no family war medals to wear on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poppies ; a red one for the service men and women , a purple one for the millions of animals ‘ called to serve ’ ’ ( 16 million in the first World War alone ) , and a white one for peace .
Nothing in my studies of politics and history has convinced me that wars are morally justified in pursuit of ‘ peace ’ .
Members of the armed forces and civilian victims of war pay too high a price , when both war and peace seem a by-product of other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Blitz , of the saturation bombing of Dresden , Hamburg and Köln , the firebombing of Tokyo , and the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki .
They were all victims of war too , lest we forget them .
Pacifism isn ’ t a popular view though .
In New Zealand , Conscientious Objectors were socially rejected , made examples of , tortured , and sometimes still sent to the front .
They usually had one of two motivations , Pacifism , and Socialism/communism .
I share both principles – a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence , and an absence of loyalty to capitalists – and more loyalty to workers , and citizens of the world , than to imperialist corporates and the nation state .
Even now though , advocating for peace is seen as borderline unpatriotic , oddball .
We live in a society that glorifies war and violence .
Our media normalises killing and makes it entertainment .
So it ’ s as if you ’ re doing an injustice to those servicemen who made the “ ultimate sacrifice ” when you stand against war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that those soldiers were used as cannon fodder in often ill-considered , poorly executed mass killing .
But ANZAC day this year is at an exceptional moment in time .
Much of the ideology and symbolism about celebrating the day , and honouring the war dead , centres on the notion that New Zealand ’ s participation in wars was in pursuit of democracy and freedom ( rather than colonial and capitalist expansion ) .
Yet at no other time in recent history , have we been so willing to surrender those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , freedom of speech – less tolerated , freedom of movement , willingly surrendered – though fragile and fraying now as we move towards a release from lockdown .
* These are freedoms we ’ ve been willing to suspend , in pursuit of the national good .
We ’ ve taken Jacinda ’ s March 22 straight-to-camera ‘ speech from the war room ’ to heart .
We ’ ve been “ United , in the Fight Against Covid-19 ” .
The features that are successful in a war have been helpful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pre-emptive leadership , a ( generally ) well resourced population , defensible boundaries ( a bloody great ocean ) , a nation cohesive and unified .
And just like in a successful war effort , where the price paid isn ’ t too high , national pride has increased here in New Zealand after our apparently successful defence against Covid-19 .
It ’ s almost like all the murky inequality of everyday society has been forgotten .
What matters is that we stand proud – at dawn , and “ United , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .
No wonder the National Party and their supporters are scared .
After all , to paraphrase Carl van Clausewitz , politics is war by other means .
With around 88 % public support for the Government ’ s decisions on Covid-19 , Jacinda Ardern ’ s reign is nearly hegemonic , in the Gramscian sense – based on moral and intellectual leadership rather than on force .
Some in the media are concerned too – at what they see as a concentration of power .
It ’ s the Jacinda and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it ’ s the David and Deborah and Simon sideshow .
At this stage of the game otherwise , the National Party , the Greens , New Zealand First , and most of the Labour Caucus are virtually invisible , and mostly irrelevant .
But imagine if the tables were turned and we saw this concentration of power in the hands of a few National MPs , an effective dissolution of Parliament and Opposition accountability , and the assumption of what are possibly extra-legal , powers .
We ’ d be scared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current support lasts them to the election .
The National Party searches around for a new leader as their past leaders , such as John Key , advocate for someone who ’ s not even an MP yet ( Christopher Luxon ) .
As a Pacifist and a Socialist , and not so much as a Nationalist , I am thinking of the victims of war .
Those victims that are in my thoughts aren ’ t just Kiwi soldiers , animals recruited without choice , or the women , families and communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this Anzac Day , and on most days , are the victims of conflict everywhere .
At the going down of the sun , and in the morning , I think of the Syrian victims of war , the starving Yemeni , the Palestinian dispossessed .
There ’ s no ceasefire for Covid-19 there .
I think of the millions of people displaced by war and conflict , in ruined cities and refugee camps around the world .
I think of land mines still littering fields , the ongoing effects of depleted uranium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The obliteration of cultures and their livelihoods and the genocide of indigenous communities as capitalism harvests ‘ resources ’ and leaves its wastes across the planet .
I recommit to Pacifism and to Peace , to an alternative to our economic model driven by rapacious greed , on ANZAC Day , in our times of peace , and against the perpetual backdrop of war .
I hope the freedoms we have the liberty to surrender now in the time of Covid-19 , might be extended to those suffering in conflict elsewhere .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wars , such as the Laws of War – declaration , proportionality and the non-targeting of civilians , are ignored in modern conflicts , including by our traditional ( and Five Eyes ) allies .

This year ANZAC Day parades were cancelled for the first time ever. Instead we were invited to stand at dawn and remember the war dead. For this one day of the year we were called to think of the cost of war. We’re called to be mindful of suffering, conflict, the forging of a nation, and Trans-Tasman solidarity.
In my area, people in lockdown adorned their driveways with signs and giant home-made poppies and wreaths, adding to the existing heart shaped messages to our rural postie, the giant Easter eggs and the sign saying “Stay home NZ. Fight”, which is sadly accurate given domestic violence increases during confinement. There are driveway signs, “We will remember them”, and even “Whiti whiti e” honouring the Maori fighters of World War One– who were fresh from fighting their own war against imperial colonists here, and off to fight for them abroad, suffering disproportionate losses for an Imperial foreign Queen and country who had killed and dispossessed them too.
