Open mike 17/12/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 17th, 2011 - 91 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

91 comments on “Open mike 17/12/2011 ”

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  1. mickysavage 1
    17 December 2011 at 6:11 am

    Now that the dust has settled and the Election result concluded it is time to start a new campaign.

    When publicly owned assets are under attack,

    STAND UP FIGHT BACK!

    • Pete George 1.1
      17 December 2011 at 6:44 am

      That’s the same old campaigning Greg, and it hasn’t been very successful.

      Maybe you should find out what Labour’s main priorities will be. A good place to start:
      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10773745

      I could easily agree with much of that. But I suspect there will be bigger – new – things to focus on. Rebuilding New Labour?

      • Colonial Viper 1.1.1
        17 December 2011 at 7:20 am

        Pete George of 0.6% UF giving Labour campaigning tips. How cute.

      • Puddleglum 1.1.2
        17 December 2011 at 3:25 pm

        Good to see Shearer’s positions outlined on the social liberalism/social conservatism scale.

        Now it would be good to see where he stands on the economy, public sector, welfare, etc..

        Specifically, I’d like to hear where he stands on ‘capitalism by stealth’ in the public sector; the economic structures required to eliminate child poverty, welfare ‘reform’, workplace regulation, global trade, democratisation of society and the workplace, etc., etc..

  2. Keeshy 2
    17 December 2011 at 7:02 am

    Not true…fight and success can be had. Shonkey had his facebook bombarded and a petition went ballistic. Nek minute…

    Incredible news. Moments ago John Key’s government got directly in touch with the Auckland Sexual Abuse Crisis Centre, committing to “continued funding for the next 6 months” and pledging to work with them to ensure “a sustainable service for the future”.

    It’s an extraordinary victory — for you and everyone else who has been part of the explosion of support for Kirsty McCully’s Change.org petition to save the centre.

    Just a few short days ago things weren’t looking good. Funding was running desperately low, staff were about to be laid off and almost no one in the public or media was paying attention to the plight of the centre. No one in government was admitting they had responsibility — in fact no one would even return the centre’s desperate calls…..

    see more:

    http://www.change.org/petitions/new-zealand-government-stop-the-closure-of-aucklands-247-sexual-violence-crisis-service

    • Pete George 2.1
      17 December 2011 at 7:19 am

      A great result, albeit interim.

      Yes, campaigning can lead to success – if you pick the right fights. It’s hard to argue against this one.

    • yeshe 2.2
      17 December 2011 at 8:17 am

      Can this method be used somehow to gather support for a binding referendum on asset sales ? Jeanette Fitzsimons has offered her support .. 300K signatures needed and will delay any sales by at least one term … ideas anyone ?

    • Pete George 3.1
      17 December 2011 at 8:06 am

      A lot of people won’t see that as light hearted, it comes across as heavy nastiness whether that’s the intention or not.

      Zetetic just posted on the ‘nasty party’ meme – I’m sure this on FB is being done by an individual or individuals but it won’t help Labour’s aims of reconnecting at all.

      • rosy 3.1.1
        17 December 2011 at 10:20 am

        It maybe says more about you, Pete, that you would automatically think that this has anything to do with how people think about Labour, than it does about Labour.

      • millsy 3.1.2
        17 December 2011 at 11:43 am

        Do you think Cameron Slater and Cathy Odgers are ‘nasty’?

        • Pete George 3.1.2.1
          17 December 2011 at 4:45 pm

          Whale can be at times, sometimes he can be over the top or goes too far or for too long on issues, sometimes he just gets up people’s noses for taking them to task.

          Haven’t really seen it from Cactus but I don’t read much of what she posts.

          • McFlock 3.1.2.1.1
            18 December 2011 at 2:42 am

            sometimes he just gets up people’s noses for taking them to task.

             
            Really? Example, please – I’d just had him pegged as a propogandistic lying – well, to be blunt – cunt.
             

            • Pete George 3.1.2.1.1.1
              18 December 2011 at 7:11 am

              Really? Example please.

