WHENUA FARMLAND SALES ARE BOOMING IN NEW ZEALAND – MILK, MEAT, WOOL & AGRICULTURAL TAKINGS + MINERALS + WATER
Land grabs news: According to Reinz data: 101 more (or a rise of 36%) farms in New Zealand sold in December. Of 382 farm sales in the period of three months end to December, the median price per hectare was $23,070. It was a 12.8% price rise on same time last year.
What that means? Rich folks and conglomerates of rich folks, got themselves farms for Christmas.
Figures given: Overall, there were 1,454 farms sold in the year to December 2012. This is a jump of 21.9% up on 2011. In the lifestyle properties development market: Auckland was up 17%, Nelson 14% and Waikato 13%.
In other news: The dairy industry (milk supply chain) is also lifting again in the world. (more…)
NGATI OTAUTAHI IS A VERY BLESSED CHRISTCHURCH IWI IN NEW ZEALAND 2013
It is fair to say, that when reviewing the Maori political scene of New Zealand in the last seven years, (thus the political scene of NZ entire), that one stand out feature can be said.
Fact no.1: $2b in payouts to be shared for land claims in Christchurch.
Fact no.2: Ngai Tahu (the original founding parent tribe) of Ngati Otautahi (Christchurch City) are doubly blessed. (more…)
“CHINA’S” SOUTH CANTERBURY MILK DESIGNS… YILI ADS + ODG TAKE OVER BIDS… NZ WATER OUTPUTS ON THE LINE? DECEMBER 27th 2012
South Canterbury where Jenny Shipley is based, is a region of New Zealand that has announced that Chinese dairy firm Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group wants a slice of New Zealand’s water, minerals, protein yields. Specifically the Chinese company wants NZ’s dairy product. Yili has desires and designs for a $214m dairy plant, if it’s bid to take over Oceania Dairy Group (ODG) is approved in NZ by the ever dubious O.I.O office.
If Yili is approved to take over ODG than it seeks to access ODG’s land resource consents. Part of that design would be to build the plant over 38 hectares in South Canterbury. The news was posted after discussions with the O.I.O on the Shanghai Stock Exchange notice board on Dec. 18.
If given consent, June 2014 is when the plant aims to be operating at 60% capcity in NZ. Full capacity would see 47,000 tonnes of dairy product for export expected in the 2016/17 year.
What I think: Dairy is a resource that is water based initially. (more…)
MAORI ARE THE EQUAL MIDDLE NIPPLES – MAORI NEED TO BE INCLUDED MORE IN KEY BANKS OBFUSICATION POLITICAL NATIONAL ASIA-PACIFIC HEADLINES – NEW ZEALAND
In looking at New Zealand’s most read newspaper’s website, it is fair to say that Maori do not feature enough in news agenda setting and political agenda setting mindsets. If The Herald is anything to go by, NZ is only flashing a white nipple today and has forgotten about its Maori nipple. It’s also mainly a 55+ white nipple being flashed as NZ’s look.
Where the missing nipple is, in ‘NZ’s topless photos’ look, we’ve painted on a look of diversity, as body painted replacement nipple pastiche, to hide our racism concerning Maori exclusion. I say that in jest, though that’s how news is looking from the Herald and The Beehive today.
The look is every ‘race’ has been encouraged by NZ’s PM to feast off the back of Maori, like a gang bash of vampiric white cannibalist-led bullrush. At bullrush, people have turns being ’it’, (the target) yet not under Mr Key. He has regressed Maori reality under his rule and needs to rectify this track record quite substantially in the next part of his leadership. Then bullrush as national sport taught to children, can be enjoyed more in a less racist light. Economically, this is not what Maori signed up for when welcoming trading partners into NZ. So, we need to stop this smug behavior, or at least curb it.
What I mean is (metaphors aside): How do we change this when Maori wage inequality, economic access equality opportunity in the wider NZ economy and Maori unemployment is at an all time high in NZ history since the 1930′s? A sideswipe of cattiness towards Maori, is ultimately a sideswipe to all New Zealand citizens, just a few years down the track. Pakeha (or new immigrants) don’t realize this, yet history has told us, that is the case – hence doing this post today.
In the 1930′s though, Maori owned a lot more land than Maori do now. Today, never before in history have Maori been more at risk than in today’s current New Zealand and global climate. Pieces of the NZ Herald’s website run throughout this article. I love the fun and silly news tone of the paper (way better than a year ago – less crime, less grief, less dark torrid tone – a good thing it’s picked up, as it was like living in a cemetary when you read the news in NZ, before the more up beat tone that now features, thank Chrissendom!), yet it’s just that Maori have gone missing in a good light (or at all) from the visual representation of the news. Millions of dollars are spent on creating news generating headlines and stories each year – millions of tax payers dollars are – so we need to realign this spend with the law and include Maori as equal treaty partners of The Crown, in such newsy spending sprees. Who makes those decisions of ‘the spend?’ and more Maori need to be on ‘that board’ who is.
How do we change the current look of total Maori exclusion in mainstream flow of culture both economically and in reality of daily life, to reflect more a people, observing the spirit of the treaty of NZ’s founding document concerning Maori people?
Cheeky John Banks $250k donations from German chubby teddy bears with hot Asian baby momma wives, for Mayoralty races or politics for example, aren’t as important an all consuming issue to garner news coverage over Maori water equality recongition, with water rights useage and flows.
Our nation’s religion and sports cults hobbies [sic] like rugby and cricket are fun, yet if the Maori language is not being spoken enough by all New Zealanders or new immigrants are not being strongly encouraged that it is a key part of holding a New Zealand citizenship to further the Maori language, then what good is the Maori haka’s real message outside of a football field televised setting? Also, what are immigration officers ensuring as quality control for New Zealand when ensuring new citizens ‘observe a Treaty of Waitangi in spirit’ focus, as a rite of passage to acclimating right into NZ? These compliance tests need to be done from NZ government’s payrolled peeps into this area concerning Maori and immigration in NZ perhaps about now. They also need to be carried out on NZ enterprise right across the private sector too. That job, will create a lot of employment and grow the economy too. Maori are creative. Giving Maori a stronger chance of showing that by clearing away the greedy racism needs to be a top priority of NZ at this time, before an indication to foreign investors that NZ is a safe investment is sounded from NZ.
