(trotters' latest piece is well worth the read – and explains the incrementalism of this govt – trotter makes a strong case that it's all down to roberston…
'Guided by the éminence grise of Labour’s “Third Way” conservatism, Sir Michael Cullen, Robertson bound Labour in fiscal chains so tight that, in the unlikely event of a Labour-led government being formed, it would lack all freedom of movement. No matter how luminous the promises of “transformation”, without the money to turn promises into reality, the person making them was bound to end up discredited'.
"given it is a classic example of middle-class welfare"
I think that is a very generous take on it, seriously who can afford a new home for their first home, i would have said more high income than middle, besides it is welfare for property developers.
Mr Trotter has a new piece (and audience) that may paint a different motivation (from a different party)…whos playing who?
"National’s success thus hinges upon its ability to generate sufficient fury among Gen-Xers to vote against both their parents and their children. They must be encouraged to call down a plague upon the houses of both the old and the young, so that, finally, a government can be elected that listens to them; delivers to them; and only to them. Simon Bridges and Paula Bennett will bend all their powers towards convincing Generation X of the old adage: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
Have to agree. Nothing in there that you could look at as being evidential. Plus he appears to be simply regurgitating Garner who said much the same thing recently whilst talking about the need of the parliamentary press gallery to feed off blood as a pack.
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
He is a writer in love with rhetoric and he gets paid for it. I wonder what his take was at the Whalerump.
surely 'the evidence' is that roberston is by definition a neoliberal-incrementalist – ?
and he is just doing what neoliberal-incrementalists do..?
(and the stellar example of that – is that of the 42 recommendations from welfare reform group – for urgent welfare reform – to provide some relief from the grinding poverty – 3 have been accepted by this govt..(!)
and one of those three is an easing of the clawback provisions of any part time work undertaken by benificiaries..
and here is the exciting bit..!..going up in tiny wee increments – benificiaries will be able to – by 2022 – to earn about another twenty bucks a week..(!)
which we can all agree – will do sweet fuck all…
this is what neoliberal incrementalists – like robertson – call 'welfare reform'…
and this is why he has to go..
(i have eyes tightly-closed/fingers-crossed – going 'plse plse let the current scandal take him down..!'..)
ardern should fire him..
and i agree that trotter often spouts colourful shite..
I think much of our government's reluctance to introduce worthwhile welfare reform is they figure that most of that sector are going to vote left regardless.
Unlikely to happen but it leaves room for National to campaign on such a platform. This could squeeze the coalition to take action.
If the right promised sweeping welfare reform would you vote for them Phil?
When the government are questioned on this subject they typically revert to a long list of what they consider to be major steps forward. They deliver their lists with such conviction it's almost like they believe that $200 at the beginning of winter has brought sunlight flooding into 1000's of lives. $200 is of course merely a half full Countdown trolley.
They do usually end their lists with something like "We do acknowledge that there is still an awful lot of work to do…." Political flim flam that indicates 'don't worry Phil, we're getting to your concerns….look at all the fabulous stuff we've already done.'
But that's not what is happening Phil. Here is 9 mins of Carmel back in May assuring beneficiaries that everything is in hand and that there is nothing to worry about.
Nice to see some confirmation of my surmises. The neo-liberal technocracy haven't been measuring their outcomes properly, so that the policies they foist on us, allegedly in our interests, based on their alleged expertise, have just been making things harder. The pretense of economic expertise expressed in policy needs to be rubbished until the mandarin class produce some objective results.
That sounds right SM. I have thought that a lot of what we decide and do is actually based on emotion and personal choice. It gets wrapped up in specially chosen stats and justified because someone said something in a big country or a right wing think tank or Treasury, that fount of all wisdom whose effectiveness is never judged by the actual outcomes on the ground. It's never their fault, as they have an out for everything.
i can count enough to know that the ability to earn an extra $20 a week – by 2022 – as a measure taken to provide some relief from the grinding poverty suffered by the poorest..
lab + grns + nz first – they all promised welfare-reform…
they have (all) delivered textbook incrementalism..
namely – done s.f.a…
i understand you are a full-time labour apologist – so relax – the blame is being shared..
and what about that twenty bucks per wk (just ended..)
so we are now back in the position (except for sole-parents – and goodonthem..! – i begrudge not a cent going to them – they should be getting more..)
we are back in the position where the key/tories' twenty dollar raise to base-rates – is the most that has been done for the poorest – in the past 30 yrs..
i would be really keen to hear yr take on that..'cos i reckon that fact should have all lab/grn/nz first apologists shifting uncomfortably in their seats..
i repeat – the tories/key did more welfare reform…than this lab/grn/nz first has done..
and as an apologist for none of the above – i reckon that both sucks and blows..
What you need is a far left party that's polling above 40 percent, one which carries the voters with it when offering up its non neoliberal incrementalism, on its way to getting a mandate to govern according to those policies.
Right, so you want the Labour Party to become unelectable by JA sacking the finance minister and implementing policy it 1: wouldn't get into law past nz1st, and 2: hasn't got a mandate from the people for anyway.
No, no mandate for 180 degree turns when you cobble together a three way broad church government.
The thing you types always fail to answer is where the votes are coming from. If as you say 90% of votes are for Neo Libs, and half are split between both major parties, the maths don't add up. You may lose some middle ground labour votes but guaranteed you won't get any back from national. That's pretty basic.
Also, there's a to the left of Labour Party already and they only poll 6%. If and when the numbers switch round, that would be a sign for labour to turn more left or change leader like last time the balance was skewed less in their favour.
But you want labour to change. Well it's clear to me that won't happen. While the electorate is polarised, it's incremental all the way in the battle for the middle ground. You can of course pay your subs, work from the inside, and do the hard yards to enact your policy direction. You could always do a momentum and take over, stick your guy in the big seat and watch him poll 20% though I won't wish you good luck.
You types are the ones who have no idea of how politics work in 2019, choosing to peddle daydream slogans without concept of what the voting public is willing to accept, but enough about you, let's hear you rebut and counter the points I raised.
The numbers, Philip, the numbers. You need to address how you'll take the Neo lib voters with you when you push a full on socialist agenda on those who, according you, don't vote for it en mass.
That you see incremental change to the left as such a bad thing, given there's no mandate for making sweeping changes, neither being in a manifesto or campaigned upon, is sort of proof that you don't understand how modern NZ politics work.
It doesn't mean people who accept the reality we find ourselves in don't want change, or even change quickly, but it is reality and there's just there's no point posturing over cliches like its some sort of popularity contest. I didn't party vote labour and wanted much more left leaning policy, but without those numbers, remember those numbers phil? You have to take what you get and push for more votes next time.
Ill wear that tee shirt and not have a Nat government any day of the week until the polling backs my ideology and I can wear one saying 'My vote won it – and I didn't have to resort to posting like an uninformed dong on the internet'
Sorry Sacha that’s BS. JA stole hearts and minds with Labour’s pre election blurb on how social reform was so badly needed. That’s what people remember. Not post election coalition drivel. She’s had opportunities to show she meant what she said and hasn’t shown any real backbone on anything. I’m from the right and realised we needed a fairer CGT and when she waved the white flag on that I believed she was all BS. Since then there’s been nothing happen that’s changed my mind.
@Newview Labour is not the whole government. Moan all you want about how that party have not secured what they promised but be clear who you are talking about.
The voters didn’t vote for this Coalition by personally voting for each of the partners . Labour took on NZF to get power and it was JA electioneering rhetoric That got labour into a position to do that. The voters didn’t give a toss what Winston had to say it was JA they listened to. You can believe what you like Sacha.
So if Labour had not agreed to give Winston First as much as they did, then he would have gone with National and you would then presumably be on a right wing site right now moaning about how a National led government was not achieving everything that National had campaigned on. As a centrist party NZF will always act like a dragging handbrake on the government of the day regardless of whether it leans left or right.
Solkta. I’ve never liked this MMP idea but that’s another discussion. Sometimes the bigger party has to make a stand and call out the other partner if they feel strongly over proposed policy. With the CGT there was no attempt to push the point by labour. If JA had been strong and really wanted legalisation she could have taken it to a vote making the result public. It would then have been seen publicly that Winston was really the problem. That didn’t happen so did Labour really want a CGT we’ll never know. I don’t believe they were that keen. We wouldn’t want to rock the boat in case we loose votes, or upset Winston heaven forbid. It’s wishywashy BS as we’ve seen with the slow progress on other social issues.
Ha! If we all listed the top 20 policy platforms/machinations for our ideal Government most of us would end up with a framework that only 5% of NZers would vote for.
In my search for contentment I've resigned to operating my household as I would my ideal government. I fear wishing for much more is a recipe for discontent.
Wonderful to have your commentary on this blog phillip…
So called 'left' parties are being smashed worldwide by the rise of the right, and the answer from the elite is just to sit tight and follow the likes of fake lefties Trudeau, Shorten or Hilary to almost certain defeat.
So called left parties are being smashed by the right. Does that mean if they had real left leaders instead, the people who deserted the fake left leaders and voted right, wouldn't vote right anymore but go back to the left?
Thats an interesting, if not implausible logic jump.
All the momentum was with Sanders and Corbyn during the previous US and UK elections.
If they weren't hobbled by their own parties undermining them and were able to be unleashed onto the public, we would have gained one left government today, probably two.
So it would be like someone saying Jacinda isn't left enough so I'm gonna vote for Bridges. Yeah, makes sense. lol
As for Corbyn, he got 40% against May, and yet with no challenges from within since, apart from those who left to form change or whatever it’s called, he’s plunged to the low 20s. Go figure.
