Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
Yet there are people who still care and who are unselfish.
Manurewa Marae represents the best of New Zealand.
A government that does not house its citizens adequately represents the worst of New Zealand.
Manurewa Marae is one step closer to opening its doors to the homeless. While preparations for the move are under way, Māori youth onsite are upskilling in financial literacy.
New furniture for the Manurewa Marae kitchen is expected to arrive shortly and will help prepare food for those in need. ……………
Christine and Doug Banks face an $81,000 debt for legal costs after losing court action taken by the Grey District Council that ended in the Supreme Court.
The couple own a house in Blaketown on council land, and were taken to the High Court in a dispute over the lease renewal after refusing to pay rent increases.
Doug and Christine Banks owe the Grey District Council almost $81,000.
Councillors asked for 5 per cent interest and repayments of $80 a week, increasing by $5 a week annually. They want the full balance paid by October 30, 2020.
The couple agreed to pay $80 a week, but say they cannot pay interest, which will cost up to $22,000.
………………”It doesn’t make sense. It will cost them more money to bankrupt us and they will get less in return. We want to pay and we are happy to enter into an agreement that we pay in full or forfeit the house,” she said.
In the following, I paraphrase, condense and crystallise the key points in a number of UK articles on the precise mechanics of this building coup against Corbyn:
Today (Monday), the UK Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) are to discuss a No Confidence motion in Corbyn’s leadership (after MPs Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey submitted the motion). Anti-Corbyn plotters are convinced they have the numbers to pass the No Confidence motion. There will be a secret ballot on Tuesday.
Former Shadow Foreign Secretary, Hilary Benn, has told Labour MPs that he will challenge Corbyn for the leadership should the latter lose this vote of confidence.
Passing that no confidence motion, however, would in itself be purely symbolic. It wouldn’t formally trigger either (1) Corbyn’s resignation or (2) a Leadership challenge.
To trigger a leadership challenge, his opponents would need to go one step further and get the backing of at least 50 MPs/MEPs (yep, the latter, for the time being, still exist). Labour’s Parliamentary rebels, however, are convinced they have the numbers not only to pass the No Confidence motion but also the 50 names needed to endorse a leadership challenger and thus trigger a contest.
Even if that happens, Corbyn’s inner circle are certain he’ll triumph over whoever ran against him – winning easily with the Labour membership just as he did in September last year. Indeed, a fairly recent YouGov poll of members suggests that, if anything, his support has grown. The exodus of Blairites and Brownites and other anti-Corbynite members and their replacement with a whole swathe of his supporters since his rise to the leadership has clearly shifted the Party Left.
There is, however, a key problem for Corbyn and his backers. The leadership electoral rules are, at best, murky. While it’s certainly clear that Corbyn’s challengers would need to collect the 50+ signatures from Labour politicians in order to obtain a place on the ballot, it’s significantly less clear whether Corbyn himself would need to. Would he automatically be guaranteed a place on the ballot as of right given he’s the current leader ? (as Corbyn and his supporters expect) Or would he also need to mount the hurdle of finding 50 nominees first ? (as his critics would hope)
Unfortunately, the relevant clause in Labour’s rulebook is unhelpfully vague.
Lawyers asked to look over the wording by media organisations believe Corbyn would indeed have an automatic place on the ballot. On the other hand, though, legal advice obtained by Corbyn’s critics in the PLP suggest the opposite.
Crucially, the definitive interpretation will come from the Party’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC). They make the final decision. And, according to at least one journo, a well placed source suggests the NEC is pretty likely to come down on the side of Corbyn’s critics on this one. So, no automatic place on the ballot.
This is partly why Corbyn’s critics have been so keen to strike at this moment. Control over the NEC is apparently finely balanced (there is a fragile Corbynite majority on some issues but not on others) and this balance may well shift decisively towards the Corbyn Left faction after this year’s NEC elections, given the broad change in the size and ideological direction of the membership.
If that happened, Corbyn’s allies believe they’d easily secure the 50 nominees needed and the coup would quickly crumble, with senior figures falling into line. But with the present NEC line-up, that’s considerably less certain.
And, it appears that UK Labour’s General Secretary, Iain McNicol, has – like the plotters (of which he may well be one) and (possibly) like the current NEC – received legal advice that Corbyn only gets a place on the ballot if he has the backing of the requisite number of MPs/MEPs and it seems this is advice he is willing to put his job on the line to follow.
Thanks for the summary, swordfish. It will be very interesting what move tens of thousands of Corbyn supporters will make if the Labour Caucus exclude Corbyn’s nomination on the basis of a fragile technicality.
Thanks from me too for clearing up this whole opaque muddle, Swordfish. I actually trust you so much that I don’t feel compelled to do my own research to see if your summary is accurate. That is not something I’d say of many online commenters!
The most reasonable course of action would seem to be for the Labour NEC to defer a decision until after their own election (even if that had to be brought forward). But this is bare-knuckle politics, I’m not holding out much hope for reason.
An “expert” commentator on breakfast television this morning said that Corbyn was “not popular”, except with the overwhelming majority of Labour Party members.
Unbelievable isn’t it. The overwhelming majority of Labour Party members don’t count. I think they may have to start a new party “New Labour”. Or should it be: New Old Labour. Better still: New Old Young Labour. 😡
I think what you really want is a insightful, unbiased, straight talking man like Mike Hosking’s opinion and in depth analysis of the British Labour Party, and why Boris Johnson who looks and walks similar enough to Churchill, that having him leader of the Tories should be plain to see for all normal all black watching pony tail pulling kiwi’s. /sarc
Getting the right leader to take them through is so crucial watch them implode over a power grab.
Someone just threw a cat on the table this time they decided to play last man standing over it.
It really does read like a script for a sort of farce. Not credible of course.
Thanks Swordfish for the update.
The rebel front bench will go where if Corbyn wins?
I Imagine they will be deselected by their local party in many cases. But honestly what do they really hope to achieve?
If they win, they won’t be getting much support from the Jezza wing of the labour party (which is pretty large) and they won’t get back the labour voters who have already departed nor the voters who think Brexit is a good idea and who are sick of their MP’s talking at them not with them so the voters will move them on.
They also seem to be overlooking the fact that the by-elections held since Jezza took the post have been won pretty handily and he gets great turnouts when he talks.
And if they lose then they will get moved on too – maybe a little faster.
If they now have no safe seats north of Islington then they are the ones largely responsible for that state of affairs.
There is no recession on the horizon for the UK and euro craplands..
This week the UK will export the same amount of cheese and Austin Princesses to euroland..
and euroland will export the same amount of Skodas and foi gras to the UK..
and the Brits will drink the same amount of tea for breakfast, drive the same distance to work, smoke the same number of cigarettes and drink the same amount of piss..
nothing will bloody change
don’t listen to the mainstream vested interests
the mainstream vested interests have ramped the bullshit spinner to red-line, such is their panic over their privileged position in London city
never in the 21st century has so much bullshit been spoken by so few people
I don’t think it is too early,…. some simple questions…
How many UK exports will be banned from Europe, or hit with tariffs?
How many euro imports will be banned from UK, or hit with tariffs?
How much tea have people had for breakfast the last 2-3 days?
How much beer has been poured over the weekend?
How much fuel has been sold over the weekend?
… compared with pre-vote
go to the local service station and see how much diesel got pumped and compare it with the same period pre-vote
look up the eu rules around imports and exports with non-eu countries like swisserland
go to the local pub and ask the guv’ how much ale he poured and compare it with the same period pre-vote
…..
or, you know, wait for the boffins
depends how you want to live your life I guess
because of course the people who are crying “recession recession” are the same people who cried “the wealth trickles down” and also cried “we will all have more jobs and greater prosperity in the EU”
watch the capital flows and you will be able to determine whether the trade will remain unchanged or not…..me, I think its a certainty activity will reduce in the short/medium term…..and we know who bears the brunt of that.
why….unstable political situation, self fulfilling prophecy, reluctance to commit investment in the face of uncertainty, better option presented elsewhere…..there isn’t a lot to recommend the UK as a place to do business at the moment.
