Posts by Paul Williams
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
One of the unique things about New Zealand is that we are not a country that's come about through civil war or a lot of fighting internally.
I just knew that chump James Belich was a fraud, thanks Mr Key. Bring on Sinclair, King and all those other faux-historians too!
-
I don't know for certain Susan. They certainly look like the same tree - not like Rata for instance - but I can't be sure they're the same genus.
They were flowering in August... does that answer the question? The lookalike trees in Sydney seem to flower other than at Christmas too; I'd put that down to the different weather?
-
my tip is to walk around your neighbourhood. i did this in melbourne and found one tree. then i just pinched everything that hung over the fenceline.
Perhaps in Melbourne, but not in Sydney I fear. I understand they also grow in Brisbane - I find this odd as I thought they were generally found in colder climes.
Apropos nothing in particular, I discovered there's lots of Pohutukawa in the southern beach suburbs of Perth. Lovely that. I've no idea what the WA locals call them. In the eastern suburbs of Sydney, Bondi et al, they're just known as a "Christmas bush" (bloody Aussies).
-
So, who's up for repealing the Citizen Initiated Referenda Act
Not me; as ineffective as they may be, they're one of the few tools easily accessible to the general citizenry I'm only sorry they've been largely captured by wingnuts.
Bit of a non-sequitur but maybe, if it's not too middle-class, we could suggest compulsory civics classes...
-
dc_red; I don't disagree.
Clark will be seen as one of, if not the, best PM Labour's produced and one of the best we've had from either party - rightly so IMO.
However, the failure to move a number of timeservers along was an error (and from what I understand, an error many within the party commented on). Another narrative, possibly overstated, is that Clark needed some of these people to bolster her control over Caucus. I don't believe this frankly. She might've needed them in the early days (including in 1996) but with Cullen and others, she's controlled Caucus by share dint of talent and application.
-
nominate a top five list: Praiseworthy Accomplishments of the Helen Clark Years.
One that's so far escaped mention is the huge additional investment in industry training. In 1999, the then National government had kinda forgotten about the scheme they designed which was languishing. Following the change of government, a full legislative review and a major increase in funding, participation increased 2 - 3 fold. Industry training directly and unequivocally increases workforce productivity, profitability, innovation and competitiveness. Clark and Maharey directly, despite some opposition (not from the Opposition mind), led this reform and ought to be recognised for it.
I'd also add that Labour law reform were a major move in the right direction and also improved our overall productivity capacity.
Not strictly advertising, but I think they'd be well-advised to try and get the Phil Twyfords and Grant Robertsons in the frame, especially if it's the same frame as Tony Ryall.
Not just because he's a friend, Robertson, I completely agree but fear it's too late.
I'm not a member of the Party, but if I was, I'd be very pissed off that the likes of Di Yates hung on as long as she did and prevented more renewal. It might not have made enough of a difference on its own, but it surely would have improved the Party's position regardless of the election outcome.
-
Andrew, great - thanks. This sounds like a good project to commence with my youngest. Small courtyard-based gardening is all that's possible (planning bucket-based tomatoes for summer).
-
And I'd also point out that just because you might set out to get a shot of your boobs with a famous person, for a payout, does not mean you can't be raped.
Agreed.
I only meant to note that Shand's advice was probably as much about about the risk of being baited into a fight as it might have been about anything else.
-
And it’s the little things I miss. Kumara. Australian sweet potatoes just aren’t the same.
Too right they're not! And where's all the Feijoas for crissakes? Thank goodness for the Phoenix brand of drinks.
Andrew, can you start growing potatoes by this method anytime of the year?
I've got a simple recipe for puttanesca which can be very quickly prepared and gets pretty good reviews:
- 5 to 6 good sized cloves of garlic, diced
- generous amount of olive oil
- two anchovy fillets
- one tin of good quality tomatoes, diced (or around 8 fresh tomatoes, blanched with skins and seeds removed and then diced)
- at least a teaspoon of good bottled chillis (fresh is great if you can be bothered)
- at least 300 grams of olives (best to start with quality kalamatas and take out the stone)
- tablespoon of capers
- pasta of your choosing (penne's good)
- parmesan and bread to serveIn the olive oil, gently saute garlic, anchovy and chilli. Add the tomatoes and bring to simmer. Start the pasta around now. Add coarsely diced olives. Reduce to by about a third. Just as you drain the pasta, add the capers to the puttanesca. Serve with parmesan and some bread.
You can play around with the garlic and chilli to suit tastes but I'd recommend against excluding the anchovy; without them, the dish lacks a little something.
With appropriate chilli modifications, kids love this dish!
-
__It often seems to me that Scott Campbell wants to be Duncan Garner.__
When he grows up, perhaps.
I've been out of the country for 6 years, but I'm totally surprised that that's long enough for Duncan to grow up...
... or perhaps your talking about Campbell?