The ODT editorial for today is a brutal skewering of Key’s performance over Dirty Politics.
Some highlights:
Justice Minister Judith Collins has become a liability to Prime Minister John Key, the Government and more widely, and disturbingly, the country.
How a Minister of Justice, entrusted with upholding the highest standards in the land, can lower her own personal standards to feed confidential personal information about a civil servant to a right-wing blogger – knowing full-well the consequences of her actions – is beyond most right-minded people.
Mr Key should sack Ms Collins now, but will not take that action.
The reason he will not sack her is, of course, because the election is a month away and to remove the Justice Minister now will give further oxygen to an issue he has already handled badly.
Ms Collins seems to think the rules of decency do not apply to her; and now some in her electorate seem to feel the same.
…
Dirty Politics-gate has dominated national political coverage since the book’s launch, with claim and counterclaim being made.
But assertions of other parties behaving badly are just that.
John Key puts style above substance, in fact now its been shown he’s so desperate to keep substance out of the debate he has his staff manage SIS information queries that directly help WhaleOil do the dirty work.
Polling companies spend the last day or two quota filling, I think.
Also, my view of the media coverage of the book in the first two days was basically – nothing to see here, it will all blow over in a couple of days, it’s just politics as usual, etc.. If I’m right then most people would have just dismissed it.
But over the weekend it got legs and that will start to produce whatever impact it is likely to have.
[Edit: RM polling was 4-17 August so more than one day overlap]
I don’t think the election will hinge on a book about Blubber boy. It has always been and will always be about the left offering an alternative more equitable society, to the 1% paradise on offer from Key.
I think internal polling is showing that as well. You can see Cunliffe and Norman are trying to get their message out through all the noise about fucking Cameron Slater. They are not feeding this National Party cluster fuck because I think they know that we need more than Hager’s book to get home this year.
Not a Goff fan but felt at the time something was very whiffy, sure Warren Tucker coughed up a copy of the briefing allegedly intended for Goff, but in the absence of verifiable minutes it is highly likely on the balance of etc. that Goff was never personally delivered that briefing.
Do unobserved events still happen? Of course, that is the chair Goff would have been sitting in.
Here is a link to the letter from Tucker to Felix Marwick (Chief Political Reporter at Newstalk ZB) in Nov 2011 reposted by Barry Soper on Twitter (link posted a short time ago and copied from Public Address)
Both Newstalk ZB and Morning Report (RNZ) have today reported a direct contradiction between Warren Tucker and John Key. Tucker says he told the PM about Slater’s OIA, Key says he didn’t.
Until now, I’ve felt that Key (and Collins) could ride this out, albeit clumsily. But if this latest story is true, then he really is in trouble.”
Thing is, Tucker told this to ZB’s Felix Marwick in 2011. In the letter attached to this post. It’s hard to see how Key can continue to claim he wasn’t consulted and knew nothing, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him try. He’s now caught very deep in that lie.
The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security’s inquiry will doubtless also be interested in who Slater was talking to for his “expedited” OIA request.
Also: good work Felix Marwick for keeping the paperwork. That’s how good journalists roll.
If he tries the “me = my office” line then someone needs to remind him that Jason Ede worked in his office and with Cameron Slater.
Therefore Jason Ede = Key’s Office = Key himself.
You’re fucked, sunshine.
No wonder Blinglish was on RNZ yesterday saying “voters don’t want to talk about this, they’re not interested, they’re more interested in the economy.” That’s probably true of the National heartland – who wants to watch their team go down in flames?
From the party of personal responsibility!
Katherine Ryan said its hard to believe with such a political hot potato no one in his office would have briefed the PM!
In fact, judging by the litany of denials over the years it appears that no-one ever tells him anything! Alternatively he may have early onset dementia 🙂
Or another good way of expressing this is “You can delegate responsibility – but you cannot avoid accountability”.
Mind you Key’s corporate career has well prepared him for weaseling his way out of this. He’s behaving exactly like your typical shark-suited exec – one of many I’ve seen over the years.
Right at a visceral level I’ve recognised Key as one of those very smooth, plausible and polished sociopaths who infest senior corporate life. Particularly the bigger overseas organisations that Key worked for.
Your average Kiwi doesn’t get to see so many of these sharks up close and personal over an extended period of time – and is easily taken in by them.
The high power corporate, board of director types in this nation will know he is one of their tribe however – and will have recognised that from the start.
Nope. He’s lying. A letter from the Ombudsman reports him talking about his “discussion with the PM”.
I don’t blame the dude for wanting to hide the truth, after all he wouldn’t be welcome at any polo match, golf club or peasant flogging if he we were responsible for the resignation of a Nat PM.
I’ve got a great big bridge here you can buy – going cheap – only a $1m and it’s all yours.
Give me your bank account details and I’ll personally relieve you of that unwanted cash.
(If you believe that bullshit from Key et al – you’ll believe anything!)
It’s one thing for the likes of me to be stuck with some evil prick like JK as PM. He was elected afterall. Quite another, to in any way accept unelected employees (punters) making unilateral decisions with respect the SiS. Is that what JK wants NZ to adopt as the new normal? If so, why bother with any fucking pretense of democracy and democratic accountability?
Even Matthew Hooton said it was impossible to imagine a situation in which the PM would not have been informed of the release of the SIS memo under the OIA.
Hooton of Hollow Men and now Dirty Politics fame.
BTW Hi Matthew, hope you’re having an awesome day 😀
On the one hand, it’s a bit of a wake-up call to anyone who assumed there’d be an immediate shift in the polls. Just 2% – a mere 2 friggin % !!! – of Nat supporters say the scandal has negatively influenced their view of the National Party.
On t’other hand, this issue is likely to be a slow-burner as the media momentum builds over the next few weeks (similar to Corngate in 02). According to the poll, 10% of Nat supporters say they believe Hager’s allegations and, as well as the 2% of Nats who have a more negative view of the Party, there are a further 3% of Nats who are Unsure. These larger minorities of Nats are the ones that might budge over the next few weeks as the scandal reaches a crescendo.
But it’s quite possible that the most important electoral consequence of the affair is not so much a swing from Nat-to-Lab or Right-to-Left but rather in motivating a sizeable section of both Undecideds and Labour-leaning (erstwhile) Non-Voters to turn out on Election Day. Looks to me like the Undecideds who say their view of National has been negatively influenced by the scandal outstrips the number of Nats who have said likewise. Moreover, arguably the most intriguing figure is the 19% of Labour supporters who say they’re more likely to get out and vote as a result of the scandal.
Also pays to remember that some previous Nat supporters may have swung away (to Lab/Green/NZF/ or into Undecided territory) between the release of Dirty Politics (and thus the onset of the scandal) and this poll. I’m thinking of the sort of voters who have been very softly-aligned to the Nats and for whom this may have been the last straw. They, of course, are invisible in this poll because they wouldn’t be included among Nat supporters.
[Poll was carried out on August 14-15 – ie in the very early stages before people had much time to digest things]
Q 4: “As a result of these allegations are you now more or less likely to vote on Election Day or have they not made much difference ?”
Entire Sample More Likely 12% Less Likely 1% Not much diff 87% High More Likely – Labour Supporters 19%
That seems significant.
I can’t see soft voters hanging around National once Whaledump has finished with them. I suspect there is worse to come, as if what we’ve already seen isn’t bad enough.
i am picking the greens will be the major benificiaries from this..
..by election day there will be a desire for ‘new’…disdain of the old..
..and many soft national voters..turned off by the ongoing stench from national..
..could easily turn to the greens..(especially with their audited by infometrics fiscal-plan..that’s on my shortlist for ‘best move of the election award’..that fiscal-auditing..it answers more questions/uncertainties than you can poke a stick at..)
.and as an internet/mana supporter i am hoping some of that desire for the new..
Yeah, I noticed that, too (both the weak terminology: “suggestions” and the Christchurch outlier). If acceptance of the detail outlined in Hager’s book can be taken as some sort of proxy for distrust of the present Government then we may see quite a swing in Chch this election. Then again, there’s still that ambiguity I mentioned a couple of months back…http://thestandard.org.nz/puddlegum-on-christchurch/#comment-834219 (in reply to your impressive post on Chch).
But then, of course, I say that as an ignorant Wellingtonian.
The wealthy overseas shareholders who own and pay him are happy with the money they’re taking out of the country. And maybe at $ 1.49 million a year he cares more about them than NZ citizens struggling to pay their bills.
Paul the RM poll yesterday was explained by RM that the effect of Dirty politics didn’t register yet as it happened on the last couple of days of polling,while the effect of some despicable politics which no one on the left condone!
a dead cat bounce is what this poll is!
And maybe at $ 1.49 million a year he cares more about them than NZ citizens struggling to pay their bills.
At $1.49m you can pretty much guarantee that he doesn’t give a fuck about NZers struggling to pay their bills. He’s far too disconnected from that reality.
And did I hear right, but was there a veiled threat of blackouts in his interview..if the Greens and Labour get into power?
The sociopaths are always threatening such things. Time to take our power back and bankrupt the bastards.
It should be made clear to Heffernan that depriving Kiwis of the means to stay warm and, in some cases, alive, would lead swiftly to his arrest and arraignment on charges of conspiracy to do grievous bodily harm and anything else lawyers can think of. All the companies should be renationalised anyway, and parasites like him should be sent off to Hawaii to stay with Key.
Ready to review your hasty and rough remonstrations directed at those of us still concerned about dirty politics Ad ?
In which you relied on the RM poll – a poll two-thirds taken before the book was even published – to say as a fait accompli that dirty politics as an issue is meaningless. Have a look up and down this thread Ad.
Hopefully if MRP do good on Heffernan’s threat of a “generator strike” and turn the dams off, PM Cunliffe picks up the phone and tells the army to turn up to their nice shiny offices to turn them back on.
Auckland landlords are hiking rents amid fears of big rates increases next year on the back of spiralling property values. – if property values increased by 33% as reported yesterday! Rates will not increase by 33%. Simply put: councils estimate their costs for the year then divide by the capital value of all residential property. So if the demoninator increases then the rate per $ decreases. We still get the same rating demand cost.
Many in the media get caught in the “selling rent increases” that should costs increase this flows thru to rents, if that was the case why did not rents fall post GFC when interest rates dropped from 10+% to 5% ? And if it is so tough being a landlord why are investors increasing their holding % of the housing stock ? There are other decisions at play, returns, tax implications, etc
The following is an unpaid, unauthorised, reluctant and unexpected political message from deep within West Auckland:
Like many of you, I’ve been watching the development of my country head in one direction only for the past thirty years. Watching the details and turns of this election campaign, one thing is becoming clear: there is only one choice if real change is what people sort of, maybe, want. How do we get that? It’s easy, as easy as not locking your car door when you stop at the first set of lights in Manurewa.
Labour’s policies necessarily leave the people we all wail that we care about now, behind. It’s that simple. In all fairness, they can’t fix the problem anyway, and don’t really want to either. Leaving a large and growing chunk of the population behind at least allows future middle classes the chance to avoid mental breakdowns. They’ll have someone to unload their regret and repressed self-loathing onto. Hey, I’m not saying it’s entirely wrong to choose that when the alternative can be really dangerous to the unprepared, it’s just not entirely moral either. That’s the way life goes. So no change is coming from Labour. Once upon a time, they were rightly considered passengers in the Blue Party car, but with their foot pressing the brakes occasionally. Now it’s clear that their foot is just resting beside the brake. Their policies imply they will prepare to press the economic brakes, but only if they are voted in twice and only then if nothing else comes up. The car is still headed in the same direction, though. I think that’s an accurate picture of what Labour can offer.
National, well, their credibility is shot. Whatever they offer, we’ve all seen who they are, where they want to accelerate and how they intend to continue. There can be no more delusions of “you can be part of the team” anymore. Their newest election advertisement gives the picture of a small, unstable, defensive crew stroking off for a short trip without any equipment or supplies for a long journey or preparations for bad weather. People who vote National now are on autopilot and will never change. What more is there to say.
The new smaller parties will not have the numbers to influence more powerful status-quo coalition partners, but they’re still useful. That’s just the facts of being a fledgling party.
In my opinion there is only one chance to induce change. Maybe it will turn out to be change everyone eventually comes to enjoy, in the way that the old saying goes about crisis being a mix of danger and opportunity. The chance for change I can see is much like a car that blindsides you at an intersection – baam – straight in the driver’s door. You don’t feel the initial impact, you only see a smudge of colour from just over your shoulder, and then everything goes dead quiet and time slows down when you realise what’s happened, but after that, at least for a while, everything changes.
The owners of this rude car are the only people other than National or Labour who have anywhere near enough of a clue to avoid total economic ruin while also inadvertently creating the kind of conditions required for society to break out the deadlock between left and right, right and wrong, black and white, have and have-nots. But if they do that, won’t they encourage total ruin? They will, they WILL ruin us! No they won’t. They can’t police themselves, how the hell will they police you?
Right now, everyone in New Zealand is following the line, doing the same stuff they pappies did, same attitudes their mammies had, waddling along squealing at all the same stuff they squealing at since before I was born and no one knows how to change that, not directly. It seems that direct efforts fail. Oh sure there are a few artists and activists slogging through their own personal mudflats and finding some interesting stuff, but no one’s paying much attention to that. Boring huh? Are you guys bored with your lives yet? Do you crave the excitement that another latté just can’t offer? Want something less dangerous than a P addiction, but also a little more passive than cross-fit training? Here’s the best part: you don’t even have to give up your daily moaning! Oh boy, they’ll be plenty to moan about, I guarantee.
The outrages will be thick and fast until you think you have no blood vessels in your head left to burst. Your wallet will take a hit like you’ve spent all night at a Belgian Beer House. Confusion about what’s right or wrong will swirl until you giggle like drunken teenagers, until finally you think, screw it, I’m doing whatever I want… and that’s where the chance for real honest change will begin.