I have no family war medals to wear on my chest. But I do wear poppies; a red one for the service men and women, a purple one for the millions of animals ‘called to serve’’ (16 million in the first World War alone), and a white one for peace. Nothing in my studies of politics and history has convinced me that wars are morally justified in pursuit of ‘peace’. Members of the armed forces and civilian victims of war pay too high a price, when both war and peace seem a by-product of other interests and forces. The people of the Blitz, of the saturation bombing of Dresden, Hamburg and Köln, the firebombing of Tokyo, and the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They were all victims of war too, lest we forget them.
Pacifism isn’t a popular view though. In New Zealand, Conscientious Objectors were socially rejected, made examples of, tortured, and sometimes still sent to the front. They usually had one of two motivations, Pacifism, and Socialism/communism. I share both principles – a philosophical commitment to Pacifism and opposition to violence, and an absence of loyalty to capitalists – and more loyalty to workers, and citizens of the world, than to imperialist corporates and the nation state. Even now though, advocating for peace is seen as borderline unpatriotic, oddball. We live in a society that glorifies war and violence. Our media normalises killing and makes it entertainment. So it’s as if you’re doing an injustice to those servicemen who made the “ultimate sacrifice” when you stand against war, when in fact the greater injustice is that those soldiers were used as cannon fodder in often ill-considered, poorly executed mass killing.
But ANZAC day this year is at an exceptional moment in time. Much of the ideology and symbolism about celebrating the day, and honouring the war dead, centres on the notion that New Zealand’s participation in wars was in pursuit of democracy and freedom (rather than colonial and capitalist expansion). Yet at no other time in recent history, have we been so willing to surrender those freedoms. Freedom of assembly – gone, freedom of speech – less tolerated, freedom of movement, willingly surrendered – though fragile and fraying now as we move towards a release from lockdown.*
These are freedoms we’ve been willing to suspend, in pursuit of the national good. We’ve taken Jacinda’s March 22 straight-to-camera ‘speech from the war room’ to heart. We’ve been “United, in the Fight Against Covid-19”. The features that are successful in a war have been helpful in our response to Covid-19. Decisive, pre-emptive leadership, a (generally) well resourced population, defensible boundaries (a bloody great ocean), a nation cohesive and unified. And just like in a successful war effort, where the price paid isn’t too high, national pride has increased here in New Zealand after our apparently successful defence against Covid-19. It’s almost like all the murky inequality of everyday society has been forgotten. What matters is that we stand proud – at dawn, and “United, in the Fight Against Covid-19” as one.
No wonder the National Party and their supporters are scared. After all, to paraphrase Carl van Clausewitz, politics is war by other means. With around 88% public support for the Government’s decisions on Covid-19, Jacinda Ardern’s reign is nearly hegemonic, in the Gramscian sense – based on moral and intellectual leadership rather than on force. Some in the media are concerned too – at what they see as a concentration of power. It’s the Jacinda and Grant, and Ashley show. Except when it’s the David and Deborah and Simon sideshow. At this stage of the game otherwise, the National Party, the Greens, New Zealand First, and most of the Labour Caucus are virtually invisible, and mostly irrelevant. But imagine if the tables were turned and we saw this concentration of power in the hands of a few National MPs, an effective dissolution of Parliament and Opposition accountability, and the assumption of what are possibly extra-legal, powers. We’d be scared too.
Labour will be hoping their current support lasts them to the election. The National Party searches around for a new leader as their past leaders, such as John Key, advocate for someone who’s not even an MP yet (Christopher Luxon).
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
As a Pacifist and a Socialist, and not so much as a Nationalist, I am thinking of the victims of war. Those victims that are in my thoughts aren’t just Kiwi soldiers, animals recruited without choice, or the women, families and communities left behind. But in my thoughts this Anzac Day, and on most days, are the victims of conflict everywhere. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, I think of the Syrian victims of war, the starving Yemeni, the Palestinian dispossessed. There’s no ceasefire for Covid-19 there. I think of the millions of people displaced by war and conflict, in ruined cities and refugee camps around the world. I think of land mines still littering fields, the ongoing effects of depleted uranium weapons, the trillion-dollar military industrial complex. The obliteration of cultures and their livelihoods and the genocide of indigenous communities as capitalism harvests ‘resources’ and leaves its wastes across the planet. I recommit to Pacifism and to Peace, to an alternative to our economic model driven by rapacious greed, on ANZAC Day, in our times of peace, and against the perpetual backdrop of war. I hope the freedoms we have the liberty to surrender now in the time of Covid-19, might be extended to those suffering in conflict elsewhere.
* Other principles developed after Twentieth Century wars, such as the Laws of War – declaration, proportionality and the non-targeting of civilians, are ignored in modern conflicts, including by our traditional (and Five Eyes) allies.


thedailyblog--2020-04-26--Life in Lock Down: Day 31 & 32

Life in Lock Down: Day 31 & 32

It ’ s ANZAC Day .
I was planning to get up early to stand outside… but didn ’ t wake up till much later .
I guess that ’ s my body telling me it had other plans ( mostly involving rest ) .
It ’ s another work-day so prep accordingly and hit the road .
It ’ s reassuring that there are no cars at the nearby Park N Ride .
With it being a fine , sunny summer-like day , it will not bode well if people decide to flock to parks and beaches .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than during the week .
Which meant people were making the most of a fine Saturday/ANZAC Day to get out and drive somewhere .
Not good .
In the harbour , the red freighter was still sitting where it had first been spotted ; It seems a double-standard that the crew of the freighter are expected to be in quarantine whilst flight crew on Air New Zealand flights are exempt from the same protocols .
