And what, precisely, does a journalism qualification actually bestow upon someone?
It’s obviously not logical thinking or the ability to understand what scientists are saying. It doesn’t seem to have anything to do with holding power to account either and, at the end of the day, anybody who’s been to school knows how to write an essay.
Are you saying the Sunday papers are scared and lack confidence, they are the ones printing the facts. Expect Labour to drop even further once everyone realises that they have no chance.
Labour is in an insidious position with friends and foes unfairly undermining its leader and party, left, right and centre and stupidly talking up National at the same time, in spite of Cunliffe running a great campaign and Labour having such excellent policies! What the hell is wrong with the MSM and so many people?
@clemgeopin
Todays Rod Oram has a good summary of Labour’s economic policies versus Nats in the SST, and it clearly shows why Labour’s polices are far superior. It makes me wonder why so few of our media can see what Oram clearly explains. I suspect that National’s concerted #dirty politics campaign over the last 6 years combined with the ABC cabal has wrecked labour for this election, which is why they are struggling. Also National have done a good job of lying to people about the state of the economy, if I think one area where labour strategyin thi election is wrong is they should have attacked National harder around their Economic Management, Labour needed to highlight if you backed out ChCh$40b insurance proceeds and last years dairy proceeds anomaly (both wont exist in the next 2 to 3 years) from GDP we would have had zero growth. One thing is for sure, who ever wins next weekend will have their work cut out for them in the next 3 years, they are going to be tough.
SST hot on mccullum wanting to suppress their article… When they have material from whaledump AND no crowing about their win over slater trying to stop them publishing
So on this poll how many list mps make it back in? Losing Parker, Adern and Little will be very damaging for Labour. Greens the party of opposition I see in the future. And the next Government after this National one.
With Labour at 22.4%, I’m left to wonder how they could have got it so wrong this year. At this % some big names are not going to make it back in. A cleanout might be good, but not an enforced one.
They didn’t get it wrong this year, at least if you mean they did something.
The got it wrong about this time last year when they elected David Cunliffe as leader. Why didn’t Grant get the job?
As you say a cleanout might be good but that isn’t what is going to happen. On the latest poll numbers the Labour Party is going to comprise a bunch of members who go back to last century. A cleanout would get rid of people like Goff, Mallard and King.
It is precisely this indecisive hick hack with some good old backstabbing that is costing labor. None of the voters are interested in this yesteryear Maldoon methods. You just have to blame yourself.
2017 will be a contest between National and the Greens. The Greens won’t be just after the party vote next time they will be out to win seats, and they will be contesting hard in any by-elections of Labour held seats, as Labour tries to rejuvenate their line up.
12 months ago no one could believe Labour’s result would have a two in front of it, now the question is will it have a one and will it be bigger than the Greens?
[lprent: You will have to improve your comments or I’ll ban you as a mindless troll. Maniacal laughing is a sign of boring pointless abuse as far as I’m concerned ]
whohaa, a sentence, hallelujah. If you laugh about something please have us anticipating what is it that is so amusing. Some might have a different point of view, some might be laughing with you and a genuine punter might evolve. 🙂
Party Vote percentages are only based on eligible and decided voters. Respondents who are undecided, do not intend to vote or are ineligible to do so are excluded from the Party Vote.
Biased polling, can’t even report what percentage of people aren’t decided voters.
They did manage to point out that their interpration of results is based on the smaller parties keeping their existing seats.
Today’s must read: Looking at similar NSA documents, the information Key wants to release is likely classified SECRET or TOP SECRET. That means its release would cause “serious” or “exceptionally grave” damage to security or intelligence operations (see p. 55 – 58). You and I may not agree with those operations, or their idea of “national security”, but Key and the GCSB supposedly do – and those concerns don’t disappear simply because the PM decides it would be politically useful to release. Unless of course in their eyes, “national security” means “National’s security”.
Were you one of those who complained about a Nanny State because of lightbulbs and school tuck shop food?
So what’s your view on a surveillance state?
The hypocrisy is unbelievable,
But we have Key going on and on about “I won’t talk about security matters.” Or “It’s not in the public interest” But now that it’s in His interest. The Liar in Chief will even throw the countries security out the window, just to try and prove a point. That alone shows what contempt he holds ordinary Kiwi’s in.
Corruption case to answer and a police investigation must be ordered by the opposition, here are some facts.
A simple search last night of “Polls can be manipulated” – Google
found about 1,400,000 results.
Below leaves us all now with the knowledge of what in New Zealand is actually going on, it is more corruption of our MSM conducting manipulated polling results, and opposition now must call this as it is, corruption of the MSM and manipulation of all polls.
We were contacted Friday 22nd of August at 4pm by Herald Digipoll by a lady who first said we are conducting a poll and could we participate?
We said yes, then she said my supervisor is listening in, is that o/k?
I hesitated but agreed and she went through a ten minute questioning, and then abruptly said we don’t need your input thanks, and hung up!
This left us so disturbed we searched the web and found all 1.4 million cases of poll manipulations globally on Goggle, which include what is called “selective polling”
We believe we were a victim of a Herald Digipoll selective polling strategy.
NZ pols are corrupted, is this a crime?
This is just one case of the 1.4 million sites on Goggle in India which may show what is happening here in NZ.
quote;
New Delhi: Public opinion gathered by leading opinion poll agencies is often tweaked to give misleading results, Operation Prime Minister, a sting operation by a private news network, News Express, has revealed Tuesday. Well-known faces from leading opinion poll agencies have been caught on hidden camera agreeing to such malpractices.
Operation Prime Minister shows how opinion polls are conducted and manipulated at the instance of political parties, their results traded to show a particular party in a favourable position, for a price. Presenting snippets from the sting operation at a press conference, Editor-in-chief of News Express, Vinod Kapri said, “Our motivation behind conducting the sting operation was a letter written by the Election Commission of India to all regional and national parties inviting their views on the publication of opinion polls.
We wanted to investigate the concerns of the Commission.” In its letter dated 4 Oct, 2013, the Election Commission had said, “The Commission has been suggesting to the government that there should be a similar prohibition or restriction on opinion polls also as there could be several manipulated opinion polls which could impact the voting pattern.”
Another motivation behind the sting operation was the mushrooming of opinion polls. “There used to be one or two opinion polls every election. But now, one sees an opinion poll almost every week. Which leads us to the question- how is the data generated so quickly and processed,” said Kapri.
“Operation Prime Minister has exposed eleven opinion poll agencies, whose surveys are published in leading newspapers and magazines besides being broadcast by leading news channels”, it was claimed in the sting opertaion.
It demonstrates how the 810 million voters of our country are duped into believing trends or waves that are manipulated. – See more at:
“Opinion polls seem to have become the latest weapon in the poll campaign.
For a price, the prediction of seats tally can be changed to suit the interests of political parties.
The agencies have no qualms accepting even black money for this purpose”,
News Express claimed. The influence of opinion poll agencies goes beyond mere opinion polls. In some cases, the poll agencies have claimed they can even prop up dummy candidates in the constituencies where the rival candidate is on a strong wicket.
It has also been claimed that some leading editors are hand in glove with these poll agencies.
This is just a few of the 1.4 million sites on Goggle. – See more at:
+100 disturbed …right wing managed PR polls are the arse end of the dog influencing voter perceptions, discouraging people from genuinely voting and corrupting democracy
While looking at figures of the 2011 election I was a bit disheartened by the large National majorities and the smaller Labour majorities until I realized that the so called left vote was often split between Green and Labour.
It does seem to me that party votes and list MPs aside, in some electorates the right wing candidate often slips in between a divided left.
I know some young people who give their electorate vote to a green candidate and their party vote to Labour. They don’t realize that while their party votes are effectual their electorate votes are ineffectual in the immediate election.
I also know of some farm workers who lean to the left but because they live in farmer dominated (National) electorates they believe they can have no influence so don’t bother voting at all, not yet understanding the importance of the party vote.
1.In Waitakere, Bennet with her majority of 9 would have been defeated if just 10 more voters had chosen Sepuloni.
3.In Tamaki Rukaurau 10,592 voted against ,Sharples and 7,120 voted for Sharples. The split ’left’ vote allowed him to win and support National.
4.In Ikaroa- Rawhiti , Labour’s Horomia romped in with a 6541 majority as apart from Mana’s 2484 votes, the left vote was not divided
5.In Te Tai Hauauru the combined vote of Mana, GP and Labour was 8732 and
Turia Tariana got 8433.
6. In Te Tai Tokerau where the vote wasn’t split Kelvin Davis wasn’t far behind the smallish 1165 majority of Hone Pani Tamati Waka Nene Harawira . (What a magnificent name)
7.In Te Tai Tonga there was a similar smallish majority (1475) for Labour’s Tirikatene and the yet Mana+GP vote was 3906.
8.Waiariki -10123 combined votes of the two purportedly left parties, Mana and Labour were more than Flavell’s 7651.
9.In Coromandel the Nat majority was 12,740 but the combined ‘left’ vote of Green and Labour, nearly 11,500 was hopelessly split at 5000+each.
10.In Ohariu Dunne got 14,357. The Labour and GP vote combined was 15,125.
11.In Waimakariri Cosgrove was beaten by Kate Wilkinson by 642 votes. The GP votes plus Labour votes were 17,342, Wilkinson’s 16,787.
12.In Christchurch Central, Wagner’s majority over Labour’s Brendon Burns was just 47 (yes 47) .Over 2000 went to the GP. (Incidentally ACT got a massive 110).
13. In Epsom it is transparently obvious that if Greens and Labour had voted strategically and voted National, their combined votes( 5991)would have obliterated John Banks false majority of 2261 and we’d never have seen a charter school. I agree that for left leaning people, doing this would probably be too hard to stomach. Dunno if I could do it.
There is also the other elephant.: the thousands and thousands who didn’t vote at all in 2011.
What can be done? Me.. I’ll be door knocking on the day.
If I were running a black ops rainbow alliance election campaign, I’d have adverts on TV promoting tactical voting.
DC appearing in turn with other opposition party leaders, having a cup of tea with them and the nation.
Party vote for either of us, but to get rid of the electorate nat mp or stop act and dunne etc… Vote for this candidate and so on until the message sinks home.
But I’m not running a campaign, so don’t hold your breath.
All it shows is that Maori parties of what ever hue are right leaning, always were. So lets be clear here. If Maori vote right then they have to live with the policies.
For treaty settlements, Maori have done better under National. As far as social policy, labour started well, but then has been slowly down hill. Not to mention the backstabbing by the last labour government. So on balance, both have been as bad as each other – why do you think a majority of maori have gone with NZfirst, the greens, maori party or Mana. The major parties have been, well, bloody awful.
Are you sure about that? Isn’t is a publicity stunt? Labor had also a plan to have all settlements arranged by a certain date. But it wouldn’t have included selling assets that all NZlanders have paid for. Social policy under National certainly is not a highlight given the proportion of Maori and pacific people showing in the statistics of the poorest in the Nation. What it also shows however is, that to my biggest disappointment, the Maori tribal hierarchy is worse than whites. How else can one explain that after decades of multimillion dollar payouts nothing has trickled down? So really there it is the meeting of the minds of the far right and Maoridom.
How can you say Iwi leadership is worse than whites – when the dominant ideological framework is white? How much of Paul Henry are you watching? And why you tethered to an outdated economic concept like trickle down theory?
Or do you want to talk about the Tainui settlement, the land and money – oh wait just under 1% of what was taken and they have your expectation to solve all the problems, with getting less than 1% of what was stolen back. Lets go positive shall we. Ngāi Tahu, or Kāi Tahu, have done well getting back a mere fraction of a percent of everything taken. Like having the most PHD’s of any Iwi, Yes – they pay fee’s – School support programmes to clothe, feed and provided supplies for all the tamariki. Massive investment into Christchurch after the earthquakes – especially housing.
