Internal polling apparently good

Written By: - Date published: 6:57 am, July 28th, 2015 - 233 comments
Categories: labour, polls - Tags: , ,

It’s not a good idea in general to comment on internal polling. It isn’t designed for public release, its too easy for others to dismiss, and it needs to be reflected in public polls to be reliable. So we at TS don’t usually write on the occasional rumours that we hear. (No – we don’t have any writers who are Labour staffers so we have to rely on rumours like everyone else.)

Still and all, current internal numbers were publicised yesterday on Whaleoil and The Daily Blog, so here we go then.

The word is that Labour’s internal (UMR) polling has them up 6 to 35 with National down 6 to 41. I’d be inclined to dismiss that if it wasn’t similar (same 6% move) to the most recent Roy Morgan just 10 days ago.

If these numbers are correct then a Labour/ Green win in 2017 is looking good. Take it all with a big grain of salt however, what we need to see is large and sustained shifts in the public polling.

I think we will see those changes over the coming year. The Nats are awash with scandals, the economy is no longer propped up by high dairy prices, and huge issues remain to be addressed. National have wasted their three terms and they don’t deserve another.

 

Update: Colin James’ Poll of Polls confirms National’s drop:

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/279836/polls-labour-and-greens%27-support-overtakes-national

– TRP

 

233 comments on “Internal polling apparently good ”

  1. ScottGN 1

    And Radio NZ is reporting this morning on Colin James’ current poll-of-polls which is showing the LAB/GRNS combo pulling in front of National for the first time in over a year.

    • b waghorn 1.1

      Good but are they pulling ahead of national/nzf ?

      • ScottGN 1.1.1

        Don’t get too carried away.

        • Jenny Kirk 1.1.1.1

          I agree – this is quite a bit too soon. And its only a rumour – from WhaleOil of all people.

          (But its a huge morale booster for Labour activists anyway !)

          • r0b 1.1.1.1.1

            We wouldn’t repeat anything just from WO – it’s been confirmed by various sources.

            • ianmac 1.1.1.1.1.1

              How would Whaleoil and Kiwiblog get the figures for internal polling from Labour’s UMR?

              • Puckish Rogue

                Whaleoil claims Labour MPs talk to him but really the thought a Labour MP would break ranks like that is just preposterous

                • dukeofurl

                  I thought Phil Quin was his ‘labour party member’ and one of his ghost writers.
                  Always with the Oily Orca you have to read between the lines, so make it ex labour party MP and you have a more accurate description.

              • Draco T Bastard

                National Party spy?

              • Clemgeopin

                I think an acquaintance might have deliberately given it to WO and KB for tactical reasons. I actually think that it is a good thing that this news has been first published/revealed in the RW blogs. I see a positive in that in this particular case.

                • Tracey

                  My thinking too Clem… Is it protocol for Opposition Leaders or Shadow Ministers to get copies of such reports before they are published or publicised?

                  Mind you, its not uncommon for Governments of all persuasions to intentionally leak something which might be big (Heath and Education espesh) to see how the public react, do some polling, then work on watering down unpopular bits?

                • whateva next?

                  I see, I suppose it is the best way to spread the good news

  2. Tautoko Mangō Mata 2

    I think if Labour totally opposed the TPPA, and also persuaded some of the institutionalised more right wing Labour MPs to announce their forthcoming retirement, then the trend in the polls would continue, probably more rapidly.

    • Skinny 2.1

      Yes I agree a great opportunity for Labour to improve their position by denouncing the TPPA as untenable in it’s current form.

      Be great if Phil Goff confirms he is off to contest the Auckland mayoralty with a pledge to sort out the housing and traffic problems. Without being disrespectful there are a number of long serving MP’s that should signal their moving on for the best interests of the party. Like Cosgrove, Dyson, Moroney, King, Beaumont, Mackey and a few non performers who I won’t name. If this happens I would expect a surge in popularity for Labour.

      • Ovid 2.1.1

        King

        I think she’s been doing really well lately. She was a firebrand on Morning Report yesterday over the DHB policy paper leak.

        • Skinny 2.1.1.1

          OK she is a late bloomer, I agree is having a golden run. However it is time to push her out of the deputy chair and put someone like Parker in there. He has had time to be rechipped to get that neo liberal glitch out of him.

          • Marvellous Bearded Git 2.1.1.1.1

            King is performing well and there are a LOT of votes out there for pensioner grey-haired women. Keep her in the shadow cabinet.

            • Chooky 2.1.1.1.1.1

              +100 Marvellous Bearded Git…doesnt pay to push the oldies off the perch….particularly when they are always a high performer like Annette King

              … for all her past sins…King is a HIGH PERFORMER and should be retained!…not least to appease the women’s lib generation…but also because of her experience

              Labour needs a dynamic Grandma! ( now that Aunty Helen is in New York running the United Nations)

              GO LABOUR!

            • whateva next? 2.1.1.1.1.2

              …..and attracts those voters who like staying power, like those who vote for Peters because they recognise him…and at least we know which side she is on! Very valuable.

        • Tracey 2.1.1.2

          Hmmmm I heard it and didn’t consider she was firebrand.

          How irresponsible would it be for a government to have gone to the polls last year (as she suggested) before they had actually obtained a report and recommendations of things?

          It seems to me that (like our Ports and our Universitys/PTEs and sports grounds) we are too regional and too factionalised meaning we have more of everything than e need. Perhaps this is also true of DHBs and Board members on them?

          The Health systems is broken. It is in part broken because of the flawed starting point of our thinking, how much money can we spare and how do we make that fit best? Instead of evaluating what is needed, what will work and then applying the financial ruler to that.

          Hopefully this report addresses that point.

          • Chooky 2.1.1.2.1

            …who is saying “firebrand”?

            …”performing well” …”doing really well”..”.HIGH PERFORMER”…not a “late bloomer “…but a consistent high performer over the years in her portfolios…tried and true high performer… her message is always clear and to the point…not to be underestimated

      • Karen 2.1.2

        keep up! Neither Moana Mackey nor Carol Beaumont are current MPs.

        Annette King is performing well as Health spokesperson IMO, although I think Kevin Hague would be a better Minister of Health in a Labour/Green government.

        • Skinny 2.1.2.1

          *Apologise
          Yes agreed Hauge would be ideal in that position along with Genter in the hefty Transport position, Twyford is a non performer there, too be fair Housing is his go.

        • dukeofurl 2.1.2.2

          Hague has made no impact in health up to now. Only insiders would know he was administrative head of the smallest DHB in the country.
          Even the greens members havent cared much for his record choosing a newbie for XY chromosome leader

          • Naturesong 2.1.2.2.1

            That Hague did not win the co-leadership is not evidence that Green party members do not value his skills and insight, particularly in the area of health.
            Rest assured Kevin is still highly respected and valued by Green Party members.

            And Hague regularly comments on issues pertinent to his portfolio. Kevin Hague – ACC – 23 July 2015

            That he does not get asked for comment and that his press releases do not get published in the main newspapers I suspect says more about the editorial lines of those papers than it does about the quality of his work.

            • dukeofurl 2.1.2.2.1.1

              Save the happy clappy pap for the greens blog. After all his years of work in the party and connections to the green community Hague was bypassed by the smooth talking ‘PWC green’ with corporate style cufflinks to match.

              Made no impact is just that, you could have at least dredged up something about health, or does he have no sources among the wider health bureaucracy.

              • Colonial Viper

                After all his years of work in the party and connections to the green community Hague was bypassed by the smooth talking ‘PWC green’ with corporate style cufflinks to match.

                Careful there. Just like Grant Robertson was “bypassed” by newbie Parliamentarian Andrew Little?

