Open mike 19/11/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:29 am, November 19th, 2014 - 241 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

andrew little squareOpen mike is your post.

The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

241 comments on “Open mike 19/11/2014 ”

  1. Clean_power 1

    Coming from Taranaki, home of NZ’s oil and gas industry, it will not be long before Mr Little gives full support to pro exploration policies and piss off the Greens. About time the Labour Party puts itself on the side of progress.

    • Te Reo Putake 1.1

      Have a coffee, pal. You’re not quite awake yet.

    • millsy 1.2

      I hope, equally that Little also ensure that those in Taranaki have tangible benefits from the oil and gas industry, and not a few hospital wings (that Labour signed off on anyway) and some token jobs cleaning the drilling rigs cafeteria.

      Keeping the NZ Inc policy, would be start.

      Anyway, wasnt your man, Robertson against the O and G industry.

    • Tracey 1.3

      Perhaps you need to actually read LP policies

    • Cancerman 1.4

      I’m just happy he is going to be pulling Labour’s capital gains tax policy 🙂

    • Murray Rawshark 1.5

      Jeez, you are upset that Robertson lost. How many of you can we expect for the next three years?

    • Clemgeopin 1.6

      Labour party has NOT been opposed to responsible mining anyway!

  2. Paul 2

    Anyone hear of Mr. Espiner’s interview of Little?
    What a nasty person Espiner he is.
    And a puppet journalist.
    Sad days for RNZ.

    • goodsweat 2.1

      Journalists are never going to stop laying traps and chucking fish hooks. Labour people need to get better at managing them. eg: Instead of justifying and defending his position and role I think Little needs to start responding to a few more lines of questioning with a proud ‘Yes. So what.’ attitude.

      People will only make Little appear incapable if he lets them, he has the hardware.

      • les 2.1.2

        Dead right…this connects with ordinary people,not so much with sanctimonious academics .

      • Skinny 2.1.3

        Once the hype of Andrew Little’s leadership win and the following the appointment of his deputy, whom I would presume the wise choice is Mahuta (who is needed to attract back the disillusioned Maori vote). And once the make up of the shadow cabinet & whips are sorted, it would be time to settle things down by restricting interviews with spin media merchants like Espiner, Gower & his side kick O’Brien.

        These lot are not putting across a objective view of the Labour Party’s, and twist the narrative. They need to show some respect and limiting acess by having the phone off the hook will soon get them playing the game. I’ve been critical of previous Labour leaders jumping to the tune of the media who just turn and kick them in the guts for their own entertainment. Less is often more!

    • weka 2.2

      “Anyone hear of Mr. Espiner’s interview of Little?
      What a nasty person Espiner he is.
      And a puppet journalist.
      Sad days for RNZ.”

      What did you think was wrong with it Paul? I thought some of the questions were facile, but not all, and there wasn’t anything nasty or that was a set up.

      I thought Little did well.

  3. Paul 3

    The more I hear of the Roger Sutton story, the more I hear a cover up.

    • karol 3.1

      The very old boys’ network in operation.

    • Tracey 3.2

      The problem here is that understandably the victim doesnt want to speak publicly. In that vacuum Sutton can be painted as a victim too. I was sorry to see his wife state it was all because of a hug. Sometimes the most dignity is in silence.

      I admire his stepping down. I admire his statement last Friday where he appeared to make no qualifications of his apology. Cf our PM?

      • karol 3.2.1

        Sutton did actually make qualifications, in a way – by stating (his version) of the complaints against him. This contributes to a seeming whitewash.

        Iain Rennie has said Sutton has breached some confidentiality clause, and is considering sanctions.

        • Tracey 3.2.1.1

          Thanks for the link karol. I stand VERY corrected.

          I suspect this is why he realised he had to resign

          “…Sutton made a sexually suggestive comment about Prime Minister John Key’s wife, Bronagh, in the presence of the chief executive of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Andrew Kibblewhite. …”

          Will we know if he got a goldie?

      • miravox 3.2.2

        She’s not allowed to speak about it. Nor is Sutton

        The woman who made a sexual harassment complaint against Cera chief executive Roger Sutton is “torn up” and upset he has been able to foster public sympathy.

        The victim has been told by State Services Commission (SSC) lawyers not to speak publicly about the case. She has repeatedly declined to comment when approached by Press.

        The information the Press has suggests she had a very, very good case and Sutton did have to step down.

        Andrea Vance is scathing as well for the victim-shaming that is going on. Where he gets a stage-managed exit, she has to go back to work with Sutton for another 2 months.

        I agree with Paul that this is damage control.

        • ExStatic 3.2.2.1

          I worked with Sutton and he is a nasty piece of work, quite the opposite of his public persona. I think Tina Nixon sums him up well.

      • Murray Rawshark 3.2.3

        The complainant has been prevented from commenting publicly. It looks like there is a lot more to this story. Sutton has the hairstyle of an ageing Lothario. He seems to be a narcissist.

        • greywarshark 3.2.3.1

          Is Roger Sutton Robyn Macdonald’s brother? If so they seem to have similar outgoing extrovert personalities.

    • felix 3.3

      Cover-up, damage control, call it what you will.

      These fucking creeps have even paid Cameron Slater to publish their lies and smears against the victim.

  4. Tracey 4

    If Robertson wants to lead the Labour Party in the future, here is my advice

    Swing in genuinely and wholeheartedly behind your elected leader. Strongly counsel your supporters to do the same, publicly and privately. Keep working hard for the principles and policies of the LP. Get on the ground, out of Wellington, meeting people and working with unions to advance the LP cause. If a single supporter of yours leaks, gaffes or otherwise goes against the interests of LP speak against their actions privately and publicly and support Little to get them gone.

    Be there every step of the way until LP is in government again. Make yourself part of LP genuine succession plan.

    Do this and everyone will see you as leadership material and see that your opportunity was hard earned, deserved and in the best interests of the LP.

    There are many ways to be a leader.

    • goodsweat 4.1

      I think Little and Robertson offered 2 different rejuvenation paths for Labour and the right fork in the path was selected.

      Robertson has the ability to create harmony within the shadow ministry. Harmony I’d hope would radiate out to and embrace voters.

      The Little path is not so ‘get everyone holding hands and singing first’ it’s lets start knocking our public face into shape so that we start creeping in the right direction on the popularity stakes and our rise will induce in-house harmony.

      As per clean power’s comment above. The oil and gas thing is happening in Taranaki, it has been for years.

      I’d love to see what happens to Labours fortunes if Little starting tabling plans like….”The average oil company engineer makes about $2000 a week. There is a shortage of them. Labour will double the size of the Oil and Gas Engineering College in Taranaki.”

      That’s the type of press releases I’m looking for. Not “It’s been proven, another 50,000 hungry kids.”

      • BM 4.1.1

        I agree.

        The Robertson path was the liberal green path
        The Little path is jobs and industry.

        The Little path will certainly appeal more to middle NZ as long as he doesn’t pull out the compulsory union card or try to legislate all power to the unions.

        Be interested to see how Key plays it.

        • Clean_power 4.1.1.1

          According to your analysis disagreement and confrontation with the Greens are inevitable. I do not believe R. Norman will ever agree with oil and gas exploration: his communist background is too strong for that.

          • Tracey 4.1.1.1.1

            You vote for a right wing party aye?

          • BM 4.1.1.1.2

            Yep, I don’t think the Greens will be overly excited about Littles promotion to leader.

            I’d say Grant Robertson would have been their preferred choice.

            • karol 4.1.1.1.2.1

              This Green voter marginally would prefer Little.

              • BM

                Really?, I find that quite surprising, I would have thought Grant Robertson would have ticked all the boxes.

                Gay, Liberal, big on green issues.

                • karol

                  You really don’t understand the Green Party policies and values, then.

                  Me: lesbian, middleclass, and for traditional Labour values like supporting the least powerful workers, people unable to work, and those on low incomes, as well as for a sustainable society.

                  To me Robertson has many admirable qualities, but his lack of connection with the gritty side of low income life, unions, etc, is a big weakness.

                  • BM

                    You sound more Mana/Alliance then green, karol.

