Open mike 31/01/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 31st, 2016 - 116 comments
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openmikeOpen mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

116 comments on “Open mike 31/01/2016 ”

  1. vto 1

    David Shearer. Really, what a fuck up. Fucked up his time in the chair. Now continuing. Fuck off.

    Phil Goff. Same.

    Pricks and selfish assholes.

    (apologies for the required language on a sunday morning)

    • BM 1.1

      What have they done now?

      • vto 1.1.1

        TPPA – Transgressed Party Political Arrangements.

        • BM 1.1.1.1

          I reckon Shearer should become a independent.

          Cut a deal with National in exchange for some overseas position.

          • Stuart Munro 1.1.1.1.1

            He’d do better to hit up Helen – like Goff he’s better out of the country.

          • Naturesong 1.1.1.1.2

            Why?

            He’s, much more useful to National staying where he is.

            • BM 1.1.1.1.2.1

              National needs another vote to get the RMA changes done.

              Maybe Shearer could be that vote?

              • Lanthanide

                Only the whipped National MPs and puppet party ACT have any interest in the type of RMA reforms National are trying to ram through.

                • BM

                  Could be Shearers meal ticket.

                  Lets be honest, he knows his days are numbered with in Labour, he really only has three options.

                  1) Leave and retire from politics

                  2) Start another party

                  3) Do a deal with National.

                  • Lanthanide

                    Why are his days numbered? He holds a safe electorate seat, and Labour seem incapable of shifting electorate dead-wood on.

                    • BM

                      So, if Shearer doesn’t want to go, there’s nothing the party or the members can do to get rid of him?

                    • weka

                      Apparently not. He can be ejected from the party if he does something bad enough to warrant that, but they can’t take his seat from him. Which is probably fair given people actually voted for him not just the party.

              • Even Shearer isn’t that stupid.

              • Paul

                Mt Albert needs to deselect him.

          • Lanthanide 1.1.1.1.3

            Then he wouldn’t be an independent MP for very long, would he?

            National managed to find a plum job for Shane Jones while he was a Labour MP, don’t see why Shearer would need to go independent first.

    • Muttonbird 1.2

      Shearer is pretty loose alright.

      But I suspect Phil Goff, Labour, and National have done some sort of deal. Goff’s leaving anyway and I think the Nats know they can’t win Auckland and have buttered Goff up to smooth that particular ride in exchange for visible and actual support on the TPP. Labour have agreed, losing a battle to win the war in Auckland where I think they’ll expect Goff to do some heavy lifting for them nationally on social issues.

      The Nats will insist of course that Goff sells Auckland’s assets to their rich mates once he’s in the role to pay for the CRL.

      • vto 1.2.1

        Yeah, who in the general public cares what Shearer thinks of the TPPA anyway?

        Nobody.

        So why did he do it?

        Shearer really does need to leave.

        Otherwise he will bumblef%#k again on the next big thing… what a goober

  2. Gangnam Style 2

    Unfettered Neolib capitalism, doncha just love it! http://michaelmoore.com/10FactsOnFlint/ “A few months after Governor Snyder removed Flint from the clean fresh water we had been drinking for decades, the brass from General Motors went to him and complained that the Flint River water was causing their car parts to corrode when being washed on the assembly line. The Governor was appalled to hear that GM property was being damaged, so he jumped through a number of hoops and quietly spent $440,000 to hook GM back up to the Lake Huron water, while keeping the rest of Flint on the Flint River water. Which means that while the children in Flint were drinking lead-filled water, there was one — and only one — address in Flint that got clean water: the GM factory.”

  3. Rosemary McDonald 3

    The Herald this morning carries an article about a young woman called Juliana Carvalho.

    Juliana is from Brazil, and has been living and working here in New Zealand since 2012.

    She has family here, two siblings and her mother, and another two siblings (one a doctor) plan to move to New Zealand next year.

    Juliana is an accomplished writer, film maker and launched a TV show in Brazil.

    She is working full time…did I say that already?….and yet…

    …she has been told she is not wanted in New Zealand and she has to return to Brazil.

    Why?

    She has a disability and uses a wheelchair.

    This government HATES disabled people.

    I met Juliana once. This was at the 2014 Health and Disability Conference in 2014.

    My partner and I were having a two person protest against the lack of accountability when disabled people have been neglected to death in care of Contracted Providers.

    As expected, we were shunned by the government funded ‘advocates’ attending this white table cloth conference….but Juliana, bless her, came over to speak with us and find out what we were protesting about.

    I wish there was something we could do to help her.

    Kia Kaha, Juliana.

    This government HATES disabled people….did I say that already?

