Tomorrow comments will be off as we have a discussion free day. Take the opportunity to go out and work for your particular left wing party. Then from 7 pm there will be general and strategic seat specific posts going up. Election night I will be at the New Lynn Labour HQ. It could be an interesting night …
There is plenty that can be discussed tomorrow, re the 2 Scottish votes of yes (?) – Independence & the R&R letting in female members !! Or did I miss it and this site will be down until 7:00 pm
As the Scottish vote (if yes) for many will have major ramifications world wide. E.g. The UN Security Council , and the UK’s place in world affairs, also the turnout % especially given that voting has taken place on a Thursday, think what the turnout in nz would be for a mid week vote?
If commments are enabled tomorrow someone will have to actively moderate to make sure there is no discussion about who to vote for (NZ). That would mean someone from the standard having to be online all day. I can understand why they don’t want to do that (although, yes, discussing Scotland would be good).
Struck by how confident and happy David Cunliffe looks in the photos of him electioneering in Auckland today. Maybe Labour’s polling is giving them good news. I sure hope so!
Big ups to all Standardista’s for tomorrow night, where ever you may be. We’ll be at PPO command central glued to the telly.
No doubt it’s going to be a busy night on The Standard after 7pm and the comments will be flying and all going well, the champagne flowing (or whatever your choice of non al).
Agree, amazing! How did Young frame this as a bounce for Nats, they are DOWN. These results were actually available yesterday but the Herald with-held them to reduce the coverage of Labour UP and Nats DOWN. I guessed this result last night and so tweeted it, I knew if it was the opposite then Young/Herald would of shouted it from the rooftops. Young/NZH have really let themselves down here and shown their bias.
C’mon, these reporters are of the same ilk as Mr Slater. They know that unsupported headlines make a far greater impact than facts and evidence hidden in the fine print.
NZ polls are manipulated. Labour 30%+Greens 14%-NZ First 12.5% we predict.
Post election this style of phony polling endemic globally must be outlawed.
During Royal Commission into Dirty politics this type of corruption must be examined & a case to answer and a police investigation must be ordered by the new Government, here are some facts.
A simple search of “Polls can be manipulated” – inside Google found about 1,400,000 results.
Below leaves us all now with the knowledge of what in New Zealand is actually going on, it is more corruption of our MSM conducting manipulated polling results.
The new Government must call this as it is, corruption of the MSM and manipulation of all polls.
Historical record, of Herald manipulation.
We were contacted Friday 22nd of August at 4pm by Herald Digipoll by a lady who first said we are conducting a poll and could we participate?
We said yes, then she said my supervisor is listening in, is that o/k?
I hesitated but agreed and she went through a ten minute questioning, and then abruptly said we don’t need your input thanks, and hung up!
This left us so disturbed we searched the web and found all 1.4 million cases of poll manipulations globally on Goggle, which include what is called “selective polling”
We believe we were a victim of a Herald Digipoll selective polling strategy.
NZ pols are corrupted, is this a crime?
This is just one case of the 1.4 million sites on Goggle in India which may show what is happening here in NZ.
quote;
New Delhi: Public opinion gathered by leading opinion poll agencies is often tweaked to give misleading results, Operation Prime Minister, a sting operation by a private news network, News Express, has revealed Tuesday. Well-known faces from leading opinion poll agencies have been caught on hidden camera agreeing to such malpractices.
Operation Prime Minister shows how opinion polls are conducted and manipulated at the instance of political parties, their results traded to show a particular party in a favourable position, for a price. Presenting snippets from the sting operation at a press conference, Editor-in-chief of News Express, Vinod Kapri said, “Our motivation behind conducting the sting operation was a letter written by the Election Commission of India to all regional and national parties inviting their views on the publication of opinion polls.
We wanted to investigate the concerns of the Commission.” In its letter dated 4 Oct, 2013, the Election Commission had said, “The Commission has been suggesting to the government that there should be a similar prohibition or restriction on opinion polls also as there could be several manipulated opinion polls which could impact the voting pattern.”
Another motivation behind the sting operation was the mushrooming of opinion polls. “There used to be one or two opinion polls every election. But now, one sees an opinion poll almost every week. Which leads us to the question- how is the data generated so quickly and processed,” said Kapri.
“Operation Prime Minister has exposed eleven opinion poll agencies, whose surveys are published in leading newspapers and magazines besides being broadcast by leading news channels”, it was claimed in the sting opertaion.
It demonstrates how the 810 million voters of our country are duped into believing trends or waves that are manipulated. – See more at:
“Opinion polls seem to have become the latest weapon in the poll campaign.
For a price, the prediction of seats tally can be changed to suit the interests of political parties.
The agencies have no qualms accepting even black money for this purpose”,
News Express claimed. The influence of opinion poll agencies goes beyond mere opinion polls. In some cases, the poll agencies have claimed they can even prop up dummy candidates in the constituencies where the rival candidate is on a strong wicket.
It has also been claimed that some leading editors are hand in glove with these poll agencies.
This is just a few of the 1.4 million sites on Goggle. – See more at:
…and YES John Key goes tomorrow!….Winnie will be going with Labour and the Greens …with Hone, Laila, Annette and Johnny in support!…and maybe the next good guy on the list
IPredict ( chooks survey from the perches)…Great win for INt Mana and Kim Dotcom …and the poorest and the youngest in new Zealand…and Democracy NOW!
Audrey Young has just been adjudged (by a judge) as being in the same “professional category” as Slater. she must be so proud.
What was the proverb about pigs in the gutter?
In 1707 there was no referendum, just an act of parliament mainly designed to protect the fortunes of the super-rich facing bankruptcy from the failed Darien Scheme. This time the people choose.
“Cameron was badly advised (by the Labour Party who thought all voters in Scotland belonged to them) that the SNP’s support of 30% was the same level of support there would be for independence. Hence his being caught totally surprise by the NON nationalist surge…from traditional Labour voters. Cameron still thinks this is about us “kicking the effing Tories” as he put it. But we’ve been kicking the effing Tories since 1955. (to little effect) This is about kicking the effing Labour party. And THAT is the historical change. It is very sad that the arrogance and ignorance of the political class have kept English voters in the dark about what is happening. The “more Powers” nonsense betrays that the elite treats the English electorate with exactly the same contempt as we’ve been treated for the last two years. The chickens are coming home to roost. As are the Scots. No offence intended. That’s just the way it is. “
Thanks for these links joe90. I hope like anything the Scots vote for independence. Strong ancestral and clan ties means my spirit is with them, waiting anxiously for the result.
The last tvnz debate spent most of the time letting him set that one up so the MSM could hammer it over the following days. Between that and how the campaign went it was another policy free zone.
Yes. The day after tomorrow is the start of a new phase in the struggle. The mask is slipping from the Nats. We need to keep telling the story of how democracy, an increase in equality, an a sustainable society benefits us all.
Discussion of our EQC dealings in Christchurch arose this early a.m. and saw blood pressure soar as we recalled the absolutely appalling manner in which EQC have acted, and continue to act. Fuck them – black marks against their names.
A reminder of the way in which this government treated the people of east Christchurch especially. You know, the “scum” according to the fat slug slater.
This government abandoned all and sundry in east Christchurch to the wilds of the free market and insurance company plundering, while in the CBD this government turned 180 degrees away from the free market and went 100% interventionist.
This government’s actions in Christchurch are illustrative of its lies, deception and priorities. Its priorities do not lie with the people. Its priorities lie with the money.
I loathe this government.
Vote Them Out
edit: and lets not forget Ecan dictatorship to allow irrigation water theft
Christchurch will be one of the places to watch on election night vto. More than a few of the pundits reckoned that the swing from Labour to National at the last election was a big factor in Key’s win. Even if voters there just return to more normal voting habits could spell trouble for National.
I hope Cameron Slater’s Canterbury “scum, useless pricks” and his West Coast “Ferals ” remember what the Key corporation thinks of them and get out and vote.
Lan..Yip me too.
Labour in Chch central needs just 48 votes more than last time + the party votes of course if you prefer Labour to Green
Lots of electorates are on the cusp (no apologies to JK) of turning to Labour with just a few more votes. e.g. Paula Bennet won in 2011 by 9 votes was it?
Lying awake at 3am going through all the horrors of governance of the last 6 years, Christchurch was very much in mind, for the reasons you provide. Will be keeping a close eye on your electorates tomorrow night.
There is another type of dirty politics that is going on. We have Key of National party, Winston Peters of NZF, The Maori party, the Labour party, Cameron Slater and David Farrar, ….all ganging up together endorsing Labour’s Kelvin Davis to win in Te Tai Tokero in order to shaft Hone Harawira and eliminate the Internet Mana party. This kind of injustice shown here to Hone Harawira, Laila Harre, Annette Sykes, John Minto and indeed to Kim Dot Com is unfair. Personally, I think that these people in the IMP are good and honest people, far more so than many of the usual suspects in the other parties.
After careful agonising thoughts, I have now sadly switched my party vote from Labour to Internet-Mana.
I don’t see how that works. If Mana get a few seats because Hone wins an electorate, NAct is less likely to be able to out together a majority. The establishment filth against Internet Mana finally settled my vote for Mana.
If there’s one thing that will ensure Harawira’s victory in Te Tai Tokerau, it is; Key & the Dirty Politics crew endorsing Davis. But then again, hopefully every progressive voter in; Epsom, Ohariu & East-coast Bays, are holding their nose and electorate voting National.