Up until now that is, at the party conference, where grassroots activists are pushing against Corbyn's fence sitting, wanting an unambiguous Remain stance.
Trying to shaft the deputy leader won't help win over the majority remainers in the party, either.
Was that a comparison of two political phenoms with the Bridge? Ok… Probably best if I leave you to talk about the failure of Corbyn post election. You seem very good at that…
How soon some forget. Labour made some promises before the last election. They did involve more spending than National, but they also included scrapping National's tax cuts that would have applied from April 2018. National campaigned on putting more money into everyone's pockets through cutting tax. Who wouldn't like a bit more money in their pockets each payday? But National lied about what they would have to do as a result of their tax cuts – they would further reduce services from government, but they never admitted to that – they called their cuts efficiency savings.
In order to get votes, Labour promised limits on borrowing, not to introduce new taxes or increase taxes until after a report had been issued (and after the next election) – and coalition negotiations required some funding for Green and NZ First priorities.
Now you are wanting a large increase in spending for one sector. Lets be clear, I am sure many Labour supporters would like spending on benefits to increase now, but National is not the only bullshitter, philip ure – any major change in public spending will have implications for either tax raising or other spending, with other consequential changes to employment, overall borrowing, inflation, etc.
So are you simply calling for our current government to be branded liars, or do you have proposals for how to raise the money your spending increases would need? Would you cut spending on hospitals and Pharmac? Would you renege on pay settlements with nurses and teachers?
So where does the philip ure party sit? Responsible government that understands that more spending in one area needs changes in another area? Or a liar party that pretends cutting taxes can be matched by "efficiency gains" without cutting services? Be responsible, philip, and give us the other side of your wish-list – "Show us the Money!"
Consistent in ignoring the reality that campaign promises cannot be totally ignored. Honesty and integrity are valuable attributes in gaining votes – or are you happy to see Labour in opposition again so soon?
Earn over $48k and you pay 30% tax on the bit over $48k….thats way too much tax.
Earn over $70k and pay 33% on that.
I reckon you should pay 30% on income over $70k and 33% on income over $100k. Then have another tax bracket say 39% for income over $150k and 45% for income over $200k
Boost Working for Families to all those who currently receive it and extend it to 30,000 more families, in addition to the Working for Families changes announced in Budget 2017.
Introduce a Best Start payment to help families with costs in a child’s early years.
Implement the Accommodation Supplement increases announced in Budget 2017.
Introduce 26 weeks paid parental leave to ensure that families are provided with vital support at a crucial stage in their children’s lives.
Increase the Family Tax Credit base rate for the eldest child to $5,878. This is currently $5,303 for eldest children aged 16-18 and $4,822 for eldest children aged 0-15 (due to be increased to $5,303 according to Budget 2017).
Adopt the Budget 2017 changes to the Family Tax Credit base rate for subsequent children and new abatement rate.
Raise the abatement threshold for Working for Families to $42,700, currently $36,350 (due to be cut to $35,000 according to Budget 2017).
All this sort of talk goes way over Phils head. As hes doesnt support a family or know or care about this as it wont end up in HIS pocket
"
Introduce a Best Start payment of $60 a week for each child in the first year after Paid Parental Leave ends, and for low to middle income families up to age three.
How about this one
A Wellington sole parent with a two year old and an income of $45,000:
With Labour, this family gets $107 more a week (plus up to $55 in Accommodation Supplement)
Fess up Phil , as its mostly about those with young kids, you are missing out and beating the drum here about your empty pockets
Another shill singing for his supper. These tame 'left' column fillers seem to like to impress their fellow political anoraks and upset the leftys who think their opinion matters.
Chris who ? from the echo chamber of nz political repeaters.
Rhetoric to entertain the masses and impress each other (his fellow soapbox holders like hoots etc) whilst not upsetting his paymasters i.e. the media owners.
Trotter makes his living saying SFA but still manages to upset people who think he should be saying and doing more in the echo chamber of the NZ media.
I see we're still on the remarkably dense and blind view that whatever Labour's failing to be transformational in Government is down to everyone who isn't Jacinda, in this case it's Robertson's fault.
The Peasants Revolt failed because Wat Tyler and the rebels believed the King was actually pure of heart and on their side, but was misled by his 'wicked' advisors.
The historical reach is important. it shows for example that rigorous debate(and discourse) were important parts of a vigorous democracy.
Isocrates in Areopagiticus some 25 centuries ago.
The less well-to-do among the citizens were so far from envying those of greater means that they were as solicitous for the great estates as for their own, considering that the prosperity of the rich was a guarantee of their own well-being. Those who possessed wealth, on the other hand, did not look down upon those in humbler circumstances, but, regarding poverty among their fellow-citizens as their own disgrace, came to the rescue of the distresses of the poor, handing over lands to some at moderate rentals, sending out some to engage in commerce, and furnishing means to others to enter upon various occupations;
for they had no fear that they might suffer one of two things—that they might lose their whole investment or recover, after much trouble, only a mere fraction of their venture; on the contrary, they felt as secure about the money which was lent out as about that which was stored in their own coffers. For they saw that in cases of contract the judges were not in the habit of indulging their sense of equity1 but were strictly faithful to the laws;
and that they did not in trying others seek to make it safe for themselves to disobey the law,1 but were indeed more severe on defaulters than were the injured themselves, since they believed that those who break down confidence in contracts do a greater injury to the poor than to the rich; for if the rich were to stop lending, they would be deprived of only a slight revenue, whereas if the poor should lack the help of their supporters they would be reduced to desperate straits.
And so because of this confidence no one tried to conceal his wealth1 nor hesitated to lend it out, but, on the contrary, the wealthy were better pleased to see men borrowing money than paying it back; for they thus experienced the double satisfaction—which should appeal to all right-minded men—of helping their fellow-citizens and at the same time making their own property productive for themselves. In fine, the result of their dealing honorably with each other was that the ownership of property was secured to those to whom it rightfully belonged, while the enjoyment of property was shared by all the citizens who needed it.
I thought Trotter’s was a lovely story but not quite at the epic level of Homer, for example. I think he could make a decent living turning it into an audiobook for budding ballet choreographers or as storyteller on a late-night radio show for insomniacs. However, it didn’t pass the mustard as political commentary from a wannabe political historian although I did enjoy his joyous verbosity and I might apply it to spice up my own rants too with more couleur locale and Wayang-like depictions of key political players for more dramatic impact.
I have already ‘unpacked’ it, but you missed it because you were not reading between the lines.
Trotter’s opinion piece shows complete disregard for the (political) context, which to me suggests it was not political commentary but a raconteurial rant.
I know somebody else who “loves the sound of his own voice a bit more than he should” and thinks that his opinion has more validity than the opinions of others..
I mentioned in the work kitchen the other day to the resident pro-China migrant guy that a good friend of mine had gone back to Hong Kong to take part in the democracy protests. He spent a little while trying to wheedle the name of this person out me, then I went back to my desk and forgot about it.
Later that afternoon, he came and sat next to me and invited me along to some dinners and meeting the various pro-Beijing front organisations in Auckland run in order to discuss China. I politely declined. But while he is a pleasant enough fellow, this guy has lived here for over ten years and yet he is basically a low rent volunteer spy for Beijing. He will never owe his loyalty to NZ.
And when you see long term Sinophiles and insightful friends of China like this guy bailing out as fast they can, you wonder when will our politicians ever wake up, and how donkey deep is the National party with the authoritarian butchers of Beijing?
She's remarkably passionate about allegations against Labour, but seems blissfully ignorant of documented human rights abuses routinely employed by China to crush dissent
Latest 23/9/19 ‘Australian newscorp’
(Quote) “Five-year period ending 2019 set to be hottest on record. A few days after kids across the globe marched in support of environmental issues, the UN has released a new report on the current state of the planet, and it’s not pretty reading.” (un-quote)
The US response seems more like a face-saving PR exercise. Pretty embarrassing that the billions spent by Saudi Arabia on American weaponry was out-gunned by low cost drones launched by a poorly resourced rebel outfit from one of the most poverty stricken places on earth.
Not poorly resourced , they seemed to have a large portion of the Yemen military forces at the start of civil war.. this doesnt sound like they are all that deficient
"over 400 Houthi ballistic and cruise missile launches, drone strikes, and naval attacks since June 2015"
An 'ally and friend' ( which was the origin of the 9/11 attackers) who is waging war on its tiny neighbour with US supplied planes and bombs.
So its OK for US to provide military supplies but not OK for Iran to do so.
Its nothing new really – except when it involves the mother lode -oil.
"FDD’s Long War Journal has tracked and mapped over 400 Houthi ballistic and cruise missile launches, drone strikes, and naval attacks since June 2015. For more information, see the three-part series: Houthi missiles,drones, naval attacks.]"
They have been missile attacks on US Navy ships, ballistic missiles against Saudi airports
How much do we value democratic freedom and the 4th estates role within it?
"Experts have identified the Chinese New Zealand Herald website as a propaganda outlet for the government of China.
However, the news outlet's co-owner, NZME, says the Chinese NZ Herald is not beholden to China’s media guidelines and censorship requirements.
An investigation by Newsroom, with the help of China propaganda experts, found the news organisation's operational structure, and its Chinese state internet and security permits, amounted to the news site coming under the supervision and control of various Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities."
Where do you look for clues when you are puzzled about behaviour that seems irrational for the good of the country – Money (as cartoon on my book Dilbert and the way of the Weasel says, where he stands by a sign attracting zombies towards> 'Unattended Piles of Money')!
