Yep Charles will be missed. He was one of the few who could be given a bill understand the implications and organise a proper response. His particular skills were quite unique and he was always in demand.
A transcription for those who can’t view the video….
“It’s unproductive to keep trying to locate and exclude the supposed enemy within.
Instead in order to avoid history repeating it’s time for an honest, open, and overdue assessment of the 2011 election campaign produced Labour’s worst ever electoral result.
Those responsible for it should make dignified exits, and all the undoubted talent and diversity of the caucus should be included in the shadow cabinet.
To put it in another way, in Gough Whitlam’s immortal words “the party must have both its wings to fly”.
But if one of those wing’s useless because it’s full of dirt and grime and grease then you need to clean and trim it so it’s able to properly regrow and regain its strength.
Common sense and doing what’s right isn’t in the old guards vocabulary, like has been out of date management teams a full clear out is required by the shareholders as they aint doing it themselves.
“I’m really confident now Annette’s back that Labour can regain its status as a caring party rebuilt on traditional left-wing principles that put people before profits.”
English moves to have mortgages put 20% up front, how ironic. And the silence from Labour, when the mortgage deposit was lowered due to wages failing to keep up with home ownership aspirations, does that mean Labour is out in front demanding wages now rise? No, that’s the Greens job. What does Labour stand for? More Phil and Trevor, of course.
A fine and thoughtful speech. I noted there were some less than happy looks on the faces of the front bench at the end. He has set them a challenge that they have failed so far. Now is the time for them to step up, but it’s come at the cost of a good mp who understood the best of what labor can be.
I noted Moana Mackey and Lianne Dalziell appeared not too far from tears. Two equally fine and intelligent MPs who paid a price for supporting David Cunliffe.
Two wings of Labour to come together, aye? I would hope and dream, but cannot see it.
I also note the clear criticism of the media in NZ, and it is hitting and totally correct.
Yes, while Europe is no longer that influential in this part of the world, it is still to many a beacon of hope, when it comes to democracy, the rule of law and offering people a better life, despite of all the drama the mainly Mediterranean member countries of the Euro Zone have to go through.
What else is there to choose from? US, China, India, Japan and various other countries not coming close to a humane, democratic and at least attempted fair society as in much of Europe.
NZ must think carefully and smartly, and not become a peasant nation under adverse influences. I congratulate Charles Chauvel, he will be a loss for Labour, for sure. A smart and sound legal mind with experience always helps.
And so Aneeeeete, Treev, whatsitsname from further up the Hutt (the anger management boy), Grant (came third to the Greens in Wellington Central) and the hangers-on will have a few from the top shelf to “mark the occassion”.
Shearer will…of course say nothing genuine…and wonder what the top shelf is.
Yes he sure came third in Welly central on party vote.
Maybe he should stop splitting the left vote inWC in the electorate vote and not run next time 🙂
James Shaw of the Greens would be a fine electorate MP IMHO
Sad to see Charles go, Labour actually can’t afford to loose him because sadly this caucus is lacking Mps of his calibre. I can’t say I blame him for leaving though working in a caucus were people leak to the media and the so called senior whip defames an MP because it suits their own purpose must be pretty shit.
All the best with the new job.
Institutions beyond government need strengthening too. Democracy requires a free, well-resourced, unbiased fourth estate. Journalists working in much of our undercapitalized, foreign-owned media are under constant professional pressure. This comes from many quarters, including the constant need to sell newspapers and airtime, and to compete with instantly available online sources. In the case of the two better-known right wing blogs, those online sources are proxies for the present government, with much copy supplied directly out of ministers’ offices at taxpayers’ expense. A general dumbing down, but more importantly a loss of independence, have been among the inevitable results.
Two posts have appeared today on Red Alert. 1st @ 3:48pm, 2nd @ 9:41pm. Nothing re-Charles Chauval speech. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that site run by Curran and Mallard – with a bit of help from Robertson?
To be fair if you dig far enough you’ll find it on Labour’s web site.
Labour currently have several problems, one of them is a real lack of talent in caucus. Chauvel was one of the members Labour needed to keep, a very clever straight shooter.
It is probably too late for decent clean out and full re structure of Labour now, it will happen when they lose in 2014.
+13
All of the above.
What stands out for me is the Wiki ref provided by Khandallah Viper in which they quote him thus:
“…… but I do want to be there for a period of time such as I can get some things done, and leave feeling that I have achieved something.”
I sincerely hope Charles knows he has achieved something but I suspect it was not as much as he would have wished.
Comes a time though when pushing shit uphill is a waste of life and one can be more productive elsewhere – even if hopefully at some stage he will be able to return and complete his ‘vision’ (erk – pardon the vision bit).
Trevor Mallard was campaign manager. Maybe Trevor is what Charles was speaking about.
But instead of thinking about it Trevor went on Twitter and said ‘My decision to seek Hutt South nomination just reinforced’ after the speech.
I think that Trevor is very bad for Labour. He makes me cring when he says point of order point or order point of order.Trevor has been the MP for so long that may be he has lost the grip on reality like Chris Carter did.
I am very angry because Labour is not about one person Trevor!
And this is exactly why Labour are getting it so wrong.
I’m not an insider, a rune-reader, so I don’t really know what Mallard’s tweet means (sure, I can guess, but that’s all). What we’re getting is a daily diet of innuendo like that, sniping and whispering, while simultaneously the same people are saying “Everybody Unite!”.
Labour would have been SO much better off having open debates, contests of ideas, and ultimately, a resolution. Instead they’ve got a holy fu**ing mess. And it won’t be solved by purges.
‘What we’re getting is a daily diet of innuendo like that, sniping and whispering, while simultaneously the same people are saying “Everybody Unite!”.’
Bit like you see on this thread, you mean “Everyone unite … against Shearer!”
‘What we’re getting is a daily diet of innuendo like that, sniping and whispering, while simultaneously the same people are saying “Everybody Unite!”.’
Bit like you see on this thread, you mean? “Everyone unite … against Shearer!”
