Open mike 30/05/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 30th, 2016 - 84 comments
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84 comments on “Open mike 30/05/2016 ”

  1. Paul 1

    Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
    We have become a cruel, ugly and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.

    DoC funding cut by $40m – independent expert
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/305139/doc-funding-cut-by-$40m-independent-expert

    • Stunned mullet 1.1

      Another day and most people get on with their lives quite happily.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1.1

        …most people…

        The notion that New Zealanders don’t give a fuck about the environment or say, child poverty, while it suits the National Party’s owners, and certainly applies to the sociopath wing of the party, simply has no foundation in reality.

        That’s because “most people” have a thing called “empathy”.

        • Adrian 1.1.1.1

          Except when it effects their house values or share portfolio it seems.

      • Paul 1.1.2

        That says a lot about you.
        Empathy.
        Google it.

      • Blue 1.1.3

        Ignorance is bliss stunned mullet. You must be exceptionally happy.

      • mary_a 1.1.4

        @ Stunned mullet (1.1)

        “Another day and most people get on with their lives quite happily.”

        Now try this one … another day and far too many Kiwi families struggle in silence, in absolute misery, attempting to get on with their lives trying hard to survive … living in the back of a car, a garage, shed, tent, hovel etc!! Or they can rent a motel room and be in debt to WINZ for the rest of their wretched lives!

        But then I guess if you are comfortable, well fed, warm, surviving on a very good income and happy with your lot, why give a big rat’s backside about the suffering of others?

      • Reddelusion 1.1.5

        Another day and another moronic posting by Paul

    • Wayne 1.2

      Paul,

      You make this, or a similar comment every day. While I accept that there are things that could be done better, and that there are social problems to be solved, surely you are rather overstating it.

      Most people in New Zealand do not think they are living in a nightmare. The right direction/wrong direction polls consistently show that a substantial majority think NZ is going in the right direction, which for instance is unlike the US.

      By most OECD measures New Zealand is doing pretty well. Among the higher levels of economic growth, and among the highest levels of employment and one of the lowest levels on unemployment. Welfare rolls generally shrinking. The fact that we have such a high level of inwards migration, much of it being returning kiwis, shows that for many people they see good opportunities here.

      In the Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay for instance they are struggling to increase cool store capacity because of the good prices for kiwifruit, apples and other horticulture.

      In short, overstating the severity of the issues facing the country will have people thinking that you are crying wolf a bit too often.

      • DoublePlusGood 1.2.1

        “Welfare rolls generally shrinking” – yes, because people are being kicked off welfare into destitution.
        Meanwhile, the country is what, $120 bn in debt now? Hospitals are being steadily underfunded, with massive waits for ‘elective’ surgeries. Schools rely on donations just to keep afloat. Funding across many areas of government isn’t keeping up with inflation and population increases. Benefits don’t keep up with inflation. Numbers of homeless are burgeoning. Many people can’t even afford to rent a garage in Auckland. People are being forced into debt as they get shoved into motels as emergency accommodation because there aren’t enough houses for people in need, because the government is utterly failing to provide any solutions in this area.

        So while things seem rosy to you, that’s only because you’ve ignored all the serious issues facing this country.

        • infused 1.2.1.1

          All you guys bitching and moaning about 120bn of debt: what do you want the alternative to be? slash and burn? because that’s what a traditional nat govt would have done, and what many other countries have done.

          Increase taxes I hear you say? Well nope. Business were already doing it tough. This would have just made it even tougher.

          I think many of you need a reality check.

          • Lanthanide 1.2.1.1.1

            Not have implemented the unaffordable “tax switch”.

            Labour’s tax cuts were already pretty generous, and more than we could really afford.

          • DoublePlusGood 1.2.1.1.2

            Yeah, I’d have increased taxes to be more inline with western European social democracies. Businesses would have been just fine, particularly since I wouldn’t have raised GST (and indeed would move toward getting rid of GST).

