Karol.
Just a few years ago Auckland hosted the wonderfull Labour Day weekend festival/
Great talent from NZ and overseas ,M y family never missed one and from the Waikato.
Ended by the despicable John Banks . Who by the way has enough money to pay for Artistes if he wishes to see our talent. What a mean plonker . Lets hope he is never elected to public office ever again.
Why did that editor not sign it? It is not a comment on a blog site, it is an Editorial in the Herald. If it is truly their opinion and not paid-for propaganda, why wouldn’t the writer put their name to it?
It is not on a blog. It is presented as a Herald Editorial and is unsigned. Not even a pseudonym. It is a malicious opinion piece designed to denigrate Hone, shooting him in the back on his way out of the wasps nest. For the Herald to publish that piece of work minus any signature is an act of cowardice, an avoidance of accountability for their own words.
Stop Press:
Annette King is putting herself forward for the Labour Party Leadership. Trevor Mallard will be her campaign manager.
King says she is disgusted with Shearer and Goff for pushing Parker forward as the fall-back should Robertson slip into third in the preferences after Cunliffe and Little.
King says that on the daily “Anything But Co-operative” conference call it had been agreed that a Wellington Region MP was to be the back-up for the faltering Robertson.
King says she has proven leadership skills having driven the successful ABC faction since October 2007 when Helen Clark appointed Cunliffe Health Minister rather than her. King insists that is was very mean of Helen to not give her Health for reasons un-related to the Hawkes Bay.
Karol’s reminder of the Waitakere Festival parallels the National Radio commentary this morning on Dunedin’s Blueskin Bay. Resistance to bog-standard capitalism may not re-emerge in a cohrent nationwide political form for many years. And even local government is regularly gutted by reformation. But communitarian clusters can work. They can build up new leaders. They can find a scope for change and grasp it and make it happen.
They can also burn people out, and are no substitute for national governments. But I think this is where we are now. Politically, we are really starting again.
..their kow-towing rush to war with national/key..has me finally turning away spitting contempt at them..they are beyond any fucken hope of being a true progressive party..
..they are just a sub-section of a rotting/rotten establishment..
..and i am not sure what question ‘labour’ is the answer to..
Yes, you’re right there, BM. Protectionist, xenophobic and nothing without their leader. There was an interesting poll result overnight; despite Ed Miliband being personally unpopular, Labour have a solid 7 point lead over the Tories. UKIP are looking likely to split the vote in many southern Tory seats allowing Labour to win them even on a relatively small vote. That should have the effect of exaggerating the overall number of seats Labour win in comparison to their actual popularity.
“..UKIP are looking likely to split the vote in many southern Tory seats allowing Labour to win them even on a relatively small vote…”
pretty much just what the greens just did up and down the country..eh..?
..and what they do every election..
..split the vote..and allow the right to waltz thru into power..
..(but they are polite..i am sure you will be all reassured by the fact their green candidate in ohariu belmont..one tane woodley..who split over 2,500 votes from the progressive bloc..
..allowing dunne to win by just 700 votes..
..well..he is on record at ‘congratulating’ dunne on his victory..
..and i am still waiting for a green to fucken explain why they do this/fuck the progressive bloc..
“pretty much just what the greens just did up and down the country..eh..?..and what they do every election…split the vote..and allow the right to waltz thru into power..”
Bizarre that out of all the reasons for the past three election losses, you would ignore a multitude of contributing factors, yet you choose to point the finger at a couple of thousand voters in epsom and ohariu and the green party for standing candidates, even though they have to in order to participate in constituency debates to push the party vote.
I bemoaned the lack of cohesion and strategy on the left for a good number of years now, especially around tactical voting and presenting a unified opposition, so playing the outrage/blame card is moot.
Holding the green party responsible for losing those two seats and three elections is small minded little picture stuff. Besides being valid that you can’t get on the podium at candidate meetings if you don’t stand in the first place, the green party did ask for closer electoral cooperation and got rebuffed for their efforts.
So what’s the plan pu? You going to keep slinging mud at the greens because they’re not the party of flakes and pot suckers you fell in love with all those years ago? Or are you going to get stuck in, contribute to the discussion and help build the policy platform and shape the direction the opposition needs to become government in 2017?
“..go talk to nz first..
..their supporters only have one choice..”
What are you claiming here Phil?
You appear to be saying that New Zealand First candidates stood ONLY for List places and there were no electorate candidates.
In fact New Zealand First had a total of 32 candidates of whom 29 stood for electorates and 31 were on the list. There were only 3, including Winnie, who did not stand for an electorate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidates_in_the_New_Zealand_general_election_2014_by_party#New_Zealand_First
NZ First didn’t field a candidate in Ohariu but at the “meet the candidates meeting” I attended NZ First was represented by the Wellington Central candidate, Hugh Barr.
..labour want to mine/drill etc..(they are environment-vandals..they are part of our problem..look at their fucken record last time..)
..labour promise to do sweet fuck all about the dire poverty/misery..(at least half-induced/fostered by them..)
..apart from some fiddling around the edges..
..economically..you can barely slide a cigarette-paper between national and labour policies..both are designed to maintain the status quo..however fucked/environmentally-dirty/poverty-sustaining it may be..)
..and now they are tripping over themselves to rush us into yet another long-war..
..far far away on the other side of the planet..
..(and of course labour took us into afghanistan..didn’t that work out well..?..)
Yet you want the Greens to step aside for neoliberal Labour. It makes as much sense to claim that Labour should disband and let Greens and Mana capture the opposition votes. Actually, probably more.
Three community things of the kind you describe, I’ve blown off just this weekend. And I’ve just come in from sitting in the sun doing absolutely nothing because my neighbour started his petrol hedge cutter on his side of the hedge just where I was leaning aginst it. We usually do it together. A really good neighbour, but not subtle with the hints.
Anyway, you’re right, this is exactly what we are left with now, our own communities. But building up the momentum, getting people on board and keeping on going is sometimes tiring and depressing, so it’s lucky there are those ‘energiser bunny’ types around being irrepressible and generally amazing.
Just saying really. When it works it’s all worth it, and the fact is, for most of us, where we are and the people around that place are our richest and most indispensible resource for dealing with the problems of the immediate future, let alone how things might be a decade from now. Sounds like it’s going really well at Waitati, I’ve long been impressed by what you people have achieved.
A succession of national governments have thrown whole communities to the wolves, not all of them National with a capital N. We have to stop imagining they give a shit and get on with it.
But communitarian clusters can work. They can build up new leaders. They can find a scope for change and grasp it and make it happen.
They can also burn people out, and are no substitute for national governments. But I think this is where we are now. Politically, we are really starting again.
I would say that many of the members of the Andersons Bay-Peninsula Branch of the Labour Party (Dunedin South) have this sensibility. In my view, it is the only way that Labour has a chance of getting out of the Thorndon Bubble and reconnecting with the 1.2M who did not vote.
The Labour Party in Australia, UK and NZ refuse to ‘just say the fucking truth’: about climate change, about resource depletion, about post-peak oil, about oligarchy. And in every one of those countries, the relevance of the Labour Party is declining.
I should add that participation in national politics also burns people out. Badly.
International security expert Paul Buchanan said the claims were “absurd”. “He’s building a case for war. He’s pulled the beheading imagery out for what I think are spurious purposes.”
Buchanan accused Key of misrepresenting New Zealand’s role in joining the coalition against Isis – although he conceded it was impossible to discount a threat. “There’s no evidence that because you fight against Isis the method of retribution is beheading on the streets of Auckland.”
I have just watched that dick on Q&A interview Key. He would not be a journalists arseole, Just let Key burble on at full throttle. No probing questions like,”you did not say you was thinking of engaging NZ troops before the election” or, “do you think it would put NZ at risk for being a target for terrorism if we engaged our troops ”
Good on Paul Buchanan for questioning the spivs warmongering because no one else will especially the media.
I think I could do that job,J Key referred to,the problem of my ten o’clock tea break,an the dilemma of staying on job for the only aircraft of the day,coming in at,yes you quest it ten o’clock.what an idiot .
Rationality has become a loaded word in economics, bringing with it the baggage of earlier models that did not anticipate the findings of behavioral economics or take into account other every-day observations. The traditional rationality model includes the assumption that rational behavior is optimizing behavior (“rational economic man maximizes his utility”). In the 1970s an extreme version of this made the further assumption that rational economic actors have “perfect information.” A slightly more modest version says that people will collect information until the perceived costs of acquiring additional information exceed the perceived benefits.
The big problem I have with modern economics is that, as studied in schools and universities, it doesn’t have a purpose. It seems to exist only to make a few people richer. We, as a community, need to change this and state what we want our economy to achieve.
Never tried the stuff but understand the nickname for it is shit just like the article you
copied into your post. Almost ALL the comments agreeing that Pot is OK were from long time users.
.
The Fairfax report today Fears of terror in our own backyard is a prompt to remind ourselves of an inherent bias in Western media, that often infers that the Muslim religion is a problem
Reza points out that “Muslim Countries” are not a problem. But repressive regimes in Muslim countries, and in Christian countries, and in Buddhist countries, (and in any country) certainly are.
I’ll be back to provide the facts and evidence which will prove how it is Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town who is making ‘wild and inaccurate’ allegations against me, as I continue to expose how Auckland Council is a ‘Supercity’ for the corporate 1%.
Which is why they’re attempting to neck stamp me as an anti-corruption whistle-blower by trying to sell my freehold home because of unpaid rates which I have withheld, because ratepayers and citizens are not being given the ‘devilish detail’ of where exactly rates monies are being spent.
I have sat by and watched lies and manipulations galore since my first awareness of the cold war, the hype and propaganda never stops, pulled by god knows what human being who’s compass has been corrupted.
It creates conspiracies and you wonder when you here these wild theorists and their conspiracies of army supplies, oil, world domination, Skulls and bones, Bilderberg groups etc and what the heck is real, what’s just plain old stupidity. What is a fabricated conspiracy, what is actually going on.
But Governments like the USA spread so many mistruths , a man can’t find out the truth if it was slapped in his face with a title saying” This is the real truth”.
The thing that drives my depression is the fact that it’s never ending with no way to stop or even change it’s course. I despair at my insignificance to say HEY. WTF! Stop it.
Thanks media, thanks for believing every statement issued by your elected governments without question or investigation. Thanks once again a hole fucking lot.
Andrew Little says voters wanted “greater clarity” about Labour’s potential coalition partners and the party should have clearly spurned Internet-Mana
Labour did and even worked with National to ensure that Hone wouldn’t get back in to TTT.
They didn’t like the idea of a very wealthy individual writing out a massive cheque, funding a campaign that was really about his self-interest and a bunch of other people signing up to it,
Except that wasn’t what it was about and Little continuing to spread that lie doesn’t help.
Oh, and the CCCP party, which has a leader doing exactly that, seems to be getting quite a bit of support.
