The 1 million who voted for National in 2014 don’t care about people in poverty.
All they worry about is their increased house prices and who won My Kitchen Rules.
That’s why the National party can and will just ignore stories like this.
Our crowded houses: Barely enough to cover the rent
‘An alarming number of Auckland families are being forced to live together in one house so they can afford rent and living expenses, a leading budgeting adviser says.
Mangere Budgeting Services chief executive Darryl Evans said many families in Auckland were forced to live together to afford basic means of living.
“Families simply can’t afford to pay between 60 to 65 per cent of their weekly income to the landlord, which the vast majority of them are having to pay, and unfortunately there is little left over after you have paid rent to pay the power, buy food and live,” Mr Evans said.
“So some families are losing their homes to rental arrears. There has been a lot of people made redundant this year which has also added to it and there is not enough social houses available,” Mr Evans said.
“What happens is, existing families living in a state house will naturally want to support their family that have lost their home and they get them to move in, but the difficulty of getting them to move in is … overcrowding,” he said.
While overcrowding has become a solution for many desperate families, Mr Evans said it was dangerous because those families became far more prone to serious illness.’
Child Poverty is everyone’s problem – Children’s Commissioner
‘Nearly one-third of all New Zealand children are living in poverty and more than half of those kids will never escape it.
The latest Child Poverty Monitor report, released by Children’s Commissioner Russell Wills today, laid out a grim reality for more than 300,000 children. ‘
‘Child poverty – it’s not choice.” That’s the message that outgoing Children’s Commissioner Dr Russell Wills wants to spread through social media in a challenge to Government policy.
His latest annual Child Poverty Monitor, out today, says children living in households earning below 60 per cent of the median household income after housing costs, have almost doubled from 15 per cent of all children in 1984 to 29 per cent last year. Children hospitalised with poverty-related illnesses more than doubled in the 1990s and have increased further in the recent recession.
“Everything points to things being far tougher than they were 30 years ago. That’s not right in a country like ours and it’s not fair,” said Dr Wills, whose five-year term as Children’s Commissioner ends in June. “Today I’m asking New Zealanders to show they share our concern by spreading the message #itsnotchoice.
Have a listen to Gabriel Makhlouf if you can stomach it (trigger warning – more children are going to die as a direct result of this man’s idle fantasies). Bags ideology then spouts a load of ideology.
Marvel, as he pretends that the poor condition of state houses is an inevitable consequence of state ownership. Vomit, as he explains what “would” happen on Planet Treasury.
They haven’t learned one damn thing in thirty years, and they’re still intoning the litany.
Well said Paul. I just want to add a couple of points. Firstly, child poverty should not be separated from adult poverty – the former results from the latter, and the latter is brought about intentionally within the current system. Why else would you undermine the unions’ ability to bargain, continuously raise the bar for getting a benefit, allow rampant, across-the-board housing inflation alongside low wages, etc, etc? Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but I feel sure I heard that deported guy living in Invercargill say on RNZ that his situation in NZ is in some ways worse than on Christmas Island, which if I heard right, should give us pause.
Meanwhile, the government has plans to reward “social housing providers” whose “tenants” meet certain desirable conditions: in other words, in exchange for a modest and tenuous level of security, people will need to lay their lives open to the broad scrutiny and judgement of their landlords. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11560981
What is needed is real push-back against a system to which the impoverishment and virtual enslavement of those at the bottom is intrinsic. A conception of human rights that excludes the right to adequate secure housing and the right to earn a living is a deficient one.
hi paul, after listening to morning report this morning, i see your error.
according to guyon espiner, this child poverty measure is actually measuring inequality.
so if i have $100,000 and you have $300,000 that is inequality but neither of us is in poverty.
no problem, you need to look at this in a different way.
this from our ‘prestige’ broadcaster!
how such a serious, endemic, growing problem can be dealt with in such a glib fashion beggars belief.
Hi g. I think we need to relook at the who the middle classes are. We need a sociologist to redefine for us what the middle class looks like in NZ in 2015.
Many in NZ society have been on a backwards slide, including the former middle class while others in that group have successfully popped out of their comfortable existence into one that is is positively wealthy.
I’m not sure if we should feel such cynicism towards this “middle class” when we don’t know their true circumstances. I think your over extracted flat white customer might be more towards the upper, privileged middle class bracket. Your average middle class might still be on the instant.
As for coffee, I only get to drink coffee out about twice a month our financial circumstances are that dire, so it has to be absolutely perfect when we do go out. For us that is a real treat so the pleasure stakes are high.
“We need a sociologist to redefine for us what the middle class looks like in NZ in 2015”
There are sociologists looking at it (at least as of 2008/2010 that I know of). Unfortunately my dotage and memory function means I cannot immediately recall their names – it’ll probably come to me tomorrow).
That ‘middle class’ really doesn’t exist as we once knew it. One thing’s for sure though, we can likely say that many members of that ‘middle class’ club are one step away from the precariat if and when their job(s) “go away”. Laden with debt at the bottom end (often a necessity to survive); and smug, uncompassionate, holier-than-thou whilst employed at the ‘top end’.
If only that muddle class would consider where they might be if they had to cash-up tomorrow. I suggest many of them will be squealing like stuffed pigs and considering their voting patterns.
I agree Rosie – there really needs to be a review.
I mean to say – that muddle class on the three tier structure we once knew could include the fair and balanced incisive current affairs journalist with a balanced portfolio and work-life balance – to the ‘tradie’ doing ‘cashie’ jobs ‘under the radar going forward’ – sometimes FOR that incisive journalist.
I can honestly say I won’t be surprised or heartbroken (that’s if it holds out long enough for me to witness) if and when the crash comes – it might very well be the only way someone will hit the RESET button and start holding those who’ve amassed wealth by devious means to account.
My how history repeats eh?
HI OWT. I thought there may be some kind of research going on but am out of reach of that kind of knowledge these days.
I dunno if those who fall will change their voting patterns – I wonder if we are so far removed the concept of party policy and values, that they just wouldn’t get that their fortunes in part are influenced by political ideology. We do seem, a bit, you know, slow to acknowledge that.
Furthermore, there must, there must, there must be those who have fallen with a fairly hard bump in recent years (I’m back in the same precarious state of existence, comparatively, I was when I was 20, and I wasn’t necessarily comfortable before but had enough to get by and buy a meal out more than once a year) BUT there has been no change of government, and we’re 7 years in already…………..
If there are those that downsizing the house, the car, going without holidays (wow, imagine going on a holiday!) not going to the cinema anymore etc then they are being very very very quiet about it.
My definition of middle class would go something like this combination:
– Has a house with a mortgage
– Has at least two cars
– Goes on overseas holidays of at least two weeks’ duration
– Wants to own a bach or a rental
– Has a career (as distinct from a job), or a small business
– Has support network so when they have a major life event, they are helped up
Yes, that sort of picture was in my mind. Insightful with the “wants” to own a bach, rental, as well as has support network.
Also, I think this person doesn’t have trouble paying unexpected bills like urgent dental work, major car repairs or emergency house maintenance – there will be enough to cover those costs.
hi rosie, ad and co,
the other attitude with this middle class i sneer about is the self centred approach to life.
almost anti-community.
i would include less affluent members of our community in this ‘middle class’.
btw i am very fortunate to have a near perfect cup of joe most mornings.
a schlong.
@ Paul (nice name btw). I wasn’t thinking of Espiner at the time I mentioned the journalist. There is another who mostly does good stuff – but she really should get over herself at times (and I don’t mean Kim Hill either!)
Hi Paul. The stuffed article is well written. I don’t know whether it was intentionally written in a way that was so crystal clear, with the intention of educating their readership. I was expecting the usual stupid and mean people who comment on stuff would back off when provided with facts, graphs you can’t argue with and statements from various child poverty campaign groups about the “Kiwi compassion drought”……….
But straight up and straight into it they were off with their ill informed, biased, opinionated and hateful remarks that they have used on every story on poverty. They never learn. To be honest, I only got 6 comments in before having to close it.
I really am wondering whether the internetz have given rise to a new type of vicious or whether people are becoming more cruel and less community minded, or a combination of both.
Have a read of JDarroch’s post on shooting the messenger and you will see a whole new level of publicly directed viciousness – the “anti SAFE” group, like rednecks on steroids.
I often feel sad about the increasing selfishness and stupidity in our society.
Sadly 30 years of neo-liberalism has seen a lot of people who grew up in the 80s and 90s who were indoctrinated into neo-Darwinist thinking and never knew what a functioning society can look like. The housing bubble has made them think that it was their success that made them rich.
Only a collapse ( and their own downfall) will make them the realise the benefits of a society that cares for everyone, including the vulnerable.
Those older know better and their views simply reflect their greedy selfish outlook on the world. Douglas, Prebble, Shipley, Richardson, Key and Bennett are examples of these bludgers. Benefited from that bigger society, then took it away from those below.
