Hard left Corbyn receives public backing from 41 leading economists

Written By: - Date published: 7:56 am, August 24th, 2015 - 118 comments
Categories: capitalism, class war, Economy, Globalisation, manufacturing, Privatisation, uk politics - Tags:

Jeremy Corbyn has just announced that under a Labour Government, state assets privatised by the Tories might be renationalised, with minimal compensation.

I can see a certain Tory Labour “centrist” clique frowning at the ‘extremist’ audacity Corbyn is engaging in. Clearly the man has no electability or credibility! Right?

But just as the Tory Labour/Blairite establishment is reaching a crescendo of panicked claims that Corbyn is unelectable, that his economics (“Corbynomics”) don’t add up, and that his views are extremist hard left – more than 3 dozen notable economists have come out to back his anti-austerity stance publicly as being totally mainstream, congruent with the position of the IMF, and designed to boost growth and prosperity.

From the Guardian:

More than 40 leading economists, including a former adviser to the Bank of England, have made public their support for Jeremy Corbyn’s policies, dismissing claims that they are extreme, in a major boost to the leftwinger’s campaign to be leader.

The intervention comes as the Corbyn campaign reveals that a Labour government led by the MP for Islington North would reserve the right to renationalise Royal Bank of Scotland and other public assets, “with either no compensation or with any undervaluation deducted from any compensation for renationalisation” if they are sold at a knockdown price over the next five years…

But with just under three weeks until Ed Miliband’s replacement is announced, Corbyn’s credibility receives a welcome endorsement as 41 economists make public a letter defending his positions.

More detail on the backing Corbyn received from these economists is available here:

In the letter to which Danny Blanchflower, a previous participant of the Financial institution of England’s financial plan board is a signatory, the financial experts compose: “The allegation is commonly made that Jeremy Corbyn as well as his advocates have actually transferred to the severe left on financial plan. However this is not sustained by the prospect’s declarations or policies. His resistance to austerity is really traditional economics, also supported by the conventional IMF. He intends to improve development as well as success.”

So, Corbyn not only has mainstream appeal – he also has appeal amongst mainstream economists. This is what true, traditional, left wing economic credibility looks like.

More to the point, this is what true left wing leadership and courage looks (and sounds) like. My bet is that the UK electorate recognises it with ease – as does the Tory Labour right wing – and the reaction is going to be strong.

118 comments on “Hard left Corbyn receives public backing from 41 leading economists ”

  1. Tautoko Mangō Mata 1

    “What the Corbyn moment means for the left
    At long last, the left is asking itself whether power without principle is worth having.”

    http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/08/what-corbyn-moment-means-left

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1

      The “electability” conversation is where it all becomes clear. The argument that Jeremy Corbyn is unelectable is being made by three candidates who can’t even win an election against Jeremy Corbyn.

      QFT

      That, really, is the telling point.

      And this bit:

      Across Europe and the United States, however, professional politicians of the centre left have one idea about what politics should look like and the people they claim to represent increasingly have another. Certain politicians have not properly understood the definition of “representative” democracy.

      bold mine.

    • BLiP 1.2

      That’s a welcome change of tune from The New Statesman. It seems to be falling in line with other MSM voices, like this one from The Huffington Post . . .

      . . . “Ed Miliband was too far left, that’s why we lost!”

      Well, no. Firstly, Ed Miliband was not too far left – he was hardly left at all. Labour lost the election for a number of reasons, but mostly because no one knew what he was standing for. First he posed with a copy of the Sun, pissing lots of people off. Then he apologised for posing with the Sun, which pissed everyone else off. He swayed to every whim of the right wing press, failed to make a stand against the savagery of the welfare cuts – in short, no one really knew what, if anything, he stood for. So is it any surprise that a veteran rebel MP (with a very non-establishment beard) who is the very antithesis of ham-faced Cameron and his identikit, be-suited, PR machine cronies has met with a roar of unprecedented approval? . . .

      . . . something for Labour here to consider, perhaps.

  2. Nessalt 2

    that’s a poisoned chalice.

  3. dukeofurl 3

    How many votes do 41 leading economists have when it comes to general election time?
    The traditional labour policy is not a problem, its selling it to the electorate and having the party as a whole behind it.

    Some say having the Guardian on your side is a sign of certain defeat.

    Blanchflower was for a short period on a Bank of England external advisory committee, most likely with no real influence or accomplishment.

    We can see with promising roll backs of Thatcher or Blair policies, like the SNP promised to end ‘council tax’ in Scotland but they are still waiting, that implementation is not the easy street it appears.

    • Colonial Viper 3.1

      How many votes do 41 leading economists have when it comes to general election time?
      The traditional labour policy is not a problem, its selling it to the electorate and having the party as a whole behind it.

      You can’t sell a message that the sales person clearly does not believe in.

      But Corbyn believes in what he is espousing. 41 leading economists agree with him. And he is pulling crowds of thousands night to night.

      What does the right wing of Labour have to offer apart from more dismal economics and austerity-lite?

      • GregJ 3.1.1

        What does the right wing of Labour have to offer apart from more dismal economics and austerity-lite?

        +1…that and sitting around waiting for the Tories to “fuck up” enough to convince people to vote for Labour (and given the NZ experience that will be a long wait because the tolerance for lies, bullshit, incompetence and cockups appears to be a quite large).