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11582384

    • pete 3.1

      No not just this government, sadly I think there I long history of this regardless of who is in power.

      In this case, surely the basic human right of equal treatment should apply.

      Pity the Labour Party wouldn’t stop hugging scum bag criminals long enough to actually stand up for the human rights of decent people. If they did, the would once again get my vote.

      • Rosemary McDonald 3.1.1

        “No not just this government, sadly I think there I long history of this regardless of who is in power.”

        This government has ramped the hate up to a new level…but you are right…Labour was not much better.

        Under Labour…the ‘deserving disabled’, the ones under ACC certainly felt more secure, but the rest had to battle and manipulate the system to get the supports they needed.

        At the last election I emailed all opposition parties about their policy on one particular disability issue.

        Got no satisfactory answer from any of them.

        So I voted for no one. (a little contribution to the ‘stupid folk who don’t vote’ conversation the was had on TS yesterday!)

        As you say pete…it is about treating all people as equals.

        Apart from disabled people…as far as I know, few protections against hate speech or other forms of discrimination and persecution.

        • weka 3.1.1.1

          The only people that got called stupid yesterday where those that don’t vote as a way of changing National policy. Is that why you didn’t vote?

          • pete 3.1.1.1.1

            I have absolutely no idea what the significance of ‘yetsrday’ is. Nor do I care.

            And please do not make assumptions about what I did or did not do. Your kind of personal abuse is what undermines sites like this.

            Please return to your bedroom and your computer and be a big anonymous hero all on your own. Pathetic.

            • weka 3.1.1.1.1.1

              Pete, none of the comments I have made are anything to do with you or about you. My last comment was in reply to Rosemary and her point about a conversation that was happening on the standard yesterday. I was just clarifying what happened and asking Rosemary (not you) where she fitted in with the clarification.

              I’m not sure what to make of your comments about abuse given you then go on to be rude and mean.

            • Lanthanide 3.1.1.1.1.2

              pete, weka was directly replying to Rosemary, who both referenced a conversation that was on The Standard yesterday and she also said she didn’t vote.

              Your attacks on weka are entirely unfounded and unwarranted. Also I don’t think I’ve ever seen weka personally insult anyone, which is something I don’t think I can say about any other regular commenter on TS (actually maybe Mickey and r0b, but I think even they get fed up with the trolls sometimes).

            • fender 3.1.1.1.1.3

              Your disgust shouldn’t be directed at Weka. She is one of the best commenters here, as you must know if you have spent any time here.

          • Rosemary McDonald 3.1.1.1.2

            weka…I follow such discussions with a liberal dose of detachment now.

            Ask me….”what would encourage you to vote?”

            weka, I’ll vote when there is a candidate worth voting for, and a party with definite policies that fit with my principles.

            (and since the electoral office has finally caught up with me after a mere 33 years of non enrollment…I’ll vote against the flag change.)

            (I would have voted for Marilyn Waring…but she quit. Kinda convinced me that integrity and politics do not make good bedfellows.)

            I’ll vote for the party that allows Juliana permanent residency.

            • Lanthanide 3.1.1.1.2.1

              Right, so apparently you’ve never voted in 33 years, then?

              For someone who is politically aware to have chosen not to vote for 33 years, rather relegates them into a very, very small minority of the public. People in this group will likely have such incredibly diverse rationales for not voting that it’d be a massive sunk cost attempting to wring votes out of that group (and focussing those resources on such a minority would result in a net loss of votes from the mainstream who go elsewhere).

              • Rosemary McDonald

                “For someone who is politically aware to have chosen not to vote for 33 years, rather relegates them into a very, very small minority of the public.”

                That is one of the reasons I try and avoid those sorts of conversations…the premise seems to be that non voters are apathetic, ill informed, poorly educated and the rest.

                I grew up being cynical and skeptical of politics and politicians. Hard to shake off that influence.

                But it is liberating in a way, as one can be totally and utterly impartial political partywise.

                In the last election…Mana popped up on my radar…then they hopped into bed with KDC….seduced by the dollars.

                • One Anonymous Bloke

                  incredibly diverse rationale the premise seems to be that non voters are apathetic, ill informed, poorly educated.

                  Although it might be argued that you’re providing a pertinent example.

                  • Rosemary McDonald

                    OAB… you never fail to proffer you very own special type of support.

                    Thank you.

                • Mana weren’t seduced by the dollars at all – they may have been seduced by the thought of getting a few MP’s in and changing the face of politics for the better though

            • weka 3.1.1.1.2.2

              Fair enough Rosemary. There was just a bit of misrepresentation happening yesterday about what I actually meant and I didn’t want that carrying on again in another thread so felt I needed to say something. Not wanting to derail the conversation.