I hold some hope for those born in the 90s and later and they grew up at the time of the crash of 2008 and can see for themselves that shallow selfish greed cannot work.
“I hold some hope for those born in the 90s and later and they grew up at the time of the crash of 2008 and can see for themselves that shallow selfish greed cannot work.”
There are some amazing talented young people in the youth wings of Labour and Green. They have everything stacked against them in regard to their future but it will be their future leadership that will lift everyone. They need our support and encouragement.
I really am wondering whether the internetz have given rise to a new type of vicious or whether people are becoming more cruel and less community minded, or a combination of both.
There’s always been that underbelly of people who are cruel, vicious and not community minded. The internet has just made them more visible. This should allow the rest of us to do something about them.
And you’re very skilful at dealing with them Draco. Unfortunately for me they exist IRL and I have to deal with them in that zone. Not sure which is worse. Probably IRL.
With the holiday period just about upon us, it’s a timely reminder to highlight our unforgiving roads.
A number of Kiwis and tourist die or are injured on our roads every year.
Therefore, isn’t it time we do more to improve the safety of our roads?
As upfront costs are a factor, I suggest, along with improving national black-spots, their should be a concentrated effort to safe proof state highway 1.
Lighting, median-barriers, sidebars and breakdown lanes from Kaitaia to the Bluff.
This will save many lives going forward (thus accident related costs) while also improving the safety of tourists using our roads.
but seriously, numpty tourist drivers are the biggest other-driver risk down south. Install alarms on rental cars that go nuts if you cross the white line. Also simple
Driving at 90 gives you more time to react to emergencies and reduces impact force, it also improves fuel efficiency. Plus there’s no chance of being snapped by speed cameras, if you need a purely self-interested reason. The only downside is that you may irritate those other drivers who put speed before safety.
Though better to say; drive to the conditions at a maximum of 90km, in rain or at night on a gravel road even that is way too fast. Also, remember to rest for 10 minutes for every hour of driving. These are things that you can do now within the present infrastructure, to improve road safety for others as well as yourself. The Chairman’s suggestion may have merit, but won’t be happening anytime soon and won’t help if you’re off SH1. Plus no matter how the roading may improve in the future you’re still going to be safer if you are; cautious, rested, sober and undistracted.
VTO’s point about the perils of encountering someone on the wrong side of the road (most notoriously tourists, but also drunks, sleepers, and hoons) is a good one. I can see how the white lines could be laser-detected and hooked up to an alarm on rental cars (something that is evidently beyond BM’s medieval understanding of the world), however the implementation of such a scheme would be anything but simple. Deal with the world as it is, not how you would like it to be.
and watch others trying to overtake on a straight line, cause they are bored witless.
and watch people fall asleep
rather make good roads faster, and hard roads slower. There is no need for some of the little windy roads to be a hundred.
Making everything ninety, just to watch people go over it, and the blue berry muffing brigade get hard while writing tickets is not the answer.
And last but least, finally make compulsory for new wanna be drivers to actually have driving lessons before they get to drive. It makes no sense that bad drivers (parents) get to train their children to be bad drivers, as clearly the only time they have to be good drivers is to pass the test.
Two points, windy roads wake drivers up, a bit of adrenaline a it more awareness. 90 kms on our main highways puts drivers to sleep.
About ten years ago the Police instigated a ” 100 kph not a km” over rule for Christmas to Easter, At the end of it about 75 more people were dead than other years. To paraphrase ” We can’t work it out, there were a lot of older people, single car, straight road accidents and they weren’t speeding ! ”
No you dipsticks, they fell asleep.
I did a lot of driving that summer and the roads were full of older drivers who were doing around 90 or less because they were scared of getting a ticket, but crucially they were driving slower than their stimulation speed, for want of a better term.
Driving a modern car at a slowish speed is like watching a road unwind on TV in front of you while sitting in an armchair while listening to classical or MOR music.
Try, see how long you last.
Why? So there is no need for light vehicles to pass us heavy vehicles who have to (well supposed to) travel at 90. All vehicles with the same maximum speed.
There is some devil that possesses many kiwi drivers that seemingly forces them to pass the vehicle in front of them.
Impatience is the problem…and lack of the ability to consider how much later you’re going to get there if you have a prang.
We have “Patience” written in large and friendly letters fore and aft on our housebus…seems to inflame some drivers.
Agree our roads are not the best. However, as a sales rep driving the lower north Island for two years and previously driving in Auckland I consistently witnessed poor driving skills and lack of road code knowledge. Personally I think we’re just shit drivers in NZ. In my driving days I was constantly sending community roadwatch forms into the Police to report dangerous driving.
Driving around now, just locally and in a limited way I still continue to witness appalling driving. Last Friday I was involved in 3 near misses just because of drivers that should not be in charge of a vehicle being on the road.
The last edition of the AA magazine published their report into tourist driver fatalities and accidents. They actually make up a very small number of our annual number of crashes. While tourist crashes had a higher representation in tourists hot spots in the South Island they were still low compared to the national average. There has been a hugely disproportionate media focus on tourist drivers.
I’m sorry I don’t have the actual figures, the magazine is long gone, out with the recycling.
Maybe it makes a good news story during the slow summer months or maybe it just stirs up a bit of that ‘fear of the other” vibe.
Remember in the summer holidays you’ve got people on the road who are not familiar with driving long distance and you’ve got fatigued people driving. It makes the roads that more dangerous in summer.
Yes, make improvements to our roads but theres little you can do about bad drivers.
I agree. Poor and bad driving plays a role. But improved roading can help with that. Allowing room for evasive action to be taken. With centre-line barriers preventing a bad driver from crossing the road. Along with lighting helping guide those on unfamiliar roads and sidebars keeping them on the road, opposed to going down a bank or into a river or ocean.
A couple of other measures could be applied to help combat bad driving.
Private motor vehicles could be designed so they can’t breach the open road limit.
Defensive driving courses could be made compulsory.
“Defensive driving courses could be made compulsory.”
Agreed.
btw, one of the most nuts dangerous bit of roads I’ve driven that would benefit from your suggestions is a the Rimutaka Hill road between Wellington and the Wairarapa. I am constantly amazed with the flow of traffic on that road that there isn’t more crashes, deaths and drivers going over the cliff.
Drove the Tauranga and back yesterday. Used crusie control (except when passing )
I saw two instances where trucks overtook each other in a passing lane which meant no one else could pass. The front truck (which had passed) then travelled at about 85k. You could sense the frustration of the drivers ahead of me. I had Blondie playing so was happy enough 😉
Others travel at front of long lines of ttraffic oblivious to the lines behind them. Many timeas at 15k or more below the speed limit.
The good news was I saw NO dangerous overtaking.
Leaving Auckland (Penrose) at at 720am, I continue to be amazed at how many Aucklanders, including commercial truckss plop themselves into the fast lane and do about 85 kph.
I was up the far north a couple of weeks ago. The roads were wet, warning signs galore: roads greasy when wet – slow down.
It was if the warning signs were a challenge for drivers to drive faster and follow closer. With unforgiving roads and driver attitudes like just described, it’s no wonder there are so many accidents up that way.
The obvious solution is to make all state highways four lanes, this would stop people getting frustrated with slow drivers, stop people doing dangerous over taking manoeuvres and would create a burst of economic activity especially to the regions
Yeah it would, the slow, hesitant drivers can stick to the left lane and the confident, normal drivers can keep to the right
That can already be done on the present roads and it’s not working so assuming doing more of it just brings up this saying: Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
Plus I thought you’d be all over the government stepping and creating a make-work scheme
Why would you think that considering that I’ve said, on multiple occasions, that we need to destroy jobs and the need for work?
That presupposes people keep left unless passing and stop driving like it was some sort of competition whereby they need to get ahead of others (just for the sake of it).
It doesn’t solve things like indiscriminate lane changing; failing to indicate intentions; observing the 1 second rule when it actually is a 2 second rule; etc.
There’d be a burst of economic activity if we resurrected the railways too. (you know – those two parallel lines of iron designed to carry the masses (and the most fishint n fectiv way of carrying freight) that we must not speak of.
Can anyone tell me the location and date of the Labour Party dinner Stuart Nash is hosting for Roger Douglas, Michael Bassett, Ken Shirley and Labour “A” Listers?
To be fair it was Nash who invited them. Did they all sit around and giggle that Mickey Savage was a mug for not becoming independently wealthy by virtue of his position.
Many here find RT a useful read and source of reference and opinion on world affairs…not least because RT is not afraid to explore opinions from all sides and resources some of the best USA journalists, international experts from academia, think tanks and intelligence analysts
“Ten years ago this week RT started to carve out its mark in international broadcasting – and what a ride it has been! Never far from controversy, this network has prided itself on being different and saying what many dare not utter in public. In this edition of CrossTalk, we ask how RT has changed the media environment.
