Posts by Graeme Edgeler

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  • Hard News: Feminist as crazy old man,

    Sex where a boy is involved, and by 'boy' I mean a child under the age of consent, is rape, because by law, a child under the age of consent simply can not consent to sex.

    In New Zealand at least, this is false.

    "A child under the age of consent" can consent to sex in New Zealand, and if he or she does, then that sex is not rape, or sexual violation.

    That sex is still illegal, yes. But illegal because it is sex with an under-age person, not illegal because it is rape. "Age of consent" is a misnomer in New Zealand, it has nothing to do with consent - just age.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Honours,

    He also confirms bravery awards are likely for others - but can't say anything yet because they are still being worked on 20 months after the incident.

    Again, pretty standard.

    See for example, the NZDF http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/d/d8.htmllist of (military) recipients of The New Zealand Bravery Medal:

    Able Hydrographic Systems Operator Keran Mana DURRANT, Royal New Zealand Navy (Retired); and Able Chef Tyson Wiremu JOB, Royal New Zealand Navy - date of actions: 16 August 2004; year of award: 2006

    And:

    Staff Sergeant Dion Wayne PALMER, Royal New Zealand Army Education Corps - date of actions: 17 January 2004; year of award: 2006

    And:

    Sergeant Ngametua TETAVA (C748537), Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment - date of act: 17 October 1999; year of award: 2005

    (Among others)

    And the NZDF list of non-military recipients of the New Zealand Bravery Star, including:

    Peter James DEAM - date of act: 9 April 2000; year of award: 2005

    And:

    John Bell FENTON PENETANA - date of act: 10 December 1999; year of award: 2005

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Honours,

    My guess would be that those who put their lives on the line at the cool store would be up for one of our bravery awards, rather than a service award. They rank higher than the QSM, and aren't awarded only twice a year, but when needed.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Honours,

    So this is a lefty blog? I'm outta here.

    Pretty much, yes.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Honours,

    The honours list is always political as the office is part of the PM's department and the list has to be approved by Cabinet. This might indicate why Margaret Wilson and Michael Cullen weren't on it, even though retired speakers and senior cabinet ministers traditionally get something.

    Speakers do traditionally get something. However, I don't believe tradition dictates they ought to get something every year.

    Perhaps Margaret Wilson received a DCNZM a year ago. And then declined the option of changing it to a DNZM (with the accompanying Damehood) last August.

    You know ... just maybe.

    And maybe National was being so political about it all that the only people they wanted to give the Order of New Zealand to were Roger Douglas acolytes like Helen Clark...

    You're right. It's appalling that National have so politicised appointments to our honours lists =)

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Honours,

    I/S reminds us that ACT "demanded a position on the Honours and Appointments Committee as part of their Confidence and Supply Agreement." These people bring a whole new meaning to the word "transparency." They are transparently crooked.

    United Future and the Maori Party also have people on the committee.

    And why would we assume that ACT wanted the seat on the Committee for its role in honours, rather than it's role in appointments? The Honours and Appointments Committee is also the one that oversees government appointments to boards of SOEs etc.

    Among ACT's policies before the election (and long-time complaints during the course of the Labour Government) was one about meritless political appointments to boards - particularly those of SOEs, and other boards of commercial significance (e.g. the Reserve Bank). It thinks that government businesses should be run the same way as "real" businesses - by businessmen.

    ACT doesn't really believe that businesses (government or otherwise) should be run in the community interest (or rather, it believes that running them with a strong profit motive is running them in the community interest), and it wants to do what it can to ensure that Government appointments are merit-based.

    It's just that its definition of merit may well differ from that of many here. I am quite confident that ACT's interest in the Honours and Appointments Committee is all about the appointments and little to do with honours.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Honours,

    Actually it was National under Jim Bolger that ditched that MBEs and replaced them with MNZMs etc.

    It was a Labour Government that instituted the Order of New Zealand, however.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Field Theory: Stripped to the bone in…,

    I know someone who made a "It will always be Lancaster Park" T Shirt.

    I thought it always was Lancaster Park...

    At least, when the change was first made, it was only the stadium that was re-named. They played cricket cricket on Lancaster Park but you watched from Jade Stadium.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Field Theory: The NPC Manifesto,

    Announce the format now. If it's to be 10-6-10, so be it.

    But play the next season under the old rules. Lowest finishing teams get relegated. Everyone knows what they're playing for and you should get a hell of a season of NPC, where even the final weeks of games has several make-or-break match-ups.

    And if Auckland, Waikato, or Canterbury has a bad year and falls into the second division then too damn bad.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: Getting out of the archives,

    Did you say fish fork before?

    Yes, but on reflection I don't think I've ever been to a full dress dinner party with a fish course and appropriate cutlery.

    I once used a fish knife. It was for crumbed frozen fish, but I suppose people don't get to get their fish knives out very often.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

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