Traffic around the Terrace Tunnel was definitely busier than during the working week ( such as it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World stretched around the block .
Good personal distancing on the footpath .
Though as my experience at other supermarkets showed , people struggled to maintain that distancing in the aisles .
Some forgot ; others couldn ’ t care less .
Both beaches at Oriental Bay were largely deserted ; Campervans at the Evans Bay Marina carpark had changed ; some had gone ; others had arrived .
Question ; do these campervans have GPS tracking ?
If so , the companies leasing these vehicles should be able to determine when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meantime , in another example of lazy thinking mixed with self-entitlement , the owners of Black Sands Lodge seem unable to understand what lock-down and stay at home means in simple english ; Owners of an Auckland lodge offering a “ get-away ” escape during alert level 3 say they are well within their rights to do so because they are an essential service .
Businesses that are scrupulously respecting the lock-down and suffering because of lost income must be spitting with fury at outfits like Black Sands Lodge and it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holidays again ( and by Thor , I need one ) , it won ’ t be at Black Sands Lodge .
Like , ever .
Day of from work .
But housework remains ; dust and dirty laundry wait for no man , woman , or virus .
It ’ s still lock-down so I stay home .
Though I wonder if I ’ m the only bugger doing it .
Glancing out the window , my neighbours ( couple in their late 20s ) are loading up their car with household @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gear .
At around 1pm they drive off .
It ’ s the 1pm daily announcement ; there are nine new cases but mercifully no deaths .
The couple return about an hour later .
They ’ ve dropped of the items to god-knows-where .
On Radio NZ , epidemiologist Michael Baker answers questions from listeners .
Thankfully , RNZ has weeded out the more gormless ones from conspiracy theorists nutcases and the question and answer session is productive .
The issue of Sweden ’ s light-handed approach to the pandemic is raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and instead left it to individuals to keep themselves safe .
It ’ s a libertarian ’ s masterbatory wet-dream .
Swedes are paying for their light-handed approach in blood .
According to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center global data-base , as at 5.00PM on 26 April , their death toll stands at 2,192 ; Sweden ’ s population is approximately ten million , just a little over twice Aotearoa New Zealand ’ s .
But the death toll from covid19 is nearly .
There those who would makes excuses that such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay to open up the economy again .
The usual refrain is that fatalities are mostly amongst the old who would be dead anyway soon from old age and/or age-related causes .
Which is untrue , as covid19 also kills younger people .
The youngest , to date , was a six week old baby .
A lax approach demands a high price which will be paid by others than mercenary capitalists , and their political puppets , who are desperate to see consumers spending their dollars again .
It ’ s ironic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the government-mandated lock-down are able to do so only because that lock-down has been ( relatively ) successful .
When idiots like David Seymour assert ; “ That really I think is not quite right .
I think the risk posed by the virus is not as great as it was sold to us .
The Prime Minister said tens of thousands of people would die if we do nothing .
I don ’ t think there was any plausible scenario given what we know now about the virus in general – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would happen .
If we know that the virus was not as bad as we thought , and the lockdown is worse than we thought , then the right thing to do is to actually change the balance between the lockdown measures and the virus.
” — they are playing with people ’ s lives for political gain ( votes ) .
And when populist , right-leaning media such as Newstalk ZB misrepresent statements from experts ; — then it compounds confusion in the public mind .
In fact , Dr Wiles did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see a coronavirus outbreak “ .
Within the text of the article , beneath the staggeringly misleading headline , her actual statements are published ; Auckland University ’ s Siouxsie Wiles says we are likely to see cases here due to the high number of overseas cases , but told Mike Hosking the number of cases is likely to be limited .
“ We don ’ t have the same population density and when small number of cases come in , they can be easily isolated and stopped.
” The misleading headline has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on social media who have either not read the actual text of the article , or have willfully exploited the lie to sow uncertainty .
( Many of the trolls are pathologically misogynistic in their smears against Dr Wiles . )
When government hands out taxpayer ’ s dollars to prop up the msm , I hope they by-pass NewstalkZB .
A media company that peddles outright lies is not fit to survive .
With nine new cases in Aotearoa New Zealand , the question begs to be asked ; where and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed through two cycles of transmission/symptomatic of the virus .
How is it being spread ?
If , as I suspect , people are breaking their ‘ bubbles ’ , then they should be held to account .
They are holding the entire country to ransom .
RNZ : Covid-19 update 25 April – Five new cases , one death RNZ : NZ ’ s responses to Covid-19 and polio vastly different RNZ : Time will tell on Sweden ’ s relaxed approach to Covid-19 Mediaworks/Newshub : Coronavirus – Six-week-old US baby youngest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wiles claps back at David Seymour ’ s claim coronavirus risk ‘ not as big as it was sold ’ NewstalkZB : Siouxsie Wiles on NZ is unlikely to see a coronavirus outbreak RNZ : Covid-19 – Nine more cases , no new deaths Democracy Now : Madrid ’ s Ice Rink Turned to Morgue as Spain Exceeds China in Coronavirus Deaths The Independent : Is Sweden having second thoughts on lockdown ?
The Out And Abouter : Reached For Comment , Coronavirus Says It ’ s Also Very In Favour Of Reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Right ?
The Warehouse – where everyone gets a virus Life in Lock Down : Day 22 – Is that a light at the end of a four week long tunnel ?
!
Life in Lock Down : Day 27 – and it ’ s been a shit day Life in Lock Down : Day 28 – An Open Letter to Prime Minister Ardern This blogpost will be re-published on “ Frankly Speaking “ .
