korero

Fink (nice sound)

2009-09-29T20:18:00.002+13:00

Just listened to Fink. The track was 'Walking in the Sun.' Excellent stuff. Google him and have a listen.

Watch out Vodafone and Telecom

2009-08-05T08:12:00.002+12:00

2deg have come into the market. Priced at 50% less for prepay calls (44c per minute) and texts (9c per minute) you'd have to be considering a change. Especially as you can keep your number. I noticed both Telecom and Vodafone are saying they won't drop their prices. Well, gues what? That is up to us the consumer. Move on over to 2deg. Force their prices down

Kora Friday 31st The Bedford Christchurch

2009-08-03T09:31:00.004+12:00

I went wish great enthusiasm, looking forward to a great night of Reggae, Drum and Bass and was both disappointed and somewhat pleasantly surprised with what Kora served up. I enjoyed (mostly) Francis and Brad Kora on drums and bass. They were tight and at times hypnotic. Listening to Laughton Kora sing on their album I was looking forward to that. Unfortunately, even though I was in front of the sound desk, it was difficult to hear the vocals. I wonder what the engineer was listening to? I did not mind the volume, but clarity was compromised. Keys were overly forward in the mix but were well played by Dan McGruer and Laughton Kora.
Overall, not bad. Some attention to the out front sound and it should be good.

The Shack

2009-06-21T13:53:00.007+12:00

I have just finished reading this extraordinary tale of love, relationship, forgiveness and healing. Some perceptions put forward are truly incredible. The idea that the bible is meant to be a way for us to form an idea of who Christ might be and what He wants for us, is unlike the rule laden, barren house, that is the Bride that I have come to know. A place where forgiveness is preached but not truly in evidence. A place where rules are paramount, without regard to the instruction from the Lord not to judge.
The description of the 10 Commandments has indeed given me pause for thought. That they might be a "mirror" for us to use to see the filthy face that stares back at us, convicting us for our judgemental way of life but not requiring guilt, "where is that getting you?" That living by the rules of the Commandments allows us to accuse. What has that to do with a relationship with God and with each other? Scary!
Love....love never forces. Are we able to live by such an attempt to set us free from our choice to continually live apart from the Lord? To live in relationship, as we were meant to do?
The Shack asks some searching questions. It is a shame that there seems to be many, who are too concerned with the rules. The very stuff that was put to rest as the nails were driven into the loving flesh of Jesus who took that pain, so we would not have to.

Decisions

2009-06-11T10:52:00.002+12:00

I have decided to move to another church. It seems to be a constant search for the loving, non-judgemental church environment I am seeking. Maybe, it doesn't exist?

forgiveness

2009-06-09T16:07:00.004+12:00

I am wondering how the Pastor at my church can justify his stance of non forgiveness for two people who fell in inappropriate love. Both were very lonely. One is married. Sad. Both are sorry and have confessed and been forgiven by the Lord.
Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Matthew 6:14-16
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
What is it that seems to allow (in their own minds) christians to take this judgemental stance when the bible clearly has an opinion on the subject? I assume that this Pastor accepts that he might not be forgiven his sins if he takes this route. I must admit, I am confused.

Church

2009-06-08T18:26:00.003+12:00

What is it that makes a christian church of today recognisable? How does one tell how much integrity a christian has? How come christians are just as judgemental as anyone else in our society? Where does one find a biblical church?

British haka rubbishing draws NZ fire

2008-11-24T09:27:00.002+13:00

So Frank Keating is complaining about the Haka. What a superior attitude he has to our customs. Of course the don't mind the challenge from Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and the like (England can beat them). I am so pleased that we no longer have to put up with the attitude of our so called superiors. The man is a bigot. Give him what he deserves. Disdain. Give the English team a right royal seeing to.

Kiwis stun rugby league world

2008-11-23T22:37:00.001+13:00

World Champions! Woohoo. Got to love it. The 'Man of the Match' was an Ozzie??? Bizarre.

All Blacks 'best in the world at the moment'

2008-11-23T22:32:00.001+13:00

So Gatland admits they didn't have enough to beat the All Blacks. I wonder what Stephen Jones will write. Can't wait to see. The Six Nation teams will need to learn about the 8o minute game.

Another South Auckland robbery!

2008-10-03T18:14:00.003+13:00

The owner of an Otara liquor store has been arrested and charged after a brawl outside his shop. The 40-year-old was charged with two counts of injuring with intent to injure over the incident at his Gilbert Road liquor store on September 30. "Police have seized a knife, a hockey stick, a fence paling and other items believed to have been used as weapons. We are also analysing CCTV footage,"
You start to wonder about the pc-ness of living in New Zealand when a shop keeper is arrested because he defends himself from four youths who have a knife and are trying to rob him. This is madness. They went in to rob him. They paid for that with a slapping with a hockey stick. I can't belive the idiot who said when it happens, ring the Police. How do you do that with four youths in your shop attempting to rob you?

Mahinarangi Tocker "RIP"

2008-04-16T13:17:00.008+12:00

Listening to The Miracle Sun.
The horse blows next to the window as the fly flies around my head. I can feel the tug of nature, calling me, invading my thoughts. Don wails away in the background, from the Front Lawn. I can smell the bread. The bread that warms me, fills me with whaanau, with aroha. Leaves, lay around, put there by the time, not being leaves.
How does this relate? Where will it fit?
7 die in a flood, a girl is looked for in the Waimakariri, their mothers weep deep gut howls of rage and longing.
Still the bread smells.
Don is finished.
Mahinarangi died.

Desay M888 iphone clone

2008-04-13T15:57:00.004+12:00

I got one the other day. Looks just like an IPhone. Works real well too. The touch screen is a novel thing for me. It has taken some getting used to. Would love to use it for calling more often but we in Aotearoa NZ are being ripped off by Telecom and Vodafone so most of us use the texting. Interesting price comparison. An Iphone retails from $1600 - $2k in Aotearoa NZ. The M888 cost me $260 brand spanking! Have not used the IP dialing or net facility or the bluetooth, but I'll get round to it. Not into gaming so won't go there. Love the touch screen though.

TradeMe Racism

2008-03-28T09:59:00.003+13:00

They are still going for it. Look at this one who isn't comfortable with those damn natives.

Racism on TradeMe

2008-03-28T09:50:00.004+13:00

I see the racists are going for it on TradeMe this morning. The TradeMe message boards are rife with disenfranchised Pakeha and Tauiwi who find it difficult to live alongside Iwi in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Screen resolution

2008-03-24T08:30:00.003+13:00

Outdid myself playing around with my computer last night. Accidentally reset my screen resolution to the wrong setting. Man that looked weird when I logged on this morning. Listening to the news this morning. Barak Obama might be loosing ground to Hilary Clinton. Hope not. The world needs a change I think. Amazing to watch the American press go after him.
Seems we are still killing ourselves on the road this Easter weekend. National hobby maybe?

Guess Who's a Linux Dude?

2008-03-23T21:07:00.004+13:00

After a wee break from blogging of late I am back [kinda]. I have now switched over to Linux [Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon] and not only is it just great, it's absolutely free! I just got sick of worrying about virus protection and constantly having to pay for stuff on the net.
Big adventure of the day. Speights (the horse) took my clean sheets that I hung on the fence to dry, and put them on the ground. I caught him in the act! Cheeky bugger.
Election time is hitting Aotearoa New Zealand this year so the country is in a right uproar. Now that makes this place fairly weird at the moment. I need to look into having a new look on the blog too. Something to do.

I'm sick. Alison Krauss

2008-02-10T11:07:00.001+13:00

Help! I have the flu. Or is it a head cold with a cough. No matter. My new hobby is blowing my nose. I wonder how many trees went under to facilitate my new hobby [tissues]. I spent yesterday at the gym training athletes when I was really just wanting to lie down and sleep. I have noticed that nearly every symptom relief "drug" seems to be full of sugar or sudo something or other. That can't be good for you. I wonder what turning them into junk food or something that will grow you and extra limb is all about?
I have just lent a friend my copy of Alison Krauss and Union Station live in concert. A dvd. Last night I received an e-mail from him positively gushing. It really is something to behold. Sheer virtuosity. Alison is back by a bunch of instrumental and vocal genius'. Dan Tyminski, the voice behind George Clooney in the Soggy Bottom Boys [guitar, mandolin and vocals], Ron Block [guitar, banjo, vocals], Barry Bales [double bass, vocals] and a star in his own right Jerry Douglas [dobro]. Alison sings like an angel and plays a very mean violin. If you haven't seen this dvd. You have deprived yourself.
I am currently investigating Alison's cd "Raising Sand" that she did with Robert Plant [he of Led Zepplin]. On an initial listen its only wonderful.