        • dukeofurl 3.1.1.1

          Obviously they campaign on their strengths-

          “lies, bullshit, incompetence and cockups ” are endemic to any government, that’s why Key especially is very quick to say LABOUR DID IT TOO’
          Its probably the only principle he has.

          Landcorp has been in the news recently, but when you think about it why would the government be in the farming business. It gets even stranger when you look at how they work. I know of a farming couple in central NI , who leased a landcorp farm for 20 years, they wanted to continue but when lease is up they were out. I think that it isnt the case that Landcorp is ‘farming’, but they are really just a landowner. But it gets more bizarre, when the Shanghai Pengxin group bought some farms they got Landcorp to milk the cows for them. Landcorp didnt even own the land and there is no benefit to taxpayers, or other farmers in doing so.
          Yet National is invulnerable over this issue which seems to go against all the modern national party’s core principles. The Taxpayers Onion doesnt go near it,

          • Pat 3.1.1.1.1

            “lies, bullshit, incompetence and cockups ” are endemic to any government, that’s why Key especially is very quick to say LABOUR DID IT TOO’
            Its probably the only principle he has.”

            that may be true but the origin of and response when discovered are what sets this government apart…..corruption in the space of 7 years appears to not only have become acceptable but policy, the history books appear to also be in the process of being rewritten….this lot have opened a Pandoras box and if its not closed pretty damn quick there will be no going back …only further into the mire.

    • GregJ 3.2

      The Guardian isn’t really on his side or backing him though – it has backed Cooper – which is hardly surprising for a centre-left paper popular with the intellectual elites of the left.

      However it is Corbyn that has energised the contest, the debate, the base and those who feel Labour has left them (pun intended) and The Guardian knows it can’t just ignore him.

      • Colonial Viper 3.2.1

        The scary thing for the Labour Right is that Corbyn has shown conclusively that there is a thirst out there for traditional left wing Labour economics, and ordinary punters are responding to it very strongly.

        • dukeofurl 3.2.1.1

          I can understand that for the UK, doesnt entirely translate to NZ.

          After all a bit of traditional labour policies seems to have worked for SNP in Scotland, but that has a bigger left leaning vote block.
          If Corbyn can take the party with him he deserves a chance as Blair/Brown and Milliband have had their chance.

          • Colonial Viper 3.2.1.1.1

            I can understand that for the UK, doesnt entirely translate to NZ.

            Historically, NZ has always been more egalitarian, and less class conscious outlook than the UK. We introduced the 40 hour week first, and we had the first true Labour Government.

            But we appear to have no socialists in our own modern Labour caucus and few who seem really ready to make the case for a strong progressive social democracy.

          • Lloyd 3.2.1.1.2

            Labour hasn’t run with these sort of policies since before Walter Nash. How do you know they won’t work now, when we have homeless people sleeping every night in Queen Street!

  4. Enough is Enough 4

    This is the clearest evidence yet that our New Zealand Labour Party should give up on the policy platform that they have followed since 1984. That same policy platform that ruins the lives of so many.

    Labour New Zealand. It is time to stop the rhetoric and be bold. We want our assets back and only you can lead a government that promises that.

  5. JanMeyer 5

    Just to clarify, the Guardian supports Yvette Cooper for leader of the Labour Party over Corbyn. He is unelectable.

    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/13/guardian-view-labour-leadership-choice-yvette-cooper-jeremy-corbyn

  6. BLiP 6

    Jeremy Corbyn has just announced that under a Labour Government, state assets privatised by the Tories might be renationalised, with minimal compensation . . .

    What a great idea! Shame New Zealand won’t be able to do that if the TPP gets introduced. No doubt, this sort of news and the rise of Mr Corbyn in the UK will be giving National Ltd™ an added sense of urgency about getting the TPP passed in order to cement-in its neoliberal privatisation agenda. I see Tim Minibar Groser has already escalated his and John Key’s contemptuous dismissal of opposition to the TPP. Now such opposition is being framed as “completely extreme”.

    • weka 6.1

      Just out of curiosity, if Nat were to sign the TPPA, and then we got an actual left wing govt, what are that govt’s options? They renege on the agreement, a corporation takes them to court (is that internationally?), what if the govt ignores that? Decides to remove itself from the agreement etc. What’s the worst that could happen?

      • BLiP 6.1.1

        Well, based on history, if our government decided to put the corporate interests of, say, the US at risk, “the worst that could happen” is a 50-year economic embargo along with all manner of direct and indirect interference in local politics including assassination plots against the Prime Minister and Cabinet. That’s for starters.

        • weka 6.1.1.1

          ok, that wasn’t really what I meant. I meant what would happen officially. There’s a big stick being held over us, I’d like to know what it actually is.

          • Colonial Viper 6.1.1.1.1

            Firstly it is to do with our officials and politicians being on the outer, diplomatically and personally.

            Secondly it will be about making it more expensive for NZ in many ways obvious and subtle; taking us to a secret TPPA tribunal may be just one way of doing that.

            Thirdly the financial markets will likely be used as a disciplinary tool against us as a country. Access to debt markets will become more expensive and the stability of the NZD may deteriorate.