Reader ’ s comments may be left here ( The Daily Blog ) or there ( Frankly Speaking @ @

.
.
April 25: Day 31 of living in lock-down…
It’s ANZAC Day. I was planning to get up early to stand outside… but didn’t wake up till much later. I guess that’s my body telling me it had other plans (mostly involving rest).
It’s another work-day so prep accordingly and hit the road. It’s reassuring that there are no cars at the nearby Park N Ride. With it being a fine, sunny summer-like day, it will not bode well if people decide to flock to parks and beaches.
And traffic did appear to be slightly heavier than during the week. Which meant people were making the most of a fine Saturday/ANZAC Day to get out and drive somewhere. Not good.
In the harbour, the red freighter was still sitting where it had first been spotted;
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
.
.
It seems a double-standard that the crew of the freighter are expected to be in quarantine whilst flight crew on Air New Zealand flights are exempt from the same protocols.
Traffic around the Terrace Tunnel was definitely busier than during the working week (such as it is).
Queues at Chaffer Street New World stretched around the block. Good personal distancing on the footpath. Though as my experience at other supermarkets showed, people struggled to maintain that distancing in the aisles. Some forgot; others couldn’t care less.
Both beaches at Oriental Bay were largely deserted;
.
.
Campervans at the Evans Bay Marina carpark had changed; some had gone; others had arrived.
Question; do these campervans have GPS tracking? If so, the companies leasing these vehicles should be able to determine when they are on the road, flouting lock-down.
Meantime, in another example of lazy thinking mixed with self-entitlement, the owners of Black Sands Lodge seem unable to understand what lock-down and stay at home means in simple english;
.
.
The Lodge owners asserted,
Owners of an Auckland lodge offering a “get-away” escape during alert level 3 say they are well within their rights to do so because they are an essential service.
More like taking-the-piss.
Businesses that are scrupulously respecting the lock-down and suffering because of lost income must be spitting with fury at outfits like Black Sands Lodge and it’s owners.
When I start taking holidays again (and by Thor, I need one), it won’t be at Black Sands Lodge. Like, ever.
.
Current covid19 cases: 1,461
Cases in ICU: 1
Number of deaths: 18
.
April 26: Day 32 of living in lock-down…
Day of from work. But housework remains; dust and dirty laundry wait for no man, woman, or virus.
It’s still lock-down so I stay home. Though I wonder if I’m the only bugger doing it. Glancing out the window, my neighbours (couple in their late 20s) are loading up their car with household items, including what looks like camping gear. At around 1pm they drive off.
It’s the 1pm daily announcement; there are nine new cases but mercifully no deaths.
The couple return about an hour later. They’ve dropped of the items to god-knows-where.
On Radio NZ, epidemiologist Michael Baker answers questions from listeners. Thankfully, RNZ has weeded out the more gormless ones from conspiracy theorists nutcases and the question and answer session is productive.
The issue of Sweden’s light-handed approach to the pandemic is raised. Sweden has opted for no lock-down and instead left it to individuals to keep themselves safe. It’s a libertarian’s masterbatory wet-dream.
Swedes are paying for their light-handed approach in blood. According to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center global data-base, as at 5.00PM on 26 April, their death toll stands at 2,192;
.
.
Sweden’s population is approximately ten million, just a little over twice Aotearoa New Zealand’s. But the death toll from covid19 is nearly 122 times ours .
There those who would makes excuses that such a death toll is a worthwhile price to pay to open up the economy again. The usual refrain is that fatalities are mostly amongst the old who would be dead anyway soon from old age and/or age-related causes.
Which is untrue, as covid19 also kills younger people. The youngest, to date, was a six week old baby.
A lax approach demands a high price which will be paid by others than mercenary capitalists, and their political puppets, who are desperate to see consumers spending their dollars again.
It’s ironic that the cries of over-reaction by critics to the government-mandated lock-down are able to do so only because that lock-down has been (relatively) successful. When idiots like David Seymour assert;
“That really I think is not quite right. I think the risk posed by the virus is not as great as it was sold to us.
The Prime Minister said tens of thousands of people would die if we do nothing. I don’t think there was any plausible scenario given what we know now about the virus in general – especially in New Zealand – where that would happen.
If we know that the virus was not as bad as we thought, and the lockdown is worse than we thought, then the right thing to do is to actually change the balance between the lockdown measures and the virus.”
— they are playing with people’s lives for political gain (votes).
And when populist, right-leaning media such as Newstalk ZB misrepresent statements from experts;
.
.
— then it compounds confusion in the public mind.
In fact, Dr Wiles did not say “NZ is unlikely to see a coronavirus outbreak“.
Within the text of the article, beneath the staggeringly misleading headline, her actual statements are published;
Auckland University’s Siouxsie Wiles says we are likely to see cases here due to the high number of overseas cases, but told Mike Hosking the number of cases is likely to be limited.
“We don’t have the same population density and when small number of cases come in, they can be easily isolated and stopped.”
The misleading headline has been quoted ad nauseum by right–winger trolls on social media who have either not read the actual text of the article, or have willfully exploited the lie to sow uncertainty. (Many of the trolls are pathologically misogynistic in their smears against Dr Wiles.)
When government hands out taxpayer’s dollars to prop up the msm, I hope they by-pass NewstalkZB. A media company that peddles outright lies is not fit to survive.
With nine new cases in Aotearoa New Zealand, the question begs to be asked; where and how are transmissions taking place? We have passed through two cycles of transmission/symptomatic of the virus. How is it being spread?
