Tomorrow comments will be off as we have a discussion free day. Take the opportunity to go out and work for your particular left wing party. Then from 7 pm there will be general and strategic seat specific posts going up. Election night I will be at the New Lynn Labour HQ. It could be an interesting night …
There is plenty that can be discussed tomorrow, re the 2 Scottish votes of yes (?) – Independence & the R&R letting in female members !! Or did I miss it and this site will be down until 7:00 pm
As the Scottish vote (if yes) for many will have major ramifications world wide. E.g. The UN Security Council , and the UK’s place in world affairs, also the turnout % especially given that voting has taken place on a Thursday, think what the turnout in nz would be for a mid week vote?
If commments are enabled tomorrow someone will have to actively moderate to make sure there is no discussion about who to vote for (NZ). That would mean someone from the standard having to be online all day. I can understand why they don’t want to do that (although, yes, discussing Scotland would be good).
Struck by how confident and happy David Cunliffe looks in the photos of him electioneering in Auckland today. Maybe Labour’s polling is giving them good news. I sure hope so!
Big ups to all Standardista’s for tomorrow night, where ever you may be. We’ll be at PPO command central glued to the telly.
No doubt it’s going to be a busy night on The Standard after 7pm and the comments will be flying and all going well, the champagne flowing (or whatever your choice of non al).
Agree, amazing! How did Young frame this as a bounce for Nats, they are DOWN. These results were actually available yesterday but the Herald with-held them to reduce the coverage of Labour UP and Nats DOWN. I guessed this result last night and so tweeted it, I knew if it was the opposite then Young/Herald would of shouted it from the rooftops. Young/NZH have really let themselves down here and shown their bias.
C’mon, these reporters are of the same ilk as Mr Slater. They know that unsupported headlines make a far greater impact than facts and evidence hidden in the fine print.
NZ polls are manipulated. Labour 30%+Greens 14%-NZ First 12.5% we predict.
Post election this style of phony polling endemic globally must be outlawed.
During Royal Commission into Dirty politics this type of corruption must be examined & a case to answer and a police investigation must be ordered by the new Government, here are some facts.
A simple search of “Polls can be manipulated” – inside Google found about 1,400,000 results.
Below leaves us all now with the knowledge of what in New Zealand is actually going on, it is more corruption of our MSM conducting manipulated polling results.
The new Government must call this as it is, corruption of the MSM and manipulation of all polls.
Historical record, of Herald manipulation.
We were contacted Friday 22nd of August at 4pm by Herald Digipoll by a lady who first said we are conducting a poll and could we participate?
We said yes, then she said my supervisor is listening in, is that o/k?
I hesitated but agreed and she went through a ten minute questioning, and then abruptly said we don’t need your input thanks, and hung up!
This left us so disturbed we searched the web and found all 1.4 million cases of poll manipulations globally on Goggle, which include what is called “selective polling”
We believe we were a victim of a Herald Digipoll selective polling strategy.
NZ pols are corrupted, is this a crime?
This is just one case of the 1.4 million sites on Goggle in India which may show what is happening here in NZ.
quote;
New Delhi: Public opinion gathered by leading opinion poll agencies is often tweaked to give misleading results, Operation Prime Minister, a sting operation by a private news network, News Express, has revealed Tuesday. Well-known faces from leading opinion poll agencies have been caught on hidden camera agreeing to such malpractices.
Operation Prime Minister shows how opinion polls are conducted and manipulated at the instance of political parties, their results traded to show a particular party in a favourable position, for a price. Presenting snippets from the sting operation at a press conference, Editor-in-chief of News Express, Vinod Kapri said, “Our motivation behind conducting the sting operation was a letter written by the Election Commission of India to all regional and national parties inviting their views on the publication of opinion polls.
We wanted to investigate the concerns of the Commission.” In its letter dated 4 Oct, 2013, the Election Commission had said, “The Commission has been suggesting to the government that there should be a similar prohibition or restriction on opinion polls also as there could be several manipulated opinion polls which could impact the voting pattern.”
Another motivation behind the sting operation was the mushrooming of opinion polls. “There used to be one or two opinion polls every election. But now, one sees an opinion poll almost every week. Which leads us to the question- how is the data generated so quickly and processed,” said Kapri.
“Operation Prime Minister has exposed eleven opinion poll agencies, whose surveys are published in leading newspapers and magazines besides being broadcast by leading news channels”, it was claimed in the sting opertaion.
It demonstrates how the 810 million voters of our country are duped into believing trends or waves that are manipulated. – See more at:
“Opinion polls seem to have become the latest weapon in the poll campaign.
For a price, the prediction of seats tally can be changed to suit the interests of political parties.
The agencies have no qualms accepting even black money for this purpose”,
News Express claimed. The influence of opinion poll agencies goes beyond mere opinion polls. In some cases, the poll agencies have claimed they can even prop up dummy candidates in the constituencies where the rival candidate is on a strong wicket.
It has also been claimed that some leading editors are hand in glove with these poll agencies.
This is just a few of the 1.4 million sites on Goggle. – See more at:
…and YES John Key goes tomorrow!….Winnie will be going with Labour and the Greens …with Hone, Laila, Annette and Johnny in support!…and maybe the next good guy on the list
IPredict ( chooks survey from the perches)…Great win for INt Mana and Kim Dotcom …and the poorest and the youngest in new Zealand…and Democracy NOW!
Audrey Young has just been adjudged (by a judge) as being in the same “professional category” as Slater. she must be so proud.
What was the proverb about pigs in the gutter?
In 1707 there was no referendum, just an act of parliament mainly designed to protect the fortunes of the super-rich facing bankruptcy from the failed Darien Scheme. This time the people choose.
“Cameron was badly advised (by the Labour Party who thought all voters in Scotland belonged to them) that the SNP’s support of 30% was the same level of support there would be for independence. Hence his being caught totally surprise by the NON nationalist surge…from traditional Labour voters. Cameron still thinks this is about us “kicking the effing Tories” as he put it. But we’ve been kicking the effing Tories since 1955. (to little effect) This is about kicking the effing Labour party. And THAT is the historical change. It is very sad that the arrogance and ignorance of the political class have kept English voters in the dark about what is happening. The “more Powers” nonsense betrays that the elite treats the English electorate with exactly the same contempt as we’ve been treated for the last two years. The chickens are coming home to roost. As are the Scots. No offence intended. That’s just the way it is. “
Thanks for these links joe90. I hope like anything the Scots vote for independence. Strong ancestral and clan ties means my spirit is with them, waiting anxiously for the result.
The last tvnz debate spent most of the time letting him set that one up so the MSM could hammer it over the following days. Between that and how the campaign went it was another policy free zone.
Yes. The day after tomorrow is the start of a new phase in the struggle. The mask is slipping from the Nats. We need to keep telling the story of how democracy, an increase in equality, an a sustainable society benefits us all.
Discussion of our EQC dealings in Christchurch arose this early a.m. and saw blood pressure soar as we recalled the absolutely appalling manner in which EQC have acted, and continue to act. Fuck them – black marks against their names.
A reminder of the way in which this government treated the people of east Christchurch especially. You know, the “scum” according to the fat slug slater.
This government abandoned all and sundry in east Christchurch to the wilds of the free market and insurance company plundering, while in the CBD this government turned 180 degrees away from the free market and went 100% interventionist.
This government’s actions in Christchurch are illustrative of its lies, deception and priorities. Its priorities do not lie with the people. Its priorities lie with the money.
I loathe this government.
Vote Them Out
edit: and lets not forget Ecan dictatorship to allow irrigation water theft
Christchurch will be one of the places to watch on election night vto. More than a few of the pundits reckoned that the swing from Labour to National at the last election was a big factor in Key’s win. Even if voters there just return to more normal voting habits could spell trouble for National.
I hope Cameron Slater’s Canterbury “scum, useless pricks” and his West Coast “Ferals ” remember what the Key corporation thinks of them and get out and vote.
Lan..Yip me too.
Labour in Chch central needs just 48 votes more than last time + the party votes of course if you prefer Labour to Green
Lots of electorates are on the cusp (no apologies to JK) of turning to Labour with just a few more votes. e.g. Paula Bennet won in 2011 by 9 votes was it?
Lying awake at 3am going through all the horrors of governance of the last 6 years, Christchurch was very much in mind, for the reasons you provide. Will be keeping a close eye on your electorates tomorrow night.
There is another type of dirty politics that is going on. We have Key of National party, Winston Peters of NZF, The Maori party, the Labour party, Cameron Slater and David Farrar, ….all ganging up together endorsing Labour’s Kelvin Davis to win in Te Tai Tokero in order to shaft Hone Harawira and eliminate the Internet Mana party. This kind of injustice shown here to Hone Harawira, Laila Harre, Annette Sykes, John Minto and indeed to Kim Dot Com is unfair. Personally, I think that these people in the IMP are good and honest people, far more so than many of the usual suspects in the other parties.
After careful agonising thoughts, I have now sadly switched my party vote from Labour to Internet-Mana.
I don’t see how that works. If Mana get a few seats because Hone wins an electorate, NAct is less likely to be able to out together a majority. The establishment filth against Internet Mana finally settled my vote for Mana.
If there’s one thing that will ensure Harawira’s victory in Te Tai Tokerau, it is; Key & the Dirty Politics crew endorsing Davis. But then again, hopefully every progressive voter in; Epsom, Ohariu & East-coast Bays, are holding their nose and electorate voting National.
Yep – I’m sad that the labour candidate is such a … – and as for the “it wasn’t him, it was the MP and the Gnats and NZF” – sorry that doesn’t cut it for me. Davis’s wish is coming true but it will be a poisoned challis that support he gains.
