Grim but not unexpected, the latest Fairfax poll shows a Labour slide to 25.9%
Greens are the main beneficiary, up to 12.6%
National are steady on 52.5%
What I meant to say was oh well Petey at least there is a silver lining. It looks like United Follicles and ACT are terminal and will not be back. Good riddance.
Weird but I started to type it, the WYSWIG kicked in, I then had to click in the window to type the rest and then posted but only the bit that I initially typed showed up.
I suspect you are a lot more worried than me Micky.
I’ve already achieved some of my goals. And I’ve set in place something that could make quite a difference in Dunedin. Even Labour people are supporting it.
Every realised opportunity on top of that is a bonus.
And I’m having a lot of fun too. I sense you’re not smiling.
Hope you get the silver crown off Dunne when you take over leadership Pete…good luck and stay off the kronic when wandering the trails…you might get lost in the wilderness.
I’d be worried if I was the Nat’s, I wouldn’t want this next term, particularly as the biggest cheerleaders of neo-libealism.
Let’s say they win an outright majority, good luck to them explaining the implosions of their mantra as the depression really bites and anger really hits the streets.
Here is an Australian economist pointing out how Austerity is killing the Ozzie economy, which holds two warnings for us, the Ozzies upon who’s economy we rely is now on a serious slow down, secondly, responsible for this is a mantra of surplus, which is Nationals platform. Careful what you promise…
“Employment growth has been virtually zero for some months and other indicators of growth are faltering.
The ABS published the latest International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia for September 2011 today which showed the trade surplus (before invisibles) narrowing with exports falling on the back of declining terms of trade (so prices rather than volumes falling).”
The right may well relish the prospect of reigning during a global economic crisis. That allows severe measures to be put through under the justification that the foul-tasting medicine is our only chance at economic survival.
Pondering these issues, the question arises: Is it wise for the news media to devote so much effort to telling the voter who’s “ahead” and who’s “behind” – as if elections were indeed nothing more than horse-races? Surely, the most important democratic function of the media is to subject the various political contenders’ claims to the critical scrutiny of expert witnesses? Publishing dispassionate critiques of contending policy; broadcasting fair and balanced accounts of the candidates behaviour on the hustings; and then allowing the voters to make up their own minds. Isn’t this the media’s most important contribution to the electoral process?
I usually don’t comment on polls, however good or bad they look for the left. I just get fed up with the way the media focuses more on them than on a fair discussion of policies.
Jumping the shark is an idiom, first employed to describe a moment in the evolution of a television show when it begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery.
[…]
The usage of “jump the shark” has subsequently broadened beyond television, indicating the moment in its evolution when a brand, design, or creative effort moves beyond the essential qualities that initially defined its success, beyond relevance or recovery.
I agree, but like it or not the media control most of the narrative and have a large influence on what gets attention and what gets ignored. And they know their influence.
But they don’t always get it right, they have been caught out before by being too caught up in their own game to see what’s happening beyond their sphere. Elections are one time the voters take control.
And if they include the 14.3% undecideds in their overall result, National was selected by 44.9% of those questioned, so in no way does that support the headline that National could govern alone.
Why do you think a low turnout would help National?
I would’ve thought that a lot of the people who wouldn’t turn out to vote are people who would vote Nation and think oh well National are going to win anyway no point me going down there.
Whereas people against National would have more incentive to go vote?
Actually I support the 15% GST. A tax on consumption is good (although regressive).
What I don’t support was the tax-switch that went to the top 10%.
If we’d had a tax package that put GST up to 15% and compensated those on the lowest incomes at 3x the rate that GST was supposed to rise on paper, we would be much better off.
I agree with more emphasis being placed on a consumption based tax rather than a personal income tax in principle, but realise it’s hard to implement GST as a significant proportion. Avoiding GST is the only national sport in this country to exceed rugby in popularity.
I don’t have a problem with a greater than 15% consumption tax in principle since it favors us being more resource efficient. And I appreciate the goals of lowering personal income tax, since it favors rewarding the efforts of the individual. And perhaps the only answer to fill the shortfall is a CGT tax, and more effort to stay on top of the freeloaders and loopholes.
I, for one, can’t wait to tick the box for Chauvel when I cast my vote in Ohariu. I’ve encouraged everyone I know to do the same.
The sooner we get rid of United Future and their “This garbage is not worth replying to” couldn’t-give-a-toss-about-anyone-who’s-not-like-me politics, the better.
I can’t believe you’d fall in line behind this guy, Petey. You might be doing some good, but the fact that you would consider a man so obviously missing any sort of empathy as a “leader” clearly signifies your inability to judge character.
At last….. Thank God. After more than a decade and despite a change in US administration, and people’s high hopes for Obama, the Bush Doctrine is finally being challenged on the world stage by a major statesman.
“There is no military solution to the Iranian nuclear problem as there is no military solution to any other problem in the modern world,” ……….
…….“This is confirmed to us every day when we see how the problems of the conflicts, around Iran are being resolved – whether Iraq or Afghanistan, or what is happening in other countries in the region. Military intervention only leads to many times more deaths and human suffering.”
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov, has served as Russian foreign minister since 2004.
……talks between Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, Germany and Iran should be resumed as soon as possible.
“Iran exports about 2.4 million barrels a day of petroleum, of which China imports a little over a fourth.
Moreover, it would not be a good thing for anyone to have a global boycott (essentially a blockade) of Iranian petroleum, since that move would take the 2.4 million barrels a day off the world market and drive prices up to several hundred dollars a barrel.
I noticed the latest Faifax poll totals out at 114.3%.
Its not clear,whether Nationals support is 52.5% or 52.5/114.3
If its the later ,this mornings headline that “More than half of people spoken to, prefer National” is not only misleading, its factually incorrect.
Why don’t these polling pricks just announce Labour has dropped to zero support and be done with it? The Shark has been jumped alright.
Warning; anecdote follows: I was excluded from a telephone poll the other night because my age group quota was covered already apparently. I asked what if I was under 40 or 30 would there be space for me, the person said she could not tell me that, but after some cajoling said “probably” before ending the call. It is not just that the polls are bent it is the behavioural effect they have on some people. I have heard two people say they are not going to bother voting because John Key has it stitched up. Brilliant.
It amazes me that so few Government Ministers front for interviews Felix. Especially the PM who only fronts to give statements but not interviews as he is “too busy.”
After all the fuss about the alleged affront to Democracy before the 2008 election there is silence about the affront to Democracy by the No-show Government MPs.