If, as I suspect, people are breaking their ‘bubbles’, then they should be held to account. They are holding the entire country to ransom.
.
Current covid19 cases: 1,470
Cases in ICU: 1
Number of deaths: 18
.
.
.
.
References
Day 31
Fairfax/Stuff media: Beach lodge offers discount ‘get-away’ accommodation during coronavirus Alert Level 3
RNZ: Covid-19 update 25 April – Five new cases, one death
Day 32
RNZ: NZ’s responses to Covid-19 and polio vastly different
RNZ: Time will tell on Sweden’s relaxed approach to Covid-19
Mediaworks/Newshub: Coronavirus – Six-week-old US baby youngest to die with COVID-19
Mediaworks/Newshub: Siouxsie Wiles claps back at David Seymour’s claim coronavirus risk ‘not as big as it was sold’
NewstalkZB: Siouxsie Wiles on NZ is unlikely to see a coronavirus outbreak
Twitter: @JintyMcGinty35
Twitter: @miscreantinc
RNZ: Covid-19 – Nine more cases, no new deaths
Must Read
Democracy Now: Madrid’s Ice Rink Turned to Morgue as Spain Exceeds China in Coronavirus Deaths
The Independent: Is Sweden having second thoughts on lockdown?
The Out And Abouter: Reached For Comment, Coronavirus Says It’s Also Very In Favour Of Reopening The Economy Immediately
Elemental: Hold the Line
Other Blogs
Will New Zealand Be Right?
Resources
Johns Hopkins University: Coronavirus Resource Center
Ministry of Health: Covid-19 – current cases
Previous related blogposts
The Warehouse – where everyone gets a virus
Life in Lock Down: Day 1
Life in Lock Down: Day 2
Life in Lock Down: Day 3
Life in Lock Down: Day 4
Life in Lock Down: Day 5
Life in Lock Down: Day 6
Life in Lock Down: Day 7
Life in Lock Down: Day 7 (sanitised version)
Life in Lock Down: Day 8
Life in Lock Down: Day 8 (sanitised version)
Life in Lock Down: Day 9
Life in Lock Down: Day 10
Life in Lock Down: Day 11
Life in Lock Down: Day 12
Life in Lock Down: Day 13
Life in Lock Down: Day 14
Life in Lock Down: Day 15
Life in Lock Down: Day 16 – Bad Friday
Life in Lock Down: Day 17
Life in Lock Down: Day 18
Life in Lock Down: Day 19
Life in Lock Down: Day 20
Life in Lock Down: Day 21
Life in Lock Down: Day 22 – Is that a light at the end of a four week long tunnel?!
Life in Lock Down: Day 23
Life in Lock Down: Day 24 & 25
Life in Lock Down: Day 27 – and it’s been a shit day
Life in Lock Down: Day 28 – An Open Letter to Prime Minister Ardern
Life in Lock Down: Day 29 & 30
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.
Acknowledgement: Royston
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This blogpost will be re-published on “Frankly Speaking“. Reader’s comments may be left here (The Daily Blog) or there (Frankly Speaking).
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= fs =


thedailyblog--2020-04-27--“Open letter to the Prime Minister – will the need for election campaign funding be allowed to direc

“Open letter to the Prime Minister – will the need for election campaign funding be allowed to direct the post Covid 19 government spend?”

Open letter to the Prime Minister – Redirecting the post Covid 19 government spend Open letter to the Prime Minister – Redirecting the post Covid 19 government spend We are deeply concerned at government proposals to spend the bulk of our post-Covid 19 investment on large infrastructure projects to match corporate priorities .
Earlier this year before the pandemic , the government announced a $ 12 billion infrastructure spend with the biggest chunk to go to roading projects and there seems no change in direction with a committee , headed by former Fletcher Construction Chief Executive Mark Binns , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” projects should proceed .
While there are large New Zealand-wide projects which should be funded ( eg revitalisation of national and regional rail ) it is essential that the lion ’ s share of the post-pandemic spending be invested in local “ public-good ” projects across the country .
The corporate sector , representing big business , is desperately keen for New Zealand to return to “ business as usual ” to ensure a smaller group of wealthier people can continue to enjoy the benefits of economic development at the expense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lowest-paid workers in essential industries .
However , it was clear well before Covid 19 that “ business as usual ” had failed most of us .
Despite the existential threat of climate change , for example , New Zealand ’ s greenhouse gas emissions have continued to rise year by year as policy decisions have favoured economic growth over human welfare .
Similar unacceptable failures are evident in biodiversity , fresh water , rivers and streams , poverty and inequality , health , education , housing , mental health , incarceration rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business as usual ” we will simply carry forward the myriad of social and economic problems from the pre-pandemic era , in particular the shocking levels of poverty and inequality which have disproportionately damaged Maori and Pasifika whanau and entire low income communities .
We can not move forward with people and families on low incomes struggling with high rents while paying a higher proportion of their incomes in tax ( through income tax and GST ) than those who will gain the most benefit from the proposed corporate-led government investment to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , local and regional councils across New Zealand are struggling with huge infrastructure deficits from over 30 years of “ user pays ” policies and privatisation of assets .
In everything from sewage to fresh water supply , council rental housing and public transport , to name a few , our local infrastructure is in poor condition .
We have an opportunity with this unprecedented pandemic event to refocus government investment on local “ public good ” projects which will lead to stronger local communities and sustainability rather than projects which benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us in the opposite direction .