                • dukeofurl

                  If you can remember Robertson did win the party faithfull, and the Mps…

                  I didnt know PWC and other corps could vote in Green elections

              • What’s the happy clappy bollocks?

                The potential co-leaders spoke to the membership and presented their vision of how they can best serve the party.
                And, the membership thought that at this time, Shaw was the best candidate for the job.

                Co-leadership is not given on time served. Nor on connections, nor on whether or not someone is perceived to work harder than another candidate (find me a Green MP that does not work hard, smart, and long hours?).

                Are you seriously arguing that because Hague did not win the co-leadership that the general membership suddenly don’t like him, or fail to recognise the quality of his work?
                Btw, since the leadership contest he’s picked up another portfolio, conservation.

                Links. I just linked the latest. He’s been on a break.
                Here’s a fresh one, from today Sick New Zealanders will pay under John Keys TPPA.

                Btw, you don’t think that the new “ACC appeals tribunal” the govt. is about to set up is worthy of discussion?
                The call comes after the release of research by the University of Otago Legal Issues Centre and Acclaim Otago which highlights ”widespread and systemic barriers to access to justice” when it comes to ACC
                Sounds important to me.

                But you’re probably right. After all, what’s ACC go to do with health care in NZ?

                • dukeofurl

                  Boiler plate outrage, probably done by the office staff.

                  Not the reason we have Mps. Its all worthy stuff, in a greens kind of way, 2 cm deep and 100m wide.

                  What the vote really means is Hague will be looking for a new life out of politics by the time the next election comes around ( or sooner)

                  This is not the right place to talk about Hagues strengths, we will WAIT for a Standard post covering him………… maybe not then.

              • Galeandra

                Pardon me, duke, but your ignorance is showing.

      • Ron 2.1.3

        All very well but if Phil departs we have to have a by-election (unless he could be persuaded to keep both jobs until midway through 2017) and Labour do not need a by-election and the expense involved just before a national election.
        Last election we had the Greens spending more than the Labour which no doubt will happen again unless we can tap some new source of funds.

        Be great if Phil Goff confirms he is off to contest the Auckland mayoralty

        • Tracey 2.1.3.1

          not for Auckland.

        • Skinny 2.1.3.2

          What a defeatist attitude Ron, Goff has had long enough to think about this and so has Labour for that matter. They should be pushing forward and promoting a new candidate by now. That ‘new’ candidate needs to be receiving publicity or are they going to gift it to a current MP like Twyford or Ardern? Fuck the funding if the party can’t afford it. The candidate can use the proven method of door knocking and public speaking. Goff should be funding raising for the by election ahead of his own self interest. Let him sell a rental property or two and pay his own campaign.

          • Ron 2.1.3.2.1

            not defeatist at all. We have just had an expensive election and then the Northland by election and if we have to have another one that is two elections between national elections. Of course if we have to, we do it but its a pain.

            • Skinny 2.1.3.2.1.1

              OK well if troughers like Goff had an ounce of decency he would have gone list only and made way for new blood in the seat last election. But no not a chance of that, the guy needs to be real he finally got the leadership and showed poor management by not cleaning out the rear guard, lost against Key (not surprisingly) resigns as leader and is still there. The wider voting public are not stupid and see this, meanwhile Key axes his has beens, very ruthlessly and quite publicly.

        • dukeofurl 2.1.3.3

          the greens raised more money as they ‘tithe’ their Mps just like bishop Tamaki does his flock.

          • Ron 2.1.3.3.1

            So do Labour so what?

            • dukeofurl 2.1.3.3.1.1

              Not the industrial scale that the greens do.
              The bottom ranked Mp gets pinged $17.5k and the highest gets $22k in the 2014 year.
              It seems to be EVERY year.
              I doubt there is ANY labour MP that is ‘giving’ that much over the 3 years between elections

              Like I said Bishop Tamaki scale tithing which is by automatic payroll dedeuctions

      • Clemgeopin 2.1.4

        Moroney does very well.

        It is unfair to name MPs here like that, because you are just one person with one particular opinion putting massive pressure on certain MPs through a public blog.

        • Skinny 2.1.4.1

          Spare me your admonishment Clem. Moroney has stood in the plum seat Hamilton West and lost every time. Not helped that she can’t be bothered getting off her arse and door knocking ” I don’t do the door knocking thing”. With an attitude like that she should be list only and give someone who is prepared too do the hard yards. She is a good leftie but sometimes that isn’t enough. I suggest less love for the sisterhood and more love for all. She is becoming a one trick pony by pushing the 26 weeks paid parental leave. Move on it is fine as it is.

          • te reo putake 2.1.4.1.1

            Um, Hamilton East, as well as Hamilton West twice, skinny. And I’m interested to know where you got the door knocking quote from. Doesn’t sound legit to me.

            • Skinny 2.1.4.1.1.1

              You can add Clarks old seat too, but we won’t hold that against her, a friend reakons she has the misfortune of increasing the opposition Nat candidate’s majority in every election she has stood in.

              The quote is from her to me coobah after i quizzed her, she was safe on the list and too fucking lazy imo. The question of door knocking came about after i questioned former Ham East Labour MP Dianne Yeats on how the hell did she win the Tory side of town. She told me she went out and door knocked every house in the seat as part of a 6 month campaign strategy.

              I note after failing ‘again last year’ Moroney made a,snake oil pitch about calling it a day, many of us who don’t rate her never believed a word of it, and proved correct.

              • Clemgeopin

                I agree the door knocking thing is very important for every candidate, including those on the list. And they should start doing that systematically a year out from the election, allocating a few hours every week, talking to the voters, understanding their concerns and seeking their support.

                Anyone that does not do it well should be ‘excommunicated’. I am with you there.

                But I do value experienced MPs. A few wise heads are essential to the success of a new government and the younger MPs for at least the first term.

                • Ron

                  How the heck do they start campaigning a year out when the list doesn’t get published just before election, If the new scheme comes into being it may be possible to get list out a little earlier but remember the old list remains in force until election.

                  • Clemgeopin

                    You got me there!

                    Perhaps the current MPs could regularly meet up and chat with their constituents by going to them, explaining the main policies and understanding the people’s mood and needs. Hard work, sure.

        • the pigman 2.1.4.2

          Self-proclaimed “insider” skinny is deeply confused as usual, Clem. Moroney is far from deadwood and Mackey and Beaumont are not even MPs. He suggests twyford may need to be gifted mt roadkill forgetting he already holds te atatu.

          What precious wisdom will be spewed forth next?

          • Clemgeopin 2.1.4.2.1

            Yes, quite baffling !

          • Skinny 2.1.4.2.2

            Who said I was a Labour insider fuckhead? Obviously I’m not up with the play on who holds what. I have little time for most of Labours
            crew, certainly none for head in the sand idiots like you, that are probably happy enough going into elections with the same dead beat MP’s. Well I am not and guess what Labour buddy…people like me can pick other party’s like the Greens & NZF to support 🙂

            • the pigman 2.1.4.2.2.1

              “Who said I was a Labour insider fuckhead?”

              [emphasis my own]

              Not me:

              “Self-proclaimed “insider” skinny…

              That was your characterisation.

              But anyone who visits this blog on a regular basis sees you harp on about what you heard at smoko/the delegates meeting/the local candidate say.

              You frequently profess to have an inside line on the maneuverings of politicos and are often called out on the same, and the fact you’re now pretending you don’t is rather telling, really.

              Anyway, time to get my head back in the sand… it’s noisy up here!

              • Skinny

                The problem with you washed up has beens is truth beknown is the fact ‘your own political party’ and the locals don’t rate you which must be a blow to your ego. In the end you become bitter, reflected in your cynical comments of others.