            • weka 6.1.1.1.1.1

              Thanks. In the context of the approaching CC/PO crises, to what extent will those things matter? I can see how they would be important for keeping the current mainstream economy going (and political allies). What about if the world is falling apart albeit slowly? If the medium and long term goal for us is sovereignty and resiliency, can we manage anyway? Is the issue the export markets and how dependent we are on them?

              I know that is off topic, but I wonder how actions like renationalising at cost will go down with the global powers as well.

              • Colonial Viper

                NZ is highly dependent on imports of critical supplies, materials, medicines, machinery, parts. Without the co-operation and friendship of large nations, in our current state we would suffer huge drops in living standard.

                • weka

                  To say the level of Cuba? Or worse?

                  • Colonial Viper

                    One issue I see is that we don’t have doctors who have learnt the hard way of making do without modern pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, and we don’t have farmers who have learnt the hard way of farming without large quantities of diesel and fertiliser, and we don’t have mechanics experienced in keeping machines running by any makeshift means possible.

                    And even Cuba got regular supplies of oil from Venezuela and machinery from Russia.

                    So it would be a challenge to live as well as Cuba, initially, if we were truly cut off from global supply chains.

              • Draco T Bastard

                I can see how they would be important for keeping the current mainstream economy going (and political allies).

                Greece is the example of what happens if a country tries to leave the empire. Cuba as well.

                What about if the world is falling apart albeit slowly?

                There’s no ‘if’, that’s already happening. The delusion of perpetual infinite growth is collapsing and the present socio-economic system is going with it (See GFC).

                If the medium and long term goal for us is sovereignty and resiliency, can we manage anyway?

                Yes we can. We have the resources, the knowledge and the human capabilities to be fine. The people at the top don’t want us to believe that.

                Is the issue the export markets and how dependent we are on them?

                No, the issue is profit. As more countries develop and start to over produce profit goes down. That’s why manufacturing is getting shifted to developing countries – it keeps the over production down. But doing so causes poverty in the country that shifted it’s manufacturing to other countries.

          • hoom 6.1.1.1.2

            Probably something like how Brazil has been sued via US courts with a massive official judgement against Brazil in favour of US financial interests.

            Massive political pressure officially, unofficially both direct at Govt & at our friends.

            Threats to cut us off from various international financial institutions.

            And of course Covert ops to start a right wing freemarket democratic coup.

      • Stuart Munro 6.1.2

        The worst that could happen would be a US financed ultra-rightist terrorist insurgency against the left government. The contras.

  7. Gosman 7

    Corbyn winning the UK Labour Party leadership is too delicious to comprehend. I can’t wait till he has to front up about him calling Hamas and Hizbollah friends.

    [lprent: see http://thestandard.org.nz/hard-left-corbyn-receives-public-backing-from-41-economists/#comment-1062270 ]

    • Colonial Viper 7.1

      Corbyn believes in dialogue with popular and elected political movements in order to resolve conflict.

      Better than Blair who reckons that 1000lb laser guided bombs are the way to go.

      • Gosman 7.1.1

        Please tell me what Hizbollah direct interest in the Palestine-Israeli conflict is beyond merely opposing Israel? They are not a Palestinian organisation.

        You may as well say IS should also be engaged in any peace discussions. Perhaps they can be called ‘Friends’ by Mr Corbyn as well.

        I’d be curious to know if Mr Corbyn has ever called Likud ‘Friends’ as I presume you accept they are also necessary to any peace process between Israel and Palestine.

        • McFlock 7.1.1.1

          gos:

          I can’t wait till he has to front up about him calling Hamas and Hizbollah friends.

          CV:

          Corbyn believes in dialogue with popular and elected political movements in order to resolve conflict.

          Better than Blair who reckons that 1000lb laser guided bombs are the way to go.

          gos:

          Please tell me what Hizbollah direct interest in the Palestine-Israeli conflict is beyond merely opposing Israel? They are not a Palestinian organisation.

          Gos, stop making shit up. Nobody mentioned Palestine, and you responded well after the edit time allowed so CV didn’t chop it down while you were commenting.

          Just in case you ever wonder why I think you’re a lying scumbag, slides like that are why.

          • Colonial Viper 7.1.1.1.1

            +100

          • GregJ 7.1.1.1.2

            I’ve clearly got to harden up – I only called Gossy a jerk and a hypocrite. 😉

            • McFlock 7.1.1.1.2.1

              Well, I’m a bit of a jerk. That was me toning it down. But if everyone were callous like me, the world would be a worse place. It takes a village to insult tory swine.

      • Anno1701 7.1.2

        He has prior form for this as the only Westminster MP who was willing to open dialogue with the IRA/Sinn Fein during the troubles in Northern Ireland

        well ahead of his time some would say

        http://www.history.com/topics/british-history/easter-rising/speeches/tony-blair-on-meeting-gerry-adams

      • Ad 7.1.3

        The Bush-Blair approach to Syria, Israel and Iraq is a shambles felt by every EU country now having to deal with hundreds of thousands immigrants on their doorstep. Ain’t saying I support Corbyn, but there’s sure as hell got to be a better way than how we got here.

        • Draco T Bastard 7.1.3.1

          The Bush-Blair approach to Syria, Israel and Iraq is a shambles felt by every EU country now having to deal with hundreds of thousands immigrants on their doorstep.

          But it keeps the military-industrial-complex profitable and that’s all that counts to the Tories.