The benefits in doing this are many .
We can fund projects that are of social benefit at socially appropriate wage rates .
These can help future-proof local communities , reduce emissions and pollution levels and take a big step towards sustainability .
Local employment on local projects also brings new opportunities for partnerships with local iwi and urban Maori groups , for example , to dramatically reduce unemployment for those struggling already and who will be hardest hit by the post-pandemic recession .
Many more changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wealth tax and a liveable universal basic income need to be part of the mix .
Without this proposed change to local “ public-good ” spending priorities , local and regional councils will continue to struggle with rate increases well above inflation and crumbling local infrastructure while at the national level we will be told we must face higher taxes and austerity measures into the future to reduce government debt .
It ’ s time we began reshaping the economy to work for people rather than the other way around .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infrastructure spending has an unseen obstacle .
Our biggest political parties , National , Labour and New Zealand First have a heavy dependence on corporate donations to run their election campaigns and will therefore tend to support corporate priorities rather than doing what is best for New Zealand as a whole .
We must not allow this to happen .
We need a “ new normal ” in our economy which focuses on strengthening and empowering local communities to work towards a more sustainable future .
It can start with post-pandemic government spending @

Open letter to the Prime Minister – Redirecting the post Covid 19 government spend
Jacinda Ardern
Prime Minister
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
Kia ora Ms Ardern,
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Open letter to the Prime Minister – Redirecting the post Covid 19 government spend
We are deeply concerned at government proposals to spend the bulk of our post-Covid 19 investment on large infrastructure projects to match corporate priorities.
Earlier this year before the pandemic, the government announced a $12 billion infrastructure spend with the biggest chunk to go to roading projects and there seems no change in direction with a committee, headed by former Fletcher Construction Chief Executive Mark Binns, to evaluate and recommend which “shovel ready” projects should proceed.
While there are large New Zealand-wide projects which should be funded (eg revitalisation of national and regional rail) it is essential that the lion’s share of the post-pandemic spending be invested in local “public-good” projects across the country.
The corporate sector, representing big business, is desperately keen for New Zealand to return to “business as usual” to ensure a smaller group of wealthier people can continue to enjoy the benefits of economic development at the expense of the rest of us, especially our lowest-paid workers in essential industries.
However, it was clear well before Covid 19 that “business as usual” had failed most of us. Despite the existential threat of climate change, for example, New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions have continued to rise year by year as policy decisions have favoured economic growth over human welfare. Similar unacceptable failures are evident in biodiversity, fresh water, rivers and streams, poverty and inequality, health, education, housing, mental health, incarceration rates etc
If we go back to “business as usual” we will simply carry forward the myriad of social and economic problems from the pre-pandemic era, in particular the shocking levels of poverty and inequality which have disproportionately damaged Maori and Pasifika whanau and entire low income communities.
We cannot move forward with people and families on low incomes struggling with high rents while paying a higher proportion of their incomes in tax (through income tax and GST) than those who will gain the most benefit from the proposed corporate-led government investment to “get the economy moving” again.
Meanwhile, local and regional councils across New Zealand are struggling with huge infrastructure deficits from over 30 years of “user pays” policies and privatisation of assets. In everything from sewage to fresh water supply, council rental housing and public transport, to name a few, our local infrastructure is in poor condition.
We have an opportunity with this unprecedented pandemic event to refocus government investment on local “public good” projects which will lead to stronger local communities and sustainability rather than projects which benefit the big end of town and take us in the opposite direction.
The benefits in doing this are many. We can fund projects that are of social benefit at socially appropriate wage rates. These can help future-proof local communities, reduce emissions and pollution levels and take a big step towards sustainability.
Local employment on local projects also brings new opportunities for partnerships with local iwi and urban Maori groups, for example, to dramatically reduce unemployment for those struggling already and who will be hardest hit by the post-pandemic recession.
Many more changes will be needed. Rent controls, a wealth tax and a liveable universal basic income need to be part of the mix.
Without this proposed change to local “public-good” spending priorities, local and regional councils will continue to struggle with rate increases well above inflation and crumbling local infrastructure while at the national level we will be told we must face higher taxes and austerity measures into the future to reduce government debt. It’s time we began reshaping the economy to work for people rather than the other way around.
However, our proposed change in focus for infrastructure spending has an unseen obstacle.
Our biggest political parties, National, Labour and New Zealand First have a heavy dependence on corporate donations to run their election campaigns and will therefore tend to support corporate priorities rather than doing what is best for New Zealand as a whole. We must not allow this to happen.
We need a “new normal” in our economy which focuses on strengthening and empowering local communities to work towards a more sustainable future. It can start with post-pandemic government spending.
Nā,
Initial signatories:
Annette Sykes – Maori lawyer and veteran human rights activist
Mike Treen – National Director Unite Union
John Minto – Christchurch Progressive Network
Bronwen Summers – Community activist
Joe Carolan – Socialist Aotearoa
Warren Brewer – Community activist
Jen Olsen – Community activist
Andrew Tait – Community activist
Paul Hopkinson – Community activist
John Edmondson – Community activist
Plus 157 additional signatures so far…


thedailyblog--2020-04-28--MUST READ: The People vs The Media

MUST READ: The People vs The Media

THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN has exposed weaknesses in New Zealand journalism that have hurt and surprised many New Zealand journalists .
The chief weakness exposed has been the news media ’ s eagerness to both exploit and amplify anti-political feeling within the New Zealand public .
In normal times this is generally a low-risk/high-return strategy .