  3. Puckish Rogue 3

    Better be prepared for some targeted bribery/spending and some announcements on housing

    • Lines of the Day:

      – Ignore the rise in Labour’s support; instead refer to the preferred PM poll
      – Claim that Parliament/media is abuzz with rumours of a Grant Robertson coup
      – Alternate between these two memes: Little is too quiet/ Angry Andy
      – Captain Key’s decision to throw the ball to Ritchie McCaw at the lineout won us the test against South Africa.
      – John Key does not spend too much time on holiday, he’s actually negotiating an FTA with the Waikiki Golf Club.

      • Puckish Rogue 3.1.1

        Keys nothing if not pragmatic and has no problems in swallowing dead rats

        • Anno1701 3.1.1.1

          ive heard its baby mice (pinkies), at least 5 a day

          and dont forget to turn on the heat mat on cold nights !

        • Ron 3.1.1.2

          That would be interesting… Key eating himself

        • Tracey 3.1.1.3

          pragmatic when Key does it, bribery when Labour does it? Interesting.

          How many bridges are the North now getting PR/ The whole lot they were pragmaticed during the election or a different number?

          • Puckish Rogue 3.1.1.3.1

            Will be interesting to see how Winston goes in a true blue electorate…

            • Tracey 3.1.1.3.1.1

              Was the question too hard PR?

              • Puckish Rogue

                In all honesty I don’t care so I can’t be bothered looking up how many (or how few)

                Whats more interesting (to me anyway) is how Winston is go as an MP in a (formerly) true blue electorate

                Winston was elected to send a message to National so it will be interesting to see how the electorate reacts if Winston leans too far left

                • Hanswurst

                  So you don’t care about anything verifiable that might call your views into question, preferring to concentrate on moonbeams and speculation that may or may not support those views?

        • McFlock 3.1.1.4

          Indeed, he seems to be a bit partial to them, the number he’s been eating lately.

        • Clemgeopin 3.1.1.5

          “Keys nothing if not pragmatic and has no problems in swallowing dead rats”

          Are you hinting that Maurice Williamson and Judy Collins will soon no longer be dead rats?

      • dukeofurl 3.1.2

        Its the Wailea Golf club next to his exclusive gated resort on Maui

      • maui 3.1.3

        lol

    • Clemgeopin 3.2

      Don’t forget plenty of Bridges bridges.

  4. Peter 4

    … the job of Green/Labour is to get enough voters to believe that it is time to replace the devil we know.

  5. ianmac 5

    The imminent TPP agreement might or might not earn Key kudos- or not.

    • Tracey 5.1

      It will. Any impacts will be some time off, negative or positive and to my knowledge no measure of its success has been released to the public? They must have a measure aye, cos otherwise how do they know it is of benefit to NZ?

      They will keep trumpettng the positive aspects and people love good news even when it happened yet.

  6. dukeofurl 6

    Nationals polls must be giving similar figures, as Key has mentioned all sorts of complicated restrictions on overseas buyers all week.

    There’s no smoke without fire !

    land tax, high rates of stamp duty, migrants to the regions, makes a lot kindling

  7. Draco T Bastard 7

    National have wasted their three terms and they don’t deserve another.

    I wouldn’t say wasted. The rich got richer and the poor got poorer didn’t they? Just as National wanted.

    Still, I think Stiglitz has it right:

    Speaking in London on Sunday, Joseph Stiglitz warned that policies from centre-left governments such as Tony Blair’s had undermined the middle-ground message, partly by entrenching wealth for the very few.

    “Unfortunately the centre-left parties have wimped out. They have joined in saying: ‘Oh yes, we have to have a kinder version of austerity, a milder version of austerity.’

    It’s just very hard to say these centre-left parties – with emphasis on ‘centre’ – have been able to deliver for most people. Their economic models have not delivered and their message is not working. So to me it’s not a surprise that you have seen, say in the United States, which obviously I know better, that [anti-austerity] progressives are getting a much stronger voice in the Democratic party.

    Labour have to really go back to their roots and do what they did in the 1930s – shift the creation of money to the government and take it from the private banks.

    • Tracey 7.1

      Agree, our centre left have simply enabled the centre to move to the right and for society to become self centred…

    • Enough is Enough 7.2

      Exactly.

      I would say from National’s perspective they have been a raging success.

      The rich are richer. The poor are on their knees and getting kicked.

      They will be giving themselves 10 out of 10.

  8. Bob 8

    Brilliant, I reckon a couple of cheap shots at the Indian population (there were quite a few Indian looking names on that list) and the election is in the bag!

    • dukeofurl 8.1

      The analysis showed ‘indian names’ were matched to their proportion of the population and not connected to the auckland housing bubble.

      • Naturesong 8.1.1

        However, the majority of Indians are Asian.

        Ask your Indian friends, how many of them experience racism (overt and covert) as a normal part of their life?

        And then ask them how they felt about Labour singling out an ethnic minority in order to miss the point on house prices.

        • dukeofurl 8.1.1.1

          Ethnic minorities are singled out all the time, thats how we know maori are falling behind in many areas or over represented in others.
          The whole point of labours exercise was to point out overseas buyers we speculating and pushing up prices, that effects Indian, Filipino, Koreans as well.
          They might like restrictions that help make houses for new comers more affordable.
          new migrants often find discrimination in their own homeland, China restricts who can go to school in its big cities, how many children, Indian has a caste system which favours some groups.

          • Bill 8.1.1.1.1

            Highlighting systemic discrimination or institutional racism and the fallout thereof is one thing.

            Isolating an ethnic minority – especially one that most people would happily, if mistakenly, identify by sight – and associating them with negative actions/behaviours/traits that they have full agency over, is entirely different.

            • Clemgeopin 8.1.1.1.1.1

              On dear! Carry on with your false framing once again and again and again! I think you know very well that the point Labour was highlighting was the discrepancy in the 40% bought houses in 3 months was from Chinese sounding names on the list while proportionately their population is only 9%. Granted sime of those names while sounding Chinese may not be Chinese, but a large number would be. That is statistically correct and common sense, indicating that there is possibly a large proportion of non resident investors in the Auckland market. There was NO other way to analyse that data because this present government has its head and arse buried in the Taklamakan.

              Look at the impact of that expose from Labour. 61 % of people now say they are opposed to Key’s policy. Even Key is now making some noises about restricting non resident foreigners buying in Auckland. That is a good outcome! There is nothing racist in what Labour did. I am sure all sensible people, including resident Chinese, will understand that if they are honest.

              So, I say, hats off to Andrew Little, Twyford and Labour. Great job!

              • Bill

                Fuck me dead! Did you really hit the ‘submit comment’ button on that?

                There is nothing racist in what Labour did. I am sure all sensible people, including resident Chinese, will understand that if they are honest.

                You have an opinion. Anyone not holding that opinion is being dishonest. So Kiwi-Chinese who say they experience Labour’s framing as racist are liars.

                That aside – big aside that it is. Do you not understand that those people who recognise Labour’s framing for what it was are, by and large, against foreign money flooding the housing market? More than that, as a number of commenters have argued, the discussion needs to go beyond foreign money and look at domestic money and institutional money too.

                If that 61% is up on some previous percentage and if any of that is due to how Labour framed this issue (as opposed to people extrapolating from Chinese to all off-shore monies), then it’s a sad fucking day for NZ.

                And again, the undercurrent of negative commentary about China on ‘ts’ , when weighed against negative commentary about money coming from any other nation in the same comment streams…disquieting.

                • Colonial Viper

                  It’s fucking bullshit and the sign of a desperate Left out of ideas, out of leverage and out of moral courage.

                • Draco T Bastard

                  So Kiwi-Chinese who say they experience Labour’s framing as racist are liars.

                  No, they’re just wrong.

                  • Bill

                    Fuck me dead again. Irony doesn’t quite cover that!

                    Here’s a fact.

