Heather Roy on Checkpoint yesterday was trotting out the centre right’s line that Labour won’t/can’t win a majority because no party ever does in NZ, except for the 1951 election which was held in extraordinary circumstances, dominated by the waterfront dispute. She was somehow conveniently managing to ignore the circumstances around this election which make 1951 look like a walk in the park.
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Might be an idea for Ardern to downplay the prospect of governing alone.
At the same point in the run up to the 2002 General Election, the Clark-led Labour Party was sitting on precisely the same rating (53%) in the Colmar Brunton … only to fall 12 points to 41% by Election Day.
NZES analysis suggests that Clark's initial decision to campaign vigorously for a one-Party Govt (on the basis of stability & her personal popularity) alienated voters (particularly on the Left) … seen as arrogant, dictatorial & a reversion to old-fashioned FPP-thinking. (Campaign Mini-scandals Corngate & Paintergate simply reinforced this mood). A hefty chunk of intending Labour voters subsequently swung elsewhere … first & foremost into non-voting. Luckily for the party, the Nats' plunge was even steeper.
Whenever NZES polls on attitudes to the Electoral System, it always finds substantial majority support for MMP & Coalition Govt among Left voters & majority support for FPP & single-Party Govt among Nat supporters.
Hence, while many of the 400k newly-acquired former Nats might be more comfortable with a sole Labour Govt … to hold on to a sizeable segment of core Labour voters, Ardern may just need to downplay any sense of arrogance or entitlement around the issue.
Interesting info swordfish. I hope the upper echelons listen – wouldn't want problems with the seals when the spaceship gets into the rarefied air, no D-ring or O-ring malfunctions.
maybe the economist have calculated this in their forecast, while the banker is just happy for the government to pay the wages for nigh on everyone in the country.
The latest figures from the Ministry of Social Development show that $1.9b of that has been paid under the extension to the scheme, which came into effect in early June.
More than 1.7 million jobs are being supported by the scheme, which comes to an end in September.
Nearly 10,500 recipients of the wage subsidy have paid the money back, totalling $323.6m.
once that wage subsidy is running out there will be a clearer picture on how bad it is going to be. Until then the economy is currently fully prepped on the taxpayers dime, and i am sure this will cause any guys working for a bank to rejoice, often and loudly.
House prices and the 'correction' that was going to occur. Here in the provinces, the sales are going gang-busters. Selling in under a week and above asking price.
Perhaps it is time to put the horoscopes in the news, they have as much relevance as these economists. Haruspication too. (Thanks Bill, I still have a smile when these financial forecasters pontificating).
thank you for highlighting this, dancing on the head of a pin, effort by economists. in my travels around middle NZ, people are VERY busy, and there is plenty of money being spent.I have long thought that most economists are fairly useless, and the last few months havent changed that opinion.none of their predictions of economic doom seem to have taken into account the very low interest rates currently, a factor in many people choosing to spend ,rather than letting money sit in term deposit ,getting basically nothing in interest. along with the low interest rates, we also had a big rise in benefits and the allowing of small building without permits. this last point probably flies past most on here, and definitley past 99.9% of economists, but go to your local demolition yard, or hardware supplier and ask them about building activity. all very busy. nothing like the economic standstill predicted by some, and hoped for by others.
Home renovations and cosmetic surgery are apparently popular replacements for overseas travel spending by those with enough money. However there are only so many kitchen and nose makeovers anyone can fit into a year, so we'll see where things land by 2021.
The wage subsidy is keeping us afloat here in Rotorua. Most businesses have already cut hours, closing early, not opening 7 days anymore etc. Some people have taking cuts to wages to ensure that all get to keep their jobs in one business – IT business. I can think of a few more towns like that in the North Island and the South Island.
Once that subsidy runs out and people are either still in a job or unemployed we will get to taste the real state of the economy.
On 26 June 2020, there were 353,440 people receiving main benefit, an increase of 61,470 since the same week last year.
Over the same period, the number of people receiving Jobseeker Support Work Ready benefits hasrisen 48,640 to 125,965 (up 65 per cent)since the same week last year, accounƟng for the majority of the net increase.
The number of recipients increased rapidly from late March and throughout April, but has stabilized since May. A further 10,580 people were receiving the COVID-19 Income Relief Payment, which is not included in the Main Benefit total.
that last number of people receiving the Covid – 19 Income Relief Payment aka the Covid Unemployment benefit will raise. And the 10580 people that are receiving it now will loose it within the next 8 odd weeks as it was only for a period of 12 weeks.
the comment of number of recipients of benefits having stabilized since may coincides wit the announcement of the extension of the wage subsidy for another 8 weeks of certain criteria is met.
There is unlimited house Reno's plus building there's still a massive shortage of housing and 100's of 1,000's of cold damp leaky building syndrome poorly constructed houses that need fixing.
By your imagination with cheap money around because of low interest people are renovating extending etc.House prices are going up while bank interest rates are at record lows.
I never mentioned borrowing. Only people with enough money not to worry about their immediate future will be spending, though the same group would be granted bank loans I guess.
And comments such has your don't help those who are still working under reduced hours, are full time yet still being paid 90,80 even 60%, are utilising annual leave but still expecting to achieve a 40 hour output, and still have the normal outgoings. And living with the fear of job loss should any resistance be given to these changes of working conditions.
Whilst there are some happy to point to the the economic data "telling" us all is good . Guess What IT ISN'T for many.
Like so many statistics that are used to support particular points of view "things are/are not getting better" People suffer, lost in the numbers.
House renovations are a good way to spend money. And some might think cosmetic surgery a good investment as did Paul Bennett – she has been well paid for years and no doubt made good contacts for future employment. They have noticed the spectacular changes in her profile and want one of those too.
Collins cashing in Kiwisaver dumb idea criticized by business man on RNZ as highly risky with 58% of Small business failing in the first year.similar odds as a pokie machine.
National desperately flailing around policy on the hoof in the same mode as the party complete disarray.
Yes. Lets only give money to really big businesses that are to big to fail.
'Wat the man from the bank is not saying is that they really like to keep all that saved money in THEIR bank accounts, as otherwise some bank may go bust if they had to pay it all out.
But heck its just he people who saved into their Kiwi Saver Account that we can't entrust with THEIR OWN money, lest the small business taht they would like to create (cause sure beats unemployment) may fail. Never mind the 48% of small businesses that don't fail. Also lets not mention the fact that often the reason small businesses fail are bad lending when they started up with too high repayment rates a. and b. high leases, high compliance costs etc etc etc.
Act's polling success is due to the NZ First vote going to Act. Last election non Labour and non Green voters who were not that supportive of National mainly voted for NZ First to be a coalition partner for National. These voters are now punishing NZ First.
The Maori Party was punished by their voters favouring Labour.
After an incident involving a close relative the other week I have been checking the MOH 'Covid 19 testing' webpage and up until the latest update on the 29th July the MOH message was that just having some of the symptoms was not necessarily grounds to be tested. Even now,
the criteria for testing is quite proscribed. Not exactly encouraging folks to be tested.