Saving our kids when they need saving

2008-02-07T09:21:00.001+13:00

Garth George nearly hit the nail on the head in this article. What ails our children? It is even too late to address the appalling parenting skills in this country when they [children] reach primary school. However.....I do agree, there is something we can do at primary school. Male teachers are indeed required to make this work. Boys need contact with well behaved, sensible male teachers. I do not mean PC to be sure. PC is a concept we are paying for now with our youth. Unfortunately, the money in teaching is a joke. The respect accorded teachers is so low that no right thinking male is going to subject himself to that. Males are also not good at taking abuse from pimple headed teens with attitudes, let alone cheeky disrespectful 10 year olds who are on the fast track to gang crime etc. I am mindful of the reservation in Africa where they were perplexed that young elephant bulls were killing other animals indiscriminately. The answer was to move 2 full grown bulls into the area. The behaviour problems disappeared. Its called leadership. Leadership cannot be provided for young males by PC driven females. It isn't and it won't work nor has it ever worked.

Telecom (Xtra) "Go Large" or "Go Small?"

2008-02-01T11:45:00.001+13:00

Telecom [xtra] are again in trouble. This time for misleading the public regarding their claims that their "Go Large" broadband plan would:

have unlimited data
have maximum speed

It seems there was many complaints regarding the service falling short of the claims. The Commerce Commission are going to prosecute. They allege Telecom breached the "Fair Trading Act." If found guilty there is a maximum fine of $200,000. Peanuts to Telecom. The best way to make them sit up and take notice, is to use another ISP. You the consumer, have the power, if you use it.

Death, the price of tagging?

2008-01-30T09:24:00.001+13:00

I surely hope not. Yes tagging is a nuisance. Yes it sure looks ugly. But sentencing a 15 year old boy [Pihema Cameron] to death because he is 15 and cannot look beyond his own egocentrism is perverse. What a silly statement by Christchurch city councillour Barry Corbet. Looks like Barry could do with firing up his other brain cell cause the one he's using is leaving him at a distinct disadvantage.

Green Acres a rippoff?

2008-01-29T09:19:00.001+13:00

There is concern that all the Asian and Indian immigrants who paid their way into an "Ironing" franchise with Green Acres are going to miss out financially after all. Green Acres representative Andrew Chisolm must be nervous at the moment with the reputation and standing of his company hitting rock bottom in Aoteraroa/NZ. As for his lackey Keith Lapham, he needs to be driven out of business in our country. What a rort! Pleased to see MP responsible Chris Carter is going to jump on them.

Dairy owner knifed for smokes in Hastings!

2008-01-28T06:52:00.001+13:00

What is going on here? This idiot actually knifed a dairy owner for a pack of cigarettes! Where does one get attitudes like that in a place like Aotearoa/NZ? Shame of it all, he is a young Maori (evidently). Its as though our people are still enslaved to these vices that came with colonisation. We have changed our desire to acquire from blankets and beads to smokes and alcohol. Where are our young learning these behaviours?

2008 begins in earnest

2008-01-27T11:06:00.000+13:00

Back from the holidays [a trip home to Wellington to see the whanau] and back into coaching. The athletes are refreshed and hitting their straps after a quiet and steady start. The daily news is a worry. There seems to be a new murder to be investigated every day. What is going on here. It is not the road we want for ourselves yet we still dive headfirst into that particular pit. This morning is no exception with this new tragedy to wake up to. What are they drinking in Manurewa I wonder?
A referendum at election time over the smacking bill! No matter what you believe, the referendum process has to be better than having one's government force unwanted legislation on one's people. At least the people decide. The bill has not stopped child abuse. That problem needs another far more effect solution.

A job in Afghanistan

2008-01-10T22:38:00.000+13:00

My uncle's first week in Afghanistan -
My story………..Auckland to Melbourne 3.5 hrs – Melbourne to Dubai 14 hrs. Picked up at Dubai airport by the Banner Man – took me a while to find him. Hotel ok – meals and room good.17.5 hrs since I left NZ, looking forward to good sleep. Had a battle with the washing machine door won’t open, finally got it sorted, switch had to be in the right place. Contacted Supreme HQ (my new employer) – got Afghan entry visa organized. No sleep yet. Walked the streets – traffic CRAZY. Back to the hotel thinking early dinner to bed for a 0500hr wakeup call on the 19^th; ---phone call, change of plan moving out tonight18th1100hrs. Lucky I didn’t pop a pill! Went down the desk to do checkout routine, they ripped me off two bottle water that I didn’t take from the mini bar. Welcome to the Arab world. 1100hrs picked up to be taken to the air port – still no sleep. My first intro to mad drivers, driving on the wrong side of the road – left hand drive cars. He peaked out at 130kms/hr averaged 120kms/hr – both sides of the road. Everyone drives to the max. Leaving from a different airport, RAK (Ras Al Khima), about an hour out of Dubai. It looks like it is under construction. Security guards at the airport carry AK47s assault rifles. Now 0200 hrs – waiting on the transport plane to load. Saw the air crew arrive – strange looking lot not sure of the nationality. I am the only passenger, I think the cargo is fresh fruit and veggies. I have just been given ear plugs; I think it is a 4 hr flight – information sketchy. Air port toilets have that warm humid urine smell. Doesn’t that bring back memories? Nothing here moves fast except the traffic. I am told there are no toilets on the plane – no seatbelts, just me and the carrots and bananas. Taken out to the plane – crew all speaking Russian. The plane I found out afterwards was an old Russian AN12 cargo plane – looks like a smaller version of a C130. Seated in a cabin on a wooden bench directly behind the flight deck. Only this cabin and deck is pressurized, the rear cargo hold is unpressurised. The crew smells of vodka. There are dirty squabs around this cabin area, washing and clothing hanging off the pipes and electrical cables; tools laying everywhere. There was a home made wooden stool in the middle of the floor – I thought they would stow it for takeoff – wrong. The interior reminded me of the wheelhouse of an old fishing trawler about 3x3mtrs. Flight engineer dressed in dirty white T shirt, grey grubby flannel track pants and jandals. Huge pot belly. The engineer is having trouble with a circuit breaker; this plane has seen better days. Navigators fixing up his map with clear packing tape. 0245hrs all engines are running we are off. We have levelled off – I am sitting on a wooden bench at the side of the cabin. Tired as. Need sleep. The pilots are up in their seats, the navigator in his seat and the engineer is at his station, the plane is flying. The two loads are sleeping on the squabs, one at the front right of the cabin and one at the left rear. Opposite me there is a squab nearly 2mtrs long I placed my brief case at one end put my jacket over the case, I was asleep in no time. Five minutes later I was shaken the giant Russian captain wanted his space, he grunted at me, and motioned to the wooden bench that I could only sit upright on. I was shattered. However - there was space on the floor. The floor was constructed with aluminium tread plate. Again brief case on the floor for pillow, I stretched out, this was great – I think I slept for a while only to wake up again; I desperately need a wee; the vibration through the floor through my back had got me bursting. I knew I had nurofen in my case, got up, took double dose then went and sat on the wooden bench, the navigator in broken English told me “only an hour to go”. The sun rise was beautiful – we landed at the military side of Kabul airport, well away from the main terminal about 0600hrs; frost on the ground. I was desperate for a wee, not sure of the local customs, asked a local, no problem relieved myself at the side of the concrete apron. Looking over the plane now in the light of day revealed the plane had no markings was absolutely filthy, black engine exhaust covered the complete rear fuselage and tail, and the tires were bald. The plane was eventually unloaded, we departed the air field through the security checkpoint maze, soldiers in full combat dress; helmets, flak jackets – the works, automatic road spikes, barriers and lots of machine guns. The adventure begins. “O”; Sleep --- after filling out numerous forms, photographed new ID finally got a room that afternoon.