Revealed: Arron Banks puts controversial diamond mine up for sale The millionaire businessman Arron Banks, who spent £8m on the Brexit campaign, has put a controversial South African diamond mine on the market. Mr Banks confirmed to Channel 4 News that the Newlands mine in Barkly West, Northern Cape province is up for sale for ZAR10m – just over £500,000. In a statement Mr Banks told…
and further on Brexit :
London Mayor Sadiq Khan calls for Labour MPs to commit to stopping Brexit amidst party civil warThe infighting at the top of the party has continued following yesterday’s move to unseat Deputy Leader Tom Watson. Today Jeremy Corbyn was forced to defend reported allegations from a senior advisor that his team lacked ‘professionalism, competence and human decency’. Jon Snow spoke to London mayor Sadiq Khan, who today made a direct appeal…
This one is amazing. German villages bulldozed to make space for coal mineEurope’s biggest economy, Germany, has promised to phase out coal by 2038 in order to meet climate change commitments. Yet it is expanding one of its biggest open cast mines, which is 48 square kilometres in size. The expansion will demolish five villages in the process, but the coal company responsible says it is not…
sickening and real – make sure your people are safe, ask them, don't just assume they are
When you're strangled, it takes just 10 seconds to lose consciousness. At 15 seconds you lose control of your bladder. Within two minutes … death.
That's the timeline of strangulation, an offence so closely linked to deaths from domestic violence that if someone puts their hands around your neck and squeezes, you are seven times more likely to go on to die, because people who get angry enough to strangle are more likely to do it again and at some point they might get too angry to release their grip.
What, no media at the Ardern/Trump meeting? Someone must be scared of being toweled by relative youth, gender, empathy and intellect. No p**sy grabbing this time!
Concerning Trump and our brave young PM riding forth Quixote-like, if you can get to see today's stuff with Jeff Bell's cartoon on the hairpiece and our PM, (with apologies to Lewis Carroll) I think you'll find it good.
What, no media at the Ardern/Trump meeting? Someone must be scared of being toweled by relative youth, gender, empathy and intellect. No p**sy grabbing this time!
You are confused about what is a meeting with discussions and the photo ops which precede it.
I've got a serious question for Mr Ure – it could either amuse you, or drive you into a severe depression, the like of which I'm not sure there's a cure for – even IF there was something synthetic to ease the symptoms:
Did you ever come across Glenda H in your travels in the past? There's a billboard or two around Mt Victoria (one of which I saw a Toy Boi weilding a hammer with).
I just received my voting papers and discovered it's standing for local gummint, as is its ….. [for the sake of civility] ….. followers.
My first thought was that it’s taking the piss – but it (and all)'re actually serious!!!
I’ll know when it’s time to leave town if ever that got a foothold
A Time to get off your B and change that horrible link about someone going on about chainsaw murders.
And Mr bielski can be shown what we expect from local and central councillors in this country trying to find a working peace in the world and respect for all who have good spiritual beliefs, not ones of disdain and superiority.
I got off on the wrong track there. I was thinking it was about the councillor from Manawatu who can't stand Muslims. I think he should get voted out. He's getting too old for coping with the world and change and it's possible that he doesn't like women either – it often goes alongside.
I think that it's haters who use tech platforms to pedal there hate content but the tech companies have to try and stop them using their platforms.
Kia Kaha Greta that is the correct measage to give to the people who are leading the Papatuanuku to our destruction. I agree chasing economic growth over the wellbeing of our future environment has to change to chasing sustainability and countrys being rewarded for this behaviour.
I agree its good to change the school funding system to include economic back ground and other factors to help our tamariki that need help the most that is looking after our future.
For some reason I always get restricted phone calls can you guess who is making them you would be correct.
Thomas Cook collapse has stranded heaps of people on holiday let hope not to many people are left in a mess because of that.
The people of the Manuatu will be wrapped to have a new route for their main road. I have not been on that road in decades.
That's is what needs to happen Winston including Farmer in the emissions trading skeem by 2025. If Our Farmers were not included in the Emissions skeem what phenomenon will encourage Our farmers to reduce there carbon footprint.
I tau toko Te tangata whenua who are championing to stop seabed mineing.
I Rotorua has a housing shortage itcs not on that people have to live under a bridge most of our cities have this problem to.
Eco Maori tau toko online voting let's not wait to long for this great initiative. It will make the process more efficient and will bring in more voters..
A 3. Month payed course teaching Wahine life skills teaching them how to grow Kai and encouraging Te Wahine to give up drugs is cool
simon you know that you would have been kissing trumps ass say yes sir no sir
Its awesome to see heaps more people seeing reality about OUR Global Warming Papatuanuku. The champions of Our futures Climate have done A awesome job the Phenomenon is a unstoppable force now Kia Kaha to you ALL.
That's Commission of enquiries into state staff abuseing people looks like a choreography set up.
That's is sad seeing people praying on our inenecint elderly using phone calls and scamming them out of their money.
Duncan Greta has got The Am Show attention Greta has the Papatuanuku attention on Our Futures Environment NOW if you are not on board of Our WAKA looking after our futures environment you will be washed into Our History Books.
You know that was hard I haven't seen anyone get it correct.
Using cloth nappies will save you heaps of putea and our environment. I would not trust others picking them up and cleaning them as babies skins are quite sensitive we used a hygiene products that are designed for sensitive skins.
We can have low or no carbon footprint larger passengers plane travellers. We just need to invest the time and putea into the new goals of low carbon flights. Solar and batteries are increasingly becoming more efficient made bio fuel for take of and landing and solar and batteries for gliding around Papatuanuku.
This Solar-Powered Plane Can Circle the Globe With No Pollution | That’s Amazing
Some dreams are so fantastic, it takes an unprecedented bid for adventure and glory to see them blossom to fruition. Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, captivated by the spirit of great expeditions of the past, partnered to make the first flight across the world in a solar-powered plane that produced no pollution. Storing solar energy in batteries, the Solar Impulse is capable of staying aloft indefinitely. However, as Piccard and Borschberg learned, this didn't make the adventure easy—or require any less intrepid heroism from the co-pilots. Ka kite Ano
Tauranga Tangata Whenua you would think that the Tauranga council should have a duty to fix some of the wrongs of the past. The whenua is not billions like Tangata Whenua have lost. If they have a humane thought then they will give that whenua to Mana whenua.
That's cool in Tamiki Makaurau the council are putting system in place to get more Maori to vote.
The new app teaching practical life skills is a good idea to teach Rangatahi skills in how putea works and other skills that are needed to thrive in Aotearoa society.
I think it's not acceptable that Iwi data is not available for Tangata Whenua to use to plan for our Mokopuna future.
TL;DR: Here’s six links that stood out to me in the last day in Aotearoa’s political economy to 6:06am on Sunday, May 19:Aotearoa-NZ is the seventh worst in the OECD’s homelessness rankings, just behind the United States and just ahead of Australia. BlackRock thinks rate hikes actually worsen inflation because ...
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New Zealand First Cabinet Minister Shane Jones has become the best advertisement against the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill. In selling the radical new resource consenting processes, in which ministers can green light any mine, dam, or other major development, Jones seems to be shooting the proposal in the foot. ...
Buzz from the Beehive Associate Education Minister David Seymour is urging the PostPrimary Teachers Association to put learning ahead of ideology. He wants the union leaders to call off their teachers meetings around the country where they hope to muster the strength to undo the government’s plans to establish several ...
What are police for? "Fighting crime" is the obvious answer. If there's a burglary, they should show up and investigate. Ditto if there's a murder or sexual assault. Speeding or drunk or dangerous driving is a crime, so obviously they should respond to that. And obviously, they should respond to ...
Michael Reddell writes – I got curious yesterday about how the Australia/New Zealand real exchange rate had changed over the last decade, and so dug out the data on the changes in the two countries’ CPIs. Over the 10 years from March 2014 to March 2024, New Zealand’s ...
Graham Adams writes that 20 years after the land march, judges are quietly awarding a swathe of coastal rights to iwi. Early this month, an hour-long documentary was released by TVNZ to mark the 20th anniversary of the land-rights march to oppose Helen Clark’s Foreshore and Seabed Act. The account ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: Suspended Green MP Darleen Tana has passed an unpleasant milestone: she has now been absent for as many parliamentary sitting days as she has been present for this year. Tana is on full pay while she is suspended, and will benefit from a ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is no coincidence that two Labour should-have-been MPs are making the most noise about public sector cuts. As assistant general secretary of the Public Service Association, Fleur Fitzsimons has been at the forefront of revealing where the next round of state sector job ...
Bryce Edwards writes – It’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a ...
This is one of the (extra) weekly columns on music or movies. Plenty of solid analyses of Possession exist online and most of them – inevitably – contain spoilers. This column is more in the way of a first-timer’s aid to getting your initial bearings. You don’t need to have ...
I am painting in oil, a portrait of a manWho has taken all the heart aches,And all the pain he can stand.I am using all the colors of blue,I have here on my stand.I am painting in oil, a portrait of a man.This has been an interesting week for me. ...
Helen Clark joins the Hoon as a special guest talking whether Aotearoa should join Aukus II, and her views on the fast track legislation and how Luxon and the new Government are performing. File Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts ...
With an election due in less than nine months, Britain’s embattled PM, Rishi Sunak, gave a useful speech earlier this week. He made a substantial case for his government, perhaps as compelling as is possible in the current environment. Quite an achievement. His overall theme was security, first pulling ...