We need to try harder to include Maori content more across all levels of NZ society and our media and our govermental policies and political agenda and economic setting games. At the same time, Maori have to lift the game and be more assertive while showing a globally relevant and conscious face that is media representation worthy on a daily basis. It would be equally unfair for Maori to expect press, or increased profile, if not living as leaders worthy of it. So we all need to work across the board more to create a more inclusive Maori-friendly and inclusive playing field.
We need to work hard in ensuring this on all sides concerning Maori’s strong future in NZ, the South Pacific, Asia-Pacific’s next wave of wealth creation for a win-win for all Kiwis and foreign investors being taught to include and not exclude Maori too.
Chinese (or Asian investments) take overs of New Zealand companies are of concern to New Zealanders too yet in the same manner New Zealanders fear a ‘foreign’ take over, is similar to Maori fears of the same experiences past and present.
Bringing Maori to the fore also helps to evaluate any concerns on such issues. To reduce Maori’s voices means leaders want to sell NZ off and direct the economic flows only theirs and their friends way. Good? Not good? To be expected? Or does more need to be done to shove back at such games largely going unquestioned in a rhetoric of distractions being employed to do it? To hoodwink Maori out of fair economic recompense and earning capacity through racist stealth, is not a matter to be proud of. It is a matter of shame that must stop.
At the time of writing, protecting Prince Williams wife’s nipples privacy is viewed as important. Yet in New Zealand the issue is not as important as the raping of Maori resources, (or not addressing a habit of doing so, in the past adequately enough) or denying Maori rights to access economic opportunity more fairly. There is a running list of priorities to focus on and address, that NZ should not be distracted from.
Protection of Maori’s future place in NZ, needs to happen not only in New Zealand but also with what Maori are capable of achieving economically as entrepreneurs for people of the South Pacific. A true leader elect of New Zealand will protect Maori interests more so than Prince William for example, protecting Kate’s nipples’ privacy. That’s the look, NZ wants to see happen for Maori, is the Windsor tone on Kate’s nipples. All media need to be informed of that. Or should be.
William’s family’s lead on protecting Kate’s nipples privacy needs to be the same tone taken when protecting Maori’s future interests economically in and from New Zealand. How can our government be more like that, when protecting the Middle nipples of NZ, ie: Maori people and Iwi aspirations who are legally The Crown’s true treaty partners. Yet when you look at statistics, the equality is not present, suggesting that The Crown has not been protecting its ‘middle nipples’ at all in the manner a Windsor would protect their wife’s nipples per se. So, that attitude needs to change from NZ leaders from the top down. The racism is a cancer to the health of NZ cultural life and also a real guilt free economy.
To obfusicate (a game of politicians only working for an elite minority not the majority they were elected to work for in these times), is to suck out attention away from stablility of Maori inclusion economically at this time. Okay, granted we are not as skilled at that game in NZ as say, Elena Kagan of the USA is, yet we do a darn good job at the art of obfusication fobbery and avoidance to detract from more important issues, especially those concerning Maori inclusion.
Can we sorta include Maori more?
Don’t get me wrong, I know obfusication is a legal art of politics and economics that we appreciate, yet it shouldn’t be carried out at the expense of Maori. We can evolve the art in other ways now, perhaps.
To obfusicate at Maori expense, is a political tactic that only will make New Zealand more Chinese, Russian, Wall Street and Lloyds of London, German and World Bank owned. NZ will not be stronger, as those culture’s haven’t reigned in their fossil fuels consumption rates, so where is their next fuel meal coming from in the years ahead? Think about that if those games are entered into, at the expense of Maori.
Therefore, the game being played will make NZ vulnerable (more so than Lady Gaga’s fan club name) of being chomped by the foreign investors whims, once in that net and trap. They all will benefit off NZ, yet NZ citizens won’t win long term. The countryside won’t be as we know it in our great grandchildren’s times. The foreigners (consumers far away) won’t care either.
Maori are the only test New Zealand has of ensuring a New Zealand that is actually owned by New Zealanders. Maori are the longest gatekeepers at ensuring NZ is as we know it. We need to show more respect to that, not shunt Maori out of the way in secret trade deals when as equal trading partners they should always have been present at all major deals concerning NZ. We need to make that a new trend in NZ and live within a treaty spirit that reflects this new trend. A restoration of historic wrongs, finally being addressed and changed.
When Maori go ‘missing’ in our media, it’s a sure sign that exploitation of New Zealand is occurring on all sides. Honesty from government would issue: Pirate patches that should be worn by all New Zealanders as a reminder as to what’s actually going on and that citizens of NZ are conscious of that fact, more visually with Mr Key’s policies that tend to not create, (he’s lazy and big on talk and dividing NZ) yet his policies just want to bust up stuff and then sell it off once people are too devastated to fight the sales.
Okay, that was harsh, yet there’s truth in that style of brutal sale strategy that has been employed in NZ too. Any Kiwi living outside of NZ has witnessed that happen, outside looking in, to a nation Kiwi citizens love. It’s been a bit butchered of late.
When Maori aren’t present at the main negotiating table (or this is reflected in news agencies as well), it’s a sure sign that the wrong nipples are on display for the wrong reasons of politics and global engineering. They are greedy, lying, cheating nippes on show. Maori need to stand side-be-side in all main trade and political decisions. That should be the new look of NZ. So where does this leave Maori or New Zealand as we know it?
Why are the most talented Maori shackled, silenced or being economically persescuted, marginalized, downplayed by the current government on many key areas? Why do smart Maori return to NZ (smart Kiwis too), only to be put through a grill under this current government? Clearly, they were not included for a reason. Their lack of inclusion, a huge slur on NZ’s economic strength planning in future years. A few greedy people, will need to answer to the thwarting tactics of this game too, in years to come.
You see, what you did to someone else, comes back on you ten fold. So, how do we change the karma as a result that will surely hit NZ, and make that more safe too?
Such thoughts whizz through my brain as I witness the selling off of New Zealand, by someone who is a first? generation Kiwi and his team.
It makes me think, with such results occurring, if NZ was to get a school report card by an external reviewer, a fair comment on it would be: “why didn’t New Zealand just lease a PM from China for five years instead? Wouldn’t you have got a similar result?” would be a fair criticism worth Key’s team discussing, to go back it in and do the rest of the match better. It makes me want to ask Christchurch City too, what they think of this panda-like track record they gifted NZ from the Southern City. Really!
When I see such games being played, I do laugh too though as these are difficult times for leaders. They often get zero thanks for the good they do.