The incident involving a close family member involved headache, cough, sore throat and generally feeling like shit. Was advised to do the unthinkable(to our whanau) and go to the doctor and get tested…this person works in education and had very real concerns about possible contagion… Phonecalls to Healthline etc, and appointment made at large city medical centre, all the while describing symptoms and requesting a Covid test, just to be safe. Given a light mask at arrival (did phone before entering the building but was told to come on in) and was seen by the duty doctor. Who proceeded to discount the possibility of Covid19 and told the patient to attend the largely unused public testing centre 2 kms away if they really wanted a test. Issued a medical certificate for work but did not suggest self isolation until a negative test result was returned.
This was two weeks ago. Close family member did have the test….the brain scrape…and it returned a negative result.
Amazing, no? That the GP could tell without a test? That GP should be utilized to save $$$ on the actual Test.
So who should be tested? According to the MOH website….some or all of those symptoms and/or recent overseas travel or any possible contact with a recent traveler from overseas.
Your relative is doing the right thing by having a test, they are looking after the community by being tested.
I can be critical of health professionals and I am in this case because the duty doctor declined a test when they could not exclude the person being infected until tested.
Why are people refusing the test? is it because it is described by some as a 'brain scrape'? That it might hurt a little?
I had a Covid-19 test. A moment's discomfort.
As a male I had several DREs for prostate cancer. Again, discomfort but no bloody reason not to have the digital examination.
Indeed, it is not bloody helpful to discourage people with the language that we use. Rather, we should be supporting the people to have tests as it could be life saving for them, and in the case of Covid-19, life saving for others.
Personal pain, or discomfort, even if real and difficult, is not a reason to put others at risk, especially our seniors, of a particularly unpleasant death.
I have, as a cancer survivor, given talks on the need for testing. It saved my life. Eleven years later, I can still say that. I told a group of farmers that they'd get a vet in to check their livestock if they were concerned, so why not man up, accept s small discomfort and do themselves and their loved ones a favour by regular testing?
Most will, but those who frivolously make jokes or use off-putting language do not help the uncertain to do the correct thing.
Do people even refuse vaccination jabs because of the way it is described?
In my primary school days, the school dentist was known as 'the murder house'. At least we kids did know what an exaggeration that was, as the death toll was pretty low, even then with slow speed, grinding drills and the smell of burning meths in the air.
but those who frivolously make jokes or use off-putting language do not help the uncertain to do the correct thing.
Mary Poppins is a fictional character who also proposes sugar coating as a means to ensure the little ones comply with Doctors Orders.
But in the real world surely honesty is the best policy?
Tell folks the swab up the nostril does feel like a sample of brain tissue is being harvested…but that the discomfort is very transitory and it is for the greater good.
Treat us like responsible grown ups and perhaps we'll act like it?
@Rosemary, I had a test during L4. Wasn't keen on the idea at all because I'd heard several first-hand stories of 'pain' with the nose swab as opposed to brief discomfort. But given the circumstance and timing of symptoms that wasn't going to put me off.
Apart from gagging badly from the throat swabs, I didn't even feel the nose one. perhaps the nurse had it down to a fine art, or perhaps it's a matter of pain level tolerance, or perhaps it really is expecting the worse because of the off-putting language? I have a cold now that's getting worse, I know it's just a cold but if at some point another test is offered I'll take it (been travelling in long distance buses recently).
I do agree that with ANY medical procedure informed consent is first and foremost. Explain what's going to happen, and that some people (not everyone because it's NOT everyone) experience xyz. And be able to answer any follow-up questions in plain English to reassure.
I suspect it was the test taker's enthusiasm that gave the impression the swab was going to emerge above the whanau member's eyebrow. As you will know…some phlebotomists can take a blood sample with barely a bit of pressure. Others prod and poke around with a blunt needle until that bruise nicely extends from elbow-crook to wrist.
Hope your cold gets better…we've had various seasonal lurgees which we've hit with lots of vitamin C flushed down with lots of fluids. Just like Nana did.
To describe my experience aa a 'brain scrape' was a degree or two of magnitude too much. Of course we should be supportive and honest, but not to the extent of putting people off. Was your use of the 'brain scrape' meant to be gratuitously jocular, or be supportive and honest? Did it need to be said? To me that was un-useful information that also did not sit with my experience.
…use of the 'brain scrape' meant to be gratuitously jocular, or be supportive and honest?
Of course it was jocular…christ on a raft! … do you not think we could all do with a wee giggle now and again?
"Gratuitous"? Surely that is entirely subjective? One man's meat etc?
While the minutiae of language used is relevant, how about we examine the messaging being used by various players, especially the MOH and the GP's association, to try and ascertain just why folks are not being tested?
It may be just that one of the rabid rats wrestling inside his skull just farted, or it may be laying the groundwork for trying to delegitimise the election results.
An individual, generally male, who says offensive things, either sexist, racist, or otherwise bigoted, and decides based on the reaction of those around them whether or not they were kidding.
Negatives reactions generally dismissed as, "Can't youse guys take a joke?" or "Get a life!" or "It was a joke, geddit?"or "Gedda sensa huma." Yeah, met those guys quite often.
Maybe that's what Bob Jones said the Left had no sense of humour?
Negatives reactions generally dismissed as, "Can't youse guys take a joke?" or "Get a life!" or "It was a joke, geddit?"or "Gedda sensa huma." Yeah, met those guys quite often.
Maybe that's what Bob Jones meant when he said the Left had no sense of humour?
There's a sub-category who dig themselves in deeper by attempting to reference objective criteria as proof that they were kidding – such as eyebrow movements.
I know this is a Labour leaning blog, but I hope a lot of progressive voters look at where the Greens are sitting right now and decide to give them their party vote.
Labour is doing amazingly well this term and rightly deserves the support they are getting, but that won't last forever. Currently their at-risk voters are people who normally lean center right; think your investment bankers, professional landlords, and tax lawyers etc. This support won't last forever, it won't take much for them to go back to their natural home of National.
If as a result of Labour's stratospheric polling, the Greens fall below the 5% threshold, it will make it very hard for them to get back into parliament in the future. A future where Labour again will need coalition partners, and may find itself in the position National found itself in 2017.
So hopefully some progressive voters consider giving their party vote to the greens to ensure we keep the amazing talent on their list such as Marama, James, Chloe, and Eugenie. All amazing MPs who would have great contributions to make to future parliaments
I've always assumed that you are part of the rural farming community – perhaps wrongly. But do you think these facebook memes are going pretty much to the rural sector?
Yip probably is coming from mostly the thar hunting and high country farming lot at the moment. I'm to far removed to know If Sage is out to kill off to many thar and drive farmers out of the high country.
But that's were the anger is coming from.
Personally It doesn't bother me if they cull the thar ,and I've always hated tenure review.
