Winston Peters gets it. (and it is the clue to his longevity in politics)
Winston Peters publicly sets his conditions on coalition. (if only Green Party leaders would do this.)
While Green Party leaders say they will have “no bottom lines in coalition negotiations”, Winston Peters understands the importance of entering coalition talks with a set of conditions.
Everyone remembers the iconic Gold Card that Peters wrangled out of Labour as a condition of coalition.
This time around Peters is demanding that any coalition partner drop any plan to raise the age of superannuation entitlement to 67.
And bizarrely in a new twist, Winston Peters new demand is that his government partner bail out the Christchurch Cathedral rebuild.
Whatever you think of Winston Peters priorities, these things are concrete achievements that Peters can point to and people will remember.
If the Greens go into formal coalition with Labour without gaining any similar iconic concrete concessions, what will they have achieved?
Agreeing to be out voted on every single issue raised in cabinet and then shackled by cabinet collective responsibility to agree to silence the opposition in their ranks and publicly back policies they disagree with?
Without achieving any major concessions from Labour to haul back on the their mine it, drill it, frack it, programme the Green Party will be finished in the eyes of the their supporters as an environmental party.
And apart from the big salaries and high public profile, if the Greens don’t get any major concessions from Labour in their negotiations for cabinet positions, what could the Green Party cabinet Ministers possibly achieve locked in a cabinet room with the likes of Shane Jones and David Parker browbeating and insulting them and voting them down on every single controversial issue that comes up?
Why on earth would the Green Party leaders choose the indignity of being forced by the rules of collective cabinet responsibility to have to publicly support majority cabinet decisions on policies that they and their party fundamentally disagree with? When if they weren’t in cabinet, the Green Party caucus would be free to publicly support and champion and lobby for any policy they liked.
My bet is that at this stage in history the Greens would achieve far more being outside of government than in it.
Look at the Home Insulation Agreement, for instance, or the campaign for MMP, all achieved by the Green MPs vigorously lobbying and campaigning outside of government.
The risks of being locked into a Business As Usual, mine it, drill it, frack it, administration opposed to everything the the Greens stand for is obvious. Going on the example of the Alliance under Jim Anderton, such a strategy risks the Green Party, just like the Alliance before them, destroyed as a parliamentary and electoral force.
Rather than take a page out of the book of Jim Anderton and repeat the experience of the Alliance, the Greens should take a page out of the book of “The great survivor” Winston Peters, and remain to fight again.
Weka’s question seems fair to me. If you want to dictate Green election year strategy, but have no intention of supporting us with your party vote, then your motives may be suspect.
Perhaps better phrased as; what political party other than the Green do you believe has a climate-change policy for which you would rather vote? Winston First??
Policy in the Green Party is written by those members who have the time and inclination to be involved in that process. You clearly have an interest in stopping new coal mines (as I do in prohibiting deep-sea drilling). Plus you can string words together comprehensibly enough, and obviously have the time to do so. If you want to have a say; why not join up with the party and put your ideas forth where they’re likely to have an affect?
Jenny has the right to put suggestions forward for the Greens as good strategy. She has the right to comment on Shane Jones and his behaviour and suitability. You don’t have to agree with her but she can speak an idea. There seem quite a few pedantic pedagogues that crop up in the left camp. Which is supposed to be open to ideas, progressive, thoughtful, etc.
But can get bogged down in self-made rules that are often as effective as the rules that the health sector make up like the one about using margarine not butter is better. Now open to question. But couldn’t be questioned once.
Dogmatic no. Thoughtful and pragmatic and practical and principled. That chant will take us a long way – in the right direction.
My approach is simple. I want the Greens to get Labour to agree to ban deep sea oil drilling.
I want the Greens to get Labour to agree to ban all New Coal Mining.
I want New Zealand to be a world leader in fighting climate change.
For the Greens to be in a position to do so they will have to have a mandate, to get that mandate they will have to campaign and campaign strongly on these issues, no more mutual gentleman’s agreement to play down the issues like last time.
[lprent: You might like them to do those things. However you cannot insist that they do. If I was looking at the value of your vote for either party or indeed for Mana, I’d place it at somewhere close to zero. You are likely to either vote for one of these parties or not vote at all.
In the end coalition talks will be based on the how large numbers of voters set the relative strength of each party. Each of these parties (even mana) will wind up as being a broad coalition of voters with a range of issues, many of which will be incompatible.
Currently with your demands that everyone should believe as you do, then I suspect that you’d wind up as being a voting bloc of one or a handful.
Anyway, I’m getting tired of seeing your comments in auto-moderation. Putting you into auto-spam until April 1 when your ban expires. ]
lPrent says: “In the end coalition talks will be based on the how large numbers of voters set the relative strength of each party.”
I don’t think this is true at all. Say, for example, National and Labour each won 40 MPs, Act and the Greens 18 MPs (this is hypothetical!) and NZ First 4 MPs. There is no doubt that NZ First would have far more power than either Act or the Greens.
Coalition negotiations don’t follow any rules – they are pure anarchy, and only counting to 61 (or stopping the other bloc from doing do) matters.
lPrent says: “In the end coalition talks will be based on the how large numbers of voters set the relative strength of each party.”
I was referring to the election not the coalition talks.
Trying to second guess what seats in the house the voters will give each party and therefore what coalitions they’re “voting for” before the election is pretty much an exercise in futility. Especially this far out from an election. Quite simply parties will go through contortions of statement, policy, posturing, presentation, and perception between now and the election.
For instance National’s rather pathetic posturing trying to tell other parties what they should “do” about post-election coalitions would have to be one of the more stupid things I have seen in a while.
Coalition talks happen after elections and are based on the actual results of the election rather than some fictional construction of what voters will do prior to it. You say it is “anarchy”. It isn’t at all. Just the usual process of deal making over a scarce resources – in this case MP’s votes.
Something that National appears to scared about being able to get. Lyn got polled again yesterday and it was clearly a poll done for National desperately seeking confirmation of issues to campaign on.
I’m afraid I agree with Jenny (Shock Horror). Actually not ‘afraid’ at all
Party Vote will be Green (with an electorate to Labour) until Labour PROVE themselves – and right about now, they’re 50-50 with an ‘entitled old-guard’ in their dying throes quivering and exerting their egos.
I reckon it’ll take a David CUNLIFFE ‘skillset’ (erk …. FUCKING ERK – apologies for even using the word) … to ensure the Parker, Jones, Mallard quacking bullyboy, and several others in check.
If he succeeds – there goes Labour for another Century. If he fails … there goes Labour down the Moa Point sewer plant all tangled up with used tampons, bits of plastic, spent egos, cudda shudda wuddas, possibly an Hataitai Matron whose intentions were always good, but matrydom and victimhood got the better of her, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera……
Maybe 2017 eh? Not right now until there’s something substantial (and as I’ve said before – there’s probably about 23 other ‘eligibles’ in my sphere thinking likewise) Fuck em – we’re all sick of voting least worst and we have this system called M M P
..but i have as much respect for the free-healthcare for under six-year old he negotiated out of a national govt..
..and in doing so he turned back the tide of stripping healthcare away..the de-socialising of healthcare rampant at the time..(another rogernomic-orgasm causing collective loss of sense..)
..and the biggest losers in/of the minnow parties..are the greens..
.a few pink bats..(and good on them..!..)..is about it..
..for some 12 yrs in parliament..
..and i agree..aside from some greens sliding their arses into ministerial limos/perks..
..cabinet collective-responsibility will emasculate/silence the green-leadership..
..and they may well end up with little more in govt..
..than they have got to date outside..
..so..the personal ambitions of those individuals who will become ministers to one side..
..it may serve the greens/environment more for the green party choosing to offer their support to legislation on a case-by-case basis..
..this may well give them more power..
..than they will get from signing up to a formal coaliition..
It will be interesting to see the approach in the coming months that the Greens will take.
As for Winston, what is the source please for “This time around Peters is demanding that any coalition partner drop any plan to raise the age of superannuation entitlement to 67” ?
Ah ok, I see there have been a few, the most recent going back to five months ago:
“Surely you must have read or heard their numerous dire warnings of unaffordability of National Super.
“The problem doesn’t end there.
“Labour has foolishly plumped for lifting the pension age to 67.
“In our view this is a serious mistake.
“The Labour party under Michael Joseph Savage and Peter Fraser led New Zealand from the Great Depression and did more to ease poverty than any other government.
“It’s disappointing that party should now target some of the most vulnerable members of society.
“The attitude is wrong. It’s attacking the victims as so often happens in this country.
“New Zealand First will not stand by and watch the pension age lifted or the amount reduced.”
+100 Jim Nauld…Labour is going to have to back down on this issue …there are too many votes in it….apart from the fact that many who are 65 need to take it easier and retire…(good on those who dont wish to retire however)
Here’s a challenge to issue to all our current representatives in parliament:
Before you touch the people’s super, declare the present value of your super and how old you are.
Also, …
“MPs elected prior to 1992 have access to the parliamentary superannuation scheme established as part of the Government Superannuation Fund (GSF).”
[https://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/independent-scrutiny-gold-plated-mp-super]
So let’s start with each one in the Labour caucus, for they are the ones wanting the policy change to super.
Of particular interest would be a certain …
Philip Bruce G (about to turn 61 in two months, MP since 1981)
Annette Faye K (will be 67 this year, MP since 1984)
Trevor Colin M (will turn 60 in two months, MP from 1984-90, and since 1993)
Jenny, what makes you think that ”no deep sea oil drilling”, and, ”no new coal mines” will not be part of the coalition agreement between Labour/Green, as a Party member, Green that is, i don’t feel the need to be ‘up in arms’ demanding the Party take a grandstand position on such issues as they are simply fundamental to the Parties core beliefs and will be addressed as part of any coalition negotiation,
Winston has another bottom-line policy of the State buying back ALL of the electricity network, not just the generators, the retailers and the lines companies as well, although my opinion is that the State need not waste monies purchasing retail electricity supply companies with the States aim best achieved by simply establishing a nationwide electricity retailer of its own,
You have to hand it to Peters to be able to come up with a number of populist policies with which to fight the 2014 election with,
How many of us here at the Standard would find a major disagreement with Peters stance on buying back the electricity network and not raising the age of entitlement for superannuation,(incidently the Green party has the same policy),
IF, we are to believe that after the 2014 election, and, that’s a BIG if, these 3 policies are to be NZFirst’s bottom lines that they will ruthlessly stick to in any coalition negotiations, then i would suggest that there is NO way NZFirst will be forming a Government with the National Party,
So, Bounce, Bounce, Bounce, the superannuation ball dribbles back into the Labour court with both it’s probable coalition partners opposed to raising the age of entitlement the question must again be asked of Labour,”why are you pushing a policy that you cannot hope to implement”???,
Peters bottom lines, IF they are as set in concrete as He has made them out to be are a clear signal that the only possible place for NZFirst after the 2014 election will be in coalition with Labour/Green…
Jenny, what makes you think that ”no deep sea oil drilling”, and, ”no new coal mines” will not be part of the coalition agreement between Labour/Green,…
Time will tell of course. But making statements; “We have no bottom lines”, does not create confidence that these “core beliefs” will be addressed as part of the coalition agreement.
As they say politics is all about pressure I don’t care how principled someone thinks they are can stand up to opposing pressure without support.
What if no agreement can be reached with Labour on these “core beliefs”?
There are several alternatives. (With my estimates of the their likelyhood.)
1/ The Green leadership will walk (possibility ranking 4 out of 10)
2/ The Green leadership will abandon their party’s core beliefs (possibility ranking 50/50)
3/ An agreement is struck to agree to disagree over issues like Deep Sea Oil Drilling and No New Coal Mines. Which will leave the Greens free to put up bills and to vigorously campaign and lobby inside and outside parliament on climate change issues and against the government on specific issues related to increasing CO2 pollution like Deep Sea Oil Drilling and mining the Denniston Plateau for the coal export market.
(Possibility ranking: As this ranking depends on the balance of forces inside the Labour caucus, at this time with out a clean out of admitted fossil fuel supporters like Shane Jones, David Parker and David Shearer I would say highly unlikely. I give it 2 out of 10)
Add these figures together and you can see that the numerical balance, by my estimation is of the Green Leadership caving in.
As they say politics is all about pressure I don’t care how principled someone thinks they are, no single person can stand up to opposing political pressure without support.
What this means is that the Green Party leaders (and the Labour Leaders need) to be given a clear message addressing climate change is not an option that they can leave lying on the floor and walk out with unscathed.
Your whole little thesis Jenny depends on you having a belief that Labour will dig it’s toes in on drilling for oil,(i would suggest that Anadarko’s raging success will make this a non issue by the time the election rolls around),
And,
Dig it’s toes in around new coal mines, except for those already consented by National i do not see many of these on the horizon,
The whole debate is a moot point until such time as the election has occurred, and, as a Party member my vote is hardly going to be shifted by such esoteric issues…
“2/ The Green leadership will abandon their party’s core beliefs (possibility ranking 50/50)”
Gee if only the Green party’s policy mechanism allowed that possiblity. You’ve been told previously many times how it doesn’t, so this can only be bad faith on your part. Stop being a troll.
Jenny, what makes you think that ”no deep sea oil drilling”, and, ”no new coal mines” will not be part of the coalition agreement between Labour/Green,…
Time will tell of course. But making statements; “We have no bottom lines”, does not create confidence that these “core beliefs” will be addressed as part of the coalition agreement.
But to more deeply answer your question;
If in negotiations Labour flatly refuse to make any concessions to the Greens on these “core beliefs”
There are several alternative outcomes. (With my estimates of the their likelyhood.)
1/ The Green leadership will walk
(possibility ranking 4 out of 10)
2/ The Green leadership will despite the cost to their credibility abandon their party’s core beliefs (possibility ranking 50/50)
3/ An agreement is struck to agree to disagree over issues like Deep Sea Oil Drilling and No New Coal Mines. Which will leave the Greens free to put up bills and to vigorously campaign and lobby inside and outside parliament on climate change issues and against the government on specific issues related to increasing CO2 pollution like Deep Sea Oil Drilling and mining the Denniston Plateau for the coal export market.