      • Stuart Munro 1.2.2

        I seriously doubt Wayne, that you have much to do with ‘most people’. Which explains part of the disconnect that lets you shrug off the manifest dishonesty and non-performance of this disgraceful kleptocracy. The other part must be attributed to that want of character by which lawyers have made themselves notorious.

      • Lanthanide 1.2.3

        Wayne, it’s fully possible for “most people” to think we’re going in the right direction, without that being what is actually best for New Zealand.

        But that doesn’t make any judgement about how fast we’re going there.

        It might be under this current government we’re crawling along in ‘the right direction’, but under a different government we’d be zooming away.

      • reason 1.2.4

        Wayne Mapp should probably be in jail …………. http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/judith-collins-brazen-cronyism.html

        Nominated yourself for anything else to Judith lately wayne ker ?????

        http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/search/label/Cronyism

      • North 1.2.5

        Ha ! The plump Wayne. “Most people in New Zealand…….”

        Tell that to the kids in cars Wayne……as you scan your financial affairs indicating (educated guess) the best part of half a million dollars gross coming into your small household annually.

        Gets on my wick that a life long gravy trainer like you should invoke his plumpness to say “…….all’s OK, you know, by and large, at the end of the day, and here are some figures and gosh, we must mind our manners etc etc etc. Let’s just be gloriously plump and plompous !”

      • Paul 1.2.6

        Highlighting the homelessness issue in New Zealand is not crying wolf.
        I guess you can’t see from your leafy suburb and through the tinted windows of your SUV.

        And the ‘most people’ argument does not wash.
        Jimmy Carter, the last president of the US before the cult of neo-liberalism ( to which you subscribe) took over said.
        “The measure of a society is found in how they treat their weakest and most helpless citizens.
        I am not sorry this upsets you; you need to pay attention. I do not plan to stop.

      • Paul 1.2.7

        This sums up your world view, Wayne.
        “I’d love to help, but there’s no moral obligation to do so.”
        Neo-liberalism has rotted your soul.

        https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cjk_CaMVEAAqbNo.jpg:large

      • RedBaronCV 1.2.8

        And the NACTS make similar comments every day too. nothing wrong, nothing to see here, everything is going well yada yada.

        But I’m delighted to hear that some of you are doing really well, you’ll be able to pay that $120B debt off for the rest of us? Nope??

        That 70% tax rate on personal incomes over $250k , on all trust income (offshore or onshore trusts ) looks like a more attractive option every day.
        I’d even suggest bringing it in straight away, like tobacco tax hikes, so ther was no time to hide the dosh.

  2. weka 3

    Stephanie’s on fire at the moment. People stepping up to help with the housing crisis,

    And because New Zealanders are caring, compassionate people, we step up. We open our doors and put our hands in our pockets

    Imagine if we could pool all those resources across the country and had a single organisation with the knowledge and leverage to ensure every kid gets breakfast and every family has a home. An organisation motivated by providing good lives for people, not payouts for shareholders.

    We could call the organisation, “government”. We could call those resources we all chip in, “tax”. We used to know what those things meant, before we got to where we are now. Together, we can decide to go somewhere else.

    https://bootstheory.wordpress.com/2016/05/29/how-we-got-here/

    • You_Fool 3.1

      Actually lets not have the tax be mandatory, but be a true donation but it must be declared publicly – i.e. “Hi my name is John Key and I only care for the country to the tune of 5c”

  3. With John Key’s ultimatum last week over housing in Auckland; Is there anything stopping the Auckland Council finally zoning all inner suburbs as ultra-high density so we the Natophiles can get on and build nice big apartment buildings nice and close to the city? Save most of the infrastructure costs. Sure the people of Remmers, Ponsnobby and Parnell will have to move, but hey just zone some of that outer fringe land to low density residential so they can have mcmansions on their land-banked land and nice large green areas.

    Would be much cheaper than the opposite way round, and the sooner we got on with becoming a real city the better…

    • dv 4.1

      AND
      the 17Billion for the infrastructure upgrade for the green fields development will cost the average rate payer in Auckland about an extra $2000 per year for 20 years.