(I’m a shepherd but think a bit different to most of my peers from what I see)
Those big hearted sons of the soil would be deepl hurt if they can't pick up public land for a song and sell the subdivisions for bags o money. They'd have to make placards about pretty communists, the poor little weaselfaced shitters.
Well said Devo….and with the RMA about to be dumped we desperately need Greens in parliament and on the select committee that writes the legislation that replaces it.
Exactly right. My vote’s natural home is Labour, plus I feel I owe a huge thanks for the Gov’s Covid effort. But, strategically and for the environment, it would be a disaster for the Greens to go below 5%. No question. So party vote Green for me, electorate vote Banks Peninsula Labour.
Of course that "tax is love" stuff was going to be mocked, what a dumb decision. They should get a bit rowdy and say something like, 'we won't tax you – well tax *them* (the billionaires)'.
But the released policy is actually pretty good, and necessary.
rugged individualism for some and for other its just cult behaviour. Also Louie Gohmert is one of the dumbest man ever elected to office. He is however a good Standard bearer and will do as he is told, which in the republican party is what counts.
The girlfriend of Trump the younger is also afflicted with Covid. Have not heard from her for about two weeks now.
Yes there is a lot of really stupid people about when it comes to this virus. In the US but also here.
6. Yes, Not all medical people are "Concerned" But any patient can ask for a second opinion. That may be why the Dr. offered the testing station, which should have been offered by the health line imo.
Rosemary, this didn’t link for some reason.
With New Zealand’s average national house price now over $700,000, the heirs of home-owning boomers (as well as people born before 1945 whose significant wealth is often overlooked) will receive a currently untaxed bonanza.
Ignoring this unprecedented transfer of wealth from people who no longer need it to people who haven’t earned it would be absurd. But equitable tax policy must first overcome political timidity and rhetoric.
…
Taxing a person’s wealth when they no longer need it, provided a reasonable exemption is made to support dependants, has been usual since Roman times. In the modern era, inter-generational wealth was seen as eminently taxable, too. Indeed, progressive tax rates were applied to estate taxes before they were first used for income taxes.
…
The arguments against estate taxes are well rehearsed – usually accompanied by emotive references to “death taxes”. But, in the long term, the current ideological opposition to taxing inter-generational wealth transfers may prove to be an anomaly.
We do have a form of means testing already in NZ where we recognise that ownership of assets can be a reason to reduce or even deny a subsidy. I think of rates rebates and state assistance into residential care as examples.
Tax on wealth is the basis of Muslim countries’ practice where taxation is actually predicated on certain asset holdings.
NZ also examines transfer of wealth while the giver is still alive in circumstances such as assistance into residential care.
The asset and income-from-assets thresholds for the Residential Care Subsidy have been increased as of July 1. For eligibility, go to the Work and Income website at http://www.workandincome.govt.nz
So, the concept is not unknown and could easily be investigated as a means of funding social expenditure for all as a taxation measure.
All the money spent on the report only to discover that the SAS raid was carried out in a lawful and professional manner and the only real issue was how the military dealt with the allegations after the event. Nice use of taxpayers money there.
Gosman, in the report very recent in RNZ news, did the Minister of Defence of the time also get mentioned, and in what way?
Your comment makes it look like only the military personnel were criticised.
In the earlier report that I have cited above, the Minister said d he did not have information as to whether, and if so how many, civilians died.
That is surely one good reason for investigation.
It's also good to have the military accountable.
It's also good to have the incident investigated for the reputation of the NZ military, and to have it seemingly exonerated.
On another but related issue of reports and wastage of time and money, have you noted that the National Party has still not publicly released its report into its own culture and practice around bullying?
Since they are being held accountable by the electors in a few weeks time………
The military is a law unto itself command and Control no dissenters,That's the ethos of the military that's why discipline is the ultimate weapon break down individuality breakdown any dissention.Your job is to do and die without any questions. Whistleblowers are not treated kindly look at how the NZDF treated a Women soldier who was sexually harassed and abused by a senior ranking man.
The Defence force continued to pursue her for court cost's until the PM stepped in an put an end to the mysoginist hierarchy debt pursuit ,another round of bullying on top of the humiliation.
"…The Inquiry process was highly unequal. NZDF and other government agencies spent millions of dollars of public money trying to deny any wrongdoing, while the authors and public were not allowed to analyse and contest the agencies’ secret submissions and evidence." – Nicky Hager
Someone, (you Gosman?) should notify the taxpayers union of this egregious waste of your taxes.
Fascists, they accuse others of what they are about to do. It's part of the mind fuck that keeps people anxious, agitated and confused. When 45 says the election in November will be the most corrupt in US history, he's stating intention. But if he does crazy shit now, back and forth on his position, blames others and so on, it creates an atmosphere whereby they can monkey wrench the process to suit themselves.
Take to the streets US people, while you still can.
Scaremongering headline currently on nzherald.co.nz "'Get tested immediately': Spectre of community transmission in Queenstown"
The story relates to the South Korean traveller who tested positive in South Korea after travelling from Auckland via a 12 hour transit at Changi Airport in Singapore (where the virus is rife). Turns out that he was in Queenstown BETWEEN JULY 1 AND JULY 4 (i.e. yes, a month ago) He left the country over two weeks later on 21 July and tested positive a few days after that once he was back home. NZME trying to whip South Islanders into a frenzy over that?
Anyone who was in Queenstown from July 1 to 4 and has since developed Covid-19 symptoms should get tested immediately, health authorities say.
don't see that as fearmongering but rather a sensible thing. It seems like there is a certain amount of people in this country that want a Covid outbreak. Maybe they just feel left out in the general mess the world is in.
Exactly Sacha. Yes we do want to get our community testing numbers up, and anyone anywhere in the country who develops Covid-19 symptoms should be able to access a test to achieve that.
But in reality there's no "spectre" of anything. All of his housemates in Auckland (where he lived up to the time he departed the country) have tested negative. There was almost three weeks (longer than the recognised incubation period) between him leaving Queenstown and departing the country. He travelled on two international flights and transited through Singapore where Covid is rife. Doesn't take a genius to work out what almost certainly happened, but the inability to prove a negative is more than enough fodder for NZME to go spooking the horses.
Your claim Covid is rife in Singapore is incorrect, it is migrant dormitories which have been isolated so not much chance of picking it up in the general population it may pay to read the Singapore Covid situation before creating unnecessary hysteria .
Mostly in the migrant dorms yes, but community cases are being picked up in Singapore on a daily basis . Further, Changi Airport is a major international hub, so he would have potentially come into contact with travellers from all over the world while in transit.
Balance this against the possibility of him having picked Covid up from an unknown source in New Zealand over a month ago and seeded it in Queenstown while he was infectious, even though there hasn't been a single detected community case in the whole country in the last three months despite test numbers in the hundreds of thousands over that time. It's not impossible (not much is), but surely no more than a remote/trivial prospect.
By all means, out of an abundance of caution clean the public places he visited (although my understanding is that the virus has been proven to live on hard surfaces for up to 72 hours so if that's correct the risk of picking it up from surfaces he touched has long expired). But banner headlines trumping the "spectre of community transmission in Queenstown" is what is hysterical here.