                    • karol

                      Actually, one online party affiliations quiz put me more as Mana. In principle I probably am. However, I also look at performance, stability, etc of parties.

                      I have voted Alliance/Harre in the past. However, I have had some concerns about their viability for the future. I had some concerns that Mana was dominated by some pretty traditional masculine values. I have some similar concerns about some strands of the current Labour Party.

                      Basically, voting Mana (or returning to vote Labour or even Alliance) is always a possibility with me. However, I have not seen a strong enough indication that those parties have the potential to be a truly left-green, well-performing party, that also strongly supports rights/needs of tangata whenua, women, etc.

                    • Tracey

                      You seem like a dick

                    • miravox

                      Not that BM is into labels

                    • BM

                      Bit early to be hitting the sauce there, Tracey.

                    • Tracey

                      Cmon BM i thought we were making vacuous labels for people based on our online impressions of them?

                      Alot of transference by somefolks here about drinking.

                    • greywarshark

                      @ Tracey
                      If you are going to call someone a dick. can you indicate who you are labelling please?

          • goodsweat 4.1.1.1.3

            I wonder if an arrangement can be arrived at with the Greens. Labour stating, sorry Greens, we’re drilling and we’re looking for it. It represents such an improvement in our employment and average income stakes we’re going to do it. BUT! We need your help please. We’d like your help with our safety and regulation regime, we’d like help with our plans to slowly slide our dependency off fossil fuels etc.

            Is there potential in such an approach?

            Politics is all about aiming for the best compromise.

            • Tracey 4.1.1.1.3.1

              And in your scenario above, what did labour compromise exactly?

              • goodsweat

                The same sort of unavoidable paradoxes/compromises we all face in everyday life.

                I can have a conversation and support the importance of slowing our destruction of our planet and drive home alone, in my 4 seater, boat tugging, un-aerodynamic, heavy, diesel chugging 4WD on tarmac.

                I can have a conversation about the importance of working hard and pour another Scotch.

                • Draco T Bastard

                  Ah, so your all about conversations but not actually doing anything.

                  • goodsweat

                    No you drinking, smoking and swearing Draco I’m saying we are all hypocrites….oh shit, I left my fags at the pub.

                  • Tracey

                    Not at all, sweaty seems to think everyone needs to compromise so he gets what he wants, cos he knows whats best for everyone. Pie draco?

                    • goodsweat

                      I’m all for generating opportunities Tracey. That’s all.

                      As those opportunities get picked up, that’s all growing the pie is. It’s not witchcraft. You have reservations because it’s thinking that has produced little in the past.

                      Our productivity to date has hinged on how much Romania will pay for milk powder. As Romania pay more, the advantage to Joe Kiwi in the street is a few more $ for Chch. That’s ok, they need a hoist up.

                      If we can get a rocket under housing…I can see no good reason why a DPB mum shouldn’t be buying her own home rather than feeding the rent beast.

                • Tracey

                  Was my question too hard? You stated that labour and greens need to compromise and then laid out a scenario purporting to support that compromise. Now, what was Labour compromising?

                  Or is this like your pie theory and you will just keep moving the goalposts?

                  • goodsweat

                    I don’t think you seek an answer to your question but aspects of my opinion with which to debate.

                    Every single opportunity to approve a mine that comes before the house has been opposed by the Greens. They have approved of None, not a one.

                    I think this is a position that Labour should compromise on.

                    • framu

                      ahh – but why did they oppose?

                      maybe its got a lot to do with how little we get out of it once all factors are added up?

                      its the reasons for opposing that need to be studied – not the opposition itself

                    • Tracey

                      Framu

                      He is diverting from his original proposition and scenario, because he knows his scenario was not about compromise but expecting the greens to concede.

                • Tracey

                  Classy… Your mask is slipping…

                • Sabine

                  we could also hold hands and sing kumbaya?

                  or bake cakes?

                  or eat chocolate?

                  not that there is anything wrong with chocolate.

          • hoom 4.1.1.1.4

            I do not believe R. Norman will ever agree with oil and gas exploration: his communist background is too strong for that.

            Non Sequitur.
            Communism historically has been notoriously dirty & heavily reliant on heavy, extractive industry…

          • DoublePlusGood 4.1.1.1.5

            How does that logically follow from having a communist background? Do you know anything about communism?

            • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.1.5.1

              Clean_power shows all the signs of being a RWNJ and so, no, he doesn’t know anything about communism.

          • Foreign waka 4.1.1.1.6

            Communist Party? Please explain, or better still elaborate what in your opinion are the principles of a communist party are and whether there is anywhere in the world where these are being fully translated into policies.

        • goodsweat 4.1.1.2

          Union work involves adjusting how a fixed size pie is sliced up.

          I think this is a pursuit that will sound a death knell for an opposition leader. It’s thinking that has assisted in the party’s popularity decline.

          If we have a union guy showing us his plans to increase productivity and opportunities and consequently improve outcomes for many, Labour is on it’s way back up.

          • Tracey 4.1.1.2.2

            And there goes your flawed pie theory again.

            Union membes have higher wages and better conditions than their non union counterparts. The sky didnt fall.

            When a workforce is happy, feels safe, can feed and clothe and educate the kids, you watch your productivity line.

            When people are tired from over work, underpaid, worried about how to care for the sick child at home, both financially and physically cos you cant afford a day off,

            • goodsweat 4.1.1.2.2.1

              Tracey, I base much of what I have to say on my diverse, colourful and questionable background.

              I’m sure if I could present my point in another way it may hold more appeal for you…. I should, who wants to be Mr Cliché. Grow the freakin pie! Pluuueze.

              I don’t need much money to lead my ideal life. On occasion, like everyone, I need $1k for 4 tyres. I just short-term grow my…pizza. We are so lucky in NZ, we are surrounded by opportunity.

              Unions are not as important as they used to be. Rich proud history that runs through the Labour Party like capillaries but the fact is: Diminishing relevance. I love the tactility of a big broadsheet newspaper, too bad, diminishing relevance.

              Bashing the desk with a clenched fist might get the crew an extra $1.50 an hour. I think Labour needs to aim higher. When we can’t get a builder for love nor money all wages will climb of their own accord. Burger King get away with their Southern Plantation Employment Contracts because they get 50 kids fronting for a spot. It would be way different if a blind guy, a guy with BO and his dog showed up…”Do you mind if I chuck Spinner in your skip during our interview?” BK’s employment contracts savaged to death in the social media and enough spots elsewhere people don’t need to respond to their ‘Workers Needed’ ads. I think that’s where we should be aiming.

              • Draco T Bastard

                Union work involves adjusting how a fixed size pie is sliced up.

                Nope. More often than not, IMO, it was the unions who forced the growing of the pie. High wages and high employment forces innovation for higher productivity, low wages and low employment as this government is running does the opposite.

                Throw in government investment into R&D to produce here from local resources the products that we use and you get an even bigger pie not because we’re producing more of the same stuff but because we’re making more stuff. In other words, getting better use from our own resources rather than selling them overseas and thus making us poorer.

                BK’s employment contracts savaged to death in the social media and enough spots elsewhere people don’t need to respond to their ‘Workers Needed’ ads. I think that’s where we should be aiming.

                True but you have no idea as to how to do that. Here’s the thing, you don’t leave it to private enterprise because they will work to decrease employment so that they can implement sociopathic working conditions. We know this because it’s what’s been happening over the last thirty years in NZ – which is why we still need unions.

                • Tracey

                  But… But… But the PIE!!!

                  If only you could see that sweaty is right, then we could all get along.

                  Despite his allegedly colourful life experience he thinks unions are just about banging fists on the table.

                  • Colonial Rawshark

                    So, are we still on this “growing the pie” BS? Exponential physical growth on a physically constrained planet is destroying our world. And the main economic growth the western world has seen over the last 10 years has mainly been due to financial and banking numbers gaming. Not exactly the foundation for a serious economy.

                    Time our politicians started talking about low carbon steady-state and de-growth economies. If we don’t do it ourselves, nature will do it for us. And we won’t like that one little bit.