Well Little listens to the people for starters, working people that is and he has the sense to come clean on crap policy’s like the raising of the retirement age which was a dead duck policy, as was the CGT. Property investment is a sacred cow since too many people got burned investing in the sharemarket.
Labour & the Greens just aren’t Left enough and unfortunately Mana’s leader is too off putting to many Maori & non Maori, it’s not like they attracted the 3/4 million non voter bloc.
What MMP needs to be successful is the dropping of the threshold down to 2 percent and scrapping electorate MP’s completely and empowering local body politics by electing one councilor to represent to parliament.
Bollocks, Phil. The EPMU has moved to the left in recent years, particularly in Little’s time. We’ll see during the election campaign where he stands politically, but I’m picking he is to the left of all the other candidates. Not that the others are right wing anyway. Some tend to the centre, but that doesn’t make them right wing per se.
I know what you mean, Draco, but the centre is still the centre. While the perceived normal has swung toward the right, left and right are still the political poles. Being on the right of the LP does not necessarily mean right wing in the wider political spectrum. Part of the reason that the me me me meme dominates at the moment is because of political ignorance. Perpetuating that ignorance by misplacing individuals and their beliefs is not helpful. The centre is the centre.
In the fifties, sixties and seventies, it could be argued that the consensus was skewed to the left. These things change and this current alignment will not last forever.
In the fifties, sixties and seventies, it could be argued that the consensus was skewed to the left.
When the world was more prosperous.
While the perceived normal has swung toward the right, left and right are still the political poles.
Actually, they’re pretty much meaningless dribble now as the Left wing hold to the same economic orthodoxy as the RWNJs. Even in the 1950s/60s the Left were all about protecting capitalism from capitalism rather than bringing about a social and economic shift away from that failed system.
The real problem is that we don’t have an economic system but a financial system pretending to be an economic system and both Left and Right hold to it religiously.
The real problem is that we don’t have an economic system but a financial system pretending to be an economic system and both Left and Right hold to it religiously.
Yep +100. A debt based financial and monetary system pretending to be an economy.
No right to collective bargaining or smoko – radical right wing.
For-profit education – radical right wing.
Criminal negligence on the environment – radical right wing.
“Ratfuckers” – radical right wing.
Ubiquitous mass surveillance – totalitarian too.
Death squads are hardly a “radical” idea – right wing, the result of cretinhood and malice, by all means, but radical?
For fucks sake. Anyone who truly understands what “left” and “right ” means knows that no one in Labour even comes close to being left wing. Havn’t for nearly 30 years. The true left wingers in the Labour Party left in the 80s and have never gone back.
“Labour did and even worked with National to ensure that Hone wouldn’t get back in to TTT.”
Yep – in some ways the dour, gray faced leadership choices they have now is a just reward for them – eenie, meanie, oh fuck it these stooges are all moe.
It’s funny how that line about Nat/Lab cooperation keeps getting repeated despite the total lack of evidence for it.
Just out of interest, how much do you think Hone contributed to the loss of TTT? 10%, 20%? Maybe more? To paraphrase an earlier comment, Hone was doomed the moment he signed up with KDC. He ceded control of the campaign and it cost him and mana dearly. There’s the problem, right there. A fatal strategic error, months before the campaign really got underway.
Sure Hone gets to take the blame for the result – how much of it? Quite a lot I think but I also believe the coalition of the anti-Hone/anti-Mana, comprising all those that backed kd, including labour, NZF, the maori party and the gnats, contributed too. I think that if KDC hadn’t come along that coalition would still have formed and maybe even achieved the same result. I’m really of the opinion that getting Hone and Mana out of parliament was the biggest win for the right on a night of big wins and a goal they had well before IMP was conceived and/or formed.
AFAIK both Harawira and IMP’s vote increased in TTT compared to 2011. So when you ask what % of Labour winning TTT is Hawawira’s fault, I’m perplexed. Do you mean that he should have forseen Labour, National, NZF and Mp all taking deliberate action to keep him out of parliament?
I’m not suggesting that those parties worked together in the way you imply. They didn’t have to. The opportunity arose for them all independently to take actions that worked in concert on a common target. No conspiracy, just a bunch of arseholes playing the power game to suit themselves.
Can’t expect much else from the other 3, but Labour should be ashamed of themselves. And don’t give me that crap about how Mana/IMP should have approached Labour earlier in the year to try and do a deal, unless you have some (any) evidence that Labour would have been willing (all the evidence to date suggests they wouldn’t).
“So when you ask what % of Labour winning TTT is Hawawira’s fault, I’m perplexed”
Yep, that’s pretty reflective of the blinkered reading some folk have of what happened in TTT, weka. To repeat myself, Hone lost the moment he shook KDC’s hand. Nobody in Labour made him do it. So, seriously, how much do you think Hone contributed to his own downfall?
“Do you mean that he should have forseen Labour, National, NZF and Mp all taking deliberate action to keep him out of parliament? ”
You mean like having an election? Standing candidates? That sort of thing? Yeah, I’m pretty sure Hone knew he wouldn’t be running unopposed.
As for a deal, it was up to Hone to make the approach. If he wanted something from Labour, he had to start the process and present a case for the deal. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Bargaining 101.
I am starting to view Labour’s stance toward Mana as reflective of the blinkered reading some folk in New Zealand have toward the serious issues of marginalization and loss of social mobility that comes with the increasing wealth disparity that is occurring in our society and which Mana speaks up strongly about.
Act gets parliamentary representation despite getting less than half of the votes that IMP got, whereas IMP ends up with no representation at all.
This difference is not solely due to Harawira’s choice to join with KDC and no matter how many times the ‘blame it on KDC factor’ is repeated, won’t make it the sole cause of what occurred in TTT.
Is what occurred in TTT solely IMP’s loss? Or the left wing’s too?
Could Labour have been in government by now had they taken a more inclusive approach toward all potential support parties?
Could the Left have been in government by now had they responded to the cheap-shit corporate spin being broadcast throughout this country all year by countering it, rather than running with it?
How many people didn’t vote IMP out of fear that Hone may not win the seat?
How many of these people shifted their vote to another leftwing party and how many of them ended up not voting at all?
Blaming it all on ‘the KDC factor’ bypasses these [above] types of important questions that need to be answered if the leftwing in this country want to sharpen up their act and gain power.
I suggest to you that responding to someone by implying they are blinkered is just the type of attitude that gets the left going nowhere – and fast.
I’m not blaming on the KDC factor, I’m blaming it on Hone. He made at least two poor strategic decisions; not trying to get an understanding from Labour in TTT was one, KDC was the other. He had options, and chose the wrong ones. KDC, however, was the killer, something that Dotcom himself recognised immediately post election.
Anyhoo, mana are history now. I wonder if Laila will get a book out of it?
“not trying to get an understanding from Labour in TTT was one”
lol – that was a labour mistake and look where it has got them – another 3 years in opposition, disarray in the leadership, distrust from the public, ridicule across the board and still the unbelievable ability from some, who support the Party, to even understand why it all happened.
Mana hasn’t died and it will rise again, stronger – but labour? Oh deary me I think the slippery slope is too steep and too slippery for those folk.
Ho ho ho. Labour are still in parliament. We are still the leading opposition party and will lead the next progressive government whenever it is formed. Mana? First step to a future would be admitting the mistakes made in the campaign.
Yep a few mistakes indeed – luckily Mana as a new movement with the knowledge that it takes time to build, time to grow and time to learn from mistakes.
but you can’t really say that about labour can you – I mean the same mistakes made over and over again is the definition of what again?
Mana didn’t lose the election for the left – how about dealing with that cold hard fact.
Actually, marty, I think it is arguable that mana did cost the left the election. KDC dominated the airwaves to the point where LP, Greens and even NZF policy barely got a mention. And the right played on the possibility of Labour needing to do a deal with mana to generate a negative vibe around the alternative government.
Anyway, it won’t be an issue at the next election.
Well that is definitely a line – that Mana cost the left the election. I don’t agree because I think that minimises labour and their ability to electioneer – I just don’t think they are as useless as that (but perhaps the result puts paid to my generosity of spirit). Responsibility must rest on labour – they have the history, the people, the leadership of the opposition – Mana and KDC supplied plenty of opportunity and labour squandered it, mainly imo due to lack of courage, lack of vision and lack of left wing cred – the electorate didn’t/doesn’t trust labour and its leaders and I am sad about that, they’d rather slimeball key and that must stick in the throat like a chicken bone.
get over it mate – rebuild your party just as we will rebuild the Mana Movement.
“Well that is definitely a line – that Mana cost the left the election.”
You may very well believe that, marty, but I’ll stick to it being arguable. Anyhoo, good luck with the rebuilding. Have a chat to Laila about how the Alliance rebuilt itself … oh, wait.
Not in your lifetime. Labour are terminal in so many ways. Look at the candidates for leader. Four white middle class, middle aged men. Now thats really going to appeal to the average kiwi voter.
The MISTAKE was of Labour by not supporting Hone and IMP in TT.
Kelvin Davies did have a fairly high place, 18th, on the list. There was absolutely no need to go all out to win the electorate. Labour should have simply asked for the party vote instead of trying to unseat Hone. This is MMP, not FFP. Labour needs to work smarter on their election winning plans, at least in crucial electorates.
As I said, Labour made a very stupid ego-driven strategic mistake, won the battle and lost the election war. How dumb is that! Idiots!
Electorates are FPP. Hone came second because he simply wasn’t popular enough. He didn’t get enough votes. The people of Te Tai Tokerau had a democratic choice and they chose Labour’s candidate.
And if was so obvious what Labour had to do, why didn’t Hone say something? Laila? KDC? You know why? Because Hone’s strategy was to get into parliament and vote issue by issue. He wanted to be on the cross benches. That was a clear message to Labour. Ok, when Laila got involved, she started talking a bit more sense of how things might look post election. But again, no approach to Labour. How dumb is that? As you say, Idiots!
btw, Labour’s strategy was a winner. 6 out of 7 maori seats says the LP got that strategy pretty much perfect.
I’m convinced that Labour see Mana as a more dangerous opposition to them than NAct. Mana is always going to be there, pointing out how Labour policies hurt the poor, the environment, and race relations. They show people that Labour is not what it pretends to be. Labour do not like this at all, and will do what they can to keep posing as representatives of the workers.
TRP’s glee at seeing Labour getting six of the Maori seats but remaining in opposition just convinces me more.
In the same way the most vociferous enemies of the Occupy Movement were not Republicans – but Democrats, who did not want to be shown up for the upper middle class big corporate leaning party that they really are.
“Yep, that’s pretty reflective of the blinkered reading some folk have of what happened in TTT, weka. To repeat myself, Hone lost the moment he shook KDC’s hand. Nobody in Labour made him do it. So, seriously, how much do you think Hone contributed to his own downfall?”