              At what you accuse him of I don’t think he’s any worse than some of those who post here.
              Except some of his hit job attempts are provided with actual facts, often from informants.

              I’d rate Whale about 50/50, some of what he does is worthwhile examination and some harmless ranting, while some is overblown, over persistent and over the top.

              • Colonial Viper …
                18 December 2011 at 4:23 pm

                I’d rate Whale about 50/50, some of what he does is worthwhile examination and some harmless ranting, while some is overblown, over persistent and over the top.

                But not often “nasty” then?

              • McFlock …
                18 December 2011 at 4:43 pm

                lol.
                  
                Him claiming credit for wandering around the labour party website a while back was a case in point. Not only did he scaremonger about credit card details, his youtube how-i-did-it style clip was unconvincing regarding his supposed ability to find it out for himself. But the stalking vibe was all him.

    • Bill 3.2
      17 December 2011 at 9:44 am

      Unfortunately, that kind of shit sets the bar too high in regards to what should rightfully be preceived as fishist. Nutzism was a particularily nasty strain of fishism. But it isn’t definitive, although it keeps getting presented as such. Meaning a lot of fishy stuff swims under the radar of people’s perceptions and understandings.

      • Colonial Viper 3.2.1
        17 December 2011 at 10:15 am

        And in a representative demogoguey like we have at the moment, all we end up with is yet another right wink dicktator.

  4. The Voice of Reason 4
    17 December 2011 at 8:26 am

    The Guardian has a selection of some of the late Christopher Hitchen’s TV appearances. His thoughts on the afterlife are particularly good!

  5. Jimmie 5
    17 December 2011 at 8:37 am

    bit of light hearted fun on FB

    more like completely weird – whoever started this diary needs to see a shrink. Is closer to obsession and stalking than anything else.

    kriswgtn get some help – please

  6. Wayne91 6
    17 December 2011 at 10:11 am

    kriswgtn 3
    17 December 2011 at 7:40 am
    bit of light hearted fun on FB

    Not fun or even funny – dont some people get it – this turns people off

    • Colonial Viper 6.1
      17 December 2011 at 10:39 am

      Hopefully Bennett can turn them on again by releasing more beneficiaries’ files.

    • seeker 6.2
      17 December 2011 at 6:31 pm

      No Wayne91, what turns genuine people off is cutting the taxes of the wealthy by 5% there by causing this country to be run into the ground and allowing 200,000 children to live hungry and diseased in dire poverty with no hope apart from that given selflessly by over stretched charities and the Salvation Army.

      And what turns these genuine people off even further is a sneering, really nasty nactuf governmental mindset which blames the vulnerable for the economic situation, says they are just envious n’er do wells in order to ignorantly undermine them and dismissively assign them to the trash bin thereby legitimising the opinion of the right wing dismissers, and allowing said dismissers the comfort of the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ , no guilt, no conscience narrative they so crave.
      The moral universe says otherwise.

    • Vicky32 6.3
      18 December 2011 at 4:30 pm

      Not fun or even funny – dont some people get it – this turns people off

      Not me, I am really enjoying it! 🙂

  7. Mutante 7
    17 December 2011 at 11:29 am

    That’s why it’s hard to do satire in this country. Save the humourless.

    • kriswgtn 7.1
      17 December 2011 at 12:03 pm

      totally

      i find it hypocritical that the right say wtf they want

      Bennett is nasty
      forgotten the confidential breach of solo moms tia details???

      cos they stood up to her?????
      wot she did,,that goes way beyond the post i was sent on FB

      people are hurting in NZ- they’re not nasty they’re angry
      deal with it

      • seeker 7.1.1
        17 December 2011 at 8:00 pm

        @ Kriswgtn
        Had only been thinking today that it was about time we had a some really good political satire on the box. It is so needed in NZ. I had hoped for some intelligent satire from 7days as the original version of this in the UK, Have I Got News For You was brilliant on the light polit.satire front and helped to keep news and political events in perspective as well as inform and illuminate truths and lies. No such luck with 7days ,which is mainly comedy,funny tho it is.