                    You have an opinion that Labour didn’t frame their announcement on overseas sales in an anti-Chinese fashion.

                    Kiwi-Chinese are experiencing a direct sense or feeling of discrimination.

                    And you discount their experience as just an incorrect opinion!?

                    Wow.

                • Clemgeopin

                  Your relentless framing of ‘racist meme’ is crap and is doing the real harm to the race relations than anything else you are pontificating on about Labour. It seems so illogical, agenda driven and hypocritical.
                  I suggest you (and Key and CV) drink lots of stevia laced stronger cups of green tea for three days and nights for some mind clearance to understand stuff and shit the right way. You are welcome!

                  • Bill

                    How is calling out a message mounted on anti-Chinese sentiment for what it is – how is that harmful to race relations?

                    Where is the lack of logic in calling out ‘racism’?
                    What is the agenda in calling out ‘racism’?
                    Where is the hypocrisy in calling out ‘racism’?

                    btw, did you just instruct a Kiwi-Chinese who’s telling you their direct experience straight-up, to essentially fuck off, have a cuppa and calm down? Oh – and to ‘get with the programme’?

                    Astonishing.

                    • Except it isn’t racism, Bill. Never was, no matter how much Labour haters portray it that way. And lay off the Chinese, it’s not the fault of the majority in China that they have a burgeoning exploiter class wanting to make money at the expense of Kiwis, Aussies and others.

                    • Bill

                      And lay off the Chinese…

                      It wasn’t me who put the Chinese front centre stage to make a point about overseas investment in NZ housing.

                      Care to point to any comment where I’ve been laying into Chinese?

                      Care to explain how it is that Kiwi-Chinese saying that what Labour did (the xenophobic/racist framing) is fueling feelings of insecurity, how that is driven by hatred of Labour?

                      Are you saying they are all lying about their experience?

                      Want to acknowledge that it was me and others, who from day one, were saying that the housing issue wasn’t the fault of Chinese peoples but a result of economic bullshit – while others (I believe you yourself dismissed the wider economic analysis on the grounds that there was some ‘immediate’ problem to be dealt with) railed against soft loans from the Chinese government and squealed about an influx of Chinese peoples into NZ etc?

                    • Actually it was folk like you who put the Chinese centre stage. Labour was at pains to make it clear that they were talking about non-resident investors. So by muddying the waters by bringing ethnicity into, you are taking advantage of racism. A kind of dog whistling, in fact.

          • Naturesong 8.1.1.1.2

            Ethnic minorities are singled out all the time” – Correct, they are.
            How do you think they feel when a political party blames them for the negative effects that result from poor policy?
            Policy that Labour themselves hadn’t addressed when they were in power?
            How do you think that makes other non-white immigrants feel?

            If you know any ethnic Chinese (or who looks vaguely SE Asian) from here or elsewhere), you will no doubt know the racism they are constantly subjected to in NZ.

            Labours point about overseas buyers is rubbish. Or rather, it’s misleading because middle class Chinese nationals investing in NZ housing market is likely to be a fraction of the overseas money entering the market.
            You can transfer millions into shell companies and trusts in NZ. We are after all a Tax Haven.

            And, are you arguing that New Zealand should develop a caste system?
            Have to disagree with you there, bad idea.

  9. Bill 10

    Hmm. So the Roy Morgan had them up 6. Then they dog-whistled. And if all polls are much of a muchness, then they lost 6?

    I don’t suppose we know the time span of that internal polling thang? – ie, before or after the ‘housing’ data?

    • Labour didn’t dog whistle! There seems to be quite a bit of confusion about what a dog whistle is in some quarters. Releasing all the info you have and being open and honest about it isn’t a dog whistle. Saying one thing, while meaning another, is a dog whistle.

      The 6% RM lifted Labour out of the twenties. They’ve stayed in the thirties since then. That there was no bounce after the housing info release kinda suggests it wasn’t done for cynical polling reasons, but was just the opposition party doing exactly what they should do; hold the Government to account.

      • Colonial Viper 10.1.1

        Just as well as my belief is that a poll bounce resulting from their anti-Chinese slant would merely have encouraged more shite behaviour from the small circle in caucus who put the strategy together.

        • te reo putake 10.1.1.1

          Good thing nobody in a position of power in Labour is anti-Chinese. Great that some are anti-speculator though.

          • Colonial Viper 10.1.1.1.1

            I would be a bit more reassured by your comments if the Labour caucus had the 4-5 Asian MPs it demographically should have, instead of NIL

            • te reo putake 10.1.1.1.1.1

              Last time I looked, MP’s have to be elected. So, it’s far more likely that new MP’s will come in under Little on these poll results. If you do know any good Asian candidates, by all means promote them within the party. Under the changes that are being proposed, the ordinary members such as you and I are going to have a real say on who gets the list spots.

              • Colonial Viper

                So much for a Labour Party representative of the actual make up of NZ then. 12% Asian. I guess that’s why some in caucus figured out they had no votes to lose from the Chinese community.

                • You’re not making much sense on this, CV. The party is committed to getting the balance as good as possible, but the MP’s still have to be elected. And, first, good candidates, willing to spend three months of their lives campaigning, then spend three years in Wellington, have to be found. As you know, it’s not for everyone.

                  As I said, feel free to find and promote the people you think should be on the list or standing in electorates. Nobody is holding anyone back.

                  • Colonial Viper

                    Casual readers of The Standard may not know how Labour uses the List moderation process to ensure that the desired balance of MPs gets into caucus, but you and I do.

                    Labour should have 4 to 5 Asian MPs in its caucus but instead it has zero – a very strong signal from Labour given recent events.

                    • Keir

                      And, erm, there plenty of Asian people willing to do the hard yards as candidates! The National Party certainly manages, and even Winston does it.

                    • “Labour should have 4 to 5 Asian MPs in its caucus but instead it has zero – a very strong signal from Labour given recent events.”

                      By recent events, I assume you mean the last election, because that’s what determines the numbers in caucus.

                    • Skinny

                      It is plain to see what is going to happen by 2017. Labour will have the token one Asian-Kiwi. Where as Key, Joyce and C&T will pounce on the Asian-Kiwi vote and stand 5 or 6.

                      If I was campaign manager Goff would be forced out and I’d be standing an Asian-Kiwi in his seat. A good candidate who can ease the Asian-Kiwi voters by reinforcing change within Labour starts with a strong MP/s on the inside. Tapping new money for the by election and the party. They have little choice as they are cash strapped. Shit if they did this I’d donate a couple of K for the cause instead of to NZF who I get better mileage from.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      By recent events, I assume you mean the last election, because that’s what determines the numbers in caucus.

                      I know you are being deliberately obtuse.

                      There wasn’t a single Asian in the top 20 Labour Party list 2014, and you would have needed to go all the way into the 50s and 60s on the Labour list to pick up 4 Asian MPs (I am talking SE Asian and East Asian here) if that.

                      In other words, Labour wasn’t serious about representing Asians NZers in 2014, and it still isn’t.

                    • Bullshit, CV. People have to want to actually be MP’s, go through the process of applying and convince the party that they have what it takes. Fuck tokenism. Focussing on the top twenty is disingenuous because you know that the top spots generally go to sitting MP’s.

                      I guess I know what’s really driving this. But, trust me, you’re not getting the gig.

                    • Ron

                      Also there was an Asian at position 21, 23 on the list which is the position pretty much where what they gained on region 1 list. As I stated elsewhere it may improve if the party adopts the new list process.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Ron – I don’t count Indian subcontinentals as being “Asian” (unlike the UK norm). 9% Chinese in NZ should mean 3 Chinese MPs in caucus not, zero; and not one positioned at 21 on the List with the next one at 50 something on the List.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      I guess I know what’s really driving this. But, trust me, you’re not getting the gig.

