Information Satire. Sorry, New Zealanders, but we have a major problem. In fact, the whole of planet Earth has a major problem. The problem is refugees. We can no longer stick our heads in the sand and pretend that it is nothing to do with us. We need to act
Yes, we are talking about houses without underfloor insulation, without range hoods or bathroom extractor fans. We are talking about houses with no fixed heating appliances. We are talking about houses that landlords decided to sell, because of the cost of keeping them up to a suitable standard that is
The Ihumatao issue has not yet been resolved, but one of the biggest concerns over this particular matter is the thorny issue of private property rights. The fact that a bunch of thugs can occupy a piece of privately owned land and make demands that the land be gifted back
If you know of anyone considering studying for a communications degree, try to talk them out if it. Tell them to study law, engineering, architecture or medicine. Advise them to study something that contributes to the society we live in. Because, if Jacinda is anything to go by, a communications
One of the things we are often told on this site is that we should use history as an indicator of what is likely to happen, particularly in politics. While events never repeat in precisely the same way, failing to learn from history, as the old adage goes, means we
As previously discussed, I have been seriously considering voting ACT at the election this year, although I suspect I won’t know for sure until I am actually at the polling station. This week, David Seymour came out with his list of conditions which form the basis on which he
We have discussed Simon Bridges‘ decision to not go into coalition with NZ First on this site mainly from a National point of view, and it has to be said that it was a bold move that may very well signal the end of Simon Bridges’ political career. Only time
I love Taika Waititi. Actually, let’s adjust that. I used to love Taika Waititi. His early movies showed an interesting comedic genius and, as his career got better and better, he was recognised as a great talent, with a wicked sense of humour. I went to all of his
I get the feeling that Jacinda suddenly wants to be taken seriously. She has announced that there will be no wedding this year, thus presumably responding to the #Turnardern movement that said we want a prime minister who doesn’t spend all her time doing fluff pieces and photoshoots. She
Well, although I have lived in New Zealand since the 1980s, I confess to being a proud Brit today. Great Britain has, against all odds, thrown off the shackles of the European Union, and is going it alone. I am thrilled to see it, my heart is bursting with pride,
I know that some children suffer because they have deadbeat parents. I know some kids are just plain neglected or abused, or worse. But the problem that so many families have these days is paying the rent. And it isn’t going to get better any time soon. This year
I had just come in from staking my tomato plants, covered in dirt having had to pull out yet more of that blasted convolvulus weed, when I went to The BFD’s secret hangout on the internet (you need an encrypted password that is 217 characters long and the blood
The TV1 newsreaders were agog last week with the startling news that there might… only MIGHT… be a deal on Ihumatao about to be announced. They made a few implications and shadowed promises, but it was all speculation really. It is not exactly surprising that the main TV bulletin of
I never realised Alison Mau did comedy. This could explain why we find so many of her articles objectionable; she is trying to be funny, but we don’t understand the humour. This latest piece is a cracking work of comedy, however. All Alison needs now is a bit of
… and will never do so again. There were a couple of reasons why I stopped donating. The first was because so many charities are effectively political activists these days. If I donate to a cause, I want the money to go to that cause, not to political advertising or activism.
We criticise Jacinda and her government continually for performing badly, or not performing at all – think Kiwibuild, mental health, child poverty, and yet we fail to mention the things that she has done faster than anyone else. It took Helen Clark five years to fall out with Maori, and that