              Marilyn Waring would have been tricky back in the day, because she was a National MP. If the election weren’t close I might have voted for her too. It’s interesting to consider what party she would be in now.

        • pete 3.1.1.2

          Yes this sort of thing really annoys me. If Julianna deserves to stay or not, absolutely should be solely on whether she offers a net benefit to NZ or not (and from what you say it appears she would).

          If they made a judgement based on her colour, we all would be appalled, quite rightly. Yet disabled? Same discrimination yet somehow acceptable to many.

          • weka 3.1.1.2.1

            From what I read, it’s not her disability (which isn’t costing the state anything), it’s her illness and the probability of her costing the state over her lifetime over and above what other people would.

            I agree it should be about the net benefit. Forty odd thousand dollars over her lifetime doesn’t seem like a lot of money given what she brings. But from what I can tell immigration is often based on economic benefit brought in rather than other benefits. And in this case that adds another level of prejudice to the case, because what she brings is probably not considered relevant because it’s of benefit to people with disabilities.

            • Rosemary McDonald 3.1.1.2.1.1

              “And in this case that adds another level of prejudice to the case, because what she brings is probably not considered relevant because it’s of benefit to people with disabilities.”

              Exactly.

              Now, what are we going to do about it?

              There are people here on TS who are members of various parties….come on…what is the story on this?

              Or do all parties have this vision of a ‘perfect’ New Zealand populated by ‘perfect’ people?

              • weka

                Unfortunately I would guess that immigration are acting consistently with the legislation, but it would be worth looking at policy and seeing how much discretion there is.

                How we decide who is valued to live here sucks but I think that’s a long term change rather than for one person. I hope she does well with the appeal and more media attention may help (??).

                the only party I can think that’s worth talking to is the Greens, because of Mathers and because they’re not anti-immigration.

            • Craig H 3.1.1.2.1.2

              Estimated cost is based on an independent Medical Assessor’s assessment of the medical certificates and usually a specialist report, and the threshold is $41,000 over 5 years.

              Paraplegia is automatically assessed as not being an Acceptable Standard of Health for residence (there is a list of conditions at A4.10.1 of the Immigration Instructions), so the cost was only relevant to the issue of whether or not to grant a medical waiver (waiving the requirement to be an Acceptable Standard of Health). Obviously INZ didn’t think a waiver was justified, hence the decision to decline the application (once the waiver was declined, there was no choice in the matter).

              From here, the Immigration and Protection Tribunal (IPT) will consider her appeal, and either uphold the decision or send it back for reassessment of the waiver. If they uphold the decision, IPT can recommend that the Minister of Immigration consider granting residence as an exception to instructions – that’s reasonably rare, but it happens.

              • weka

                Thanks! What are the criteria for a medical waiver?

                • Craig H

                  A4.70 Determination of whether a medical waiver should be granted (residence and temporary entry)

                  (a) Any decision to grant a medical waiver must be made by an immigration officer with Schedule 1-3 delegations (see A15.5).
                  (b) When determining whether a medical waiver should be granted, an immigration officer must consider the circumstances of the applicant to decide whether they are compelling enough to justify allowing entry to, and/or a stay in New Zealand.
                  (c) Factors that officers may take into account in making their decision include, but are not limited to, the following:
                  (i) the objectives of Health instructions (see A4.1) and the objectives of the category or instructions under which the application has been made;
                  (ii) the degree to which the applicant would impose significant costs and/or demands on New Zealand’s health or education services;
                  (iii) whether the applicant has immediate family lawfully and permanently resident in New Zealand and the circumstances and duration of that residence;
                  (iv) whether the applicant’s potential contribution to New Zealand will be significant;
                  (v) the length of intended stay (including whether a person proposes to enter New Zealand permanently or temporarily).
                  (d) An applicant who is the partner or dependent child of a New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder, who would otherwise meet the criteria for residence under Partnership (see F2.5(a)) or Dependent Child (see F5.1(a)) instructions, will be granted a medical waiver unless the limitations on the grant of medical waivers to such persons set out at A4.60(a) and A4.60(b) apply.
                  (e) An applicant who has been recognised as having refugee or protection status will be granted a medical waiver, unless the limitation on the grant of medical waivers to such persons set out at A4.60(a) applies.
                  (f) An immigration officer should consider any advice provided by an Immigration New Zealand medical assessor on medical matters pertaining to the grant of a waiver, such as the prognosis of the applicant.