How can Labour gang up with anyone, they have a candidate standing who according to the latest poll is neck and neck. Is Labour telling their voters to vote for another party.
I am switching my vote to IMP for the reasons I gave before and also because they do have good policies which are good for the country. Besides at this time, I think IMP is the one that needs all the support and votes now.
However, if you are not convinced, then do consider Labour because, Labour too needs to get a stronger representation. The link below from Tony Milne’s website gives a good list and brief details of some of the excellent policies of Labour. Do take a look if you are not voting IMP. Tony is the Labour candidate in Christchurch central. http://www.tonymilne.org.nz/labour
People on the Maori Roll are highly unlikely to read the news, listen to what is being said, and are more inclined to make their own minds up.
Kelvin lives in Auckland.
Hone lives in Awanui.
Living in northland gives Hone the big advantage,
I’m still calling TTT for Hone as he’s well respected and has done a shitload for people in the far north as their constituent MP. They’re smart enough to realise that being in Opposition, Hone can’t do much, but if he’s at least able to influence the Greens who can then influence Labour, well then, his feed the kids bill is likely to pass.
I heard a guy ring Radio Live yesterday & he said something interesting, he was in TTT & has in the past been voting Hone & Mana, but because he became disillusioned with IMP he’s decided he will vote Labour for party (cos he likes Davis), but Hone will his electorate vote (coz he likes Hone). So if there is more people thinking like him up north, then Hone might be sweet. I certainly hope so.
@ Clem 12
I noticed that too. Disgraceful. A real beat-up. Hone is doing his best – he needs to be a feisty guy to see off this sort of chicanery. Why it’s bad is that he is a sincere small contender not like the surfers in the Conservatives and Act riding the wave of dissatisfaction and scapegoating. And possibly NZF though talking to a relative who has known and had dealings with him from years ago – to him he was always straight and honest.
We dont want National Parti Cameron Slater David Farrar and their manipulative lying in our country full stop.
They all practice psychological manipulation, it is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics.
Internet Mana Hone Harawira
” I have now sadly switched my party vote from Labour to Internet-Mana.”
After all that relentless bull about greens stealing labour votes and then you give your vote to the 1.5% minnows that won’t be in government whatever happens tomorrow.
I agree, Clem’s doggedness and unwavering unquestioning loyalty to Labour was a sight to be seen, and now he abandons them at the 11th hour to vote for the newest kid on the block.
You obviously missed the very valid reasons I gave for my vote switch to IMP at this eleventh hour.
Sometimes one has to make very difficult decisions as dictated by conscience and reason for suddenly changed circumstances as has happened in Te Tai Tokero with our political enemies and suspect friends endorsing Kevin Davies.
You are welcome. I know in my heart and mind that I am doing the correct thing under the circumstances. To me, fairness and doing the right thing is more important than blind loyalty.
No vote is ever wasted. It is foolish to vote based on pre-election media polls, which are quite suspect anyway!
Hopefully, the Labour coalition will end up needing the support of IMP by the end of tomorrow.
Cheers and Good luck!
Hopefully my single well thought out humble vote will get them to a decent level of support. Every vote counts, doesn’t it……just like every drop of water is sure to help a person in dire need, won’t it?
Right now, in my opinion, the two parties that need the most help in party votes in the left block are Labour and IMP, but due to the nasty tactics of some of the opposition big guns against IMP and Hone, I think a decent amount of party votes from around the country to IMP and majority votes to Hone in Te Tai Tokero will send out a good message to all of the political nasties around.
This is another reason why the TPP must not proceed.
USDA’s Greenlighting of ‘Agent Orange’ Crops Sparks Condemnation
Following widespread outcry, Dow’s new genetically engineered corn and soybeans get approval. The crops are Dow AgroSciences’ Enlist corn and soybeans, engineered to be resistant to its Duo herbicide, which contains 2,4-D, a component of the notorious Agent Orange. 2,4-D has been linked to Parkinson’s, birth defects, reproductive problems, and endocrine disruption. Dow states that the new system will address the problem of weeds that have become resistant to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s widely-used Roundup.
We must never never never allow their dirty GMOs in here.
Monsanto have caused tens of millions of acres of fertile US farm land to be overtaken by virulent weeds who (duh!) evolved to survive glyphosate/Roundup and now they want to spray food with 2,4 D.
This could be one of the biggest fights we have to come, imho.
And we best beware .. one of their main PR proponents is now Vice Pres of Fed Farmers, William Rolleston. He is not to be trusted.
@ yeshe 13.1
He is a smooth talker this William Rolleston, who is Federated Farmers President since July 2014. (Not to be confused with other Bill Ralston.)
A recent news item sees NZ as an agricultural super power. “In 2008, New Zealand’s primary industries share of merchandise exports was 65 percent. Last year it had grown to 73 percent. In the same time period pastoral agriculture, which we represent, has seen its share of exports grow from 40 percent to 45 percent. http://www.fedfarm.org.nz/publications/media-releases/article.asp?id=1810#.VBtnStcatL8
That is if the agricultural interests don’t shoot themselves and us in the foot.
And on dangerous GM becoming the Ebola virus of the plant world.
And perturbing information from RR Canola (Round up Ready Canola) from the USA. http://westernfarmpress.com/management/rr-canola-evolves-vexing-weed
Tests… found yields too low to make canola a profitable irrigated California crop at current prices. They gave up on canola, but canola did not give up on California. It is still around in many fields, three or four years after it was grown as a commercial crop….
And
“What makes canola a different critter is that a significant percentage of this shattered seed does not germinate the following year, which is very different from other California field crops,” Munier explained. “When the shattered seed is incorporated into dry soil, it creates what is called secondary (seed) dormancy.” This is a common genetic trait for canola.
xox
Thanks Cnr Joe, I wouldn’t read the Herald otherwise. This is a very concerning trend we are witnessing in NZ. Nick Davies (Guardian journalist) on RNZ Afternoons, spoke of the Media and Political corruption and collusion in Britain. The story sounded too familiar for any comfort for New Zealanders given our biased and paid for MSM.
try this marty … from this website, or via Chrome. Marvelous little gadget .. speeds download to as ads don’t arrive .. and you customise with one click on any site .. works a treat for watching TV online also …
if your landline rings be wary,
you are forewarned,
there are a growing number of reports on social media that landlines are being called by an automated system with a John Key voice message.
awaiting confirmation as to whether the calls included an authorizing declaration.
Yep – got one of those but didn’t hold on long enough to see if there was an authorising declaration. Really pi**ed off when scam merchants feel they have a right to make calls to a telephone line they don’t pay for.
By all means, don’t listen but do not hang up. Rather, put the receiver thingy aside and walk away – it stops the gizmo from making more calls until its time lsetting runs out. In some cases I have found robo-calls (lately from those dodgy tax claim outfits) which do not have a time limit set so I’ve been able to stop at least one line-out from making calls for hours ; )
heard back from a recipient who actually listened to the entire message. They said the John Key call did not contain any authorizing statement, so yet another item for the commission to investigate?
Few people give Kim Dotcom credit for forming a party, that speaks volumes about it’s values, simply by selecting Laila Harre as it’s leader. Few people give wealthy Kim Dotcom credit for supporting an election coalition, which advocates greater taxes for the rich.
He does follow a growing list of New Zealanders who think that being wealthy is justification for political ego gratification (Bob Jones, John Key, Colin Craig). Which I think is unhealthy to some extent, but inevitable?
Personally I trust Kim Dotcom more than I trust John Key (and his friends David Farrar and Cameron Slater); Warner Brothers; the GCSB; the Five Evil Eyes Axis; the American NSA, and even the NZ Police.
I’m not sure why he is hated as much as he is. Because of his historical hacking conviction? Or is it because he is wealthy? Or because he is obese? Or because America tells us to? Perhaps all of those, coupled with the great New Zealand tendency to treat allegations as fact, and brand the accused as guilty until proven innocent?
Thank goodness, with regard to the extradition case, that we have our Courts sitting in between Kim Dotcom and the combined forces of the Minister of Dirty Tricks and the United States of Dirty Tricks.
Some of the biggest cons have been the attempts to annihilate Dotcom, aided by the crappy MSM bias. People have been taught to hate him, in the same way they have been taught to trust John Key. I think some here even have bought into the dirty politics around him.
imho, Kim Dotcom is a genius innovator and specialist, and I want him helping our economy.
For goodness sake, he was able to hack into NASA when he was 15 to see if they believed aliens existed. He didn’t damage anything or steal anything. Same when he altered the German Chancellor’s credit rating because he just didn’t like him — again, he hacked in to Deutchesbank ( I think it was) and once again didn’t steal or destroy anything.
Also, there are emails being presented by Paul Davison QC in Dotcom’s extradition that Mega had agreed to remove anything breaching copyright, and thus there is no case for him to answer. These emails have been withheld by FBI etc.
At least allow him to be innocent until proven guilty,
Fwiw, I see no malevolence in this man. None.
I trust Laila Harre; I trust Hone.
I just voted party voted IMP.
(and I saw it suggested somewhere Kim should change his name to Kim Dotcodotnz !)
(have a feeling I’m going to be flamed for this — but hey, it’s Women’s Suffrage Day and I don’t care how hot it gets ! And thank you Kate Sheppard. And thanks to my dear great grandmother who collected dozens and dozens of signatures at the time to bring us the enduring freedom to vote freely, and so far, at least, with no armed guards around voting booths.
Dont forget alan gibbs. He bought the ACT party, has presumably put in millions, trained up his puppet hide to get the types of policies he likes..:-):-)
I hate it when anyone is targeted because of their size. Probably the hate we see towards him is manufactured because I was thinking along the same lines in that I don’t see why anyone hates him (aside from Key et al).