(Possibility ranking: As this ranking depends on the balance of forces inside the Labour caucus…. At this time with out a clean out of admitted fossil fuel supporters like Shane Jones, David Parker and David Shearer I would say highly unlikely. I give it 2 out of 10)
Put these figures side by side and you can see that by my estimation of the current balance of forces, the Green Leadership, on these issues, will cave in to the political pressure from Labour.
However on saying this, things could change, and it depends on two main external factors outside of mainstream politics.
1/ Climate change becomes an election issue due to any deepening of the current local drought which would focus people’s minds on our changing climate, or another nearby climate related holocaust like tropical Typhoon Haiyan which struck the Philippines struck (God forbid) one of our closer Island neighbors.
2/ The rise of a powerful mass protest movement against deep sea oil drilling.
“2/ The Green leadership will abandon their party’s core beliefs (possibility ranking 50/50)”
Gee if only the Green party’s policy mechanism allowed that possiblity. You’ve been told previously many times how it doesn’t, so this can only be bad faith on your part.
Sacha, yes imagine what would occur to the Party rankings should such an occurrence happen,
Jenny tho appears to demand Fanaticism from the Green Party while never addressing the fact that if the coal being burned isn’t NZ coal then it is being mined in some other country and still being burned,
So, Bounce, Bounce, Bounce, the superannuation ball dribbles back into the Labour court with both it’s probable coalition partners opposed to raising the age of entitlement the question must again be asked of Labour,”why are you pushing a policy that you cannot hope to implement”???
They can hope to implement it – with National. And make no mistake – they will do so.
Only while Key is leader. If National loses the election Key will no longer be leader as he will do what every other party leader does after losing an election – leave.
On this one National know that raising the retirement age is a vote loser and so they won’t take it as a policy. But once they’ve lost the election and Key is no longer leader then they’re free to support Labour doing it and afterwards they’ll always say that it was Labour that did it – the same as they do for the repeal of s59.
If Labour continue with the lunacy of raising the retirement age (no matter how fiscally responsible it might or might not be) they will be lucky to gain 30% of the vote if that, and will probably hand the election to National. Key realised just how toxic this policy was and wouldn’t have a bar of it.
There are thousands approaching 60 – 65 they will not vote to have that which they have waited for taken away. And it pisses all over Maori men – only a tiny percentage can hope to “enjoy”. What can possibly be the lunacy to this policy I fail to understand, it’s almost as if Labour does not want to govern.
Labour are, essentially, refusing to make the changes to society that need to be made. They are, quite simply, working to maintain the failed status quo. Interestingly enough, inline with the a finding of the research I linked to down thread:
“While some members of society might raise the alarm that the system is moving towards an impending collapse and therefore advocate structural changes to society in order to avoid it, Elites and their supporters, who opposed making these changes, could point to the long sustainable trajectory ‘so far’ in support of doing nothing.”
Labour are most definitely part of such an “elite” that refuses to do anything except twiddle at the margins.
Yes! Totally agree. It’s depressing seeing a Party one has so much respect for over the years simply missing the plot so badly.
That was a fascinating article. Thanks for that link.
I dont think this is bizarre at all!…The Christchurch Cathedral is an icon and historical treasure for many in Christchurch and Canterbury, whether they be Anglicans or conventionally religious or not ( and many who want the Cathedral restored are atheist or agnostic…but they are Cantabrians and they love their old cathedral)
…It is a pretty astute move on the part of Winston Peters and will win him votes..He has his finger on the pulse …no two ways about it!.
…The only person who is being bizarre about it is the newly arrived Canadian Bishop, and her coterie of acolytes, who for some reason does not want the Christchurch Cathedral restored.
The Cathedral belongs to the people of Christchurch and Canterbury and the Anglicans should relinquish it to the citizens of Christchurch . ….Restoring the Cathedral would do a lot to help restore the shattered nerves and heal wounds of a populous which desperately wants to return to some level of normalcy and the old Christchurch
I know how passionate this issue makes some people, but frankly the cathedral isn’t the heart of MY ChCh; I think it would be irresponsible to spend millions restoring an grey, forbidding monument to what is no longer a majority belief system when there is so much to be done that is relevant to so many more people. Christchurch needs the courage and imagination to reinvent its centre city. Sure, restore public historical buildings like the Arts Centre (a vibrant, welcoming place that has adapted and stayed relevant to the society it serves), but the Anglican cathedral belongs to the people of that faith and they have every right to decide its future (as the Catholic people do, with regards their cathedral). The Anglican cathedral stood in the centre of a drab concrete square; it was totally at odds with its surroundings and most ChCh people never went inside its doors. Let the people who did, and who will continue to use whatever ends up being their new cathedral, decide what shape it should take. (And let them spend their own money on it.)
…drab concrete square?!….well of course it is after the earthquakes!…… and so is the Cathedral……it is down right sad and depressing!!!!.
…But once it was vibrant and alive and the Christchurch Wizard can attest to that …In fact I suggest the Cathedral be given over to the WIZARD and the people of Christchurch….the sooner it is restored the better for everyone…it should become a Cathedral for all faiths, for all Handel recitals, choirs , concerts etc
The Cathedral is only wanted by the Canadian woman Bishop ( a very recent arrival) and her male coterie of Anglicans for its insurance money imo
….and I speak as one brought up as an Anglican but who is now an Animist Pagan ( like Richard Dawkins…ha ha)
( “most people never went inside its doors ” is crap!….many children and visitors and those tired from shopping went inside its doors from a busy hot Cathedral Square for generations….many Christchurch people want their Cathedral restored back and you would be surprised by some of them ….eg working class males their arms covered in tattoos….so You are not speaking for the long term Christchurch residents i have met…who say like the tattooed man “Christchurch IS the Cathedral!”)
But your main point fails because you misread the different politician and supporter behind NZFirst and the Green Party.
NZFirst have neither convictions nor hard values. They certainly have emotions. They erupt in outbursts. Their supporters are all early baby boomers well on the way to retirement and shuffling off this mortal coil. The party has achieved minor things for New Zealand and aspires to nothing more than a really good wine list.
Greens supporters are idealists who are willing the radical overhaul of New Zealand. Some Green MPs may well wish to be out of government for 12 years in total, and keep their little 7-10% in Parliament – thereby condemned to continuing their insignificant level of achievement (even less than NZFirst).
Anyone knows what the Greens want to stop. What the Greens need to announce is what they want to achieve. Your path, however, will see Russell Norman’s face turn over the years into something remarkably similar to Winston Peters’: a Gollum, always seeking The Precious, vexed to his soul about why nothing changed for the better in his country, remembering dimly what it was like to believe in something. Under your plan, the Greens could indeed become the new New Zealand First.
I often think that given our mmp environment with two main parties that there is room for single issue type parties who can happily exist between left and right I think there could be significant achievements to be had given the closeness of the left and right blocks.
NZ First sort of fills this space at the moment and things like the free doctors visits for under 6 are policy’s that actually make a big difference to people.
“But your main point fails because you misread the different politician and supporter behind NZFirst and the Green Party.”
Ad
I don’t miss this point at all, NZ First as you say, “have neither convictions nor hard values”, which is why Winston Peters though campaigning on a a Nationalistic and anti-Asian platform, on achieving his agreement, and the all the free flight baubles and luxury world travel in his (honorary) role as Foreign Minister, was quite relaxed with Labour going over his head to negotiate a free trade deal with Communist China.
But would the Greens, and particularly their members and supporters be similarly relaxed over their leaders supporting Labour’s plans to continue cooking the climate?
Agreeing to be out voted on every single issue raised in cabinet and then shackled by cabinet collective responsibility to agree to silence the opposition in their ranks and publicly back policies they disagree with?
Pretty close to the position they created for themselves by signing that stupid Memorandum of Understanding Gagging Order with National. Hopefully they’ve learned from that and won’t put themselves in such a hopeless position again.
I can’t see why any culture of ‘cabinet responsibility’ need exclude public disagreement at a party level as long as that disagreement simultaneously acknowledged that cabinet is a numbers game and, as such, that disagreement did not necessarily equate to a desire to usurp or undermine whatever has been pushed through.
Yeah agree with your read of ‘the Nation’ performance by Winston having had a look at it this morning Karol,
During the week on RadioNZ National it was reported as a ‘bottom line’,(i can’t remember if Peters was interviewed saying that or it was just a news report),
On ‘the Nation’ tho Winston equivocates immediately when Gower asks Him a direct question on the issue,
i take it then that ‘buying back’ the assets is not a serious policy of NZFirst and is simply being used as a dog whistle to gather votes and will likely be used as leverage to gain a bigger bauble for Winston in future coalition negotiations…
No, Jenny @ 1.37pm. It was the author of the article you linked to in your first comment today that used the word “condition,” and it has got the word “could” before it. The article says:
Restoration of the Christ Church Cathedral could be a condition of any post-election coalition deal, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says.
It’s not a direct quote – no quote marks.
What Peters is quoted as saying in the article:
He told The Press restoration of the cathedral would “certainly” be part of coalition talks with the Government if he secured enough votes in the September election.
“I’ve already given a written commitment that I would raise this in any negotiations,” he said.
“I am seriously committed to this project. It means much more than just the cathedral.”
Peters was “very, very confident” a deal could be reached.
He says nothing about bottom lines, but that it is something NZ First would bring to post election negotiations. aAnd this was in keeping with his position on The Nationa with respect to his “priority” of buying back the powerco assets. He would not be pinned down to saying it was non-neogotiable.
Peters does say NZ First has committed themselves to bringing those things to the negotitations.
So, basically, NZ First’s position is no different from the Greens – neither have bottom lines.
Both have learned that you need to be in a strong position, with a significant number of MPs in relation to other parties, in order to push for a small party to push hard on specific policies in post-election negotiations.
Strangely Tony the Editorial declares Parata out of step with everyone, including the Education Ministry.
“In racing ahead with the idea of school performance funding, she finds herself isolated, with neither the measurement tools to reliably compare pupils’ progress nor the evidence to show it can work.” http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11220528
On reflection does the Parata announcement, which is sure to raise a storm, smell like a distraction? Hey you guys. Look over here. Look at me. Don’t look at our Party’s troubles!
Yeah strangely this announcement and the SST editorial that attacked the NZEI’s stance on wonder principals made me wonder if it’s “let’s get at teachers week” to make a distraction.
Haven’t seen the SST editorial but there are some serious misgivings that the Wonder Principal Scheme has many more flaws that will be worse for Primary Schools than for Secondary. The Secondary School teachers have one subject to excel in where the Primary teacher has multiple subject areas. And how to become a chosen one is full of fish-hooks.
I tried to get the SST editorial on line. I found it is hard to access anything I want on line when it comes to newspapers. The page was dominated by the NZ Herald and stuff. But when I did get through I got a security alert notice that the page was not encrypted right – something about akiemet and that ‘someone might be trying to eavesdrop on you;. It was something to do with it being an https address. Really getting information is quite hard, though supposed to be more available and open with the net.
I did find this listed on google – just the headings of the items shown. Interesting. Sunday Star-Times … ACC is stepping boldly into the minefield of sex education, amid claims that schools are failing to teach teens how to say “no”. … Rape Prevention Education executive director Kim McGregor said there were “huge gaps” …
This whole line of argument (I can’t bring myself to call it “thought”) rests on the idea that schools are businesses and that teachers and school boards are largely motivated by the pursuit of profit. This is ridiculous bullshit and Parata (and Key, who is there in the background, speaking through her) needs to be called out on it. Teachers and schools work bloody hard and do their best for their students. Not all will achieve arbitrary goals like the minister’s 85% for NCEA Level 2. The narrative that runs in the minister’s head is pretty simple: “Less impressive results = Must Try Harder. Teachers obviously not really working hard. Take money (i.e., resources for students) away – that’ll teach ’em!” It’s moronic (and that’s not a word that often comes out of a teacher’s mouth)!
The minister attacks decile funding as a blunt instrument (which it is), but at least it isn’t the kind of blunt instrument that is used to clobber schools (i.e., the students in those schools); it is used to give extra support to schools working with students whose lives (and thus, learning experiences) are more likely to be restricted by poverty. Kids from poorer backgrounds are less likely to have plenty of books in the house, less likely to have full bellies, less likely to have private space for homework, less likely to have computer access at home, less likely to have travelled, less likely to be able to afford schools camps and extra-curricular activities… Less likely to have lots of benefits that allow better off kids to be secure and confident learners. Parata and those of her ilk don’t want to hear this – they don’t want to understand that the playing field isn’t level and that it’s not all just down to personal choice and levels of effort; that some kids (and some schools) have more to contend with than others. Decile funding may be a blunt instrument but at least it’s an attempt to provide for the educational and resourcing needs of kids who are less well-off. The loony-tunes line that Parata is running is a denial of all these social and educational complexities and it has been a disaster wherever it has been implemented. We shouldn’t believe that it’s unexpected, though – this is in line with what the NACTs have always said about educational funding and achievement. It’s where all the Standards and “targets” have been leading. They’ve strenuously denied it at every turn, but (surprise, surprise) here it is again!
It all comes out of the ‘Step Change’ report from the Inter-Party Working Group established in 2009, after the 2008 election. It’s members included Parata, Roger Douglas, Heather Roy, Chester Burrows, Jonathan Young and Te Ururoa Flavell.
Here’s the announcement of the report (there was a second – minority – one from Douglas and Roy that, predictably, went even further).
The group existed prior to Parata becoming Minister of Education – so she’s been keen on this kind of thing for a while.
Parata should listen to the interview with Margaret Heffernan this week on Sunday MorningSunday Morning with Margaret Heffernan in which Heffernan Heffernan argues against the notion of competition (it undermines innovation, creativity, etc. – which will be a surprise to its advocates).