                  • weka

                    Thanks. It sounds like it’s possible for them have said yes, although what they consider significant costs might be interesting to know (it was mentioned in the media).

              • Rosemary McDonald

                Thanks Craig for that expansion of the criteria.

                “However, a review of her health by the Ministry of Health concluded: “All [costs] are dependent on Juliana’s needs changing significantly due to physical deterioration which will possibly never occur.”” (from the herald article)

                God forbid that I say anything in support of the Misery of Health…. but they seem to be supporting her.

                Or am I misinterpreting this?

                Question.

                A ‘perfect’ person is granted residency and NZ Citizenship.

                Within a year they commit a hideous crime and are jailed for 10 years at a cost of $1000000.

                Upon their release, are they exiled?

                • Craig H

                  A citizen would not be deported (citizens can’t be deported and citizenship can only be revoked if it was awarded as a result of fraud/false information) – we’d just have to suck it up.

                  A resident could be deported if the offense was committed within 10 years of residence being granted. Citizenship is normally available as an option 5 years after residence is granted (not that everyone who is eligible applies for it).

                  The MoH report was definitely favourable IMO, but has no specifics, so it’s hard to really do much with it.

        • Andre 3.1.1.3

          The Greens put Mojo Mathers high enough on their list that she became an MP in 2011, thereby picking a fight over getting the required support for her to do her job (and winning it, if I recall correctly).

          I’m curious, Rosemary. Isn’t that a demonstrable step in the right direction big enough and different enough to the other parties for you to go to a polling booth and tick a bit of paper? Your not voting strikes me as a case letting the perfect become the mortal enemy of the good.

          • Rosemary McDonald 3.1.1.3.1

            “The Greens put Mojo Mathers high enough on their list that she became an MP in 2011, thereby picking a fight over getting the required support for her to do her job (and winning it, if I recall correctly).”

            I’m not privy to the inner workings of the Green Party…but I’m pretty sure that Mojo got her higher ranking on her overall ability rather than her disability.

            The shit storm over facilitating her full participation in the House was a fucking embarrassment to the government.

            Someone should have looked up “reasonable accommodation” before they started gum beating about the extra cost for the technology.

            Roll on the day when we have a permanent wheelchair user elected.

            Also..look up the difference between “equity” and “equality”.

            Again…discrimination…against the disabled community it’s ubiquitous.

            • weka 3.1.1.3.1.1

              If you have two people of equal ability then choose the person that brings something extra that you want and that is needed and that there is an obligation to provide. Not Mather’s disability but her understanding and skill in disability politics of which much will be informed by her own experiences as a person with a disability.

              • Andre

                Hell, disabled people get such a crap deal I’d advocate some positive discrimination in favour of disabled people. For as long as it takes to eliminate prejudice against disabled people.

            • Andre 3.1.1.3.1.2

              As far as I’m aware, Mathers is the first MP in New Zealand to need an accommodation for a disability. I think it’s a reasonable inference that the Greens are the first party in New Zealand to not automatically disqualify someone (that happens to have a disability) for office regardless of ability.

              Isn’t the fact that the Greens choose to value her for her ability, rather than disqualify her because of a disability, a huge step forward that’s worthy of support?

            • Pasupial 3.1.1.3.1.3

              Rosmary McD

              I’m not privy to the inner workings of the Green Party…but I’m pretty sure that Mojo got her higher ranking on her overall ability rather than her disability.

              I was pretty strongly involved with the GP at the time of the 2014 list selection, and it is largely decided by an STV proportional vote amongst the current members. Though there is a recommended candidate order by party central (which was much the same as the final result – though from memory; Shaw and Browning dropped down, while Hughes and Davidson went up). Also, the final vote can be adjusted for gender parity plus geographical and Māori inclusivity (by dropping or raising candidates a single place – which I don’t think was necessary last time).

              So yes; Mathers was ranked according to perceived ability by those GP members who voted. But part of her ability repertoire was her contacts within the disabled community eg; “Member of Disability Inclusion Group (2009-10)”.

              As for; “the day when we have a permanent wheelchair user elected”, I would suggest that this might one day be Chris Ford who was number 36 on the Green list in 2014 (previously with the Alliance):

              https://home.greens.org.nz/candidates/chris-ford

              He was brought in as a third Dunedin candidate in 2014, and ranked higher than Gallagher who had previously contested several elections for South Dunedin. My impression was that he is understudying for the day when Turei stops contesting the Dunedin North seat; either by either leaving parliament altogether, or going onto contesting the Te Tai Tonga seat (which is where she casts her vote).

          • Jackal 3.1.1.3.2

            I think you’ll find that Mojo Mathers only won because the case was high profile and the Greens were able to leverage some public support for her case, not to mention the legal side of things.