      • Sabine 4.1.1

        so?
        the only ones that could not pay for that would be those on a fixed income, and i am sure that Paula Bennett and Blinglish will have no issues giving our retired people in akl some cash to move the fuck outta town and leave their homes to some more deserving people.

        economical warfare is the game.
        economical cleansing is the final desired solution

        The cities of NZ, gated communities with swipe cards for the maids, chefs, baristas and gardeners.

        • dv 4.1.1.1

          The cities of NZ, gated communities with swipe cards for the maids, chefs, baristas and gardeners.

          Not to forget the teachers and the nurses for example.

          And I can’t imagine the aucklanders being pleased about a 50% rate increase. They get exercised about a 5% incase

        • Rosemary McDonald 4.1.1.2

          This http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/80391585/reids-farm-could-close-due-to-complaints.html popped up on a forum for motorhomers the other day.

          Reactions ranging from outrage at the “ferals” ruining freedom camping for those with self contained vehicles to mild concern and ‘what are we going to do about it?’ from forumites living locally.

          What most failed to read in the Stuff article was..

          “Taupo’s Emergency Accommodation Facebook page manager Renee Grey said many of the people she has helped have used Reid’s Farm when times go desperate.

          “I think it would be devastating as Taupo has no emergency accommodation shelter and thats where most homeless in Taupo use it temporarily,” she said. ”

          and the forumites also neglected to read the other articles about the impending accommodation crisis in tourism hotspot Taupo.

          http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/77452043/The-rental-crisis-creating-Taupos-homeless-community

          http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/home-property/75936619/competitive-taupo-housing-market-forcing-one-family-towards-homelessness

          This is a repetition of what has happened in Queenstown.

          Rich buy up property, many don’t reside year round, property prices rise and rise and the low wage workers on whom the tourism industry depend cannot afford to live in town.

          Towns people and privileged indigenous travelers refer to the homeless as ‘ferals’.

          I commented in the distaff…but methinks the mods will remove the comment or perhaps ban me from the site.

          Reality.

          • weka 4.1.1.2.1

            That Stuff article doesn’t tell us 2 critical things. How much is this an issue of tourism, and what are the complaints being made? Pretty hard to understand the issue or what could be done without knowing those things.

            “privileged indigenous travelers”

            Who do you mean?

            • Rosemary McDonald 4.1.1.2.1.1

              Probably pay to read all three articles to get the picture weka, then maybe trawl the archives for articles along a similar vein that came out of Queenstown about three years ago.

              “Indigenous travelers”….those of us who own our own self contained motorhomes. The ‘privileged’ part comes in when some…maybe most….demand the ‘right’ to freedom camp wherever and whenever based on the theory that spending a few dollars in that region affords them entitlement. Any real or perceived threat to freedom camping results in (yet another) venting of outrage at the ‘ferals’ in non self contained camping vehicles spoiling it for us.

              Few ever engage with the ‘others’, seldom learn the whys and wherefores of their individual circumstances.

              • Rosemary McDonald

                Natrad has done some good work on trying to highlight the issue….

                http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/201801465/queenstown-warned-it-could-become-like-exclusive-aspen

                “A delegation of Queenstown community leaders received a shocking warning of what their resort town could become.

                Queenstown/Aspen Queenstown/Aspen Photo: Wiki commons
                The Chamber of Commerce delegation visited the Colorado ski resort of Aspen last month.

                It’s geographically similar to Queenstown, and both are suffering serious housing affordability issues, with those working in the service industries having to live further and further out of town.”

                Tourism…the raison d’etre of Queenstown , is losing ground to the now greater industry of real estate investment.

                Taupo is going down the same road.

          • Sabine 4.1.1.2.2

            The lack of public facilities in NZ is astounding. You can literally drive form AKL to Wellington without seeing one Highway Rest Ground with appropriate Facilities.

            When people need to go they need to go. And now you have about 4 million more that need to go. Add an extra million people over summer, and they all flush at least thrice a day.

            Public facilities need to be upgraded and more numerous that is for sure, however i don’t hold my breath.