Getting schools to compete for funding on ‘progress’ in student performance is an excellent way of ensuring, paradoxically, that real student progress will be the last means used to get rewarded.
Bill English, another abysmal performance on this morning’s Q+A, claiming interest rates reached 10% under the previous Government might look ‘smart’ to Bill, but, when you look at the numbers from all angles you can only conclude English is a Liar or and Idiot,
The price of housing especially in the bigger cities has since National became the Government risen by at least 40%,
See my point, raising interest rates by 2% in a situation where the borrowed capital has risen by 40% means that in dollar terms those paying for such mortgages will be paying in dollars an amount of interest that in the Clark era of Government was an effective 10%,
The devil is in the detail, the amount having to be borrowed has nearly doubled on average during the rule of the present National Government…
And did any of the so called msm experts pulled him up on the blatant lies or just let it slide by and as such de facto endorsing it as an acceptable reply.
msm = missing significant maturity. A performance like that across the ditch and he would not be finance minister much longer, not that he cares as hes already preparing his exit.
Your statement only holds true for a minority of those with mortgages, as most mortgage owners have not increased their mortgages., ( unless you are advocating for property speculators )and increases in property values for most are unrealised.
But if you have to shift, that is when the effects will be noted. You immediately enter the house market at the higher valuations. Hopefully you will find that your place had risen in parallel when you sell. But to get another mortgage you may require a bigger deposit in monetary terms even if the percentage you are contributing remains the same. And the upward moving interest rates influenced by the RB will likely cost you more than before. T
The council rates are calculated on house sales near you in line with the new values. So they are not tied to some historic bank rate. So while you remain in the house, you will still be affected by rising house values through the rate calculations around the new local values.
If council spending say for this example in line with inflation 2%, property prices increase by 10%, rates will still for each property increase by 2% and not the 10% that property values have increased by. http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/ratesbuildingproperty/ratesvaluations/aboutrates/Pages/faqs.aspx
When a property value increases we do not collect more rates overall. Each year, the council determines, through the annual plan process, how much money needs to be collected through rates to fund its activities and services for the year. This rates requirement is then divided between all the properties in the region based on council’s rating policies.
Bad 12- you/I cannot stop kiwis from increasing their debt/ mortgages as their equity within a property also increases, leading Horses to water comes to mind. More so with investors being able to fund their schemes from low equity models.
Given the huge advances that property has over if not all then most alternative investments available. IMO the best solution is to limit the creation of new money sourced from debt, and to dis incentivise this form of investment.
Herodotus, now you engage the art of prevarication as a tool of debate, i have suggested no such wish to limit credit spending via a raised amount of property mortgage allowed by property value over-inflation,
i have simply pointed out to you the falsehood in your prior suggestion that those with high mortgage in dollar terms are not necessarily ‘only’ those who have bought into the market during the current 40% hike in property values,
The thrust of my argument contained in a number of comments over a number of days is that the OCR is a heavy blunt instrument misused by the Reserve Bank Governor to target a small sector of an overall market,(housing), to the detriment of the wider economy which includes the Government accounts,
In terms of those Government accounts, staggering under the weight of an 80 billion dollar gross Government debt, along with a current 2 billion dollar shortfall between taxation and expenditure and bearing in mind we are talking from a position of current taxation settings there can be only one means that the hole between revenue and spending along with a start to the repayment of that 80 billion dollars can occur,
Inflation currently at, in terms of raising the OCR,a ridiculous 1.6% must be allowed to run at a level of 3–5%, this equating to an increase in GDP of 4–6.5% annually, equating to a positive in the Government accounts large enough to begin paying down this debt along with closing the current revenue/expenditure gap,
The current situation where the OCR will be lifted by a further 2% n the next 18 months will suck a conservative 6 billion dollars out of the economy which only at this point addressing directly the Government accounts means a conservative estimate of 2 billion dollars annually not accruing to those accounts…
Funny how you throw at me the prevarication term. When your original statement in para 3 above has its foundation based on all mortgages, this does not hold true, which from my reading of some of your posts you should have recognised such falsehood. Your comment holds true for a limited number of mortgage holders, of which some are investors.
And I never said you did suggest that you did want a reduction in credit, that was a suggestion on my behalf of a part way to a cure.
With nz’s reliance on funding our lifestyles and living styles by debt what are you suggesting as a solution and to then turn this around so we can be net savers, given that for most we are a low wage economy but paying 1st world prices?
Herodotus,again you perpetuate a falsehood formulated from something that i neither said nor intended,
You will have noticed, unless you are as dumb as your latter comment suggests you to be, that i do not use the word ALL in paragraph 3 of my original statement,
You will also have noticed that the statement contained in paragraph 3 is qualified with the words, ”where the borrowed capital has risen by 40%”, nowhere is there a suggestion that that all mortgages have risen by that 40%,(except where you choose to make such a suggestion up in your mind),
As to the rest of the point you are attempting to make, it has nothing to do with the OCR which is what i have been discussing so appears to be the usual tactic of ‘subject change’ when the debate gets a bit much for your intellectual level…
http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics/key_graphs/household_debt/
Yes you use a very isolated example in an attempt to validate your argument. The data does not even support you cause, if so household debt would have increased, where in reality it is the reverse. Your initial paragraph contains ” when you look at the numbers from all angles…”
Read your thread again., ps don’t get personnel when your basis or crap examples are discredited. Many resort to such tactics.
Dancing on the head of a shaky pin Herodotus, so having what you alluded to from paragraph 3 of my comment above discredited you immediately abandon that line of your false conclusion,
Even if you have figures showing household debt has decreased such data unless showing the household debt figures either city by city or region by region are pretty much meaningless,
In the over-inflation landscape of Auckland and Christchurch only a fool,(like you), would conclude from such figures that household debt has decreased while such figures are in all reality skewed by a decrease in household debt across an all of country data set,
Remember this is a debate about the 40% increase in Auckland and Christchurch property prices and the relationship such inflation has vis a vis interest rates paid where during the tenure of the Clark Government they may have been 10% but in terms of the Reserve Bank’s projected rise in the OCR by 2% points will in terms of dollars paid in interest in conjunction with that 40% property price inflation have mortgage holders paying in dollar terms that 10% interest rate supposedly the norm under the Clark Government,
See the Q in the first line of paragraph 1 of my original comment, perhaps you will stoop to debating that next, for all that you have contributed so far, nothing except an exhibition of ‘putting words in the mouth of others that they have not uttered’ and, a highlight of your ability to attempt to change the subject, your debate on the letter Q and what is intended by its inclusion in a comment will quite possibly mark a step up in your ability to form a point of debate,
Your statement only holds true if you put a number on ‘new mortgages’ issued since National took office,
You also have to remember how the credit economy works, those with increased values on their property are then allowed/encouraged to spend this increased value which across a broad swathe of mortgage holders they do,
Using their raised house price values as spendable credit is in fact realizing those higher property values through raising the amount of the mortgage,
IF, as you say this is not a majority situation i would suggest that there will be a significant minority who are in a situation of having dramatically increased the dollar value of their mortgage either as the up front cost of property has inflated…
There’s a divide. Its caused by helping the top and assuming trickle down. It did work, and has never worked, it just looked like it was working (due to cheap high density fuel glut).
The NZ economy is experiencing deflation in imports, this rewards those with money, and inflation in housing, power and locally products and services.
This is precisely due to the polices of Keys government.
Under Key first time house buyers can’t get into the market, as Key has failed to address the tight remit of the reserve bank.
Under Key power prices keep rising during the greatest collapse in the world economy for a generation, because Key won’t address the lack of a competitive market for consumer in power.
i.e. you can’t compete if you can’t create collectives of consumers who buy as a block.
Under Key housing boom continues unabated, inflating house prices due to Key unwillingness to address the high dollar. A high dollar caused in part because of printing of money in much of the world, and a inadequate attempt to build more housing into the local market. Also the inability of the players to use free trade and source quality building materials offshore.
Under Key debt has gone from zero to unsustainable in five years, thanks to Key tax cuts to the wealth, and business, that rewards cheap short term economics like fast food and property speculation. Key’s GST rises also hurt those who live day to day buying goods and service inflated by his handling of the domestic economy.
Sure the devils in the detail, the boomers like where they live sitting on a ever inflating house price bubble and wanting to stop cheaper higher dense living going up in the neighborhood. They don’t want to get out of the way, but live under a cliff about to collapse. Politicians need to assist them with moving, but that would require living elsewhere was secure, practical, and generous. But the
inequality did start yesterday, gangs, sprawl, and poor regulation (leaky homes) etc have made the idea of moving very uncomfortable. And there’s no change in the ungenerous nature of property speculators that are the National base.
Hey, that was funny, how someone said Peters was a natural National party person. And they were right, only problem its the National party that changed colors and became anti-national party.
Peters will, if he’s smart, sit on the cross benches in most scenarios. And Key’s the largest party rules principle will come back to haunt the National party and its inability to compromise on any and all of its extreme policies which is most of them).
“New Zealand consistently ranks as one of the least corrupt countries in the world,” Ms Collins said.
“I look forward to speaking to the Academy about our experience in building an accountable, transparent government and how these features benefit our governance system and economy.”
Have we missed the rest?
“New Zealand consistently ranks as one of the least corrupt countries in the world,” Ms Collins said. So we have to change that, as we are the government of change.
““I look forward to speaking to the Academy about our experience in building an accountable, transparent government and how these features benefit our governance system and economy.””
Now she has returned, do you think she would mind telling us where that government can be located?
And as a slight aside, here is another of her many speeches etc on building NZ-China business relationships. This short speech in Sept 2013 made me laugh cynically about her remarks about Chinese Kiwis.
The knowledge and connections of Chinese Kiwis contribute to New Zealand’s innovation, productivity, and access to wider markets and help our companies consider new possibilities, and different perspectives.
“I encourage New Zealand businesses to draw on the expertise and talent of Chinese kiwis, who understand the language and the culture, and who are well placed to assist at board level and in senior management positions.”
Looking for more directorships for hubby? But he does not speak Chinese according to this Stuff article yesterday which provides a bio of David Wong-Tung.
EDIT – sorry i was wrong the Stuff article does not meant Mr W-T’s ability or otherwise to speak Chinese. I read it somewhere in the last day or so. If I find it, will provide a link.
Iss that a different conference to the APEC Womens forum sponsored by Oravida that Collins was invited to talk at by her close personal friend Julia Xu?
Here is part of the release that I found ironic – ie Collins debating in the negative about Aggressive Leaders. Also note the other two NZers attending in the last sentence.
As part of the Forum, Ms Collins will take part in a debate alongside Chandran Nair, Founder & CEO, Global Institute For Tomorrow, Hong Kong.
Ms Collins and Mr Nair will negate the moot ‘Breakthrough Innovation is Driven by Aggressive Leaders’. Speaking for the motion are Vice-President of IBM research Dr Josephine Cheng and Chinese businessman Mr James Li.
Around 300 women leaders from the Asia Pacific region are expected to attend the Forum, including New Zealanders Dame Jenny Shipley and Dame Wendy Pye.
EDIT – cannot find a transcript of the debate, but here is yet another Collins’ press release on transparency and corruption in November 2013.
Lolz, reading between the lines, the last word from Corinn Dann on this morning’s Q+A, apparently off to China with the Prime Minister next week will be quite a ‘Posse’ of media,
”Yes we will be visiting Oravida” says Dann, snigger, look out Judith Collins, if you aint told the truth about the dinner table discussions with the ‘unnamed Chinese Border Control Official’ the excrement may well and truly be about to become entangled in the ventilation system…
My monies on the posse returning satisfied its all a big misunderstanding etc, these trips are nact PR exercises and since when have we ever had serious jounalism applied to the wrecking crew.
JK’s a playah and he’s just got to worm his way back into his girl’s (MSM) good books with an overseas holiday so he can get his fingers on her rich daddy’s Ferrari (NZ) again.
mother jones has reprinted a piece christopher hitchens penned on benn..in 1981..
..and this jumped out at me:..
“..First – Benn points out – the previous Labour governments were a disappointment to their own supporters.
They were voted out not because of Tory and media hostility – but because they could not generate enthusiasm –
and because they surrendered – once in office – to the International Monetary Fund and the civil service.
Benn accuses those forces of having consciously sabotaged plans for industrial democracy and economic planning when he was a minister –
and of “destabilizing” reformist programs by cutting off investment and squeezing the pound on the international market.
Therefore—and this is his second point—the root problem with Labour’s strategy is not too much advocacy of socialism and decentralization – but too little.
This last point is most important.
Conventionally Britain and its fairly conservative electorate have only turned to the Labour party in times of crisis –
such as the immediate postwar period.
In times of crisis Labour prime ministers tend to move very cautiously.
They warn their voters and activists that the New Jerusalem may have to wait while urgent repairs are carried out on the existing structure.
They postpone policies of redistribution and emancipation to better days.
When the better days come – the electorate votes Tory again –
and Labour becomes psychologically identified with austerity and instability.
This three-card trick has discredited and trapped the Left in Britain on three occasions since World War II..”
(does any of that sound familiar..?..current..?..)
Mesmerising thanks marty. The intensity seems to diminish once land is struck.
Blenheim has had only 5mm up until now but rain just started again 12:10
Might seem obvious to many here, but a lot of people have not realised it is an interactive site.
Zoom by clicking and click hold to change location http://earth.nullschool.net
Clicking on the word ‘earth’ down in the left hand corner brings up additional options/views (ocean currents, different map projections etc)…not that I could then get back to where I was 😉
I thought I’d offer this – you never know it may help
A Colonized Ally Meets a Decolonized Ally: This is What They Learn
1. A colonized ally stands in the front. A decolonized ally stands behind.
2. A colonized ally stands behind an oppressive patriarchy. A decolonized ally stands behind women and children.
3. A colonized ally makes assumptions about the process. A decolonized ally values there may be principles in the process they are not aware of.
