Clean and neat
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- Date published:
7:41 am, September 18th, 2013 - 87 comments
Categories: david cunliffe, david parker, labour, leadership -
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Paddy Gower’s gleeful predictions of ‘blood on the floor’ of caucus didn’t happen. Tracy Watkins’ unrealistic demand that Grant Robertson (whom she incorrectly thought would win the leadership race) be retained as deputy was never going to happen. What we saw was a neat, least moves action that puts the economy front and centre of Labour’s brand.
David Parker is now Bill English’s opposite – the deputy leader and finance spokesperson. Like English (and Cullen before them) Parker is not inspirational or charismatic, in his own words ‘I’m me, I don’t want to be a used car salesman like Key’. Instead, he is a safe pair of hands that people are comfortable with running the economy. Like English is to Key, Parker will be to Cunliffe – a strong, economically-focused pair, the leader inspirational, the deputy the rock.
Making Robertson shadow leader of the House is a really smart move. It gives Robertson a position with the profile and responsibility that he deserves and it removes the Mallard problem. Mallard can’t even be too upset, when it’s the man he backed taking his job.
Mallard couldn’t be left in a senior position given his extensive talking campaign against Cunliffe over the years. The same was true of Hipkins. They’re neatly moved aside, too.
These moves were logical and calmly done. No ‘blood on the floor’, no vindictiveness, and little ground for complaint from those demoted. And, just as importantly, they were done cleanly and with authority. No more vacillating, weak leadership for Labour.
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Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...1 hour ago - Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the PhilippinesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...13 hours ago
- Government commits $20m to Westport flood protectionThe Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...19 hours ago
- Taupō takes pole positionThe Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...20 hours ago
- Cost of living support for low-income homeownersLocal Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...21 hours ago
- Government backing mussel spat projectThe Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...22 hours ago
- Government focused on getting people into workBenefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...1 day ago
- Clean energy key driver to reducing emissionsThe Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...1 day ago
- Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forwardThe Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...1 day ago
- Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic PartnershipPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...2 days ago
- Government consults on extending coastal permits for portsRMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...2 days ago
- Inflation coming down, but more work to doToday’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...2 days ago
- School attendance restored as a priority in health adviceRefreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...2 days ago
- Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sectorOceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...2 days ago
- Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International CongressAssociate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...3 days ago
- Removing red tape to help early learners thriveThe Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...3 days ago
- RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tapeChanges to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...3 days ago
- McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationshipTrade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...3 days ago
- Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister LeePrime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...4 days ago
- PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ tiesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...4 days ago
- Antarctica New Zealand Board appointmentsForeign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...4 days ago
- Finance Minister travels to Washington DCFinance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...4 days ago
- Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlordsThe coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...4 days ago
- Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being consideredState Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...4 days ago
- New Zealand condemns Iranian strikesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...5 days ago
- Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plansHundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...7 days ago
- Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand ChairHealth Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...7 days ago
- Roads of National Significance planning underwayThe NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...7 days ago
- Navigating an unstable global environmentNew Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...7 days ago
- NZ welcomes Australian Governor-GeneralPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...1 week ago
- Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for WinterAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...1 week ago
- NZ and the US: an ever closer partnershipNew Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...1 week ago
- Joint US and NZ declarationApril 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...1 week ago
- NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperationForeign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...1 week ago
- Government redress for Te Korowai o WainuiāruaThe Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...1 week ago
- Focus on outstanding minerals permit applicationsNew Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “While there are no set timeframes for ...1 week ago
- Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research CallThe New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...1 week ago
- Tenancy rules changes to improve rental marketThe coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...1 week ago
- Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with ChinaTrade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...1 week ago
