Now for some good news

Key said there was "not necessarily a high level of understanding" about the sales programme among the public

The Government has exercised its mandate and passed the asset sales legislation.

Excellent news!

It must suck to be greenies seen to be wasting taxpayer monies on a referendum that didn't even get to see the light of day. As for the other time wasters on the left looking for traction. On anything...

Deny, Deny, Deny.

The New Zealand Rugby Union said it was unaware that an U20 player was being investigated by Cape Town police after the alleged rape of a woman.

Whilst the cock crows, the usual stance is adopted. Deny everything. If that's to be believed, then it's been a bloody long weekend, since the SA Police have already done the forensics.

Next will be the whitewash - "He was showing such promise as a team player". Situation normal with our Thugs on Tour.

suggesting women raped by sports stars may be partly to blame - Andy Haden

With all the recent news of routing questionable cultures at the ACC, if ever there was a need for a change of culture, the NZRFU displayed it in spades yesterday.

Send them a bill ASAP

Greenpeace and an East Coast iwi could face a hefty legal bill after their application for a judicial review into the awarding of major oil exploration permits was rejected

A humungous bill would show the nutters their place in the Realm of New Zealand. And while you're at it, send one to that lawless Lawless, on top of locking her up.

Drill it, mine it, sell it!

Dannevirke to get funding for Viking statue?

All the permissions are in place, but funding I believe is still an issue. And the project seems to have lost momentum for funding.

Now that Tauranga gets $150K for a 'monster' dog statue courtesy of the taxpayer, I think it only fair that a rampant Viking is similarly funded, putting Dannevegas firmly on the tourist map. A precedent has been set and the thought of Prince Billy doing the big reveal with Kate would give sense of occasion.

As long has been the case, detractors of the 'pagan' statue, fundy god-botherers and descendants of stone-age pagans alike, will no doubt have their vitriolic input.

How about making the funding happen Minister of Economic Development? After all it is a community project.

Overstating the case: "Teachers know best"

do not want the funding provided by the decile system to be abandoned.

But they say the "stigma" created by publishing decile rankings should be eliminated.

The first is the instinct to keep information out of the public eye.

Typical of entrenched public servants. Justify the need for extra dosh by hiding results.

the unflattering light in which they often cast parents.

Parents are deemed unable to distinguish between schools that provide an education that will give their children the opportunity to gain the best-possible qualification and those that are not providing the best for their pupils.

Teachers talking up their case protecting their entrenched jobs for life for under performers. Unfortunately as we parents and grandparents know, the actual results show otherwise, as we daily see the results of illiteracy.

The sooner the raw data on National Standards is made available and league tables are privately published without Ministry or teacher spin, then parents will be able to distinguish between the real performers and non-performers.

Herald editorial

Taking the initiative

if he wants to keep having a bad relationship with the education sector he's going the right way about it

At last, Key is leading from the front. Attack is the best form of defence. Particularly with recalcitrant unions. Four years late.

the government's picking another fight with the education sector when it comes to having league tables outlining schools' performance on national standards

Although teacher unions are always fair game for winding up, league tables are long overdue and a mere sideshow to the main course. Decile ratings go part of the way, but do not expose the below par teachers that infest the low rated schools.

Remind me when the first asset for partial sale goes on the auctioneers block?

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn"

driving me into the arms of Winston, like Gone with the Wind

Implied meaning of the day. In the 'Never say never' world of the beltway, words that will surely come back to bite.

Stuff uses American spell checker

'glamorised'

Racing to the bottom in the sub-editor stakes, obviously missing in at least one of the 3-R's, Stuff confirms usage of an American spell checker.

Newspapers used to set literary standards in the Queen's English, but sadly not these days.

Winston Peters has interests of New Zealanders at heart

"An immigrant can arrive here at the age of 55, pay no direct tax for 10 years and receive full New Zealand super at 65", Mr Peters said.

"A young couple from China, where there is a limit on family size can bring in four elderly parents who don't have to work here in the 10 years before they turn 65, yet they will all receive full New Zealand super."

"New Zealand First is looking very closely at the situation. We believe the welfare of New Zealanders comes first."

Desperate for media attention via a xenophobic dog whistle, Winston is after all a nice man at heart. He says 'the welfare of New Zealanders come first' and that his party is looking closely at the entrails. Nice!

Winnie, would that be the same elderly ex-immigrants who do indeed subsequently gain New Zealand citizenship and thus are entitled to super? And your bribe Gold Card?

Political wildlife caught in flagrante delicto

Carefully concealed, placed well away from areas frequented by people and packing motion sensors the camera was designed to record the wildlife of the forest

You couldn't write stuff like this...

Ranginui Walker message: Maori are dumb

you don't have to be very smart to be a doctor.

"It only takes an IQ of 100 to succeed in medicine. It's not rocket science."

Straight from the horses mouth, the message is 'our people' are of a lower IQ than others. Well I never! Did he just say that? As expected the slobbering radio hosts lapped it up.

too few Maori doctors could be fixed easily.

The university dropped the bar to a B-bursary for Maori.

Everyone else needed an A-bursary or better

He expects ivory towers to accommodate such failings with a two tier entry system. One based on merit, the other based on skin colour.

... aim was simple:

"To get a more representative sample of the population into the profession of medicine."

Representative sample? No mention that some of that sample was not up to standard.

If I look closely enough, there'll be a clause for apartheid in that bloody treaty.

And they want workplace equality?

had seen tears and tantrums ... is so dramatic and it happens a lot

very, very angry ... are like bridezillas ... so quick to turn on each other

what they feature is the bitchiness, the backstabbing, and they highlight that as normalised behaviour

This week, the would be belle of the school ball. In your face next week, knowing it all along with 'their rights', no doubt demanding equality in the workplace.

Your future 'normalised' co-workers. One wonders why would anyone wish to employ those burdened with that extra X chromosome.

Baa to the Euro

Moody's downgraded Spain's sovereign debt three notches from A3 to Baa3 ... just one grade above "junk status"

If the Titanic sinks, it takes everyone with it, even those travelling in first class

Spain appears about to follow Greece down the gurgler. Greece is arguing over the musical accompaniment, whilst Spain is furiously rearranging deckchairs. Other PIIGS watch on in awe.

Both have hit icebergs, it's now just a race to the bottom. Betcha Key's sphincter is puckering!

Petty little plans of councils

Bill of Rights:
A woman baring her breasts in public is not legally offensive

Tauranga Wowsers Councillors:
City councillors’ determination to prevent another Boobs on Bikes parade through the city is enshrined in clauses in the new draft Street Uses and Public Places Bylaw 2012 approved on Monday

Steve Crow:
There is still a Bill of Rights in New Zealand, and as far as I’m concerned it supersedes any petty little plans of councils to feather their own nests with whatever they want to do.

Boobs on Bikes is on hold this but Crow may 'I might do it just to thumb my nose at them'.

And in commentary:

all the TCC staff lined up at the window toe to toe, nose to glass ... for hours ever day awaiting the return of!

Note to self: Get popcorn in.

Impartiality of the elected?

I was there all of yesterday and I'll be there all of today; on my chuff in the Council boardroom, listening to dairy farmers argue that the cost of protecting the environment from their activities should be borne by all Southlanders, not them alone

... tempers fray and vision blurs.
Internecine battles break out. Names are called.

Reading between the lines, you've gotta wonder about the impartiality of elected officials.