Parts of yesterday's Government Kiwisaver announcement make sense, like changing default funds from conservative to balanced – young investors in particular should consider at least a balanced fund, if not a growth fund.
But the headlines were on banning default funds from 'fossil fuels'.
New Zealanders’ savings in KiwiSaver default funds will soon exclude investment in fossil fuels, the Ministers of Finance and Commerce and Consumer Affairs announced today.
“This reflects the Government’s commitment to addressing the impacts of climate change and transitioning to a low-emissions economy,” Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi said.
Climate Change Minister James Shaw said rules set down by previous governments have allowed New Zealanders’ hard-earned money to be used to support the fossil fuels companies that are the leading cause of the climate crisis.
This has been criticised as Government interference in the investments of private individuals, and sets a bad precedent for future governments applying more rules to Kiwisaver for their own policy purposes.
Talking of future governments, it looks likely it will be a future government that actually defines the rules.
There’s no definition of “fossil fuel production” in the Government’s press release. There’s also no information on whether the Government is going to give default KiwiSaver providers guidance on what exactly it means by “excluding investment in fossil fuels”.
When Newsroom asked Kris Faafoi’s office for clarification, spokesman Peter Stevens told us only: “The Government will provide more detail on the threshold and definition of the exclusion before calling for tenders, as part of the process to appoint new KiwiSaver default providers.”
With no details yesterday's announcement looks like more of a PR exercise setting Labour and Greens up for this year's campaign, with the actual rules to be defined by the next government. NZ First did not feature in the announcement.
So the actual rules may be loose and left up to the default Kiwisaver funds.
Or they may be wide ranging and specific, banning investments in fossil fuel extraction (obvious) but also companies who use fossil fuels like energy producers, airlines, shipping and transport, and also plastics. Companies that invest in ‘fossil fuel’ companies like banks?
This could be counter-productive. Some fossil fuel companies are big investors in alternative energy technology and production.
A vague feelgood PR exercise says nothing about it will actually mean.
I presume this is another instance where you have copied and pasted an entire post from your own blog as you have done recently, Pete. Says a lot about those who comment there that they would take it at face value.
… sets a bad precedent for future governments applying more rules to Kiwisaver for their own policy purposes.
Well, yeah, the right is often an ethics-free zone that sees someone doing something on the grounds of ethics and interprets that as a precedent for doing stuff on the grounds of self-interest. Only a concern troll would present that on a thread here as evidence for not doing stuff on ethical grounds, though.
"With no details yesterday's announcement looks like more of a PR exercise"
In fact it shows a government that understands the investment markets, and appreciates that time will be needed to sort out the detail of the policy with the assistance of professional investment managers, including management of the NZ Super Fund. Meanwhile, without any particular companies being names, investment managers have the opportunity to quietly, and without any significant impact on market values, dispose of some obvious investments over a short time. Wanting the prescription before the diagnosis is stupid, wanting policy details without consultation would be stupid, and criticising the government for protecting values for New Zealanders with Kiwisaver accounts is the sort of unthinking knee-jerk response anyone can read most days on Farrar's dog-whistle blog.
This policy is timely, and I believe will be well supported by most New Zealanders. It is an extension of ethical investment rules, which were introduced some years ago with equal professionalism and concern for maintaining orderly markets.
"I presume this is another instance where you have copied and pasted an entire post from your own blog as you have done recently, Pete."
Another false presumption. I haven't.
And if you checked times you would see that yesterday I actually created a post out of a comment I made here because I thought it worth replicating.
Are you aware that replicating and copy and pasting are kind of a features of using the Internet?
You have a habit of nit picking about things that are irrelevant. Is targeting people an attempt to divert from the content? If you really wanted to contribute you could try addressing the issues.
You’re not ‘weighting’ criticisms, you’re often entirely dumping on messengers.
Highly relevant to those of us without unlimited time to spend online. If I want to read the tired right-wing witterings of Farrar, Hartwich, Hosking and co I can go seek them out. Nice try slipping them in here without attribution. Such a service.
I haven't 'slipped' any witterings of Farrar, Hartwich, Hosking in here unattributed. I haven't seen what any of them have said on yesterday's announcement.
If you have limited time perhaps you could focus on the issues rather than run diversions and make false aassumptions.
You still haven't addressed the issue raised.
I thought that when Kiwisaver was introduced apart from providing incentives to join Kiwisaver and organising default providers the Government was supposed to stay out of investment decisions.
Now the intention is to dictate what can't be invested in to some unknown degree. The ban on illegal investments is really just trying to sound good without making any real change (I hope no schemes invest in illegal activities already).
I am not familiar with any of the names you use Gabby; I understand the temptation to use 'nicknames' as a means of attack, but it does backfire – the Right use such posts to justify "Dirty Tricks" by saying "but they are all doing it!", and in any event there is enough to critically comment on without name calling. I'm sorry I don't know who Hartwich is, whether he or she is at home or not.
Please can someone post the link to the interview currently airing on Natrad between Kathryn Ryan and the NZ Midwives?
Their pay parity 'negotiations' span two governments, and they are presenting a petition to parliament prior to the Budget in the hope that the intrinsic worth of community midwives is not dismissed.
Again.
I sense some deep politicking here, and will listen again to previous interviews when I have time.
This is an important issue…one would think the welfare of women and their babies would be paramount.
NZ has a long and chequered history around maternity care, with the power play between competing interests often negatively impacting on service delivery.
In the past two years, more mining applications have been approved on conservation land than in the two years prior to the 2017 announcement there would be no new mines on conservation land.
The proposed ban on mining conservation land is yet another instance of an environmental policy that probably could have gotten past Labour but won't make it past NZ First. People who want the environment taken seriously should vote Green, or Labour if the Greens really piss you off that much. Voting for other parties is a vote for hostility to the environment.
The Winston First party will hopefully disappear at the next election. That the current Labour and Green members were unable to stop this happening on their watch is as I have stated depressing.
It's depressing, but inevitable given the hand the voters dealt. Regional development is a core feature of NZ First's pitch to voters and these mining applications are in places like the West Coast, so what measures would be available to Labour and the Greens to stop NZF opposing a mining ban? Parties don't compromise on the core areas of their appeal to voters.
Well maybe labour and the greens need to come with more than a few token cycle ways for the provinces . We dont all want to leave small town nz for the horrors of the big smoke.
Hang on, again NZ First is to blame? Seriously, is that why labour gone into coalition with them, so they can be the blame game? Have you got any supporting documentation for this, or is this just 'bash NZ First' first policy?
As for the greens, why on earth would anyone currently vote for them? Why?
disclaimer: I voted for the Greens in the last election.
Why do you say that? Again, as i said ' i am tired of voting for the lesser evil'
that does not mean i won't.
I would hold my nose, grab a barge pole, and simply utter 'there goes nothing' and i would cast my vote and i would hate every second of it. Ain't voting grand?
It does say a lot about you tho, that you equate fair critisim with a non vote. But maybe that is the reason why the current lot rather would try to convert a no mates voter then try to appleal the non voter. Again, appealing to the Non voter, the disenfranchised voter, the forgotten voter, the voter no one gives a shit about, and that includes the future voter is in hte too hard basket. And that Robert, is why nothing gets done.
One party in government is focused on protecting the environment, and one party in government is focused on promoting regional development via extractive industries. You don't need me to provide documentation to figure out which is which.
As to why anyone would vote for the only party that’s focused on protecting the environment, is that a serious question?
non of the parties in government is occupied with 'the environment' or else we had already better rules and free public transport. 🙂
But we have parties that have it in their interest to appear to be doing something, paying lip service mainly and a wee bit of tinkering on the fraying edges and of course EV's paid for by the Taxpayer for on of the richest classes in this country.
But if you want to put blame on one of the parties in Goverment as being the one to blame for something then yes, i feel it is ok to ask for a link that would support your claim. Unless of course you are making this claim not because it is based on anything but because you want to bash one party in the current coalition. Btw, you might need that party in the next election to again form a coalition. Just sayin.
As for the Greens, yes my question was totally and utterly honest. I see absolutly no reason to vote for them. Non what so ever. If i want something like the current Green crop in parliament i can vote for labour and get exactly the same, nice words and very little action. Maybe a red ribbon. If they feel generous.
I frankly don't know what they are doing, and sometimes i wonder if they do.
To me it feels that we have a whole bunch of apprentices in the Green Party but no trainers with skills and expertise. So we get a lot of paper signing (meaningless as the Rio Papers, the Paris Papers and all the other dead trees that went into the shredders), meaningless blablabla in the meantime we don't address the current (since at least last year) drought, we don't address our road issues, we do nothing to entice people to live on a smaller foot print, we do nothing to save water, we promote 1 billion trees of whom 20% are natives and there for the keep, and the remaining 80% are for 'harvesting' etc etc etc, but i am to feel good about these guys promoting EV which need fossil fuel mining (lithium is a fossil fuel) and i just can't. That's it.
I have no hope that this current Green Party will do anything but apply a little green blush on what otherwise are simply business decisions that will make good for the few and be disastrous for the many. (I neither have any hope in Labour for that matter, but i do know what the no mates party will do, and fwiw, they will do what they say, they always do – see the US where they have gone back to the 80s and finish what they could not then).
But above all, i am tired of voting for the lesser evil, for giving crumbs to those that needs loaves while giving the whole bakery to those that are already morbidly obese. And that is what currently has been done.
The Green Party was supported by 6.3% of voters at the last election. Given that, what would lead you to expect them to dominate government policy and the parliamentary agenda? Even NZ First, a party promoting regional development via extractive industries, had a higher level of support than the Greens. In other words, the government has no mandate from voters for the things you'd prefer it to have done. The solution to that problem doesn't lie in voting for parties that will see your vote wasted, or in not voting at all.
Sabine: you say you don't know what The Greens are doing, yet you discourage people from voting for them? Curious. You say also, that you're tired of voting for "the lesser evil" (The Greens – sounds more like a Kiwiblog characterisation of the party to me) leaving me wonder which party you will vote for; you will vote, right?
i also don't discourage people from voting for the Greens, again, Robert, don't equate critique with non voting the two have nothing to do with each other.
I was critical of the National government, and i will be critical of the current lot, if 'I" feel that their words outshine their deeds.
People do as they like, i simply see no reason to cast my vote for the Greens this time around, and won't……others will. Such is life in MMP. And besides, if Parties want to get votes, then maybe they should work for them. I am not in anyway to be taken granted for, nor am i obliged to vote for a Party that i feel is lacking in deeds. You do however you want to.
But i shall give no praise when i feel there is no praise due. But feel free to address any of the other points that i have raised to explain my dis-satisfaction with our current overlords.
The Greens are the least powerful group in a coalition that is still better than any national-led government.
If they were the majority member in a grnlab coalition, I might agree with a damn-them-all no-vote (or more precisely, a vote for a trace-element party that more closely matches my ideals, like when I supported the Alliance post-anderton).
But if you want a left wing government, vote for the leftmost party that can hit the threshhold.
How, in practical terms, would the largest party navigate a path that involves getting a coalition partner it relies on for the government's majority to act against its core principles?
Negotiate rather then dictate or worse not even try? Or is that in the too hard basket. Fact is NZ First is part of this government. And fact is also that it might need to be part of the next government. So maybe just drop a bit the attidute and negotiate in good faith. Also please stop pretending that Labour did not know who Winston Peters is, who Shane Jones is, and who the NZ First Party is.