Labour would have been SO much better off having open debates, contests of ideas, and ultimately, a resolution. Instead they’ve got a holy fu**ing mess. And it won’t be solved by purges.
The funny thing is, the For Free political advisors here on The Standard advised the Labour caucus on this very strongly for the last several months.
I would have hoped he could have responded with a bit more grace and generosity than that, but then again it is Trevor! He never really has accounted for the poor performance of the last election. Mind you, Grant hasn’t either.
Great speech! And I was happy to hear what he very bluntly, but politely, said about the “ABC” brigade! As my Irish father used to say “He didn’t miss them and hit the wall!” Let’s hope the membership on hearing his speech ( and of course, hearing the main reason he is leaving – i.e. the ABC blockade) put pressure on that group to put the party and the people of NZ first – or GET OUT!!
It is very sad to think that he is now lost to us; he is so smart and clear-eyed. At the same time it is a relief to hear someone from inside the Labour caucus say what he has said, without rancour, in a time and place where no one could shout “crisis” and run to shut him down. I wish you all the best in your new role Charles.
The Hollowmen are pissing themselves at how easy this all is, they got hoots helping the Mallarfia to run labour the way they want, fine MP’s like Charles departing, DC where they want him (out of their way) and no end of MSM flunkeys and bloggers to help with the spin.
Toxic Trevor does his best to steal the show (what a tool), but Chauvel’s speech provides much food for thought.
“It’s time for an entrenched Bill of Rights and a constitution, including provisions that accord the Treaty of Waitangi appropriate status. Parliamentary procedure needs further reform, including rationalising the number of select committees, and increasing their powers. Our public watchdogs need proper powers and resources. The judicial branch’s independence needs to be safeguarded…
It’s time for the re-establishment of a strong, independent, well-resourced, multimedia public broadcaster in New Zealand…”
I don’t really follow the antics of DPF and Mr. Oil, but I’m not sure the National Party wants to be so overtly connected with them 🙂
And of course the remarks about the Labour caucus, the truth of which Mallard was kind enough to illustrate.
What a sad state a once-great party is in, a party I loyally voted for in every election.
Look at the lineup:
Mumblefuck – he might be mumble fuck.. or fuckmumble or mumble, I mean fuck, er…
Goff and King – backstabbers and throwbacks from the 80s who were loyal Brides of Our Blessed Lord Roger Christ.
Hipkins – a smug little fink of the sort that used to be called a yuppie.
Robertson – a third-place loser in Wellington Central, a lazy, condescending, dull second-rate Machiavelli wannabe.
Curran – a bully and blackmailer with an IQ so low the only thing you can do with her is put her in a pot and make sure that she gets watered regularly.
Sio – AWOL on his employment portfolio, but happily campaigning for bigotry
O’Connor – another bigot
Mallard… who’s Mallard – no adjectives or metaphors are necessary.
Deadwood, all of them. Meanwhile…
Ignored or exiled: Lianne Dalziel, Louisa Wall, David Cunliffe.
Mallard is a toxic influence that needs to be amputated and purged. Everything about him is a disaster, the stupid tweets, the dumb distracting points of order, worst election result in many years, I used to respect him but that was a long time ago and he just must get out now, passed it and distructive. Can someone please find him a job at the UN soon!!
knock me down with a feather
Clever Trevor
widebrows wonder wether Clever Trevor’s clever
either have they got
nor neither haven’t not
got no right to make a clot
our of Trevor
What a hell of a way to rip the scab of a long festering wound that was supposedly starting to heal (a bit). A major throwing of toys from the safety of the cot with no regard to the broken toys and broken windows that will inevitable result in the playroom.
A spray of bile of this magnitude from a weasel running away because he was told that he wouldn’t get the lollipop he wanted can only have one outcome. Those left will definitely have cause to ponder their futures (or lack thereof) and, quite apart from the fact that Parliament will undoubtedly be a better place for his absence, some of real talent will be considering how much of their lives they are prepared to waste while being kept behind the scenes and away from important things like policy formation and party rejuvenation.
It would really suck if it turned out that “DavidW” was in some way connected to the Labour caucus. The last thin Labour needs is this kind of spiteful negativity.
Besides, I don’t see any outrage, disassociation or condemnation of toxic Charles speech which would have to be one of the most self-destructive speeches ever given in my recollection. Mr mumble should be all over it like a rash.
You call that speech “gracious” CV (shudders visibly!) I would hate to hear one that was really loaded. Shearer should have invited him to piss off and not let the door hit his sorry arse on the way out.
It was not so much a speech as a great big one-fingered gesture at the Leadership, the Party and the membership. Might be OK in a gloves-off (very much closed door) session looking at what went wrong last election but to do it in public was to my mind unforgiveable, treacherous and self-defeating.
This, classless tantrum.
At least Cunliffe took his lumps like a Man ,Chuck on the other hand throws out his toys and runs of to NY to cry in Mums lap.
Pathetic individual.
“Who cares about the membership?” I would say I’m gobsmacked, gobsmacked but that wouldn’t be true.
No, I was really talking about the loyal souls who have been continuing to prop up the Party’s dwindling financial resources year after year while the parliamentarians have their noses in the public trough and treat them with contempt in exactly the sort of way you have expressed.
You know, the people who really believe and can’t pack it in and bugger off to the UN, the people who save enough from their National Super to maintain membership as a matter of trust. Trust that the principles of the workers movement are being upheld and are not sacrificed on the alter of neo-liberal social engineering.
I would say that more than a few rank and file will be now saying “fuck it” I’ll buy another bottle of that sherry (overpriced because of Jim Anderton’s misguided tax) I like and skip my LP membership this year.
Hmmm, you’re not some sort of bridge dweller are you, David? Your messages are mixed, but I think the anti-Labour sentiment is starting to show through. Chauvel’s speech was pretty dignified in tone and he could have been far more explicit and even nasty if he’d wanted to, but clearly, his loyalty is to the party. Something nobody will ever say of Trevor Mallard.