            As for the spreading of the disease. The disease is Growth, this is our current Growth, selling the country to the highest bidder quarter acre by quarter acre, – us in Akl can tell you, that we told you so. Its time that NZ wake up. As elsewhere Paula Bennett will have no issue offering those with houses in high impact – err, high value areas. Here have 5 grand, now fuck off.

            • Rosemary McDonald 4.1.1.2.2.1

              “The lack of public facilities in NZ is astounding. You can literally drive form AKL to Wellington without seeing one Highway Rest Ground with appropriate Facilities.”

              Not quite…but the public facilities are often not obvious.

              In Taupo, after 7pm, it appears you have to use the ones in a local fast food joint…after making the appropriate purchase of course. ;-( .

              • Sabine

                thats what i mean. there should be appropriatly marked rest places that offer public facilities. Not fast food joints or dairies where on has to buy something.

                thats a private facility 🙂

                • BM

                  There’s a heap of public toilets.

                  http://www.toiletmap.co.nz

                  • Interesting website. It does kinda confirm that you can drive a long way on SH1 without finding one. And how obvious the toilets are is another question.

                  • Macro

                    7553 individual public toilet pans spread over the whole of NZ does not equal “there are heaps” and many of them are a heap of shit!

                    • BM

                      Add every petrol station,library and shopping center to that number.

                    • Macro

                      Libraries, Petrol stations, and shopping centres are not at beaches or scenic sites or National Parks. Most of the public toilets are listed in towns anyway. The concern if you don’t already understand – is not that there are no toilet facilities in towns – the concern is that places of beauty are being spoiled by people defaecating on roadsides and reserves etc because there are little or no facilities. For instance in the Coromandel the permanent population of 30,000 are required to provided toilet facilities for up to 130,000 transient people (many of whom are tourists). The total number of toilet pans outside of the towns is about 3 dozen (including 2 at the top to “The Pinnacles”).
                      I thought you as a neo-lib junkie were all for user pays? Why should rate payers subsidize the tourist industry?

      • save nz 4.1.2

        And just like the UK experience (http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/may/25/sadiq-khan-condemns-foreign-investors-london-homes-gold-bricks-housing-policy) – it will produce houses for the wealthy many of whom do not live in NZ while the locals running Auckland will be commuting for hours, paying more rates and unable to buy a house or spending more to own a home.

        With rents or the new term, ‘social housing’, the current ‘mums and dads’ landlords will be gone, and in it’s place unwieldy companies and corporations with big rental portfolios who can price fix, decide not to rent at all or whatever. We can see it coming with the Chinese and Australian interest. Then NZ rentals or ‘social bonds’ will be put into shares by banks and money traders and traded by the wealthy. All the this is Bill English and Keys wet dream for NZ like the financial hub (aka tax havens).

        For those that seem to think more houses and zoning changes will mean “for the poor’ – at current rates – very unlikely. We may get more of Paula Bennett’s famously vacant facts and figures, the increase in emergency housing which under scrutiny does not even make sense, like $5000 to leave Auckland or $3000 to come back.

        The more the government and council loosen up planning rules the less affordable the houses in Auckland are becoming as people use the rules to make houses bigger and less affordable.

        NZ has to lose the neoliberal rubbish and go back to what worked previously, state house being built and retained by the government and wages in line with the price to build a house to get back to our previously 74% home ownership figures.

        The irony of all this, is that under neoliberalism the super rich are not even expected to pay tax (hence Key’s tax havens) and now the poorest are expected to keep the coffers going in our taxes increasingly spent on corporate welfare, with cigarette tax and beneficiary ‘fraud’ (i.e. over payments or being deemed to be a relationship) as assets in the latest budget!

        With the super rich and corporations quasi legally not paying and seemingly out of the equation to get more taxes out of, it is up to the declining middle class to both pay for the corporate welfare and the social system. No wonder middle class are between a rock and a hard place vote wise if their choice is framed between more taxes vs less taxes from political parties.

        We really are at the bottom of the barrel!