Yep – I’m sad that the labour candidate is such a … – and as for the “it wasn’t him, it was the MP and the Gnats and NZF” – sorry that doesn’t cut it for me. Davis’s wish is coming true but it will be a poisoned challis that support he gains.
How can Labour gang up with anyone, they have a candidate standing who according to the latest poll is neck and neck. Is Labour telling their voters to vote for another party.
I am switching my vote to IMP for the reasons I gave before and also because they do have good policies which are good for the country. Besides at this time, I think IMP is the one that needs all the support and votes now.
However, if you are not convinced, then do consider Labour because, Labour too needs to get a stronger representation. The link below from Tony Milne’s website gives a good list and brief details of some of the excellent policies of Labour. Do take a look if you are not voting IMP. Tony is the Labour candidate in Christchurch central. http://www.tonymilne.org.nz/labour
People on the Maori Roll are highly unlikely to read the news, listen to what is being said, and are more inclined to make their own minds up.
Kelvin lives in Auckland.
Hone lives in Awanui.
Living in northland gives Hone the big advantage,
I’m still calling TTT for Hone as he’s well respected and has done a shitload for people in the far north as their constituent MP. They’re smart enough to realise that being in Opposition, Hone can’t do much, but if he’s at least able to influence the Greens who can then influence Labour, well then, his feed the kids bill is likely to pass.
I heard a guy ring Radio Live yesterday & he said something interesting, he was in TTT & has in the past been voting Hone & Mana, but because he became disillusioned with IMP he’s decided he will vote Labour for party (cos he likes Davis), but Hone will his electorate vote (coz he likes Hone). So if there is more people thinking like him up north, then Hone might be sweet. I certainly hope so.
@ Clem 12
I noticed that too. Disgraceful. A real beat-up. Hone is doing his best – he needs to be a feisty guy to see off this sort of chicanery. Why it’s bad is that he is a sincere small contender not like the surfers in the Conservatives and Act riding the wave of dissatisfaction and scapegoating. And possibly NZF though talking to a relative who has known and had dealings with him from years ago – to him he was always straight and honest.
We dont want National Parti Cameron Slater David Farrar and their manipulative lying in our country full stop.
They all practice psychological manipulation, it is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics.
Internet Mana Hone Harawira
” I have now sadly switched my party vote from Labour to Internet-Mana.”
After all that relentless bull about greens stealing labour votes and then you give your vote to the 1.5% minnows that won’t be in government whatever happens tomorrow.
I agree, Clem’s doggedness and unwavering unquestioning loyalty to Labour was a sight to be seen, and now he abandons them at the 11th hour to vote for the newest kid on the block.
You obviously missed the very valid reasons I gave for my vote switch to IMP at this eleventh hour.
Sometimes one has to make very difficult decisions as dictated by conscience and reason for suddenly changed circumstances as has happened in Te Tai Tokero with our political enemies and suspect friends endorsing Kevin Davies.
You are welcome. I know in my heart and mind that I am doing the correct thing under the circumstances. To me, fairness and doing the right thing is more important than blind loyalty.
No vote is ever wasted. It is foolish to vote based on pre-election media polls, which are quite suspect anyway!
Hopefully, the Labour coalition will end up needing the support of IMP by the end of tomorrow.
Cheers and Good luck!
Hopefully my single well thought out humble vote will get them to a decent level of support. Every vote counts, doesn’t it……just like every drop of water is sure to help a person in dire need, won’t it?
Right now, in my opinion, the two parties that need the most help in party votes in the left block are Labour and IMP, but due to the nasty tactics of some of the opposition big guns against IMP and Hone, I think a decent amount of party votes from around the country to IMP and majority votes to Hone in Te Tai Tokero will send out a good message to all of the political nasties around.
This is another reason why the TPP must not proceed.
USDA’s Greenlighting of ‘Agent Orange’ Crops Sparks Condemnation
Following widespread outcry, Dow’s new genetically engineered corn and soybeans get approval. The crops are Dow AgroSciences’ Enlist corn and soybeans, engineered to be resistant to its Duo herbicide, which contains 2,4-D, a component of the notorious Agent Orange. 2,4-D has been linked to Parkinson’s, birth defects, reproductive problems, and endocrine disruption. Dow states that the new system will address the problem of weeds that have become resistant to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s widely-used Roundup.
We must never never never allow their dirty GMOs in here.
Monsanto have caused tens of millions of acres of fertile US farm land to be overtaken by virulent weeds who (duh!) evolved to survive glyphosate/Roundup and now they want to spray food with 2,4 D.
This could be one of the biggest fights we have to come, imho.
And we best beware .. one of their main PR proponents is now Vice Pres of Fed Farmers, William Rolleston. He is not to be trusted.
@ yeshe 13.1
He is a smooth talker this William Rolleston, who is Federated Farmers President since July 2014. (Not to be confused with other Bill Ralston.)
A recent news item sees NZ as an agricultural super power. “In 2008, New Zealand’s primary industries share of merchandise exports was 65 percent. Last year it had grown to 73 percent. In the same time period pastoral agriculture, which we represent, has seen its share of exports grow from 40 percent to 45 percent. http://www.fedfarm.org.nz/publications/media-releases/article.asp?id=1810#.VBtnStcatL8
That is if the agricultural interests don’t shoot themselves and us in the foot.
And on dangerous GM becoming the Ebola virus of the plant world.
And perturbing information from RR Canola (Round up Ready Canola) from the USA. http://westernfarmpress.com/management/rr-canola-evolves-vexing-weed
Tests… found yields too low to make canola a profitable irrigated California crop at current prices. They gave up on canola, but canola did not give up on California. It is still around in many fields, three or four years after it was grown as a commercial crop….
And
“What makes canola a different critter is that a significant percentage of this shattered seed does not germinate the following year, which is very different from other California field crops,” Munier explained. “When the shattered seed is incorporated into dry soil, it creates what is called secondary (seed) dormancy.” This is a common genetic trait for canola.
xox
Thanks Cnr Joe, I wouldn’t read the Herald otherwise. This is a very concerning trend we are witnessing in NZ. Nick Davies (Guardian journalist) on RNZ Afternoons, spoke of the Media and Political corruption and collusion in Britain. The story sounded too familiar for any comfort for New Zealanders given our biased and paid for MSM.
try this marty … from this website, or via Chrome. Marvelous little gadget .. speeds download to as ads don’t arrive .. and you customise with one click on any site .. works a treat for watching TV online also …
if your landline rings be wary,
you are forewarned,
there are a growing number of reports on social media that landlines are being called by an automated system with a John Key voice message.
awaiting confirmation as to whether the calls included an authorizing declaration.
Yep – got one of those but didn’t hold on long enough to see if there was an authorising declaration. Really pi**ed off when scam merchants feel they have a right to make calls to a telephone line they don’t pay for.
By all means, don’t listen but do not hang up. Rather, put the receiver thingy aside and walk away – it stops the gizmo from making more calls until its time lsetting runs out. In some cases I have found robo-calls (lately from those dodgy tax claim outfits) which do not have a time limit set so I’ve been able to stop at least one line-out from making calls for hours ; )
heard back from a recipient who actually listened to the entire message. They said the John Key call did not contain any authorizing statement, so yet another item for the commission to investigate?
Few people give Kim Dotcom credit for forming a party, that speaks volumes about it’s values, simply by selecting Laila Harre as it’s leader. Few people give wealthy Kim Dotcom credit for supporting an election coalition, which advocates greater taxes for the rich.
He does follow a growing list of New Zealanders who think that being wealthy is justification for political ego gratification (Bob Jones, John Key, Colin Craig). Which I think is unhealthy to some extent, but inevitable?
Personally I trust Kim Dotcom more than I trust John Key (and his friends David Farrar and Cameron Slater); Warner Brothers; the GCSB; the Five Evil Eyes Axis; the American NSA, and even the NZ Police.
I’m not sure why he is hated as much as he is. Because of his historical hacking conviction? Or is it because he is wealthy? Or because he is obese? Or because America tells us to? Perhaps all of those, coupled with the great New Zealand tendency to treat allegations as fact, and brand the accused as guilty until proven innocent?
Thank goodness, with regard to the extradition case, that we have our Courts sitting in between Kim Dotcom and the combined forces of the Minister of Dirty Tricks and the United States of Dirty Tricks.
Some of the biggest cons have been the attempts to annihilate Dotcom, aided by the crappy MSM bias. People have been taught to hate him, in the same way they have been taught to trust John Key. I think some here even have bought into the dirty politics around him.
imho, Kim Dotcom is a genius innovator and specialist, and I want him helping our economy.
For goodness sake, he was able to hack into NASA when he was 15 to see if they believed aliens existed. He didn’t damage anything or steal anything. Same when he altered the German Chancellor’s credit rating because he just didn’t like him — again, he hacked in to Deutchesbank ( I think it was) and once again didn’t steal or destroy anything.
Also, there are emails being presented by Paul Davison QC in Dotcom’s extradition that Mega had agreed to remove anything breaching copyright, and thus there is no case for him to answer. These emails have been withheld by FBI etc.
At least allow him to be innocent until proven guilty,
Fwiw, I see no malevolence in this man. None.
I trust Laila Harre; I trust Hone.
I just voted party voted IMP.
(and I saw it suggested somewhere Kim should change his name to Kim Dotcodotnz !)