            The vast majority of disabled people aren’t so lucky. Most certainly haven’t the profile to exert any political pressure nor the funds to fight the system endlessly through the courts. Most don’t even have the means to access our so called representatives.

            You cannot therefore complain when disabled people become disillusioned in New Zealands broken and repressive system that seems intent on punishing them for their impediments.

            • Andre 3.1.1.3.2.1

              Jackal, I agree with all of that. I’d go further and say that to my very limited knowledge Australia and the US (at least California, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania) are a lot better at assisting disabled people than New Zealand is.

              It seems to me the Greens have willingly picked a public fight and won it. Surely that’s a good thing, in terms of raising the public profile of disability issues, and showing that the bogeymen raised by people opposed to assisting disabled aren’t actually that scary. That must be an improvement on having all the parties in Parliament determined to ignore disability issues.

              But Rosemary’s and your reaction makes me think I’m missing something, beyond it just not being fast enough progress. I’d sure like to figure out what I am missing.

              • Jackal

                I wouldn’t call one case of a politician gaining some equipment “progress”. Some disabled people would even view that as a bit unfair, so I’m not sure that there’s much benefit for the Greens overall. Most disabled people don’t get $30,000 spent on them to ensure they have access to anything.

                It’s policy that really matters, and National is simply continuing Labour’s archaic policy direction that ensures a lack of available funding and services for disabled people.

                Unfortunately the current system is devised to get rid of anybody it perceives to be non-productive. This includes people with even mild disability that would benefit greatly from rehabilitation and then reintegration back into the workforce.

                I don’t see the broken system changing anytime soon just because of one high profile case.

                • Rosemary McDonald

                  “It’s policy that really matters, and National is simply continuing Labour’s archaic policy direction that ensures a lack of available funding and services for disabled people.”

                  Agree with everything you say…other than a rider on the above statement.

                  National is continuing Labour’s policy of ensuring that pretty much every dollar that is used to support eligible disabled New Zealanders is channeled through the bank account of a Contracted Provider, or two.

                  The entire MOH:DSS system depends on these Contracted Providers…from assessment through to actual care.

                  MOH:DSS also pours $millions into so called disability’advocacy’ groups…who can be pretty much depended on to keep quiet on the most important issues.

                  And…National has set in law that support for(non ACC) disabled people living as part of a family is the responsibility of that family…and the fact that there is absolutely no ‘entitlement’ to support.

                  None at all.

                  Yet…over a billion dollars per year is funded through MOH:DSS…when I have the time I will find out how much of that goes to paying for actual hands on care, and how much is consumed by the bureaucracy.

                  I don’t see the broken system changing either…but I also don’t want to be a citizen of a country that treats disabled people like crap…so, we’ll keep squeaking away, giving the can another kick.

                  • adam

                    Slightly off point of what you have been saying Rosemary McDonald. But maybe the finger should be pointed at some of these piss poor providers.

                    Two which spring to mind without much effort on my part as bloody awful service providers or dis-service providers to disable people are:

                    Deaf Aotearoa

                    http://www.deaf.org.nz/

                    and

                    Work Bridge

                    http://workbridgeincorporated.virtuozzo.co.nz/?page=1

                    Bureaucratic and wasteful of public money.

                    Both great at adding extra paper work, and time wasting tools to disabled peoples lives.

                    Old organisations re-branded for the 21st century, to look as P.C as possible.

                    Both really good at hiding there institutionalized racism under a great PR face.

                    • Kay

                      Adam- Some years ago now the response I got from Workbridge was “You’re unemployable, go away” (direct quote). Needless to say I do not hold them in high regard.

                      Interesting you say institutionalised racisism, because they are also well know for despising certain “categories” of disability and extreme discrimination. For many years it was well known that they didn’t want to know you if you didn’t “look” disabled. I’ve heard conflicting reports in recent years about their change in attitude there so couldn’t say what they’re like now. Obviously I won’t have anything to do with them.

                    • Rosemary McDonald

                      “…the finger should be pointed at some of these piss poor providers.”

                      Now that, Adam, is a post all of it’s own.

                      Snouts in the trough…and if they don’t perform to an acceptable standard…you know where the fault will lie?

                      “Bureaucratic and wasteful of public money.

                      Both great at adding extra paper work, and time wasting tools to disabled peoples lives.”

                      In a nutshell.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1.2

        Why does Pete want an even higher recidivism level than we have now? Pete would rather that penal policy be a vehicle for Pete’s pathetic vengeance fantasies, rather than the crime prevention strategy that works all over the world.