        However, that’s why I was pleased to view your link Kris ,thankyou. It reminded me of the ‘big puppety’ scenarios they used in the UK in Spitting Image to depict Thatcher and her male harem/schoolboy followers. Her “are they one of us” group.
        The writers depicted Thatcher as a bullying cross dressing ,cigar smoking tyrant having a fine ol’ time with some of her ‘gang’; one of whom, her right hand man, NormanTebbit, was dressed as a leatherclad ‘skinhead’.

        It would be great to comment on what type of character could best represent some of our politicians.

        My one for Key would be a great big whirly eyed snake head, reminiscent of the snake in Jungle Book, singing in Key mangled speak but with parsel tongue type lisp…… trutht in me, trutht only in me……. buy the athets, they will thtay in new thilland we will make lawth, trutht in me……no GethT, trutht in me…. or Paula Bennett as Miss Benette or Hekia Parata as Edwina Currie from Thatcher’s government who was satirised as a vampire.- very glam and gothic….now about Stuart Nash………wily coyote?

  8. Olwyn 8
    17 December 2011 at 11:41 am

    I have to say that, even allowing for Fran O’Sullivan’s political leanings, I find this article disconcerting:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10773689

    “But much of the real strategising started several months back when Shearer and close caucus allies such as former Labour list MP Stuart Nash seriously began talking about a post-election leadership tilt. Influential members of the “commentariat” – particularly those of the right-of-centre persuasion – were informally briefed. Shearer was promoted as having a modern international outlook; pro-business, pro-science and innovation, and not prone to the phony cloth-cap ideology that Goff had to dip into to retain the confidence of the Labour unionists who have for too long dominated the party.”

    and

    “But Nash will have urged Shearer not to offer Cunliffe a high ranking on the front-bench…Nash has made no secret of the fact that he would prefer that Cunliffe exits politics altogether.”

    If anyone who is in the know reads this I ask you, (1) Am I now deludedly giving my little monthly donation to a right-wing party? (2) Are the people whose lives have been made wretched in this tin-pot neoliberal heaven to be further abandoned? (3) Why (if it is true) are you trying to hound your most talented politician out of parliament when you only have 34 seats in it?

    • Colonial Viper 8.1
      17 December 2011 at 11:51 am

      OMG.

    • Draco T Bastard 8.2
      17 December 2011 at 2:41 pm

      I have to say that, even allowing for Fran O’Sullivan’s political leanings, I find this article disconcerting:

      It’s supposed to be – it’s an attack on Labour designed to drop their support even more and possibly increase the number of non-voters next election.

      • Olwyn 8.2.1
        17 December 2011 at 3:02 pm

        OK. But they are reasonably precise claims. If they are false, then Labour must be able to deny them, and if they are true but misleading explain them. Which was the point of my three questions.

        • Tigger 8.2.1.1
          17 December 2011 at 3:51 pm

          Why hasn’t she written about the meeting where Key asked to step down rather than this wet dream conspiracy shit? Marie Quinn was there Fran. Ask her and put that in your column.

        • Colonial Viper 8.2.1.2
          17 December 2011 at 5:09 pm

          In fact, many of her claims are stated as facts, and not opinion. Fran O’Sullivan has been around the block and would not make that rookie error of judgement unless she was certain that she couldn’t be instantly refuted by the players in question.

        • Draco T Bastard 8.2.1.3
          17 December 2011 at 5:35 pm

          But they are reasonably precise claims.

          Well, if they’re true then all I can say is that Labour are fucked. They would no longer be the party for working people. Although, they haven’t really been that for awhile.

          It was this bit that really got me:-

          In other words, the right politician to drag Labour into the 21st century and out of its ideological cul-de-sac.

          As it seems to show that Labour are going to go even more right-wing than they are now and that would mean that they’re going to become NAct light. All the same delusional economic policies (the ones that just saw the financial system collapse) with a few more identity politics polices thrown in.