Bludging off the landlord

2007-12-18T11:22:00.001+13:00

Three 21 year olds in Spencerville [Christchurch] have had trouble paying their rent. They have also had trouble keeping in line with their tenancy contract. So here is this landlord [a friend] who has three youths living in her house for free. My friend the landlord is not too happy with this and issues a 10 day breach of contract and rent arrears notice to her tenants who basically ignore her. So my friend decides to rent her place out to family and issues a 42 days notice of such so that they have plenty of time to get ready. The 42 days expire and no movement from the squatters. So she's now in mediation at the tenancy tribunal. This is seriously costing her [my friend] income. Still no rent. Then they pay $300 on a $1200 arrears. Still not up to date. So my friend's partner moves their stuff out of the house after having checked the property and changes the locks. No way will they get back in. What did they find? The carpets are seriously damaged [disgusting]. There is animal faeces around the inside of the house [even in the kitchen]. The contract specified "no pets" and they have two dogs and a cat. We discovered some missing mail in their kitchen draw [they live next door]. A missing bank password token. They have threatened two of my friend's family members with violence. There is dope smoking gear [a bong made from a bottle], and joint butts all around the lounge floor. The tenancy tribunal found in their favour. Justice????

Is leaving hospital 5 hours after giving birth a good idea?

2007-12-04T08:38:00.001+13:00

A newborn baby lost her life on Friday after leaving Wellington Hospital five hours after her birth. Her parents are convinced that this tragedy was avoidable. The devastated father, 28, said yesterday that though he and his wife, also 28, were not forced to leave the hospital, it was
not made clear they could stay if they wanted to. The parents did not see a doctor or a nurse after the birth. When they asked their midwife how long they would stay, she told them they could go home immediately if they wanted. "They were the professionals with the experience and we relied on their advice. No one ever expressed any doubt about her going home. We do not blame anyone - the midwife and the hospital staff did agood job - but we are speaking out because we do not want this tragedy to happen to anyone else."
Shouldn't a doctor have checked the mum and baby out before they went home? Where's the minimum standards???
You have to wonder about Capital & Coast District Health Board and their plan to make this the norm. Third world care by a third world health system. Here we are with some 9 billion in extra money the government want to use as tax bribes in an election but we can't afford to have a modern successful health system. Time for this government to go. Trouble is, the alternative is no better. This situation is obscene.

Double-murder accused Kahui out on bail

2007-12-03T13:47:00.001+13:00

Double murder accused Chris Kahui has been released on bail to a location outside the greater Auckland area. Kahui, accused of murdering his three-month-old twin sons Cru and Chris last year, is due to stand trial on April 14. The trial is expected to last six weeks. Kahui was last month granted bail, but with strict conditions, including living outside of Auckland and having a 24 hour curfew. Mrs Smith told NZPA Kahui was "sitting in the back of the car, very pleased and looking at everything that is green and beautiful".
Today marked a fresh start for Kahui who was keen to put previous bail breaches behind him, she said. "He's paid a heavy penalty for those breaches." Kahui was first bailed in November 2006 to an address outside Auckland but had his address changed to one inside greater Auckland this year. This year he breached his bail three times.
Broke his bail conditions three times! He gets bail again!!
I wonder how this comes about? How come he gets so much leeway? He's up for a double murder of his twins!!! Doesn't make sense.

Principal: case will turn teachers away

2007-11-30T10:05:00.001+13:00

The trial of a Masterton teacher who was last night cleared of indecency charges against a pupil will damage the profession's appeal as a career, the school's principal says.
Masterton Intermediate deputy principal Russell Thompson was yesterday acquitted by a Wellington District Court jury on two charges of committing indecent acts on a 12-year-old pupil.
It was alleged he touched the girl's bottom on the outside of her clothes on a number of occasions when they were alone. It was also alleged he bent down and kissed her on the mouth.
Mr Thompson had strong support throughout the trial from family and many of his work colleagues, including the school's principal Frazer Mailman.
Many took the stand as character witnesses and spoke about Mr Thompson's high standing among his peers and popularity with the school's pupils.
Mr Mailman said today incidents such as the one in question had a negative impact on all teachers – particularly males. "I believe it has a significant impact in terms of the numbers of male teachers that are in our teaching force," he said.
As mentioned previously, I trained with Russell and I am pleased for him that he has been declared innocent. Teaching is surely not a safe place for men to work. The rules are simple. Never be alone with less than 3 students no matter be they male or female. If you must, make sure there is another staff member with you. I do not blame him that he is looking at his options and would not be surprised if he decided to retrain and embark on another career. It will most certainly have a negative effect on men choosing to be teachers.

Vouchers for new mums scrapped

2007-11-29T16:44:00.001+13:00

Capital and Coast District Health Board has backed down on its plan to offer mothers $100 supermarket vouchers to leave hospital within six hours of giving birth.
Board chief executive Margot Mains said mothers would still be encouraged to go home directly from the delivery suite, without being admitted to a post-natal ward, if mother and baby were clinically safe. But she had reversed a decision to offer the women $100 supermarket voucher to do so. The hospital came up with the strategy to cover the period from December to January, to deal with a serious shortage of midwives in the region.
Oh I know, they could always pay them (the midwives) well and treat them well too. That may have a beneficial effect.

Mothers bribed to leave hospital

2007-11-29T10:33:00.001+13:00

I was listening to the radio this morning when I heard some absolute idiot claim that Capital Coast Health is not trying to bribe the poor by giving them $100 to leave the maternity hospital after only 6 hours after giving birth.
On what planet is this the way to look after new mums in hospital? They say they are lacking in terms of staff to look after the new mum and her baby. A woman, due to have her second child in January, said she was appalled to be told second-time mothers would be discharged directly
from the delivery suite after normal births. "My midwife was horrified. This is treating women like numbers, that is if you push your baby out quick enough, here's your $100 reward."
Time to do something about that. Wouldn't you say?

For the Acquisitive at Christmas

2007-11-29T10:21:00.001+13:00

Another useful Christmas gift for those acquisitive little people in your life. What could be better than a self-twirling pasta fork???
How did we ever get on without this wonderful invention?

Christmas Gifts

2007-11-28T11:33:00.001+13:00

Here's a real humdinger of a Christmas gift for all you Gomer Piles out there.
We seem to have forgotten the reason for the season.

Delivery man's arm ripped off by speeding car

2007-11-21T09:15:00.001+13:00

A man watched in horror as emergency services tried in vain to save his brother-in-law's life after he was hit by a speeding car and left hanging through the windscreen without an arm.

Aaron Chan, 21, of Manukau, was with his brother-in-law unloading goods from their delivery van when a car ploughed into him on West Coast Rd, Glen Eden, about 6.30pm on Monday.
He was thrown on to the bonnet of the car as it ran along the footpath, over the top of a small tree and into a brick wall. When it came to rest Mr Chan was lying across the bonnet with the upper part of his body through the windscreen. His arm was severed and most bones appeared to be badly broken.
The two arrested men - a 35-year-old from New Lynn and a 28-year-old from Whangaparaoa - are to appear in the Waitakere District Court today.

The question must be asked. When will the authorities in Aotearoa NZ put a definitive stop to the behaviour that is causing this angst and horror for innocent families?

No more high performance cars in our country;
No more making cars high performance in our country;
Huge punishment for those who cause this type of damage;
Boy racing should now be illegal and incurs severe punishment.

Time to do something useful Helen!

Only in America or Ruatoki :-)

2007-11-18T10:05:00.001+13:00

‘The back up’ on fox news - you have to see it to believe it. Only in America! According to the latest police sources in the Urewera, residents in Ruatoki are picking up on this idea to aid them in their plans for the world domination of Tuhoe.

A Government plot??

2007-11-17T17:21:00.001+13:00

The anti-terror raids of October 15 resulted in the seizure of only four weapons and 230 rounds of ammunition that have led to charges. The early-morning raids involved more than 300 officers. The police have not said what they seized in the property searches in Auckland, Waikato, the Bay of Plenty, Wellington and Christchurch using warrants alleging crimes under the Terrorism Suppression Act and have declined a request to do so. But of 16 people charged with firearms offences, items seized on October 15 are the basis of charges against only two - Tame Iti, and a man who has name suppression. The charges Iti faces include illegal possession on that date of three rifles - a Ruger, a Siga and a Machtech - while the other man is charged in regard to a Ruger rifle and 100 rounds of .22 calibre bullets and 130 rounds of .303 calibre ammunition. The police said it was inappropriate to comment about matters before the court.