It will be the chance of real, honest, societal change brought about by individuals left with no choice but to do what they want, unencumbered by deference to an impossible ideology, all ideas of what life should be thoroughly and vigorously wrung out of their sleepy little heads by frustration with an administration who do not have the capacity to offer them the comfortable familiarity of cultural oppression.
So who are these crazy folks and what kind of car do they own? Is it worth less than a BMW? Oh lord please let it be insured. Sorry, no way is it insured, well, maybe third party, if the premiums haven’t lapsed. That the car has been painted by hand with fence paint should tell you enough.
You want change? You want the rush of your twenties and teens back again, when everything felt exciting and new and anything was possible? Want something money can’t buy? Want something that makes you feel more alive than getting the wrinkles around your eyes seen to? Do you want the risk of change or do you want to return to the slow comfortable shuffling descent into nostalgia, memories of your not very wild youth, and nodding off to the sound of talkback radio during an afternoon nap on the patio, and finally the grave?
If you want a chance at an environment that risks real change, vote Greens. If there is no Greens vote in your electorate vote the next best thing, Mana/Internet or whoever is next on the list of crazed lefty wingnuts. Change will come in the form of a government where the Greens hold majority. The alternative is to re-live the lives of your parents, admittedly with better technology, but essentially the same life. All respect to your olds, but wouldn’t that be a waste of yours? Only one way to avoid that. Start again with a bang: vote Green.
It was astounding watching John Key being interviewed by Gower on tvs news last night.
Key was angry, very very tense, and in fact out of control.
He had no answers. None.
Gower questioned if he would look into detail after Key said “dunno don’t have the detail”…… and Key answered ..”maybe, maybe not”…… Fuck me it was the most disturbing telling skewering moment I have ever seen in a Key interview. Stunned mullet, possum in the headlights.
Key is on the ropes. That was a fascinating interview.
I regret that in this democratic nation apparently reflecting the rule of law, accountability and order – any past or present public official whom at the very moment it’s needed gives Key a semantic lifeline…….whether it be Dr Tucker with an extraordinary ‘update’ contradicting the plain meaning of his words of three years ago, or Kitteridge, or the Ombudsman…….those elevated personages I cannot unreservedly trust.
If I’m unjustified in my discomfort I’m forced to accept that in 2011 the Minister Responsible For The SIS and the Director of the SIS routinely performed their respective roles thus – important information (even information concerning say the then Leader of the Opposition), such important information intended for the ears of the Minister, would be telephoned to an unnamed, title unknown staffer in the Minister’s office. The unnamed untitled staffer might or might not pass such important information on to the Minister Responsible For The SIS. Maybe not even mention it to other staffers in the Minister’s office. The director would not check or seek confirmation of receipt. No one, not a soul would keep a written record.
Mmmm…….accepting the latter scenario as seemingly is required of me……..there emerges the prima facie appearance of a big fat banana republic.
Cunliffe is right…….it beggars belief.
Ha ! RNZ 5.30 news…….apparently the Minister Responsible For The SIS was away on holiday in Hawaii at the time. For “big fat banana…..” read “big fat pineapple……”. Can only mean this. The staffer, chief of staff, whomsoever left in charge by the Minister is gonna get the rough end of one of the latter right up him/her
I tried to play the video back on my tablet and it went through in short stop and start jerky movements. Several times it halted on key and some of his expressions were very telling. At one stage he looked close to tears. In another, his eyes were rolled up so you could barely see them. In another his top lip was curled right up. In others his anger was highly visible. It was fascinating to watch these frozen expressions as it gave time to actually study his facial expressions for sometimes at least thirty seconds. Very telling. Also, if Karol is thinking about doing the transcript on this most embarrassing stand up to date, good luck with that one. Key seems to think that if he doesn’t open his mouth properly while speaking that he can be seen to be answering the questions without any chance of anyone actually understanding WHAT he has said. Collins MUST have some dirt on him. The man is a gibbering wreck.
We all believe Collins has something very big on Key so he won’t fire her.
How about this — is it actually Slater who has something very big on Key and is running protection for Collins ? Let’s remember who Slater’s father is and was in the Nat machinery.
Cameron Slater was on screen saying ‘everyone’ in politics should be afraid of him ( TV3 yesterday I think but can’t remember link as so many going on) …
As I’ve argued previously on this site, John Key as Prime Minister has always just been about John Key the narcissistic ego-maniac. He only ever wanted to be Prime Minister because, like Mallory’s reason for climbing Everest, “it’s there.” It’s the top job in New Zealand so, naturally, he was entitled to it and he’d made enough money for National to be impressed enough to give it to him.
Having got the job and confirmed his natural superiority he had little clear idea what to do with it – hence the six years of rudderless drifting fortuitously supported generously by the financial injection from the Christchurch earthquake and the advantage of being a primary producer of foodstuffs that the world – especially a momentarily resurgent China – is desperate for even in a financial crisis. His one and only policy initiative was the end-to-end walkway. For the rest of the time he merely played National Party internal politics by appointing the ‘right’ people to Ministerships and letting them get on with it while he could strut around the stage like Idi Amin in his Field-Marshall’s uniform soaking up the adulation and pretending, even to himself, that it was his due.
Now the wheels have come off. He is for the first time being expected to actually earn his money and do his job and the wherewithall isn’t there. The most terrifying thing a man like Key can experience is his own ego being dented, his being forced to realised that the ‘great man’ image he had come himself to believe in is false. Key is facing, perhaps experiencing, a psychologial crisis – he is like the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy pulls back the curtain – and likely a major part of that will be an initial refusal to admit the reality even to himself. His splutterings and incoherences to the press are as much an attempt to cling to the fraud for his own sake, to preserve his own ego, as it is to convince us.
Expect increasingly frantic attempts to deny reality and, very likely, a refusal to acknowledge what everyone else can see like a six-year-old denying a raid on the jam-pot after being caught red-handed. A break-down forced by the increasingly difficult task of reconciling the dichotomy in his own mind is not impossible. Collins may be able to hide in a hole and hope it all blows over but Key can’t. Perhaps his best bet at the moment is for the National heirarchy to become alarmed at the damage he is doing to the brand and come to his rescue by twisting his arm into ‘standing down’, ostensibly through the application of high ethical principles a’la Nixon, so that he can assuage his ego by blaming his ‘downfall’ on others.
What troubles me deeply is the possibility that he might surivive this and be voted back into power in September by the lunatic right. His ego will be assuaged and re-inforced – he is literally unimpeachable. His almost divine right to rule would be confirmed, in his own mind. While not wishing to draw too strong a parallel I think we need to remember that most of the great Dictators of the last Century were initially given power by popular vote rather than seizing it – a fact that seems to have confirmed their own opinion of themselves as being great leaders by birth and entitlement, who eventually brought disaster on their people through their own fanatical confidence in their ‘confirmed’ leadership genius.
Warren Tucker has written that he informed John Key directly about the SIS release of OIA.
John Key’s story is very different.
As heard on National Radio this morning.
All of his quiver of pathetic defences (dunno, can’t recall, pretty relaxed, screw nose up, sneer, left wing conspiracy, and now also glare with thinly veiled rage and no answer) have been shot. If he tries firing any of those arrows again he must surely be openly laughed at…… and people like Key genuinely, when it comes down to it, hate being laughed at ….
… the last years I have often wondered if at some point Key will actually lose it and blow his top….
SIS boss wrote to journo Felix Marwick confirming that he had told Key that he intended releasing the Goff info to Slater. Key has consistently denied knowing anything about it.
I wouldn’t get excited about that – there is so much in there that is incorrect or ridiculous. I worked overseas for global investment banks from 1991 until 2008, worked on a trading desk that covered hedge funds (including LTCM, Moore Capital, Quantum (Soros) and numerous others) until 2002, and after that was involved in structured credit (backed by things like sub prime mortgages). Casually reading that research I can see some things that are true, but many points that are deeply wrong, badly misinterpreted or inconsequential.
The real story is what the real story was. No conspiracy, just the same thing that happens with regularity – lax lending and risk control standards, bad incentives for staff that result in inappropriate risk taking, too much leverage and an obvious market response as banks reduce risk.
And I very distinctly recall John Key (who routinely downplayed his role at Merrill Lynch) standing in a picture for some financial trade magazine – with the title on the door “Vice-President New Debt Products” (or something very similar IIRC).
No conspiracy, just the same thing that happens with regularity – lax lending and risk control standards, bad incentives for staff that result in inappropriate risk taking, too much leverage and an obvious market response as banks reduce risk.
Maybe it would be hard to point to a smokey back room where the wide boys cooked up an actual deal, shook hands and downed single-malts afterwards – but there is no question that the banking industry lobbied very long and hard to have those lending and risk controls removed. The ‘laxity’ you so offhandedly refer to was no accident.
And John Key in my opinion was was of many senior people in it up to their snouts.
Dirty Politics: Free speech & a policy-free election
by Wayne Mapp
“Is the Dirty Politics debate making a mockery of the manifestos? And should authors have the right to right to use material that’s obtained by criminal means?”
Mapp asks do they have the right to use material that’s obtained by criminal means?
He presents the argument that we should have free speech but does want a policy debate during this election.
We agree, but as National has broken all rules during the last election to smear the Labour leader using illegally obtained fast tracked SIS information to conduct that election rather than discussing policies, well we have to say why did National do last election what Wayne Mapp is asking we not do this election?
Did National have the right to use material that’s obtained by criminal means?
Judith Collins has gone to ground and press cant find her, while John Key wont take press questions as of 9am this morning (like Nixon did) we need to find out what this Government’s policies are on law and how they intend conducting themselves going forward.
That is another policy we believe to be as important as Health, housing Schools, transport, and poverty.
On Radio Live now, Sean Plunkett says that (according to his sources, but not confirmed) Judith Collins has refused to resign, even though she’s been asked to.
Really? That’s interesting gobby. If it were true, is there someone other than the PM, that can ask her to resign?
Key has been busy denying any wrong doing on her part, and in fact seems a bit scared of her, and as was discussed above by yeshe, many are given to the idea that Collins holds a huge amount of power over him possibly due to some knowledge she has (and Slater?) that would destroy him.
IF she was asked to resign I’m wondering if it were someone else, in an effort to “inoculate” him from any fall out, that would do it? Does someone such as the GG have the authority to intervene if a Minister refuses to stand down when asked?
In Southland the Regional Council is imposing rules around the use of certain hill country by farmers. This is of course to begin controlling and cleaning up the sediment runoff which has clogged waterways and estuaries in Southland to such an extent that these estuaries are under threat of death i.e. life in them will end.
“”I don’t like rules,” Lumsden farmer Willie Menlove said.
“I’ve farmed for more than 20 years without these sorts of rules and I’d prefer education to be the end goal.”
So there we have it – no rules for years and the rivers and estuaries get killed dead thanks to the farmers. And they think the same system should continue ………. I shake my head in utter disbelief
Young Nats in Waikato are apparently buying up copies of Dirty Politics and burning them – if true I wonder if these numpties realise the significance of their action? What would John Key’s Jewish, Labour voting mother who fled the Nazis have thought about it?
And that epitome of smug Natiness – whatshisname Ansell on RNZ to answer questions about the Labour and National adverts. He said the former portrays a ‘load of no-hopers standing around asking for things’ while the latter is a group of ‘office types up early in the morning going out there and doing things’- or words to that effect. It was a party political broadcast for the National Party – about as openly and nastily partisan as you could get.
I wonder if I could sue him for the dreadful indigestion I got after listening to it?
Thank you for pointing that out PR – I thought it was likely to be a dig at the sorts of things Young Nats might do in retaliation for effigy burning and the like. I won’t follow it up on Slater’s site because I have just showered and being an environmentalist I try to limit how much hot water I use each day.
Because of the environment these events are reported to have occurred in, this story will probably remain in the ‘rumour to some, reality to others’ file.
I have personally seen statements (unpublished and independently sourced) from people employed at the University, which state that Aaron Letcher not only confirmed he is implicated in Hager’s book (although not by name) but he was also bragging in the WSU office about purchasing a large number of the books. One of those statements claim Aaron Letcher said the money for the books’ purchase came from a senior Nat outside of the Young Nats organisation.
For Slater (or whoever is writing his stuff) to state ‘Aaron bought 6 copies only’,
is as you often like to point out, only one side of the story.
The people involved have requested their statements not be released and that they retain their anonymity because quite simply they fear for their jobs, and unlike the Minister of Justice, my word actually means something so I will not even tell you their job titles. The following is a short quote which I received when pressing for more detail. When read in context against the predictable denials, it says a lot about the veracity of the actual claims.
“You can take the gist of it- as long as I’m not implicated because, as you can imagine, our workplace is pretty tense right now.”
At present, despite numerous enquiries, there is no physical evidence available about the burning of the books. I doubt even Aaron Letcher would have been stupid enough to video that event.
While I’m sure that every copy that nats buy is destined to be closely read and preserved for posterity, I don’t really care either way. The more copies they buy, the more copies will be printed, the longer the book will be available for purchase.
So getting away from this (lets face it disheartning result) most recent of polls which I was going to talk about I decided to watch Labours and Nationals election campaign videos instead and comment on them.
Labour 5.5/10, generic in that it could have been any party in oppositions (especially the Greens) video and right at the end the zoom out shoot was not a good choice as Cunliffe looked uncomfortable standing there, probably should have stayed with the close up shot
National 7.5/10 Very good start with the rowing eight and with what they’ve done getting NZ through one of the most difficult periods in recent history but let down at the end by the thing with the shot the left going nowhere because we all know the left coilition is a dogs breakfast but shouldn’t have given them any oxygen at all, I would have left that shot out.
Or could be 4.5/10 if National is sued for the music being too close to the original
“Or could be 4.5/10 if National is sued for the music being too close to the original”
… and that is pretty much it in a nutshell.
In one phrase you admit that there is an original that has been used (and barely changed) – and your personal rating is adjusted only if there is legal action.