- Freshwater farm plan systems to be improvedThe coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. “A fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...1 week ago
- Fire engineering expertise may take a big hit with job cuts at MBIE
The public sector cuts are poised to take out a big chunk of expertise at the country's building regulator. ...1 hour ago - “Fast-track Law To Kill Kiwi”: Students Say Fight Against Anti-democracy Legislation Is Only Jus...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...2 hours ago - ‘We have thousands of Modis’: the secret behind the BJP’s enduring success in India
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...2 hours ago - Online schooling is not just for lockdowns. Could it work for your child?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...2 hours ago
- Hear me out: You can shove your reusable period products
Yes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...2 hours ago - Rip It Up And Start Over – Fast-Track Approvals Bill Needs To Be Scrapped“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...2 hours ago
- Maori Authority Warns Government On Fast Track LegislationThe Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...3 hours ago
- Why the government’s haste in changing the health system could come back to haunt itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...3 hours ago
- Many suicides are related to gambling. How can we tackle this problem?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...3 hours ago
- Things that go buzz in the night – our global study found there really are more insects out after ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...3 hours ago
- Why don’t Australians talk about their salaries? Pay transparency and fairness go hand-in-handSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...3 hours ago
- ‘Character’ And Its Impact On Immigration StatusThe Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...3 hours ago
- 20,000 more on jobseeker benefits than this time last yearThe government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...4 hours ago
- All of the Raglan Roast cafes in Wellington, ranked from worst to bestRaglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...6 hours ago
- Auckland uni students threaten rent strike over rising accommodation feesResidents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously. The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...6 hours ago
- Defence deal to counter Beijing’s aggression in South China Sea
New Zealand and the Philippines have signed a new maritime security agreement and stated their concerns over activity in the South China Sea, as Chinese vessels continue to flout international law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos committed to signing a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement by ...6 hours ago - Wellington’s ebb and flow of public servantsThe thousands of government “back-office” job cuts are causing widespread pain in the capital city. In today’s episode of The Detail, we speak to three journalists and a think tank researcher, looking at the larger picture around the cuts and what effect it will have on Wellington, a city that’s ...6 hours ago
- New Zealand transport planning has gone off the railsOpinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...6 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Friday 19 AprilThe post Daily crossword, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 hours ago
- Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slowsThe transport sector is currently in the slow lane The post Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slows appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 19 AprilLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 hours ago
- Financial literacy should be on all of usOpinion: With maths understanding at 42 percent for Year 8 students, there’s no doubt something has to be done. But how? The post Financial literacy should be on all of us appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 hours ago
- Missy rustles to stardom in CanadaHineaupounamu ‘Missy’ Nuku has been scaling mountains in Canada for her college basketball team, the Lakeland Rustlers. Alberta is currently home for the 20-year-old point guard, who is in her first year of a scholarship at Lakeland College, where she is studying for a business degree. She has certainly made ...6 hours ago
- Emissions fall again – now NZ needs to up the paceOfficial figures confirm New Zealand produced less climate pollution in 2022 than in any other year in the 21st century The post Emissions fall again – now NZ needs to up the pace appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 hours ago
- Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolvedShane Jones says people voted for change, but opponents say small cuts such as ending a special oceans secretariat are starting to add up The post Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolved appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 hours ago
- Grattan on Friday: Ethnic tensions will complicate the Albanese government’s multicultural policy ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When ASIO boss Mike Burgess delivered his annual threat assessment earlier this year, he stressed the rising danger posed by espionage and foreign interference. “In 2024, threats to our way of life have surpassed ...12 hours ago
- Group plans work to improve safety of female MPsNew research shows harassment of elected officials - especially women - is on the rise. ...13 hours ago
- Ukraine warns of WW3 ahead of long-stalled Congress aid voteUkraine's Prime Minister says his country desperately needs the US to approve long-stalled security assistance. ...14 hours ago
- PSA astonished Education Minister expects hiring of contractors to review curriculumHiring contractors is an appalling solution when people who could do the work are losing their jobs, the PSA says. ...15 hours ago
- Crown lawyers attempt to block Waitangi Tribunal summons to Minister for ChildrenThe Tribunal had called on Minister for Children Karen Chhour to provide evidence at an urgent inquiry into the repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. ...17 hours ago
- Luxon refuses to guarantee public consultation on AUKUS Pillar 2Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says it's "far too premature" to be confirming whether the public would be consulted on joining AUKUS Pillar 2. ...18 hours ago