If this is really happening as the report says it is, what was the point if not to create a diversion for Helen Clarke and to provide another way for the labour party to score points with the public? They sure have jumped in the polls since this happened.

Immigrant tasered to death

2007-11-16T10:48:00.001+13:00

The debate over the use of tasers is likely to resurface
after the release of a video showing a man being stunned to death in
Canada.
Click here to see video (caution: graphic)

The video footage shows the last moments of a Polish national who was
stunned by a taser gun by police at Vancouver International Airport.
Robert Dziekanski, 40, of Pieszyce, Poland, was restrained by police after becoming agitated at the airport on October 14. Mr Dziekanski, a construction worker who spoke no English, was declared dead at the scene. The incident is being investigated by police, the coroner and airport authorities. Up to 18 people have died after being stunned by tasers in Canada since 2003, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported. New Zealand police are expected to decide before Christmas whether to introduce 50,000-volt taser stun guns. However, even if approved, it is unlikely every frontline officer will get one.

I reckon our police would love to know that you can taser a man to death. Could've scored themselves some old Maori in Ruatoki. Of course they could just tackle the guy down, and he could still be alive. Mind you that would require some kind of fitness level. Hard to achieve when you have a job that no longer has a walking beat, they spend their day in cars or behind a desk.

What are you up to Helen Clarke?

2007-11-15T10:35:00.003+13:00

As we approach an election and it is obvious that Labour are not as popular as they would like. Could it be that the Government have engineered the terrorism fiasco so that they dumb down the king maker effect of the Maori Party because as we all know, the Maori Party will defend Tuhoe? Is their plan to nullify the Maori Party rather than rely on them to support Labour's policy in government. After the release of the police case files to the Dom Post (which was possibly less than legal) Helen is now jumping on the bandwagon to gain points with the public. Its all fitting together quite nicely for Helen don't you think?

Dom Post lets me down.

2007-11-15T09:45:00.000+13:00

I see the Dom Post did not maintain balance this morning by printing the other side of the terrorism story. I was hoping there would be some attempt at telling us the whole story and not just taking one side of the equation. Bugger!

What the Police heard!

2007-11-14T10:52:00.001+13:00

Suspect tells another it would be good to kill Pakeha to get trainees used to killing. Also suggests making their own tracer ammunition and using tungsten projectiles to go through a "cop vest" and through "his f...... mate".

Bug in vehicle, recorded April 6, 2007.

"Get someone to assassinate the prime minister, the new one, next year's one. Just been in office five days, bang ... Yeah. John Key ... just drop a bomb ... Just wait till he visits somewhere and just blow them ... They won't even find you."
Two suspects in bugged vehicle, August 17, 2007.

"They want to start blowing shit up. You know, they want to blow up power plants, gas plants, Telecom, petrol f...... places and shit like that."
Two suspects in bugged vehicle, June 23, 2007.

"You know like the IRA in England ... it's gonna happen here ... I'm ready to die, mate. I'm gonna hurt this country, I've had a gutsful ... I wanna leave this planet making sure that I've done a f...... huge amount of harm to this country."
Suspect recorded on bugged phone, May 26, 2006.

"It'd have to be a, some sort of f......, sudden f......, because what it'll do, it'll come down on the thinking of the people, they'll think it's al Qaeda ... It's gotta be sudden and it's gotta be brutal."

Other suspect says: "Don't piss around with cities or doing the bush thing ... just go to Parliament."
Two suspects in bugged vehicle, August 17, 2007.

"I heard you talking about the napalm shit." Response from unknown man: "I'll make some and bring some next time round, show everyone how to make it."
Conversation in bugged vehicle, September 16, 2007.

"No, I'm teaming up with the Maoris, we have to ... I'll come and see ya, I can't f...... take the white man on without the c...s ... I'm declaring war on this country."
Bugged cellphone, May 22, 2007.

"Tuhoe wouldn't have popular support for a bombing campaign in New Zealand."

Reply: "It would in Tuhoe though ... What about if we did a bombing campaign that blew up Waihopai spy base, power dams, gas facilities, TV stations and radios ... It's a strategy that's gonna be f...... urban warfare. We are training in the wrong place." First speaker: "What's going to be the strategy?"
Reply: "Strategy will divide, will divide Aotearoa ... extreme violence and extreme f...... actions too."
Two suspects in bugged vehicle, June 23, 2007.

"I cut down all of my work, right down. Ah, I'm only focusing to go to war."
Bugged suspect, April 26, 2007.

"There's nothing in this country can stop you once you got it, you can kill anybody you want. They'll never be able to find you."
Suspect talking in bugged vehicle about asking for sniper's rifle, August 16, 2007.

"Wait till bullets start going through people, that's f...... horrible ...
Wait till your mate's head gets blown off because someone dobbed us in and we get f...... shot at."
Suspect in bugged sleeping room, June 23, 2007.

"There's about 10 manuals ... There's the al Qaeda manual and that's f...... good. That's right up to date." Later another suspect says: "That last exercise was a bit freaky for me, having a gun in my back."
Response: "High level of secrecy, we needed, you know, we need to test people."
Bugged training camp room, June 23, 2007.

Suspect X tells Suspect Y he is tired of playing games. Suspect Y says they need good planning so they don't die on the first day. Both worry about the enemy within their ranks and talk about needing 20 small squads, such as in Iraq, carrying out their own missions.
Bugged vehicle, April 4, 2007.

Now what do you think? Should these guys be taken to task?
If this is what you were doing, of course you will be taken to task Tame. I still do not think the Police should've treated the elderly, women and children, and men who were not suspected, in the manner that they did.
It will be interesting to see if the Dom prints the other side of the story - balance and all that.

Bigotry alive and kicking in Aotearoa NZ

2007-11-13T13:36:00.000+13:00

I am listening to JT and Willy (John Tamahere and Willy Jackson) on Radio live. They are discussing Tame Iti having his say on national television. His crime (according to some), he spoke for himself, in Maori. I am amazed at how many people found it offensive!
Maori is an official language of Aotearoa NZ. Why wouldn't he use his reo?
I cannot believe the rednecks in this country. In this country, we have the right to speak. We have the right to disagree. We were once allowed to voice our opposition. Now, the government is trying to curtail our right to voice our disagreement. Watch out kiwis, there is a move against your freedom.

They got it wrong.

2007-11-11T12:09:00.001+13:00

"I can have conversations over a whole year, and they pick and choose what they want," he said. "If they wanted, they should have come and

knocked on my door. It's state madness." Iti said that blaming inadequate laws for the failure of the terror charges amounted to the state "covering their arses". Collins and the police were interpreting his activities from a different cultural viewpoint. "What they see as disturbing, we see as something completely different.
If I go 'blah'," he said, sticking out his tongue in a whetero, "do you see that as disturbing? When I exposed my buttocks (in protest), the uneducated would see that as disturbing. But in our culture it has a context."
Iti's focus over the next week would be to regroup with his family and visit people in the Tuhoe community to thank them and check on their wellbeing."We've got to be more vigilant of the possibility of another state attack on our backyard," he said.
He said "thousands" had been recruited to the Tuhoe cause by the raids, which involved more than 300 police across the country and which he characterised as "not just an attack on me personally, but on my family and the whole of Tuhoe".
"I mean: who invaded Tuhoe? I had guns to my head, what do you call that?"

I call it idiocy, an idiocy that helps resentment grow in Maoridom.. Sooner or later we must decide who's idiocy we will allow. I for one, am sick of watching Maori take the hits from Pakehadom.
So, the Police got it wrong. Now they should pay the price.

Stuff Opinion Poll

2007-11-06T10:07:00.001+13:00

The Stuff Opinion Poll on their homepage this morning ask this question:
Is Josie Bullock, who refused to move during a Maori farewell ceremony
when asked to because she is female, right to make a stand? Your choice was:

Yes - Maori culture must adapt
No - Bullock should respect Maori culture

Of course the overwhelming result was the first option. I wonder what the result would've been if they went in to places like Ruatoki, Ruatoria, Hiruharama and asked the question there? Is it a great leap of the mind to realise that the Tangata Whenua (indigenous people) of Aotearoa do not spend too much time on the web looking at Stuff.co.nz. Many of them don't even own a computer. Just how "fair" is that poll?
As for Bullock comparing herself to Rosa Parks. She does an injustice to a truly great woman.
Is there a need for Government Departments to use their own tikanga instead of butchering ours. Absolutely. Except maybe the Ministry of Maori Affairs.
I do wish that the media would stop portraying the issue as a Maori vs Pakeha culture war. These idiots just keep fanning the fires of racism.
Its simple. When in Rome.....

