House Speaker Gerry Brownlee has confirmed he has received a privilege complaint relating to Green MP Julie Anne Genter’s outburst in Parliament. “Members, I have received letters from party whips raising with me a matter of privilege in relation to events in the committee of the whole House last
The word for today is… proximity (noun): : the quality or state of being proximate : closeness Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : The fact that the star closest in proximity to our sun (approximately 4.2 light-years distant) is named Proxima Centauri is no coincidence. The history of proximity hinges on the idea
Rongotai MP Julie Anne Genter has apologised in Parliament after National accused her of intimidating and attacking one of its ministers in the House. A spokesperson for the Green Party told RNZ her actions were “unacceptable” and fell short of the standards they expect of their MPs. As MPs were
The word for today is… inveterate (adjective): 1: confirmed in a habit : habitual 2: firmly established by long persistence Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Despite how it may seem at first glance, inveterate has nothing to do with lacking a spine. That’s invertebrate, which came into English in the early
Ian Robinson celebrated a milestone by going skydiving, what makes this unique is that he did it on his 90th birthday. On Tuesday, Robinson took in the Auckland skyline from 18,000 feet in the air – it is the first time he has ever skydived. Footage of the jump over
The word for today is… demean (verb, verb): verb : to lower in character, status, or reputation verb : to conduct or behave (oneself) usually in a proper manner Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : There are two words spelled demean in English. One has a construction similar to its synonym, debase: where debase
Former media minister Melissa Lee says she may have been to slow to respond to crises impacting the media sector under her watch. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon sacked Lee as media minister last week, and booted her from Cabinet. Speaking for the first time since her demotion, Lee said she
The word for today is… satire (noun): 1: a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn 2: trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : Satire came into English at the beginning of the 16th century,
Last week, there was a significant break in the silence surrounding the health of King Charles, with the announcement he would be making a return to public engagements. If not a complete return to good health, then at least the first green shoots of recovery for the King, as the
The word for today is… dire (adjective): 1a: exciting horror b: dismal, oppressive 2: warning of disaster 3a: desperately urgent b: extreme Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology :Dire and fury share a history in Roman mythology, as each of these words is connected to the Erinyes, the avenging and terrifying deities
The debate over gender identity has gained in prominence in recent years and, to what will be my enduring shame, I chose not to confront it. […] That puberty blockers, hormone treatments and gender-affirming surgery are a mistake. That we are damaging and potentially sterilising children because of an ideology. […] Puberty
The word for today is… translucent (adjective): 1: permitting the passage of light: a: transmitting and diffusing light so that objects beyond cannot be seen clearly b: clear, transparent 2: free from disguise or falseness Source : Merriam -Webster Etymology : The same group of three letters appear in translucent, elucidate, and
In Australian author Greig Beck’s ripping Lost World Primordia series, a group of moderns are time-transported into the primeval South American jungle. They encounter all sorts of prehistoric beasties, all very much alive and hungry. But the ‘boss’ monster is a terrifying gigantic snake: the aptly named Titanoboa: 14m
It’s often said that all Western philosophy is ‘a series of footnotes to Plato’. Of course, Plato was the successor to Socrates (and if you pronounced that ‘Soh-krayts’, you’re clearly a person of culture and distinction), and the contemporary of Aristotle, but it’s certainly indisputable that Plato’
Last Saturday was what is know amongst cannabis enthusiasts as “420 Day”: a day when weed is celebrated by both users and advocates. Now, many readers will be wondering just how dope users can remember the day of week let alone a specific day of the year. Be that as
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