CrossTalking with Rob Taub, John Laughland, and Dmitry Babich.”
Halfway through term 3 and Labour can still get zero traction against the Key government. And Cunliffe had Labour just as high in the polls as it is now.
You’d think that someone would realise that Labour is no longer fit for purpose.
Yet many say Cunliffe was so unpopular with the public? Little has similar ratings for preferred PM, yet he is proclaimed as doing a great job! The whole thing stinks to high heaven! David Cunliffe had mere months in that top job that included an election, and forces from within and without against him throughout his entire time as leader. Little has had none of that stress. His screen persona is still wooden and without charisma.
Cunliffe had the support of membership in the leadership battle, after the change of rules at the Ellerslie Conference.
Robertson, Wellington apparatchik and Shearer’s real campaign manager, had collected more Caucus votes.
Robertson & Co were never never ever ever going to accept that outcome. With his inside track on all the staff who had been hired into Labour Parliamentary roles he managed to make the whole environment around Cunliffe.
Cunliffe’s mistake was to try to accomodate Robertson: Robertson considered Cunliffe’s leadership to be illegitimate. Robertson never accepted that the Membership could select a leader that the majority of the Caucus didn’t select. That is why Little has given into Robertson’s condition: that Cunliffe be humiliated.
I have thought about this, and it seems that a lot of people think that Labour merely wants to do a ‘system restore’ back to 2008 (or 1984) settings, where as National want to upgrade – it might not be to an OS we are liking, but it is a new one nonetheless.
little gave robertson the future of work assignment. Labour’s had some great policy platforms these past seven years. i hate what cullen did but he had his goals and met them. so in that respect he was competent, unlike english. labour is easy to paint as retarded but it’s been able to set goals and meet them while in government, just oftentimes the wrong ones. it’s anything but a hidebound party. it’s just too easy to push lazy propagandaonto such a crcredulous population. plus you have to face the fact that many people – including virtually the entire landlord class – are vicious, awful people who live off extracting the life blood from their countrymen. they are your voting centre who swung from Helen and into key’s pocket. monkeys chasing peanuts.
The failure of the MSM to report the Gnats tragic economic performance is major. A lot of folk think they’re doing basically the right thing, rather than a slow motion train wreck.
For the record, it doesn’t appear Wayne was involved in this one or the National Security report which came out yesterdaya nd which I have posted. I am sure he will correct me if he was involved.
I’ve been wondering that too, James.
There’s a little bit of movement lately upwards for Labour ….. but this past year for Labour has been about sorting itself internally – doesn’t make for constant headlines, and it appears its only when a politician is in the headlines that they get traction. And as you might have noted, ShonKey is constantly in the headlines – even over silly little things – even being given fossil awards for being irresponsible re climate change – and the popularity continues.
Wow oh wow… Kiwipolitico (it’s in the feed column 3 times but will also link here) is a must read. I will go further and say various aspects are worthy of posts in themselves if any TS author is interested.
As it turns out, the Police did more than ask various service providers to give them access to Mr. Hager’s private information, and they did so just before and then very quickly after a complaint was laid about the source of the material from which Dirty Politics was constructed (the infamous or heroic hacker known as Rawshark, depending on how you view things).
That tells me the police were already investigating BEFORE Slater laid his complaint. They had already been instructed by the PM’S OFFICE to “find out Rawshark’s identity? Yep.
I agree that Pablo’s post at Kiwipolitico is a MUST READ.
It is yet another piece of the jigsaw puzzle of revelations coming from the OIA request by Scoop for the court submissions etc relating to the Judicial Review into the police raid of Nicky Hager’s house in 2014.
There have been a number of other excellent posts on a range of blogs over the last month or so also analysing the Review submissions. Some of these are now well off the front pages of these blogs, so I thought I would start making a consolidated list of these for anyone who is interested and may have missed some.
Keith Ng also had a post a few weeks ago in his On Point section of Public Address focusing on a piece of paper found and seized by the police during the search in their efforts to identify Rawshark. Ng’s post analyses the implications of this piece of paper, and their suspicions that Rangi Kemara might be Rawshark through the communications between WO and Ben Rachinger.
I wish karol was still around. She was superb when it came to analysing this sort of material. However, we have authors and others here who could do a very good job too.
Ditto re karol. I hope she is OK, as she has not commented on her Twitter account or blog since March (?) this year; but when I raised this some time ago here, someone commented that she had indicated that she was moving in other directions.
I used to be very good at such analysis (research and analysis was a big part of my work skills/experience) but retirement/health/ home downsizing etc requires I focus on other priorities at present. But my memory is still good (!) as are my abilities to locate information, articles etc despite my other limited computer skills. But there seems to be a lot of analysis etc going on quietly behind the scenes on this particular event and its consequences etc. Once the results of the Judicial review are released, I anticipate a lot of interest, opinion etc in the more public media.
it’s in the feed column 3 times but will also link here
I finally figured out what the problem was with that on the weekend. Figuring out a fix is going to be a bit harder. I may just hack a ‘signature’ fix.
One clarification. I have amended the section of the post quoted to reflect the fact that a Police investigation plan was put into effect before the formal complaint was made (after an email from Mr. Slater to Assistant Commissioner Malcolm Burgess), and that the investigation was ramped up rapidly once the complaint was lodged. This is documented in David Fisher’s article in the NZ Herald (page A3) on November 14, 2015, which draws on the Police files obtained under Discovery and released by the High Court. These have been complied by Scoop and are cited with links in my post.
As it turns out, the Police did more than ask various service providers to give them access to Mr. Hager’s private information, and they got things rolling just before and then accelerated the investigation very quickly after a complaint was laid…
It doesn’t change the basis of my suspicion the police were… made aware they were to leave no stone un-turned in their endeavour to identify Rawshark, and the instruction probably originated from the PM’s Office. It will be impossible to prove of course, and the motivation behind the instruction had nothing to do with “upholding the laws of the land” but rather to avenge Rawshark for exposing their dirty little game.
It is interesting that Slater was able to get in touch directly with Assistant Commissioner Burgess, who rather than ignore him immediately turned around and ordered elements of organised and cyber crime units in the NCIG to get going on planning the case for catching Rawshark–6 days before Slater formally made his complaint. Again, the Fisher article in the Herald has more detail on this.
Were it that those of us who have been burgled or otherwise been victims of crime had such a rapid high level response to our plights!
Were it that those of us who have been burgled or otherwise been victims of crime had such a rapid high level response to our plights.
Correct. As the victim of unlawful actions covertly carried out – and with a political aspect to some of them – I had the ignominious experience of being ignored by the NZ police. It was as if they concluded I deserved the conduct meted out to me. It happened 20 odd years ago and my respect for, and trust in them is now virtually non-existent.
Fascinating info in Pablo’s post. Will be interesting to see if anyone in the MSM actually picks up on these details and runs something in the silly season …… or whether it will just all slide into oblivion in 2016.
And it will be really useful to have Veutoviper’s list as it develops. I missed Keith Ng’s one – must go back and read it.
Well, its up to Labour, the Greens and NZ First to ensure it doesn’t slide into oblivion . Once they start to see the actual evidence of the dirty, deceitful and unlawful antics of Key/Slater and co., voter-land may not be so gormless and sleepy about it all.
Interesting that the CE of Xero had a stoush with Slater, then they made up and 24 hours later an employee of Xero announced she is standing for mayor. Coincidence I am sure.
Heard V Crone on Morning Report this morning. Her answers to questions were superficial – way out of her depth I’d say. Goff came across as a vastly superior candidate. Mind you, that doesn’t mean a lot given the gullible propensities of today’s voting public.
IF, as I suspect, Collins knew about this, then Ms Crone will have Mr Slater’s awful machinery at her disposal… not that she will ever directly use it, but others will do it, even without her consent I bet.
Note how quickly Xero CEO made up with slater… I have my tinfoilhat on but nonetheless…the timing of it all
Fascinating info in Pablo’s post. Will be interesting to see if anyone in the MSM actually picks up on these details and runs something in the silly season …… or whether it will just all slide into oblivion in 2016.
Far from respectable, this latest behaviour exposes the truth about the National party stooges who’ve been running this filthy right-wing organisation for a long time now. Rather than standing up for the rights of people with disabilities their MO is riding high up the government’s arse. Despicable pigs.
Regarding business woman Victoria Crone confirming her standing in the 2016 Auckland Mayoralty.
The voting public are truly spoiled for choice for ‘centre-right’ (pro-corporate / pro-Auckland ‘Supercity’) Auckland Mayoral candidates!
Stephen Berry
Mark Thomas
Phil Goff
Victoria Crone
(Isn’t it basic ‘Electoral Politics 101’ NOT to ‘split the vote’?)