Open access notablesPublicly expressed climate scepticism is greatest in regions with high CO2 emissions, Pearson et al., Climatic Change:We analysed a recently released corpus of climate-related tweets to examine the macro-level factors associated with public declarations of climate change scepticism. Analyses of over 2 million geo-located tweets in the U.S. showed that climate ...
You can be all negative about these charter schools if you want, but I’m here to accentuate the positive. You can get all worked up, if you want to, by the contradiction of Luxon saying We’re going to make sure that every school in the country is teaching exactly the same ...
Losing The Room: One can only speculate about what has persuaded the Coalition Government that it will pay no electoral price for unreasonably pushing ahead with policies that are so clearly against the national interest. They seem quite oblivious to the risk that by doing so they will convince an increasing ...
Name suppression decisions can be tough sometimes. No matter your views on free speech, you have to be hard-hearted not to be torn by the tug of the competing arguments. I think you can feel the Supreme Court wrestling with that in M v The King. The case for ...
The Merchants of Menace: The Coalition Government has convinced itself that the “Brahmins’” emollient functions have become much too irksome and expensive. Those who see themselves as the best hope of rebuilding New Zealand’s ailing capitalist system, appear to have convinced themselves that a little bit of blunt trauma is what their mollycoddled ...
When National first proposed its Muldoonist "fast-track" law, they were warned that it would inevitably lead to corruption. And that is exactly what has happened, with Resources Minister Shane Jones taking secret meetings with potential applicants:On Tuesday, in a Newsroom story, questions were raised about a dinner Jones ...
Buzz from the Beehive One day – hopefully – we will push that Russian rascal, Vladimir Putin, beyond breaking point. Perhaps it will happen today, when he learns that Foreign Minister Winston Peters is again tightening the thumbscrews. Peters announced further sanctions, this time on 28 individuals and 14 entities ...
How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought New Zealand to the brink of economic and cultural chaos.TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition Government’s failure to retain, and build upon, the public ...
“Members of Parliament don’t work for us, they represent us, an entirely different thing. As with so much that has turned out badly, the re-organising of MPs’ responsibilities began with the Fourth Labour Government. That’s when they began to be treated like employees – public servants – whose diaries had ...
It’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a third medical school in New Zealand, ...
Time To Choose: Like it or not, the Kiwis are either going into AUKUS’s “Pillar 2” – or they are going to China.HAD ZHENG HE’S FLEET sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks ...
Henry Ergas writes – When in Randall Jarrell’s Pictures from an Institution, a college president is accused of being a hypocrite, the novel’s narrator retorts that the description is grossly unfair. After all, the man is still far from the stage of moral development at which the charge ...
David Farrar writes – Radio NZ reports: The Education Review Office says too many new teachers feel poorly prepared for their jobs. In a report published on Monday, the review office said 60 percent of the principals it interviewed said their new teachers were not ready. ...
New Zealand’s economic performance and the PM’s vision Michael Reddell writes – When I wrote yesterday morning’s post, highlighting how poorly both New Zealand and its Anglo peer countries have been doing in respect of productivity in recent times (ie, in the case of New ...
Hi all,Firstly - thank you! You guys are awesome. The response I’ve received to last night’s mail has been quite overwhelming. It’s a ghastly day outside, but there are no clouds in here.In case you didn’t read my email and are wondering what on earth I’m talking about you can ...
If there was still any doubt as to who is actually running this government – and it isn’t the buffoon from Botany – then this week’s announcement of a huge spend up on charter schools has settled the matter. While jobs and public services continue to be cut in the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Gaye Taylor As widespread drought raises expectations for a repeat of last year’s ferocious wildfire season, response teams across Canada are grappling with the rapidly changing face of fire in a warming climate. No longer quenched by winter, nor quelled by the ...
Half of Christchurch City Holdings Ltd’s directors and its chair resigned en masse last night in protest at Christchurch City Council’s demand to front-load dividends File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The chair of Christchurch City Council’s investment company and four of its independent directors resigned in protest last ...
The University of Waikato has reworded an advertisement that begins the tender process for its new $300 million-plus medical school even though the Government still needs to approve it. However, even the reworded ad contains an architect’s visualisations of what the school might look like. ACT leader David Seymour told ...
As a follow-up to the Rings of Power trailer discussion, I thought I needed to add something. There has been some online mockery about the use of the same actor for both the Halbrand and Annatar incarnations of Sauron. The reasoning is that Halbrand with a shave and a new ...
This isn’t quite as dramatic as the title might suggest. I’m not going anywhere, but there is something I wanted to talk to you about.Let’s start with a typical day.Most days I send out a newsletter in the morning. If I’ve written a lot the previous evening it might be ...
Buzz from the Beehive The promise of tax relief loomed large in his considerations when the PM delivered a pre-Budget speech to the Auckland Business Chamber. The job back in Wellington is getting government spending back under control, he said, bandying figures which show that in per capita terms, the ...
Yesterday de facto Prime Minister David Seymour announced that his glove puppet government would be re-introducing charter schools, throwing $150 million at his pet quacks, donors and cronies and introducing an entire new government agency to oversee them (the existing Education Review Office, which actually knows how to review schools, ...
Seeing that, in order to discredit the figures and achieve moral superiority while attempting to deflect attention away from the military assault on Rafa, Israel supporters in NZ have seized on reports that casualty numbers in Gaza may be inflated … Continue reading → ...
David Farrar writes – Newstalk ZB report: The man responsible for a horror hit and run in central Wellington last year was on a suspended licence and was so drunk he later asked police, “Did I kill someone?” Jason Tuitama injured two women when he ran a red ...
Muriel Newman writes – Former US President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.” The fight for ...
Why Courts should have said Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Karen Chhour Gary Judd writes – In the High Court, Justice Isacs declined to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal to compel Minister for Children, Karen Chhour, to appear before it to be ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The number of voices raising concerns about the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill is rapidly growing. This is especially apparent now that Parliament’s select committee is listening to submissions from the public to evaluate the proposed legislation. Twenty-seven thousand submissions have been made to Parliament ...
An average of 166 New Zealand citizens left the country every day during the March quarter, up 54% from a year ago.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy and housing market is sinking into a longer recession through the winter after a slump in business and consumer confidence in ...
The government has made it abundantly clear they’re addicted to the smell of new asphalt. On Tuesday they introduced a new term to the country’s roading lexicon, the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS), a little brother for the Roads of National (Party) Significance (RoNS). Driving ahead with Roads of Regional ...
School is outAnd I walk the empty hallwaysI walk aloneAlone as alwaysThere's so many lucky penniesLying on the floorBut where the hell are all the lucky peopleI can't see them any moreYesterday morning, I’d just sent out my newsletter on Tama Potaka, and I was struggling to make the coffee. ...
Hi,I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing.This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment.Misery loves company, that sort of deal.Some context.I wish I could say I got ...
I have hitherto been fairly quiet on the new season of Rings of Power, on the basis that the underwhelming first season did not exactly build excitement – and the rumours were fairly daft. The only real thing of substance to come out has been that they have re-cast Adar ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
“The thing is,” Chris Luxon says, leaning forward to make his point, “this has always been my thing.”“This goes all the way back to the first multinational I worked for. I was saying exactly the same thing back then. The name of our business needs to be more clear; people ...
Buzz from the Beehive It’s been a momentous few days for Children’s Minister Karen Chhour. The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which blocked a summons order from the Waitangi Tribunal for her. And today she has announced the Government is putting children first by introducing to ...
In 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – According to the respected Pew Research Centre, “In seven of eight [European] countries surveyed, the most trusted news outlet asked about is the public news organization in each country”. For example, “in Sweden, an overwhelming majority (90%) say they trust the public broadcaster SVT”. ...
David Farrar writes – Kata MacNamara reports: Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...
Chris Trotter writes – Are you a Brahmin or a Merchant? Or, are you merely one of those whose lives are profoundly influenced by the decisions of Brahmins and Merchants? Those are the questions that are currently shaping the politics of New Zealand and the entire West. ...
RNZ reports – It’s supposed to be a haven of healing and spiritual awakening but residents of the Kawai Purapura community say they’ve been hurt and deceived. It’s the successor to the former Centrepoint commune, and has been on the bush block opposite Albany shopping centre since 2008. It ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. Usually we have a video chat to go with this wrap, but were unable to do one this week. We’ll be back next week.Several reports ...
The Transport Minister has set a hard 'fiscal envelope' of $6.54 billion for transport capital spending. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy is settling into a state of suspended animation as the Government’s funding freezes and job cuts chill confidence and combine with stubbornly high interest rates to ...
To be precise, the term “anti- Zionism” refers to (a) criticism of the political movement that created a modern Jewish state on the historical land of Israel, and to (b)the subjugation of Palestinians by the Israeli state. By contrast, the term “anti-Semitism” means bigotry and racism directed at Jewish people, ...
This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Because hurricanes are one of the big-ticket weather disasters that humanity has to face, climate misinformers spend a lot of effort muddying the waters on whether climate change is making hurricanes more damaging. With the official start to the hurricane ...
Yesterday the Mayor released what he calls his “plan to save public transport” which is part of his final proposal for the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). This comes following consultation on the draft version that occurred in March which showed, once again, that people want more done on transport, especially ...
And it's a pleasure that I have knownAnd it's a treasure that I have gainedAotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them. The ...
The Select Committee hearing submissions on the fast-track consenting legislation is starting to become a beat-up of regional councils. The inflexibility and slow workings of the Councils were prominent in two submissions yesterday. One, from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, simply said that the Waikato Regional Council’s planning decisions were ...