(have a feeling I’m going to be flamed for this — but hey, it’s Women’s Suffrage Day and I don’t care how hot it gets ! And thank you Kate Sheppard. And thanks to my dear great grandmother who collected dozens and dozens of signatures at the time to bring us the enduring freedom to vote freely, and so far, at least, with no armed guards around voting booths.
Dont forget alan gibbs. He bought the ACT party, has presumably put in millions, trained up his puppet hide to get the types of policies he likes..:-):-)
I hate it when anyone is targeted because of their size. Probably the hate we see towards him is manufactured because I was thinking along the same lines in that I don’t see why anyone hates him (aside from Key et al).
I have contacted the Electoral Commission to inform them that I did not receive an electoral pack and fast voting card.
Luckily, I knew that I didn’t need it and have voted.
The chap I spoke to said they’ve had a number of similar calls.
Please speak to those you know. If they are not voting because they also didn’t receive one, tell them to go along to the booths still and …. might be a good idea to let the elections.org know.
I’ve got concerns for Jason Ede’s safety. Five evil eyes, each with at least five of their evil friends, are probably tracking him continuously. To ensure that he does not stray anywhere near the Chief Ombudsman, or Guyon Espiner.
The last information I heard, and I hasten to add that it is almost certainly a rumour, is that he is living in a secret cupboard (the very same cupboard where John Key has deposited his Conscience and his Ethics), that leads to a secret escape tunnel at John Key’s mansion …. and surviving on whale meat.
If Conscience does escape, there is the optimistic possibility of a John Key “Moment of Truth” event, where Jason is wheeled out to confess, and take responsibility for everything ….in exchange for a couple of days of chicken, cooked in anything but Whale Oil.
It’s always good being remote and ensconsed in the wilds, thanks. Plenty of your namesake around for amusement though, plus this strange swimming pukeko …
Aint nothing more grounding than the wilds. Such a contrast swinging from there to the inner depths of the Chch rebuild ….
But yep – I reckon highest turnout for years thanks to the controversies, Dotcom, and a spying and lying PM. Everyone is talking it seems and methinks most everyone is keen to have their say. Gotta be a good situation for a change in this awful government.
+ 100% vto — remember 1984. Snow, rain, sleet could not deter the tide that sank Muldoon with a record turnout thirty years ago .. and here we come again.
“The election was held on 14 July. There were 2,111,651 registered voters. Turnout was 93.7%, the highest turnout ever recorded in a New Zealand election. Most political scientists attribute the high turnout to a desire by voters for change.”
All the best for tomorrow guys. I will not be posting here or any other place from the end of the day till Sunday at the earliest. Regardless of the result I am sure democracy will be the winner.
That’s very gracious of you gosman. It always suprises me how wacky people can sometimes seem so very normal. I mean here you are being nice and pleasant and wishing your competition well, yet here you are also being one of the main bloggy proponents of the types of policies that wreak havoc on those less fortunate and screw various sectors of society all to hell in such a vicious manner …
Reminds me of the craziness of religious types who believe in burning lakes of fire down below and glorious perfection in the clouds, yet seem to be quite normal when it comes to most everything else on the planet….
bizarre..
nonetheless I cannot wish your side all the best for tomorrow gosman as I don’t like them or their policies.
Its similar to sports in that you play and go hard on the field, no quarter given but once the whistle blows its all good and off to the bar for a tipple of your choice
Lynn, have you lined up a chat application for Saturday night? Trying to comment on here will be crazy. I’d recommend using IRC, should be plenty of webapps for it and those who know how can connect using an IRC client, to avoid any problems if the web site were to go down.
New Election Diary: Countdown subheading – “Today’s election bus diary: While John Key was faced with protestors in Rotorua, Cunliffe was sticking to safe ground – New Lynn. “
Implication – Brave John Key, timid Cunliffe.
The text reads: “Mr Key continued smiling as the black and red-clad Mana crowd surrounded the National Party entourage, but he ended up cutting the visit short as the atmosphere became increasingly unsettled.
He scuttled out of the mall with support from police, mall security and Diplomatic Protection Services.”
Also included is a very strange look on the face of John Key while he is ” posing for a photos with supporters during his visit to the Rotorua Central Mall. “.
Can’t decide on whether it is disdain, arrogance or fear. Perhaps a combination of the three.
“Mr Key continued smiling as the black and red-clad Mana crowd surrounded the National Party entourage” Once again the NZH brings us more great views of Planet Key, home of opposite land. A magical place where reality and reporting seldom share the same page.
also this: “At a media conference in Cambridge” that was originally slated to be held in Rotorua 😉 amazing the little details Herald journos forget to include.
Just to give those who enjoyed the talented Jordan Reyne’s “Dear John” another chance to listen.
Dear John is the tale of a Prime Minister invited to a feast where all the guests are mysteriously absent. A song about the impact of people who don’t recognise their own privilege on the lives of others.
National 46.5%
Labour 23.5%
Greens 15.5%
NZ First 8%.
Conservatives 3.5%
Maori Party 2% (Two electorates)
Internet Mana 1.5% (TTT by a whisker)
ACT <1% Epsom
UF <1% Ohariu
I thought I was going crazy for a minute… but at least they have pinned their colours to the mast and don’t even pretend to be doing balanced journalism.
Oh well. No need to bother tomorrow. Soper has just declared a win for national. Game over. Apparently. Prime news all Labour negative and lovely interview of key bemoaning all the dirty politics from the opposition. Time for another glass of wine methinks.
And now we have Dopey “Maestro” Jonathon Coleman, a Minister of the Crown in the Natz Govt caught “red” handed, defacing a Labour Party billboard – well that just about sums them up – there is nothing they won’t do to regain power!
I was going to comment on the huge numbers of advance votes cast, but NRT has a fine post on that already:
Whatever the result, the campaign has already been a tremendous success for democracy, with over 550,000 advance votes recorded. Add in today, and we’re looking at anywhere from 700 to 800 thousand – over 20% of the entire electorate. Its a tremendous level of engagement, and it shows the value of the New Zealand way of making voting easy.
There was a queue out the door of the advance voting station when I went by today, on the way to hand out IMP leaflets in the middle of town. When I mentioned that it was the 121st anniversary of Woman’s Sufferage, some woman said they’d be off to cast an advance vote, instead of waiting till tomorrow.
121 is 11 squared (ie to the power of 2: 11^2 = 121). Which may be an interesting numerical coincidence – or I might have just had too much time to muse while waiting for the next bunch of pedestrians to come within leafleting distance. The trick was to aim for optimal leaflet position, so that people could grab it without breaking stride; like a paper relay. The occasions when people would actually stop and discuss policies were welcome breaks that I was glad to be able to reward with badges.
Only the scrutineering, and then the multi-party party tomorrow night, to and I can get back to all things I’ve let slide during this campaign. Looking forward to Sunday!
And unfortunately the elections organisation couldn’t be bothered sending out a few extra boxes of votes. Otag Uni booth closed about half an hour early when they ran out of paper and a central wellington booth down to its last few papers. why don’t they order more boxes when they open the last box, standard stock managemetn practice. Can’t see why they can’t deliver more boxes in an hour and a half.
Personally, my candidate vote (as I am not in Te Tai Tokero) will be for the Labour candidate in my electorate and my party vote will be for the Internet-MANA party as all the big guns are trying very hard to sabotage Hone Harawira and the fair success of IMP and therefore I think that IMP is in most need of party votes now. Besides, I like their truly leftist as well as forward looking ideas. They have amazingly committed honest admirable people of integrity and courage on their list. I feel that these are the type of MPs that we need to represent our country to make it a great, fair and happy nation once again.
The lying arsehole rang me about 30 minutes ago – landline. Taped call of course. I so hate the sound of his nasally, cretinous voice I smashed the phone back on it’s cradle but not before advising him he was a “lying arsehole” which was a pointless exercise of course. Now I wish I’d held on so I could report what crap he is telling people. Perhaps something along the lines of… do you want to be governed by a five headed monster including Kim Dotcom?
Thanks karol and joe90. Feel better knowing Cunliffe is doing it too. 🙂
I was so incensed I tried to ring the Nat. Auckland headquarters to let them know what I thought of my dinner being interrupted by “their third-rate lying arsehole of a leader” but they (wisely) had an 0800 number listed so no use leaving a message.
Guess they’re concentrating on their own territories. I live on the Shore.
Labour’s final advertisement on TV very powerful. Cunliffe passionate and straight up.
Natinal’s advertisement- Key insincere lying lizard. ‘We’re this plucky little country…..bull shit ….bull shit..”.snore!
(My neutral analysis.)
I had a call from a mate on behalf of the Greens – a human being, using his contacts.
Human contact, like in the old days.
I still probably won’t vote for them, but in the coin toss tomorrow it definitely pushed the greens ahead of IMP (who I also have mates supporting, but they tend to just FB me with slacktivism).
So it’s greens or Labour – although to be honest, I still don’t like hippies and a colleague of mine is a Labour candidate, so it looks doubtful.
But yeah – if someone supports a party, they should get on the phone to a mate or two tonight. Not heavy, just “do you know who you’re voting for? Have you considered X?”.
Softens even the biggest prick of a heart 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to people about voting. Left of course. I did this time and hope it can somehow compete with the slew of National ad cash.