Gosh – I hope John Banks, John Palino, Judith Collins and Maurice Williamson all throw their hats into the ring as well!
The more the merrier?
(Seems Auckland business interests are arguably not presenting a ‘united front’ on their preferred choice of 2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate?)
Seems that the only confirmed 2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate with a proven track record of defending the public and the public (as opposed to corporate) interests, is me?
Here’s the thing.
The difference between the ‘1%’ and the ‘99%’ ( the corporate minority, and supporters) and the public majority, is that the latter represent FAR more of the voting public, because there are HEAPS more of the public ’99’%?
Also – lest we forget – in 2013 the voter turnout in Auckland was only 36%.
How are the four, (in my view) ‘pro-corporate’ 2016 Mayoral candidates, going to inspire the 64% non-voting masses to get off their bottoms and vote for one of them?
Where/ what is their proven track record in defending the public and public interest?
‘How are the four, (in my view)’pro-corporate’ 2016 Mayoral candidates, going to inspire the 64% non-voting masses to get off their bottoms and vote for them’
Why would the 4 candidates want to do that? They are not interested in those 64% non-voters.
Don’t worry, the National Party phone and text lines will be in overdrive. Expect the gap to rapidly shrink as the Tories vote for their Nat. Party bill board logo
Take out JK…replace with fern… add a bit of black and make Sth Cross a bit bigger and Bob’s your uncle.
The redoubtable environmental champion Gary Taylor puts the case for a major increase in Department of Conservation funding in today’s http://www.dompost.co.nz
He includes:
– extra $12m for wilding pine removal
– extra $17.2m on predator control
– extra $10m on community partnerships
– extra $11.8m on core competencies
He concludes:
“Let’s recognize that investing in nature is a perfectly valid way of growing the economy”
Good time to get the voice in to Wellington as Departmental budget drafts are proposed up for Ministers to consider over the break.
I am sure they never said they would stay in surplus just that they would get back to surplus. Nothing to see here. Look John Key draped in his favourite flag.
They are fine with going into deficit in the next few months.
The thing to watch is they are putting together a package of lolly scramble for GE2017 because of their determination to win that.
So what has the Little-Robertson-King team been working on as policy and strategic responses?
I’ve been meaning to keep you all up to date on this.
A person I know was arrested in this raid, but broke themselves out of prison and are on the run, the latest I’ve heard is they are out of China. So happy about that.
However, some of those arrested are missing and this is fast turning into a nightmare. Missing in China generally means bad, bad things.
My request for Speaking Rights has been granted at the upcoming CEO Review Committee of Auckland Council, to be held:
WHEN: Wednesday 16 December 2015
TIME: 11.30am
WHERE: Level 26, Room 1
135 Albert St
Auckland Central
The following is my intended subject matter for this meeting:
1) A reminder to the CEO Review Committee meeting of the statutory duties of the CEO, as outlined in s.42 of the underpinning Local Government Act 2002:
(1) A local authority must, in accordance with clauses 33 and 34 of Schedule 7, appoint a chief executive.
(2) A chief executive appointed under subsection (1) is responsible to his or her local authority for—
(a) implementing the decisions of the local authority; and
(b) providing advice to members of the local authority and to its community boards, if any; and
(c) ensuring that all responsibilities, duties, and powers delegated to him or her or to any person employed by the local authority, or imposed or conferred by an Act, regulation, or bylaw, are properly performed or exercised; and
(d) ensuring the effective and efficient management of the activities of the local authority; and
(e) maintaining systems to enable effective planning and accurate reporting of the financial and service performance of the local authority; and
(f) providing leadership for the staff of the local authority; and
_________________________________________________________
2) Developments on lawful compliance with the Public Records Act 2005.
3) Progress on making information about Auckland Council and Auckland Council Controlled Organisation spending available on Auckland Council Rates Assessment Notices.
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’
The abject failure of national to maintain the goal it has used to marginalise the vulnerable is getting scant critique from the political commentators.
I guess when you dont think the vulnerable will vote for you making their lives worse can be juztified. You know if you are a self serving compassionless leech.
Yesterday Steven Joyce was asked again about why R&D tax credits were removed by National almost immediately they got back into power in 2008. He repeated the old rubbish about businesses using it solely to minimise tax.
This is despite the fact that the mere 300 R&D tax credits ever issued were audited by IRD, for any amounts approaching $100k or more, as far as I am aware. In contrast, just a few big companies have been granted up to $5mill each by the National govt, with taxpayer money freed up by such actions. The results have been indifferent. In many cases the companies are either: listed on the sharemarket, didn’t need the money for business as usual, are overseas owned, or are outright losers that cannot stand on their own feet.
When I see land owners being audited for historic purchases of Harley Davidson bikes or glasshouses and the like, which can be coded as farm working assets or expenses, I’ll perhaps take a less dim view on Steven Joyce’s anti-SME attitude.
Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
“Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim.Extreme Left Auckland University of TechnologyEvidenceThe ...
Eric Crampton writes – I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes – Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
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 ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
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. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
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. ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
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The 1 million who voted for National in 2014 don’t care about people in poverty.
All they worry about is their increased house prices and who won My Kitchen Rules.
That’s why the National party can and will just ignore stories like this.
Our crowded houses: Barely enough to cover the rent
‘An alarming number of Auckland families are being forced to live together in one house so they can afford rent and living expenses, a leading budgeting adviser says.
Mangere Budgeting Services chief executive Darryl Evans said many families in Auckland were forced to live together to afford basic means of living.
“Families simply can’t afford to pay between 60 to 65 per cent of their weekly income to the landlord, which the vast majority of them are having to pay, and unfortunately there is little left over after you have paid rent to pay the power, buy food and live,” Mr Evans said.
“So some families are losing their homes to rental arrears. There has been a lot of people made redundant this year which has also added to it and there is not enough social houses available,” Mr Evans said.
“What happens is, existing families living in a state house will naturally want to support their family that have lost their home and they get them to move in, but the difficulty of getting them to move in is … overcrowding,” he said.
While overcrowding has become a solution for many desperate families, Mr Evans said it was dangerous because those families became far more prone to serious illness.’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11561036
Child Poverty is everyone’s problem – Children’s Commissioner
‘Nearly one-third of all New Zealand children are living in poverty and more than half of those kids will never escape it.
The latest Child Poverty Monitor report, released by Children’s Commissioner Russell Wills today, laid out a grim reality for more than 300,000 children. ‘
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/75066521/child-poverty-is-everyones-problem–childrens-commissioner
‘Child poverty – it’s not choice.” That’s the message that outgoing Children’s Commissioner Dr Russell Wills wants to spread through social media in a challenge to Government policy.
His latest annual Child Poverty Monitor, out today, says children living in households earning below 60 per cent of the median household income after housing costs, have almost doubled from 15 per cent of all children in 1984 to 29 per cent last year. Children hospitalised with poverty-related illnesses more than doubled in the 1990s and have increased further in the recent recession.
“Everything points to things being far tougher than they were 30 years ago. That’s not right in a country like ours and it’s not fair,” said Dr Wills, whose five-year term as Children’s Commissioner ends in June. “Today I’m asking New Zealanders to show they share our concern by spreading the message #itsnotchoice.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11561022
Poverty group sick of endless reports, but no solutions.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201782830/poverty-group-sick-of-endless-reports,-but-no-solutions
Treasury says state house sale policy not driven by ideology
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201782831/treasury-says-state-house-sale-policy-not-driven-by-ideology
Have a listen to Gabriel Makhlouf if you can stomach it (trigger warning – more children are going to die as a direct result of this man’s idle fantasies). Bags ideology then spouts a load of ideology.
Marvel, as he pretends that the poor condition of state houses is an inevitable consequence of state ownership. Vomit, as he explains what “would” happen on Planet Treasury.
They haven’t learned one damn thing in thirty years, and they’re still intoning the litany.
Edit: oh hah I see you beat me to it.
Well said Paul. I just want to add a couple of points. Firstly, child poverty should not be separated from adult poverty – the former results from the latter, and the latter is brought about intentionally within the current system. Why else would you undermine the unions’ ability to bargain, continuously raise the bar for getting a benefit, allow rampant, across-the-board housing inflation alongside low wages, etc, etc? Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but I feel sure I heard that deported guy living in Invercargill say on RNZ that his situation in NZ is in some ways worse than on Christmas Island, which if I heard right, should give us pause.
Meanwhile, the government has plans to reward “social housing providers” whose “tenants” meet certain desirable conditions: in other words, in exchange for a modest and tenuous level of security, people will need to lay their lives open to the broad scrutiny and judgement of their landlords. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11560981
What is needed is real push-back against a system to which the impoverishment and virtual enslavement of those at the bottom is intrinsic. A conception of human rights that excludes the right to adequate secure housing and the right to earn a living is a deficient one.