OK not all good news, the virtual slave labour on board the sealord fleet is a bloody disgrace. But wait, the Iwi leadership is being held to account on that one.
Then why is it that the majority of poverty is in Maori households? Hasn’t the main argument been that the money that was paid back is to be used for an economic base for Maoridom? Decades later and nothing has changed. Sorry, but I am not falling for the political correctness that does not allow a voice of dissent in such matters. And do you mean that Iwi leadership is above reproach and all whites are bad? The framework is surely not white – I can 100%, what do I say 1000% reassure you. Too many people I know have to stay in line or are excluded on the base of race – and this means they are white or asian. All I see is a distribution of wealth within the Maori hierarchy that leaves the National Party with their policies in the dust. Sorry, but someone has to say it and I know it does not look good. But if Maori are serious with their assertion of being all that they have proposed, then somehow the results are not showing. So where are the facts – please no fiction, work in progress or consultants are working on it.
PS.: 1% of all that is there is, is still 100% more than most people in this country have. If Moari want to convert the country back to were it was, please tell us all. More than happy to move on, really.
DTB
Yep I’m thinking that too. Seems to me the one who gets the minority of votes slips through.
Oh I forgot in Auckland central, Jacinta Adern with 14321 votes missed out by 737 and yet the Greens vote was about 2,903.
Nats must be laughing…I’m not.
..but it does show that in spite of the nonsense polls the John Key government can be beaten by people thinking before they vote.
On point three Tāmaki Makaurau Jones never had a chance. And anyway, Shane Jones has proved he was more right wing than Pita. Is this vote labour, because we know best list? Wil labour voters in Waiariki vote for the Mana candidate? It seems to me there is a double standard at play here or is that just me?
I have been reading an article on Clare Robinson in ‘Your Weekend’ (The Press)…and what a contrast she is to Mihi Forbes ( also featured).
Mihi Forbes is widely regarded by professional journalist commentators as a thoughtful listener and very skilled interviewer. An experienced journalist she has some notable interviews and has done investigative journalism into some important and controversial issues …She works for Maori television and heads the programme ‘Maori Affairs’.
In contrast Claire Robinson seems to be a very shallow, self- aggrandising person who just lucked in to being a political commentator…”People would say it didn’t matter what I said as long as I came across as credible”
…She has a PhD in political advertising and a bachelor of design degree…(in this article there is a lot about Robinson’s art design creative abilities, multiple job experiences and her family credentials ( mother a feminist, father a political scientist, ex-husband High Commissioner to Kiribati…marriage breakdown…she took off with the chosen house painter….)
…In essence Claire Robinson is a self -styled right wing political commentator in ” Twitter world”
She met David Cunliffe in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs …and her biggest beef against him seems to be that he was ” married, and no one else was “…and he was ambitious in his career and “wasn’t interested in socialising”…Today “We’re friendly to each other. He knows I’ve always given him a hard time.”……”He’s had to learn on the job, which is never a good thing to do…and learn about it in the public eye.”
“If I had to write the perfect job description for me, I would write this sort of job”….(expounding her political views and tinkering with paint and pencils….she doodles in meetings and they’re very stylish doodles)
“Mihi Forbes is widely regarded by professional journalist commentators as a thoughtful listener and very skilled interviewer.”
On National Radio Media Report this morning they talked about a major review of Maori TV but the review will not be released until after the election. It is possible that Mihi’s great Native Affairs program will/might be closed in favour of a magazine type program. Implies that Mihi is too good at her job and has upset some senior Maori leaders.
Maori tv displeases the corporate iwi and hollowmen so they rigged the board and dropped in a new CEO.
This caused a director resignation over the process and his former employer to offer an insight on what this person was let go for but the board declined so they didnt risk his appointment with incovenient facts.
The new chief is a conflict monkey sent in to ‘realign’ and crash into the trouble makers making their tenure unpleasant. Nats want maori tv to be the same subservant outlet that tvnz and rnz are for them.
Act leader Jamie Whyte , in the aftermath of a widely pilloried speech about Maori privilege, went on Mihi Forbes’ ‘Native Affairs’ programme to explain himself ….and had to admit that he had never heard of whanau ora !….
“When you are going to be attacking race–based policies , you should know about the number one policy for the Maori party ,” Forbes says.
Maybe this is why the NACTS and their brown nosers could be keen to get rid of a seriously good journalist and her programme….she asks the questions which expose their arrogance and ignorance and incompetence…and is not a lightweight right wing PR flibbertijibbet …. masquerading as a journalist
A Labour Left coalition simply MUST win this Election !
“once again..confirming that internet/mana and the greens are the only ‘clean’ parties..the only parties able to be trusted to do the reforms needed”
Pu, do list all “the reforms needed” so we can fact check for ourselves.
Make it a conclusive, once and for all type document, and just put it out there.
You may be correct, you might have missed a press release or something and labour (no pun) under misapprehension, or you might just be gassing from your head hole, but at least we’ll have a definitive list to decide who to trust, or not, and for what reasons.
Well at least he admits it. His supporters can now follow his lead, saying he is principled, because honesty is the best policy is it not? And principles are good yes? Therefore he is good in all things. Because good and bad cannot co-exist. That would be unfair otherwise. Honestly admitting to your crimes negates the crime. Yes. That’ll be it. Because 1-1=0 and zero means nothing gained nothing lost = balance.
Actually I want that too – but I’m a greedy bugger. I want more than that. I want my children to have one too. One that is similar to the one only wealthy have (a la Kidzone – commercial free). I also want a channel that provides archive material that has been publicly funded, or that public funds have contributed to – which would otherwise have not been funded (a la Heartland).
And I’m super greedy. I want a channel that provides access to the NZ citizenry for other publicly funded enterprises such as NZSO, NZ Ballet, NZ Opera, live music and culture of all descriptions including new music and any and everything that receives funding through NZ on Air, Te Mangai Paho, Ministry for Culture and Heritage or any other public money, and which reflects local/regional views.
Since I’m super super greedy, I also want another radio channel that provides access to the many, for new music and arts and culture, AND publicly funded networking facilities for local iwi radio and the ability for them to express themselves to a wider audience.
Public Sphere and all that quaint sort of thing that’s relevant to the diversity of 4.5 million people.
+100…Once Was Tim….Yes, Yes, Yes!…maybe you can offer your services to the new Labour Left coalition Govt…sounds like you know what you are talking about!
Discourses of Rumi: a sample taken from Discourse four…
“…This is like the story they tell of a certain king. This king entrusted his son to a team of learned men. In due course they had taught him the sciences of astrology, geomancy and so forth so that he became a complete master, despite his utter dullness of wit and stupidity.
One day the king took a ring in his fist and put his son to the test.
‘Come, tell me what I am holding in my fist.’
‘The thing you are holding is round, yellow and hollow,’ the prince answered.
‘Since you have given all the signs correctly, now pronounce what thing it is,’ the king said.
‘It must be a sieve,’ the prince replied.
‘What?’ cried the king. ‘You gave correctly all the minute signs, such as might well baffle the minds of men. Out of all your powerful learning and knowledge how is it that this small point has escaped you, that a sieve cannot be contained in the fist?’
In the same way the great scholars of the age split hairs on all manner of sciences. They know perfectly and have a complete comprehension of those other matters which do not concern them. But as for what is truly of moment and touches a man more closely than all else, namely his won self, this your great scholar does not know. He pronounces on the legality or otherwise of every thing, saying. ‘This is permitted and that is not permitted, this is lawful and that is unlawful.’ Yet he knows not his own self, whether it is lawful or unlawful, permissible or not permissible, pure or impure.”
Regarding manipulation of polls, please search for this article – The Guardian UK
theguardian.com, Monday 14 July 2014 19.22 BST
GCHQ has tools to manipulate online information, leaked documents show
Documents leaked by Edward Snowden reveal programs to track targets, spread information and manipulate online debates
i guess key can use the word ‘henchmen’ so easily..
..because of his own long history of use of henchmen/women as detailed by/in ‘dirty politics’..
“..It is now used to generally describe any person with subordinate status derisively- while most often used specifically to a hired guard or minion of a villain or master criminal..”
..i thought a good villain-name for key cd be ‘mr smiley’..
capital gains tax. will transfer investment from speculative to productive parts of the economy without destroying wealth (whereas speculation is fantastic for wealth destruction).
broadening the central bank’s mandate so that the government can more directly support export, which has been suffering for yearsnyears.
pumping up the minimum wage. because fuck yes. two names associated with pushing for higher wages – henry ford (look up “fordism”) and marriner eccles, former chairman of the ny fed. which is kind of america’s central bank, in a roundabout way.
Really enjoyed Media watch and interview with Independent Journalist about the need for better independent reporting etc.
Then came the news (note the order)
Sunday RNZ news 10:00
•Murray McCully wants to stop whaling
•Green will be highlighting the spying going on in NZ, Key says they have not been doing Surveillance
•John Kerry USA, soon terrorism will be everywhere
The wheels have come off teamkey since dirty politics, expect the kitchen sink in the 6 days till the only poll that matters.
the MSM will shill their butts off and key will say all sorts of whacky stuff as answering questions and telling the truth has never been demanded of him so he will dig himself a deeper hole.
stay positive and focused as It was always going to be close. I have got as many expats to vote as possible, it was easy once I asked them how the whanau back home were doing under 6years of shonkey.
Lynn have you sorted out some sort of live chat app for election night? Trying to post comments would of course be woeful. IRC is probably the best way to go, with a web-app, so those of us that can can use an IRC client and therefore not need to rely on (or add more load to) the webserver.
There have been comments in the media ( and all that early stuff) about letting the biggest party govern/Key being prepared to run a minority government.
Can anybody tell me is it possible for Key the day after the election to get in a car (sod any negotiating) and go up to the Governor general and go, “I’ll have a warrant to be the next prime Minister and I’ll run a minority government”. The GG then goes “for the sake of National stability I’ll do it” or some like rubbish.
Does this then mean that the other parties have to vote them down when parliament reconvenes and we have another election?
Or do we park Russell or Hone or someone down the end of the GG’s drive and phone them up if Key appears?
That is only possible if all other options have been exhausted. So the various permutations have to be tried/negotiated based on Party votes.
I guess if Labour gathered in Greens, NZF, Internet Mana, Maori Party, United Future, and the Civilians who together gained over 50% of the Party Vote, they can govern regardless of the National 45%, and other odd sods who offer a minority Government.
Yes that is what normally happens but what questions does the GG have to ask. If Key tries some sort of end run like this does GG have to contact Cunliffe Turei Norman and check they don’t have a bigger block?
Not sure I trust some of the leading players here?
The hopeful PM has to confirm they have the support of Parliament, and the GG has to be satisfied that they do (satisfaction can include a broad measure of things, such as whether the election was fair and free – if there are doubts, then the GG may refuse the hopeful PM until such concerns are resolved).
So yes, what you’re proposing is possible if the hopeful PM lied to the GG and the GG simply believed it (ie, ignored all media reporting that the hopeful PM did not in fact have a majority), however would never happen in practice because it would be embarrassing to the GG, the Queen, and the public of NZ to install a government that was subsequently defeated at the first motion of no confidence (which is the first motion voted on at the start of each new government).
So far as I understand things, the conventions are:
1. The PM and his ministers hold their warrants personally until they resign, whether there is an election or not.
2. Post-election, the carry-over govt is regarded as a caretaker administration until new arrangements are made (old ministers resign, new warrants issued to new ministers).
3. The GG “takes advice” from the caretaker PM about who will be the next PM and accepts his/her list of ministers and swears them in (issues their warrants).
4. The GG and the Cabinet, acting as an Executive Council, set the date for the next sitting of Parliament.
5. Parliament convenes, sitting as a Government and an Opposition (the Westminster system is technically only ever a two-party system: the political parties can shift from one side to the other at will without triggering an election).
6. If the Opposition thinks it can overturn the sitting Government, it can bring a Motion of No Confidence, moved by the Leader of the Opposition.