A couple of points:
1. National has spoken against negative electioneering – and are the only ones doing it – on an official ad, no less.
2. Surely National has some creative artistic types in the membership (and I’m talking musos, not creative accountants, strategists or scriptwriters here) that could have penned an original and avoided the comparison with Eminem? No?
As has been mentioned before, I agree that the image of freshed-faced rowers enthusiastically looking forward while putting such enthusiasm into going backwards – a really good analogy for where the current National government is taking us.
Not at all like the right, I mean National/Act/United Future/Conservatives/Maori Party/New Zealand First are all going to be pulling the same way all the time, cause they have shown that time and time again. Not like that 3 headed monster on the left who have nothing in common at all…
National/Act/United Future/Conservatives/Maori Party/New Zealand First
Considering how stable National/Act/United Future/Maori Party have been I’m looking forward to three more years but if NZFirst manage to get in you can be sure whoever they go with won’t include the Conservatives or the Greens
Stable? Surely you jest? One of your coalition partners was convicted of a crime and another was stood down as a minister for refusing to comply with Key’s instructions around the leak of the Kitteridge (sp?) report. And that’s before you get to Nick Smith, Maurice Williamson et al. Clearly you have a different view of what “stable” actually means..
A still shot image of the skiff in National’s slick Election Video needs to be made, with the words- ‘Vote National We’ll sell you down the river’ blazoned across it. Wish I had the know-how to do it. Be great for Facebook etc
There’s a nice spoof of the Nat ad that Whatshisname Ansell was promoting so fervently on RNZ this morning –
The Nat Ad is a bit ham fisted: ‘fit young office types’ rowing from the left to the right of the screen in a coordinated and professional manner in blue singlets and with blue oars – oh the subtlety of it! – will appeal to affluent Ruralnats and Metronats as rowing is a sport of the elite and, because NZ does well in the sport internationally, it will also resonate with the Patrinats.
Then – oh such fun! – they contrast the elite in their speedy boat with a leaky old boat rowed by a bunch of disorganised and uncoordinated people dressed in red and green for those who are so dumb they have to have the political symbolism spelled out for them.
It’s one step away from slapstick – and is a slap in the face of most NZers who could not afford the fees to get into schools which have successful rowing programmes – let alone afford the additional fees.
That boat the young fit office types are rowing towards their affluent future costs in the region of $50,000.
At St Bedes – Gerry Brownlee’s alma mater – rowing fees are in the region of $175 a month plus uniform plus costs of getting to competitions ….
PS. I hope this is not a measure of St Bede’s academic prowess….from their website ….
“Can I pay me fees off over a long period of time?”
you mean expensive private schools with rowing programs, schools like:
Aotea College, Aparima College, Aquinas College, Ashburton College, Auckland Grammar School, Avonside Girls High School, Baradene College, Bethlehem College, Burnside High School, Cambridge High School, Cashmere High School, Christchurch Boys High School, Christchurch Girls High School, Craighead Diocesan School, Cromwell College, Dunstan High School, Epsom Girls Grammar, Francis Douglas Memorial College, Gisborne Boys High School, Gisborne Girls High School, Glendowie College, Hamilton Boys High School, Hamilton Girls High School, Hastings Girls High School, Hauraki Plains College, Hillcrest High School, Huanui College, Hurunui College, James Hargest College, John McGlashan College, John Paul College, Kapiti College, Katikati College, Kavanagh College, Kings High School, Lindisfarne College, Liston College, Macleans College, Mana College, Marian College, Marist College, Marlborough Boys College, Marlborough Girls College, Massey High School, Mt Albert Grammar School, Mt Aspiring College, Napier Boys High School, Napier Girls High School, Nelson College, Nelson College For Girls, Onewhero Area School, Onslow College, Otago Boys High School, Otumoetai College, Paraparaumu College, Pukekohe Christian School, Pukekohe High School, Queen Charlotte College, Queen Margaret College, Queens High School, Rangiora High School, Roncalli College, Rosehill College, Rotorua Girls High School, Rotorua Lakes High School, Sacred Heart College (Auckland), Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt), Sacred Heart Girls College (Hamilton), Sacred Heart Girls College (NP), Sancta Maria College, Scots College, Shirley Boys High School, Southland Boys High School, Southland Girls High School, St Bedes College, St Johns College (Hamilton), St Kevins College, St Margarets College, St Patricks College, St Pauls Collegiate School, St Peters School, St Thomas Of Canterbury, Takapuna Grammar School, Tauranga Boys College, Tauranga Girls College, Tawa College, Te Awamutu College, Te Kauwhata College, Timaru Boys High School, Timaru Girls High School, Trident High School, Twizel Area School, Verdon College, Villa Maria College, Waikato Diocesan School, Waimea College, Waitaki Boys High School, Waitaki Girls High School, Wakatipu High School, Wanganui Collegiate School, Wanganui High School, Wellington College, Wellington East Girls College, Wellington Girls College, Wentworth College, Western Heights High School, Westlake Boys High School, Westlake Girls High School, Whakatane High School
125 schools entered the 2014 secondary school rowing champs – I think I took most of the private schools but not integrated schools out of the above list. Rowing may be an expensive sport, but its not only elite schools that offer it.
Are you trying to prove TeWhareWhero’s point? Decile ratings would be interesting.
From Christchurch I don’t see Aranui High School (2), Linwood College (2), Hornby High School (3), Hilmorton High School (5), Papanui High School (6), Hagley Community College (5), Riccarton High School (7), Mairehau High School (4) … and, the cases that prove the rule, Christ’s College (10), St Andrews (10) – in both these cases they may be ones that you knew were private schools and so removed?
Compared to: Burnside (8), Christchurch Boys’ (9), Christchurch Girls’ (9), Cashmere (8), St Bede’s (9), Shirley Boys’ (6), St Margaret’s (Private and 10), Marian College (7) …
I referred to schools with successful rowing programmes …..
Even John Ansell acknowledges ‘the elitism of rowing’.
An eights boat new costs in excess of $50,000; fours $29,000; pairs $19,000 singles $13,000- and then there’s the cost of the massive trailers and towing vehicles. It’s a hugely expensive sport.
That’s fine – it’s also a fantastic sport and good on NZ’s rowers for doing so well internationally.
The use of rowing as an image was not accidental albeit completely at odds with the reality of National in government.
Rowing depends on cooperation, coordination and balance, careful pacing and timing of effort.
All the spin in the world can’t change the evidence of National’s deep factionalism, lack of leadership and short-termism.
Just about all these children will be from well off families!
Rowing New Zealand receives millions of taxpayers dollars god forbid the right finding out about subsidies to a minority sport!
What do people think of the Internet Party, sorry got that wrong, I mean Krim Dot Con threatning Radiolive because they have the temerity to talk to one of KDCs employees?
I wonder what Laila “bought and paid for” Harre thinks? Probably ok with it as a boatload of money does tend to ease the conscience
Desperate flailing from lone blogger!
living of the dead cat bounce!
All the the rats have jumped ship
puckish rogue knows his party is out of vogue
now his tactic is to shift the blame
which looks rather lame !
Defending his boss because no one else is not even GOS!
muddying waters with his dross!
More very bad PR. you should have given up while you Perceived Rongly you were a head.
time to lay down your keyboard have a cup of tea and off to bed!
Sexist Jokes are out of Fashion for that silly joke above I hope you receive a severe tongue lashing
The story is probably along the lines of:
There once was a lady from Ealing, that had an incredible feeling, she lay on her back and opened her … electoral roll registration letter, and thereby realised she’d be in a position to help vote the corrupt bastards out on 20 september.
Neither rhymes nor scans, but it has a happy ending.
A question:
Amongst the constitutional experts amongst posters/contributors/commenters here …..
Does anyone know if the GG has the power to rescind ministerial warrants, and under what circumstances?
I’m casting my mind back to the Whitlam-Kerr situation in OZ of course, however one would think that GG would be having some ‘in-depth’ discussions with Madge about now.
Longer term, I’d hope that the result of all this will not just be to change a corrupt government, but also to address constitutional matters affecting our fragile demockracy (going forward, to coin a phrase, so to speak, as a matter of fact, actually)
Looking forward to ‘expert’ answers .. good you asked the question this morning.
Let’s remember GG Jerry Mateparae was head of GCSB but ignominiously shoved upwards to GG to install Key’s no-I-don’t-know-him-very-well buddy Fletcher in his place.
I always took this to mean Jerry Mateparae could not be manipulated in the ways required by Key under NSA instructions.
Was asking some questions along these lines yesterday .. here’s hoping GG Jerry can keep his respected personal integrity intact through the coming days.
I am also curious about the authority of the GG to intervene in a situation like Collins’, where she is wedged to her office chair despite all the odds, and asked that question above.
We’re thinking along the same lines @ Rosie.
Something is really fucked with our uni-cameral system under Madge if there is a total absence of such checks and balances. If not the GG – maybe the Chief Justice? I’m curious to know from an expert.
It certainly makes it very easy for NZ to be ‘used’ as an experiment in advancing certain agendas – and that’s not advancing any conspiratorial theory either – merely that if the GG/Chief Justice are so neutered as to be useless when an obviously corrupted regime acts in an anti-democratic fashion, we’ve been reliant on SFA for a very long time.
I sincerely hope Gerry is thinking long and hard. Unfortunately I agree with the morning prayers PuckishRogue/fizz ‘spinline learner’ that he “is a good man”, not just having briefly met him, but from his staff too. Actually my initial cynicism came from ‘the military wing’ of the extended family
You mean as in getting the ‘fair and balanced’ story huh? “the OTHER side?” The one that’s on the “other” side of the same coin? The one that’s not “your” people but “our” people’s side? The one that’s IF your not with us THEN you must be against us?
Please explain …
actually no don’t, once again I’m breaking my self-imposed rule of not feeding a fundy/cultist rote-learned “our kind of people”
“Young Nat’s buying up Hager books and burning them is similar to NAZI Germany”
I was so shocked to hear this and no Nat’s have denied this so we post our thoughts on this further gross issue as another election issue of National’s claim to be above Dirty politics.
This John Key Government has modelled itself alongside the 1933 NAZI party propaganda machine.
It’s mandate given by Hitler and skilfully executed by The Hitler’s chosen Minister of Public Enlightenment & Propaganda the ruthless Mr Joseph Goebbels.
I’m just offering paint saving tips, but you could ask them if you’re that bothered.
I doubt they have an office full of staff that will deny and deflect.
I hope those Young Nats have paid for the Dirty Politics Books in full but of course their books will have been supplied by the Nastie election promotion team.
We may have found a means to kickstart the economy better than the destruction of an earthquake. They just keep paying for them, burning them and the other side will keep on printing them.. Unfortunately there will be a tax allowance in there somewhere.
A paltry $24 million it will bring in to increase the quota for orange roughy and hoki. There are warnings about killing the fisheries golden goose but no this government is like Mr Creosote – just a wafer more, just a tiny bit more, you can manage it. No way could they stand up like real men of NZ and say it would be imprudent to increase.
Radio nz – The government has increased the amount of Hoki and Orange Roughy which can be caught by fishing companies, in a move estimated to be worth $24 million.
And talking about real NZ – is this what we are thinking?
National reckons we will go to hell in a hand basket (faster) if it isn’t returned, Labour is indulging in its traditional display of amnesia and is promising to spend we don’t have on additional lashings of social welfare, the Greens are undertaking to save the planet at our vast expense with no regard for how we are going to earn our living, the Maori Party and Labour are engaging in their own tit for tat, NZ First is raising the spectre of the Yellow Peril, ACT is counting on Epsom electors casting their votes strategically, Internet Mana is preaching values when it doesn’t have any, the Conservatives are offering a return to old-fashioned values, and a few loopy new ones, and UnitedFuture quietly maintains its confidence in the voters of Ohariu.
It’s a great rant but more sound and fury signifying nothing really. How can we move this pedalcar along if we don’t all put some energy into moving it. What we actually need is to model ourselves on The Luggage in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld stories. Lots of little legs, fast moving, fast thinking, on the ball, even prescient, strangely knowing and always in the right place, no matter what happens. And with hidden depths that can produce whatever is needed at any point in time. All we are at present is sentient and sometimes I wonder about that…..zzzzz
Labour attacks should switch to what a mess the next three years will be with a rudderless, factionalized, legally challenged National Government limping on for three more years. It will be a mess. Because this does not all go away on the 20th of Sept. They will be in court, they will be tearing themselves apart.
This has blown up because of internal rivalries inside National, that will only get worse
While the outrage over the killing of American James Foly grows the attempted assassination of Mohammed Deif which killed his wife and child gets a pass.
AlDalou Family house was targeted by 5 GBU28 bombs. The “Guided Bomb Unit 28” is a 5,000pound laser-guided “bunker busting” bomb made in USA
Labour have made some good promises for Dunedin today – a $250 million promise to rebuild Dunedin hospital, keep Invermay open and reopen and upgrade Hillside.
Thank you Rosie – another image to divert me: ‘Judith Collins wedged into her office chair’ – holding on to the arms like grim death – ‘you’ll have to carry me out’!
This is why the Greens should not be allowed anywhere near the finances, what will the Greens answer to this be? Either raise the taxes even more or just wheel out the printing presses no doubt…no sorry the answer wil be “green economy”
The US is still printing it. China is still being paid with it. China is still buying up our assets cutting off the future ability of NZ to earn our way.
Worse. China under went a baby boom due to the year of the dragon. Its demand for milk is dropping and its growth of its own production and ownership of our farmland is up. Plus now we hear that the EU have removed restrictions on milk production…
…dairy is dead. National want to tempt yet more young NZ to get into debt buying their own farm and spend up millions to switch to dairy, and support the existing farmers in pollution. Pollution that should they invest a small amount, they could use the effluent on their own farms instead of expensive fertilizers.
But no, its just National’s stylized brand of letting the rot set in that has become beloved by so many National supporters.