I’m not blinkered, I understand the argument about KDC’s toxicity well enough. I’m asking you to explain the mechanism, given his and the party vote INCREASED. All you’ve done is repeat what you said before, which is your assertion that it’s all Harawira’s fault, but you haven’t said HOW.
“Do you mean that he should have forseen Labour, National, NZF and Mp all taking deliberate action to keep him out of parliament? ”
You mean like having an election? Standing candidates? That sort of thing? Yeah, I’m pretty sure Hone knew he wouldn’t be running unopposed.
Don’t be a dick, you know that’s not what I meant.
“As for a deal, it was up to Hone to make the approach. If he wanted something from Labour, he had to start the process and present a case for the deal. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Bargaining 101.”
blah blah blah, heard it all before and it still’s just a line. Until you put up some kind of evidence, or even theory, that Labour were open to such a thing and how it might have worked, it’s just more Hone bashing.
Sorry, weka, but if you can’t get past the basics of electoral politics, then nothing I say will make a difference. SFW that Hone’s vote went up! It didn’t go up by enough. And if you can’t even except that Hone might be somewhat to blame, then you really do operate in a world of your own. 98.5% of voters who made a choice, rejected Mana/Imp. Hone chose that platform. He ran on it. He lost on it. He’s got to take the responsibility.
When NZF dipped out in 2008, Winston didn’t sulk. He organised.
Of course Harawira has responsibility on this. Stop putting words in my mouth. You’re just reducing a complex situation down to a very convenient slogan: KDC evil, Harawira fucked up. And that takes into account none of the issues that need to be understood by the left other than Labour will cut off its nose to spite its face and everyone else be damned. Still no explanation from you on either of the points I raised, so yep, Hone bashing.
@ CR…..yes this is why Labour must get back to grassroots membership democracy …otherwise it is just an oligarchy of middle class careerists.
..and not only former Labour voters, but also potential new Labour voters, know this is a contradiction in Labour values and what Labour is supposed to stand for .
My own son, a new blue collar worker , was going to vote Labour but changed his mind after what he saw Labour doing to undercut and defeat Hone and Internet /Mana! ( blue collar workers are not stupid and they listen to the radio and the likes of Willie Jackson )
My own son, a new blue collar worker , was going to vote Labour but changed his mind after what he saw Labour doing to undercut and defeat Hone and Internet /Mana!
I did that too!…and for the same reason. As I am not in TT, gave my electorate vote to Labour and party vote to IMP.
@Clemgeopin…no I am NOT your Mother!…my son gave both votes to the Greens
( Plunket the radio hack right winger put my son off Dotcom…and he was put off Winnie for the same reasons as being put off Labour ie the ganging up on Hone and Int/Mana in TT Electorate)…dont know if you follow that logic but it makes sense in a roundabout way)
…however i gave my local vote to local Green and after much thought because i thought they needed it the most …my Party vote to Int/MANA.
..and I am still peeved about my vote for Int/Mana NOT being counted (thankyou Kelvin Davis!…and the other bastards who ganged up on Hone !…who is a true man of the tangata whenua…”people of the land”)
….and thanks for losing the bloody Election for the Left …you will be remembered
Sorry, CV, but Hone has been sulking. Though he’s not alone. Look at weka’s efforts today FFS! Time to move on, Hone gambled and lost. Mana are now in the same dusty attic as Social Credit and the Alliance because of mana’s own failings.
..it fell in the execution..for a variety of reasons..
..and part of that must be down to labour going hellbent to kneecap harawira..
(and funny story..!..has anyone else noticed how labour..(the neighbourhood bully?) ..talk about harawira/mana the way they spoke of the greens for so long..?..
..ignorant fucken fools..that they are..just repeating the same mistakes..over and over again..
.and meanwhile the right laugh their way into power..)
..and that trp celebrates/sneers at the defeat of harawira/mana..(whose mp’s wd have supported cunliffe/labour..(!)
..couldn’t be more symptomatic of all that is wrong with labour..
..(and hones’ responsibilities..?..i wasn’t on the inside of the campaign..but from out here i feel he did a totally crap job of selling mana polices..
..and that he kinda vanished after his car accident didn’t help..
..basically..harre carried the campaign from that day on..
..but the original internet/mana idea/concept was a sound one..
..it totally failed in the execution of that concept..and the campaign seemed to be a strategy-free/wrong zone..)
just to let you know there is someone out there reading what you say and agreeing whole-heartedly
imo Labour ‘s strategy was insular and short sighted and unbecoming , especially in regards to Hone and Int/MANA …and it cost them the Election of of a Left wing coalition govt …( amongst other reasons )
I think really that the New Zealand public should take responsibility for their monumental stupidity, more than anyone involved with Internet Mana not named Jevan Goulter
“…They didn’t like the idea of a very wealthy individual writing out a massive cheque, funding a campaign that was really about his self-interest and a bunch of other people signing up to it..”
isn’t that the definition/story of gibbs and act..?
Except that wasn’t what it was about and Little continuing to spread that lie doesn’t help.
I thought Little was repeating what the voters were thinking and to paraphrase… they went for the line that Dotcom tried to influence the outcome of the election by writing out big cheques. I would add to that they also fell for the line that Dotcom is a dangerous criminal. From my experiences prior to the election that is exactly what the majority of voters were thinking.
I just don’t ‘get’ Labour’s aim to marginalize IMP – in particular Mana.
It seems to me, (and from personal experience) that the Mana Party is the party easiest to raise interest in voting from a section of the people who don’t make a habit of voting i.e. the most disenfranchised people in the country. Not only the most disenfranchised, though, also the most cynical ‘voting makes no difference’ types.
Having Labour marginalize Mana effectively neutralizes the ability to motivate people to vote (via Mana) and the perception that ‘we will never be listened to’ ends up sticking.
In fact, I am beginning to develop the perception that those people in the most difficult conditions in this country will continue to be marginalized and this perception is growing in me because of the way Labour continues to bad mouth Mana and effectively marginalize the people they represent.
Let’s face it, some people are never going to vote for a party as mainstream as Labour and I would like to see Labour being far more supportive of parties that may bring in the votes of those who are the most marginalized in this country, not marginalize them further.
The purpose of Labour is to squeeze the life out of any truly left wing political party. (Not my original thought, but puts things in sharp perspective).
Where is the fucking perspective is my question. The age of liquid fossil fuels is mostly over in the next 25 years: i.e. in less than one generation. Climate change effects will be critical within 50 years i.e. in less than 2 generations.
We are running a world where todays 10 year olds are guaranteed to be seriously screwed.
I have a personal ‘policy’ of being slow to agree with cynical critiques – however in this instance I have been pretty patient.
Having bided my time and observed, it is starting to look that way with Labour.
My preference was to view them at having appalling strategy, yet even this excuse is starting to seem weak.
Over the last few weeks, at some stage, someone was recounting how Labour had squeezed the Alliance out of existence too (wish I could find that comment) – that comment certainly influenced my view on this matter.
Mana is the most socialist of all parties as it works for the interests of the poorest of the poor, and the low income marginalised people. Michael Savage had said that Labour believes in socialism as it is applied Christianity. Mana comes close to that aspiration in its housing and poverty policies.
Labour was scared of National’s attacks and sheepishly, unfairly, stupidly and cowardly shunned Internet-Mana. Fools!
I Hope this stupidity of Labour will not continue.
Had Labour supported IMP, they would have had 3 to 5 MPs and Today, we would most probably have had a Labour led coalition with a progressive government in place in NZ and Key would have been somewhere over in Hawaii. A missed opportunity for all.
Oh right, so Little is just like all those other idiot wannabe Labour leaders getting in on the hate-on-Mana bandwagon. Is there anyone in Labour that actually wants to cultivate the left?
That just confirms my opinion of Little as a class collaborator, moving to the right at full steam ahead. It would be better for unions to sponsor members through Law School if they need lawyers, rather than getting student union bureaucrats.
News flash ” English has new idea for solving poverty”
Tommorow English announces the reason for poverty is the poor, After careful analysis of the statistics he can say for sure the blame lays squarely with the poor and if their was less of them their would be less poverty.
John Armstrong agreed and has called for David Cunliffe’s resignation for not thinking of it first.
National will formulate a policy chaired by previous National prime minister of every chair, Chairwoman of the century jenny Shipley to formulate a progressive policy to shift the poor off poor.
Paula Bennet has confirmed more security at Winz offices will stop the deranged poor, coming to state their poorness, saving valuable statistic space which could be used to promote National and dish dirt on it’s enemies. Anyone who thinks criticising the governments feely, do goody policies, well may want to remember the public embarrassment I will enact upon them.
My understanding is that, since most overseas jihadists come from poor and marginalised sections of society, Key is planning to round up NZ’s poor and send them off en masse to Iraq to fight ISIS terrorists.
Key apparently believes that the best way to fight poverty is to send the poor to fight each other. This will hopefully result not only in defeating terrorism but also in ending poverty once and for all.
He is currently busy putting the finishing touches to this policy as he is afraid that it may appear “odd” to some people.
Cogito, in historical terms sending off the poor to fight one’s enemies is called recruitment into the army. Who are the bulk of the armed forces of democracies without compulsory national conscription?
The army has always been a way ahead out of poverty, with training, steady work and income, a pension and social status, clothing, food and shelter.
The bastard thing about conscription is that the non-poor had to work pretty hard to avoid it and the attendant risk of getting shot at when conscripted- so you had deferred conscription for the middle and upper classes at university, the national guard as a safe alternative as practiced by George Bush or you had prolonged periods overseas avoiding the draft.
There were always the gullible and the sociopathic in the middle and upper classes who wanted to go to war, for adventure, patriotism and social acceptability as well.
“CITIZENFOUR, the new film by Intercept co-founding editor Laura Poitras, premiered this evening at the New York Film Festival, and will be in theaters around the country beginning October 24. Using all first-hand, real-time footage, it chronicles the extraordinary odyssey of Edward Snowden in Hong Kong while he worked with journalists, as well the aftermath of the disclosures for the NSA whistleblower himself and for countries and governments around the world.
The film provides the first-ever character study of Snowden and his courageous whistleblowing, contains significant new revelations about all of these events, and will undoubtedly be discussed for years to come. But one seemingly banal — yet actually quite significant — revelation from the film is worth separately highlighting: In July of this year, Snowden’s long-time girlfriend, Lindsay Mills, moved to Moscow to live with him”.
Colonial RS @14.1……………I have wondered about a film of the book DP’s. This might be something that the NZ public watch and start to understand what has been going on.
I didn’t think it was that bad and it certainly was NOT Dirty Politics (DP isn’t being mean or undercutting political rivals publicly. It might be a fucked thing to do, but it’s not DP).