Fact is, without NZFirst, Jacinda would be the Queen of the opposition.
Well, why should NZ First voters give in and not Labour voter? Oh is that the mind of the largest party wins? I have a bridge that says the same thing.
No, that is the whole point about MMP is that the Parties need to negotiate and they need to find common ground. And that does not mean that only one party has to fold all the time, and that also does not mean that only one party is to blame for the all fuck ups of all the parties all the time. That is lazy thinking of the finest. And claims to the sabotage of something by one particular party should be supported with a link that states that these things are happening.
And if they can't work with each other then they need to wake up to the reality that they will end up again in the wilderness. Mind, being on the opposition bench won't affect their pay cheques and perks all courtesy of the tax payer, and that includes their government issued vehicles and gold pleated healthcare.
"Why should NZ First voters give in?" is exactly what I'm saying. They voted for a party that promises to promote extractive industries in the regions, which means there's no mechanism for Labour to "negotiate" a deal in which NZ First has to tell its voters that it's agreed to cutting back extractive industries in the regions.
The solution to the problem of a lack of government commitment to environmental protections isn't to vilify the party that's working to increase environmental protections for its lack of leverage, but to try and encourage people to increase that party's leverage by voting for it.
I am astonished at much in this column today seeming to be deliberately ( but I hope ignorantly) stating that Labour is not committed to environmental issues.
Decades ago I belonged to the Labour Green group in the Labour Party. When Folk broke to Alliance or greens, I , though always of left persuasion decided to stay in the larger bloc and stay in Labour.
I can assure you that issues of sustainability/ environment are an integral part of Labour concern. I have for some years belonged to a flourishing active Environmental branch.
'Green' measures for nurturing soil etc have been known for thousands of years, but forgotten I maintain in the industrialisation and capitalising of the land's produce.
haven't more time presently but i do wonder why the seeming mischief making above.
When I say "one party is focused on protecting the environment," that's exactly what I mean. Labour has elements supportive of envirnomental protection but that's not its core focus and that tends to be reflected in its actions in government. There's only one party for which the environment is its primary focus.
After reaching a certain level (depth) of nesting/threading, the numbering runs out/stops. The comment you’re replying to is by Psycho Milt @ 2 March 2020 at 11:50 am
Labour is large enough to have factions that support green policies and those that oppose them. Decisions reflect a tussle between a caucus coalition of NZF+Lab-faction and Grn+Lab=faction.
[3 day ban for flaming. No prewarning because you know exatly what you are doing. Expect bans to get much longer much more quickly. Yes, I am gearing up for election year, take this a warning – weka]
It amuses me that it is fine to comment and tell someone to F$#@ off on here, but make a comment in the form of a question as per Gabby at 5.2 and you get banned?
Let me know if you have any (specific) questions. Always happy to explain/clarify without getting into a lengthy discussion about (specific) moderation.
Does anyone know if the Government has put out a statement to address the economic shortfall that we will experience, in fact are already experiencing with the lack of tourists arriving at our shores?
I am in tourist land where i am living now, and the hotels are empty, the eatery are empty, the tourist attractions are empty, the freedom campers ain't here to spoil our landscape and use our resources (Yei) ….but in saying that, people have already lost jobs, have had hours cut, and so on.?
Anything? Because i only saw something last week, but it felt that it was more of a care package to the big tourist businesses, nothing on the lower end aka a care package for the workers and small businesses.
I consider myself lucky as i said my small business up to serve the locals rather then tourists, but i know of a few who started up last year, and who are rightfully shitting themselves now with high leases, high compliance costs, and no customers.
The Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006 gives government pretty wide powers to do whatever is required to manage an epidemic, subject to the oversight of Parliament. If shops are required to be closed and movement restricted I would presume the order would also include provisions that would remove the financial imperative for businesses to open.
There’s also clauses in the ADLS lease relating to loss of access to the premises during civil emergency, I’d say an epidemic would qualify. Business interruption insurance will cover civil emergency as well. Just checked ours and I’d say we are covered. Any ensuing civil disturbance might not be.
I am talking about unemployed people that have lost their jobs because the tourists are not coming, will they get extra aid as they have lost the only 3 – 4 month of full time employment.
Will the small businesses that experience hardship have a grant to apply to so as to tide them over and maybe adjust their business model so that they not close and not unemploy everyone who works for them?
As for the government in an epidemic, i consider them to be as awesome as if an earth quake would hit. They shall arrive in a few days …or weeks depending on location, so please stock up on food, water, emergency meds and pray you not get sick. lol.
Business is going to be hit by what is happening everywhere else in the world. Even if we only ever had the one case of the virus, the breakdown in international travel and logistics is going to hit us massively. We will be open for business but there will be no suppliers, or customers for a few months.
For right or wrong, the clear message from central government at the moment is keep calm.
I think that calm is going to be disrupted very soon for the reasons you have outlined above. The tour buses have stopped rolling already. Soon its going to be the trucks and trains when our imported goods can't get into the country. International logistics networks are beginning to break down already. If ships don't sail from China, imports and exports across the globe will suffer.
This is going to be short and sharp, but when businesses have a couple of months of limited income, and start struggling to pay the landlord, bank and IRD, the message of keeping calm will become lost.
It will be in the interest [no pun] of banks and IRD to keep calm and avoid mass panic. A run on the banks is the last thing they’d want. I don’t know what role and/or powers RBNZ has to maintain public confidence in the sector and ensure stability and continuation of ‘BAU’.
The RBNZ has to ensure financial stability,whether the response or the rhetorical mechanisms are correct will be an open questions.
Since the GFC the central banks main mechanism has been increased monetary supply with lower interest rates.
The response by corporates is increased debt,to increase dividends and share buy backs to increase stock value,and little for increased productivity.
It's not just the debt itself. Investors looking for decent yields as bank interest rates plummet have poured trillions of dollars into corporate debt markets.
It is not as though there haven't been warnings. Last October the International Monetary Fund warned that up to $US19 trillion of corporate debt could be "at risk" if there was a sudden downturn even half as severe as the 2008 global financial crisis.
Earnings wouldn't cover the interest bill and so companies could go to the wall, potentially igniting another financial crisis.
The problem with America's corporate debt isn't so much the size, it is that a large portion of the money has been squandered. Rather than investing in new plants and equipment, American companies have been raising cash and handing it straight back to shareholders.
The RBNZ interest rate cuts,will probably do little except reduce the amount of income for savers.It would need to come with significant constraints such as restriction on investors say to buy existing residential investments,as opposed to new developments.
That is a wildly missleading comment. The main action taken by the govt to ensure financial stability was for the govt to guarantee and underwrite the financial systems borrowing. After that it was no problem as lenders knew they would be paid no matter what the state on the bank they were lending to.
Interest rate cuts have been applied to try to return the economy to a state of 2%+ inflation, but largely ineffective. Probably that will be the go to response again despite having poor results for a decade now. But the lending which the RBNZ does is there to provide sufficient funds should a bank need to clear payments. There seems to be no reason to think that a fall in lending will put the interbank market short reserves with which to pay each other. I expect the same to be relevant with cash, people may withdraw more but this will just mean more cash is delivered to the banks and withdrawn. We know banks can function in such an environment and they did so before eftpos was invented. Unlike 2008 bank runs there is no underlying question of bank solvency going on here.
I was out on the roads earlier today (North Shore/Auckland) and noted a sharp drop in the traffic – something I haven't seen in this part of our world in a very long time. I also noted foot traffic was down and less large commercial trucks and vehicles on the roads. It may have been coincidence but somehow I think not.
Here in Motueka we haven't really seen any signs of tourist numbers declining. There are still plenty of freedom campers filling the car parks. Town is still busy.
The tourist demographic that mostly comes through our town is predominatley European, especially Germans.
Interestingly rice has sold out at the supermarket, but not pasta.
Toilet rolls seem to have been the big sell-out on the North Shore. Getting to the stage where locals have to shop around for them. You could say that Shore folk are …. .. …. but I couldn't possibly comment. 😉
Queenstown feels quieter, and it's easier to find a park in the morning, but we're not seeing any change in numbers through the gallery. Turnover is back on same time last year but that was a blinder, so not surprised it's come back. We have minimal exposure to the Chinese though. Those that do aren't happy campers.
But China is only 10% of Queenstown's market, both numbers and dollar wise, and it's an either / or thing for most businesses, if you are in that market it's pretty much all you do, apart from some activity operators that can cover the field with slightly different products for different markets.
Part of it seeming quieter is that there's much less mad acts from rental car drivers, so everyone's more laid back on the road.
Tbh Sabine, if it wasn't a disease impacting their businesses it could also be a global realization that tripping around the world on fossil fuel burning transport is simply not planet sustaining.
Where we're parked up right now in our Bus, there is a sign from a previous guest detailing the cost of accommodation and attractions in the Central North Island tourist hub for themselves and their grandson.
Prices way beyond what the average Kiwi traveler can afford. We're paying $20 per night for access to an ablution block, a kitchen and power should we need it. The only commercial campground in Hamilton wanted $47 per night.
Unaffordable, and if that is the going rate for the swinging tourist hotspot that is Hamilton, wtf are they charging in Rotorua or Taupo?
Seriously, tourist operators have enjoyed unfettered ability to fleece overseas travelers at the expense of their relationship with domestic customers…there's many that will not shed too many tears for those who put all their profit generating eggs in the foreign traveler basket.
To be honest Rosemary, a good large part of the countrys taxpayer depend on income from tourism to pay taxes.
To be honest Rosemary, a good large part of the country is working in tourism because its the only job available.
To be honest Rosemary, i think your attitude is quite callous, these workers in the tourism industry are New Zealanders, they are our brothers, sisters, and so forth, they pay taxes that can then be distributed among our needy, invalids, unemployed, used for funding our infrastructure and so on and so forth and maybe we should keep that in mind, when simply gibly write of a large part of the country simply because they are not you. Oh and pay fancy cars for our ruling class.
To be honest Rosemary, i don't even have an RV, and i don't go on vacation, not in a hotel nor in a park, because i work 6 days a week and so do most if not all of my fellow mum and pop business owners. And thus i have absolutly no idea what you talk about when you talk about parking your RV.
But i know something about a town where over 50 % of the working people only have about 3 – 6 month at best at fulltime employment and they don't have it this year. And people are getting scared because they can't save up that little bit extra they need to get through winter, and i don't see government address that.
I think the welfare issues needs addressing now, maybe someone can look it up?
I have some sympathy for what Rosemary is saying too, although from my pov, being dependent on a benefit and having lived a lot in areas that have transitioned to tourism as a main way of making a living, I think COVID is an opportunity to get to grips with the massively problematic position of making the wellbeing of NZ dependent on an industry that is 1) in utter denial of climate change and 2) is basically not future-proofed because of that (or other reasons eg a pandemic or GFC).
So, yes, welfare first, and also let's talk about not going back to BAU after this challenge passes, because there *will be others, and more often.
Last time I was up Ruapehu few of the workers were New Zealanders and even fewer were Maori.
I saw Maori families in particular being turned away from the previously free Happy Valley as they could not afford the cost. So in my lifetime I've seen the locals pushed out of many of the jobs and they be made to pay tourist prices for their own mountain.