Back in April, the High Court surprised everyone by ruling that Ministers are above the law, at least as far as the Waitangi Tribunal is concerned. The reason for this ruling was "comity" - the idea that the different branches of government shouldn't interfere with each other's functions. Which makes ...
Buzz from the BeehiveTolling was mentioned when Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the government was re-introducing the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, with 15 “crucial” projects to support economic growth and regional development across New Zealand. All RoNS would be four-laned, grade-separated highways, and all funding, financing, and ...
or the past 14 years, ever since the Spanish government cheated on an autonomy deal, Catalonia has reliably given pro-independence parties a majority of seats in their regional parliament. But now that seems to be over. Catalans went to the polls yesterday, and stripped the Catalan parties of their majority. ...
David Farrar writes – Radio NZ report: Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said the Electoral Commission should make sure the system ran smoothly and “taking away the right of thousands of people to vote” was not the answer. “Thousands of people enroled and voted on the day. If ...
The Government’s introduction of legislation that would enable landlords to end tenancies with no reason marks a dark day for the 1.4 million people who rent their home in Aotearoa. ...
The Minister for Mental Health has found the Suicide Prevention Office and mental health support for 111 calls slipping through his fingers, says Labour spokesperson for Mental Health Ingrid Leary. ...
Today’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. ...
The Green Party says the Government’s misguided policy on gangs will fail, following the announcement of the establishment of a national gang unit and district gang disruption units to target gang activities. ...
“With Police pay negotiations still unresolved after six months in Government, Mark Mitchell has today rolled the Commissioner out for a rebrand of their approach to gang crime,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said. ...
The Government bringing back 50 charter schools will not increase achievement and is a distraction from the core mission of the education system, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Te Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill. Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to a ...
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. ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced that the Government will make it easier for lines firms to take action to remove vegetation from obstructing local powerlines. The change will ensure greater security of electricity supply in local communities, particularly during severe weather events. “Trees or parts of trees falling on ...
Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani were the top winners at this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy awards recognising the best in Māori dairy farming. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced the winners and congratulated runners-up, Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board, at an awards celebration also attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister ...
"On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden. “I raised my concerns after being ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools. “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. “It is my pleasure ...
New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says. “This ...
Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners. “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
“The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office. “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
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. ...
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i am looking forward to public consternation re climate-change = gloal-fucken-apocalypse..
to come somewhere near that engendered by a spinning coloured wheel during a fucken thugby-match..
just saying..!
(‘would you like some bacon with that..?’..)
Please keep the rugby down to a background murmer. As we don't advertise, we really don't need to follow the NZ heralds need to attract advertisers.
Kind of gross their coverage this morning in the printed edition. Was looking at it on pressreader.
obsequious sycophancy.
(trotters' latest piece is well worth the read – and explains the incrementalism of this govt – trotter makes a strong case that it's all down to roberston…
and i hafta agree with him..)
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/09/20/who-will-be-fed-next-to-the-hungry-gods-of-politics/
(excerpt..)
'Guided by the éminence grise of Labour’s “Third Way” conservatism, Sir Michael Cullen, Robertson bound Labour in fiscal chains so tight that, in the unlikely event of a Labour-led government being formed, it would lack all freedom of movement. No matter how luminous the promises of “transformation”, without the money to turn promises into reality, the person making them was bound to end up discredited'.
(robertson has gotta go..!..)
Its a complete rant ,too silly for words.
" it would lack all freedom of movement. No matter how luminous the promises of “transformation”, without the money to turn promises into reality"
What promises have been turned back by no money?
Housing for one , not restricted by money so much ( capital spending,its not counted against a 'surplus') as the ability to build.
meaningful welfare-reform – as just one example..
are you saying robertson is not a neoliberal-incrementalist – who walks faithfully in the foot-prints left by fellow third-wayer cullen..?
that's denying the evidence before yr eyes..isn't it..?
(and yr reference to kiwibuild could not be more apt..
given it is a classic example of the middle-class welfare so favoured by third-wayers/neoliberal-incrementalists..
and as for real reform for the poorest..?…
yeah – nah – eh..?..they don't do that…)
"given it is a classic example of middle-class welfare"
I think that is a very generous take on it, seriously who can afford a new home for their first home, i would have said more high income than middle, besides it is welfare for property developers.
Mr Trotter has a new piece (and audience) that may paint a different motivation (from a different party)…whos playing who?
"National’s success thus hinges upon its ability to generate sufficient fury among Gen-Xers to vote against both their parents and their children. They must be encouraged to call down a plague upon the houses of both the old and the young, so that, finally, a government can be elected that listens to them; delivers to them; and only to them. Simon Bridges and Paula Bennett will bend all their powers towards convincing Generation X of the old adage: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
https://www.interest.co.nz/opinion/101787/chris-trotter-looks-how-different-generations-see-and-judge-prime-minister-jacinda
Have to agree. Nothing in there that you could look at as being evidential. Plus he appears to be simply regurgitating Garner who said much the same thing recently whilst talking about the need of the parliamentary press gallery to feed off blood as a pack.
He is a writer in love with rhetoric and he gets paid for it. I wonder what his take was at the Whalerump.
surely 'the evidence' is that roberston is by definition a neoliberal-incrementalist – ?
and he is just doing what neoliberal-incrementalists do..?
(and the stellar example of that – is that of the 42 recommendations from welfare reform group – for urgent welfare reform – to provide some relief from the grinding poverty – 3 have been accepted by this govt..(!)
and one of those three is an easing of the clawback provisions of any part time work undertaken by benificiaries..
and here is the exciting bit..!..going up in tiny wee increments – benificiaries will be able to – by 2022 – to earn about another twenty bucks a week..(!)
which we can all agree – will do sweet fuck all…
this is what neoliberal incrementalists – like robertson – call 'welfare reform'…
and this is why he has to go..
(i have eyes tightly-closed/fingers-crossed – going 'plse plse let the current scandal take him down..!'..)
ardern should fire him..
and i agree that trotter often spouts colourful shite..
but not this time…
this time he is on the money..
I think much of our government's reluctance to introduce worthwhile welfare reform is they figure that most of that sector are going to vote left regardless.
Unlikely to happen but it leaves room for National to campaign on such a platform. This could squeeze the coalition to take action.
If the right promised sweeping welfare reform would you vote for them Phil?
i don't feel like playing silly-hypotheticals..
that will never happen..
may as well discuss: 'what if we all had ponies?'..
it ain't gonna happen..
meanwhile…
The coalition introducing sweeping welfare reforms is also a hypothetical suggestion. A prospect you regularly entertain.
What would you call your pony?
Stewie
'The coalition introducing sweeping welfare reforms'..
like we were promised – pre-election..?
i am not talking 'ponies'..
i am talking broken promises..
and all do-able…
When the government are questioned on this subject they typically revert to a long list of what they consider to be major steps forward. They deliver their lists with such conviction it's almost like they believe that $200 at the beginning of winter has brought sunlight flooding into 1000's of lives. $200 is of course merely a half full Countdown trolley.
They do usually end their lists with something like "We do acknowledge that there is still an awful lot of work to do…." Political flim flam that indicates 'don't worry Phil, we're getting to your concerns….look at all the fabulous stuff we've already done.'
they have no 'list' to read out on this one –
just an embarrassed silence..
Sepuloni could spend 30 minutes informing us on how life has improved for welfare recipients and not pause for breath.
she could talk about the new pot-plants in the winz offices..
and how the winz security-guards have been told to tone down the concentration-camp guards attitudes/rhetoric..
that's about it – really..
But that's not what is happening Phil. Here is 9 mins of Carmel back in May assuring beneficiaries that everything is in hand and that there is nothing to worry about.
The point I'm trying to make is: It appears they believe they are meeting your wishes Phil.
no….i don't think they are that dumb..
they know full well that what they are doing adds up to s.f.a…
(and sorry – i can't watch sepuloni..
her cant/false-promises/defences of the indefensile – are not good for my blood temperature/blood-pressure..)
Seems they would not have to deal with welfare if they confronted very excessive immigration rates as they said they would .
Michael Reddell
Nice to see some confirmation of my surmises. The neo-liberal technocracy haven't been measuring their outcomes properly, so that the policies they foist on us, allegedly in our interests, based on their alleged expertise, have just been making things harder. The pretense of economic expertise expressed in policy needs to be rubbished until the mandarin class produce some objective results.
That sounds right SM. I have thought that a lot of what we decide and do is actually based on emotion and personal choice. It gets wrapped up in specially chosen stats and justified because someone said something in a big country or a right wing think tank or Treasury, that fount of all wisdom whose effectiveness is never judged by the actual outcomes on the ground. It's never their fault, as they have an out for everything.
It makes a nonsense of pretensions to evidence based policy, which ought to review it pdq.
perhaps you cant count
Labour won 46 seats out of the 120 at the election after 37% of the vote.
The Greens dropped from 14 to 6 seats
Some of The WEAG report is part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement with the Green Party. – Just ONE paragraph of 20.
https://www.greens.org.nz/sites/default/files/NZLP%20%26%20GP%20C%26S%20Agreement%20FINAL.PDF
i can count enough to know that the ability to earn an extra $20 a week – by 2022 – as a measure taken to provide some relief from the grinding poverty suffered by the poorest..
adds up to a fart in a windstorm…
how do you read that any differently..?
mathematically speaking..?
gotta correct an error there – that increase is by 2023 -not 2022…
(it goes up by five bucks a yr…
woo-fucken-hoo..!..eh….)
Not able to count .