                    • miravox

                      Queue George Monbiot

                      Is it not also time for a government commission on post-growth economics? Drawing on the work of thinkers such as Herman Daly, Tim Jackson, Peter Victor, Kate Raworth, Rob Dietz and Dan O’Neill, it would look at the possibility of moving towards a steady state economy: one that seeks distribution rather than blind expansion; that does not demand infinite growth on a finite planet.

                      It would ask the question that never gets asked: why? Why are we wrecking the natural world and public services to generate growth, when that growth is not delivering contentment, security or even, for most of us, greater prosperity? Why have we enthroned growth, regardless of its utility, above all other outcomes? Why, despite failures so great and so frequent, have we not changed the model? When the next crash comes, these questions will be inescapable.

              • Tracey

                You think i dont get your point when you dont get that i disagree with your point.

                • goodsweat

                  Yes, my point is more than a point.

                  It is an undeniable truth that I have proven over and over again. When I was struggling to meet my wage bill at a paint and panel shop in Brisbane I focused on creating more customers.

                  What do you base your opinion that creating more jobs for everyone won’t raise our overall standard of living on?

                  • framu

                    maybe the fact that more jobs doesnt always equal better jobs or better pay

                    considering productivity over the years has vastly outstripped wage growth, and weve seen an increasing amount of wealth heading upwards to a small elite im interested in how you explain your “undeniable truth”

                    • goodsweat

                      Increased productivity has generated more $. Automation, world commodity prices, many things have a bearing on productivity increases. The guys that own the robots are making the money.

                      So, while the…Monkees ‘I’m a Believer’ 45 rpm single has grown into 33rpm album size the man in the Fluoro overalls is seeing few benefits from this $ increase.

                      Yes, I agree. Jobs that pay well for workers that make a living with their hands are fast disappearing. A significant and important exception are nearly all aspects of producing houses.

                  • Tracey

                    The last few decades of constant growth unmatchedby low earners wages.

                    Growth is not the panacea you assert.

                    Do you deny .

                    When a workforce is happy, feels safe, can feed and clothe and educate the kids, you watch your productivity line.

                    When people are tired from over work, underpaid, worried about how to care for the sick child at home, both financially and physically cos you cant afford a day off,

                  • Draco T Bastard

                    When I was struggling to meet my wage bill at a paint and panel shop in Brisbane I focused on creating more customers.

                    Did you use ribs or dust?

                    Or a sledgehammer?

                    • goodsweat

                      We specialised in repaints. I thought you said you had experience in the private sector? You should know how to hustle?

                      I rang a finance company and negotiated a favourable deal that I could offer to people that I had written a quote for over the previous 2 years that hadn’t gone ahead. Some went ahead just with a bit of a discount off the initial quote.

                      You know how to grow the pie Draco…or did your broad experience in the private sector have little to do with the actual making money part?

                    • Draco T Bastard

                      You know how to grow the pie Draco

                      Yeah I do. You just proved that you don’t because all you did there was shift the pie around a bit.

                  • les

                    surely most business’ are focused on winning new business everyday.

        • McFlock 4.1.1.3

          🙄
          tories faint-praising little to stir more shit and division within Labour.

          Different character, same script

  5. Sanctuary 5

    I have to admit I’ve been surprised at the revealed depth of hostility from some sections of the nominal left to a return to “traditional” Labour values that Andrew Little is supposed to represent (I say supposed because he has only been in the job for a day). There has been a quite contemptuously bitter tone in the reactions from (from want of a better term) Clarkist progessive liberals that makes me question if such Clarkist progressive liberals have ever even left wing in the traditional sense of the defintion.

    • Tracey 5.1

      Perhaps its because the only labour govts they have known were Lange and Clark… With Douglas and Cullen as finance ministers. Many probably dont get that Labour is not a centre right party.

    • karol 5.2

      Surprised to see Russell Brown, plus many commenters, running the same lines as WO and Gower.

      I guess these are the “centre lefties”, and maybe so-called “urban liberals”. Just surprised they are not interested in a Labour Party returning to its union-based roots.

      • goodsweat 5.2.1

        Little should shut that talk straight down with a …. “Unions? That was a part of it, I come from a jobs background.”

      • swordfish 5.2.2

        Yep. Russell Brown calls the result “disastrous” and “a tragedy”.

        Andrew Geddis (apparently a close friend of Robertson’s) thinks it’s the “Worst. Result. Ever.”, a “clusterfuck” and “a terrible, terrible one”.

        Chris Trotter has apparently said something similar on RNZ.

        A few of us, though, have taken issue (I comment on Russell Brown’s Hard News as ‘Mr Mark’). I’m just a very occasional commenter there, but it’s good to see a number of Hard News regulars suggesting Brown and others give Little a fair go.

        • swordfish 5.2.2.1

          Sanctuary calls them “Clarkist progressive liberals”, Karol suggests “centre lefties” or “urban liberals”.

          I tend to think of some of these people, at least, (don’t want to be too presumptuous, here) as Liberal Centrists. Centrist on economic policy, lukewarm/mildly supportive of Unions, Government Intervention, progressive taxation and the re-distribution of wealth, but 10 out of 10 liberals on various moral issues, possibly with an innate tendency toward grandstanding/explicitly adopting abstract heroic poses that enhance their social reputation. (I don’t want to be too hard on them, though. I’m sure there’s a certain degree of altruism there, too).

          They’re a very distinct group among the urban middle-classes, me thinks. Shouldn’t be confused with the liberal-Left, where I’d place my good-self. We’re the most Left-leaning on economic policy, but 7 or 8 out of 10 (rather than 10/10) liberals. We indulge in less sanctimonious finger-wagging at social conservatives and are more practical/feet on the ground, I’d like to think.

          • Karen 5.2.2.1.1

            Yep – liberal centrists is a good term. They usually have come from middle-class homes and have degrees in the arts or law. They are very liberal on social issues, but don’t actually know any poor, uneducated people and don’t have a clue what their lives are like.

            They aren’t like the Nacts – they do have empathy for those on the bottom of the heap. They just can’t see that unions are the only way for many people to get fair working conditions.

        • Sanctuary 5.2.2.2

          Trotter annoys the shit outta me.

          He is the optimistic bush philosopher before the big push who loses his nerve five minutes before you all go over the top and retreats to the bottom of the fire step, where he subjects everyone to a pathetic, wailing dissertation of all his own fears.

      • Tracey 5.2.3

        If they can put people in boxes they dont have to tax themselves thinking.

        The sky is falling. The sky is falling. Some evil nzers are working for better wages and conditions for a sizeable portion of a vulnerable and powerless workforce…

        Meanwhile the tax payer union, strangely silent since the election gets a free election press pass to act as a vehicle for the re election of key.

        • karol 5.2.3.1

          Interesting that in the comments under his post, Brown gives some reasons for his “sky is falling” judgement: that Robertson was an outstanding campaigner, etc (that Labour needed) and that Parker had spent time building up a very credible (as judged by Brown) raft of economic policies (also judged by Brown to be necessary for Labour).

          So now Brown reckons the election of Little means that will all be dismantled with disastrous results for Labour.

          • Tracey 5.2.3.1.1

            Taking key on with keyesque policy and presentation will

            A. Rely on boredom with key,
            B. Change govt but little else in terms of the vulnerable (for fear the fairness will upset the former nat voters)

            What a nation of sore losers we are. No wonder we get what we deserve. No humility and no personal integrity.

            It looks like the LP will not succeed unless and until robertson is leader and whatever that “success” will mean.

          • lprent 5.2.3.1.2

            …that Robertson was an outstanding campaigner…

            I guess the Russell hasn’t thought about the implications of having a person coming from well behind during a campaign and getting a credible number of everyone’s second and third preferences. Campaigns have to suit *what* they are campaigning for. One of the criticisms I had of Grant was that the campaign he was running wasn’t for the party members. It was a rah-rah campaign for the public that was far more suitable for the media in a general election and designed to get on TV.

            Parker had spent time building up a very credible … raft of economic policies..