Jordayne Katene flicks acid gets the boot!

2007-11-01T21:26:00.001+13:00

So, Jordayne Katene's mother wants us to feel sorry that Rob Mill (Principal) at Wainuiomata High School has given her (Jordayne) the boot from his school for flicking acid at her science teacher because she was angry???

I think that, that reasoning is perverse, and another good example of how removing children from the consequences of their actions is having a seriously detrimental effect on their behaviour patterns. Rob, if you give in to this seriously disturbed child you will be doing her no favours. She must reap what she has sown. Its how we learn.
Just wanting to scare him (the teacher) is not acceptable and this must be communicated to Jordayne with strength and clarity or she will continue to justify her misguided behaviour by saying "I only....."

What do we do?

2007-10-28T09:48:00.001+13:00

They're not happy. Would you be happy if the police had dropped in on you brandishing automatic weapons, threatening your family, including your children? Would you like to be accused of terrorism? Would you be pleased if your community had been singled out for this treatment because someone was suspected of planning terrorist activities? Is this racism? Is this how we Kiwis want our people treated? Why have they not been charged yet under the suppression of terrorism act? What is going on in our country? Are we being abused by the born to rule? What will we do to let them know that we will not be treated this way? Protest! Will our objections be taken seriously? Can we be heard in the current political climate? C'mon Helen, lead the country. Do the right thing (whatever it is).

Alleged Terrorist Named

2007-10-25T18:55:00.001+13:00

Omar Hamed. You have to wonder don't you. A Palestinian. Born in Greece and raised on the North Shore. He is currently being held in custody. I truly hope he isn't guilty. I really hope he isn't a terrorist. If he is......out you go, back to Palestine. No second chance. We don't want that shit here. If he's innocent, those who accused him must be brought to justice. Equally, no second chances. This is serious stuff. Waiting to see what happens with Tame Iti's court appearance this afternoon. I have the same opinion. Guilty, you lose your right to be here. Innocent, then justice must be delivered to those who have accused.
Updated Friday 26th October check this out, are we still developing our very own Police State? Are they out of control? Do we have 72 year old terrorists to worry about? Or are the Police naff?

Our American Coach

2007-10-17T10:59:00.001+13:00

After the last episode I was hoping that the Chicago-ite might settle down and stop insulting and annoying people at work. This was not to be. Next came the announcement that so and so was an idiot and this person can't do that and in general, anyone who did not agree with "his" view must belong to the "peanut gallery." Basically, he was marching out of step with everyone and from his viewpoint, it must mean that "they" were all wrong. "They" were dangerous. I believe that this was a tactic employed to stop me from looking at the result of his work. I was starting to notice, the fruit of his toil, was not sweet. He was not being productive and he was increasingly negative in regard to the effect he was having on those around him. Sometimes, when a coach is hired, it soon becomes apparent that there is not a good fit. It isn't working. Next comes the attacks. Not good. Watch out for this dude.

Tame Iti and his IRA plan

2007-10-17T10:35:00.000+13:00

There seem to be many views on what is actually happening in the Urewera. The police are now talking about an IRA style plan to make war on New Zealand and Tame Iti is at the head of that plan. It will be right to wait and see just what information has been gathered in their investigation over the last 18 months or so. I came across this article this morning.

Tame Iti. Is he a terrorist?

2007-10-16T23:00:00.001+13:00

I have been watching and listening to the debate raging round New Zealand. Is Tame Iti a terrorist?

The nation wide raid that netted Tame Iti at this time seems as though it might be somewhat suspect. We are led to believe that a year long investigation into guerilla-style weapons training in the Urewera has led to these arrests. One would expect that the charges to be laid will be related to the suppression of terrorism act. If not, why have these people been raided using the act to justify the raids after a year long investigation?
If it turns out that the raids are justified, I think serious questions will be asked about the motives of these so called guerillas.
I am disturbed about reports of tooled up [armed] police in warfare gear terrorising women and children on a bus in the Bay of Plenty. Who are the terrorists here?
This, from John Minto is interesting.

Problem Solving

2007-10-14T13:37:00.001+13:00

I made a mistake. This guy from Chicago arrived in Christchurch and set about making claims that he has the experience when it comes to coaching gymnastics, and running a gymnastic business, and generally being a straight ahead guy that one could count on. He tried to share his vision with me and that is when I became wary of his motive.
He wanted me to help him get rid of some people and then take over the club and run it as a business.
I found it strange that he would want to do this when he has no experience of gymnastics in New Zealand, especially how small the community is. Everything is everybody's business.
I gave him my opinion that he should slow down and earn the right to lead. He didn't listen.
He then found out that I was building a website for the club. He agreed that it should be done and that it was a good idea. When the website was ready to go online, I went to register our domain name, which would be the name of the club. It was then that I found out that the club couldn't buy the domain name as it was already owned by, you guessed it, our very own Chicago-ite. The cost of the name was $39.95. Our erstwhile friend offered it to the club for $200. I made up another domain name and told him he could keep it.
As you could imagine, the club was getting nervous about this guy. We should have gotten rid of him then.
More later.
This opinion is of course my own and is NOT official.

Coffee Culture The Palms Christchurch

2007-09-30T23:04:00.001+13:00

It's Sunday. I was up until 2am this morning watching the All Blacks go through another training run in the Rugby World Cup. I got up at the crack of 11am and felt a coffee and a piece of fudge would go down well. Off I went to the Palms in Christchurch. I arrived at the Coffee Culture Cafe ad ordered my Low fat decafe flat white and a slice of what they call "nana's fudge." I waited and the coffee came but no fudge. I told the waitress and the fudge duly arrived. Well, half a slice of fudge did anyway. The serving has gotten so small! But don't worry, the price has remained the same. I also have another wee gripe. When at the Palms the other night for a movie, I tried to get a coffee, but alas, no low fat milk. So, "never mind" I said. I left but returned to get a piece of fudge (which was bigger then). What did I see? They were pouring full fat milk into a low fat container! Pretty classy huh? Not good Coffee Culture, not good at all.

A Man and His Footy

2007-09-10T16:38:00.001+12:00

I was reading Linley Boniface's blog on stuff today. Basically its a bleat about how enthusiastic we are about watching the All Blacks play for the World Cup and shame on us for not being so enthusiastic about Wellington writer Lloyd Jones whose excellent "Mr Pip" has just been short-listed for the world's most prestigious book award. Good on you Mr Jones! Very pleased for you. Keri Hulme and Barry Crump are indeed treasures in Aotearoa as is of course, Janet Frame.
BUT I am boring and tedious because I am enthusiastic about watching the Rugby World Cup? Linley, you are giving academics a bad name with your snobbish position on sport and your obviously pc wide bottomed feminist isms about a man and his footy. Go the ABs!

Rugby World Cup

2007-09-10T15:51:00.001+12:00

Its started. The French went down to Argentina. The All Blacks were relatively on their own on the playing field, I think Italy was there somewhere. Australia walloped Japan and South Africa demolished a spirited Samoa. Wales were not producing what was needed and got through in the end against Canada. England were woeful up against the USA.

I am watching the South African vs Samoa game replay at the moment and as usual they use their illegal tactics.
Looks like New Zealand, Australia or South Africa will do it. The All Blacks were the clinical team, showing pace and power. But then I am biased.
Ali Williams (pic) was always threatening.

Friday!!!

2007-09-07T14:11:00.001+12:00

Its Friday. The Warriors are playing their first semi-final tonight since 2003. Good luck boys. Give it to the Eels. Saturday night its the All Blacks. First game up, Italy. The next few weeks could be great fun.

Whats up with us?

2007-09-04T21:57:00.001+12:00

What is it that motivates people to do this? What happens in their lives that leaves them feeling that this is the solution to their problem? I just can't connect with the attitude one needs to be doing this to others, let alone to one of your own! I rejected a comment on this today. Anonymous said they were "pigz." They aren't though, are they. They are your family, your neighbours, your friends. Something though, is terribly wrong. They need help, they need support, they need to be raised in such a way, that these abuses never occur in the first place.