Another thought is: Does the Beehive need a Panda in the front yard of the Capital green lawn to go with New Zealand’s next three years headlines? Wouldn’t a real Panda be cheaper too in detracting the heat? The amount of bamboo the Panda chomps could be a good metaphor at our rising debt pile unless we all (not just Mr Key and his team of peers) get more creative in building a stronger export economy.
Of course I’m semi-joking. It is an honor to have a Jewish PM. Even though his ability to look after the original ‘Jews’ of NZ, (eg: Maori) needs to show way more signs of improvement perhaps.
[The paper is fun today. I want to 80% totally affirm it, not grump about it. It's very cool. Just where are our Maori bros and sistas aye?! Let's see the disturbing trend of 'everyone else except Maori being featured in news' headlines. It's an unconstitutional representation of NZ until we become more active in creating Maori heroes as a norm and being prepared to include and showcase their inclusion more. Let's maintain the fun (awesome! :) while being more mindful of representing Maori in a good light and more often, please. Thanks for reading and hearing].
The Herald’s 5 Top healdines by popularity today are listed as being young royal bikini scandals and rugby hits as news generators:
As important as absent Maori news are stories like: NZ’s Ross Sea efforts ‘a disgrace’. A Maori headline today is an advertisement link to The Listener Magazine. It is: Tau Henare as Lockwood Henare - not just yet. Lol.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 18.9.12~
TOP BUSINESS STORY – NEW ZEALAND’S LIQUID ECONOMIES & REAL ESTATE – GOVERNANCE, CULTURE & THE ENVIRONMENT
Out of the hundreds of business related stories on this Hollywood entertainment news-fusion website, the top business story being read today is: LIQUID ENERGY ASSETS, DAIRY ASSETS, REAL ESTATE EXPORT SALES ECONOMIES – FONTERRA FARMERS, MINING & NEW ZEALAND.
It combines some of the best things we know as “the Kiwi life”. It also defines the current government’s focus as real estate acquirers and sellers to foreign buyers in their time in office. So coporate governance is the story fused with how the environment (natural and cultural) can withstand the pressures of the world wanting New Zealand’s most valuable resources. In truth though, New Zealand’s citizens are the best things of New Zealand we have. When they smile… we see our culture on display in the faces of Aotearoa. Hard to beat. Read the story.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific.n 15.7.12~
LIECHENSTEIN- MAORI FOREIGN AFFAIRS FAX – AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND – 28.6.12
Maori Liechenstein – Foreign Affairs Fax- New Zealand. 29.6.12.
He mano te hinga ki tou taha, tekau hoki nga mano ki tou matau; otiia e kore e tata ki a koe.
Ka titiro kau ou kanohi, ka matakitaki ki te utu mo te hunga kino.
Ko koe hoki, e Ihowa, toku piranga! kua waiho e koe te Runga Rawa hei nohoanga mou:
Kahore he kino e pa ki a koe, kahore ano he whiu e tata ki tou teneti.
Ka korerotia iho hoki koe e ia ki ana anahera kia tiakina koe i ou ara katoa.
Ma ratou koe e hiki ake ki o ratou ringa, kei tutuki tou waewae ki te kohatu.
Ka haere koe i runga i te raiona, i te neke: ka takahia e koe ki raro te kuao raiona me te nakahi.
Ob tausend fallen zu deiner Seite und zehntausend zu deiner Rechten, so wird es doch dich nicht treffen.
Ja du wirst mit deinen Augen deine Lust sehen und schauen, wie den Gottlosen vergolten wird.
Denn der HERR ist deine Zuversicht; der Höchste ist deine Zuflucht.
Es wird dir kein Übel begegnen, und keine Plage wird zu deiner Hütte sich nahen.
Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen über dir, daß sie dich behüten auf allen deinen Wegen,
daß sie dich auf Händen tragen und du deinen Fuß nicht an einen Stein stoßest.
Auf Löwen und Ottern wirst du gehen, und treten auf junge Löwen und Drachen.
Kia ora.
[Photos - Image 1: The Fog, Principality of Liechtenstein. Image 2: A sculpture of a cow stands in Verduz, Liechtenstein. Source: Our Surprising World website].
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 28.6.12~
HOW FISH’S 20% PROFIT QUOTA TOWARDS IWI IS FAIR ON WATER RIGHTS & TV3′S NEWS COVERAGE OF SOE ENERGY ASSETS SALES
I just had a vision of electric fish swimming in waters of Iwi lakes, rivers, oh… and profits derived from water jumping into Iwi bank accounts too, every time a switch for a “light bulb” was turned on.
Memo to the Prime Minister and his ‘friends’: “You are misguided in assuming water rights of Maori people” are “yours” or “The Crowns” -as if they are “yours” alone. To talk this way is illegal behavior. It does not reinforce to NZ citizens or newly arriving immigrants the legal bonds we have to honor Maori people through continual inclusion, in this country.
Needless to say such talk of ‘Maori or Iwi blindness’ on legal and political matters, is extremely greedy aiding foreign investors interests over Iwi’s rights in NZ. Not cool. The model the PM proports, as a mathmatical equation is “non-Maori people unite plus foreigners gang up together on the stock market” and bank.
It’s too exclusive of being inline with the spirit of The Treaty of Waitangi that acts in good faith of Maori’s ability to be included in NZ’s future direction adequately. This is written where the poverty divide behind Maori people has seen inequality grossly increase towards Maori, under the PM’s watch. For the health of Maori if I put my Maori glasses on, if he is going to talk like this, then he needs to change this talk smartly, or, he needs to go!
And anyway: Since when was our PM a Te Heu Heu type or more recently, a Todd or worth more than a thousand year history in NZ of an Iwi? Geez! Unbelievable nonsense!
- – -
TV3 news reports: “A legal bid by Maori isn’t likely to stop the partial privatisation of four state-owned energy companies but it could delay the sales process, Prime Minister John Key says.
Parliament on Tuesday passed legislation allowing the Government to sell 49 percent of the shares in Mighty River Power, Genesis Energy, Meridian Energy and Solid Energy.
The Maori Council and Ngati Tuwharetoa are threatening legal action to stop it.
They’re arguing the sales breach the Treaty of Waitangi and violate their water rights. (more…)
LIQUID ENERGY ASSETS, DAIRY ASSETS, REAL ESTATE EXPORT SALES ECONOMIES – FONTERRA FARMERS, MINING & NEW ZEALAND
In Mining, Sustainable Prosperity, Stimulating Business Growth & Wanting Farmland Capital News:
This morning on New Zealand TV, we had some very good interviews:
Blondes in green: Hollywood action star and local girl, Lucy Lawless has turned green-thinking eco-warrior. She was speaking from Rio’s Earth summit. Amy Adams, a new MP, versed in a bunch of boys cliches also appeared to give a view on balancing a green looking country with sploshes of liquid cash from mining monies. She also got shalted a tax-payer funded trip to Rio, to give the interview some credibility. Both girls can be seen as two sides of a coin on fossil fuels economies effects. Both gave good comments. Both wore green.