I voted Greens purely because of two of their policies:
1. 40% taxrate on incomes over $140k. Labour’s 36% rate is just too timid.
2. Promising to re-negotiate the cost-sharing arrangement with the CHCH council, so that we don’t have to sell assets.
On political compass, I lined up very closely to Labour.
I was a bit surprised by that figure as well, given that a good 10% of National’s vote are centrists who are just voting for National because of Key and their rhetoric; a good chunk of the people who voted Labour in 1999-2005.
That figure really surprises me, because usually right wingers who comment on them say we need to be protected from terrorists, or if you’ve got nothing to hide…. So they believe Snowden, but don’t think it matters.
Good luck for tomorrow everyone. Feels like Christmas Eve :).
Regaredless of how Labour does, I think Cunliffe should stay on till 2017. Just like Kirk did in 1966. And 1969. And Bolger in 87, Nash in 51 and 54. Clark in 96.
The thought of McVicar and Rankin in the executive should get the young, poor and brown out to vote. Becase it is they who they will come for. And if they do, we need to speak up. Before we are next.
As we go into tomorrow, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has shared their thoughts, wisdom and humour in the lead up to this election.
I hope the majority of you will be happy tomorrow night but no matter who wins, the topics discussed here will continue in to be relevant and the fight for a better world for all will continue.
I hope you find a moment this weekend to laugh, hug your partner or a child, pat the cat … whatever brings you joy.
Because, ackshully, at the end of the day, what the New Zealand people really care about is ….. each other
If you missed Phil Goff on “Jono and Ben at 10”, catch it on the TV3 website. He was incredible. Usually I can’t stand politicians trying to show us their “funny” side (like you-know-who, the Prime Comedian), but this was definitely an exception.
I think tomorrow night will be a big surprise for everyone, pleasant for the left block including IMP and the centrist, Winston, but a shock for Key, National, ACT, Dunne and the Cons.
Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka KotahiThe fact that a ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st CenturyThe SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims StuffSteve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
David Farrar writes – We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how labour went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promiseThe result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
“I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
.“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
“It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet – is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
Bob Edlin writes – And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ HeraldThomas CoughlanSimeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
TL;DR:Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
The pressure is mounting on the Government as it finalises its Budget Policy Statement, but yet more predicted revenue ‘goes missing’. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Climate Commission has delivered another funding blow to the National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government’s tax-cutting plans, potentially carving $1.4 billion off the ‘climate ...
The Government now faces the prospect of having to watch another tax raise the price of petrol when, only six days ago, it abolished the Auckland Regional Fuel tax. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that the regional fuel tax imposed costs on lower-income people with less fuel-efficient vehicles and that ...
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 ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
Today marks a tragic milestone for New Zealanders as the Coalition Government side with big tobacco to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins and Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti. Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
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Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
Reacting to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s refusal to rule out introducing new taxes at the budget, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Today’s refusal to rule out new taxes suggests the Government is nothing more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Aila Images/Shutterstock Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they ...
He’s bringing ‘Sophie’ back, yeah. Goodshirt’s ‘Sophie’ music video is one of the most instantly recognisable New Zealand music videos of all time. Featuring a woman listening to the song on headphones while her entire house is burgled behind her, the video won the New Zealand music award for Best ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University A year ago, the AUKUS agreement was formally announced between Australian and UK Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden. The agreement mapped out the “optimal ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Tesch, Visiting Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies, Australian National University In perhaps the least surprising news of the year, Vladimir Putin has triumphed at the Russian ballot box and been enthroned for the fifth time as president. He ...
The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court has stopped a byelection for the Madang Open seat being held until an appeal filed by former MP Bryan Kramer is concluded. Kramer had appealed to the Supreme Court over a National Court decision not to review his application of the Leadership Tribunal decision ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Despite a “historic” ceasefire agreement in Papua New Guinea between Enga authorities and tribal leaders after months of bitter warfare, a young woman has been found brutally killed near Kaekin village, Wapenamanda. Despite the peace agreement and signing concluded in Port Moresby last Thursday ...
The second season of Ryan Murphy’s Feud is a sadder and slower entry into his canon of true story-telling, leaning heavily on a verdict about the cost of a single work of art. Hollywood heavyweight Ryan Murphy has had a bit of “ick” about him in the last few years. ...
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By Aisha Azeemah in Suva With the lights on one of his sneakers blinking as he ran through the gallery, a little boy looked up at several works of art. One of them was a sculpture of his grandfather: the man who changed how we see the Pacific — Epeli ...
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Kia Ora Te Whanau.
Tomorrow comments will be off as we have a discussion free day. Take the opportunity to go out and work for your particular left wing party. Then from 7 pm there will be general and strategic seat specific posts going up. Election night I will be at the New Lynn Labour HQ. It could be an interesting night …
There is plenty that can be discussed tomorrow, re the 2 Scottish votes of yes (?) – Independence & the R&R letting in female members !! Or did I miss it and this site will be down until 7:00 pm
As the Scottish vote (if yes) for many will have major ramifications world wide. E.g. The UN Security Council , and the UK’s place in world affairs, also the turnout % especially given that voting has taken place on a Thursday, think what the turnout in nz would be for a mid week vote?
If commments are enabled tomorrow someone will have to actively moderate to make sure there is no discussion about who to vote for (NZ). That would mean someone from the standard having to be online all day. I can understand why they don’t want to do that (although, yes, discussing Scotland would be good).
Kia kaha — may it bring all we wish for Micky … will be a long night I think !
Struck by how confident and happy David Cunliffe looks in the photos of him electioneering in Auckland today. Maybe Labour’s polling is giving them good news. I sure hope so!
Big ups to all Standardista’s for tomorrow night, where ever you may be. We’ll be at PPO command central glued to the telly.
No doubt it’s going to be a busy night on The Standard after 7pm and the comments will be flying and all going well, the champagne flowing (or whatever your choice of non al).
The time to reclaim our country is almost here!
whoar will be open tomorrow..
Audrey Young and NZ Herald shamelessly demonstrate their desperate bias with today’s headline that shouts “Last voter survey before election day shows jump in National’s rating.”
Nice headline to run the day before an election for this Tory rag but sadly, for them, it’s a work of fiction.
If you scroll down the page to look at the actual poll you will see that National’s support has dropped while Labour’s has risen.
Somewhat poignant reminder of the regard Key and co. have for the truth. I smell desperation.
Colour me surprised, last day to spin the sheeple as directed.
Agree, amazing! How did Young frame this as a bounce for Nats, they are DOWN. These results were actually available yesterday but the Herald with-held them to reduce the coverage of Labour UP and Nats DOWN. I guessed this result last night and so tweeted it, I knew if it was the opposite then Young/Herald would of shouted it from the rooftops. Young/NZH have really let themselves down here and shown their bias.
C’mon, these reporters are of the same ilk as Mr Slater. They know that unsupported headlines make a far greater impact than facts and evidence hidden in the fine print.
NZ polls are manipulated. Labour 30%+Greens 14%-NZ First 12.5% we predict.
Post election this style of phony polling endemic globally must be outlawed.
During Royal Commission into Dirty politics this type of corruption must be examined & a case to answer and a police investigation must be ordered by the new Government, here are some facts.
A simple search of “Polls can be manipulated” – inside Google found about 1,400,000 results.
Below leaves us all now with the knowledge of what in New Zealand is actually going on, it is more corruption of our MSM conducting manipulated polling results.
The new Government must call this as it is, corruption of the MSM and manipulation of all polls.
Historical record, of Herald manipulation.
We were contacted Friday 22nd of August at 4pm by Herald Digipoll by a lady who first said we are conducting a poll and could we participate?
We said yes, then she said my supervisor is listening in, is that o/k?
I hesitated but agreed and she went through a ten minute questioning, and then abruptly said we don’t need your input thanks, and hung up!
This left us so disturbed we searched the web and found all 1.4 million cases of poll manipulations globally on Goggle, which include what is called “selective polling”
We believe we were a victim of a Herald Digipoll selective polling strategy.
NZ pols are corrupted, is this a crime?
This is just one case of the 1.4 million sites on Goggle in India which may show what is happening here in NZ.
quote;
New Delhi: Public opinion gathered by leading opinion poll agencies is often tweaked to give misleading results, Operation Prime Minister, a sting operation by a private news network, News Express, has revealed Tuesday. Well-known faces from leading opinion poll agencies have been caught on hidden camera agreeing to such malpractices.
Operation Prime Minister shows how opinion polls are conducted and manipulated at the instance of political parties, their results traded to show a particular party in a favourable position, for a price. Presenting snippets from the sting operation at a press conference, Editor-in-chief of News Express, Vinod Kapri said, “Our motivation behind conducting the sting operation was a letter written by the Election Commission of India to all regional and national parties inviting their views on the publication of opinion polls.
We wanted to investigate the concerns of the Commission.” In its letter dated 4 Oct, 2013, the Election Commission had said, “The Commission has been suggesting to the government that there should be a similar prohibition or restriction on opinion polls also as there could be several manipulated opinion polls which could impact the voting pattern.”
Another motivation behind the sting operation was the mushrooming of opinion polls. “There used to be one or two opinion polls every election. But now, one sees an opinion poll almost every week. Which leads us to the question- how is the data generated so quickly and processed,” said Kapri.
“Operation Prime Minister has exposed eleven opinion poll agencies, whose surveys are published in leading newspapers and magazines besides being broadcast by leading news channels”, it was claimed in the sting opertaion.