          • Colonial Viper 8.2.1.3.1
            17 December 2011 at 5:41 pm

            Economic and corporatist right wing, (a few) more crumbs thrown to the poor and to workers than National would, socially liberal.

        • seeker 8.2.1.4
          17 December 2011 at 6:46 pm

          Thanks for commenting on this article Olwyn. Saw it just recently and felt as disconcerted as yourself, and am now totally off Nash as well as a few others. Labour needs to come clean to clear up any misunderstandings or we really will need a NEW Labour.

          I hope someone posts about this on Red Alert

      • oftenpuzzled 8.2.2
        17 December 2011 at 4:34 pm

        does she know all this stuff anyway?

        • oftenpuzzled 8.2.2.1
          17 December 2011 at 4:35 pm

          the ‘How’ at the beginning of the question dropped off! How does she know this stuff?

          • Colonial Viper 8.2.2.1.1
            17 December 2011 at 5:12 pm

            She said right wing commentators were briefed early on; she was probably one of them.

            It fraks me off royally to think all the leadership BS the right wing media were printing to undermine Goff, may actually have been based on facts verified from within caucus itself.

    • Blue 8.3
      17 December 2011 at 4:12 pm

      Fran may be a Tory, but she is very well-connected in the political world. And what she is saying here is pretty much what has been guessed at already.

      There is a poisonous little faction in Labour who undermined Phil Goff’s leadership at every turn and forced him out, and then blocked David Cunliffe’s bid in order to seize power for themselves.

      I don’t want any part of that disloyal, malicious and toxic little club.

      What they did to Phil was appalling, and now they are trying to force David C out too.

      • Salsy 8.3.1
        17 December 2011 at 4:33 pm

        I tend to agree, if Shearer doesnt give Cunliffe a significant role, it will be a crucial mistake. Fran is 100% correct when she describes Cunliffe:

        But he was also one of the few stellar performers in Goff’s team.. If Shearer is not captive to his supporters he will put some undeserving long-servers to the sword first

    • Anne 8.4
      17 December 2011 at 7:13 pm

      (1) Am I now deludedly giving my little monthly donation to a right-wing party?
      I think so Olwyn.

      (2) Are the people whose lives have been made wretched in this tin-pot neoliberal heaven to be further abandoned?
      In the short to medium term yes. Hopefully not the long term.

      (3) Why (if it is true) are you trying to hound your most talented politician out of parliament when you only have 34 seats in it?

      It’s a combination of jeolousy, tall poppy syndrome and an unseemly scramble for personal political power at the expense of the Party as a whole. The plotting to undermine Cunliffe and eventually destroy him began in 2008. The leadership meetings were a farce. I have been horrified by the lies and the scuttlebutt, and it looks like a number of Labour MPs fell for it. My sincere hope is that the culprits and their various motivations will eventually be publicly outed.

      Full credit to Fran O’Sullivan for writing the article.

      • Olwyn 8.4.1
        17 December 2011 at 7:21 pm

        Thanks Anne, you have gone some way toward confirming my fears (sigh).

        • RobM 8.4.1.1
          17 December 2011 at 7:48 pm

          So I’m not the only one that feels like they’ve been had.

          And what a good look it is to have Nash low down the list but returning as chief of staff.
          Nice comfy salary for everybody.

          2011 was never to be seriously contested.

          I’m afraid I fell for the last minute “Oh fuck we’re losing our base, let’s get out the friendly faces and empty rhetoric” campaign.

          The wretched have been sacrificed for the ambition of Alas Robertson & Jones.

          The right are going to crucify the naive chumps.

  9. randal 9
    17 December 2011 at 11:48 am

    fran sullivan and her crew are just mouthpieces for the nashil gubmint. their stuff is hardly serious journalism.
    that is why new Zealand needs an alternative to corporate propoganda dissemination disguised as news.
    or. I cant stop laughing over this oxymoron, “think pieces”.
    more like glad handed payouts from the “interests”.