What did they share? Both concentrated on New Zealand’s potential to export energy. Amy is arguing more for New Zealand to realise there will be a risk to the environment, yet to free up fossil fuels mining exports to the world, helps us “make a bunch of bob.” Lawless spoke more about green energy techonologies in New Zealand, being exported more around the world (for example geothermal, solar, Lanzatech typed companies knowledge etc). To export the knowledge, would save the planet’s longevity longterm, so Lawless’ views are timelessly good, with her argument to grandstand on. Lucy also raised the issue, that there’s a feeling in Rio that politicians are in BigOil’s pockets on fossil fuels mining, hence their coms perhaps need to be tracked and transparent – for their own health’s sake and that of their families. As fossil fuel addicted nations depend on wrangling oil supplies, to turn a light or computer on, oil is a tempting, highly seductive and dangerous world. Lawless is fearless on the issue. She seemed honest. Perhaps, why people speaking on energy should always be balanced out with people like Lawless. I appreciated both views! :)
Stephen Joyce: Super Ministry – A lot is riding on Stephen Joyce’s political eyes (vision) and talent to build an economy. His new ministry merges departments that are listed as future drivers of the economy (towards job creation in valuable areas). His number 1 forte is that his ministry is structured like a hub of business knowledge. Cross-pollination is what many claim Joyce brings (more…)
FISH STOCKS, FRESH WATER, AIR QUALITY, SUPERFOODS PLANNING IN THE YEAR 2050
Estimates ahead news: “Our global population will grow from seven billion to nine billion by 2050, and all will need food, water and clean air.”
The same things we need now, just that by then, the quality of all these things is uncertain, unless we change our piggish ways of consuming too much, too quickly.
Solutions: 22 scientists warned last week of rapid and unpredictable environmental changes. (We are already experiencing these).
The conservative camp of brains believes the answer is for humans to do less of everything. (That’s not what the government tells people on a benefit in NZ). The radical camp believes technology and human ingenuity will prevent catastrophe. (If the corporate nature of greed doesn’t stuff that up).
Technology and innovation has already saved us from plagues, low crop yields, water shortages, reliance on fossil fuels and more. The report via the BBC also sounds a bit fishy. One suggestion (that is probably highly likely) is: Conservatives argue that we should reduce consumption, waste, population, fertiliser use, pesticides, fishing, etc., and in this way reduce our species’ influence back to being just another part of the biosphere, rather than its driving force.
To read in full, conserve here.
What this means: Countries that can grow our own grass, crops, regenerate safe water supplies, produce abundant food supplies all year round, replenish fisheries supplies around coastlines of minerals rich soils, are winning. We need to negotiate stronger in trade deals ahead. Abundance is the guide to provide our shared future.
Major lifestyle changes need to happen in many parts of the world.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 17.6.12~
LET ME UPGRADE YOU: RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE SUBDIVIDES LUXURY NORTHLAND PROPERTY, HELENA BAY BEACH
You know, you give that OIO lot an inch… and they just want their own soccer team on the coast!
Geoff Cumming wrote an article today about Russian billionaires ‘slightly cheating’ their Overseas Investment Office applications to secure prime coastal land in New Zealand. A Russian billionaire Alexander Abramov (who made his money in steel, metal extraction, coal and electrical – Forbes) said he wouldn’t subdivide a coastal property and was granted ownership at Helena Bay. Now he’s changed his mind.
Once billionaires are successful in obtaining the prime coastal land, they then behave like Russian wrestlers, bending all the rules on the mat. Is this cool?, just to be expected?, not cool?, a case of money talks and no one else can stop that? or, are billionaires allowed to choose their future neighbours? albeit part time when they are in New Zealand, by subdividing land plots without indicating they would prior? And also, where is the soccer club going to go?!
I have a friend who works on this building project currently, he says he’s never had a better boss. (They’ve only met once). So go figure! As not to sound like a jellyfish minus a Russian billion of my Maori-Kiwi own, let’s let Geoff’s words outlay this news story.
“Environmentalists believe council planners dropped their rulebook to help a Russian billionaire enjoy his stunning Northland hideaway. But if Alexander Abramov keeps his promises, Helena Bay Farm may yet prove the sceptics wrong.
Helena Bay is, from any viewpoint, a special place. What lifts it beyond your average piece of “unspoilt” coastline is the view across the bay to Mimiwhangata, a peninsula of steep pasture, jagged edges and rocky outcrops. It was spared from development into a Gold Coast-style resort in the 1980s when owners NZ Breweries cut a deal with the Government and it is now a conservation and marine park.
Holiday homes in the bay are mostly confined to Ngawai (Teal) Bay, in the southwest corner. The northern headland is largely development-free; a mix of bush and grass farmed for 100 years. When Alexander Abramov came across it in 2006, he set his sights on it.
The sale of the headland farm to the Russian billionaire (approved by the Overseas Investment Office in early 2010) – and what has happened since – bear some familiar hallmarks of the flawed processes that have seen swathes of green coastline marred by development.
There’s the pleasure palace on the beach, allowed by the Whangarei District Council without public notification. (Sounds fun!). 
(more…)
DAVID SALMON – IWI & ECO IMPACTS OF OIL & MINING DRILLING – TO “GIVE CONSIDERATION TO” MORE WISELY
Snow falls on Christchurch and Te Waipounamu today. I think of my friends in it, hoping they’re staying cosy or those who are not having dinner at no.10 Dowling Street this week, who are still living in tents – in this cold after the trial by quakes. Perhaps because of them, the selfish thought occurs to me. With weather this cold, maybe New Zealand should keep all of the gas, coal, oil we have and not sell one bit to others. We may need it to keep Kiwis housed cosily for future generations. Preferably in cosy safe houses, not tents.