“New Zealand's estimated almost $50 billion tax deficit could be paid by rich people keen to move here, multi-millionaire Australian investor Mark Carnegie says. who as of late last year is a resident in NZ,
He said NZ had an improving position in the market for rich people.
I would be taxing the rich foreigners. But I understand that maybe New Zealand says no.”
No Mr Carnegie, you obviously have no sense of New Zealand’s history. We are not open to nor need the rich of the world to come and rape, pillage and buy up our land to live the indulgent life of a rich man, now that New Zealand is a developed country.
In a way he might be onto something. I'm absolutely not interested in giving any form of citizenship or residency or voting rights to the rich.
But hey we could raffle/auction a very limited number of places that gave a minimal right to live here for say 1-2 years, no voting no donating to any political party or charity or advertising,no buying any assets or houses or anything or having a payroll over a certain amount – so very limited in country spending and a top dollar payment for any use of social assets, schools etc. So no attempts whatsoever to change the local environment heads need to be kept right down
I find it interesting that commentators have failed to acknowledge that the Rise of Act is at the disadvantage of National, and/or possibly NZF, they are not new voters coming from nowhere.
If National does increase its support, Act will most likely be the party to see support shed away from them.
Dunne really has no idea, he probably thinks support for Labour will fall the closer to election we get
There would have to a seismic shift in support that could only occur from a significant issue, which is possible, but highly unlikely given the last few weeks of "significant issues".
I think we may have already had more than a fair share of "Significant Issues" to deal with and every Political Party is conscious of this and will be very cautious leading upto the election.
I'm listening to you on RNZ Checkpoint, and may I say JUST how adult and Victor Mature you handled things.
Truly!!!! I feel your pain and sincerely hope it doesn't affect the credibility you've built up over the years going forward, and that the MSM will continue to engage you with your commentary and words of wisdom on any incisive currant fears rent-a-voice slot in future.
I just can't recall, or even remember what caused me to fail to recall about something as serious a matter I should have been intimately involved with. May I say I feel the pain as you search your soul and you wrestle with the hows and whys of how all this happened. Truly, the load must be horrendous!
Perhaps you could discuss it all with Chelle if the pain becomes too unbearable.
I'm (me me me) so utterly devastated by this sorry LITTLE episode I've had to pour myself a stiff G & T, and I'm going to have to seek solace in the bosom of Mrs OnceWasTim.
War as you know @Tony, is a dreadful, dreadful thing – especially the ones we have no business in.
Really, I don't know how I'M going to recover from all this! I was thinking maybe I should have Mrs OnceWasTim run up something on the Elna and select something from online Walmart as a token of our sorrow for the family.
Such a devastating thing to have happened and to have affected the Honour of OUR defence force in such a way.
You would be amazed Sacha what terrible memories these high flyers have when it comes to recalling the past – even the immediate past.
I remember a personal experience while working on an RNZAF base in the late 1980s when my boss arranged for a stoutish bloke in a blue satin fancy dress (motor cycle outfit) to visit him with what proved to be a recording device. (I witnessed the piece of drama through a slightly open door.) Five minutes after the stout man left, the regional boss turned up and I was called into the office and confronted by them. The aim of the exercise had been to implicate myself – on tape – because they were convinced I was a Labour Govt. spy. I never did find out who I was reporting to… whether it was David Lange himself or one of his ministers. I would be deeply disappointed if it was only a minion MP.
When I reported the matter to their masters in Wellington, neither of them had any recollection of the incident. I was made to apologise to them.
I eventually demanded an interview with the General Manager of the Govt. agency I worked for (now an SOE) and he sent a senior official to interview me. A few days after that interview the Regional Manager was sacked. Further down the track – after I left the Public Service – the base boss was also sacked.
A complicated and intriguing story involving a little bit of everything.
I would have been tempted to make up an elaborate story – but I guess the Urewera raids show that ridiculous exaggeration is not necessarily enough protection when they're determined to get you.
Not wishing to sound patronising @Anne, just view them as the same smelly farts floating around in a time and space continuum as any other egotistically-driven specimens – such as rival gangs intent on duking it out in whatever they perceive as their next battle to conquer.
The only difference is they have the apparatus of state behind them and usually bigger egos and sense of self-importance.
Just as pathetic. Avoid any and all of them if and when they come begging for a shoulder to cry on – even if you have the misfortune to be related to any of them.
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This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
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 ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
In 1995, Sally Clark went out on her own in a bold and unorthodox attempt to join an illustrious group of equestrian riders conquering the world. In the days of glovebox road maps, brick cell phones, and the hit song How Bizarre, Clark refused to follow Sir Mark Todd, Blyth ...
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Heather Roy on Checkpoint yesterday was trotting out the centre right’s line that Labour won’t/can’t win a majority because no party ever does in NZ, except for the 1951 election which was held in extraordinary circumstances, dominated by the waterfront dispute. She was somehow conveniently managing to ignore the circumstances around this election which make 1951 look like a walk in the park.
I've heard that notion about something 'not going to happen because it's not happened before.'
It's a ridiculous argument. Nothing ever happens until it happens for the first time.
We are in at least a big a crisis as 1951.
A very fair chance of a Labour-only Cabinet.
With comfortable side agreements if necessary.
.
Might be an idea for Ardern to downplay the prospect of governing alone.
At the same point in the run up to the 2002 General Election, the Clark-led Labour Party was sitting on precisely the same rating (53%) in the Colmar Brunton … only to fall 12 points to 41% by Election Day.
NZES analysis suggests that Clark's initial decision to campaign vigorously for a one-Party Govt (on the basis of stability & her personal popularity) alienated voters (particularly on the Left) … seen as arrogant, dictatorial & a reversion to old-fashioned FPP-thinking. (Campaign Mini-scandals Corngate & Paintergate simply reinforced this mood). A hefty chunk of intending Labour voters subsequently swung elsewhere … first & foremost into non-voting. Luckily for the party, the Nats' plunge was even steeper.
Whenever NZES polls on attitudes to the Electoral System, it always finds substantial majority support for MMP & Coalition Govt among Left voters & majority support for FPP & single-Party Govt among Nat supporters.
Hence, while many of the 400k newly-acquired former Nats might be more comfortable with a sole Labour Govt … to hold on to a sizeable segment of core Labour voters, Ardern may just need to downplay any sense of arrogance or entitlement around the issue.
Interesting info swordfish. I hope the upper echelons listen – wouldn't want problems with the seals when the spaceship gets into the rarefied air, no D-ring or O-ring malfunctions.
1951 was the last time it happened, but not the only time (1938 saw Labour with its highest ever result, 55%).
Another blow to the National Party "…a perkier state than most expected”…."
"As New Zealand closed its borders and prepared to go into level 4 lockdown, predictions of economic doom flew.
But four months on, economists say the situation is better than expected and many of those predictions have already been revised."