I have contacted the Electoral Commission to inform them that I did not receive an electoral pack and fast voting card.
Luckily, I knew that I didn’t need it and have voted.
The chap I spoke to said they’ve had a number of similar calls.
Please speak to those you know. If they are not voting because they also didn’t receive one, tell them to go along to the booths still and …. might be a good idea to let the elections.org know.
I’ve got concerns for Jason Ede’s safety. Five evil eyes, each with at least five of their evil friends, are probably tracking him continuously. To ensure that he does not stray anywhere near the Chief Ombudsman, or Guyon Espiner.
The last information I heard, and I hasten to add that it is almost certainly a rumour, is that he is living in a secret cupboard (the very same cupboard where John Key has deposited his Conscience and his Ethics), that leads to a secret escape tunnel at John Key’s mansion …. and surviving on whale meat.
If Conscience does escape, there is the optimistic possibility of a John Key “Moment of Truth” event, where Jason is wheeled out to confess, and take responsibility for everything ….in exchange for a couple of days of chicken, cooked in anything but Whale Oil.
It’s always good being remote and ensconsed in the wilds, thanks. Plenty of your namesake around for amusement though, plus this strange swimming pukeko …
Aint nothing more grounding than the wilds. Such a contrast swinging from there to the inner depths of the Chch rebuild ….
But yep – I reckon highest turnout for years thanks to the controversies, Dotcom, and a spying and lying PM. Everyone is talking it seems and methinks most everyone is keen to have their say. Gotta be a good situation for a change in this awful government.
+ 100% vto — remember 1984. Snow, rain, sleet could not deter the tide that sank Muldoon with a record turnout thirty years ago .. and here we come again.
“The election was held on 14 July. There were 2,111,651 registered voters. Turnout was 93.7%, the highest turnout ever recorded in a New Zealand election. Most political scientists attribute the high turnout to a desire by voters for change.”
All the best for tomorrow guys. I will not be posting here or any other place from the end of the day till Sunday at the earliest. Regardless of the result I am sure democracy will be the winner.
That’s very gracious of you gosman. It always suprises me how wacky people can sometimes seem so very normal. I mean here you are being nice and pleasant and wishing your competition well, yet here you are also being one of the main bloggy proponents of the types of policies that wreak havoc on those less fortunate and screw various sectors of society all to hell in such a vicious manner …
Reminds me of the craziness of religious types who believe in burning lakes of fire down below and glorious perfection in the clouds, yet seem to be quite normal when it comes to most everything else on the planet….
bizarre..
nonetheless I cannot wish your side all the best for tomorrow gosman as I don’t like them or their policies.
Its similar to sports in that you play and go hard on the field, no quarter given but once the whistle blows its all good and off to the bar for a tipple of your choice
Lynn, have you lined up a chat application for Saturday night? Trying to comment on here will be crazy. I’d recommend using IRC, should be plenty of webapps for it and those who know how can connect using an IRC client, to avoid any problems if the web site were to go down.
New Election Diary: Countdown subheading – “Today’s election bus diary: While John Key was faced with protestors in Rotorua, Cunliffe was sticking to safe ground – New Lynn. “
Implication – Brave John Key, timid Cunliffe.
The text reads: “Mr Key continued smiling as the black and red-clad Mana crowd surrounded the National Party entourage, but he ended up cutting the visit short as the atmosphere became increasingly unsettled.
He scuttled out of the mall with support from police, mall security and Diplomatic Protection Services.”
Also included is a very strange look on the face of John Key while he is ” posing for a photos with supporters during his visit to the Rotorua Central Mall. “.
Can’t decide on whether it is disdain, arrogance or fear. Perhaps a combination of the three.
“Mr Key continued smiling as the black and red-clad Mana crowd surrounded the National Party entourage” Once again the NZH brings us more great views of Planet Key, home of opposite land. A magical place where reality and reporting seldom share the same page.
also this: “At a media conference in Cambridge” that was originally slated to be held in Rotorua 😉 amazing the little details Herald journos forget to include.
Just to give those who enjoyed the talented Jordan Reyne’s “Dear John” another chance to listen.
Dear John is the tale of a Prime Minister invited to a feast where all the guests are mysteriously absent. A song about the impact of people who don’t recognise their own privilege on the lives of others.
National 46.5%
Labour 23.5%
Greens 15.5%
NZ First 8%.
Conservatives 3.5%
Maori Party 2% (Two electorates)
Internet Mana 1.5% (TTT by a whisker)
ACT <1% Epsom
UF <1% Ohariu
I thought I was going crazy for a minute… but at least they have pinned their colours to the mast and don’t even pretend to be doing balanced journalism.
Oh well. No need to bother tomorrow. Soper has just declared a win for national. Game over. Apparently. Prime news all Labour negative and lovely interview of key bemoaning all the dirty politics from the opposition. Time for another glass of wine methinks.
And now we have Dopey “Maestro” Jonathon Coleman, a Minister of the Crown in the Natz Govt caught “red” handed, defacing a Labour Party billboard – well that just about sums them up – there is nothing they won’t do to regain power!
I was going to comment on the huge numbers of advance votes cast, but NRT has a fine post on that already:
Whatever the result, the campaign has already been a tremendous success for democracy, with over 550,000 advance votes recorded. Add in today, and we’re looking at anywhere from 700 to 800 thousand – over 20% of the entire electorate. Its a tremendous level of engagement, and it shows the value of the New Zealand way of making voting easy.
There was a queue out the door of the advance voting station when I went by today, on the way to hand out IMP leaflets in the middle of town. When I mentioned that it was the 121st anniversary of Woman’s Sufferage, some woman said they’d be off to cast an advance vote, instead of waiting till tomorrow.
121 is 11 squared (ie to the power of 2: 11^2 = 121). Which may be an interesting numerical coincidence – or I might have just had too much time to muse while waiting for the next bunch of pedestrians to come within leafleting distance. The trick was to aim for optimal leaflet position, so that people could grab it without breaking stride; like a paper relay. The occasions when people would actually stop and discuss policies were welcome breaks that I was glad to be able to reward with badges.
Only the scrutineering, and then the multi-party party tomorrow night, to and I can get back to all things I’ve let slide during this campaign. Looking forward to Sunday!
And unfortunately the elections organisation couldn’t be bothered sending out a few extra boxes of votes. Otag Uni booth closed about half an hour early when they ran out of paper and a central wellington booth down to its last few papers. why don’t they order more boxes when they open the last box, standard stock managemetn practice. Can’t see why they can’t deliver more boxes in an hour and a half.
Personally, my candidate vote (as I am not in Te Tai Tokero) will be for the Labour candidate in my electorate and my party vote will be for the Internet-MANA party as all the big guns are trying very hard to sabotage Hone Harawira and the fair success of IMP and therefore I think that IMP is in most need of party votes now. Besides, I like their truly leftist as well as forward looking ideas. They have amazingly committed honest admirable people of integrity and courage on their list. I feel that these are the type of MPs that we need to represent our country to make it a great, fair and happy nation once again.
The lying arsehole rang me about 30 minutes ago – landline. Taped call of course. I so hate the sound of his nasally, cretinous voice I smashed the phone back on it’s cradle but not before advising him he was a “lying arsehole” which was a pointless exercise of course. Now I wish I’d held on so I could report what crap he is telling people. Perhaps something along the lines of… do you want to be governed by a five headed monster including Kim Dotcom?
Thanks karol and joe90. Feel better knowing Cunliffe is doing it too. 🙂
I was so incensed I tried to ring the Nat. Auckland headquarters to let them know what I thought of my dinner being interrupted by “their third-rate lying arsehole of a leader” but they (wisely) had an 0800 number listed so no use leaving a message.
Guess they’re concentrating on their own territories. I live on the Shore.
Labour’s final advertisement on TV very powerful. Cunliffe passionate and straight up.
Natinal’s advertisement- Key insincere lying lizard. ‘We’re this plucky little country…..bull shit ….bull shit..”.snore!
(My neutral analysis.)
I had a call from a mate on behalf of the Greens – a human being, using his contacts.
Human contact, like in the old days.
I still probably won’t vote for them, but in the coin toss tomorrow it definitely pushed the greens ahead of IMP (who I also have mates supporting, but they tend to just FB me with slacktivism).
So it’s greens or Labour – although to be honest, I still don’t like hippies and a colleague of mine is a Labour candidate, so it looks doubtful.
But yeah – if someone supports a party, they should get on the phone to a mate or two tonight. Not heavy, just “do you know who you’re voting for? Have you considered X?”.
Softens even the biggest prick of a heart 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to people about voting. Left of course. I did this time and hope it can somehow compete with the slew of National ad cash.
I voted Greens purely because of two of their policies:
1. 40% taxrate on incomes over $140k. Labour’s 36% rate is just too timid.
2. Promising to re-negotiate the cost-sharing arrangement with the CHCH council, so that we don’t have to sell assets.
On political compass, I lined up very closely to Labour.
I was a bit surprised by that figure as well, given that a good 10% of National’s vote are centrists who are just voting for National because of Key and their rhetoric; a good chunk of the people who voted Labour in 1999-2005.
That figure really surprises me, because usually right wingers who comment on them say we need to be protected from terrorists, or if you’ve got nothing to hide…. So they believe Snowden, but don’t think it matters.
Good luck for tomorrow everyone. Feels like Christmas Eve :).
Regaredless of how Labour does, I think Cunliffe should stay on till 2017. Just like Kirk did in 1966. And 1969. And Bolger in 87, Nash in 51 and 54. Clark in 96.