Regarding the membership, numbers are up and will continue to improve as we move into the second phase of the reform process. Finances are also under control and I’m told donations from the private sector are also on the rise, as the likelihood of a change of Government becomes more apparent and business hedges its bets.
All in all, there is nothing in Chauve’s speech that party members don’t already know. The great thing about it is its honesty, the downside is that Charles won’t be around for the foreseeable future to help reform caucus.
Chauvel’s speech was pretty dignified in tone and he could have been far more explicit and even nasty if he’d wanted to, but clearly, his loyalty is to the party.
Bravo to Charles Chauval for having the courage to say what he did without rancour or anything approaching petty, immature spite.
I don’t know what the fuss is. He’s just another self serving bloke on the gravy train, he’s moved onto a better gravy train. What’s so special about having a legal mind. Keyboy is shafting us all with his legal position though 80% want to hold them in Public Ownership. 🙁
One of the better MP’s was Charles Chauvel, i actually pictured Him as a future Prime Minister more in that role,
Never mind Charles will be forgotten by next month, nah wait thats a couple of days away, the month after should be enough time in politics to erase Him from most memories,
Pity as much energy wasn’t expended picking at the SCABS of and that are the National Government as what gets expended here lambasting Labour,
Changing party allegiance to a more left leaning option would seem to be the best medicine for any perceived wrongs being currently committed by Labour…
Charles is smart and a good left winger but he was not so effective as a potential local MP. He needed to better Peter Dunne’s record of turning up to everything and being everywhere in the electorate and then he might have won the seat, but he seemed a bit bored by all that mundane stuff. And didn’t even live there which is always a bit of a negative.
You know we’re fucked when just coincidentally Paddy Gower tweets this – once Charles is out the door, of course.
Come on, you ABC chickenshits. At least own your catty, juvenile bullshit. Because this constant stream of cowardice just makes me more and more certain that Labour is completely fucked. I thought you’d won and we were all meant to line up behind the strong, committed leadership …
Winning: http://t.co/lFbQlRhkZH <– Roy Morgan, not pretty peeps. But don't worry, it's not the leadership's fault, or tactics, or anything really. It's just the wind. Now that Charles has gone it'll pick up; and Mallard has more time to tweet sweet nothings to whaleoil so it's good news actually.
No surprises with roy morgan,what the hell has to happen ?
That’s right we have got to say nothing,do nothing, type nothing, blog nothing, just
follow the leader,left,right,left right all the way to the edge of the cliff,where we all say
‘right’ and disappear into the abyss along with our hopes,wishes and dreams,at the moment
it looks like we really are that powerless.
Caucus, follow Charles advice and think of the people and the party and relinquish
your stranglehold on a much needed and wanted party,your time has commeth,give
it up, we want it back.
If this trend continues something is going to happen. Don’t ask me what because I haven’t a clue. I don’t have a lot of faith in the voting public, but they do seem to sense sometimes when something is wrong. They may not have a clue what it is, but they know Labour is currently not in a good place.
My view is the main reason for the malignant behaviour particularly on the part of Mallard is because deep down he knows what Charles Chauvel said is true. But he/they won’t admit it, even to themselves. Have a look at the very end of the video. Jacinda Ardern is doing all the right things (standing and clapping) but she’s furious. The body language and facial expression says it all. (I apologise to her here and now if I have misinterpreted her response.)
I’m sure Charles would have much preferred to have confined any criticism to the caucus, but I suspect a climate of fear has been created and no-one dares speak up. Sad, but that’s where I think it’s at…
I don’t think Ardern looks furious at the end of the video, but she doesn’t look very positive. Usually a farewell speech results in congratulations on a job well done. No such response from her. Ardern and Parker are clapping, but most of the time their backs are to Chauvel.
I don’t think it’s so much that the leadership team know Chauvel is right, but that they aren’t aware of their short-comings. I think they were second tier under Clark. They accepted it for that period, but thought that once Clark moved on, their time had come. They seem to believe they truly are top team, leadership material, and now they can do things the way they think they should be done. They are not aware that they are solid, second tier material, but every week they show they are not up to taking the leading roles.
Clearly they won’t go willingly, and will need to totally fail, or to be usurped. The latter is difficult because a section of the caucus needs renewal. I suppose it really needs the membership to be able to select more suitable new candidates: ones who will recognise the kind of leader parliamentary Labour needs in the current context.
To me it looked like she was controlled in her anger, or not sure that she’d heard what she thought she had perhaps? But there was certainly a dearth of front bench MPs congratulating Charles. At the very least they should put the site of unity on given they were on camera. Heard there weren’t many MPs at his after function either.
I agree hush minx. She was angry or maybe shocked because she didn’t think he would do it, but it was well under control. After all they knew the cameras were on them. She and David Parker exchanged a very quick glance at each other after they rose to clap which I thought was quite telling. I guess the reason there weren’t many MPs at the after function was because the ABC Club called an urgent meeting in the caucus room. 🙂
I don’t think it’s so much that the leadership team know Chauvel is right, but that they aren’t aware of their short-comings.
That’s sort of what I was saying. Deep down they will know he’s right, but they won’t admit it even to themselves. I’ve seen it all before. They can’t let go of the power, the intrigues, the whole lifestyle. It gives them a feeling of self-importance (even omnipotence in some cases) which is hard to give up. The thought of becoming an ordinary citizen again fills them with horror. 🙂
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The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Dehm, Senior lecturer, international migration and refugee law, University of Technology Sydney The High Court unanimously ruled today that the Australian government can keep asylum seekers in immigration detention indefinitely in cases where they do not “voluntarily” cooperate with their own ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Munro, Lecturer, Creative Industries and Digital Media, University of South Australia Twenty-four hours after the release of Macklemore’s pro-Palestine protest song Hind’s Hall on social media on May 7, the video had already notched up over 24 million views. In ...
Failing to anticipate the complexity of the consenting system is being cited as the the current builder's shortcomings, an Infrastructure Commission review says. ...