            And I agreed with that. But the problem with that raft of policies was they were too many, too complex, and under-messaged. They also happened rather too late in the election cycle to be able to get traction. It was a campaign problem accentuated by dirty politics dumping over the election period and sucking up peoples attention. Basically if you don’t get the treasury benches then all of the policy is meaningless because you can’t apply it.

            I suspect that all of those policies will be back over time as that they are largely inline with a direction for Labour. What Little was pushing for was that the process of winning elections wasn’t subverted by too much unexplained policy. If you can’t figure out how to make a policy clear to and being supported by voters (ie the messaging isn’t working), then don’t confuse them. Either wait until you are more trusted, or fix the messaging, or move the debate. Don’t just go on with them because they are “right”.

            You need to get the treasury benches to be able to implement them anyway.

            • greywarshark 5.2.3.1.2.1

              @ lprent +1

            • karol 5.2.3.1.2.2

              I suspect that people like Russell Brown and Andrew Geddis are influenced by their personal interactions with Robertson. Geddis says Robertson was a good mate and was kind of born to be party leader (my wording).

              I gather Robertson is quite friendly with many people – drinking buddies, casual chats, etc, with many MSM journos. So these people all seem to have had the idea that Robertson was front runner int he leadership contest & are stunned he lost.

              Basically, for many there’s not enough critical distance, and they haven’t really been fair about Little’s experience and skills.

              • lprent

                I try not to socialize with politicians (or for that matter sales people, PR people, and most CEOs), I prefer to just work with them. They have a disconcerting ability to turn on the charm on casual occasions.

                It just obscures me reading their character, skill-sets, and abilities. You tend to wind up with a vacuous ball of nothing much when you analyse it later and no real criteria to judge them by. It is easier to assess them when you observe them interacting with others or when they are having to make decisions or reading them through their effects on other people you know. I’m afraid that I think charm is just vastly overrated compared to proven relevant experience and skills.

                In this case despite Little being very inexperienced in parliament and the caucus, his experience at EPMU and in the brief slot at NZLP president are clearly relevant to the party and the management of the bloody egos that are causing the NZLP so much angst. It is the dysfunctions in the NZLP that clearly aren’t working and is losing elections. Members resonated with that more than the parliamentary and election campaign skills.

                Neither Geddis nor Brown (and others) have or have had much day-to-day involvement in the operations of the NZLP or any sprawling political party or even any largish enterprise. I guess that is why they don’t get it.

                But perhaps they should have a look at what happened to National after they concentrated on their party organisation after 2002

                • geoff

                  Neither Geddis nor Brown (and others) have or have had much day-to-day involvement in the operations of the NZLP or any sprawling political party or even any largish enterprise. I guess that is why they don’t get it.

                  Don’t under-estimate the power of subconscious anti-blue-collar psychology.

            • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 5.2.3.1.2.3

              Interesting comments. I’d be inclined to concur.

              Grant was on Checkpoint this afternoon and Mary Wilson’s grilling yielded something with Grant leaving a door open for his leadership bid again:

              MW: … and if you don’t get there in 2017, you’d put in another bid?

              GR: No, look, it’s a long way away, Mary, what I am saying is that it is not my intention to put my name forward again, I want to knuckle down …

              MW: In this term, that’s what you mean, you’re not ruling out never putting your hat in the ring for leadership ever again?

              GR: It’s not my plan to put my name in again, no, at this stage, no …

              From 2’05” at:

              http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ckpt/ckpt-20141118-1738-grant_robertson_on_having_andrew_little_as_new_labour_leader-048.mp3

      • felix 5.2.4

        Russell’s no lefty. Never has been. He describes himself as socially liberal and fiscally conservative.

        The catch is that Russel has always wanted to hang out with the cool kids, and you don’t get many of them in ACT.

        He’s a smart guy, no doubt, and an insightful journo at times, but why anyone on the left gives a fuck what he thinks about politics is a mystery to me.

    • Once Was Tim 5.3

      + fuckn 1 :p
      But then it has been 30 years of the neo-lib religion/ideology/culture with a load of people knowing nothing else, and with their loved ones (above-parents, and below-offspring) knowing and experiencing nothing else. As for Labour – I’m holding off indulging in any comment – just to see whether they’re even capable of getting their shit together – Little, Robertson or Parker alike.
      What I can’t abide though is the critics of Labour who chastise various pro-union proponents. It was what Labour was founded on. If they don’t like it – GO get yourself another fucking party – or establish one – instead of trying to trade on a brand – ESPECIALLY in an MMP environment

      • greywarshark 5.3.1

        Once was Tim
        What I can’t abide though is the critics of Labour who chastise various pro-union proponents. It was what Labour was founded on.

        I was thinking that too. Anyone who has studied NZ Politics knows that there are big sector industry and interest lobbyists in this country, unions have always been balanced out by the capitalists and farmers. And all have, instead of forming a discussion group working on how we could all advance, have spent their time fighting for advantage over each other.

    • les 5.4

      that seems to be the complete opposite of what I am reading!Little accused of being more centre and not left leaning enough!

  6. halfcrown 6

    I see the shit from the media has started. First up Breakfast with prat Christy c/w simpering side kick

    Head line about the Labour leadership election “LIttle Hope” If that is not a negative spin on it what is?

    • goodsweat 6.1

      Yep, the press carry on like a dog on the end of a blanket. Chucking mud at lame duck Labour. The very best way to get them to stop is to steer their sheep and pack dog mentality towards fresh headlines, like: OMG look at Labours rise!

  7. goodsweat 7

    Little needs to avoid being labelled ‘Union guy’. He needs to be known as ‘Jobs Man’. The press don’t refer to Key as ‘ex merchant banker, it would damage his everyman appeal. Folklore has him as a money guy. It would be great if Little’s folklore pitches him as the jobs guy.

    • grumpystilskin 8.1

      Love it!

    • adam 8.2

      The rise of Hard right Nationalist groups all across Europe, is a worry.

      Thanks hoom, that was a good giggle.

    • miravox 8.3

      Hah! that’s awesome.

      I think it was that group that was in Vienna earlier this year, trying to start up a chapter. 200 planned a march along one of the main shopping streets. It all went pear-shaped when more than a thousand came out against them, leading to a police diversion down a side street. If that hasn’t put them off bringing their poison to Vienna, I hope the locals do the same as Wunsiedel next time.

  8. adam 10

    If you missed what happening in Greece!

    Here is some news and videos of yesterday’s protests

    http://rt.com/news/206359-greece-clashes-us-embassy/

    What I thought was interesting, is that they moved away from the more traditional approach of occupying the universities, and instead took to the good ol’ USA. Who backed the original Junta, which fell in 1973.

  9. weka 11

    Laura McQuillan

    Former senior comms staffer at CERA lashes out at Roger Sutton: “do people really think a hug was all it was about?”

    She doesn’t hold back and calls for journalists to get past the PR (Vance and De Boni have done some good work).

    https://twitter.com/mcquillanatorz/status/534479450138607616

    • Tracey 11.1

      Blame the victim… But then when we have a PM who thinks

      Roastbusters is “boys being boys”
      Promised an apology to alleged victim of malaysiam attempted rape but refuses later cos he only apologises for “serious” things
      Makes a joke of an escaped murderer and paedophile

      Apparently he is the everyman in NZ…

      • weka 11.1.1

        Dita De Boni,

        Still, surely there are a few rules of thumb suggested by good old common sense. First, never say something to a woman in the workplace that you would not say to a straight man (if you were also a straight man, if you get what I mean) – so “Andrew, that bulge in your pants is very fetching today” or “Trevor, sweetie, get me a coffee with milk and two sugars please darling?” are probably non-starters. “Mike, I really like the cut of that suit” , or a simple “well done” instead of a lingering bear hug, are likely fine.

        Generally keeping a bit of a distance from underlings, especially in a social setting, is probably also a good idea, although sadly not followed by many a Kiwi boss who likes to get munted with staff of a Friday night. It happens too much, with often disastrous results.

        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11360473

        The last sentence seems particularly pertinent given the apparent pattern of behaviour being reported about Sutton (not implying that the above is a description of his behaviour).

        If anyone thought these behaviours were ok before, or thought the boundaries were unclear, they’re not now.