In abnormal times , however – and the times we are living through currently are about as abnormal as you can get !
– the anti-political strategy simply does not work .
The reason for the strategy ’ s failure in times of crisis is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not want to hear that the leaders whose job it is to look after them are useless cretins .
On the contrary , they want to be reassured that their leaders are competent and compassionate in equal measure .
They want to feel safe in their hands .
They want to trust them , respect them , and – Gawd help us !
– love them .
Shrewd editors and smart journalists get this .
Inept editors and obtuse journalists do not .
Overcoming the anti-political journalistic reflex is , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media ” professionals to do .
It is , after all , a strategy that kills so many birds with a single stone .
Encouraging the population to view politics and politicians as corrupt , ineffectual , and best left alone , absolves the news media of all responsibility to present political news in a way that reveals its absolute centrality to their readers ’ , listeners ’ and viewers ’ well-being .
In its turn , this “ politics is bullshit ” approach safeguards the management of media outlets from the negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to inform the public comprehensively about current affairs .
The owners of newspapers , radio stations and television networks have little interest in fostering a politically aware and politically active population – quite the reverse in fact .
Finally , highlighting the personal failings of politicians plays directly to people ’ s prurient impulses .
Everybody enjoys a good scandal , especially when it involves people who normally wield power over them , people who typically justify their authority by posing as ordinary , decent men and women dedicated to promoting the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average citizen that their lack of meaningful political engagement is entirely justified .
It ’ s all lies and they ’ re all liars .
Why would any ordinary , decent person want to get involved in such a seedy business ?
All of this carefully nurtured cynicism and disdain disappears in an instant , however , when ordinary , decent people are threatened by an enemy capable of inflicting real harm on them and their loved ones .
Overnight , the political process ceases to be a seedy , grubby business full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems they control stand revealed for what they have always been : the guarantors and instruments of public welfare and safety .
Far from despising them and sneering at them dismissively , the citizenry is willing them to succeed .
It ’ s enough to set your average political journalist ’ s head spinning .
Suddenly , they ’ re expected to talk-up the virtues of the politicians they ’ ve been doing their very best to trip-up .
Suddenly , instead of going for “ gotcha !
” , they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say “ good on ya ” .
From the moment they entered journalism school most journalists have been told that it ’ s their job to “ speak truth to power ” .
“ News ” , they are told , “ is what somebody , somewhere , doesn ’ t want the public to know.
” They soon learn , however , that there are some centres of power it is very unwise to over-burden with the truth .
Their employers , for example , or the shareholders who own their employers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Major advertisers , also , should probably not have too much truth shoved in their faces .
Litigious individuals with deep pockets are , similarly , best left unmolested by over-eager investigative reporters .
Ditto ( with bells on ! )
for large transnational corporations with phalanxes of sharp-suited lawyers .
Leaving , in the political journalist ’ s target department , only hapless politicians and humble public servants .
Speak “ truth ” to them , even when unverified and leaked by their political opponents , and everybody from your employer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large transnational corporations will slap you on the back and give you an award .
The ability of the political journalist to make the transition from critic to cheerleader isn ’ t assisted by their isolation from the very citizens they purport to speak for .
This is not altogether their fault .
The Parliamentary Press Gallery takes them as far – maybe even further – from the average citizen as the House of Representatives itself .
At least the politicians have their weekly clinics with constituents to keep them grounded .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is no such respite .
Only the endless quest to prove to their colleagues , their bosses , and yes , to the politicians themselves , that they have what it takes to ruin reputations and destroy careers .
In the much better remunerated job of Ministerial Press Secretary , to which so many political journalists ascend , the killer instinct is a deal-sealer .
New Zealand ’ s political journalists ’ disconnection from the public of was on display as never before during the Prime Minister ’ s and her Director-General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefings .
Broadcast live , New Zealanders were able to hear not only the words of Jacinda Ardern and Dr Ashley Bloomfield , but the questions of the assembled journalists .
The public reaction was one of disbelief seasoned with rage .
The same journalists who castigated Simon Bridges for his tone-deafness clearly had no notion of how painfully their own behaviour was setting Kiwis ’ teeth on edge .
Who were these people !
The journalists were genuinely hurt .
They railed against the public ’ s utter ignorance of what was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not understand how vital an assertive Fourth Estate was to the health of our democracy ?
Well , no , they didn ’ t .
At least they failed to grasp how all that carping and whingeing and “ gotcha !
” questioning could possibly contribute anything positive to their democracy .
As far as they were concerned Jacinda and Ashley were making a simply splendid job of looking after them and their loved ones .
They were deserving of the news media ’ s praise – not its blame .
The Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t – get this .
The way a crisis instantly clarifies the nature and purposes of state power .
How it sweeps away all the petty distractions which under “ normal ” conditions are the news media ’ s bread-and-butter .
Nor do they appreciate how very unappreciative the public is of those who think that “ good journalism ” is about picking things apart rather than pulling them together .
Certainly the Covid-19 Lockdown has inflicted enormous damage on an already faltering news media .
Slowly , the realisation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and editors that New Zealand journalism – and journalists – will only be saved by entering into an entirely new relationship with the state .
That , pretty soon , most of the news media ’ s shareholders will be the ordinary citizens of New Zealand .
They will have the power , and they will expect their journalists to tell them the truth , the whole truth , and nothing but the truth .

THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN has exposed weaknesses in New Zealand journalism that have hurt and surprised many New Zealand journalists. The chief weakness exposed has been the news media’s eagerness to both exploit and amplify anti-political feeling within the New Zealand public. In normal times this is generally a low-risk/high-return strategy. In abnormal times, however – and the times we are living through currently are about as abnormal as you can get! – the anti-political strategy simply does not work.