- Visualising the 1800s or designing wedding invitations: 6 ways you can use AI beyond generating textSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University Midjourney image by T.J. Thomson As more than half of Australian office workers report using generative artificial intelligence (AI) for work, we’re starting to see this technology affect every ...18 hours ago
- Falls, fractures and self-harm: 4 charts on how kids’ injury risk changes over time and differs fo...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Nicole Sharwood, Injury epidemiologist | Expert Witness, UNSW Sydney Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock Injuries are the leading cause of disability and death among Australian children and adolescents. At least a quarter of all emergency department presentations during childhood are injury-related. Injuries can ...18 hours ago
- Choice and control: will NDIS reforms mean people with disability don’t get to decide who they liv...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Di Winkler, Adjunct Associate Professor, Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University Shutterstock/Ground Picture Many Australians with disability feel on the edge of a precipice right now. Recommendations from the disability royal commission and the NDIS review were released late ...18 hours ago
- Asbestos in playground mulch: how to avoid a repeat of this circular economy scandalSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Salman Shooshtarian, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Salman Shooshtarian Asbestos has been found in mulch used for playgrounds, schools, parks and gardens across Sydney and Melbourne. Local communities naturally fear for the health of their ...18 hours ago
- Could Albanese’s bet on homegrown green industries be the boost our regions deserve?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Madeline Taylor, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie University Cloudy Designs/Shutterstock Right now, there’s a global race underway. The goal: bring back manufacturing and energy jobs as the energy transition speeds up. In 2022, America launched its mammoth Inflation Reduction Act and the ...18 hours ago
- Watch: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon won't say if government will consult public on joining ...Asked multiple times if the public will be consulted on joining the defence pact, Luxon repeatedly said that was yet to be worked through. ...19 hours ago
- Watch live: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks in PhilippinesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon is speaking to reporters on the third leg of his Southeast Asia trip, from Manila in the Philippines. ...19 hours ago
- Māori lawyers call Shane Jones' Waitangi Tribunal comments 'inappropriate'The Māori Law Society says his comments breach the principle of the separation of powers and the Cabinet Manual. ...20 hours ago
- Abortions Increase 25% Since Law ChangeFamily First says that the latest abortion statistics make grim and upsetting reading, with a 25% increase in abortions since the decriminalisation of abortion in March 2020. According to an Official Information Act request received by Right to Life ...21 hours ago
- Over Half Of New Zealanders Feel That The Country Is In Decline And That Our Society Is BrokenIpsos New Zealand's inaugural participation in a global study on populism reveals a pervasive sense of societal and economic decline among New Zealanders. MORE DETAILS AND FULL REPORT HERE Ipsos New Zealand's inaugural participation in a global study ...21 hours ago
- Australia’s new defence strategy is big on ideas, but lacks one key ingredient: well-trained soldi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Layton, Visiting Fellow, Strategic Studies, Griffith University There have been a lot of defence announcements recently about buying new equipment, building up Australia’s manufacturing capabilities, creating local jobs, new legislation to support AUKUS and even a new defence chief. In ...21 hours ago
- What does Steve Smith’s Stateside signing mean for cricket in the US – and Australia?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney Steve Smith, one of this generation’s finest batters, has conquered much of the cricketing world during his career, and he now has set his sights on a new frontier: the United ...21 hours ago
- A love letter to Wellington: when i open the shop by romesh dissanayake, reviewedMadeleine Ballard reviews the debut novel from romesh dissanayake. when I open the shop, the debut novel by Naarm-based Aotearoa writer romesh dissanayake (Sri Lankan, Koryo Saram), is a narrative of grief. Devendra loses his mother, opens a noodle shop on The Terrace, grieves, and emerges changed. But just as ...21 hours ago
- Minister Concedes Contractors Will Be Hired To Do Work Of Axed Ministry Of Education StaffThe PSA can’t believe that the Minister of Education is happy for her ministry to hire contractors at the same time it is dismissing 565 workers. ...21 hours ago
- Attempt to bar diplomat from Myanmar military junta failsMyanmar community members applied to the courts to bar the diplomat from attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ...22 hours ago
- LGNZ Welcomes Govt Earthquake-prone Buildings DecisionLGNZ has advocated for this decision as part of a remit led by Manawatū District Council. ...22 hours ago
- AUKUS Pillar 2 a 'fragrant, methane-wrapped bull***' – Bob CarrThe former Australian Foreign Minister has continued to warn New Zealand against joining the defence pact. ...22 hours ago
- Enforceable undertaking issued to abc accounting services limited after continued non-compliance.The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has accepted an enforceable undertaking agreement from ABC Accounting Services Limited (ABC) under section 81 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (AML/CFT Act). ...23 hours ago
- REVEALED: RNZ’s Hypocrisy Over Fair Digital News Bargaining BillThe Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that Radio New Zealand (RNZ) spent $71,842.53 on Facebook advertising over the past 12 months, despite earlier this year coming out in support of the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill , which would force the likes ...23 hours ago
- Police rejected 'very good offer' – Mark MitchellPolice Minister Mark Mitchell says the pay offer rejected by police was the best the government could put forward under difficult financial circumstances. ...23 hours ago