      • dukeofurl 7.1.4

        And thats what happens looking back in History, the Brits talked to the Irish (x2) and even to Ghandi, South Africa talked to ANC, even Begin talked to PLO.
        Gosman you havent read your history.
        Political power often comes from military action, wasnt that the way with 13 colonies in 1776.

    • GregJ 7.2

      Good old Gosman – straight to the Tory Dirty Politics smear tactics. Jerk.

      Ignoring of course that Corbyn says he disagrees profoundly with the views of Hamas and Hezbollah but argues that, in the interests of peace with Israel, you have to talk to these militant groups. It’s pragmatic, even if critics say Hamas is not really interested in peace and continues to attack Israel during ceasefires.

      You know the same way that the Conservatives, Republicans and National say that Western countries must keep trading and and having political dealings with repressive regimes such as Saudi Arabia because to bring about progressive reforms, you need a strong relationship with these states in which you are trying to encourage such reforms. Then again the only thing that matters to Tories is money. Hypocrites.

      • Colonial Viper 7.2.1

        And let’s not forget that in the early days, Israel ardently supported the fledgling Hamas in order to destabilise the ruling Palestinian Fatah group.

      • Gosman 7.2.2

        Hezbollah is an Lebanese based organisation. Please explain why they should be involved in any discussion of peace between Palestinians and Israelis? If it is because the organisation is based in a country that has yet to sign a peace treaty with Israel then would not the same logic apply to IS who are based in Syria? Should IS be called our ‘Friends’ as well for the sake of peace?

        • GregJ 7.2.2.1

          I’m going to assume you are just stupid. You do realise Hezbollah has issues with Israel separate from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

          You of course continue to ignore the context in which Corbyn used the words “friends”. Either deliberately or because you are too incompetent to do your own searching and research yourself.

          And why you continue to bring up Da’ish I have no idea – they are not interested in having discussions with anyone about anything because they are a bunch of self-righteous nutters who are only interested in subjugation of everyone to (their weird interpretation of) Islam, Jihad, the Qu’ran and Sharia law.

          Man we need better RWNJs.

          • Gosman 7.2.2.1.1

            Lots of Muslims have issues with Israel separate from the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Lets get all of them onboard shall we and call them our ‘friends’.

            [Gosman, pick up your act commenting on this post or they will start going into the bin: CV]

            • McFlock 7.2.2.1.1.1

              Well, let’s respect them and their viewpoints, and that of the Israelis, in finding a durable, stable and peaceful condition for the Middle East.

              Rather than selling one side phosphorous artillery shells that they then use on residential neighbourhoods, and calling the other side terrorists.

            • Gosman 7.2.2.1.1.2

              The issue that I am raising is that people on the right would love it if Corbyn was Labour party leader. He would have to defend his position on calling organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah his friends (Yet not Likud or even Israel). This is a valid attack and all I see put out in response is that you need to talk to a wide range of people for the sake of peace. That is correct but you don’t have to call the people you talk to ‘Friends’.

              • GregJ

                Your point – such as it is (& which is clearly a smear and an attempt to distract) – might have some validity if Corbyn were running for US President but in the UK I doubt it will have much traction. Still if it gives you comfort…

          • Stuart Munro 7.2.2.1.2

            They’re not really into long term subjugation – they’re an end times cult. They only want to win until judgement day.

        • mikesh 7.2.2.2

          “Hezbollah is an Lebanese based organisation. Please explain why they should be involved in any discussion of peace between Palestinians and Israelis?”

          How about solidarity with fellow arabs/muslims.

          • GregJ 7.2.2.2.1

            Yeah – any concord is almost inevitably going to require involvement of the wider Arab world. I’m not sure I’m hopeful of such a concord being reached though.

          • Colonial Viper 7.2.2.2.2

            How about solidarity with fellow arabs/muslims.

            Hmmm, doesn’t really happen. Persians are not Arabs. Tribal loyalties are sometimes stronger than religious loyalties. Sectarian divisions within Islam itself seem more severe than ever.

            The Saudis have more in common with Israel against Iran than with Iran.

            Very complex.

            Not an area we want to send NZ troops into.

          • Gosman 7.2.2.2.3

            According to that logic IS should now be regarded as our ‘friends’ as well then as they are a pretty big player now in the area.

            This is why Corbyn is pure gold for the right. Here is someone who thinks he can talk to radical Islamist groups and call them his ‘Friends’ in the cause of peace. Basically these are the same sort of people who throw Homosexuals from tall buildings and destroy World heritage sites because they are unislamic. For some reason Corbyn thinks they qualify for friendship status.

            However I note he doesn’t call Likud his friend though even though they too would be necessary for any peace deal. But I suppose as they are Jewish and right wing that’s fine.

            [lprent: I see what CV means. This comment has nothing to do with the content of this post. Where is the economics?. Looking back I can’t see any that do. If you want to raise your own topics, then do so in Open Mike.

            Banned 12 weeks because this looks a quite deliberate attempt to derail the post. I guess you won’t be doing that for a while. ]

            • Colonial Viper 7.2.2.2.3.1

              ISIS is both directly and indirectly, an American creation.

              • Gosman

                Doesn’t that mean it is even more important to include them in any peace discussions involving the Middle East?

