Posts by Paul Williams
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I'll defer to others, but I recall that honest opinion, at least, is not a complete defence to a defamation action.
Thanks for the link to Hodge's comment, he'll know how Vetich's crimes compare but the fact that the sentencing guidlines have a maximum custodial sentence of 5 years and Vetich got a non-custodial still seems very odd to me.
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What remains utterly unclear to me is how his sentence is so light? The proven/admitted assault seems sufficiently grievous to warrant a custodial sentence. That's, of course, an inexpert view - I'd welcome advice from anyone who was familiar with the sentencing guidelines. Veitch's behaviour since the assault and now post-sentencing is sickening.
Yes, like anyone who's convicted of a violent offence, he deserves to rehabilitate including by working again, but I'd've thought part of his rehabilitation would be, as Russell put's it, to express "real and final regret for his actions".
Also, someone else might have already said this, but I don't see why Graeme Henry's views matter particularly - he's well known, but Veitch's own situation proves that popularity does not equate to judgment.
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He has previously declined to attend other blogger drinks on grounds of refusing to fraternise with "the enemy" (yeah, seriously ...), so I don't expect we'd be seeing him.
I'd not rush to disabuse him of his prejudices... they might work to everyone's benefit.
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Brilliant piece Emma. I saw references to #amazonfail but am such a nOOb, I didn't get it until now.
Rant: this is basically why national biometric and such databases are such a shocking idea.
Yeah, I'm sympathetic to this view though there's an ellipsis in here I think needs elaboration.
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Eddie Izzard on God:
I believe in the six point five billion people, I believe in people and I don’t believe in the organised God upstairs because I’ve never seen anything organised that he’s done. He’s never done "today God’s arranged a whole party for everyone, oh shit God’s forgot the tea…"
You know, I’ve just never, it’s all haphazard, and then "God moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform". That’s just a fucking cover-all, it’s spin, that is religious spin ‘cause that means shit can happen and that’s part of God’s plan, to have cheese turn up on the third of July … and so I’ve decided lets us do it and if he comes down and says, "I was here all the time, I really am God and I’ve just been watching and I’ve been a bit lazy", we’ll say, "Fine, we’ve got a lot of stuff going already, come and join us, what can you do, mush?".
But until then, I believe in human beings and I’ll wait for him to turn up.
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Dude, I have actually had less passive-aggressive crap from people I have seen naked. Could you, perhaps, save this sort of thing for people *you* have seen naked?
Totally missed this thread, so glad I reviewed it and found this - goddam that's funny.
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He did do well, but I think this is a little harsh on Nick Smith. He was asked a supplementary question (so without notice) about an apparent inconsistency with a statement he'd made to NZPA supposedly saying the opposite.
Graeme, I think it reasonable to expect Smith would have thoroughly reviewed his actions over the last few weeks and would be on top of the details. Mallard's supplementary was predictable.
A little while later Smith came into the House, and sought leave to table the NZPA report, claiming that Mallard had completely mis-characterised it, and that there was no inconsistency.
I didn't see/know this so appreciate your point.
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__Isn't he shaping up well.__
Well, he certainly thinks so :)
Lockwood's now in a tricky position trying to get Minister's to answer questions but not having to judge the quality of the answer. I hope he manages it. He did well yesterday when Smith was flat out evading a direct question from Mallard re the ACC Chair. If Lockwood resolves this, and I genuinely hope he does, he'll have made a major improvement to our democracy.
Are you sure we can't get to multiculturalism directly. It would seem sad to me to think that we can't recognise the values/needs/responsibilities of all parts of our culture at the same time.
I thought that was what possibly what Matthew Poole was getting at and I'm inclined to agree with Mikaere's response - that biculturalism is a first step.
I don't agree, however, that our current system of parliament is fairly described as monocultural, unless it's monoculturally a New Zealand arrangement. To say it's monocultural ignores the long and significant influence of Maori on its development. I'm not just talking about the symbolic stuff, the use of Maori language and the Maori Select Committee rooms, I mean the contributions Maori and non-Maori have made to all the traditions, Standing Orders included. I don't want to overstate this, but the contrast between Australian parliaments and New Zealand's is stark and is a function of the people that have been in those chambers.
What's my point? I agree our goal should be a more inclusive and representative parliament/government and that progressively honouring the Treaty is fundamental. I also think we should note that progress has been made.
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Watching Helen's valedictory I couldn't help but remember how imperilled her leadership once was and how remarkably strong-minded and determined she was as PM. Her personal history is like an essay on the progressive reform of NZ. Surely one of NZ's finest, her career will inspire many.
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PAS may be interested to know that parliament is debating the RC report... they've clearly been following the lead here...