- How can we have truth-telling without the Voice? Our research shows a way forwardSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Heidi Norman, Professor, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, Convenor: Indigenous Land & Justice Research Group, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock The Uluru Statement from the Heart set out the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for “Voice, Treaty, Truth”, in ...23 hours ago
- NZ education scores must improve – but another polarising ideological pivot isn’t the answerSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bronwyn E Wood, Associate Professor in Education, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Getty Images You don’t need to look hard right now to see concerns about Aotearoa New Zealand’s education system. Declining performance in international testing has been ...23 hours ago
- An updated tally of the public sector job cutsThe coalition government has made it well known it expects departments to cut roles. We break down the numbers as they currently stand. Updated: 12pm, April 18 Before last year’s election, both National and Act made it clear that the public service was squarely in their crosshairs. Both parties, now ...23 hours ago
- Confessions of an unlikely petrolheadCheckered Flag director Natalie Wilson on her lifelong love of motorsport, and the allure of Pukekohe Park Raceway. One childhood summer when my world revolved around winning stuff off the radio, I bagged tickets to Western Springs Speedway and then to Waikaraka Park in what was a dream season for ...23 hours ago
- 'Ambitious' trade pledge headlines Luxon's Thailand stopThe Prime has announced a commitment to triple two-way trade with Thailand by 2045, but it only requires maintaining current growth. ...24 hours ago
- ‘The right person’: What did Solomon Islanders vote for?By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara After a relatively well organised and peaceful day of voting in Solomon Islands yesterday, the electoral commission is working with donor partners to safely transport ballot boxes from polling stations all over the country to centrally located counting venues. It is a ...24 hours ago
- What it’s like to be made redundant by the Ministry of EducationI was one of hundreds of people who lost my government job this week. Here’s exactly how it played out. It is a Friday. I’m in the middle of an online Teams hui working out the finer details of a series of workshops we’ll be presenting next week. It’s a ...1 day ago
- What are ‘Ozempic babies’? Can the drug really increase your chance of pregnancy?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karin Hammarberg, Senior Research Fellow, Global and Women’s Health, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University Joshua Rodriguez/Unsplash Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are taking drugs like Ozempic to lose weight. But what do we actually know about ...1 day ago
- Why the kookaburra’s iconic laugh is at risk of being silencedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Diana Kuchinke, Lecturer in Ecology, Federation University Australia Linda Robertus/Shutterstock Once, while teaching a class of environmental science students in China’s Hebei University of Science and Technology, I asked who knew what a laughing kookaburra was. There were many blank faces. ...1 day ago
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This is a very good start to Cunliffe’s leadership, but its only a start. Its crucial that momentum be kept up now in order for Labour to look and sound completely different to Shearer and Goff’s Labour. Cunliffe is delivering on that now but his top team is going to have to start pulling in the same direction and style very fast.
One thing which has to go: those bloodless, passionless Wellington-speak, not-news press releases that Labour under Shearer used to issue by the dozen. It was no surprise that hardly any of them ever got picked up.
It was a good, well considered tidy up. Still a lot of dead wood but that is how these things are
I would suggest from Hipkins.and Mallards point of view their was some blood in the water but hardly unexpected
And a warning to some others in caucus “chorus”
Nice one Raymond.
“Wellington-speak” ? Colonial, I’m generally in agreement with you – but not this time.
Wellingtonians come in many shapes and sizes, have diverse opinions, speak in many accents, argots, languages, tounges, and professional jargons. Even parliamentarians have been known to occasionally use the language of the street, of the people – of voters, in fact. Strange, that.
“bloodless, passionless Wellington-speak, not-news press releases that Labour under Shearer used to issue by the dozen” refers to a failed political experiment rooted in patronage from a time when Lange was undermined by his own .. documented by Alister Barry among others.
It is not characteristic of the Wellington that I know – and, no, that is not Parliament.
Wellington, unlike George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, was an effective leader whose politics I do not share – but we need more people who can apply hard-won relevant experience in these times.
🙂
Yes I may have been using a very narrow definition of “Wellington”….
Plenty of Wellington people were for Cunliffe, in fact I didn’t talk to many who planned to vote Robertson. The voting result speaks for itself.
I’m from Wellington and proud of this beautiful city. But I know he was using “Wellington-speak” meaning bland poltician-speak. No offense taken here. 🙂
and of course..mallards blood-letting was into san francisco bay/his champagne-glass..
..such a long long way away..we couldn’t even see it..
..and yes..replacing mallard with robertson was a neat touch..
..all mallard can really do is sit in his lycra..and smoulder..
..(which could get a bit ‘ew!’ if allowed to continue for too long..)
..and @ viper..re press-releases..
..aye..!..i sit and wonder at the fact that people who pen them were apparantly hired for their writing skills…
..press-releases inevitably seem to be able to render the most exciting news/info into dire/dead-thickets of impenatrable-prose..
..more to be picked up with a pair of tongs..and viewed with distaste from afar..
..than sat down and read..
..is that where all the bad writers go to ‘earn’..?
..whoar..!
..eh.?
..phillip ure..
Philip, just wanted to say how much I love your contributions! They always make me smile into my morning coffee and are worth persevering through the “different” formatting!
Cheers!
[lprent: Since the amnesty, he has been a more circumspect about link-whoring which is what I used to notice him for. His comments are far more in context as well.
The formatting I could live with (or even better without). But if you jump to his site you will find a *lot* more. ]
chrs frida..
phillip ure..