        Pete’s attitudes and behaviour cause more crime, then Pete throws his toys and refuses to accept responsibility.

        What kind of trash behaves like that?

        PS: Pete is a late newcomer to his handle. I don’t believe the original Pete deserves to be associated with low-life.

  4. Manuka AOR 5

    “Corporate Crime Runs Rampant”
    Following the Law is optional for some of the mega corporations. And here we are about to sign away our future and our children’s futures to such as these? http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/29/corporate-crime-runs-rampant-thanks-rigged-system-elizabeth-warren

  5. Paul 6

    Brilliant article by Dita de Boni about the TPPA and how the establishment smears those who oppose it.
    It’s also a very brave article given the current North Korean media mentality in NZ. Anyone questioning Dear Leader loses their job, it seems.

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/dita-deboni-the-smear-campaign-against-people-who-oppose-tppa-has-almost-stifled-proper-debate

    • vto 6.1

      It is worth noting that the subprime market in the US did not cause the GFC, as debone says. It was merely the spark that ignited the GFC. The GFC was caused by the unsustainable financial system that we have.

      It is still not sustainable today.

    • Manuka AOR 6.2

      Excerpt:
      “The smear campaign against people who oppose the TPPA – or see much to question in it – has almost completely stifled proper debate about this game-changing deal.

      “Doubters have been called ‘children’, hippies, dirty lefties, communists, ‘anti-trade’, and much worse.

      “Even if they are respected economists, doctors, business leaders or even revered rugby players, they are in for a drubbing for questioning the TPPA.”

      Not sure about the “almost” (stifling debate) – If there has been any open public debate on the signing, in NZ mainstream media, then I think I’ve missed it.

      • Reddelusion 6.2.1

        Saw one guy on news last night, part of anti TPP car rally, when asked what he did not like about TPP, 10 second pause and then something inane about petrol prices going up Talk about gullible been led

        • dv 6.2.1.1

          Yep red 0.7% improvement really good by 2030 eh.
          Just who has been gullible then?

        • vto 6.2.1.2

          Hey reddelusion, why is it that under the TPPA foreign investors can sue the government if it causes them losses through legitimate law changes but domestic investors have no such ability? Why do foreigners enjoy extra and substantial rights over us?

          Wayne Mapp cannot answer this – maybe you can with your amazing insight

          • Reddelusion 6.2.1.2.1

            Umm maybe vto becuase you are party to a trade agreement that by default reflects cross border transactions and international business , if you are domestic company you are not involved in a such but nz businesses have the same reciprocal rights if they trade internationally. There always have been differences between international and local commerce, just look at tax as one, nz fight with oz over access to apples etc, This is not new and just a red herring, not the end of the world and been over egged to the max,

            • Macro 6.2.1.2.1.1

              🙄
              I suggest you will get the egging – all over your face.
              NZ is already treading water and holding back on legislation it can no longer introduce – at the continued cost of hundreds of NZ lives and heavy medical costs – because it is now a party to ISDS disputes under the Chinese FTA.

            • vto 6.2.1.2.1.2

              No Reddelusion, you miss the issue. Try again.

            • Paul 6.2.1.2.1.3

              It’s not a free trade agreement.
              It’s a forced trade agreement.

        • Lanthanide 6.2.1.3

          “Talk about gullible been led”

          Yeah, the odds are he probably voted for National.

        • Gangnam Style 6.2.1.4

          You don’t think he was set up my the ‘news crew’? I mean out of all the people there they had to choose him right? Gullible indeed.

          • McFlock 6.2.1.4.1

            No need to run straight to media bias:

            Option a) they chose one person, turned out he couldn’t think on his feet (bad luck)

            Option b) they chose many people, selected an average example because most couldn’t think on their feet (good reporting)

            Option c) they chose many people, selected the worst exception (media bias)

            Option d) they showed many people, red’s memory only registers a skewed reflection of the one who matches red’s delusion. (source bias)

            Option e) they chose one person, red’s memory only registers a skewed reflection in order to conform to red’s delusion. (source bias)

            lol

    • Manuka AOR 6.3

      “Doubters have been called ‘children’, hippies, dirty lefties, communists, ‘anti-trade’, and much worse.”
      That “much worse” is true. Someone posted a link here on TS yesterday which, when followed through, claimed that people on the left who opposed the TPP (and they specifically named several well known people) encouraged “violence against people and property”. (my emph) I will see if I can dig up that comment and link.

  6. Paul 7

    Bernard Hickey on the Auckland housing bubble.

