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A Tale of Two Networks

Mike Smith — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:26:59 +0000

Wellington's electricity network was privatised 20 years ago. The water network wasn't. Tomorrow evening (Tuesday) researchers Peter Harris, Dick Werry and Jim Turner will present their outcome comparison to a Fabian seminar at St John's Church Hall in Wellington at 5:30pm. Water network costs rose by 17% over the period, electricity network costs by four times that amount. The reach of both networks is similar - the lesson is that the required return on appreciating assets from privatisation drives up the costs. All welcome to come and discuss. You can register here.

Alternative Budget Competition

Mike Smith — Mon, 21 May 2012 05:13:03 +0000

Tomorrow night in Auckland four University teams from Auckland, Victoria and Otago will present their visions and prescriptions for New Zealand's economic future in an event which is
open to the public, and will be held from 5.30pm at the University of Auckland Business School. All are welcome to attend - it should be interesting.

NRT: Will parliament hold its own to account?

The Standard — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:18:47 +0000

No Right Turn on the latest case of Banks failing to declare donations. Banks has broken the rules. The credibility of Parliament is at stake.

Open mike 17/05/2012

The Standard — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:00:53 +0000

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…

Better late than never

Anthony R0bins — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:12:12 +0000

His policies (such that they are) aren't working, his government is now being questioned, his economy is stuck in the doldrums, so naturally Key is looking for someone to blame. The media!

Brighter future (still) just around the corner

Eddie — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:22:22 +0000

Unemployment's up, wages are flat, retail and export prices in freefall. Last budget National promised 4% this year - it's 1%. But never fear, the brighter future is just around the corner - again. Key says growth will be strong in 2013/14 -2 years from now. Does anyone still believe him?

You can’t fix what is not broken – no need to change university councils

Guest post — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:45:50 +0000

Dr Sandra Grey from the Tertiary Education Union has a look at Stephen Joyce's proposals to changing the governance of tertiary education institutions. She suggests that he has a look at what happened in the changes to the polytechs in 2009. And also points out that his proposals don't follow what is known about good governance for universities.

But it has been apparent to readers here that Joyce prefers to be a fiddler rather than being effective..

CamerKey and BanksHunt

Mike Smith — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:40:00 +0000

David Cameron was summoned to Parliament to explain why he has not called an enquiry into Culture Minister Jeremy Hunt's backdoor contacts with the Murdochs. Cameron accepted verbal assurances from Hunt but did not ask for evidence, and Hunt was "not aware" of what his now-sacked confidential adviser was doing. Sounds very familiar here; both Ministers are on the slippery slope and both PM's evasiveness is costing them at the polls. Question Time should be interesting today.

More willful ignorance on charter schools

Anthony R0bins — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 22:35:32 +0000

Armstrong tries to downplay the risks of charter schools. To do so of course he has to (as the PM so often does) denigrate the science that he wants to ignore.

10,000+ at Auckland anti-MOM protest

lprent — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 03:14:56 +0000

Lots of people… get down to Britomart.. Mind you Britomart is filling up rapidly. They need a few more megaphones by the look of the crowd. Penny Bright sucks at chants. Slowly moving off. This is mining protest levels… A lot of people… Seriously slow. Walked 50 metres. Really good humoured and highly social. Lots ...

Community Forum on State asset sales Sunday 29th

Mike Smith — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:08:06 +0000

Gareth Morgan and Peter Harris will speak at a Community Forum on the sale of State-owned assets on Sunday 29th at 3:30pm at the Island Bay Bowling Club, 260 The Parade, Island Bay, Wellington. The forum is being organised by the Wellington South Branch of the Labour Party. All welcome.

Alastair Cameron Labour CoS

Mike Smith — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:53:30 +0000

Alastair Cameron has been appointed Chief of Staff in David Shearer's Parliamentary office. I'm delighted to hear it; we were on the New Zealand Council together when Alastair was a law student. Since then he's started Labour's successful Summer School, been a Fulbright scholar, practised law, and worked in Marian Hobbs' office. He's a very good choice.

Ask no questions

Mike Smith — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:59:49 +0000

At the Finance Select Committee today, Maggie Barry told a submitter "You are not here to ask us questions, you are here to answer our questions." The submitter's question was reasonable; but it was addressed to closed minds. Todd McLay who chairs the committee on state asset sales referred to a number of the submissions as "emotional". He was right. It was anger, and it won't go away.

Murdo RIP

Mike Smith — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:42:10 +0000

Long time Labour Party stalwart Murdo MacMillan's funeral will be at St Peter's Church on Friday 20th at 10am. Son of a seaman and ex-wharfie, rock-solid in his values, Murdo made a huge contribution behind the scenes to Labour's successes over the best part of forty years.

Both sides of Joyce’s dirty deal bad for NZ

James Henderson — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 04:50:52 +0000

We know that giving SkyCity more pokie machines will mean more problem gamblers, more crime. The Right says it's worth it for the convention centre. But the official numbers show that's a dog and we would pay for it in the long-run. It's not one side of this equation that is bad for New Zealand, it's both.