School hair? Churches use to have huge influence on society. It seems a Catholic School wants to once again extend its influence outside its boundaries and into the surrounding society. Sure asking a student to straighten their hair, or tie it up, is fine in my view as the student can come Friday dreadlock their hair up all they like. What a School, religious or not, should not be able to do is deny a student freedom of expression outside their school hours, that is what forcing a kid to cut their hair does. Take the Sikh community, or a kid brought up as a Rastafarian, hair length is prequiste for their expression. So the excuse that because this is a ‘special’ religious school should have extramural rights is shocking, and surprising also given Catholic recent history of deliberately abusing rights of children in their care. i.e. the expectation would be they would be more inclined to find tolerant ways forward that listened and heard community points of view.
Citizens challenge Key on his pr walk tour of Christchurch….
‘PM on the back foot during Christchurch visit’
‘A woman asked the Prime Minister why terminally-ill, elderly and vulnerable people were still waiting for EQC claims to be settled.
Mr Key asked for details, saying he would raise the matter with EQC.
The woman, who declined to be named, told media afterwards: “He had absolutely no answers.”‘
and..
‘”Isn’t it time we got a new prime minister?” one woman boldly stepped up to ask the encumbent.
“I hope not,” Mr Key replied.’
and…
‘As he strode on, two female radio reporters were talking, evidently blocking his way.
“I’ll shove you out of the way … you’re just part of the scummy media,” said Mr Key in a joke that seemed to fall flat.’
and…
‘He was then taken to a meeting at the Christchurch Yacht Club with the Coastal Pathway group, where more disgruntled locals awaited him.
“When are you going to fix our house?” a young boy aged 5 or 6 asked, before running back to his mother to tell her, “I shouted at him.”‘
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Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Dehm, Senior lecturer, international migration and refugee law, University of Technology Sydney The High Court unanimously ruled today that the Australian government can keep asylum seekers in immigration detention indefinitely in cases where they do not “voluntarily” cooperate with their own ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Munro, Lecturer, Creative Industries and Digital Media, University of South Australia Twenty-four hours after the release of Macklemore’s pro-Palestine protest song Hind’s Hall on social media on May 7, the video had already notched up over 24 million views. In ...
Failing to anticipate the complexity of the consenting system is being cited as the the current builder's shortcomings, an Infrastructure Commission review says. ...
350 Aotearoa is calling the Environment Select Committee’s decision to allow oral submissions from just 40% of individual, unique submitters who asked to speak to the committee ‘a disgraceful blight to democracy’. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Helal, Assistant Dean (Sustainability), The University of Melbourne Dubai skylineAleksandarPasaric/Pexels Since ancient times, people have built structures that reach for the skies – from the steep spires of medieval towers to the grand domes of ancient cathedrals and mosques. Today ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Musole, PhD Law Student, University of New England Girts Ragelis/ShutterstockRecent trends show Australians are increasingly buying wearables such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. These electronics track our body movements or vital signs to provide data throughout the day, with ...
Papua New Guinea experienced a significant earthquake on 24 March in East Sepik and there has also been recent flooding there and in surrounding provinces. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yousuf Mohammed, Dermatology researcher, The University of Queensland Maridav/Shutterstock You wake up, stagger to the bathroom and gaze into the mirror. No, you’re not imagining it. You’ve developed face wrinkles overnight. They’re sleep wrinkles. Sleep wrinkles are temporary. But as your ...
The Environment Select Committee has just announced that 60 percent of individuals who asked to speak at the hearings will not be heard. This equates to almost 700 people who made individual submissions and more than 1000 more who made a form submission. ...
The Royal New Zealand Ballet is performing Swan Lake around the country. What kind of dream does the ballet sell?Before going to see the Royal New Zealand Ballet perform Swan Lake, I had about as much familiarity with the plot of this ballet as could be expected from having ...
A new poem by Auckland poet Eamonn Tee. High Tide at Local Maxima It is only going to get worse. The streams will be narrow and fickle. The week will bend and buckle like a pot-bellied waist. You will make it to the weekend with one ...
The New Zealand entrepreneur behind beauty business Ethique is gearing up to launch a new eco-venture. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Our thirst for a tasty bevvy is insatiable, but it comes with a hefty plastic price for the planet: 580 billion ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 James by Percival Everett (Mantle, $38) A retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from ...
By Kamna Kumar in Suva Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna stressed the importance of media freedom and its link to the climate and environmental crisis at the 2024 World Press Freedom Day event organised by the University of the South Pacific’s journalism programme. Under the theme “A Planet for ...
Tara Ward previews a new local TV series offering alternative visions of motherhood. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. A woman is clambering up the side of her two-story house, clinging desperately to a drainpipe. Nearby, her child is perched on the ...
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is supportive of the cross-party approach to climate adaptation announced by the Minister of Climate Change today. ...
The Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) welcome today’s announcement from Government around a bipartisan inquiry into an enduring climate adaptation framework for New Zealand. ...
The Free Speech Union welcomes the decision by the Department of Internal Affairs, and Minister Brooke Van Velden, to abandon proposals to further regulate online speech. ...
Its new building in Wellington will not be nearly big enough for all its records, and it has also run out of money to build its new storage facility in Levin. ...
BusinessNZ is congratulating the Minister of Climate Change for his work in achieving cross-party consensus for a way forward on climate adaptation. ...
Recent research reveals the repeal of smokefree measures is not only bad for our health, but also the economy. The Government has repealed various smokefree measures to ensure it keeps collecting $1.2 billion a year in tobacco taxes, in order to pay for tax cuts already being delivered to ...
The club’s surprisingly good season is built on the desire to prove a random A-League YouTuber wrong… and a few other factors.“There’s no way that Wellington Phoenix play finals this year. I can’t see it happening at all.” Those are the words of Lachlan Raeside, an Australian football content ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By César Albarrán-Torres, Senior Lecturer, Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology Apple TV+ As one of billions of bilingual individuals in the world, it disappoints me when a film or TV show with characters of a non-English-speaking background is ...
The under-utilised course is a waste of space, and with a little political will, it could be turned into something better. For the duration of her stay in Wellington, my long-suffering cousin listened to me rant about golf courses. They’re bad for the environment: water intensive and pesticide heavy. They ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Ruppanner, Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of The Future of Work Lab, Podcast at MissPerceived, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock A recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows US fertility rates dropped 2% in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Corderoy, Medical doctor and PhD candidate studying involuntary psychiatric treatment, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Sydney shop_py/Shutterstock Picture two people, both suffering from a serious mental illness requiring hospital admission. One was born in Australia, the other in Asia. Hopefully, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Treby, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, RMIT University P.j.Hickox, Shutterstock Peatlands store more carbon per square metre than any other ecosystem on Earth. These waterlogged, mossy bogs beat even dense rainforests for their ability to act as carbon reservoirs. Under the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Goss, Adjunct Associate Professor, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra Government spending on health has been growing so rapidly that a decade ago the then health minister Peter Dutton called it “unmanageable” and “unsustainable”. Health spending grew in real terms by ...
New Zealand's largest electricity distributor is warning the country to hurry up with controls around charging electric vehicles or face unnecessary bills running into the billions. ...
New Zealanders have been asked to conserve energy this morning to combat a possible electricity shortfall, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. A call to conserve power New Zealand is facing a possible electricity shortfall, with people up ...
Writer Rebecca K Reilly breaks down the national book awards. What are the Ockhams?The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are our annual national awards for books published for adults, and have existed in this form since 2016. There are four categories: Fiction, Poetry, General Non-fiction and Illustrated Non-fiction. There ...
Wellington City Council should keep its 34% ownership share in Wellington International Airport, argue Unions Wellington spokespeople Finn Cordwell and Ashok Jacob. Insanity, as the saying goes, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Wellington City Council (WCC) is yet again proposing to dispose ...
New Zealand’s largest book publisher has undergone drastic changes this week, leaving its future role in local publishing uncertain. Two of the most recognisable local publishers in New Zealand are among those restructured out of Penguin Random House, it was announced this week. Head of publishing Claire Murdoch will leave ...
Successive governments have tried, and failed, to count Māori. But with the return of social investment, it’s more important than ever to get good data. The post Government looks for a better way to count Māori appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Experts in financing social investment initiatives say New Zealand is in a prime position to tackle social issues via a social investment approach The post What will Willis’ social investment fund look like? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
In 2021 the Public Interest Journalism Fund launched the Te Rito Journalism project, a $2.4 million initiative to boost diversity in New Zealand’s newsrooms. The initiative was in response to the decades-long shortage of Māori and Pacific journalists in the media industry. It was billed as New Zealand’s ...
The Black Ferns Sevens appeared to be a mile behind Australia at the halfway point of the 2023-24 SVNS international circuit. Winless in three tournaments, a cup quarter-final exit in Perth was one of their worst results. To add insult to injury, talismanic skipper Sarah Hirini had been ruled out ...
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By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist A former Tuvalu prime minister says while the New Zealand government’s oil and gas plans show it is concerned about its economy, he is more concerned about the livelihoods and survival of the Tuvalu people. Enele Sopoaga — who still serves as an MP ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Many people who follow federal budgets know about the magnificent “budget tree” in a parliamentary courtyard, which turns a glorious red in time for the May event. This week Treasurer Jim Chalmers posed by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Bennett, Professor of Music, Australian National University Richard P J Lambert/flickr, CC BY The future belongs to the analogue loyalists. Fuck digital. As a tsunami of CDs, DAT tapes and samplers swept the recording industry in the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Strong, Associate professor, Music Industry, RMIT University This week American rapper Macklemore released a new track, Hind’s Hall, which has gained a lot of attention because of its explicitly political nature. The track is unapologetically pro-Palestine. It declares the artist’s ...
Explainer - The government from 2025 is mandating how state schools teach children to read. But what is structured literacy and how does it compare to other teaching methods? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danica Jenkins, Lecturer in European Studies, University of Sydney On a freezing spring night in March, Georgia’s national soccer team beat Greece in a nail-biter penalty shootout to qualify for the Euro 2024 championships. The atmosphere on the streets of the capital ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam G. Arian, Lecturer (Accounting & Finance), Australian Catholic University Loic Manegarium/Pexels Imagine every ton of carbon dioxide a company emits is slowly inflating its costs — not just in terms of potential fines or fees but in the capital it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Somwrita Sarkar, Senior Lecturer in Design and Computation, University of Sydney The “latte line” is the infamous, invisible boundary that divides Sydney between the more affluent north-east and the south-west. Historically, people north of the line enjoy better access to jobs and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dowdy, Principal Research Scientist in Extreme Weather, The University of Melbourne Nomad_Soul/Shutterstock In media articles about unprecedented flooding, you’ll often come across the statement that for every 1°C of warming, the atmosphere can hold about 7% more moisture. This ...
RNZ Pacific Former Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has been sentenced to one year in prison, Fiji media are reporting. Bainimarama, alongside suspended Fiji Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho appeared in the High Court in Suva today for their sentencing hearing for a case involving their roles in blocking a police ...
Acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo says, “Addressing violence and abuse remains New Zealand’s most significant human rights issue affecting women. ...
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Wayne Mapp blogs the election campaign that has been impacted by Hager, and about the wild west of political blogs. He gets in a word or two of support for KB and WO.
He has come in for some pretty harsh responses here – I imagine he doesn’t get such harsh respones on those other two blogs.
But the differences shown up by Hager are the manipulations, and nasty, covert, underhand dealings that have been associated with WO.
The ODT editorial for today is a brutal skewering of Key’s performance over Dirty Politics.
Some highlights:
Nice one ODT
John Key puts style above substance, in fact now its been shown he’s so desperate to keep substance out of the debate he has his staff manage SIS information queries that directly help WhaleOil do the dirty work.
Nicky Hager in 1940? Certainly, some of the Nats would like to drive their critics into caves…
http://readingthemaps.blogspot.co.nz/2014/08/caving-with-nicky-hager.html
New Roy Morgan only overlaps Dirty Politics by one day.
N L G NZF MP IMP ACT UF Con Other
48 27.5 11.5 6.5 1 2.5 0.5 0.5 1 1
Polling companies spend the last day or two quota filling, I think.
Also, my view of the media coverage of the book in the first two days was basically – nothing to see here, it will all blow over in a couple of days, it’s just politics as usual, etc.. If I’m right then most people would have just dismissed it.
But over the weekend it got legs and that will start to produce whatever impact it is likely to have.
[Edit: RM polling was 4-17 August so more than one day overlap]
I agree: we’ll see the impact in the next round of polls. Or not, I guess, if it hardens National’s support.
It overlapped by 4 days.
I don’t think the election will hinge on a book about Blubber boy. It has always been and will always be about the left offering an alternative more equitable society, to the 1% paradise on offer from Key.
I think internal polling is showing that as well. You can see Cunliffe and Norman are trying to get their message out through all the noise about fucking Cameron Slater. They are not feeding this National Party cluster fuck because I think they know that we need more than Hager’s book to get home this year.
Thank goodness someone has finally seen light.
Also when you look at the numbers of MP’s it shows a much closer race only 1 MP in it!
phil goff has given proof to tvone that john key is lying when he says:..’i didn’t know’..
..goff has presented a letter written by spook-boss tucker..
..in which he states repeatedly how he had briefed key every step of the way…
..(and of course..this could be what collins ‘knows’ about key…that has stopped him sacking her..
..explains his fear of her going ballistic..
..’cos if key told slater..you can bet that collins was also in that loop..)
..another day in this campaign..and it just keeps getting messier for key..
..’team key’..indeed..!
..and for goff..he is living that ‘revenge best taken cold’ maxim..
Not a Goff fan but felt at the time something was very whiffy, sure Warren Tucker coughed up a copy of the briefing allegedly intended for Goff, but in the absence of verifiable minutes it is highly likely on the balance of etc. that Goff was never personally delivered that briefing.