As a voter, I feel angry that I am being treated as a fool.
Word on the street re. health is that the plans for slashing are well under way
First Bill English’s little bro was brought in (on $400K p.a.) to scale down the MoH.
Second, the whole preventative sector will be deconstructed. They have already started the merging of ALAC and the Health Sponsorship Council.
Third, once upon a time we had 21 DHB’s, then we had 20 when Southland was swallowed up by Otago. There are strong signs that come June next year there will be a maximum of 14 DHB’s. It is interesting that one DHB has already announced the retirement of their CEO exactly at this time, and speculation has been rife regarding its merger with two adjacent DHB’s, so much so there is actually documentation with a logo kicking around.
Expect to see the private sector picking up more and more work, remember those ‘free visits to GP’s for under 6’s after hours’ are subject to cuts elsewhere.
‘I have heard two people say they are not going to bother voting because John Key has it stitched up. Brilliant.’
Just what they want TM – have they no go in them?
The left may not be victorious – heaven help us all but at least those out there doing practical stuff are helping the cause. Where would Labour have been in ’35 if they were not dogged in their pursuit?
Had cause for optimism for our Labour candidate as the National candidate was mercilessly heckled and booed at a meeting last week – maybe those on the sharp edge of things are starting to get a clue.
It’s not “if” but “when”. At some point the slumbering masses will wake up and realise they’ve been duped by the smiley snake. Retribution will be swift and savage.
Go Labour and the Greens just keep prodding and shaking those sleep-walking Kiwis there’s still time to wake them before the 26th. And when the tide turns just watch the MSM rush to scramble on board.
I don’t let people off the hook re enrolling and voting M, am involved with producing union election publications too. More people will realise pretty soon that they cannot eat aspiration.
Agree, the important group is the young; my daughter says she is voting Labour for the local seat and Green for party vote – as are many of her friends. We need to mobilise the young to protect their future.
The “National could govern alone” narrative depends on the exclusion of the undecideds, and even here, where they rate a mention, they are excluded from the calculation.
However the polls do not include those who have lost confidence in this country and have voted with their feet. To quote from the Herald article posted below: “(Dr Newell’s) research shows that New Zealand’s losses (to Australia) are higher among low-skilled and semi-skilled workers, including tradespeople, than among professional people, who benefit from New Zealand’s lower-than-Australia taxes on high incomes.
But almost half of the net loss in the past year was of people in their twenties and thirties, leaving a big hole in New Zealand’s working-aged population.”
Let’s hope that many of these people are still registered to vote here, prefer policies that would make their home country more welcoming, and are able to throw a spanner into the works.
After the discussion on the “invincibility” of National in the polls the Herald published this in relation to their Mood of the Nation.
“When the responses of youth voters (aged 18 to 24) are looked at in isolation, Labour has turned the tables on National, with the support of 46 per cent of young voters against National’s 29 per cent.”
Only a tiny sample but interesting. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10764668
The hard part is getting that segment of the population enrolled and voting, Ian. The point of the MSM’s meme of National strolling to victory is to encourage people not to bother voting because the election is a done deal. This is intended to become a self fulfilling prophesy; if the Herald et al can convince swing voters not to bother turning out to the booths, then National win by default.
Dosn’t Whaleoil just waste the Electoral Commission’s time. They are the ones who referred it to the police – wouldn’t have thought they would do that if they thought it was frivolous.
Um Christchurch is a Labour strong-hold. National only hold one electorate seat, Ilam. The voting there outside Ilam and Waimakariri tends to be 50-50 in other electorates or Labour outperforming National. Thus it makes sense for National to work harder in an area where they don’t do very well.
I just wish they gave more of a fight to Wigram. Because if you combine Labour’s vote with Progressives from 2008 you get a 2200 vote gap. If ever they’re going to take Wigram now would be a time. Its an electorate that is changing with a growing Asian influence. It shouldn’t be a left-wing cakewalk but at the moment it is.
The Prime Minister has ruffled people’s feathers after being shown on television talking during a minute’s silence for Christchurch quake victims.
Although, I actually get more annoyed the waste of resources that is the temporary stadium being labelled as “good news”. Talk about getting the priorities completely wrong. Fiddling while Rome Burns seems to be modus operandi for this government.
“ACT have been very stable, so ACT returning to Parliament is something I’d like to see as opposed to something I wouldn’t like to see;” John Key said.
Does the with-holding that the ACT nod, indicate something? Key will only nod if he believes they really really need ACT. Isn’t that a bit contemptuous? Discard the voters if we don’t need them.
“I will only have a date with you if I can’t find anyone better.”
Some time ago now I refuted some remarkably foolish and ignorant statements you made about the running of the 2007 World Cup. You have for some reason (embarrassment, perhaps?) not replied.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said he will resign after suffering a humiliating setback in parliament that showed a party revolt had stripped him of a majority.
Berlusconi confirmed a statement from President Giorgio Napolitano that he would step down as soon as parliament passed urgent budget reforms demanded by European leaders after Italy was sucked into epicentre of the euro zone debt crisis.
Exactly – don’t believe it until it happens. He has more time to manipulate the ‘traitors’ who voted against him to voting for him the longer he stays.
major non news is that dimwit from the dompost tracy watkins crowing that kweewee and his gang re going to win th election outright.
in a pigs bum lady.
you might be stupid after too many rubber chickens legs and hi fat sosage rollsa t bellamys but the public aren’t.
McKelvie’s none too bright. He made the papers (and got labelled by David Farrar as ‘stupid’) for putting his election signage up earlier than the local council by-laws allowed. That’s the council where he’s currently mayor. D’oh!
I’m also told that he said at one electorate meeting that he would not campaign in the north of the Rangitikei electorate because ‘they’re all poor, maori or both up there’.
So in other words he’s one the old boys representing National’s true blue roots, which wouldn’t be complete without being a racist and treating the poor as shit…
A different attack, this time Gareth Hughes on Labour. The Dom Post has just had a Live Chat with the Ohariu candidates. Hughes carefully phrased round Labour in relation to their electorate support arrangement, but closed off the chat with a poke at Labour’s filibustering. Hughes versus Chauvel.
The number of articles appearing on Stuff today that talk up National and talk down Labour makes me wonder if the righties are running a little scared.
“Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater has been denied leave to appeal his convictions for deliberately breaking court suppression orders. ” -The Court of Appeal
So that is that.
