Taking The Bait

National's Murrio McCulliovalli certainly pulled one out of the hat when he lured Labour MP Shane Jones away from Parliament with a Pacific fishing ambassadorship. I was one of many who were completely surprised. Mind you, looking back I remember Shane having a permanent disgruntled look, which I took for being frustrated with being an Opposition MP in Parliament. It goes to show that Shane is indeed a superb political poker player or maybe duped again by his emotions. Hard to tell from here.

Lest We Forget

Sadly, the New Zealand Government has once again allowed another NZ owned company to be taken over by foreigners. This time it is the Japanese who are buying Carter Holt and its associated businesses (timber and pulp and paper). That means more profits going overseas and to make it worse, I also see that the buyout includes some funds from the Japanese Government. So what was the war last century against Japan all about then? I grew up being told it was to push back Japan extending its power to enslave us into "The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere". I guess that is where we are heading once again and this time China, along with other Asian countries, are at the table too and buying up NZ companies and land. Sad, but true and I hope it is a hot election issue.

Legal High Street Begging

Blood On His Hands?

Did NZ Prime Minister John Key pass on the names to the USA of a New Zealander who was killed by a drone missile in Yemen recently? John Key is also the head of the The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) - NZs equivalent to the CIA - and only he knows the truth about this murder.

Easter

Hey Jude!

 NZ Cabinet Minister, Judith Collins, has dug a hole for herself by not being very transparent about her relationship and meetings in China with the Chinese owned  milk company Oravida. Once seriously considered as a probable successor to Prime Minister John Key, she now has revealed another rather ugly side to her persona and skittled her chance for some time to come I would think.

Tiny Monsters Threaten NZ Again

This is serious stuff for anyone wanting to grow fruit in New Zealand. I live close by the area being searched after another male Queensland Fruit Fly was found in a bio-security trap in Whangarei. It probably came off a yacht, judging by its location and is the second one found in the same area. I am hoping that a breeding colony does not get established - mainly for the danger they pose for fruit growers, but also because an aerial and ground spray program might be needed over a large area to eradicate them. 

In that case I will have to leave until the spraying has finished because I have no intention to be put in danger from the inevitable side affects. Fingers crossed some cold weather will sweep in and put them off breeding. However, it is really nice and warm here right now and my fruit bowl hums with fruit flies if someone leaves the window open without the insect screen in place. I never thought I would pray for cold weather!  

Justice At Last!