        • Tracey 11.1.1.1

          But been explained away for a few days now…

          Mission accomplished, any staff member thinking of complaining has probably just thought again.

      • Weepus beard 11.1.2

        Indeed. What’s a little touchy-feely of the young female staff if you are doing such a good job for the old boys network in the Christchurch rebuild.

        [FJK mode]”I think most New Cylinders wouldn’t have a problem with that”[/FJK mode]

        • Murray Rawshark 11.1.2.1

          [Whalespew mode]”It’s only dyke New Cylinders who can’t get a rebore that have a problem with outgoing blokes.”[/Whalespew mode]

          This game could get addictive, except I stop and think that so many of us actually think like that. My first impression with Sutton was that at least he’d apologised and deserved some respect for that. My instincts saw something in his appearance and manner that I didn’t like, but I tried to ignore that. I should have trusted my instincts. They’re usually good.

    • Chooky 11.2

      Yes it takes a lot of courage for a woman or girl (or boy or man) to call out on sexual harassment …because they are in a dependent position …generally they put up with a lot before they have the courage to speak out…hence they should be taken very seriously because it can undermine their health and make their work situation impossible…it undermines their professionalism and personal integrity

      …really the harasser has an ego problem…and a power and control problem…sexual harassment is a form of abuse

  10. Jules Brown 12

    The majority of both the Party membership and Caucus chose the Robertson path. Only the Unions chose Little. 20% of the college got their man, despite 80% of it selecting Robertson.

    I gave Little my 4th spot because I believe him to be such a poor communicator that he can never in a million years beat Key. His communication skills are a joke, and he will be made to look foolish, confused and insincere time and time again by the media, right in front of the 500,000 voters he’s trying to win back.

    That said, the ONLY option for those of us who voted for someone else is too put 100% of our support behind Little now. If thing continue the way they did, the Labour Party is doomed. Everyone MUST get behind Little. It’s either that or disaster.

    • Chooky 12.1

      @ Jules Brown…..listen to the Andrew Little interview with Kathryn Ryan this morning and you will change your mind!

    • Sabine 12.2

      poor thing. you must feel hard done by.

      but if you repeat it often enough it will get easier. Robertson lost, Little won. The end.

      • Jules Brown 12.2.1

        I don’t feel hard done by at all Sabine, because my personal preference is irrelevant. All that counts is the outcome. As you also point out.

        Perhaps you didn’t read the bit where I said: “the ONLY option for those of us who voted for someone else is too put 100% of our support behind Little now.”

        In fact, after hearing that my least preferred candidate had won, I did not bitch about it, I went straight online and made a donation to support his 2017 campaign.

        Personally, I believe that the “centre-left/left-left” credentials of the Labour leader are secondary to his or her ability to unseat National. To me, nothing else matters more than that. You can’t make policy from the back benches. I hope that Andrew Little has the ability to beat John Key. And I will do my utmost to support him to that end. I hope everyone else who (like me) voted for Grant Robertson, will do likewise, because Labour divided cannot beat National.

    • Peppermint Patti 12.3

      Weird though how you call him a joke and confused and insincere and then say you give him 100% of your support. Like, that doesn’t seem very supportive at all.

      • Jules Brown 12.3.1

        I did not CALL him any of those things. I said that because of his communication style, the media will easily be able to “make him look” confused and insincere”.

        But now that Little has been elected, I am going to support him 100% in his bid to oust National in 2017, and have already donated to his campaign.

        Is that clear enough for you?

    • Weepus beard 12.4

      Jules Brown can’t spell to, nor things. Her communications skills are also a joke.

    • felix 12.5

      Jules, what gave you the idea that Key has communication skills?

      • Jules Brown 12.5.1

        “what gave you the idea that Key has communication skills?”

        The fact that the huge swathe of politically illiterate fools we call floating voters were suckered in by them and went out and voted for the f*cker.

        These are the people Andrew Little has to win back. Pisses me off, but there it is. These people are not persuaded by policy, but by style.

        • felix 12.5.1.1

          Nah. Key succeeds in spite of his communication abilities, not because of them.

          Any issue you raise with Little’s ability to communicate goes double for Key. So that’s not it.

          • Jules Brown 12.5.1.1.1

            Well, as someone who’s worked in communications for the last 27 years I would have to politely disagree 🙂 I sincerely hope I’m proved wrong though.

            • felix 12.5.1.1.1.1

              Not for the Labour Party I hope.

              Seriously though, can you please describe the elements or aspects of Andrew Little’s communications that you believe are a problem?

  11. Chooky 13

    Very comprehensive, intelligent, wide ranging interview with Andrew Little by Kathryn Ryan today…

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/20157838/what-policy-changes-will-andrew-little-usher-in

    Andrew Little certainly is very intelligent and clear in his presentation …and has a lot to say about core Labour issues …He will be a very able opponent to John Key…and I would say John key is on his last leg

    • BLiP 13.1

      Very interesting. I’m loving the talk of a Universal Minimum Income as a response to the changing role of labour in the increasingly individualistic nature of worker participation in the economy. And what a wonderful response to that aspect with regards to giving contractors the right to bargain collectively with their “employers”. Great ideas, well articulated. Carry on, Mr Little.

    • Jules Brown 13.2

      Sorry Chooky, that interview just confirms everything I already felt about Andrew Little’s style under questioning. He’s good when he’s speaking on his own set agenda, particularly on policy detail, but when he gets asked questions that he should deflect or shut down – like Kathryn Ryan’s stupid one referencing John Key’s ‘boyhood’ ambitions – he flounders around and attempts to answer it in a positive way, instead of just shutting the nonsense down.

      There are 500,000 floating voters out there who – tragically – make their minds up based on the performance of leaders at such moments. I hope he gets a lot of coaching and guidance on how to deal with such questioning better.

      • BLiP 13.2.1

        I love how our new batch of concern trolls sent here to white ant Mr Little are so obvious.

        • Jules Brown 13.2.1.1

          Blip, IF you’re referring to me, you’re wrong. I’m not a ‘concern troll’ I’m a Labour Party member who cares with a passion about National being removed from government and Labour getting to make policy.

          For the third time . . . though I did not vote for Andrew Little, I NOW SUPPORT HIM 100%. I’ve already donated to support him after he won. And I urge all people from the Robertson camp (like me) to get on board and do the same.

          • Clemgeopin 13.2.1.1.1

            Jules, good on you for supporting Little 100% now that he has been democratically elected as the Labour leader. That should be the attitude of every Labour member and every the caucus MPs too. It does not matter who one gave the first preference to for whatever reason. It is the collective wisdom and majority vote that counts. That is the purpose of the leadership voting mechanism anyway!

            I too did not give Little the 1st preference. I gave mine to Mahuta and Little #2. However, I now give my full confidence and loyalty to Little. I think he will be a very good leader and a very good PM who will have the interest of ALL people and all of NZ at heart. A great choice actually. A man for the moment.

      • Foreign waka 13.2.2

        I don’t belief that it will be a personality driven decision that voters look for but rather policies that gives them some sort of certainty about their own and their families future.
        Consider this: there are 1.4 million kids (population 314 million) without a home in the rich USA. Sweden 17800 (population 9.6 million), Germany 254,000 (population 80.6 million) , NZ ???? is there no real statistic to hide a problem?
        Set this against the population and it becomes clear that it is the policy settings that create this.
        Labor surely is by all accounts quite different from a right wing government that we have today that has created a market for landlords at the expense of poor families and 250 000 children.

        • greywarshark 13.2.2.1

          @ Foreign Waka
          That Eisenhower quote is Powerful and tender. There isn’t much tenderness for people in the armed forces or in politics. This quote is such a contrast to the usual harangue from them.

        • Jules Brown 13.2.2.2

          History shows that – tragically – floating voters vote for personality over policy. We’re talking about the most politically illiterate portion of the voting electorate. These are the people who need to be wooed to swing an election.

