Wellington=====I wanted to be there this weekend but I had to settle for this, with Perdy!

Sometimes we 'want' something but don't actually get it. For a range of reasons, mainly because I didn't get my act together, I wanted to go to Wellington for the Labour Party 'Congress,' but----oh well--I didn't. Maybe it 'would have been a bit miserable if I had rushed things and then driven down, complaining to no one in particular about an 'impending cold (You know the ones, that are sort of creeping up on you, but still haven't quite--'presented.')and then being a big sook for the rest of the weekend. I woke this morning, feeling OK, so I decided that I should take Perdy somewhere 'nice.' WE drove--well actually, I did, because even though Perdy thinks she's a clever Jack Russell, she hasn't got her full licence yet. Yes, People, dogs are allowed to drive in NZ! Put that down to our agricultural background. I mean---everything's about the 'farm.' After driving around, quite randomly, we arrived at Mission bay, the closest I get to anything 'spiritual, today. Well, in a sense nit was---just let the picture 'speak for itself.' Tell me this wonderful vista in the middle of NZ's biggest city, isn't 'spiritual!

Snippets from New Zealand-- again---and expect more!

Here's a few hints about what's making the news today on NZ: 1) NZ is a rugby mad country but on the way to the park to walk my dog, I noticed that the traffic was quite light. OH, I thought---must be the World Cup Soccer (LOL--that probably pisses off those of you who refuse to call the beautiful game, by that name). At the time of writing, Brazil was winning 2-1. Columbia hopes---I just hope that the mad buggers don't kill one another in their capital city of things go belly-up! Beautiful game with some nasty under-tones! BRAZIL ARE THROUGH! Am I excited?---not really. 2) The furore over the 'lack of sentencing' for the son of the Maori King is still causing ripples on social media and elsewhere within NZ. The rest of the world---well---you couldn't give a stuff! Actually, it doesn't really impact on the succession as the 'boy' has apparently made it clear that he doesn't want to be King! His older brother is being groomed for this position and that is probably the best outcome. Now--leave the kid alone -----He will get the message about his behaviour from his family! 3) The NZ Herald is often criticised as being politically biased. I hold to that view for the main part, but to give them a little credit, they have put up a generous exposé of the man who 'would be PM,' David Cunliffe. I have glanced over it and it seems to be reasonably sensitive to him. Not too bad, Herald, but I still don't trust you to report things in a totally balanced way. Let's face it, you are the 'face' of 'conservatism in NZ. 4) Isn't it wonderful when it is news that people who we loosely call 'Head bangers,' you know the ones who attend heavy metal concerts, (Yes, that genre still has lots of fans---not all of them old buggers!) often get 'head injuries, due to their exuberant antics that often involve a bit of bodily contact, especially of the 'head variety.' Jeeze, what a bloody incredible scientifically researched result of 'choice.' Jump up, get pissed and God knows what else, and---you complete the picture. Deafness is the least of your worries! Enjoy. 5) The Labour party is having its 'Congress' this weekend. Mmm---that's a new take on descriptive tags. Just make sure we get more of what we have seen in the last week---policies and less of the other games. Are you listening Trevor? OH, David---no more apologies please! Watch out for that man, Key---he will try and move the focus this weekend---back to his being in the headlights. Hope he can't see the truck coming! www.authorneilcoleman.com

Interact with me!

I am looking for people to interact with me---that is----talk to me---react to what I say. Yes, I know, my blogs are pretty random. I seem to cover lots of topics, ranging from my book to commentary on the news that is happening at any one time. I enjoy politics so there are lots of postings re the upcoming NZ election and also from overseas. Please read them and ---yeah---give me hell---I thrive on it and I can have my mind changed by a good argument---bring it on! www.authorneilcoleman.com

Snippets from New Zealand.

What’s making headlines in New Zealand today? Just a few snippets, folks. 1) It seems that Kiwis are playing a part in unravelling the great mystery of the planets---The Big Bang Theory or what? Yes another ‘Earth-like ‘ planet has been discover a few 100,000 light years away and apparently in ‘space terms,’ that’s real close. Given that there are billions of stars and plenty of systems out there, it’s nice to know we played a part in bringing one to the world’s attention. OK, the temperatures on this little number may not give you comfort—but, hey---we may not be alone. Talk about ‘six months in a leaking boat’ to get to NZ back ‘then’ will pale into oblivion compared to the time needed to travel to our---- ‘nemesis?’ 2) There was a time when it actually took time to bully someone—you know the rumours, the whispers and the innuendos took effort and time to ramp up unit the recipient heard that ‘someone didn’t like them ‘ or was calling them terrible names. ‘If something ‘bad’ happened to you, it could be weeks until your parents knew anything about the ‘incident,’ but how things have changed. With the advent of social media---news travels in a flash as does the propensity to ramp things up. A dangerous side emerged over the drunken assault of three young ladies in Dunedin the other day. Now the girls are being revictimised as people threaten them online. Cowards at least and low-lives to boot. Not everything about progress is good! 3) This week saw the news that the Malaysian employee at the embassy who has been accused of some nasty behaviours, has asked that his ‘return to New Zealand’ be delayed until the end of Ramadan. My understanding of this practice does not include such ‘rights.’ Is he just delaying the inevitable, now that New Zealand and Malaysia have worked their way through the downright unprofessional manner in which our ‘people’ have handled the mess? I feel mainly for the victim. Get it right Minister! 4) Rolf Harris and his years of historical abuse have been in the news for several months now. He has been convicted but not yet sentenced (at the time of writing) but we are hearing that his abhorrent behaviours have many more victims, some in New Zealand, including a prominent Government MP. That he was able to silence his victims, merely by his presence and assumed ‘fame’ is intolerable. He will go down! 5) The son of the Maori King has been in the news. He has been stupid! OK, his actions are those that many young people enact as they struggle to grow up, but in his position as a potential heir to his father’s ‘crown,’ has evoked a great deal of angst. Balance is needed here and the facts line up to support the actions of the judge and the manner in which he will be handled by his own people will be sufficient. Time to back off and let him face the ‘consequences’ within Maori and to learn from this---while he still can! One does not have to look far to see similar outcomes. www.authorneilcoleman.com