        • Colonial Viper 4.1.2.1

          Should we make the super rich poorer? An inheritance tax, a wealth tax, a land/property tax, and high income tax can all be designed to do just that.

          But that’s a separate aim from funding the government. Government can fund itself by borrowing NZD, or by issuing NZD or by a combination of all these methods including taxation.

          • save nz 4.1.2.1.1

            The problem is, under globalism many of these super rich people not only avoid the rules they have armies of lobbyist putting loop holes into legislation so that they don’t pay. If you are rich enough you can just tie the whole thing up in legal wranglings (like TPPA) so that those with least money pay i.e. middle class (and therefore become poorer hence middle class decline in the West) while the super rich using alias, corporations, trusts, tax havens and what have you become richer and less catchable.

            Taxation needs to come into the 21st century, When the current tax laws were made people did not have multiple passports, private air and boat travel and ability to lobby to create the laws, media and government in their favour.

            That is why I favour micro taxes at source, like stamp duty and transaction taxes. Both do not care about how much money you have or where you live, if you make the transaction – you must pay a set amount. So a person buying a $10 million house vs a person buying a $300k house will pay different amount of taxes each time they buy. Likewise if you are a currency trader and trading million of trades per day, you pay each time you trade vs someone who has a kiwi bank saver is hit only once unless they are buying and selling constantly.

            • Colonial Viper 4.1.2.1.1.1

              FTT type taxes are important

              Notice how the financial services industry in NZ got itself exempted from GST

              • save nz

                It is interesting that the biggest group using the Panama tax haven through Mossack were politicians (followed by Hollywood). They make the rules so that they have given themselves exemption from paying tax!

                In my view the opposition which has been obsessed with income figures with taxation instead decides, how do you stop someone wealthy who does not want to pay tax and may not even reside in this country to pay their fair share? Anything to do with income is a waste of time these days as the rich seem to live on nothing and aka Sky City casino there are plenty of places to money launder here for those people who pay in cash! As for capital taxes they will not work for Kiwis on a fixed income and again completely avoidable by the rich shuffling global money around.

                Tax those that are buying up and moving money around each time they do it. Surprisingly we might have a bit more stability if those speculating were taxed each time! And if tax were unavoidable, we would have funds to pay for state houses again!

                And I would like to see a gambling tax put on Sky City and they become legally liable if they contribute to money laundering.

              • Wayne

                CV,

                In practice it is borrowers who get the majority of this advantage.

                • Colonial Viper

                  Hi Wayne. I’m sure that Auckland housing speculators with multiple sets of mortgage approvals and fees are very thankful.

              • mikesh

                The lending of money is presumably not considered a service. It is therefore difficult to see why interest should be charged.

    • ianmac 4.2

      “With John Key’s ultimatum last week over housing in Auckland…”
      This morning Key muddied the waters over the Auckland Council threat. I couldn’t understand what he was saying.
      http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201802550

      • Rodel 4.2.1

        – Don’t worry ianmac- you are not alone.

        The prime Minister was saying nothing, attempting to sound authoritative, sincere and convincing.
        He has replaced ‘ at the end of the day’ with his latest buzz word, ‘fundamentally’ which is a bit like Brash’s, ‘basically’ and ‘frankly’..

        Jane Bowron in the Press (Monday) sums it up well…in her column referring among other stupidities, to the Govt’s smugness “…..the prime minister sets out to grab the sound bite and appear the action man tough guy…”… ..convincing to some I guess.

  4. joe90 5

    The Dutch resist efforts to criminalise dissent.

    In a huge blow to Israel, Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders announced Thursday that calls to boycott the Jewish state fall within the limits of free speech, undermining intensive Israeli diplomatic efforts to sway European capitals to outlaw the Boycott, Sanctions and Divestment Movement.

    “Statements or meetings concerning BDS are protected by freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, as enshrined in the Dutch Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights,” Koenders said Thursday during a debate on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the Dutch parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee in The Hague.”

    http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/In-huge-blow-to-Israel-Netherlands-declares-BDS-free-speech-455162

    • ianmac 5.1

      Some think that the crimes by Israeli Government against their enemies are similar to the crimes against Jews committed by Germany. How does that happen?