He refused to answer Owen’s question about KDC being toxic, and instead framed the issue around many people being incomfortable about a wealthy man writing a check to influence politics to suit himself. He’s actually right about the first bit (remember how the Business Round Table anti-MMP backfired?). I don’t believe that KDC was solely motivated by his potential extradiction, but I can see that many people will believe that it’s a large part of his motivation. What is Labour supposed to do about that? Good luck btw with finding a Labour leader who will be open to building a relationship with IP or Mana.
Having said that, it does pose some real problems for Labour. My question for Little this afternoon might be, come 2017, if IP or Mana or IMP hold seats and are the make or break for Labour forming govt, will you choose the opposition benches or choose one of those parties’ support on C and S?
yes, and it’s possible that the MPs and staffers in Labour feel too uncomfortable with IMP and thus can’t see how to work with them in ways that assauge the general public’s fears. Maybe some members too.
its worse than that. not only has that 20% muddle class been lost, but also the growing precariat – which is perhaps his (and Labour’s) worst sin of all – especially when they think they have a Divine right to continue with that Godawful expression ‘Brand Labour’. Not many on the political “left mainstream” seem to talk about the precariat these days.
ah well – if they’re allowed to, they’ll have as their legacy being responsible for the demise of NZ Labour.
Someone on another thread mentioned Michael Joseph Savage and how Labour was a christian party because those are its values, feed the poor, do good to others etc.
If Labour were to reclaim those historical basics it would do a lot to pull in the average voter.
Labours leaders need to endorse honesty, charity, even anger as in the chucking the moneychangers tables, as a weapon against the pro-rich scheming of TeamKey.
It’s not just feed the poor, it’s also how to move away from a ‘me’ society and public good as in transport, pollution etc.
Labour need to reclaim their differences to Nats, and can the similarities. So no to deep-sea drilling (polluting) and Kiwis to Iraq.
Stop hunting the middle-ground and stand on core principles. And oppose Key at every turn so there’s a clear choice between them.
Yes kiwi!!!!!…Couldn’t agree more..True Labour.There is too little difference..and all those people who couldn’t even be bothered to vote…did that because there isn’t any party that represents them.
I assume you’re addressing me.
I also assume you don’t vote Labour, but it intrigues me that your answer is quite vehement.
It would be nice to know the reasons.
National is popular because it listens to the voters and acts upon that.
Labour is unpopular because it doesn’t listen to the voter but instead thinks the voter is stupid and tries to force upon them what Labour perceives to be right and truthful.
What Labour thinks is good is irrelevant, it’s what the voter thinks is good is what is important, National gets that, Labour does not.
BM…you and Nactional and Slater and Hooton are full of hot steaming ….. …. !
You can fool some of the people some of the time ( this time maybe with the help of DIRTY TRICKS and DIRTY POLITICS and Tony Abbott…the mad monk waving the plastic sword)
…but you can’t fool ALL of the people ALL of the TIME !
National is popular because it listens to the voters and acts upon that.
No they don’t. They don’t even give an impression of listening to the people. Our assets got sold against what the people wanted.
What Labour thinks is good is irrelevant, it’s what the voter thinks is good is what is important, National gets that, Labour does not.
National exploits peoples gullibility and greed to get what they want which is a) bad for our country and b) bad for the majority of people voting National. There’s nothing to proud of when National are scamming the entire country.
Well, BM….I cant afford horse shit due to cutbacks, so your horse shit will just have to do. I would rather be True to Labours principles which have been lost in the melee of lets mimic National or those that get confused with Greens/Labour/Tartan.We need to get back to core values, and engage and electrify those that didn’t t Vote Labour for whatever reason, yet dislike National…And engage those feelings and passions .Then at the next election we wont be worried about your sub figures as a majority will suffice…, regardless of the leader.Then I may be able to afford more of your selfie horse shit.
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 ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
Bryce Edwards writes – It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played.“Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I- Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka KotahiThe fact that a ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st CenturyThe SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims StuffSteve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
David Farrar writes – We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how labour went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promiseThe result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
“I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
.“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
“It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet – is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
Bob Edlin writes – And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ HeraldThomas CoughlanSimeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
TL;DR:Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Chumbawamba have reportedly issued the deputy PM a cease-and-desist notice after he used their song 'Tubthumping' before his state of the nation speech. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
Reacting to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s refusal to rule out introducing new taxes at the budget, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Today’s refusal to rule out new taxes suggests the Government is nothing more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Aila Images/Shutterstock Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they ...
I’ve just found out about this Auckland Westie Festival – haven’t been to it before (Sunday is my usual work day):
Waitakere festival:
It’s more of a cultural than a political festival – aimed at maintaining a westie culture since the beginning of Auckland “super-city”. There is an environmental theme to it, focused on The Project Twin Streams.
Most of it focuses on live music and other arts and culture activities.
Karol.
Just a few years ago Auckland hosted the wonderfull Labour Day weekend festival/
Great talent from NZ and overseas ,M y family never missed one and from the Waikato.
Ended by the despicable John Banks . Who by the way has enough money to pay for Artistes if he wishes to see our talent. What a mean plonker . Lets hope he is never elected to public office ever again.
He needs a stint in jail.
comment@whoar:..herald editorial writer..(roughan..?..o’sullivan..?)..has a final spit/gob/good riddance! at harawira..
(ed:..this is an example of just how much the right/establishment hate/fear harawira..
..i doubt there would have been a more small-minded editorial piece in this rag..
..for many a long year..
(cont..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2014/herald-editorial-writer-roughan-osullivan-has-a-final-spitgobgood-riddance-at-harawira/
Why did that editor not sign it? It is not a comment on a blog site, it is an Editorial in the Herald. If it is truly their opinion and not paid-for propaganda, why wouldn’t the writer put their name to it?
Despite what the MSM want you to believe you usually do know the name of the person writing on blogs. It’s pseudonymity here and not anonymity.
It is not on a blog. It is presented as a Herald Editorial and is unsigned. Not even a pseudonym. It is a malicious opinion piece designed to denigrate Hone, shooting him in the back on his way out of the wasps nest. For the Herald to publish that piece of work minus any signature is an act of cowardice, an avoidance of accountability for their own words.
Stop Press:
Annette King is putting herself forward for the Labour Party Leadership. Trevor Mallard will be her campaign manager.
King says she is disgusted with Shearer and Goff for pushing Parker forward as the fall-back should Robertson slip into third in the preferences after Cunliffe and Little.
King says that on the daily “Anything But Co-operative” conference call it had been agreed that a Wellington Region MP was to be the back-up for the faltering Robertson.
King says she has proven leadership skills having driven the successful ABC faction since October 2007 when Helen Clark appointed Cunliffe Health Minister rather than her. King insists that is was very mean of Helen to not give her Health for reasons un-related to the Hawkes Bay.
Troubled Soul………..lol
Karol’s reminder of the Waitakere Festival parallels the National Radio commentary this morning on Dunedin’s Blueskin Bay. Resistance to bog-standard capitalism may not re-emerge in a cohrent nationwide political form for many years. And even local government is regularly gutted by reformation. But communitarian clusters can work. They can build up new leaders. They can find a scope for change and grasp it and make it happen.
They can also burn people out, and are no substitute for national governments. But I think this is where we are now. Politically, we are really starting again.
@ ad.
“..Politically, we are really starting again..”
i wd agree with that..
..int/mana weren’t ‘it’..
..greens weren’t /aren’t ‘it’..
..and labour sure as fucken hell aren’t ‘it’..
..their kow-towing rush to war with national/key..has me finally turning away spitting contempt at them..they are beyond any fucken hope of being a true progressive party..
..they are just a sub-section of a rotting/rotten establishment..
..and i am not sure what question ‘labour’ is the answer to..
..but it sure as hell isn’t what we want/need..
..so..what will be ‘it’..?
and i think i really couldn’t give a flying fuck who leads labour to its’ grave..
..why doesn’t nash stand..?
..at least he is the most honest/open about his rightwing-leanings..
..the others just talk fucken lying/mealy-mouthed mush..
..and labour deserves to become the nz first-like rump-party it will become..
..with of course..their grand-coalition with national (‘to keep the radicals out of power’) being the final nail in their coffin..
..this is labours’ future..
UKIP type of party.
already tried that..their name is act..
..and aside from some serious ongoing success @ troughing on their part..
..that hasn’t worked out that well..
Act isn’t a UKIP type of party
NZ First is, though.
i thought a blend of the two..
..however you slice it..we have already been there/done that..
Yes, you’re right there, BM. Protectionist, xenophobic and nothing without their leader. There was an interesting poll result overnight; despite Ed Miliband being personally unpopular, Labour have a solid 7 point lead over the Tories. UKIP are looking likely to split the vote in many southern Tory seats allowing Labour to win them even on a relatively small vote. That should have the effect of exaggerating the overall number of seats Labour win in comparison to their actual popularity.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/oct/11/labour-lead-over-tories-poll-conservatives-election
And Farage has just ruled out pre-election deals with the Tories to stop that happening.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/oct/11/nigel-farage-rules-out-ukip-election-pact-tories
“..UKIP are looking likely to split the vote in many southern Tory seats allowing Labour to win them even on a relatively small vote…”
pretty much just what the greens just did up and down the country..eh..?
..and what they do every election..
..split the vote..and allow the right to waltz thru into power..
..(but they are polite..i am sure you will be all reassured by the fact their green candidate in ohariu belmont..one tane woodley..who split over 2,500 votes from the progressive bloc..
..allowing dunne to win by just 700 votes..
..well..he is on record at ‘congratulating’ dunne on his victory..
..and i am still waiting for a green to fucken explain why they do this/fuck the progressive bloc..
..each and every election..
“pretty much just what the greens just did up and down the country..eh..?..and what they do every election…split the vote..and allow the right to waltz thru into power..”
That’s just bizarre.
why don’t you go and get/borrow a calculator..
..then have a look at each electorate result..
..and then come back and tell us just how many progressive-bloc defeats are down to that vote-splitting…
..and yes..it is ‘just bizarre’ that the greens continue to do this..
..with no sign/signal of them changing their ways at all..
Bizarre that out of all the reasons for the past three election losses, you would ignore a multitude of contributing factors, yet you choose to point the finger at a couple of thousand voters in epsom and ohariu and the green party for standing candidates, even though they have to in order to participate in constituency debates to push the party vote.
I’m not buying your meme. I look for the motive.
“..even though they have to in order to participate in constituency debates to push the party vote..”
bullshit..!
..go talk to nz first..
..their supporters only have one choice..
..and i wonder how many ‘green’ supporters split their vote..
..and gave a candidate tick to the green candidate..and the party tick o another party..
..a party vote only campaign ensures no ‘green’ votes are wasted in that way..
and the have to ‘participate in constituency debates etc..?
..bullshit..!
..the only people who go to those..are candidates and their supporters..
..and to pretty much nil media coverage..
..no minds are changed..