                      Fucking hell mate, as usual you know shit.

                      Not all your sweet talking nor all the tea in China would convince me to work in such an environment where your so-called “colleagues” are constantly plotting to stick knives in your back.

                    • Yeah, fair call. The LP tend to want candidates who don’t spend all day trolling the party. If that ever changes, I’ll make sure they give you a call 😉

                    • Colonial Viper

                      You needn’t worry about that; I’ll be calling you when the time comes.

                    • Skinny

                      That is a disappointing comment TPR. CV would be an ample replace ment for plenty of the current lot ruining the party’s chances. Taking the likes of us for granted could cost under MMP. The first past the post mentality may have worked last time but I doubt it will again.

                      I note your silence on my reply to the Ham West post where you doubted my word. The silence was not a reasonable response there cobbah.

                    • By the time I got to read your response, others had already more than adequately commented on it, skinny. You’ll probably have to take my word for it that silence was a reasonable response, just as I’ll have to take your word for it that the conversation happened as you reported it.

                      Re: CV, many are called, few are chosen. And some just rule themselves out of the running.

                    • Skinny

                      Yeah OK TRP fair enough I was a little taken a back you doubted me.

                      I can see where CV is coming from, years of frustration as the same cycle repeats within Labour. I will say unlike other LP supporters who have jumped to mainly the Greens and now absolutely hate the power players within the party,, we hang in there trying to bring change from within as you can not from the outside 🙂

                      In unity brother.

                    • No worries, skinny. We’re pretty much all hoping for the same thing; a party we can be proud of. And the best change happens from within, which I think is what we’re seeing in Labour since members got a say on leadership. Next step, members help decide policy and the list rankings. It’s coming!

                    • Colonial Viper

                      TRP, you’re a natural superior sonofabitch, I got to credit you with that. I’m still picking Labour 22% to 26% in 2017. Happy to be proven wrong.

                    • You’re working hard to make it happen, comrade! Our owners are very pleased with your efforts.

                  • Clemgeopin

                    @ CV

                    I took a quick look at their 2014 party list and found a few Chinese sounding names such as………

                    Su’a, Sio, Goff, Huo, Sue, Iain Lees, Poto….

                    And you were saying?

              • Keir

                Are you saying that the Labour Party’s practice is to disproportionately protect white men when the party performs poorly?

            • Ron 10.1.1.1.1.2

              There were enough on the list but the problem was that our party vote was down. If I remember correctly your electorate did not manage to get its party vote up. National party vote was some 3000 more than Labour. Not sure why that was it looks like electorate did not push party vote hard enough. Maybe they were working so hard to get their electorate MP in /sarc

              • Colonial Viper

                Hmmmm. Don’t forget that the Review concluded that some electorates were only interested in re-electing their MPs and did not focus on getting the party vote.

                By the way, Dunedin is lost to Labour now. Red MPs might keep getting in for a while, but the seats are now better categorised as marginal or contested, not safe. Voters in Dunedin South have given up on Labour.

                Old timers will know that is a sea change.

                • Sabine

                  Well they can then vote for National or Greens, NZ First or Legalise Cannabis Aotearoa or a the Dunedin Party (well theoretically they could create one.)

                  I don’t actually see the problem with it.

                  see, before the election i begged an acquaintance of mine to go vote.
                  I said if you can’t identify with any of the parties cause they ‘don’t do anything for your’ then look at your child and vote for the party that is going to do the least damage for her future.

                  He did not vote, National won due to 1 million not voting and the rest is history.

                  the same applies to your voters in Dunedin. They too have a choice to vote for the party that a. represents them best, b. not at all, or c. the party that will do the least damage, or d. not at all.

                  That’s the nice bit about a democracy and it applies to all citizens and residence in this country, as no one has lost voting rights or privileges no matter how much you cry racism.

      • Bill 10.1.2

        The thing about a dog-whistle trp, is that it isn’t heard by those it’s intended to influence.

        The only people who recognise the whistle are those who don’t go off running.

        In this case it was a call to anti-Chinese sentiments, sentiments that move at shallow depths here in NZ. (And all the ears pricked up and the wee beasties rushed to heel while denying anything untoward had been heard)

        • te reo putake 10.1.2.1

          “The thing about a dog-whistle trp, is that it isn’t heard by those it’s intended to influence.”

          Just the opposite, Bill. The dog whistle is meant to be heard by those it’s intended to influence.

          The idea is that the dog whistle is hidden in the wider message and resonates with a narrow and targeted segment of the audience. That’s why it wasn’t a dog whistle. It was open and nothing was hidden. If they had, say, said ‘we’ve got the names of the speculators but we’re not going to tell you, but, hint hint, it’s the Chinese’, that might meet the description.

          But while it can be argued that the release could have been done better, that would be more cock up, rather than conspiracy. It simply not a dog whistle. If it was, I’m sure Crosby/Textor would either sue or send a bill.

          Edit: a definition here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog-whistle_politics

          • Bill 10.1.2.1.1

            Hmm. Raising issues around housing affordability, and possibly expecting a bump in the polls to boot, by tapping into often subtle underlying anti-Chinese sentiment in the general population = dog-whistle, no?

            And if it doesn’t, then what is a term that describes such messaging?

            As I commented back to McFlock last night, both discussions – housing and xenophobia – need to be discussed. To say there was and is no xenophobic content to what Labour did is, as mentioned previously, precisely in line with all the gender debates where men routinely dismiss and shut down women protesting misogyny.

            edit (I can’t see it does not = it doesn’t exist)

            • Galeandra 10.1.2.1.1.1

              What’s wrong with a good dose of xenophobia? I am a nationalist who doesn’t accept that NZers should subject jobs or land or enterprise or intellectual capital to the blind whims of the global market-place. Nor should we sacrifice environment on the altar of the economy.
              It is selfish self-interest that wants to grow our population to 7 million or more, at the same time as we can’t lift the bottom 20% of our existing communities out of a modern-day poverty trap.

              • Bob

                “I am a nationalist” looks like you consider yourself a ‘Socialist’ as well?
                There’s a shorter term for people like you…

              • Bill

                Erm, there is no such thing as a ‘good’ dose of xenophobia.

                If you object to people having their jobs, land, enterprise and whatever else being subject to the whims of the global market place, then your argument is essentially based on economics and is anti-capitalist.

                If you think that the environment shouldn’t be sacrificed at the alter of the economy, then again, your argument is basically ant–capitalist and possibly anti- command economy too.

                If you object to large amounts of poverty, then guess what? your argument is anti-capitalist, since it is the market economy (capitalism) that produces – in fact, guarantees – poverty.

                But if instead you want to blame people of other nationalities or ethnicities, you let those who profit from the market economy and who administer the market economy ‘off the hook’ and worse, wind up fighting against people who suffer the same as you and who are on the same side as you.

            • McFlock 10.1.2.1.1.2

              there’s a difference between “racism” and “xenophobia”, btw.

              • Bill

                Yup, there is.

                But since there is only one race – the human race, and since nationality is, at least to some degree a self selected, and over time, shifting identity…

                It’s all crap really.

                Fear of ‘that over there’, where ‘that over there’ is the same as ‘us over here’ kind of describes the idiocy of it all, no?

    • lprent 10.2

      The next roy morgan will probably be starting to collect data next week, and probably release around August 15th. There is likely to be the usually jiggling. But it will be interesting to infer what any effect was from that.

      Polls generally aren’t particularly useful to compare between polling companies. Their sampling techniques seem to vary quite a lot.

  10. Colonial Viper 11

    Jeeesus let me play the role of Toby Ziegler has no one here heard of tempting fucking fate?

    As Colin James said – the last time Labour was this high was March 2014. Does no one remember what happened just 6 months later.