Do unobserved events still happen? Of course, that is the chair Goff would have been sitting in.
no..the evidence is a copy of a letter from tucker to an un-named journalist..(i should have made that clear..)
ok
Here is a link to the letter from Tucker to Felix Marwick (Chief Political Reporter at Newstalk ZB) in Nov 2011 reposted by Barry Soper on Twitter (link posted a short time ago and copied from Public Address)
https://twitter.com/barrysoper/status/502171298710036480
This comment from Russell Brown on PA about the letter is worth reading
http://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-never-mind-the-quality/?p=320674#post320674
Both Newstalk ZB and Morning Report (RNZ) have today reported a direct contradiction between Warren Tucker and John Key. Tucker says he told the PM about Slater’s OIA, Key says he didn’t.
Until now, I’ve felt that Key (and Collins) could ride this out, albeit clumsily. But if this latest story is true, then he really is in trouble.”
Thing is, Tucker told this to ZB’s Felix Marwick in 2011. In the letter attached to this post. It’s hard to see how Key can continue to claim he wasn’t consulted and knew nothing, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him try. He’s now caught very deep in that lie.
The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security’s inquiry will doubtless also be interested in who Slater was talking to for his “expedited” OIA request.
Also: good work Felix Marwick for keeping the paperwork. That’s how good journalists roll.
Lots of legs on this angle …..
“My office was told … I wasn’t told”. Key to Felix Marwick, Newstalk ZB.
Tucker’s letter: “I notified / advised / informed the Prime Minister”.
Those are direct quotes.
His only defence can be “me = my office”, and hoping Tucker can’t or won’t say different. So there’s only one question to be asked today …
“Did Tucker brief you in person Prime Minister, yes or no?”
That would be weak. The letter clearly says “the Prime Minister” and not “The Prime Minister’s Office”.
and the head of the spooks doesn’t brief ‘someone in keys’ office’..
..goff detailed this morn the restrictions placed on/around those spook-briefings..
..keys’ next stand-up with the media should be interesting..
….it is no small matter for the pm to be proven to have lied to the country…(and just yesterday..)
Tucker is now claiming that he meant the PM’s office. I believe him… not.
Who in the PM’s office, Mr Tucker? Eagleson? Ede?
and they never told key…key/collins knew nothing about this..this taking down of goff..using spook-files..by their good buddy slater..
..believe that..and i’ve got some tooth-fairy futures i’d like to flog off to you..
If he tries the “me = my office” line then someone needs to remind him that Jason Ede worked in his office and with Cameron Slater.
Therefore Jason Ede = Key’s Office = Key himself.
You’re fucked, sunshine.
No wonder Blinglish was on RNZ yesterday saying “voters don’t want to talk about this, they’re not interested, they’re more interested in the economy.” That’s probably true of the National heartland – who wants to watch their team go down in flames?
Prepare your bingo cards …
“I may have been told, it was 3 years ago, I don’t recall every single thing that has ever happened …”
He’ll rely on waffle and hoping we’re ‘over it’.
And yet he would’ve had Cunliffe hanged for forgetting a form-letter he signed 11 years ago.
How are your double standards, Mr Key?
That should be game.
The letter proves that he flat out lied, or is so incompetent as to not remember important events.
Na ah, Tucker backs up the PM and says it sent it to his office not the PM 🙂
So what you are saying is that the PM doesn’t take responsibility for his office? What is he doing running it then?
If he doesn’t want to run it, then he should be relieved of the unwanted responsibility?
What do you think…. “No authority without responsibility” is the concept that comes to my mind.
From the party of personal responsibility!
Katherine Ryan said its hard to believe with such a political hot potato no one in his office would have briefed the PM!
In fact, judging by the litany of denials over the years it appears that no-one ever tells him anything! Alternatively he may have early onset dementia 🙂
“No authority without responsibility”
Or another good way of expressing this is “You can delegate responsibility – but you cannot avoid accountability”.
Mind you Key’s corporate career has well prepared him for weaseling his way out of this. He’s behaving exactly like your typical shark-suited exec – one of many I’ve seen over the years.
Isn’t it strange how the only things he can never recall are those which would get him into trouble.
what a guy .. what a guy ..
Right at a visceral level I’ve recognised Key as one of those very smooth, plausible and polished sociopaths who infest senior corporate life. Particularly the bigger overseas organisations that Key worked for.
Your average Kiwi doesn’t get to see so many of these sharks up close and personal over an extended period of time – and is easily taken in by them.
The high power corporate, board of director types in this nation will know he is one of their tribe however – and will have recognised that from the start.
Nope. He’s lying. A letter from the Ombudsman reports him talking about his “discussion with the PM”.
I don’t blame the dude for wanting to hide the truth, after all he wouldn’t be welcome at any polo match, golf club or peasant flogging if he we were responsible for the resignation of a Nat PM.
But he’s now been caught.
Which rat will jump first? Darth Joyce?
I’ve got a great big bridge here you can buy – going cheap – only a $1m and it’s all yours.
Give me your bank account details and I’ll personally relieve you of that unwanted cash.
(If you believe that bullshit from Key et al – you’ll believe anything!)
It’s one thing for the likes of me to be stuck with some evil prick like JK as PM. He was elected afterall. Quite another, to in any way accept unelected employees (punters) making unilateral decisions with respect the SiS. Is that what JK wants NZ to adopt as the new normal? If so, why bother with any fucking pretense of democracy and democratic accountability?
Even Matthew Hooton said it was impossible to imagine a situation in which the PM would not have been informed of the release of the SIS memo under the OIA.
Hooton of Hollow Men and now Dirty Politics fame.
BTW Hi Matthew, hope you’re having an awesome day 😀
I’ve set out results from the One News Colmar-Brunton Snap Poll on Dirty Politics here….http://sub-z-p.blogspot.co.nz/
On the one hand, it’s a bit of a wake-up call to anyone who assumed there’d be an immediate shift in the polls. Just 2% – a mere 2 friggin % !!! – of Nat supporters say the scandal has negatively influenced their view of the National Party.
On t’other hand, this issue is likely to be a slow-burner as the media momentum builds over the next few weeks (similar to Corngate in 02). According to the poll, 10% of Nat supporters say they believe Hager’s allegations and, as well as the 2% of Nats who have a more negative view of the Party, there are a further 3% of Nats who are Unsure. These larger minorities of Nats are the ones that might budge over the next few weeks as the scandal reaches a crescendo.
But it’s quite possible that the most important electoral consequence of the affair is not so much a swing from Nat-to-Lab or Right-to-Left but rather in motivating a sizeable section of both Undecideds and Labour-leaning (erstwhile) Non-Voters to turn out on Election Day. Looks to me like the Undecideds who say their view of National has been negatively influenced by the scandal outstrips the number of Nats who have said likewise. Moreover, arguably the most intriguing figure is the 19% of Labour supporters who say they’re more likely to get out and vote as a result of the scandal.
Also pays to remember that some previous Nat supporters may have swung away (to Lab/Green/NZF/ or into Undecided territory) between the release of Dirty Politics (and thus the onset of the scandal) and this poll. I’m thinking of the sort of voters who have been very softly-aligned to the Nats and for whom this may have been the last straw. They, of course, are invisible in this poll because they wouldn’t be included among Nat supporters.
[Poll was carried out on August 14-15 – ie in the very early stages before people had much time to digest things]
Q 4: “As a result of these allegations are you now more or less likely to vote on Election Day or have they not made much difference ?”
Entire Sample More Likely 12% Less Likely 1% Not much diff 87%
High More Likely – Labour Supporters 19%
That seems significant.
I can’t see soft voters hanging around National once Whaledump has finished with them. I suspect there is worse to come, as if what we’ve already seen isn’t bad enough.
My gut feeling is this saga will simply put people off politics.
However that can still help us if soft Nat voters stay at home on election day.
i am picking the greens will be the major benificiaries from this..
..by election day there will be a desire for ‘new’…disdain of the old..
..and many soft national voters..turned off by the ongoing stench from national..
..could easily turn to the greens..(especially with their audited by infometrics fiscal-plan..that’s on my shortlist for ‘best move of the election award’..that fiscal-auditing..it answers more questions/uncertainties than you can poke a stick at..)
.and as an internet/mana supporter i am hoping some of that desire for the new..
..will also flow that way..
and i’m picking that disdain for the old..will also wash over labour..
..not least because of the upcoming dotcom/greenwald spooking-data-dump..
..i’m picking labour have every reason to be as nervous about that..
..as do national..
..i can’t see labour coming out after that dump – looking too crash-hot..
I suspect that NZF may be the beneficiaries, actually
i agree..i noted that elsewhere..they will hope he keeps a labour party firmly on the neo-lib path..
..not that they need that much urging…
Great stuff Swordfish. Thanks.
Interesting that Christchurch residents had the highest level of believing the ‘suggestions’ in the book (at 45% believing them).
Yeah, I noticed that, too (both the weak terminology: “suggestions” and the Christchurch outlier). If acceptance of the detail outlined in Hager’s book can be taken as some sort of proxy for distrust of the present Government then we may see quite a swing in Chch this election. Then again, there’s still that ambiguity I mentioned a couple of months back…http://thestandard.org.nz/puddlegum-on-christchurch/#comment-834219 (in reply to your impressive post on Chch).
But then, of course, I say that as an ignorant Wellingtonian.
Doug Hefferman did not like being challenged about the huge profits Mighty River Power are making.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/20146516/mighty-river-power-posts-big-profit
The wealthy overseas shareholders who own and pay him are happy with the money they’re taking out of the country. And maybe at $ 1.49 million a year he cares more about them than NZ citizens struggling to pay their bills.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/business/8577916/Power-bosses-1m-plus-salaries-revealed
And did I hear right, but was there a veiled threat of blackouts in his interview..if the Greens and Labour get into power?
Paul the RM poll yesterday was explained by RM that the effect of Dirty politics didn’t register yet as it happened on the last couple of days of polling,while the effect of some despicable politics which no one on the left condone!
a dead cat bounce is what this poll is!
Nat and Rats like in jumping from the sinking ship !
At $1.49m you can pretty much guarantee that he doesn’t give a fuck about NZers struggling to pay their bills. He’s far too disconnected from that reality.
The sociopaths are always threatening such things. Time to take our power back and bankrupt the bastards.
It should be made clear to Heffernan that depriving Kiwis of the means to stay warm and, in some cases, alive, would lead swiftly to his arrest and arraignment on charges of conspiracy to do grievous bodily harm and anything else lawyers can think of. All the companies should be renationalised anyway, and parasites like him should be sent off to Hawaii to stay with Key.
Ipredict this morning suggests National will get 43%, Labour will get 31%.
I am presuming New Zealand First on 6.5% represents some undecideds.
Swordfish what is your feeling on the tracking from now?
I’ll be posting on this in the very near future, Ad. Hope you don’t mind if I keep my powder dry ’til then 🙂
No problem
Ready to review your hasty and rough remonstrations directed at those of us still concerned about dirty politics Ad ?
In which you relied on the RM poll – a poll two-thirds taken before the book was even published – to say as a fait accompli that dirty politics as an issue is meaningless. Have a look up and down this thread Ad.
And did I hear right, but was there a veiled threat of blackouts in his interview..if the Greens and Labour get into power?
Funny that, I heard exactly the same thing.
Hopefully if MRP do good on Heffernan’s threat of a “generator strike” and turn the dams off, PM Cunliffe picks up the phone and tells the army to turn up to their nice shiny offices to turn them back on.
Power price rises and now rent rises.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11311911
All the time piling more pressure on the poor.
The issue of inequality and poverty is the burning issue for this election.
Auckland landlords are hiking rents amid fears of big rates increases next year on the back of spiralling property values. – if property values increased by 33% as reported yesterday! Rates will not increase by 33%. Simply put: councils estimate their costs for the year then divide by the capital value of all residential property. So if the demoninator increases then the rate per $ decreases. We still get the same rating demand cost.
Many in the media get caught in the “selling rent increases” that should costs increase this flows thru to rents, if that was the case why did not rents fall post GFC when interest rates dropped from 10+% to 5% ? And if it is so tough being a landlord why are investors increasing their holding % of the housing stock ? There are other decisions at play, returns, tax implications, etc
The following is an unpaid, unauthorised, reluctant and unexpected political message from deep within West Auckland:
Like many of you, I’ve been watching the development of my country head in one direction only for the past thirty years. Watching the details and turns of this election campaign, one thing is becoming clear: there is only one choice if real change is what people sort of, maybe, want. How do we get that? It’s easy, as easy as not locking your car door when you stop at the first set of lights in Manurewa.
Labour’s policies necessarily leave the people we all wail that we care about now, behind. It’s that simple. In all fairness, they can’t fix the problem anyway, and don’t really want to either. Leaving a large and growing chunk of the population behind at least allows future middle classes the chance to avoid mental breakdowns. They’ll have someone to unload their regret and repressed self-loathing onto. Hey, I’m not saying it’s entirely wrong to choose that when the alternative can be really dangerous to the unprepared, it’s just not entirely moral either. That’s the way life goes. So no change is coming from Labour. Once upon a time, they were rightly considered passengers in the Blue Party car, but with their foot pressing the brakes occasionally. Now it’s clear that their foot is just resting beside the brake. Their policies imply they will prepare to press the economic brakes, but only if they are voted in twice and only then if nothing else comes up. The car is still headed in the same direction, though. I think that’s an accurate picture of what Labour can offer.
National, well, their credibility is shot. Whatever they offer, we’ve all seen who they are, where they want to accelerate and how they intend to continue. There can be no more delusions of “you can be part of the team” anymore. Their newest election advertisement gives the picture of a small, unstable, defensive crew stroking off for a short trip without any equipment or supplies for a long journey or preparations for bad weather. People who vote National now are on autopilot and will never change. What more is there to say.
The new smaller parties will not have the numbers to influence more powerful status-quo coalition partners, but they’re still useful. That’s just the facts of being a fledgling party.
In my opinion there is only one chance to induce change. Maybe it will turn out to be change everyone eventually comes to enjoy, in the way that the old saying goes about crisis being a mix of danger and opportunity. The chance for change I can see is much like a car that blindsides you at an intersection – baam – straight in the driver’s door. You don’t feel the initial impact, you only see a smudge of colour from just over your shoulder, and then everything goes dead quiet and time slows down when you realise what’s happened, but after that, at least for a while, everything changes.