..that reason to stand candidates is utter bullshit..
..especially when you weigh it up against the devastation wreaked on the progressive bloc..
..by that vote-splitting..
..the progressive bloc should be able to stay in power virtually forever..
..but until they sort that out..and learn how to play the game that is mmp..
..they/we are rooted..
..and the tories/reactionaries..who play mmp like a well-tuned violin..
..will continue to waltz thru the middle..
..and will continue to rule over us..
I bemoaned the lack of cohesion and strategy on the left for a good number of years now, especially around tactical voting and presenting a unified opposition, so playing the outrage/blame card is moot.
Holding the green party responsible for losing those two seats and three elections is small minded little picture stuff. Besides being valid that you can’t get on the podium at candidate meetings if you don’t stand in the first place, the green party did ask for closer electoral cooperation and got rebuffed for their efforts.
So what’s the plan pu? You going to keep slinging mud at the greens because they’re not the party of flakes and pot suckers you fell in love with all those years ago? Or are you going to get stuck in, contribute to the discussion and help build the policy platform and shape the direction the opposition needs to become government in 2017?
“..go talk to nz first..
..their supporters only have one choice..”
What are you claiming here Phil?
You appear to be saying that New Zealand First candidates stood ONLY for List places and there were no electorate candidates.
In fact New Zealand First had a total of 32 candidates of whom 29 stood for electorates and 31 were on the list. There were only 3, including Winnie, who did not stand for an electorate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidates_in_the_New_Zealand_general_election_2014_by_party#New_Zealand_First
NZ First didn’t field a candidate in Ohariu but at the “meet the candidates meeting” I attended NZ First was represented by the Wellington Central candidate, Hugh Barr.
my bad..
..the general argument against constituency-candidates stands tho’..
Good point PU,I fail to understand how this could keep happening,may we have more intellectual grunt within the so called progressive block,PLEASE.
I wouldn’t like to have a Farage here in NZ, but I can see why he’d appeal to many people.
If Winston was 20 -25 years younger he would have made a great Farage.
He was. He did.
i mean..do/run the checklist..!
..labour want to mine/drill etc..(they are environment-vandals..they are part of our problem..look at their fucken record last time..)
..labour promise to do sweet fuck all about the dire poverty/misery..(at least half-induced/fostered by them..)
..apart from some fiddling around the edges..
..economically..you can barely slide a cigarette-paper between national and labour policies..both are designed to maintain the status quo..however fucked/environmentally-dirty/poverty-sustaining it may be..)
..and now they are tripping over themselves to rush us into yet another long-war..
..far far away on the other side of the planet..
..(and of course labour took us into afghanistan..didn’t that work out well..?..)
..neo-lib labour is as what neo-lib labour does..
Yet you want the Greens to step aside for neoliberal Labour. It makes as much sense to claim that Labour should disband and let Greens and Mana capture the opposition votes. Actually, probably more.
Thanks Ad. You might think about making this into a guest post.
They can also burn people out,..
Three community things of the kind you describe, I’ve blown off just this weekend. And I’ve just come in from sitting in the sun doing absolutely nothing because my neighbour started his petrol hedge cutter on his side of the hedge just where I was leaning aginst it. We usually do it together. A really good neighbour, but not subtle with the hints.
Anyway, you’re right, this is exactly what we are left with now, our own communities. But building up the momentum, getting people on board and keeping on going is sometimes tiring and depressing, so it’s lucky there are those ‘energiser bunny’ types around being irrepressible and generally amazing.
Just saying really. When it works it’s all worth it, and the fact is, for most of us, where we are and the people around that place are our richest and most indispensible resource for dealing with the problems of the immediate future, let alone how things might be a decade from now. Sounds like it’s going really well at Waitati, I’ve long been impressed by what you people have achieved.
A succession of national governments have thrown whole communities to the wolves, not all of them National with a capital N. We have to stop imagining they give a shit and get on with it.
I would say that many of the members of the Andersons Bay-Peninsula Branch of the Labour Party (Dunedin South) have this sensibility. In my view, it is the only way that Labour has a chance of getting out of the Thorndon Bubble and reconnecting with the 1.2M who did not vote.
The Labour Party in Australia, UK and NZ refuse to ‘just say the fucking truth’: about climate change, about resource depletion, about post-peak oil, about oligarchy. And in every one of those countries, the relevance of the Labour Party is declining.
I should add that participation in national politics also burns people out. Badly.
Paul Buchanan calls Key on his warmongering.
.
International security expert Paul Buchanan said the claims were “absurd”. “He’s building a case for war. He’s pulled the beheading imagery out for what I think are spurious purposes.”
Buchanan accused Key of misrepresenting New Zealand’s role in joining the coalition against Isis – although he conceded it was impossible to discount a threat. “There’s no evidence that because you fight against Isis the method of retribution is beheading on the streets of Auckland.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11341133
I have just watched that dick on Q&A interview Key. He would not be a journalists arseole, Just let Key burble on at full throttle. No probing questions like,”you did not say you was thinking of engaging NZ troops before the election” or, “do you think it would put NZ at risk for being a target for terrorism if we engaged our troops ”
Good on Paul Buchanan for questioning the spivs warmongering because no one else will especially the media.
The media in NZ Is owned.
i understand that after parkyns’ second interview..(of ‘petal’ barry..)
..a medical-crew had to be called in to remove parkyns’ lips from barrys’ arse..
Phillip ure@5.1.2 said
“i understand that after parkyns’ second interview..(of ‘petal’ barry..)
..a medical-crew had to be called in to remove parkyns’ lips from barrys’ arse..”
I have just seen this Phillip. Larf, I pissed myself “petal barry” that name will stick
It must be remembered that all announcements from John Key in this regard cannot now be regarded as anything but full blown propaganda.
Nothing that Key says here can be believed.
Nothing.
“Nothing that Key says here can be believed.
Nothing.”
So what’s new?
I think I could do that job,J Key referred to,the problem of my ten o’clock tea break,an the dilemma of staying on job for the only aircraft of the day,coming in at,yes you quest it ten o’clock.what an idiot .
“..what an idiot …”
..no..he thinks we are all idiots..
..i can’t believe how he can just serially lie..
..and the corporate media just shrug their shoulders..
..and never call him on it..
f.f.s..!..if i was calling/predicting that if victorious that key wd have us in this latest american warl a.s.a.p..
..couldn’t those corporate-media clowns see that too..?
..or did they believe key pre-election when he said he wouldn’t be taking us into another war in the middle east..?
..silly them..!..eh..?..will they never learn…?
(and i think keys’ first post-election whopper was his saying that act had not asked for a ministerial position..
..and the dweeb from act saying that yes..he did ask for a ministry..
..anyone got any earlier post-election ones..?..)
Bernard Hickey advocates the Livkng Wage.
Pity 30% of NZers only care about themselves. The selfish who worry about CGT and the price of their rental properties.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11341049
Moved to thread
Economists Dissing Economics
To one of those arbitrary assumptions:
The big problem I have with modern economics is that, as studied in schools and universities, it doesn’t have a purpose. It seems to exist only to make a few people richer. We, as a community, need to change this and state what we want our economy to achieve.
“..5 Lies About Marijuana That Won’t Die Easy..
..We must shred the myths that underwrite prohibition..”
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/5-lies-about-marijuana-wont-die-easy
Reefer madness.
Never tried the stuff but understand the nickname for it is shit just like the article you
copied into your post. Almost ALL the comments agreeing that Pot is OK were from long time users.
well they would be the experts in the area John Shears
actually, the experts would be the long-time observers of the long-time users 🙂
As I think we are….
on this blog…………
Oh now I’m in fucken trouble..eh
.
The Fairfax report today Fears of terror in our own backyard is a prompt to remind ourselves of an inherent bias in Western media, that often infers that the Muslim religion is a problem
The following link is essential viewing: Media Matters for America – Reza Aslan calls out the media for generalization and bigotry when reporting on Muslims.
Reza points out that “Muslim Countries” are not a problem. But repressive regimes in Muslim countries, and in Christian countries, and in Buddhist countries, (and in any country) certainly are.
Mr. Botany (B.)
@ bold brian..
..this is also a relevant backgrounder..
“..Meet Some of America’s Most Dangerous Islamophobes—You Might Be Shocked Who They Are
We’ve been here before: at war with a people overseas while “otherizing” their kin here..”
http://www.alternet.org/belief/meet-some-americas-most-dangerous-islamophobes-you-might-be-shocked-who-they-are
(ed:..and it saddens me to say that bill maher is one of those islamophobes..)
It’s been a rather hectic week.
I’ll be back to provide the facts and evidence which will prove how it is Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town who is making ‘wild and inaccurate’ allegations against me, as I continue to expose how Auckland Council is a ‘Supercity’ for the corporate 1%.
Which is why they’re attempting to neck stamp me as an anti-corruption whistle-blower by trying to sell my freehold home because of unpaid rates which I have withheld, because ratepayers and citizens are not being given the ‘devilish detail’ of where exactly rates monies are being spent.
Penny Bright
you are an inspiration Penny…best wishes…the Council and its ‘commercial sensitivities is the biggest gravy train in the country.
Penny let us know if you need donations to save your home. You done us a huge favour taking down bent Bankie. We owe you for ya good work!
Boldsirbrian,
I have sat by and watched lies and manipulations galore since my first awareness of the cold war, the hype and propaganda never stops, pulled by god knows what human being who’s compass has been corrupted.
It creates conspiracies and you wonder when you here these wild theorists and their conspiracies of army supplies, oil, world domination, Skulls and bones, Bilderberg groups etc and what the heck is real, what’s just plain old stupidity. What is a fabricated conspiracy, what is actually going on.
But Governments like the USA spread so many mistruths , a man can’t find out the truth if it was slapped in his face with a title saying” This is the real truth”.
The thing that drives my depression is the fact that it’s never ending with no way to stop or even change it’s course. I despair at my insignificance to say HEY. WTF! Stop it.
Thanks media, thanks for believing every statement issued by your elected governments without question or investigation. Thanks once again a hole fucking lot.
.
@ Richard Rawshark (11)
Is there a reason why my user name is imbedded in your comment?
Mr. Botany (B.)
Labour should have spurned Dotcom’s party — Little
Labour did and even worked with National to ensure that Hone wouldn’t get back in to TTT.
Except that wasn’t what it was about and Little continuing to spread that lie doesn’t help.
Oh, and the CCCP party, which has a leader doing exactly that, seems to be getting quite a bit of support.
little is a rightwinger..
..he was the head of the most rightwing union in the country..
..the right in labour are really spoilt for choice in this leadership race..
..rarely has a voting bloc been more split..
..and are they all standing..?
..that whole right bloc..?
Cut it out Phil calling Little rightwing. Your brain is too fogged up, go have a cold shower and soap your mouth out while ya at it.
@ skinny..
..show me his/any progressive-creds..