4. A colonized ally wants knowledge now! A decolonized ally values their own relationship to the knowledge.
5. A colonized ally finds an Indigenous token. A decolonized ally is more objective in the process.
6. A colonized ally equates their money and hard work on the land as meaning land ownership. A decolonized ally knows that land ownership is more about social hierarchy and privilege.
7. A colonized ally projects guilt. A decolonized ally knows it is their work to do.
8. A colonized ally projects emotions. A decolonized ally knows Indigenous people have too much to deal with already.
9. A colonized ally has no respect for Indigenous intellectuals. A decolonized ally knows Indigenous people have their own intellectuals.
10. A colonized ally has no idea they need to decolonize. A decolonized ally understands they have to continually decolonize.
11. A colonized ally has no idea of the concomitant realities of Indigenous oppression. A decolonized ally understands the many, layered, and intersectional oppressions Indigenous people live under.
12. A colonized ally speaks for Indigenous people. A decolonized ally listens.
13. A colonized ally takes on work an Indigenous person can do and is doing. A decolonized ally takes on other work that needs to be done.
14. A colonized ally makes things worse. A decolonized ally understands.
15. A colonized ally says, “It is time to get over it.” A decolonized ally realizes one’s relationship to the harm is subjective.
16. A colonized ally appropriates another nation’s Indigenous knowledge. A decolonized ally does the hard work to uncover their own Indigenous knowledge.
17. A colonized ally will loath this truth offered. A decolonized ally will recognize the hard work telling this truth is.
Just speaking as a semi-colonised/decolonised or a hopelessly compromised bundle of conditioning and deconditioning….but no. 10 pins it for me; that the decolonised or deconditioned is always faced with a drift towards assuming a position of the colonised or conditioned. And as such, there are no end points or arrival to decolonisation or deconditioning. As soon as one is perceived, the drift has successfully taken hold and delivered everything back to an approximation/parody or reflection of square one…which is maybe why I hesitate at some of the definitive descriptions for the decolonized (sic) ally.
Notions of fluidity and crystalisation come to mind…
Yes I like the fluidity – constant motion and ever changing consideration and adjustment (a bit like the wind animation above). Hopefully good food for thought – I also hesitate to be too rigid or definitive – this is just one person’s view and absolutes just don’t work well with humans in my experience.
DTB and others thoughtful about our business pattern and memes.
A good speaker on Radionz this morning has written a book on competition. Discussing its value and ways that it is misused and is deleterious. Worth a listen and the book would be good. She is competent to comment with lots of background.
11:12 Margaret Heffernan – Taking on Competition
Competition is everywhere. In families, in schools and in the workplace – but is it any good for us? Bestselling author and entrepreneur Margaret Heffernan will tell us why competition can be the enemy of innovation – and why competition may not always be the best way for us to truly win.
A Bigger Prize, by Margaret Heffernan is published by Simon and Schuster.
Margaret Heffernan : taking on competition ( 26′ 19″ ) http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday
Excellent greywarbler. Totally agree with the premise. Increase the competition decrease the enjoyment of participation and the risk taking/innovation.
And when David C was talking about working with companies to enhance their performance he was really talking about getting cooperation amongst workers rather than competion.
A corrollary is also around being punished with Rewards which fits with the Competitive models.
Militant bunch of ignorant buggers those teachers who will not do as they are told. They keep on saying “Show us the mone… err research.Show us the research!” What do they think we politicians are? Honest? Well informed? Researched based? Yeah ah NO. We are just following blind ideology. Are they blind? And another thing……..
which reminds me….Over the last twenty years or so, was there not a firmly developed participation matters culture across NZ schools that said “taking part is more important than winning” ?
How will these “winning” teachers justify their performance pay to pupils that are being told it is the “taking part” that matters most?
“A new study sponsored by Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Center has highlighted the prospect that global industrial civilisation could collapse in coming decades due to unsustainable resource exploitation and increasingly unequal wealth distribution.
Just more and more evidence coming out showing that our present socio-economic system is a failure.
Draco T B
The weather here is stormy. It’s a good day for exploring the net. Looks as if it might be wet where you are. You have found some deep stuff. Thanks for the links.
Watching Labour and Greens bicker over coalition policy implementation is avoiding the big picture.
To be in a coalition Government, first you must get the votes.
I may just be a damaged human in a shed but the way I see it, unless a drastic and revolutionary one-off approach is made this election, the risk of National waltzing in for a third term is all too real. Don’t know about the rest of you but that makes me sincerely terrified of what would come next.
The parties can bicker about details once in power. They all will anyway. Regardless of what promises are made up front. Get the power first, by any means available. National knows that.
The topic is raised in this comment I posted earlier, but I guess no-one read it or no-one thought it warranted dialogue. As election issues go I see none that needs an honest and open dialogue quite so badly.
Have the left forgotten that you support each other to win, or fall aside fighting as New Zealand is lost.
Watching Shane Jones shooting the Greens and then Labour’s own foot, before stuffing his own face with the damage caused, would be enough to put off some people voting Labour, let alone bring out the so-called missing million 🙁
On reading this article my first reflex was to mutter disgustedly to myself “Huh…….Planet Key !
I then reminded myself that years and years ago well before ShonKey and before I completely changed focus and area of involvement in my work I advised numerous people about these sorts of licence to occupy contracts.
They were a spectacular rip-off then and looks like they remain so, notwithstanding the Retirement Villages Act or whatever it’s called. They struck me at the time as so draconian, so onesided, and such patent capital and income guzzlers that I was always very careful to provide written analysis of the in/out cost/residual value because residual value was always an effective loss of substantial capital.
Clipping and reclipping and reclipping the ticket seems to be a national pastime sadly. Bet they have fabulous annual general meetings of delighted shareholders though. All clapping themselves on the back about how wonderful they and ilk are. Vomit !
I’d advise people to not fetch more than 10 pages per minute in any minute period. You’ll get and automatic short ban.
I’m getting too many unknown crawlers (identified as being human) scanning the site and causing too many server instances to spawn. So I’ve changed the behaviour from “throttle” to ban from reading the site for 2 hours.
I’ve also permanently blocked a number of systems who’d repeatedly (250 times) hit limits over the last few months. Only 1 in NZ who’d hit the limits 1142 times
Thanks lprent for keeping the site going reasonably smoothly. It seems constant care is needed to keep the various negative effects from diminishing its effectiveness. I have noticed it very slow to load from Opera and much faster from Firefox.
Never optimized for opera. I mostly use Chrome, Firefox, and Android. On the odd occasion I use iOS, Internet Explorer and safari – mostly to remind myself how awful much I dislike Macs, Windows, and iAnything.
Unfortunately for Mayor Len Brown, there are currently FIVE complaints filed with Auckland Central Police, FOUR of which I am responsible.
Alleged ‘money-laundering’ by Mayor Len Brown, for not disclosing free hotel rooms and upgrades, particularly from Sky City.
Alleged ‘contravention of statute’ by former Auckland Council CEO Doug McKay, for not following the process outlined in the Auckland Council ‘Code of Conduct’ (section 8 ‘Compliance’) for an investigation into the ‘misconduct’ of Mayor Len Brown.
The governing body shall constitute a Conduct Review Independent Panel.
The members of the Panel will be selected from a list of persons with appropriate skills and knowledge, to be recommended by the Chief Executive.
The Independent Panel is not a Committee of the governing body and its sole function is to investigate those matters referred to it and to make recommendations on those matters to the governing body/local board.
Up to three members on the list will be deemed to be ‘convenors’ who will be the Council’s primary contact in relation to convening a panel when required.
‘Convening’ a panel includes chairing that panel. A convenor may appoint other convenors to a panel.
Together with fellow community ‘Public Watchdog’, Lisa Prager, filing a complaint for alleged ‘bribery and corruption’ by Mayor Len Brown.
Assault complaint against 2 Auckland Council Officers who tried to physically remove me from the Auckland Council CEO Review Committee meeting on 20 February 2014, after Chair Councillor Chris Fletcher (unlawfully) denied me speaking rights in order to expose that new CEO Stephen Town was a member of the unelected private (invitation -only) lobby group – the Committee for Auckland (which he denied).
So – as a New Zealand anti-corruption ‘whistleblower’ – I have been censored, assaulted and now Auckland Council have threatened to sell my house to enforce (disputed) rates payments.
(I refuse to pay rates, because the Council are not acting LAWFULLY and telling ratepayers exactly where our monies are being spent on thousands of private sector consultants and contractors. See for yourself – Public Records Act 2005, s 17.)
(1)Every public office and local authority must create and maintain full and accurate records of its affairs, in accordance with normal, prudent business practice, including the records of any matter that is contracted out to an independent contractor.
This is WAR.
(All happening in Auckland, the biggest city in New Zealand, ‘perceived’ to be ‘the ‘least corrupt country in the world’).
‘WHEN INJUSTICE BECOMES LAW -RESISTANCE BECOMES DUTY!’
Here is an ACTION PLAN for a domestic legislative framework which would help ensure genuine transparency and accountability at local and central government level, and within our judiciary:
‘Anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’
Attendee: 2009 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference
Attendee: 2010 Transparency International Anti-Corruption Conference
Attendee: 2013 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference
In the historical section on Radionz there was a mention of Ernie Abbott who died in a bomb attack in 1984 at the Trades Union Hall. The bomb was in a suitcase that was set up to go off when someone moved the case. That would require a special sort of mechanism wouldn’t it. Not a student prank gone wrong I think.
This link has a picture of Ernie who looks a good sort. http://www.filmarchive.org.nz/now-showing/the-hatred-campaign/
It contains a suggestion that it followed a concerted anti union campaign deliberately fostered by Muldoon and the National Party. The thinking was that it was set up to take attention away from a poor economic performance by the Nats. Seems extreme but dirty tricks by Muldoon and the Nats extended to holding Colin Moyle to ridicule, and then there was the hunting of the Sutch some time around then. So who knows? Some people did. And they were prepared to commit murder and justify it to themselves.
Ukraine – no surprise really that the vote was toward Russia as that has been indicated by recent press. But over 90%. Did a lot abstain?
Now there is the situation with Ukraine troops in Crimea cut off and virtually imprisoned. Apparently because they have stayed put, the Russians haven’t bothered about their welfare. Now is the time to do this and the Russians must make arrangements for them to have water and food, as apparently the people have been providing those and that is an unsatisfactory situation.
The Russians now have to show statesmanship and conduct talks with the Ukraine government about how the troops will leave if that is required. And Ukraine and Russia should be thinking of how to co-operate enough to protect each other’s interests. It is in both their interests to do so.
And talking about WW2 moves, and what Europe and the USA want is a secondary issue. Sanctions could be just an interference in what the protagonists there believe is necessary political reorganisation.
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When Parliament passed the Intelligence and security Act in 2017, they assured us all that it was full of safeguards. Any intrusive surveillance of New Zealanders would be subject to a "triple lock", requiring the approval of the Minister and (supposedly independent) Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, as well as post-facto ...
Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing. Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
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 ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
Photo by Alvan Nee on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive One minister is talking tough while a colleague – whose ministry had acted tough and drawn a barrage of flak – has shown an official softening. Some ministers are doing what Labour was good at, which is distributing public funds to causes regarded as worthy or ...
A ballot for 4 Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Insurance Contracts Bill (Duncan Webb) Income Tax (Clean Transport FBT Exclusion) Amendment Bill (Julie Anne Genter) Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill (Greg Fleming) Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
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‘
No Increase in the Age of Super entitlement
No Cardboard Cathedral
Or:
No Deal
Winston Peters gets it. (and it is the clue to his longevity in politics)
Winston Peters publicly sets his conditions on coalition. (if only Green Party leaders would do this.)
While Green Party leaders say they will have “no bottom lines in coalition negotiations”, Winston Peters understands the importance of entering coalition talks with a set of conditions.
Everyone remembers the iconic Gold Card that Peters wrangled out of Labour as a condition of coalition.
This time around Peters is demanding that any coalition partner drop any plan to raise the age of superannuation entitlement to 67.
And bizarrely in a new twist, Winston Peters new demand is that his government partner bail out the Christchurch Cathedral rebuild.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9831041/Peters-backing-fix-for-icon
Whatever you think of Winston Peters priorities, these things are concrete achievements that Peters can point to and people will remember.
If the Greens go into formal coalition with Labour without gaining any similar iconic concrete concessions, what will they have achieved?
Agreeing to be out voted on every single issue raised in cabinet and then shackled by cabinet collective responsibility to agree to silence the opposition in their ranks and publicly back policies they disagree with?
Without achieving any major concessions from Labour to haul back on the their mine it, drill it, frack it, programme the Green Party will be finished in the eyes of the their supporters as an environmental party.
And apart from the big salaries and high public profile, if the Greens don’t get any major concessions from Labour in their negotiations for cabinet positions, what could the Green Party cabinet Ministers possibly achieve locked in a cabinet room with the likes of Shane Jones and David Parker browbeating and insulting them and voting them down on every single controversial issue that comes up?
Why on earth would the Green Party leaders choose the indignity of being forced by the rules of collective cabinet responsibility to have to publicly support majority cabinet decisions on policies that they and their party fundamentally disagree with? When if they weren’t in cabinet, the Green Party caucus would be free to publicly support and champion and lobby for any policy they liked.
My bet is that at this stage in history the Greens would achieve far more being outside of government than in it.
Look at the Home Insulation Agreement, for instance, or the campaign for MMP, all achieved by the Green MPs vigorously lobbying and campaigning outside of government.
The risks of being locked into a Business As Usual, mine it, drill it, frack it, administration opposed to everything the the Greens stand for is obvious. Going on the example of the Alliance under Jim Anderton, such a strategy risks the Green Party, just like the Alliance before them, destroyed as a parliamentary and electoral force.
Rather than take a page out of the book of Jim Anderton and repeat the experience of the Alliance, the Greens should take a page out of the book of “The great survivor” Winston Peters, and remain to fight again.
No Deep Sea Oil Drilling.
No New Coal Mines
Or:
No Deal
Who will you be party voting for this year Jenny?