      • Same way as a beaten child will go on to beat his children.

        • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1.1

          Nope:

          On 21 June 1933, the Zionist Federation of Germany sent a memorandum to the Nazi Party that contains the following insight into Zionist psychology:

          “On the foundation of the new [Nazi German] state, which has established the principle of race, we wish so to fit our community into the total structure so that for us too, in the sphere assigned to us, fruitful activity for the Fatherland is possible… Our acknowledgment of Jewish nationality provides for a clear and sincere relationship to the German people and its national and racial realities. Precisely because we do not wish to falsify these fundamentals, because we, too, are against mixed marriage and are for maintaining the purity of the Jewish group…” (Lucy Dawidowicz (ed.), A Holocaust Reader, pp. 150-155.)

  5. save nz 6

    A different approach to affordability in Auckland, that is sustainable. I would not be against density if it was low rise and stylish and sustainable. It costs the same in the most part to have something beautiful than something that is an eyesore which is a lot of Auckland housing!

    http://www.treehugger.com/tiny-houses/jutland-denmark-cabin-simon-steffensen.html

    How about set designs like tiny houses from Architects that require no building consents under certain conditions and approved designs? A bit like State houses, designed for living in and built quickly and affordably.

  6. Karen 7

    Evidently Hooton was misleading Nine to Noon listeners (again) this morning in order to criticise the Auckland Council. He claimed the council hadn’t included the cost of the City Rail Link but actually they have. It is the Nact govt. who haven’t. If they had there would have been no surplus.

    Patrick Reynolds
    ‏@pv_reynolds
    @MatthewHootonNZ completely wrong on #CRL: Council share IS budgeted for gov share is in no budget @ninetonoon Council/AT are funding it now

  7. mikesh 8

    It looks as though the Clinton’s may be indicted on charges relating to money laundering, bribery ,etc. These charges arise from investigations by the FBI of Hilary’s deleted emails, which now been recovered.
    See entry in http://www.globalresearch.ca

  8. Penny Bright 9

    Press Release Auckland Mayoral candidate Penny Bright.

    “Hit the streets Aucklanders! Tell Pm John Key to back off and butt out!”
    ___________________________________________________________________________

    “Today, I ‘locked in’ with Auckland Central Police, the date, time and route of a march of potentially thousands of Aucklanders, to tell PM John Key to ‘back off and butt out’,” said Auckland Mayoral candidate, Penny Bright.
    ___________________________________________________________________________

    MARCH! Queen Street – Britomart to the Auckland Town Hall.
    WHEN: Saturday 11 June 2016.
    TIME: 12 noon till 2pm.
    ASSEMBLE: 12 noon outside Britomart.
    ___________________________________________________________________________

    “The reason for this march, is the veiled threat from PM John Key to appoint unelected Commissioners to run Auckland, if ‘Auckland’ doesn’t do what ‘Wellington’ says, (effectively on behalf of developers), regarding housing in Auckland.”

    http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11646100

    “Prime Minister John Key has given a strong hint that the Government could go as far as appointing commissioners to run Auckland if the council refuses to free up more land for housing.

    “Mark my words,” he told reporters today after being asked about the possibilities for dealing with an uncooperative council.”
    ____________________________________________________________________________________

    “For the Prime Minister to even hint at the threat of appointing Commissioners to run Auckland, four months out from the Auckland local body elections – is simply obscene.”

    “In my view, every time ‘Wellington’ (central government) interferes with ‘Auckland’ (local government) – it makes things worse for thousands of ordinary Auckland ratepayers and citizens.”

    “It was the John Key led National Government that forced this Auckland ‘Supercity’ (for the 1%) upon us in 2009, by railroading legislation under urgency through Parliament.”

    “Pivotal to this Auckland ‘Supercity’ was the ‘One Plan’ for Auckland, which, in my view, has been delightful if you are a property developer, speculator, overseas investor, bank, land banker and/or money-launderer, but disastrous for thousands of Aucklanders.”