..all he has harked on about is labour ‘appealing to the centre’..
..just more of the same-old/same-old neo-lib bullshit..
..maybe you need to clear yr brain of delusions..eh..?
Well Little listens to the people for starters, working people that is and he has the sense to come clean on crap policy’s like the raising of the retirement age which was a dead duck policy, as was the CGT. Property investment is a sacred cow since too many people got burned investing in the sharemarket.
Labour & the Greens just aren’t Left enough and unfortunately Mana’s leader is too off putting to many Maori & non Maori, it’s not like they attracted the 3/4 million non voter bloc.
What MMP needs to be successful is the dropping of the threshold down to 2 percent and scrapping electorate MP’s completely and empowering local body politics by electing one councilor to represent to parliament.
I believe the campaign should be halve wasted votes, halve the MMP threshold to 2.5%.
so..skinny..
..this is the question andrew little slid past..(answering the questions all around it..)
“..phillip ure 20
12 October 2014 at 3:19 pm
cd u plse detail the specific poverty-busting policies/ideas you wd support..?
..thank you…”
but he’s not a neo-lib/rightwing/fuck-the-poor ratbag…eh..?
Violin Concerto No.4 in F minor – ”The Winter”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAw5ylSj-ac
Yep Cunliffe and Little- Formidable leaders together.
Bollocks, Phil. The EPMU has moved to the left in recent years, particularly in Little’s time. We’ll see during the election campaign where he stands politically, but I’m picking he is to the left of all the other candidates. Not that the others are right wing anyway. Some tend to the centre, but that doesn’t make them right wing per se.
“..Not that the others are right wing anyway. ..”
..yeah..right..
..and labour hasn’t been in the thrall of neo-lib/fuck-the-poor policies for the last three decades..eh..?
..a thrall they are yet to shed..
More to politics than poor people.
The current system works well for the vast majority of people, it ain’t changing any time soon.
It does when the ‘centre’ is radical right-wing.
I know what you mean, Draco, but the centre is still the centre. While the perceived normal has swung toward the right, left and right are still the political poles. Being on the right of the LP does not necessarily mean right wing in the wider political spectrum. Part of the reason that the me me me meme dominates at the moment is because of political ignorance. Perpetuating that ignorance by misplacing individuals and their beliefs is not helpful. The centre is the centre.
In the fifties, sixties and seventies, it could be argued that the consensus was skewed to the left. These things change and this current alignment will not last forever.
When the world was more prosperous.
Actually, they’re pretty much meaningless dribble now as the Left wing hold to the same economic orthodoxy as the RWNJs. Even in the 1950s/60s the Left were all about protecting capitalism from capitalism rather than bringing about a social and economic shift away from that failed system.
The real problem is that we don’t have an economic system but a financial system pretending to be an economic system and both Left and Right hold to it religiously.
Yep +100. A debt based financial and monetary system pretending to be an economy.
Spot on, Draco. A financial system pretending.
“radical right-wing.”
Jesus you’re full of shit Draco. Radical right wing? fucks sake…
Pinochet was radical right…NZ has nothing like that. You fucking muppet
Just because we don’t have any death squads here doesn’t mean that we’re not radical right-wing.
You’re the fucking muppet.
ha ha ha …..radical right wing you’re battier than Trav.
No right to collective bargaining or smoko – radical right wing.
For-profit education – radical right wing.
Criminal negligence on the environment – radical right wing.
“Ratfuckers” – radical right wing.
Ubiquitous mass surveillance – totalitarian too.
Death squads are hardly a “radical” idea – right wing, the result of cretinhood and malice, by all means, but radical?
🙄 😆
For fucks sake. Anyone who truly understands what “left” and “right ” means knows that no one in Labour even comes close to being left wing. Havn’t for nearly 30 years. The true left wingers in the Labour Party left in the 80s and have never gone back.
“Labour did and even worked with National to ensure that Hone wouldn’t get back in to TTT.”
Yep – in some ways the dour, gray faced leadership choices they have now is a just reward for them – eenie, meanie, oh fuck it these stooges are all moe.
It’s funny how that line about Nat/Lab cooperation keeps getting repeated despite the total lack of evidence for it.
Just out of interest, how much do you think Hone contributed to the loss of TTT? 10%, 20%? Maybe more? To paraphrase an earlier comment, Hone was doomed the moment he signed up with KDC. He ceded control of the campaign and it cost him and mana dearly. There’s the problem, right there. A fatal strategic error, months before the campaign really got underway.
Sure Hone gets to take the blame for the result – how much of it? Quite a lot I think but I also believe the coalition of the anti-Hone/anti-Mana, comprising all those that backed kd, including labour, NZF, the maori party and the gnats, contributed too. I think that if KDC hadn’t come along that coalition would still have formed and maybe even achieved the same result. I’m really of the opinion that getting Hone and Mana out of parliament was the biggest win for the right on a night of big wins and a goal they had well before IMP was conceived and/or formed.
AFAIK both Harawira and IMP’s vote increased in TTT compared to 2011. So when you ask what % of Labour winning TTT is Hawawira’s fault, I’m perplexed. Do you mean that he should have forseen Labour, National, NZF and Mp all taking deliberate action to keep him out of parliament?
I’m not suggesting that those parties worked together in the way you imply. They didn’t have to. The opportunity arose for them all independently to take actions that worked in concert on a common target. No conspiracy, just a bunch of arseholes playing the power game to suit themselves.
Can’t expect much else from the other 3, but Labour should be ashamed of themselves. And don’t give me that crap about how Mana/IMP should have approached Labour earlier in the year to try and do a deal, unless you have some (any) evidence that Labour would have been willing (all the evidence to date suggests they wouldn’t).
“So when you ask what % of Labour winning TTT is Hawawira’s fault, I’m perplexed”
Yep, that’s pretty reflective of the blinkered reading some folk have of what happened in TTT, weka. To repeat myself, Hone lost the moment he shook KDC’s hand. Nobody in Labour made him do it. So, seriously, how much do you think Hone contributed to his own downfall?
“Do you mean that he should have forseen Labour, National, NZF and Mp all taking deliberate action to keep him out of parliament? ”
You mean like having an election? Standing candidates? That sort of thing? Yeah, I’m pretty sure Hone knew he wouldn’t be running unopposed.
As for a deal, it was up to Hone to make the approach. If he wanted something from Labour, he had to start the process and present a case for the deal. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Bargaining 101.
@ TRP
I am starting to view Labour’s stance toward Mana as reflective of the blinkered reading some folk in New Zealand have toward the serious issues of marginalization and loss of social mobility that comes with the increasing wealth disparity that is occurring in our society and which Mana speaks up strongly about.
Act gets parliamentary representation despite getting less than half of the votes that IMP got, whereas IMP ends up with no representation at all.
This difference is not solely due to Harawira’s choice to join with KDC and no matter how many times the ‘blame it on KDC factor’ is repeated, won’t make it the sole cause of what occurred in TTT.
Is what occurred in TTT solely IMP’s loss? Or the left wing’s too?
Could Labour have been in government by now had they taken a more inclusive approach toward all potential support parties?
Could the Left have been in government by now had they responded to the cheap-shit corporate spin being broadcast throughout this country all year by countering it, rather than running with it?
How many people didn’t vote IMP out of fear that Hone may not win the seat?
How many of these people shifted their vote to another leftwing party and how many of them ended up not voting at all?
Blaming it all on ‘the KDC factor’ bypasses these [above] types of important questions that need to be answered if the leftwing in this country want to sharpen up their act and gain power.
I suggest to you that responding to someone by implying they are blinkered is just the type of attitude that gets the left going nowhere – and fast.
I’m not blaming on the KDC factor, I’m blaming it on Hone. He made at least two poor strategic decisions; not trying to get an understanding from Labour in TTT was one, KDC was the other. He had options, and chose the wrong ones. KDC, however, was the killer, something that Dotcom himself recognised immediately post election.
Anyhoo, mana are history now. I wonder if Laila will get a book out of it?
Don’t be so quick to write the last chapter while the story is still unfolding, mate.
It serves his purposes to render the Mana movement invisible.
Like the rest of the underclass, underemployed and the precariat.
“not trying to get an understanding from Labour in TTT was one”
lol – that was a labour mistake and look where it has got them – another 3 years in opposition, disarray in the leadership, distrust from the public, ridicule across the board and still the unbelievable ability from some, who support the Party, to even understand why it all happened.
Mana hasn’t died and it will rise again, stronger – but labour? Oh deary me I think the slippery slope is too steep and too slippery for those folk.
@marty mars
Well said.
log in the eye and all that.
Ho ho ho. Labour are still in parliament. We are still the leading opposition party and will lead the next progressive government whenever it is formed. Mana? First step to a future would be admitting the mistakes made in the campaign.
Yeah labour are real power-brokers 🙂
Yep a few mistakes indeed – luckily Mana as a new movement with the knowledge that it takes time to build, time to grow and time to learn from mistakes.
but you can’t really say that about labour can you – I mean the same mistakes made over and over again is the definition of what again?
Mana didn’t lose the election for the left – how about dealing with that cold hard fact.
Actually, marty, I think it is arguable that mana did cost the left the election. KDC dominated the airwaves to the point where LP, Greens and even NZF policy barely got a mention. And the right played on the possibility of Labour needing to do a deal with mana to generate a negative vibe around the alternative government.
Anyway, it won’t be an issue at the next election.
Well that is definitely a line – that Mana cost the left the election. I don’t agree because I think that minimises labour and their ability to electioneer – I just don’t think they are as useless as that (but perhaps the result puts paid to my generosity of spirit). Responsibility must rest on labour – they have the history, the people, the leadership of the opposition – Mana and KDC supplied plenty of opportunity and labour squandered it, mainly imo due to lack of courage, lack of vision and lack of left wing cred – the electorate didn’t/doesn’t trust labour and its leaders and I am sad about that, they’d rather slimeball key and that must stick in the throat like a chicken bone.
get over it mate – rebuild your party just as we will rebuild the Mana Movement.
“Well that is definitely a line – that Mana cost the left the election.”
You may very well believe that, marty, but I’ll stick to it being arguable. Anyhoo, good luck with the rebuilding. Have a chat to Laila about how the Alliance rebuilt itself … oh, wait.
yeah all those alliance supporters and workers, politicians and hanger-ons just dissipated into thin air never to be seen or heard from again…
I will wish you good luck with your rebuild too but could be a humpty dumpty situation and the wall was quite high.
Fair call. We’ve all got a long way to go, I guess.
Not in your lifetime. Labour are terminal in so many ways. Look at the candidates for leader. Four white middle class, middle aged men. Now thats really going to appeal to the average kiwi voter.
The MISTAKE was of Labour by not supporting Hone and IMP in TT.