It demonstrates how the 810 million voters of our country are duped into believing trends or waves that are manipulated. – See more at:
“Opinion polls seem to have become the latest weapon in the poll campaign.
For a price, the prediction of seats tally can be changed to suit the interests of political parties.
The agencies have no qualms accepting even black money for this purpose”,
News Express claimed. The influence of opinion poll agencies goes beyond mere opinion polls. In some cases, the poll agencies have claimed they can even prop up dummy candidates in the constituencies where the rival candidate is on a strong wicket.
It has also been claimed that some leading editors are hand in glove with these poll agencies.
This is just a few of the 1.4 million sites on Goggle. – See more at:
http://www.ummid.com/news/2014/February/26.02.2014/opinion-poll-companies-exposed.html#sthash.wqSJ2ylu.dpuf
http://www.sciences360.com/index.php/statistics-16350/
http://www.ummid.com/news/2014/February/26.02.2014/opinion-poll-companies-exposed.html#sthash.h8rTzw8V.dpuf
http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/471548/exit-polls-manipulated-modi-will-never-be-pm-samajwadi-party.html
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/general-impression-that-opinion-polls-can-be-manipulated-sibal/20131109.htm
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Many-agencies-manipulating-opinion-poll-projections-claims-sting-operation/articleshow/31013534.cms
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/2764415112001
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misuse_of_statistics
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/mhp-furious-over-opinion-poll-manipulation-claims.aspx?pageID=238&nID=62184&NewsCatID=338
Local Kiwi +100…thanks for the reminder
…and YES John Key goes tomorrow!….Winnie will be going with Labour and the Greens …with Hone, Laila, Annette and Johnny in support!…and maybe the next good guy on the list
IPredict ( chooks survey from the perches)…Great win for INt Mana and Kim Dotcom …and the poorest and the youngest in new Zealand…and Democracy NOW!
Audrey Young has just been adjudged (by a judge) as being in the same “professional category” as Slater. she must be so proud.
What was the proverb about pigs in the gutter?
In 1707 there was no referendum, just an act of parliament mainly designed to protect the fortunes of the super-rich facing bankruptcy from the failed Darien Scheme. This time the people choose.
Scotland will vote YES. To get a good insight read this piece by Peter Arnott the Playwright.
http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2014/09/16/the-new-reality/
“Cameron was badly advised (by the Labour Party who thought all voters in Scotland belonged to them) that the SNP’s support of 30% was the same level of support there would be for independence. Hence his being caught totally surprise by the NON nationalist surge…from traditional Labour voters. Cameron still thinks this is about us “kicking the effing Tories” as he put it. But we’ve been kicking the effing Tories since 1955. (to little effect) This is about kicking the effing Labour party. And THAT is the historical change. It is very sad that the arrogance and ignorance of the political class have kept English voters in the dark about what is happening. The “more Powers” nonsense betrays that the elite treats the English electorate with exactly the same contempt as we’ve been treated for the last two years. The chickens are coming home to roost. As are the Scots. No offence intended. That’s just the way it is. “
Live coverage.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/events/scotland-decides/live
https://new.livestream.com/IndependenceLive
http://www.reddit.com/live/tkybh0xkkmzv
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2014/sep/18/scottish-independence-referendum-polling-day-live
Do you know what time the results are expected?
Between 2 (1pm our time) and 6 am.
https://twitter.com/CathLevett/status/512605270422589440/photo/1
Thanks for these links joe90. I hope like anything the Scots vote for independence. Strong ancestral and clan ties means my spirit is with them, waiting anxiously for the result.
Kia Kaha Scotland!
C-span has the BBC election coverage.
http://www.c-span.org/video/?321558-1/bbc-scottish-independence-referendum-coverage
edit: BBC Radio Scotland.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland/on-air
it is not looking particularly good at present for a Yes.
not jason ede but we have brownie points. Ombudsman – http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11327328
“…kiss democracy goodbye…..” from another angle. Ffs.
Brave woman to investigate all Govt Depts and inviting whistle-blowers .. and what a marvelous day to see it published,
Needs this second part of the story …
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11327317
btw, where is Jason Ede ?
Yes, that. Plus Greenwald says he has further things to report on http://publicaddress.net/hardnews/interview-glenn-greenwald/
(Lanth, that’s why I don’t think Key is out of the thick of it yet).
I just heard Key on Morning Report specifically trying to attack the viability of a Lab/Grns/NZF coalition government. Nats must be really worried.
The last tvnz debate spent most of the time letting him set that one up so the MSM could hammer it over the following days. Between that and how the campaign went it was another policy free zone.
Neil Finn on stage last night in Napier….”Don’t vote for the Spies”.
+1 😀
I am gonna make it through this year* if it kills me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZEE_Ng1YKg
*Ok, six years, but you know what I mean.
This is an outrage, but explains a lot of the OIA request issues of late
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11327317
“…I think the public of New Zealand should be taking very seriously because it attacks the whole integrity of the system of governance.”
Dame Beverley said whistleblowers should make contact with the Office of the Ombudsman if they had evidence of such practices.
Wake up sleepy hobbits, democracy is more than ticking two boxes once every three years.
Yes. The day after tomorrow is the start of a new phase in the struggle. The mask is slipping from the Nats. We need to keep telling the story of how democracy, an increase in equality, an a sustainable society benefits us all.
Discussion of our EQC dealings in Christchurch arose this early a.m. and saw blood pressure soar as we recalled the absolutely appalling manner in which EQC have acted, and continue to act. Fuck them – black marks against their names.
A reminder of the way in which this government treated the people of east Christchurch especially. You know, the “scum” according to the fat slug slater.
This government abandoned all and sundry in east Christchurch to the wilds of the free market and insurance company plundering, while in the CBD this government turned 180 degrees away from the free market and went 100% interventionist.
This government’s actions in Christchurch are illustrative of its lies, deception and priorities. Its priorities do not lie with the people. Its priorities lie with the money.
I loathe this government.
Vote Them Out
edit: and lets not forget Ecan dictatorship to allow irrigation water theft
Christchurch will be one of the places to watch on election night vto. More than a few of the pundits reckoned that the swing from Labour to National at the last election was a big factor in Key’s win. Even if voters there just return to more normal voting habits could spell trouble for National.
I hope Cameron Slater’s Canterbury “scum, useless pricks” and his West Coast “Ferals ” remember what the Key corporation thinks of them and get out and vote.
And the weather looks better for teh South Island than up north 🙂
Yip, that’s my belief for why Labour will win the election – Christhchurch is not only going to reverse the vote swing of 2011, but go further left.
Lan..Yip me too.
Labour in Chch central needs just 48 votes more than last time + the party votes of course if you prefer Labour to Green
Lots of electorates are on the cusp (no apologies to JK) of turning to Labour with just a few more votes. e.g. Paula Bennet won in 2011 by 9 votes was it?
Lying awake at 3am going through all the horrors of governance of the last 6 years, Christchurch was very much in mind, for the reasons you provide. Will be keeping a close eye on your electorates tomorrow night.
All the best for a red tide.
Ta. Luck to you too.
this is my favourite international politician…and here is why..
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/18/-sp-is-this-worlds-most-radical-president-uruguay-jose-mujica
f.y.i..
..for those desiring a musical-break from politics..
..this morn i have album-streams of the new leonard cohen album..
..and of the new aphex twin offering..(their first in 13 yrs..)
and a link to an editorial from the guardian..on our election..
..which is kinda interesting..
“(their first in 13 yrs..)”
Aphex Twin is one man
Internet -Mana, Hone Harawira :
There is another type of dirty politics that is going on. We have Key of National party, Winston Peters of NZF, The Maori party, the Labour party, Cameron Slater and David Farrar, ….all ganging up together endorsing Labour’s Kelvin Davis to win in Te Tai Tokero in order to shaft Hone Harawira and eliminate the Internet Mana party. This kind of injustice shown here to Hone Harawira, Laila Harre, Annette Sykes, John Minto and indeed to Kim Dot Com is unfair. Personally, I think that these people in the IMP are good and honest people, far more so than many of the usual suspects in the other parties.
After careful agonising thoughts, I have now sadly switched my party vote from Labour to Internet-Mana.
“.. I think that these people in the IMP are good and honest people, far more so than many of the usual suspects in the other parties. .”
..+ 1..
OK. Then enjoy another 3years of John Key.
I don’t see how that works. If Mana get a few seats because Hone wins an electorate, NAct is less likely to be able to out together a majority. The establishment filth against Internet Mana finally settled my vote for Mana.
Clemgeopin
If there’s one thing that will ensure Harawira’s victory in Te Tai Tokerau, it is; Key & the Dirty Politics crew endorsing Davis. But then again, hopefully every progressive voter in; Epsom, Ohariu & East-coast Bays, are holding their nose and electorate voting National.
Yep – I’m sad that the labour candidate is such a … – and as for the “it wasn’t him, it was the MP and the Gnats and NZF” – sorry that doesn’t cut it for me. Davis’s wish is coming true but it will be a poisoned challis that support he gains.
How can Labour gang up with anyone, they have a candidate standing who according to the latest poll is neck and neck. Is Labour telling their voters to vote for another party.
You are right. Labour’s position is clear in endorsing their own candidate.
I am switching my vote to IMP for the reasons I gave before and also because they do have good policies which are good for the country. Besides at this time, I think IMP is the one that needs all the support and votes now.