7. If the MNC is passed, the government resigns and the outgoing PM advises the GG to invite the mover of the MNC motion to form a government.
8. And then points 3, 5, 6, 7, repeat until either stability is achieved or it all becomes too much and a new election is called for.
The two flies in the ointment are that, firstly, it’s all done by custom/ convention (UNLESS the Acts establishing MMP set up new rules??), and secondly that the GG usually takes the advice of the PM, whatever it may be. Precedent exists for the GG to discard that advice (eg Whitlam’s dismissal in Aus), but if the PM chooses to gives bad advice for political advantage then the GG will usually follow it.
Generally it all sorts itself out in the wash and doesn’t need a new election, just some discipline and negotiation.
Quite true, Weka, but it’s even more complicated than that. The MMP rules allow individuals, once in Parliament, to change their allegiances – the famous “waka-jumping” rule. It’s based on the old figment of the imagination under FPP that not parties but only individuals may be elected to Parliament, and they may then decide to align themselves with a political party. That’s why in the good old days Winston et al could change parties during a session without resigning, because they held their seats personally. Under MMP successful List candidates were given the same protection resulting in, for example, Brendan Horan being expelled from NZF but retaining his List seat as an individual (a mistake in the MMP List rules, in my opinion).
Even though we get a parliament elected by a tribal/ political party vote, party behaviour is still all by convention. JK raises the many-headed hydra image to frighten the faithful, but the truth is that (a) there are only ever two parties in parliament and (b) there are 120+ individuals who can align themselves whichever way they want to after they are sworn in. The good news is that this usually only happens at the fraying edges of the political parties. So far.
The possibility of a minority grouping reaching across the political party divide and inviting individuals from the other teams to come and play nicely and form a government with them is always a political reality. Depends upon the incentive, I suppose.
Fisheries ambassadorship, anyone? Or lovely baubles of office, perhaps?
It was mooted on either Q and A or Nation this morning – that Winston could do exactly what you refer to in your last para, and become prime minister !
Your para: “The possibility of a minority grouping reaching across the political party divide and inviting individuals from the other teams to come and play nicely and form a government with them is always a political reality. Depends upon the incentive, I suppose”.
Thank god for technological advances, otherwise Tony Abbott’s Liberal Party will have troubles running Parliament with all their members equidistant from each other – and doing it on less government funding: Welfare cut for terror suspects.
Joking aside, Abbott – like Key – continues to astound me when I think nothing that he does will surprise me again.
Like here the average punter in oz has little idea how owned the govt is by business interests as rupert controls a fair slice of media and reinhardt has a solid grip on fairfax ownership should she choose to go all the way.
abotts polling is bad but they dont care, getting the job done etc with turnbull paitently waiting in the wings when they need a new front next election. Expect more from tony he is far from done yet.
the wildcard is PUP, mining magnate clive palmers party who hold sway in the senate with senators like ricky muir and jacquie lambie take a seat and enjoy the show performed by its CT scripted actors.
Canada’s Conservatives have passed a bill giving foreigners the right to sue, in secret tribunals, to overturn Canadian law and First Nation treaties which might interfere their investments.
.
It’s official: Prime Minister Stephen Harper has approved the controversial Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) today.
In a short, two-paragraph news release, International Trade Minister Ed Fast said the deal was now ratified. It will come into force on October 1, 2014, and will be effective for 31 years, until 2045.
The original investment protection deal — which treaty law expert Gus Van Harten said could be in violation of the Canadian Constitution — was quietly signed in 2012 in Vladisvostok, Russia, but was delayed for two years due to public outcry
[…]
First Nations argued that the deal was not valid, as it would violate section 35 of the Constitution requiring consultation over projects that could affect traditional territory. The Hupacasath First Nation in B.C. took the federal government to court last year over the FIPA deal, while citizen advocacy groups Leadnow and SumOfUs delivered 60,000 signatures from across Canada in opposition to the agreement. The court decision on the Hupacasath First Nation’s legal appeal is still pending, despite the ratification.
If as you have stated, the GCSB drew up “mass protection ” programmes for NZers why did you veto it? Are we now “unprotected? And “unprotected” against what/whom?
Yep good questions and it will be interesting to see what they were proposing as these ‘mass protection’ programmes – we are now deep down the rabbit hole and the week ahead will be surreal and sickening as durrkey spins and slides.
If I were the cynical sort, I’d say that the metaphorical ink will still be dry on the documents ‘exonerating’ Key.
I think it was a journalist in Yes Prime Minister who asked “Is it true that the documents have yet to be released because the PM can only type with one finger?”
"It is only totalitarian governments that suppress facts. In
this country we simply take a democratic decision not to publish
them."
"How to discredit an unwelcome report:
Stage One: Refuse to publish in the public interest saying
1. There are security considerations.
2. The findings could be misinterpreted.
3. You are waiting for the results of a wider and more detailed
report which is still in preparation. (If there isn’t one, commission
it; this gives you even more time).
Stage Two: Discredit the evidence you are not publishing, saying
1. It leaves important questions unanswered.
2. Much of the evidence is inconclusive.
3. The figures are open to other interpretations.
4. Certain findings are contradictory.
5. Some of the main conclusions have been questioned. (If they haven’t,
question them yourself; then they have).
Stage Three: Undermine the recommendations. Suggested phrases:
1. ‘Not really a basis for long term decisions’.
2. ‘Not sufficient information on which to base a valid assessment’.
3. ‘No reason for any fundamental rethink of existing policy’.
4. ‘Broadly speaking, it endorses current practice’.
Stage Four: Discredit the person who produced the report. Explain
(off the record) that
1. He is harbouring a grudge against the Department.
2. He is a publicity seeker.
3. He is trying to get a Knighthood/Chair/Vice Chancellorship.
4. He used to be a consultant to a multinational.
5. He wants to be a consultant to a multinational."
"To suppress an internal government report, rewrite it as
official advice to the Minister. Then it is against the rules to
publish it, so you can leak the bits you want to friendly journalists."
It is completely accurate. In context, what Key is saying doesn’t even really make sense. It’s fairly clear what he’s *trying* to say, but as usual his slack speaking, muddled thinking and poor diction let him down.
Corin Dann:
But this was a huge issue at the time of this legislation and at no stage was there any mention that you were, that the GSCB was considering mass surveillance.
Key:
No, well, there’s total, there was total mention…
Seems like another lie from key really because ‘total’ is pretty definitive and in no way, shape or form was there ‘total mention’ that key and the GSCB were considering mass surveillance at the time of the legislation. Roll on Monday – in all its meanings…
Anyone know where I can still find a video of NIcky Hager Publically speaking at the Mt Eden War Memorial Hall on the 27th August. Everywhere I go it says it is unavailable. Thanking you
ScottGN I liked this bit and wondered why the 3rd to last sentence isn’t used by David:
Canada: “They are supported by a very traditional market argument that says raising minimum wage results in fewer jobs and is thus bad for the wider economy. Of course, the extension of this argument is that no minimum wage at all would be even better for the economy. If you think that, it is time for you to emigrate. There are many countries with no minimum wage.
On Q&A I thought Key looked serious and fluent and credible when talking to Corrin. Damn I thought!
Tonight on TV3 News he looked petulant, sulky and if one more question was asked of him he would have burst into tears. You know when someone struggles to contain their emotions their face muscles tremble and give you away.
The current issues are hurting him.
John Key does not like being criticised or exposed. He does not like losing. It’s what drives him and, I guess it has brought him “success”: success as he sees it. However, it’s also his Achilles heel. He just will not back down, even when the evidence is clearly against him.
Fuck, fuck, fuckity, fuck fuck. I was pretty sure I was going to party vote GP, but I just watched Laila Harre interview Greenwald and Amsterdam and now I want to vote for her! She so should be in parliament. My heart says IMP, but my head says GP. I’ve never had a voting dilemma before. Anyone else not know what they are doing?
haha, I did think of that. Bit of a long way for me though.
(I think it’s too late anyway, don’t you have to live in an electorate for a month to be able to vote there?).
Maybe STV would solve the problem. Mostly the dilemma is because I don’t know how everyone else is voting. With STV, it would matter would it? because my preferences would be ordered depending on what other people did too.
STV very much frees up voting for minor parties as your vote for them cannot be “wasted”.
This would also mean ACT and UnitedDunne would almost certainly win their electorates, too.
I think if we end up with 2 large parties on the left and 2 large parties on the right there will be a big appetite to change the way electorate voting works. But IIRC the MMP review recommended no changes, because people having a party vote and a candidate vote is already confusing enough as it is, without making the candidate vote into an STV.
Possibly one compromise would be to just to let people have 2 votes for candidates, with the candidate winning the most votes winning. It avoids a full-on STV ranking confusion, while still allowing more representation.
“I think if we end up with 2 large parties on the left and 2 large parties on the right there will be a big appetite to change the way electorate voting works.”
Because candidate voting is FPP – you just have to get the ‘most votes’, it doesn’t have to be anywhere near 1/2 of them.
If there were 4 roughly even sized parties, there could be some electorates where “the wrong party won” because the other bloc “split the vote”.
We’re already seeing it now with people voting for Greens candidates who realistically have 0 chance of winning, but in doing-so they hand the electorate over to National instead of Labour.
Yip. Her stepping into the leadership of IMP was enough to shake my conviction for voting Labour.
Ultimately I gave up on IMP because they didn’t have any policies announced, and now that I’ve seen them I can’t say I’m super-thrilled with them either. They’ll have a lot more time to mature over this term and I’ll give them another chance next time.
I think party votes with ticks and candidate votes with numbers would be too confusing for a lot of people.
I think a reasonable compromise is 2 ticks for candidates, and 1 tick for party vote. Candidates still remains FPP and only a single candidate can win an electorate.
Either system would mean the phrase “two ticks for X” would no longer make sense, though.
@ CV
This has probably been talked about before. But what would be against local bodies using STV.? In theory it sounds useful for them, does it have fishhooks?
Thanks to you too. I enjoy these ‘Not The Six O Clock News’ from Harre. What a great idea! Not sure how many people watch these. I hope a lot of voters do.
I would love to see Laila Harre as the Governor General or the President of New Zealand one day.
Me too. I am having trouble choosing between Mana and the Greens. Every time I make a decision, the benefitting party says or does something I don’t like. Mana is slightly ahead at the moment.
Just watched the clip below of Susan Wood interviewing RN & MT from the Greens.
I honestly cannot believe the conduct of Susan Wood? At every opportunity she had to point out how badly Labour are doing in the polls, she even said ‘Labour are tanking’ with a smug grin on her face.
Absolutely disgraceful TVNZ! Anyone with half a brain, including Susan Wood, knows that the polls are all over the place, often do not include undecideds and in some cases appear to be complete bullshit. Yet Susan Wood does her best to suggest that National have it in the bag? Bias much!
Yet more evidence that MSM are in need of a serious clean up.
The fact that the polls are crap is the elephant in the room that the MSM are doing their best to avoid.
If the outcome of the election is sufficiently different from what polling suggests, then I think we may see a bit of a wake-up call for the media, as well as calls for the polling companies to explain themselves and reform their methodologies.
You could stop watching the puppets involved with the news as I have done. If you ever caught Thunderbirds you might get a whiff of connection with the actors there. Lady Penelope would be much more lively and stylish than Susan Wood.
This is a link to a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ video of Key before the last election. As he’s asked a very embarrassing question, his smiling face transforms as he looks down into something hateful. It’s the absolute opposite of the charming front he usually strives to effect. Such a pity that few of the Nats’ believers would ever have seen this, the real face, of their golden boy.
The video starts to get interesting from about 1 min 11 secs.
Commenting on a new ICM poll for the Sunday Telegraph which puts Yes at 54 per cent and No at 46 per cent – and an Opinium poll for the Observer which puts Yes at 47 per cent and No at 53 per cent – Blair Jenkins, chief executive of Yes Scotland, said: ‘The new ICM poll gives Yes a record eight-point lead, which is hugely encouraging. Meanwhile, Opinium puts Yes behind, but just by six points.