The reason for the strategy’s failure in times of crisis is simple. When people are frightened they do not want to hear that the leaders whose job it is to look after them are useless cretins. On the contrary, they want to be reassured that their leaders are competent and compassionate in equal measure. They want to feel safe in their hands. They want to trust them, respect them, and – Gawd help us! – love them. Shrewd editors and smart journalists get this. Inept editors and obtuse journalists do not.
Overcoming the anti-political journalistic reflex is, however, an extremely difficult thing for “mainstream media” professionals to do. It is, after all, a strategy that kills so many birds with a single stone.
Encouraging the population to view politics and politicians as corrupt, ineffectual, and best left alone, absolves the news media of all responsibility to present political news in a way that reveals its absolute centrality to their readers’, listeners’ and viewers’ well-being.
In its turn, this “politics is bullshit” approach safeguards the management of media outlets from the negative reaction that would certainly follow any attempt to inform the public comprehensively about current affairs. The owners of newspapers, radio stations and television networks have little interest in fostering a politically aware and politically active population – quite the reverse in fact.
Finally, highlighting the personal failings of politicians plays directly to people’s prurient impulses. Everybody enjoys a good scandal, especially when it involves people who normally wield power over them, people who typically justify their authority by posing as ordinary, decent men and women dedicated to promoting the public good. Exposing political scandals reassures the average citizen that their lack of meaningful political engagement is entirely justified. It’s all lies and they’re all liars. Why would any ordinary, decent person want to get involved in such a seedy business?
All of this carefully nurtured cynicism and disdain disappears in an instant, however, when ordinary, decent people are threatened by an enemy capable of inflicting real harm on them and their loved ones. Overnight, the political process ceases to be a seedy, grubby business full of ambitious sociopaths. Politicians and the systems they control stand revealed for what they have always been: the guarantors and instruments of public welfare and safety. Far from despising them and sneering at them dismissively, the citizenry is willing them to succeed.
It’s enough to set your average political journalist’s head spinning. Suddenly, they’re expected to talk-up the virtues of the politicians they’ve been doing their very best to trip-up. Suddenly, instead of going for “gotcha!”, they’re supposed to be encouraging the punters to say “good on ya”.
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It’s a lot to ask.
From the moment they entered journalism school most journalists have been told that it’s their job to “speak truth to power”. “News”, they are told, “is what somebody, somewhere, doesn’t want the public to know.” They soon learn, however, that there are some centres of power it is very unwise to over-burden with the truth.
Their employers, for example, or the shareholders who own their employers’ company, should be considered off-limits. Major advertisers, also, should probably not have too much truth shoved in their faces. Litigious individuals with deep pockets are, similarly, best left unmolested by over-eager investigative reporters. Ditto (with bells on!) for large transnational corporations with phalanxes of sharp-suited lawyers.
Leaving, in the political journalist’s target department, only hapless politicians and humble public servants. Speak “truth” to them, even when unverified and leaked by their political opponents, and everybody from your employer’s shareholders to the largest of large transnational corporations will slap you on the back and give you an award.
The ability of the political journalist to make the transition from critic to cheerleader isn’t assisted by their isolation from the very citizens they purport to speak for. This is not altogether their fault. The Parliamentary Press Gallery takes them as far – maybe even further – from the average citizen as the House of Representatives itself. At least the politicians have their weekly clinics with constituents to keep them grounded. For the ambitious Gallery journalist, however, there is no such respite. Only the endless quest to prove to their colleagues, their bosses, and yes, to the politicians themselves, that they have what it takes to ruin reputations and destroy careers. In the much better remunerated job of Ministerial Press Secretary, to which so many political journalists ascend, the killer instinct is a deal-sealer.
New Zealand’s political journalists’ disconnection from the public of was on display as never before during the Prime Minister’s and her Director-General of Health’s daily Covid-19 press briefings. Broadcast live, New Zealanders were able to hear not only the words of Jacinda Ardern and Dr Ashley Bloomfield, but the questions of the assembled journalists. The public reaction was one of disbelief seasoned with rage. The same journalists who castigated Simon Bridges for his tone-deafness clearly had no notion of how painfully their own behaviour was setting Kiwis’ teeth on edge. Who were these people!
The journalists were genuinely hurt. They railed against the public’s utter ignorance of what was expected of them. Did these ingrates not understand how vital an assertive Fourth Estate was to the health of our democracy?
Well, no, they didn’t. At least they failed to grasp how all that carping and whingeing and “gotcha!” questioning could possibly contribute anything positive to their democracy. As far as they were concerned Jacinda and Ashley were making a simply splendid job of looking after them and their loved ones. They were deserving of the news media’s praise – not its blame.
The Press Gallery didn’t – and still doesn’t – get this. The way a crisis instantly clarifies the nature and purposes of state power. How it sweeps away all the petty distractions which under “normal” conditions are the news media’s bread-and-butter. Nor do they appreciate how very unappreciative the public is of those who think that “good journalism” is about picking things apart rather than pulling them together.
Certainly the Covid-19 Lockdown has inflicted enormous damage on an already faltering news media. Slowly, the realisation is dawning in the minds of media owners and editors that New Zealand journalism – and journalists – will only be saved by entering into an entirely new relationship with the state. That, pretty soon, most of the news media’s shareholders will be the ordinary citizens of New Zealand. They will have the power, and they will expect their journalists to tell them the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.