Good points Olwyn, and thanks for links Paul.
hi paul, after listening to morning report this morning, i see your error.
according to guyon espiner, this child poverty measure is actually measuring inequality.
so if i have $100,000 and you have $300,000 that is inequality but neither of us is in poverty.
no problem, you need to look at this in a different way.
this from our ‘prestige’ broadcaster!
how such a serious, endemic, growing problem can be dealt with in such a glib fashion beggars belief.
How much does Guyon Espiner earn?
Therein lies the answer to his appalling approach.
He seems a lot more upset about Nurofen than child poverty.
Link to Espiner’s ghastly interview
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201782848/child-poverty-doubles-in-30-years
perhaps depravation to the middle class is an overextracted flat white in the morning.
Hi g. I think we need to relook at the who the middle classes are. We need a sociologist to redefine for us what the middle class looks like in NZ in 2015.
Many in NZ society have been on a backwards slide, including the former middle class while others in that group have successfully popped out of their comfortable existence into one that is is positively wealthy.
I’m not sure if we should feel such cynicism towards this “middle class” when we don’t know their true circumstances. I think your over extracted flat white customer might be more towards the upper, privileged middle class bracket. Your average middle class might still be on the instant.
As for coffee, I only get to drink coffee out about twice a month our financial circumstances are that dire, so it has to be absolutely perfect when we do go out. For us that is a real treat so the pleasure stakes are high.
“We need a sociologist to redefine for us what the middle class looks like in NZ in 2015”
There are sociologists looking at it (at least as of 2008/2010 that I know of). Unfortunately my dotage and memory function means I cannot immediately recall their names – it’ll probably come to me tomorrow).
That ‘middle class’ really doesn’t exist as we once knew it. One thing’s for sure though, we can likely say that many members of that ‘middle class’ club are one step away from the precariat if and when their job(s) “go away”. Laden with debt at the bottom end (often a necessity to survive); and smug, uncompassionate, holier-than-thou whilst employed at the ‘top end’.
If only that muddle class would consider where they might be if they had to cash-up tomorrow. I suggest many of them will be squealing like stuffed pigs and considering their voting patterns.
I agree Rosie – there really needs to be a review.
I mean to say – that muddle class on the three tier structure we once knew could include the fair and balanced incisive current affairs journalist with a balanced portfolio and work-life balance – to the ‘tradie’ doing ‘cashie’ jobs ‘under the radar going forward’ – sometimes FOR that incisive journalist.
I can honestly say I won’t be surprised or heartbroken (that’s if it holds out long enough for me to witness) if and when the crash comes – it might very well be the only way someone will hit the RESET button and start holding those who’ve amassed wealth by devious means to account.
My how history repeats eh?
HI OWT. I thought there may be some kind of research going on but am out of reach of that kind of knowledge these days.
I dunno if those who fall will change their voting patterns – I wonder if we are so far removed the concept of party policy and values, that they just wouldn’t get that their fortunes in part are influenced by political ideology. We do seem, a bit, you know, slow to acknowledge that.
Furthermore, there must, there must, there must be those who have fallen with a fairly hard bump in recent years (I’m back in the same precarious state of existence, comparatively, I was when I was 20, and I wasn’t necessarily comfortable before but had enough to get by and buy a meal out more than once a year) BUT there has been no change of government, and we’re 7 years in already…………..
If there are those that downsizing the house, the car, going without holidays (wow, imagine going on a holiday!) not going to the cinema anymore etc then they are being very very very quiet about it.
My definition of middle class would go something like this combination:
– Has a house with a mortgage
– Has at least two cars
– Goes on overseas holidays of at least two weeks’ duration
– Wants to own a bach or a rental
– Has a career (as distinct from a job), or a small business
– Has support network so when they have a major life event, they are helped up
Yes, that sort of picture was in my mind. Insightful with the “wants” to own a bach, rental, as well as has support network.
Also, I think this person doesn’t have trouble paying unexpected bills like urgent dental work, major car repairs or emergency house maintenance – there will be enough to cover those costs.
I was tempted to include that, but felt if they can cope with “major life event”, then they can cope.
Home ownership is a pretty good rule of thumb for middle class – it insulates you from income insecurities and real estate inflation.
hi rosie, ad and co,
the other attitude with this middle class i sneer about is the self centred approach to life.
almost anti-community.
i would include less affluent members of our community in this ‘middle class’.
btw i am very fortunate to have a near perfect cup of joe most mornings.
a schlong.
Espiner is not middle class.
I would imagine his salary is comfortably in the top 2%
@ Paul (nice name btw). I wasn’t thinking of Espiner at the time I mentioned the journalist. There is another who mostly does good stuff – but she really should get over herself at times (and I don’t mean Kim Hill either!)
No, it’s the disposable income, not the gross.
You joke, and a chalk mark on the tyre, when they return to their vehicle.
Guyon, a spinner.
Hi Paul. The stuffed article is well written. I don’t know whether it was intentionally written in a way that was so crystal clear, with the intention of educating their readership. I was expecting the usual stupid and mean people who comment on stuff would back off when provided with facts, graphs you can’t argue with and statements from various child poverty campaign groups about the “Kiwi compassion drought”……….
But straight up and straight into it they were off with their ill informed, biased, opinionated and hateful remarks that they have used on every story on poverty. They never learn. To be honest, I only got 6 comments in before having to close it.
I really am wondering whether the internetz have given rise to a new type of vicious or whether people are becoming more cruel and less community minded, or a combination of both.
Have a read of JDarroch’s post on shooting the messenger and you will see a whole new level of publicly directed viciousness – the “anti SAFE” group, like rednecks on steroids.
I often feel sad about the increasing selfishness and stupidity in our society.
Sadly 30 years of neo-liberalism has seen a lot of people who grew up in the 80s and 90s who were indoctrinated into neo-Darwinist thinking and never knew what a functioning society can look like. The housing bubble has made them think that it was their success that made them rich.
Only a collapse ( and their own downfall) will make them the realise the benefits of a society that cares for everyone, including the vulnerable.
Those older know better and their views simply reflect their greedy selfish outlook on the world. Douglas, Prebble, Shipley, Richardson, Key and Bennett are examples of these bludgers. Benefited from that bigger society, then took it away from those below.
I hold some hope for those born in the 90s and later and they grew up at the time of the crash of 2008 and can see for themselves that shallow selfish greed cannot work.
“I hold some hope for those born in the 90s and later and they grew up at the time of the crash of 2008 and can see for themselves that shallow selfish greed cannot work.”
There are some amazing talented young people in the youth wings of Labour and Green. They have everything stacked against them in regard to their future but it will be their future leadership that will lift everyone. They need our support and encouragement.
There’s always been that underbelly of people who are cruel, vicious and not community minded. The internet has just made them more visible. This should allow the rest of us to do something about them.
And you’re very skilful at dealing with them Draco. Unfortunately for me they exist IRL and I have to deal with them in that zone. Not sure which is worse. Probably IRL.
I was thinking more along the lines of rules and regulations that stop these arseholes actually having an effect upon other people.
yep I read some of the comments under that article and felt crook after – this is why we have key and his cronies.
+100 Paul…good points….New Zealand is becoming a grim place for those at the bottom of the heap…and especially New Zealand children…our future
…affordable housing for New Zealand families is crucial
“The 1 million who voted for National in 2014 don’t care about people in poverty.”
What about the 1 million people who didn’t vote against National, who didn’t vote at all. Most of them are people in poverty, or close to it.
+100 CV….good point…the current Labour Party does not inspire them
With the holiday period just about upon us, it’s a timely reminder to highlight our unforgiving roads.
A number of Kiwis and tourist die or are injured on our roads every year.
Therefore, isn’t it time we do more to improve the safety of our roads?
As upfront costs are a factor, I suggest, along with improving national black-spots, their should be a concentrated effort to safe proof state highway 1.
Lighting, median-barriers, sidebars and breakdown lanes from Kaitaia to the Bluff.
This will save many lives going forward (thus accident related costs) while also improving the safety of tourists using our roads.
Thoughts?
drive at 90
simple
but seriously, numpty tourist drivers are the biggest other-driver risk down south. Install alarms on rental cars that go nuts if you cross the white line. Also simple
Explain to me how the car will know it’s crossed the white line?
Combination of GPS and video.
I.e: https://www.rt.com/usa/320673-autonomous-drone-obstacles-mit/
Driving at 90 doesn’t prevent another car crossing the centre-line and colliding head-on with me. Nor does it give me scope to take evasive action.
Therefore, stating driving at 90 is a simplistic statement that overlooks the impact (on accidents) unforgiving roads play.
Driving at 90 gives you more time to react to emergencies and reduces impact force, it also improves fuel efficiency. Plus there’s no chance of being snapped by speed cameras, if you need a purely self-interested reason. The only downside is that you may irritate those other drivers who put speed before safety.