Telecom - spam king

2007-09-03T09:22:00.001+12:00

I thought that a company like Telecom would understand our abhorrence for spam. They run their own spam filters for goodness sake. Sure enough, I received my very own Telecom spam on my cell phone the other day. What is with that?
Here is is: Telecom: To receive Telecom news & offers via text message free, reply "yes" to this number.
I might try what this disgruntled customer did. After the news gets out it could work. I won't hold my breath though.

Abusive teachers still in classroom

2007-09-02T09:21:00.001+12:00

PC-ness gone wild. So wild in fact that we cannot protect our children from abuse in the classroom. Abusive teachers are protected by the privacy act. Our children are not safe. Last October, the Herald revealed teachers with a range of problems - including convictions for battery of an 11-year-old, importing ecstasy and supplying cannabis to minors, sexual abuse of a teenage girl, and admitting to sex with students - had been allowed back into classrooms.
I am perplexed. Who allowed these people back into the classroom?
"The requirements of the Privacy Act have been cited by the Ministry for refusing the information we have been seeking for many months. This information is essential to the Council to enable it to track the employment of teachers, such as those cited in the Herald on Sunday (22 October 2006)."
Meanwhile, the rights of these "teachers" take precedent over the safety of our children. It seems the government will make it easier to keep an eye on these people at last. It is their fault the Privacy Act can be used to protect these predators in our schools. Hang on, did I just say "our schools".

Security cameras catch woman kicking toddler

2007-09-01T13:02:00.001+12:00

This is the kind of thing we must put a stop to. This woman needs help and education now. Child abuse is not acceptable. Lets help her out.

Court for 'protecting' town from 'scumbags'

2007-09-01T09:46:00.001+12:00

Garth Gadsby is in court for protecting his home (Ngawi). The only thing he did that was overboard was use his rifle to try and bring some out of control teenagers under control. I'm sorry Garth but I cannot condone the use of your rifle. I am ok with the rest of it though. Something needs to be done. Good on you Ngawi for fronting up to these "scumbags." Come on New Zealand. You know it needs to be done to help prevent out of control teens.

Abusing Children

2007-08-31T15:11:00.001+12:00

Surely someone else saw this or knows the people involved. Child abuse happens because we no longer get involved in other people's business. We need to put a stop to this behaviour. It is not good enough.
These things exist because we allow them too. It is up to us!

Idiocy in Aotearoa

2007-08-29T13:39:00.001+12:00

A guy flew from Auckland to Christchurch this morning. That cost him $39. He then got a taxi from the airport to downtown Christchurch. That cost him $42! An hour's flight over a 5 minute taxi ride. Someone, somewhere, is being ripped off.

Lost another blog css file!!!!

2007-08-28T13:26:00.001+12:00

I can't believe it. I managed to lose the css file for my blog! Have had to upload a blogger template. Frustrating.
Lost all my links???? Oh well, here I go. From the beginning again.

Life-threatening flaw in phone system

2007-08-26T09:45:00.001+12:00

Someone had a great idea. Lets have a phone system that requires mains power to run. Wait, hang on, what happens if there is a power cut and we need emergency services? Oh yeah, what would happen? I know, we can use semaphore (is that how its spelt?), what about smoke signals? Interesting. You'd think they had they muns to hire someone who would've thought of that. Can't believe all those high powered minds didn't have this covered.

Why teach???

2007-08-24T09:53:00.001+12:00

Why would a man go into the teaching profession? To help young people learn, set goals, work towards achieving said goals, the buzz that goes with watching children reach said goals. No way is the motivation for being a teacher anything to do with dragging screaming and kicking, young teenage men into the world so that they can compete meaningfully in the game of life. I'm not sure how it came about that parents attitudes to teachers turned to scorn and disrespect. The "you don't have to" mentality that seems to prevail. The "you have rights" attitude, but "no responsibility." It seems to end like this. Watch out folks, you'll get what you wish for!

Nearly time to let the All Blacks out of the changing shed!

2007-08-23T16:00:00.001+12:00

I was reading just how different this preparation for the Rugby World Cup has been. According to the "senior" All Blacks, they have (the management team) done a great job. Rugby (All Black) is very important to us down under. When the AB's are doing well, there's a skip in the air at home. I have found it interesting to note the sniping from Laporte and Kearns. Even the English rugby boss is having a good go at the AB's. Pleasing to note that "we" are staying out of it. Well done boys. Lets just do our talking on the field. As a fan, I can handle losing one comp every 4 years. We win everything else.
I can feel the energy though. This cup should be good.

Fair Point

2007-08-20T10:56:00.001+12:00

This arrived in my inbox this morning. I guess its not just us.
I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit.
In order to get that pay cheque when I work on a W.A. mine site or a Kalgoorlie construction project, I am required to Pass a random urine test, with which I have no problem.
What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test.
Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare cheque because I have to pass one to earn
it For them?? Please understand I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet.
I do on the other hand have a problem with helping someone sit on their ass drinking piss & smoking dope.
Could you imagine how much money the state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance cheque?????

Clark 'appalled' at Air NZ's Iraq troop flights

2007-08-16T09:54:00.001+12:00

I'm not often in agreement with our current government, but I surely do agree with them over this. I only fly about 5 times each year, but it will not be with Air New Zealand until they do something about this.
Shame on you Air New Zealand!

Toddler 'left in excruciating pain' for days

2007-08-09T14:10:00.001+12:00

Read this and wonder what is going on? Who's society is this? Who raised these people to be parents? How come the total lack of care for our children? When will something be done to make life easier, more pleasurable and more productive for the family unit? Has good parenting gone forever? Must we ALL be at work ALL the time? What space is there for family in our nation? Be careful, its on the way out!

Abused toddler Nia Glassie dies

2007-08-03T22:16:00.001+12:00

The Rotorua three-year-old who suffered horrific injuries in abuse allegedly carried out by those who cared for her has died.

Nia Glassie died this afternoon, at 4.12pm, at Starship children's hospital in Auckland.
She had spent most of this week on a ventilator in a coma, after allegedly suffering months of horrific abuse.
Rotorua coroner Wallace Bain revealed that Nia had died.
Police said there would be a post mortem examination of Nia's body in Auckland tomorrow.
Here is the story. What more can one say?

Graham Carden-fraudster!

2007-08-03T14:45:00.001+12:00

I had an experience with Graham William Carden. He ran (or should I say mis ran) a rugby league academy in Porirua. He hired me (and some others) to do some coaching work. Teaching the basics of physical preparation and the like. He tried to pressure me into delivering a "first aid" course for him and I was not qualified to do it. To cut a long story short, I left his academy pretty quickly when I realised how manky he was/is. He still owes me some muns. Won't get it though. Not surprised to see this article on line.

Nia Glassie, abused 3 year old.

2007-08-01T21:27:00.001+12:00

So. Oriwa Kemp, Michael Curtis, William Curtis, and Michael Pearson are in fear of their lives after they were accused of putting Nia Glassie (3 years old) in hospital with severe head and abdominal injuries. It seems that Nia will suffer brain damage and Lord knows what else. They it seems, did not hold Nia's life in such regard. There is also Nia's mother's partner Wiremu Curtis, who is out on bail. I think that they have given up their right to safety from the wolves who would feed on them like the carrion that they are. I do not condone capital punishment but neither do I feel compassion for their fear. Taste some of what you did to Nia.

all blacks 26 -12 over oz!

2007-07-21T23:14:00.000+12:00

yehaa! after all the confidence from oz, it wasn't that easy after all.
well done all blacks, congrats graham and the team.
well done the ferns 67-65 over oz. a good night for aotearoa.

i was thinking

2007-07-19T17:59:00.001+12:00

i was thinking about something i heard the other day. a funny little saying. on reflection, it seems that there is much more to this saying that first struck me. it goes, "when the going gets tough, the average get conservative." i reckon they do indeed. aotearoa is a good example of that. it'll be interesting to see how things go with a rugby test at hand, the maori party under attack because they couldn't convince aotearoa to repeal the seashore act, taggers should do a scout stint??? very weird. they should do more than that.
i wonder what kinds of idiocy our politicians have been up to today?

some people take up too much space

2007-07-13T10:43:00.001+12:00

there are some people who are unfortunately living on this world who have no business being here. they torture, kill, maim rob and rape. whoever did this is definitely one (or two) of them. being an insensitive teen does not excuse this behaviour. if they are adults they too should be put down. if you know, do something about it. its a shame we don't have punishment that fits the crime.