Come on weka, you can do better than this.
Jenny
Weka’s question seems fair to me. If you want to dictate Green election year strategy, but have no intention of supporting us with your party vote, then your motives may be suspect.
Perhaps better phrased as; what political party other than the Green do you believe has a climate-change policy for which you would rather vote? Winston First??
Policy in the Green Party is written by those members who have the time and inclination to be involved in that process. You clearly have an interest in stopping new coal mines (as I do in prohibiting deep-sea drilling). Plus you can string words together comprehensibly enough, and obviously have the time to do so. If you want to have a say; why not join up with the party and put your ideas forth where they’re likely to have an affect?
just clarifying the parameters here..
..so..you cannot comment on the green party with any credibility..unless you are a member/pledging yr vote..?
..’cos if neither of the above..your ‘motives are suspect’..?
..right ho..!
..so..two greens have commented so far..both choosing to not address the questions raised..
..but to (passive-aggressively..of course..!..)..attack the author..
..once again..
.right ho..!
..phillip ure..
+1 philllip. Passive-aggressive bullshit indeed.
Jenny has the right to put suggestions forward for the Greens as good strategy. She has the right to comment on Shane Jones and his behaviour and suitability. You don’t have to agree with her but she can speak an idea. There seem quite a few pedantic pedagogues that crop up in the left camp. Which is supposed to be open to ideas, progressive, thoughtful, etc.
But can get bogged down in self-made rules that are often as effective as the rules that the health sector make up like the one about using margarine not butter is better. Now open to question. But couldn’t be questioned once.
Dogmatic no. Thoughtful and pragmatic and practical and principled. That chant will take us a long way – in the right direction.
“Come on weka, you can do better than this.”
Actually I was genuinely interested Jenny. It would help me understand your approach better I think.
how about putting the strawman to one side..
and addressing the questions/issues raised..?
phillip ure..
How about gaining a more reality-based understanding of what a strawman is?
My approach is simple. I want the Greens to get Labour to agree to ban deep sea oil drilling.
I want the Greens to get Labour to agree to ban all New Coal Mining.
I want New Zealand to be a world leader in fighting climate change.
For the Greens to be in a position to do so they will have to have a mandate, to get that mandate they will have to campaign and campaign strongly on these issues, no more mutual gentleman’s agreement to play down the issues like last time.
The snake that ate the elephant in the room
[lprent: You might like them to do those things. However you cannot insist that they do. If I was looking at the value of your vote for either party or indeed for Mana, I’d place it at somewhere close to zero. You are likely to either vote for one of these parties or not vote at all.
In the end coalition talks will be based on the how large numbers of voters set the relative strength of each party. Each of these parties (even mana) will wind up as being a broad coalition of voters with a range of issues, many of which will be incompatible.
Currently with your demands that everyone should believe as you do, then I suspect that you’d wind up as being a voting bloc of one or a handful.
Anyway, I’m getting tired of seeing your comments in auto-moderation. Putting you into auto-spam until April 1 when your ban expires. ]
lPrent says: “In the end coalition talks will be based on the how large numbers of voters set the relative strength of each party.”
I don’t think this is true at all. Say, for example, National and Labour each won 40 MPs, Act and the Greens 18 MPs (this is hypothetical!) and NZ First 4 MPs. There is no doubt that NZ First would have far more power than either Act or the Greens.
Coalition negotiations don’t follow any rules – they are pure anarchy, and only counting to 61 (or stopping the other bloc from doing do) matters.
but the art of negotiation in that case is to play chicken.
agree
a bit like anderton in ’96, only he lost 🙂
I was referring to the election not the coalition talks.
Trying to second guess what seats in the house the voters will give each party and therefore what coalitions they’re “voting for” before the election is pretty much an exercise in futility. Especially this far out from an election. Quite simply parties will go through contortions of statement, policy, posturing, presentation, and perception between now and the election.
For instance National’s rather pathetic posturing trying to tell other parties what they should “do” about post-election coalitions would have to be one of the more stupid things I have seen in a while.
Coalition talks happen after elections and are based on the actual results of the election rather than some fictional construction of what voters will do prior to it. You say it is “anarchy”. It isn’t at all. Just the usual process of deal making over a scarce resources – in this case MP’s votes.
Something that National appears to scared about being able to get. Lyn got polled again yesterday and it was clearly a poll done for National desperately seeking confirmation of issues to campaign on.
I’m afraid I agree with Jenny (Shock Horror). Actually not ‘afraid’ at all
Party Vote will be Green (with an electorate to Labour) until Labour PROVE themselves – and right about now, they’re 50-50 with an ‘entitled old-guard’ in their dying throes quivering and exerting their egos.
I reckon it’ll take a David CUNLIFFE ‘skillset’ (erk …. FUCKING ERK – apologies for even using the word) … to ensure the Parker, Jones, Mallard quacking bullyboy, and several others in check.
If he succeeds – there goes Labour for another Century. If he fails … there goes Labour down the Moa Point sewer plant all tangled up with used tampons, bits of plastic, spent egos, cudda shudda wuddas, possibly an Hataitai Matron whose intentions were always good, but matrydom and victimhood got the better of her, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera……
Maybe 2017 eh? Not right now until there’s something substantial (and as I’ve said before – there’s probably about 23 other ‘eligibles’ in my sphere thinking likewise) Fuck em – we’re all sick of voting least worst and we have this system called M M P
i totally agree with jennys’ post..
..the historical-political facts of life..
..are that the big winner of the minnow-parties..
..is hands-down..peters/nz first..
..the gold card is cited..
..but i have as much respect for the free-healthcare for under six-year old he negotiated out of a national govt..
..and in doing so he turned back the tide of stripping healthcare away..the de-socialising of healthcare rampant at the time..(another rogernomic-orgasm causing collective loss of sense..)
..and the biggest losers in/of the minnow parties..are the greens..
.a few pink bats..(and good on them..!..)..is about it..
..for some 12 yrs in parliament..
..and i agree..aside from some greens sliding their arses into ministerial limos/perks..
..cabinet collective-responsibility will emasculate/silence the green-leadership..
..and they may well end up with little more in govt..
..than they have got to date outside..
..so..the personal ambitions of those individuals who will become ministers to one side..
..it may serve the greens/environment more for the green party choosing to offer their support to legislation on a case-by-case basis..
..this may well give them more power..
..than they will get from signing up to a formal coaliition..
..from sliding into those ministerial bmw’s..
russel norman just gave a really good interview on q&a…
..talking a lot about economics..and talking sense..rational-alternatives to what this govt is currently doing..
..and that is good..
..(but some emotion around environment-issues/poverty wouldn’t go amiss..)
..interesting how the best longform interviews lately have been from the smaller parties..
..from peters on the nation yesterday..and norman just now..
and english is giving a total pig of an interview..
..showing clearly a man standing naked..
..a man bereft of any ideas..
the panel are burying this govt…
It will be interesting to see the approach in the coming months that the Greens will take.
As for Winston, what is the source please for “This time around Peters is demanding that any coalition partner drop any plan to raise the age of superannuation entitlement to 67” ?
Ah ok, I see there have been a few, the most recent going back to five months ago:
http://nzfirst.org.nz/news/alarmist-campaign-raise-pension-age
http://nzfirst.org.nz/speech/king-canute%E2%80%99s-courtiers-and-silver-tide
“Surely you must have read or heard their numerous dire warnings of unaffordability of National Super.
“The problem doesn’t end there.
“Labour has foolishly plumped for lifting the pension age to 67.
“In our view this is a serious mistake.
“The Labour party under Michael Joseph Savage and Peter Fraser led New Zealand from the Great Depression and did more to ease poverty than any other government.
“It’s disappointing that party should now target some of the most vulnerable members of society.
“The attitude is wrong. It’s attacking the victims as so often happens in this country.
“New Zealand First will not stand by and watch the pension age lifted or the amount reduced.”
28 Feb 2013
+100 Jim Nauld…Labour is going to have to back down on this issue …there are too many votes in it….apart from the fact that many who are 65 need to take it easier and retire…(good on those who dont wish to retire however)
Here’s a challenge to issue to all our current representatives in parliament:
Before you touch the people’s super, declare the present value of your super and how old you are.
Also, …
“MPs elected prior to 1992 have access to the parliamentary superannuation scheme established as part of the Government Superannuation Fund (GSF).”
[https://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/independent-scrutiny-gold-plated-mp-super]
So let’s start with each one in the Labour caucus, for they are the ones wanting the policy change to super.
Of particular interest would be a certain …
Philip Bruce G (about to turn 61 in two months, MP since 1981)
Annette Faye K (will be 67 this year, MP since 1984)
Trevor Colin M (will turn 60 in two months, MP from 1984-90, and since 1993)
Jenny, what makes you think that ”no deep sea oil drilling”, and, ”no new coal mines” will not be part of the coalition agreement between Labour/Green, as a Party member, Green that is, i don’t feel the need to be ‘up in arms’ demanding the Party take a grandstand position on such issues as they are simply fundamental to the Parties core beliefs and will be addressed as part of any coalition negotiation,
Winston has another bottom-line policy of the State buying back ALL of the electricity network, not just the generators, the retailers and the lines companies as well, although my opinion is that the State need not waste monies purchasing retail electricity supply companies with the States aim best achieved by simply establishing a nationwide electricity retailer of its own,
You have to hand it to Peters to be able to come up with a number of populist policies with which to fight the 2014 election with,
How many of us here at the Standard would find a major disagreement with Peters stance on buying back the electricity network and not raising the age of entitlement for superannuation,(incidently the Green party has the same policy),
IF, we are to believe that after the 2014 election, and, that’s a BIG if, these 3 policies are to be NZFirst’s bottom lines that they will ruthlessly stick to in any coalition negotiations, then i would suggest that there is NO way NZFirst will be forming a Government with the National Party,
So, Bounce, Bounce, Bounce, the superannuation ball dribbles back into the Labour court with both it’s probable coalition partners opposed to raising the age of entitlement the question must again be asked of Labour,”why are you pushing a policy that you cannot hope to implement”???,
Peters bottom lines, IF they are as set in concrete as He has made them out to be are a clear signal that the only possible place for NZFirst after the 2014 election will be in coalition with Labour/Green…
“what makes you think that ”no deep sea oil drilling”, and, ”no new coal mines” will not be part of the coalition agreement between Labour/Green”
What makes you think they will?
@ felix..
plus one..
That felix is the start of a really dumb circular argument that i do not intend to waste my time on…
Nah, it’s the end of one.
Time will tell of course. But making statements; “We have no bottom lines”, does not create confidence that these “core beliefs” will be addressed as part of the coalition agreement.
As they say politics is all about pressure I don’t care how principled someone thinks they are can stand up to opposing pressure without support.
What if no agreement can be reached with Labour on these “core beliefs”?
There are several alternatives. (With my estimates of the their likelyhood.)
1/ The Green leadership will walk (possibility ranking 4 out of 10)
2/ The Green leadership will abandon their party’s core beliefs (possibility ranking 50/50)
3/ An agreement is struck to agree to disagree over issues like Deep Sea Oil Drilling and No New Coal Mines. Which will leave the Greens free to put up bills and to vigorously campaign and lobby inside and outside parliament on climate change issues and against the government on specific issues related to increasing CO2 pollution like Deep Sea Oil Drilling and mining the Denniston Plateau for the coal export market.
(Possibility ranking: As this ranking depends on the balance of forces inside the Labour caucus, at this time with out a clean out of admitted fossil fuel supporters like Shane Jones, David Parker and David Shearer I would say highly unlikely. I give it 2 out of 10)
Add these figures together and you can see that the numerical balance, by my estimation is of the Green Leadership caving in.
As they say politics is all about pressure I don’t care how principled someone thinks they are, no single person can stand up to opposing political pressure without support.
What this means is that the Green Party leaders (and the Labour Leaders need) to be given a clear message addressing climate change is not an option that they can leave lying on the floor and walk out with unscathed.
Your whole little thesis Jenny depends on you having a belief that Labour will dig it’s toes in on drilling for oil,(i would suggest that Anadarko’s raging success will make this a non issue by the time the election rolls around),
And,
Dig it’s toes in around new coal mines, except for those already consented by National i do not see many of these on the horizon,
The whole debate is a moot point until such time as the election has occurred, and, as a Party member my vote is hardly going to be shifted by such esoteric issues…
Thought Anadarko have packed up and their rig is on its way to the Gulf of Mexico.
PapaMke, my point exactly…
“2/ The Green leadership will abandon their party’s core beliefs (possibility ranking 50/50)”
Gee if only the Green party’s policy mechanism allowed that possiblity. You’ve been told previously many times how it doesn’t, so this can only be bad faith on your part. Stop being a troll.
Time will tell of course. But making statements; “We have no bottom lines”, does not create confidence that these “core beliefs” will be addressed as part of the coalition agreement.
But to more deeply answer your question;
If in negotiations Labour flatly refuse to make any concessions to the Greens on these “core beliefs”
There are several alternative outcomes. (With my estimates of the their likelyhood.)
1/ The Green leadership will walk
(possibility ranking 4 out of 10)
2/ The Green leadership will despite the cost to their credibility abandon their party’s core beliefs (possibility ranking 50/50)
3/ An agreement is struck to agree to disagree over issues like Deep Sea Oil Drilling and No New Coal Mines. Which will leave the Greens free to put up bills and to vigorously campaign and lobby inside and outside parliament on climate change issues and against the government on specific issues related to increasing CO2 pollution like Deep Sea Oil Drilling and mining the Denniston Plateau for the coal export market.
(Possibility ranking: As this ranking depends on the balance of forces inside the Labour caucus…. At this time with out a clean out of admitted fossil fuel supporters like Shane Jones, David Parker and David Shearer I would say highly unlikely. I give it 2 out of 10)
Put these figures side by side and you can see that by my estimation of the current balance of forces, the Green Leadership, on these issues, will cave in to the political pressure from Labour.
However on saying this, things could change, and it depends on two main external factors outside of mainstream politics.
