Colourful Dreamer

I have just received a letter from John Harrington, the "Director" of the National Youth Workers Collective. This National organization which has worked on behalf of youth workers across the country has had its funding significantly cut. Paula Bennett appeared in the April edition of the 12-25 magazine (of the Ministry of Youth Development) talking about her desire to work with the sector. She has now decided to cut the funding for the main group which represented youth workers across this country. Clearly Youth work is not a priority for her or the government she is part of. John has given his heart and soul to the vision for Youth Work in New Zealand along with many others. This is a vision to have Youth Work recognised as unique professional practice on equal footing with Social Work and other caring professions and to develop a strong, diverse Youth Work paid and voluntary workforce that is stable, prepared ? trained and qualified, supported, and committed to positively...

I have been pondering Michael Laws and his rather confrontational approach to this issue. It is 1960's white NZ raising it's head again really. Bolshie, ignorant, offensive. I find it amazing that we as New Zealanders would deliberately misspell a name because it suits us, even though we know it offends the people whose name it is. It is like me deliberately calling Michael Laws Michael Screwloose. It suits me! I voted amongst myself and unanimously decided that was how his name should be spelt. I don't care it isn't, or that he might be offended. That should be immaterial, or is it? I am intrigued that the people of Wanganui like being in a place which is a nonsense name, rather than a name that means something. But the real sad thing is his written attack on the school children and their teachers. One day he might work out that to be Maori in this country is to be politicized simply because Maori are still trying to get justice over their land, .and are still being t...

A friend has sent this to me. It rings true for Aotearoa-NZ and Australia as well. But I wonder, what is the problem here? Some summer humour seeing as the weather is improving!! New Standard Operating Procedures released today please learn BRAAI RULES We are about to enter the BRAAI season. Therefore it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking activity . When a man volunteers to do the BRAAI the following chain of events are put into motion: Routine... (1) The woman buys the food. (2) The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables and makes desert. (3) The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill - beer in hand. (4) The woman remains outside the compulsory three meter exclusion zone where the exuberance of testosterone and other manly bonding activities can take place without the interference of the woma...

I was really disappointing last week when John Key abandoned the concept of Maori Seats on the Auckland Super City Council under threat from Rodney Hide. Personally I think he missed an opportunity to get Hide out of government. But what really saddened me was that democratic process was usurped for Rodney's grandstanding. What principle will Rodney campaign on at the next election. Rodney knows best? So much for the party of principles huh?