Uh yeah, I would prefer proper grammar and punctuation. Ure has a lot of good things to say but I often skip them as too hard to read! Sorry Phillip. I suggest it would be more professional to use a conventional layout and your points would come across much better… and much easier to read.
Ohhh…I dont know about that Crunchtime, I quite enjoy the rhythm of PU comments, they leave a bit more for the imagination to work on, sort of poetic. One of my favourite books is The Book of Fame by Loyd Jones, sort of reminds me of that book. Keep it coming PU.
Like Crunchtime, I usualy skip Phillip’s comments as they are too hard to read, format-wise. Which is a shame, I’d like to read them.
I like the way you write phil – it reminds me of Irving Welsh’s style of writing where you have to be in it, to read it – I’m not sure how others read but I sort of read aloud in my head. As wiki says about Welsh, ” Instead, he transcribes dialects phonetically.” As in, “That’s spot on man … eh … ye goat it … ah mean … nae hassle likesay.” Whilst your style is a bit different to that it seems in the same family. The length of 1.1.2. was about right for me – at a page without having to scroll down, I do find the longer they are, the harder they get to read – but that could just be me. Anyway… just some thoughts that are given with the best intentions. Kia kaha.
There shouldn’t be a problem in that area with Shane Jones, if He is true to form in ‘Economic Development’ He won’t be heard of again until sometime after November 2014…
recent/post-race tv appearances from jones show him having already hit the snooze-button..
..and..and..penthouse has filed for bankruptcy..
..shaney might be stirred enough to propose the economic-development of relocating penthouse to kaitaia..?
..with him overseeing all the ‘shoots’..?
..the idea/thought of that might arouse him…from his whatever…eh..?
..phillip ure..
No, you’ll hear him at some point talking about oil and gas drilling, and how the Greens hate Maori and working New Zealanders because they’re in favour of a liveable climate and oil-free beaches.
If he’s put on a tight reign and directed to give all his attention to National, his position might work.
bad12, you’ve just reminded me that every cloud has a silver lining. In this case, made from 30 pieces donated by the mining lobby.
Cunliffe calling the crony capitalism on the fishing limit palaver was refreshing to see and what an opposition is supposed to be about. Looking forward to seeing regular attacks like this on Nact’s many obvious weaknesses. Good to see, finally, but this work needs to be commonplace again. Imagine Shearer saying “crony capitalism” in the House. Nobody would’ve blinked an eyelid. What a difference.
Did you just describe Key as “inspirational”?
Bloody hell. Lol.
Also Cullen as not been charismatic or inspirational.
He was the most charistmatic in the previous Labour government.
Notwithstanding, I agree with your post. A clean transition to the a future half of the Green/Labour Government.
Well done Labour
Obviously yesterdays slight ‘stumble’ in the House should be regarded as a one off…
Yep. I was reminded of Cunliffe’s speech to the Levin hustings meeting, which, as I wrote at the time, wasn’t flash. But he went on to improve dramatically over the next few meetings and won handsomely. Which is exactly whats going to happen over the next 12 months in Parliament and in the election.
Many here didn’t extend that courtesy to Shearer. Looking forward to the moniker “Major Fuckup” coming into usage.
That one i am afraid is already taken, Slippery’s National Government since the GCSB Legislation is simply that,
A ‘major f**kup’ of monumental proportions,
Roy Morgan says it best, 47% one minute, the next 41% and Slip sliding away…
I believe “Silent T” has become popular in some circles…
Squares actually.
It is amazing how silent Trev has been since the start of the leadership contest.
Not even an obvious whisper to the press gallery!
Ah now we know what big bruv has been wanking on about …. The silent T(revor)
Lets hope so. We will find out today won’t we.
As important as the copper tax issue is, I think he should be kicking off with something which resonates with the lost 800,000 a bit more.
Lolz, i am just being a bit naughty, the debating chamber is a hard ask of a place for anyone to score ‘hits’,
At the moment Russell Norman does it best, He seems to have this innate ability to get whichever Minister is up for the days interrogation to attempt to lie, either blatantly or by omission,
Yesterday it was Nick Smith’s turn to be made to look a fool, admittedly Russell didn’t have much work to do there,
Cunliffe pretty soon i would think needs to be out and about touring the country with ‘the message’ where He is likely to be far more effective,
The 800,000, it’s only ‘words’ at the moment and i would suggest will remain so until such time as Labour can put forward the policies likely to move them…
“Cunliffe pretty soon i would think needs to be out and about touring the country with ‘the message’ where He is likely to be far more effective,”
++1
[lprent: suspected astroturfer now on auto-spam until I get an explanation. ]
i disagree with the descriptions of cunnliffe not being up to it in the house..
..i think his approach yesterday was the correct one..and one he should continue..
..he showed the gravitas/intellect of a prime minister-in-waiting..