Though better to say; drive to the conditions at a maximum of 90km, in rain or at night on a gravel road even that is way too fast. Also, remember to rest for 10 minutes for every hour of driving. These are things that you can do now within the present infrastructure, to improve road safety for others as well as yourself. The Chairman’s suggestion may have merit, but won’t be happening anytime soon and won’t help if you’re off SH1. Plus no matter how the roading may improve in the future you’re still going to be safer if you are; cautious, rested, sober and undistracted.
VTO’s point about the perils of encountering someone on the wrong side of the road (most notoriously tourists, but also drunks, sleepers, and hoons) is a good one. I can see how the white lines could be laser-detected and hooked up to an alarm on rental cars (something that is evidently beyond BM’s medieval understanding of the world), however the implementation of such a scheme would be anything but simple. Deal with the world as it is, not how you would like it to be.
Keep safe everyone!
and watch others trying to overtake on a straight line, cause they are bored witless.
and watch people fall asleep
rather make good roads faster, and hard roads slower. There is no need for some of the little windy roads to be a hundred.
Making everything ninety, just to watch people go over it, and the blue berry muffing brigade get hard while writing tickets is not the answer.
And last but least, finally make compulsory for new wanna be drivers to actually have driving lessons before they get to drive. It makes no sense that bad drivers (parents) get to train their children to be bad drivers, as clearly the only time they have to be good drivers is to pass the test.
Two points, windy roads wake drivers up, a bit of adrenaline a it more awareness. 90 kms on our main highways puts drivers to sleep.
About ten years ago the Police instigated a ” 100 kph not a km” over rule for Christmas to Easter, At the end of it about 75 more people were dead than other years. To paraphrase ” We can’t work it out, there were a lot of older people, single car, straight road accidents and they weren’t speeding ! ”
No you dipsticks, they fell asleep.
I did a lot of driving that summer and the roads were full of older drivers who were doing around 90 or less because they were scared of getting a ticket, but crucially they were driving slower than their stimulation speed, for want of a better term.
Driving a modern car at a slowish speed is like watching a road unwind on TV in front of you while sitting in an armchair while listening to classical or MOR music.
Try, see how long you last.
What a load of shit you talk.
Tiredness, time of day/night, gender, whether you have chilren and other factors determines whether you fall asleep, not speed.
In fact research has shown that people are more like to fall asleep on FAST sections of road.
http://drowsydriving.org/about/facts-and-stats/
There is plenty of research out there on this. I suggest you read it before spouting off another load of rubbish.
or….everyone drive at 95km/hr.
Why? So there is no need for light vehicles to pass us heavy vehicles who have to (well supposed to) travel at 90. All vehicles with the same maximum speed.
There is some devil that possesses many kiwi drivers that seemingly forces them to pass the vehicle in front of them.
Impatience is the problem…and lack of the ability to consider how much later you’re going to get there if you have a prang.
We have “Patience” written in large and friendly letters fore and aft on our housebus…seems to inflame some drivers.
Be mindful out there folks….
Hi Chairman.
Agree our roads are not the best. However, as a sales rep driving the lower north Island for two years and previously driving in Auckland I consistently witnessed poor driving skills and lack of road code knowledge. Personally I think we’re just shit drivers in NZ. In my driving days I was constantly sending community roadwatch forms into the Police to report dangerous driving.
Driving around now, just locally and in a limited way I still continue to witness appalling driving. Last Friday I was involved in 3 near misses just because of drivers that should not be in charge of a vehicle being on the road.
The last edition of the AA magazine published their report into tourist driver fatalities and accidents. They actually make up a very small number of our annual number of crashes. While tourist crashes had a higher representation in tourists hot spots in the South Island they were still low compared to the national average. There has been a hugely disproportionate media focus on tourist drivers.
I’m sorry I don’t have the actual figures, the magazine is long gone, out with the recycling.
Maybe it makes a good news story during the slow summer months or maybe it just stirs up a bit of that ‘fear of the other” vibe.
Remember in the summer holidays you’ve got people on the road who are not familiar with driving long distance and you’ve got fatigued people driving. It makes the roads that more dangerous in summer.
Yes, make improvements to our roads but theres little you can do about bad drivers.
I agree. Poor and bad driving plays a role. But improved roading can help with that. Allowing room for evasive action to be taken. With centre-line barriers preventing a bad driver from crossing the road. Along with lighting helping guide those on unfamiliar roads and sidebars keeping them on the road, opposed to going down a bank or into a river or ocean.
A couple of other measures could be applied to help combat bad driving.
Private motor vehicles could be designed so they can’t breach the open road limit.
Defensive driving courses could be made compulsory.
“Defensive driving courses could be made compulsory.”
Agreed.
btw, one of the most nuts dangerous bit of roads I’ve driven that would benefit from your suggestions is a the Rimutaka Hill road between Wellington and the Wairarapa. I am constantly amazed with the flow of traffic on that road that there isn’t more crashes, deaths and drivers going over the cliff.
Drove the Tauranga and back yesterday. Used crusie control (except when passing )
I saw two instances where trucks overtook each other in a passing lane which meant no one else could pass. The front truck (which had passed) then travelled at about 85k. You could sense the frustration of the drivers ahead of me. I had Blondie playing so was happy enough 😉
Others travel at front of long lines of ttraffic oblivious to the lines behind them. Many timeas at 15k or more below the speed limit.
The good news was I saw NO dangerous overtaking.
Leaving Auckland (Penrose) at at 720am, I continue to be amazed at how many Aucklanders, including commercial truckss plop themselves into the fast lane and do about 85 kph.
I was up the far north a couple of weeks ago. The roads were wet, warning signs galore: roads greasy when wet – slow down.
It was if the warning signs were a challenge for drivers to drive faster and follow closer. With unforgiving roads and driver attitudes like just described, it’s no wonder there are so many accidents up that way.
The obvious solution is to get people off the roads and into trains. This will help with climate change and prevent deaths.
The obvious solution is to make all state highways four lanes, this would stop people getting frustrated with slow drivers, stop people doing dangerous over taking manoeuvres and would create a burst of economic activity especially to the regions
That would cost more and not really achieve anything.
But I’m not really surprised that a RWNJ would reach for the most expensive solution that doesn’t work.
Yeah it would, the slow, hesitant drivers can stick to the left lane and the confident, normal drivers can keep to the right
Plus I thought you’d be all over the government stepping and creating a make-work scheme
That can already be done on the present roads and it’s not working so assuming doing more of it just brings up this saying:
Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
Why would you think that considering that I’ve said, on multiple occasions, that we need to destroy jobs and the need for work?
That presupposes people keep left unless passing and stop driving like it was some sort of competition whereby they need to get ahead of others (just for the sake of it).
It doesn’t solve things like indiscriminate lane changing; failing to indicate intentions; observing the 1 second rule when it actually is a 2 second rule; etc.
There’d be a burst of economic activity if we resurrected the railways too. (you know – those two parallel lines of iron designed to carry the masses (and the most fishint n fectiv way of carrying freight) that we must not speak of.
Not in Auckland. The idiots would simply move their shit to the fourth lane.
Getting trucks OUT of the fast lane on Motorways would also help.
Building more and more roads has yet to be a panacea to our nation’s most vulnerable, so it is no solution in the future.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11552297
Can anyone tell me the location and date of the Labour Party dinner Stuart Nash is hosting for Roger Douglas, Michael Bassett, Ken Shirley and Labour “A” Listers?
I’d like to protest at the event.
I googled it. Looks like the 1st Labour govt. took office on 6 December 1935 so on that basis it’s been and gone. 🙁
WHAT. A. JOKE.
Labour always invites its right wing along and always sidelines its left wing.
To be fair it was Nash who invited them. Did they all sit around and giggle that Mickey Savage was a mug for not becoming independently wealthy by virtue of his position.
and did they giggle that Andrew Little promoted Nash and shat on Cunliffe?
Touche madam/sir
Many here find RT a useful read and source of reference and opinion on world affairs…not least because RT is not afraid to explore opinions from all sides and resources some of the best USA journalists, international experts from academia, think tanks and intelligence analysts
…but what /who is RT and its history?
‘RT`s world’
https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/325580-rt-broadcasting-media-public/
“Ten years ago this week RT started to carve out its mark in international broadcasting – and what a ride it has been! Never far from controversy, this network has prided itself on being different and saying what many dare not utter in public. In this edition of CrossTalk, we ask how RT has changed the media environment.
CrossTalking with Rob Taub, John Laughland, and Dmitry Babich.”
( also for light summer viewing)
https://www.rt.com/shows/sophieco/325829-syria-isis-us-allies/
https://www.rt.com/shows/sophieco/325569-strategy-isis-terrorism-attacks/
https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/325830-syria-washington-civil-war/
Yep RT held some good events to celebrate its 10 years on air.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11561025
Nats on 51.3%
John Key sitting on 65.2% as preferred prime minister.