Kelvin Davies did have a fairly high place, 18th, on the list. There was absolutely no need to go all out to win the electorate. Labour should have simply asked for the party vote instead of trying to unseat Hone. This is MMP, not FFP. Labour needs to work smarter on their election winning plans, at least in crucial electorates.
As I said, Labour made a very stupid ego-driven strategic mistake, won the battle and lost the election war. How dumb is that! Idiots!
Electorates are FPP. Hone came second because he simply wasn’t popular enough. He didn’t get enough votes. The people of Te Tai Tokerau had a democratic choice and they chose Labour’s candidate.
And if was so obvious what Labour had to do, why didn’t Hone say something? Laila? KDC? You know why? Because Hone’s strategy was to get into parliament and vote issue by issue. He wanted to be on the cross benches. That was a clear message to Labour. Ok, when Laila got involved, she started talking a bit more sense of how things might look post election. But again, no approach to Labour. How dumb is that? As you say, Idiots!
btw, Labour’s strategy was a winner. 6 out of 7 maori seats says the LP got that strategy pretty much perfect.
labour only got those seats because maori party/mana split the vote..
..you really are the one for selecting facts to fit yr story..
..and labour tanking cost the progressive bloc the election victory..
..have you not been able to work out/accept that yet..?
..(you blame mana for labour tanking from 35% to 25%..?..you really are seriously in denial..)
..yeah..’Labour’s strategy was a winner.’..eh..?
..you’d probably be on yr own claiming that..eh..?
I’m convinced that Labour see Mana as a more dangerous opposition to them than NAct. Mana is always going to be there, pointing out how Labour policies hurt the poor, the environment, and race relations. They show people that Labour is not what it pretends to be. Labour do not like this at all, and will do what they can to keep posing as representatives of the workers.
TRP’s glee at seeing Labour getting six of the Maori seats but remaining in opposition just convinces me more.
BOOOOOM!
In the same way the most vociferous enemies of the Occupy Movement were not Republicans – but Democrats, who did not want to be shown up for the upper middle class big corporate leaning party that they really are.
@ blue leopard..
..+ 1..and then some..
Well said BL. These things need to be said.
Sorry TRP but that’s bad faith commenting.
“Yep, that’s pretty reflective of the blinkered reading some folk have of what happened in TTT, weka. To repeat myself, Hone lost the moment he shook KDC’s hand. Nobody in Labour made him do it. So, seriously, how much do you think Hone contributed to his own downfall?”
I’m not blinkered, I understand the argument about KDC’s toxicity well enough. I’m asking you to explain the mechanism, given his and the party vote INCREASED. All you’ve done is repeat what you said before, which is your assertion that it’s all Harawira’s fault, but you haven’t said HOW.
“Do you mean that he should have forseen Labour, National, NZF and Mp all taking deliberate action to keep him out of parliament? ”
You mean like having an election? Standing candidates? That sort of thing? Yeah, I’m pretty sure Hone knew he wouldn’t be running unopposed.
Don’t be a dick, you know that’s not what I meant.
“As for a deal, it was up to Hone to make the approach. If he wanted something from Labour, he had to start the process and present a case for the deal. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Bargaining 101.”
blah blah blah, heard it all before and it still’s just a line. Until you put up some kind of evidence, or even theory, that Labour were open to such a thing and how it might have worked, it’s just more Hone bashing.
Sorry, weka, but if you can’t get past the basics of electoral politics, then nothing I say will make a difference. SFW that Hone’s vote went up! It didn’t go up by enough. And if you can’t even except that Hone might be somewhat to blame, then you really do operate in a world of your own. 98.5% of voters who made a choice, rejected Mana/Imp. Hone chose that platform. He ran on it. He lost on it. He’s got to take the responsibility.
When NZF dipped out in 2008, Winston didn’t sulk. He organised.
Of course Harawira has responsibility on this. Stop putting words in my mouth. You’re just reducing a complex situation down to a very convenient slogan: KDC evil, Harawira fucked up. And that takes into account none of the issues that need to be understood by the left other than Labour will cut off its nose to spite its face and everyone else be damned. Still no explanation from you on either of the points I raised, so yep, Hone bashing.
No Hone bashing here. Just simple logic. He made mistakes, he got punished electorally. At some point, I hope the penny drops for you.
spin spin spin. I thought you were better than that.
Facts, facts, facts. What bit are finding tricky?
That you are stating opinion as fact and refusing to back it up.
Oh, dear. Are the facts not enough? Quick question … is Hone still an MP? Or his losing the seat just a matter of opinion?
Neither Hone or KDC have been “sulking” – that’s a pretty unfair characterisation.
As for giving out lessons on taking responsibility – perhaps it’s the Labour Party front bench who need a few.
5 out of 6 Kiwis of voting age rejected Labour. Not sure what moral high ground you think you are standing on, but it’s not that high.
@ CR…..yes this is why Labour must get back to grassroots membership democracy …otherwise it is just an oligarchy of middle class careerists.
..and not only former Labour voters, but also potential new Labour voters, know this is a contradiction in Labour values and what Labour is supposed to stand for .
My own son, a new blue collar worker , was going to vote Labour but changed his mind after what he saw Labour doing to undercut and defeat Hone and Internet /Mana! ( blue collar workers are not stupid and they listen to the radio and the likes of Willie Jackson )
I did that too!…and for the same reason. As I am not in TT, gave my electorate vote to Labour and party vote to IMP.
P.S : U sure, u ain’t ma mum? 😀
@Clemgeopin…no I am NOT your Mother!…my son gave both votes to the Greens
( Plunket the radio hack right winger put my son off Dotcom…and he was put off Winnie for the same reasons as being put off Labour ie the ganging up on Hone and Int/Mana in TT Electorate)…dont know if you follow that logic but it makes sense in a roundabout way)
…however i gave my local vote to local Green and after much thought because i thought they needed it the most …my Party vote to Int/MANA.
..and I am still peeved about my vote for Int/Mana NOT being counted (thankyou Kelvin Davis!…and the other bastards who ganged up on Hone !…who is a true man of the tangata whenua…”people of the land”)
….and thanks for losing the bloody Election for the Left …you will be remembered
Sorry, CV, but Hone has been sulking. Though he’s not alone. Look at weka’s efforts today FFS! Time to move on, Hone gambled and lost. Mana are now in the same dusty attic as Social Credit and the Alliance because of mana’s own failings.
Yep, I doubt Mana will be back, Harawira doesn’t have the work ethic or commitment.
You do realise that I don’t even vote IMP. I’m not sulking, I’m calling you on yoru bullshit (still can’t explain your position, right?).
Already explained it. And you don’t have to be a mana voter to sulk. Apparently.
oh, good, you can link to the explanation then, thanks.
Scroll up. Start reading. Even better, start comprehending.
hone does have some responsibility..yes..
..but not the bullshit you are spinning..
..int/mana as a concept was a sound idea..
..it fell in the execution..for a variety of reasons..
..and part of that must be down to labour going hellbent to kneecap harawira..
(and funny story..!..has anyone else noticed how labour..(the neighbourhood bully?) ..talk about harawira/mana the way they spoke of the greens for so long..?..
..ignorant fucken fools..that they are..just repeating the same mistakes..over and over again..
.and meanwhile the right laugh their way into power..)
..and that trp celebrates/sneers at the defeat of harawira/mana..(whose mp’s wd have supported cunliffe/labour..(!)
..couldn’t be more symptomatic of all that is wrong with labour..
..(and hones’ responsibilities..?..i wasn’t on the inside of the campaign..but from out here i feel he did a totally crap job of selling mana polices..
..and that he kinda vanished after his car accident didn’t help..
..basically..harre carried the campaign from that day on..
..but the original internet/mana idea/concept was a sound one..
..it totally failed in the execution of that concept..and the campaign seemed to be a strategy-free/wrong zone..)
+100% …weka @ Colonial Rawshark and philip ure…
just to let you know there is someone out there reading what you say and agreeing whole-heartedly
imo Labour ‘s strategy was insular and short sighted and unbecoming , especially in regards to Hone and Int/MANA …and it cost them the Election of of a Left wing coalition govt …( amongst other reasons )
Throughout the election Labour was gearing its messaging to the top 20% “middle classes”. It should be pretty obvious how well that went.
@ colonial..
“..It should be pretty obvious how well that went..”
try telling them that..
..the constant bleats from most leadership candidates that ‘labour must move to the centre’..
..just proves they have learnt absolutely fucken nothing from their defeat..
Yeah, no sneering here, Phil. Cold, hards facts is all.
I think really that the New Zealand public should take responsibility for their monumental stupidity, more than anyone involved with Internet Mana not named Jevan Goulter
@ draco..
“…They didn’t like the idea of a very wealthy individual writing out a massive cheque, funding a campaign that was really about his self-interest and a bunch of other people signing up to it..”
isn’t that the definition/story of gibbs and act..?
I thought Little was repeating what the voters were thinking and to paraphrase… they went for the line that Dotcom tried to influence the outcome of the election by writing out big cheques. I would add to that they also fell for the line that Dotcom is a dangerous criminal. From my experiences prior to the election that is exactly what the majority of voters were thinking.
We really should get a Labour caucus who doesn’t fall for and reinforce National media framing.
+1
And which would be why Little continuing to spread the lie doesn’t help.
Yes can’t believe Little is saying Labour should have been clearer about IMP.
They were 100% clear about that and that was clearly communicated.
+1
I just don’t ‘get’ Labour’s aim to marginalize IMP – in particular Mana.
It seems to me, (and from personal experience) that the Mana Party is the party easiest to raise interest in voting from a section of the people who don’t make a habit of voting i.e. the most disenfranchised people in the country. Not only the most disenfranchised, though, also the most cynical ‘voting makes no difference’ types.
Having Labour marginalize Mana effectively neutralizes the ability to motivate people to vote (via Mana) and the perception that ‘we will never be listened to’ ends up sticking.
In fact, I am beginning to develop the perception that those people in the most difficult conditions in this country will continue to be marginalized and this perception is growing in me because of the way Labour continues to bad mouth Mana and effectively marginalize the people they represent.
Let’s face it, some people are never going to vote for a party as mainstream as Labour and I would like to see Labour being far more supportive of parties that may bring in the votes of those who are the most marginalized in this country, not marginalize them further.
The purpose of Labour is to squeeze the life out of any truly left wing political party. (Not my original thought, but puts things in sharp perspective).
That does seem to be their main purpose now. It certainly doesn’t appear to be about doing what’s right for NZ and the world.
Where is the fucking perspective is my question. The age of liquid fossil fuels is mostly over in the next 25 years: i.e. in less than one generation. Climate change effects will be critical within 50 years i.e. in less than 2 generations.
We are running a world where todays 10 year olds are guaranteed to be seriously screwed.
@ C R (& DTB)
I have a personal ‘policy’ of being slow to agree with cynical critiques – however in this instance I have been pretty patient.