..whereas key was the clown..
..and going on doing commentaries on q-time/and having seen them all in action..
..i can’t see any others in labour up to the job..
..and i noted yesterday how i am so looking forward to commenting on the tag-team of cunnliffe and norman..
..between them they will be able to chew up and spit out anyone in national..key included..
..and make no mistake..national know this..
..if you doubt me..go and watch the faces/eyes of those who surround key..during the first minutes of yesterdays’ q-time..
..they couldn’t be further from the gloating triumphalism we are so used to..
..and as for the criticisims of parker..?
..they too are unfounded..
..i too have taken the piss out of him for his ‘parker’-like/boyish looks..
..(‘boyish’-looks he will appreciate more and more..the older he gets..eh..?..)
..but parker is another who is totally on top of his subjects-matter..
..the/his intellect is clear and present..
..and the biggest battle against english for him..
..will be trying to find some way of countering that powerful soporific-voice-effect that english has/so successfully deploys..
..(i have suggested before that the collected speeches of english/joyce should be marketed as a sleep-aid..and i don’t resile from that recommendation..)
..parker is/will be fine..
..cunnliffe will be fine..
..norman will be fine..
..it’s all looking pretty fine..
..phillip ure..
“..if you doubt me..go and watch the faces/eyes of those who surround key..during the first minutes of yesterdays’ q-time..
“..they couldn’t be further from the gloating triumphalism we are so used to..”
Not only that, Phillip Ure, but they all had their detailed notes to hand so they could answer Opposition questions properly. No more clowning around with the buffoon Shearer. ShonKey was taking Cunliffe seriously. That was very obvious. A good start for Cunliffe. AND for Parker too – he looked and sounded on top of his game.
And with Norman bringing up the rear to embarrass Nick Smith, the Opposition had it in spades yesterday. Long may it last !
and of course..when key is pointing his ‘colourless’-finger @ parker..
..his other three ‘colourless’-fingers are pointing back @ english/joyce..and brownlee..
..eh..?
..next to those three dull/spluttering candles parker is ‘literally’..a pulsating rainbow of neon..
..eh..?
..phillip ure..
“Cunliffe pretty soon i would think needs to be out and about touring the country with ‘the message’ where He is likely to be far more effective,”
Oooh, the biblical He! I know some folk think DC walks on water, but elevation to Godlike status may be a tad premature 😉
Lolz, far from it, should David (the incumbent) keep up the mangle-ization of the English language ‘the questions’ will start to be ‘unhappily’ asked…
At local meetings you speak to 50 to 100 people at best. On the television news you speak to tens of thousands.
Cunliffe’s time is best spend serving up snappy news sound bites. What’s more, he’s good at it. Unfortunately, so is Key.
Definitely. The reach of TV is good. But we can’t discount small personal meetings entirely as they are the ones where a politician can gain activists, convert people to the cause, and gain local reputation and credibility which is crucial for later electorate by electorate campaigning.
The example is that of Winston Peters pre 2011 election. No parliamentary position to campaign from, he simply campaigned up and down the country visiting big and small towns, talking to crowds as big as 100 or as small as 8 or 10, successfully bringing in several MPs into Parliament.
Yep, Helen Clark was also said to be a whizz at it, small gatherings create ripples out into communities…
Well it better not be a one-off, how can the press possibly sing the chorus if the caucus won’t serve up couscous.
Ha, ha .. very droll.
[lprent: suspected astroturfer now on auto-spam until I get an explanation. ]
You hope, Cunliffes got what he wanted but now he has to deliver against one of the best we’ve had
Yes indeed, we have had Him up to our eyeballs for the past 5 years, the ‘comedian’ and the ‘used car salesman’,
‘Had’ being the operative word, the shine has worn off the Slippery one, 47% one month 41 the next,
i hear the sound of sharpening knives being honed in the foundry, all bearing the name J.Collins and Co…
One of the best what? I can only assume you are referring to Key’s other skills rather than his ability to run the country?
Doesn’t say much for what Labour had then doesn’t it
You don’t say much when you employ a mangled version of English. This Key fuckwit has really rubbed off on you.
What Labour had? Again, I can only assume you are speaking in terms of country leadership. So are you suggesting therefore that Key is better than any Labour PM in history?
I know you are trying to make a point but to be honest mate, you’re doing a pretty crap job of it.
He went up against Clark, Goff, saw off Shearer and is now onto Cunliffe…he can only defeat those that Labour select to go against him
“….you better get yourself a new line
’cause that shit just ain’t worth selling”
Jon Toogood must have been singing about you
So he’s 2 from 3 against the previous Labour leaders? OK, at least now your point has some substance. So let’s just hypothesise that Cunliffe gets the better of Key which is a pretty reasonable assumption. That would then mean Key is batting .500. If you are suggesting that he’s one of the best leaders that National has had on that (pretty average) basis, then I’d suggest you guys need to elevate your expectations of your leaders…
Bernie Madoff is one of the best your lot have had.
