With unfactual Campbell Live reports its no wonder the show was canned (specific reference to the Kiwis in Aus story)

Last night the second to last ever Campbell Live show decided to look at Kiwis living in Australia, more specifically they looked at and analysed the fact that Kiwis do not qualify for welfare.  The report was a whinge fest that took the vey worst Kiwis they could possibly find who were living on the street on the Gold Coast, had no education and we're basically dero bogans (derelict bogans who had no education).

The report was factually incorrect for several reasons and was incredibly narrow in its scope.  The only thing the report actually did right was inspiring this opinion article.

The reporter talked to a few Maori Kiwi youths who were on the Gold Coast.  They clearly had no education.  The report ignored the educated, or even non educated hard working NZ citizens who come to Australia and make a positive contribution. One can assume they were at work and that's why they weren't interviewed.

The Maori people they interviewed for the report were the very bottom of the socio economic ladder. They were what one would call no hopers and the types that in NZ would not do well either.  It is no wonder they were on the street.

At the end of the report they talked to a young man, Oscar who said he hated Australia.

So what did they not focus on? What was left out of the report? If the reporters on Campbell Live had bothered to do their job (and it's funny because as of tonight some, including Campbell himself are out of jobs, with unfactual reports its no wonder) they'd have seen that NZ citizens, myself included, come over for work opportunities we wouldn't otherwise have in NZ.  The report ignored that many Kiwis are actually very hard working. I can name several, myself, my brother.  When I was working three casual jobs last year I was staying in unpleasant accommodation and there were two Kiwis there.  They may not have been the sharpest knives in the drawer but they were hard workers and were loyal to Australia to the death, just like me, and just like my brother.

The report portrayed Kiwi migrants as ungrateful and that we just want to take from the Australian government. I know other people in Australia who are so grateful for the lives they have here and like me, can't wait to become Australian citizens.

And on that point Campbell Live left out the most important thing. Kiwis have no voice in Australia. I have written to numerous MPs and when I get a reply they fob me off to the other country's government.  That's when I even get a reply. I've only had one reply.  So if Kiwis want to maintain our democratic voice it means travelling to a country where we don't pay taxes, where we don't live and a country that isn't our current country. Why does the mainstream media keep on leaving out this very important issue?

The reports like on Campbell Live which are blatant lies and a small minority do not help the NZ citizens like myself who always back Australia, know the anthem, support the country and just want to legally call Australia home and have the right to vote in elections.

Given Campbell Live and his reporters lie about the reality of Kiwis in Australia it is a damn good thing the show has been axed.

Tinder guys to say no to

This week I wrote an article about dating etiquette.  I'd like to expand on that and some tweets with some comments about what guys should not do when they're using dating sites.  These may or may not be based on real life experiences, however just like Carrie Bradshaw I will always protect the identities of these guys.  I've compiled a list of guys to watch out for on dating sites.

1 - The controlling guys.  This, this is a topic really close to home for me right now because recently I had a complicated relationship with a guy from Tinder and he was controlling and as friends have described him, a psychopath. I wouldn't go that far but he certainly had issues.  The controlling ones will somehow reel you in.  These are the ones who are so subtle you don't even realise it's happening.  They're the intense guys who ask questions they shouldn't be asking and tell you how to dress or that your fashion sense is whack.  That type of thing is okay coming from friends but it's not okay coming from guys.  Then there are the ones who try to control you in the bedroom. Run a mile if they do this. They aren't worth the time or effort.  And if they tell you you shouldn't smoke when you've been talking for five minutes they'd never respect you so quickly unmatch them.

2 - The guys who don't reciprocate.  These are the guys who don't seem to realise that relationships are a two way street and that means give and take.  The guys who don't reciprocate won't make an effort on dates or in the bedroom. With the guys who don't reciprocate they could also be known as the selfish guys.  In some cases they don't mean to be selfish but in other cases they are just jerks with no respect for you and they aren't worth your time.  Guys should be interested in who you are as a person and try to get to know you.

3 - The negative Neils.  Apologies to guys named Neil.  These are the guys for whom the glass is always half empty.  They're never happy and you're never good enough for them.  They make excuses for why things aren't better for them and why they get treated badly or dumped.  It's because of their insecurities and these guys shouldn't be inflicting themselves on the women of the world.

4 - The one night stand guys.  These guys are worse than the negative Neils.  They'll invite you over and shower you with compliments but honey you're never seeing them again.  They simply aren't interested in anyone.  What they really want is a free hooker and women on their terms. They have no respect for women.

5 - The guys who won't date you.  These guys are suave and smooth talking.  The most you'll get out of them is a drink at some pub but you're more likely to end up hanging out at their place.  Save yourself some time and don't go down this road.  If they won't show you respect in the beginning they'll never show you respect.