I think in terms of turnout, the YES vote will be more energised and they will have it. And a friend pointed this out to me: we will know the Scottish result as we turnout to vote…if they vote for a change I think it will push us over the line too 🙂
Scottish referendum ,
I feel this has been poorly thought out and what ever happens the result will divide the Scottish people . The polls suggest a close result which will leave large numbers of scott’s in a state of despair which ever way it goes .
The vote to change should require a much higher % of the population to support leaving , imagine if 49% vote to stay , that’s trouble ahead , perhaps civil unrest .
“imagine if 49% vote to stay , that’s trouble ahead , perhaps civil unrest ”
….that view sounds a little like the ‘no’ compaign scare tactics
‘civil unrest’ tends to be associated with people who are poor, powerless, unemployed, marginalised, have nothing to lose, …
If the ‘yes’ vote wins there will still be a democratic election process in Scotland. And you can be sure that most Scots will want Scotland to succeed even if they voted ‘no’
Scots have been thinking and debating the pros and cons of being an independent nation for a very long time and whichever way the vote goes will not turn on each other
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
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 ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
By Eleisha Foon, RNZ Pacific senior journalist A Pacific regionalism academic has called out New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS and says the security deal “raises serious questions for the Pacific region”. Auckland University of Technology academic Dr Marco de Jong ...
How worried should we be about the cloud? This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. I currently have a few thousand unread emails languishing in my inbox, mostly old marketing newsletters and piles of unread science journal press releases. I have a similar number ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nuurrianti Jalli, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies College of Arts and Sciences Department of Languages, Literature, and Communication Studies, Northern State University Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Southeast Asian governments not only have to deal with the virus but also with the false ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Murakami Wood, Professor of Critical Surveillance and Securities Studies, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa The skyline of Riyadh, the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia.(Shutterstock) There is a long history of planned city building by both governments ...
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today at 12:45pm May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment of ...
The Boil Up’s Lucinda Bennett considers the oyster – from freshness to pearls to the joy of shucking your own. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. In Carmen Maria Machado’s short story ‘Eight Bites’, a woman begins her last supper before bariatric surgery with “a cavalcade ...
Asia Pacific Report A group of 65 Auckland University academics have written an open letter to vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater criticising the institution’s stance over students protesting in solidarity with Palestine. They have called on her administration to “support” the students who were denied permission to establish an “overnight encampment” by ...
The Student Volunteer Army is on the march, generating approximately 1.6 million hours of volunteering from roughly 35,000 secondary school students in just five years. For Rebekah Brown, the pathway to volunteering started with her singing coach. With a passion for the arts, the suggestion to volunteer at Acting Antics, ...
Keeping up with online communication can be exhausting, so Fran Barclay enlisted the help of Meta’s new ‘intelligent assistant’ to respond to all her messages. Could her mates tell the difference? For centuries, technology has ruled the ways in which we communicate. From the dawn of written language, to the ...
Jamie Arbuckle, a councillor who has become an member of parliament, says he has settled into having two roles so comfortably he's going to keep both pay cheques. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luis Gómez Romero, Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory, University of Wollongong Fifty years ago, Australian feminist Anne Summers denounced “the ideology of sexism” governing over so many women’s lives. Unfortunately, sexism is as lethal today as it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jose Antonio Lara-Hernandez, Senior Researcher in Architecture, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images The COVID-19 pandemic and the hybrid work patterns it fostered have changed the way we think about office space, and central business districts in general. While fears ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dale Boccabella, Associate Professor of Taxation Law, UNSW Sydney There’s a good reason your local volunteer-run netball club doesn’t pay tax. In Australia, various nonprofit organisations are exempt from paying income tax, including those that do charitable work, such as churches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Deller, Casual Academic, Creative Writing and English Literature, Flinders University NetflixComedy is opening up spaces for silences to be broken and trauma stories to be told. In 2018, Hannah Gadsby started a revolution with Nanette, asking audiences to rethink ...
The workplace can be a minefield of bad comms and passive aggression. Kinksters can help you navigate it. A friend and colleague recently gave me a compliment I loved. They told me I’d always been good at emotional communication and making people feel comfortable. “But I feel like it’s really ...
Even if some students are now just texting on their laptops. Stewart Sowman-Lund writes in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Councils from Horowhenua, Kāpiti, Wairarapa, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington City will meet this Friday to work together on a plan for a Greater Wellington region water deal. ...
Renowned musician, advocate, and proud born and raised daughter of Tauranga, Ria Hall, is announcing her candidacy for Mayor of Tauranga and Pāpāmoa Ward for the upcoming election on July 20th. ...
The new Aotearoa histories curriculum is rich with potential. There’s still work to be done, but the education minister’s criticisms about ‘balance’ miss the mark, argues primary school teacher Jessie Moss. In 2015, Ōtorohanga College students presented to parliament a petition signed by more than 10,000 people calling for a ...
For too long our so-called national bird has maintained its stranglehold on the economy of regional New Zealand. Thanks to the fast track legislation, we will have our revenge. Theories abound on what ails New Zealand’s economy. National leader Chris Luxon has posited that we’re negative, wet, whiny, and inward-looking; ...
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For the past 12 years, Georgia-Rose Brown has balanced on the brink of making an Olympic Games – but always landed gracefully on the wrong side. Reaching the Olympics is a dream the gymnast has harboured since she was a six-year-old; a dream that would dwindle every four years, yet ...
Late one afternoon in March 1860 a man in a thin green velveteen jacket and a wide-awake hat arrived on foot at a sheep station named Glenmark, about 65 kilometres north of Christchurch. The man was in his mid-fifties but he looked older. Several people who met him that day ...
If building one of Auckland’s possible waterfront stadiums was funded privately, it would need to hold a sold-out Ed Sherran concert every weekday for 25 years. That’s Rob Hamlin’s finding – he’s a senior marketing lecturer at the University of Otago. “It’s not going to happen; forget about it,” he ...
Comment: The debate over the future relationship between news and social media is bringing us closer to a long-overdue reckoning. Social media isn’t trying to kill journalism, because social media has never really cared about journalism. Social media is resolutely in the attention business. News propels some attention — perhaps ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A new Commonwealth Prac Payment will provide students with $319.50 a week when they are on clinical and professional placements. The payment will be means tested and start from July 1 next year, which ...
Asia Pacific Report About 500 people honoured Palestinian journalists in the heart of the New Zealand city of Auckland today for their brave coverage of Israel’s War on Gaza, now in its seventh month with almost 35,000 people killed, mostly women and children. Marking the annual May 3 World Press ...
The Government Communications Security Bureau denies hosting a foreign spying capability flagged by the watchdog, differentiating it from the system recently criticised. ...
RNZ News A group of academic staff at New Zealand’s largest university have expressed concern at the administration’s move to block a protest encampment that was planned to take place on campus calling for support for the rights of Palestinians. This week, the University of Auckland warned that while it ...
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Political conferences after a party returns to power are usually a chance for some healthy, even unhealthy backslapping. Yet National Party president Sylvia Wood’s address to its mainland representatives on Saturday hardly contained the unalloyed delight that one might have expected following National’s escape from the wilderness of opposition. Yes, ...
Comment: Almost half the world is voting in national elections this year and artificial intelligence is the elephant in the room. There are genuine fears AI-generated or AI-edited deepfakes will potentially manipulate election outcomes not just in the US and UK, but critically in countries such as India. For that ...
Ahead of the reality franchise’s return to New Zealand, allow us to introduce the eight brides and grooms. Chuck on a veil and tie back your man bun, because it’s time to say “I do” to a new season of Married at First Sight NZ. The reality TV “social experiment” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy, Australian National University Every year on June 1, student debt in Australia is indexed to inflation. In 2023, high inflation pushed the indexation rate to 7.1%, the highest since 1990. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Changes in the May 14 budget will cut the student debt of more than three million people, wiping more than $3 billion from what people owe. The government will cap the HELP indexation rate ...
Asia Pacific Report The prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appealed for an end to what it calls intimidation of its staff, saying such threats could constitute an offence against the “administration of justice” by the world’s permanent war crimes court. The Hague-based office of ICC Prosecutor ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A women’s union in New Caledonia has staged a sit-in protest this week to support senior Kanak indigenous journalist Thérèse Waia, who works for public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la Première, after a smear attack by critics. The peaceful demonstration was held on ...
New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring overseas recalls of Indian packaged spice products manufactured by MDH and Everest due to concerns over a cancer-causing pesticide. ...
By Stephen Wright and Stefan Armbruster of BenarNews Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index has jumped into the top tier of countries with free or mostly free media after its government last year repealed a draconian law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs. Fiji’s improvement ...
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Keen hiker and second-year MSc student Liam Hewson wears two hats when he’s in the great outdoors. “The scientist in me appreciates nature and goes, ‘Oh, there’s that thing and there’s another thing,’ but then the tramper and the outdoorsy person in me thinks, ‘Cool bush.’” Born and bred in ...
After a long and illustrious career as a goal kicker, Dan Carter’s favourite way to unwind is… kicking goals. Why can’t he get enough of it? And what it’s like to watch him do it for an hour straight? A semicircle of people wielding cameras and phones has formed in ...
Dame Susan Devoy takes us through her life in television, including late night ER debriefs, her proudest CTI moment and the show she watches in secret. Quite aside from her four world champion squash titles, Dame Susan Devoy will likely go down in history as one of the best Celebrity ...
Hera Lindsay Bird reveals the best places in Ōtepoti to score more for your apocalypse-prep book hoard.Sometimes I get the feeling I’ve been killed in a car crash, and this second half of my life is just the brain unspooling itself, like one of those episodes of a hospital ...
ThreeNow’s new murder mystery series takes us on a dark, damp journey into the Australian wilderness.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. High Country is ThreeNow’s new Australian eight-part crime drama, set in a remote part of the Victorian highlands. It tells ...
Introducing a new way to read The Spinoff every weekend. After nearly 10 years of being an online magazine, we’re finally embracing the weekend liftout. Despite our best efforts to convince you otherwise, writers and editors at The Spinoff don’t work weekend. It is through the sheer power of technology ...
Tip one: let yourself be nurtured by this big old man. Tip two: don’t ask him to adopt you. So, you’ve arrived at your first session with a new therapist. He tells you to make yourself comfortable and you opt for the tweed armchair, hoping it makes you look like ...
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Former Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has already started training for the Enhanced games, though says he won’t start taking performance enhancing substances until about nine months out from the competition. The Australian world champion was the first athlete to be announced by Enhanced, but he says the organisation has had ...
Everyone thinks he’s dead. Every day they expect his body to be washed up along the coast. Most likely up Karitane way, the way the tide’s running. But nobody’ll be too surprised if his body’s never found. Even in death he wouldn’t have wished for such attention. He would have ...
Council members voted 21 to 4 in favour of Ahluwalia returning to the Laucala campus following a much-awaited meeting in Vanuatu this week. It comes as USP and its two unions — the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and the Administration and Support Staff Union ...
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Analysis - A poll showing the opposition is more popular than the government raises questions, politicians go through their 'trial by pay rise' and a Green MP loses her cool in the debating chamber. ...
The entire stretch of Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast will be subject to a joint customary marine title for two hapū, and extending up to four miles out to sea. A High Court judge has found the two groups, who during the case settled a dispute over boundaries for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hall, Lecturer, Media & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University A longstanding feud between TikTok and Universal Music Group seems to have finally reached an end, with both parties signing a deal that will see Universal-backed music returned to the social media ...
Where did Mr Slater receive his diploma/degree in journalism?
i have never really had any problems with slater claiming he is a journalist..
..’cos he is..
..critiques could be made of his tabloid/’truth’ style of journalism..
..but journalism it is..
.and his blog is a media-outlet..