  10. Wayne91 10
    17 December 2011 at 11:56 am

    CV agree – she shoudln’t have released those details but they should not have been decietful either.

    • Fotran 10.1
      17 December 2011 at 1:19 pm

      Wayne91
      You are possibly right but the MSM are above and beyond what is right and ethical. They make news to sell media for a price.
      Look at the way the MSM took over and controlled the recent Election. Disgraceful.

    • weka 10.2
      17 December 2011 at 2:25 pm

      How were they deceitful?

  11. chris73 11
    17 December 2011 at 12:47 pm

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6154368/Former-MP-Georgina-Beyer-unemployed

    She seems a little deluded IF this is accurate (journalists picking and choosing what they want to print and all)

    • kriswgtn 11.1
      17 December 2011 at 1:41 pm

      Georgina will pick herself up
      Remember Carmen died 2 days ago
      have some compassion instead of trolling wanker

  12. Lanthanide 12
    17 December 2011 at 12:50 pm

    Maybe this was discussed yesterday, but:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/6154354/Government-to-take-over-quake-claims

    The $1.8 billion of earthquake claims of troubled Canterbury insurer AMI Insurance are to be taken over by the Government which might eventually be left with a bill of $120 million or more.

    This would have been mostly fleshed out before the election. Certainly these deals don’t take just 3 weeks to plan from start to finish. Yet we didn’t hear anything about it until now. How strange.

    • Redbaron77 12.1
      17 December 2011 at 2:00 pm

      It immediatedly appeared to be a grubby “socialism is ok for corporates” deal. On closer inspection its a solution to reduce the Government’s exposure to a liability of a $500 million guarantee to cover AMI’s re-insurance shortfall for the Christchurch earthquakes down to $120 million. Plus it preserves AMI as a going concern as it had no future in its present state – with the takeover by IAG less the earthquake liabilities a way forward. However at the cost of the taxpayer (everyday people) having to pick up the shortfall.

      The deal firstly demonstrates once again the folly of poor regulation in markets and secondly exposes the mindset of the Government. Perhaps I am being naive here, but at looking at this deal IAG is the winner here. However if the Government was prepared to put up a $500 million guarantee to AMI, why did it not consider a version of the same deal that involves gaining control of AMI or going into partnership with a better insurance manager such IAG . The ROI would at least over the medium term help defray the $120 million that the taxpayer will have to stump up, partially retain profits in New Zealand and build up a valuable for asset over the long term.

    • Draco T Bastard 12.2
      17 December 2011 at 2:31 pm

      Yet we didn’t hear anything about it until now. How strange.

      Not strange – this government wouldn’t tell us a thing if they thought that they could get away with it.

  13. millsy 13
    17 December 2011 at 1:38 pm

    David Shearer needs to think about a way to gain the inititave in 2012.

    I’m thinking he could make an Orewa style speech, like Don Brash (no, not slag off Maori, DPB ladies, etc), but the tactic itself was a good one, he essentially set the agenda. That is what Shearer needs to do. Labour have nothing to lose.

  14. joe90 14
    17 December 2011 at 1:59 pm

    A Sunlight Foundation article on the influence of The One Percent Of The One Percent on US electoral spending.

    In the 2010 election cycle, 26,783 individuals (or slightly less than one in ten thousand Americans) each contributed more than $10,000 to federal political campaigns. Combined, these donors spent $774 million. That’s 24.3% of the total from individuals to politicians, parties, PACs, and independent expenditure groups. Together, they would fill only two-thirds of the 41,222 seats at Nationals Park the baseball field two miles from the U.S. Capitol. When it comes to politics, they are The One Percent of the One Percent.

    But WTF, money talks with Americans Elect, backed by millionaires with ties to the FBI, CIA and military, creating a third place on the 2012 presidential ballot for an unnamed candidate.

