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Don Franks - Latest News [Page 1]
Reflection After Waikeria Incident
Tuesday, 5 January 2021, 6:16 am | Don Franks
Prison. My happy memory of it is forty years back, locked up in Lower Hutt with Tom Poata and another guy I can’t quite recall the name of. After a particularly chaotic antiapartheid demonstration several of us were busted to spend the night ... More >>
Checkout Staff - Discarded Heroes
Saturday, 25 April 2020, 8:33 am | Don Franks
“It must often feel like thankless work as we ravage supermarket shelves, while you police our empty streets, bring us our news or staff our pharmacies and hospitals. But this pandemic has helped show the true backbone of this country, the real-life ... More >>
ACT’s MP Pay Cut Bill - Solidarity?
Tuesday, 14 April 2020, 2:44 pm | Don Franks
As thousands of workers lose their jobs, or suffer pay cuts, ACT party leader David Seymour suggests mps reduce their pay too. Mr Seymour told TVNZ1's Breakfast he'll put a bill on April 28. "In the interim, Parliament hasn't been sitting but ... More >>
Corona Virus: Letter To A Friend
Monday, 30 March 2020, 10:45 am | Don Franks
Hi David, Nice hearing from you, I'm glad to hear you're getting by okay in these grim times. You asked how’s it going for us back here in New Zealand. You would have heard that the whole country is locked down and with breaks for exercise ... More >>
On Child Poverty
Tuesday, 29 October 2019, 11:09 am | Don Franks
When the poor finally explode in frustration and seize what they want, police deal to it. With clubs, if needed, with guns. More >>
Teachers Obstacles
Tuesday, 28 May 2019, 4:19 pm | Don Franks
I want to say some things about the present teachers dispute, first admitting to a bias. For the last nine years I've regularly taught music classes, for adults. Several times I’ve tried teaching primary and secondary school classes and found ... More >>
Response to NZCTU initiative
Saturday, 5 January 2019, 2:18 pm | Don Franks
On January 2nd, NZ Council of trade unions President Richard Wagstaff contacted unionists, inviting comments about cost of living and incomes, with a view to make 2019 " a great year for working people" My comments. More >>
A day at the Basin
Wednesday, 19 December 2018, 10:29 am | Don Franks
Although it shone a lovely sunny morning, few were present to see Ross Taylor gone first over. Mostly only those slightly stooped, grey, leathery men and women you see walking towards the Basin on test days and you can tell they’re a spectator ... More >>
A glimpse of Denniston today
Saturday, 20 October 2018, 4:14 pm | Don Franks
Warm wind ruffling dry grass was all the sign of life. People, cars and houses lay somewhere far out of sight, miles below, worlds away. More >>
“The Journey to Prison”: Celia Lashlie’s writing revisited
Wednesday, 17 October 2018, 4:23 pm | Don Franks
“New Zealand has one of the highest imprisonment rates in the world, second only to the United States, with over 5000 people currently in our 17 prisons. We could be excused for thinking the problem is huge, too big too handle…” More >>
“Protecting Paradise" by Dave Hansford, Patton& Burton 2016
Friday, 12 October 2018, 3:38 pm | Don Franks
Along New Zealand roadsides, especially on the south islands west coast, are hammered hand painted signs. “1080 poisons our water”, “Kea killed in 1080 drop” , “1080 kills everything”. More >>
Massey university compromises free speech
Tuesday, 7 August 2018, 2:54 pm | Don Franks
Former National leader Don Brash, invited to address a Massey university student club, was stopped by vice-chancellor Jan Thomas. More >>
University name change suggestion
Wednesday, 1 August 2018, 4:14 pm | Don Franks
On Friday July 27th Victoria University of Wellington’s Council agreed in principle to “simplify” the University’s name to ‘University of Wellington’. More >>
Nurses pay dispute outcome affects all workers
Friday, 27 July 2018, 8:45 pm | Don Franks
“It is clear to all parties that there is no further additional funding available for this MECA. The Government has made this clear repeatedly to all parties and publicly. On this basis we believe further strike action is highly unlikely to deliver any ... More >>
The Herald and the drug industry
Friday, 13 July 2018, 9:14 am | Don Franks
“Auckland’s phoney homeless make $100 a day on the streets” is a Herald piece by Amanda Saxton, about a few skid row alcoholics who assemble early each morning to sit together and drink. More >>
Equality with the stars
Friday, 22 June 2018, 11:41 am | Don Franks
NZ Prime minister Jacinda Ardern’s bearing of a baby while in office has understandably launched many words. More >>
Fair Pay Agreements
Friday, 8 June 2018, 11:30 am | Don Franks
Sometime next year, your pay and working conditions may be completely rejigged by the government. More >>
Christchurch running repairs
Tuesday, 5 June 2018, 12:39 pm | Don Franks
The big black speakers boomp out a rhythm of muted bass thuds, rather comforting. Like a big collective heart beating somewhere. People drift in by ones and twos, shuffling beneath the ruined cathedral and the scaffolding of structures still waiting ... More >>
A response to Jim Rose on Maori prison population
Tuesday, 29 May 2018, 3:39 pm | Don Franks
"Half the Māori prison population are gang members... whom no-one wants to see given a break.” More >>
Jacinda and the elephant
Saturday, 5 May 2018, 12:22 pm | Don Franks
Delivering her pre-Budget speech to a Business New Zealand audience, Labour prime minister Ardern said business confidence was "the elephant in the room". More >>