..these are just basic definitions/facts..
Yes.
I think Slater is pretty much a really nasty person, but it seems to me that he fits all the criteria to be a journalist.
Why do you think someone needs one to become a journalist?
Can you think of any other profession that does not require formal qualifications?
And what, precisely, does a journalism qualification actually bestow upon someone?
It’s obviously not logical thinking or the ability to understand what scientists are saying. It doesn’t seem to have anything to do with holding power to account either and, at the end of the day, anybody who’s been to school knows how to write an essay.
Wow National still really high in the Stuff poll, Disappointing they can govern alone. http://www.stuff.co.nz/interactives/polling/
The Sunday papers are all about National being set to win, and there being no chance for Labour.
It really shows how scared they are. Only those who lack confidence will shout loudest.
Are you saying the Sunday papers are scared and lack confidence, they are the ones printing the facts. Expect Labour to drop even further once everyone realises that they have no chance.
Which facts are they?
The current bunch of ‘journalists’ wouldn’t know fact from fiction.
Oh god, please stay on focus. Of cause its not the papers, hallo?
lol. yeah, scared they are.
They should be.
But then again, where there’s no sense, there’s no feeling.
Labour is in an insidious position with friends and foes unfairly undermining its leader and party, left, right and centre and stupidly talking up National at the same time, in spite of Cunliffe running a great campaign and Labour having such excellent policies! What the hell is wrong with the MSM and so many people?
@clemgeopin
Todays Rod Oram has a good summary of Labour’s economic policies versus Nats in the SST, and it clearly shows why Labour’s polices are far superior. It makes me wonder why so few of our media can see what Oram clearly explains. I suspect that National’s concerted #dirty politics campaign over the last 6 years combined with the ABC cabal has wrecked labour for this election, which is why they are struggling. Also National have done a good job of lying to people about the state of the economy, if I think one area where labour strategyin thi election is wrong is they should have attacked National harder around their Economic Management, Labour needed to highlight if you backed out ChCh$40b insurance proceeds and last years dairy proceeds anomaly (both wont exist in the next 2 to 3 years) from GDP we would have had zero growth. One thing is for sure, who ever wins next weekend will have their work cut out for them in the next 3 years, they are going to be tough.
Because the interests that are represented by National are not invested in a fair society. They just want to cash in on slave labor.
SST hot on mccullum wanting to suppress their article… When they have material from whaledump AND no crowing about their win over slater trying to stop them publishing
Slater sending his limitless helpers out early today.
So on this poll how many list mps make it back in? Losing Parker, Adern and Little will be very damaging for Labour. Greens the party of opposition I see in the future. And the next Government after this National one.
Not remotely interested in your attempt to dribble on about this subject.
With Labour at 22.4%, I’m left to wonder how they could have got it so wrong this year. At this % some big names are not going to make it back in. A cleanout might be good, but not an enforced one.
They didn’t get it wrong this year, at least if you mean they did something.
The got it wrong about this time last year when they elected David Cunliffe as leader. Why didn’t Grant get the job?
As you say a cleanout might be good but that isn’t what is going to happen. On the latest poll numbers the Labour Party is going to comprise a bunch of members who go back to last century. A cleanout would get rid of people like Goff, Mallard and King.
Hahahahahaha!
It is precisely this indecisive hick hack with some good old backstabbing that is costing labor. None of the voters are interested in this yesteryear Maldoon methods. You just have to blame yourself.
2017 will be a contest between National and the Greens. The Greens won’t be just after the party vote next time they will be out to win seats, and they will be contesting hard in any by-elections of Labour held seats, as Labour tries to rejuvenate their line up.
12 months ago no one could believe Labour’s result would have a two in front of it, now the question is will it have a one and will it be bigger than the Greens?
Just saw Norman and Turei on Q&A. Looking forward to the Greens in 2017! Very exciting govt. Want them to lead not be a junior coalition party.
Oh look, a brace of ratfuckers interviewing one another. The quintessential embodiment of irrelevance and mendacity.
We need better wingnuts: these ones are shite.
Don’t be silly. THEY were so excited about changing the government next week.
Sorry, but we on the right, predicted this in 2008-2009. You all refused to listen.
Hahahahaha!
[lprent: You will have to improve your comments or I’ll ban you as a mindless troll. Maniacal laughing is a sign of boring pointless abuse as far as I’m concerned ]
Maybe that is all his/her IQ allows lprent? We understand, stress can do this to people 😉
So writing drivel is OK but laughing at drivel is not?
Genuine question.
whohaa, a sentence, hallelujah. If you laugh about something please have us anticipating what is it that is so amusing. Some might have a different point of view, some might be laughing with you and a genuine punter might evolve. 🙂
Party Vote percentages are only based on eligible and decided voters. Respondents who are undecided, do not intend to vote or are ineligible to do so are excluded from the Party Vote.
Biased polling, can’t even report what percentage of people aren’t decided voters.
They did manage to point out that their interpration of results is based on the smaller parties keeping their existing seats.
14% undecided which is unusually high this far out from Sept20!
How about the Stuff poll on National’s tax cuts?
5200 replies so far, 67% say it’s bad, 10% say it’s marginal and 23% say it’s good.
Today’s must read:
Looking at similar NSA documents, the information Key wants to release is likely classified SECRET or TOP SECRET. That means its release would cause “serious” or “exceptionally grave” damage to security or intelligence operations (see p. 55 – 58). You and I may not agree with those operations, or their idea of “national security”, but Key and the GCSB supposedly do – and those concerns don’t disappear simply because the PM decides it would be politically useful to release. Unless of course in their eyes, “national security” means “National’s security”.
http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/national-security-or-nationals-security.html
Maybe because Greenwald has already put the “top secret” information in the public domain and the government just gives the context.
… or Greenwald’s take on the misuse and misappropriation of our spy agencies is accurate. And Key is providing an example of it.
Were you one of those who complained about a Nanny State because of lightbulbs and school tuck shop food?
So what’s your view on a surveillance state?
The hypocrisy is unbelievable,
“David Slack @DavidSlack –
PM’s “proof” may turn out to be a single page statement from GCSB. What you might call a puffed up little sheet.”
My view too.
Clever use of words David.
Very amusing.
Who has the power to declassify docs?
But we have Key going on and on about “I won’t talk about security matters.” Or “It’s not in the public interest” But now that it’s in His interest. The Liar in Chief will even throw the countries security out the window, just to try and prove a point. That alone shows what contempt he holds ordinary Kiwi’s in.
key is not fit for office, any office, except his natural david brentishness’s office
Key claimed he knew nothing of the declassification of slaters oia docs, sonot hum.
Cancermole, & other Natz sinners,
NZ polls are manipulated.
Read & learn here.
Corruption case to answer and a police investigation must be ordered by the opposition, here are some facts.
A simple search last night of “Polls can be manipulated” – Google
found about 1,400,000 results.
Below leaves us all now with the knowledge of what in New Zealand is actually going on, it is more corruption of our MSM conducting manipulated polling results, and opposition now must call this as it is, corruption of the MSM and manipulation of all polls.
We were contacted Friday 22nd of August at 4pm by Herald Digipoll by a lady who first said we are conducting a poll and could we participate?
We said yes, then she said my supervisor is listening in, is that o/k?
I hesitated but agreed and she went through a ten minute questioning, and then abruptly said we don’t need your input thanks, and hung up!
This left us so disturbed we searched the web and found all 1.4 million cases of poll manipulations globally on Goggle, which include what is called “selective polling”
We believe we were a victim of a Herald Digipoll selective polling strategy.
NZ pols are corrupted, is this a crime?
This is just one case of the 1.4 million sites on Goggle in India which may show what is happening here in NZ.
quote;
New Delhi: Public opinion gathered by leading opinion poll agencies is often tweaked to give misleading results, Operation Prime Minister, a sting operation by a private news network, News Express, has revealed Tuesday. Well-known faces from leading opinion poll agencies have been caught on hidden camera agreeing to such malpractices.
Operation Prime Minister shows how opinion polls are conducted and manipulated at the instance of political parties, their results traded to show a particular party in a favourable position, for a price. Presenting snippets from the sting operation at a press conference, Editor-in-chief of News Express, Vinod Kapri said, “Our motivation behind conducting the sting operation was a letter written by the Election Commission of India to all regional and national parties inviting their views on the publication of opinion polls.
We wanted to investigate the concerns of the Commission.” In its letter dated 4 Oct, 2013, the Election Commission had said, “The Commission has been suggesting to the government that there should be a similar prohibition or restriction on opinion polls also as there could be several manipulated opinion polls which could impact the voting pattern.”
Another motivation behind the sting operation was the mushrooming of opinion polls. “There used to be one or two opinion polls every election. But now, one sees an opinion poll almost every week. Which leads us to the question- how is the data generated so quickly and processed,” said Kapri.
“Operation Prime Minister has exposed eleven opinion poll agencies, whose surveys are published in leading newspapers and magazines besides being broadcast by leading news channels”, it was claimed in the sting opertaion.
It demonstrates how the 810 million voters of our country are duped into believing trends or waves that are manipulated. – See more at:
“Opinion polls seem to have become the latest weapon in the poll campaign.
For a price, the prediction of seats tally can be changed to suit the interests of political parties.
The agencies have no qualms accepting even black money for this purpose”,
News Express claimed. The influence of opinion poll agencies goes beyond mere opinion polls. In some cases, the poll agencies have claimed they can even prop up dummy candidates in the constituencies where the rival candidate is on a strong wicket.
It has also been claimed that some leading editors are hand in glove with these poll agencies.
This is just a few of the 1.4 million sites on Goggle. – See more at:
http://www.ummid.com/news/2014/February/26.02.2014/opinion-poll-companies-exposed.html#sthash.wqSJ2ylu.dpuf
http://www.sciences360.com/index.php/statistics-16350/
http://www.ummid.com/news/2014/February/26.02.2014/opinion-poll-companies-exposed.html#sthash.h8rTzw8V.dpuf
http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/471548/exit-polls-manipulated-modi-will-never-be-pm-samajwadi-party.html
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/general-impression-that-opinion-polls-can-be-manipulated-sibal/20131109.htm
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Many-agencies-manipulating-opinion-poll-projections-claims-sting-operation/articleshow/31013534.cms
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/2764415112001
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misuse_of_statistics
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/mhp-furious-over-opinion-poll-manipulation-claims.aspx?pageID=238&nID=62184&NewsCatID=338
+100 disturbed …right wing managed PR polls are the arse end of the dog influencing voter perceptions, discouraging people from genuinely voting and corrupting democracy
Current polls seem to show that Labour are losers so don’t vote for them. Just seems so wrong. Doesn’t fit with the mood that I see.
Brilliant. Thanks so much for taking the time to put this comment together.
Very disturbing re the experience you had with the pollers!
MMP Strategic voting?
While looking at figures of the 2011 election I was a bit disheartened by the large National majorities and the smaller Labour majorities until I realized that the so called left vote was often split between Green and Labour.
It does seem to me that party votes and list MPs aside, in some electorates the right wing candidate often slips in between a divided left.
I know some young people who give their electorate vote to a green candidate and their party vote to Labour. They don’t realize that while their party votes are effectual their electorate votes are ineffectual in the immediate election.
I also know of some farm workers who lean to the left but because they live in farmer dominated (National) electorates they believe they can have no influence so don’t bother voting at all, not yet understanding the importance of the party vote.
1.In Waitakere, Bennet with her majority of 9 would have been defeated if just 10 more voters had chosen Sepuloni.
3.In Tamaki Rukaurau 10,592 voted against ,Sharples and 7,120 voted for Sharples. The split ’left’ vote allowed him to win and support National.
4.In Ikaroa- Rawhiti , Labour’s Horomia romped in with a 6541 majority as apart from Mana’s 2484 votes, the left vote was not divided
5.In Te Tai Hauauru the combined vote of Mana, GP and Labour was 8732 and
Turia Tariana got 8433.