Slice of asset sale profits to go to irrigation – National
So, selling state assets now produces profits? Anyone got any actual data to back that up? Because I’m pretty sure, once we take into account inflation from the time the assets were built until now, and revenue loss we won’t be seeing any profits from selling them. What we will see, under proper accounting, is a massive loss.
MANA’s Manukau East candidate John Minto has challenged the long-serving incumbent Labour MP Ross Robertson to a public debate on the failure of the MP to effectively represent one of New Zealand’s poorest electorate in his 20 years in parliament.
“I’ve taught for over 10 years in the electorate and can’t recall a single instance of the MP speaking out strongly for the most vulnerable families in New Zealand who have been hammered by the economic policies of successive Labour and National governments.
Robertson is master of the meaningless press release and space-filler public comments but he has failed to represent the voters of the electorate.
I was with one of his constituents a couple of weeks back and she said to me “Ross is only good for a cup of tea…”
I’m not sure about the cup of tea but I know he’s been missing in action for 20 years.
John Minto
Copy of the Open letter sent
9 November 2011
Kia ora Ross,
Challenge to public debate
I’m writing to challenge you to a public debate in the Manukau East electorate at any time up till the last day of campaigning – although the sooner it takes place the better for voters to consider the issues before polling day.
I decided to stand against you in this electorate because in the time you have been the MP the people of Manukau East have gone backwards with low-pay, high unemployment and endemic poverty.
I taught in this electorate for over 10 years and have seen so many Maori and Pacific families struggling to maintain their self-respect and dignity in the face of the awful social impact of the economic policies of Labour and National. Yet in all your time as MP I can’t recall a single occasion when you have spoken out strongly for the most vulnerable people of your electorate.
For example while I was teaching at Tangaroa College from 2000 to 2004 the number of Pacific Island families in severe hardship increased from 16% to 30%. You were the MP and Labour was in government but you were silent.
It seems that throughout your time as an MP you have collected a big salary, eaten your lunch and become patron of several sports clubs – what else?
In the last few days I’ve been reading the Statistics Department quarterly income survey and found that (adjusted for inflation) the last three years have been even more disastrous for Maori and Pacific families who make up the majority of people in your electorate.
The median income for Maori from 2008 to 2011 is nearly 16% lower – they are $86 a week worse off. For Pacific Islanders it is even worse – they are over $100 a week worse off.
You weren’t in government then Ross but that’s no excuse for remaining silent while your constituents suffer. You are their MP. It seems to me you have used these people as voting fodder to give you a politician-for-life lifestyle.
The statistics for pokie machines, liquor outlets and loan sharks are also appalling – the parasites on poverty have been active in the electorate but you have been inert. Have you ever raised your voice above a whisper on any of these issues?
I was with one of your constituents a couple of weeks back and she said to me “Ross is only good for a cup of tea…” I can see no evidence to think otherwise.
It seems you have been missing in action for 20 years Ross.
These are the issues I want to raise in public with you and give you the opportunity to respond in public. The people of this electorate deserve to hear you speak out on your own behalf for the dreadful situation you have remained silent about for 20 years.
I will make myself available at any time and any place within the electorate for the debate. Please contact me or my campaign manager as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements.
List MPs should be ordered on the
number of votes they attract, so
removing the gift giving of party
power brokers. Would Garrett have
won any votes once his child
idenity fraud came to light?
Greens have too much freedom to
choose who is on their list.
Remove the 5% rule, remove the
one constituent MP rule.
Strictly proportional representation,
you win an MP (and they did win an
electorate) then the MP comes from
the MP of that party with the
highest vote. So if Banks gets the
highest vote of ACT MPs, he would
be first on the list even if he
lost Epson, but ACT got enough
proportion of the vote.
We vote for a list but not the individuals on it unless they are in an electorate, and many do not compete in them. In some of the STV systems voters get the chance to rank the lists too. Ireland I think is the most noteable (but I may be out of date there).
My poitn was, keep MMP but order list MPs according to how many votes
they got. This would turn list MP into local MPs who have an interest in
their constitutiences.
Just happened on this Editorial at the Manawatu Standard and well said Warwick Rasmussen.
Great to have a byline.
Agree about the response from spectators at Leaders Debates is based on responses to slanging.
And the weird nature of poll focus perhaps being used to steer voters or even create a partisan climate.
Good work Warwick. http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/opinion/5914516/Editorial-Slanging-match-cheapens-election
Just flicked onto Close Up tonight and surprised to see the unsmiling Mike Hoskins interviewing (!) John Key!!! (I bet John thought he would get the soft touch from Mark Sainsbury.)
But no! Immigration to Australia and advantage of Australia over NZ and how it is not really an issue to Key. But Mike says to Key you cannot deny it. The facts are there.
End of interview. Key mask drops. He looks off camera right and does not look to be a happy chappy.
Not up yet on Replay but wonder if it gets pulled for “technical reasons.”
Did you notice the Key face in the last 3 seconds?
I think that he was on the back foot and worked hard at his usual defence, ” Lets take a step back and look…..”
” Lets take a step back and look…..” 4 times – structure and position the conversation so that people feel they are removed from the stance originally taken whilst trying to see it from a veiw that is in your favour.
He (jonkey) spent quite a lot of that in interview trying to deny the real numbers and inserting his own made up ones like the BS that wages have increased when, in real terms, most incomes have actually gone down.
So, his solution to the wage gap is to eliminate all income tax? That would create some interesting fiscal consequences just to claim achievement of what was clearly empty electioneering rhetoric in 2008.
He admits as much when he talked in the interview as if ‘closing the gap’ is (and was?) a ‘silly idea’. As Hoskings said, ‘so you didn’t believe in the Task Force when you set it up?’.
It would have been good to know that he thought it was really silly when, three years ago, he was standing in empty rugby stadia and fronting billboards with planes flying to Australia emblazoned across them.
“National’s moderate approach to emissions scheme”
I remember the editor of The Press once explaining, in response to a letter to the Editor about a supposedly biased headline, that the headline wasn’t biased because the wording acknowledged that the offending words were from a quote of a politician by having scare quotes around the phrase.
It turns out from the article that “moderate approach” were John Key’s words. Unacknowledged. No scare quotes.
here is the beef in the wairarapa. the assets will be sold to pay for a water retention and storage scheme in two locations, upper and lower on the ruamahanga.
the deal should be that the state tenders out the bid and then cuts a deal with the operator rather than shift investment wholesale and let valuable income streams escape from the country.
that is nationals policy.
you know its okay and will probably go ahead but it should have been in the public debate long ago instead of released under what I suspect was intense pressure to make it public.
that is what national has become.
they prefer secret deals rather than good old fashioned public debate.