Parent attacked with carjack after row at kids' game

2007-07-12T14:40:00.001+12:00

this is disgusting behaviour. what an excellent example of sportsmanship to show your sons. be ashamed vili laalaai, be ashamed.

folole muliaga, mercury power

2007-07-03T13:10:00.001+12:00

Folole Muliaga died on may 29 after a mercury energy contractor cut power at her mangere home due to an overdue bill, turning off the mains-powered oxygen machine which helped her breathe.
her family were forced to spend a cold night at their mangere home, but a phone conversation between a victim support worker and mercury aired on tv one's sunday programme last night showed the family was told no reconnection would be made until further payments were made.
"she may have passed away in the last couple of days but. . . i know it's been hard but it's irrelevant," a mercury supervisor told the victim support worker.
"they've got arrears disco (disconnection) notices, they've had disco notices. the family obviously are living at the property with this person, they need to take responsibility for themselves and for the property."

it seems that Folole Muliaga's man had actually made part payments and that the power was "disco'd" when they actually owed less than $40.
who is responsible here? who has got our society in such as state that this can happen? this needs to be looked at, discussed, and sorted out. now!

raping the poor through power prices

2007-07-01T00:00:00.001+12:00

residential electricity prices are up 40% above inflation in the past 6 years. power company profits have soared. lower socio economically placed kiwis are suffering. $300 million made on the backs of the poor in new zealand by the power companies. who is responsible for this? who is responsible for poor people freezing in their homes this winter? how is it that these power companies are allowed to hold kiwis to ransom?
oh, i know, we're responsible, we put this govt in there again. trouble is, there will be no relief under a national govt either.
when did the labour govt stop caring about poorer people in nz? since when was this capitalistic politically correct negligence acceptable? it sure is puzzling. helen clarke, you have blown it. john key, you do not offer anything superior.
what to do???

all black weekend

2007-06-26T23:01:00.001+12:00

sometimes, something should be said. congratulations graham henry, so far, so good. that was a good win over a springbok team that played well. the fitness of the all blacks came through in the end. henry (the coach) has had his share of detractors here in godzone but credit where its due. the reconditioning programme has indeed lifted the sheer speed and intensity of the all black game, even if paul ackford can't see it. why was there so much dropped ball? because the springbok defense was very robust. most definitely won by the forwards. well done to the loose forward trio. as for our much maligned locking duo, they were fine after a shaky start. not bad at all for the 5th and 6th locks in the country. a great game. oz this weekend. should be a good game too. bring it on.

online banking

2007-06-20T22:19:00.001+12:00

i've been having a great time putting the correct password into my bank account online. i did it twice and after the site warned me about putting my password (correctly) into the space i had one more shot (or so it said). it then locked me out with one more shot to go. frustrating. checked the account on the phone and all is well. its just the site. hopeless. well done kiwibank.

the weekend, the weather

2007-06-18T14:13:00.001+12:00

it is interesting to watch the kiwi tall poppy syndrome in action. those all blacks only beat canada 64 - 13! how inept was that? they were expected to win in the 70's. i wonder how difficult it is to bring yourself up to par when you know you will win with an under-par performance? the canadians are calling for a rematch. i wonder how that would go? the french suffered badly with the rematch after the all blacks found it difficult to find their legs in the first game. i think a rematch would result in a severe thrashing for the canadians. still, they played well in the first half. we found out that ross fillipo likes playing test football. though i am sure south africa will be a much different kettle of fish next weekend in the tri-nations.
yes the warriors won! out of the losing streak at last. shark for dinner. much pleasure indeed. i am still shaking my head over the performance of captain steve price. the man was majestic backing up after a great state of origin on thursday.
its cold. too cold to work. cold enough to stay in bed and we haven't even got to the cold part of winter yet. not looking forward to that at all. there has to be a way of living in perpetual summer. a job here in the summer then move to brisbane for their winter which is like our summer. sounds good to me.

french for dinner

2007-06-09T21:23:00.001+12:00

the all blacks really stepped up a few levels tonight. a shame the french were not in it. 61 - 10 is a thrashing in anyone's language. shame ali williams got a broken jaw and keith robinson injured a calf in the warm -up! sure would like to see robinson on the field. all three wingers looked real sharp. toeava was sharp in places. dropped two passes though. pretty good for the 2nd test of the season. ritchie seems to be playing himself into form which is just great for us. canadians next week. how will they cope?

gunshots in nae nae

2007-06-08T09:25:00.001+12:00

interesting this morning how a family has been evicted from their state house in auckland for terrorising their neighbourhood. i know (from personal experience) that there are a whole street and surrounding streets in nae nae lower hutt who wouldn't mind the same thing happening to a family in their midst. their boy was shot at two days ago. his family have been terrorising their neighbourhood. youth gangs are rife in nae nae there have been several stabbings and now two shootings. the l.a. gang culture is taking over the streets in nae nae. about time housing nz stopped congregating these people in concentrated areas. about time the people at number 6 dempsey st were moved on. we have had enough of the gangs. my aged parents are becoming frightened to walk to the shops.

death by corporation

2007-06-04T11:22:00.001+12:00

i have heard various points of view regarding the woman who died because mercury energy turned off her power. some points uncharitable to say the least. out came the "isms" from the pakeha culture in new zealand. they are just that, "isms." i am looking at "stuff" today and they bring forward some of the points being used against the family including "police investigations are continuing" and evidently the family "still prefer to speak samoan." there have also been complaints that they (the family) give their money to the church. some have said things like, they spend all their money at kfc. i would remind one and all in aotearoa. we are defined by the way we look after those who for whatever reason, are not able to cope with today's society.

a new site

2007-06-01T14:38:00.001+12:00

got the new work website up and running. quite a mission too. no pics yet but you can find out about gymnastics in addington (christchurch) and contact us through the site. it'll get better as we go along. check it out here, its called ImpactAlpha Gymsports. i am pleased to have the site up. just getting into site maps to aid the google bot when its crawling the web looking for answers.

all black selected for first game

2007-05-29T22:21:00.001+12:00

All Blacks side to face France:

Leon MacDonald, Joe Rokocoko, Isaia Toeava, Aaron Mauger, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Piri Weepu, Chris Masoe, Richie McCaw (captain), Reuben Thorne, Ali Williams, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Troy Flavell, Rodney So'oialo, Brendon Leonard, Nick Evans, Ma'a Nonu

a good looking team. can't wait until saturday to see the game with the french.

boy - racer crackdown

2007-05-21T15:40:00.001+12:00

helen (pm) reckons that the police can't cope with the boy - racer problem. its the cell phones. all you have to do to confound the police is buy a cell phone and you have them at an immediate disadvantage. their japanese imports are so fast, they have cell phones and they use them. i can't believe how easy it is to get around them. it seemed obvious to me that there is a solution to the problem. no one under 25 is allowed to drive a car over a certain cc rating. say 1200cc's. they can still race as they most certainly will. it'll just be with less grunt. they must have 3rd party insurance, minimum. of course, then we have to be concerned about their rights. rights to kill and maim, to thumb their collective noses at the police. as usual, no one is concerned that they know nothing of the responsibilities that go with with their rights.

david bain is free!

2007-05-15T19:38:00.001+12:00

some sense at last. david bain said it felt "pretty damn good" to be free on bail after 13 years in jail for five murders he has always maintained he did not commit. i was watching the news so i have just found out that the police did not put forward the fact that david's father had the motive to commit the crime and david did not. david's father was having an incestuous relationship with his daughter and was about to be exposed. looks like a motive to me.

not impressed with the police who wanted to keep david inside for another year while they decide to re-prosecute him or not. mean spirited.
david, enjoy your freedom, live large.

will they release bain?