6. In Te Tai Tokerau where the vote wasn’t split Kelvin Davis wasn’t far behind the smallish 1165 majority of Hone Pani Tamati Waka Nene Harawira . (What a magnificent name)
7.In Te Tai Tonga there was a similar smallish majority (1475) for Labour’s Tirikatene and the yet Mana+GP vote was 3906.
8.Waiariki -10123 combined votes of the two purportedly left parties, Mana and Labour were more than Flavell’s 7651.
9.In Coromandel the Nat majority was 12,740 but the combined ‘left’ vote of Green and Labour, nearly 11,500 was hopelessly split at 5000+each.
10.In Ohariu Dunne got 14,357. The Labour and GP vote combined was 15,125.
11.In Waimakariri Cosgrove was beaten by Kate Wilkinson by 642 votes. The GP votes plus Labour votes were 17,342, Wilkinson’s 16,787.
12.In Christchurch Central, Wagner’s majority over Labour’s Brendon Burns was just 47 (yes 47) .Over 2000 went to the GP. (Incidentally ACT got a massive 110).
13. In Epsom it is transparently obvious that if Greens and Labour had voted strategically and voted National, their combined votes( 5991)would have obliterated John Banks false majority of 2261 and we’d never have seen a charter school. I agree that for left leaning people, doing this would probably be too hard to stomach. Dunno if I could do it.
There is also the other elephant.: the thousands and thousands who didn’t vote at all in 2011.
What can be done? Me.. I’ll be door knocking on the day.
If I were running a black ops rainbow alliance election campaign, I’d have adverts on TV promoting tactical voting.
DC appearing in turn with other opposition party leaders, having a cup of tea with them and the nation.
Party vote for either of us, but to get rid of the electorate nat mp or stop act and dunne etc… Vote for this candidate and so on until the message sinks home.
But I’m not running a campaign, so don’t hold your breath.
All it shows is that Maori parties of what ever hue are right leaning, always were. So lets be clear here. If Maori vote right then they have to live with the policies.
History has a lot to do with. What are the best gains that Māori MPs have made? Was that under left wing or right wing governments?
For treaty settlements, Maori have done better under National. As far as social policy, labour started well, but then has been slowly down hill. Not to mention the backstabbing by the last labour government. So on balance, both have been as bad as each other – why do you think a majority of maori have gone with NZfirst, the greens, maori party or Mana. The major parties have been, well, bloody awful.
Are you sure about that? Isn’t is a publicity stunt? Labor had also a plan to have all settlements arranged by a certain date. But it wouldn’t have included selling assets that all NZlanders have paid for. Social policy under National certainly is not a highlight given the proportion of Maori and pacific people showing in the statistics of the poorest in the Nation. What it also shows however is, that to my biggest disappointment, the Maori tribal hierarchy is worse than whites. How else can one explain that after decades of multimillion dollar payouts nothing has trickled down? So really there it is the meeting of the minds of the far right and Maoridom.
How can you say Iwi leadership is worse than whites – when the dominant ideological framework is white? How much of Paul Henry are you watching? And why you tethered to an outdated economic concept like trickle down theory?
Or do you want to talk about the Tainui settlement, the land and money – oh wait just under 1% of what was taken and they have your expectation to solve all the problems, with getting less than 1% of what was stolen back. Lets go positive shall we. Ngāi Tahu, or Kāi Tahu, have done well getting back a mere fraction of a percent of everything taken. Like having the most PHD’s of any Iwi, Yes – they pay fee’s – School support programmes to clothe, feed and provided supplies for all the tamariki. Massive investment into Christchurch after the earthquakes – especially housing.
OK not all good news, the virtual slave labour on board the sealord fleet is a bloody disgrace. But wait, the Iwi leadership is being held to account on that one.
+1 adam
Then why is it that the majority of poverty is in Maori households? Hasn’t the main argument been that the money that was paid back is to be used for an economic base for Maoridom? Decades later and nothing has changed. Sorry, but I am not falling for the political correctness that does not allow a voice of dissent in such matters. And do you mean that Iwi leadership is above reproach and all whites are bad? The framework is surely not white – I can 100%, what do I say 1000% reassure you. Too many people I know have to stay in line or are excluded on the base of race – and this means they are white or asian. All I see is a distribution of wealth within the Maori hierarchy that leaves the National Party with their policies in the dust. Sorry, but someone has to say it and I know it does not look good. But if Maori are serious with their assertion of being all that they have proposed, then somehow the results are not showing. So where are the facts – please no fiction, work in progress or consultants are working on it.
PS.: 1% of all that is there is, is still 100% more than most people in this country have. If Moari want to convert the country back to were it was, please tell us all. More than happy to move on, really.
This is why we need preferential voting in electorates or to get rid of electorates altogether.
DTB
Yep I’m thinking that too. Seems to me the one who gets the minority of votes slips through.
Oh I forgot in Auckland central, Jacinta Adern with 14321 votes missed out by 737 and yet the Greens vote was about 2,903.
Nats must be laughing…I’m not.
..but it does show that in spite of the nonsense polls the John Key government can be beaten by people thinking before they vote.
On point three Tāmaki Makaurau Jones never had a chance. And anyway, Shane Jones has proved he was more right wing than Pita. Is this vote labour, because we know best list? Wil labour voters in Waiariki vote for the Mana candidate? It seems to me there is a double standard at play here or is that just me?
It’s not just you. Labour still tends to act as if they are the left, and the others are at best support parties. It’s an attitude more suited to FPP.
I have been reading an article on Clare Robinson in ‘Your Weekend’ (The Press)…and what a contrast she is to Mihi Forbes ( also featured).
Mihi Forbes is widely regarded by professional journalist commentators as a thoughtful listener and very skilled interviewer. An experienced journalist she has some notable interviews and has done investigative journalism into some important and controversial issues …She works for Maori television and heads the programme ‘Maori Affairs’.
In contrast Claire Robinson seems to be a very shallow, self- aggrandising person who just lucked in to being a political commentator…”People would say it didn’t matter what I said as long as I came across as credible”
…She has a PhD in political advertising and a bachelor of design degree…(in this article there is a lot about Robinson’s art design creative abilities, multiple job experiences and her family credentials ( mother a feminist, father a political scientist, ex-husband High Commissioner to Kiribati…marriage breakdown…she took off with the chosen house painter….)
…In essence Claire Robinson is a self -styled right wing political commentator in ” Twitter world”
She met David Cunliffe in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs …and her biggest beef against him seems to be that he was ” married, and no one else was “…and he was ambitious in his career and “wasn’t interested in socialising”…Today “We’re friendly to each other. He knows I’ve always given him a hard time.”……”He’s had to learn on the job, which is never a good thing to do…and learn about it in the public eye.”
“If I had to write the perfect job description for me, I would write this sort of job”….(expounding her political views and tinkering with paint and pencils….she doodles in meetings and they’re very stylish doodles)
“Mihi Forbes is widely regarded by professional journalist commentators as a thoughtful listener and very skilled interviewer.”
On National Radio Media Report this morning they talked about a major review of Maori TV but the review will not be released until after the election. It is possible that Mihi’s great Native Affairs program will/might be closed in favour of a magazine type program. Implies that Mihi is too good at her job and has upset some senior Maori leaders.
Maori tv displeases the corporate iwi and hollowmen so they rigged the board and dropped in a new CEO.
This caused a director resignation over the process and his former employer to offer an insight on what this person was let go for but the board declined so they didnt risk his appointment with incovenient facts.
The new chief is a conflict monkey sent in to ‘realign’ and crash into the trouble makers making their tenure unpleasant. Nats want maori tv to be the same subservant outlet that tvnz and rnz are for them.
Act leader Jamie Whyte , in the aftermath of a widely pilloried speech about Maori privilege, went on Mihi Forbes’ ‘Native Affairs’ programme to explain himself ….and had to admit that he had never heard of whanau ora !….
“When you are going to be attacking race–based policies , you should know about the number one policy for the Maori party ,” Forbes says.
Maybe this is why the NACTS and their brown nosers could be keen to get rid of a seriously good journalist and her programme….she asks the questions which expose their arrogance and ignorance and incompetence…and is not a lightweight right wing PR flibbertijibbet …. masquerading as a journalist
A Labour Left coalition simply MUST win this Election !
Agree with all you say here Ckooky. I have always had the impression that much of the anti Cunliffe rhetoric has stemmed from Claire Robinson.
must-watch key interview on q&a..
(he does a great cornered-rat impersonation..)
..and he claims he is doing nothing more than clark did..
(..once again..confirming that internet/mana and the greens are the only ‘clean’ parties..
..the only parties able to be trusted to do the reforms needed..)
“once again..confirming that internet/mana and the greens are the only ‘clean’ parties..the only parties able to be trusted to do the reforms needed”
Pu, do list all “the reforms needed” so we can fact check for ourselves.
Make it a conclusive, once and for all type document, and just put it out there.
You may be correct, you might have missed a press release or something and labour (no pun) under misapprehension, or you might just be gassing from your head hole, but at least we’ll have a definitive list to decide who to trust, or not, and for what reasons.
lol…”great cornered-rat impersonation”…John Key is on the ropes
If JK is on the ropes, then Cunliffe just got knocked out.
“he does a great cornered-rat impersonation..”
It’s not an impersonation.
Unless he backed it up with documentation then all it proves is that John Key is spinning again.
“…doing nothing more than clark did…”
Well at least he admits it. His supporters can now follow his lead, saying he is principled, because honesty is the best policy is it not? And principles are good yes? Therefore he is good in all things. Because good and bad cannot co-exist. That would be unfair otherwise. Honestly admitting to your crimes negates the crime. Yes. That’ll be it. Because 1-1=0 and zero means nothing gained nothing lost = balance.
On Mediawatch..Labour has said they will establish (re-establish) a public broadcasting TV channel. I want that. Other countries do it easily.
+100
Actually I want that too – but I’m a greedy bugger. I want more than that. I want my children to have one too. One that is similar to the one only wealthy have (a la Kidzone – commercial free). I also want a channel that provides archive material that has been publicly funded, or that public funds have contributed to – which would otherwise have not been funded (a la Heartland).
And I’m super greedy. I want a channel that provides access to the NZ citizenry for other publicly funded enterprises such as NZSO, NZ Ballet, NZ Opera, live music and culture of all descriptions including new music and any and everything that receives funding through NZ on Air, Te Mangai Paho, Ministry for Culture and Heritage or any other public money, and which reflects local/regional views.
Since I’m super super greedy, I also want another radio channel that provides access to the many, for new music and arts and culture, AND publicly funded networking facilities for local iwi radio and the ability for them to express themselves to a wider audience.
Public Sphere and all that quaint sort of thing that’s relevant to the diversity of 4.5 million people.
+100…Once Was Tim….Yes, Yes, Yes!…maybe you can offer your services to the new Labour Left coalition Govt…sounds like you know what you are talking about!
Discourses of Rumi: a sample taken from Discourse four…
“…This is like the story they tell of a certain king. This king entrusted his son to a team of learned men. In due course they had taught him the sciences of astrology, geomancy and so forth so that he became a complete master, despite his utter dullness of wit and stupidity.
One day the king took a ring in his fist and put his son to the test.
‘Come, tell me what I am holding in my fist.’
‘The thing you are holding is round, yellow and hollow,’ the prince answered.
‘Since you have given all the signs correctly, now pronounce what thing it is,’ the king said.
‘It must be a sieve,’ the prince replied.
‘What?’ cried the king. ‘You gave correctly all the minute signs, such as might well baffle the minds of men. Out of all your powerful learning and knowledge how is it that this small point has escaped you, that a sieve cannot be contained in the fist?’