I hope Tuwharetoa don't renew the lease when it comes up next.
It's a little hard to have empathy for the principle though easy for the individual people concerned.
And besides Paul Callaghan made the point some time ago about New Zealand won't get ahead on low wage jobs like tourism.
Beyond tourism, and because coronavirus appears to be an occasion to shut down swathes of production across the world, why not take the opportunity on offer to do an inventory and never re-open production facilities that only serve as vehicles for profit? (So, y'know, permanently shut down the "shiny beads and baubles" factories).
To spell it out for the dim of thinking…
AGW is driven by carbon emissions and capitalist modes of production function by producing carbon as a by-product.
Given that most firms intend to make a profit, are you seriously suggesting the end of industrialisation?
Almost certainly the goal will be to get firms back into full production, not to permanently close them.
So no, Covid 19 is not a heaven sent chance for China to reintroduce Maoist communism. They have already tried that. And the CCP decided 40 years ago it was not worth the 20 million dead and the grinding poverty of hundreds of millions.
Give Bill some credit, he will allow loss making companies to continue, so not all factories will close. Then those losses will likely be state funded & their carbon emissions will deemed "non-harmful" as they haven't come from nasty "profit making" entities
No Wayne. I'm not suggesting an end to manufacturing. I'm suggesting we grasp this opportunity to end any industrial activity that produces nothing of social value – that is undertaken just for monetary profit.
Also, fucked if I know where you're getting this idea to shoe-horn in nonsense about Maoism from.
But anyway, you mention large numbers of dead people as a justification for not doing something, which is fair enough. So…you want to ballpark the numbers of people who have already died because of global warming? And then care to add on a further ballpark number for the coming decades?
certainly an opportunity to talk about things like future proofing our economy and then pointing out how this also benefits us in other ways like climate mitigation and ecological restoration.
If we were homo sapien sapiens (wise and discerning my arse! 🙂 ), then COVID 19 would be the reset switch.
But we're not even remotely close to living up to the name we give ourselves as a species.
Our problems are systemic, and as we know, those in positions to make "big decisions" are wed to the very systems that figuratively speaking, have life on this planet by the throat.
why not take the opportunity on offer to do an inventory and never re-open production facilities that only serve as vehicles for profit? (So, y'know, permanently shut down the "shiny beads and baubles" factories).
All the right intentions, but outcomes resulted in unintended consequences. I'm sure all of these people can claim the Metiria Turei defense if caught out.
If you insist on taking this comparison any further you’ll need to first show that they are equivalent. Otherwise I’ll have to treat this as another attempt to derail and to bash a beneficiary as well as a former Green MP.
that's a badly written piece, it's basically a press release from the National Party.
Tell us how many students enrolled, how many enrolled that wouldn't have otherwise, and then compare that to the number who apparently made false declarations. Then tell us what those falsities were, how many were mistakes, how many were outright fraud, and how many fall somewhere in between.
What Incog said too. I take a pretty dim view of bene bashing especially where it invokes poorly informed memes about Turei.
A Nashnull sponsored “bennie bash” basically Indiana, more information and better comparisons are needed to make any real sense of that piece.
In any event, thousands of younger NZer’s lives have been blighted by user pays student loans–for education which should be an investment in the future–rather than a finger wagging accounting exercise.
Biden is likely to benefit more than Bernie. Coz there's quite a few states like Minnesota and Massachusetts where Biden is polling in the mid-teens – meaning he's on the edge of dropping below the 15% threshold and missing out on getting pledged delegates. It would only take a few Buttigieg voters to go to Biden to bump him back over 15%.
I'm not so sure – most are saying "I'm voting Blue – No matter who" When the Dem candidate is finally chosen the majority will swing in behind them no matter what.
Here is further analysis from the Fox Poll.
Donald Trump’s favorite cable news network released their latest poll numbers on Thursday, and it was a disaster for the president as he seeks a second term in the White House.
According to the survey, just 32 percent of voters will “definitely” support Trump in the November general election, while 45 percent will “definitely” back his eventual opponent.
In other words, there are more diehard opponents of the president than there are supporters, regardless of how many folks in red caps show up to his campaign rallies.
The poll also found that, when matched up against any of the top Democratic candidates, Trump would lose. In fact, he can’t even crack 43 percent.
Not sure that realclear link supports your "trending steadily upwards to parity by election day" description. Seems pretty steady for the last couple of years (not that it matters – it's FPP, not MMP).
But frankly any old shit can happen. I reckon Bernie or Warren will give the cheeto-in-chief a good run, Biden will probably run a technically creditable campaign that fizzles in reality.
See what happens when peak deniability takes hold, and instead of taking a long hard look at why a reality TV host was preferred to a career politician, the Democratic Party shoveled and shoved "Russia!!" for 3 years straight and ignored what people were actually worried about in their lives… and then, just to top it off lest there was a chance Trump's popularity would bumble along, they threw in a bullshit impeachment to buoy his popularity.
All that said, Sanders can walk through him. Trump's "anti-establishment" credentials are a non-starter against Bernie and he can't rhetorically tack to Bernie's left.
He could try ye olde "Socialist/communist!!" b/s…but since Obama was apparently a socialist too, that's unlikely to get much, if any, traction
Buttigeig is out. I reckon it will come down to Sanders or Biden. Super Tuesday is likely to have a substantial boost for Biden as a result of South Carolina.
Interesting that Buttigeig decided to announce prior to Super Tuesday. Presumably his name is already on all the ballot papers/ballot machines. He can obviously ask his supporters to vote for someone else, which I presume is Biden. But he will get quite a few votes anyway.
I imagine Bloomberg will be out after Super Tuesday, but Warren could stay for a while yet. March 10 is the next big test. After that it could be shown to just two candidates.
The next interesting question is if and when Buttigieg endorses another candidate, most likely Biden.
Apart from the ongoing primary votes, an endorsement or not makes a difference to the 26 delegates Buttigieg has already won. If he endorses, most of those will will vote for the endorsed candidate. If he doesn't endorse, then most of those are free to vote for whomever they want in the first round.
(I think Nevada law requires the pledged delegates to vote for whomever they are pledged to, so it's only 23 of 26 that would become free agents)
So is Bernie. Fuck me, it's gobsmacking the two most popular candidates are so old they predate the Baby Boomers. With scary old people shit in their medical histories, to boot.
But here we are. I s'pose the upside is they can't really have "OK, Boomer" dumped on them.
Bernie is old enough to have adult memories of the time before the Thatcher-Reagan revolution. That's probably important. Biden doesn't seem to have a functioning memory at all – e.g. claiming that he was arrested in South Africa for trying to see Nelson Mandela on "Robbins"(sic) Island. To be fair, Biden's lies seem like simple beffudlement, rather than like Trump’s deliberate self-aggrandisement.
Meh. Ten minute flight means he can get there, rally, and be on his way to the next place before he would have even gotten there by car.
And smaller planes mean smaller runways mean closer to each venue.
In NZ terms it means he can do Invers, dunners, and chch in one afternoon.
I can give him stick for only managing three bills in his senate career, but this is a reasonable move. US politicians have used the quickest means of covering campaign territory since railway became a thing.
Wait till January–Bernie’s “Airforce” will be yuge!
Sanders flew coach for years, but his travel expanded with security details since 2016. Who cares anyway when the US Presidential Campaign is a financial blowout from start to finish. Small countries run on less. Have a look at Mr Bloomberg’s expenditure–oh thats right–he is not in major contention at the moment…
This is the classic argument used against Green MPs–they should cycle to Wellington apparently or be cast as unauthentic–uh huh, uh huh.
Hypocrisy is often more a charge made of convenience. David Seymour maybe should not use public roads or expect Police protection if he is a staunch libertarian, and refuse any other stipend from the stolen tax take…
For those who like their thinking challenged, do check out Jonathan Boston in Auckland on Thursday on Transforming the Welfare State.
Prof. Jonathan Boston – Transforming the Welfare State – 5 Mar
Professor Jonathan Boston will be speaking on his new BWB book: Transforming the Welfare State
Towards a New Social Contract
‘Eighty years ago, New Zealand’s welfare state was envied by many social reformers around the world. Today it stands in need of urgent repair and renewal.’ One of our leading public policy thinkers asks: What might the contours of a revitalised ‘social contract’ for New Zealand look like?
Jonathan Boston is a Professor of Public Policy in the School of Government at the Victoria University of Wellington. He has written extensively on public management, the welfare state, child poverty, climate change policy, tertiary education funding, and comparative government.
Are you going Ad? I'd be interested in what his take is.
This article, he seems to be saying that lots of NZers don't support egalitarianism now, so to get buy in for a better welfare state we need a reciprocity model/user pays (like ACC).
Landlords say they plan to sell their properties – or focus solely on the high end of the market – if their ability to end their tenancies with 90 days' notice is removed.
lol
Crocodile tears.
House prices go down, or homes in higher-deprivation areas get gentrified, or landlords are forced to act with a bit more fairness. Which do you think is more likely to happen?
Because these landlords choose to cater to the lower end of market with their houses in lower-income areas?
Good luck with that. Either way, there's no reduction in the number of homes, and state houses are increasing by a thousand a year. I reckon renters can do without arsehole landlords like that – I've had my flat sold from under me. A fucking headache.
No because the great majority of landlords who own only one extra flat will figure it's better to hold on just for the equity uplift, then sell after some years.
In many circumstances there will be less grief and more benefit chucking the tenants out and just sitting on the equity uplift until they're ready to take it all and start their new lives.
Because the great majority of landlords who own only one "extra" property can afford to, and will, forego hundreds of dollars per week in rent (for years) just because, and let me check that I've got this correct, they're not allowed to arbitrarily cancel a lease without cause?
I suspect that the number of landlords with "one extra flat" beginning to do it (for fear of not being able to do their damned landlording jobs) is much lower than the property speculators already leaving 30,000-odd Auckland homes vacant.
Fuck 'em. It lowers their profits from the property, so it lowers the value at which they'll sell.
Every person with a mortgage needs to pay the mortgage regularly.
As for your observation that the property market hasn't had a dip in a decade… not the first time speculators have believed yesterday's results are related to tomorrow's. And it's always the debt-ridden non-producing speculators (in this case your mortgagee property owners who are afraid to provide housing) who get worst-bitten by that assumption.
If what you say about people with "one extra flat" is true, then the next economic shock will sort out their house ownership problem. Can you think of anything that might cause such a shock to the NZ property market?
Who needs a "ginormous" shock? The discussion is about whether a drop in income from a property will affect the value of that property. Doesn't even need to be 2008-scale to call BS on the pessimism.
Your position seems to be that a small-scale landlord "with one extra flat" will forego $20k a year of rent for fear of having an annoying tenant who doesn't do enough to warrant eviction for cause.
As for the idea in the article they'll all go upmarket, I find the idea that they could have done that already but chose not to rather odd.
But who are they going to sell them to? Your 'lowest quality' tenants are typically people whose lifestyles and choices mean they will unlikely qualify for a mortgage regardless of where prices go. It won't be them who buy, it will be as Ad says either other landlords who are better cashed up, or developers who want to add value to the land.
Or other speculators who are equally cashed up, but are better suited to add property letting to the return on their investment, as well as mere speculation.