Potentially a lack of private investment could be overcome by a government investment program and that in turn would reattract private interest but given the existing trade and political circumstances do you see that as likely?
But the UK is really not unstable. In fact if anything, the exit will increase stability for them because they are no longer under the whim of Brussels and all them other nations tossing their 2c in on everything.
And there is no uncertainty. The exit vote provides absolute certainty. The uncertainty was last week. What is there that is uncertain about the time from here onwards??
The only “why” there that has any cred imo is the self-fulfilling prophecy one…
Re private investment – I haven’t seen a lot of businesses upping tools and heading for Calais… Haven’t even seen any threats of that ….
My view is that the now unique, more stable and controllable, and special status of the UK will see it seen as desireable, as it is outside of the marauding politics of the EU. Like the swiss.
The EU average brought the UK down..
The UK now reverts to its long term position – above the average for Europe..
Methinks once the financial markets settle down after the initial flurry of woebetide wailing, they will signal better things for the UK… lets keep a watch…
reread that statement and then read the UK news and ask yourself….does this statement hold true?
“Re private investment – I haven’t seen a lot of businesses upping tools and heading for Calais… Haven’t even seen any threats of that ….”
the referendum occured on friday….give them time….how many orders have been cancelled or put on hold, and its not just big business moving offshore, its all the small medium business that won’t or can’t fund that new machine, hire those few extra people or launch that new product /service.
VTO …. One of my dreams is to own a special live steam model locomotive made in the UK …. cost around NZ$8000 with GST etc. Fall in pound makes it a better option… but will I waste my money in that direction … not on your nellie … too risky at the moment if ever 🙂
Will continue perhaps to make the one I already have started 🙂
When I was there a pint cost 87p LCL(leg collapsing lager) lol, at the Comrades club, with huge full size snooker tables, events all the time, dominoes, quizzes, everything. massive community spirit, buy, sell anything at the pub. Pub landlords doing well.
Even Mr ‘oh no Brexit won’t trigger a recession’ Farage admits a recession is on the horizon… nothing to do with Brexit though. Strange how he wasn’t saying this last week,
yeah, too many vested interests all over the whole place to believe anything…
I did notice our own ex-pat Eric Watson considered the opportunities the exit opens up to be immense and exciting… so I guess from that business person’s view the exit is anything but a recession…
which is my instinct too fwiw… the UK is now special and unique and removed from the deadweight of eurobureau
too many vested interests all over the whole place to believe anything…
Pretty much and all the ‘experts’ are coming out in support of one faction or another and happen to be ignoring reality. But, then, they’ve been doing that so long that they probably think that their delusions are reality.
Auckland Coal Action activists enter Solid Energy’s new coal mine development at Maramarua on the weekend to announce the beginning of a campaign to keep the mine from opening.
The Maramarua K1 open cast pit mine was shut down in the mid ’90s and the pit left to flood.
Solid Energy which is supposedly bankrupt and up for sale, has launched a $multi million program to rehabilitate the mine to produce coal again. Pumping out the pit and buliding new infrastructure.
Nobody seems to question the insanity of a bankrupt company spending money it doesn’t have, to rehabilitate an old mine to dig up coal we can’t afford to burn.
There was a tweet going the rounds a few months back with a picture of him & Key & he was all googly eyes at Key & the message was about Key being the most amazing Prime Minister NZ has ever had. I think we can see why he got the job. Smooch.
I also liked how the bi-line had ‘But he’s a good boss’ & the quote was from Foster-Bell talking about himself!
Have a drive around the North Shore – Albany and Greenhithe. Streets like Golden Morning Drive and the new end of Admirals Court Drive. You could drop a bomb on both those streets and the chances of you blowing up anything not built by Chinese developers would be almost minimal.
Max Blumenthal: Do you plan to enlist? Hero No. 1: Why am I not fighting over there? Because I’m in college right now. Max Bumenthal: Do you plan to enlist? Hero No. 1: I haven’t ruled it out.
Max Blumenthal: Are YOU gonna serve? Hero No. 2: I’ve thought about it, thought about it. I’m undecided. Max Blumenthal: “Undecided.” Why aren’t you serving currently? Hero No. 2: Well, I’m a new graduate right now and I have a scholarship for Fulbright Futures and I just didn’t have any strong urge…
Hero No. 3: Why am I not serving? I dunno, I mean, I really support this country strongly and I, ah, I didn’t enlist. I mean, there’s not much else I can say. I don’t think you can’t talk about this issue if you’re not serving.
Hero No.4: What would convince me NOT to join is if somehow I become a like a really good speaker and stuff like that.That’s what would convince me NOT to join. But what would convince me to join is if something, like, even BIGGER happened.
Max Blumenthal: If you support the war, why are you not serving? Hero No. 5 (Josh Bellis, Wabash ’08): I’m in school. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Why is the left fractured, its less about the Brexit, and more than its being by assimilated by Feminism. Justin Trudeau, the Canadian PM, son of a famous leftist, describes himself as a Feminist. Think about Star Treks Borg, resistance is futile.
The Left is essentially about the economics of the working poor and social class.
Feminism is about privilege, and socialism of state rewards, (hence they have lobby power next to corporations) fighting the so called, male privilege, but is not able to exist without it, proven by its existence in mostly British colonized countries.
How many first wave feminist went to prison for being pacifists =0, Im happy to be proven wrong, if it wasnt a very small handful. Study that one.
The Tories may crow, but they are leading the West to rising neo fascism, evidenced by Trumpism, and a blind obedience to mythical free market ideology, why being feted by the rich and elite and companies, believing in there own propaganda, and ignoring the poverty of the peasantry.
My points are just a generalism, you lose by criticizing me.
oooo but you criticized him, therefore the Lords of the Internet will rule pwnage to the mighty Greg.
You fool, DTB, you fell into his masterful trap. Never before have the arguments against identity politics been so eloquently or comprehensively expressed. Corsets and bras are now de rigueur. In fact, even males who are sympathetic to the feminist cause should embra their saggy man-boobs.
Level 4 MTGOW: “Short brief: the MGTOW drops out of society altogether. He minimises contact with the blue-pill world and seeks to further his own ends on his own terms. For all intents and purposes, he does not exist.”
Hilarious that someone would declare themselves a level-4 MTGOW by writing it in a public comment on a social media website…
Why would I risk my security and being made homeless on the whim of a unhappy partner, or worse be in jail, if she was insecure, or had mental health issues, =conditions of which are rising for women,
Men have less rights in a relationship than a woman in psychiatric care.
I had my opportunities in my 30’s n 40’s, just no one to consider long term.
Life is what we make it, its not defined by someone’s unhappiness.
Single women constantly say what they want and expect, and nothing on what they have to offer, some wonderful gift of emotional transference, or fantasy, Yeah Nah,
Don’t get me wrong – I’m single at the moment, and pretty happy with what I’ve got going on. But I would also have to say that some of the happiest times of my life involved having a deep emotional connection with a partner. Shit doesn’t work out sometimes, and that’s cool too.
But I would be profoundly worse off without these relationships, even the absolute worst one that would cause me more pain than a slight wince at recollection today if she hadn’t been such an utterly deplorable human being (but I was young and dumb and didn’t see the flags).
I just hope I never get into the place you are now.
I’m content, have some goals, minimizing stress and chaos, need to get my teeth fixed in Thailand. The murder house really stuffed them, need the filings out. My managers husband get his done in Thailand.
So just working as hard as i need to, n enjoying what I have.
I’m not against a relationship, and mowing someones lawns,
it just needs to be more mutually beneficial,
and not a one way crazy crazy power trip.
And with eggs popped is probably better, +1 cat?
Sigh.
er premises, not points, The Canadian PM is a feminist, he isnt a leftist,
so that does prove my premise he has been assimilated by feminism.
If you want to argue that he isnt a self declared feminist, take it up with him
Feminism has won what for equality, nothing is equal in the justice system
and certainly not within Labour,
and workers economics has declined since Kiwisaver and working for families was introduced, both are employer levee’s on workers to keep wage growth below inflation =inequality has increased, not decreased.
but hey, we might get there in another 50 years,
fyi, yous are all entertaining, until i get some beer,
Well that was a wild weekend for sure. Only the rugby in Dunedin helped steer it back towards normality.