Barnes & Noble is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Microsoft’s patent-licensing tactics, accusing the software giant of trying to thwart competition with flimsy infringement claims.
Because they’re seriously getting in the way of innovation and being used to reward people and companies for work that they didn’t do.
Interesting to see the amount being thrown at the Nat candidate. Asset sales top of the list (the mixed ownership line was followed by the whole hall chanting “sales”), followed by the debt lies (we’ll spend it on this or maybe that), then “when is the minimum wage likely to be increased we’ve been waiting 20 years”, too many in prisons, education national standards, why the bene bashing? and the last few questions were on local or smaller issues. This was a packed hall in an upper income suburb, SES 10, and I really don’t think the Nats had 52% of the hall or anything near that.
Any chance of electorate meeting reports from elsewhere?
At the Remuera election forum tonight there were five candidates.
Here’s everybody being reminded that Brash should really be standing in Epsom but few would vote for him. Banks on the left: http://i40.tinypic.com/1zdyr1v.jpg
From left: Pat O’Dea (Mana), Paul Goldsmith (National), David Parker (Labour), John Banks (ACT/National), the convenor, David Hay (Green) (speaking), Don Brash (ACT/National) (photo only due to his absence)
May I say that David Parker was outstanding, and would make an excellent and popular Labour PM.
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The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three. ...
Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blogIn 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
Citizen Science writes – Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
Karl du Fresne writes – There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
David Farrar writes – The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time.A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced ...
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. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Changes to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Sievers, Research Fellow, Global Wetlands Project, Australia Rivers Institute, Griffith University Chris Brown Humans love the coast. But we love it to death, so much so we’ve destroyed valuable coastal habitat – in the case of some types of habitat, ...
Josh Thomson on the 80s milk ad jingle he can’t stop singing, the beauty of The Simpsons, why Jersey Shore is as good as Shakespeare and more. For someone who spends a lot of time on our screens, popping up in everything from 7 Days to Taskmaster, Educators to Good ...
In apparent defiance of the Biden administration, the Netanyahu government has now initiated missile strikes against Iran. Last Saturday night (Sunday morning in New Zealand) Iran launched more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles against Israeli military targets. With the assistance of US, UK and possibly French forces, ...
Māori representation brings a perspective that encompasses not only the interests of Māori communities but also a broader, holistic approach to environmental stewardship and community well-being, principles deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori (the Māori ...
This week in Auckland, a group of young people took over the microphone at a ministerial press conference, to explain why they oppose the Fast-Track Approvals Bill. One young woman said, ‘We’re here because we love Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to raise our children in an environment that’s thriving, ...
The summer was wonderful. Evie was wonderful, too; finally a teenager, finally worthy of long, hot days. She shaved her legs for the first time and bought cut-off shorts from the op-shop that made them look long. She got a Warehouse singlet so tight on her new shape that her ...
When Thomas James was on his solo camp as part of Outward Bound, the keen outdoorsman didn’t find it too challenging, as others often do. In what might just be the perfect illustration of his character, he saw it as a great opportunity to solve a few problems. “I thought, ...
From the unstable and drippy to the hi-tech and pretty, here’s our ranking of all the tunnels you can drive through in this country. The first tunnel seems to have been built in 2200BC in Babylonia, kicking off a global phenomenon for digging holes in order to get places more ...
Lucinda Bennett on the art of being greedy but resourceful. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. When I picture the market, it is always this time of year. Crisp air, dripping nose, counting coins with cold fingers. Sunlight pale, filtered through specks of dew still ...
Zoë Colling’s favourite piece in the ‘That’s So Last Century’ collection is a lubrication chart for a sewing machine from the ’60s. It’s about the size of a postcard, and carefully maintained. “I like it that this piece of ephemera highlights that manual and technical side of the skill involved ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)Hot off the press, this debut ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...
Chief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...
The Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...
Barcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...
Yes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...
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Grim but not unexpected, the latest Fairfax poll shows a Labour slide to 25.9%
Greens are the main beneficiary, up to 12.6%
National are steady on 52.5%
Apart from a miracle survival for Winston Peters the only logical balance to National’s power is United Future./a>
Probably just a rogue poll
Oh well Pet
Hmmm, what happened there?
What I meant to say was oh well Petey at least there is a silver lining. It looks like United Follicles and ACT are terminal and will not be back. Good riddance.
That’s exactly what I assumed you meant micky.
Weird but I started to type it, the WYSWIG kicked in, I then had to click in the window to type the rest and then posted but only the bit that I initially typed showed up.
I suspect you are a lot more worried than me Micky.
I’ve already achieved some of my goals. And I’ve set in place something that could make quite a difference in Dunedin. Even Labour people are supporting it.
Every realised opportunity on top of that is a bonus.
And I’m having a lot of fun too. I sense you’re not smiling.
smug little shit aren’t you pete
your head is getting so big I’m surprised you haven’t done your leadership challenge yet what with you being so influencial and all
I’m not after leadership, I’m just helping generate more interest in active politics in Dunedin.
that’s a pity pete because i would think you’d be a good leader of UF and you would have much more influence to present your ideas on the way to go.
and whilst i do think you are smug I don’t think you are a poo so sorry about that.
Waking up and down pinehill is as close as you will get
Hope you get the silver crown off Dunne when you take over leadership Pete…good luck and stay off the kronic when wandering the trails…you might get lost in the wilderness.
I’d be worried if I was the Nat’s, I wouldn’t want this next term, particularly as the biggest cheerleaders of neo-libealism.
Let’s say they win an outright majority, good luck to them explaining the implosions of their mantra as the depression really bites and anger really hits the streets.
Here is an Australian economist pointing out how Austerity is killing the Ozzie economy, which holds two warnings for us, the Ozzies upon who’s economy we rely is now on a serious slow down, secondly, responsible for this is a mantra of surplus, which is Nationals platform. Careful what you promise…
“Employment growth has been virtually zero for some months and other indicators of growth are faltering.
The ABS published the latest International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia for September 2011 today which showed the trade surplus (before invisibles) narrowing with exports falling on the back of declining terms of trade (so prices rather than volumes falling).”
http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/?p=16807
There’s another angle.