    • Yes, we do remember, CV! The leader you championed for a couple of years and reckoned was Labour’s saviour dipped out rather badly. That won’t be a problem this time… Andrew’s got this.

      • Colonial Viper 11.1.1

        Here’s hoping your faith is well placed; Little has to keep the unruly careerist elements of that caucus under close watch which he has succeeded at thus far.

      • maui 11.1.2

        If Little was the leader for the last election he would have lost as well. Little’s got the advantage/luck of being Leader when the cumulative effects of bad governance might have reached a turning point.

        • te reo putake 11.1.2.1

          I disagree, maui. At the very least, Little would have had buy in from the fractious caucus, which would have undercut the ‘knives are out for the leader’ meme. And to be fair to Cunliffe, even though the party vote dropped, he was still only a point or two away from ruining John Key’s night.

          But, we’ll never know. Forward to the glorious future!

          • Colonial Viper 11.1.2.1.1

            I disagree, maui. At the very least, Little would have had buy in from the fractious caucus,

            Nonsense, Little would have got less than 20% of the first round caucus vote had in stood for the leadership election in 2013. Even last time around

            • te reo putake 11.1.2.1.1.1

              Sorry, CV, I’m just going on what we know, now that Little is leader, and what I know of him as person. He’s actually pretty good at leading a team. Nobody was discussing how he would have gone if he’d put up for leader against 3 others in the internal vote. We were discussing whether he would have done better than Cunliffe in the General Election. For the reasons I gave, I think he would have done better.

              • Skinny

                Yeah I agree, DC was always suspect to me him being religiously touched ( no offence to god bothera’s) 🙂

                • timbo

                  @Skinny

                  Don’t forget Walter Nash (Anglican), David Lange (Methodist), Michael Joseph Savage (Catholic). Not all of us God-botherers are suspect!

                  • Skinny

                    Point taken each to their own 🙂 I did like Helen Clark’s honesty she would confirm she was a non believer. Quite brave I thought.

          • greywarshark 11.1.2.1.2

            TRP
            It’s nice that youre fair to Cunliffe.

        • Marvellous Bearded Git 11.1.2.2

          …and the economy turning to custard…..and the ponytail…..

  11. Observer (Tokoroa) 12

    A large number of commentators on here are far from supportive of Labour. In fact, It appears as if the Greens have a strategy to demean and diminish the efforts of Labour.

    I am not going to list names. Nor am I surprised that the Greens wish to climb into the National bedding. They seem to have outdated upper class aspirations. National will feed them lil bites of poisoned fish .. which they will lap up.

    The best grouping for Labour would be NZ First. They have a passion for this nation and are in touch with the mood of the ordinary man. They also have Winston Peters whose observations and intellect runs rings around the Beehive collective.

    • Colonial Viper 12.1

      Just tired of Labour being a centrist party focussed on tinkering with a neoliberal status quo.

      • Sabine 12.1.1

        i think everyone by now has understood that. How about you extol the virtues of the party that you do support, so that maybe you gain more supporters for that party. Or are you having more fun just poopooing a party you don’t like? Its like, easier.

        • Colonial Viper 12.1.1.1

          I’ve come to the conclusion that I am very cautious about party politics, Sabine. I see it as a compromised degradation of what politics for the people should be and needs to be about.

          • Clemgeopin 12.1.1.1.1

            Start you own!
            ….Oops, forget it….too hard!

            You said a dozen people left Labour recently. May be go join them?

      • Clemgeopin 12.1.2

        “Just tired of Labour being a centrist party focused on tinkering with a neo liberal status quo”

        I think you will need to quickly change your glasses which are a little better focused to make you see things clearly. Go see a homeopath, a chiropractor, a reiki specialist or oh, one of the hordes of the latest overseas magic faith healers swarming NZ.

    • Tracey 12.2

      Whoa. For myself I wish for the days of Labour as it used to be, a representative of the vulnerable, the poorly paid, the unsafe work environments, the aspirations of all…

      I don’t know what you base your idea of there being a Green strategy to demean the Greens. Can you be more specific?

      I am surprised at anyone who thinks the Greens should or will climb into National’s bedding.

      NZF is very problematic. Winston is a throw back to the Muldoon days, at whose feet he worshipped. The national party used to have acaring side but it has always been with conservative conditions which is less open to change and clings to the status quo in many things, social and economic. The late Garth George is an example of this. Caring in some ways and quite nasty and shallow in their thinking in other ways.

      I have voted Greens in the last two elections. I want a stronger Labour but not if it means being National Lite. We have been pulled too far to the right to what I call the SELF centre…. which may be well populated but is not ideologically centre.

      • Sabine 12.2.1

        When it comes to the poor, the under represented, the poorly paid, the unsafe work environments etc …the greens come across no better then the current labour party. In my books the Green will equally throw these under the bus/bicycle if need be.
        I am still waiting to here from one Green Member that reflects on what they could have better done in the last election, but I have heard a lot of Green Members telling us what the Labour Party should /could have done.

        And I am still waiting to meet that elusive Green Party Candidate in Te Atatu South. someone ran, but did not campaign towards the public. So I guess like the Candidate in Peter Fuckn Dunnes electorate they just ran someone to run someone.

        I think that all parties of the opposition should finally come to grips that alone they are worth nothing.
        AS sadly a third of NZ’lers are driven by greed and personal advancement, one third is so disillusioned with all the parties (inclusive the Greens) they can’t be arsed to vote at all, and one third is too fucking dumb to compromise and devise a strategy that might work for all.

        So there, the Green should finally get of that high bicycle of theirs and understand that it is not only the labour party that lost the last election, they did too….but hey, they got a cycleway, Peter Fuckn Dunne and Niki Kaye…i guess that counts for something. And to fucking hell the country.

        • Tracey 12.2.1.1

          Wow, some of you need to start reading what Green MPs say and write rather than what people here say or don’t say.

          The Greens KNOW they lost an election. Anyone following their proposals, emails, speeches knows that.

          What amazes me is the finger pointing at Green Supporters (as you have done here) when Labour declared for NZF and ruled out the greens in the campaign… some of you seem to have convinced yourselves it is the other way around. As someone who voted Green I assume the party will need to work with the Labour Party, and probably someone else too… it’s many LP supporters who seem to have the problems with working with the greens, not the other way round.

          Still, dream your little dream Sabine, that the green supporters/members/party are evil Labour naysayers … just don’t wake up whatever you do, you will be very disappointed.

          • Sabine 12.2.1.1.1

            i am subscribed to the Green Feeds, i sign their petitions, and I have read their only gushing about the Vicotry that was the cycle ways.

            And i have as much hope in the Greens as I have in the Labour Party. I have also voted for both parties depending on who needed my vote the most.

            But everytime I see Peter Fuckn Dunne fuck something up for the population in NZ i want to throw some rotten eggs and tomatoes at the Greens in his electorate. Cause he is the fucking gift that keeps on giving.

            I am also a Member of the Labour Party, because so I can give them grief, and according to Phil Twyford I am the most left leaning person he has met, and I would consider myself a socialist.

            For what it is worth, if the opposition parties don’t work together and stop rubbishing the other one…i.e. can’t trust Winston, Labour are all loosers and the Greenies are loonies, we are giving it away.

            In my dream the Parties would come together, agree to campaign and govern together and that includes the dreaded Winston Peters and NZFirst, as clearly if we don’t work together, we will go under.

        • Clemgeopin 12.2.1.2

          ” I have heard a lot of Green Members telling us what the Labour Party should /could have done”

          +1

      • Ron 12.2.2

        I have a feeling that the Greens may beat Labour in the race to the right.