The thought of McVicar and Rankin in the executive should get the young, poor and brown out to vote. Becase it is they who they will come for. And if they do, we need to speak up. Before we are next.
As we go into tomorrow, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has shared their thoughts, wisdom and humour in the lead up to this election.
I hope the majority of you will be happy tomorrow night but no matter who wins, the topics discussed here will continue in to be relevant and the fight for a better world for all will continue.
I hope you find a moment this weekend to laugh, hug your partner or a child, pat the cat … whatever brings you joy.
Because, ackshully, at the end of the day, what the New Zealand people really care about is ….. each other
If you missed Phil Goff on “Jono and Ben at 10”, catch it on the TV3 website. He was incredible. Usually I can’t stand politicians trying to show us their “funny” side (like you-know-who, the Prime Comedian), but this was definitely an exception.
I think tomorrow night will be a big surprise for everyone, pleasant for the left block including IMP and the centrist, Winston, but a shock for Key, National, ACT, Dunne and the Cons.
Buzz from the Beehive Transport Minister Simeon Brown dutifully issued advice to all road users to keep safe on our roads during the Easter weekend. He encouraged them to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. ...
Oliver Hartwich writes – New Zealanders recently learned about a new feature film. It will be about former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern – and taxpayers will subsidise it to the tune of NZ$800,000. Ardern had nothing personally to do with either the film or the subsidy. But her government’s ...
TL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above that was recorded yesterday afternoon above between and The Kākā’s climate correspondent : An independent review panel into the emergency response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawkes Bayconcluded “that ...
There are now only a few days left to give feedback on the Draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport 2024-34 (see our earlier post this week on GPS submission guides). As we’ve reported, the GPS is a disaster for Local Government, so we were particularly interested to hear ...
Willis has pledged to go ahead with the debt-funded tax cuts, despite growing opposition from her own supporters worried about appearing fiscally irresponsible. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for ...
Open access notables A survey of interventions to actively conserve the frozen North, van Wijngaarden et al., Climatic Change:The frozen elements of the high North are thawing as the region warms much faster than the global mean. The dangers of sea level rise due to melting glacier ice, increased ...
Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure. The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On ...
In 2015, then-Prime Minister John Key announced plans for a huge ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands, banning fishing and mining from 15% of Aotearoa's EEZ. It was bold, it was ambitious, and it suggested that National might actually care about the environment. Except they fucked it up: Key failed ...
1. Who has just been given the accolade New Zealander of the Year?a. The Kokakob. The Cook Strait Ferryc. Fair God. Dr Jim Salinger 2. Which of these is an affront to decent society?a. Dame Edna Everageb. Mrs Doubtfire c. Dr. Frank-N-Furterd. Brian 3. Who is Penny Simmonds?a. The aspiring actress in Big ...
New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure.The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On the face of it, the court found ...
Buzz from the Beehive Waves of rain are set to lash much of the North Island during Easter Weekend as a low-pressure system forms east of New Zealand, according to a weather forecast published in the past day or so. Niwa was warning of a “moisture-laden” long weekend, with rain expected ...
Look around us…Nicola Willis’ promises of balancing the books, of cutting spending without reducing services, and of delivering game changing tax cuts are disappearing before her eyes.Everyday we see stories of violent crime ending in horrific injuries, or worse. The cost of living worsens, whereas the PM claimed renters would ...
TL;DR: My top six news of note on the morning of Thursday, March 28 include:The Government will have to borrow between $10 billion to $15 billion more than previously expected in order to make up for a slowing economy and to pay for $14.9 billion of tax cuts, according to ...
This story by Naveena Sadasivam and Kate Yoder was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The long-awaited jobs board for the American Climate Corps, promised early in the Biden administration, will open next month, according to details shared exclusively ...
Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don’t think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of ...
Treasury’s first report on the economy since the change of government presents a damning indictment of Labour’s economic management. The problem for National is that it is so damning that logically, coupled with a rapidly slowing economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis should respond to it by postponing or even cancelling ...
Budget tensions are becoming evident within the Coalition Government. Winston Peters made numerous political points in his speech to the NZF annual conference. But the attack on his own government’s fiscal policies raised issues of substance. ‘Today in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour ...
Buzz from the Beehive The media – sure enough – have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ release of the Budget Policy Statement and a statement headed Government announces Budget priorities This assures us – or rather, this parrots the Luxon team mantra – that the Budget “will deliver ...
The Ides of March brought me COVID followed by a bereavement. No wonder they tell you to be careful of them.I’m home now and have resumed the interrupted recuperation. Very much looking forward to getting back to regular things. Meanwhile, some thoughts…OneThis new Prime Minister guy just keeps getting more dire. ...
News that the Chinese ATP 40 cyber-hacking unit penetrated parliamentary internet networks in 2021 has renewed concerns about the PRC’s malign intentions in Aotearoa. But is the hack that significant given the length of time that has passed since its … Continue reading → ...
When Parliament passed the Intelligence and security Act in 2017, they assured us all that it was full of safeguards. Any intrusive surveillance of New Zealanders would be subject to a "triple lock", requiring the approval of the Minister and (supposedly independent) Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, as well as post-facto ...
Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing. Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
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Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
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Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
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Opposition MPs and unions are criticising a proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Peoples to cut staff by 40 percent. The country’s largest trade union — The Public Service Association — says the ministry has informed staff that it is looking to shed 63 of 156 positions. Opposition MPs ...
A poem by Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2024 featured poet Carin Smeaton. Daughtr of the 90s when she gets promoted to usherette a baby blu eel carries her all the way up to mothership she’s hovering high she lets the underaged in to see keanu reeves she lets the only lonely ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
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By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
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Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
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The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
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Kia Ora Te Whanau.
Tomorrow comments will be off as we have a discussion free day. Take the opportunity to go out and work for your particular left wing party. Then from 7 pm there will be general and strategic seat specific posts going up. Election night I will be at the New Lynn Labour HQ. It could be an interesting night …
There is plenty that can be discussed tomorrow, re the 2 Scottish votes of yes (?) – Independence & the R&R letting in female members !! Or did I miss it and this site will be down until 7:00 pm
As the Scottish vote (if yes) for many will have major ramifications world wide. E.g. The UN Security Council , and the UK’s place in world affairs, also the turnout % especially given that voting has taken place on a Thursday, think what the turnout in nz would be for a mid week vote?
If commments are enabled tomorrow someone will have to actively moderate to make sure there is no discussion about who to vote for (NZ). That would mean someone from the standard having to be online all day. I can understand why they don’t want to do that (although, yes, discussing Scotland would be good).
Kia kaha — may it bring all we wish for Micky … will be a long night I think !
Struck by how confident and happy David Cunliffe looks in the photos of him electioneering in Auckland today. Maybe Labour’s polling is giving them good news. I sure hope so!
Big ups to all Standardista’s for tomorrow night, where ever you may be. We’ll be at PPO command central glued to the telly.
No doubt it’s going to be a busy night on The Standard after 7pm and the comments will be flying and all going well, the champagne flowing (or whatever your choice of non al).
The time to reclaim our country is almost here!
whoar will be open tomorrow..
Audrey Young and NZ Herald shamelessly demonstrate their desperate bias with today’s headline that shouts “Last voter survey before election day shows jump in National’s rating.”
Nice headline to run the day before an election for this Tory rag but sadly, for them, it’s a work of fiction.
If you scroll down the page to look at the actual poll you will see that National’s support has dropped while Labour’s has risen.
Somewhat poignant reminder of the regard Key and co. have for the truth. I smell desperation.
Colour me surprised, last day to spin the sheeple as directed.
Agree, amazing! How did Young frame this as a bounce for Nats, they are DOWN. These results were actually available yesterday but the Herald with-held them to reduce the coverage of Labour UP and Nats DOWN. I guessed this result last night and so tweeted it, I knew if it was the opposite then Young/Herald would of shouted it from the rooftops. Young/NZH have really let themselves down here and shown their bias.
C’mon, these reporters are of the same ilk as Mr Slater. They know that unsupported headlines make a far greater impact than facts and evidence hidden in the fine print.
NZ polls are manipulated. Labour 30%+Greens 14%-NZ First 12.5% we predict.
Post election this style of phony polling endemic globally must be outlawed.
During Royal Commission into Dirty politics this type of corruption must be examined & a case to answer and a police investigation must be ordered by the new Government, here are some facts.
A simple search of “Polls can be manipulated” – inside Google found about 1,400,000 results.
Below leaves us all now with the knowledge of what in New Zealand is actually going on, it is more corruption of our MSM conducting manipulated polling results.
The new Government must call this as it is, corruption of the MSM and manipulation of all polls.
Historical record, of Herald manipulation.
We were contacted Friday 22nd of August at 4pm by Herald Digipoll by a lady who first said we are conducting a poll and could we participate?
We said yes, then she said my supervisor is listening in, is that o/k?
I hesitated but agreed and she went through a ten minute questioning, and then abruptly said we don’t need your input thanks, and hung up!
This left us so disturbed we searched the web and found all 1.4 million cases of poll manipulations globally on Goggle, which include what is called “selective polling”
We believe we were a victim of a Herald Digipoll selective polling strategy.
NZ pols are corrupted, is this a crime?
This is just one case of the 1.4 million sites on Goggle in India which may show what is happening here in NZ.
quote;
New Delhi: Public opinion gathered by leading opinion poll agencies is often tweaked to give misleading results, Operation Prime Minister, a sting operation by a private news network, News Express, has revealed Tuesday. Well-known faces from leading opinion poll agencies have been caught on hidden camera agreeing to such malpractices.