In the same way the great scholars of the age split hairs on all manner of sciences. They know perfectly and have a complete comprehension of those other matters which do not concern them. But as for what is truly of moment and touches a man more closely than all else, namely his won self, this your great scholar does not know. He pronounces on the legality or otherwise of every thing, saying. ‘This is permitted and that is not permitted, this is lawful and that is unlawful.’ Yet he knows not his own self, whether it is lawful or unlawful, permissible or not permissible, pure or impure.”
/facepalm
More ranting against the educated from what is, most likely, an uneducated dweeb.
Regarding manipulation of polls, please search for this article – The Guardian UK
theguardian.com, Monday 14 July 2014 19.22 BST
GCHQ has tools to manipulate online information, leaked documents show
Documents leaked by Edward Snowden reveal programs to track targets, spread information and manipulate online debates
and cunnliffe released the wow!-policy for the last week of the campaign..
..and it’s something dreamed up by parker..a state-investment thingy..
..and it’s probably a good idea..
..but does anyone think it will come within a bulls’ roar of getting the undecideds off the couch..
..and rushing to vote for labour..?
..really..?
Dunno, but it’s probably better than announcing compulsory vegan sausages.
dunno..!…arguable…
..the environment would do a quantum-leap from one of the dirtiest in the world..
..to one of the cleanest..
..’many a true word spoken in jest’..eh..?
or smoking vegan sausages
i guess key can use the word ‘henchmen’ so easily..
..because of his own long history of use of henchmen/women as detailed by/in ‘dirty politics’..
“..It is now used to generally describe any person with subordinate status derisively- while most often used specifically to a hired guard or minion of a villain or master criminal..”
..i thought a good villain-name for key cd be ‘mr smiley’..
..or ‘chuckles’..
Yep ‘henchmen’ seems a little batmanish. He is certainly Mr Durrkey to me.
short political-quizz:..(without running to party website..)
what are the top-three labour policies..?
..the ones that have grabbed yr imagination/attention..?
capital gains tax. will transfer investment from speculative to productive parts of the economy without destroying wealth (whereas speculation is fantastic for wealth destruction).
broadening the central bank’s mandate so that the government can more directly support export, which has been suffering for yearsnyears.
pumping up the minimum wage. because fuck yes. two names associated with pushing for higher wages – henry ford (look up “fordism”) and marriner eccles, former chairman of the ny fed. which is kind of america’s central bank, in a roundabout way.
Thanks. Can you name at least ten more?
Really enjoyed Media watch and interview with Independent Journalist about the need for better independent reporting etc.
Then came the news (note the order)
Sunday RNZ news 10:00
•Murray McCully wants to stop whaling
•Green will be highlighting the spying going on in NZ, Key says they have not been doing Surveillance
•John Kerry USA, soon terrorism will be everywhere
Who scripts the news at RNZ? Is this irony
Rnz was lost to the hollowmens once griffin was appointed, no change there.
The wheels have come off teamkey since dirty politics, expect the kitchen sink in the 6 days till the only poll that matters.
the MSM will shill their butts off and key will say all sorts of whacky stuff as answering questions and telling the truth has never been demanded of him so he will dig himself a deeper hole.
stay positive and focused as It was always going to be close. I have got as many expats to vote as possible, it was easy once I asked them how the whanau back home were doing under 6years of shonkey.
Lynn have you sorted out some sort of live chat app for election night? Trying to post comments would of course be woeful. IRC is probably the best way to go, with a web-app, so those of us that can can use an IRC client and therefore not need to rely on (or add more load to) the webserver.
Wow, IRC is still actually in existence.
Big time.
There have been comments in the media ( and all that early stuff) about letting the biggest party govern/Key being prepared to run a minority government.
Can anybody tell me is it possible for Key the day after the election to get in a car (sod any negotiating) and go up to the Governor general and go, “I’ll have a warrant to be the next prime Minister and I’ll run a minority government”. The GG then goes “for the sake of National stability I’ll do it” or some like rubbish.
Does this then mean that the other parties have to vote them down when parliament reconvenes and we have another election?
Or do we park Russell or Hone or someone down the end of the GG’s drive and phone them up if Key appears?
That is only possible if all other options have been exhausted. So the various permutations have to be tried/negotiated based on Party votes.
I guess if Labour gathered in Greens, NZF, Internet Mana, Maori Party, United Future, and the Civilians who together gained over 50% of the Party Vote, they can govern regardless of the National 45%, and other odd sods who offer a minority Government.
Yes that is what normally happens but what questions does the GG have to ask. If Key tries some sort of end run like this does GG have to contact Cunliffe Turei Norman and check they don’t have a bigger block?
Not sure I trust some of the leading players here?
The hopeful PM has to confirm they have the support of Parliament, and the GG has to be satisfied that they do (satisfaction can include a broad measure of things, such as whether the election was fair and free – if there are doubts, then the GG may refuse the hopeful PM until such concerns are resolved).
So yes, what you’re proposing is possible if the hopeful PM lied to the GG and the GG simply believed it (ie, ignored all media reporting that the hopeful PM did not in fact have a majority), however would never happen in practice because it would be embarrassing to the GG, the Queen, and the public of NZ to install a government that was subsequently defeated at the first motion of no confidence (which is the first motion voted on at the start of each new government).
So far as I understand things, the conventions are:
1. The PM and his ministers hold their warrants personally until they resign, whether there is an election or not.
2. Post-election, the carry-over govt is regarded as a caretaker administration until new arrangements are made (old ministers resign, new warrants issued to new ministers).
3. The GG “takes advice” from the caretaker PM about who will be the next PM and accepts his/her list of ministers and swears them in (issues their warrants).
4. The GG and the Cabinet, acting as an Executive Council, set the date for the next sitting of Parliament.
5. Parliament convenes, sitting as a Government and an Opposition (the Westminster system is technically only ever a two-party system: the political parties can shift from one side to the other at will without triggering an election).
6. If the Opposition thinks it can overturn the sitting Government, it can bring a Motion of No Confidence, moved by the Leader of the Opposition.
7. If the MNC is passed, the government resigns and the outgoing PM advises the GG to invite the mover of the MNC motion to form a government.
8. And then points 3, 5, 6, 7, repeat until either stability is achieved or it all becomes too much and a new election is called for.
The two flies in the ointment are that, firstly, it’s all done by custom/ convention (UNLESS the Acts establishing MMP set up new rules??), and secondly that the GG usually takes the advice of the PM, whatever it may be. Precedent exists for the GG to discard that advice (eg Whitlam’s dismissal in Aus), but if the PM chooses to gives bad advice for political advantage then the GG will usually follow it.
Generally it all sorts itself out in the wash and doesn’t need a new election, just some discipline and negotiation.
Thanks P. Wasn’t sure I trusted some of the leading players here to act ethically.
Won’t it come down to Peters? ie the only way there wouldn’t be a majority on one side or the other would be if NZF declines both of them.
Quite true, Weka, but it’s even more complicated than that. The MMP rules allow individuals, once in Parliament, to change their allegiances – the famous “waka-jumping” rule. It’s based on the old figment of the imagination under FPP that not parties but only individuals may be elected to Parliament, and they may then decide to align themselves with a political party. That’s why in the good old days Winston et al could change parties during a session without resigning, because they held their seats personally. Under MMP successful List candidates were given the same protection resulting in, for example, Brendan Horan being expelled from NZF but retaining his List seat as an individual (a mistake in the MMP List rules, in my opinion).
Even though we get a parliament elected by a tribal/ political party vote, party behaviour is still all by convention. JK raises the many-headed hydra image to frighten the faithful, but the truth is that (a) there are only ever two parties in parliament and (b) there are 120+ individuals who can align themselves whichever way they want to after they are sworn in. The good news is that this usually only happens at the fraying edges of the political parties. So far.
The possibility of a minority grouping reaching across the political party divide and inviting individuals from the other teams to come and play nicely and form a government with them is always a political reality. Depends upon the incentive, I suppose.
Fisheries ambassadorship, anyone? Or lovely baubles of office, perhaps?
It was mooted on either Q and A or Nation this morning – that Winston could do exactly what you refer to in your last para, and become prime minister !
Your para: “The possibility of a minority grouping reaching across the political party divide and inviting individuals from the other teams to come and play nicely and form a government with them is always a political reality. Depends upon the incentive, I suppose”.
I certainly don’t trust National, Act, UF, CCCP, and mP to act ethically.
disingenuous ? of course not, but I don’t think that was who they meant.
Nice photo of John key’s henchman/lackey.
Thank god for technological advances, otherwise Tony Abbott’s Liberal Party will have troubles running Parliament with all their members equidistant from each other – and doing it on less government funding: Welfare cut for terror suspects.
Joking aside, Abbott – like Key – continues to astound me when I think nothing that he does will surprise me again.
Like here the average punter in oz has little idea how owned the govt is by business interests as rupert controls a fair slice of media and reinhardt has a solid grip on fairfax ownership should she choose to go all the way.
abotts polling is bad but they dont care, getting the job done etc with turnbull paitently waiting in the wings when they need a new front next election. Expect more from tony he is far from done yet.
the wildcard is PUP, mining magnate clive palmers party who hold sway in the senate with senators like ricky muir and jacquie lambie take a seat and enjoy the show performed by its CT scripted actors.
Canada’s Conservatives have passed a bill giving foreigners the right to sue, in secret tribunals, to overturn Canadian law and First Nation treaties which might interfere their investments.
.
It’s official: Prime Minister Stephen Harper has approved the controversial Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) today.
In a short, two-paragraph news release, International Trade Minister Ed Fast said the deal was now ratified. It will come into force on October 1, 2014, and will be effective for 31 years, until 2045.
The original investment protection deal — which treaty law expert Gus Van Harten said could be in violation of the Canadian Constitution — was quietly signed in 2012 in Vladisvostok, Russia, but was delayed for two years due to public outcry
[…]
First Nations argued that the deal was not valid, as it would violate section 35 of the Constitution requiring consultation over projects that could affect traditional territory. The Hupacasath First Nation in B.C. took the federal government to court last year over the FIPA deal, while citizen advocacy groups Leadnow and SumOfUs delivered 60,000 signatures from across Canada in opposition to the agreement. The court decision on the Hupacasath First Nation’s legal appeal is still pending, despite the ratification.
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/harper-oks-potentially-unconstitutional-china-canada-fipa-deal-coming-force-october-1
Gives an insight of what will happen if Key is re-elected and the TPP is signed.
Yup.
NSA and GSCB is being used for economic spying.
The new colonialism is based in finances and so that’s to be expected I suppose.
cool story bro.
Three questions for the Prime Minister.
If as you have stated, the GCSB drew up “mass protection ” programmes for NZers why did you veto it? Are we now “unprotected? And “unprotected” against what/whom?
Yep good questions and it will be interesting to see what they were proposing as these ‘mass protection’ programmes – we are now deep down the rabbit hole and the week ahead will be surreal and sickening as durrkey spins and slides.
If I were the cynical sort, I’d say that the metaphorical ink will still be dry on the documents ‘exonerating’ Key.
I think it was a journalist in Yes Prime Minister who asked “Is it true that the documents have yet to be released because the PM can only type with one finger?”
The PM’s manual –
THE GREASY POLE
"It is only totalitarian governments that suppress facts. In
this country we simply take a democratic decision not to publish
them."
"How to discredit an unwelcome report:
Stage One: Refuse to publish in the public interest saying
1. There are security considerations.
2. The findings could be misinterpreted.
3. You are waiting for the results of a wider and more detailed
report which is still in preparation. (If there isn’t one, commission
it; this gives you even more time).
Stage Two: Discredit the evidence you are not publishing, saying
1. It leaves important questions unanswered.
2. Much of the evidence is inconclusive.
3. The figures are open to other interpretations.
4. Certain findings are contradictory.
5. Some of the main conclusions have been questioned. (If they haven’t,
question them yourself; then they have).
Stage Three: Undermine the recommendations. Suggested phrases:
1. ‘Not really a basis for long term decisions’.
2. ‘Not sufficient information on which to base a valid assessment’.
3. ‘No reason for any fundamental rethink of existing policy’.