So the Poms are out of Europe, but the Scots want to stay, but a year or so back, the Scots wanted to stay British, so now the Scots want to have another vote on whether they really really want to be British.
Meanwhile the Remain folk want a re-vote because the other guys won. In a worse case scenario, the Scots may re-vote to leave Britain, and then the British may re-vote to stay in Europe. And somebody else started an online petition to for the London separatists to cede and join Europe
John Cleese for PM of Britain or England or London,
And Corbyn looks like hes toast in the UKLP.
Meanwhile we are on the outside looking in, missing out and looking bewildered.
For the sake of inclusiveness, I propose that the South Island (except Gore) go for independence from the North Island. You can have Gore, we are nice like that.
From what I read, they arent keen on being told what to do by non-Texans in Washington, and they claim they pay about $3-4b to Washington and only get about half of that back.
They figure they can use that extra couple of billion to sort out Texan issues, rather than the admin costs of Washington.
Really it may not be that different an argument from that used by the “Leave” folk
I don’t know whether being in or out of the EU is good for the UK but the way it’s come about it really terrible politics as
1) having a near 50/50 split in the country is not a good thing,
2) England is going to be investing a lot of time and money in new process building that is going to divert resources away from future planning – just like Auckland going to a super city and
3) the Conservative are likely to do a half-arsed job because they never wanted to be in this position anyway.
Two weeks ago, Ombudsman Ron Patterson released his report critical of the Government. Today he ‘resigns’, two years before the end of his term. I’m sure it is a total coincidence /sarc.
Yeah very strange, the guy had another 2 or so years to go? My understanding the Office needs all the hands it can get clearing the backlog, what else is lurking in there.
“If people want to retain credibility, transparency is the way to go”. -Good, maybe he can tell us why he has left early as he’s “not going to resile from saying things publicly in a considered, measured way when I think that’s justified. That’s what I did as the principal court judge and that’s what I’ll bring to this job,”.
it could well be,
his wife saying, why are you talking this sh/t from Pony tail puller Key, we are not being paid enough, take the golden handshake,
and we can spend the winter in Fiji,
Sure does bud, i was told yesterday by a guy that he hadnt survived 40 years of a happy marriage by ignoring his wife when she called him,
dinners ready,
What sexist rants, i said feminism has liberated me,
and that the left is just a bunch of old men.
have yougot a problem that feminism has taken the place of the left,
then why dont you send a letter to the PM of Canada, he has seen the light and converted.
ps,and didnt the bachelor show teach you what its all about,
even playboy has given up on nudes now, though Hugh Hefner may just be getting a tad tired of hypergamy female with big breasts wanting a rich husband,
The Ombudsman who released a damning report into the Government’s handling of an inquiry into leaks from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has suddenly resigned.
I think we may be confusing individuals here. Ron Patterson the author of this report is/was an ombudsman.
Peter Boshier, former Chief Family Court Judge, is the recently appointed Chief Ombudsman. It is he whom signalled an intention to speed up Ombudsman responses and it is he whom found no justified privacy attaching to Rachel Glucina’s texts with Key. Once the former set about deceiving Amanda Bailey in the aftermath of Key’s assaults upon Amanda Bailey.
I may have it wrong but this is as per my recollection of people and events.
From the benighted, cowardly, backward thinking experts at NZTA and AT. Rail from the country’s international gateway to its largest city and economic hub is scrapped.
The Brisbane train from the airport is amazingly wonderful, for a stranger to the city all I had to do was jump on a train, so easy & convenient. As a stranger to AK flying into the city & trying to find buses it’s very confusing & dumb.
This is the thing. We are determined to have tourism as a major plank in our economy and I don’t have a problem with that but we are woefully bad at putting in infrastructure to support that tourism.
This is a continuation of 25 year thinking instead of 125 year thinking which has held this country back for so long.
As for who is going to pay for it. Tourists will pay for it, FFS! It’s a no-brainer, surely?
We are determined to have tourism as a major plank in our economy and I don’t have a problem with that but we are woefully bad at putting in infrastructure to support that tourism.
We’re woefully bad at putting any of the infrastructure to do pretty much anything. We always seem to want to do things the cheap and easy way. Things that we don’t think needs spending on infrastructure and then we get bitten on the arse when we find out it does. This is the problem of doing things competitively and without a fucken overall plan.
As for who is going to pay for it. Tourists will pay for it, FFS! It’s a no-brainer, surely?
But that would require taxes in specific places that are earmarked for that specific purpose. In other words, the government stepping in building up our economy which is fully against everything that our governments have believed about economics for the last 30+ years.
Yep. All very well waiting for private enterprise to do it but what I’m hearing is that as this drags on, the corridor is closing all the time making the venture less achievable and more expensive but the day.
Another case of Wellington Public Servants deciding how Auckland will be managed, they know best they think.
Same old Same old, Robbies Rail dream, Auckland Harbour Bridge just to name two cases of their inept decision making , not to mention the last minute agreement to help with dollars for the inner city loop.
Time for an AUXIT referendum methinks.
Given, I don’t know, 50% of the revenue gathered by a rail link between AKL International and the city with be from foreign travellers using foreign currency, surely a business case for a significant central govt input could be made.
Imagine the dividends on $20 plus per trip before concessions!
Also, consider that Ihumatao is undergoing significant development, both commercial and industrial – and one of the stations was planned for this location.
If this goes the way I think is likely, the SHA will stay and the opportunity for considered infrastructure – not only for tourists but for local residents and workers will be lost.
Yes. The SHA process meant that all the usual considerations for a Private Plan Change – environmental, archaelogical, and consultation with all members of the local iwi (including the talking heads), and public consultation did not have to happen before the decision was made. So it didn’t, and it was presented as a fait accompli.
It’s a beautiful site, worth the visit if you are out that way and of great significance to those interested in NZ’s full history.
(As a rail supporter, I would want the station there regardless. AT often ignores South Auckland, and justifies this by saying that no-one uses PT. My response is that they need to spend some of their budget on changing behaviours and facilitation. This would go some way to address the decades of bad development and transport planning).
The same report is to be presented to the AT board today in a session closed to the public. The meeting’s agenda lists the reason for privacy as commercial sensitivity.
There is no such thing as ‘commercial sensitivity’ when you’re dealing with the public.
Agency regional director Ernst Zollner confirmed further investigations for rapid transit connecting the city to Mangere would be limited to light rail or a busway.
“This is based on evidence from Auckland Transport that a heavy rail option to the airport would present poor value for money.”
Because goods just aren’t carted to and from the airport.
/sarc
/facepalm
I think it’s because they’ve spent too much on roads over the decades and now they’re seeing the benefits of rail they’re having to keep justifying what’s already been spent on roads. In other words, they’re using the previous spend on roads to justify not putting in place the best option now.
Today Prime Minister John Key said he was not surprised at the decision to favour a different – and cheaper – form of mass transit to and from the city’s airport.
Yeah. Doesn’t surprise me either. NZ keeps going for the far more expensive ‘cheap’ option.
Looks like Ombusdman, Professor Ron Paterson has been given the heave-ho for daring to produce a well deserved damming indictment of Paula Rebstock and the government? He has suddenly announced his resignation with affect from Thursday.
“Tania Shailer and David Haerewa have been sentenced to 17 years’ jail each. Justice Sarah Katz said this was the highest sentence imposed in New Zealand for manslaughter against a child.” Moko.
About the same sentence had they been charged with murder?
@ ianmac (17) … and I hope they are not segregated or isolated either for their own protection, away from mainstream prisoners! I don’t advocate violence or thuggery in any shape or form, but considering inoffensive, vulnerable little Moko suffered the most horrendous violence imaginable …
A message from Idiot Savant. Any others wanting to help?
“Thank you for signing the petition Withdraw the financial veto certificate against the paid parental leave bill. I’m planning to submit the petition to Bill English on Wednesday morning. It would be useful to have a few more signatures on it, so can you help spread the word by forwarding the link below to your friends?