The right may well relish the prospect of reigning during a global economic crisis. That allows severe measures to be put through under the justification that the foul-tasting medicine is our only chance at economic survival.
Aka, the shock doctrine.
Too true, unless the shock is so great the can’t control it.
But I get your point.
I’m with Chris Trotter on the over-reliance on polls:
http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2011/11/no-time-for-instant-verdicts.html
I usually don’t comment on polls, however good or bad they look for the left. I just get fed up with the way the media focuses more on them than on a fair discussion of policies.
+1
I think the NZ MSM coverage of politics and elections has jumped the shark.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_the_shark
I agree, but like it or not the media control most of the narrative and have a large influence on what gets attention and what gets ignored. And they know their influence.
But they don’t always get it right, they have been caught out before by being too caught up in their own game to see what’s happening beyond their sphere. Elections are one time the voters take control.
Agreed re the media controling the narrative. If polls must be used, todays headline could have read;
Goff rapidly rising from 9.1 to 13.5 per cent in the preferred prime minister stakes!
And if they include the 14.3% undecideds in their overall result, National was selected by 44.9% of those questioned, so in no way does that support the headline that National could govern alone.
Fairfax media poll
Nats 52.5%
Lab. 25.9%
Greens 12.6%
Undecided a Whopping 14.3%
The poll may show a historic record breaking landslide to National is in the offing.
On the other hand there is a real possibility of their defeat as well.
If the undecided go with Labour and the Greens, it would make a total of 52.8%
So come on Labour where is that break through policy release we have been promised?
And no more non-promises
How about turning empty rhetoric about “Axing the Tax” and commit to reversing the increase in GST to 15% on immediate return to the Treasury benches.
How about a promise to seriously investigate an Financial Transactions Tax as a way of combating the fiscal deficit.
Come on Labour time to pull out all the stops.
With these poll results:
What have you got to lose?
Its a mistake to think that policies are going to win this election.
National is not polling at the 50% level based on its policies, or the lack of them.
You mean that you would like Labour to start their term by adding another $3B hole to the Government’s annual accounts?
But you’d have to suspect that a large portion of ‘undecided’ will remain undecided and not bother to turn up on polling day…
Yep. Labour’s chances go down if turn out is only 78% or 79%.
It goes up if turn out is 83% or 84%.
Turnout will be under 75%.
In a turnout scenario that low, Labour will get slammed.
Why do you think a low turnout would help National?
I would’ve thought that a lot of the people who wouldn’t turn out to vote are people who would vote Nation and think oh well National are going to win anyway no point me going down there.
Whereas people against National would have more incentive to go vote?
Don’t think so. I’m thinking that it’s going to be closer to 90%.
Actually I support the 15% GST. A tax on consumption is good (although regressive).
What I don’t support was the tax-switch that went to the top 10%.
If we’d had a tax package that put GST up to 15% and compensated those on the lowest incomes at 3x the rate that GST was supposed to rise on paper, we would be much better off.
In theory yes.
In practice those on the lowest wages aren’t paying enough income tax to make that adjustment without more of the clumsy employer subsidy WFF.
The answer is to get wages up, not meddle at the edges of the tax system.
I agree with more emphasis being placed on a consumption based tax rather than a personal income tax in principle, but realise it’s hard to implement GST as a significant proportion. Avoiding GST is the only national sport in this country to exceed rugby in popularity.
I don’t have a problem with a greater than 15% consumption tax in principle since it favors us being more resource efficient. And I appreciate the goals of lowering personal income tax, since it favors rewarding the efforts of the individual. And perhaps the only answer to fill the shortfall is a CGT tax, and more effort to stay on top of the freeloaders and loopholes.
Jenny
How the heck can you read a defeat in those numbers for National???
Jenny
So all 14% of the undecided has to go to national?
“but like it or not the media control most of the narrative”
Unless you’re under 30, they certainly haven’t controlled the narrative of the Global OWS movement, they have been ignored and circumvented by it.
It’s a changing world Pete, not by Nov 26th, but it’s changing…
Yes, but that simply leads to more headlines: ‘Shock Result!!’; ‘Voters Defy Polls!!’
All of which is just another step in the ‘create a story’ journalistic dance that passes for serious commentary.
I, for one, can’t wait to tick the box for Chauvel when I cast my vote in Ohariu. I’ve encouraged everyone I know to do the same.
The sooner we get rid of United Future and their “This garbage is not worth replying to” couldn’t-give-a-toss-about-anyone-who’s-not-like-me politics, the better.
If you don’t know what a callous and nasty piece of work Peter Dunne really is, you only need to read this: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0308/S00132.htm
I can’t believe you’d fall in line behind this guy, Petey. You might be doing some good, but the fact that you would consider a man so obviously missing any sort of empathy as a “leader” clearly signifies your inability to judge character.
Unguarded ‘honesty’ always gets them in the end.
Peter Dunne has some explaining to do.
So much for Mr Sensible/Reasonable.
Just do what I do. I ignore him, i don’t read any of his drivel, i don’t reply to any of his drivel. Means I save about an hour a day.
At last….. Thank God. After more than a decade and despite a change in US administration, and people’s high hopes for Obama, the Bush Doctrine is finally being challenged on the world stage by a major statesman.
Finally……
A major world leader who makes sense.
Sergei Lavrov, has served as Russian foreign minister since 2004.
“Iran exports about 2.4 million barrels a day of petroleum, of which China imports a little over a fourth.
Moreover, it would not be a good thing for anyone to have a global boycott (essentially a blockade) of Iranian petroleum, since that move would take the 2.4 million barrels a day off the world market and drive prices up to several hundred dollars a barrel.
So it just isn’t going to happen.”
http://www.juancole.com/2011/11/iran-looks-to-china-russia-to-break-out-of-us-sanctions.html
I noticed the latest Faifax poll totals out at 114.3%.
Its not clear,whether Nationals support is 52.5% or 52.5/114.3
If its the later ,this mornings headline that “More than half of people spoken to, prefer National” is not only misleading, its factually incorrect.
They haven’t counted the 14.3% undecideds.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/fairfax-media-poll/5931281/National-heading-for-outright-win
According to my calculatins if the undecideds are included, National is favoured by 44.99% of those questioned.
857-1000 people polled is not a very big sample.
Why don’t these polling pricks just announce Labour has dropped to zero support and be done with it? The Shark has been jumped alright.