The owners of this rude car are the only people other than National or Labour who have anywhere near enough of a clue to avoid total economic ruin while also inadvertently creating the kind of conditions required for society to break out the deadlock between left and right, right and wrong, black and white, have and have-nots. But if they do that, won’t they encourage total ruin? They will, they WILL ruin us! No they won’t. They can’t police themselves, how the hell will they police you?
Right now, everyone in New Zealand is following the line, doing the same stuff they pappies did, same attitudes their mammies had, waddling along squealing at all the same stuff they squealing at since before I was born and no one knows how to change that, not directly. It seems that direct efforts fail. Oh sure there are a few artists and activists slogging through their own personal mudflats and finding some interesting stuff, but no one’s paying much attention to that. Boring huh? Are you guys bored with your lives yet? Do you crave the excitement that another latté just can’t offer? Want something less dangerous than a P addiction, but also a little more passive than cross-fit training? Here’s the best part: you don’t even have to give up your daily moaning! Oh boy, they’ll be plenty to moan about, I guarantee.
The outrages will be thick and fast until you think you have no blood vessels in your head left to burst. Your wallet will take a hit like you’ve spent all night at a Belgian Beer House. Confusion about what’s right or wrong will swirl until you giggle like drunken teenagers, until finally you think, screw it, I’m doing whatever I want… and that’s where the chance for real honest change will begin.
It will be the chance of real, honest, societal change brought about by individuals left with no choice but to do what they want, unencumbered by deference to an impossible ideology, all ideas of what life should be thoroughly and vigorously wrung out of their sleepy little heads by frustration with an administration who do not have the capacity to offer them the comfortable familiarity of cultural oppression.
So who are these crazy folks and what kind of car do they own? Is it worth less than a BMW? Oh lord please let it be insured. Sorry, no way is it insured, well, maybe third party, if the premiums haven’t lapsed. That the car has been painted by hand with fence paint should tell you enough.
You want change? You want the rush of your twenties and teens back again, when everything felt exciting and new and anything was possible? Want something money can’t buy? Want something that makes you feel more alive than getting the wrinkles around your eyes seen to? Do you want the risk of change or do you want to return to the slow comfortable shuffling descent into nostalgia, memories of your not very wild youth, and nodding off to the sound of talkback radio during an afternoon nap on the patio, and finally the grave?
If you want a chance at an environment that risks real change, vote Greens. If there is no Greens vote in your electorate vote the next best thing, Mana/Internet or whoever is next on the list of crazed lefty wingnuts. Change will come in the form of a government where the Greens hold majority. The alternative is to re-live the lives of your parents, admittedly with better technology, but essentially the same life. All respect to your olds, but wouldn’t that be a waste of yours? Only one way to avoid that. Start again with a bang: vote Green.
“If there is no Greens vote in your electorate vote the next best thing”.
You can PARTY VOTE for the Greens in every electorate in the country and THAT IS THE VOTE THAT COUNTS.
to form a strong progressive-coalition..int/mana are an essential ingredient..
..the greens have to realise that int/mana are their real ideological-friends..
..not that (still!) neo-lib hangover bunch…
The whole thing is ridiculous. When rents increase, technically the value will increase (as rental income affects sale price).
Landlords, NZ biggest beneficiaries holding an entire nation to ransom.
It was astounding watching John Key being interviewed by Gower on tvs news last night.
Key was angry, very very tense, and in fact out of control.
He had no answers. None.
Gower questioned if he would look into detail after Key said “dunno don’t have the detail”…… and Key answered ..”maybe, maybe not”…… Fuck me it was the most disturbing telling skewering moment I have ever seen in a Key interview. Stunned mullet, possum in the headlights.
Key is on the ropes. That was a fascinating interview.
Here it is, at 2:02….
http://www.3news.co.nz/Dirty-Politics-John-Key-faces-pressure/tabid/1607/articleID/357705/Default.aspx
and even more telling is Key’s everything, his aura, his mabo, in the last question through to about 2:30 …..
I regret that in this democratic nation apparently reflecting the rule of law, accountability and order – any past or present public official whom at the very moment it’s needed gives Key a semantic lifeline…….whether it be Dr Tucker with an extraordinary ‘update’ contradicting the plain meaning of his words of three years ago, or Kitteridge, or the Ombudsman…….those elevated personages I cannot unreservedly trust.
If I’m unjustified in my discomfort I’m forced to accept that in 2011 the Minister Responsible For The SIS and the Director of the SIS routinely performed their respective roles thus – important information (even information concerning say the then Leader of the Opposition), such important information intended for the ears of the Minister, would be telephoned to an unnamed, title unknown staffer in the Minister’s office. The unnamed untitled staffer might or might not pass such important information on to the Minister Responsible For The SIS. Maybe not even mention it to other staffers in the Minister’s office. The director would not check or seek confirmation of receipt. No one, not a soul would keep a written record.
Mmmm…….accepting the latter scenario as seemingly is required of me……..there emerges the prima facie appearance of a big fat banana republic.
Cunliffe is right…….it beggars belief.
Ha ! RNZ 5.30 news…….apparently the Minister Responsible For The SIS was away on holiday in Hawaii at the time. For “big fat banana…..” read “big fat pineapple……”. Can only mean this. The staffer, chief of staff, whomsoever left in charge by the Minister is gonna get the rough end of one of the latter right up him/her
Name him/her !
@ vto..i agree that is a must-watch..
..he had all the airs/graces of a mobster taking/pleading the fifth..
I tried to play the video back on my tablet and it went through in short stop and start jerky movements. Several times it halted on key and some of his expressions were very telling. At one stage he looked close to tears. In another, his eyes were rolled up so you could barely see them. In another his top lip was curled right up. In others his anger was highly visible. It was fascinating to watch these frozen expressions as it gave time to actually study his facial expressions for sometimes at least thirty seconds. Very telling. Also, if Karol is thinking about doing the transcript on this most embarrassing stand up to date, good luck with that one. Key seems to think that if he doesn’t open his mouth properly while speaking that he can be seen to be answering the questions without any chance of anyone actually understanding WHAT he has said. Collins MUST have some dirt on him. The man is a gibbering wreck.
We all believe Collins has something very big on Key so he won’t fire her.
How about this — is it actually Slater who has something very big on Key and is running protection for Collins ? Let’s remember who Slater’s father is and was in the Nat machinery.
Cameron Slater was on screen saying ‘everyone’ in politics should be afraid of him ( TV3 yesterday I think but can’t remember link as so many going on) …
As I’ve argued previously on this site, John Key as Prime Minister has always just been about John Key the narcissistic ego-maniac. He only ever wanted to be Prime Minister because, like Mallory’s reason for climbing Everest, “it’s there.” It’s the top job in New Zealand so, naturally, he was entitled to it and he’d made enough money for National to be impressed enough to give it to him.
Having got the job and confirmed his natural superiority he had little clear idea what to do with it – hence the six years of rudderless drifting fortuitously supported generously by the financial injection from the Christchurch earthquake and the advantage of being a primary producer of foodstuffs that the world – especially a momentarily resurgent China – is desperate for even in a financial crisis. His one and only policy initiative was the end-to-end walkway. For the rest of the time he merely played National Party internal politics by appointing the ‘right’ people to Ministerships and letting them get on with it while he could strut around the stage like Idi Amin in his Field-Marshall’s uniform soaking up the adulation and pretending, even to himself, that it was his due.
Now the wheels have come off. He is for the first time being expected to actually earn his money and do his job and the wherewithall isn’t there. The most terrifying thing a man like Key can experience is his own ego being dented, his being forced to realised that the ‘great man’ image he had come himself to believe in is false. Key is facing, perhaps experiencing, a psychologial crisis – he is like the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy pulls back the curtain – and likely a major part of that will be an initial refusal to admit the reality even to himself. His splutterings and incoherences to the press are as much an attempt to cling to the fraud for his own sake, to preserve his own ego, as it is to convince us.
Expect increasingly frantic attempts to deny reality and, very likely, a refusal to acknowledge what everyone else can see like a six-year-old denying a raid on the jam-pot after being caught red-handed. A break-down forced by the increasingly difficult task of reconciling the dichotomy in his own mind is not impossible. Collins may be able to hide in a hole and hope it all blows over but Key can’t. Perhaps his best bet at the moment is for the National heirarchy to become alarmed at the damage he is doing to the brand and come to his rescue by twisting his arm into ‘standing down’, ostensibly through the application of high ethical principles a’la Nixon, so that he can assuage his ego by blaming his ‘downfall’ on others.
What troubles me deeply is the possibility that he might surivive this and be voted back into power in September by the lunatic right. His ego will be assuaged and re-inforced – he is literally unimpeachable. His almost divine right to rule would be confirmed, in his own mind. While not wishing to draw too strong a parallel I think we need to remember that most of the great Dictators of the last Century were initially given power by popular vote rather than seizing it – a fact that seems to have confirmed their own opinion of themselves as being great leaders by birth and entitlement, who eventually brought disaster on their people through their own fanatical confidence in their ‘confirmed’ leadership genius.
I was planning to finish that first standup from last week when Key seemed so shaken. it’s now becoming…. which video should I transcribe next?
“That was a fascinating interview.”
I thought so too. Very telling. And Gower finally disgusted with Key enough to challenge him. Better late than never.
Warren Tucker has written that he informed John Key directly about the SIS release of OIA.
John Key’s story is very different.
As heard on National Radio this morning.
Hard evidence that Key has lied, again.
What will Key do, again?
All of his quiver of pathetic defences (dunno, can’t recall, pretty relaxed, screw nose up, sneer, left wing conspiracy, and now also glare with thinly veiled rage and no answer) have been shot. If he tries firing any of those arrows again he must surely be openly laughed at…… and people like Key genuinely, when it comes down to it, hate being laughed at ….
… the last years I have often wondered if at some point Key will actually lose it and blow his top….
FJK – He will repeat the historic words that Nixon did, (as he shakes head)
“The country has a right to know if their P.M. is a crook”
“Well I’m not a crook”. Ha ha ha.
Link to a copy of Tucker’s letter to Felix Marwick dated Nov 2011 stating that Tucker had kept Key nformed is in my comment at 5.1.1.2 above.
veutoviper Sorry about that. I missed your earlier comments. But we must agree that this could add another dart into the PM’s credibility.
that’d be ‘snap!’..
RNZ this morning Collins wouldn’t front so RNZ went to her electorate not 1 person backed her many
asking her to resign!
re that national eminem-rip-off ad..in the skiff..
..i can’t get rid of this mental image of brownlee/collins/bennett/joyce..
..all sitting in a skiff..
..with key at the tiller..
..and things leaning/tilting dangerously..
..(and maybe a very large seaborne mammal nearby..?..blowing stuff all over them..?)
(c’mon cartoonists..!..)
..(and..)
..brownlee and bennett..sitting in a skiff..
..down it went..with barely a whiff..
You mean that they are all up the creek without a paddle Phil?
how about a second image following it, called “But at the end of the day” with a picture of the Titanic going down.
campbell did a funny piece the other nite..
..they compiled his ‘at the end of the day’s for one day..
..there were 21 in total..
..’holy linguistic-crutch..!..batman..!..’
@ inamac..
..up that (literal) shit-creek they have led us into..
Dunnokeyo donkey deep?
SIS boss wrote to journo Felix Marwick confirming that he had told Key that he intended releasing the Goff info to Slater. Key has consistently denied knowing anything about it.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11311764
that’d be ‘snap!’..and ‘snap!’..
Letter from Warren Tucker ex-SIS chief stating he told Key about Goff declassification
Caught Red Handed lying
tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/phil-goff-claims-proof-pm-not-telling-truth-over-sis-documents-video-6061262
no..!..it’s ‘snap!’..’snap!’..and ‘snap!’…
..a three-fer..!
tvone chooses to run the infamous british benificiary-bashing reality-show..
..in the run-up to the election..
..agenda..?..much..?
Interesting read – “John Key and Andrew Krieger and the attack on the New Zealand dollar.”
http://aotearoaawiderperspective.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/would-you-have-voted-john-key5.pdf
Is that from 2008 or a recent post re Key Krieger?
I wouldn’t get excited about that – there is so much in there that is incorrect or ridiculous. I worked overseas for global investment banks from 1991 until 2008, worked on a trading desk that covered hedge funds (including LTCM, Moore Capital, Quantum (Soros) and numerous others) until 2002, and after that was involved in structured credit (backed by things like sub prime mortgages). Casually reading that research I can see some things that are true, but many points that are deeply wrong, badly misinterpreted or inconsequential.
The real story is what the real story was. No conspiracy, just the same thing that happens with regularity – lax lending and risk control standards, bad incentives for staff that result in inappropriate risk taking, too much leverage and an obvious market response as banks reduce risk.
thanks
And I very distinctly recall John Key (who routinely downplayed his role at Merrill Lynch) standing in a picture for some financial trade magazine – with the title on the door “Vice-President New Debt Products” (or something very similar IIRC).
No conspiracy, just the same thing that happens with regularity – lax lending and risk control standards, bad incentives for staff that result in inappropriate risk taking, too much leverage and an obvious market response as banks reduce risk.
Maybe it would be hard to point to a smokey back room where the wide boys cooked up an actual deal, shook hands and downed single-malts afterwards – but there is no question that the banking industry lobbied very long and hard to have those lending and risk controls removed. The ‘laxity’ you so offhandedly refer to was no accident.
And John Key in my opinion was was of many senior people in it up to their snouts.
Dirty Politics: Free speech & a policy-free election
by Wayne Mapp
“Is the Dirty Politics debate making a mockery of the manifestos? And should authors have the right to right to use material that’s obtained by criminal means?”
Mapp asks do they have the right to use material that’s obtained by criminal means?
He presents the argument that we should have free speech but does want a policy debate during this election.
We agree, but as National has broken all rules during the last election to smear the Labour leader using illegally obtained fast tracked SIS information to conduct that election rather than discussing policies, well we have to say why did National do last election what Wayne Mapp is asking we not do this election?