38% of the vote doenst give the labour a majority to make the changes even when its in their manifesto
The Phil Ure party got no votes at all
Point out where their actions are against the policy
What about the $20 per person per week increase for beneficiaries – sold as a Winter energy grant
https://www.labour.org.nz/socialdevelopment
lab + grns + nz first – they all promised welfare-reform…
they have (all) delivered textbook incrementalism..
namely – done s.f.a…
i understand you are a full-time labour apologist – so relax – the blame is being shared..
and what about that twenty bucks per wk (just ended..)
so we are now back in the position (except for sole-parents – and goodonthem..! – i begrudge not a cent going to them – they should be getting more..)
we are back in the position where the key/tories' twenty dollar raise to base-rates – is the most that has been done for the poorest – in the past 30 yrs..
i would be really keen to hear yr take on that..'cos i reckon that fact should have all lab/grn/nz first apologists shifting uncomfortably in their seats..
i repeat – the tories/key did more welfare reform…than this lab/grn/nz first has done..
and as an apologist for none of the above – i reckon that both sucks and blows..
i look forward to yr convolutions…
What you need is a far left party that's polling above 40 percent, one which carries the voters with it when offering up its non neoliberal incrementalism, on its way to getting a mandate to govern according to those policies.
Do you have one of them, Philip?
no – what i want is a labour party that actually is a labour party –
not one that has been in the thrall of the neoliberal-incrementaists – since douglas..
but one that looks to its' own roots..
to know/see what needs to be done..
and then to bloody well get on and do it..
Right, so you want the Labour Party to become unelectable by JA sacking the finance minister and implementing policy it 1: wouldn't get into law past nz1st, and 2: hasn't got a mandate from the people for anyway.
Er, okay, astute punditry 🙄
blame nz first if you like..(i'm not buying it..)
and the/any mandate is already there..
c.f..the pre-election promises made – and the subsequent election..
No, no mandate for 180 degree turns when you cobble together a three way broad church government.
The thing you types always fail to answer is where the votes are coming from. If as you say 90% of votes are for Neo Libs, and half are split between both major parties, the maths don't add up. You may lose some middle ground labour votes but guaranteed you won't get any back from national. That's pretty basic.
Also, there's a to the left of Labour Party already and they only poll 6%. If and when the numbers switch round, that would be a sign for labour to turn more left or change leader like last time the balance was skewed less in their favour.
But you want labour to change. Well it's clear to me that won't happen. While the electorate is polarised, it's incremental all the way in the battle for the middle ground. You can of course pay your subs, work from the inside, and do the hard yards to enact your policy direction. You could always do a momentum and take over, stick your guy in the big seat and watch him poll 20% though I won't wish you good luck.
'you types'..
heh..!..i'm pleading for a definition here…
tell us all ya know about 'you types'…
You types are the ones who have no idea of how politics work in 2019, choosing to peddle daydream slogans without concept of what the voting public is willing to accept, but enough about you, let's hear you rebut and counter the points I raised.
I will wait.
what am i not getting about 'how politics works in 2019'..
i'll wait..!..)
'daydream slogans'..no – pre-election promises made..
and re yr above comment..
at least you seem to have accepted that incrementalism as the reality..
to the extent you are now defending it..heh..!
do ya need a t-shirt..?
(suggested slogan..)
'i'm an incrementalist..! – say it loud – and say it proud..!'
I thought that over-use of semi-ellipses is a sure-sign if early-onset incrementalism …
The numbers, Philip, the numbers. You need to address how you'll take the Neo lib voters with you when you push a full on socialist agenda on those who, according you, don't vote for it en mass.
That you see incremental change to the left as such a bad thing, given there's no mandate for making sweeping changes, neither being in a manifesto or campaigned upon, is sort of proof that you don't understand how modern NZ politics work.
It doesn't mean people who accept the reality we find ourselves in don't want change, or even change quickly, but it is reality and there's just there's no point posturing over cliches like its some sort of popularity contest. I didn't party vote labour and wanted much more left leaning policy, but without those numbers, remember those numbers phil? You have to take what you get and push for more votes next time.
Ill wear that tee shirt and not have a Nat government any day of the week until the polling backs my ideology and I can wear one saying 'My vote won it – and I didn't have to resort to posting like an uninformed dong on the internet'
"A Wellington sole parent with a two year old and an income of $45,000:
Coalition governments do not ‘make promises’ before elections, only after the subsequent negotiations. Aint compromise a bitch.
Sorry Sacha that’s BS. JA stole hearts and minds with Labour’s pre election blurb on how social reform was so badly needed. That’s what people remember. Not post election coalition drivel. She’s had opportunities to show she meant what she said and hasn’t shown any real backbone on anything. I’m from the right and realised we needed a fairer CGT and when she waved the white flag on that I believed she was all BS. Since then there’s been nothing happen that’s changed my mind.
@ duke of whatever..
i have already noted multiple times that sole parents are the only ones who have been helped..and how that is good..
so unsure what the fuck yr gotcha! is all about..
(see above – still waiting..)
@Newview Labour is not the whole government. Moan all you want about how that party have not secured what they promised but be clear who you are talking about.
The voters didn’t vote for this Coalition by personally voting for each of the partners . Labour took on NZF to get power and it was JA electioneering rhetoric That got labour into a position to do that. The voters didn’t give a toss what Winston had to say it was JA they listened to. You can believe what you like Sacha.
@ New view
So if Labour had not agreed to give Winston First as much as they did, then he would have gone with National and you would then presumably be on a right wing site right now moaning about how a National led government was not achieving everything that National had campaigned on. As a centrist party NZF will always act like a dragging handbrake on the government of the day regardless of whether it leans left or right.
Solkta. I’ve never liked this MMP idea but that’s another discussion. Sometimes the bigger party has to make a stand and call out the other partner if they feel strongly over proposed policy. With the CGT there was no attempt to push the point by labour. If JA had been strong and really wanted legalisation she could have taken it to a vote making the result public. It would then have been seen publicly that Winston was really the problem. That didn’t happen so did Labour really want a CGT we’ll never know. I don’t believe they were that keen. We wouldn’t want to rock the boat in case we loose votes, or upset Winston heaven forbid. It’s wishywashy BS as we’ve seen with the slow progress on other social issues.
Ha! If we all listed the top 20 policy platforms/machinations for our ideal Government most of us would end up with a framework that only 5% of NZers would vote for.
In my search for contentment I've resigned to operating my household as I would my ideal government. I fear wishing for much more is a recipe for discontent.
Wonderful to have your commentary on this blog phillip…
So called 'left' parties are being smashed worldwide by the rise of the right, and the answer from the elite is just to sit tight and follow the likes of fake lefties Trudeau, Shorten or Hilary to almost certain defeat.
Do you want to walk through that one?
So called left parties are being smashed by the right. Does that mean if they had real left leaders instead, the people who deserted the fake left leaders and voted right, wouldn't vote right anymore but go back to the left?
Thats an interesting, if not implausible logic jump.
All the momentum was with Sanders and Corbyn during the previous US and UK elections.
If they weren't hobbled by their own parties undermining them and were able to be unleashed onto the public, we would have gained one left government today, probably two.
So it would be like someone saying Jacinda isn't left enough so I'm gonna vote for Bridges. Yeah, makes sense. lol
As for Corbyn, he got 40% against May, and yet with no challenges from within since, apart from those who left to form change or whatever it’s called, he’s plunged to the low 20s. Go figure.
Up until now that is, at the party conference, where grassroots activists are pushing against Corbyn's fence sitting, wanting an unambiguous Remain stance.
Trying to shaft the deputy leader won't help win over the majority remainers in the party, either.
Was that a comparison of two political phenoms with the Bridge? Ok… Probably best if I leave you to talk about the failure of Corbyn post election. You seem very good at that…
chrs maui..
i can't believe how – in just political-realities terms – they seem unable to see what you talk about..
'what do we want..?'
'incrementalism'..
'when do we want it..?'
'at some as yet undefined time in the future..!'
meanwhile the right rises – and the planet fucken boils..
well done..!..einsteins…!
This last election was luck, a talking pulpit, but these pricks won't talk. High regards , Ure.
Neoliberal incrementalist. Isn't that really just a more palatable name for conservatism?
pretty much…
(tho' adherents to neoliberalism don't like talking about it..and don't usually like being identified as such..
it is the ideology that dares not say its' name..)
How soon some forget. Labour made some promises before the last election. They did involve more spending than National, but they also included scrapping National's tax cuts that would have applied from April 2018. National campaigned on putting more money into everyone's pockets through cutting tax. Who wouldn't like a bit more money in their pockets each payday? But National lied about what they would have to do as a result of their tax cuts – they would further reduce services from government, but they never admitted to that – they called their cuts efficiency savings.
In order to get votes, Labour promised limits on borrowing, not to introduce new taxes or increase taxes until after a report had been issued (and after the next election) – and coalition negotiations required some funding for Green and NZ First priorities.
Now you are wanting a large increase in spending for one sector. Lets be clear, I am sure many Labour supporters would like spending on benefits to increase now, but National is not the only bullshitter, philip ure – any major change in public spending will have implications for either tax raising or other spending, with other consequential changes to employment, overall borrowing, inflation, etc.
So are you simply calling for our current government to be branded liars, or do you have proposals for how to raise the money your spending increases would need? Would you cut spending on hospitals and Pharmac? Would you renege on pay settlements with nurses and teachers?
So where does the philip ure party sit? Responsible government that understands that more spending in one area needs changes in another area? Or a liar party that pretends cutting taxes can be matched by "efficiency gains" without cutting services? Be responsible, philip, and give us the other side of your wish-list – "Show us the Money!"