350 Aotearoa is calling the Environment Select Committee’s decision to allow oral submissions from just 40% of individual, unique submitters who asked to speak to the committee ‘a disgraceful blight to democracy’. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Helal, Assistant Dean (Sustainability), The University of Melbourne Dubai skylineAleksandarPasaric/Pexels Since ancient times, people have built structures that reach for the skies – from the steep spires of medieval towers to the grand domes of ancient cathedrals and mosques. Today ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Musole, PhD Law Student, University of New England Girts Ragelis/ShutterstockRecent trends show Australians are increasingly buying wearables such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. These electronics track our body movements or vital signs to provide data throughout the day, with ...
Papua New Guinea experienced a significant earthquake on 24 March in East Sepik and there has also been recent flooding there and in surrounding provinces. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yousuf Mohammed, Dermatology researcher, The University of Queensland Maridav/Shutterstock You wake up, stagger to the bathroom and gaze into the mirror. No, you’re not imagining it. You’ve developed face wrinkles overnight. They’re sleep wrinkles. Sleep wrinkles are temporary. But as your ...
The Environment Select Committee has just announced that 60 percent of individuals who asked to speak at the hearings will not be heard. This equates to almost 700 people who made individual submissions and more than 1000 more who made a form submission. ...
The Royal New Zealand Ballet is performing Swan Lake around the country. What kind of dream does the ballet sell?Before going to see the Royal New Zealand Ballet perform Swan Lake, I had about as much familiarity with the plot of this ballet as could be expected from having ...
A new poem by Auckland poet Eamonn Tee. High Tide at Local Maxima It is only going to get worse. The streams will be narrow and fickle. The week will bend and buckle like a pot-bellied waist. You will make it to the weekend with one ...
The New Zealand entrepreneur behind beauty business Ethique is gearing up to launch a new eco-venture. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Our thirst for a tasty bevvy is insatiable, but it comes with a hefty plastic price for the planet: 580 billion ...
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 James by Percival Everett (Mantle, $38) A retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from ...
By Kamna Kumar in Suva Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna stressed the importance of media freedom and its link to the climate and environmental crisis at the 2024 World Press Freedom Day event organised by the University of the South Pacific’s journalism programme. Under the theme “A Planet for ...
Tara Ward previews a new local TV series offering alternative visions of motherhood. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. A woman is clambering up the side of her two-story house, clinging desperately to a drainpipe. Nearby, her child is perched on the ...
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is supportive of the cross-party approach to climate adaptation announced by the Minister of Climate Change today. ...
The Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) welcome today’s announcement from Government around a bipartisan inquiry into an enduring climate adaptation framework for New Zealand. ...
The Free Speech Union welcomes the decision by the Department of Internal Affairs, and Minister Brooke Van Velden, to abandon proposals to further regulate online speech. ...
Its new building in Wellington will not be nearly big enough for all its records, and it has also run out of money to build its new storage facility in Levin. ...
BusinessNZ is congratulating the Minister of Climate Change for his work in achieving cross-party consensus for a way forward on climate adaptation. ...
Recent research reveals the repeal of smokefree measures is not only bad for our health, but also the economy. The Government has repealed various smokefree measures to ensure it keeps collecting $1.2 billion a year in tobacco taxes, in order to pay for tax cuts already being delivered to ...
The club’s surprisingly good season is built on the desire to prove a random A-League YouTuber wrong… and a few other factors.“There’s no way that Wellington Phoenix play finals this year. I can’t see it happening at all.” Those are the words of Lachlan Raeside, an Australian football content ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By César Albarrán-Torres, Senior Lecturer, Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology Apple TV+ As one of billions of bilingual individuals in the world, it disappoints me when a film or TV show with characters of a non-English-speaking background is ...
The under-utilised course is a waste of space, and with a little political will, it could be turned into something better. For the duration of her stay in Wellington, my long-suffering cousin listened to me rant about golf courses. They’re bad for the environment: water intensive and pesticide heavy. They ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Ruppanner, Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of The Future of Work Lab, Podcast at MissPerceived, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock A recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows US fertility rates dropped 2% in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Corderoy, Medical doctor and PhD candidate studying involuntary psychiatric treatment, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Sydney shop_py/Shutterstock Picture two people, both suffering from a serious mental illness requiring hospital admission. One was born in Australia, the other in Asia. Hopefully, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Treby, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, RMIT University P.j.Hickox, Shutterstock Peatlands store more carbon per square metre than any other ecosystem on Earth. These waterlogged, mossy bogs beat even dense rainforests for their ability to act as carbon reservoirs. Under the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Goss, Adjunct Associate Professor, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra Government spending on health has been growing so rapidly that a decade ago the then health minister Peter Dutton called it “unmanageable” and “unsustainable”. Health spending grew in real terms by ...
New Zealand's largest electricity distributor is warning the country to hurry up with controls around charging electric vehicles or face unnecessary bills running into the billions. ...
New Zealanders have been asked to conserve energy this morning to combat a possible electricity shortfall, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. A call to conserve power New Zealand is facing a possible electricity shortfall, with people up ...
Writer Rebecca K Reilly breaks down the national book awards. What are the Ockhams?The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are our annual national awards for books published for adults, and have existed in this form since 2016. There are four categories: Fiction, Poetry, General Non-fiction and Illustrated Non-fiction. There ...
Wellington City Council should keep its 34% ownership share in Wellington International Airport, argue Unions Wellington spokespeople Finn Cordwell and Ashok Jacob. Insanity, as the saying goes, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Wellington City Council (WCC) is yet again proposing to dispose ...
New Zealand’s largest book publisher has undergone drastic changes this week, leaving its future role in local publishing uncertain. Two of the most recognisable local publishers in New Zealand are among those restructured out of Penguin Random House, it was announced this week. Head of publishing Claire Murdoch will leave ...