Wonder how Key will respond to his previous confidence in the system. Labour’s fault?
Report: Inquiry into Foreign Trust Disclosure Rules
Conclusions (first two)
1.2 The Inquiry concludes that the existing foreign trust disclosure rules are inadequate. The rules are not fit for purpose in the context of preserving New Zealand’s reputation as a country that cooperates with other jurisdictions to counter money laundering and aggressive tax practices.
1.3 The Inquiry considers that a significant increase in information disclosed when a foreign trust sets up, annual reporting and increased enforcement, will satisfactorily address the issues identified. Banning foreign trusts or removing the current tax exemption is not considered to be necessary or justified. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1606/S00318/report-inquiry-into-foreign-trust-disclosure-rules.htm
“The majority vote by Britons to leave the European Union was an act of raw democracy. Millions of ordinary people refused to be bullied, intimidated and dismissed with open contempt by their presumed betters in the major parties, the leaders of the business and banking oligarchy and the media.
This was, in great part, a vote by those angered and demoralised by the sheer arrogance of the apologists for the “Remain” campaign and the dismemberment of a socially just civil life in Britain. The last bastion of the historic reforms of 1945, the National Health Service, has been so subverted by Tory and Labour-supported privateers it is fighting for its life.”
“The UK vote to leave the European Union came as a shocking surprise to the British establishment, with Prime Minister Cameron announcing he’ll step down from his post. Meanwhile the UK decision is emboldening continental Euroskeptics to demand similar referendums from their governments. How will London go about parting ways with the EU? Who will reap the benefits of that decision – and are there any to reap? Sophie Shevardnadze asks former mayor of London and Labour party veteran Ken Livingstone.”
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Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure. The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On ...
In 2015, then-Prime Minister John Key announced plans for a huge ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands, banning fishing and mining from 15% of Aotearoa's EEZ. It was bold, it was ambitious, and it suggested that National might actually care about the environment. Except they fucked it up: Key failed ...
1. Who has just been given the accolade New Zealander of the Year?a. The Kokakob. The Cook Strait Ferryc. Fair God. Dr Jim Salinger 2. Which of these is an affront to decent society?a. Dame Edna Everageb. Mrs Doubtfire c. Dr. Frank-N-Furterd. Brian 3. Who is Penny Simmonds?a. The aspiring actress in Big ...
New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure.The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On the face of it, the court found ...
Buzz from the Beehive Waves of rain are set to lash much of the North Island during Easter Weekend as a low-pressure system forms east of New Zealand, according to a weather forecast published in the past day or so. Niwa was warning of a “moisture-laden” long weekend, with rain expected ...
Look around us…Nicola Willis’ promises of balancing the books, of cutting spending without reducing services, and of delivering game changing tax cuts are disappearing before her eyes.Everyday we see stories of violent crime ending in horrific injuries, or worse. The cost of living worsens, whereas the PM claimed renters would ...
TL;DR: My top six news of note on the morning of Thursday, March 28 include:The Government will have to borrow between $10 billion to $15 billion more than previously expected in order to make up for a slowing economy and to pay for $14.9 billion of tax cuts, according to ...
This story by Naveena Sadasivam and Kate Yoder was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The long-awaited jobs board for the American Climate Corps, promised early in the Biden administration, will open next month, according to details shared exclusively ...
Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don’t think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of ...
Treasury’s first report on the economy since the change of government presents a damning indictment of Labour’s economic management. The problem for National is that it is so damning that logically, coupled with a rapidly slowing economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis should respond to it by postponing or even cancelling ...
Budget tensions are becoming evident within the Coalition Government. Winston Peters made numerous political points in his speech to the NZF annual conference. But the attack on his own government’s fiscal policies raised issues of substance. ‘Today in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour ...
Buzz from the Beehive The media – sure enough – have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ release of the Budget Policy Statement and a statement headed Government announces Budget priorities This assures us – or rather, this parrots the Luxon team mantra – that the Budget “will deliver ...
The Ides of March brought me COVID followed by a bereavement. No wonder they tell you to be careful of them.I’m home now and have resumed the interrupted recuperation. Very much looking forward to getting back to regular things. Meanwhile, some thoughts…OneThis new Prime Minister guy just keeps getting more dire. ...
News that the Chinese ATP 40 cyber-hacking unit penetrated parliamentary internet networks in 2021 has renewed concerns about the PRC’s malign intentions in Aotearoa. But is the hack that significant given the length of time that has passed since its … Continue reading → ...
When Parliament passed the Intelligence and security Act in 2017, they assured us all that it was full of safeguards. Any intrusive surveillance of New Zealanders would be subject to a "triple lock", requiring the approval of the Minister and (supposedly independent) Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, as well as post-facto ...
Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing. Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
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 ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Opposition MPs and unions are criticising a proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Peoples to cut staff by 40 percent. The country’s largest trade union — The Public Service Association — says the ministry has informed staff that it is looking to shed 63 of 156 positions. Opposition MPs ...
A poem by Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2024 featured poet Carin Smeaton. Daughtr of the 90s when she gets promoted to usherette a baby blu eel carries her all the way up to mothership she’s hovering high she lets the underaged in to see keanu reeves she lets the only lonely ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
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Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
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Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
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I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
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Asia Pacific Report A New Zealand investigative journalist and author says the US spy system hosted by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) appears to be a controversial intelligence system used in global capture-kill operations. Writing a commentary for RNZ News today, Nicky Hager, author of Secret Power, a 1996 ...
While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
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Twenty years ago today, Māori Television launched after much controversy. Jamie Tahana looks back on its survival and impact across two decades. Chad Chambers stepped onto the stage, the brim of his cap casting a shadow across his face. His smile beamed as bright as his white freezing works gumboots, ...
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On a Thursday in February, at Wellington’s Conservation House, the Conservation Authority, a statutory body advising the eponymous department and minister, Tama Potaka, opened its 195th meeting. Under consideration that afternoon was an agenda item written by Tim Bamford, chief advisor in the Department of Conservation’s biodiversity, heritage and visitors ...
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A lengthy response to the recently released draft Government policy statement on transport will soon be delivered from Auckland Council to Minister of Transport Simeon Brown. A submission raising concerns about funding distribution and the plan’s treatment of Auckland passed through the council’s transport committee on Wednesday, despite some councillors ...
Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
Yet there are people who still care and who are unselfish.
Manurewa Marae represents the best of New Zealand.
A government that does not house its citizens adequately represents the worst of New Zealand.
https://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/manurewa-marae-step-closer-opening-doors-homeless
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/81234898/west-coast-couple-owing-grey-district-council-81000-must-pay-interest–council
Quote and run is weak Paul.
Step it up.
Well done again Paul ………. bear witness.
I often click through on the links ………….
In the following, I paraphrase, condense and crystallise the key points in a number of UK articles on the precise mechanics of this building coup against Corbyn:
Today (Monday), the UK Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) are to discuss a No Confidence motion in Corbyn’s leadership (after MPs Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey submitted the motion). Anti-Corbyn plotters are convinced they have the numbers to pass the No Confidence motion. There will be a secret ballot on Tuesday.
Former Shadow Foreign Secretary, Hilary Benn, has told Labour MPs that he will challenge Corbyn for the leadership should the latter lose this vote of confidence.
Passing that no confidence motion, however, would in itself be purely symbolic. It wouldn’t formally trigger either (1) Corbyn’s resignation or (2) a Leadership challenge.
To trigger a leadership challenge, his opponents would need to go one step further and get the backing of at least 50 MPs/MEPs (yep, the latter, for the time being, still exist). Labour’s Parliamentary rebels, however, are convinced they have the numbers not only to pass the No Confidence motion but also the 50 names needed to endorse a leadership challenger and thus trigger a contest.
Even if that happens, Corbyn’s inner circle are certain he’ll triumph over whoever ran against him – winning easily with the Labour membership just as he did in September last year. Indeed, a fairly recent YouGov poll of members suggests that, if anything, his support has grown. The exodus of Blairites and Brownites and other anti-Corbynite members and their replacement with a whole swathe of his supporters since his rise to the leadership has clearly shifted the Party Left.