1/ Climate change becomes an election issue due to any deepening of the current local drought which would focus people’s minds on our changing climate, or another nearby climate related holocaust like tropical Typhoon Haiyan which struck the Philippines struck (God forbid) one of our closer Island neighbors.
2/ The rise of a powerful mass protest movement against deep sea oil drilling.
“2/ The Green leadership will abandon their party’s core beliefs (possibility ranking 50/50)”
Gee if only the Green party’s policy mechanism allowed that possiblity. You’ve been told previously many times how it doesn’t, so this can only be bad faith on your part.
Sacha, yes imagine what would occur to the Party rankings should such an occurrence happen,
Jenny tho appears to demand Fanaticism from the Green Party while never addressing the fact that if the coal being burned isn’t NZ coal then it is being mined in some other country and still being burned,
Still being burned the salient point…
They can hope to implement it – with National. And make no mistake – they will do so.
That would make sense – law changes to superannuation will be passed by a grand coalition of National and Labour!
So much for the new sounding ‘there is no alternative’ Labour led by Cunliffe??
Hasn’t National also ruled out raising the age?
Only while Key is leader. If National loses the election Key will no longer be leader as he will do what every other party leader does after losing an election – leave.
Btw, John Key ruled out raising GST in 2008 and then he put it up in 2010.
That’s odd, he always seemed so legit…
On this one National know that raising the retirement age is a vote loser and so they won’t take it as a policy. But once they’ve lost the election and Key is no longer leader then they’re free to support Labour doing it and afterwards they’ll always say that it was Labour that did it – the same as they do for the repeal of s59.
Astute observation DtB.
If Labour continue with the lunacy of raising the retirement age (no matter how fiscally responsible it might or might not be) they will be lucky to gain 30% of the vote if that, and will probably hand the election to National. Key realised just how toxic this policy was and wouldn’t have a bar of it.
There are thousands approaching 60 – 65 they will not vote to have that which they have waited for taken away. And it pisses all over Maori men – only a tiny percentage can hope to “enjoy”. What can possibly be the lunacy to this policy I fail to understand, it’s almost as if Labour does not want to govern.
Labour are, essentially, refusing to make the changes to society that need to be made. They are, quite simply, working to maintain the failed status quo. Interestingly enough, inline with the a finding of the research I linked to down thread:
Labour are most definitely part of such an “elite” that refuses to do anything except twiddle at the margins.
Yes! Totally agree. It’s depressing seeing a Party one has so much respect for over the years simply missing the plot so badly.
That was a fascinating article. Thanks for that link.
@ Jenny ….”And bizarrely in a new twist, Winston Peters new demand is that his government partner bail out the Christchurch Cathedral rebuild.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9831041/Peters-backing-fix-for-icon
I dont think this is bizarre at all!…The Christchurch Cathedral is an icon and historical treasure for many in Christchurch and Canterbury, whether they be Anglicans or conventionally religious or not ( and many who want the Cathedral restored are atheist or agnostic…but they are Cantabrians and they love their old cathedral)
…It is a pretty astute move on the part of Winston Peters and will win him votes..He has his finger on the pulse …no two ways about it!.
…The only person who is being bizarre about it is the newly arrived Canadian Bishop, and her coterie of acolytes, who for some reason does not want the Christchurch Cathedral restored.
The Cathedral belongs to the people of Christchurch and Canterbury and the Anglicans should relinquish it to the citizens of Christchurch . ….Restoring the Cathedral would do a lot to help restore the shattered nerves and heal wounds of a populous which desperately wants to return to some level of normalcy and the old Christchurch
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/perspective/9826910/Bishops-attitude-to-Cathedral-bizarre
Here’s another line that Winston is drawing, before entering into coalition arrangements (whatever “not work” might mean):
“New Zealand First would not work with United Future or the Maori Party after the election, he said.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11220574
I know how passionate this issue makes some people, but frankly the cathedral isn’t the heart of MY ChCh; I think it would be irresponsible to spend millions restoring an grey, forbidding monument to what is no longer a majority belief system when there is so much to be done that is relevant to so many more people. Christchurch needs the courage and imagination to reinvent its centre city. Sure, restore public historical buildings like the Arts Centre (a vibrant, welcoming place that has adapted and stayed relevant to the society it serves), but the Anglican cathedral belongs to the people of that faith and they have every right to decide its future (as the Catholic people do, with regards their cathedral). The Anglican cathedral stood in the centre of a drab concrete square; it was totally at odds with its surroundings and most ChCh people never went inside its doors. Let the people who did, and who will continue to use whatever ends up being their new cathedral, decide what shape it should take. (And let them spend their own money on it.)
…drab concrete square?!….well of course it is after the earthquakes!…… and so is the Cathedral……it is down right sad and depressing!!!!.
…But once it was vibrant and alive and the Christchurch Wizard can attest to that …In fact I suggest the Cathedral be given over to the WIZARD and the people of Christchurch….the sooner it is restored the better for everyone…it should become a Cathedral for all faiths, for all Handel recitals, choirs , concerts etc
The Cathedral is only wanted by the Canadian woman Bishop ( a very recent arrival) and her male coterie of Anglicans for its insurance money imo
….and I speak as one brought up as an Anglican but who is now an Animist Pagan ( like Richard Dawkins…ha ha)
( “most people never went inside its doors ” is crap!….many children and visitors and those tired from shopping went inside its doors from a busy hot Cathedral Square for generations….many Christchurch people want their Cathedral restored back and you would be surprised by some of them ….eg working class males their arms covered in tattoos….so You are not speaking for the long term Christchurch residents i have met…who say like the tattooed man “Christchurch IS the Cathedral!”)
It’s a fair point about negotiating hard.
But your main point fails because you misread the different politician and supporter behind NZFirst and the Green Party.
NZFirst have neither convictions nor hard values. They certainly have emotions. They erupt in outbursts. Their supporters are all early baby boomers well on the way to retirement and shuffling off this mortal coil. The party has achieved minor things for New Zealand and aspires to nothing more than a really good wine list.
Greens supporters are idealists who are willing the radical overhaul of New Zealand. Some Green MPs may well wish to be out of government for 12 years in total, and keep their little 7-10% in Parliament – thereby condemned to continuing their insignificant level of achievement (even less than NZFirst).
Anyone knows what the Greens want to stop. What the Greens need to announce is what they want to achieve. Your path, however, will see Russell Norman’s face turn over the years into something remarkably similar to Winston Peters’: a Gollum, always seeking The Precious, vexed to his soul about why nothing changed for the better in his country, remembering dimly what it was like to believe in something. Under your plan, the Greens could indeed become the new New Zealand First.
I often think that given our mmp environment with two main parties that there is room for single issue type parties who can happily exist between left and right I think there could be significant achievements to be had given the closeness of the left and right blocks.
NZ First sort of fills this space at the moment and things like the free doctors visits for under 6 are policy’s that actually make a big difference to people.
I don’t miss this point at all, NZ First as you say, “have neither convictions nor hard values”, which is why Winston Peters though campaigning on a a Nationalistic and anti-Asian platform, on achieving his agreement, and the all the free flight baubles and luxury world travel in his (honorary) role as Foreign Minister, was quite relaxed with Labour going over his head to negotiate a free trade deal with Communist China.
But would the Greens, and particularly their members and supporters be similarly relaxed over their leaders supporting Labour’s plans to continue cooking the climate?
I think not.
Let the Greens poll their members on the issues most important to them, prior to voting. Don’t presume or guess their priorities.
Pretty close to the position they created for themselves by signing that stupid
Memorandum of UnderstandingGagging Order with National. Hopefully they’ve learned from that and won’t put themselves in such a hopeless position again.I can’t see why any culture of ‘cabinet responsibility’ need exclude public disagreement at a party level as long as that disagreement simultaneously acknowledged that cabinet is a numbers game and, as such, that disagreement did not necessarily equate to a desire to usurp or undermine whatever has been pushed through.
Agreed. Seems like cabinet responsibility hasn’t evolved with MMP.
Actually, Jenny, Peters is quoted as saying he’d raise that in negotiations, not that it is a bottom line.
He said the same on the Nation yesterday. He said they had priorities on asset re buy but hedged on making bottom lines.
he said they won’t know til the voters have spoken
Yeah agree with your read of ‘the Nation’ performance by Winston having had a look at it this morning Karol,
During the week on RadioNZ National it was reported as a ‘bottom line’,(i can’t remember if Peters was interviewed saying that or it was just a news report),
On ‘the Nation’ tho Winston equivocates immediately when Gower asks Him a direct question on the issue,
i take it then that ‘buying back’ the assets is not a serious policy of NZFirst and is simply being used as a dog whistle to gather votes and will likely be used as leverage to gain a bigger bauble for Winston in future coalition negotiations…
I hate to be rude karol but this is semantics.
It is the Greens who said they “have no bottom lines”.
Winston Peters says that rebuilding the Cathedral is one of his “conditions”.
“Bottom lines”, “conditions” a different language for the same thing.
Peters says he has conditions the Greens say they have none.
Who would like to bet on whether Peters gets his rebuild, or the Greens get a ban on new coal mines and deep sea oil drilling?
I would say the odds greatly favour the former, over the latter.
No, Jenny @ 1.37pm. It was the author of the article you linked to in your first comment today that used the word “condition,” and it has got the word “could” before it. The article says:
It’s not a direct quote – no quote marks.
What Peters is quoted as saying in the article:
He says nothing about bottom lines, but that it is something NZ First would bring to post election negotiations. aAnd this was in keeping with his position on The Nationa with respect to his “priority” of buying back the powerco assets. He would not be pinned down to saying it was non-neogotiable.
Peters does say NZ First has committed themselves to bringing those things to the negotitations.
So, basically, NZ First’s position is no different from the Greens – neither have bottom lines.
Both have learned that you need to be in a strong position, with a significant number of MPs in relation to other parties, in order to push for a small party to push hard on specific policies in post-election negotiations.
“..10 Things We Can All Learn From Uruguay’s Weed-Legalizing President..”
..Uruguayan President José Mujica first caught international attention when he was dubbed the ‘world’s poorest president’.
The austere leader donates 90% of his salary –
and keeps life simple living on his farm with his wife and three-legged dog – Manuela – according to the BBC.
Since then ‘Pepe’ has continued in the international spotlight –
by becoming the first head of state to create a national marketplace for legal marijuana.
These moves prompted The Economist magazine to name Uruguay country of the year for 2013.
If you’ve watched or read any interview with Mujica –
you’ll notice that he’s overflowing with wisdom.
Here are some of his best quotes..”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/14/mujica-quotes_n_4965275.html
How many more stupid ideas can Parata come up with?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11220325
Hekia doesn’t, come up with stupid ideas that is, Her suitcase of intellectual rigor is emptier than that of Slippery the Prime Minister’s,
Hekia’s idea is simply that passed on from the Neo-Liberals still in the ascendency at the NZ Treasury…
Strangely Tony the Editorial declares Parata out of step with everyone, including the Education Ministry.
“In racing ahead with the idea of school performance funding, she finds herself isolated, with neither the measurement tools to reliably compare pupils’ progress nor the evidence to show it can work.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11220528
On reflection does the Parata announcement, which is sure to raise a storm, smell like a distraction? Hey you guys. Look over here. Look at me. Don’t look at our Party’s troubles!
Yeah strangely this announcement and the SST editorial that attacked the NZEI’s stance on wonder principals made me wonder if it’s “let’s get at teachers week” to make a distraction.
Haven’t seen the SST editorial but there are some serious misgivings that the Wonder Principal Scheme has many more flaws that will be worse for Primary Schools than for Secondary. The Secondary School teachers have one subject to excel in where the Primary teacher has multiple subject areas. And how to become a chosen one is full of fish-hooks.
I tried to get the SST editorial on line. I found it is hard to access anything I want on line when it comes to newspapers. The page was dominated by the NZ Herald and stuff. But when I did get through I got a security alert notice that the page was not encrypted right – something about akiemet and that ‘someone might be trying to eavesdrop on you;. It was something to do with it being an https address. Really getting information is quite hard, though supposed to be more available and open with the net.
I did find this listed on google – just the headings of the items shown. Interesting.
Sunday Star-Times … ACC is stepping boldly into the minefield of sex education, amid claims that schools are failing to teach teens how to say “no”. … Rape Prevention Education executive director Kim McGregor said there were “huge gaps” …
This whole line of argument (I can’t bring myself to call it “thought”) rests on the idea that schools are businesses and that teachers and school boards are largely motivated by the pursuit of profit. This is ridiculous bullshit and Parata (and Key, who is there in the background, speaking through her) needs to be called out on it. Teachers and schools work bloody hard and do their best for their students. Not all will achieve arbitrary goals like the minister’s 85% for NCEA Level 2. The narrative that runs in the minister’s head is pretty simple: “Less impressive results = Must Try Harder. Teachers obviously not really working hard. Take money (i.e., resources for students) away – that’ll teach ’em!” It’s moronic (and that’s not a word that often comes out of a teacher’s mouth)!
The minister attacks decile funding as a blunt instrument (which it is), but at least it isn’t the kind of blunt instrument that is used to clobber schools (i.e., the students in those schools); it is used to give extra support to schools working with students whose lives (and thus, learning experiences) are more likely to be restricted by poverty. Kids from poorer backgrounds are less likely to have plenty of books in the house, less likely to have full bellies, less likely to have private space for homework, less likely to have computer access at home, less likely to have travelled, less likely to be able to afford schools camps and extra-curricular activities… Less likely to have lots of benefits that allow better off kids to be secure and confident learners. Parata and those of her ilk don’t want to hear this – they don’t want to understand that the playing field isn’t level and that it’s not all just down to personal choice and levels of effort; that some kids (and some schools) have more to contend with than others. Decile funding may be a blunt instrument but at least it’s an attempt to provide for the educational and resourcing needs of kids who are less well-off. The loony-tunes line that Parata is running is a denial of all these social and educational complexities and it has been a disaster wherever it has been implemented. We shouldn’t believe that it’s unexpected, though – this is in line with what the NACTs have always said about educational funding and achievement. It’s where all the Standards and “targets” have been leading. They’ve strenuously denied it at every turn, but (surprise, surprise) here it is again!