In 2021 the Public Interest Journalism Fund launched the Te Rito Journalism project, a $2.4 million initiative to boost diversity in New Zealand’s newsrooms. The initiative was in response to the decades-long shortage of Māori and Pacific journalists in the media industry. It was billed as New Zealand’s ...
The Black Ferns Sevens appeared to be a mile behind Australia at the halfway point of the 2023-24 SVNS international circuit. Winless in three tournaments, a cup quarter-final exit in Perth was one of their worst results. To add insult to injury, talismanic skipper Sarah Hirini had been ruled out ...
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Successive governments have tried, and failed, to count Māori. But with the return of social investment, it’s more important than ever to get good data. The post Government looks for a better way to count Māori appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Experts in financing social investment initiatives say New Zealand is in a prime position to tackle social issues via a social investment approach The post What will Willis’ social investment fund look like? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist A former Tuvalu prime minister says while the New Zealand government’s oil and gas plans show it is concerned about its economy, he is more concerned about the livelihoods and survival of the Tuvalu people. Enele Sopoaga — who still serves as an MP ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Many people who follow federal budgets know about the magnificent “budget tree” in a parliamentary courtyard, which turns a glorious red in time for the May event. This week Treasurer Jim Chalmers posed by ...
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Yep Charles will be missed. He was one of the few who could be given a bill understand the implications and organise a proper response. His particular skills were quite unique and he was always in demand.
I’m pleased he called for Phil and Trevor to go (10’50”) it’s about time someone from caucus came out and said that.
Oh well said Charles Chauval. His so sound advice starts… at 10:40mins. Will commonsense finally prevail? Fingers crossed.
A transcription for those who can’t view the video….
“It’s unproductive to keep trying to locate and exclude the supposed enemy within.
Instead in order to avoid history repeating it’s time for an honest, open, and overdue assessment of the 2011 election campaign produced Labour’s worst ever electoral result.
Those responsible for it should make dignified exits, and all the undoubted talent and diversity of the caucus should be included in the shadow cabinet.
To put it in another way, in Gough Whitlam’s immortal words “the party must have both its wings to fly”.
yep!
Yep. And said with calm grace.
But if one of those wing’s useless because it’s full of dirt and grime and grease then you need to clean and trim it so it’s able to properly regrow and regain its strength.
Common sense and doing what’s right isn’t in the old guards vocabulary, like has been out of date management teams a full clear out is required by the shareholders as they aint doing it themselves.
Here’s one for DB Breweries:
“I’m really confident now Annette’s back that Labour can regain its status as a caring party rebuilt on traditional left-wing principles that put people before profits.”
it’s about time someone from caucus came out and said that
Aye but it is sad that an MP only feels that he can say this publicly in his valedictory speech.
What is going on?
Why are very good MPs like Lianne Dalziel being demoted and Louisa Wall being ignored because they are on the “wrong side”.
It is up to the members to get their party back. It has been done before. It is time to do it again.
IrishBill
Yep, that’s the truth…
How ironic that Charles calls for inclusion and the first out of the blocks finger people for execution.
English moves to have mortgages put 20% up front, how ironic. And the silence from Labour, when the mortgage deposit was lowered due to wages failing to keep up with home ownership aspirations, does that mean Labour is out in front demanding wages now rise? No, that’s the Greens job. What does Labour stand for? More Phil and Trevor, of course.
A fine and thoughtful speech. I noted there were some less than happy looks on the faces of the front bench at the end. He has set them a challenge that they have failed so far. Now is the time for them to step up, but it’s come at the cost of a good mp who understood the best of what labor can be.
I noted Moana Mackey and Lianne Dalziell appeared not too far from tears. Two equally fine and intelligent MPs who paid a price for supporting David Cunliffe.
My apologies. It’s Dalziel.
An edit, an edit, our kingdom for an edit. 😈
[lprent: Working on it. I suspect that if I turn off the RSS aggregator that it will start working. ]
They’re both talented, and we can’t afford not to have them utilised. I hope sense prevails soon.
Two wings of Labour to come together, aye? I would hope and dream, but cannot see it.
I also note the clear criticism of the media in NZ, and it is hitting and totally correct.
Yes, while Europe is no longer that influential in this part of the world, it is still to many a beacon of hope, when it comes to democracy, the rule of law and offering people a better life, despite of all the drama the mainly Mediterranean member countries of the Euro Zone have to go through.
What else is there to choose from? US, China, India, Japan and various other countries not coming close to a humane, democratic and at least attempted fair society as in much of Europe.
NZ must think carefully and smartly, and not become a peasant nation under adverse influences. I congratulate Charles Chauvel, he will be a loss for Labour, for sure. A smart and sound legal mind with experience always helps.
Yep. Sad to see Charles go. He’s got good principles and a sharp mind.
Don’t blame him though. It sounds like caucus isn’t the most fun place in the world to be.
Wise words from a smart man.
with all the couldas and the shouldas and other counterfactuals that run through the mind with that, it kind of makes for a melancholy evening.
A sad day for the New Zealand Labour Party.
And so Aneeeeete, Treev, whatsitsname from further up the Hutt (the anger management boy), Grant (came third to the Greens in Wellington Central) and the hangers-on will have a few from the top shelf to “mark the occassion”.
Shearer will…of course say nothing genuine…and wonder what the top shelf is.
Yes he sure came third in Welly central on party vote.
Maybe he should stop splitting the left vote inWC in the electorate vote and not run next time 🙂
James Shaw of the Greens would be a fine electorate MP IMHO
He would make a good electorate MP, though might not be able to beat whichever stuffed shirt the Nats put up simply because he is a Green.
Sad to see Charles go, Labour actually can’t afford to loose him because sadly this caucus is lacking Mps of his calibre. I can’t say I blame him for leaving though working in a caucus were people leak to the media and the so called senior whip defames an MP because it suits their own purpose must be pretty shit.
All the best with the new job.
Chur chur Charles.
Ballsy speech. Hopefully you’ll be back when Shearer gets rolled and Cunliffe is running tings proper!
When I think of what the biggest issue is for New Zealand, I think “Hollowing Out” of the economy and society.