There is, however, a key problem for Corbyn and his backers. The leadership electoral rules are, at best, murky. While it’s certainly clear that Corbyn’s challengers would need to collect the 50+ signatures from Labour politicians in order to obtain a place on the ballot, it’s significantly less clear whether Corbyn himself would need to. Would he automatically be guaranteed a place on the ballot as of right given he’s the current leader ? (as Corbyn and his supporters expect) Or would he also need to mount the hurdle of finding 50 nominees first ? (as his critics would hope)
Unfortunately, the relevant clause in Labour’s rulebook is unhelpfully vague.
Lawyers asked to look over the wording by media organisations believe Corbyn would indeed have an automatic place on the ballot. On the other hand, though, legal advice obtained by Corbyn’s critics in the PLP suggest the opposite.
Crucially, the definitive interpretation will come from the Party’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC). They make the final decision. And, according to at least one journo, a well placed source suggests the NEC is pretty likely to come down on the side of Corbyn’s critics on this one. So, no automatic place on the ballot.
This is partly why Corbyn’s critics have been so keen to strike at this moment. Control over the NEC is apparently finely balanced (there is a fragile Corbynite majority on some issues but not on others) and this balance may well shift decisively towards the Corbyn Left faction after this year’s NEC elections, given the broad change in the size and ideological direction of the membership.
If that happened, Corbyn’s allies believe they’d easily secure the 50 nominees needed and the coup would quickly crumble, with senior figures falling into line. But with the present NEC line-up, that’s considerably less certain.
And, it appears that UK Labour’s General Secretary, Iain McNicol, has – like the plotters (of which he may well be one) and (possibly) like the current NEC – received legal advice that Corbyn only gets a place on the ballot if he has the backing of the requisite number of MPs/MEPs and it seems this is advice he is willing to put his job on the line to follow.
“The People’s Liberation Front of Palestine!”
Someone find me the Monty Python clip pleeeeeease.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WboggjN_G-4
Much obliged there Anne.
Seemed rather urgent. 😯
Ad, I think we are seeing why the regions and industrial/post industrial areas of England have turned against pro-EU parties like Labour.
Thanks for the summary, swordfish. It will be very interesting what move tens of thousands of Corbyn supporters will make if the Labour Caucus exclude Corbyn’s nomination on the basis of a fragile technicality.
It’s going to be a blast.
Thanks from me too for clearing up this whole opaque muddle, Swordfish. I actually trust you so much that I don’t feel compelled to do my own research to see if your summary is accurate. That is not something I’d say of many online commenters!
The most reasonable course of action would seem to be for the Labour NEC to defer a decision until after their own election (even if that had to be brought forward). But this is bare-knuckle politics, I’m not holding out much hope for reason.
An “expert” commentator on breakfast television this morning said that Corbyn was “not popular”, except with the overwhelming majority of Labour Party members.
Unbelievable isn’t it. The overwhelming majority of Labour Party members don’t count. I think they may have to start a new party “New Labour”. Or should it be: New Old Labour. Better still: New Old Young Labour. 😡
Hi Morrissey, after hearing what the expert on am TV said, I must find out what the contestants on the block have to say.
Scuse the sarcasm and cynicism.
I think what you really want is a insightful, unbiased, straight talking man like Mike Hosking’s opinion and in depth analysis of the British Labour Party, and why Boris Johnson who looks and walks similar enough to Churchill, that having him leader of the Tories should be plain to see for all normal all black watching pony tail pulling kiwi’s. /sarc
Getting the right leader to take them through is so crucial watch them implode over a power grab.
Someone just threw a cat on the table this time they decided to play last man standing over it.
Looks like Churchill errrr??? looks more like Trump to my ancient eyes.
Obviously not being popular with the rich is the only thing that counts to said “expert” commentator.
This attitude seems to have flavoured the entire Brexit argument.
It really does read like a script for a sort of farce. Not credible of course.
Thanks Swordfish for the update.
The rebel front bench will go where if Corbyn wins?
They should join their natural home – the Tories.
Maybe they will have a quiet chat with the ‘top brass’.
I Imagine they will be deselected by their local party in many cases. But honestly what do they really hope to achieve?
If they win, they won’t be getting much support from the Jezza wing of the labour party (which is pretty large) and they won’t get back the labour voters who have already departed nor the voters who think Brexit is a good idea and who are sick of their MP’s talking at them not with them so the voters will move them on.
They also seem to be overlooking the fact that the by-elections held since Jezza took the post have been won pretty handily and he gets great turnouts when he talks.
And if they lose then they will get moved on too – maybe a little faster.
If they now have no safe seats north of Islington then they are the ones largely responsible for that state of affairs.
That is really interesting – did not know that. Will be interesting to watch it play out.
There is no recession on the horizon for the UK and euro craplands..
This week the UK will export the same amount of cheese and Austin Princesses to euroland..
and euroland will export the same amount of Skodas and foi gras to the UK..
and the Brits will drink the same amount of tea for breakfast, drive the same distance to work, smoke the same number of cigarettes and drink the same amount of piss..
nothing will bloody change
don’t listen to the mainstream vested interests
the mainstream vested interests have ramped the bullshit spinner to red-line, such is their panic over their privileged position in London city
never in the 21st century has so much bullshit been spoken by so few people
Possibly a bit early to say it’s all fine. Good data not around for a few months.
I don’t think it is too early,…. some simple questions…
How many UK exports will be banned from Europe, or hit with tariffs?
How many euro imports will be banned from UK, or hit with tariffs?
How much tea have people had for breakfast the last 2-3 days?
How much beer has been poured over the weekend?
How much fuel has been sold over the weekend?
… compared with pre-vote
It aint no rocket science..
imo
It will take months to have trackable data.
But go ahead Mr Rocket Scientist. Show us your trading trends.
here’s a trick… (for those who can of course)
go to the local service station and see how much diesel got pumped and compare it with the same period pre-vote
look up the eu rules around imports and exports with non-eu countries like swisserland
go to the local pub and ask the guv’ how much ale he poured and compare it with the same period pre-vote
…..
or, you know, wait for the boffins
depends how you want to live your life I guess
because of course the people who are crying “recession recession” are the same people who cried “the wealth trickles down” and also cried “we will all have more jobs and greater prosperity in the EU”
I know who I will not believe
Interestingly the UK equivalent of the EFTPOS network provider could tell you all these things, day by day.
watch the capital flows and you will be able to determine whether the trade will remain unchanged or not…..me, I think its a certainty activity will reduce in the short/medium term…..and we know who bears the brunt of that.
Why would it reduce? There have been plenty claims on that, but no explanation as to why ….
why….unstable political situation, self fulfilling prophecy, reluctance to commit investment in the face of uncertainty, better option presented elsewhere…..there isn’t a lot to recommend the UK as a place to do business at the moment.
Potentially a lack of private investment could be overcome by a government investment program and that in turn would reattract private interest but given the existing trade and political circumstances do you see that as likely?
But the UK is really not unstable. In fact if anything, the exit will increase stability for them because they are no longer under the whim of Brussels and all them other nations tossing their 2c in on everything.
And there is no uncertainty. The exit vote provides absolute certainty. The uncertainty was last week. What is there that is uncertain about the time from here onwards??
The only “why” there that has any cred imo is the self-fulfilling prophecy one…
Re private investment – I haven’t seen a lot of businesses upping tools and heading for Calais… Haven’t even seen any threats of that ….
My view is that the now unique, more stable and controllable, and special status of the UK will see it seen as desireable, as it is outside of the marauding politics of the EU. Like the swiss.
The EU average brought the UK down..
The UK now reverts to its long term position – above the average for Europe..
Methinks once the financial markets settle down after the initial flurry of woebetide wailing, they will signal better things for the UK… lets keep a watch…
“But the UK is really not unstable”
reread that statement and then read the UK news and ask yourself….does this statement hold true?
“Re private investment – I haven’t seen a lot of businesses upping tools and heading for Calais… Haven’t even seen any threats of that ….”
the referendum occured on friday….give them time….how many orders have been cancelled or put on hold, and its not just big business moving offshore, its all the small medium business that won’t or can’t fund that new machine, hire those few extra people or launch that new product /service.