Warning; anecdote follows: I was excluded from a telephone poll the other night because my age group quota was covered already apparently. I asked what if I was under 40 or 30 would there be space for me, the person said she could not tell me that, but after some cajoling said “probably” before ending the call. It is not just that the polls are bent it is the behavioural effect they have on some people. I have heard two people say they are not going to bother voting because John Key has it stitched up. Brilliant.
Then I suggest talking to them and disabusing them of that by pointing out that if they vote Jonkey doesn’t have it stitched up.
It’s not the size so much, but how you sample that determines the statistical rigour 😛
Looking at these polls the only kind of rigor is the dead and decaying kind
What kind of dickhead dumps a thousand legal-sized snapper?
Also, yet again a National minister (this time Ryall) has refused to front up on Radio NZ to debate his opposition spokesperson.
Oh well, at least it’s not anything important like the FUCKING HEALTH PORTFOLIO, right?
How many times is that? Is anyone in the MSM reporting this pattern?
It amazes me that so few Government Ministers front for interviews Felix. Especially the PM who only fronts to give statements but not interviews as he is “too busy.”
After all the fuss about the alleged affront to Democracy before the 2008 election there is silence about the affront to Democracy by the No-show Government MPs.
As a voter, I feel angry that I am being treated as a fool.
I feel that too, ianmac, and I reckon many others would too if they knew the contempt with which their govt is treating them.
But who’s going to let them know?
Ian / Felix,
Please understand no interviews will be given, only sound bites and definitely flattering photos (but only of the beloved leader)..
Word on the street re. health is that the plans for slashing are well under way
First Bill English’s little bro was brought in (on $400K p.a.) to scale down the MoH.
Second, the whole preventative sector will be deconstructed. They have already started the merging of ALAC and the Health Sponsorship Council.
Third, once upon a time we had 21 DHB’s, then we had 20 when Southland was swallowed up by Otago. There are strong signs that come June next year there will be a maximum of 14 DHB’s. It is interesting that one DHB has already announced the retirement of their CEO exactly at this time, and speculation has been rife regarding its merger with two adjacent DHB’s, so much so there is actually documentation with a logo kicking around.
Expect to see the private sector picking up more and more work, remember those ‘free visits to GP’s for under 6’s after hours’ are subject to cuts elsewhere.
‘I have heard two people say they are not going to bother voting because John Key has it stitched up. Brilliant.’
Just what they want TM – have they no go in them?
The left may not be victorious – heaven help us all but at least those out there doing practical stuff are helping the cause. Where would Labour have been in ’35 if they were not dogged in their pursuit?
Had cause for optimism for our Labour candidate as the National candidate was mercilessly heckled and booed at a meeting last week – maybe those on the sharp edge of things are starting to get a clue.
It’s not “if” but “when”. At some point the slumbering masses will wake up and realise they’ve been duped by the smiley snake. Retribution will be swift and savage.
Go Labour and the Greens just keep prodding and shaking those sleep-walking Kiwis there’s still time to wake them before the 26th. And when the tide turns just watch the MSM rush to scramble on board.
No they won’t, they’ll still talking up Jonkey as a Great Statesman and National as messengers from God. Same as they do now.
I don’t let people off the hook re enrolling and voting M, am involved with producing union election publications too. More people will realise pretty soon that they cannot eat aspiration.
Agree, the important group is the young; my daughter says she is voting Labour for the local seat and Green for party vote – as are many of her friends. We need to mobilise the young to protect their future.
The “National could govern alone” narrative depends on the exclusion of the undecideds, and even here, where they rate a mention, they are excluded from the calculation.
However the polls do not include those who have lost confidence in this country and have voted with their feet. To quote from the Herald article posted below: “(Dr Newell’s) research shows that New Zealand’s losses (to Australia) are higher among low-skilled and semi-skilled workers, including tradespeople, than among professional people, who benefit from New Zealand’s lower-than-Australia taxes on high incomes.
But almost half of the net loss in the past year was of people in their twenties and thirties, leaving a big hole in New Zealand’s working-aged population.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10764731
Let’s hope that many of these people are still registered to vote here, prefer policies that would make their home country more welcoming, and are able to throw a spanner into the works.
Today is the day that registered voters overseas can start to cast their votes.
That’s an interesting point, really.
There are lots of NZers that live in Australia. None of them ever show up in the polls these companies do, and yet they can cast special votes.
Israeli PM a “liar”. Says Sarkozy and Obama!!!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/08/sarkozy-obama-netanyahu-gaffe-microphone
Damn those press microphones.
That’ll be Mr.Mileikowsky they’re talking about.
After the discussion on the “invincibility” of National in the polls the Herald published this in relation to their Mood of the Nation.
“When the responses of youth voters (aged 18 to 24) are looked at in isolation, Labour has turned the tables on National, with the support of 46 per cent of young voters against National’s 29 per cent.”
Only a tiny sample but interesting.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10764668
The hard part is getting that segment of the population enrolled and voting, Ian. The point of the MSM’s meme of National strolling to victory is to encourage people not to bother voting because the election is a done deal. This is intended to become a self fulfilling prophesy; if the Herald et al can convince swing voters not to bother turning out to the booths, then National win by default.
Jim Anderton is a loser with a pathetic attitude
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10764687
No, it’s not a pathetic attitude.
The law is a dog. It needs to be tided up with some common sense provisions.
I assume you’re in favour of WhaleOil and others wasting police time with frivolous complaints?
Dosn’t Whaleoil just waste the Electoral Commission’s time. They are the ones who referred it to the police – wouldn’t have thought they would do that if they thought it was frivolous.
Getting it referred to the police is WhaleOil’s goal.
Something is not going right? National is calling in Nat helpers from as far away as 300kms to help with canvassing in Chch. Gives a lie to the polls.
National are getting desperate. Can feel it in the aura around their paid activists lately, someone’s cracking the whip real hard.
Um Christchurch is a Labour strong-hold. National only hold one electorate seat, Ilam. The voting there outside Ilam and Waimakariri tends to be 50-50 in other electorates or Labour outperforming National. Thus it makes sense for National to work harder in an area where they don’t do very well.
I just wish they gave more of a fight to Wigram. Because if you combine Labour’s vote with Progressives from 2008 you get a 2200 vote gap. If ever they’re going to take Wigram now would be a time. Its an electorate that is changing with a growing Asian influence. It shouldn’t be a left-wing cakewalk but at the moment it is.