It all comes out of the ‘Step Change’ report from the Inter-Party Working Group established in 2009, after the 2008 election. It’s members included Parata, Roger Douglas, Heather Roy, Chester Burrows, Jonathan Young and Te Ururoa Flavell.
Here’s the announcement of the report (there was a second – minority – one from Douglas and Roy that, predictably, went even further).
The group existed prior to Parata becoming Minister of Education – so she’s been keen on this kind of thing for a while.
Parata should listen to the interview with Margaret Heffernan this week on Sunday MorningSunday Morning with Margaret Heffernan in which Heffernan Heffernan argues against the notion of competition (it undermines innovation, creativity, etc. – which will be a surprise to its advocates).
Getting schools to compete for funding on ‘progress’ in student performance is an excellent way of ensuring, paradoxically, that real student progress will be the last means used to get rewarded.
Bill English, another abysmal performance on this morning’s Q+A, claiming interest rates reached 10% under the previous Government might look ‘smart’ to Bill, but, when you look at the numbers from all angles you can only conclude English is a Liar or and Idiot,
The price of housing especially in the bigger cities has since National became the Government risen by at least 40%,
See my point, raising interest rates by 2% in a situation where the borrowed capital has risen by 40% means that in dollar terms those paying for such mortgages will be paying in dollars an amount of interest that in the Clark era of Government was an effective 10%,
The devil is in the detail, the amount having to be borrowed has nearly doubled on average during the rule of the present National Government…
And did any of the so called msm experts pulled him up on the blatant lies or just let it slide by and as such de facto endorsing it as an acceptable reply.
msm = missing significant maturity. A performance like that across the ditch and he would not be finance minister much longer, not that he cares as hes already preparing his exit.
Your statement only holds true for a minority of those with mortgages, as most mortgage owners have not increased their mortgages., ( unless you are advocating for property speculators )and increases in property values for most are unrealised.
But if you have to shift, that is when the effects will be noted. You immediately enter the house market at the higher valuations. Hopefully you will find that your place had risen in parallel when you sell. But to get another mortgage you may require a bigger deposit in monetary terms even if the percentage you are contributing remains the same. And the upward moving interest rates influenced by the RB will likely cost you more than before. T
The council rates are calculated on house sales near you in line with the new values. So they are not tied to some historic bank rate. So while you remain in the house, you will still be affected by rising house values through the rate calculations around the new local values.
If council spending say for this example in line with inflation 2%, property prices increase by 10%, rates will still for each property increase by 2% and not the 10% that property values have increased by.
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/ratesbuildingproperty/ratesvaluations/aboutrates/Pages/faqs.aspx
When a property value increases we do not collect more rates overall. Each year, the council determines, through the annual plan process, how much money needs to be collected through rates to fund its activities and services for the year. This rates requirement is then divided between all the properties in the region based on council’s rating policies.
Bad 12- you/I cannot stop kiwis from increasing their debt/ mortgages as their equity within a property also increases, leading Horses to water comes to mind. More so with investors being able to fund their schemes from low equity models.
Given the huge advances that property has over if not all then most alternative investments available. IMO the best solution is to limit the creation of new money sourced from debt, and to dis incentivise this form of investment.
Herodotus, now you engage the art of prevarication as a tool of debate, i have suggested no such wish to limit credit spending via a raised amount of property mortgage allowed by property value over-inflation,
i have simply pointed out to you the falsehood in your prior suggestion that those with high mortgage in dollar terms are not necessarily ‘only’ those who have bought into the market during the current 40% hike in property values,
The thrust of my argument contained in a number of comments over a number of days is that the OCR is a heavy blunt instrument misused by the Reserve Bank Governor to target a small sector of an overall market,(housing), to the detriment of the wider economy which includes the Government accounts,
In terms of those Government accounts, staggering under the weight of an 80 billion dollar gross Government debt, along with a current 2 billion dollar shortfall between taxation and expenditure and bearing in mind we are talking from a position of current taxation settings there can be only one means that the hole between revenue and spending along with a start to the repayment of that 80 billion dollars can occur,
Inflation currently at, in terms of raising the OCR,a ridiculous 1.6% must be allowed to run at a level of 3–5%, this equating to an increase in GDP of 4–6.5% annually, equating to a positive in the Government accounts large enough to begin paying down this debt along with closing the current revenue/expenditure gap,
The current situation where the OCR will be lifted by a further 2% n the next 18 months will suck a conservative 6 billion dollars out of the economy which only at this point addressing directly the Government accounts means a conservative estimate of 2 billion dollars annually not accruing to those accounts…
Funny how you throw at me the prevarication term. When your original statement in para 3 above has its foundation based on all mortgages, this does not hold true, which from my reading of some of your posts you should have recognised such falsehood. Your comment holds true for a limited number of mortgage holders, of which some are investors.
And I never said you did suggest that you did want a reduction in credit, that was a suggestion on my behalf of a part way to a cure.
With nz’s reliance on funding our lifestyles and living styles by debt what are you suggesting as a solution and to then turn this around so we can be net savers, given that for most we are a low wage economy but paying 1st world prices?
Herodotus,again you perpetuate a falsehood formulated from something that i neither said nor intended,
You will have noticed, unless you are as dumb as your latter comment suggests you to be, that i do not use the word ALL in paragraph 3 of my original statement,
You will also have noticed that the statement contained in paragraph 3 is qualified with the words, ”where the borrowed capital has risen by 40%”, nowhere is there a suggestion that that all mortgages have risen by that 40%,(except where you choose to make such a suggestion up in your mind),
As to the rest of the point you are attempting to make, it has nothing to do with the OCR which is what i have been discussing so appears to be the usual tactic of ‘subject change’ when the debate gets a bit much for your intellectual level…
http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics/key_graphs/household_debt/
Yes you use a very isolated example in an attempt to validate your argument. The data does not even support you cause, if so household debt would have increased, where in reality it is the reverse. Your initial paragraph contains ” when you look at the numbers from all angles…”
Read your thread again., ps don’t get personnel when your basis or crap examples are discredited. Many resort to such tactics.
Dancing on the head of a shaky pin Herodotus, so having what you alluded to from paragraph 3 of my comment above discredited you immediately abandon that line of your false conclusion,
Even if you have figures showing household debt has decreased such data unless showing the household debt figures either city by city or region by region are pretty much meaningless,
In the over-inflation landscape of Auckland and Christchurch only a fool,(like you), would conclude from such figures that household debt has decreased while such figures are in all reality skewed by a decrease in household debt across an all of country data set,
Remember this is a debate about the 40% increase in Auckland and Christchurch property prices and the relationship such inflation has vis a vis interest rates paid where during the tenure of the Clark Government they may have been 10% but in terms of the Reserve Bank’s projected rise in the OCR by 2% points will in terms of dollars paid in interest in conjunction with that 40% property price inflation have mortgage holders paying in dollar terms that 10% interest rate supposedly the norm under the Clark Government,
See the Q in the first line of paragraph 1 of my original comment, perhaps you will stoop to debating that next, for all that you have contributed so far, nothing except an exhibition of ‘putting words in the mouth of others that they have not uttered’ and, a highlight of your ability to attempt to change the subject, your debate on the letter Q and what is intended by its inclusion in a comment will quite possibly mark a step up in your ability to form a point of debate,
i tho have my doubts…
Your statement only holds true if you put a number on ‘new mortgages’ issued since National took office,
You also have to remember how the credit economy works, those with increased values on their property are then allowed/encouraged to spend this increased value which across a broad swathe of mortgage holders they do,
Using their raised house price values as spendable credit is in fact realizing those higher property values through raising the amount of the mortgage,
IF, as you say this is not a majority situation i would suggest that there will be a significant minority who are in a situation of having dramatically increased the dollar value of their mortgage either as the up front cost of property has inflated…
There’s a divide. Its caused by helping the top and assuming trickle down. It did work, and has never worked, it just looked like it was working (due to cheap high density fuel glut).
The NZ economy is experiencing deflation in imports, this rewards those with money, and inflation in housing, power and locally products and services.
This is precisely due to the polices of Keys government.
Under Key first time house buyers can’t get into the market, as Key has failed to address the tight remit of the reserve bank.
Under Key power prices keep rising during the greatest collapse in the world economy for a generation, because Key won’t address the lack of a competitive market for consumer in power.
i.e. you can’t compete if you can’t create collectives of consumers who buy as a block.
Under Key housing boom continues unabated, inflating house prices due to Key unwillingness to address the high dollar. A high dollar caused in part because of printing of money in much of the world, and a inadequate attempt to build more housing into the local market. Also the inability of the players to use free trade and source quality building materials offshore.
Under Key debt has gone from zero to unsustainable in five years, thanks to Key tax cuts to the wealth, and business, that rewards cheap short term economics like fast food and property speculation. Key’s GST rises also hurt those who live day to day buying goods and service inflated by his handling of the domestic economy.
Sure the devils in the detail, the boomers like where they live sitting on a ever inflating house price bubble and wanting to stop cheaper higher dense living going up in the neighborhood. They don’t want to get out of the way, but live under a cliff about to collapse. Politicians need to assist them with moving, but that would require living elsewhere was secure, practical, and generous. But the
inequality did start yesterday, gangs, sprawl, and poor regulation (leaky homes) etc have made the idea of moving very uncomfortable. And there’s no change in the ungenerous nature of property speculators that are the National base.
Hey, that was funny, how someone said Peters was a natural National party person. And they were right, only problem its the National party that changed colors and became anti-national party.
Peters will, if he’s smart, sit on the cross benches in most scenarios. And Key’s the largest party rules principle will come back to haunt the National party and its inability to compromise on any and all of its extreme policies which is most of them).
Has National explained why the minister of justice was visiting China?
Collins was visiting China to attend – and speak at – a conference on corruption. Ironic. Plenty of media reporting on this. Go google it.
haha thanks!
“a conference on corruption” – haha, she was taking advantage of that and making the most of it!
a busmans-holiday..?
..phillip ure..
the poacher addressing the gamekeepers..?
letting the wolf into the henhouse..?
Guess she misheard.
“You want me to go to China for corruption? Cool, I’m on it.”
Some classic quotes from this article:
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/judith-collins-visit-china-and-singapore-5653096
“New Zealand consistently ranks as one of the least corrupt countries in the world,” Ms Collins said.
“I look forward to speaking to the Academy about our experience in building an accountable, transparent government and how these features benefit our governance system and economy.”
Have we missed the rest?
“New Zealand consistently ranks as one of the least corrupt countries in the world,” Ms Collins said. So we have to change that, as we are the government of change.
The whole story is very Kafkaesque.
““I look forward to speaking to the Academy about our experience in building an accountable, transparent government and how these features benefit our governance system and economy.””
Now she has returned, do you think she would mind telling us where that government can be located?
And here is Collins’ speech to the Conference in China, which expands on the quote above.
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/address-china-executive-leadership-academy-pudong-celap-china
And as a slight aside, here is another of her many speeches etc on building NZ-China business relationships. This short speech in Sept 2013 made me laugh cynically about her remarks about Chinese Kiwis.
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/businesses-should-look-nz-china-relationship
The knowledge and connections of Chinese Kiwis contribute to New Zealand’s innovation, productivity, and access to wider markets and help our companies consider new possibilities, and different perspectives.
“I encourage New Zealand businesses to draw on the expertise and talent of Chinese kiwis, who understand the language and the culture, and who are well placed to assist at board level and in senior management positions.”
Looking for more directorships for hubby? But he does not speak Chinese according to this Stuff article yesterday which provides a bio of David Wong-Tung.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9830875/Minister-dines-with-big-money
EDIT – sorry i was wrong the Stuff article does not meant Mr W-T’s ability or otherwise to speak Chinese. I read it somewhere in the last day or so. If I find it, will provide a link.
Iss that a different conference to the APEC Womens forum sponsored by Oravida that Collins was invited to talk at by her close personal friend Julia Xu?
Yes, as per my comment at 5.1.2.3, the October 2013 conference was not an APEC conference.
The APEC Women’s Leadership Forum less than one month later, in November 2013 again in China , was this one
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/collins-debate-apec-leadership-forum
Here is part of the release that I found ironic – ie Collins debating in the negative about Aggressive Leaders. Also note the other two NZers attending in the last sentence.
As part of the Forum, Ms Collins will take part in a debate alongside Chandran Nair, Founder & CEO, Global Institute For Tomorrow, Hong Kong.
Ms Collins and Mr Nair will negate the moot ‘Breakthrough Innovation is Driven by Aggressive Leaders’. Speaking for the motion are Vice-President of IBM research Dr Josephine Cheng and Chinese businessman Mr James Li.
Around 300 women leaders from the Asia Pacific region are expected to attend the Forum, including New Zealanders Dame Jenny Shipley and Dame Wendy Pye.
EDIT – cannot find a transcript of the debate, but here is yet another Collins’ press release on transparency and corruption in November 2013.
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/collins-welcomes-transparency-assessment
Busy lady, our Mrs Collins ….
Lolz, reading between the lines, the last word from Corinn Dann on this morning’s Q+A, apparently off to China with the Prime Minister next week will be quite a ‘Posse’ of media,
”Yes we will be visiting Oravida” says Dann, snigger, look out Judith Collins, if you aint told the truth about the dinner table discussions with the ‘unnamed Chinese Border Control Official’ the excrement may well and truly be about to become entangled in the ventilation system…
My monies on the posse returning satisfied its all a big misunderstanding etc, these trips are nact PR exercises and since when have we ever had serious jounalism applied to the wrecking crew.
JK’s a playah and he’s just got to worm his way back into his girl’s (MSM) good books with an overseas holiday so he can get his fingers on her rich daddy’s Ferrari (NZ) again.
Something like that?