If Scotland gains independence and joins the EU, will they also join the Eurozone, or will they retain the pound, or set up their own Scottish pound?
VTO …. One of my dreams is to own a special live steam model locomotive made in the UK …. cost around NZ$8000 with GST etc. Fall in pound makes it a better option… but will I waste my money in that direction … not on your nellie … too risky at the moment if ever 🙂
Will continue perhaps to make the one I already have started 🙂
When I was there a pint cost 87p LCL(leg collapsing lager) lol, at the Comrades club, with huge full size snooker tables, events all the time, dominoes, quizzes, everything. massive community spirit, buy, sell anything at the pub. Pub landlords doing well.
I hear you VTO.
Even Mr ‘oh no Brexit won’t trigger a recession’ Farage admits a recession is on the horizon… nothing to do with Brexit though. Strange how he wasn’t saying this last week,
yeah, too many vested interests all over the whole place to believe anything…
I did notice our own ex-pat Eric Watson considered the opportunities the exit opens up to be immense and exciting… so I guess from that business person’s view the exit is anything but a recession…
which is my instinct too fwiw… the UK is now special and unique and removed from the deadweight of eurobureau
watch the pound rise above its previous position
Eric Watson??? but, but…. he’s a foreigner and a neo-lib. This referendum was meant to see the end of people like that in Britain.
(sorry, just a little bit of gallows humour there)
The way it’s been going in today though, I don’t think Clause 50 will be triggered anytime soon. Watching with interest.
Pretty much and all the ‘experts’ are coming out in support of one faction or another and happen to be ignoring reality. But, then, they’ve been doing that so long that they probably think that their delusions are reality.
Auckland Coal Action activists enter Solid Energy’s new coal mine development at Maramarua on the weekend to announce the beginning of a campaign to keep the mine from opening.
The Maramarua K1 open cast pit mine was shut down in the mid ’90s and the pit left to flood.
Solid Energy which is supposedly bankrupt and up for sale, has launched a $multi million program to rehabilitate the mine to produce coal again. Pumping out the pit and buliding new infrastructure.
Nobody seems to question the insanity of a bankrupt company spending money it doesn’t have, to rehabilitate an old mine to dig up coal we can’t afford to burn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8JyGZ3XpTU
Auckland Coal Action activists wrap a large digger used to clear the overburden to get at the coal, in Climate Crime Scene tape.
,
https://aucklandcoalaction.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/2c8a5419.jpg
https://aucklandcoalaction.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/2c8a53911.jpg
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/81474280/high-turnover-of-staff-in-national-mps-office-and-claims-of-bullying
Not a good day for foster bell , he’s all love the tv news for his spending habits and in the paper for bullying.
There was a tweet going the rounds a few months back with a picture of him & Key & he was all googly eyes at Key & the message was about Key being the most amazing Prime Minister NZ has ever had. I think we can see why he got the job. Smooch.
I also liked how the bi-line had ‘But he’s a good boss’ & the quote was from Foster-Bell talking about himself!
Key’s last employer said he was a great smoocher, superficially charming for sure,
but a snake in the grass.
Did the sheeple miss this story, and why kiwi’s are missing out, why are migrants not building homes. Does this story prove anything.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11659765
But Greg don’t you understand National’s John & Bill are quite clear that it is NOT Chinese buyers that are active in the Auckland housing market?
It aint first home buyers either,
and now not foreign loan applicants to kiwi banks,
whatever that number was=0
Its all just how they manage to not say what is happening.
by saying what isnt.
Have a drive around the North Shore – Albany and Greenhithe. Streets like Golden Morning Drive and the new end of Admirals Court Drive. You could drop a bomb on both those streets and the chances of you blowing up anything not built by Chinese developers would be almost minimal.
Here’s a Horribly Hilary-ous Cavalcade of Cowards
Or does their failure to fight make them heroes and patriots?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFGit_tZDqs
Max Blumenthal: Do you plan to enlist?
Hero No. 1: Why am I not fighting over there? Because I’m in college right now.
Max Bumenthal: Do you plan to enlist?
Hero No. 1: I haven’t ruled it out.
Max Blumenthal: Are YOU gonna serve?
Hero No. 2: I’ve thought about it, thought about it. I’m undecided.
Max Blumenthal: “Undecided.” Why aren’t you serving currently?
Hero No. 2: Well, I’m a new graduate right now and I have a scholarship for Fulbright Futures and I just didn’t have any strong urge…
Hero No. 3: Why am I not serving? I dunno, I mean, I really support this country strongly and I, ah, I didn’t enlist. I mean, there’s not much else I can say. I don’t think you can’t talk about this issue if you’re not serving.
Hero No.4: What would convince me NOT to join is if somehow I become a like a really good speaker and stuff like that.That’s what would convince me NOT to join. But what would convince me to join is if something, like, even BIGGER happened.
Max Blumenthal: If you support the war, why are you not serving?
Hero No. 5 (Josh Bellis, Wabash ’08): I’m in school. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
continues ad nauseam
jesus christ the world is completely awash with ignorance
combine that with also being awash with guns and mass communication….
GO AMERICA ! YOU’RE AMAZING ….. / sarc
Why is the left fractured, its less about the Brexit, and more than its being by assimilated by Feminism. Justin Trudeau, the Canadian PM, son of a famous leftist, describes himself as a Feminist. Think about Star Treks Borg, resistance is futile.
The Left is essentially about the economics of the working poor and social class.
Feminism is about privilege, and socialism of state rewards, (hence they have lobby power next to corporations) fighting the so called, male privilege, but is not able to exist without it, proven by its existence in mostly British colonized countries.
How many first wave feminist went to prison for being pacifists =0, Im happy to be proven wrong, if it wasnt a very small handful. Study that one.
The Tories may crow, but they are leading the West to rising neo fascism, evidenced by Trumpism, and a blind obedience to mythical free market ideology, why being feted by the rich and elite and companies, believing in there own propaganda, and ignoring the poverty of the peasantry.
My points are just a generalism, you lose by criticizing me.
[RL: Off Topic. Moved to Open Mike]
The Left is fractured but not by Feminism.
And that’s a load of bollocks. Feminism is about treating everyone with respect and equality.
WTF that got to do with the price of fish?
Your points are generally wrong and you’re just stupid.
oooo but you criticized him, therefore the Lords of the Internet will rule pwnage to the mighty Greg.
You fool, DTB, you fell into his masterful trap. Never before have the arguments against identity politics been so eloquently or comprehensively expressed. Corsets and bras are now de rigueur. In fact, even males who are sympathetic to the feminist cause should embra their saggy man-boobs.
ps: /sarc
Dude’s ghow.
/
Level 4 MTGOW: “Short brief: the MGTOW drops out of society altogether. He minimises contact with the blue-pill world and seeks to further his own ends on his own terms. For all intents and purposes, he does not exist.”
Hilarious that someone would declare themselves a level-4 MTGOW by writing it in a public comment on a social media website…
no it means i work less for my own security, and entertain myself,
much more cheaply and have more fun,
if i was a woman, i’l have 5 or 6 cats.
and probably give up on personal grooming,
Are you sure this is an active decision on your part?
It’s just that you’re not really looking all that much like partner material anyway, with comments like that.
Why would I risk my security and being made homeless on the whim of a unhappy partner, or worse be in jail, if she was insecure, or had mental health issues, =conditions of which are rising for women,
Men have less rights in a relationship than a woman in psychiatric care.
I had my opportunities in my 30’s n 40’s, just no one to consider long term.
Life is what we make it, its not defined by someone’s unhappiness.
Single women constantly say what they want and expect, and nothing on what they have to offer, some wonderful gift of emotional transference, or fantasy, Yeah Nah,
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Western-World-Denis-Rougemont/dp/0691013934
wow.
I’m profoundly sorry for you.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m single at the moment, and pretty happy with what I’ve got going on. But I would also have to say that some of the happiest times of my life involved having a deep emotional connection with a partner. Shit doesn’t work out sometimes, and that’s cool too.