            • Macro 7.2.2.2.3.2

              WTF has this got to do with the subject of the post Gos?
              Nice misdirection I have to say – and completely error ridden assumptions on your part as well to make it so – well done – top marks for trolling!

              • Colonial Viper

                I’ve just warned Gosman that if he keeps up with these irrelevancies I will be binning his comments.

                [lprent: Wrong approach. If you don’t actually ban him, then the most effective approach is to edit his comment, put a [deleted] in over whatever was diversionary (sometimes the whole comment), then explain why it was deleted. This leaves a marker in as a warning. And alerts moderators doing scans.

                Or just ban him, and tell me or one of the editors and above. Gosman knows the rules about diversions, and the penalties. ]

        • Naturesong 7.2.2.3

          Because Lebanon is home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees?

          Also, Lebanon not signing a peace treaty with Israel is pretty understandable given Ariel Sharons actions there in 1982. Not least of which was the Sabra and Shatila massacre.

        • swordfish 7.2.2.4

          The Gos

          Lebanon and the Palestinian Occupied Territories have both been the victims of frequent massacres, carpet-bombing and full-scale destruction by Israel.
          – “Mowing the lawn” as your good chums in the Israeli elite cheerfully call these War Crimes.

          Hamas and Hezbollah both emerged as a resistance to brutal Israeli occupation (in case you hadn’t realised, Israel occupied south Lebanon for 22 years until Hezbollah forced them out).

          As CV has suggested, Israel originally financed and nurtured Hamas in an attempt to dissipate the Palestinian public’s desire for national self-determination.

          • Gosman 7.2.2.4.1

            So has Syria. That doesn’t mean all the extra State player in Syria (should be playing a part in any peace discussions involving Israel.

            • McFlock 7.2.2.4.1.1

              Nobody said it did.

              At worst it means that the Assad regime and extra-state parties that have territory close to the med should be involved, simply because they are in a position to upset any peace process.

              But nice slide from Corbyn into how-to-solve-the-middle-east. You’re definitely proficient at being a fuckwit.

        • dukeofurl 7.2.2.5

          Refresh you memory when Israel was dealing with lebanese militias.
          Remember the Falange in the Beirut refugee camps., they were virtually a mercenary wing of the IDF

        • Tricledrown 7.2.2.6

          Gooseman you know nothing about middle East politics.
          Once again shooting your self in the foot( big toe acshually that’s where your Tory redneck brain is).
          Do some proper research.

    • Blue Horsehoe 7.3

      That comment just shows what a little cock you are , Gossip

      [lprent: Silly pointless abuse. But I already banned you on a later comment. ]

  8. plumington 8

    The ruling elite won’t let him be elected and if by a miracle he is they will sabotage him or his policies eg Greece

  9. ianmac 9

    Blair was Thatcher-like.
    But the Corbyn approach is distinctly so different that people will rally rather than bother with the tiny detail of differences between Conservative and usual Labour. Now we can see the real differences!
    The effectiveness of Corbyn’s approach will be measured by the ferocity that will be visited upon him from Blairites as well as the Conservative Dirty Tricks Brigade.

    • Gosman 9.1

      You are aware that Labour tried a similar tactic before back in the 1980’s and it failed abysmally. Why you think it will work now is beyond me. Turning the clock back to the 1970’s won’t entirely inspire the majority of the electorate I would suggest.

    • Wayne 9.2

      Or more likely the electorate will simply not vote for him, because he has policies they think are stupid. After all thats is what happened to Foot; no appeal to the majority of electors.

      • Colonial Viper 9.2.1

        Boy are you out of touch. Please check Swordfish’s comment which shows that a large majority of Brits think nationalising key assets like rail and utilities is a good idea.

      • vto 9.2.2

        Wayne, do TPPA provisions around investor-state disputes apply to domestic investors as well as foreign investors?

      • Naturesong 9.2.3

        FIFY:
        no appeal to the majority of donors

      • Blue Horsehoe 9.2.4

        Dinosaurus Mapp….

        Your ilk are already on the wrong side of history, just that you refuse to accept what is coming your way

        Imagine being an old man so ideologically blind, and twisted that he fills his spare time on this site making asinine statements such as that

        Was it orders from down the lodge Wayne, that make you come here and post such utter shit ?

        [lprent: And that reads to me as just being pointless abuse.

        There were several rhetorical ‘points’ in there, but they just looked like insults by a complete and utter fuckwit with the intellectual powers of a slogan wielding rabbit hyped up on hormones – and making about as much sense.

        Looking over your previous comments in just the last few days, it appears that you make a habit of walking close to the edge of that particular policy for anyone on the right regardless what they say. In other words you could appear to be engaging ideologue brainless mode. But I suspect that you are gaming it. That explains my sentence. I’m gaming it as well.

        Banned 3 weeks, and if I see any nonsense about it under any handle. Well, take your chances with whatever clod induced irritation I feel, you pathetic dickhead. Read the policy. ]

  10. Lara 10

    What a strange thing to say, that he’s “unelectable”.

    If the British Labour party membership vote for him as leader, he’s their leader. And following that, if enough people like what he’s saying and they vote for him, then he gets elected.

    He certainly seems to be pretty popular. People seem to like what he’s got to say.

    So the way I read that “he’s unelectable” is his opponents saying that they’re scared of him and want to use sound bytes to scare people away from voting for him. Because he is in fact entirely electable.