These are just some of the guys you should be wary of.  There are so many decent guys out there, but they're, as someone said to me when I was 18 in first year uni, they're the guys who want to get to know you. They're the ones who want to talk to you about politics and what's going on in your life.  Unfortunately you do have to go through a lot of psychos to find the catch.  A good catch is someone who will spend time getting to know you and make an effort all the way.  A good catch is neither too slow nor too fast and they will take their time because they want things to work.

The politics of dating and effort

I often write about politics and fitness but today I started thinking like Carrie Bradshaw about the politics of dating.  You see I've been internet dating since I was 14 I believe.  I used to go into chat rooms.  As times moved on I started to meet guys on Internet forums/discussion boards.  It would start with a few messages and then you'd end up meeting for a drink.  Some guys these days like to go for coffee though.  I prefer going for a casual drink or two myself.  At about 20 I started using dating sites.  I have met a few decent guys from them but they're mostly weirdos so really, this column is going to ask a few questions and make a few statements about my experiences and the politics of dating.  Things have changed significantly over the last ten years.

Let's start with the first point though, the picture.  Look, the first picture is so important. I'm not saying you need to have a professional head shot taken because let's be honest, who can be bothered with that for a dating site/app, but please, I don't want to see you shirtless.  It makes you look like a tool.  Nor do I want to see with some bimbo or looking scruffy with a beard or a gut.  If you can't make an effort with your picture what does it say about who you are as a person?  And if you can't make an effort when trying to win someone over how much more will you let yourself go?

That brings me to my next point.  When I was 18 guys would make effort, loads of effort, now they don't. Where's the nice date?  I'm not saying you have to wear a suit but inviting me over for drinks may be cool and lead to more it actually shows instant disrespect.  How about starting as you mean to go on? Casual is cool but at least make effort.  That doesn't mean you need to text all the time or take me to some fancy place but seeing someone once a month and not doing the proper dating thing is dumb.  When you're 18 that type of thing is okay but in your late 20s or over 30 you should know better.

The effort extends to messages.  We all know men love food, but asking a woman about food when she's said she's an exercise and fitness addict is just asking for trouble or to be unmatched as happened this morning.  People should be able to read cues.  Now I do know that men sometimes need to be whacked over the head with a big neon sign but still, reading people and reading between the lines isn't a puzzle, or at least it shouldn't be.

Some people have baggage by the time they're in their 30s but it doesn't mean you should shut someone out.  No two people are the same, or as Ross from Friends once said, it only has to happen once. Joey, in episode one said to him to grab a spoon. It's obviously a metaphor for opening up.  Everyone has had negative experiences but why hold onto them?   I'm glad all my exes are exes because as I said over drinks a few weeks back, I no know what I don't want.  People need to be more willing to take chances and be open.

I could start to ask questions about work, age and money but these are topics for a whole new blog and I don't yet actually have the answers to those questions. There are so many things to consider when dating but the big take away from today's article is, please make effort and consider the other person.

Review of Australian and NZ budgets

Every year around mid to late May both the Australian and New Zealand Governments announce the budget for the next 12 months. It's always a question of who will be the winners and losers and becomes a bit of a lolly scramble.  Being the politico that I am I always tune in for the announcements.

I must say I am very disappointed with the budgets.

Nobody disputes that people are "doing it tough" especially families but both countries have a deficit - $40 billion in Australia and $800 million in NZ.  The last thing we, and by we, I mean both governments, should be doing is increasing welfare for families.  You can dress it up as tax credits all you like but come on, let's call a spade a spade.  Instead of further handouts, why not promote independence and why not give people real tools to help them?  As one of my Twitter followers suggested, why not promote fruit and vegetable growing in schools and local communities? This would help families be more self sufficient, reduce the need for welfare increases and curb obesity therefore helping people to be healthier in the long run.

Nobody doubts that housing is unsustainable at current prices but it's not the governments' role to hold people's hands into home ownership.  Home ownership is not a right.  We do have a right to shelter and food but nowhere in our Bill of Rights does it say that people have a right to own their own home.  What about other investments like in business? People make choices and we need to remember that.

I'm disappointed that there are no actual personal individual income tax cuts in both countries.  Bracket creep is a major problem in Australia and I have written about this in the past.  I'm concerned that the MSM says people are better off in NZ when the reality is a different story all together and finally, I'm disappointed that students and grads aren't being given a break. Just because the majority of grads are SINKS doesn't mean we have money to burn. New just have a different set of expenses.  Families may be the majority but it's time to start thinking about SINKS and DINKS as well, personal income tax cuts help everyone.

The Australian budget was marginally better than the NZ one with a hand up for small business.

Why you should exercise

Every day there are so many things to blog about from transport to politics to asylum seekers and everything in between.  Today however I'll be writing about the advantages to exercise because everywhere you turn people make excuses for why they can't exercise and they fabricate nonsense on why they should remain unfit.  Let's move away from the visual benefits to exercise and gravitate towards the health benefits.