(“charasmatic” apparently took on a new meaning when someone called John Key came to power)
cheap
“Mallard can’t even be too upset”
He will be, he just won’t be allowed to show it 😆
Definitely not the next Mr speaker.
Good start from DC. He’s saddled with Robertson, but good to see buttkiss is bench warming his way to mea culpaville.
David Parker did a very good interview on Morning Report, demonstrating caucus unity.
http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/mnr/mnr-20130918-0813-david_parker_on_party_unity_and_why_he_got_the_dep_leader_job-048.mp3
Lolz, yeah i just half inched His ‘comedian’ and ‘used car salesman’ line in a comment above, Parker has a ‘quirky’ sense of humor and it will be interesting to see whether His now firm ‘ownership’ of Labour’s Finance Portfolio draws Him out of His shell a bit more…
Wow! Excellent interview.
The new Labour message: “We are preparing for government.”
Key has continually undermined that by portraying both Labour and Greens as irresponsible parliamentary court jesters.
I thought that Parker did pretty well too. And he has a good reputation with the large business sector and with professional firms. A good pick by caucus (on Cunliffe’s recco) IMO.
Well done, David Parker. I liked the point he made about people “with connections” getting ahead. Going back to Cunliffe’s goal of people in caucus progressing based on merit, let’s also have a NZ where people can get ahead based on merit not connections.
CV and others +1…David Parker spoke very well!….and scored some points along the way which showed up Key
Parker needs to sustain this. He needs to slap on some testosterone patches under that pale exterior.
I think we’ve been so used to such shit performances from Labour’s front bench that we are grateful if they make whole sentences complete with a verb and a noun.
Cunliffe will not be pleased with his two mistakes, and nor should we be. We need to do what we did to Shearer: hold him to account and expect him to consistently improved.
…and that goes for the entire front bench.
In his first stand-up with the press on Monday, Cunliffe said he will make mistakes, but he will work to improve on them, etc.
Yep David Cunliffe slipped up twice on his first outing as Leader of Labour in the House. Who hasn’t made a mistake like that under far less pressure as well? What I liked was how he handled his mistake…with dignity, poise, intelligence and good humour. Put John Key under pressure and before you can blink, his eyes are narrowed, his teeth are bared and the venom starts.
Exactly. All that his mistakes yesterday say is that he’s only human, and all humans make mistakes from time to time. I’m sure everyone here has made that exact same mistake at some stage in their life, and for most of us, it happens regularly. It’s purely cosmetic too, certainly nothing substantial.
If you actually go into the substance of his performance in the House yesterday, he did quite well. He pressed the Prime Minister for details and remained strong and confident, regardless of his small mistake at the beginning. If you haven’t done so already, I strongly suggest you watch the full question, rather than relying on reporting from the Mainstream Media, who are far too picky over the minor detail while disregarding the actual issues.
EDIT: That was supposed to be in response to karol, sorry. Much like Cunliffe, I make mistakes too.
Thanks, Francis.
I watched question time on TV yesterday & commented on Cunliffe’s question performance.
Here
and
here
I will forgive Labour, Cunliffe, and the rest of them of their mistakes if they either win an election, or really start looking like that they can win. And I’m not talking polls, I’m talking person for person, pound for pound, day after day in the House and the media.
And sure as hell don’t expect the media to mature or become more sophisticated. You get what you get and work it.
who the hell is Paddy gower and why is he writing such tripe.
Either he believes in the political process or he just wants to dis anything he doesnt agree with.
which is it?
gower seems to have lost the realisation that to be a reporter..means to report..things..
..to try to draw a picture for those who weren’t present that is as close to what actually unfolded as you can get..
..not to seek out angles and gifs to sneer along to..
..(and given his unending pimping of/for robertson (followed by jones) as ‘the winner’ during that leaders’ race..
..predictions so out of the field of play..they were on the other side of town..
..after weeks of them..you’d think gower would be appearing on screen wearing sackcloth and ashes..ducking the head and saying:..’sorry!..for tricking you..for making you think my words/predictions had any worth..’
..but nah..!..another day..another angle/gif..eh..?
..and his ‘reporting’ of q-time on news last nite..was a new nadir..
..in a minefield full of nadirs..
..gower need to seek out a dictionary..maybe a shelf of them..
..and look up what it means to be a reporter..
..and realise that what he did during that leadership race..
..and going on the evidence from last nite..continues to do..