When I see a young talent like Charles pushed out by Shearer, I think “Hollowing Out” of the Labour Party.
I’m sad and angry. What a ******* stupid stupid ignorant waste.
ref “young”: Shearer was born in July ’57. Charles was born in April ’69.
+1 Khandallah.
One could easily see more of them leaving as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Chauvel_(politician)
here is some bio on Charles
That was a very direct claim he made about Farrarblog and SlaterOil.
…which could hardly be said by National about The Standard and its relation to either Labour or the Greens…
Hopefully TheDailyBlog goes just a tiny way to filling the space he wanted formed within the media.
What was it? I’m a bit short of time looking at javascript conflicts to watch the video.
Never mind. I can probably find the transcript…
He said roughly that Whaleoiland Kiwibog act as mouthpieces for National and are fed information straight from Ministers’ offices.
Yep… Just through on the feed. http://www.labour.org.nz/news/valedictory-speech
Ummm…
But nobody reads blogs…
Thank you Charles and good luck.
Discuss. 😀
You may think that, however I couldn’t possibly comment….
😈
Actually I think I will. But after I see the last night’s code burnt on the first 10 boxes out of the door.
Wry humour:
Two posts have appeared today on Red Alert. 1st @ 3:48pm, 2nd @ 9:41pm. Nothing re-Charles Chauval speech. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that site run by Curran and Mallard – with a bit of help from Robertson?
To be fair if you dig far enough you’ll find it on Labour’s web site.
Labour currently have several problems, one of them is a real lack of talent in caucus. Chauvel was one of the members Labour needed to keep, a very clever straight shooter.
It is probably too late for decent clean out and full re structure of Labour now, it will happen when they lose in 2014.
By the way, that is not my wish, it is my prediction.
+13
All of the above.
What stands out for me is the Wiki ref provided by Khandallah Viper in which they quote him thus:
“…… but I do want to be there for a period of time such as I can get some things done, and leave feeling that I have achieved something.”
I sincerely hope Charles knows he has achieved something but I suspect it was not as much as he would have wished.
Comes a time though when pushing shit uphill is a waste of life and one can be more productive elsewhere – even if hopefully at some stage he will be able to return and complete his ‘vision’ (erk – pardon the vision bit).
He was on track to roll the cockatoo in Ohariu too.
Trevor Mallard was campaign manager. Maybe Trevor is what Charles was speaking about.
But instead of thinking about it Trevor went on Twitter and said ‘My decision to seek Hutt South nomination just reinforced’ after the speech.
I think that Trevor is very bad for Labour. He makes me cring when he says point of order point or order point of order.Trevor has been the MP for so long that may be he has lost the grip on reality like Chris Carter did.
I am very angry because Labour is not about one person Trevor!
https://twitter.com/TrevorMallard/status/306629099105943552
Utterly disgusting behaviour by Mallard.
He can seek the nomination. But I hope every person who is willing and able fights like hell to make sure he loses.
And this is exactly why Labour are getting it so wrong.
I’m not an insider, a rune-reader, so I don’t really know what Mallard’s tweet means (sure, I can guess, but that’s all). What we’re getting is a daily diet of innuendo like that, sniping and whispering, while simultaneously the same people are saying “Everybody Unite!”.
Labour would have been SO much better off having open debates, contests of ideas, and ultimately, a resolution. Instead they’ve got a holy fu**ing mess. And it won’t be solved by purges.
‘What we’re getting is a daily diet of innuendo like that, sniping and whispering, while simultaneously the same people are saying “Everybody Unite!”.’
Bit like you see on this thread, you mean “Everyone unite … against Shearer!”
‘What we’re getting is a daily diet of innuendo like that, sniping and whispering, while simultaneously the same people are saying “Everybody Unite!”.’
Bit like you see on this thread, you mean? “Everyone unite … against Shearer!”
No. Not a bit like you see on this thread.
People who don’t think much of Shearer say things like “I don’t think much of Shearer”. See?
I don’t like Mallard, I think he should leave Parliament. This would help Labour.
See? Not hard.
The funny thing is, the For Free political advisors here on The Standard advised the Labour caucus on this very strongly for the last several months.
And, we are being proven right.
*Years*
Advised the Labour caucus on this very strongly for the last several *years*.
Christ, what an utter prick.
I would have hoped he could have responded with a bit more grace and generosity than that, but then again it is Trevor! He never really has accounted for the poor performance of the last election. Mind you, Grant hasn’t either.
Great speech! And I was happy to hear what he very bluntly, but politely, said about the “ABC” brigade! As my Irish father used to say “He didn’t miss them and hit the wall!” Let’s hope the membership on hearing his speech ( and of course, hearing the main reason he is leaving – i.e. the ABC blockade) put pressure on that group to put the party and the people of NZ first – or GET OUT!!
It is very sad to think that he is now lost to us; he is so smart and clear-eyed. At the same time it is a relief to hear someone from inside the Labour caucus say what he has said, without rancour, in a time and place where no one could shout “crisis” and run to shut him down. I wish you all the best in your new role Charles.
The Hollowmen are pissing themselves at how easy this all is, they got hoots helping the Mallarfia to run labour the way they want, fine MP’s like Charles departing, DC where they want him (out of their way) and no end of MSM flunkeys and bloggers to help with the spin.
… yep, I think Trevor Mallard has earned himself a case of Don Perignon from Hooters this year.
They – Mallard, Shearer et al – are hollow men themselves.
+1.
Toxic Trevor does his best to steal the show (what a tool), but Chauvel’s speech provides much food for thought.
“It’s time for an entrenched Bill of Rights and a constitution, including provisions that accord the Treaty of Waitangi appropriate status. Parliamentary procedure needs further reform, including rationalising the number of select committees, and increasing their powers. Our public watchdogs need proper powers and resources. The judicial branch’s independence needs to be safeguarded…
It’s time for the re-establishment of a strong, independent, well-resourced, multimedia public broadcaster in New Zealand…”
I don’t really follow the antics of DPF and Mr. Oil, but I’m not sure the National Party wants to be so overtly connected with them 🙂
And of course the remarks about the Labour caucus, the truth of which Mallard was kind enough to illustrate.