Did National have the right to use material that’s obtained by criminal means?
Judith Collins has gone to ground and press cant find her, while John Key wont take press questions as of 9am this morning (like Nixon did) we need to find out what this Government’s policies are on law and how they intend conducting themselves going forward.
That is another policy we believe to be as important as Health, housing Schools, transport, and poverty.
On Radio Live now, Sean Plunkett says that (according to his sources, but not confirmed) Judith Collins has refused to resign, even though she’s been asked to.
That’s his story, make of it what you will.
Next step being ‘fired’ then?
When a resignation is requested it is usually done so on the understanding that, if not provided, the person will be unceremoniously removed.
oh, there will be a ceremony !!!!
Really? That’s interesting gobby. If it were true, is there someone other than the PM, that can ask her to resign?
Key has been busy denying any wrong doing on her part, and in fact seems a bit scared of her, and as was discussed above by yeshe, many are given to the idea that Collins holds a huge amount of power over him possibly due to some knowledge she has (and Slater?) that would destroy him.
IF she was asked to resign I’m wondering if it were someone else, in an effort to “inoculate” him from any fall out, that would do it? Does someone such as the GG have the authority to intervene if a Minister refuses to stand down when asked?
In Southland the Regional Council is imposing rules around the use of certain hill country by farmers. This is of course to begin controlling and cleaning up the sediment runoff which has clogged waterways and estuaries in Southland to such an extent that these estuaries are under threat of death i.e. life in them will end.
So what is the farmers response? This…. in this article … http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/10405430/No-more-rules-please-say-farmers
“”I don’t like rules,” Lumsden farmer Willie Menlove said.
“I’ve farmed for more than 20 years without these sorts of rules and I’d prefer education to be the end goal.”
So there we have it – no rules for years and the rivers and estuaries get killed dead thanks to the farmers. And they think the same system should continue ………. I shake my head in utter disbelief
Young Nats in Waikato are apparently buying up copies of Dirty Politics and burning them – if true I wonder if these numpties realise the significance of their action? What would John Key’s Jewish, Labour voting mother who fled the Nazis have thought about it?
And that epitome of smug Natiness – whatshisname Ansell on RNZ to answer questions about the Labour and National adverts. He said the former portrays a ‘load of no-hopers standing around asking for things’ while the latter is a group of ‘office types up early in the morning going out there and doing things’- or words to that effect. It was a party political broadcast for the National Party – about as openly and nastily partisan as you could get.
I wonder if I could sue him for the dreadful indigestion I got after listening to it?
Its not true, it was started from a facebook post by a NZFirst member and was picked up by the MSM, you can read the rest of it here:
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/08/compare-contrast-book-burning-right-way/
However it does reiterate the point that the MSM will print what sells not what actually happened
Thank you for pointing that out PR – I thought it was likely to be a dig at the sorts of things Young Nats might do in retaliation for effigy burning and the like. I won’t follow it up on Slater’s site because I have just showered and being an environmentalist I try to limit how much hot water I use each day.
I have shares in NZs power companies so I suggest you should have more showers, the dividends are excellent 🙂
attitude of the fat slug and Jason ede and aaron bhatnagar and aaron Gilmore and john key continues to be put on display for all to see ….
keep it up mr ugly
Don’t worry I’m not running for public office 😉
Puckish Rogue
Because of the environment these events are reported to have occurred in, this story will probably remain in the ‘rumour to some, reality to others’ file.
I have personally seen statements (unpublished and independently sourced) from people employed at the University, which state that Aaron Letcher not only confirmed he is implicated in Hager’s book (although not by name) but he was also bragging in the WSU office about purchasing a large number of the books. One of those statements claim Aaron Letcher said the money for the books’ purchase came from a senior Nat outside of the Young Nats organisation.
For Slater (or whoever is writing his stuff) to state ‘Aaron bought 6 copies only’,
is as you often like to point out, only one side of the story.
The people involved have requested their statements not be released and that they retain their anonymity because quite simply they fear for their jobs, and unlike the Minister of Justice, my word actually means something so I will not even tell you their job titles. The following is a short quote which I received when pressing for more detail. When read in context against the predictable denials, it says a lot about the veracity of the actual claims.
“You can take the gist of it- as long as I’m not implicated because, as you can imagine, our workplace is pretty tense right now.”
At present, despite numerous enquiries, there is no physical evidence available about the burning of the books. I doubt even Aaron Letcher would have been stupid enough to video that event.
You misunderstand me, I care not how many books he bought only that they wern’t for a book burning as its the connatations I object to
also that it didn’t happen is quite important as well
While I’m sure that every copy that nats buy is destined to be closely read and preserved for posterity, I don’t really care either way. The more copies they buy, the more copies will be printed, the longer the book will be available for purchase.
Surprise surprise – Aaron Letcher ……
/
http://theplutocracysusefulidiots.wordpress.com/tag/aaron-letcher/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10405472/Young-Nats-buying-and-burning-Dirty-Politics
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/polls/10406853/National-strong-in-latest-poll
So getting away from this (lets face it disheartning result) most recent of polls which I was going to talk about I decided to watch Labours and Nationals election campaign videos instead and comment on them.
Labour 5.5/10, generic in that it could have been any party in oppositions (especially the Greens) video and right at the end the zoom out shoot was not a good choice as Cunliffe looked uncomfortable standing there, probably should have stayed with the close up shot
National 7.5/10 Very good start with the rowing eight and with what they’ve done getting NZ through one of the most difficult periods in recent history but let down at the end by the thing with the shot the left going nowhere because we all know the left coilition is a dogs breakfast but shouldn’t have given them any oxygen at all, I would have left that shot out.
Or could be 4.5/10 if National is sued for the music being too close to the original
The only disheartening thing about that poll is finding out how many right-wingers can’t read simple dates.
“Or could be 4.5/10 if National is sued for the music being too close to the original”
… and that is pretty much it in a nutshell.
In one phrase you admit that there is an original that has been used (and barely changed) – and your personal rating is adjusted only if there is legal action.
A couple of points:
1. National has spoken against negative electioneering – and are the only ones doing it – on an official ad, no less.
2. Surely National has some creative artistic types in the membership (and I’m talking musos, not creative accountants, strategists or scriptwriters here) that could have penned an original and avoided the comparison with Eminem? No?
As has been mentioned before, I agree that the image of freshed-faced rowers enthusiastically looking forward while putting such enthusiasm into going backwards – a really good analogy for where the current National government is taking us.
If being the key word here
” the left coilition is a dogs breakfast”
Not at all like the right, I mean National/Act/United Future/Conservatives/Maori Party/New Zealand First are all going to be pulling the same way all the time, cause they have shown that time and time again. Not like that 3 headed monster on the left who have nothing in common at all…
National/Act/United Future/Conservatives/Maori Party/New Zealand First
Considering how stable National/Act/United Future/Maori Party have been I’m looking forward to three more years but if NZFirst manage to get in you can be sure whoever they go with won’t include the Conservatives or the Greens
Stable? Surely you jest? One of your coalition partners was convicted of a crime and another was stood down as a minister for refusing to comply with Key’s instructions around the leak of the Kitteridge (sp?) report. And that’s before you get to Nick Smith, Maurice Williamson et al. Clearly you have a different view of what “stable” actually means..
A still shot image of the skiff in National’s slick Election Video needs to be made, with the words- ‘Vote National We’ll sell you down the river’ blazoned across it. Wish I had the know-how to do it. Be great for Facebook etc
I am thinking:
Working for New Zealand, Not sure but Relaxed
On their signs
Is that because Nationals sold less SOEs then Labour ever did? Or because Nationals sold less farm land then Labour ever did?
lol you are too desperate, go have a cuppa or something.
As someone else said,facing forward,going backwards.
“National – all facing backwards with no idea where they are going”
And hopefully all swinging together.
There’s a nice spoof of the Nat ad that Whatshisname Ansell was promoting so fervently on RNZ this morning –
The Nat Ad is a bit ham fisted: ‘fit young office types’ rowing from the left to the right of the screen in a coordinated and professional manner in blue singlets and with blue oars – oh the subtlety of it! – will appeal to affluent Ruralnats and Metronats as rowing is a sport of the elite and, because NZ does well in the sport internationally, it will also resonate with the Patrinats.
Then – oh such fun! – they contrast the elite in their speedy boat with a leaky old boat rowed by a bunch of disorganised and uncoordinated people dressed in red and green for those who are so dumb they have to have the political symbolism spelled out for them.
It’s one step away from slapstick – and is a slap in the face of most NZers who could not afford the fees to get into schools which have successful rowing programmes – let alone afford the additional fees.
That boat the young fit office types are rowing towards their affluent future costs in the region of $50,000.
At St Bedes – Gerry Brownlee’s alma mater – rowing fees are in the region of $175 a month plus uniform plus costs of getting to competitions ….
PS. I hope this is not a measure of St Bede’s academic prowess….from their website ….
“Can I pay me fees off over a long period of time?”
you mean expensive private schools with rowing programs, schools like:
Aotea College, Aparima College, Aquinas College, Ashburton College, Auckland Grammar School, Avonside Girls High School, Baradene College, Bethlehem College, Burnside High School, Cambridge High School, Cashmere High School, Christchurch Boys High School, Christchurch Girls High School, Craighead Diocesan School, Cromwell College, Dunstan High School, Epsom Girls Grammar, Francis Douglas Memorial College, Gisborne Boys High School, Gisborne Girls High School, Glendowie College, Hamilton Boys High School, Hamilton Girls High School, Hastings Girls High School, Hauraki Plains College, Hillcrest High School, Huanui College, Hurunui College, James Hargest College, John McGlashan College, John Paul College, Kapiti College, Katikati College, Kavanagh College, Kings High School, Lindisfarne College, Liston College, Macleans College, Mana College, Marian College, Marist College, Marlborough Boys College, Marlborough Girls College, Massey High School, Mt Albert Grammar School, Mt Aspiring College, Napier Boys High School, Napier Girls High School, Nelson College, Nelson College For Girls, Onewhero Area School, Onslow College, Otago Boys High School, Otumoetai College, Paraparaumu College, Pukekohe Christian School, Pukekohe High School, Queen Charlotte College, Queen Margaret College, Queens High School, Rangiora High School, Roncalli College, Rosehill College, Rotorua Girls High School, Rotorua Lakes High School, Sacred Heart College (Auckland), Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt), Sacred Heart Girls College (Hamilton), Sacred Heart Girls College (NP), Sancta Maria College, Scots College, Shirley Boys High School, Southland Boys High School, Southland Girls High School, St Bedes College, St Johns College (Hamilton), St Kevins College, St Margarets College, St Patricks College, St Pauls Collegiate School, St Peters School, St Thomas Of Canterbury, Takapuna Grammar School, Tauranga Boys College, Tauranga Girls College, Tawa College, Te Awamutu College, Te Kauwhata College, Timaru Boys High School, Timaru Girls High School, Trident High School, Twizel Area School, Verdon College, Villa Maria College, Waikato Diocesan School, Waimea College, Waitaki Boys High School, Waitaki Girls High School, Wakatipu High School, Wanganui Collegiate School, Wanganui High School, Wellington College, Wellington East Girls College, Wellington Girls College, Wentworth College, Western Heights High School, Westlake Boys High School, Westlake Girls High School, Whakatane High School
125 schools entered the 2014 secondary school rowing champs – I think I took most of the private schools but not integrated schools out of the above list. Rowing may be an expensive sport, but its not only elite schools that offer it.
Are you trying to prove TeWhareWhero’s point? Decile ratings would be interesting.
From Christchurch I don’t see Aranui High School (2), Linwood College (2), Hornby High School (3), Hilmorton High School (5), Papanui High School (6), Hagley Community College (5), Riccarton High School (7), Mairehau High School (4) … and, the cases that prove the rule, Christ’s College (10), St Andrews (10) – in both these cases they may be ones that you knew were private schools and so removed?
Compared to: Burnside (8), Christchurch Boys’ (9), Christchurch Girls’ (9), Cashmere (8), St Bede’s (9), Shirley Boys’ (6), St Margaret’s (Private and 10), Marian College (7) …
The point i was making was that TWW was making ridiculous sweeping statements to provide tenuous support to a point he is making. Over-reaching much.
Nadis – why do you assume I am a man?
I referred to schools with successful rowing programmes …..
Even John Ansell acknowledges ‘the elitism of rowing’.
An eights boat new costs in excess of $50,000; fours $29,000; pairs $19,000 singles $13,000- and then there’s the cost of the massive trailers and towing vehicles. It’s a hugely expensive sport.
That’s fine – it’s also a fantastic sport and good on NZ’s rowers for doing so well internationally.
The use of rowing as an image was not accidental albeit completely at odds with the reality of National in government.
Rowing depends on cooperation, coordination and balance, careful pacing and timing of effort.
All the spin in the world can’t change the evidence of National’s deep factionalism, lack of leadership and short-termism.
“All the spin in the world can’t change the evidence of Labour’s deep factionalism, lack of leadership and short-termism.”
Whatever floats your boat PR.
Just about all these children will be from well off families!
Rowing New Zealand receives millions of taxpayers dollars god forbid the right finding out about subsidies to a minority sport!
What do people think of the Internet Party, sorry got that wrong, I mean Krim Dot Con threatning Radiolive because they have the temerity to talk to one of KDCs employees?
I wonder what Laila “bought and paid for” Harre thinks? Probably ok with it as a boatload of money does tend to ease the conscience
Desperate flailing from lone blogger!
living of the dead cat bounce!
All the the rats have jumped ship
puckish rogue knows his party is out of vogue
now his tactic is to shift the blame
which looks rather lame !
Defending his boss because no one else is not even GOS!
muddying waters with his dross!
There once was a lady from Ealing, that had an incredible feeling, she lay on her back and opened her….I forget the rest
I concede your ability to make rhymes is greater then mine
More very bad PR. you should have given up while you Perceived Rongly you were a head.
time to lay down your keyboard have a cup of tea and off to bed!
