I am convinced that is a significant reason fro the high levels of suicide in this country and the rise in absolute poverty reflected in levels of homelessness and the growing numbers of people accessing foodbanks.
New Years celebrations are bitter sweet, reflecting past failures and future hopes. Except New Year today has lost its significance. It is a cultural hangover alienated from its origins as the celebration of mid-winter. While observing Matariki (literally the ‘eyes of god’) in Aotearoa celebrates the mid-winter as recognition of the renewal of life, it is as a cultural ritual detached from economic reality.
On Saturday, 24 December 2016, the New Zealand Government issued a Press Release, NZ welcomes UN resolution on Middle East Peace Process, in which Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced that, “New Zealand voted for and co-sponsored the resolution because it is consistent with long-held New Zealand policy positions on the Palestinian question”.
I’ve known Suzie for about 3 or 4 years. She has attracted intense scrutiny and harassment from the NZ SIS and GCSB because of her proximity to senior members of Anonymous and Occupy.
There’s a lot of talk, mainly from Kim Dotcom, that he’s going to restart the Internet Party. As someone who was in the engine room of the last attempt, I think the idea that the Internet Party could get 5% in 2017 seems ludicrous in the extreme.
The official story as to why John Key, one of NZs most popular Prime Minister’s ever, just decided to quit is as follows…
In a year where the Mainstream Corporate Media screamed about ‘fake news’ while drowning us in clickbait bullshit, we salute, cajole and crap on those we loved, respected and hated in the 2016 NZ media sphere.
When these sanctimonious pricks in the corporate mainstream media dare complain about ‘fake news’ let’s remember how much their shit reporting actually contributes to that fake news.
In essence then the National led Government has washed its hands of any direct involvement in providing housing in Tauranga and a well-respected charity – the IHC, has provided it with the cover and the excuse to do this.
Sleepy New Zealand might feel a world away from the political storms brewing in the US and Europe. We are not as isolated as it may seem. The NZ election might not be til next year, but 2016 showed important possibilities and dangers for those who want to see progressive change.