    • James 10.1

      Thats a really fair point.

      Im one of the people who have said he is unelectable, but of course, technically you are right.

      If enough people vote for him, he will be elected.

      Im not scared of him, but would admit Im scared of the damage he would do the the UK should he be elected (in my view anyway).

      I guess when I say unelectable – I mean that I think he will be a disaster for the UK. I think that the majority of voters (thats all voters – not just the Labour folk), will think the same and he would not get elected.

      Only time will tell – But I think that there is more of a move to the right than the left in the UK.

      Either way – it will be interesting.

      • Draco T Bastard 10.1.1

        Im not scared of him, but would admit Im scared of the damage he would do the the UK should he be elected (in my view anyway).

        I look at the damage that the RWNJs have already done and see that there are people, like Corbyn, about with the nous to fix it. Those people are the people that the RWNJs are scared of because fixing the damage done will prove, yet again, that the RWNJs and their policies are the problem.

        I guess when I say unelectable – I mean that I think he will be a disaster for the UK.

        No, it’s just what you’ve read in the Tory aligned MSM – you haven’t thought about it at all. If you had then you would be fully in support of Corbyn and other like him.

    • mikesh 10.2

      Going by the last couple of elections, “electability” doesn’t seem to be the party’s strong suit.

      • Colonial Viper 10.2.1

        Yep. The nerve of those who have led Labour to defeat after defeat now bleating on as if they know about “electability.”

  11. McFlock 11

    The problem Labour in the UK have isn’t so much in appealing to the public, it’s winning under FPP.

    Well, that and the rabid tory press, who are even worse than ours.

    • Gosman 11.1

      There is left wing alternatives in the print media (The Mirror and The Guardian) and a State own broadcaster dedicated to public service broadcasting on television and radio. What more do you lefties want? Oh I see. You want no alternative views from your own getting any publicity.

      [Gosman quit with the irrelevancies and pick up your act commenting on this thread or I will start binning your comments. Also see above. CV]

      • Gosman 11.1.1

        What other view do you expect me to take from the position Mcflock had that the press in the UK is Tory and that is why Labour fails to make much traction? There is lots of alternatives to the Tory supporting press in the UK in the mainstream. People are free to get their message from multiple sources as you would expect in a society with a vibrant free press.

        [And no one here except for you was suggesting otherwise. Avoid derailing with irrelevancies and I will avoid binning your comments. CV]

    • The lost sheep 11.2

      What about the Guardian and The Independent?
      Available absolutely everywhere to anyone in the U.K. (or online) who wants their news and opinion filtered through a thoroughly Left Wing World view?
      You don’t have to read the Tory Press unless you want to….

      Best 2 papers in the Wold IMO. Fark all I enjoy more when in the U.K. than sitting in The Crown and Bull at lunchtime with a pint of Theakstons Old Peculiar and those 2 venerable papers.

        • The lost sheep 11.2.1.1

          According to the link you provided, the first three categories of major newspapers are split 12 Right, 10 Left, and a few in the Center.

          I don’t see how that backs an argument that readers have no option but to read and be influenced by a rabid Tory press?

          The Independent is not a Right Wing Rag by any means, and the context to them backing the Conservative/Lib Dems can be read in link below.
          In short “the newspaper said in an editorial that a minority Labour administration reliant on the support of the SNP would be “a disaster for the country”.

          http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/may/04/independent-conservative-liberal-democrat-coalition-cameron-clegg

          • McFlock 11.2.1.1.1

            According to the link you provided, the first three categories of major newspapers are split 12 Right, 10 Left, and a few in the Center.

            Indeed.
            And the “not right wing rags by any means” back the conservatives, while the right wing rags threaten anarchy, economic collapse, capitalist flight, and UN troops on the streets of Britain.

            I don’t see how that backs an argument that readers have no option but to read and be influenced by a rabid Tory press?

            That’s nice.
            Now would you care to address the comment I actually made?

            The Independent is not a Right Wing Rag by any means, and the context to them backing the Conservative/Lib Dems can be read in link below.

            lol

            So, basically, they were more afraid of the SNP than they were of UKIP or even just the Conservatives? Sounds not at all right wing there /sarc

            • The lost sheep 11.2.1.1.1.1

              If you believe The Independent is a Rabid Right Wing Tory rag, then you must be right McFlock. The Right have got the Left utterly shafted.

              And where does such thinking lead you to ? State CONTROL of the Press by any chance?

              • McFlock

                again, feel free to respond to something I actually stated.

                I assume that because you have studiously neglected the point about FPP, we at least agree that FPP is an obstacle to achieving a truly democratic electoral outcome?

                • The lost sheep

                  I agree completely about FPP, but as there is zero chance of it being changed in the U.K. it is a moot point.
                  Is Jeremy Corbyn himself talking about ending FPP? If so, he is doing so very quietly. Wonder why that is?

                  So having answered your question about FPP, you can tell me again how the RIght Wing Press control the peoples political preferences, when I can walk into any place in the U.K. that sells newspapers and choose The Guardian ahead of the Right Wing papers?
                  How are The People forced to buy The Times?

                  • McFlock

                    “Again”? I never told you that in the first place.

                    I merely said that the combination of a tory press and FPP is the major obstacle to any left wing victory in the UK.