But I would be profoundly worse off without these relationships, even the absolute worst one that would cause me more pain than a slight wince at recollection today if she hadn’t been such an utterly deplorable human being (but I was young and dumb and didn’t see the flags).
I just hope I never get into the place you are now.
I’m content, have some goals, minimizing stress and chaos, need to get my teeth fixed in Thailand. The murder house really stuffed them, need the filings out. My managers husband get his done in Thailand.
So just working as hard as i need to, n enjoying what I have.
I’m not against a relationship, and mowing someones lawns,
it just needs to be more mutually beneficial,
and not a one way crazy crazy power trip.
And with eggs popped is probably better, +1 cat?
Sigh.
It’s a pretty screwed up way to look at relationships.
Still, I didn’t know I was such a romantic at heart, so there’s that I guess.
“Your points are generally wrong and you’re just stupid.”
+1 on the burn.
er premises, not points, The Canadian PM is a feminist, he isnt a leftist,
so that does prove my premise he has been assimilated by feminism.
If you want to argue that he isnt a self declared feminist, take it up with him
and resistance is futile;
-1 back to zero 🙂
Really, your talking about egalitarianism,
Feminism has won what for equality, nothing is equal in the justice system
and certainly not within Labour,
and workers economics has declined since Kiwisaver and working for families was introduced, both are employer levee’s on workers to keep wage growth below inflation =inequality has increased, not decreased.
but hey, we might get there in another 50 years,
fyi, yous are all entertaining, until i get some beer,
The grapes are sour.
lol
I think Mrs Pankhurst spoke out pretty strongly against WW1 and terrible loss of lives that that entailed.
Did she do jail time, and its just one then…
Well that was a wild weekend for sure. Only the rugby in Dunedin helped steer it back towards normality.
So the Poms are out of Europe, but the Scots want to stay, but a year or so back, the Scots wanted to stay British, so now the Scots want to have another vote on whether they really really want to be British.
Meanwhile the Remain folk want a re-vote because the other guys won. In a worse case scenario, the Scots may re-vote to leave Britain, and then the British may re-vote to stay in Europe. And somebody else started an online petition to for the London separatists to cede and join Europe
John Cleese for PM of Britain or England or London,
And Corbyn looks like hes toast in the UKLP.
Meanwhile we are on the outside looking in, missing out and looking bewildered.
For the sake of inclusiveness, I propose that the South Island (except Gore) go for independence from the North Island. You can have Gore, we are nice like that.
Your last paragraph is almost correct and has been apparent for quite some time amongst those in the know…….
namely, that Southland cedes and becomes its own nation, with Gore as the capital.
the place would fly, unencumbered by the deadweight of Wellington or Auckland.. and with fully one quarter of primary produce
Southland, the world’s newest nation
I guess President Shadbolt has a nice ring to it.
We of the South Island except Gore movement, would like to know if we can have Te Anau and a free trade agreement too.
You can lease Te Anau … (lol, old conservatives know the old tricks to longevity ..)
I humbly propose myself for the position of El Presidente
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc9BGSsU_ZU
Lolz, that explains so much, you see yourself as Mike.
🙂
“it was bound to happen, sooner or later”
😉
Ha, missed both my legs!
VIVA EL PRESIDENTE!
Texans like the way you think. (Texit for the win)
They too, arent keen on paying the big money to Head Office (Washington) to fund non-Texans to tell them what to do.
They wish to compete with you Southlanders for “worlds newest nation” status also.
Last time they wanted out Texans whinged about their peculiar institution so what’s it to be this time around – taxes?.
They have refused to vote appropriations for protecting Texas against ruthless savages, for the sole reason that she is a slave-holding State.
https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ref/abouttx/secession/2feb1861.html
From what I read, they arent keen on being told what to do by non-Texans in Washington, and they claim they pay about $3-4b to Washington and only get about half of that back.
They figure they can use that extra couple of billion to sort out Texan issues, rather than the admin costs of Washington.
Really it may not be that different an argument from that used by the “Leave” folk
Seems they receive around $1.30 for every dollar paid in federal tax.
http://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/posts/2014/05/Slide3/966724856.jpg
details details
pesky stupid details.
Well that may be true but it dosnt support their “Leave” argument so must be ignored.
A “we are subsidising Washington” story get way more “leave” votes.
And if its on the internet, its must be true, and if Washington denies it, then its double true.
Texas can issue its own currency thanks.
It doesn’t have to rely on the run-for-private-interests Federal Reserve for USDs.
Yes, but will Mexico annex Texas when the red back collapses?.
It will never collapse, they will just issue more ……. or something.
No doubt Scotland will claim ownership of Stewart Island, thinking it must have belonged to the former Kings of Scotland.
I don’t know whether being in or out of the EU is good for the UK but the way it’s come about it really terrible politics as
1) having a near 50/50 split in the country is not a good thing,
2) England is going to be investing a lot of time and money in new process building that is going to divert resources away from future planning – just like Auckland going to a super city and
3) the Conservative are likely to do a half-arsed job because they never wanted to be in this position anyway.
Perhaps if half the people on each side changed their vote it would make the result more acceptable.
Two weeks ago, Ombudsman Ron Patterson released his report critical of the Government. Today he ‘resigns’, two years before the end of his term. I’m sure it is a total coincidence /sarc.
Yeah very strange, the guy had another 2 or so years to go? My understanding the Office needs all the hands it can get clearing the backlog, what else is lurking in there.
I laughed, hard, when I saw another ‘read more’ headline in the article I linked to below. This one…
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/76038765/New-chief-ombudsman-promises-to-be-a-fearless-operator
“If people want to retain credibility, transparency is the way to go”. -Good, maybe he can tell us why he has left early as he’s “not going to resile from saying things publicly in a considered, measured way when I think that’s justified. That’s what I did as the principal court judge and that’s what I’ll bring to this job,”.
I read that, wondering why no reasons given, must have been a good golden handshake.
Managing Management rule 101
dont embarrass the management,
maybe it was teh feminism that got him in the end? (massive stonking sarc tag there)
it could well be,
his wife saying, why are you talking this sh/t from Pony tail puller Key, we are not being paid enough, take the golden handshake,
and we can spend the winter in Fiji,
that one sailed clean over your head didnt it
Er no, dee fems rule, especially after years of a ‘happy’ marriage,
its going to be a cold wet winter in kiwiland,
that plane just get higher and higher – hope the pilots got O2
Sure does bud, i was told yesterday by a guy that he hadnt survived 40 years of a happy marriage by ignoring his wife when she called him,
dinners ready,
you do get im laughing at your sad sexist rants right?
What sexist rants, i said feminism has liberated me,
and that the left is just a bunch of old men.
have yougot a problem that feminism has taken the place of the left,
then why dont you send a letter to the PM of Canada, he has seen the light and converted.
ps,and didnt the bachelor show teach you what its all about,
even playboy has given up on nudes now, though Hugh Hefner may just be getting a tad tired of hypergamy female with big breasts wanting a rich husband,
Hang on a sec.
The Ombudsman who released a damning report into the Government’s handling of an inquiry into leaks from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has suddenly resigned.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/81480414/ombudsman-ron-paterson-cuts-short-fiveyear-term-as-office-deals-with-investigations-backlog
Is this yet another chapter in the National Government’s handbook on suppressing criticism?
Snap: Southern Man
I hope they didn’t apply some ugly leverage on that guy
Haha, if only walls could talk. But sometimes, the writing appears on them for rulers.
Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin
jeez, this stinks, badly.
concerning, frightening, worrying!!!!
I think if he’s going to leave like this, he should front on TV to explain. I want to see his body language.
If the Nats can silence an ex principal court judge then we are in very big trouble.
I think we may be confusing individuals here. Ron Patterson the author of this report is/was an ombudsman.
Peter Boshier, former Chief Family Court Judge, is the recently appointed Chief Ombudsman. It is he whom signalled an intention to speed up Ombudsman responses and it is he whom found no justified privacy attaching to Rachel Glucina’s texts with Key. Once the former set about deceiving Amanda Bailey in the aftermath of Key’s assaults upon Amanda Bailey.
I may have it wrong but this is as per my recollection of people and events.