We’ve just watched the Queen of England’s 60th celebrations in her reign on Britain’s throne. BP, the oil company, that has UK pensioners funds invested in it, got hit by the $20 billion bill that the Miami oil spill cost the company. Sadly, the environment not only paid, but UK’s pensioners allegedly paid for the spilled oil too from this fund. Without oil going through BP, pension funds for Britain and our elderly friends of the UK are spartan. Where will BP get oil from? Anyway, in the context of such an economic climate where ‘oil dependant poverty reversal’ is at stake, I write today. The editorial in yesterday’s national paper wrote on behalf of ‘the oil vampires’ (BigOil & associates and banking buds) all hovering around NZ’s coastlines. Printed today on grey wood pulp is:
“Offshore oil drilling is haunted by the accident in the Gulf of Mexico two years ago that caused one of the world’s worst oil spills. The well gushed for three months while efforts were made to plug it. A rare accident such as that is a lesson for all concerned, it is not an indictment of the industry unless it happens too often.
New Zealand needs all the mineral wealth it can find. It cannot sacrifice it all for a pristine environment on land, still less beneath the sea. It is a matter of striking a reasonable balance. Ocean prospecting is expensive, internationally competitive and not often rewarded. The law should not add unnecessarily to the odds against success.”
I’ve written before on this blog, that I’m not an anti ‘oil activist,’ as most of us appreciate what cars can do in New Zealand, heating homes and the joys of air travel and freight too etc. Yet, all Kiwis are pro the green. It’s in our DNA, our reo and our identity for Maori and many Pakeha-Kiwi too, in our spiritual DNA inexplicably linked to our well being as equals of The Crown. So, as our best/ worst leaders (depending on how you want to look at things) continue to get cyphoned up the vacuum into other leaders’ power webs created to cyphon our energy - the fangs of the world’s lusty drills have never hovered over us so heavily in our beautiful nation’s history. It is a nation where Polynesian ancestors of navigator vikings discovered this land for us all. To them, if we are humble enough, we still say “thank you for that” to this day. Their descendants we will extend this same spirit of gratitude with just dealings that mark the Kiwi spirit of a belief in justice.
At the moment, promises are being breathed into the ears belonging to the Kiwi hands, ’Oil, gas and mineral prospectors’ need to sign documents, the majorities of New Zealand’s populations have not seen. The documents will enshrine in law (backed up with military agents’ force) to extract the resources coveted and needed from NZ.
It’s something that perceptive people know is occurring right now. The land and ocean feels it, as the landscape and marine life will never be the same again. The people of the land, who are not over-medicated (therefore not numb of soul), we feel it too. So, it’s only fair to also republish this article that appears in the New Zealand papers today.
The article is titled Oil Survey Eco Impact Overlooked Say Lawyers:
“Lawyers challenging Brazilian oil company Petrobras’ deep sea oil exploration licence say the Minister of Energy failed to consider the impact on marine life of seismic surveying. (more…)
MEMO TO JAMES CAMERON – STOP!
Hollywood 3D film director James Cameron, has just bought more land in the Wairarapa. The land is “sensitive” land, meaning it may not be suitable for sale. It raises questions as to why the NZ government is selling Mr Cameron more land.
Memo to James: Okay. Stop now.
New Zealanders aren’t that mean. We’ve accepted people as friends before who’ve owned zero of our land.
Meanwhile: China wine warning for NZ exporters
[Photo of James - wearing a suit and tie - Associated Press].
~Posted by Horiwood Blog.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 31.5.12~
BURGER FUEL EXPANDS INTO THE MIDDLE EAST POSTING 24% PROFIT RISE
15 months ago, a Saudi Arabia (US based buyer) was approved by the O.I.O office in New Zealand to purchase 12.5% of a 34,000 hectares land block, of central plateau North Island whenua (land).
In today’s news a burger joint franchise called Burger Fuel has announced a profit rise in the Middle East of its burger chain stores.
The burger joint has eight restaurants in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. It’s looking to expand into Qatar and Egypt too. Profit shares were up 24% in the last year to $10.3 million. Total sales was $38.1 million. The firm’s net asset position to March end was announced as being $4 million. This figure includes cash reserves of $2.3 million with zero debt.
The burger franchise closed its Kings Cross store but it still sees Australia as a market to compete in. For now though, the Mid-East is the main international growth focus of the chain.
In the GFC years, there’s always going to be honest money in high protein food – regardless of what spooky stories economists say.
[Reporting: Christopher Adams].
~Posted by HoriwoodBlog.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 22.5.12~
US BILLIONAIRES BILL & CAROL FOLEY WANT TO BE WINE NEW ZEALAND WITH A BIGGER LAND FOOTPRINT
You want a piece of me–Britney Spears lyrics.
In news that’s stirring up the waters for wine growers’ circles of New Zealand, US billionaires Bill and Carol Foley (no relation to Eddie Murphy) have hopes of turning water into wine from New Zealand in a bigger way.
In today’s Kiwi newspaper, “An American billionaire has signalled his intention to buy an NZX-listed wine company as part of a huge expansion in New Zealand.
Bill Foley, who already owns a large Wairarapa estate (a rural province where Sir Peter Jackson and friends live), wants to buy The New Zealand Wine Company, spelt out in an announcement made this morning in an agreement with the Australian bank, ANZ National Bank that has advised NZWC to sell.
After trade investors were targeted, the merging of NZWC with the Foley Family Wines New Zealand wine business was the conclusion ANZ bankers advised. Foley has already talked to Wine Spectator about the deal.
The article said: “In New Zealand, Foley is putting the finishing touches on merging his firm there, which includes the brands Goldwater and Clifford Bay, with the New Zealand Wine Company.
If the New Zealand government says “yes” (and why wouldn’t it, as this NZ government is intent on selling almost everything), the deal will put 80% of the combined, $46.5 million company in Foley’s hands. New Zealand Wine Company owns 250 acres in Marlborough, mostly Sauvignon Blanc, and produces 300,000 cases a year. The merger will double Foley’s volume in New Zealand.
The report also notes: ‘New Zealand Wine Company has suffered extensive losses in the past year, evidence, some analysts say, that there is a glut of wine being made in the country.’
Obviously, a better distribution network is needed to distribute the wine abroad if there is a ‘percieved glut’ of wine in the market, causing ‘extensive losses.’ China’s middle classes are singing out for quality wines by the boatloads. If you live in the USA that’s all that you read in papers. (more…)
EQUALITY PARTNERSHIP RECOGNITON – THE CROWN & IWI MAORI ON SOE SALES BILL FOR TRIBUNAL HEARINGS
In New Zealand equality news: The Crown is still struggling to see Maori as their legal and legitimate Treaty partner, in the approach the NZ government is taking with the process of: the suggestion of New Zealand energy assets sales.