..didn’t come within a fucken bulls’-roar of that..
..with the only question really being..
..did he really believe all that crap he (and other corporate-media) were spouting..?
..(and if so..whoar..!..eh..?..)
..and if not that reason..was he..and all those others..just being ‘trouts’..
..playing/pushing the angles their bosses/editors were ordering them too..?
…(and if so..double-whoar..!..eh..?..)
..was/is it ignorance..?..or was/is it corruption..?
..clear evidence of bought/owned media-mouthpieces..
..nothing more..nothing less..
..phillip ure..
Shearer got one thing right at least – in his last interview (Q & A) he admitted that the opposition leader can spend too much time chasing rabbits, the latest thing to pop up and offer a tempting target (as I’ve said before, that’s Mallard-ism … all game, no strategy).
I just want to tattoo “Focus, focus, f**ing FOCUS” on every Labour MPs head, so they can see it in the bathroom mirror every moring. Cunliffe, Parker and co have the ability to present an alternative gov’t with an alternative set of credible policies, and that’s what they should do – in fact, that’s ALL they should do.
When the next Aaron Gilmore comes along, don’t say “Mmm, Popcorn!” to the TV cameras. Don’t say “Yes Paddy, no Paddy, you set the agenda Paddy”.
For the media, all Labour need in the next three months is 1) Win the Christchurch by-election, and 2) have a good conference. (Neither is inevitable). The polls will take care of themselves.
So far, so good for the new team, but the timetable that matters is a year, not minutes for headline-chasing, tweeting journos. Chorus/caucus trivia is what they do, don’t bite – do NOT bite – just ignore and keep up the work that matters.
End of sermon! 🙂
absolutely. If you want to win as a party you must always set the agenda and communicate that agenda. The reporters are there to report the party’s agenda, not set their own. Always remember that. Always.
I agree with this except for the bit about the by-election…if Labour doesn’t win that I’ll sign up and join (and vote for) the Green party
But you are right about Labour being side-tracked by trivialities…
now the benediction before it’s back to my place for toast and ‘tea’
Early days in the new leadership – eventually cracks will appear and blood will flow, that we can all be sure of.
You can through as much spin around as you like, but when you have 2/3rds of the caucus openly despising David Cunnlife, this ain’t one united caucus and, at some stage the brown stuff is going to hit the fan big time.
Labour has a proven history of it – whats changed in the last 3 days?
Answer, nothing, because it’s the same old faces with the same old agendas – just wait and watch.
citation needed…
FIFY. What a pity strikethrough is broken.
So first Hipkins gone (voluntarily of course), Robertson demoted (again voluntarily) , Mallard persona non grata (mislaid his phone perhaps?) and Fran Mold seeking new employment
I got to give Cunliffe credit hes certainly cutting a swathe through labour at the moment which is what he needed to do
There may be an aspect of pour encourager les autres to this, but Cunliffe has to put his own mark on the senior leadership. That’s why he was elected to the role.
We don’t know yet whether Hipkins will get another spokesperson role. Parker reckoned it was Robertson’s preference not to be deputy – in Parker’s RNZ interview this morning.
Mallard? Well, roles be allocated on merit. What role has Mallard earned on merit?
It was interesting to see that on 3 News tonight, 2 Labour performances in the House today made the 6pm news – and neither of the reports by Gower.
There was a clip from Cunliffe’s General Debate speech, on snapper. And Ardern’s question to Paula Bennett got taken seriously with a report on the news about the stress on social workers due to overload of cases. This in the context of the potential extra work load on social workers as a result of the Vulnerable Children Bill.
I also noted that Clare Curran knuckled under, and, in the General Debate, picked up on the broadband issue raised by Cunliffe yesterday in Question Time.
So, I’d say a solid day’s work from Team Labour.
Yes, exactly, David Cunliffe is there because the members precisely DID NOT want more of the same
Yep. Even though it seemed like quite a few in caucus did.
You guys are dreaming.
Silent T was cleaned up by Key. I thought Shearer was bad in the house but Silent T was even worse.
Robertson is still in the background plotting…..
Wakey, wakey Big Bruv, it is you that it dreaming
(I can see you would rather slumber in wild imaginings than realise you particular dream is over though.)
iPredict today:
There will be a National Prime Minister after the 2014 General Election probability: 51.7% down (3.04%)
There will be a Labour Prime Minister after the 2014 General Election probability: 49.7% up (2.75%)
David Cunliffe to be Prime Minister before 2015 – probability: 50.0% – up (6.38%)
repeat after me,
phillip ure is a brilliant commenter,
may read like an idiot but he is brilliant,
he has faith,
hang him out there with the 800,000,
watch the ratings slide further
Interesting to see … thank you it’s well done 🙂