However, if you are not convinced, then do consider Labour because, Labour too needs to get a stronger representation. The link below from Tony Milne’s website gives a good list and brief details of some of the excellent policies of Labour. Do take a look if you are not voting IMP. Tony is the Labour candidate in Christchurch central.
http://www.tonymilne.org.nz/labour
I was under the impression that Labour were going slow on Davis. Have they done something this week to undermine Harawira?
“After careful agonising thoughts, I have now sadly switched my party vote from Labour to Internet-Mana.”
Good on you Clem.
A candidate that on current polling will not make it from the list
Only problem with that aspect
People on the Maori Roll are highly unlikely to read the news, listen to what is being said, and are more inclined to make their own minds up.
Kelvin lives in Auckland.
Hone lives in Awanui.
Living in northland gives Hone the big advantage,
I’m still calling TTT for Hone as he’s well respected and has done a shitload for people in the far north as their constituent MP. They’re smart enough to realise that being in Opposition, Hone can’t do much, but if he’s at least able to influence the Greens who can then influence Labour, well then, his feed the kids bill is likely to pass.
I heard a guy ring Radio Live yesterday & he said something interesting, he was in TTT & has in the past been voting Hone & Mana, but because he became disillusioned with IMP he’s decided he will vote Labour for party (cos he likes Davis), but Hone will his electorate vote (coz he likes Hone). So if there is more people thinking like him up north, then Hone might be sweet. I certainly hope so.
@ Clem 12
I noticed that too. Disgraceful. A real beat-up. Hone is doing his best – he needs to be a feisty guy to see off this sort of chicanery. Why it’s bad is that he is a sincere small contender not like the surfers in the Conservatives and Act riding the wave of dissatisfaction and scapegoating. And possibly NZF though talking to a relative who has known and had dealings with him from years ago – to him he was always straight and honest.
This is the real winston peters
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11327326
We dont want National Parti Cameron Slater David Farrar and their manipulative lying in our country full stop.
They all practice psychological manipulation, it is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics.
Internet Mana Hone Harawira
” I have now sadly switched my party vote from Labour to Internet-Mana.”
After all that relentless bull about greens stealing labour votes and then you give your vote to the 1.5% minnows that won’t be in government whatever happens tomorrow.
Classic. 😆
It is called democracy and anyone can vote for anyone that they want to or believe in allen – I’m surprised you haven’t worked that out yet.
Onya Clem whatever happens you have contributed mate and for that I thank you.
Sure, goes without saying. I took that as granted,and thought everyone else did too.
Vote for who you want, just like advert says.
Still, I can’t help but have a smile at the change of heart though, all things considered. I wouldn’t let it spoil your election eve celebrations.
Save your laughs for tomorrow night – I’m sure you’ll get sore guts from it. 🙂
I’ll get some tablets in. I’m picking a&e will be chock-a-block tomorrow with cases of split sides and heads laughed off a plenty.
Yep – the work to create equality and help those disadvantaged under our current system will continue tomorrow and the next day and so on…
Your response is spurious, but I agree re yep, I’m sure it will.
Just because you can’t follow it doesn’t mean it’s spurious allen – anyway tomorrow will be here soon enough.
I agree, Clem’s doggedness and unwavering unquestioning loyalty to Labour was a sight to be seen, and now he abandons them at the 11th hour to vote for the newest kid on the block.
You obviously missed the very valid reasons I gave for my vote switch to IMP at this eleventh hour.
Sometimes one has to make very difficult decisions as dictated by conscience and reason for suddenly changed circumstances as has happened in Te Tai Tokero with our political enemies and suspect friends endorsing Kevin Davies.
You are welcome. I know in my heart and mind that I am doing the correct thing under the circumstances. To me, fairness and doing the right thing is more important than blind loyalty.
No vote is ever wasted. It is foolish to vote based on pre-election media polls, which are quite suspect anyway!
Hopefully, the Labour coalition will end up needing the support of IMP by the end of tomorrow.
Cheers and Good luck!
Hopefully my single well thought out humble vote will get them to a decent level of support. Every vote counts, doesn’t it……just like every drop of water is sure to help a person in dire need, won’t it?
Right now, in my opinion, the two parties that need the most help in party votes in the left block are Labour and IMP, but due to the nasty tactics of some of the opposition big guns against IMP and Hone, I think a decent amount of party votes from around the country to IMP and majority votes to Hone in Te Tai Tokero will send out a good message to all of the political nasties around.
Have a thought about it.
No thanks, I’ve already party voted green, and your analysis wouldn’t have changed that.
More than any other candidate I think Hone deserves his seat. Hope he crushes Davis in the end.
This is another reason why the TPP must not proceed.
USDA’s Greenlighting of ‘Agent Orange’ Crops Sparks Condemnation
Following widespread outcry, Dow’s new genetically engineered corn and soybeans get approval. The crops are Dow AgroSciences’ Enlist corn and soybeans, engineered to be resistant to its Duo herbicide, which contains 2,4-D, a component of the notorious Agent Orange. 2,4-D has been linked to Parkinson’s, birth defects, reproductive problems, and endocrine disruption. Dow states that the new system will address the problem of weeds that have become resistant to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s widely-used Roundup.
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/09/18/usdas-greenlighting-agent-orange-crops-sparks-condemnation
We do not want to have American Rules here.
Remember a vote for National is a vote for the TPP which opens the door to corporations like Dow.
We must never never never allow their dirty GMOs in here.
Monsanto have caused tens of millions of acres of fertile US farm land to be overtaken by virulent weeds who (duh!) evolved to survive glyphosate/Roundup and now they want to spray food with 2,4 D.
This could be one of the biggest fights we have to come, imho.
And we best beware .. one of their main PR proponents is now Vice Pres of Fed Farmers, William Rolleston. He is not to be trusted.
Examples: one April 2014, one last year.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/9939953/GM-in-NZ-on-farming-leaders-agenda
http://www.agprofessional.com/news/New-Zealand-may-reverse-its-stance-on-GM-foods-171218551.html
corporate power destroying our environment, destroying our food chain.
@ yeshe 13.1
He is a smooth talker this William Rolleston, who is Federated Farmers President since July 2014. (Not to be confused with other Bill Ralston.)
A recent news item sees NZ as an agricultural super power.
“In 2008, New Zealand’s primary industries share of merchandise exports was 65 percent. Last year it had grown to 73 percent. In the same time period pastoral agriculture, which we represent, has seen its share of exports grow from 40 percent to 45 percent.
http://www.fedfarm.org.nz/publications/media-releases/article.asp?id=1810#.VBtnStcatL8
That is if the agricultural interests don’t shoot themselves and us in the foot.
Black grass spill – ‘Alien weed invades Mid Canterbury’ 5 Sept 2013 – NZ Herald contains no identification of seed company involved.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11120176
then – ‘Invasive weed seed importer owns up’ NZ Farmer.co.nz (PGG Wrightson is the culprit)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/9134527/Invasive-weed-seed-importer-owns-up
And on dangerous GM becoming the Ebola virus of the plant world.
And perturbing information from RR Canola (Round up Ready Canola) from the USA.
http://westernfarmpress.com/management/rr-canola-evolves-vexing-weed
Tests… found yields too low to make canola a profitable irrigated California crop at current prices. They gave up on canola, but canola did not give up on California. It is still around in many fields, three or four years after it was grown as a commercial crop….
And
“What makes canola a different critter is that a significant percentage of this shattered seed does not germinate the following year, which is very different from other California field crops,” Munier explained. “When the shattered seed is incorporated into dry soil, it creates what is called secondary (seed) dormancy.” This is a common genetic trait for canola.
And also concerns from the EU about roadside escapes contaminating crops in extensive scientific study.
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11248-011-9515-9#page-1
xox
Thanks Cnr Joe, I wouldn’t read the Herald otherwise. This is a very concerning trend we are witnessing in NZ. Nick Davies (Guardian journalist) on RNZ Afternoons, spoke of the Media and Political corruption and collusion in Britain. The story sounded too familiar for any comfort for New Zealanders given our biased and paid for MSM.
Jeepers The Stuff website is infested with gnat advertising – wall to wall yuck.
try this marty … from this website, or via Chrome. Marvelous little gadget .. speeds download to as ads don’t arrive .. and you customise with one click on any site .. works a treat for watching TV online also …
means you don’t support a bunch of rubbish !
https://getadblock.com/
Thanks – much nicer now.
great. the only prob i ever had was tv3 — u hv to allow them even for news clips, use icon top right on yr taskbar.
yeshe you have preformed a great public service with this info – thank you again.
😀
does that work for blocking info ads? They just popped up on my pc and are damn near taking over
what’s an info ad ? I get no ads at all and it’s marvelous !
try it and see — 100% safe and cheap .. and I think it’s free on Chrome Apps.
Yeah, free for Chrome, and this one is also good to have: dnt.abine.com/#/dashboard
nice one, thx Murray.
I have it as an addon to Firefox. Safe and free, just search for addblock in extensions.
That seems to be an infection that needs to be removed. Detailed info on how to do so is to be found here.
And I did check that site out first as well.
DTB — just for clarity, you mean the info ads, not adblock. the reply nmbrs are not that clear !
Yes.
thx DTB … have a great day tomorrow.
What’s happened to Felix.
Has she got a job?
Funny. I was under the impression that most people here comment from work.