Operation Prime Minister shows how opinion polls are conducted and manipulated at the instance of political parties, their results traded to show a particular party in a favourable position, for a price. Presenting snippets from the sting operation at a press conference, Editor-in-chief of News Express, Vinod Kapri said, “Our motivation behind conducting the sting operation was a letter written by the Election Commission of India to all regional and national parties inviting their views on the publication of opinion polls.
We wanted to investigate the concerns of the Commission.” In its letter dated 4 Oct, 2013, the Election Commission had said, “The Commission has been suggesting to the government that there should be a similar prohibition or restriction on opinion polls also as there could be several manipulated opinion polls which could impact the voting pattern.”
Another motivation behind the sting operation was the mushrooming of opinion polls. “There used to be one or two opinion polls every election. But now, one sees an opinion poll almost every week. Which leads us to the question- how is the data generated so quickly and processed,” said Kapri.
“Operation Prime Minister has exposed eleven opinion poll agencies, whose surveys are published in leading newspapers and magazines besides being broadcast by leading news channels”, it was claimed in the sting opertaion.
It demonstrates how the 810 million voters of our country are duped into believing trends or waves that are manipulated. – See more at:
“Opinion polls seem to have become the latest weapon in the poll campaign.
For a price, the prediction of seats tally can be changed to suit the interests of political parties.
The agencies have no qualms accepting even black money for this purpose”,
News Express claimed. The influence of opinion poll agencies goes beyond mere opinion polls. In some cases, the poll agencies have claimed they can even prop up dummy candidates in the constituencies where the rival candidate is on a strong wicket.
It has also been claimed that some leading editors are hand in glove with these poll agencies.
This is just a few of the 1.4 million sites on Goggle. – See more at:
http://www.ummid.com/news/2014/February/26.02.2014/opinion-poll-companies-exposed.html#sthash.wqSJ2ylu.dpuf
http://www.sciences360.com/index.php/statistics-16350/
http://www.ummid.com/news/2014/February/26.02.2014/opinion-poll-companies-exposed.html#sthash.h8rTzw8V.dpuf
http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/471548/exit-polls-manipulated-modi-will-never-be-pm-samajwadi-party.html
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/general-impression-that-opinion-polls-can-be-manipulated-sibal/20131109.htm
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Many-agencies-manipulating-opinion-poll-projections-claims-sting-operation/articleshow/31013534.cms
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/2764415112001
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misuse_of_statistics
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/mhp-furious-over-opinion-poll-manipulation-claims.aspx?pageID=238&nID=62184&NewsCatID=338
Local Kiwi +100…thanks for the reminder
…and YES John Key goes tomorrow!….Winnie will be going with Labour and the Greens …with Hone, Laila, Annette and Johnny in support!…and maybe the next good guy on the list
IPredict ( chooks survey from the perches)…Great win for INt Mana and Kim Dotcom …and the poorest and the youngest in new Zealand…and Democracy NOW!
Audrey Young has just been adjudged (by a judge) as being in the same “professional category” as Slater. she must be so proud.
What was the proverb about pigs in the gutter?
In 1707 there was no referendum, just an act of parliament mainly designed to protect the fortunes of the super-rich facing bankruptcy from the failed Darien Scheme. This time the people choose.
Scotland will vote YES. To get a good insight read this piece by Peter Arnott the Playwright.
http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2014/09/16/the-new-reality/
“Cameron was badly advised (by the Labour Party who thought all voters in Scotland belonged to them) that the SNP’s support of 30% was the same level of support there would be for independence. Hence his being caught totally surprise by the NON nationalist surge…from traditional Labour voters. Cameron still thinks this is about us “kicking the effing Tories” as he put it. But we’ve been kicking the effing Tories since 1955. (to little effect) This is about kicking the effing Labour party. And THAT is the historical change. It is very sad that the arrogance and ignorance of the political class have kept English voters in the dark about what is happening. The “more Powers” nonsense betrays that the elite treats the English electorate with exactly the same contempt as we’ve been treated for the last two years. The chickens are coming home to roost. As are the Scots. No offence intended. That’s just the way it is. “
Live coverage.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/events/scotland-decides/live
https://new.livestream.com/IndependenceLive
http://www.reddit.com/live/tkybh0xkkmzv
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2014/sep/18/scottish-independence-referendum-polling-day-live
Do you know what time the results are expected?
Between 2 (1pm our time) and 6 am.
https://twitter.com/CathLevett/status/512605270422589440/photo/1
Thanks for these links joe90. I hope like anything the Scots vote for independence. Strong ancestral and clan ties means my spirit is with them, waiting anxiously for the result.
Kia Kaha Scotland!
C-span has the BBC election coverage.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?321558-1/bbc-scottish-independence-referendum-coverage
edit: BBC Radio Scotland.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland/on-air
it is not looking particularly good at present for a Yes.
not jason ede but we have brownie points. Ombudsman – http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11327328
“…kiss democracy goodbye…..” from another angle. Ffs.
Brave woman to investigate all Govt Depts and inviting whistle-blowers .. and what a marvelous day to see it published,
Needs this second part of the story …
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11327317
btw, where is Jason Ede ?
Yes, that. Plus Greenwald says he has further things to report on http://publicaddress.net/hardnews/interview-glenn-greenwald/
(Lanth, that’s why I don’t think Key is out of the thick of it yet).
I just heard Key on Morning Report specifically trying to attack the viability of a Lab/Grns/NZF coalition government. Nats must be really worried.
The last tvnz debate spent most of the time letting him set that one up so the MSM could hammer it over the following days. Between that and how the campaign went it was another policy free zone.
Neil Finn on stage last night in Napier….”Don’t vote for the Spies”.
+1 😀
I am gonna make it through this year* if it kills me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZEE_Ng1YKg
*Ok, six years, but you know what I mean.
This is an outrage, but explains a lot of the OIA request issues of late
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11327317
“…I think the public of New Zealand should be taking very seriously because it attacks the whole integrity of the system of governance.”
Dame Beverley said whistleblowers should make contact with the Office of the Ombudsman if they had evidence of such practices.
Wake up sleepy hobbits, democracy is more than ticking two boxes once every three years.
Yes. The day after tomorrow is the start of a new phase in the struggle. The mask is slipping from the Nats. We need to keep telling the story of how democracy, an increase in equality, an a sustainable society benefits us all.
Discussion of our EQC dealings in Christchurch arose this early a.m. and saw blood pressure soar as we recalled the absolutely appalling manner in which EQC have acted, and continue to act. Fuck them – black marks against their names.
A reminder of the way in which this government treated the people of east Christchurch especially. You know, the “scum” according to the fat slug slater.
This government abandoned all and sundry in east Christchurch to the wilds of the free market and insurance company plundering, while in the CBD this government turned 180 degrees away from the free market and went 100% interventionist.
This government’s actions in Christchurch are illustrative of its lies, deception and priorities. Its priorities do not lie with the people. Its priorities lie with the money.
I loathe this government.
Vote Them Out
edit: and lets not forget Ecan dictatorship to allow irrigation water theft
Christchurch will be one of the places to watch on election night vto. More than a few of the pundits reckoned that the swing from Labour to National at the last election was a big factor in Key’s win. Even if voters there just return to more normal voting habits could spell trouble for National.
I hope Cameron Slater’s Canterbury “scum, useless pricks” and his West Coast “Ferals ” remember what the Key corporation thinks of them and get out and vote.
And the weather looks better for teh South Island than up north 🙂
Yip, that’s my belief for why Labour will win the election – Christhchurch is not only going to reverse the vote swing of 2011, but go further left.
Lan..Yip me too.
Labour in Chch central needs just 48 votes more than last time + the party votes of course if you prefer Labour to Green
Lots of electorates are on the cusp (no apologies to JK) of turning to Labour with just a few more votes. e.g. Paula Bennet won in 2011 by 9 votes was it?
Lying awake at 3am going through all the horrors of governance of the last 6 years, Christchurch was very much in mind, for the reasons you provide. Will be keeping a close eye on your electorates tomorrow night.
All the best for a red tide.
Ta. Luck to you too.
this is my favourite international politician…and here is why..
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/18/-sp-is-this-worlds-most-radical-president-uruguay-jose-mujica
f.y.i..
..for those desiring a musical-break from politics..
..this morn i have album-streams of the new leonard cohen album..
..and of the new aphex twin offering..(their first in 13 yrs..)
and a link to an editorial from the guardian..on our election..
..which is kinda interesting..
“(their first in 13 yrs..)”
Aphex Twin is one man
Internet -Mana, Hone Harawira :
There is another type of dirty politics that is going on. We have Key of National party, Winston Peters of NZF, The Maori party, the Labour party, Cameron Slater and David Farrar, ….all ganging up together endorsing Labour’s Kelvin Davis to win in Te Tai Tokero in order to shaft Hone Harawira and eliminate the Internet Mana party. This kind of injustice shown here to Hone Harawira, Laila Harre, Annette Sykes, John Minto and indeed to Kim Dot Com is unfair. Personally, I think that these people in the IMP are good and honest people, far more so than many of the usual suspects in the other parties.
After careful agonising thoughts, I have now sadly switched my party vote from Labour to Internet-Mana.
“.. I think that these people in the IMP are good and honest people, far more so than many of the usual suspects in the other parties. .”
..+ 1..
OK. Then enjoy another 3years of John Key.
I don’t see how that works. If Mana get a few seats because Hone wins an electorate, NAct is less likely to be able to out together a majority. The establishment filth against Internet Mana finally settled my vote for Mana.