Good news for Labour however with them out of the 20%’s.
On the latest polls in December – National can either govern alone, or close to it.
Still reading the standard – people are still thinking Little is doing an outstanding job.
Whithout blaming the voters for being stupid just because they disagree with you – why do you think Labour is so far behind National?
The Leader, Policies, The MP’s? Or are they just not relevant anymore?
Child poverty
Sexual Violence changes in our Justic System
Pissing contest with James????
Thinking, thinking, thinking
No no you don’t understand, Mr Little just needs more time so the voters of NZ can get to know him 😉
Halfway through term 3 and Labour can still get zero traction against the Key government. And Cunliffe had Labour just as high in the polls as it is now.
You’d think that someone would realise that Labour is no longer fit for purpose.
For what its worth I feel for you, you obviously care deeply and you can see whats wrong but no one will listen to you
cheers PR
Yet many say Cunliffe was so unpopular with the public? Little has similar ratings for preferred PM, yet he is proclaimed as doing a great job! The whole thing stinks to high heaven! David Cunliffe had mere months in that top job that included an election, and forces from within and without against him throughout his entire time as leader. Little has had none of that stress. His screen persona is still wooden and without charisma.
again obvious to those other than those who are being deliberately obtuse.
+100 CV and Hami Shearlie…Labour should have stuck by David Cunliffe…the rank and file membership wanted him
…so imo time for a new Labour Party with Mana
Cunliffe had the support of membership in the leadership battle, after the change of rules at the Ellerslie Conference.
Robertson, Wellington apparatchik and Shearer’s real campaign manager, had collected more Caucus votes.
Robertson & Co were never never ever ever going to accept that outcome. With his inside track on all the staff who had been hired into Labour Parliamentary roles he managed to make the whole environment around Cunliffe.
Cunliffe’s mistake was to try to accomodate Robertson: Robertson considered Cunliffe’s leadership to be illegitimate. Robertson never accepted that the Membership could select a leader that the majority of the Caucus didn’t select. That is why Little has given into Robertson’s condition: that Cunliffe be humiliated.
I have thought about this, and it seems that a lot of people think that Labour merely wants to do a ‘system restore’ back to 2008 (or 1984) settings, where as National want to upgrade – it might not be to an OS we are liking, but it is a new one nonetheless.
Time the left upgraded.
We need to look forward, not back.
You are exactly correct.
However, Labour is incapable of operating on anything other than COBOL.
little gave robertson the future of work assignment. Labour’s had some great policy platforms these past seven years. i hate what cullen did but he had his goals and met them. so in that respect he was competent, unlike english. labour is easy to paint as retarded but it’s been able to set goals and meet them while in government, just oftentimes the wrong ones. it’s anything but a hidebound party. it’s just too easy to push lazy propagandaonto such a crcredulous population. plus you have to face the fact that many people – including virtually the entire landlord class – are vicious, awful people who live off extracting the life blood from their countrymen. they are your voting centre who swung from Helen and into key’s pocket. monkeys chasing peanuts.
See my comment at 1.3.1.
The failure of the MSM to report the Gnats tragic economic performance is major. A lot of folk think they’re doing basically the right thing, rather than a slow motion train wreck.
Just a heads up from Wayne Mapp that the Law Commission’s report on Allternative Models for Sexual violence cases has been released.
Do not know if I will get to a post on it, but would love to see someone do a post.
Cursory reading looks good.
http://www.lawcom.govt.nz/sites/default/files/projectAvailableFormats/NZLC-R136-The-Justice-Response-to-Victims-of-Sexual-Violence.pdf
For the record, it doesn’t appear Wayne was involved in this one or the National Security report which came out yesterdaya nd which I have posted. I am sure he will correct me if he was involved.
I’ve been wondering that too, James.
There’s a little bit of movement lately upwards for Labour ….. but this past year for Labour has been about sorting itself internally – doesn’t make for constant headlines, and it appears its only when a politician is in the headlines that they get traction. And as you might have noted, ShonKey is constantly in the headlines – even over silly little things – even being given fossil awards for being irresponsible re climate change – and the popularity continues.
Wow oh wow… Kiwipolitico (it’s in the feed column 3 times but will also link here) is a must read. I will go further and say various aspects are worthy of posts in themselves if any TS author is interested.
http://www.kiwipolitico.com/2015/12/the-impunity-files-police-edition-trolling-for-rawshark/
A small taster:
That tells me the police were already investigating BEFORE Slater laid his complaint. They had already been instructed by the PM’S OFFICE to “find out Rawshark’s identity? Yep.
Correction to last sentence: They were already under instruction from John Key/PM’s Office to “find out who Rawshark is”.
I agree that Pablo’s post at Kiwipolitico is a MUST READ.
It is yet another piece of the jigsaw puzzle of revelations coming from the OIA request by Scoop for the court submissions etc relating to the Judicial Review into the police raid of Nicky Hager’s house in 2014.
There have been a number of other excellent posts on a range of blogs over the last month or so also analysing the Review submissions. Some of these are now well off the front pages of these blogs, so I thought I would start making a consolidated list of these for anyone who is interested and may have missed some.
Firstly, here are the full Scoop papers (both links contain other links).
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1510/S00049/inside-the-hunt-for-rawshark-the-hager-raid-court-file.htm
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1511/S00046/inside-the-hunt-for-rawshark-hager-raid-court-file-part-2.htm
Keith Ng also had a post a few weeks ago in his On Point section of Public Address focusing on a piece of paper found and seized by the police during the search in their efforts to identify Rawshark. Ng’s post analyses the implications of this piece of paper, and their suspicions that Rangi Kemara might be Rawshark through the communications between WO and Ben Rachinger.
http://publicaddress.net/onpoint/the-whaledump-saga-scooby-doo-edition/
There are others, but I have run out of time for now. Will update my list in spare moments over the forthcoming ‘silly season’.
EDIT – Another one that came to mind immediately I hit send.
Giovanni Tiso wrote this post on 30 November on his blog. He attended the Judicial Review court hearings and reported on these at the time.
http://bat-bean-beam.blogspot.co.nz/2015/11/the-raid.html
I wish karol was still around. She was superb when it came to analysing this sort of material. However, we have authors and others here who could do a very good job too.
Ditto re karol. I hope she is OK, as she has not commented on her Twitter account or blog since March (?) this year; but when I raised this some time ago here, someone commented that she had indicated that she was moving in other directions.
I used to be very good at such analysis (research and analysis was a big part of my work skills/experience) but retirement/health/ home downsizing etc requires I focus on other priorities at present. But my memory is still good (!) as are my abilities to locate information, articles etc despite my other limited computer skills. But there seems to be a lot of analysis etc going on quietly behind the scenes on this particular event and its consequences etc. Once the results of the Judicial review are released, I anticipate a lot of interest, opinion etc in the more public media.
You do a great job here v.v. It’s very much appreciated by all.
Doule ditto.
And I miss felix’s ability to sum stuff up both intelligently and pithily. Sadly TRP’s ego at the time spoilt that.
I finally figured out what the problem was with that on the weekend. Figuring out a fix is going to be a bit harder. I may just hack a ‘signature’ fix.
Thanks Anne.
One clarification. I have amended the section of the post quoted to reflect the fact that a Police investigation plan was put into effect before the formal complaint was made (after an email from Mr. Slater to Assistant Commissioner Malcolm Burgess), and that the investigation was ramped up rapidly once the complaint was lodged. This is documented in David Fisher’s article in the NZ Herald (page A3) on November 14, 2015, which draws on the Police files obtained under Discovery and released by the High Court. These have been complied by Scoop and are cited with links in my post.
Thanks for the clarification Pablo.
The clarification:
It doesn’t change the basis of my suspicion the police were… made aware they were to leave no stone un-turned in their endeavour to identify Rawshark, and the instruction probably originated from the PM’s Office. It will be impossible to prove of course, and the motivation behind the instruction had nothing to do with “upholding the laws of the land” but rather to avenge Rawshark for exposing their dirty little game.
It is interesting that Slater was able to get in touch directly with Assistant Commissioner Burgess, who rather than ignore him immediately turned around and ordered elements of organised and cyber crime units in the NCIG to get going on planning the case for catching Rawshark–6 days before Slater formally made his complaint. Again, the Fisher article in the Herald has more detail on this.
Were it that those of us who have been burgled or otherwise been victims of crime had such a rapid high level response to our plights!
Correct. As the victim of unlawful actions covertly carried out – and with a political aspect to some of them – I had the ignominious experience of being ignored by the NZ police. It was as if they concluded I deserved the conduct meted out to me. It happened 20 odd years ago and my respect for, and trust in them is now virtually non-existent.
That access, and speed of access is what the media ignore at our peril.