  15. the pink postman 15
    17 December 2011 at 3:38 pm

    I have no doubt that the Nats are already campaigning for the next election. Crosby /Trextor will being setting the way now. Already we are seeing Key every night on the TV and the Right-Wing columists like Sullivan ansd Co will now also start on Shearer.However having said that the article on Shearer in todays Herald is excellent.Its up,to every Labour member to get this out to the public.Before we allow Garner and Holmes a chance to run down Shearer, perhaps now is the time to ask them what happened to their claims that the LP leadsip election will be a blood bath. They must be cringing .

    • seeker 15.1
      17 December 2011 at 6:40 pm

      Which article on Shearer pp.? can you link please?

      • Carol 15.1.1
        17 December 2011 at 6:46 pm

        This one, from the top of the NZH website?

        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10773745

        New Labour leader David Shearer is a republican who supports a new national flag, and a social liberal on gay issues – though he is less liberal on drug and alcohol issues.

        Mr Shearer, who took over the leadership on Tuesday, is a strong advocate for an independent foreign policy, and personally believes New Zealand’s flag should be changed.

        • just saying 15.1.1.1
          17 December 2011 at 8:16 pm

          Well he’s certainly got the meaningsless waffle down pat.
          Wonder what “detail” he wants to see in the gay adoption issue. Surely he’s not proposing different adoption laws for gay people?
          He’s looking very much like the new Phil Goff – just like the old one with better OE.

      • the pink postman 15.1.2
        18 December 2011 at 3:43 pm

        it was was in Saturdays on line Herald and was on his background and work with STC and the United Nations,It was hard to believe it was the Herald but one is surprised sometimes.

    • Pete George 15.2
      17 December 2011 at 6:53 pm

      That article is just a right wing trick, it’s the Herald, don’t get duped by that.

  16. seeker 16
    17 December 2011 at 6:48 pm

    Thanks Carol. Forgot that one as I was so miffed by Fran O’s one.

  17. AnnaLiviaPlurabella 17
    17 December 2011 at 6:53 pm

    Shearer’s failure so far to offer Cunliffe a credible role indicates that he actually is Trevor’s poodle. The party won’t accept a right wing group taking it over and white-anting lefties. We removed them before and we will do it again.

    The open approach of the “primary” process is now gone. It is back to the smart ass stuff of Trevor &co that lost us the election. Have a word with your local MP. Ask him or her to tell you what is going on.

    • Colonial Viper 17.1
      17 December 2011 at 7:29 pm

      Oh lets all just go over to the dark side. Like the US democrats have. Much easier.

      On second thoughts, nah. To the frakin barricades.

    • Carol 17.2
      17 December 2011 at 7:49 pm

      My local MP is David Cunliffe. Would he know everything, and is he likely to tell me what he knows?

      • Ianupnorth 17.2.1
        17 December 2011 at 8:13 pm

        Am I the only one who is pissed off by said Mallard?

        • Blue 17.2.1.1
          17 December 2011 at 8:18 pm

          Nope. I think I will have to make it a condition – no voting for Labour until Mallard is gone.

      • Colonial Viper 17.2.2
        17 December 2011 at 11:46 pm

        Carol – its your right as a consituent in his electorate to be able to meet with your MP. As for whether he “knows everything” I am sure he will have a better idea than most of us.

  18. neoleftie 18
    17 December 2011 at 8:31 pm

    well the only people who know what really is going on is the insiders within the party elite.
    Ive watched trev mallard over the years – extremely hard working in the house till late at night and on red alert.
    Now how about lets show some unity, dignity and accept that the cuacus, one hopes, have it right and move on and start the campaign for 2014.
    We need to the tories gone so more unity, activity and reconnection i think

    • lprent 18.1
      17 December 2011 at 8:55 pm

      At this point I’m getting far more interested in the organisational review. I’ve been waiting for that for about 20 years

    • mickysavage 18.2
      17 December 2011 at 9:14 pm

      Neolefite it is all very good to talk about unity and dignity but you also mentioned Mallard.  To be honest he is Labour’s version of Stephen Joyce and Murray McCully rolled into one.