Clemgeopin
If there’s one thing that will ensure Harawira’s victory in Te Tai Tokerau, it is; Key & the Dirty Politics crew endorsing Davis. But then again, hopefully every progressive voter in; Epsom, Ohariu & East-coast Bays, are holding their nose and electorate voting National.
Yep – I’m sad that the labour candidate is such a … – and as for the “it wasn’t him, it was the MP and the Gnats and NZF” – sorry that doesn’t cut it for me. Davis’s wish is coming true but it will be a poisoned challis that support he gains.
How can Labour gang up with anyone, they have a candidate standing who according to the latest poll is neck and neck. Is Labour telling their voters to vote for another party.
You are right. Labour’s position is clear in endorsing their own candidate.
I am switching my vote to IMP for the reasons I gave before and also because they do have good policies which are good for the country. Besides at this time, I think IMP is the one that needs all the support and votes now.
However, if you are not convinced, then do consider Labour because, Labour too needs to get a stronger representation. The link below from Tony Milne’s website gives a good list and brief details of some of the excellent policies of Labour. Do take a look if you are not voting IMP. Tony is the Labour candidate in Christchurch central.
http://www.tonymilne.org.nz/labour
I was under the impression that Labour were going slow on Davis. Have they done something this week to undermine Harawira?
“After careful agonising thoughts, I have now sadly switched my party vote from Labour to Internet-Mana.”
Good on you Clem.
A candidate that on current polling will not make it from the list
Only problem with that aspect
People on the Maori Roll are highly unlikely to read the news, listen to what is being said, and are more inclined to make their own minds up.
Kelvin lives in Auckland.
Hone lives in Awanui.
Living in northland gives Hone the big advantage,
I’m still calling TTT for Hone as he’s well respected and has done a shitload for people in the far north as their constituent MP. They’re smart enough to realise that being in Opposition, Hone can’t do much, but if he’s at least able to influence the Greens who can then influence Labour, well then, his feed the kids bill is likely to pass.
I heard a guy ring Radio Live yesterday & he said something interesting, he was in TTT & has in the past been voting Hone & Mana, but because he became disillusioned with IMP he’s decided he will vote Labour for party (cos he likes Davis), but Hone will his electorate vote (coz he likes Hone). So if there is more people thinking like him up north, then Hone might be sweet. I certainly hope so.
@ Clem 12
I noticed that too. Disgraceful. A real beat-up. Hone is doing his best – he needs to be a feisty guy to see off this sort of chicanery. Why it’s bad is that he is a sincere small contender not like the surfers in the Conservatives and Act riding the wave of dissatisfaction and scapegoating. And possibly NZF though talking to a relative who has known and had dealings with him from years ago – to him he was always straight and honest.
This is the real winston peters
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11327326
We dont want National Parti Cameron Slater David Farrar and their manipulative lying in our country full stop.
They all practice psychological manipulation, it is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics.
Internet Mana Hone Harawira
” I have now sadly switched my party vote from Labour to Internet-Mana.”
After all that relentless bull about greens stealing labour votes and then you give your vote to the 1.5% minnows that won’t be in government whatever happens tomorrow.
Classic. 😆
It is called democracy and anyone can vote for anyone that they want to or believe in allen – I’m surprised you haven’t worked that out yet.
Onya Clem whatever happens you have contributed mate and for that I thank you.
Sure, goes without saying. I took that as granted,and thought everyone else did too.
Vote for who you want, just like advert says.
Still, I can’t help but have a smile at the change of heart though, all things considered. I wouldn’t let it spoil your election eve celebrations.
Save your laughs for tomorrow night – I’m sure you’ll get sore guts from it. 🙂
I’ll get some tablets in. I’m picking a&e will be chock-a-block tomorrow with cases of split sides and heads laughed off a plenty.
Yep – the work to create equality and help those disadvantaged under our current system will continue tomorrow and the next day and so on…
Your response is spurious, but I agree re yep, I’m sure it will.
Just because you can’t follow it doesn’t mean it’s spurious allen – anyway tomorrow will be here soon enough.
I agree, Clem’s doggedness and unwavering unquestioning loyalty to Labour was a sight to be seen, and now he abandons them at the 11th hour to vote for the newest kid on the block.
You obviously missed the very valid reasons I gave for my vote switch to IMP at this eleventh hour.
Sometimes one has to make very difficult decisions as dictated by conscience and reason for suddenly changed circumstances as has happened in Te Tai Tokero with our political enemies and suspect friends endorsing Kevin Davies.
You are welcome. I know in my heart and mind that I am doing the correct thing under the circumstances. To me, fairness and doing the right thing is more important than blind loyalty.
No vote is ever wasted. It is foolish to vote based on pre-election media polls, which are quite suspect anyway!
Hopefully, the Labour coalition will end up needing the support of IMP by the end of tomorrow.
Cheers and Good luck!
Hopefully my single well thought out humble vote will get them to a decent level of support. Every vote counts, doesn’t it……just like every drop of water is sure to help a person in dire need, won’t it?
Right now, in my opinion, the two parties that need the most help in party votes in the left block are Labour and IMP, but due to the nasty tactics of some of the opposition big guns against IMP and Hone, I think a decent amount of party votes from around the country to IMP and majority votes to Hone in Te Tai Tokero will send out a good message to all of the political nasties around.
Have a thought about it.
No thanks, I’ve already party voted green, and your analysis wouldn’t have changed that.
More than any other candidate I think Hone deserves his seat. Hope he crushes Davis in the end.
This is another reason why the TPP must not proceed.
USDA’s Greenlighting of ‘Agent Orange’ Crops Sparks Condemnation
Following widespread outcry, Dow’s new genetically engineered corn and soybeans get approval. The crops are Dow AgroSciences’ Enlist corn and soybeans, engineered to be resistant to its Duo herbicide, which contains 2,4-D, a component of the notorious Agent Orange. 2,4-D has been linked to Parkinson’s, birth defects, reproductive problems, and endocrine disruption. Dow states that the new system will address the problem of weeds that have become resistant to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s widely-used Roundup.
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/09/18/usdas-greenlighting-agent-orange-crops-sparks-condemnation
We do not want to have American Rules here.
Remember a vote for National is a vote for the TPP which opens the door to corporations like Dow.
We must never never never allow their dirty GMOs in here.
Monsanto have caused tens of millions of acres of fertile US farm land to be overtaken by virulent weeds who (duh!) evolved to survive glyphosate/Roundup and now they want to spray food with 2,4 D.
This could be one of the biggest fights we have to come, imho.
And we best beware .. one of their main PR proponents is now Vice Pres of Fed Farmers, William Rolleston. He is not to be trusted.
Examples: one April 2014, one last year.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/9939953/GM-in-NZ-on-farming-leaders-agenda
http://www.agprofessional.com/news/New-Zealand-may-reverse-its-stance-on-GM-foods-171218551.html
corporate power destroying our environment, destroying our food chain.
@ yeshe 13.1
He is a smooth talker this William Rolleston, who is Federated Farmers President since July 2014. (Not to be confused with other Bill Ralston.)
A recent news item sees NZ as an agricultural super power.
“In 2008, New Zealand’s primary industries share of merchandise exports was 65 percent. Last year it had grown to 73 percent. In the same time period pastoral agriculture, which we represent, has seen its share of exports grow from 40 percent to 45 percent.
http://www.fedfarm.org.nz/publications/media-releases/article.asp?id=1810#.VBtnStcatL8
That is if the agricultural interests don’t shoot themselves and us in the foot.
Black grass spill – ‘Alien weed invades Mid Canterbury’ 5 Sept 2013 – NZ Herald contains no identification of seed company involved.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11120176
then – ‘Invasive weed seed importer owns up’ NZ Farmer.co.nz (PGG Wrightson is the culprit)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/9134527/Invasive-weed-seed-importer-owns-up
And on dangerous GM becoming the Ebola virus of the plant world.
And perturbing information from RR Canola (Round up Ready Canola) from the USA.
http://westernfarmpress.com/management/rr-canola-evolves-vexing-weed
Tests… found yields too low to make canola a profitable irrigated California crop at current prices. They gave up on canola, but canola did not give up on California. It is still around in many fields, three or four years after it was grown as a commercial crop….
And
“What makes canola a different critter is that a significant percentage of this shattered seed does not germinate the following year, which is very different from other California field crops,” Munier explained. “When the shattered seed is incorporated into dry soil, it creates what is called secondary (seed) dormancy.” This is a common genetic trait for canola.
And also concerns from the EU about roadside escapes contaminating crops in extensive scientific study.
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11248-011-9515-9#page-1
xox
Thanks Cnr Joe, I wouldn’t read the Herald otherwise. This is a very concerning trend we are witnessing in NZ. Nick Davies (Guardian journalist) on RNZ Afternoons, spoke of the Media and Political corruption and collusion in Britain. The story sounded too familiar for any comfort for New Zealanders given our biased and paid for MSM.
Jeepers The Stuff website is infested with gnat advertising – wall to wall yuck.
try this marty … from this website, or via Chrome. Marvelous little gadget .. speeds download to as ads don’t arrive .. and you customise with one click on any site .. works a treat for watching TV online also …
means you don’t support a bunch of rubbish !
https://getadblock.com/
Thanks – much nicer now.
great. the only prob i ever had was tv3 — u hv to allow them even for news clips, use icon top right on yr taskbar.
yeshe you have preformed a great public service with this info – thank you again.
😀
does that work for blocking info ads? They just popped up on my pc and are damn near taking over
what’s an info ad ? I get no ads at all and it’s marvelous !
try it and see — 100% safe and cheap .. and I think it’s free on Chrome Apps.