          My constituency is the Coromandel, in which 60% of the population earn less that $30,000 a year. Yet 60% of Coromandel voters voted National. This is just one example of the sad, sad fact that a vast swathe of the electorate that “should” be voting Labour, simply does not understand why. They don’t vote on policy, or principle or ideology. They go out and vote for people who will intentionally make them even poorer. Why? Not because they understand policy. They don’t even understand what socialism and capitalism mean. They just like the look and the sound of the f*cker planning to bleed them dry.

  12. Ant 14

    So caucus is back to the same shit immediately. It’s hard work being a leftie.

    • Tracey 14.1

      Not all of caucus of course… Those who didnt get the result they wanted. Dunne is always looking for recruits

    • goodsweat 14.2

      I think if a member of the team with a mouthful of sour grapes so large they choose to clash and lock horns with Little, they will play into his hands.

      Little would just need to say ‘Go to your office with a security guard, empty your desk, go home and we will be in touch during the course of the week.’ once. Leak the details of the departure to the press and watch the troops fall into line and Little’s popularity rise. I think a little ‘That guy isn’t mucking around’ persona will serve Andrew well for the time being.

      • northshoreguynz 14.2.1

        Damn right.

      • alwyn 14.2.2

        I suppose he could try it but what is he going to do when the person replies.

        “I was elected by the people of my electorate to represent them in Parliament.
        I intend to carry out the role to which they appointed me.
        Now Mr Little, what do you intend to do when the security guard tells you he isn’t going to do anything you say?”

        Peters couldn’t even get rid of one of his cohort who pissed him off when the guy hadn’t got elected to anything and was only in Parliament because of Winston’s long coat-tails.

        • goodsweat 14.2.2.1

          My comment was steeped in poetic license.

          I mean moved to the outer. There will be a tight team dedicated to trying to take Labour to where they wish to be. Players will be part of the solution or part of the problem. Those that choose to be part of the problem. I think Little would be well served by stating ‘Grab your Laptop and sit in the hall.’…not actually sitting on a stool outside the meeting room.

          • Ron 14.2.2.1.1

            A wayward member of caucus could be denied access to caucus and moved to back bench with clear message that they will not be nominated again for a seat or included on the list.
            Not much damage they could do if they were outside of caucus and they could just sit there on minimum pay with no status in the party. Admittedly this would have to be a final decision when all else had failed but it would send a very loud message to rest of the team. Leaking to the media seemed to be a favourite way of undermining leader witness the person that leaked to media about Cunliffe skiing holiday. It was pretty well known who of the four leaked the information and there should have been decisive action there and then.

      • felix 14.2.3

        Dead right goodsweat.

  13. Whateva next? 15

    Agree with you Ant, Andrew is going to need all the support of people who want Labour back in.less ego’s and opinions and more action…United we stand, divided we fall!

    • alwyn 16.1

      Impossible.
      Those photos are faked by a climate change denier.
      Just joking.
      They are really impressive aren’t they? I love the one of the dog looking at the wall of snow where the door has been opened.
      Thanks for posting the link.

      • Nic the NZer 16.1.1

        FYI, climate change can cause more snow but its fairly limited where this will happen. If its too cold then the atmosphere doesn’t contain as much moisture, so it can’t produce snow. So there is a sweet spot where there is enough moisture and its cold enough to snow. Some typically really cold places can enter the temperature range where they are now seeing snow.

  14. Sable 17

    France wont sell out to the US. Wonder if Keys has as much backbone. If I were a betting man. Article at:

    http://rt.com/business/206455-france-will-not-sign-ttip/

  15. greywarshark 18

    On Radionz on small business in nz – they haven’t grown as expected. When asked many business owners were preparing to retire, or didn’t want to be employers. WTF
    After the way that people have been laid out side by side for the business owners to walk on so they didn’t have to get their feet wet!

    Obviously there have to be incentives given to these small businesses to employ even one or two, as they are the largest number of businesses in the country – the mini-businesses – whereas the bigger employers are few. So change the approach to employment, the bigger businesses will do what they want anyway, and put assistance into energising the mini and small businesses. 💡

    • goodsweat 18.1

      Yes, the vast majority of us work in businesses that have fewer than 10 staff. Employing people has become time consuming, expensive and risky. Employers are seeing ever increasing advantages in appointing contractors over traditional employees.

      Right or wrong I think people working in many fields need to consider that working as a contractor may well be part of their future.

      I believe Choruses experiment with getting most of their Telco techs onto a contract deal has worked out pretty much as they expected. The workers with sound systems that work hard are doing well, the stoners on a bit of a cruise, not so good.

      The advantages of appointing a contractor over an employee are many: No wages – an account at the end of the month. No vehicle fleet, no Kiwisaver contribution, no PAYE calculations/payments. No sick pay, no tangi leave, no holidays. Can call a contractor “Sweetie” and keep your job. No desk, power, phone, car-park. Easier planning. Guaranteed delivery of job, payment reduction if deadlines not met.

      Folk will throw up examples of fiascos, Novopay etc. Fact remains, it is the way employment circumstances are trending.

      • Draco T Bastard 18.1.1

        The advantages of appointing a contractor over an employee are many: No wages – an account at the end of the month. No vehicle fleet, no Kiwisaver contribution, no PAYE calculations/payments. No sick pay, no tangi leave, no holidays.

        Yeah, all the expenses of running the business are stuck onto the contractor who doesn’t get paid any more to cover those expenses and the people once employed to do those jobs are now unemployed. This means that the once employer gets to increase profits for the shareholders by doing nothing and thus becoming even more of a bludger.

        Can call a contractor “Sweetie” and keep your job.

        Shouldn’t be able to but I’m not surprised that you come out in favour of rape culture.

        • goodsweat 18.1.1.1

          Yes Draco, sorry I’ve been so long getting back to you. I called the lady that sold me my lotto ticket ‘Love’ and I’ve been charged with rape. Fair enough hey. There is no rape culture in NZ. The Roastbuster thing was frowned on by 99.9% of us. .1% does not a culture make. Strut through Tripoli in a mini skirt and heels if you want to know what a term like that really means.

          The good contractors I know are doing well. The average ones are doing average and the poor ones are doing poorly. Sounds fair to me.

          • felix 18.1.1.1.1

            There it is again, that weird idea that unless everyone is doing it, it doesn’t exist.

            I guess you reckon there’s no drug culture in NZ too.

            And no “boy racer” culture.

            And no model train culture.

            FFS man, it’s not a description of the entirety of everyone’s life, it’s a description of an aspect or an element of the society we live in.

            ps your 1% is way off but that’s ok, you get that when you make up numbers. You should recall that even the Prime Minister pretty much accepted it as boys being boys and when asked what he thought he said “they should grow up.”

            • goodsweat 18.1.1.1.1.1

              I’m surrounded by beautiful loving people that want the best for their families and friends and we love being there for each other.

              You choose to surround yourself with rapists.

              We get what we ask for.

              • felix

                Um, I don’t really think you’re as stupid as you’re pretending to be.

                I don’t surround myself with adventure tourism operators, but I am capable of acknowledging that there exists in this country something which could be described as an adventure tourism culture.

                Perhaps it would be fun if you could come up with similar examples relating to your social circle and experience of NZ society.

                • goodsweat

                  To even get in behind the concept that we have a rape culture in NZ says something about the participant that makes me just want to walk away from them.

                  A bad news sponge. A purveyor of ‘Oh woe is me look at how awful we have all become.’

                  I want to be associated with a group of people that wants to celebrate how fantastic we all are. Not what arseholes we have all become.

                  • felix

                    That’s why I asked you to come up with an example from your own experience. Do you associate with train enthusiasts?

                • Murray Rawshark

                  I’ve narrowed sweaty’s contributions down to two possibilities:
                  1. He’s as thick as two short planks.
                  2. He’s as thick as two slices of toast.

                  I don’t think he’s a troll. I think in his own mind he means well, but that just reminds me of yesterday’s post about how well meaning Key is.

          • Draco T Bastard 18.1.1.1.2

            I think that counts as a distraction from my main point and as pure BS – note the number of people coming out in support of Sutton. That is rape culture and it’s a great deal more than 0.1%.

            • goodsweat 18.1.1.1.2.1

              OK, you live in a NZ with an ugly seething disgusting underground rape culture and I don’t.

              I’ll hang out with me thanks.