This isn't about the tenants. It's about whether someone who wants to invest in property is merely a property gambler, or whether they can complement that with property management.
It's the difference between someone who invests in a company with money and their skill at helping it grow value, versus someone who merely places bets on the stockmarket.
In many circumstances there will be less grief and more benefit chucking the tenants out and just sitting on the equity uplift…
Not if there's a mortgage on the place there won't, and I very much doubt there's a large number of amateur landlords with un-mortgaged rental properties.
Some, certainly not the majority will sell up and they can piss off. The wealthy don't choose to earn less in order to pay less tax, just as the employed who claim beneficiaries are living the life of Riley don’t quit their jobs to go on the dole.
What will happen is that the unscrupulous or paranoid landlords will favour more a fixed term tenancy instead of the standard periodic. Desperate tenants will sign up to shorter term tenancies on the understanding that if they're good little tenants and pay their rent everything will roll over for another term. If the landlord doesn't like the tenant the lease isn't renewed – simple. This shift has been happening for a while – landlords can keep up with 'the market' via a new contract. Landlords feeling spooked by the removal of the no-reason 90 day notice will no doubt enhance the trend to the detriment of security of tenure.
Im sure we have all seen the pundits talking about the king making power of the black vote in the American democratic primary, and how bernies failure to the grab the black vote in SC is a real block for him…
Interestingly he's actually leading in the national polls with black voters, would you have guessed it from the main stream media's coverage?
I see there are more people coming through our airports saying we are doing sweet fuck all about coronavirus compared to other countries they have traveled through.
They are saying you can't even get off the plane in some countries without having your temperature taken and we need to start taking this seriously. Apparently they don't take your temperature here even if you ask them to.
meh …I've been in and out of the USA, Australia and south East Asia a few times in the last couple of months only South East Asia is doing anything significant at airports from what I've seen.
Taking their temperature reassures travellers you're doing something but it's not that useful for screening against Covid-19 which can be infectious while not symptomatic. Devoting health resources to people with unrelated fevers aint smart either.
a comment based on one vox pop on TV3, with one couple.
Obviously many others would have been interviewed (that's what a vox pop reporter does) but were insufficiently grumpy to broadcast. It's called editing, it's how "news" works on TV.
Indeed. Why oh why are we not doing this ineffective and time-consuming thing that is rife with false positives (anyone with a cold or just a bit overheated from a flight and whatever other reason) and false negatives (anyone in the asymptomatic incubation period)?
Also, why aren't we waving jade eggs at travellers so any ethereal interference from the coronavirus demon can be detected?
There are a series of protocols New Zealand recently assigned up to that requires the construction of a much higher degree of security at all domestic facilities.
Auckland Airport is at the start of a billion-dollar upgrade which will integrate its domestic and international terminals, and upgrade its screening.
I am pretty sure this new virus will accelerate whole new layers of biometric testing across New Zealand, but it will take a few years as it costs millions to do.
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
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Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
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The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
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TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
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April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
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Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
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Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
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Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
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Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
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The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
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Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
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Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
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Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
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The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
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Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Kelsey, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Resources Minister Shane Jones has reportedly asked officials for advice on whether oil and gas companies could be offered “bonds” as compensation if drilling rights offered by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Gleeson, Associate Professor of Law, Macquarie University Shutterstock The Albanese government is weighing up the costs of delivering an election promise to protect religious people from discrimination in Commonwealth law. Such protections were relatively uncontroversial when included in state anti-discrimination ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yen Ying Lim, Associate Professor, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio Dementia is often described as “the long goodbye”. Although the person is still alive, dementia slowly and irreversibly chips away at their memories and the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Judy Bush, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, The University of Melbourne Adam Calaitzis/Shutterstock I met with a friend for a walk beside Merri Creek, in inner Melbourne. She had lived in the area for a few years, and as we walked ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Throsby, Distinguished Professor of Economics, Macquarie University Arts companies and individual artists in Australia are supported by government arts agencies, philanthropists, industry bodies, private donors and patrons. However, it is frequently overlooked that a major source of support for the arts ...
Harm Reduction Coalition Aotearoa, a new incorporated society dedicated to ending harmful drug policies, officially launched today, seeks a new fit-for-purpose drug law for Aotearoa New Zealand, rooted in science, experience and evidence. ...
The Corrections Minister admits he "muddied the water" after he and the Prime Minister repeatedly provided incorrect information about a $1.9 billion prison spend-up. ...
It took a post-post-cabinet statement to confirm that 810 new beds will be built at Waikeria, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Lili Tokaduadua was only 15 when she left her family in Fiji to pursue her netball dream in New Zealand. She’d been playing the sport for 10 years and was offered a netball scholarship at Auckland’s Howick College. Now, in her first year out of high school, the 19-year-old defender ...
The beloved local grocers lost a legal challenge to stop a new cycleway outside their store. Joel MacManus reports. In the annals of New Zealand legal history, there are a few brave people who have dared to stand up to the powers that be, no matter how bleak the odds ...
How what we produce and what we eat connects us to the world beyond our shores, visualised. Walking around a supermarket or vege shop, it might be obvious that everything on the shelves came from somewhere. But you might ...
Professor Jemma Geoghegan, of the University of Otago, Otakou Whakaihu Waka, co-leads a Te Niwha project aimed at understanding how and where avian influenza could affect Aotearoa New Zealand, as the highly infectious H5N1 virus spreads globally. The virus has now spread to all continents except Oceania and was recently ...
Thirty years on from Rwanda’s genocide, is guilt over the atrocities is blinding the world to the true nature of its current leadership? The post The repressive underside of Rwanda’s regime appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Opinion: Last week, important recommendations for our criminal justice system were made by the international community. Every five years, each member of the United Nations has its human rights practices reviewed. This rolling event – the Universal Periodic Review – is the culmination of a government reporting on its human ...
Highly pathogenic avian influenza – H5N1, or bird flu – has been flying around the world since the late 1990s. New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands are so far free of it, but now it’s been discovered in mainland Antarctica and scientists say it’s only a matter of time ...
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The following interview with auto electrician and former caver Stu Berendt, 68, of Charleston on the West Coast, came about because he was part of the caving team that found the rare and amazing fossil remains of the giant Haast eagle, the subject of one of the year’s best books, ...
A $1.8b funding boost for Pharmac still won’t enable it to buy more drugs, raising questions about the Government’s approach to the agency The post Can Pharmac do more with the same pot of money? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eric Stokan, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore County If you live in one of the most economically deprived neighborhoods in your city, you might think the government is directing a smaller share of public funds to your community. ...
Wansolwara The news media’s crucial role in climate change and environment journalism was the focus of The University of the South Pacific’s Journalism Programme 2024 World Press Freedom Day celebrations. The European Union Ambassador to the Pacific, Barbara Plinkert, and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna were the chief ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Adams, Professor of Corporate Law & Academic Director of UNE Sydney campus, University of New England Last August, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched legal proceedings against Qantas. The consumer watchdog accused the airline of selling thousands of tickets ...
This episode of A View From Afar was recorded LIVE on May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, May 5, 2024 at 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Taylor, Assistant Professor, Bond University Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures At the crux of the critical response to Luca Guadagnino’s new movie Challengers is one word: “sexy”. The film charts a love triangle between three up-and-coming tennis players: Tashi (Zendaya), ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Stewart, Professor of Public Policy, ADFA Canberra, UNSW Sydney For years, First Nations people have been telling governments they want to be listened to. In particular, they want more ownership of the programs and services that are supposed to help them. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Why do trees have bark? Julien, age 6, Melbourne. This is a great question, Julien. We are so familiar with bark on trees, that most of us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Nasser, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, University of Technology Sydney PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important ligament in the knee. It runs from the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) and helps stabilise ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne I covered the May 2 United Kingdom local government elections for The Poll Bludger. The Blackpool South parliamentary byelection was also held, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deanna Grant-Smith, Professor of Management, University of the Sunshine Coast The federal government has announced a “Commonwealth Prac Payment” to support selected groups of students doing mandatory work placements. Those who are studying to be a teacher, nurse, midwife or social ...
We round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+. If you love a dark comedy: Bodkin (Netflix, May 9)An English podcaster, an Irish podcaster and American podcaster walk into a pub and…make a TV show? ...
By Eleisha Foon, RNZ Pacific senior journalist A Pacific regionalism academic has called out New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS and says the security deal “raises serious questions for the Pacific region”. Auckland University of Technology academic Dr Marco de Jong ...
How worried should we be about the cloud? This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. I currently have a few thousand unread emails languishing in my inbox, mostly old marketing newsletters and piles of unread science journal press releases. I have a similar number ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nuurrianti Jalli, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies College of Arts and Sciences Department of Languages, Literature, and Communication Studies, Northern State University Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Southeast Asian governments not only have to deal with the virus but also with the false ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Murakami Wood, Professor of Critical Surveillance and Securities Studies, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa The skyline of Riyadh, the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia.(Shutterstock) There is a long history of planned city building by both governments ...
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today at 12:45pm May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment of ...
The Boil Up’s Lucinda Bennett considers the oyster – from freshness to pearls to the joy of shucking your own. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. In Carmen Maria Machado’s short story ‘Eight Bites’, a woman begins her last supper before bariatric surgery with “a cavalcade ...
Asia Pacific Report A group of 65 Auckland University academics have written an open letter to vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater criticising the institution’s stance over students protesting in solidarity with Palestine. They have called on her administration to “support” the students who were denied permission to establish an “overnight encampment” by ...
The Student Volunteer Army is on the march, generating approximately 1.6 million hours of volunteering from roughly 35,000 secondary school students in just five years. For Rebekah Brown, the pathway to volunteering started with her singing coach. With a passion for the arts, the suggestion to volunteer at Acting Antics, ...
Keeping up with online communication can be exhausting, so Fran Barclay enlisted the help of Meta’s new ‘intelligent assistant’ to respond to all her messages. Could her mates tell the difference? For centuries, technology has ruled the ways in which we communicate. From the dawn of written language, to the ...
Jamie Arbuckle, a councillor who has become an member of parliament, says he has settled into having two roles so comfortably he's going to keep both pay cheques. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luis Gómez Romero, Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory, University of Wollongong Fifty years ago, Australian feminist Anne Summers denounced “the ideology of sexism” governing over so many women’s lives. Unfortunately, sexism is as lethal today as it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jose Antonio Lara-Hernandez, Senior Researcher in Architecture, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images The COVID-19 pandemic and the hybrid work patterns it fostered have changed the way we think about office space, and central business districts in general. While fears ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dale Boccabella, Associate Professor of Taxation Law, UNSW Sydney There’s a good reason your local volunteer-run netball club doesn’t pay tax. In Australia, various nonprofit organisations are exempt from paying income tax, including those that do charitable work, such as churches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Deller, Casual Academic, Creative Writing and English Literature, Flinders University NetflixComedy is opening up spaces for silences to be broken and trauma stories to be told. In 2018, Hannah Gadsby started a revolution with Nanette, asking audiences to rethink ...
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Even if some students are now just texting on their laptops. Stewart Sowman-Lund writes in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Councils from Horowhenua, Kāpiti, Wairarapa, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington City will meet this Friday to work together on a plan for a Greater Wellington region water deal. ...