                    The “tory press” point I raised requires neither 100% of publications nor 100% of their circulation share to be rabid right wing (as opposed to moderately right wing or even on-balance right wing), nor does it require “control” rather than merely giving the tories the simple advantage that consistent, well-funded propaganda has given the powerful throughout history.

                    Given the speed with which you go from what I actually wrote straight to “How are The People forced to buy The Times”, I don’t see you walking any place in the UK. Running with your eyes firmly shut would be more likely.

                    But sooner or later you might ask a question based on something I wrote, rather than based on your onanistic fantasies.

                    • BM

                      Arse ->plate.

                    • The lost sheep

                      O.K. So don’t explain how it is that The Guardian is available in every single news outlet in the U.K. that also sells Right Wing papers, and yet somehow the the Right Wing papers sitting beside it have an influence advantage.

                      You probably also then also won’t want to explain how it is that we are discussing Jeremy Corbyn based largely on pro-Corbyn information that has been published by The Guardian and other U.K. media, and there wasn’t any barrier to us accessing what ever of that we chose and being influenced by it?

                      And you definitely won’t want to explain whether or not you believe the current media situation is ‘correct’ and should be allowed to continue exactly as is, or whether you think it needs changing, and if so, how you believe it should be changed?

                    • McFlock

                      O.K. So don’t explain how it is that The Guardian is available in every single news outlet in the U.K. that also sells Right Wing papers, and yet somehow the the Right Wing papers sitting beside it have an influence advantage.

                      Because truth is not a popularity contest. Pleasant lies and pretty distractions will always be more appealing than inconvenient truths.

                      You probably also then also won’t want to explain how it is that we are discussing Jeremy Corbyn based largely on pro-Corbyn information that has been published by The Guardian and other U.K. media, and there wasn’t any barrier to us accessing what ever of that we chose and being influenced by it?

                      Information collated and summarised on a left-wing blog run by volunteers, not paid staff given money by rich fuckwits.

                      And you definitely won’t want to explain whether or not you believe the current media situation is ‘correct’ and should be allowed to continue exactly as is, or whether you think it needs changing, and if so, how you believe it should be changed?

                      You want me to deconstruct and redesign the UK media system on a post about Corbyn’s support from mainstream economists? Nice derail attempt.

  12. swordfish 12

    Some UK Poll data on Nationalisation/Public Ownership (and related issues)

    RAILWAYS
    YouGov
    (2013)
    Renationalising the Railways
    Support 66%
    Oppose 23%
    (Support: Lab voters 79%, Ukip 73%, Lib Dem 64%, Tory 52%)

    YouGov
    (2014)
    Renationalising the Railways
    Support 60%
    Oppose 20%
    (Support: Lab 78%, Ukip 70%, Lib Dem 60%, Tory 42%)

    Survation
    (Aug 2015)
    Railways back into public ownership
    Support 64%
    Oppose 19%
    (Support: Lab 78%, Ukip 70%, Lib Dem 66%, Tory 48%)

    ——————————————————————————————————
    ENERGY COMPANIES

    YouGov
    (2013)
    Should the Energy Companies be Nationalised and run in the Public Sector OR Privatised and run by Private Companies
    Nationalise/Public Sector 68%
    Privatise/Private Sector 21%
    (Nationalise/Public Sector: Lab 82%, Ukip 78%, Lib Dem 62%, Tory 52%)

    Survation
    (Aug 2015)
    Return Energy Companies to Public Ownership
    Support 62%
    Oppose 19%
    (Support: Lab 79%, Ukip 72%, Lib Dem 56%, Tory 45%)

    ————————————————————————————————
    NHS

    YouGov
    (2013)
    NHS should be run by Public sector or Private Sector
    Public 84%
    Private 7%

    Survation
    (Aug 2015)
    Remove all Privatisation from the NHS
    Support 62%
    Oppose 21%
    ——————————————————————————————————
    ROYAL MAIL

    YouGov
    (2013)
    Royal Mail should be run by the Public Sector or Private Sector
    Public 67%
    Private 22%
    ——————————————————————————————————–

    OTHER

    YouGov
    (2012)
    In general, I think Government and Public Services:
    Are a force for Good / Are part of the Solution 41%
    Get in the way / Are part of the Problem 28%
    Neither 19%
    (Lab 47/24/18, Lib Dem 48/24/20, Tory 41/32/20)

    YouGov
    (2012)
    Services like Health and Education should not be run as businesses. They depend on the values and ethos of the public good
    Agree 60%
    Disagree 16%
    Neither 18%
    (Lab 67/10/16, Lib Dem 74/10/13, Tory 50/25/22)

    YouGov
    (2013)
    Should the Labour Party continue with the ideas of ‘New Labour’ and build upon the record of the last Government OR abandon the ideas of ‘New Labour’ and distance itself from the last Labour Government
    Abandon/Distance itself 45%
    Continue/Build upon 19%
    Neither 16%
    (Ukip and Lib Dem supporters recorded particularly high percentages for Abandon/Distance itself)

  13. rhinocrates 13

    Just a warning:

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/25-000-rogue-voters-in-labour-poll-chaos-1-3866045

    The UK Labour Tories are not even hiding their attempts to rig the election. It’s ironic that they’d whimper about “electability” when they are so blatantly corrupting the voting process by attempting to retrospectively disqualify anyone who might have voted for Jeremy Corbyn.