              • Tracey

                Yea, everyone with a happy face isnt hiding a sexual abuse story from you, but some arw

                • weka

                  quite.

                  it’s interesting watching goodsweat run that debate technique (that’s me being kind). It’s a very libertarian attitude, as well as nasty and passive aggressive. A whole bundle projections from someone who doesn’t know how to defend their beliefs very well so resorts to setting up everyone who is angry or in political disagreement as being not just deficient but abjectly so. And as if that set up means reality doesn’t exist, lol.

                  I suspect that in the end they will get thrashed with that line, and they seem to be running it out more and more as time goes by.

                  • goodsweat

                    It seems you have joined this thread for no other reason than to firstly carry on slagging me and secondly stimulate support for a mass slagging of me.

                    I know who I am weka. Your strategies to belittle me and make me feel like a lesser person than you aren’t working.

                    From here on, I’m going to leave you to character assassination endeavours weka. Good Luck, you might have better luck at making somebody else feel horrible. I still love you.

                    [lprent: Let me remind you that repeatably playing the victim here will usually result in me giving you something to be a victim of.

                    If you can’t stand questioning about what you said, then I’d suggest that you don’t say it, use that knob on your shoulders rather than the other one. I really don’t give a damn for whining fools trying to avoid the responsibility to defend what they say themselves. It makes for boring sections of comments for me to read.

                    If you can’t engage and defend your own ideas, then you appear to be in the wrong place. ]

                    • weka

                      Really with the hyperbole (mass slagging?). Hypocrites usually get called out on ts. When you reach the point fairly quickly of not being able to debate the issues and instead use ad hominems and then tell other people off for being mean, it’s just bullshit of the first order.

                      I’ve done several in depth replies to you, on topic, where I ignored most of your ad hominems, and all you can do is come back with your projections about what a miserable person I am and how you love me.

                      As long as you keep up with the nasty shit, I’ll keep naming you as a sick libertarian fuck with poor debating skills.

                      Stick to the points dude and then you’ll get respect

                  • Tracey

                    It is why sweaty moves the goalpost from his first comment once it is challenged… The mask slips… And sweaty moves on to others once that happens.

                    • lprent

                      He does has the spine of a jellyfish. But it could be because of simple stupid ignorance or he is playing troll games in a flame or disruption pattern. Plus of course he could be one of those dickheads with a “look at me complex”.

                      One day my alter ego will make up its mind. But I guess that having a simple toy around to play with is always useful.

                    • Tracey

                      LOL Lynn

                      Time will tell.

                      It can be useful to see who they stop engaging with over time and why.

  16. Tracey 19

    rent increases on the way for auckland renters?

    “Rates hikes of more than 40 per cent are in store for some Auckland ratepayers after the city’s council rejected capping rates increases.

    Almost 5000 ratepayers in the region, including about 3700 residential households, will see their rates jump by more than 40 per cent next year. Auckland Council says this is fewer than 1 per cent of total ratepayers.

    Nearly 10,000 ratepayers will have rates increases of more than 30 per cent and just under 30,000 will see their rates rise by 20 per cent or more.

    But while residential ratepayers will face an average 5.6 per cent rates rise under the draft budget for the year beginning July 1 next year, 118,000 households will see their ratesdecrease.

    Last night the council’s budget committee voted by 10-7 not to adopt a transition management policy, including one proposal that would have capped rates rises at 10 per cent and rate falls at 2.1 per cent.” NZ Herald today

    • b waghorn 19.1

      Houses in Taumarunui 30k -250 k rates under 2k rents 180 ish for nice houses

    • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 19.2

      well … come ……… welcome ……….
      ……. nice to see you come back …. back again, well …..
      ………….well ………….

  17. comment@whoar:..what a strange little group are all singing the same disapproving chorus at the election of little..

    ed:..we have russel brown..geddis from pundit..bradbury from the daily blog..and farrar from kiwiblog..all singing from the same song-sheet..

    ..(a political mixed-salad you cd say…cue bradbury and farrar looking at each other with a degree of alarm..)

    ..there is much wailing/renting of clothes/gnashing of teeth from all of them…with brown getting particularly purple/choleric..

    ..for why..?

    (cont..)

    http://whoar.co.nz/2014/commentwhoar-what-a-strange-little-group-are-all-singing-the-same-disapproving-chorus-at-the-election-of-little/

    [lprent: You are a day early. But what the hell… auto-spam removed. ]

    • b waghorn 20.1

      Welcome back. I think think if littles election has pissed of the nuts at each end of the spectrum he’s probably the right man.

    • Tracey 20.2

      Lol@ cue bradbury and farrar looking at each other with alarm

    • Chooky 20.3

      philip ure…you are back!…lol…say no more

    • Paul 20.4

      Welcome back phil.
      Missed your contribution.

        • left for deadshark 20.4.1.1

          welcome back.
          by the way, did you have family in Dunedin a century ago, a wee piece in the ODT and there was an Ure trading in Princess st.

        • goodsweat 20.4.1.2

          Hi Phil, I’m a new smartarse. You got thrown out before I could say I love the ace 10% of your graffiti but the mock cream content is just ugly spray paint on some poor old joker’s fence.

          With a machete wielding editor wired the same as you I reckon you could pen some world class stuff.

          Welcome back bong-breath.

    • Murray Rawshark 20.5

      Welcome back. I noticed something was missing.

  18. mickysavage 21

    And over on Pundit our very own lprent is taking Josie Pagani to task for her claim that the party needs to have a wide ranging debate …

    http://pundit.co.nz/content/how-andrew-little-needs-to-begin

    • Tracey 21.1

      Wayne Mapp defending josie pagani.

      What a gentleman. Speaks volumes.

      The last time i recall anything abusive or construed as such about ms pagani was when she did her christmas post from the hill and then ran.

      The Standard is the reason lp polled 25%, apparently. And then she chides lprent for lack of self awareness, Josie meet kettle, i think you can call it Black. A whole post about the way Little should begin is by making the LP what j pagani wants it to be.

      • greywarshark 21.1.1

        I put my pseudonym forward on the 19th Nov to comment on pundit and am still waiting for the second validating email. I was going to go through Josie Pagani’s piece and explain why people get so hot about her fluff.

        Some of her points of contention starting from the top with –
        Unity – Over what – policy, collegial behaviour to each other, to the members, to the endurance of Party ideals, to the country etc. – (define)
        Open debate – We have quite a lot of that yet she doesn’t like it when it appears. We aren’t as dainty as she would like, and use rude words too some time, and worse don’t agree with her.
        Policy fights – We often do, but seem to have hammered out some important ones we have unity on. Then we fight about the best way to implement them.
        Achievements of Labour – she mentions nuclear-free policy – and implies it was arrived at by rational discussion by principled people proceeding smoothly to the decision.
        Nothing is ever that smooth, that easy, and principled people fall out. The history of it is more turbulent than that.

        And so on. I was going to point out that principled, passionate John Pilger puts forthright contentious issues and opinions forward and gets a lot of flak which he must expect, but still gets very riled about.
        Whereas Josie puts forward the opinions of a nicely-brought-up middle class girl and is surprised at the flak she receives. It seems so wrong.

        I think the flak is because people who are passionate about Labour consider that her principled opinions are too wishy-washy and don’t reflect the unpleasant reality being experienced. The tone needs to be what will help to resurrect the recently flaccid ideals and drive of Labour to serve ‘the people’. Josie has an accolyte called Charlie who I think made a comment that Labour should wipe its slate clean and start off afresh.

        That approach is indicative of the idea that has become accepted by many activists, that subversives stole Labour and its cultural capital. We are now supposed to be subservient to the asset strippers who purloined it and sold it for a mess of potage. Well that’s why kids need breakfasts in school now, and we need the other things we had replaced, which we know will have to be insisted on, strongly, for a lengthy time.

        We have been left with the mess, not much potage, and Josie is concerned about it. (A light hand touches the brow of the needy and kind words of rebuke are spoken in a well-modulated voice that will largely be ignored by those in positions of wealth, privilege and comfort.)