Renowned musician, advocate, and proud born and raised daughter of Tauranga, Ria Hall, is announcing her candidacy for Mayor of Tauranga and Pāpāmoa Ward for the upcoming election on July 20th. ...
The new Aotearoa histories curriculum is rich with potential. There’s still work to be done, but the education minister’s criticisms about ‘balance’ miss the mark, argues primary school teacher Jessie Moss. In 2015, Ōtorohanga College students presented to parliament a petition signed by more than 10,000 people calling for a ...
For too long our so-called national bird has maintained its stranglehold on the economy of regional New Zealand. Thanks to the fast track legislation, we will have our revenge. Theories abound on what ails New Zealand’s economy. National leader Chris Luxon has posited that we’re negative, wet, whiny, and inward-looking; ...
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For the past 12 years, Georgia-Rose Brown has balanced on the brink of making an Olympic Games – but always landed gracefully on the wrong side. Reaching the Olympics is a dream the gymnast has harboured since she was a six-year-old; a dream that would dwindle every four years, yet ...
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Parts of yesterday's Government Kiwisaver announcement make sense, like changing default funds from conservative to balanced – young investors in particular should consider at least a balanced fund, if not a growth fund.
But the headlines were on banning default funds from 'fossil fuels'.
This has been criticised as Government interference in the investments of private individuals, and sets a bad precedent for future governments applying more rules to Kiwisaver for their own policy purposes.
Talking of future governments, it looks likely it will be a future government that actually defines the rules.
Newsroom: Three questions about the KiwiSaver fossil fuels ban
With no details yesterday's announcement looks like more of a PR exercise setting Labour and Greens up for this year's campaign, with the actual rules to be defined by the next government. NZ First did not feature in the announcement.
So the actual rules may be loose and left up to the default Kiwisaver funds.
Or they may be wide ranging and specific, banning investments in fossil fuel extraction (obvious) but also companies who use fossil fuels like energy producers, airlines, shipping and transport, and also plastics. Companies that invest in ‘fossil fuel’ companies like banks?
This could be counter-productive. Some fossil fuel companies are big investors in alternative energy technology and production.
A vague feelgood PR exercise says nothing about it will actually mean.
By whom? Sounds like something that just magically happened when you phrase it like that.
Does it matter? I could do a lengthy comment on criticisms but thought it best to focus on the key questions.
Do you think it is fair criticism?
We can often weight a criticism by knowing who made it, yes.
I presume this is another instance where you have copied and pasted an entire post from your own blog as you have done recently, Pete. Says a lot about those who comment there that they would take it at face value.
By whom? The usual suspects from the Empire @ Sacha
Oliver Hartwich for one.
I saw Oliver's tame economist whinging about it yesterday. The sheer effrontery of a govt thinking it can know better than the sacred market!
And they thank you for faithfully relaying their greenwashing. Tiny fraction of their spend.
… sets a bad precedent for future governments applying more rules to Kiwisaver for their own policy purposes.
Well, yeah, the right is often an ethics-free zone that sees someone doing something on the grounds of ethics and interprets that as a precedent for doing stuff on the grounds of self-interest. Only a concern troll would present that on a thread here as evidence for not doing stuff on ethical grounds, though.
Crikey petey, next thing you know we'll not be trading with ppl who've upset the yankers. Where will it all end?
"With no details yesterday's announcement looks like more of a PR exercise"
In fact it shows a government that understands the investment markets, and appreciates that time will be needed to sort out the detail of the policy with the assistance of professional investment managers, including management of the NZ Super Fund. Meanwhile, without any particular companies being names, investment managers have the opportunity to quietly, and without any significant impact on market values, dispose of some obvious investments over a short time. Wanting the prescription before the diagnosis is stupid, wanting policy details without consultation would be stupid, and criticising the government for protecting values for New Zealanders with Kiwisaver accounts is the sort of unthinking knee-jerk response anyone can read most days on Farrar's dog-whistle blog.
This policy is timely, and I believe will be well supported by most New Zealanders. It is an extension of ethical investment rules, which were introduced some years ago with equal professionalism and concern for maintaining orderly markets.
I can't reply in the thread.
"I presume this is another instance where you have copied and pasted an entire post from your own blog as you have done recently, Pete."
Another false presumption. I haven't.
And if you checked times you would see that yesterday I actually created a post out of a comment I made here because I thought it worth replicating.
Are you aware that replicating and copy and pasting are kind of a features of using the Internet?
You have a habit of nit picking about things that are irrelevant. Is targeting people an attempt to divert from the content? If you really wanted to contribute you could try addressing the issues.
You’re not ‘weighting’ criticisms, you’re often entirely dumping on messengers.
"I actually created a post out of a comment I made here because I thought it worth replicating."
Pete George
Highly relevant to those of us without unlimited time to spend online. If I want to read the tired right-wing witterings of Farrar, Hartwich, Hosking and co I can go seek them out. Nice try slipping them in here without attribution. Such a service.
Oh, and be sure to whinge about this on your blog.
I haven't 'slipped' any witterings of Farrar, Hartwich, Hosking in here unattributed. I haven't seen what any of them have said on yesterday's announcement.
If you have limited time perhaps you could focus on the issues rather than run diversions and make false aassumptions.
You still haven't addressed the issue raised.
I thought that when Kiwisaver was introduced apart from providing incentives to join Kiwisaver and organising default providers the Government was supposed to stay out of investment decisions.
Now the intention is to dictate what can't be invested in to some unknown degree. The ban on illegal investments is really just trying to sound good without making any real change (I hope no schemes invest in illegal activities already).
I'm familiar with Evilgnome and Horeskin, but who's Fartwich when it's at home?
I am not familiar with any of the names you use Gabby; I understand the temptation to use 'nicknames' as a means of attack, but it does backfire – the Right use such posts to justify "Dirty Tricks" by saying "but they are all doing it!", and in any event there is enough to critically comment on without name calling. I'm sorry I don't know who Hartwich is, whether he or she is at home or not.
https://nzinitiative.org.nz/about-us/our-people/oliver-hartwich/
Please can someone post the link to the interview currently airing on Natrad between Kathryn Ryan and the NZ Midwives?
Their pay parity 'negotiations' span two governments, and they are presenting a petition to parliament prior to the Budget in the hope that the intrinsic worth of community midwives is not dismissed.
Again.
I sense some deep politicking here, and will listen again to previous interviews when I have time.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018736528/community-midwives-big-push
Thank you, Anne.
This is an important issue…one would think the welfare of women and their babies would be paramount.
NZ has a long and chequered history around maternity care, with the power play between competing interests often negatively impacting on service delivery.
In the past two years, more mining applications have been approved on conservation land than in the two years prior to the 2017 announcement there would be no new mines on conservation land.
http://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/fourteen-new-mines-on-conservation-land/ar-BB10AORX?ocid=ientp
If correct this is pretty damn depressing.
The proposed ban on mining conservation land is yet another instance of an environmental policy that probably could have gotten past Labour but won't make it past NZ First. People who want the environment taken seriously should vote Green, or Labour if the Greens really piss you off that much. Voting for other parties is a vote for hostility to the environment.
The Winston First party will hopefully disappear at the next election. That the current Labour and Green members were unable to stop this happening on their watch is as I have stated depressing.
It's depressing, but inevitable given the hand the voters dealt. Regional development is a core feature of NZ First's pitch to voters and these mining applications are in places like the West Coast, so what measures would be available to Labour and the Greens to stop NZF opposing a mining ban? Parties don't compromise on the core areas of their appeal to voters.
Well maybe labour and the greens need to come with more than a few token cycle ways for the provinces . We dont all want to leave small town nz for the horrors of the big smoke.
Hang on, again NZ First is to blame? Seriously, is that why labour gone into coalition with them, so they can be the blame game? Have you got any supporting documentation for this, or is this just 'bash NZ First' first policy?
As for the greens, why on earth would anyone currently vote for them? Why?
disclaimer: I voted for the Greens in the last election.
Why would anyone vote for The Greens?
Because without a strong Green vote, Labour voters will fail to get their team into Government.
not good enough a reason Robert, also not supported by evidence.
If you held the deciding vote, Sabine, that would get The Greens in, to govern with Labour only, you wouldn't cast it?
Crikey!
Why do you say that? Again, as i said ' i am tired of voting for the lesser evil'
that does not mean i won't.
I would hold my nose, grab a barge pole, and simply utter 'there goes nothing' and i would cast my vote and i would hate every second of it. Ain't voting grand?
It does say a lot about you tho, that you equate fair critisim with a non vote. But maybe that is the reason why the current lot rather would try to convert a no mates voter then try to appleal the non voter. Again, appealing to the Non voter, the disenfranchised voter, the forgotten voter, the voter no one gives a shit about, and that includes the future voter is in hte too hard basket. And that Robert, is why nothing gets done.
"that does not mean i won't. "
"As for the greens, why on earth would anyone currently vote for them? Why? "
Well now I am puzzled – you won't vote Green, as explained, and you're not planning to abstain from voting, so which party has earned your support?
One party in government is focused on protecting the environment, and one party in government is focused on promoting regional development via extractive industries. You don't need me to provide documentation to figure out which is which.
As to why anyone would vote for the only party that’s focused on protecting the environment, is that a serious question?
non of the parties in government is occupied with 'the environment' or else we had already better rules and free public transport. 🙂
But we have parties that have it in their interest to appear to be doing something, paying lip service mainly and a wee bit of tinkering on the fraying edges and of course EV's paid for by the Taxpayer for on of the richest classes in this country.
But if you want to put blame on one of the parties in Goverment as being the one to blame for something then yes, i feel it is ok to ask for a link that would support your claim. Unless of course you are making this claim not because it is based on anything but because you want to bash one party in the current coalition. Btw, you might need that party in the next election to again form a coalition. Just sayin.
As for the Greens, yes my question was totally and utterly honest. I see absolutly no reason to vote for them. Non what so ever. If i want something like the current Green crop in parliament i can vote for labour and get exactly the same, nice words and very little action. Maybe a red ribbon. If they feel generous.
Do you think it possible, Sabine, that The Greens are thwarting the Government's efforts to protect the environment?
I frankly don't know what they are doing, and sometimes i wonder if they do.
To me it feels that we have a whole bunch of apprentices in the Green Party but no trainers with skills and expertise. So we get a lot of paper signing (meaningless as the Rio Papers, the Paris Papers and all the other dead trees that went into the shredders), meaningless blablabla in the meantime we don't address the current (since at least last year) drought, we don't address our road issues, we do nothing to entice people to live on a smaller foot print, we do nothing to save water, we promote 1 billion trees of whom 20% are natives and there for the keep, and the remaining 80% are for 'harvesting' etc etc etc, but i am to feel good about these guys promoting EV which need fossil fuel mining (lithium is a fossil fuel) and i just can't. That's it.
I have no hope that this current Green Party will do anything but apply a little green blush on what otherwise are simply business decisions that will make good for the few and be disastrous for the many. (I neither have any hope in Labour for that matter, but i do know what the no mates party will do, and fwiw, they will do what they say, they always do – see the US where they have gone back to the 80s and finish what they could not then).
But above all, i am tired of voting for the lesser evil, for giving crumbs to those that needs loaves while giving the whole bakery to those that are already morbidly obese. And that is what currently has been done.