    ‘Yet there are plenty of similarities. The debt under America’s housing bubble was only sustainable with very low interest rates forever. Anyone supremely confident about Auckland’s housing market simply needs to answer the question: how would it cope with 10 per cent mortgage rates and a 10 per cent unemployment rate. Unlikely right now, but plausible over the long run.’

    http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11582389

    • Reddelusion 7.1

      One big difference here is in the U.S. Mortgage are non recourse loans, you can just walk away and leave the keys in letter box, not the case here

      • Paul 7.1.1

        Did you read his article?

        • Reddelusion 7.1.1.1

          Just did and I see hickey agrees with me, he simply raises the ? If interest rates rise to 10 pc what would happen, why not 20, why not 30, of course there is a tipping point but the US example is very different to NZ, ( the housing market itself, non recourse loans, Problem was US wide, key driver was Fannie Mae and fanny Mac, both gov institutions set up to encourage house ownership, creation of mortgage back bonds and the derivatives market that grew around these underlying bonds, level of sub prime mortgages and fraud etc etc ) By the way great movie the big short

      • Lanthanide 7.1.2

        Yes, Bernard says that in the article. Perhaps you should have read it.

  7. Reddelusion 8

    Modest turn out at TPP protest, in the 10s, a petition of 4000, hardly a sign of huge anti sentiment against TPP, I suggest labour on a real loser here, can they go below 22pc , suggest not. That’s their bedrock close mind support

  8. Ray 9

    Andrew Little’s ‘State of the Nation’ speech time has been brought forward by an hour
    Who is organising this, late changes to the time, maybe less people attending certainly disorganisation, white anting anyone?

    • BM 9.1

      Cold be something to do with this.

      I wouldn’t want to be outdoors when it hits, especially under trees or in a rotunda.

      http://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/auckland/auckland-central

    • Anne 9.2

      I understand the reason is because heavy, thundery showers have been forecast from about mid-afternoon so they’ve brought the time forward in the hope they will miss them. They have also advised members by email “to bring an umbrella”. If it buckets down, they’ve arranged to move to a nearby venue (prob. in the university) but they would want to avoid that if possible.

  9. Chooky 10

    ‘Foxcatcher’ is a great film, based on fact, which shows what can happen when the poncy self-entitled wealthy takeover the lives and education of the impoverished gifted…exploitation, self delusion, self aggrandisement, abuse….and the destruction of excellence

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8361stZ8n0w

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxcatcher

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1100089/

    Labour is on to an Election winner if it makes Tertiary education FREE for New Zealand’s best and brightest youth .

    • Cricklewood 10.1

      “Tertiary education FREE for New Zealand’s best and brightest youth”

      Who gets to define that? Or do you mean anyone that wishes to enroll in tertiary education?

      • Chooky 10.1.1

        To spell it out: at the moment Tertiary education is for the often mediocre children of the NZ wealthy , especially at post grad level…and overseas paying students

        New Zealand ‘A’ grade students ( NZs best and brightest) who have been invited to do honours by their universites have often been forced to decline

        …They already have $40,000 + debt for undergrad degrees( unless they have rich parents who pay for them)

        ….and jonkey Nactional has ensured there are no more student loans for these ‘A’ grade students invited and wishing to do further postgrad degrees…(and if there were more student loans it would increase their debt further)

        No young New Zealander should be forced into debt to pursue an education for which they are entitled and able

        This is why Labour is on to a winner by making undergraduate and other Tertiary studies free

    • Herodotus 10.2

      Meanwhile We continual to underfund our schooling system, IMO better to adequately fund the education for every school at the expense of tertiary and the benefit of the few.

  10. weka 11

    Good graphic showing equality vs equity,

    http://interactioninstitute.org/illustrating-equality-vs-equity/

    What is equity? In the simplest terms, it means fairness, which is not necessarily the same thing as equality.

    It’s not about everybody getting the same thing,” Parker said. “It’s about everybody getting what they need in order to improve the quality of their situation.”

  11. weka 12

    Not sure how true this is but it’s amusing,

    From now on every post about Donald Trump on the Huffington Post will carry the following disclaimer:

    Note to our readers: Donald Trump is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, birther and bully who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims — 1.6 billion members of an entire religion — from entering the U.S.

    http://realtimepolitics.com/2016/01/30/huffington-post-adding-disclaimer-to-all-posts-about-donald-trump/

    Example,

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-foundation-charity_us_56aa90bae4b00b033aae659f

    • Manuka AOR 12.1

      Heh! Imagine if the equivalent was happening in media over here – any articles about certain serial liars contained a disclaimer to that effect.

      • weka 12.1.1

        Yeah although to be fair they’d have to use a lot more ink on disclaimers than the Huffington Post.