What a sad state a once-great party is in, a party I loyally voted for in every election.
Look at the lineup:
Mumblefuck – he might be mumble fuck.. or fuckmumble or mumble, I mean fuck, er…
Goff and King – backstabbers and throwbacks from the 80s who were loyal Brides of Our Blessed Lord Roger Christ.
Hipkins – a smug little fink of the sort that used to be called a yuppie.
Robertson – a third-place loser in Wellington Central, a lazy, condescending, dull second-rate Machiavelli wannabe.
Curran – a bully and blackmailer with an IQ so low the only thing you can do with her is put her in a pot and make sure that she gets watered regularly.
Sio – AWOL on his employment portfolio, but happily campaigning for bigotry
O’Connor – another bigot
Mallard… who’s Mallard – no adjectives or metaphors are necessary.
Deadwood, all of them. Meanwhile…
Ignored or exiled: Lianne Dalziel, Louisa Wall, David Cunliffe.
Driven out: Charles Chauvel.
still got it Potsie
Mallard is a toxic influence that needs to be amputated and purged. Everything about him is a disaster, the stupid tweets, the dumb distracting points of order, worst election result in many years, I used to respect him but that was a long time ago and he just must get out now, passed it and distructive. Can someone please find him a job at the UN soon!!
Clearing minefields on a pogo stick would be a good job.
Tea-Party (clever-)Trevor responds to his critics:
Just cos I ain’t never said, no, nothing worth saying
never ever, never ever, never ever
things ‘ave got read into what I never sad, ’till me mouth becomes me ‘ead
which ain’t not all that clever
and it’s not not saying one thing nor another
neither, either is ist anything I haven’t said, whatever
and it ain’t not proving that me mind ain’t moving
and I answer to the naem of Trever, however
knock me down with a feather
Clever Trevor
widebrows wonder wether Clever Trevor’s clever
either have they got
nor neither haven’t not
got no right to make a clot
our of Trevor
and The Tea Party
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT_vF9yzJUo
sleighted
What a hell of a way to rip the scab of a long festering wound that was supposedly starting to heal (a bit). A major throwing of toys from the safety of the cot with no regard to the broken toys and broken windows that will inevitable result in the playroom.
A spray of bile of this magnitude from a weasel running away because he was told that he wouldn’t get the lollipop he wanted can only have one outcome. Those left will definitely have cause to ponder their futures (or lack thereof) and, quite apart from the fact that Parliament will undoubtedly be a better place for his absence, some of real talent will be considering how much of their lives they are prepared to waste while being kept behind the scenes and away from important things like policy formation and party rejuvenation.
Way to go Chucky!!
Hi Chippie.
It would really suck if it turned out that “DavidW” was in some way connected to the Labour caucus. The last thin Labour needs is this kind of spiteful negativity.
It might suck OTH but you really wouldn’t be surprised now, would you?
This is the start of the healing, DavidW.
You are the scab.
When ya got an itch, the most natural thing to do is scratch it!
Besides, I don’t see any outrage, disassociation or condemnation of toxic Charles speech which would have to be one of the most self-destructive speeches ever given in my recollection. Mr mumble should be all over it like a rash.
Why would there be any condemnation of a gracious, honest, from the heart speech given by a Labour MP?
You’re not one of those Charles mentioned looking to hunt down and exclude the ‘enemies within’ are you?
You call that speech “gracious” CV (shudders visibly!) I would hate to hear one that was really loaded. Shearer should have invited him to piss off and not let the door hit his sorry arse on the way out.
It was not so much a speech as a great big one-fingered gesture at the Leadership, the Party and the membership. Might be OK in a gloves-off (very much closed door) session looking at what went wrong last election but to do it in public was to my mind unforgiveable, treacherous and self-defeating.
This, classless tantrum.
At least Cunliffe took his lumps like a Man ,Chuck on the other hand throws out his toys and runs of to NY to cry in Mums lap.
Pathetic individual.
lol you guys, I’m so sorry that karma works in this universe.
More is coming.
Happy Hunting
a great big one-fingered gesture at the Leadership, the Party and the membership.
Classic!
That’s “the membership” as in “the people”, Stalin’s version?
Who cares about the membership? Next you’ll be suggesting they should have a say … oh, hang on.
“Who cares about the membership?” I would say I’m gobsmacked, gobsmacked but that wouldn’t be true.
No, I was really talking about the loyal souls who have been continuing to prop up the Party’s dwindling financial resources year after year while the parliamentarians have their noses in the public trough and treat them with contempt in exactly the sort of way you have expressed.
You know, the people who really believe and can’t pack it in and bugger off to the UN, the people who save enough from their National Super to maintain membership as a matter of trust. Trust that the principles of the workers movement are being upheld and are not sacrificed on the alter of neo-liberal social engineering.
I would say that more than a few rank and file will be now saying “fuck it” I’ll buy another bottle of that sherry (overpriced because of Jim Anderton’s misguided tax) I like and skip my LP membership this year.
You’re very confused.
1) Do you understand who Chauvel was criticising? 2) Do you agree with those criticisms?
1) Mallard and the ABC
2) Yes, you do … if what you say about “trough” and “neo-lberal” means anything sincere.
Does it?
Hmmm, you’re not some sort of bridge dweller are you, David? Your messages are mixed, but I think the anti-Labour sentiment is starting to show through. Chauvel’s speech was pretty dignified in tone and he could have been far more explicit and even nasty if he’d wanted to, but clearly, his loyalty is to the party. Something nobody will ever say of Trevor Mallard.
Regarding the membership, numbers are up and will continue to improve as we move into the second phase of the reform process. Finances are also under control and I’m told donations from the private sector are also on the rise, as the likelihood of a change of Government becomes more apparent and business hedges its bets.