The Green Party was supported by 6.3% of voters at the last election. Given that, what would lead you to expect them to dominate government policy and the parliamentary agenda? Even NZ First, a party promoting regional development via extractive industries, had a higher level of support than the Greens. In other words, the government has no mandate from voters for the things you'd prefer it to have done. The solution to that problem doesn't lie in voting for parties that will see your vote wasted, or in not voting at all.
Sabine: you say you don't know what The Greens are doing, yet you discourage people from voting for them? Curious. You say also, that you're tired of voting for "the lesser evil" (The Greens – sounds more like a Kiwiblog characterisation of the party to me) leaving me wonder which party you will vote for; you will vote, right?
i also don't discourage people from voting for the Greens, again, Robert, don't equate critique with non voting the two have nothing to do with each other.
I was critical of the National government, and i will be critical of the current lot, if 'I" feel that their words outshine their deeds.
People do as they like, i simply see no reason to cast my vote for the Greens this time around, and won't……others will. Such is life in MMP. And besides, if Parties want to get votes, then maybe they should work for them. I am not in anyway to be taken granted for, nor am i obliged to vote for a Party that i feel is lacking in deeds. You do however you want to.
But i shall give no praise when i feel there is no praise due. But feel free to address any of the other points that i have raised to explain my dis-satisfaction with our current overlords.
The Greens are the least powerful group in a coalition that is still better than any national-led government.
If they were the majority member in a grnlab coalition, I might agree with a damn-them-all no-vote (or more precisely, a vote for a trace-element party that more closely matches my ideals, like when I supported the Alliance post-anderton).
But if you want a left wing government, vote for the leftmost party that can hit the threshhold.
…and the largest (Labour) party in government should be able to navigate a better path forward for the environment.
How, in practical terms, would the largest party navigate a path that involves getting a coalition partner it relies on for the government's majority to act against its core principles?
Negotiate rather then dictate or worse not even try? Or is that in the too hard basket. Fact is NZ First is part of this government. And fact is also that it might need to be part of the next government. So maybe just drop a bit the attidute and negotiate in good faith. Also please stop pretending that Labour did not know who Winston Peters is, who Shane Jones is, and who the NZ First Party is.
Fact is, without NZFirst, Jacinda would be the Queen of the opposition.
How, in practical terms, could Labour negotiate NZ First into going against its core pitch to voters? It's not a trick question.
Well, why should NZ First voters give in and not Labour voter? Oh is that the mind of the largest party wins? I have a bridge that says the same thing.
No, that is the whole point about MMP is that the Parties need to negotiate and they need to find common ground. And that does not mean that only one party has to fold all the time, and that also does not mean that only one party is to blame for the all fuck ups of all the parties all the time. That is lazy thinking of the finest. And claims to the sabotage of something by one particular party should be supported with a link that states that these things are happening.
And if they can't work with each other then they need to wake up to the reality that they will end up again in the wilderness. Mind, being on the opposition bench won't affect their pay cheques and perks all courtesy of the tax payer, and that includes their government issued vehicles and gold pleated healthcare.
"Why should NZ First voters give in?" is exactly what I'm saying. They voted for a party that promises to promote extractive industries in the regions, which means there's no mechanism for Labour to "negotiate" a deal in which NZ First has to tell its voters that it's agreed to cutting back extractive industries in the regions.
The solution to the problem of a lack of government commitment to environmental protections isn't to vilify the party that's working to increase environmental protections for its lack of leverage, but to try and encourage people to increase that party's leverage by voting for it.
I am astonished at much in this column today seeming to be deliberately ( but I hope ignorantly) stating that Labour is not committed to environmental issues.
Decades ago I belonged to the Labour Green group in the Labour Party. When Folk broke to Alliance or greens, I , though always of left persuasion decided to stay in the larger bloc and stay in Labour.
I can assure you that issues of sustainability/ environment are an integral part of Labour concern. I have for some years belonged to a flourishing active Environmental branch.
'Green' measures for nurturing soil etc have been known for thousands of years, but forgotten I maintain in the industrialisation and capitalising of the land's produce.
haven't more time presently but i do wonder why the seeming mischief making above.
When I say "one party is focused on protecting the environment," that's exactly what I mean. Labour has elements supportive of envirnomental protection but that's not its core focus and that tends to be reflected in its actions in government. There's only one party for which the environment is its primary focus.
to PM ( can't read the number of your comment) Thank you…I understand what you mean.
After reaching a certain level (depth) of nesting/threading, the numbering runs out/stops. The comment you’re replying to is by Psycho Milt @ 2 March 2020 at 11:50 am
Labour is large enough to have factions that support green policies and those that oppose them. Decisions reflect a tussle between a caucus coalition of NZF+Lab-faction and Grn+Lab=faction.
Aren't you heartened stunted?
[3 day ban for flaming. No prewarning because you know exatly what you are doing. Expect bans to get much longer much more quickly. Yes, I am gearing up for election year, take this a warning – weka]
Fuck off Gabby you pointless troll
Are you 'concerned' at the continuation of mining stunted munter?
I'm guessing only when the left do it
It amuses me that it is fine to comment and tell someone to F$#@ off on here, but make a comment in the form of a question as per Gabby at 5.2 and you get banned?
Calling someone names oft leads to the naughty corner, as most toddlers know.
TS is just one big amusement park.
I thought under the commenting rules you weren't supposed to abuse each other. I will re-read them sometime perhaps they have been amended.
Let me know if you have any (specific) questions. Always happy to explain/clarify without getting into a lengthy discussion about (specific) moderation.
Does anyone know if the Government has put out a statement to address the economic shortfall that we will experience, in fact are already experiencing with the lack of tourists arriving at our shores?
I am in tourist land where i am living now, and the hotels are empty, the eatery are empty, the tourist attractions are empty, the freedom campers ain't here to spoil our landscape and use our resources (Yei) ….but in saying that, people have already lost jobs, have had hours cut, and so on.?
Anything? Because i only saw something last week, but it felt that it was more of a care package to the big tourist businesses, nothing on the lower end aka a care package for the workers and small businesses.
I consider myself lucky as i said my small business up to serve the locals rather then tourists, but i know of a few who started up last year, and who are rightfully shitting themselves now with high leases, high compliance costs, and no customers.
The Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006 gives government pretty wide powers to do whatever is required to manage an epidemic, subject to the oversight of Parliament. If shops are required to be closed and movement restricted I would presume the order would also include provisions that would remove the financial imperative for businesses to open.
http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2006/0085/latest/whole.html#DLM404464
There’s also clauses in the ADLS lease relating to loss of access to the premises during civil emergency, I’d say an epidemic would qualify. Business interruption insurance will cover civil emergency as well. Just checked ours and I’d say we are covered. Any ensuing civil disturbance might not be.
I am not talking about that at all.
I am talking about unemployed people that have lost their jobs because the tourists are not coming, will they get extra aid as they have lost the only 3 – 4 month of full time employment.
Will the small businesses that experience hardship have a grant to apply to so as to tide them over and maybe adjust their business model so that they not close and not unemploy everyone who works for them?
As for the government in an epidemic, i consider them to be as awesome as if an earth quake would hit. They shall arrive in a few days …or weeks depending on location, so please stock up on food, water, emergency meds and pray you not get sick. lol.
I saw something last week too, mostly about the part of the tourism serving the Chinese market?
I think I also saw something about making access to welfare easier, but that might have been about future actual pandemic in the country issues.
Like you I expect the same level of response as in a quake. Good front line responses (emergency people), but the other stuff to be pretty uneven.
Business is going to be hit by what is happening everywhere else in the world. Even if we only ever had the one case of the virus, the breakdown in international travel and logistics is going to hit us massively. We will be open for business but there will be no suppliers, or customers for a few months.
For right or wrong, the clear message from central government at the moment is keep calm.
I think that calm is going to be disrupted very soon for the reasons you have outlined above. The tour buses have stopped rolling already. Soon its going to be the trucks and trains when our imported goods can't get into the country. International logistics networks are beginning to break down already. If ships don't sail from China, imports and exports across the globe will suffer.
https://www.interest.co.nz/news/103836/sharon-zollner-chief-economist-nzs-biggest-bank-says-economic-impact-coronavirus-rises
This is going to be short and sharp, but when businesses have a couple of months of limited income, and start struggling to pay the landlord, bank and IRD, the message of keeping calm will become lost.
It will be in the interest [no pun] of banks and IRD to keep calm and avoid mass panic. A run on the banks is the last thing they’d want. I don’t know what role and/or powers RBNZ has to maintain public confidence in the sector and ensure stability and continuation of ‘BAU’.
The RBNZ has to ensure financial stability,whether the response or the rhetorical mechanisms are correct will be an open questions.
Since the GFC the central banks main mechanism has been increased monetary supply with lower interest rates.
The response by corporates is increased debt,to increase dividends and share buy backs to increase stock value,and little for increased productivity.
It's not just the debt itself. Investors looking for decent yields as bank interest rates plummet have poured trillions of dollars into corporate debt markets.
It is not as though there haven't been warnings. Last October the International Monetary Fund warned that up to $US19 trillion of corporate debt could be "at risk" if there was a sudden downturn even half as severe as the 2008 global financial crisis.
Earnings wouldn't cover the interest bill and so companies could go to the wall, potentially igniting another financial crisis.
The problem with America's corporate debt isn't so much the size, it is that a large portion of the money has been squandered. Rather than investing in new plants and equipment, American companies have been raising cash and handing it straight back to shareholders.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-02/coronavirus-shook-stock-market-after-boom-built-by-debt/12015192
The RBNZ interest rate cuts,will probably do little except reduce the amount of income for savers.It would need to come with significant constraints such as restriction on investors say to buy existing residential investments,as opposed to new developments.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/410758/covid-19-could-force-hefty-reserve-bank-rate-cut
That is a wildly missleading comment. The main action taken by the govt to ensure financial stability was for the govt to guarantee and underwrite the financial systems borrowing. After that it was no problem as lenders knew they would be paid no matter what the state on the bank they were lending to.
Interest rate cuts have been applied to try to return the economy to a state of 2%+ inflation, but largely ineffective. Probably that will be the go to response again despite having poor results for a decade now. But the lending which the RBNZ does is there to provide sufficient funds should a bank need to clear payments. There seems to be no reason to think that a fall in lending will put the interbank market short reserves with which to pay each other. I expect the same to be relevant with cash, people may withdraw more but this will just mean more cash is delivered to the banks and withdrawn. We know banks can function in such an environment and they did so before eftpos was invented. Unlike 2008 bank runs there is no underlying question of bank solvency going on here.
Interesting hypothesis E is E.
I was out on the roads earlier today (North Shore/Auckland) and noted a sharp drop in the traffic – something I haven't seen in this part of our world in a very long time. I also noted foot traffic was down and less large commercial trucks and vehicles on the roads. It may have been coincidence but somehow I think not.
Here in Motueka we haven't really seen any signs of tourist numbers declining. There are still plenty of freedom campers filling the car parks. Town is still busy.
The tourist demographic that mostly comes through our town is predominatley European, especially Germans.
Interestingly rice has sold out at the supermarket, but not pasta.