I was trying to fathom this ‘Key at races makes women wet’ article and now it makes sense.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10764718
Nice helping hand for National’s party vote in Christchurch…
/vomit
he said as much by admitting he had a vasectomy.
Good to know them fillies cant get him to stand over them for stud fees.
They’ll be getting real busy then:
Although, I actually get more annoyed the waste of resources that is the temporary stadium being labelled as “good news”. Talk about getting the priorities completely wrong. Fiddling while Rome Burns seems to be modus operandi for this government.
The video is here.
And the spin has started.
It seems Johnny Boy did not hear the loudspeaker or notice the deathly silence amongst the crowd.
Ben Santer: Crushing the Myth of Global Cooling
Also: http://www.grist.org/list/2011-11-07-handy-image-shows-how-climate-deniers-manipulate-data
National’s Election Hoarding’s 11
“ACT have been very stable, so ACT returning to Parliament is something I’d like to see as opposed to something I wouldn’t like to see;” John Key said.
Does the with-holding that the ACT nod, indicate something? Key will only nod if he believes they really really need ACT. Isn’t that a bit contemptuous? Discard the voters if we don’t need them.
“I will only have a date with you if I can’t find anyone better.”
Anything to do with Don Brash dating anybody is simply wrong… Cringe!
John Key confesses to his role in destroying the global economy on breakfast TV
Enjoy!!!
Shot ev…good lookin out !
🙂
Memo “seanmaitland”
Some time ago now I refuted some remarkably foolish and ignorant statements you made about the running of the 2007 World Cup. You have for some reason (embarrassment, perhaps?) not replied.
To jog your memory, you can look over the débâcle of your attempt to disrespect French rugby HERE….
http://thestandard.org.nz/abs-vs-wallabies/#comment-386572
Helen & Mark, Cameron’s big society, great cause for inspiration for Key’s welfare policy.
These people committed suicide once they were denied their benefits, I guess it saves Cameron & National, on trains and gas…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW_CUfu0NJc&feature=youtu.be
Fairly major news just announced: Berlusconi resigns.
WAIT ON.
He said that he WILL resign ONCE new budget measures are passed.
Berlusconi ain’t going no where yet. That boy still has tricks up his sleeve.
Exactly – don’t believe it until it happens. He has more time to manipulate the ‘traitors’ who voted against him to voting for him the longer he stays.
major non news is that dimwit from the dompost tracy watkins crowing that kweewee and his gang re going to win th election outright.
in a pigs bum lady.
you might be stupid after too many rubber chickens legs and hi fat sosage rollsa t bellamys but the public aren’t.
The Nats have just announced they are going to further slow down the introduction of the ETS. This will further blow out their deficit.
Why don’t they just take it out back and shoot it in the head to put it out of its misery?
Here’s the ideal Tory to wield the gun, Mickey:
National Party candidate calls own party policy a ‘con’.
Another rouge Fed. Farmer it seems, replete with the usual dubious weaselling disclaimer:
…
McKelvie’s none too bright. He made the papers (and got labelled by David Farrar as ‘stupid’) for putting his election signage up earlier than the local council by-laws allowed. That’s the council where he’s currently mayor. D’oh!
I’m also told that he said at one electorate meeting that he would not campaign in the north of the Rangitikei electorate because ‘they’re all poor, maori or both up there’.
So in other words he’s one the old boys representing National’s true blue roots, which wouldn’t be complete without being a racist and treating the poor as shit…
A different attack, this time Gareth Hughes on Labour. The Dom Post has just had a Live Chat with the Ohariu candidates. Hughes carefully phrased round Labour in relation to their electorate support arrangement, but closed off the chat with a poke at Labour’s filibustering. Hughes versus Chauvel.
wow pete geroge. thats really scintillating prose to say that Labour is going to open a big can of whipass on the hairdo that dunnit hides behind.
lololol
The number of articles appearing on Stuff today that talk up National and talk down Labour makes me wonder if the righties are running a little scared.
“Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater has been denied leave to appeal his convictions for deliberately breaking court suppression orders. ” -The Court of Appeal
So that is that.
Please tell me he will go to prison, please tell me he will frequently drop the soap?
now you’re sounding like crushless collins.
Slice of asset sale profits to go to irrigation – National
So, selling state assets now produces profits? Anyone got any actual data to back that up? Because I’m pretty sure, once we take into account inflation from the time the assets were built until now, and revenue loss we won’t be seeing any profits from selling them. What we will see, under proper accounting, is a massive loss.
MANA PRESS RELEASE
9 NOVEMBER 2011
Copy of the Open letter sent
9 November 2011
Kia ora Ross,
Challenge to public debate
I’m writing to challenge you to a public debate in the Manukau East electorate at any time up till the last day of campaigning – although the sooner it takes place the better for voters to consider the issues before polling day.
I decided to stand against you in this electorate because in the time you have been the MP the people of Manukau East have gone backwards with low-pay, high unemployment and endemic poverty.
I taught in this electorate for over 10 years and have seen so many Maori and Pacific families struggling to maintain their self-respect and dignity in the face of the awful social impact of the economic policies of Labour and National. Yet in all your time as MP I can’t recall a single occasion when you have spoken out strongly for the most vulnerable people of your electorate.
For example while I was teaching at Tangaroa College from 2000 to 2004 the number of Pacific Island families in severe hardship increased from 16% to 30%. You were the MP and Labour was in government but you were silent.
It seems that throughout your time as an MP you have collected a big salary, eaten your lunch and become patron of several sports clubs – what else?
In the last few days I’ve been reading the Statistics Department quarterly income survey and found that (adjusted for inflation) the last three years have been even more disastrous for Maori and Pacific families who make up the majority of people in your electorate.
The median income for Maori from 2008 to 2011 is nearly 16% lower – they are $86 a week worse off. For Pacific Islanders it is even worse – they are over $100 a week worse off.
You weren’t in government then Ross but that’s no excuse for remaining silent while your constituents suffer. You are their MP. It seems to me you have used these people as voting fodder to give you a politician-for-life lifestyle.
The statistics for pokie machines, liquor outlets and loan sharks are also appalling – the parasites on poverty have been active in the electorate but you have been inert. Have you ever raised your voice above a whisper on any of these issues?
I was with one of your constituents a couple of weeks back and she said to me “Ross is only good for a cup of tea…” I can see no evidence to think otherwise.
It seems you have been missing in action for 20 years Ross.
These are the issues I want to raise in public with you and give you the opportunity to respond in public. The people of this electorate deserve to hear you speak out on your own behalf for the dreadful situation you have remained silent about for 20 years.