2007-05-15T12:48:00.001+12:00

bain will make his first public appearance this afternoon, five days after winning his last-chance appeal to the privy council that he had been a victim of a miscarriage of justice. the crown is expected to ask for the hearing to be deferred and for bain to remain in jail in the meantime, but bain's key supporter, former all black joe karam, said an immediate release would be sought. karam has collected about a dozen testimonials supporting bain's bid for freedom, involving those inside and outside jail, as well as professionals and acquaintances.
"he's a very dignified person – david. he's trying not to get his hopes up (but) he just can't wait," he said. "i can't see any good reason under the bail act, which i've read, which would prevent david from getting bail. he's prepared for the worst and hoping for the best."
"of course if your a kiwi and you've been following how the 'born to rule' run this country, you'd have to be concerned. the prosecutor still wants him to remain in jail, even though his conviction has been quashed. i'd be looking at why it was quashed."

all blacks

2007-05-14T11:09:00.001+12:00

the first team of the year is selected on friday. that'll give us kiwi blokes something to chew over. at least it's not as negative as broad howard and his lowest common denominator police force. somehow i find it difficult to bring together the fact that clint rickard will most likely lose his job even though he was found not guilty of rape (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). yet broad howard is actually trying to avoid falling on his swiss army knife, yet he actually broke the law by supplying beastiality movies for his police mates. enough of that. now to the important issues. who will be the centre in the ab's team? who will be the locks (i am excited by the possibility of flavell and robinson being on the field at the same time)? i think jack has been cruising. is he passed his hungriest time? oh yes, a tasty time to come indeed. sure hope the rugby union can keep luke in nz.

our female education system in motherland aotearoa

2007-05-13T11:02:00.001+12:00

"since the 'girls can do anything' advertising campaign in the 1980s, women had received more help to succeed in education and the workforce." this a quote from scots college head graeme yule. education most definitely favours girls. i know this as i am a recently retired teacher. i am still teaching. i have just found a way to do it that does not involve govt interference and the govt predilection for pc-ness. i am a coach. explaining to junior coaches at my work that boys need to be coached in a different manner than girls is a part of my job. the main problem i can see in teaching, is that the job is not attractive to men. schools are full of female teachers. boys are reacting negatively to this feminisation of males. just watch the trouble that female coaches and teachers have with boys. who can fix this? its obvious. men are the ones who must teach boys how to be male. learning this from a woman is obviously very confusing.

ex-all black's bain campaign costs him millions

2007-05-10T23:48:00.001+12:00

so, the privy council has rubbished david bain's conviction of murder. they have ordered a re-trial. joe karam, ex all black, has spent millions getting this done. in an extraordinary move, the privy council has allowed convicted killer david bain's appeal, saying there has been a substantial miscarriage of justice. i have a question. if bain is innocent, who's going to give him his life back? who is going to give karam his money back?

teens-the risks

2007-05-09T14:02:00.001+12:00

the papers are full of it this morning. what do we do about our teenagers who are killing themselves at parties, in cars, on the streets, at school, using alcohol and drugs? articles about how to keep your teen safe. how to have parties. basically, how to be grown up when you're not. we are letting our children run the streets. we let them out in cars, drinking, getting stoned, having sex and basically doing anything they want without them realising or knowing the ramifications and responsibilities that go with living in the adult world. in short. they are not equipped to handle the reality of an adult perspective. but don't worry. sue bradford will ensure that this state of affairs continues. take away the consequences until its too late. then we are left with mourning families, and groups of teens who just don't understand what has happened. hoping, really wanting, their mum and dad to fix it all up. but they can't.

dogs given 'P' to make them more aggressive

2007-05-03T10:42:00.001+12:00

what? 'p' to make their dogs more aggressive. dogs don't need that kind of abuse to be aggressive. your common garden variety abuse will do the trick. just beat them and under feed them. any cro magnum knows that. as for the idiots who might want to expose the rest of us to their over emphasised machismo, perhaps it is they who should be bent over a barrel and left to the tender mercies of the monsters they create. it is not the dog that should be licensed, its the owner.

big brother ethos

2007-04-30T11:21:00.001+12:00

it's happening, and it seems that our (the people) permission is not required (until voting day). first we have had mp's trying to tell us how we raise our children. the fact that 80% of kiwis do not agree means nothing. now we have govt departments putting spyware on our doctors computer systems to gain information without our permission. never mind doctor/patient confidentiality. i can (just) live with the cameras around trouble spots to help with crime, but it is now going way overboard. i guess we'll have to wait until the elections to make our opinions known. they (the govt) won't pay any attention until then.

anzac day

2007-04-26T14:15:00.001+12:00

war veterans and political leaders are disgusted by an anti- war protest that allegedly included the burning of the new zealand flag during anzac day celebrations in wellington.
two members of a group called peace action wellington, protesting at the deployment of troops overseas, were arrested after the incident on the grounds of victoria university's law school opposite a dawn ceremony at the cenotaph.
valerie morse, 35, was charged with offensive behaviour for allegedly burning the new zealand flag.
mark daniel rawnsley, 29, faces charges of obstruction and resisting arrest after allegedly trying to disrupt the service by blowing a plastic horn. the pair were remanded to reappear on may 22 at a hearing in the wellington district court yesterday.
in a separate incident, vandals attacked an anzac day site in patea, south taranaki, smashing crosses arranged around the town's cenotaph.
last night, politicians and ex- servicemen joined in their condemnation of the wellington group's actions. brian mannix, who fought in vietnam, said the protest was a disgrace to the country.
"i stand on anzac day to remember my family, to remember my mates," mannix said. "anzac Day is not glorifying the military. it is not celebrating war. it is the day that we repay respect to the people that fought for our freedom."

speaks for itself really. how can anyone think that anzac day is an appropriate day to protest? my whanau went to war for this place and its people. we do not need the insult. grow up.

savage pitbull kills mum

2007-04-22T11:00:00.001+12:00

the family of a bay of plenty woman killed in a dog attack say the "vicious" dogs had attacked before and should never have been roaming free.

Virginia Ohlson, 56, a member of a well-known family in the murupara area, was mauled by two dogs - a pitbull and a staffordshire terrier cross - while on her daily 6.45am walk to buy bread and milk at the local dairy.

she died in an ambulance en route to hospital.

do we really need this type of dog in our society? what advantages do they give us? what do they add to our way of life that is worth putting up with the damage? just what upside is there to allowing them to remain?

another police rape investigation

2007-04-20T11:25:00.001+12:00

a young woman might have been raped 10 years ago at a christmas party. this was released by "investigate" magazine. it seems to have happened at a barrister's office party and a policeman stands accused. lawyers and policeman. an untrustworthy mix it seems. i wonder how this one will go? check it out here.

lean mean ab machine

2007-04-16T10:57:00.001+12:00

i was watching good morning and they had an advertorial about the latest new ab machine. you know the kind. just four minutes a day and you to can have the sculptured lean abdominal look that is sooo popular when advertising these machines. why do they always leave out the bit where you have to lose xxx amount of body fat for the abs to show through? why do they always say that the exercise machine is they answer to losing the weight? the truth is, it is a combination of aerobic exercise and diet. they are just preying on people's insecurities to make muns.

girl raped at hastings primary school

2007-04-16T09:25:00.001+12:00

she should have been safely tucked up in bed. she was however, walking alone, through a hastings primary school between 11pm and 2am. she knew about keeping herself safe. she is twelve years old.
the girl told police she was raped as she walked through the grounds of ebbett park primary school. she she had attended a display of krumping, a high-energy dance style to loud music, which has gained popularity among hastings teens. groups gather to watch each other compete.
the girl said she was attacked by a young maori man, probably a teenager, wearing a white "krumping" shirt with a blue and black paint design and jeans. he had shaggy hair with a shoulder-length "rat's tail". the attack happened between 11pm and 2am. constable lisa tod said the girl managed to run away and some youths found her in a distressed state and called police.
the girl was injured in the attack and had received medical attention. she was traumatised and was recovering with her family. police were concerned that children and young teenagers in town for the dance competitions were usually unsupervised by adults.

the question is, do you know where your children are?

new problems with police

2007-04-15T23:30:00.000+12:00

looks like the latest accusation has to do with racism. three officers!
david newell, 29, alleges during the incident in auckland last week that an officer pulled down his pyjama pants and called him a "monkey." these guys [police] just might be a heck of a worry. are there racists in the police? absolutely. i am a victim of it. i was on my own so have no proof, but i know it exists.