  12. Whispering Kate 13

    Just read Heather du Plessis’ column in the Herald and wonder what planet she is on. Where did she buy this house in Auckland? Where I live on the North Shore we have been inundated with immigrants to our suburb – they just LOVE the North Shore – I don’t know if it is the brick homes/no maintenance thingee or the proximity to private schools and the university, the beaches or whatever. In our street alone we now have 4 lone standing European NZ owners and the rest are Asian which has to be now about 95% ownership. No problems with us, mainly they keep their homes tidy and are quiet, absent owners are a trial as they leave their properties unkempt is the only bugbear as it brings down the value of the area. The only negative is, it has meant a slow evacuation of our NZ neighbours from the street and an isolation for the remaining left with language difficulties, cultural problems and a real sense of dislocation in our street life and interactions with neighbours.

    We probably will leave in the end because of this scenario – do these demographers ever research how this affects communities. I see in the future NZ Aucklanders will be forced out of AK because of rate increases and the cost of living plus the sense we are losing our city by a thousand cuts to immigrants with bottomless pockets. The latest house to be sold was bought by a Chinese man for his 21 year old son – it was $1.5 million – how can ordinary New Zealanders in our low wage economy ever compete with that. Just my grouch for the day.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11582356

    • Paul 13.1

      I believe same problems around Kumeu with absent owners and land banking.

      As to blame, at the macro level you can blame neoliberal system that promotes greed and selfish motivation.
      Both domestic and overseas speculators are to blame as they snap up properties, driving up prices so young people can’t afford a home to live in.
      Of course, much is speculation and anecdotal because our corporate government doesn’t collect data on how many houses some speculators own.

    • Rae 13.2

      And fair enough too.

  13. Jenny Kirk 14

    This from the start of Labour’s policy on Future of Education, announced today –

    “Labour’s Working Futures Plan will provide three years of free post-school education across a person’s life so New Zealanders can thrive in the 21st century economy.

    The nature of work is changing constantly. To compete into the future and seize opportunities as they arise we need one of the best educated workforces in the world.

    Our Working Futures Plan means that no matter what path someone wants to take after school, be it university or an apprenticeship, they will be able to gain the skills they need to succeed without being shackled with years of debt.

    It will be available throughout a person’s lifetime, so that it can be used for retraining or if someone changes career part way through their working life………

  14. Chris Lewis 15

    When will socialist ever learn.
    There is no such thing as ‘free’.
    There is no money tree.
    Most Kiwis understand this, why not socialists ?

  15. fisiani 16

    http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22000973

    You may be surprised to find out what social class you are in.

    • joe90 16.1

      Apparently I’m traditional working class so no, I’m not surprised.

      Result: the class group you most closely match is:
      Traditional working class

      This class group scores low for economic, social and cultural factors, but they do have some financial security. According to the Great British Class Survey results, lots of people in this group:

      Own their own home
      Are older
      Tend to mix socially with people similar to themselves

    • John Shears 16.2

      Fizzi please go away, this thread is on a New Zealand blog why would we want to do a so-called class test that you have found in a site based in England? or are you a recent immigrant from the UK.?
      Class was one of the reasons for my forbears emigrating to New Zealand in the mid 19th century.
      You do realise also don’t you that England is where the Union Jack comes from , it is their Flag. Yep that’s right the very same as the miniature version of it that sits in the top left corner of our New Zealand Ensign/Flag.
      I hope John, your leader. doesn’t read this , he could be a bit upset that his favourite stirrer favours the Union Jack the very symbol on a flag that he is trying to get rid of.
      Funny old world innit?

  16. sabine 17

    sad is to insignificant a word to describe this ‘natural’ desaster

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-30/fire-ravages-world-heritage-area-tasmania-central-plateau/7127300

    Wilderness photographer and bushwalker Dan Broun has just returned from the Central Plateau.

    Vision he filmed shows how the fires have raced through the area, which is home to unique alpine flora including pencil pines, king billy pines and cushion plants, some more than 1,000 years old.

    Mr Broun walked four hours into the bushfire affected areas on Saturday.

    “The scene is complete and utter devastation. There is kilometres of burnt ground, everything is dead,” he said.

    He said small pockets of areas protected by rock escaped the fire.

    “I also witnessed devastated wildlife; burnt wallabies, dead wombats and the like,” said Mr Broun.

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  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
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    4 days ago
  • That Word.
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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
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    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
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    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
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    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
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    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
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    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
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    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
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    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
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  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
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    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
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    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
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    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
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    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
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    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
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    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
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    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
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    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
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    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
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    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
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    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
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    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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