1 - Exercise releases happy endorphins. I'm not a scientist.  I'm a journalist so I don't know if it's the fact that if you're angry and you exercise you end up exercising away excess energy and can't be angry anymore or if it's because physical movement releases happy endorphins.  Whatever it is there are health benefits to exercise.

2 - Do you ever wonder why some people never get sick? It is a well documented fact that exercise helps fight off colds, the flu and even some cancers and diabetes.  Basically by maintaining an active life you're prolonging your good health and improving your immune system.

3 - Exercise is satisfying for beating personal records.  Some people love the feeling of being lazy and inactive but the feeling you get when you beat a personal record tops that a thousand times over.  The fitter you are the more you can do.  Physical limits can be helped with and increase mental strength and stamina.  

4 - You will have more energy.  Ever noticed how some people never have energy and they say they're too tired to exercise?  That's actually untrue because exercise is energising and gives you a natural energy while burning calories so you'll need less coffee.  More energy means you're a better person to be around and that you are "always on" and some of my friends say.

5 - A surprising benefit of exercise is that your mental wellbeing will be improved.  I'm not talking about reducing your stress though that is a big advantage and reason to exercise.  I'm talking about alertness, memory and general mental well being.

The bottom line is there are so many benefits to exercise and you'd be crazy to choose the television over the gym, especially when most gyms now have televisions attached to the machines.

Why obesity isn't good for you (stating obvious but some people still don't listen)

Like Kate Hopkins I'm on an anti obesity crusade.  For full disclosure I was a skinny kid then I ate junk for a few years and was obese until my early teens when I started exercising a lot and lost the weight.  Then for a few years from 2006-2011 I was obese again before losing 80% of the weight. I maintained for a while but then gained back 3kgs, which I've now lost since upping my exercise, overhauling my diet and starting ISAGENIX which is a health and nutrition system. I still have 8.4/17.4 to lose.  I'll know once the first 8.4 kilos are gone. Anyway I'm back on my anti obesity crusade.

Day after day I see people making bad choices with their foods. I see them eating chocolate when they could opt for water or a piece of fruit instead.  They have fast food instead of going for a packaged meal at the supermarket or cooking a healthy stir fry, or simply having fresh fruit or vegetables for lunch or dinner. It drives me crazy.

People say they need salt on food. Nobody NEEDS salt on food. Salt is so bad for people in so many ways.  It causes water retention for starters.  Water retention may sound like no big deal but water retention actually causes your blood pressure to increase which can of course increase your risk of a heart attack and a myriad of other issues.  So when people say it's bad that you're losing water weight when you drop the kilos, it would appear it's actually a good thing and you're lowering your blood pressure.  There are other ways to flavour your foods. You can use herbs and spices which are more natural.

Chocolate or other sugar. Nobody needs a chocolate bar or other sugary treats. Instead you can have a piece of fruit and you'll be consuming fewer calories and natural sugars are not as Hague as processed sugars. Sugars can also cause diabetes. Diabetes is bad for you as well because just like salt it causes high blood pressure, high cholesterol and increases your risk of having a stroke.  

Then there are the people who point blank make excuses as to why they should remain obese.  There is no excuse.  Whenever people lose weight their mood improves, they have more energy and often are happier.  That's because the extra weight literally isn't there to weigh them down.  Extra weight puts pressure on the vital organs and particularly in men visceral fat is bad for you.  Visceral fat covers the vital organs.  Visceral fat can stop the liver doing what it is supposed to which means your body cannot metabolise foods correctly and that instead of getting rid of toxins your body holds onto them.

Obviously some people don't care enough about their health but given obesity can literally lead to your early death it confuses me as to why anyone would choose it.  There are so many healthy food and exercise alternatives that will give you a long and happy healthy life.

A Princess is born - Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge Kate have a baby daughter

Yesterday at 8:34am, Her Royal Highness Princess Cambridge was born.  Her name is not yet known.  She is younger sister to His Royal Highness Prince George who was born in July 2013.

Her Royal Highness Princess of Cambridge is now fourth in line to the throne.  Prince Charles is 1st, Prince William second, toddler Prince George third and Princess Cambridge fourth.  William's brother, Prince Harry has now dropped to fifth in line to the throne.  Princess Cambridge is the highest female in the throne's succession line which is very exciting.

There are now bets on what Her Royal Highness Princess of Cambridge's name will be.  Popular choices are Alice, Charlotte or Mary.

I'm picking Victoria Diana, Victoria Diana Elizabeth, Victoria Elizabeth Diana.  Any of those names would maintain royal tradition and be a nice throw back to the late Diana.

The Princess's first name will not be Diana as the Queen has to approve the name, and it has been said that she and Diana never were the best of friends.  It is also rumoured that Prince Charles only married Princess Diana because he had to get married, but he always loved Camilla Parker Bowles.

Watch this space for the name announcement in coming days.