Toilet rolls seem to have been the big sell-out on the North Shore. Getting to the stage where locals have to shop around for them. You could say that Shore folk are …. .. …. but I couldn't possibly comment. 😉
Anne 🙂 🙂 🙂
Queenstown feels quieter, and it's easier to find a park in the morning, but we're not seeing any change in numbers through the gallery. Turnover is back on same time last year but that was a blinder, so not surprised it's come back. We have minimal exposure to the Chinese though. Those that do aren't happy campers.
But China is only 10% of Queenstown's market, both numbers and dollar wise, and it's an either / or thing for most businesses, if you are in that market it's pretty much all you do, apart from some activity operators that can cover the field with slightly different products for different markets.
Part of it seeming quieter is that there's much less mad acts from rental car drivers, so everyone's more laid back on the road.
Tbh Sabine, if it wasn't a disease impacting their businesses it could also be a global realization that tripping around the world on fossil fuel burning transport is simply not planet sustaining.
Where we're parked up right now in our Bus, there is a sign from a previous guest detailing the cost of accommodation and attractions in the Central North Island tourist hub for themselves and their grandson.
Prices way beyond what the average Kiwi traveler can afford. We're paying $20 per night for access to an ablution block, a kitchen and power should we need it. The only commercial campground in Hamilton wanted $47 per night.
Unaffordable, and if that is the going rate for the swinging tourist hotspot that is Hamilton, wtf are they charging in Rotorua or Taupo?
Seriously, tourist operators have enjoyed unfettered ability to fleece overseas travelers at the expense of their relationship with domestic customers…there's many that will not shed too many tears for those who put all their profit generating eggs in the foreign traveler basket.
Simple law of gravity…what goes up…
To be honest Rosemary, a good large part of the countrys taxpayer depend on income from tourism to pay taxes.
To be honest Rosemary, a good large part of the country is working in tourism because its the only job available.
To be honest Rosemary, i think your attitude is quite callous, these workers in the tourism industry are New Zealanders, they are our brothers, sisters, and so forth, they pay taxes that can then be distributed among our needy, invalids, unemployed, used for funding our infrastructure and so on and so forth and maybe we should keep that in mind, when simply gibly write of a large part of the country simply because they are not you. Oh and pay fancy cars for our ruling class.
To be honest Rosemary, i don't even have an RV, and i don't go on vacation, not in a hotel nor in a park, because i work 6 days a week and so do most if not all of my fellow mum and pop business owners. And thus i have absolutly no idea what you talk about when you talk about parking your RV.
But i know something about a town where over 50 % of the working people only have about 3 – 6 month at best at fulltime employment and they don't have it this year. And people are getting scared because they can't save up that little bit extra they need to get through winter, and i don't see government address that.
I think the welfare issues needs addressing now, maybe someone can look it up?
I have some sympathy for what Rosemary is saying too, although from my pov, being dependent on a benefit and having lived a lot in areas that have transitioned to tourism as a main way of making a living, I think COVID is an opportunity to get to grips with the massively problematic position of making the wellbeing of NZ dependent on an industry that is 1) in utter denial of climate change and 2) is basically not future-proofed because of that (or other reasons eg a pandemic or GFC).
So, yes, welfare first, and also let's talk about not going back to BAU after this challenge passes, because there *will be others, and more often.
Last time I was up Ruapehu few of the workers were New Zealanders and even fewer were Maori.
I saw Maori families in particular being turned away from the previously free Happy Valley as they could not afford the cost. So in my lifetime I've seen the locals pushed out of many of the jobs and they be made to pay tourist prices for their own mountain.
I hope Tuwharetoa don't renew the lease when it comes up next.
It's a little hard to have empathy for the principle though easy for the individual people concerned.
And besides Paul Callaghan made the point some time ago about New Zealand won't get ahead on low wage jobs like tourism.
Beyond tourism, and because coronavirus appears to be an occasion to shut down swathes of production across the world, why not take the opportunity on offer to do an inventory and never re-open production facilities that only serve as vehicles for profit? (So, y'know, permanently shut down the "shiny beads and baubles" factories).
To spell it out for the dim of thinking…
AGW is driven by carbon emissions and capitalist modes of production function by producing carbon as a by-product.
Bill,
Given that most firms intend to make a profit, are you seriously suggesting the end of industrialisation?
Almost certainly the goal will be to get firms back into full production, not to permanently close them.
So no, Covid 19 is not a heaven sent chance for China to reintroduce Maoist communism. They have already tried that. And the CCP decided 40 years ago it was not worth the 20 million dead and the grinding poverty of hundreds of millions.
Wayne
Give Bill some credit, he will allow loss making companies to continue, so not all factories will close. Then those losses will likely be state funded & their carbon emissions will deemed "non-harmful" as they haven't come from nasty "profit making" entities
No Wayne. I'm not suggesting an end to manufacturing. I'm suggesting we grasp this opportunity to end any industrial activity that produces nothing of social value – that is undertaken just for monetary profit.
Also, fucked if I know where you're getting this idea to shoe-horn in nonsense about Maoism from.
But anyway, you mention large numbers of dead people as a justification for not doing something, which is fair enough. So…you want to ballpark the numbers of people who have already died because of global warming? And then care to add on a further ballpark number for the coming decades?
Thank you weka and Bill for getting part of what I was trying to convey and expanding and clarifying.
We simply cannot keep on the way we have been for the past 50 years.
Maybe COVID 19 is the reset switch?
certainly an opportunity to talk about things like future proofing our economy and then pointing out how this also benefits us in other ways like climate mitigation and ecological restoration.
If we were homo sapien sapiens (wise and discerning my arse! 🙂 ), then COVID 19 would be the reset switch.
But we're not even remotely close to living up to the name we give ourselves as a species.
Our problems are systemic, and as we know, those in positions to make "big decisions" are wed to the very systems that figuratively speaking, have life on this planet by the throat.
why not take the opportunity on offer to do an inventory and never re-open production facilities that only serve as vehicles for profit? (So, y'know, permanently shut down the "shiny beads and baubles" factories).
the ivory towers being an example?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/410760/coronavirus-universities-warn-more-staff-cuts-on-the-horizon
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119925194/uni-fee-rorters-get-off-scot-free
All the right intentions, but outcomes resulted in unintended consequences. I'm sure all of these people can claim the Metiria Turei defense if caught out.
What is the “Metiria Turei defense” and how does this apply to those students?
Didn't work, whatever it was.
Was she charged with fraud and has she paid the money back?
She was never charged AFAIK and yes, she intended to pay back the money.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11895318
If you insist on taking this comparison any further you’ll need to first show that they are equivalent. Otherwise I’ll have to treat this as another attempt to derail and to bash a beneficiary as well as a former Green MP.
that's a badly written piece, it's basically a press release from the National Party.
Tell us how many students enrolled, how many enrolled that wouldn't have otherwise, and then compare that to the number who apparently made false declarations. Then tell us what those falsities were, how many were mistakes, how many were outright fraud, and how many fall somewhere in between.
What Incog said too. I take a pretty dim view of bene bashing especially where it invokes poorly informed memes about Turei.
A Nashnull sponsored “bennie bash” basically Indiana, more information and better comparisons are needed to make any real sense of that piece.
In any event, thousands of younger NZer’s lives have been blighted by user pays student loans–for education which should be an investment in the future–rather than a finger wagging accounting exercise.
lol TYT reporting that Buttigeig is gone!
Meanwhile, Warren is behind in the polls of her own state and Klober whassername isn't exactly secure 🙂
There were reports that Bloomberg offer Yang a VP position. Seriously.
I wonder if wee Pete is bobbing up and down pleading with Bloomberg – "Pick me. Pick me!!"
Good stuff, Bernie for the win 🙂
Biden is likely to benefit more than Bernie. Coz there's quite a few states like Minnesota and Massachusetts where Biden is polling in the mid-teens – meaning he's on the edge of dropping below the 15% threshold and missing out on getting pledged delegates. It would only take a few Buttigieg voters to go to Biden to bump him back over 15%.
Whoever the Democrat Presidential candidate is, they are going to have a hard time shifting Trump now.
His Unfavourable numbers are now trending steadily upwards to parity by election day.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/trump_favorableunfavorable-5493.html
The economic numbers that get well reported are strong – probably strong enough to handle a Corona Virus hit to GDP and employment levels.
https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/indicators
The peace deal his military has signed with the Afghani Taliban will bear fruit once tv images of the serried ranks of army troop off the planes.
The Demcoratic candidate has a mighty fight ahead of them if they are to win against Trump.
… and then there's the Senate …
I'm not so sure – most are saying "I'm voting Blue – No matter who" When the Dem candidate is finally chosen the majority will swing in behind them no matter what.
Here is further analysis from the Fox Poll.
Not sure that realclear link supports your "trending steadily upwards to parity by election day" description. Seems pretty steady for the last couple of years (not that it matters – it's FPP, not MMP).
But frankly any old shit can happen. I reckon Bernie or Warren will give the cheeto-in-chief a good run, Biden will probably run a technically creditable campaign that fizzles in reality.
See what happens when peak deniability takes hold, and instead of taking a long hard look at why a reality TV host was preferred to a career politician, the Democratic Party shoveled and shoved "Russia!!" for 3 years straight and ignored what people were actually worried about in their lives… and then, just to top it off lest there was a chance Trump's popularity would bumble along, they threw in a bullshit impeachment to buoy his popularity.
All that said, Sanders can walk through him. Trump's "anti-establishment" credentials are a non-starter against Bernie and he can't rhetorically tack to Bernie's left.
He could try ye olde "Socialist/communist!!" b/s…but since Obama was apparently a socialist too, that's unlikely to get much, if any, traction
Buttigeig is out. I reckon it will come down to Sanders or Biden. Super Tuesday is likely to have a substantial boost for Biden as a result of South Carolina.
Interesting that Buttigeig decided to announce prior to Super Tuesday. Presumably his name is already on all the ballot papers/ballot machines. He can obviously ask his supporters to vote for someone else, which I presume is Biden. But he will get quite a few votes anyway.
I imagine Bloomberg will be out after Super Tuesday, but Warren could stay for a while yet. March 10 is the next big test. After that it could be shown to just two candidates.
The next interesting question is if and when Buttigieg endorses another candidate, most likely Biden.
Apart from the ongoing primary votes, an endorsement or not makes a difference to the 26 delegates Buttigieg has already won. If he endorses, most of those will will vote for the endorsed candidate. If he doesn't endorse, then most of those are free to vote for whomever they want in the first round.
(I think Nevada law requires the pledged delegates to vote for whomever they are pledged to, so it's only 23 of 26 that would become free agents)
Biden is looking super old of late, I think the campaign is really taking it's toll on him.
So is Bernie. Fuck me, it's gobsmacking the two most popular candidates are so old they predate the Baby Boomers. With scary old people shit in their medical histories, to boot.
But here we are. I s'pose the upside is they can't really have "OK, Boomer" dumped on them.
To be fair, though, since Bernie has been 78 for the last three decades, it might be less noticeable on him since the change isn't as dramatic.
https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/02/when-did-bernie-turn-78-investigation.html
78? Really? He's almost up to Trump's IQ!
Bernie is old enough to have adult memories of the time before the Thatcher-Reagan revolution. That's probably important. Biden doesn't seem to have a functioning memory at all – e.g. claiming that he was arrested in South Africa for trying to see Nelson Mandela on "Robbins"(sic) Island. To be fair, Biden's lies seem like simple beffudlement, rather than like Trump’s deliberate self-aggrandisement.
