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Common sense and doing what’s right isn’t in the old guards vocabulary, like has been out of date management teams a full clear out is required by the shareholders as they aint doing it themselves.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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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 ...
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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 ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
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 ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
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 ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
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. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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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 ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
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 ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
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 ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
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 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
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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. 🙂