Category: imported_weekly

It started on the balcony. Numerous blows from the barrel of a sawn-off shotgun rained down on the teenager's head, shoulders, legs and arms, leaving bruising and deep cuts on her body. Not satisfied, Fenton dragged her into the house by her hair. Inside, he continued the beating, in front of three terrified female flatmates and their young children - aged 10 months to 3 years. As the blows continued he told them, “You are going to watch her blood splatter”, and warned them what would happen if they tried to escape. (NZ Herald, 19 Jan 07, view )

This year will see more of the government’s expensive initiatives to combat the so-called threat of anthropogenic (man-made) global warming passing into law. The bill to introduce the carbon trading scheme which exposes New Zealand to the volatile international price of carbon, and the energy strategy bill designed to increase our reliance on expensive renewable energy sources, are now in front of Select Committees (the deadline for submissions is Feb 29 - to see details click here). Both of these pieces of legislation will significantly increase the cost of living as the escalating price of power is passed on to householders. The Kyoto Protocol debt, estimated to be as much as $2 billion, also hangs over our heads.

Three years ago the government established a joint project with Local Government New Zealand to investigate local authority rating levels and to determine whether there are affordability problems. Their report claimed that there was “little evidence of a systemic affordability problem”.

This first newsletter of election year is an opportune time to reflect on the sort of government we would like to see elected in 2008.

This season’s greeting comes with my sincere best wishes to you and your family for a safe, happy and healthy Christmas and New Year. Thanks for being such a loyal reader.

In his book Liberalism, written in 1927, distinguished economist Ludwig von Mises observed, “The task of the state consists solely and exclusively in guaranteeing the protection of life, health, liberty, and private property against violent attacks”.

The first results from the 2006 Census have just been released. The $70 million census, conducted on March 7, provides a ‘snapshot’ of who we are as New Zealanders. And for the 429,429 people who were fed up with being categorised according to their ethnic ancestry and called themselves “New Zealanders” in the census, you will be pleased to know that that you are now New Zealand ’s third largest ethnic group!

Trying out new things is a normal part of everyday life. Whether it’s a new recipe, a quicker way to get home, or a different system of tracking emails in the office, if the initiatives work and produce positive benefits, they are continued, but if they don’t, they are rejected.

The resignation of Don Brash this week has signaled the loss to New Zealand of a political leader who displayed a courage not usually seen in politics. Dr Brash spoke about race relations in an open and frank manner that has now become quite uncommon. These days, under the present politically correct regime, saying what you believe about controversial issues can lead to job losses, a failure to secure contracts or funding, a missing out of promotion, and so on. That doesn’t mean that concerns go away - they simply go ‘underground’.

It is an indisputable fact that the earth’s climate is constantly changing. Scientific data shows that the earth’s temperature has been several degrees warmer - and colder - than it is today. What the future holds is difficult to predict in detail, but there will be cooler periods and warmer period, as well as the inevitable floods, droughts and storms. While humans have survived ice ages, there is no doubt that warmer periods are easier.