    “Why does all this ‘growth’ have to come to Auckland?”

    “Where is the national population growth, migration and regional development and employment strategy?”

    “What is ‘local’ now about ‘local government’ in Auckland?”

    “While PM John Key promotes ‘democracy for developers’, and his Government ‘land banks’ empty State houses, decent New Zealanders are appalled at the plight of vulnerable fellow citizens trying to sleep on cardboard in Queen Street, and little kids and their families ‘living’ crammed into cars, garages, caravans and already over-crowded houses.”

    “As someone who helped organise the thousands on to the streets, opposing the TPPA investor and corporate control, I call upon those people, and more, to oppose investor and corporate /developer control of Auckland.”

    “Stand up and be counted Aucklanders, and give PM John Key the message that can’t be ignored!”

    “ENOUGH!”

    Penny Bright

    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

    (Activists – get things done.)

  9. Puckish Rogue 10

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/us-will-refuse-to-confirm-or-deny-if-nukes-on-ship-visiting-nz-2016053010#axzz4A6EtjlGz

    I’d like to see how many people participated in this poll but its not a bad poll for those that are pro-American (yes that includes me)

    • Stuart Munro 10.1

      Why are we not surprised. Only the extreme right are blind to America’s failings – you’d probably support Trump. Or Palin.

  10. Adrian 11

    Could someone please explain how Mike Williams gets to be ‘the Voice of the Left’ on National Radio..sorry iHeartRadio.

    • mac1 11.1

      I nearly threw more than a few well-chosen words of advice at Mr Hooton as he continually spoke over both other speakers. He has a habit of speaking over the others to interrupt or take over. The result is that the thread and the listener’s comprehension are disrupted. He’s ekshully quite good at it.

      Williams is too well mannered, and Ryan has learnt to keep on going but Hooton’s interruptions are very unhelpful to good debate and listening.

      • Anne 11.1.1

        Williams is too well mannered,

        Williams doesn’t have it any more. He should step down and let someone younger take it on. Several times this morning he let Hooton get away with blatant twists and outright lies and all he could do was giggle. Hooton’s attempt to shout both Williams and Ryan down was particularly bad this morning. Ryan doesn’t let him get away with it but Williams is useless. It’s almost as though he’s too scared to stand up to Hooton.

        • Tom 11.1.1.1

          Self respect…….. A man with self respect faces his fears and doesn’t live a lie.

      • Reddelusion 11.1.2

        The issue is what Matthew has to say is interesting and thought provoking, the left comment normally whinging and nonsense, thus Matthew gets more air time

        • Anne 11.1.2.1

          Oh, craven bullshit. 😀 Matthew shouts over everybody else that’s why he gets more air time. RNZ should be shot of him because he doesn’t even tell the truth most of the time.

          • Reddelusion 11.1.2.1.1

            Debatable but irrespective he is entertaining, I doubt many would listen otherwise

        • Macro 11.1.2.2

          “what Matthew has to say is interesting and thought provoking”

          🙄

          Yeah the thought that runs through my mind whenever I am unfortunate enough to hear him is “what shit are you on Matthew? and how come you’re not sea sick with all that spinning?”

          He gets more air time because he is an empty vessel and they are the ones that make the most noise.

      • Gabby 11.1.3

        Hootie blows extra hard when he’s fibbing. He sounded quite angry that he couldn’t blame Labour so he did anyway.

  11. Shane 12

    Medical Cannabis on One News tonight, thanks to HK for hooking the charity up with a Reporter.

    • mauī 12.1

      Good stuff, the item came over well I thought, and that this is an urgent issue.

  12. Gangnam Style 13

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11639758
    You would think with all these P users contaminating HNZ houses there would be a bunch of benes getting kicked off welfare for drug use, but yeah, doesn’t seem to be the case…”Last year, there were 31,791 referrals for drug testable positions nationwide and just 55 sanctions for failing a drug test, according to Ministry of Social Development (MSD) figures.”

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  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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