Mike Jones, an economist at ASB, said the economy had “bounced out of lockdown in a perkier state than most expected”.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/300070354/economists-might-have-to-concede-they-overestimated-negatives
maybe the economist have calculated this in their forecast, while the banker is just happy for the government to pay the wages for nigh on everyone in the country.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/421993/more-than-13-billion-paid-out-under-government-s-wage-subsidy-scheme
once that wage subsidy is running out there will be a clearer picture on how bad it is going to be. Until then the economy is currently fully prepped on the taxpayers dime, and i am sure this will cause any guys working for a bank to rejoice, often and loudly.
Too true, Robert.
House prices and the 'correction' that was going to occur. Here in the provinces, the sales are going gang-busters. Selling in under a week and above asking price.
Perhaps it is time to put the horoscopes in the news, they have as much relevance as these economists. Haruspication too. (Thanks Bill, I still have a smile when these financial forecasters pontificating).
Remember Bagrie was predicting petroleum hitting $3 per litre after the Saudi refinery attack!
Well there is another interesting word for my specimen board.
We're in a dead cat bounce.
thank you for highlighting this, dancing on the head of a pin, effort by economists. in my travels around middle NZ, people are VERY busy, and there is plenty of money being spent.I have long thought that most economists are fairly useless, and the last few months havent changed that opinion.none of their predictions of economic doom seem to have taken into account the very low interest rates currently, a factor in many people choosing to spend ,rather than letting money sit in term deposit ,getting basically nothing in interest. along with the low interest rates, we also had a big rise in benefits and the allowing of small building without permits. this last point probably flies past most on here, and definitley past 99.9% of economists, but go to your local demolition yard, or hardware supplier and ask them about building activity. all very busy. nothing like the economic standstill predicted by some, and hoped for by others.
Home renovations and cosmetic surgery are apparently popular replacements for overseas travel spending by those with enough money. However there are only so many kitchen and nose makeovers anyone can fit into a year, so we'll see where things land by 2021.
The wage subsidy is keeping us afloat here in Rotorua. Most businesses have already cut hours, closing early, not opening 7 days anymore etc. Some people have taking cuts to wages to ensure that all get to keep their jobs in one business – IT business. I can think of a few more towns like that in the North Island and the South Island.
Once that subsidy runs out and people are either still in a job or unemployed we will get to taste the real state of the economy.
Yes, Xmas will be grim.
this might make for interesting reading
that last number of people receiving the Covid – 19 Income Relief Payment aka the Covid Unemployment benefit will raise. And the 10580 people that are receiving it now will loose it within the next 8 odd weeks as it was only for a period of 12 weeks.
the comment of number of recipients of benefits having stabilized since may coincides wit the announcement of the extension of the wage subsidy for another 8 weeks of certain criteria is met.
There is unlimited house Reno's plus building there's still a massive shortage of housing and 100's of 1,000's of cold damp leaky building syndrome poorly constructed houses that need fixing.
How can renovations be "unlimited"?
By your imagination with cheap money around because of low interest people are renovating extending etc.House prices are going up while bank interest rates are at record lows.
I never mentioned borrowing. Only people with enough money not to worry about their immediate future will be spending, though the same group would be granted bank loans I guess.
Do you really want to know this Sacha? Or are just putting a spoke in?
I was asking how it is possible. Drop the attitude.
Cos the sky's the limit, buddy.
Use low quality materials that need replacing every few years?
Sacha, you obviously haven’t tried renovating an old Kiwi house!!!
well lets hope that someone forces the owners of these leaky houses to finally fix them. 🙂
and then that will save the economy! Yeah, right Tui.
And comments such has your don't help those who are still working under reduced hours, are full time yet still being paid 90,80 even 60%, are utilising annual leave but still expecting to achieve a 40 hour output, and still have the normal outgoings. And living with the fear of job loss should any resistance be given to these changes of working conditions.
Whilst there are some happy to point to the the economic data "telling" us all is good . Guess What IT ISN'T for many.
Like so many statistics that are used to support particular points of view "things are/are not getting better" People suffer, lost in the numbers.
House renovations are a good way to spend money. And some might think cosmetic surgery a good investment as did Paul Bennett – she has been well paid for years and no doubt made good contacts for future employment. They have noticed the spectacular changes in her profile and want one of those too.
My reckons is this time Labour scoop most of the expat vote as well.
Their families as well
Unfortunately that would doom the Greens to under 5%.
Collins cashing in Kiwisaver dumb idea criticized by business man on RNZ as highly risky with 58% of Small business failing in the first year.similar odds as a pokie machine.
National desperately flailing around policy on the hoof in the same mode as the party complete disarray.
Yes. Lets only give money to really big businesses that are to big to fail.
'Wat the man from the bank is not saying is that they really like to keep all that saved money in THEIR bank accounts, as otherwise some bank may go bust if they had to pay it all out.
But heck its just he people who saved into their Kiwi Saver Account that we can't entrust with THEIR OWN money, lest the small business taht they would like to create (cause sure beats unemployment) may fail. Never mind the 48% of small businesses that don't fail. Also lets not mention the fact that often the reason small businesses fail are bad lending when they started up with too high repayment rates a. and b. high leases, high compliance costs etc etc etc.
Go figure.
Act's polling success is due to the NZ First vote going to Act. Last election non Labour and non Green voters who were not that supportive of National mainly voted for NZ First to be a coalition partner for National. These voters are now punishing NZ First.
The Maori Party was punished by their voters favouring Labour.
Again, Natrad has GPs bemoaning the fact that patients are refusing to be tested for Covid 19 despite having symptoms.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/422409/doctors-worried-not-enough-testing-for-covid-19-happening
After an incident involving a close relative the other week I have been checking the MOH 'Covid 19 testing' webpage and up until the latest update on the 29th July the MOH message was that just having some of the symptoms was not necessarily grounds to be tested. Even now,
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-general-public/assessment-and-testing-covid-19
the criteria for testing is quite proscribed. Not exactly encouraging folks to be tested.
The incident involving a close family member involved headache, cough, sore throat and generally feeling like shit. Was advised to do the unthinkable(to our whanau) and go to the doctor and get tested…this person works in education and had very real concerns about possible contagion… Phonecalls to Healthline etc, and appointment made at large city medical centre, all the while describing symptoms and requesting a Covid test, just to be safe. Given a light mask at arrival (did phone before entering the building but was told to come on in) and was seen by the duty doctor. Who proceeded to discount the possibility of Covid19 and told the patient to attend the largely unused public testing centre 2 kms away if they really wanted a test. Issued a medical certificate for work but did not suggest self isolation until a negative test result was returned.
This was two weeks ago. Close family member did have the test….the brain scrape…and it returned a negative result.
So the doctor was right.
So the doctor was right.
Amazing, no? That the GP could tell without a test? That GP should be utilized to save $$$ on the actual Test.
So who should be tested? According to the MOH website….some or all of those symptoms and/or recent overseas travel or any possible contact with a recent traveler from overseas.
no the doctor took an educated guess – three month no community transmission – and based on that felt certain she may not have the disease.