'"Show us the Money!"..'
easy..!
higher taxes on the richest – a land-tax on the land-bankers..
a financial transaction tax..
(how's that for starters….?..)
and at the other end – make the first 20 grand of income tax-free…
that would end the kafkaesque situation of the poorest being taxed on the miserly sums they are given..and they would get that money instead..
how am i going so far..?
Consistent in ignoring the reality that campaign promises cannot be totally ignored. Honesty and integrity are valuable attributes in gaining votes – or are you happy to see Labour in opposition again so soon?
did you miss/not hear the 'transformational welfare-reform' we were promised..
i repeat – all i am asking of those three parties – is that they do what they promised to do..
that they make good on those pre-election promises they all made..
that is all i am asking of them – in that area of policy..
Well overdue for moving the tax brackets.
Earn over $48k and you pay 30% tax on the bit over $48k….thats way too much tax.
Earn over $70k and pay 33% on that.
I reckon you should pay 30% on income over $70k and 33% on income over $100k. Then have another tax bracket say 39% for income over $150k and 45% for income over $200k
https://www.labour.org.nz/familiespackage
Its a broad based scheme
All this sort of talk goes way over Phils head. As hes doesnt support a family or know or care about this as it wont end up in HIS pocket
"
How about this one
A Wellington sole parent with a two year old and an income of $45,000:
Fess up Phil , as its mostly about those with young kids, you are missing out and beating the drum here about your empty pockets
all that you write about is not for the poorest..
it is just more for the 'deserving=families' – as defined by clark..
the 'undeserving' – also as defined by clark – are still being left to rot..
and i have raised my children – so you can just fuck off with that ad-hom..
and no – i am not arguing for my 'empty-pockets'..
once again – you can just fuck off with that one too..
Another shill singing for his supper. These tame 'left' column fillers seem to like to impress their fellow political anoraks and upset the leftys who think their opinion matters.
Chris who ? from the echo chamber of nz political repeaters.
@ tc..
'These tame 'left' column fillers seem to like to impress their fellow political anoraks and upset the leftys who think their opinion matters.'
um..!..i have read the above sentence four times – and i cannot understand whatever it is you are trying to say..
would you mind translating for me..?
Rhetoric to entertain the masses and impress each other (his fellow soapbox holders like hoots etc) whilst not upsetting his paymasters i.e. the media owners.
Trotter makes his living saying SFA but still manages to upset people who think he should be saying and doing more in the echo chamber of the NZ media.
Chris who ?
Reading Marilyn Waring's record of her 9 years under Muldoon he refused to reform the economy at the expense of the poorest. Unlike the last 35 years.
I see we're still on the remarkably dense and blind view that whatever Labour's failing to be transformational in Government is down to everyone who isn't Jacinda, in this case it's Robertson's fault.
The Peasants Revolt failed because Wat Tyler and the rebels believed the King was actually pure of heart and on their side, but was misled by his 'wicked' advisors.
Same as it ever was.
hmm!! – i wonder if robertson has thought of playing the wat tyler/peasants' revolt card yet..?
maybe he is saving it for when things get gnarly for him..?
(points tho' for the historical-reach/shout-out in yr comment..)
The historical reach is important. it shows for example that rigorous debate(and discourse) were important parts of a vigorous democracy.
Isocrates in Areopagiticus some 25 centuries ago.
The less well-to-do among the citizens were so far from envying those of greater means that they were as solicitous for the great estates as for their own, considering that the prosperity of the rich was a guarantee of their own well-being. Those who possessed wealth, on the other hand, did not look down upon those in humbler circumstances, but, regarding poverty among their fellow-citizens as their own disgrace, came to the rescue of the distresses of the poor, handing over lands to some at moderate rentals, sending out some to engage in commerce, and furnishing means to others to enter upon various occupations;
for they had no fear that they might suffer one of two things—that they might lose their whole investment or recover, after much trouble, only a mere fraction of their venture; on the contrary, they felt as secure about the money which was lent out as about that which was stored in their own coffers. For they saw that in cases of contract the judges were not in the habit of indulging their sense of equity1 but were strictly faithful to the laws;
and that they did not in trying others seek to make it safe for themselves to disobey the law,1 but were indeed more severe on defaulters than were the injured themselves, since they believed that those who break down confidence in contracts do a greater injury to the poor than to the rich; for if the rich were to stop lending, they would be deprived of only a slight revenue, whereas if the poor should lack the help of their supporters they would be reduced to desperate straits.
And so because of this confidence no one tried to conceal his wealth1 nor hesitated to lend it out, but, on the contrary, the wealthy were better pleased to see men borrowing money than paying it back; for they thus experienced the double satisfaction—which should appeal to all right-minded men—of helping their fellow-citizens and at the same time making their own property productive for themselves. In fine, the result of their dealing honorably with each other was that the ownership of property was secured to those to whom it rightfully belonged, while the enjoyment of property was shared by all the citizens who needed it.
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0144%3Aspeech%3D7%3Asection%3D32
I thought Trotter’s was a lovely story but not quite at the epic level of Homer, for example. I think he could make a decent living turning it into an audiobook for budding ballet choreographers or as storyteller on a late-night radio show for insomniacs. However, it didn’t pass the mustard as political commentary from a wannabe political historian although I did enjoy his joyous verbosity and I might apply it to spice up my own rants too with more couleur locale and Wayang-like depictions of key political players for more dramatic impact.
It wasn’t satire, was it?
nah..!..it wasn't satire..
and i agree that trotter loves the sound of his own voice a bit more than he should..
but that doesn't discount the validity of what he says here..
instead of a stream of ad homs directed at him..
why don't you unpack what he says/demonstrate to us readers how his analysis is incorrect/faulty..?
'cos i can't see how you could – but surprise me…
I have already ‘unpacked’ it, but you missed it because you were not reading between the lines.
Trotter’s opinion piece shows complete disregard for the (political) context, which to me suggests it was not political commentary but a raconteurial rant.
I know somebody else who “loves the sound of his own voice a bit more than he should” and thinks that his opinion has more validity than the opinions of others..
ooh…!..more ad homs….right ho..!
i'll just leave you to it..
I mentioned in the work kitchen the other day to the resident pro-China migrant guy that a good friend of mine had gone back to Hong Kong to take part in the democracy protests. He spent a little while trying to wheedle the name of this person out me, then I went back to my desk and forgot about it.
Later that afternoon, he came and sat next to me and invited me along to some dinners and meeting the various pro-Beijing front organisations in Auckland run in order to discuss China. I politely declined. But while he is a pleasant enough fellow, this guy has lived here for over ten years and yet he is basically a low rent volunteer spy for Beijing. He will never owe his loyalty to NZ.
And then this today from newsroom.co.nz –
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/09/23/819874/chinese-nz-herald-under-supervision-and-control-of-chinese-state
And when you see long term Sinophiles and insightful friends of China like this guy bailing out as fast they can, you wonder when will our politicians ever wake up, and how donkey deep is the National party with the authoritarian butchers of Beijing?
What's the Chinese New Zealand Herald?
it is an m.s.m-outlet/publication…..
They have mostly NZ Herald articles translated into Chinese – but often those articles are edited to remove adverse comments about China
example
https://twitter.com/ArrestJK/status/1175955332717146114?s=20
The praise from Paula comes from the wallet
She's remarkably passionate about allegations against Labour, but seems blissfully ignorant of documented human rights abuses routinely employed by China to crush dissent
This latest 'Australian News corp' article on the climate emergency will have all the Climate deniers up in arms too.
https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/climate-change/fiveyear-period-ending-2019-set-to-be-hottest-on-record/news-story/895e9c2239979888a2089a1311976c9f
Latest 23/9/19 ‘Australian newscorp’
(Quote) “Five-year period ending 2019 set to be hottest on record. A few days after kids across the globe marched in support of environmental issues, the UN has released a new report on the current state of the planet, and it’s not pretty reading.” (un-quote)
They said the world was threatened by WMDs, too.
/
https://twitter.com/MeetThePress/status/1175767427763843073
The US response seems more like a face-saving PR exercise. Pretty embarrassing that the billions spent by Saudi Arabia on American weaponry was out-gunned by low cost drones launched by a poorly resourced rebel outfit from one of the most poverty stricken places on earth.
Not poorly resourced , they seemed to have a large portion of the Yemen military forces at the start of civil war.. this doesnt sound like they are all that deficient
"over 400 Houthi ballistic and cruise missile launches, drone strikes, and naval attacks since June 2015"
An 'ally and friend' ( which was the origin of the 9/11 attackers) who is waging war on its tiny neighbour with US supplied planes and bombs.
So its OK for US to provide military supplies but not OK for Iran to do so.
Its nothing new really – except when it involves the mother lode -oil.
"FDD’s Long War Journal has tracked and mapped over 400 Houthi ballistic and cruise missile launches, drone strikes, and naval attacks since June 2015. For more information, see the three-part series: Houthi missiles,drones, naval attacks.]"
They have been missile attacks on US Navy ships, ballistic missiles against Saudi airports
"Saudi officials reported late last year that over 200 ballistic missiles have been fired towards its territory."
The US is well known for launching long range drone strikes against various countries Pakistan, Yemen Somalia
How much do we value democratic freedom and the 4th estates role within it?
"Experts have identified the Chinese New Zealand Herald website as a propaganda outlet for the government of China.
However, the news outlet's co-owner, NZME, says the Chinese NZ Herald is not beholden to China’s media guidelines and censorship requirements.