A good marriage is when one party wants to talk, the other party will listen. This is what equality and fairness in a legal marriage and fair partnership looks like. If this tone is not set from the outset of any suggested share float, no other third party investors should ever think there’s going to be integrity in the management of these same companies on offer.
All investors want a win-win guilt free share float. That way everyone gets blessed in the harmonious flow of a good marriage.
In Kiwi news: “The Government will not delay the passage of the bill allowing share floats of state-owned enterprises until after the Waitangi Tribunal has held its urgent hearings on the matter.
Ministers are insisting such sales would not affect the rights and interests of iwi and will not set aside any shares for future settlement.
But SOE Minister Tony Ryall says the Government could be prepared at a later stage to “stand in the market” and buy shares for some iwi as part of Treaty of Waitangi settlements.
The Government’s refusal to budge on its timetable means the tribunal will be under pressure to hold its hearings before the law is passed.
Submissions must be in by June, the hearing will be in July and the tribunal plans an interim report in July.
The hearings follow a claim by the Maori Council and 11 others that the sales breach the Treaty and a more general claim that the Crown has denied or violated rights over freshwater and geothermal resources.
Mr Ryall told the Weekend Herald the Mixed Ownership Model Bill would be back from select committee by July 16 and passed soon after that.
It needed to be passed no later than August to enable the first partial float, of Mighty River Power, to be conducted in the third quarter of the year, as set out in the sales timetable.
“We’re not considering delaying progress on the bill,” he said. “We have a timeline we have to stick to.”
Mr Ryall said any decisions from the tribunal would not affect the legislation but could affect government actions after the law was passed.
“We don’t think the sales affect Maori rights and interests and we think that is supported by current case law.”
He cited the Ika Whenua case in the 1990s when the Government planned to transfer dams to several energy companies and the Court of Appeal declined an application to stop that transfer, saying Maori rights would not be diminished by it.
The Government would be putting that position very strongly in the tribunal hearings, Mr Ryall said.
He said the history of the Government had been to address such issues on an iwi-by-iwi basis rather than a pan Maori basis.”
- – -
Um… what’s the rush here? We are in a GFC. The UK for example is officially in recession. They’re not moving anywhere fast. It’s not like we don’t have time to talk about it some more – here in New Zealand. The world’s population is increasing, not diminishing – therefore energy will always be in demand. Food needs are increasing too in the world, so energy powered hot houses could garner good growth for New Zealand’s economy in areas with land but colder climes to produce more, for the days ahead. Maori should be in on all levels of such expansion plans ahead, fairly and justly with the resources they signed in good faith to develop with The Crown as equal Treaty partners and… equals. It’s all about unlocking Iwi potential fairly to grow the New Zealand economy in ways Iwi may not have been invited to, before due to conceited oversights.
There’s so much scope here, to get this right.
At the moment, the tone of the news story (in the “quote marks”) reads as if others hidden in the bedroom are being preferenced by The Crown before Maori. It looks sneaky. If Maori took the same stance, we’d sell The Beehive first (also a state asset) without much prior notice, and erect an oil rig on the front lawn as a museum monument of long-standing pig-headed arrogance, gross conceit, racism, sneaky snatch and grab manouevers for elitists and the illegality of greed - if this approach keeps up.
So, that needs a complete rethink on this assets sales process so far.
Shocking! And why is The Waitangi Tribunal always so behind the eight-ball on timetabling? Is The Crown not giving earlier and more transparent notice in the course of timelines and process? If so, that’s totally sketchy too and needs to change.
[Reporting by Audrey Young].
[Note - At the time of writing, Maori men live ten years less than white New Zealanders. Maori are currently locked within a partial poverty divide (doubly compounded by a GFC-fueled bubble). Many Maori are paid 20-30% less for doing the exact same jobs as non-Maori... so the The Crown needs to cut the crap here - on this issue and recognise Maori's legal equality status more. (more…)
O.I.O TARANAKI LAND SALES STORY TO TAG OIL & APACHE IS THE NO.1 STORY TODAY – MAY 9th 2012
The story about the Overseas Investment Office of New Zealand agreeing to sell Tag Oil and USA’s Apache’s oil ventures companies Taranaki land in Inglewood, is the most popular story being read today on Horiwood.Com. The story clocks in at twenty-to-one to the nearest competitor.
It’s safe to say, people don’t want to see New Zealand sold out or for the environment to be ruined either for energy extraction – being shipped away in exchange for often over-printed paper money – at such a huge cost to the earth and people of New Zealand. Read it here.
(note: Tag & Apache are merely early case studies as companies highlighting this trending issue).
UPDATE – Tag Oil’s Drew Cadenhead denies claims TAG has fracked in Inglewood at all and that the land purchased by TAG in Inglewood was grossly overstated by a previous news report. Read his story here.
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 9.5.12~
SNEAKY AMERICA & TPP TRADE AGREEMENTS – TINO RANGATIRATANGA & SELLING OUT NEW ZEALAND ASSETS, ENVIRONMENT & CITIZENS’ SOVEREIGNTY VIA SECRET PARTNERSHIP DEALS SUCKS!
Because trade-offs made by the Government won’t be seen for four years. And because New Zealand already has sold off into foreign ownership a higher proportion of our national assets than any other developed country, transparency in trade deals is paramount to the sovereignty of New Zealand citizens.
Trade deals once used to be so simple. They were, you need better food produce and clean water. If your people want it, we sell it for a reasonable price. If you want oil, we might consider selling you some. It doesn’t mean you come down and wreck our landscape, pollute our waterways, try and buy too much of our citizens’ land or try and swap oil for a bunch of pharmaceutical drugs and products we don’t need either.
Fair trade also means, be transparent with the citizens of New Zealand – respecting the owners of the assets, rather than being sneaky for only a ‘few people’s benefit’ (a minority), while majorities get screwed over in the sneaky aspects of the trade deals. In New Zealand we talk about things that are on the family table. We don’t let one or two people, act like everything on the family table is their own to trade. To even enter such a set up of trade negotiation traps, is a gross misrepresentation of what New Zealand people are about.
America seems to be the no.1 culprit in wanting secretive trade deals with New Zealand, divorced from the process of transparency of New Zealand people being given the chance to decide America’s (or the world’s) whims, wants and desires (or designs) on what New Zealand has. This should change. Otherwise, no cigar on trade deals.