Yeah, free for Chrome, and this one is also good to have: dnt.abine.com/#/dashboard
nice one, thx Murray.
I have it as an addon to Firefox. Safe and free, just search for addblock in extensions.
That seems to be an infection that needs to be removed. Detailed info on how to do so is to be found here.
And I did check that site out first as well.
DTB — just for clarity, you mean the info ads, not adblock. the reply nmbrs are not that clear !
Yes.
thx DTB … have a great day tomorrow.
What’s happened to Felix.
Has she got a job?
Funny. I was under the impression that most people here comment from work.
That’s not funny
what?
Miss you Felix.
Pretty sure felix is male.
But yeah, I’ve been wondering where he went to. He was petering out in his commenting frequency for a while.
if your landline rings be wary,
you are forewarned,
there are a growing number of reports on social media that landlines are being called by an automated system with a John Key voice message.
awaiting confirmation as to whether the calls included an authorizing declaration.
Yep – got one of those but didn’t hold on long enough to see if there was an authorising declaration. Really pi**ed off when scam merchants feel they have a right to make calls to a telephone line they don’t pay for.
seems no-one listened long enough to find out 🙂
‘
By all means, don’t listen but do not hang up. Rather, put the receiver thingy aside and walk away – it stops the gizmo from making more calls until its time lsetting runs out. In some cases I have found robo-calls (lately from those dodgy tax claim outfits) which do not have a time limit set so I’ve been able to stop at least one line-out from making calls for hours ; )
btw,
Would just like to say thanks Blip.
I know a number of people where your list was instrumental in bringing their vote left.
Hah, a use for my unwanted landline 😈
heard back from a recipient who actually listened to the entire message. They said the John Key call did not contain any authorizing statement, so yet another item for the commission to investigate?
Good spotting.
Good news for miners, hopefully.
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/09/18/15548/bill-aims-stop-coal-companies-denying-benefits-miners-black-lung?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=watchdog&utm_medium=publici-email&goal=0_ffd1d0160d-722f67d16d-100020097&mc_cid=722f67d16d&mc_eid=c346e018f7
Anything that stops companies setting things up so their obligations are avoided at the expense of workers is a good step.
Few people give Kim Dotcom credit for forming a party, that speaks volumes about it’s values, simply by selecting Laila Harre as it’s leader. Few people give wealthy Kim Dotcom credit for supporting an election coalition, which advocates greater taxes for the rich.
He does follow a growing list of New Zealanders who think that being wealthy is justification for political ego gratification (Bob Jones, John Key, Colin Craig). Which I think is unhealthy to some extent, but inevitable?
Personally I trust Kim Dotcom more than I trust John Key (and his friends David Farrar and Cameron Slater); Warner Brothers; the GCSB; the Five Evil Eyes Axis; the American NSA, and even the NZ Police.
I’m not sure why he is hated as much as he is. Because of his historical hacking conviction? Or is it because he is wealthy? Or because he is obese? Or because America tells us to? Perhaps all of those, coupled with the great New Zealand tendency to treat allegations as fact, and brand the accused as guilty until proven innocent?
Thank goodness, with regard to the extradition case, that we have our Courts sitting in between Kim Dotcom and the combined forces of the Minister of Dirty Tricks and the United States of Dirty Tricks.
@..brian..
..+ 1..
..not to forget that it is down to him..
..that we now know we are under mass-surveillance by american spooks..
..this hate-dotcom meme is both hysterical and unhinged…
..people doing what the media tell them to do..
..he has put some money into a political party..(so what..?..)
..can we plse see a list of the millionaires who donate to national/act..
..w.t.f. is the difference..?
..especially when those millionaires really are buying legislation that favours them..from key/national…
..these are the pricks who are pointing at dotcom and going ‘ew!’..
..w.t.f..!
Some of the biggest cons have been the attempts to annihilate Dotcom, aided by the crappy MSM bias. People have been taught to hate him, in the same way they have been taught to trust John Key. I think some here even have bought into the dirty politics around him.
imho, Kim Dotcom is a genius innovator and specialist, and I want him helping our economy.
For goodness sake, he was able to hack into NASA when he was 15 to see if they believed aliens existed. He didn’t damage anything or steal anything. Same when he altered the German Chancellor’s credit rating because he just didn’t like him — again, he hacked in to Deutchesbank ( I think it was) and once again didn’t steal or destroy anything.
Also, there are emails being presented by Paul Davison QC in Dotcom’s extradition that Mega had agreed to remove anything breaching copyright, and thus there is no case for him to answer. These emails have been withheld by FBI etc.
At least allow him to be innocent until proven guilty,
Fwiw, I see no malevolence in this man. None.
I trust Laila Harre; I trust Hone.
I just voted party voted IMP.
(and I saw it suggested somewhere Kim should change his name to Kim Dotcodotnz !)
(have a feeling I’m going to be flamed for this — but hey, it’s Women’s Suffrage Day and I don’t care how hot it gets ! And thank you Kate Sheppard. And thanks to my dear great grandmother who collected dozens and dozens of signatures at the time to bring us the enduring freedom to vote freely, and so far, at least, with no armed guards around voting booths.
“I trust Laila Harre; I trust Hone.
I just voted party voted IMP.”
Me too – it is so gratifying to be able to vote for people that I trust and believe in.
+100 yeshe…agree with everything you say!
Well said, yeshe. Good night and may your wish come true tomorrow night. Cheers!
Cheers Clem .. sweet dreams.
I don’t trust John Key but that doesn’t mean I trust Dot Con either, best thing would be for Key to get the boot and Dot Con to get the boot as well
Both as bad as each other
Dont forget alan gibbs. He bought the ACT party, has presumably put in millions, trained up his puppet hide to get the types of policies he likes..:-):-)
and many millions … add heatley, farmer and others .. and it kind of proves to me that no amount of money has been able to make Act work !! lol
I hate it when anyone is targeted because of their size. Probably the hate we see towards him is manufactured because I was thinking along the same lines in that I don’t see why anyone hates him (aside from Key et al).
Very well said. Thank goodness for thinkers of integrity and fairness like you. Bless you, mate.
I have contacted the Electoral Commission to inform them that I did not receive an electoral pack and fast voting card.
Luckily, I knew that I didn’t need it and have voted.
The chap I spoke to said they’ve had a number of similar calls.
Please speak to those you know. If they are not voting because they also didn’t receive one, tell them to go along to the booths still and …. might be a good idea to let the elections.org know.
Nats should lose simply for the reason that we still don’t know “WHERE IS JASON EDE?”
I’ve got concerns for Jason Ede’s safety. Five evil eyes, each with at least five of their evil friends, are probably tracking him continuously. To ensure that he does not stray anywhere near the Chief Ombudsman, or Guyon Espiner.
The last information I heard, and I hasten to add that it is almost certainly a rumour, is that he is living in a secret cupboard (the very same cupboard where John Key has deposited his Conscience and his Ethics), that leads to a secret escape tunnel at John Key’s mansion …. and surviving on whale meat.
If Conscience does escape, there is the optimistic possibility of a John Key “Moment of Truth” event, where Jason is wheeled out to confess, and take responsibility for everything ….in exchange for a couple of days of chicken, cooked in anything but Whale Oil.
Key speaks:
No Colin, stop it. don’t be silly.
Ekshully, I did not say the Garden of Eden is a problem.
I said the guarding of Ede in my office is a problem.
TGIF
this will be one of the highest turnouts for an election in a long long time …..
you heard it here first
it’s going to rain on the weekend too 😉
How was your time away vto?
It’s always good being remote and ensconsed in the wilds, thanks. Plenty of your namesake around for amusement though, plus this strange swimming pukeko …
Aint nothing more grounding than the wilds. Such a contrast swinging from there to the inner depths of the Chch rebuild ….
But yep – I reckon highest turnout for years thanks to the controversies, Dotcom, and a spying and lying PM. Everyone is talking it seems and methinks most everyone is keen to have their say. Gotta be a good situation for a change in this awful government.
I know exactly what you mean 🙂 Had some time out myself last month, in the real world.
+ 100% vto — remember 1984. Snow, rain, sleet could not deter the tide that sank Muldoon with a record turnout thirty years ago .. and here we come again.
“The election was held on 14 July. There were 2,111,651 registered voters. Turnout was 93.7%, the highest turnout ever recorded in a New Zealand election. Most political scientists attribute the high turnout to a desire by voters for change.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_general_election,_1984
All the best for tomorrow guys. I will not be posting here or any other place from the end of the day till Sunday at the earliest. Regardless of the result I am sure democracy will be the winner.
That’s very optimistic of you Gosman. See you on your return.
That’s very gracious of you gosman. It always suprises me how wacky people can sometimes seem so very normal. I mean here you are being nice and pleasant and wishing your competition well, yet here you are also being one of the main bloggy proponents of the types of policies that wreak havoc on those less fortunate and screw various sectors of society all to hell in such a vicious manner …
Reminds me of the craziness of religious types who believe in burning lakes of fire down below and glorious perfection in the clouds, yet seem to be quite normal when it comes to most everything else on the planet….
bizarre..
nonetheless I cannot wish your side all the best for tomorrow gosman as I don’t like them or their policies.
Its similar to sports in that you play and go hard on the field, no quarter given but once the whistle blows its all good and off to the bar for a tipple of your choice
Or at least thatts how it used to be
Cheers Gossie, keep warm and dry and enjoy your Saturday.
Lynn, have you lined up a chat application for Saturday night? Trying to comment on here will be crazy. I’d recommend using IRC, should be plenty of webapps for it and those who know how can connect using an IRC client, to avoid any problems if the web site were to go down.
why will commenting here be crazy?