That’s not funny
what?
Miss you Felix.
Pretty sure felix is male.
But yeah, I’ve been wondering where he went to. He was petering out in his commenting frequency for a while.
if your landline rings be wary,
you are forewarned,
there are a growing number of reports on social media that landlines are being called by an automated system with a John Key voice message.
awaiting confirmation as to whether the calls included an authorizing declaration.
Yep – got one of those but didn’t hold on long enough to see if there was an authorising declaration. Really pi**ed off when scam merchants feel they have a right to make calls to a telephone line they don’t pay for.
seems no-one listened long enough to find out 🙂
‘
By all means, don’t listen but do not hang up. Rather, put the receiver thingy aside and walk away – it stops the gizmo from making more calls until its time lsetting runs out. In some cases I have found robo-calls (lately from those dodgy tax claim outfits) which do not have a time limit set so I’ve been able to stop at least one line-out from making calls for hours ; )
btw,
Would just like to say thanks Blip.
I know a number of people where your list was instrumental in bringing their vote left.
Hah, a use for my unwanted landline 😈
heard back from a recipient who actually listened to the entire message. They said the John Key call did not contain any authorizing statement, so yet another item for the commission to investigate?
Good spotting.
Good news for miners, hopefully.
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/09/18/15548/bill-aims-stop-coal-companies-denying-benefits-miners-black-lung?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=watchdog&utm_medium=publici-email&goal=0_ffd1d0160d-722f67d16d-100020097&mc_cid=722f67d16d&mc_eid=c346e018f7
Anything that stops companies setting things up so their obligations are avoided at the expense of workers is a good step.
Few people give Kim Dotcom credit for forming a party, that speaks volumes about it’s values, simply by selecting Laila Harre as it’s leader. Few people give wealthy Kim Dotcom credit for supporting an election coalition, which advocates greater taxes for the rich.
He does follow a growing list of New Zealanders who think that being wealthy is justification for political ego gratification (Bob Jones, John Key, Colin Craig). Which I think is unhealthy to some extent, but inevitable?
Personally I trust Kim Dotcom more than I trust John Key (and his friends David Farrar and Cameron Slater); Warner Brothers; the GCSB; the Five Evil Eyes Axis; the American NSA, and even the NZ Police.
I’m not sure why he is hated as much as he is. Because of his historical hacking conviction? Or is it because he is wealthy? Or because he is obese? Or because America tells us to? Perhaps all of those, coupled with the great New Zealand tendency to treat allegations as fact, and brand the accused as guilty until proven innocent?
Thank goodness, with regard to the extradition case, that we have our Courts sitting in between Kim Dotcom and the combined forces of the Minister of Dirty Tricks and the United States of Dirty Tricks.
@..brian..
..+ 1..
..not to forget that it is down to him..
..that we now know we are under mass-surveillance by american spooks..
..this hate-dotcom meme is both hysterical and unhinged…
..people doing what the media tell them to do..
..he has put some money into a political party..(so what..?..)
..can we plse see a list of the millionaires who donate to national/act..
..w.t.f. is the difference..?
..especially when those millionaires really are buying legislation that favours them..from key/national…
..these are the pricks who are pointing at dotcom and going ‘ew!’..
..w.t.f..!
Some of the biggest cons have been the attempts to annihilate Dotcom, aided by the crappy MSM bias. People have been taught to hate him, in the same way they have been taught to trust John Key. I think some here even have bought into the dirty politics around him.
imho, Kim Dotcom is a genius innovator and specialist, and I want him helping our economy.
For goodness sake, he was able to hack into NASA when he was 15 to see if they believed aliens existed. He didn’t damage anything or steal anything. Same when he altered the German Chancellor’s credit rating because he just didn’t like him — again, he hacked in to Deutchesbank ( I think it was) and once again didn’t steal or destroy anything.
Also, there are emails being presented by Paul Davison QC in Dotcom’s extradition that Mega had agreed to remove anything breaching copyright, and thus there is no case for him to answer. These emails have been withheld by FBI etc.
At least allow him to be innocent until proven guilty,
Fwiw, I see no malevolence in this man. None.
I trust Laila Harre; I trust Hone.
I just voted party voted IMP.
(and I saw it suggested somewhere Kim should change his name to Kim Dotcodotnz !)
(have a feeling I’m going to be flamed for this — but hey, it’s Women’s Suffrage Day and I don’t care how hot it gets ! And thank you Kate Sheppard. And thanks to my dear great grandmother who collected dozens and dozens of signatures at the time to bring us the enduring freedom to vote freely, and so far, at least, with no armed guards around voting booths.
“I trust Laila Harre; I trust Hone.
I just voted party voted IMP.”
Me too – it is so gratifying to be able to vote for people that I trust and believe in.
+100 yeshe…agree with everything you say!
Well said, yeshe. Good night and may your wish come true tomorrow night. Cheers!
Cheers Clem .. sweet dreams.
I don’t trust John Key but that doesn’t mean I trust Dot Con either, best thing would be for Key to get the boot and Dot Con to get the boot as well
Both as bad as each other
Dont forget alan gibbs. He bought the ACT party, has presumably put in millions, trained up his puppet hide to get the types of policies he likes..:-):-)
and many millions … add heatley, farmer and others .. and it kind of proves to me that no amount of money has been able to make Act work !! lol
I hate it when anyone is targeted because of their size. Probably the hate we see towards him is manufactured because I was thinking along the same lines in that I don’t see why anyone hates him (aside from Key et al).
Very well said. Thank goodness for thinkers of integrity and fairness like you. Bless you, mate.
I have contacted the Electoral Commission to inform them that I did not receive an electoral pack and fast voting card.
Luckily, I knew that I didn’t need it and have voted.
The chap I spoke to said they’ve had a number of similar calls.
Please speak to those you know. If they are not voting because they also didn’t receive one, tell them to go along to the booths still and …. might be a good idea to let the elections.org know.
Nats should lose simply for the reason that we still don’t know “WHERE IS JASON EDE?”
I’ve got concerns for Jason Ede’s safety. Five evil eyes, each with at least five of their evil friends, are probably tracking him continuously. To ensure that he does not stray anywhere near the Chief Ombudsman, or Guyon Espiner.
The last information I heard, and I hasten to add that it is almost certainly a rumour, is that he is living in a secret cupboard (the very same cupboard where John Key has deposited his Conscience and his Ethics), that leads to a secret escape tunnel at John Key’s mansion …. and surviving on whale meat.
If Conscience does escape, there is the optimistic possibility of a John Key “Moment of Truth” event, where Jason is wheeled out to confess, and take responsibility for everything ….in exchange for a couple of days of chicken, cooked in anything but Whale Oil.
Key speaks:
No Colin, stop it. don’t be silly.
Ekshully, I did not say the Garden of Eden is a problem.
I said the guarding of Ede in my office is a problem.
TGIF
this will be one of the highest turnouts for an election in a long long time …..
you heard it here first
it’s going to rain on the weekend too 😉
How was your time away vto?
It’s always good being remote and ensconsed in the wilds, thanks. Plenty of your namesake around for amusement though, plus this strange swimming pukeko …
Aint nothing more grounding than the wilds. Such a contrast swinging from there to the inner depths of the Chch rebuild ….
But yep – I reckon highest turnout for years thanks to the controversies, Dotcom, and a spying and lying PM. Everyone is talking it seems and methinks most everyone is keen to have their say. Gotta be a good situation for a change in this awful government.
I know exactly what you mean 🙂 Had some time out myself last month, in the real world.
+ 100% vto — remember 1984. Snow, rain, sleet could not deter the tide that sank Muldoon with a record turnout thirty years ago .. and here we come again.
“The election was held on 14 July. There were 2,111,651 registered voters. Turnout was 93.7%, the highest turnout ever recorded in a New Zealand election. Most political scientists attribute the high turnout to a desire by voters for change.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_general_election,_1984
All the best for tomorrow guys. I will not be posting here or any other place from the end of the day till Sunday at the earliest. Regardless of the result I am sure democracy will be the winner.
That’s very optimistic of you Gosman. See you on your return.
That’s very gracious of you gosman. It always suprises me how wacky people can sometimes seem so very normal. I mean here you are being nice and pleasant and wishing your competition well, yet here you are also being one of the main bloggy proponents of the types of policies that wreak havoc on those less fortunate and screw various sectors of society all to hell in such a vicious manner …
Reminds me of the craziness of religious types who believe in burning lakes of fire down below and glorious perfection in the clouds, yet seem to be quite normal when it comes to most everything else on the planet….
bizarre..
nonetheless I cannot wish your side all the best for tomorrow gosman as I don’t like them or their policies.
Its similar to sports in that you play and go hard on the field, no quarter given but once the whistle blows its all good and off to the bar for a tipple of your choice
Or at least thatts how it used to be
Cheers Gossie, keep warm and dry and enjoy your Saturday.
Lynn, have you lined up a chat application for Saturday night? Trying to comment on here will be crazy. I’d recommend using IRC, should be plenty of webapps for it and those who know how can connect using an IRC client, to avoid any problems if the web site were to go down.
why will commenting here be crazy?
It’s gonna be CRAY CRAY CRAY
Although I think it’s gonna be the Winston First camp smiling tomorrow night.
They just can’t help themselves at the Herald.
New Election Diary: Countdown subheading – “Today’s election bus diary: While John Key was faced with protestors in Rotorua, Cunliffe was sticking to safe ground – New Lynn. “
Implication – Brave John Key, timid Cunliffe.