        I have voted Greens in the last two elections…

    • greywarshark 12.3

      @ Observer
      I have observed other comments you make, and it appears that your observations are fairly consistently off the mark. I don’t know what the media is like in Tokoroa or how robust the political discussion, but here it is quite reasonable as far as gaining a good idea of current and past events.

      So why don’t you drop in more, then you’ll know that the Greens are not in with National though they will see if they can twist National’s arm to do some of the responsible environmental initiatives that would help the public and the whole country. and play our part as a supposedly developed nation.

      There are things you think about Labour needing to get better strategies. Other people here think that too along different lines to you. They are a political party supposedly representing the ‘ordinary’ man and woman, not gods who never make mistakes.

    • Clemgeopin 12.4

      “National will feed them lil bites of poisoned fish”

      And some drops of whale oil too ?

  12. Observer (Tokoroa) 13

    Hi CV

    Not one of the three opposition parties could build a Government without support.

    I agree that Labour must open up its windows to fresh air. If only to finally erase the Douglas madness and the sort of stupidity that removed a leader of the calibre of David Cunliffe.

    Therefore each of the three Opposition parties must in my opinion, begin to put together joint commonsense policy – endorsed by each party. There is no reason why these policy initiatives could not be ATTRACTIVE and INTERESTING! Capable of closing out stale old ruminations..

    Delivered with tripartite energy and enthusiasm, the policies might even make the rut encased Media to forget its all too predictable hogwash.

    • Hami Shearlie 13.1

      I agree with your comments about David Cunliffe – he was the most intelligent articulate leader Labour had had for a good while – still think he should be in that job – Little is wasting Cunliffe’s considerable talents at the moment.

      • Colonial Viper 13.1.1

        Cunliffe needed time to develop into the Labour Leader that he could be. Plenty of others in caucus were determined not to give him that time.

        Those MPs are still there in caucus, and Little has very limited leverage against them.

        • Hami Shearlie 13.1.1.1

          True – there are some very selfish older members of parliament in the Labour caucus right now – petty personal gripes against David Cunliffe won out over what was best for the party and the country.

    • Colonial Viper 13.2

      Observer (Tokoroa) – that is the kind of MMP maturity that we need from the Opposition parties, and which happens all the time in Europeam countries.

    • Tautoko Mangō Mata 13.3

      +1 @Observer (Tokoroa) “Therefore each of the three Opposition parties must in my opinion, begin to put together joint commonsense policy – endorsed by each party.”

      Instead of scrapping, maybe we could be more constructive by putting forward ideas on policies that could be suitable to be presented as joint policies by Labour, Green and NZ First.

  13. Puckish Rogue 14

    Has there been an explanation as to why the internal polling seems to be quite different to other polls (Roy Morgans excepted)

  14. Cullennz 15

    I still think NZF won’t go with anything involving the greens, so I think even if true the poll numbers aren’t enough

    • Puckish Rogue 15.1

      I guess it comes down to Winstons ego

      Labour/NZFirst/Green or National/NZFirst and who can offer him the best deal

  15. Michael 16

    So Labour can win office without needing to either restate or redevelop its founding principles? Good luck with that.

  16. Michael 17

    Glad to hear this. I think Little’s been doing a great job of growing Labour’s party vote. However, the important part is that Labour are taking votes off National – not just redistributive the collective left vote. Due to the nature of MMP, winning over swing voters is the only way for a victory for the *left*. Sure: moving left, adopting more socialist rhetoric, and having a truly left-wing programme might be great for Labour’s party vote. It might fire up the base. That’s all true. But where will those votes come from? The Greens. It might lead to a ‘victory’ for Labour – if it takes 5% off the Greens, it might grow the Labour vote.
    But the swing voters will go back to National, or perhaps NZ First which is no reliable partner for a progressive govt. I think in the multi-party system where parties *work together*, the role of Labour is to be the big centre-left party: not extremely radical, and attractive to a broad swath of the population. Of course, this doesn’t mean Labour should be a spineless neoliberal National-lite party, but it’s vital that Labour attracts votes beyond its base. It should be pragmatic.
    And then the Greens can work on being the principled, left-wing party. Let’s say the Greens make it to 15%, and Labour continues to attract swing voters and makes it to 38%. That’s the numbers for a progressive govt right there. Since parties work together, we end up with a solidly progressive government, but the numbers to get there are pragmatic.

    • Clemgeopin 17.1

      +1.
      Going by the comments here, the Greens or their supporters don’t seem to understand that.

  17. infused 18

    If the Greens were smart, they’d go with National and sink Labour once in for all.

    • McFlock 18.1

      Just like the Maori Party stuck it to ’em in ’08, eh.

      Your strategic thinking is remarkable. Thanks for your concern.

    • Jones 18.2

      Greens going with National would be political suicide. And as we’ve seen, Labour is capable of sinking itself… doesn’t need any help.

      I’m looking forward to the National Party entering it’s own political hiatus when it eventually loses Government… it’s only a matter of time… but by then Key will have scarpered and be safely installed in some corner office on Wall Street, quietly awaiting his knighthood for services to the banksters.

  18. Observer (Tokoroa) 19

    Tracey

    I have a deep respect for your writing.

    I am alarmed however that your past leader and the new leader have both expressed interest in supporting National. As the Maori party have found out, you will end up in a death roll.

    My own view, is that the three opposition parties, should get together now to forge bonds with whatever difficulty. Each keeping their vision and their philosophy and policy. For none of them will gain Government without the others.

    The remarkable achievement of the Labour Party back in the past, was the striking individual temperament of its parliamentarians (unlike the subservient nobodies of the present Government) yet its overall unity. Michael Savage, Walter Nash; Bob Semple; Arnold Nordmeyer; Peter Fraser. Each so different.

    They believed in free Education. Equality of Opportunity. Fairness at work. Jack as good as his Master.

    They built not only aspiration within the population, but huge infrastructure. They rolled the Conservative class system so beloved of Key and Boag and Bennett.

    They proved that voluble difference is not a weakness but a strength. They built a great stock of housing that still stands in many suburbs and are eagerly sought after because of the inbuilt quality. Bob Semple went to prison twice for supporting workers issues.

    I would hope that the Opposition in today’s parliament could achieve the same.

    I wish I could express my words better Tracey.

    • Sabine 19.1

      you expressed it perfectly,

      we need to work together, or else we die.

    • Foreign waka 19.2

      And they had … guts and no fear because not succeeding would have meant hat NZ gets what it has gotten in the end.

  19. Nick Morris 20

    There is stupidity, selfishness and self-righteousness, sure. But let’s start from the position that all voters are trying to do the right thing or if we win we will lose anyway.
    The current government has given permission for people to only consider their own advantage.
    To counter that they must be told that it is still okay to be altruistic.
    Most people would rather leave the place better than they found it. Anyway, I will go on believing that until the contrary is proven.
    If you start from the base that the voters and current non-voters, the workers and those who need benefits to survive, all ages and ethnicities, all sexual orientateds, all income groups, all are neither better nor worse than you are. All are friends you are yet to meet and fellow travellers yet to be convinced. With this optic you will do way better than dismissing all but your own doppelgangers.

  20. Blue Horseshoe 21

    Once the TTPA has been signed with LP endorsement, what exactly would a LP lead government be able to positively impact…

    It’s going to have to be taken back, not voted in

  21. Nick Morris 22

    Blue H
    The Nats have the numbers. Get used to it. They don’t need Labour.

    • Blue Horseshoe 22.1

      No shit Sherlock

      Getting used to NZ becoming a waste bin vassel state is not something any political party is designed for or prepared to prevent.

      They actively create it, and the people vote for their own demise

      But not before those on the rungs below them have been dealt with

      Its game over if the TPPA is signed

      • Jones 22.1.1

        It’s not game over, it means the options available to the people to repeal the TPPA are severely limited.