Dont forget rewriting history to reframe it, and disappearing two words Key doesnt want to hear, like with official treasury reports and tax havens.
From the benighted, cowardly, backward thinking experts at NZTA and AT. Rail from the country’s international gateway to its largest city and economic hub is scrapped.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11663865
I weep for my children’s future because of the blindness of decision makers today.
The Brisbane train from the airport is amazingly wonderful, for a stranger to the city all I had to do was jump on a train, so easy & convenient. As a stranger to AK flying into the city & trying to find buses it’s very confusing & dumb.
This is the thing. We are determined to have tourism as a major plank in our economy and I don’t have a problem with that but we are woefully bad at putting in infrastructure to support that tourism.
This is a continuation of 25 year thinking instead of 125 year thinking which has held this country back for so long.
As for who is going to pay for it. Tourists will pay for it, FFS! It’s a no-brainer, surely?
3 Year thinking, election cycle. All that matters to the National Party is staying in power no matter what,
We’re woefully bad at putting any of the infrastructure to do pretty much anything. We always seem to want to do things the cheap and easy way. Things that we don’t think needs spending on infrastructure and then we get bitten on the arse when we find out it does. This is the problem of doing things competitively and without a fucken overall plan.
But that would require taxes in specific places that are earmarked for that specific purpose. In other words, the government stepping in building up our economy which is fully against everything that our governments have believed about economics for the last 30+ years.
Yep. All very well waiting for private enterprise to do it but what I’m hearing is that as this drags on, the corridor is closing all the time making the venture less achievable and more expensive but the day.
Adds to the economy?
According to SEEKS latest average wage statistic rises,
its a wonderful 0.6% thats right 0.6%, the workers sure aint creaming it.
How much of the tourist industry is owned offshore:
http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=228378&cat=1005&fm=newsmain%2Cnarts
I read somewhere 80% of the wine industry is owned offshore.
Another case of Wellington Public Servants deciding how Auckland will be managed, they know best they think.
Same old Same old, Robbies Rail dream, Auckland Harbour Bridge just to name two cases of their inept decision making , not to mention the last minute agreement to help with dollars for the inner city loop.
Time for an AUXIT referendum methinks.
Fuck yeah. And do you know how to guarantee that an AUXIT referendum goes through?
Give everyone else in the country a vote in it.
Given, I don’t know, 50% of the revenue gathered by a rail link between AKL International and the city with be from foreign travellers using foreign currency, surely a business case for a significant central govt input could be made.
Imagine the dividends on $20 plus per trip before concessions!
Also, consider that Ihumatao is undergoing significant development, both commercial and industrial – and one of the stations was planned for this location.
Also, protestors have been highlighting the fact that Fletcher’s have been given an SHA in this area – despite the unique history of the land.
If this goes the way I think is likely, the SHA will stay and the opportunity for considered infrastructure – not only for tourists but for local residents and workers will be lost.
Unbelievable. That’s an archeological site of huge significance, not to mention a beautiful place.
They want to put houses for the elite on top of it.
Yes. The SHA process meant that all the usual considerations for a Private Plan Change – environmental, archaelogical, and consultation with all members of the local iwi (including the talking heads), and public consultation did not have to happen before the decision was made. So it didn’t, and it was presented as a fait accompli.
It’s a beautiful site, worth the visit if you are out that way and of great significance to those interested in NZ’s full history.
(As a rail supporter, I would want the station there regardless. AT often ignores South Auckland, and justifies this by saying that no-one uses PT. My response is that they need to spend some of their budget on changing behaviours and facilitation. This would go some way to address the decades of bad development and transport planning).
There is no such thing as ‘commercial sensitivity’ when you’re dealing with the public.
Because goods just aren’t carted to and from the airport.
/sarc
/facepalm
I think it’s because they’ve spent too much on roads over the decades and now they’re seeing the benefits of rail they’re having to keep justifying what’s already been spent on roads. In other words, they’re using the previous spend on roads to justify not putting in place the best option now.
Yeah. Doesn’t surprise me either. NZ keeps going for the far more expensive ‘cheap’ option.
shuttling a few million tourists between the airport and Central Auckland,
=$$$
Looks like Ombusdman, Professor Ron Paterson has been given the heave-ho for daring to produce a well deserved damming indictment of Paula Rebstock and the government? He has suddenly announced his resignation with affect from Thursday.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11664063
!!!
well I hope he doesn’t just go in silence…I hope he speaks up about it!
What has the EU ever done for us? Thanks to Monty Python
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Oor7fAmmiQ
“Tania Shailer and David Haerewa have been sentenced to 17 years’ jail each. Justice Sarah Katz said this was the highest sentence imposed in New Zealand for manslaughter against a child.” Moko.
About the same sentence had they been charged with murder?
out in less than 10, you can bet he wasnt their only victim,
shameful,
@ ianmac (17) … and I hope they are not segregated or isolated either for their own protection, away from mainstream prisoners! I don’t advocate violence or thuggery in any shape or form, but considering inoffensive, vulnerable little Moko suffered the most horrendous violence imaginable …
plenty of gangster buds inside,
A message from Idiot Savant. Any others wanting to help?
“Thank you for signing the petition Withdraw the financial veto certificate against the paid parental leave bill. I’m planning to submit the petition to Bill English on Wednesday morning. It would be useful to have a few more signatures on it, so can you help spread the word by forwarding the link below to your friends?
https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/withdraw-the-financial-veto-certificate-against-the-paid-parental-leave-bill
Thanks
Idiot Savant
Thanks for the reminder ianmac all signed up.
Wonder how Key will respond to his previous confidence in the system. Labour’s fault?
Report: Inquiry into Foreign Trust Disclosure Rules
Conclusions (first two)
1.2 The Inquiry concludes that the existing foreign trust disclosure rules are inadequate. The rules are not fit for purpose in the context of preserving New Zealand’s reputation as a country that cooperates with other jurisdictions to counter money laundering and aggressive tax practices.
1.3 The Inquiry considers that a significant increase in information disclosed when a foreign trust sets up, annual reporting and increased enforcement, will satisfactorily address the issues identified. Banning foreign trusts or removing the current tax exemption is not considered to be necessary or justified.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1606/S00318/report-inquiry-into-foreign-trust-disclosure-rules.htm
Stuff has this story tucked away in Business News.
The Herald also has this story tucked away in Business News.
Mmm?
but no mention of tax haven, this is the message he is sending out to the EU and America,
compliance rules have already been prepared,
is also known as covering ones arse,
John Pilger on Brexit
‘A Blow for Peace and Democracy: Why the British Said No to Europe’
by John Pilger
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/06/24/a-blow-for-peace-and-democracy-why-the-british-said-no-to-europe/
“The majority vote by Britons to leave the European Union was an act of raw democracy. Millions of ordinary people refused to be bullied, intimidated and dismissed with open contempt by their presumed betters in the major parties, the leaders of the business and banking oligarchy and the media.
This was, in great part, a vote by those angered and demoralised by the sheer arrogance of the apologists for the “Remain” campaign and the dismemberment of a socially just civil life in Britain. The last bastion of the historic reforms of 1945, the National Health Service, has been so subverted by Tory and Labour-supported privateers it is fighting for its life.”
Cited by JAY1
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/06/27/guest-blog-david-cunliffe-brexit-what-why-and-what-next/#comment-343228
Ken Livingstone: Brexit fallout may tear both UK and EU apart
(Published time: 24 Jun, 2016 13:26)
https://www.rt.com/shows/sophieco/348208-brexit-fallout-uk-eu/
“The UK vote to leave the European Union came as a shocking surprise to the British establishment, with Prime Minister Cameron announcing he’ll step down from his post. Meanwhile the UK decision is emboldening continental Euroskeptics to demand similar referendums from their governments. How will London go about parting ways with the EU? Who will reap the benefits of that decision – and are there any to reap? Sophie Shevardnadze asks former mayor of London and Labour party veteran Ken Livingstone.”
and…more on history behind Brexit
EU REFERENDUM- The Real Face of the European Union
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0WeURiShfU
Cited by CLEANGREEN
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/06/27/the-daily-blog-open-mic-monday-27th-june-2016/