All in all, there is nothing in Chauve’s speech that party members don’t already know. The great thing about it is its honesty, the downside is that Charles won’t be around for the foreseeable future to help reform caucus.
Bravo to Charles Chauval for having the courage to say what he did without rancour or anything approaching petty, immature spite.
Heh !
I don’t know what the fuss is. He’s just another self serving bloke on the gravy train, he’s moved onto a better gravy train. What’s so special about having a legal mind. Keyboy is shafting us all with his legal position though 80% want to hold them in Public Ownership. 🙁
One of the better MP’s was Charles Chauvel, i actually pictured Him as a future Prime Minister more in that role,
Never mind Charles will be forgotten by next month, nah wait thats a couple of days away, the month after should be enough time in politics to erase Him from most memories,
Pity as much energy wasn’t expended picking at the SCABS of and that are the National Government as what gets expended here lambasting Labour,
Changing party allegiance to a more left leaning option would seem to be the best medicine for any perceived wrongs being currently committed by Labour…
Charles is smart and a good left winger but he was not so effective as a potential local MP. He needed to better Peter Dunne’s record of turning up to everything and being everywhere in the electorate and then he might have won the seat, but he seemed a bit bored by all that mundane stuff. And didn’t even live there which is always a bit of a negative.
What a rude fucking prick (Mallard and his tweet).
Absolute and undoubted proof he is In Labour for himself, not for Labour
A guy who repeatedly loses to Peter Dunne won’t be missed.
Superlative Windsor Knot; Dalziel and Pascoe (pronounced, De al)
You know we’re fucked when just coincidentally Paddy Gower tweets this – once Charles is out the door, of course.
Come on, you ABC chickenshits. At least own your catty, juvenile bullshit. Because this constant stream of cowardice just makes me more and more certain that Labour is completely fucked. I thought you’d won and we were all meant to line up behind the strong, committed leadership …
*sigh*. Juvenile, indeed… and as for Gower’s, Twitter page, hands-in pockets attempt to be cool boy wonder, cub reporter… *snigger*.
Winning: http://t.co/lFbQlRhkZH <– Roy Morgan, not pretty peeps. But don't worry, it's not the leadership's fault, or tactics, or anything really. It's just the wind. Now that Charles has gone it'll pick up; and Mallard has more time to tweet sweet nothings to whaleoil so it's good news actually.
So, in summary, the two things that the payroll-cheerleaders like to claim in Shearer’s favour are …
1) his conciliation skills, he can bring people together, and lead the MMP gov’t like he made UN peace.
2) the polls.
Neither are looking great right now.
Was there something else? I got nothing.
(Please don’t say “At least he’s not John Key.” I’m not John Key either. Why don’t you get behind me! Unite, so I can be Prime Minister, or else!).
3) mad guitar skillz
So how’s that trend looking now, I wonder?
come on rosy, you can’t rush these things, just give it another 6 months…
It’s most likely just a rogue trend…
No surprises with roy morgan,what the hell has to happen ?
That’s right we have got to say nothing,do nothing, type nothing, blog nothing, just
follow the leader,left,right,left right all the way to the edge of the cliff,where we all say
‘right’ and disappear into the abyss along with our hopes,wishes and dreams,at the moment
it looks like we really are that powerless.
Caucus, follow Charles advice and think of the people and the party and relinquish
your stranglehold on a much needed and wanted party,your time has commeth,give
it up, we want it back.
If this trend continues something is going to happen. Don’t ask me what because I haven’t a clue. I don’t have a lot of faith in the voting public, but they do seem to sense sometimes when something is wrong. They may not have a clue what it is, but they know Labour is currently not in a good place.
My view is the main reason for the malignant behaviour particularly on the part of Mallard is because deep down he knows what Charles Chauvel said is true. But he/they won’t admit it, even to themselves. Have a look at the very end of the video. Jacinda Ardern is doing all the right things (standing and clapping) but she’s furious. The body language and facial expression says it all. (I apologise to her here and now if I have misinterpreted her response.)
I’m sure Charles would have much preferred to have confined any criticism to the caucus, but I suspect a climate of fear has been created and no-one dares speak up. Sad, but that’s where I think it’s at…
I don’t think Ardern looks furious at the end of the video, but she doesn’t look very positive. Usually a farewell speech results in congratulations on a job well done. No such response from her. Ardern and Parker are clapping, but most of the time their backs are to Chauvel.
I don’t think it’s so much that the leadership team know Chauvel is right, but that they aren’t aware of their short-comings. I think they were second tier under Clark. They accepted it for that period, but thought that once Clark moved on, their time had come. They seem to believe they truly are top team, leadership material, and now they can do things the way they think they should be done. They are not aware that they are solid, second tier material, but every week they show they are not up to taking the leading roles.
Clearly they won’t go willingly, and will need to totally fail, or to be usurped. The latter is difficult because a section of the caucus needs renewal. I suppose it really needs the membership to be able to select more suitable new candidates: ones who will recognise the kind of leader parliamentary Labour needs in the current context.
Former staff sargeants fancying themselves with Generals stars
To me it looked like she was controlled in her anger, or not sure that she’d heard what she thought she had perhaps? But there was certainly a dearth of front bench MPs congratulating Charles. At the very least they should put the site of unity on given they were on camera. Heard there weren’t many MPs at his after function either.
I agree hush minx. She was angry or maybe shocked because she didn’t think he would do it, but it was well under control. After all they knew the cameras were on them. She and David Parker exchanged a very quick glance at each other after they rose to clap which I thought was quite telling. I guess the reason there weren’t many MPs at the after function was because the ABC Club called an urgent meeting in the caucus room. 🙂
That’s sort of what I was saying. Deep down they will know he’s right, but they won’t admit it even to themselves. I’ve seen it all before. They can’t let go of the power, the intrigues, the whole lifestyle. It gives them a feeling of self-importance (even omnipotence in some cases) which is hard to give up. The thought of becoming an ordinary citizen again fills them with horror. 🙂