He was not right. But he was proven right once a test was taken. Until then he was guessing to the detriment of your close relatives health.
And what if someone then dies because the doctor failed to correctly diagnose the illness? How many $$$ will save?
Your relative is doing the right thing by having a test, they are looking after the community by being tested.
I can be critical of health professionals and I am in this case because the duty doctor declined a test when they could not exclude the person being infected until tested.
Why are people refusing the test? is it because it is described by some as a 'brain scrape'? That it might hurt a little?
I had a Covid-19 test. A moment's discomfort.
As a male I had several DREs for prostate cancer. Again, discomfort but no bloody reason not to have the digital examination.
Indeed, it is not bloody helpful to discourage people with the language that we use. Rather, we should be supporting the people to have tests as it could be life saving for them, and in the case of Covid-19, life saving for others.
Personal pain, or discomfort, even if real and difficult, is not a reason to put others at risk, especially our seniors, of a particularly unpleasant death.
I have, as a cancer survivor, given talks on the need for testing. It saved my life. Eleven years later, I can still say that. I told a group of farmers that they'd get a vet in to check their livestock if they were concerned, so why not man up, accept s small discomfort and do themselves and their loved ones a favour by regular testing?
Most will, but those who frivolously make jokes or use off-putting language do not help the uncertain to do the correct thing.
Do people even refuse vaccination jabs because of the way it is described?
In my primary school days, the school dentist was known as 'the murder house'. At least we kids did know what an exaggeration that was, as the death toll was pretty low, even then with slow speed, grinding drills and the smell of burning meths in the air.
but those who frivolously make jokes or use off-putting language do not help the uncertain to do the correct thing.
Mary Poppins is a fictional character who also proposes sugar coating as a means to ensure the little ones comply with Doctors Orders.
But in the real world surely honesty is the best policy?
Tell folks the swab up the nostril does feel like a sample of brain tissue is being harvested…but that the discomfort is very transitory and it is for the greater good.
Treat us like responsible grown ups and perhaps we'll act like it?
@Rosemary, I had a test during L4. Wasn't keen on the idea at all because I'd heard several first-hand stories of 'pain' with the nose swab as opposed to brief discomfort. But given the circumstance and timing of symptoms that wasn't going to put me off.
Apart from gagging badly from the throat swabs, I didn't even feel the nose one. perhaps the nurse had it down to a fine art, or perhaps it's a matter of pain level tolerance, or perhaps it really is expecting the worse because of the off-putting language? I have a cold now that's getting worse, I know it's just a cold but if at some point another test is offered I'll take it (been travelling in long distance buses recently).
I do agree that with ANY medical procedure informed consent is first and foremost. Explain what's going to happen, and that some people (not everyone because it's NOT everyone) experience xyz. And be able to answer any follow-up questions in plain English to reassure.
I suspect it was the test taker's enthusiasm that gave the impression the swab was going to emerge above the whanau member's eyebrow. As you will know…some phlebotomists can take a blood sample with barely a bit of pressure. Others prod and poke around with a blunt needle until that bruise nicely extends from elbow-crook to wrist.
Hope your cold gets better…we've had various seasonal lurgees which we've hit with lots of vitamin C flushed down with lots of fluids. Just like Nana did.
To describe my experience aa a 'brain scrape' was a degree or two of magnitude too much. Of course we should be supportive and honest, but not to the extent of putting people off. Was your use of the 'brain scrape' meant to be gratuitously jocular, or be supportive and honest? Did it need to be said? To me that was un-useful information that also did not sit with my experience.
…use of the 'brain scrape' meant to be gratuitously jocular, or be supportive and honest?
Of course it was jocular…christ on a raft! … do you not think we could all do with a wee giggle now and again?
"Gratuitous"? Surely that is entirely subjective? One man's meat etc?
While the minutiae of language used is relevant, how about we examine the messaging being used by various players, especially the MOH and the GP's association, to try and ascertain just why folks are not being tested?
I liked “brain scrape” – it was so evocative of the process.
RWNJ go-to "just kidding"
https://twitter.com/JohnJHarwood/status/1288878470957760512
That will raise a few eyebrows, he thought…..
It may be just that one of the rabid rats wrestling inside his skull just farted, or it may be laying the groundwork for trying to delegitimise the election results.
schrodinger's douchebag: noun
An individual, generally male, who says offensive things, either sexist, racist, or otherwise bigoted, and decides based on the reaction of those around them whether or not they were kidding.
Negatives reactions generally dismissed as, "Can't youse guys take a joke?" or "Get a life!" or "It was a joke, geddit?"or "Gedda sensa huma." Yeah, met those guys quite often.
Maybe that's what Bob Jones said the Left had no sense of humour?
Negatives reactions generally dismissed as, "Can't youse guys take a joke?" or "Get a life!" or "It was a joke, geddit?"or "Gedda sensa huma." Yeah, met those guys quite often.
Maybe that's what Bob Jones meant when he said the Left had no sense of humour?
There's a sub-category who dig themselves in deeper by attempting to reference objective criteria as proof that they were kidding – such as eyebrow movements.
It was a joke eh
Boy that Trump has a wonderful sense of humour
I know this is a Labour leaning blog, but I hope a lot of progressive voters look at where the Greens are sitting right now and decide to give them their party vote.
Labour is doing amazingly well this term and rightly deserves the support they are getting, but that won't last forever. Currently their at-risk voters are people who normally lean center right; think your investment bankers, professional landlords, and tax lawyers etc. This support won't last forever, it won't take much for them to go back to their natural home of National.
If as a result of Labour's stratospheric polling, the Greens fall below the 5% threshold, it will make it very hard for them to get back into parliament in the future. A future where Labour again will need coalition partners, and may find itself in the position National found itself in 2017.
So hopefully some progressive voters consider giving their party vote to the greens to ensure we keep the amazing talent on their list such as Marama, James, Chloe, and Eugenie. All amazing MPs who would have great contributions to make to future parliaments
Tautoko Devo.
I hope a lot of actoids, gnats and nzfisters consider voting green. Those would be votes worth purloining.
The anti green memes are gathering pace on my fb feed .
Especially the loathing of Eugenie Sage so I cant see them getting any from the modern you suggest.
Maybe you had you eyebrow up when you wrote that .
I've always assumed that you are part of the rural farming community – perhaps wrongly. But do you think these facebook memes are going pretty much to the rural sector?
Yip probably is coming from mostly the thar hunting and high country farming lot at the moment. I'm to far removed to know If Sage is out to kill off to many thar and drive farmers out of the high country.
But that's were the anger is coming from.
Personally It doesn't bother me if they cull the thar ,and I've always hated tenure review.
(I’m a shepherd but think a bit different to most of my peers from what I see)
Those big hearted sons of the soil would be deepl hurt if they can't pick up public land for a song and sell the subdivisions for bags o money. They'd have to make placards about pretty communists, the poor little weaselfaced shitters.