4. ‘Broadly speaking, it endorses current practice’.
Stage Four: Discredit the person who produced the report. Explain
(off the record) that
1. He is harbouring a grudge against the Department.
2. He is a publicity seeker.
3. He is trying to get a Knighthood/Chair/Vice Chancellorship.
4. He used to be a consultant to a multinational.
5. He wants to be a consultant to a multinational."
"To suppress an internal government report, rewrite it as
official advice to the Minister. Then it is against the rules to
publish it, so you can leak the bits you want to friendly journalists."
http://www.jonathanlynn.com/tv/yes_minister_series/yes_minister_episode_quotes.htm
thx Joe90 .. brilliant.
God stuff joe. Wonder if you have missed anything? Of course Key’s default setting is Stage four. Discredit the messenger.
Brilyant
Talking of henchman and, as he brought up the subject, who is John Key the henchman for?
What does this mean
there is total mention?
of course not but does it do mass surveillance on NZ citizens – that is the question/answer that is going to fuck you up key.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11324452
I presume it’s either typical slack speaking on Key’s part, or a bad transcription (probably both).
Probably what it should say is “there’s totally mention” or “there’s some mention”.
The quote is from this video clip: http://tvnz.co.nz/vote-2014-news/key-says-mass-surveillance-considered-but-rejected-6080078
It is completely accurate. In context, what Key is saying doesn’t even really make sense. It’s fairly clear what he’s *trying* to say, but as usual his slack speaking, muddled thinking and poor diction let him down.
Corin Dann:
But this was a huge issue at the time of this legislation and at no stage was there any mention that you were, that the GSCB was considering mass surveillance.
Key:
No, well, there’s total, there was total mention…
Seems like another lie from key really because ‘total’ is pretty definitive and in no way, shape or form was there ‘total mention’ that key and the GSCB were considering mass surveillance at the time of the legislation. Roll on Monday – in all its meanings…
Did he say who in his office was discussing it cos he does DO actual gcsb business does he, he delegates.
I’m not a crook?.
http://youtu.be/sh163n1lJ4M?t=28s
edit: total mention seems to be a social media tracking term
http://semphonic.blogs.com/semangel/2011/10/sampling-and-social-media.html
good name for a covers-band..
..john key and the henchmen..
John Key and the Total Mention
john key and the protectors..
john key and the ‘ackshully’s..
john key and the end of the day..
Anyone know where I can still find a video of NIcky Hager Publically speaking at the Mt Eden War Memorial Hall on the 27th August. Everywhere I go it says it is unavailable. Thanking you
I got a copy from the youtube one which is now gone. Have you tried asking here http://livenews.co.nz/ or asking at the Daily Blog?
Ben Uffindell writing ACT press releases?.
ACT is holding the Balance of Power
Dr Jamie Whyte, ACT Leader
11 am Sunday 14 September
Tasca Café, Newmarket, Auckland
ACT will hold the balance of power after the election on Saturday.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1409/S00316/act-is-holding-the-balance-of-power.htm
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BxUV8MTCEAMFbBu.jpg
“Are you completely nuts? If I’d fixed Christchurch CERA would’ve been wound up – I’d’ve had to go back to being a failed woodwork teacher.”
“…and this grouping of events between my hands is your political future…”
😀
“All right … it’s true… I ate Jason Ede (he was delicious, so tender and sweet)… but please, no more of that music.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B8jcKx8H_w
only one more sleep until utu-monday..
Be careful what you wish for, I think utu sunday has arrived
It’s striking how often the four anglophone Commonwealth countries are often having the same conversation at the same time.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/raising-minimum-wage-could-rescue-the-economy-don-pittis-1.2516796
ScottGN I liked this bit and wondered why the 3rd to last sentence isn’t used by David:
Canada: “They are supported by a very traditional market argument that says raising minimum wage results in fewer jobs and is thus bad for the wider economy. Of course, the extension of this argument is that no minimum wage at all would be even better for the economy. If you think that, it is time for you to emigrate. There are many countries with no minimum wage.
And look how well people in those nations do, eh.
On Q&A I thought Key looked serious and fluent and credible when talking to Corrin. Damn I thought!
Tonight on TV3 News he looked petulant, sulky and if one more question was asked of him he would have burst into tears. You know when someone struggles to contain their emotions their face muscles tremble and give you away.
The current issues are hurting him.
John Key does not like being criticised or exposed. He does not like losing. It’s what drives him and, I guess it has brought him “success”: success as he sees it. However, it’s also his Achilles heel. He just will not back down, even when the evidence is clearly against him.
He will keep on inventing lies… And he likes to rope others in… Like tucker…fletcher…
He’s certainly not maintaining the smiley friendly guy front that is part of the two track strategy.
If he is so certain that he is not lying, may be he should simply offer to take a lie detector test devised by Greenwald and be done with it.
‘MOMENT OF TRUTH’ INFO:
http://kim.com/
Fuck, fuck, fuckity, fuck fuck. I was pretty sure I was going to party vote GP, but I just watched Laila Harre interview Greenwald and Amsterdam and now I want to vote for her! She so should be in parliament. My heart says IMP, but my head says GP. I’ve never had a voting dilemma before. Anyone else not know what they are doing?
Split the difference and vote Labour?
Lolz, I don’t think so. I hope Labour do well, but I think we need a strong GP presence if we want to shift left.
Wishing I lived in a democracy where tactical voting was unecessary.
Quickie move and enrol in Helensville so you can vote for Harre?
haha, I did think of that. Bit of a long way for me though.
(I think it’s too late anyway, don’t you have to live in an electorate for a month to be able to vote there?).
Maybe STV would solve the problem. Mostly the dilemma is because I don’t know how everyone else is voting. With STV, it would matter would it? because my preferences would be ordered depending on what other people did too.
STV very much frees up voting for minor parties as your vote for them cannot be “wasted”.
This would also mean ACT and UnitedDunne would almost certainly win their electorates, too.
I think if we end up with 2 large parties on the left and 2 large parties on the right there will be a big appetite to change the way electorate voting works. But IIRC the MMP review recommended no changes, because people having a party vote and a candidate vote is already confusing enough as it is, without making the candidate vote into an STV.
Possibly one compromise would be to just to let people have 2 votes for candidates, with the candidate winning the most votes winning. It avoids a full-on STV ranking confusion, while still allowing more representation.
“I think if we end up with 2 large parties on the left and 2 large parties on the right there will be a big appetite to change the way electorate voting works.”
How come?
Because candidate voting is FPP – you just have to get the ‘most votes’, it doesn’t have to be anywhere near 1/2 of them.
If there were 4 roughly even sized parties, there could be some electorates where “the wrong party won” because the other bloc “split the vote”.
We’re already seeing it now with people voting for Greens candidates who realistically have 0 chance of winning, but in doing-so they hand the electorate over to National instead of Labour.
Laila Harre is pretty amazing. The senior Cabinet Minister that Labour never had.
Yip. Her stepping into the leadership of IMP was enough to shake my conviction for voting Labour.
Ultimately I gave up on IMP because they didn’t have any policies announced, and now that I’ve seen them I can’t say I’m super-thrilled with them either. They’ll have a lot more time to mature over this term and I’ll give them another chance next time.
+1
Yep STV would be a good move for the electorate vote: just rank your top three candidates 1, 2, 3.
I think party votes with ticks and candidate votes with numbers would be too confusing for a lot of people.
I think a reasonable compromise is 2 ticks for candidates, and 1 tick for party vote. Candidates still remains FPP and only a single candidate can win an electorate.
Either system would mean the phrase “two ticks for X” would no longer make sense, though.
@ CV
This has probably been talked about before. But what would be against local bodies using STV.? In theory it sounds useful for them, does it have fishhooks?
Some local bodies already use STV.
We use STV for a bunch of things down here in the Dunedin local elections, including for Dunedin City Council.
Where did you watch that interview, weka? Any link please?
Probably this one
Thanks very much. Laila does such a nice interview. Three people of great integrity and intelligence on that episode.
Here you go clem
oh snap – great minds and all that 🙂
Ha!
Thanks to you too. I enjoy these ‘Not The Six O Clock News’ from Harre. What a great idea! Not sure how many people watch these. I hope a lot of voters do.
I would love to see Laila Harre as the Governor General or the President of New Zealand one day.
Not bad, but Minister in charge of the SIS and Intelligence Services plz
Me too. I am having trouble choosing between Mana and the Greens. Every time I make a decision, the benefitting party says or does something I don’t like. Mana is slightly ahead at the moment.
I have a neighbour who is not sure if she should vote for Labour or the Greens!
Just watched the clip below of Susan Wood interviewing RN & MT from the Greens.
I honestly cannot believe the conduct of Susan Wood? At every opportunity she had to point out how badly Labour are doing in the polls, she even said ‘Labour are tanking’ with a smug grin on her face.
Absolutely disgraceful TVNZ! Anyone with half a brain, including Susan Wood, knows that the polls are all over the place, often do not include undecideds and in some cases appear to be complete bullshit. Yet Susan Wood does her best to suggest that National have it in the bag? Bias much!
Yet more evidence that MSM are in need of a serious clean up.
http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/largest-party-gets-pm-everything-else-table-green-co-leaders-video-6080063
The fact that the polls are crap is the elephant in the room that the MSM are doing their best to avoid.
If the outcome of the election is sufficiently different from what polling suggests, then I think we may see a bit of a wake-up call for the media, as well as calls for the polling companies to explain themselves and reform their methodologies.
You could stop watching the puppets involved with the news as I have done. If you ever caught Thunderbirds you might get a whiff of connection with the actors there. Lady Penelope would be much more lively and stylish than Susan Wood.
I am by no means sure that Susan Woods has half a brain.
This is a link to a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ video of Key before the last election. As he’s asked a very embarrassing question, his smiling face transforms as he looks down into something hateful. It’s the absolute opposite of the charming front he usually strives to effect. Such a pity that few of the Nats’ believers would ever have seen this, the real face, of their golden boy.
The video starts to get interesting from about 1 min 11 secs.
An excellent very short summary of the core allegations in Dirty Politics. h/t @LostArcNZ
https://twitter.com/LostArcNZ/status/511090593879973888/photo/1
Polls huh.
Commenting on a new ICM poll for the Sunday Telegraph which puts Yes at 54 per cent and No at 46 per cent – and an Opinium poll for the Observer which puts Yes at 47 per cent and No at 53 per cent – Blair Jenkins, chief executive of Yes Scotland, said: ‘The new ICM poll gives Yes a record eight-point lead, which is hugely encouraging. Meanwhile, Opinium puts Yes behind, but just by six points.
http://www.yesscotland.net/news/new-icm-poll-puts-yes-8-points-ahead-polls-all-show-everything-play-countdown-referendum
I think in terms of turnout, the YES vote will be more energised and they will have it. And a friend pointed this out to me: we will know the Scottish result as we turnout to vote…if they vote for a change I think it will push us over the line too 🙂
The Scottish Vote results will start rolling around noon on Friday NZ time. Get your hoarding removals done first: then start the celebrations!
Scottish referendum ,
I feel this has been poorly thought out and what ever happens the result will divide the Scottish people . The polls suggest a close result which will leave large numbers of scott’s in a state of despair which ever way it goes .
The vote to change should require a much higher % of the population to support leaving , imagine if 49% vote to stay , that’s trouble ahead , perhaps civil unrest .
“imagine if 49% vote to stay , that’s trouble ahead , perhaps civil unrest ”
….that view sounds a little like the ‘no’ compaign scare tactics
‘civil unrest’ tends to be associated with people who are poor, powerless, unemployed, marginalised, have nothing to lose, …
If the ‘yes’ vote wins there will still be a democratic election process in Scotland. And you can be sure that most Scots will want Scotland to succeed even if they voted ‘no’
Scots have been thinking and debating the pros and cons of being an independent nation for a very long time and whichever way the vote goes will not turn on each other