The text reads: “Mr Key continued smiling as the black and red-clad Mana crowd surrounded the National Party entourage, but he ended up cutting the visit short as the atmosphere became increasingly unsettled.
He scuttled out of the mall with support from police, mall security and Diplomatic Protection Services.”
Also included is a very strange look on the face of John Key while he is ” posing for a photos with supporters during his visit to the Rotorua Central Mall. “.
Can’t decide on whether it is disdain, arrogance or fear. Perhaps a combination of the three.
“Mr Key continued smiling as the black and red-clad Mana crowd surrounded the National Party entourage” Once again the NZH brings us more great views of Planet Key, home of opposite land. A magical place where reality and reporting seldom share the same page.
also this: “At a media conference in Cambridge” that was originally slated to be held in Rotorua 😉 amazing the little details Herald journos forget to include.
Just to give those who enjoyed the talented Jordan Reyne’s “Dear John” another chance to listen.
Dear John is the tale of a Prime Minister invited to a feast where all the guests are mysteriously absent. A song about the impact of people who don’t recognise their own privilege on the lives of others.
http://www.youtube.com/user/jordanreyne
Jordan comes originally from West coast of the South Island.
Wow. Getting needlessly pointless out there as the strain of the campaign shows.
Please refer to comment under Slave2 re TS
http://www.3news.co.nz/politics/last-lap-for-party-leaders-2014091905
Gee a mythical 6 year old email and still not a shred of evidence that TS gets up to the same sort of stuff that Slater does.
A recent Guardian editorial about NZ election – maybe its old news that I missed
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/18/guardian-view-new-zealand-elections-dirty-politics-cannot-be-allowed-triumph
Prediction for tomorrow
National 46.5%
Labour 23.5%
Greens 15.5%
NZ First 8%.
Conservatives 3.5%
Maori Party 2% (Two electorates)
Internet Mana 1.5% (TTT by a whisker)
ACT <1% Epsom
UF <1% Ohariu
Has anyone been to the NZ Herald website today?
Turn your adblock off and prepare to be floored:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz
I thought I was going crazy for a minute… but at least they have pinned their colours to the mast and don’t even pretend to be doing balanced journalism.
Or you could look at this screenshot on the TDB:
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/09/19/i-cant-tell-what-is-national-party-advert-and-what-is-the-nz-herald-but-then-again-i-never-could/
That’s very very blue.
Oh well. No need to bother tomorrow. Soper has just declared a win for national. Game over. Apparently. Prime news all Labour negative and lovely interview of key bemoaning all the dirty politics from the opposition. Time for another glass of wine methinks.
soper is the worst of the worst..
..he puts the ‘simple’ in ‘simplistic’..
And now we have Dopey “Maestro” Jonathon Coleman, a Minister of the Crown in the Natz Govt caught “red” handed, defacing a Labour Party billboard – well that just about sums them up – there is nothing they won’t do to regain power!
I actually meant the Labour Party Bus – this new windows phone is tricky!
I was going to comment on the huge numbers of advance votes cast, but NRT has a fine post on that already:
http://www.norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/vote.html
There was a queue out the door of the advance voting station when I went by today, on the way to hand out IMP leaflets in the middle of town. When I mentioned that it was the 121st anniversary of Woman’s Sufferage, some woman said they’d be off to cast an advance vote, instead of waiting till tomorrow.
121 is 11 squared (ie to the power of 2: 11^2 = 121). Which may be an interesting numerical coincidence – or I might have just had too much time to muse while waiting for the next bunch of pedestrians to come within leafleting distance. The trick was to aim for optimal leaflet position, so that people could grab it without breaking stride; like a paper relay. The occasions when people would actually stop and discuss policies were welcome breaks that I was glad to be able to reward with badges.
Only the scrutineering, and then the multi-party party tomorrow night, to and I can get back to all things I’ve let slide during this campaign. Looking forward to Sunday!
And unfortunately the elections organisation couldn’t be bothered sending out a few extra boxes of votes. Otag Uni booth closed about half an hour early when they ran out of paper and a central wellington booth down to its last few papers. why don’t they order more boxes when they open the last box, standard stock managemetn practice. Can’t see why they can’t deliver more boxes in an hour and a half.
NOT THE SIX O’CLOCK NEWS from Laila Harre: [4 min]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziM0v1Z9JEk
A shout-out to all progressive voters : [1min]
http://a.smartmailpro.com/webv/ngdx3luy6g
IMP policies [1min]
http://a.smartmailpro.com/webv/0oves0od7g
Vote positive tomorrow!….Labour, Greens or IMP.
Personally, my candidate vote (as I am not in Te Tai Tokero) will be for the Labour candidate in my electorate and my party vote will be for the Internet-MANA party as all the big guns are trying very hard to sabotage Hone Harawira and the fair success of IMP and therefore I think that IMP is in most need of party votes now. Besides, I like their truly leftist as well as forward looking ideas. They have amazingly committed honest admirable people of integrity and courage on their list. I feel that these are the type of MPs that we need to represent our country to make it a great, fair and happy nation once again.
The lying arsehole rang me about 30 minutes ago – landline. Taped call of course. I so hate the sound of his nasally, cretinous voice I smashed the phone back on it’s cradle but not before advising him he was a “lying arsehole” which was a pointless exercise of course. Now I wish I’d held on so I could report what crap he is telling people. Perhaps something along the lines of… do you want to be governed by a five headed monster including Kim Dotcom?
Anyone else been rung?
I had a call from Cunliffe. John Key, it seems, so far doesn’t want to talk to me.
i heard from neither..(sob!..)
..was it something i said..?
something you wrote…
Call from Cunliffe.
Thanks karol and joe90. Feel better knowing Cunliffe is doing it too. 🙂
I was so incensed I tried to ring the Nat. Auckland headquarters to let them know what I thought of my dinner being interrupted by “their third-rate lying arsehole of a leader” but they (wisely) had an 0800 number listed so no use leaving a message.
Guess they’re concentrating on their own territories. I live on the Shore.
Received a call from Cunliffe also.
Labour’s final advertisement on TV very powerful. Cunliffe passionate and straight up.
Natinal’s advertisement- Key insincere lying lizard. ‘We’re this plucky little country…..bull shit ….bull shit..”.snore!
(My neutral analysis.)
I’m on the Shore too – got a call from the slimy lizard interrupting my dinner – I hung up after the Hello, this is John Key!
I had a call from a mate on behalf of the Greens – a human being, using his contacts.
Human contact, like in the old days.
I still probably won’t vote for them, but in the coin toss tomorrow it definitely pushed the greens ahead of IMP (who I also have mates supporting, but they tend to just FB me with slacktivism).
So it’s greens or Labour – although to be honest, I still don’t like hippies and a colleague of mine is a Labour candidate, so it looks doubtful.
But yeah – if someone supports a party, they should get on the phone to a mate or two tonight. Not heavy, just “do you know who you’re voting for? Have you considered X?”.
Softens even the biggest prick of a heart 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to people about voting. Left of course. I did this time and hope it can somehow compete with the slew of National ad cash.
I voted Greens purely because of two of their policies:
1. 40% taxrate on incomes over $140k. Labour’s 36% rate is just too timid.
2. Promising to re-negotiate the cost-sharing arrangement with the CHCH council, so that we don’t have to sell assets.
On political compass, I lined up very closely to Labour.
staggering-stat..
only 5% of national voters believe the edward snowden mass surveillance revelations..
..dumb as a sack of fucken doorknobs..
..and can’t see past the end of their self-interest..
I was a bit surprised by that figure as well, given that a good 10% of National’s vote are centrists who are just voting for National because of Key and their rhetoric; a good chunk of the people who voted Labour in 1999-2005.
That figure really surprises me, because usually right wingers who comment on them say we need to be protected from terrorists, or if you’ve got nothing to hide…. So they believe Snowden, but don’t think it matters.
Good luck for tomorrow everyone. Feels like Christmas Eve :).
Regaredless of how Labour does, I think Cunliffe should stay on till 2017. Just like Kirk did in 1966. And 1969. And Bolger in 87, Nash in 51 and 54. Clark in 96.
The thought of McVicar and Rankin in the executive should get the young, poor and brown out to vote. Becase it is they who they will come for. And if they do, we need to speak up. Before we are next.
Good point. Don’t forget the other RW nasties!
As we go into tomorrow, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has shared their thoughts, wisdom and humour in the lead up to this election.
I hope the majority of you will be happy tomorrow night but no matter who wins, the topics discussed here will continue in to be relevant and the fight for a better world for all will continue.
I hope you find a moment this weekend to laugh, hug your partner or a child, pat the cat … whatever brings you joy.
Because, ackshully, at the end of the day, what the New Zealand people really care about is ….. each other
Authorised by the Elder Gods
If you missed Phil Goff on “Jono and Ben at 10”, catch it on the TV3 website. He was incredible. Usually I can’t stand politicians trying to show us their “funny” side (like you-know-who, the Prime Comedian), but this was definitely an exception.
Take a bow, Phil.
Avast, ye scallywags. We totally forgot it’s International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Arrr!
I think tomorrow night will be a big surprise for everyone, pleasant for the left block including IMP and the centrist, Winston, but a shock for Key, National, ACT, Dunne and the Cons.
Yes, I am awake….