Guest Commentary today is provided by Bryan Gould, who looks at how New Zealand government, & NZ’s courts, lawyers, judges, academics (our think tank) are being marginalized in the way Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal negotiations and contracts are being structured. In New Zealand we say that current TPP negotiations processes greatly impair New Zealand’s Tino Rangatiratanga (or, in Kiwi terms, ‘our sovereignty.’). Therefore we need a better agreement that supports our cultural values that are not up for negotiation, when any talk of trade negotiations are upon us, that will not breach our rangatiratanga and kaitiakitanga (guardianship role for future generations of Iwi and Kiwis) regarding NZ’s resources management, ownership and development. TPP at the moment is currently illegal to our rule of law – and certainly is not in line with New Zealanders’ values.
Let’s take a look at how “sneaky deals” threaten to undermine democracy of New Zealand citizens over rich global citizens wants, whims, wranglings – with what Bryan Gould shares today.
“Getting lawyers to agree on anything is notoriously difficult. So when 100 retired judges, prominent legal academics, lawmakers and leading practitioners from New Zealand and overseas put their names to something, it’s time to sit up and take notice.
What is it that raises the concern of so many eminent lawyers? It is the prospect that our Government is about to trade away – in secret – an important part of our powers of self-government. (more…)
DRUDGE REPORT FEATURES NEW ZEALAND CRAFAR FARMS NEWS VIA CANADA & YAHOO
Canada & Yahoo are in overdrive today to ensure that all Canadians know of the Crafar Farms land sales to China’s Shanghai Pengxin in a deal reportedly worth NZ$210 million ($170 million).
The Drudge Report of the USA features the story titled China Purchases Spark Land Grab Fears In New Zealand on it’s main homepage.
The sale of the farms in question are also being reviewed by the courts of New Zealand before a sale officially proceeds. Alan Crafar the farms previous owner also may secure funding from India’s banks to buy back the farms too. If he was to buy them back, Crafar plans on building his own milk powder processing facility to process the milk to export to India. It’s an interesting case. Read it here.
In the Canada news version, the story is pitted as “exposing the dark side of the New Zealand psyche” in regards to alleged racism towards possible Chinese buyers. If you were really covering this story angle correctly, you’d have to really cover how the farm lands were acquired off Maori tribes of New Zealand originally to do that particular “dark side of New Zealand” story angle any true justice.
Our racism in New Zealand, all stems from racism against Maori people and how land and resources have been acquired from Maori and whether New Zealand’s justice system is adequately allowing Maori to develop with the available resources in just ways as our laws outline. We are still working on fixing that first issue of racism here in New Zealand and teaching new immigrants not to exhibit the same racist attitudes towards Maori and resources of New Zealand, still being exhibited today in many ways.
That’s more the issue rather than ‘xenophobia pastiche stories.’
Incidentally, Maori Iwi have also expressed an interest to buy the farms. New Zealand has had Chinese settlers in New Zealand for over a hundred years. Their descendants are awesome people. The Mayor of Gisborne is just one outstanding Chinese-Kiwi example. He speaks fluent Maori.
Many white New Zealanders still have to learn the Maori language and even pronounce Maori place names correctly. Many new Chinese immigrants actually do this better than many white New Zealanders… so go figure! :)
~Posted by Horiwood Blog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 7.5.12~
ENERGY ASSETS SALES ARE REALLY LAND SALES – AN EXPOSE OF CANADA’S GARTH JOHNSON’S OIL WRANGLING WAYS IN TARANAKI
Neil Reid writes in The Sunday Star Times:
“13,000 hectares of farmland sold to a company heavily involved in fracking.”
The land in Inglewood was classified as “sensitive land” meaning it has Maori interests attached to it, still being negotiated by The Crown.
The Overseas Investment Office however, still approved the sale of the land to TAG Oil, under the proviso that to talk about the sale was a no go as it was “confidential.”
Landowners on the East Coast of New Zealand have been refusing to give consent to Tag Oil of Canada and their North American partnering company, Apache Corp to use their land. Still the O.I.O allowed the sale of Inglewood lands to go ahead.
Tag Oil and Apache have managed to skirt the normal resource consent process for oil mining by approval of the O.I.O.
Gareth Hughes - a young politician watching ‘energy’ for The Greens said, “We have such a liberal investment regime that is too easy for these companies to come down to New Zealand and frack our land, then send the profits offshore and we just have a mess left behind when they go.” He called the sale “an outrage.”
Overseas cases reveal that animals are dying, farmland is no longer useable due to toxicity levels and peoples health declines where high fracking is occurring in certain regions of land. Yet still, the O.I.O let the sale of the Inglewood lands go ahead.
In the report that Reid obtained by the O.I.O on Thursday about the TAG-Apache sale, the O.I.O ruled that the deal was ratified for “economic interests.” The O.I.O also wrote that the deal would “advance significant government policy or strategy.” All other documents as to the wheelings and dealings leading up to how the O.I.O came to decide and negotiate are deemed off limits under the “confidential” category.
O.I.O’s Annelies McClure confirmed that Minister for Land Information Maurice Williamson in conjuction with Associate Minister of Finance Jonathan Coleman approved the land sale. TAG deny that fracking has occurred on the land as yet.
The O.I.O office also said, “The O.I.O didn’t consider delaying its recommendation to ministers until the parliamentary commisioner for the environment’s report into fracking was issued. In any event, the recommendation was submitted to ministers before the PCE announced her official investigation into fracking.” (more…)
13,000 HECTARES OF TARANAKI FARMLAND SOLD BY OIO TO CANADA’S TAG OIL & USA’S APACHE CORP – WTF!
Today I read in The Sunday Star Times that 13,000 hectares of Taranaki farmland have sold to Canada’s TAG Oil and the USA’s Apache Corp. Their unsustanaiable business plan for Taranaki claims: “there’s potential for thousands of wells. We could extract up to 14 billion barrels of oil.
I typed in the words “Anger as OIO lets fracking firm buy Taranaki Farmland ” on google, what comes up is this from Massive Magazine:
“The water that flows down from Mount Taranaki and through the pristine dairy country that surrounds the tiny settlement of Kapuni is not fit for human consumption. But it’s nothing to do with what’s on the land. It’s what’s happening below it, and it has locals afraid for their health.
Locals say the Kapuni Stream is contaminated and they are blaming the toxic poisons being used by oil companies in an extraction method that has drawn criticism around the world – hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a process in which liquids laced with chemicals are pumped into the ground at high pressure to force oil to the surface (see diagram ).”
And – “One guy from the oil company told me that they were having difficulty in getting rid of their drilling fluids,” says Sarah Roberts. “Their … waste fluids are even sprayed on to farmland.”