It’s gonna be CRAY CRAY CRAY
Although I think it’s gonna be the Winston First camp smiling tomorrow night.
They just can’t help themselves at the Herald.
New Election Diary: Countdown subheading – “Today’s election bus diary: While John Key was faced with protestors in Rotorua, Cunliffe was sticking to safe ground – New Lynn. “
Implication – Brave John Key, timid Cunliffe.
The text reads: “Mr Key continued smiling as the black and red-clad Mana crowd surrounded the National Party entourage, but he ended up cutting the visit short as the atmosphere became increasingly unsettled.
He scuttled out of the mall with support from police, mall security and Diplomatic Protection Services.”
Also included is a very strange look on the face of John Key while he is ” posing for a photos with supporters during his visit to the Rotorua Central Mall. “.
Can’t decide on whether it is disdain, arrogance or fear. Perhaps a combination of the three.
“Mr Key continued smiling as the black and red-clad Mana crowd surrounded the National Party entourage” Once again the NZH brings us more great views of Planet Key, home of opposite land. A magical place where reality and reporting seldom share the same page.
also this: “At a media conference in Cambridge” that was originally slated to be held in Rotorua 😉 amazing the little details Herald journos forget to include.
Just to give those who enjoyed the talented Jordan Reyne’s “Dear John” another chance to listen.
Dear John is the tale of a Prime Minister invited to a feast where all the guests are mysteriously absent. A song about the impact of people who don’t recognise their own privilege on the lives of others.
http://www.youtube.com/user/jordanreyne
Jordan comes originally from West coast of the South Island.
Wow. Getting needlessly pointless out there as the strain of the campaign shows.
Please refer to comment under Slave2 re TS
http://www.3news.co.nz/politics/last-lap-for-party-leaders-2014091905
Gee a mythical 6 year old email and still not a shred of evidence that TS gets up to the same sort of stuff that Slater does.
A recent Guardian editorial about NZ election – maybe its old news that I missed
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/18/guardian-view-new-zealand-elections-dirty-politics-cannot-be-allowed-triumph
Prediction for tomorrow
National 46.5%
Labour 23.5%
Greens 15.5%
NZ First 8%.
Conservatives 3.5%
Maori Party 2% (Two electorates)
Internet Mana 1.5% (TTT by a whisker)
ACT <1% Epsom
UF <1% Ohariu
Has anyone been to the NZ Herald website today?
Turn your adblock off and prepare to be floored:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz
I thought I was going crazy for a minute… but at least they have pinned their colours to the mast and don’t even pretend to be doing balanced journalism.
Or you could look at this screenshot on the TDB:
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/09/19/i-cant-tell-what-is-national-party-advert-and-what-is-the-nz-herald-but-then-again-i-never-could/
That’s very very blue.
Oh well. No need to bother tomorrow. Soper has just declared a win for national. Game over. Apparently. Prime news all Labour negative and lovely interview of key bemoaning all the dirty politics from the opposition. Time for another glass of wine methinks.
soper is the worst of the worst..
..he puts the ‘simple’ in ‘simplistic’..
And now we have Dopey “Maestro” Jonathon Coleman, a Minister of the Crown in the Natz Govt caught “red” handed, defacing a Labour Party billboard – well that just about sums them up – there is nothing they won’t do to regain power!
I actually meant the Labour Party Bus – this new windows phone is tricky!
I was going to comment on the huge numbers of advance votes cast, but NRT has a fine post on that already:
http://www.norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/vote.html
There was a queue out the door of the advance voting station when I went by today, on the way to hand out IMP leaflets in the middle of town. When I mentioned that it was the 121st anniversary of Woman’s Sufferage, some woman said they’d be off to cast an advance vote, instead of waiting till tomorrow.
121 is 11 squared (ie to the power of 2: 11^2 = 121). Which may be an interesting numerical coincidence – or I might have just had too much time to muse while waiting for the next bunch of pedestrians to come within leafleting distance. The trick was to aim for optimal leaflet position, so that people could grab it without breaking stride; like a paper relay. The occasions when people would actually stop and discuss policies were welcome breaks that I was glad to be able to reward with badges.
Only the scrutineering, and then the multi-party party tomorrow night, to and I can get back to all things I’ve let slide during this campaign. Looking forward to Sunday!
And unfortunately the elections organisation couldn’t be bothered sending out a few extra boxes of votes. Otag Uni booth closed about half an hour early when they ran out of paper and a central wellington booth down to its last few papers. why don’t they order more boxes when they open the last box, standard stock managemetn practice. Can’t see why they can’t deliver more boxes in an hour and a half.
NOT THE SIX O’CLOCK NEWS from Laila Harre: [4 min]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziM0v1Z9JEk
A shout-out to all progressive voters : [1min]
http://a.smartmailpro.com/webv/ngdx3luy6g
IMP policies [1min]
http://a.smartmailpro.com/webv/0oves0od7g
Vote positive tomorrow!….Labour, Greens or IMP.
Personally, my candidate vote (as I am not in Te Tai Tokero) will be for the Labour candidate in my electorate and my party vote will be for the Internet-MANA party as all the big guns are trying very hard to sabotage Hone Harawira and the fair success of IMP and therefore I think that IMP is in most need of party votes now. Besides, I like their truly leftist as well as forward looking ideas. They have amazingly committed honest admirable people of integrity and courage on their list. I feel that these are the type of MPs that we need to represent our country to make it a great, fair and happy nation once again.
The lying arsehole rang me about 30 minutes ago – landline. Taped call of course. I so hate the sound of his nasally, cretinous voice I smashed the phone back on it’s cradle but not before advising him he was a “lying arsehole” which was a pointless exercise of course. Now I wish I’d held on so I could report what crap he is telling people. Perhaps something along the lines of… do you want to be governed by a five headed monster including Kim Dotcom?
Anyone else been rung?
I had a call from Cunliffe. John Key, it seems, so far doesn’t want to talk to me.
i heard from neither..(sob!..)
..was it something i said..?
something you wrote…
Call from Cunliffe.
Thanks karol and joe90. Feel better knowing Cunliffe is doing it too. 🙂
I was so incensed I tried to ring the Nat. Auckland headquarters to let them know what I thought of my dinner being interrupted by “their third-rate lying arsehole of a leader” but they (wisely) had an 0800 number listed so no use leaving a message.
Guess they’re concentrating on their own territories. I live on the Shore.
Received a call from Cunliffe also.
Labour’s final advertisement on TV very powerful. Cunliffe passionate and straight up.
Natinal’s advertisement- Key insincere lying lizard. ‘We’re this plucky little country…..bull shit ….bull shit..”.snore!
(My neutral analysis.)
I’m on the Shore too – got a call from the slimy lizard interrupting my dinner – I hung up after the Hello, this is John Key!
I had a call from a mate on behalf of the Greens – a human being, using his contacts.
Human contact, like in the old days.
I still probably won’t vote for them, but in the coin toss tomorrow it definitely pushed the greens ahead of IMP (who I also have mates supporting, but they tend to just FB me with slacktivism).
So it’s greens or Labour – although to be honest, I still don’t like hippies and a colleague of mine is a Labour candidate, so it looks doubtful.
But yeah – if someone supports a party, they should get on the phone to a mate or two tonight. Not heavy, just “do you know who you’re voting for? Have you considered X?”.
Softens even the biggest prick of a heart 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to people about voting. Left of course. I did this time and hope it can somehow compete with the slew of National ad cash.
I voted Greens purely because of two of their policies:
1. 40% taxrate on incomes over $140k. Labour’s 36% rate is just too timid.
2. Promising to re-negotiate the cost-sharing arrangement with the CHCH council, so that we don’t have to sell assets.
On political compass, I lined up very closely to Labour.
staggering-stat..
only 5% of national voters believe the edward snowden mass surveillance revelations..
..dumb as a sack of fucken doorknobs..
..and can’t see past the end of their self-interest..
I was a bit surprised by that figure as well, given that a good 10% of National’s vote are centrists who are just voting for National because of Key and their rhetoric; a good chunk of the people who voted Labour in 1999-2005.
That figure really surprises me, because usually right wingers who comment on them say we need to be protected from terrorists, or if you’ve got nothing to hide…. So they believe Snowden, but don’t think it matters.
Good luck for tomorrow everyone. Feels like Christmas Eve :).
Regaredless of how Labour does, I think Cunliffe should stay on till 2017. Just like Kirk did in 1966. And 1969. And Bolger in 87, Nash in 51 and 54. Clark in 96.
The thought of McVicar and Rankin in the executive should get the young, poor and brown out to vote. Becase it is they who they will come for. And if they do, we need to speak up. Before we are next.
Good point. Don’t forget the other RW nasties!
As we go into tomorrow, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has shared their thoughts, wisdom and humour in the lead up to this election.
I hope the majority of you will be happy tomorrow night but no matter who wins, the topics discussed here will continue in to be relevant and the fight for a better world for all will continue.
I hope you find a moment this weekend to laugh, hug your partner or a child, pat the cat … whatever brings you joy.
Because, ackshully, at the end of the day, what the New Zealand people really care about is ….. each other
Authorised by the Elder Gods
If you missed Phil Goff on “Jono and Ben at 10”, catch it on the TV3 website. He was incredible. Usually I can’t stand politicians trying to show us their “funny” side (like you-know-who, the Prime Comedian), but this was definitely an exception.
Take a bow, Phil.
Avast, ye scallywags. We totally forgot it’s International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Arrr!
I think tomorrow night will be a big surprise for everyone, pleasant for the left block including IMP and the centrist, Winston, but a shock for Key, National, ACT, Dunne and the Cons.
Yes, I am awake….