Fascinating info in Pablo’s post. Will be interesting to see if anyone in the MSM actually picks up on these details and runs something in the silly season …… or whether it will just all slide into oblivion in 2016.
And it will be really useful to have Veutoviper’s list as it develops. I missed Keith Ng’s one – must go back and read it.
Well, its up to Labour, the Greens and NZ First to ensure it doesn’t slide into oblivion . Once they start to see the actual evidence of the dirty, deceitful and unlawful antics of Key/Slater and co., voter-land may not be so gormless and sleepy about it all.
Interesting that the CE of Xero had a stoush with Slater, then they made up and 24 hours later an employee of Xero announced she is standing for mayor. Coincidence I am sure.
Heard V Crone on Morning Report this morning. Her answers to questions were superficial – way out of her depth I’d say. Goff came across as a vastly superior candidate. Mind you, that doesn’t mean a lot given the gullible propensities of today’s voting public.
And the machinary behind her and all that means.
IF, as I suspect, Collins knew about this, then Ms Crone will have Mr Slater’s awful machinery at her disposal… not that she will ever directly use it, but others will do it, even without her consent I bet.
Note how quickly Xero CEO made up with slater… I have my tinfoilhat on but nonetheless…the timing of it all
Fascinating info in Pablo’s post. Will be interesting to see if anyone in the MSM actually picks up on these details and runs something in the silly season …… or whether it will just all slide into oblivion in 2016.
Good to see that punches aren’t being pulled just because IHC is seen as one of the respectable charities.
https://www.maoritelevision.com/news/national/ihcs-potential-state-housing-deal-sparks-protest
Far from respectable, this latest behaviour exposes the truth about the National party stooges who’ve been running this filthy right-wing organisation for a long time now. Rather than standing up for the rights of people with disabilities their MO is riding high up the government’s arse. Despicable pigs.
Regarding business woman Victoria Crone confirming her standing in the 2016 Auckland Mayoralty.
The voting public are truly spoiled for choice for ‘centre-right’ (pro-corporate / pro-Auckland ‘Supercity’) Auckland Mayoral candidates!
Stephen Berry
Mark Thomas
Phil Goff
Victoria Crone
(Isn’t it basic ‘Electoral Politics 101’ NOT to ‘split the vote’?)
Gosh – I hope John Banks, John Palino, Judith Collins and Maurice Williamson all throw their hats into the ring as well!
The more the merrier?
(Seems Auckland business interests are arguably not presenting a ‘united front’ on their preferred choice of 2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate?)
Seems that the only confirmed 2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate with a proven track record of defending the public and the public (as opposed to corporate) interests, is me?
Here’s the thing.
The difference between the ‘1%’ and the ‘99%’ ( the corporate minority, and supporters) and the public majority, is that the latter represent FAR more of the voting public, because there are HEAPS more of the public ’99’%?
Also – lest we forget – in 2013 the voter turnout in Auckland was only 36%.
How are the four, (in my view) ‘pro-corporate’ 2016 Mayoral candidates, going to inspire the 64% non-voting masses to get off their bottoms and vote for one of them?
Where/ what is their proven track record in defending the public and public interest?
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
Are you centre-right or centre-left politically?
Why?
‘How are the four, (in my view)’pro-corporate’ 2016 Mayoral candidates, going to inspire the 64% non-voting masses to get off their bottoms and vote for them’
Why would the 4 candidates want to do that? They are not interested in those 64% non-voters.
Polling still showing that the effort put into changing the flag by this government is a waste.
Link to the poll is: Which flag will you vote for?
Don’t worry, the National Party phone and text lines will be in overdrive. Expect the gap to rapidly shrink as the Tories vote for their Nat. Party bill board logo
Take out JK…replace with fern… add a bit of black and make Sth Cross a bit bigger and Bob’s your uncle.
Very inspiring video from Russel Norman/Greenpeace – if only the political parties could show some sort of inspiration and united force like this…..
http://www.greenpeace.org.nz/thank-you-2015/
The redoubtable environmental champion Gary Taylor puts the case for a major increase in Department of Conservation funding in today’s http://www.dompost.co.nz
He includes:
– extra $12m for wilding pine removal
– extra $17.2m on predator control
– extra $10m on community partnerships
– extra $11.8m on core competencies
He concludes:
“Let’s recognize that investing in nature is a perfectly valid way of growing the economy”
Good time to get the voice in to Wellington as Departmental budget drafts are proposed up for Ministers to consider over the break.
They should leave the pines alone
A the planet needs trees no tussock.
B they’ll never win .especially if financial times get real hard.
Breaking news:
Government’s books go back into deficit as Bill English realises he can only kick the can so far down the road by fiddling with EQC payments: http://www.interest.co.nz/news/79160/budget-forecast-dip-back-defict-201516-govt-increases-capital-spending-nz1-bln-english
I am sure they never said they would stay in surplus just that they would get back to surplus. Nothing to see here. Look John Key draped in his favourite flag.
They are fine with going into deficit in the next few months.
The thing to watch is they are putting together a package of lolly scramble for GE2017 because of their determination to win that.
So what has the Little-Robertson-King team been working on as policy and strategic responses?
I’ve been meaning to keep you all up to date on this.
A person I know was arrested in this raid, but broke themselves out of prison and are on the run, the latest I’ve heard is they are out of China. So happy about that.
However, some of those arrested are missing and this is fast turning into a nightmare. Missing in China generally means bad, bad things.
https://libcom.org/news/updates-guangdong-five-december-9-through-13-14122015
Yikes
ACTIVISTS GET THINGS DONE! 🙂
My request for Speaking Rights has been granted at the upcoming CEO Review Committee of Auckland Council, to be held:
WHEN: Wednesday 16 December 2015
TIME: 11.30am
WHERE: Level 26, Room 1
135 Albert St
Auckland Central
The following is my intended subject matter for this meeting:
1) A reminder to the CEO Review Committee meeting of the statutory duties of the CEO, as outlined in s.42 of the underpinning Local Government Act 2002:
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2002/0084/latest/DLM171859.html
42 Chief executive
(1) A local authority must, in accordance with clauses 33 and 34 of Schedule 7, appoint a chief executive.
(2) A chief executive appointed under subsection (1) is responsible to his or her local authority for—
(a) implementing the decisions of the local authority; and
(b) providing advice to members of the local authority and to its community boards, if any; and
(c) ensuring that all responsibilities, duties, and powers delegated to him or her or to any person employed by the local authority, or imposed or conferred by an Act, regulation, or bylaw, are properly performed or exercised; and
(d) ensuring the effective and efficient management of the activities of the local authority; and
(e) maintaining systems to enable effective planning and accurate reporting of the financial and service performance of the local authority; and
(f) providing leadership for the staff of the local authority; and
_________________________________________________________
2) Developments on lawful compliance with the Public Records Act 2005.
3) Progress on making information about Auckland Council and Auckland Council Controlled Organisation spending available on Auckland Council Rates Assessment Notices.
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’
Hackers trace ISIS Twitter accounts back to internet addresses owned by Department of Work and Pensions UK
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/hackers-trace-isis-twitter-accounts-7010417
Here you go folks!
Here’s your chance to have YOUR say on whom you support for 2016 Auckland Mayor:
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/DUNCAN-GARNER-POLL-Aucklanders-who-do-you-want-to-be-mayor/tabid/131/articleID/110107/Default.aspx
Cheers!
Penny Bright
I voted for you Penny.
Which rather points out how stupid this poll is, as I don’t live in Auckland, therefore can’t vote.
Great use of your time
Herald Online: The Gauche and The Crass – real estate agent selling big tea towels juxtaposed with media feast over Jonah’s finances.
WTF has become of “us” ?
The abject failure of national to maintain the goal it has used to marginalise the vulnerable is getting scant critique from the political commentators.
I guess when you dont think the vulnerable will vote for you making their lives worse can be juztified. You know if you are a self serving compassionless leech.
Yesterday Steven Joyce was asked again about why R&D tax credits were removed by National almost immediately they got back into power in 2008. He repeated the old rubbish about businesses using it solely to minimise tax.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/australias-innovation-policy-catch-new-zealands-joyce-says-b-182956?utm_source=ST&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ShareTrader+AM+Update+for+Tuesday+15+December+2015
This is despite the fact that the mere 300 R&D tax credits ever issued were audited by IRD, for any amounts approaching $100k or more, as far as I am aware. In contrast, just a few big companies have been granted up to $5mill each by the National govt, with taxpayer money freed up by such actions. The results have been indifferent. In many cases the companies are either: listed on the sharemarket, didn’t need the money for business as usual, are overseas owned, or are outright losers that cannot stand on their own feet.
When I see land owners being audited for historic purchases of Harley Davidson bikes or glasshouses and the like, which can be coded as farm working assets or expenses, I’ll perhaps take a less dim view on Steven Joyce’s anti-SME attitude.