        • Tracey 21.1.1.1

          You may be right…

          She just comes across as

          A. Certain her view is right and anything else is disaster,
          B. Cannot handle being disagreed with by people on her “team”

          Her self awareness crack made me smile. Oh the irony

    • Bill 21.2

      Jeezuz wept!

      Just read through that and…aw fuck, the short version. The Standard has authors ranging from anarchist to rather conservative social democrat, and yet she spouts on about a seemingly somewhat malevolent consensus on the standard!

      Your bloggers demand that the Labour Party purge itself of people on the left with views that differ from the consensus on the Standard; and in worse case scenarios, you guys dish out life time bans.

      As an aside, I neither know what it means, nor am I comfortable with this “Your bloggers”, but hey.

      (p.s Well said, Jenny Kirk – over on Pundit)

    • adam 21.3

      Does Pagani think we hold grudges because we fight hard?

      Tracy and I had a go at each other yesterday, but that was yesterday – we disagreed – but guess what, we agree on more than we disagree, so I’m not going to fight with her again just for the hell of it. And anyway I respect Tracy – so what we disagree occasionally, it’s politics not tiddlywinks.

      Same with Te Reo Putake, we have butted heads, it does not mean I disrespect his opinion or not like what he writes. We disagree on the finer point – That’s life, I’m not perfect, nor feel the desire to be right all the time.

      What does Pagani think, that we sit in front our little computers thinking all the other posters here are just fodder for our egos? Please, we argue hard because we are passionate people – it sounds rough, because that is the medium.

      Please Pagani if you read this, I disagree with you on many occasions, because I think you’re a neo-liberal apologist. I also think you come across in the media as a Fox liberal. But, I respect you for standing up for women’s rights in politics.

      • Tracey 21.3.1

        Back at you.

        We wont all agree all the time and tempers fray but pagani is incredibly sensitive to anyone who doesnt agree with her way…

  19. BLiP 22

    . . . it’s not easy to sort out which secret messaging tools offer true security and which ones might be snake oil. So I turned to two experts — Joseph Bonneau at Princeton and Peter Eckersley at the Electronic Frontier Foundation — for advice about what to look for in encryption tools. Working together, we chose seven technical criteria on which to rank encryption tools . . .

    http://www.propublica.org/article/privacy-tools-the-best-encrypted-messaging-programs

  20. geoff 23

    Andrew Geddis’ piece on Pundit is not only partisan (he admits that) but it’s also just plain wrong.
    The crux of his argument being that the union affiliates vote is somehow illegitimate because it is the….”influence of a handful of individuals acting under instructions.”

    So according to Geddis, the votes that ultimately come from the aggregation of union members votes is illegitimate. He repeats the li(n)e that the likes of Hooton have been spouting, that those votes have come under the instruction of the ‘union bosses’.

    In contrast, what I don’t hear Geddis saying is..’Gee, the union vote for Little was really high, that might mean they think he’s good. Seeing as they know Little in action better than anyone else then maybe what the unions think of him is kinda important and perhaps more legitimate than either the caucus or the member votes because they know the least about Little?’

    Geddis really should have just kept his post to ‘I’m pissed that my buddy lost’ instead of making up a bunch of bullshit.

    • Foreign waka 23.1

      By extension, one could say that the country club that voted for Mr English and the Business Roundtable voting for Key have also somehow an illegitimate tone to it.
      Do they think that union members have no brains? How insulting, but hardly surprising.

    • RedBaronCV 23.2

      Poor old Andrew. I always though individuals acting under instruction was the whole of the Right wing.

  21. Pat O'Dea 24

    LIAR!

    Privatised social housing to benefit tenants

    “Housing Corp was a poor performer and about a third of its housing stock was the wrong size, in poor condition and in the wrong place. That stock was worth about $5 billion and it was $5 b being wasted.”
    BILL ENGLISH

    Housing NZ’s annual report out today directly contradicts the Government’s claim that one-third of its houses are in the WRONG place and are the wrong size.
    PHIL TWYFORD

    “The annual report states 96 per cent of STATE houses are in the right places to meet demand, and 89 per cent have the right number of bedrooms.

    “Bill English and Paula Bennett have been going around saying one-third of state houses are in the wrong place or are the wrong size. But Housing NZ’s own figures show this to be a nonsense. They’ve been making up the numbers to justify their plan to sell off thousands of state houses.”
    PHIL TWYFORD

    Govt. caught out. Twyford

    So why did Bill English feel the need to lie in the first place?

    This is my take on the matter;

    National’s planned $7billion privatisation of State Houses is because of the criminal greed of the rentier class who National are the political representatives of.
    Which gives the explanation of why they need to lie to the majority of us who don’t belong to that select group of parasites, landlords, speculators, and property developers who all seek to gain, and who donate to the National Party.

    • Murray Rawshark 24.1

      The NAct party acts on behalf of parasites. It used to act on behalf of farmers, small business people, small manufacturers, etc. Those days have long gone and were doomed once the first ACT government started acting for finance capital. They pushed NAct even further, to the point where they ended up acting for thieves, swindlers, vultures and parasites. Those guys are really ashprishnul.

  22. les 26

    Jeremy Wells on form today..as usual.

  23. goodsweat 27

    Up until the age of about 16 I believed with all my heart that John Lennon was right. All we needed to live in a harmonious world was an all encompassing love for each other.

    The more I read, the more movies I saw I began to chortle at the naïve outlook of my youth. ‘Just love? Ha, wise up and smell the phosphorous burning on flesh stoopid.’

    Now that I’m running down 60 I’ve gone full circle. I’m back to thinking that Lennon was right. It’s very hard to fly a drone in and annihilate the family that welcomed you into their home and shared dinner with you the night before.

  24. lprent 28

    Wow, the UPS’es are paying for themselves tonight. I keep having micro outages less than a second in extent. 4 so far. Enough for the lights to flicker and the UPS to have time to beep.

    The Standard keeps running.

    • lprent 28.1

      Running around. One of the servers, the one without a UPS is off – I might leave that one off for the moment..

      The microwave has reset its clock.

  25. Rodel 29

    National’s real CV.
    Thought this was an interesting voice in the media wilderness and something 20017 voters should hear. 2014 voters obviously didn’t hear it.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11319649

    • Tracey 29.1

      Deserves a full link and a post in its own right in my opinion.

      • srylands 29.1.1

        What bullshit.

        The 2008 PREFU – i.e before National took over pointed to a catastrophic decade of deficits.

        http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/forecasts/prefu2008

        This has been turned around. Much more slowly than I would advocate, but the Government wanted to avoid austerity which would have impacted on the poor – you know the people you cry crocodile tears over.

        You have no idea.

        • Tracey 29.1.1.1

          This from the man who thinks the springbok tour passed key by, when key has said he doesnt remember which side he was on, and then said eventually said probably pro tour.

          Your selective use of reports by the finance ministers prior employer makes you look more foolish than i ever thought you could.

        • Draco T Bastard 29.1.1.2

          Strange, I could have sworn that we now have the biggest government debt and that we’re still going to be growing that debt out to about 2020. All because of National’s economic mismanagement.

          • Tracey 29.1.1.2.1

            As we often do when nationals self proclaimed expert money managers have finished with treasury benches.

  26. Ffloyd 30

    God bless Dave Dobbyn. A truly wonderful friend to the Pike River families. Now one of the whole family. A beautiful anthem.

  27. greywarshark 31

    Just thinking – does anyone remember the regular bulletin called the Jobs Newsletter that gradually faded no doubt as time and personal jobs got more pressing? It seems that we need it more than ever.

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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
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  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
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  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
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  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
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    5 days ago
  • That Word.
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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
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    PolitikBy Richard Harman
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  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
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  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
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  • The return of Muldoon
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  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
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    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
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  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
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    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    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 ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    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, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
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  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
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  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
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  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    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 ...
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  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    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, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    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.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    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, ...
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    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    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. ...
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    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    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 ...
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    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
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    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
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    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
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    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    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 ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
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  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
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    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
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  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
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  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
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    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
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  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
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    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
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    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
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    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
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    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
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  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
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    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
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  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    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. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
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  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
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    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    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 ...
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    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

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