I will make myself available at any time and any place within the electorate for the debate. Please contact me or my campaign manager as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements.
I wait to hear your positive response.
Regards,
John Minto
List MPs should be ordered on the
number of votes they attract, so
removing the gift giving of party
power brokers. Would Garrett have
won any votes once his child
idenity fraud came to light?
Greens have too much freedom to
choose who is on their list.
Remove the 5% rule, remove the
one constituent MP rule.
Strictly proportional representation,
you win an MP (and they did win an
electorate) then the MP comes from
the MP of that party with the
highest vote. So if Banks gets the
highest vote of ACT MPs, he would
be first on the list even if he
lost Epson, but ACT got enough
proportion of the vote.
We vote for a list but not the individuals on it unless they are in an electorate, and many do not compete in them. In some of the STV systems voters get the chance to rank the lists too. Ireland I think is the most noteable (but I may be out of date there).
My poitn was, keep MMP but order list MPs according to how many votes
they got. This would turn list MP into local MPs who have an interest in
their constitutiences.
Just happened on this Editorial at the Manawatu Standard and well said Warwick Rasmussen.
Great to have a byline.
Agree about the response from spectators at Leaders Debates is based on responses to slanging.
And the weird nature of poll focus perhaps being used to steer voters or even create a partisan climate.
Good work Warwick.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/opinion/5914516/Editorial-Slanging-match-cheapens-election
In celebration of our movie makers 😀
John Key gets interviewed by an expert!!!!!
Just flicked onto Close Up tonight and surprised to see the unsmiling Mike Hoskins interviewing (!) John Key!!! (I bet John thought he would get the soft touch from Mark Sainsbury.)
But no! Immigration to Australia and advantage of Australia over NZ and how it is not really an issue to Key. But Mike says to Key you cannot deny it. The facts are there.
End of interview. Key mask drops. He looks off camera right and does not look to be a happy chappy.
Not up yet on Replay but wonder if it gets pulled for “technical reasons.”
Here it is. Very good cover.
http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/091111-wed-video-4516959
More specifically:
http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/john-key-returns-fire-over-aussie-exodus-video-4516961
Did you notice the Key face in the last 3 seconds?
I think that he was on the back foot and worked hard at his usual defence, ” Lets take a step back and look…..”
Yes but note how the item is headlined in glowing terms for Key…
The eyes! Those lying eyes! It’s more obvious on the link you provided, Ian, there’s a second more before the cut at the very end. Shifty as.
I wouldn’t call it “shifty” so much as worried. Key knew that his lies hadn’t been bought.
” Lets take a step back and look…..” 4 times – structure and position the conversation so that people feel they are removed from the stance originally taken whilst trying to see it from a veiw that is in your favour.
He (jonkey) spent quite a lot of that in interview trying to deny the real numbers and inserting his own made up ones like the BS that wages have increased when, in real terms, most incomes have actually gone down.
Key keeps using that ‘after tax’ figure.
So, his solution to the wage gap is to eliminate all income tax? That would create some interesting fiscal consequences just to claim achievement of what was clearly empty electioneering rhetoric in 2008.
He admits as much when he talked in the interview as if ‘closing the gap’ is (and was?) a ‘silly idea’. As Hoskings said, ‘so you didn’t believe in the Task Force when you set it up?’.
It would have been good to know that he thought it was really silly when, three years ago, he was standing in empty rugby stadia and fronting billboards with planes flying to Australia emblazoned across them.
Now here’s an interesting headline:
“National’s moderate approach to emissions scheme”
I remember the editor of The Press once explaining, in response to a letter to the Editor about a supposedly biased headline, that the headline wasn’t biased because the wording acknowledged that the offending words were from a quote of a politician by having scare quotes around the phrase.
It turns out from the article that “moderate approach” were John Key’s words. Unacknowledged. No scare quotes.
He might call it “moderate” –
I’d call it “less than useless”.
Looks like the jug is at the boil and the doilies are being laid out.
Anyone for a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party?
here is the beef in the wairarapa. the assets will be sold to pay for a water retention and storage scheme in two locations, upper and lower on the ruamahanga.
the deal should be that the state tenders out the bid and then cuts a deal with the operator rather than shift investment wholesale and let valuable income streams escape from the country.
that is nationals policy.
you know its okay and will probably go ahead but it should have been in the public debate long ago instead of released under what I suspect was intense pressure to make it public.
that is what national has become.
they prefer secret deals rather than good old fashioned public debate.
Why patents needs to be reviewed and/or abolished
Because they’re seriously getting in the way of innovation and being used to reward people and companies for work that they didn’t do.
I’ve been going to electorate meetings.
Interesting to see the amount being thrown at the Nat candidate. Asset sales top of the list (the mixed ownership line was followed by the whole hall chanting “sales”), followed by the debt lies (we’ll spend it on this or maybe that), then “when is the minimum wage likely to be increased we’ve been waiting 20 years”, too many in prisons, education national standards, why the bene bashing? and the last few questions were on local or smaller issues. This was a packed hall in an upper income suburb, SES 10, and I really don’t think the Nats had 52% of the hall or anything near that.
Any chance of electorate meeting reports from elsewhere?
At the Remuera election forum tonight there were five candidates.
Here’s everybody being reminded that Brash should really be standing in Epsom but few would vote for him. Banks on the left:
http://i40.tinypic.com/1zdyr1v.jpg
Banks had to put up with the Brash photo in front of the lectern for 18 minutes:
http://i40.tinypic.com/23ralx3.jpg
until Banks could stand it no longer, and he chucked the picture of his leader out the back:
http://i41.tinypic.com/2nc17au.jpg
Great photos
They say a picture speaks a thousand words! A decisive moment or 3!
awesome photos jaymam
that photo of brash is scary
John Banks holding his leader Brash by the hair:
http://i42.tinypic.com/350s6ye.jpg
Feel free to publish these photos elsewhere!
classic 😆
thanks jaymam , will do
So , out of the five, one is obviously Banks, who are the others?
Here are all the Epsom candidates:
http://i41.tinypic.com/2duy2rb.jpg
From left: Pat O’Dea (Mana), Paul Goldsmith (National), David Parker (Labour), John Banks (ACT/National), the convenor, David Hay (Green) (speaking), Don Brash (ACT/National) (photo only due to his absence)
May I say that David Parker was outstanding, and would make an excellent and popular Labour PM.