Well said Devo….and with the RMA about to be dumped we desperately need Greens in parliament and on the select committee that writes the legislation that replaces it.
Completely agree.
It's fine to bring this up here, lots of green supporters, including those that voted Labour last time 😉
Exactly right. My vote’s natural home is Labour, plus I feel I owe a huge thanks for the Gov’s Covid effort. But, strategically and for the environment, it would be a disaster for the Greens to go below 5%. No question. So party vote Green for me, electorate vote Banks Peninsula Labour.
Spot on Devo. I intend to give my electorate vote to Labour, but my party vote to the Greens. In the hope they'll turn Labour 'left.'
Party Vote Green for a labour Labour government.
Yep. It’s party vote Green for me, Labour electorate.
Yes, same here in Cromwell (the invisible 30000 state houses Nat MP Jacqui Dean's electorate). Labour electorate vote and Green party vote for me.
Me too.
Of course that "tax is love" stuff was going to be mocked, what a dumb decision. They should get a bit rowdy and say something like, 'we won't tax you – well tax *them* (the billionaires)'.
But the released policy is actually pretty good, and necessary.
Herman Cain, prominent COVID denier and anti-mask wearer dies of Covid.
While I don't wish to speak ill of the dead… fucking idiot – this is what happens
thoughts and prayers.
Then there's that fucking nitwit Louie Gohmert who reckons he caught COVID from a mask.
There is something seriously sick in US politics
rugged individualism for some and for other its just cult behaviour. Also Louie Gohmert is one of the dumbest man ever elected to office. He is however a good Standard bearer and will do as he is told, which in the republican party is what counts.
The girlfriend of Trump the younger is also afflicted with Covid. Have not heard from her for about two weeks now.
Yes there is a lot of really stupid people about when it comes to this virus. In the US but also here.
Even a leader of his party is calling him Congressman Covid!
https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1288577803387117572?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1288577803387117572%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.salon.com%2F2020%2F07%2F30%2Fwatch-gop-house-leader-kevin-mccarthy-accidentally-calls-rep-louie-gohmert-congressman-covid_partner%2F
He went to the Trump campaign Rally wearing no mask where 7 other of the Trump administration were infected.
6. Yes, Not all medical people are "Concerned" But any patient can ask for a second opinion. That may be why the Dr. offered the testing station, which should have been offered by the health line imo.
Rosemary, this didn’t link for some reason.
Not allowed a CGT – how about taxing recipients of inherited unearned wealth instead?
https://theconversation.com/forget-a-capital-gains-tax-what-new-zealand-needs-is-a-tax-on-inherited-wealth-143604
We do have a form of means testing already in NZ where we recognise that ownership of assets can be a reason to reduce or even deny a subsidy. I think of rates rebates and state assistance into residential care as examples.
Tax on wealth is the basis of Muslim countries’ practice where taxation is actually predicated on certain asset holdings.
NZ also examines transfer of wealth while the giver is still alive in circumstances such as assistance into residential care.
The asset and income-from-assets thresholds for the Residential Care Subsidy have been increased as of July 1. For eligibility, go to the Work and Income website at http://www.workandincome.govt.nz
So, the concept is not unknown and could easily be investigated as a means of funding social expenditure for all as a taxation measure.
Jacinda has been named the world's most eloquent leader! She is certainly making her mark here and round the world.
Yes, and without even trying.
Just doing her job in a way that nearly every Kiwi agrees with.
Wow!
All the money spent on the report only to discover that the SAS raid was carried out in a lawful and professional manner and the only real issue was how the military dealt with the allegations after the event. Nice use of taxpayers money there.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/401305/ex-minister-knew-of-operation-burnham-report-but-didn-t-pass-information-on
Gosman, in the report very recent in RNZ news, did the Minister of Defence of the time also get mentioned, and in what way?
Your comment makes it look like only the military personnel were criticised.
In the earlier report that I have cited above, the Minister said d he did not have information as to whether, and if so how many, civilians died.
That is surely one good reason for investigation.
It's also good to have the military accountable.
It's also good to have the incident investigated for the reputation of the NZ military, and to have it seemingly exonerated.
On another but related issue of reports and wastage of time and money, have you noted that the National Party has still not publicly released its report into its own culture and practice around bullying?
Since they are being held accountable by the electors in a few weeks time………
The military is a law unto itself command and Control no dissenters,That's the ethos of the military that's why discipline is the ultimate weapon break down individuality breakdown any dissention.Your job is to do and die without any questions. Whistleblowers are not treated kindly look at how the NZDF treated a Women soldier who was sexually harassed and abused by a senior ranking man.
The Defence force continued to pursue her for court cost's until the PM stepped in an put an end to the mysoginist hierarchy debt pursuit ,another round of bullying on top of the humiliation.
Not so fast Gosman
https://twitter.com/BarristerNZ/status/1288987015195906049?s=20
The report is here:
https://www.operationburnham.inquiry.govt.nz/inquiry-report/
And speaking of money
"…The Inquiry process was highly unequal. NZDF and other government agencies spent millions of dollars of public money trying to deny any wrongdoing, while the authors and public were not allowed to analyse and contest the agencies’ secret submissions and evidence." – Nicky Hager
Someone, (you Gosman?) should notify the taxpayers union of this egregious waste of your taxes.
Worth finding out that they're a pack of liars and a certain ex minister apparently has brain damage.
Fascists, they accuse others of what they are about to do. It's part of the mind fuck that keeps people anxious, agitated and confused. When 45 says the election in November will be the most corrupt in US history, he's stating intention. But if he does crazy shit now, back and forth on his position, blames others and so on, it creates an atmosphere whereby they can monkey wrench the process to suit themselves.
Take to the streets US people, while you still can.
but her fucking emails.
yep.
Scaremongering headline currently on nzherald.co.nz "'Get tested immediately': Spectre of community transmission in Queenstown"
The story relates to the South Korean traveller who tested positive in South Korea after travelling from Auckland via a 12 hour transit at Changi Airport in Singapore (where the virus is rife). Turns out that he was in Queenstown BETWEEN JULY 1 AND JULY 4 (i.e. yes, a month ago) He left the country over two weeks later on 21 July and tested positive a few days after that once he was back home. NZME trying to whip South Islanders into a frenzy over that?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12352575
first line from your link.
don't see that as fearmongering but rather a sensible thing. It seems like there is a certain amount of people in this country that want a Covid outbreak. Maybe they just feel left out in the general mess the world is in.
'Spectre' may have been the problem.
Exactly Sacha. Yes we do want to get our community testing numbers up, and anyone anywhere in the country who develops Covid-19 symptoms should be able to access a test to achieve that.
But in reality there's no "spectre" of anything. All of his housemates in Auckland (where he lived up to the time he departed the country) have tested negative. There was almost three weeks (longer than the recognised incubation period) between him leaving Queenstown and departing the country. He travelled on two international flights and transited through Singapore where Covid is rife. Doesn't take a genius to work out what almost certainly happened, but the inability to prove a negative is more than enough fodder for NZME to go spooking the horses.