    I’m not surprised that the Grauniad are against him and call him “unelectable.” Typical of the comfortable middle class that have captured Labour, they love to play lip service to progressive politics to look hip at dinner parties, but the moment the time comes for actual commitment and effort and a possible threat to their inflated house prices, the moon turns full and they twitch, shiver, grow hair and long nails, start going “Urgh… principle… yes but… urgh… I mean, I’d like to… but in the real world!”

    Solipsists all, they think that if THEY won’t vote for him, no-one else will.

    Keep an eye on the old guard bench warming latte slurpers here.

  14. johnm 14

    Corbyn wants a decent society for people not one for the rich who want to get richer and the establishment.

    That’s why he must be derailed at any cost, he must be stopped:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBdlxnB2u30

    • johnm 14.1

      Interesting comment on Corbyn from David Icke

      The whole Neoliberal, corporatised consensus is threatened by this man who wants a return to at least a semblance of democracy: Rule by the people for the people and the proper restraints on greed and capital corrupting the democratic process. U.S. president Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) defined democracy as:
      «Government of the people, by the people, for the people»

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86WcV294J-4

      • johnm 14.1.1

        “A Democratic Explosion Unprecedented in British History”

        By George Galloway and Seumas Milne

        Seumas Milne of the Guardian wrote of the Corbyn phenomenon: “A democratic explosion unprecedented in British history. That’s all!” Milne joins Sputnik to discuss the unpredictability of politics and the runaway campaign, which shows little sign of flagging.

        George Galloway & Seamus Milne discuss the MSM smear campaign against Corbyn

        http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article42700.htm

    • Macro 14.2

      🙂 Thanks for that John – yes he must be STOPPED! please people – vote for the establishment and the rich and we will trickle down on you – promise!

  15. Bob 15

    “From the Guardian:

    More than 40 leading economists, including a former adviser to the Bank of England, have made public their support for Jeremy Corbyn’s policies”

    He’s got policies? But he has been leader for more than 12 months where he has done nothing but complain about the Tories, had party consultation and countless focus groups. How could he possibly have policies!

    It is interesting that someone that actual HAS policies is getting support…

  16. David 16

    I hope he gets elected. It will be an interesting experiment that can be viewed from a safe distance.

  17. James 17

    Mind you – a lot were saying the same great things about Alexis Tsipras – and look how well that worked out.

  18. joe90 18

    The Financial Times, that bastion of the left, reckons Corbyn’s Quantitative easing for people instead of banks (pdf) might actually be quite a good idea, concluding:

    If Corbyn’s preferred investments are useful, they could help restore some of the lost ground in productivity and lead to higher real wages for Britons. And by expanding capacity, this extra investment spending may not even end up being inflationary. (The actual amounts in question, according to Murphy, are quite small relative to the size of the UK economy.)

    “People’s QE” is far from an obviously wrong idea. Implemented properly, it could even improve the Bank of England’s ability to fulfill its mandate without needing to goose house prices or get into contentious debates about helping the rich at the expense of pensioners

    http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:ftalphaville.ft.com/2015/08/06/2136475/corbyns-peoples-qe-could-actually-be-a-decent-idea/

    http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2015/03/12/how-green-infrastructure-quantitative-easing-would-work/

    http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2015/07/08/jeremy-corbyn-renames-green-qe-as-peoples-qe-but-thats-fine-by-me/

    • greywarshark 18.1

      Ooh-er! Gobsmacked.

    • Colonial Viper 18.2

      WOW

      • dukeofurl 18.2.1

        Thats how the policy can be sold, QE for the people instead of the banks.

        In Germany the CDU government has been happily paying workers to spend part of the week at home. Why cant they do these sort of things in UK ? The Tories have such a vile anti -worker base ( mainly in the press) which makes these things ‘sound far left wing’

      • RedLogix 18.2.2

        Something Steve Keen has long advocated. Conventional economics frequently mistakes a stock of something with a flow.

        Giving money to a bank only increases it’s stock of money, which in a debt saturated world is hard to move. (Unless you can pump up an irrational bubble – in which case all you are doing is lending into a crash). And is largely why the global economy has been so slow to recover from the 2009 GFC.

        Giving money to people immediately creates a flow of money which stimulates the economy. In other words it injects money directly into the point of the economy where it can actually do some good.

        Better still is a debt jubilee – a cash grant that comes with the condition that debt exists the cash MUST be used to pay that down first. Still has a stimulatory effect AND unwinds debt saturation, mitigating the damage caused by deflation.

        • Colonial Viper 18.2.2.1

          Yep – am definitely ‘keen’ on those solutions. Problem is the 1% who are the owners of financial assets far prefer to see those asset prices inflated, and the banks don’t want their profitability cut by people suddenly able to pay down debt.

          • Skinny 18.2.2.1.1

            + 1 CV The 1% are having far too easier run.
            Cobbah got something that should be right up your alley is ya handle via email linked here?

            • Colonial Viper 18.2.2.1.1.1

              Please check the email linked to your The Standard handle.

              • Skinny

                All good thanks cobbah just someone had a nerve damage problem and was heading down your way. Sorted now 🙂

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  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from 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 public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    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:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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