Having bided my time and observed, it is starting to look that way with Labour.
My preference was to view them at having appalling strategy, yet even this excuse is starting to seem weak.
Over the last few weeks, at some stage, someone was recounting how Labour had squeezed the Alliance out of existence too (wish I could find that comment) – that comment certainly influenced my view on this matter.
+100
Mana is the most socialist of all parties as it works for the interests of the poorest of the poor, and the low income marginalised people. Michael Savage had said that Labour believes in socialism as it is applied Christianity. Mana comes close to that aspiration in its housing and poverty policies.
Labour was scared of National’s attacks and sheepishly, unfairly, stupidly and cowardly shunned Internet-Mana. Fools!
I Hope this stupidity of Labour will not continue.
Had Labour supported IMP, they would have had 3 to 5 MPs and Today, we would most probably have had a Labour led coalition with a progressive government in place in NZ and Key would have been somewhere over in Hawaii. A missed opportunity for all.
Clem…+100
Oh right, so Little is just like all those other idiot wannabe Labour leaders getting in on the hate-on-Mana bandwagon. Is there anyone in Labour that actually wants to cultivate the left?
That just confirms my opinion of Little as a class collaborator, moving to the right at full steam ahead. It would be better for unions to sponsor members through Law School if they need lawyers, rather than getting student union bureaucrats.
News flash ” English has new idea for solving poverty”
Tommorow English announces the reason for poverty is the poor, After careful analysis of the statistics he can say for sure the blame lays squarely with the poor and if their was less of them their would be less poverty.
John Armstrong agreed and has called for David Cunliffe’s resignation for not thinking of it first.
National will formulate a policy chaired by previous National prime minister of every chair, Chairwoman of the century jenny Shipley to formulate a progressive policy to shift the poor off poor.
Paula Bennet has confirmed more security at Winz offices will stop the deranged poor, coming to state their poorness, saving valuable statistic space which could be used to promote National and dish dirt on it’s enemies. Anyone who thinks criticising the governments feely, do goody policies, well may want to remember the public embarrassment I will enact upon them.
Signs of the times.
My understanding is that, since most overseas jihadists come from poor and marginalised sections of society, Key is planning to round up NZ’s poor and send them off en masse to Iraq to fight ISIS terrorists.
Key apparently believes that the best way to fight poverty is to send the poor to fight each other. This will hopefully result not only in defeating terrorism but also in ending poverty once and for all.
He is currently busy putting the finishing touches to this policy as he is afraid that it may appear “odd” to some people.
Cogito, in historical terms sending off the poor to fight one’s enemies is called recruitment into the army. Who are the bulk of the armed forces of democracies without compulsory national conscription?
The army has always been a way ahead out of poverty, with training, steady work and income, a pension and social status, clothing, food and shelter.
The bastard thing about conscription is that the non-poor had to work pretty hard to avoid it and the attendant risk of getting shot at when conscripted- so you had deferred conscription for the middle and upper classes at university, the national guard as a safe alternative as practiced by George Bush or you had prolonged periods overseas avoiding the draft.
There were always the gullible and the sociopathic in the middle and upper classes who wanted to go to war, for adventure, patriotism and social acceptability as well.
I know…. which was the reason for my comment! 🙂
From Glenn Greenwald at The Intercept:
“CITIZENFOUR, the new film by Intercept co-founding editor Laura Poitras, premiered this evening at the New York Film Festival, and will be in theaters around the country beginning October 24. Using all first-hand, real-time footage, it chronicles the extraordinary odyssey of Edward Snowden in Hong Kong while he worked with journalists, as well the aftermath of the disclosures for the NSA whistleblower himself and for countries and governments around the world.
The film provides the first-ever character study of Snowden and his courageous whistleblowing, contains significant new revelations about all of these events, and will undoubtedly be discussed for years to come. But one seemingly banal — yet actually quite significant — revelation from the film is worth separately highlighting: In July of this year, Snowden’s long-time girlfriend, Lindsay Mills, moved to Moscow to live with him”.
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/10/10/narrative-destroyed-edward-snowdens-girlfriend-lindsay-mills-moved-moscow-live/
Certainly a film to look out for.
Looks like its gonna be a stunner. And another NSA whistleblower even more SENIOR than Snowden was? Amazing
Colonial RS @14.1……………I have wondered about a film of the book DP’s. This might be something that the NZ public watch and start to understand what has been going on.
Wouldn’t want to try it on less than $1M to $2M of funding, at a guess.
Trailer and a couple of backgrounders.
http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/10/6960099/edward-snowden-laura-poitras-documentary-citizenfour-trailer
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/20/holder-secrets
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/10/edward-snowden-new-yorker-festival-111808.html
@ joe90
🙂
well andrew little just blew it pumping nat dirty politics re dotcom
Lose him asap.
where?
s’alright I found it.
http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/thenation/interview-labour-mp-andrew-little-2014101112
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/labour-should-have-spurned-dotcoms-party-Andrew-Little-th-163808
I didn’t think it was that bad and it certainly was NOT Dirty Politics (DP isn’t being mean or undercutting political rivals publicly. It might be a fucked thing to do, but it’s not DP).
He refused to answer Owen’s question about KDC being toxic, and instead framed the issue around many people being incomfortable about a wealthy man writing a check to influence politics to suit himself. He’s actually right about the first bit (remember how the Business Round Table anti-MMP backfired?). I don’t believe that KDC was solely motivated by his potential extradiction, but I can see that many people will believe that it’s a large part of his motivation. What is Labour supposed to do about that? Good luck btw with finding a Labour leader who will be open to building a relationship with IP or Mana.
Having said that, it does pose some real problems for Labour. My question for Little this afternoon might be, come 2017, if IP or Mana or IMP hold seats and are the make or break for Labour forming govt, will you choose the opposition benches or choose one of those parties’ support on C and S?
Rock and hard place.
Do you notice how National confidently partners with the most extreme and inexperienced of parties in Parliament and gets away with it?
Hone and Laila are experienced Parliamentarians ffs. Labour needs to get over itself.
yes, and it’s possible that the MPs and staffers in Labour feel too uncomfortable with IMP and thus can’t see how to work with them in ways that assauge the general public’s fears. Maybe some members too.
Or, in fact, anyone.
Little seems to be open to teh GP.
Not great. He’s already forgotten that he needs to be talking to the membership, not to the top 20% middle class.
its worse than that. not only has that 20% muddle class been lost, but also the growing precariat – which is perhaps his (and Labour’s) worst sin of all – especially when they think they have a Divine right to continue with that Godawful expression ‘Brand Labour’. Not many on the political “left mainstream” seem to talk about the precariat these days.
ah well – if they’re allowed to, they’ll have as their legacy being responsible for the demise of NZ Labour.
Just caught up with the weekend Herald and see yet again they are telling Cunliffe to go away. Makes me even more determined to vote for him.
+100 Westiechick.. “Makes me even more determined to vote for him” [Cunliffe]
( btw..i might be related to you…birds of a feather and all that)
Me too, Westiechick!
Was the NZ Airforce training for war with Syria when the shook Auckland with their bombs on Kaipara beach in June 2014?
No.
laugh-out-loud moment..on tv3 news..
..rightwing former labour president mike williams.
..’parker is the front-runner’..
..this is a follow-up to his:..’robertson is the front-runner’..
..and his:..’little is the front-runner’..
..and of course his usual:..’cunliffe must resign!’..
..’pundit’ as moveable-feast..eh..?
..heh..!
..feckin’ idjit..!
Perhaps all these front runners will trip each other up and Cunliffe will win from behind.
Concise as ever Phil. Williams is an absolute idjit alright. And he looks evil to boot.
…well that is the effect of having kept too much company with Hooton…it ruins your looks
Where would I find the figures…as to how many people who were registered to vote but didn’t in the last election?
Someone on another thread mentioned Michael Joseph Savage and how Labour was a christian party because those are its values, feed the poor, do good to others etc.
If Labour were to reclaim those historical basics it would do a lot to pull in the average voter.
Labours leaders need to endorse honesty, charity, even anger as in the chucking the moneychangers tables, as a weapon against the pro-rich scheming of TeamKey.
It’s not just feed the poor, it’s also how to move away from a ‘me’ society and public good as in transport, pollution etc.
Labour need to reclaim their differences to Nats, and can the similarities. So no to deep-sea drilling (polluting) and Kiwis to Iraq.
Stop hunting the middle-ground and stand on core principles. And oppose Key at every turn so there’s a clear choice between them.
Yes kiwi!!!!!…Couldn’t agree more..True Labour.There is too little difference..and all those people who couldn’t even be bothered to vote…did that because there isn’t any party that represents them.
yes…
but there will be no opposition to Dear Leader
First…..over there Mr. D. Cunliffe….and he should
then oh there….Mr. Parker and he should….
and then oh my Mr. Robertson and he should
and then my oh my Mr. Little and he should…
and did we say that Mr. Cunliffe should just spontaneously combust?
and then after the election
mr. whomeverhasonetheleadershipofthelabourparty should…..insert blank.
all that rubbish waste of time, but no one to put up an opposition to Dear Leader.
Bread and Circuses…..comrades, bread and circuses.
What a load of horse shit.
If Labour followed your advice they’d be sub 20 at the next election.
I assume you’re addressing me.
I also assume you don’t vote Labour, but it intrigues me that your answer is quite vehement.
It would be nice to know the reasons.
Don’t bother. BM is a right wing troll trying his hardest not to get banned.
National is popular because it listens to the voters and acts upon that.
Labour is unpopular because it doesn’t listen to the voter but instead thinks the voter is stupid and tries to force upon them what Labour perceives to be right and truthful.
What Labour thinks is good is irrelevant, it’s what the voter thinks is good is what is important, National gets that, Labour does not.
That’s why Labour is failing.
BM…you and Nactional and Slater and Hooton are full of hot steaming ….. …. !
You can fool some of the people some of the time ( this time maybe with the help of DIRTY TRICKS and DIRTY POLITICS and Tony Abbott…the mad monk waving the plastic sword)
…but you can’t fool ALL of the people ALL of the TIME !
NEXT TIME!!!
No they don’t. They don’t even give an impression of listening to the people. Our assets got sold against what the people wanted.
National exploits peoples gullibility and greed to get what they want which is a) bad for our country and b) bad for the majority of people voting National. There’s nothing to proud of when National are scamming the entire country.
Well, BM….I cant afford horse shit due to cutbacks, so your horse shit will just have to do. I would rather be True to Labours principles which have been lost in the melee of lets mimic National or those that get confused with Greens/Labour/Tartan.We need to get back to core values, and engage and electrify those that didn’t t Vote Labour for whatever reason, yet dislike National…And engage those feelings and passions .Then at the next election we wont be worried about your sub figures as a majority will suffice…, regardless of the leader.Then I may be able to afford more of your selfie horse shit.