      Someone has been slurring Cunliffe for the past three years and it has Mallard’s fingerprints all over it.  If he is now insisting on unity and dignity he should have thought about this three years ago.

      • RedLogix 18.2.1
        17 December 2011 at 9:28 pm

        I’ve got a letter on my desk right now asking for a renewed committment to my current Labour party donations. And on my desk it will sit unanswered…. because I’m not getting any reassuring smoke-signals about this election of Shearer as Leader. Either it’s too soon and I should wait, or my instincts are telling me something that isn’t clear yet.

        Unity and dignity are essential…. but they are not code-words for blind loyalty either.

  19. lprent 19
    17 December 2011 at 8:58 pm

    Darn, been either socialising with a family today, debugging some code, or having a nice afternoon snooze (the sheer pleasure of that).

    But now I have two posts in the editor and absolutely no will to finish them… Time for a w(h)ine. Maybe some TV would drive me back to anything less moronic.

  20. Jum 20
    18 December 2011 at 1:44 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10773695

    private equity battle over Media Works? Didn’t taxpayers just loan them money thanks to Joyce?

  21. AnnaLiviaPlurabella 21
    18 December 2011 at 1:48 am

    In a short two week “primary season” Cunliffe went from being dismissed to being endorsed by Chris Trotter, Brian Edwards, Matt McCartan, Paul Holmes, Guyon Espiner and many more. The membership went into the Debates generally pro Shearer and came out pro Cunliffe.
    Many will now be wondering why the negative briefing by Labour managers to undermine the top performer Cunliffe happened. And who was doing it. Shearer’s credibility in his new role will be measured by how well he handles this issue. The members will be watching: they know that a successful inclusion of Cunliffe will bode well for 2014.

  22. the pink postman 22
    18 December 2011 at 3:52 pm

    The leadership debate is over .It was wellrub and without “Garners” bloodbath. Now we need to get behind Shearer and get Labour Back in 2012. Tell all the Nat cruitics to go to hell.Im rapidly beginning to believe the correct choice was made and I think the Tories know this and are quite worried. Shearer’s background is nothing less than super and is all Social Demicratic practice and labour can really be proud of such a leader.And

  23. the pink postman 23
    18 December 2011 at 3:57 pm

    The leadership debate is over .It was well run and without “Garners” bloodbath. Now we need to get behind Shearer and get Labour Back in 2012. Tell all the Nat critics to go to hell.Im rapidly beginning to believe the correct choice was made and I think the Tories know this and are quite worried. Shearer’s background is nothing less than super and is all Social Demicratic ideals Labour can really be proud of such a leader.And corny or not the fact that Key made $i50m against Shearer saving 150 lives is true and let us tell the public .

    • Colonial Viper 23.1
      18 December 2011 at 4:49 pm

      I’m waiting to see how smart the front bench line up chosen by Shearer is, and I’m waiting to see if Labour continue down a strong and active social democratic stance towards 2014.

      Can we remind ourselves for a second that Michael Joseph Savage was a labourer, miner and unionist (thanks Wikipedia). He did not come from a heroic famous backstory. And Savage became the greatest NZ Prime Minister of all time through what he accomplished for the people in office, not what he did before office.

  24. joe90 24
    19 December 2011 at 3:22 pm

    An interview with anthropologist David Graeber, the author of Debt: The First 5000 Years.

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  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
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    8 hours ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
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    1 day ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
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    2 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
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    2 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
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    3 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
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    3 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
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    3 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
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    3 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
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    3 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
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    3 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
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    3 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
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    3 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
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    3 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
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    4 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
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    5 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
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    5 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
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    6 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
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    6 days ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
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    6 days ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
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    6 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
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    6 days ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
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    7 days ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
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    1 week ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
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    1 week ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
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    1 week ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
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    1 week ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
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    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
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    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
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    1 week ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
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    1 week ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
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    1 week ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
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    1 week ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
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    1 week ago

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