Your claim Covid is rife in Singapore is incorrect, it is migrant dormitories which have been isolated so not much chance of picking it up in the general population it may pay to read the Singapore Covid situation before creating unnecessary hysteria .
Fact please not hysterical fiction .
Mostly in the migrant dorms yes, but community cases are being picked up in Singapore on a daily basis . Further, Changi Airport is a major international hub, so he would have potentially come into contact with travellers from all over the world while in transit.
Balance this against the possibility of him having picked Covid up from an unknown source in New Zealand over a month ago and seeded it in Queenstown while he was infectious, even though there hasn't been a single detected community case in the whole country in the last three months despite test numbers in the hundreds of thousands over that time. It's not impossible (not much is), but surely no more than a remote/trivial prospect.
By all means, out of an abundance of caution clean the public places he visited (although my understanding is that the virus has been proven to live on hard surfaces for up to 72 hours so if that's correct the risk of picking it up from surfaces he touched has long expired). But banner headlines trumping the "spectre of community transmission in Queenstown" is what is hysterical here.
“New Zealand's estimated almost $50 billion tax deficit could be paid by rich people keen to move here, multi-millionaire Australian investor Mark Carnegie says. who as of late last year is a resident in NZ,
He said NZ had an improving position in the market for rich people.
I would be taxing the rich foreigners. But I understand that maybe New Zealand says no.”
Paraphrased from https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12352616
No Mr Carnegie, you obviously have no sense of New Zealand’s history. We are not open to nor need the rich of the world to come and rape, pillage and buy up our land to live the indulgent life of a rich man, now that New Zealand is a developed country.
In a way he might be onto something. I'm absolutely not interested in giving any form of citizenship or residency or voting rights to the rich.
But hey we could raffle/auction a very limited number of places that gave a minimal right to live here for say 1-2 years, no voting no donating to any political party or charity or advertising,no buying any assets or houses or anything or having a payroll over a certain amount – so very limited in country spending and a top dollar payment for any use of social assets, schools etc. So no attempts whatsoever to change the local environment heads need to be kept right down
No bids under a billion dollars to start.
He's bought a 6 mill property in the Sth Island with a covenanted area of bush, rare powelliphanta snails and coastal forest
I hope he appreciates what he's bought.The previous owner had lived there for a long time and the covenant was a labour of love.
It seems he will commute between here and Aus.
We're getting a bit saturated with billionaires .
Bless. Tourism industry still reckons everything will be the same as before. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/422432/long-term-harm-feared-if-tourism-training-cuts-go-ahead
If I had a subscription to this employer group I'd cancel it pronto. This lot should get the dumb business leader of the week award.
And really how dare they stuff around with young people's futures and suggest they wrack up debt for the benefit of a no job industry
heh
https://twitter.com/TheEpicDept/status/1288820355960799233
Wow! The contradictions of the modern American right laid bare in one short video.
Here's another artivle on the recent polls.
This one includes comments from Peter Dunne.
I find it interesting that commentators have failed to acknowledge that the Rise of Act is at the disadvantage of National, and/or possibly NZF, they are not new voters coming from nowhere.
If National does increase its support, Act will most likely be the party to see support shed away from them.
Dunne really has no idea, he probably thinks support for Labour will fall the closer to election we get
There would have to a seismic shift in support that could only occur from a significant issue, which is possible, but highly unlikely given the last few weeks of "significant issues".
I think we may have already had more than a fair share of "Significant Issues" to deal with and every Political Party is conscious of this and will be very cautious leading upto the election.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/422430/new-political-poll-assessing-the-fortunes-of-the-minor-parties
hooboy
https://twitter.com/Techno_Fog/status/1289013082577080320
https://twitter.com/FrankMcRae/status/1289005736568094721
However..
https://twitter.com/Economissive/status/1289008142638919680
@Wayne
I'm listening to you on RNZ Checkpoint, and may I say JUST how adult and Victor Mature you handled things.
Truly!!!! I feel your pain and sincerely hope it doesn't affect the credibility you've built up over the years going forward, and that the MSM will continue to engage you with your commentary and words of wisdom on any incisive currant fears rent-a-voice slot in future.
I just can't recall, or even remember what caused me to fail to recall about something as serious a matter I should have been intimately involved with. May I say I feel the pain as you search your soul and you wrestle with the hows and whys of how all this happened. Truly, the load must be horrendous!
Perhaps you could discuss it all with Chelle if the pain becomes too unbearable.
Ha ha! Wayne Mapp on Checkpoint suffering from the same disease Key so often suffered from: "I can't remember!"
Edit: snap – OnceWasTim and Sacha
I'm (me me me) so utterly devastated by this sorry LITTLE episode I've had to pour myself a stiff G & T, and I'm going to have to seek solace in the bosom of Mrs OnceWasTim.
War as you know @Tony, is a dreadful, dreadful thing – especially the ones we have no business in.
Really, I don't know how I'M going to recover from all this! I was thinking maybe I should have Mrs OnceWasTim run up something on the Elna and select something from online Walmart as a token of our sorrow for the family.
Such a devastating thing to have happened and to have affected the Honour of OUR defence force in such a way.
You would be amazed Sacha what terrible memories these high flyers have when it comes to recalling the past – even the immediate past.
I remember a personal experience while working on an RNZAF base in the late 1980s when my boss arranged for a stoutish bloke in a blue satin fancy dress (motor cycle outfit) to visit him with what proved to be a recording device. (I witnessed the piece of drama through a slightly open door.) Five minutes after the stout man left, the regional boss turned up and I was called into the office and confronted by them. The aim of the exercise had been to implicate myself – on tape – because they were convinced I was a Labour Govt. spy. I never did find out who I was reporting to… whether it was David Lange himself or one of his ministers. I would be deeply disappointed if it was only a minion MP.
When I reported the matter to their masters in Wellington, neither of them had any recollection of the incident. I was made to apologise to them.
This is a true story. I kid you not.
Doesn't surprise me in the slightest @ Anne. Did any of them happen to be promoted sideways doing the dirty work in the spook service?
I eventually demanded an interview with the General Manager of the Govt. agency I worked for (now an SOE) and he sent a senior official to interview me. A few days after that interview the Regional Manager was sacked. Further down the track – after I left the Public Service – the base boss was also sacked.
A complicated and intriguing story involving a little bit of everything.
I would have been tempted to make up an elaborate story – but I guess the Urewera raids show that ridiculous exaggeration is not necessarily enough protection when they're determined to get you.
Not wishing to sound patronising @Anne, just view them as the same smelly farts floating around in a time and space continuum as any other egotistically-driven specimens – such as rival gangs intent on duking it out in whatever they perceive as their next battle to conquer.
The only difference is they have the apparatus of state behind them and usually bigger egos and sense of self-importance.
Just as pathetic. Avoid any and all of them if and when they come begging for a shoulder to cry on – even if you have the misfortune to be related to any of them.