“..Tony Benn Eulogy – by George Galloway..” (video..)
“..Making mistakes is part of life.
The only things I would feel ashamed of –
would be if I had said things I hadn’t believed –
in order to get on.
Some politicians do do that.” – Tony Benn..”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37956.htm
Thanks for that link Phil. It’s a double bonus with comment from George Galloway and Tony Benn.
mother jones has reprinted a piece christopher hitchens penned on benn..in 1981..
..and this jumped out at me:..
“..First – Benn points out – the previous Labour governments were a disappointment to their own supporters.
They were voted out not because of Tory and media hostility – but because they could not generate enthusiasm –
and because they surrendered – once in office – to the International Monetary Fund and the civil service.
Benn accuses those forces of having consciously sabotaged plans for industrial democracy and economic planning when he was a minister –
and of “destabilizing” reformist programs by cutting off investment and squeezing the pound on the international market.
Therefore—and this is his second point—the root problem with Labour’s strategy is not too much advocacy of socialism and decentralization – but too little.
This last point is most important.
Conventionally Britain and its fairly conservative electorate have only turned to the Labour party in times of crisis –
such as the immediate postwar period.
In times of crisis Labour prime ministers tend to move very cautiously.
They warn their voters and activists that the New Jerusalem may have to wait while urgent repairs are carried out on the existing structure.
They postpone policies of redistribution and emancipation to better days.
When the better days come – the electorate votes Tory again –
and Labour becomes psychologically identified with austerity and instability.
This three-card trick has discredited and trapped the Left in Britain on three occasions since World War II..”
(does any of that sound familiar..?..current..?..)
Such a beautiful animation of the wind on this site
http://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/orthographic=-184.92,-34.12,640
Looks like the eye will pass over Takaka soonish – off out a bit later to check on the rivers – we needed rain and we’ve had it.
Mesmerising thanks marty. The intensity seems to diminish once land is struck.
Blenheim has had only 5mm up until now but rain just started again 12:10
Thanks marty, not only is that beautiful, it’s increasibly instructive re what happens with NZ weather.
Stunning graphic.
Might seem obvious to many here, but a lot of people have not realised it is an interactive site.
Zoom by clicking and click hold to change location
http://earth.nullschool.net
And click on any place will give location, windspeed and direction as well.
Stunning!!!
Clicking on the word ‘earth’ down in the left hand corner brings up additional options/views (ocean currents, different map projections etc)…not that I could then get back to where I was 😉
To get back Click on earth again at the top of the box
Thank you all I have learned a lot 🙂
it should also be accompanied by thirty foot high glowing neon letters clearly spelling out the following message
WARNING: ADDICTION AHEAD
Yep
Yep
I thought I’d offer this – you never know it may help
https://unsettlingamerica.wordpress.com/2014/03/15/a-colonized-ally-meets-a-decolonized-ally-this-is-what-they-learn/
Hattip Kim on Fbook
Just speaking as a semi-colonised/decolonised or a hopelessly compromised bundle of conditioning and deconditioning….but no. 10 pins it for me; that the decolonised or deconditioned is always faced with a drift towards assuming a position of the colonised or conditioned. And as such, there are no end points or arrival to decolonisation or deconditioning. As soon as one is perceived, the drift has successfully taken hold and delivered everything back to an approximation/parody or reflection of square one…which is maybe why I hesitate at some of the definitive descriptions for the decolonized (sic) ally.
Notions of fluidity and crystalisation come to mind…
Yes I like the fluidity – constant motion and ever changing consideration and adjustment (a bit like the wind animation above). Hopefully good food for thought – I also hesitate to be too rigid or definitive – this is just one person’s view and absolutes just don’t work well with humans in my experience.
@marty mars “A Colonized Ally Meets a Decolonized Ally: This is What They Learn”
thanks …I like it!
DTB and others thoughtful about our business pattern and memes.
A good speaker on Radionz this morning has written a book on competition. Discussing its value and ways that it is misused and is deleterious. Worth a listen and the book would be good. She is competent to comment with lots of background.
11:12 Margaret Heffernan – Taking on Competition
Competition is everywhere. In families, in schools and in the workplace – but is it any good for us? Bestselling author and entrepreneur Margaret Heffernan will tell us why competition can be the enemy of innovation – and why competition may not always be the best way for us to truly win.
A Bigger Prize, by Margaret Heffernan is published by Simon and Schuster.
Margaret Heffernan : taking on competition ( 26′ 19″ )
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday
Excellent greywarbler. Totally agree with the premise. Increase the competition decrease the enjoyment of participation and the risk taking/innovation.
And when David C was talking about working with companies to enhance their performance he was really talking about getting cooperation amongst workers rather than competion.
A corrollary is also around being punished with Rewards which fits with the Competitive models.
And think Performance Pay for teachers. Destructive.
Yup gotta keep smashing up those teacners
Militant bunch of ignorant buggers those teachers who will not do as they are told. They keep on saying “Show us the mone… err research.Show us the research!” What do they think we politicians are? Honest? Well informed? Researched based? Yeah ah NO. We are just following blind ideology. Are they blind? And another thing……..
nice one ianmac 🙂
which reminds me….Over the last twenty years or so, was there not a firmly developed participation matters culture across NZ schools that said “taking part is more important than winning” ?
How will these “winning” teachers justify their performance pay to pupils that are being told it is the “taking part” that matters most?
A Bigger Prize
Why Competition Isn’t Everything and How We Do Better
A Bigger Prize: How We Can Do Better than the Competition
The latter book will be released in a month.
And, no, it doesn’t surprise me that competition causes such negatives.
Envisioning a Post-Capitalist Order
Nasa-funded study: industrial civilisation headed for ‘irreversible collapse’?
Just more and more evidence coming out showing that our present socio-economic system is a failure.
Draco T B
The weather here is stormy. It’s a good day for exploring the net. Looks as if it might be wet where you are. You have found some deep stuff. Thanks for the links.
Watching Labour and Greens bicker over coalition policy implementation is avoiding the big picture.
To be in a coalition Government, first you must get the votes.
I may just be a damaged human in a shed but the way I see it, unless a drastic and revolutionary one-off approach is made this election, the risk of National waltzing in for a third term is all too real. Don’t know about the rest of you but that makes me sincerely terrified of what would come next.
The parties can bicker about details once in power. They all will anyway. Regardless of what promises are made up front. Get the power first, by any means available. National knows that.
The topic is raised in this comment I posted earlier, but I guess no-one read it or no-one thought it warranted dialogue. As election issues go I see none that needs an honest and open dialogue quite so badly.
Have the left forgotten that you support each other to win, or fall aside fighting as New Zealand is lost.
Watching Shane Jones shooting the Greens and then Labour’s own foot, before stuffing his own face with the damage caused, would be enough to put off some people voting Labour, let alone bring out the so-called missing million 🙁
just Looking for Spinoza .
Hope everybody is having a great day; and as for recent NZ politics phenomena… ‘Kafkaesque’ indeed.
+100 …very interesting thanks
More on Tony Benn and relevance and lessons for the New Zealand Labour Party …
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2014/mar/14/tony-benn-a-giant-of-20th-century-politics-video
Retirement villages as distinct from reitrement homes (in respect of the latter there being serious questions under other headings anyway).
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11220355
On reading this article my first reflex was to mutter disgustedly to myself “Huh…….Planet Key !
I then reminded myself that years and years ago well before ShonKey and before I completely changed focus and area of involvement in my work I advised numerous people about these sorts of licence to occupy contracts.
They were a spectacular rip-off then and looks like they remain so, notwithstanding the Retirement Villages Act or whatever it’s called. They struck me at the time as so draconian, so onesided, and such patent capital and income guzzlers that I was always very careful to provide written analysis of the in/out cost/residual value because residual value was always an effective loss of substantial capital.
Clipping and reclipping and reclipping the ticket seems to be a national pastime sadly. Bet they have fabulous annual general meetings of delighted shareholders though. All clapping themselves on the back about how wonderful they and ilk are. Vomit !
I’d advise people to not fetch more than 10 pages per minute in any minute period. You’ll get and automatic short ban.
I’m getting too many unknown crawlers (identified as being human) scanning the site and causing too many server instances to spawn. So I’ve changed the behaviour from “throttle” to ban from reading the site for 2 hours.
I’ve also permanently blocked a number of systems who’d repeatedly (250 times) hit limits over the last few months. Only 1 in NZ who’d hit the limits 1142 times
Thanks lprent for keeping the site going reasonably smoothly. It seems constant care is needed to keep the various negative effects from diminishing its effectiveness. I have noticed it very slow to load from Opera and much faster from Firefox.
Never optimized for opera. I mostly use Chrome, Firefox, and Android. On the odd occasion I use iOS, Internet Explorer and safari – mostly to remind myself how awful much I dislike Macs, Windows, and iAnything.
Thanks for tip on opera lprent.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Brown-remains-confident-as-Mayor/tabid/423/articleID/336094/Default.aspx
Unfortunately for Mayor Len Brown, there are currently FIVE complaints filed with Auckland Central Police, FOUR of which I am responsible.
Alleged ‘money-laundering’ by Mayor Len Brown, for not disclosing free hotel rooms and upgrades, particularly from Sky City.
Alleged ‘contravention of statute’ by former Auckland Council CEO Doug McKay, for not following the process outlined in the Auckland Council ‘Code of Conduct’ (section 8 ‘Compliance’) for an investigation into the ‘misconduct’ of Mayor Len Brown.
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/SiteCollectionDocuments/aboutcouncil/governingbody/codeofconductelectedmembers.pdf
8.5. Conduct Review Independent Panel
The governing body shall constitute a Conduct Review Independent Panel.
The members of the Panel will be selected from a list of persons with appropriate skills and knowledge, to be recommended by the Chief Executive.
The Independent Panel is not a Committee of the governing body and its sole function is to investigate those matters referred to it and to make recommendations on those matters to the governing body/local board.
Up to three members on the list will be deemed to be ‘convenors’ who will be the Council’s primary contact in relation to convening a panel when required.
‘Convening’ a panel includes chairing that panel. A convenor may appoint other convenors to a panel.
Together with fellow community ‘Public Watchdog’, Lisa Prager, filing a complaint for alleged ‘bribery and corruption’ by Mayor Len Brown.
Assault complaint against 2 Auckland Council Officers who tried to physically remove me from the Auckland Council CEO Review Committee meeting on 20 February 2014, after Chair Councillor Chris Fletcher (unlawfully) denied me speaking rights in order to expose that new CEO Stephen Town was a member of the unelected private (invitation -only) lobby group – the Committee for Auckland (which he denied).
http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz/membership/member-organisations
So – as a New Zealand anti-corruption ‘whistleblower’ – I have been censored, assaulted and now Auckland Council have threatened to sell my house to enforce (disputed) rates payments.
(I refuse to pay rates, because the Council are not acting LAWFULLY and telling ratepayers exactly where our monies are being spent on thousands of private sector consultants and contractors. See for yourself – Public Records Act 2005, s 17.)
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2005/0040/latest/DLM345729.html
Requirement to create and maintain records
(1)Every public office and local authority must create and maintain full and accurate records of its affairs, in accordance with normal, prudent business practice, including the records of any matter that is contracted out to an independent contractor.
This is WAR.
(All happening in Auckland, the biggest city in New Zealand, ‘perceived’ to be ‘the ‘least corrupt country in the world’).
http://www.transparency.org/cpi2013/results
Pity about the REALITY! )
You may wish to pass on views directly to Mayor Len Brown?
len.brown@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
‘WHEN INJUSTICE BECOMES LAW -RESISTANCE BECOMES DUTY!’
Here is an ACTION PLAN for a domestic legislative framework which would help ensure genuine transparency and accountability at local and central government level, and within our judiciary:
http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ANTI-CORRUPTION-WHITE-COLLAR-CRIME-CORPORATE-WELFARE-ACTION-PLAN-Ak-Mayoral-campaign-19-July-2013-2.pdf
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’
Attendee: 2009 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference
Attendee: 2010 Transparency International Anti-Corruption Conference
Attendee: 2013 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference
http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz
http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com
http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz
In the historical section on Radionz there was a mention of Ernie Abbott who died in a bomb attack in 1984 at the Trades Union Hall. The bomb was in a suitcase that was set up to go off when someone moved the case. That would require a special sort of mechanism wouldn’t it. Not a student prank gone wrong I think.
This link has a picture of Ernie who looks a good sort.
http://www.filmarchive.org.nz/now-showing/the-hatred-campaign/
It contains a suggestion that it followed a concerted anti union campaign deliberately fostered by Muldoon and the National Party. The thinking was that it was set up to take attention away from a poor economic performance by the Nats. Seems extreme but dirty tricks by Muldoon and the Nats extended to holding Colin Moyle to ridicule, and then there was the hunting of the Sutch some time around then. So who knows? Some people did. And they were prepared to commit murder and justify it to themselves.
I think penny bright is off her f*cking head. Her pursuit of len is verging on the psychotic and obsessive.
what happened.
is she a woman scorned?
bit sad her lack of proportion means she could well lose her home, though.
29k in 6 years of unpaid rates + penalties + legal fees. I think that she thinks that the other ratepayers of Auckland are out to get her.
Ukraine – no surprise really that the vote was toward Russia as that has been indicated by recent press. But over 90%. Did a lot abstain?
Now there is the situation with Ukraine troops in Crimea cut off and virtually imprisoned. Apparently because they have stayed put, the Russians haven’t bothered about their welfare. Now is the time to do this and the Russians must make arrangements for them to have water and food, as apparently the people have been providing those and that is an unsatisfactory situation.
The Russians now have to show statesmanship and conduct talks with the Ukraine government about how the troops will leave if that is required. And Ukraine and Russia should be thinking of how to co-operate enough to protect each other’s interests. It is in both their interests to do so.
And talking about WW2 moves, and what Europe and the USA want is a secondary issue. Sanctions could be just an interference in what the protagonists there believe is necessary political reorganisation.