Sexist Jokes are out of Fashion for that silly joke above I hope you receive a severe tongue lashing
I have been a naughty boy…
John Key stood on the burning deck
Whence all NACTs but he had fled;
The Hager flame that lit the battle’s wreck
Shone round him o’er the dead.
Slater stood on the burning deck
His pocket full of crackers
Someone came and lit a match
And burned off both his knackers
John Banks stood on the burning deck
Picking his nose like mad,
He rolled it into little balls
And flicked it at his dad.
Cameron stood on the burning deck
Playing a game of cricket,
A hack flew down his trouser leg
And hit his middle wicket
Judith stood on the burning deck
Her back was to the mast
She would not move a single step
Till Whale Oil had passed
Judith stood on a burning deck while looking at the river
She gave a cough and out it shot a lump of meatty liver!!
“Sexist Jokes are out of Fashion”
That’s what they told kimmy.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11311535
The story is probably along the lines of:
There once was a lady from Ealing, that had an incredible feeling, she lay on her back and opened her … electoral roll registration letter, and thereby realised she’d be in a position to help vote the corrupt bastards out on 20 september.
Neither rhymes nor scans, but it has a happy ending.
A wealthy scoundrel from York
required a barrel of pork
the degenerate story
involved a party vote: tory
“The resht of the country get forked!”
The government’s morals bereft
there is a solution most deft
to avoid such dejection
on the day of election
remember to party-vote “left”
puckish rogue..
..on the shortlist for a ‘boy stood on the burning deck’-award..
..’i am with you..!..my captain..!’..
A question:
Amongst the constitutional experts amongst posters/contributors/commenters here …..
Does anyone know if the GG has the power to rescind ministerial warrants, and under what circumstances?
I’m casting my mind back to the Whitlam-Kerr situation in OZ of course, however one would think that GG would be having some ‘in-depth’ discussions with Madge about now.
Longer term, I’d hope that the result of all this will not just be to change a corrupt government, but also to address constitutional matters affecting our fragile demockracy (going forward, to coin a phrase, so to speak, as a matter of fact, actually)
Looking forward to ‘expert’ answers .. good you asked the question this morning.
Let’s remember GG Jerry Mateparae was head of GCSB but ignominiously shoved upwards to GG to install Key’s no-I-don’t-know-him-very-well buddy Fletcher in his place.
I always took this to mean Jerry Mateparae could not be manipulated in the ways required by Key under NSA instructions.
Was asking some questions along these lines yesterday .. here’s hoping GG Jerry can keep his respected personal integrity intact through the coming days.
+1
incidentally, I was a little suspicious of GG’s appointment and capabilities initially, however after having met him briefly, I changed my mind.
Hes a good man
I am also curious about the authority of the GG to intervene in a situation like Collins’, where she is wedged to her office chair despite all the odds, and asked that question above.
the new whaledump is kind of gonna find key wedged in his office chair too !!
We’re thinking along the same lines @ Rosie.
Something is really fucked with our uni-cameral system under Madge if there is a total absence of such checks and balances. If not the GG – maybe the Chief Justice? I’m curious to know from an expert.
It certainly makes it very easy for NZ to be ‘used’ as an experiment in advancing certain agendas – and that’s not advancing any conspiratorial theory either – merely that if the GG/Chief Justice are so neutered as to be useless when an obviously corrupted regime acts in an anti-democratic fashion, we’ve been reliant on SFA for a very long time.
I sincerely hope Gerry is thinking long and hard. Unfortunately I agree with the morning prayers PuckishRogue/fizz ‘spinline learner’ that he “is a good man”, not just having briefly met him, but from his staff too. Actually my initial cynicism came from ‘the military wing’ of the extended family
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/08/a_journalist_on_the_dirty_politics_book.html
LOL the public interest of a potential story about a police officer speeding to KFC is equated to Hager’s Dirty Politics.
The phrase “never go full retard” comes to mind.
I’m guessing its more to do with getting the other side of the story so as to get the full picture
You mean as in getting the ‘fair and balanced’ story huh? “the OTHER side?” The one that’s on the “other” side of the same coin? The one that’s not “your” people but “our” people’s side? The one that’s IF your not with us THEN you must be against us?
Please explain …
actually no don’t, once again I’m breaking my self-imposed rule of not feeding a fundy/cultist rote-learned “our kind of people”
Just listened/watched David Cunliffe being interviewed by the Rachel Smalley, Audrey Young, Fran O’sullivan and ?
Very impressed with David’s coping and answering with not very friendly interviewers. Every fact at his fingertips and concise and personable.
Rating 9 out of 10.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/video/news/video.cfm?c_id=1501138&gal_cid=1501138&gallery_id=144938
“Young Nat’s buying up Hager books and burning them is similar to NAZI Germany”
I was so shocked to hear this and no Nat’s have denied this so we post our thoughts on this further gross issue as another election issue of National’s claim to be above Dirty politics.
This John Key Government has modelled itself alongside the 1933 NAZI party propaganda machine.
It’s mandate given by Hitler and skilfully executed by The Hitler’s chosen Minister of Public Enlightenment & Propaganda the ruthless Mr Joseph Goebbels.
Read the similarities here.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/goebbels.html
See Comment 23 above, the only people promoting anti-semitism are the ones defacing National hoardings
I would advise those responsible for the dirty baby killing jew billboard stuff to just write ‘liar’ instead.
It would save lots of paint.
Why should they hide their true colours?
I’m just offering paint saving tips, but you could ask them if you’re that bothered.
I doubt they have an office full of staff that will deny and deflect.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10405472/Young-Nats-buying-and-burning-Dirty-Politics
I hope those young Nats realise they are burning an effigy!
Just shows you what depths of depravity those people on the Right will sink too!
Is this serious?
I hope those Young Nats have paid for the Dirty Politics Books in full but of course their books will have been supplied by the Nastie election promotion team.
We may have found a means to kickstart the economy better than the destruction of an earthquake. They just keep paying for them, burning them and the other side will keep on printing them.. Unfortunately there will be a tax allowance in there somewhere.
A paltry $24 million it will bring in to increase the quota for orange roughy and hoki. There are warnings about killing the fisheries golden goose but no this government is like Mr Creosote – just a wafer more, just a tiny bit more, you can manage it. No way could they stand up like real men of NZ and say it would be imprudent to increase.
Radio nz – The government has increased the amount of Hoki and Orange Roughy which can be caught by fishing companies, in a move estimated to be worth $24 million.
And talking about real NZ – is this what we are thinking?
National reckons we will go to hell in a hand basket (faster) if it isn’t returned, Labour is indulging in its traditional display of amnesia and is promising to spend we don’t have on additional lashings of social welfare, the Greens are undertaking to save the planet at our vast expense with no regard for how we are going to earn our living, the Maori Party and Labour are engaging in their own tit for tat, NZ First is raising the spectre of the Yellow Peril, ACT is counting on Epsom electors casting their votes strategically, Internet Mana is preaching values when it doesn’t have any, the Conservatives are offering a return to old-fashioned values, and a few loopy new ones, and UnitedFuture quietly maintains its confidence in the voters of Ohariu.
There’s nothing much new in any of this, but then much of the posturing and faux outrage is for the benefit of a select few, the swinging voter.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northland-age/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503399&objectid=11311031
It’s a great rant but more sound and fury signifying nothing really. How can we move this pedalcar along if we don’t all put some energy into moving it. What we actually need is to model ourselves on The Luggage in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld stories. Lots of little legs, fast moving, fast thinking, on the ball, even prescient, strangely knowing and always in the right place, no matter what happens. And with hidden depths that can produce whatever is needed at any point in time. All we are at present is sentient and sometimes I wonder about that…..zzzzz
new Whaledump 2 mins ago ..
https://twitter.com/whaledump
seems to be further proof of Key’s lies re SIS release .. this time via Ombudsman’s office …
Labour attacks should switch to what a mess the next three years will be with a rudderless, factionalized, legally challenged National Government limping on for three more years. It will be a mess. Because this does not all go away on the 20th of Sept. They will be in court, they will be tearing themselves apart.
This has blown up because of internal rivalries inside National, that will only get worse
which mob-faction is bennett in..?..the joyceies or the collins-gang..?
..or is she rowing her own skiff..?..(as it were..)..
..and one would guess there are now some regrets around that rally around the key..campaign-strategy..?
‘hold him in yr arms..and you can feel his disease..come together..right now..around key..!’..’
While the outrage over the killing of American James Foly grows the attempted assassination of Mohammed Deif which killed his wife and child gets a pass.
AlDalou Family house was targeted by 5 GBU28 bombs. The “Guided Bomb Unit 28” is a 5,000pound laser-guided “bunker busting” bomb made in USA
https://twitter.com/Rajaiabukhalil/statuses/501892451401879552
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28862595
http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/diplomacy-defense/40876-140820-analysis-is-israel-s-assassination-policy-paying-off
Did the mother and child get their heads severed by the US bomb?
i have been somewhat gobsmacked by the media-obama reactions to this beheading..(what is an act of barbarism..pure and simple..)
..but where is their outrage at the innocent men/women/children blown apart by obama with his drones..
..their deaths wd barely get him walking off the golf-course..
..let alone fronting up with a quivering-lip indignation routine..
..the cognitive-dissonance in both obama..and that media..is very very strong…
..both actions are at least as barbaric as each other..
Why the extreme left give the rest on the left a bad name. 🙄
5 GBU28 bombs – yes, most probably dismembered.
edit:
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-20072014/#comment-851787
That’s barbaric.
It is no wonder that these other people respond to the US in kind when their wives and children get dismembered in such large numbers.
How barbaric is the US?
Labour have made some good promises for Dunedin today – a $250 million promise to rebuild Dunedin hospital, keep Invermay open and reopen and upgrade Hillside.
Easy to promise when you don’t have your costings checked I suppose
Thank you Rosie – another image to divert me: ‘Judith Collins wedged into her office chair’ – holding on to the arms like grim death – ‘you’ll have to carry me out’!
TWW if she goes he goes
GG looking very jaded to today looks like Collins did the other day Key did yesterday
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1408/S00346/green-partys-own-auditor-of-their-budget-finds-it-dodgy.htm
This is why the Greens should not be allowed anywhere near the finances, what will the Greens answer to this be? Either raise the taxes even more or just wheel out the printing presses no doubt…no sorry the answer wil be “green economy”
The US is still printing it. China is still being paid with it. China is still buying up our assets cutting off the future ability of NZ to earn our way.
Worse. China under went a baby boom due to the year of the dragon. Its demand for milk is dropping and its growth of its own production and ownership of our farmland is up. Plus now we hear that the EU have removed restrictions on milk production…
…dairy is dead. National want to tempt yet more young NZ to get into debt buying their own farm and spend up millions to switch to dairy, and support the existing farmers in pollution. Pollution that should they invest a small amount, they could use the effluent on their own farms instead of expensive fertilizers.
But no, its just National’s stylized brand of letting the rot set in that has become beloved by so many National supporters.
PR
Current NZ debt under Natz
NZ$ 85,813,499,368
School hair? Churches use to have huge influence on society. It seems a Catholic School wants to once again extend its influence outside its boundaries and into the surrounding society. Sure asking a student to straighten their hair, or tie it up, is fine in my view as the student can come Friday dreadlock their hair up all they like. What a School, religious or not, should not be able to do is deny a student freedom of expression outside their school hours, that is what forcing a kid to cut their hair does. Take the Sikh community, or a kid brought up as a Rastafarian, hair length is prequiste for their expression. So the excuse that because this is a ‘special’ religious school should have extramural rights is shocking, and surprising also given Catholic recent history of deliberately abusing rights of children in their care. i.e. the expectation would be they would be more inclined to find tolerant ways forward that listened and heard community points of view.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10406760/PMs-spy-denials-backed-by-Ombudsman
Prof Michael Hudson on EU…Europe and Ukraine controlled by bankers and austerity..hope this is not the real policy agenda of the NACTS…
http://rt.com/shows/boom-bust/181508-us-housing-market-eu/
John Key’s popularity dives by 8.5 points
PREFERRED PRIME MINISTER
John Key 64.8 (down 8.5)
David Cunliffe 14.6 (up 4.1)
Winston Peters 5.1 (down 0.4)
Russel Norman 3.5 (up 1.5)
David Shearer 1.5 (down 0.7)
Helen Clark 1.4 (up 0.9)
Jacinda Ardern 1 (-0.4)
Phil Goff 1 (up 0.7)
• The poll of 750 respondents was conducted between August 14 and August 20 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 per cent.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11312362
The times, they are a changing.
Citizens challenge Key on his pr walk tour of Christchurch….
‘PM on the back foot during Christchurch visit’
‘A woman asked the Prime Minister why terminally-ill, elderly and vulnerable people were still waiting for EQC claims to be settled.
Mr Key asked for details, saying he would raise the matter with EQC.
The woman, who declined to be named, told media afterwards: “He had absolutely no answers.”‘
and..
‘”Isn’t it time we got a new prime minister?” one woman boldly stepped up to ask the encumbent.
“I hope not,” Mr Key replied.’
and…
‘As he strode on, two female radio reporters were talking, evidently blocking his way.
“I’ll shove you out of the way … you’re just part of the scummy media,” said Mr Key in a joke that seemed to fall flat.’
and…
‘He was then taken to a meeting at the Christchurch Yacht Club with the Coastal Pathway group, where more disgruntled locals awaited him.
“When are you going to fix our house?” a young boy aged 5 or 6 asked, before running back to his mother to tell her, “I shouted at him.”‘
and the media report on it…
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11312385
A different version of the Nat campaign ad – courtesy of Charlton Heston and a ship of slaves.
yeah we are the slaves in our own country with the NACTs running it!…like that ad
…no women there either ( i guess they made the packed lunches)
Asking the lazy web… 😉
Are any of the public polls publishing their undecided numbers? Four weeks out that’s the most important number.