  22. Matthew Hooton 23

    I hear secret National Party polling shows the opposite.

    • McFlock 23.1

      Nah. Judith or Stevo would have leaked it to slater quicker than you can say “leadership challenge”.

      Mind you, there’s always the chance someone will turn up to a flag meeting…

    • Skinny 23.2

      I hear Key told his wife while in Hawaii he has had enough and wants out after the TPPA is signed and his flagship legacy the flag is changed. Got the odd bit of ribbing over the ponytail thing while on holiday I heard.

      Probably go for Brownlee as caretaker PM till the election I’m predicting.

      Hope you have been doing some hill training up and down no tree hill and Cornwall park Hooton. Might stand you in good stead so ya don’t breakdown in London.

      • Matthew Hooton 23.2.1

        Are you spying on me or something???

        • Michael 23.2.1.1

          Lefties don’t spy on people. We leave all that to the fascist right.

        • Skinny 23.2.1.2

          Cut it out Hooton my sister who lives on Gardner rd has been complaining about some pest jogger stalking her as she runs around the the outskirts of Cornwall park. From the description she gave me sounded very much like you. Tallish middle aged white male with silver hair, mutters alot “fuck you left loonies” as she glides on past him. She calls him the slow coach Silver Fox.

          She is fit and fast though, surfer girl.

          • Matthew Hooton 23.2.1.2.1

            Slow coach definitely accurate intel!
            (Certainly more so than any rumours of “internal polling”)

            • Skinny 23.2.1.2.1.1

              Take it easy jogging around that there no tree hill, the last time I ran that circuit I ended up pairing up with a beauful young blonde who gave me an inferiority complex. Not only could she run faster and longer than me, but when she invited for a game of tennis and a swim at the Greenlane hospital she thrashed me in straight sets at tennis and lapped me in 5 lengths of the pool. It was the start of a very enjoyable relationship, all be it she was a tough competitor.

      • Jones 23.2.2

        I have heard something similar re Key having had enough. If the drop in polling turns into a trend, he’ll be gone… he won’t hang around to contest the election.

        • McFlock 23.2.2.1

          Last time those rumours were going around about key, the tory shills said it was wishful thinking. Then Roughan’s book came out, and waddya know – he was close to quitting.

          Currently the dude can’t even pretend to care about the job. He’s always been “relaxed”, but now he just doesn’t have any fucks to give.

      • whateva next? 23.2.3

        Aye, except Bennet, not Brownlee?
        I was wondering if Key was going to aim to shift capital to Auckland as his swansong, but I agree, he’s had enough, and his numbers are slipping.
        TPPA will be his final F***you NZ

        • Skinny 23.2.3.1

          Brownlee was a joke cobbah. Probably be English till election year then Bertha takes over the helm of the sinking ship. My worst fear is Collins get a hold of the reins and steers radically right, flogging off and a forced privatisation of anything left.

          • Colonial Viper 23.2.3.1.1

            I reckon the same; English wants his tilt at PM (and all the life long resulting perks).

            I also wonder if he would agree to do Finance Minister under Bennett.

            Collins would be a disaster for the nation, and for our politics.

            • Skinny 23.2.3.1.1.1

              Interesting as they have been grooming her for finance which makes me wonder if the old boys network see her as hitting the glass ceiling at 2iC to someone like Joyce. Mind you the full effects of the huge debt they have lumbered the next generation, and the rub of signing us into the TPPA could see a mass evacuation of the senior mismanagement of the Nat caucus if they slide dramatically into the political abyss as the glazed over eyes of the tricked public finally start focusing.

    • dukeofurl 23.3

      So thats why Key has raised all sorts of ‘answers” to increasing numbers foreign buyers?

      Secret polling telling him its a waste of time ?

      land tax Stamp duty,

      these are NOT words that have passed his lips previously, indeed anything that has the word tax without the word cut is banned in the Key lexicon.

      It can only mean nationals polling is even more dire than that from labour.

  23. Observer (Tokoroa) 24

    To Nick Morris

    Good words … ” The current government has given permission for people to only consider their own advantage.”

    Nothing lasts of an individual. But great Wonders can be created by Communities.

    • Clean_power 24.1

      Have you heard of Newton, Einstein, Beethoven, Leonardo, Rutherford, Kepler, Leibnitz, Maxwell?

      • McFlock 24.1.1

        And yet nobody knows who had the idea of the Nasca lines. And the pyramids are known globally, while the name Imhotep is not nearly so famous.

      • Colonial Viper 24.1.2

        Have you heard of Newton, Einstein, Beethoven, Leonardo, Rutherford, Kepler, Leibnitz, Maxwell?

        People who worked in Government institutions, orchestras, and in collaboration with other scientists and the knowledge that other scientists had uncovered.

        Co-operative and community efforts all, allowing true leadership to be expressed.

      • Phil 24.1.3

        Maxwell

        The ‘Big Show’ is an excellent middle-order batsman and handy spinner on favourable pitches, but even his ego is not so big as to compare himself to some of the greatest scientists of the modern world.

      • Adele 24.1.4

        Kiaora Clean_power

        Have you heard of Newton, Einstein, Beethoven, Leonardo, Rutherford, Kepler, Leibnitz, Maxwell?

        Last I heard they were all dead white men.

        Edit: The link above doesn’t work so here it is again

        http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/in-defence-of-dead-white-men

  24. Observer (Tokoroa) 25

    Hi Clean Power

    Funnily enough I am listening to Beethoven currently. His third Symphony The Eroica. His last Symphony No 9 was written for the concept of Brotherhood.

    Do you know what Brotherhood is?

    Newton the great Physicist was also an intense thinker on spirit and Human Kind.

    But as you are aware, if nobody listens to Beethoven his music is silent. If nobody takes the principles of Newton and uses them …then his work is as nothing.

    Leibnitz was another great thinker on matter and spirit ….. but of course it is nothing if the community does not take up and build.

    I admire you entire list. All of your list depend on thinking that went on before them . That is what community is .The elbow cannot say to the arm I have no need of thee.

    But please give more money to the wealthy Mr Clean. Enjoy your reclusive one and only self. All greedy people make one huge mistake don’t they?. They think they did it themself. Them only, all by their self. Immature to the end.

  25. Foreign waka 26

    Just catched unwittingly Hr Hosking talking about the TTP. OMG, if stupidity would hurt he would be screening all day. He compares the TTP to the WTO. And this man is allowed to through his propaganda during peak viewing time to the wider public.

    • ianmac 26.1

      Pretty awful Hosking! In spite of evidence to the contrary he rambled on denying the gravity of TPP. Pippa and tonight Toni seem to be just tolerating him like a bright young thing tolerating an old man.

  26. Observer (Tokoroa) 27

    Anne

    Wow! Anne your tomorrow will be fabulous if you play Beethoven’s Symphony No 6 “The Pastoral” !

    Beethoven was so aware that we each inexplicably emerge from Nature without knowing how or why or when or for whom. That we are subject to fearful storms mental and physical.

    But that we are called to equilibrium, to symmetry and to beauty and to caring. He, in the increasing isolation of deafness, yet gave thanks for this world. The fourth movement of The Pastoral is very likely the greatest secular hymn ever penned.

    Note: On the question of property Beethoven came out with a great line. His brother, a Pharmacist, had written to him from Linz saying that he had bought an Apothecary shop and was doing well. he signed his letter:

    Nikolaus Johann van Beethoven
    Property Owner.

    Beethoven wrote replying with congrats … and signed his letter

    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Brain Owner

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • At a glance – Does CO2 always correlate with temperature?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    2 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    5 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    6 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    10 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    11 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    12 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    13 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    15 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    4 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
    9 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
    11 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
    11 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
    6 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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T07:56:23+00:00