Bernie is old enough to have adult memories of the time before the Thatcher-Reagan revolution.
He turned 78 while it was happening.
Methuselah Bernie – awesome!
Bernie has his own airforce.
https://twitter.com/izzybelle1964/status/1232857013190832128
Too good to fly coach.
Meh. Ten minute flight means he can get there, rally, and be on his way to the next place before he would have even gotten there by car.
And smaller planes mean smaller runways mean closer to each venue.
In NZ terms it means he can do Invers, dunners, and chch in one afternoon.
I can give him stick for only managing three bills in his senate career, but this is a reasonable move. US politicians have used the quickest means of covering campaign territory since railway became a thing.
Wait till January–Bernie’s “Airforce” will be yuge!
Sanders flew coach for years, but his travel expanded with security details since 2016. Who cares anyway when the US Presidential Campaign is a financial blowout from start to finish. Small countries run on less. Have a look at Mr Bloomberg’s expenditure–oh thats right–he is not in major contention at the moment…
This is the classic argument used against Green MPs–they should cycle to Wellington apparently or be cast as unauthentic–uh huh, uh huh.
Hypocrisy is often more a charge made of convenience. David Seymour maybe should not use public roads or expect Police protection if he is a staunch libertarian, and refuse any other stipend from the stolen tax take…
Speed is of the essence in this late stage of the campaign. If you applied your criticism across the board people would take more notice of you.
For those who like their thinking challenged, do check out Jonathan Boston in Auckland on Thursday on Transforming the Welfare State.
Prof. Jonathan Boston – Transforming the Welfare State – 5 Mar
Professor Jonathan Boston will be speaking on his new BWB book:
Transforming the Welfare State
Towards a New Social Contract
‘Eighty years ago, New Zealand’s welfare state was envied by many social reformers around the world. Today it stands in need of urgent repair and renewal.’ One of our leading public policy thinkers asks: What might the contours of a revitalised ‘social contract’ for New Zealand look like?
Jonathan Boston is a Professor of Public Policy in the School of Government at the Victoria University of Wellington. He has written extensively on public management, the welfare state, child poverty, climate change policy, tertiary education funding, and comparative government.
See: https://www.bwb.co.nz/books/transforming-welfare-state Copies of the book will be on sale by eftpos.
When
5 March – 6.30pm
Where
Owen Glenn Building, University of Auckland
12 Grafton Road
Are you going Ad? I'd be interested in what his take is.
This article, he seems to be saying that lots of NZers don't support egalitarianism now, so to get buy in for a better welfare state we need a reciprocity model/user pays (like ACC).
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/118063308/we-need-a-step-change-to-transform-the-welfare-state
Sorry it's just not my field.
Jesse Mulligan interviewed Prof Boston on RNZ National this afternoon – very interesting although I must relisten as I was interrupted by a visitor.
Here is the link and audio – 16'13" minutes
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018736571/is-the-welfare-state-fit-for-purpose
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/119937094/landlords-threaten-to-throw-out-bad-quality-tenants-ahead-of-rental-reforms
Great news. The sooner these kinds of landlords sling their hook the better.
lol
Crocodile tears.
House prices go down, or homes in higher-deprivation areas get gentrified, or landlords are forced to act with a bit more fairness. Which do you think is more likely to happen?
Mostly just more gentrification.
Because these landlords choose to cater to the lower end of market with their houses in lower-income areas?
Good luck with that. Either way, there's no reduction in the number of homes, and state houses are increasing by a thousand a year. I reckon renters can do without arsehole landlords like that – I've had my flat sold from under me. A fucking headache.
No because the great majority of landlords who own only one extra flat will figure it's better to hold on just for the equity uplift, then sell after some years.
In many circumstances there will be less grief and more benefit chucking the tenants out and just sitting on the equity uplift until they're ready to take it all and start their new lives.
That's when the gentrifying developers come in.
Because the great majority of landlords who own only one "extra" property can afford to, and will, forego hundreds of dollars per week in rent (for years) just because, and let me check that I've got this correct, they're not allowed to arbitrarily cancel a lease without cause?
Not even the linked article goes that far.
It's happening already, especially in Auckland suburbs that are on their way to gentrifying.
I suspect that the number of landlords with "one extra flat" beginning to do it (for fear of not being able to do their damned landlording jobs) is much lower than the property speculators already leaving 30,000-odd Auckland homes vacant.
Fuck 'em. It lowers their profits from the property, so it lowers the value at which they'll sell.
Lowering the value?
Not so far. We haven't had much of a dip for over a decade.
And most I know are simply Buy And Holds. Call that speculation if you will, but:
The entire mortgage industry is based on speculation. Every single person with a mortgage relies on it.
That, and tax.
Every person with a mortgage needs to pay the mortgage regularly.
As for your observation that the property market hasn't had a dip in a decade… not the first time speculators have believed yesterday's results are related to tomorrow's. And it's always the debt-ridden non-producing speculators (in this case your mortgagee property owners who are afraid to provide housing) who get worst-bitten by that assumption.
If what you say about people with "one extra flat" is true, then the next economic shock will sort out their house ownership problem. Can you think of anything that might cause such a shock to the NZ property market?
I appear to have run out of Reply thingies.
Plenty have been waiting for a ginormous property shock since 1988. We appear to have run out of long-wave cycles.
Sure, a propoerty-base-altering shock possible. But even things like a virus or two will just cool things for a bit.
I don't see our home ownership decline turning around much.
Who needs a "ginormous" shock? The discussion is about whether a drop in income from a property will affect the value of that property. Doesn't even need to be 2008-scale to call BS on the pessimism.
Your position seems to be that a small-scale landlord "with one extra flat" will forego $20k a year of rent for fear of having an annoying tenant who doesn't do enough to warrant eviction for cause.
As for the idea in the article they'll all go upmarket, I find the idea that they could have done that already but chose not to rather odd.
But who are they going to sell them to? Your 'lowest quality' tenants are typically people whose lifestyles and choices mean they will unlikely qualify for a mortgage regardless of where prices go. It won't be them who buy, it will be as Ad says either other landlords who are better cashed up, or developers who want to add value to the land.
Or other speculators who are equally cashed up, but are better suited to add property letting to the return on their investment, as well as mere speculation.
This isn't about the tenants. It's about whether someone who wants to invest in property is merely a property gambler, or whether they can complement that with property management.
It's the difference between someone who invests in a company with money and their skill at helping it grow value, versus someone who merely places bets on the stockmarket.
In many circumstances there will be less grief and more benefit chucking the tenants out and just sitting on the equity uplift…
Not if there's a mortgage on the place there won't, and I very much doubt there's a large number of amateur landlords with un-mortgaged rental properties.
It's those Boomers again, they get in early everywhere.
Some, certainly not the majority will sell up and they can piss off. The wealthy don't choose to earn less in order to pay less tax, just as the employed who claim beneficiaries are living the life of Riley don’t quit their jobs to go on the dole.
What will happen is that the unscrupulous or paranoid landlords will favour more a fixed term tenancy instead of the standard periodic. Desperate tenants will sign up to shorter term tenancies on the understanding that if they're good little tenants and pay their rent everything will roll over for another term. If the landlord doesn't like the tenant the lease isn't renewed – simple. This shift has been happening for a while – landlords can keep up with 'the market' via a new contract. Landlords feeling spooked by the removal of the no-reason 90 day notice will no doubt enhance the trend to the detriment of security of tenure.
Jack off comedian points out how Krystal Ball deals with a gaslighting surrogate.
https://theintercept.com/2020/03/01/south-carolina-results-biden-black-vote-sanders-msnbc/
Im sure we have all seen the pundits talking about the king making power of the black vote in the American democratic primary, and how bernies failure to the grab the black vote in SC is a real block for him…
Interestingly he's actually leading in the national polls with black voters, would you have guessed it from the main stream media's coverage?
I see there are more people coming through our airports saying we are doing sweet fuck all about coronavirus compared to other countries they have traveled through.
They are saying you can't even get off the plane in some countries without having your temperature taken and we need to start taking this seriously. Apparently they don't take your temperature here even if you ask them to.
meh …I've been in and out of the USA, Australia and south East Asia a few times in the last couple of months only South East Asia is doing anything significant at airports from what I've seen.
Taking their temperature reassures travellers you're doing something but it's not that useful for screening against Covid-19 which can be infectious while not symptomatic. Devoting health resources to people with unrelated fevers aint smart either.
"There are more people"
a comment based on one vox pop on TV3, with one couple.
Obviously many others would have been interviewed (that's what a vox pop reporter does) but were insufficiently grumpy to broadcast. It's called editing, it's how "news" works on TV.
Critical faculties required.
And this is why I gave up "News" a long time ago, it really does make you stupid.
And anxious.
Indeed. Why oh why are we not doing this ineffective and time-consuming thing that is rife with false positives (anyone with a cold or just a bit overheated from a flight and whatever other reason) and false negatives (anyone in the asymptomatic incubation period)?
Also, why aren't we waving jade eggs at travellers so any ethereal interference from the coronavirus demon can be detected?
Hey! Careful with the jade egg references. People might get ideas about where to put them.
Feel free to hand one to Shane Jones.
Def wouldn't want it back afterwards.
Porno Jones probably has his own collection.
There are a series of protocols New Zealand recently assigned up to that requires the construction of a much higher degree of security at all domestic facilities.
Auckland Airport is at the start of a billion-dollar upgrade which will integrate its domestic and international terminals, and upgrade its screening.
I am pretty sure this new virus will accelerate whole new layers of biometric testing across New Zealand, but it will take a few years as it costs millions to do.
Kia Ora The Am Show.
The Olympics games being affected by the virus.
I have been telling my Tamariki that rents and housing prices are only going up to get them to plan for that phenomenon.
I know A place that has nice weather that doesn't get to hot.
Birds are quite special and intelligent.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Newshub.
Global warming is making stronger storm system.
Kea the world's most intelligent birds I lived in a whare that had them flying around it a few years ago.
That's the way strike for the climate you people do good mahi kia kaha .
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
The festivals of Pacific people being cancelled that would have been awesome to watch.
I think that a good idea stopping Te hongi with this virus threat.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora The Am Show.
The fertilisers company's should be looking hard at providing organic products that feed the organic matter that doesn't leach into our water ways.
Its good to see new cancer drugs being funded.
That's sad all those Koala bear dieing.
The new technologies is amazing virtual reality design simulation and 5G.
Ka kite Ano
The fucken sis sandflys are stuffing with my Wahine mokopuna
https://youtu.be/g_D5vzqBVWo
Kia Ora Newshub.
Jamie and his Ebike is saving him time and lowering his carbon footprint heaps cool.
That health unit needs to be cleaned up.
Shearing was a big mainstay employer in Te Tairawhiti.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
That's is cool a home made native plant sanitisation products.
That's the way networking with other indigenous Wahine in Las Vegas with native Americans.
Weres kim kiore
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora The Am Show.
I say that using a phone is fine just not all the time.
The new joke is Old people say young people are living on there phones. It's the only place that they can afford to live.
I would go to Eco Inn in Taranaki
Condolences to Jennet Fitzsimmons whanau for their loss.
Ka kite Ano