What are we doing in New Zealand?! Does everyone at the OIO deserve to get fired?! Who exactly makes these decisions at the OIO? Can we have a list of names please?! Clearly we are being vampired?! Crimes being committed against the environment too.
What responsibility do oil companies have when these results are being found to occur on the land that remains?! How can politicians smile and say “there isn’t a problem” when results aren’t showing this with oil drilling in NZ? TAG provides 3,500 jobs. Yet what are jobs in this moment vs. land that is rendered unusable to future generations? Or cancer rates increasing as a result of any energy companies totally irresponsible actions?
~Posted by Horiwood Blog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 6.5.12~
“ECONOMIC TREASON” IN THE AIR – ASSETS SALES HIKOI REACHES WELLINGTON – 5.5.12
A hikoi (public demonstration in the form of a protest march) reached New Zealand’s capitol, Wellington, today. The March is called “Aotearoa Is Not For Sale.” This photo was snapped by Doug Sherring at a time in NZ where over 36,000 hectares of prime forestry lands alone were sold by the OIO to Saudi Arabian buyers and other foreign buyers in the last 14 months. The current government intends on selling more assets owned by all New Zealand citizens. NZ has been for sale during that fourteen month time frame mentioned in a big way. A lot of our land mass is now foreign owned. These protestors want to stop more of NZ being sold off.
Most New Zealanders surveyed do not want New Zealand owned energy companies or State Owned Assets (that all New Zealand citizens own collectively) sold. All New Zealand citizens own these currently, although the nation is overspending in reality.
Politician Winston Peters called the move “treason and betrayal.” Protestor Mike Smith conveyed a sentiment of ”economic treason.”
At 61 votes of 121 votes in the House of Parliament sitting on this issue, one politician will need to vote against, to give the protestors what they want. Most New Zealanders are with the protestors on this way.
The sale of the assets would most benefit the 55+ age group of New Zealand citizens, (more…)
JUDITH BARAGWANATH’S LIPS – BLACK CAVIAR FASHION STATEMENTS, NEW ZEALAND
The brightest stars in (and settling into) New Zealand have always referenced the Iwi-Maori Star System. It sits at the center of New Zealand culture of anyone who ever touched down here or within our ocean-flanked borders and now too our e-commerce governed – sovereign state as New Zealand citizens. Organically grown, Iwi-Maori culture remains one of the most spiritual cultures in the world, a living symbol of what is right for humanity and who our citizens care enough to help.
Kiwi socialite and fashion icon in New Zealand Judith Baragwanath‘s name is rating on the website today.
Here’s a Kiwi story: At 16, I used to work with Judith many years ago at a cafe on Summer Street, Auckland where I lived while studying and working at Ricks Ca[g]e Americain as a chef and at Summer Street restaurant as a waiter part time. Always returning home each night covered in garlic and cooking grease, I worked six days a week back then.
Looking back, I knew nothing, yet there I was doing the mahi with a Northland rural Kiwi smile in ‘the bright lights, big smoke’ of NZ’s largest city. To me, it was another surreal world to what I was used to. As a country farm-raised kid, back then, I was actually quite terrified by all of the sophisticated adults around me. Then along came a real character in Judith. In her I saw how Kiwis made getting over cultural-cringe a statement. She always worked at that, to make New Zealand feel more likeourhome, our place, our part of the world. That gig, she perpetually rocked it!
Always swilling a glass of champagne on the job and dining litely on fresh Pacific oysters and caviar, Judith paid tribute to Iwi Maori women (who wear moko on their lips) by making her own fashion statement her trademark “black lips.” She was different, as she was a fashion model who referenced one aspect of Maori culture as her own fashion statement of being a Pakeha Kiwi. With attitude galore, she did it in a postmodern Parnell-urban way.
In this manner as an artist, she showed her respect to the wahine (women) who had walked before her in the great land called Aotearoa New Zealand. She had cheeky Pakeha chutzpah.
Baragwanath makes me think of those who wear the art of black caviar pearl nail polish and lippy to fashion and Kiwi sports matches around the world. A rising trend worldwide, now incorporating moko culture. The rise of Maori affection is perhaps becoming more evident on a trends tracking level of global consciousness. Perhaps a hint of Russia in Ciaté Caviar fashion and salty textured style is what the trend reveals too.
[Music interlude - The crazy awesome kids earning Kapa Haka degrees in the art of Kiwi fierce, freedom of expression, live performance in ‘Haka Theatre’ that has branched out now to become an official degree of study. The students perform in a bachelors programme created for youth to excel in haka. The course is called Nga Mana Whakairo a Toi. The idea for the course came from the huge success of the Arohanui (Love as limitless as the ocean wide and deep) theatre production. View at their pic above. (more…)
July 6, 2012 | Categories: Aotearoa New Zealand, Art, artist, Athletes, Attitude Determines Altitude, Auckland City, chutzpah, Costumes, Cross-Cultural Narratives, Cuisine, Cultural Cringe - How We Got Over It, Cultural Imperialism, Culture, Fashion, Fashion Stylists, Fisheries, Founding Mothers - Aotearoa New Zealand, High protein foods, Hospitality Industries, Hot Face of The Day, Integrity, Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Rights, Invasion, Ironsands Drilling, Irony, iwi, Iwi Biz Partners, Judtih Baragwanath, Kaimoana, Kaipara, Kapa Haka, Kirsty Hill, Kiwi Sexy Symbols - The Girls, Kool Kiwis, Live Music Artists, Maori, Models, New Zealand, New Zealand Citizens, New Zealand land sales, New Zealand Metals Assets Sales, New Zealand's Got Talent, Ngā Mana Whakairo a Toi, Northland, Olympic Games, Olympics, Olympics 2016, Pakehas, Parnell, Performing Arts, Phosphate, Pop Cultural Commentary, Property Rights Protection, Prosperity and Wellbeing, protein, Russia, Soccer, Socialites, Sports, Sports Horiwood, Sports Psychology, Sports Talent Management, Star System - The Art of Aotearoa New Zealand Celebrity, steel, Superfoods, Symbols, Ta Moko, Te Reo Rangatira, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Teamwork, Teen Dads, Teen Moms, Teen Suicide Watch, Teenagers, The View, Theme Parks, Trade, Trade & Commerce, Trade Agreements, Treaty of Waitangi, Waitangi, What's Cooking in Your Kitchen for The World?, Women | Leave A Comment »