Taiwan---nice to see you in such large numbers!

Here we go again, in a really nice surprising kind of way. I see that Taiwan has suddenly hit the blog. It’s hard to see which ones you are reading but that’s OK. I would love to get some feedback. Maybe you have purchased my book, ROSKILL. I hope so. If you did, you are entitled to a free download of the eBook version. Go to www.authorneilcoleman.com and follow the links. You can give feedback on the Amazon site, something very much appreciated by me. Thanks Neil Coleman

Australia----how's life under Tony A?

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Don’t ya just love that chant? I guess it’s a bit like seeing the Haka preformed (often badly) by Kiwis at various ‘events’ around the world. Both sometimes make me cringe, depending on the setting and whether I am ‘present.’ Now that Tony is leading Aussie, I am hearing d=few chants that don’t sound quite so friendly or ‘out there’---PROUD. Oh how the polls have turned. A few months ago, Labor (Aussie spelling) because NZers will probably just gloss over this blog!) seemed to be self-destructing, as they struggled to pretend to be a unified party again. Tony blamed the previous Government’s spending and proposed some pretty painful stuff for Aussies to swallow. All of a sudden, Tony was not the darling of the electorate. Sure, he hobnobbed with Obama and made his peace with the Indonesians, doing his very best to look ‘Presidential.’ Is that working? It depends who you talk to. For many, there is a growing level of discontent as Aussie workers see the writing on the wall for some of the ‘big employers.’ It’s going to be ‘goodbye Holden and Ford’ and it’s not just the jobs that directly represent the car-making, but the allied jobs that feed into the bigger picture. If we are to believe Tony’s picture of the future, expect more attacks on workers’ rights, contracts and for more money to be bled from the ‘free State’ sector and diverted into the private and ‘privileged’ part. Unless there is a huge revival in the ‘digging wealth from the ground,’ sector of the economy, the Government will receive less tax, and given that the present Government tends to support those owning the vast wealth that is the ‘Australian miracle,’ then don’t expect anything resembling fair taxation from them. Australians will wake up, but by then, the face of Australia will have changed. The gap between the rich and poor will be entrenched and only bold moves from a future Labor-led Government will make any inroads to that unhealthy position. Where will New Zealand feature in all this? We will still see Kiwis heading across the ‘ditch,’ in the belief that things are ‘greener’ over there, but it will not be for solely economic reasons. If anything we will see a reversal of that as Aussies seek the kinder climes and less divisive (OK, many NZers will disagree with that) economics in New Zealand. The ‘boat people’ will still seek opportunities in Australia but we may not hear as much about them as Tony’s government doesn’t tell us until they have actually arrived on Aussie shores. You can be sure that NZ will be pressured to take some of these people, fleeing wars and poverty in their own countries. When Tony’s people hit our shores, we will make them welcome and they will be able to take full advantage of those things NZers enjoy, like access to health and education; something denied to Kiwis going to Australia. So---Aussies your ‘fair dincum past, one that Kiwis loved to admire; both from here and when they joined you as brothers---that’s all going down the gurgler. Get ya accents ready so we can understand you when you say goodbye to Tony. www.authorneilcoleman.com

New Zealand at a glance on this cold winter's day.

1) Despite it being the warmest winter so far on record for New Zealand---it is bloody cold today. Stay out of the chill people. Of course those of us in Auckland bitch about the cold when the temperature goes below 13c during the day! 2) New Zealand is involved in a wrangle with Malaysia over the possible extradition of one of their officials who allegedly sexually assaulted a NZer. NZ stuffed up big time in its handling of this delicate matter. The victim in the middle of course should be the focus! 3) The Labour Party is actually coming out with some good policies, like the one for paying $100 per student to low decile schools who traditionally find it hard to collect the ‘voluntary’ donation for school fees in a nations where education is supposed to be free! 4) Fonterra, have warned that the pay-out to dairy farmers will be less. This, after a few years of record payment. I hope the farmers have ‘put a bit aside for the ‘slightly’ harder times ahead. One thing we all know---the world loves NZ cheese, milk and other produce, so suck it up farmers! Your day will come again, probably in a few months. The rest of us---well we have to hang in there for---ever! 5) You can make up the next bits. Have fun!