An investigation by Newsroom, with the help of China propaganda experts, found the news organisation's operational structure, and its Chinese state internet and security permits, amounted to the news site coming under the supervision and control of various Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities."
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/09/23/819874/chinese-nz-herald-under-supervision-and-control-of-chinese-state
apologies to Sanctuary…I see he has already linked this piece @4
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/399378/bullying-in-the-police-victim-asked-if-she-had-period-troubles
How very retro. Back to the future from the 1970's mindset. Are we regressing or didn't we ever progress at all?
Where do you look for clues when you are puzzled about behaviour that seems irrational for the good of the country – Money (as cartoon on my book Dilbert and the way of the Weasel says, where he stands by a sign attracting zombies towards> 'Unattended Piles of Money')!
Revealed: Arron Banks puts controversial diamond mine up for sale
The millionaire businessman Arron Banks, who spent £8m on the Brexit campaign, has put a controversial South African diamond mine on the market. Mr Banks confirmed to Channel 4 News that the Newlands mine in Barkly West, Northern Cape province is up for sale for ZAR10m – just over £500,000. In a statement Mr Banks told…
and further on Brexit :
London Mayor Sadiq Khan calls for Labour MPs to commit to stopping Brexit amidst party civil war The infighting at the top of the party has continued following yesterday’s move to unseat Deputy Leader Tom Watson. Today Jeremy Corbyn was forced to defend reported allegations from a senior advisor that his team lacked ‘professionalism, competence and human decency’. Jon Snow spoke to London mayor Sadiq Khan, who today made a direct appeal…
https://www.channel4.com/news/ (They have a zingy pile of news items.)
This one is amazing. German villages bulldozed to make space for coal mine Europe’s biggest economy, Germany, has promised to phase out coal by 2038 in order to meet climate change commitments. Yet it is expanding one of its biggest open cast mines, which is 48 square kilometres in size. The expansion will demolish five villages in the process, but the coal company responsible says it is not…
How come that 'averagekiwi' thing is in the Feeds? Sounds alarmingly similar to Kiwibog.
sickening and real – make sure your people are safe, ask them, don't just assume they are
Ardern is doing the keynote speech at the UN Climate change summit tomorrow.
And all-gases bill debated shortly. Not easy optics.
I wish her well
Yes, and to back up concern for climate change there is the protest on Friday 27 Sept. between 12 and 3.00 pm.
https://extinctionrebellion.nz/event/school-strike-for-climate/
and weka's post from 21/9
https://thestandard.org.nz/the-climate-action-momentum/
Have a reply in moderation. Was it the d word that rhymes with Kong?
Sorry about that.
It rhymes with pesto.
Sounds saucy.
Man if esto only had a brain
What, no media at the Ardern/Trump meeting? Someone must be scared of being toweled by relative youth, gender, empathy and intellect. No p**sy grabbing this time!
You underestimate Trump I think. If he wants to do something he does it, conventions no respect for, respect no convention of.
Concerning Trump and our brave young PM riding forth Quixote-like, if you can get to see today's stuff with Jeff Bell's cartoon on the hairpiece and our PM, (with apologies to Lewis Carroll) I think you'll find it good.
What, no media at the Ardern/Trump meeting? Someone must be scared of being toweled by relative youth, gender, empathy and intellect. No p**sy grabbing this time!
You are confused about what is a meeting with discussions and the photo ops which precede it.
Wouldn't hold my breath but Netanyahu could be out.
https://twitter.com/NTarnopolsky/status/1175800308846477313
Interesting how my computer behaves (twitter etc as previously discussed). Your full comment came up, flashed, and then faded back into the bushes.
But no matter, your one sentence above is spell-binding, I hope anyway.
I've got a serious question for Mr Ure – it could either amuse you, or drive you into a severe depression, the like of which I'm not sure there's a cure for – even IF there was something synthetic to ease the symptoms:
Did you ever come across Glenda H in your travels in the past? There's a billboard or two around Mt Victoria (one of which I saw a Toy Boi weilding a hammer with).
I just received my voting papers and discovered it's standing for local gummint, as is its ….. [for the sake of civility] ….. followers.
My first thought was that it’s taking the piss – but it (and all)'re actually serious!!!
I’ll know when it’s time to leave town if ever that got a foothold
no..sorry….glenda h doen't ring any bells..
bigotry alive and well – and these numbnuts supposedly run the place lol
Unbelievable
Mr Bielski told RNZ he only said those things because the press were not present…
This guy is a master of unintentional comedy.
the fucken idiot said 'they worshiped different gods' – and he was having none of that..
he clearly doesn't know the muslim attitude to jesus etc..
he is also clearly as dumb as a doorknob..
and he puts the 'go' in 'bigot'…
Lets be grateful he wasn't born in NZ. Sympathy for the victims.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12270125
A Time to get off your B and change that horrible link about someone going on about chainsaw murders.
And Mr bielski can be shown what we expect from local and central councillors in this country trying to find a working peace in the world and respect for all who have good spiritual beliefs, not ones of disdain and superiority.
Try
https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/manawat%C5%AB-district-councillor-steve-bielski-stands-by-anti-muslim-sentiments/ar-AAHGnx3?li=BBqdmGR&fdhead=nohdflt2
I got off on the wrong track there. I was thinking it was about the councillor from Manawatu who can't stand Muslims. I think he should get voted out. He's getting too old for coping with the world and change and it's possible that he doesn't like women either – it often goes alongside.
Announcement: Come in No.1 to 150,000, your holiday with Thomas Cook is over. Did you think this was a Butlins holiday camp? Time's up you suckers.
https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-travel-firm-thomas-cook-collapses/
Kia Ora Newshub.
I think that it's haters who use tech platforms to pedal there hate content but the tech companies have to try and stop them using their platforms.
Kia Kaha Greta that is the correct measage to give to the people who are leading the Papatuanuku to our destruction. I agree chasing economic growth over the wellbeing of our future environment has to change to chasing sustainability and countrys being rewarded for this behaviour.
I agree its good to change the school funding system to include economic back ground and other factors to help our tamariki that need help the most that is looking after our future.
For some reason I always get restricted phone calls can you guess who is making them you would be correct.
Thomas Cook collapse has stranded heaps of people on holiday let hope not to many people are left in a mess because of that.
The people of the Manuatu will be wrapped to have a new route for their main road. I have not been on that road in decades.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
That's is what needs to happen Winston including Farmer in the emissions trading skeem by 2025. If Our Farmers were not included in the Emissions skeem what phenomenon will encourage Our farmers to reduce there carbon footprint.
I tau toko Te tangata whenua who are championing to stop seabed mineing.
I Rotorua has a housing shortage itcs not on that people have to live under a bridge most of our cities have this problem to.
Eco Maori tau toko online voting let's not wait to long for this great initiative. It will make the process more efficient and will bring in more voters..
A 3. Month payed course teaching Wahine life skills teaching them how to grow Kai and encouraging Te Wahine to give up drugs is cool
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Newshub.
simon you know that you would have been kissing trumps ass say yes sir no sir
Its awesome to see heaps more people seeing reality about OUR Global Warming Papatuanuku. The champions of Our futures Climate have done A awesome job the Phenomenon is a unstoppable force now Kia Kaha to you ALL.
That's Commission of enquiries into state staff abuseing people looks like a choreography set up.
That's is sad seeing people praying on our inenecint elderly using phone calls and scamming them out of their money.
Duncan Greta has got The Am Show attention Greta has the Papatuanuku attention on Our Futures Environment NOW if you are not on board of Our WAKA looking after our futures environment you will be washed into Our History Books.
You know that was hard I haven't seen anyone get it correct.
Using cloth nappies will save you heaps of putea and our environment. I would not trust others picking them up and cleaning them as babies skins are quite sensitive we used a hygiene products that are designed for sensitive skins.
Ka kite Ano
We can have low or no carbon footprint larger passengers plane travellers. We just need to invest the time and putea into the new goals of low carbon flights. Solar and batteries are increasingly becoming more efficient made bio fuel for take of and landing and solar and batteries for gliding around Papatuanuku.
This Solar-Powered Plane Can Circle the Globe With No Pollution | That’s Amazing
Some dreams are so fantastic, it takes an unprecedented bid for adventure and glory to see them blossom to fruition. Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, captivated by the spirit of great expeditions of the past, partnered to make the first flight across the world in a solar-powered plane that produced no pollution. Storing solar energy in batteries, the Solar Impulse is capable of staying aloft indefinitely. However, as Piccard and Borschberg learned, this didn't make the adventure easy—or require any less intrepid heroism from the co-pilots. Ka kite Ano
https://youtu.be/4qbROmxxIOU
Kia Ora Newshub.
Lioyd their is a big shift happening for the better Ma Te Wa.
A bottle return machine /system is needed to protect our environment from the waste they end up becoming.
Ingrid I hope that it doesn't hale to much in my neck of the woods it could damage our solar system.
I say that Manuka Honey should be a Aotearoa only brand they can call there's Tea tree honey.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Tauranga Tangata Whenua you would think that the Tauranga council should have a duty to fix some of the wrongs of the past. The whenua is not billions like Tangata Whenua have lost. If they have a humane thought then they will give that whenua to Mana whenua.
That's cool in Tamiki Makaurau the council are putting system in place to get more Maori to vote.
The new app teaching practical life skills is a good idea to teach Rangatahi skills in how putea works and other skills that are needed to thrive in Aotearoa society.
I think it's not acceptable that Iwi data is not available for Tangata Whenua to use to plan for our Mokopuna future.
Ka kite Ano