Our Friends in the North

Written By: - Date published: 6:31 pm, August 6th, 2014 - 225 comments
Categories: david cunliffe, election 2014, greens, hone harawira, internet mana party, internet party, Kelvin Davis, labour, mana-party, nz first, polls, winston peters - Tags: , , ,

Our Friends in the North

It’s been an interesting few days in the battle for Te Tai Tokerau. There are significant implications for the wider election campaign as well.

First Annette Sykes from Mana made an unsubstantiated and absurd claim that Labour have done a secret deal to see Hone Harawira elected in the seat. David Cunliffe denied it and went further saying he didn’t really see Mana/Internet being part of a Government he led. Labour candidate Kelvin Davis has shown he wants to win the seat very badly indeed and only the wise counsel of the NZLP leadership prevented his LEC chair injecting what I believe rugby players call ‘mongrel’ into the campaign.

Vote Positive, Kelvin, Vote Positive!

Yesterday, Hone Harawira put out a media release that contained blatant lies and unintentionally made Sykes look like a fool, too. Hone claimed that Labour had done a deal with National, not only to stitch up the seat for Davis, but asking for funding from the Tories too. Never mind the bollocks, people.

David Cunliffe has firmed on his position. Absolutely no place for Mana/IP around the cabinet table now. Clearly, the next Government is going to be Labour + Greens + NZF. Mana/IP, if they have any MP’s post election, can still offer Confidence and Supply, and may get some policy wins as a result, but they won’t be in the tent this time around.

Why is this? How have Mana/Internet gone from possible kingmakers to also rans?

Three reasons: Trust, Ideology and Maths.

Trust: Middle NZ, the folk who decide the outcomes of general elections, don’t like Mana. They seem to have gone off Kim Dotcom, too. Possibly because of overexposure. Labour have reasons not to trust mana. Prior to the formation of the Internet/Mana voting arrangement, Hone was saying his preference was to not enter Government, but to sit on the crossbenches, voting issue by issue. That’s obviously a difficult prospect to manage for a minority or small majority Government. Does Labour really want to risk Hone walking away, as he did to the Maori Party when things didn’t go his way?

Ideology: Mana (and the Internet Party under Laila Harre’s leadership) have no bargaining power. They can only achieve their stated aim of bringing down the National led Government by supporting a Labour led alternative. Like ACT, they are playing poker with their cards facing up. Labour can count; kicking Hone to touch will win votes from the middle ground, while costing them nothing in support inside Parliament, where Mana/IP will not actually vote against a progressive Government. At worst, they could abstain, but only if that doesn’t see Key cling on.

Maths: The latest Roy Morgan poll has Labour/Greens/NZF combined nudging the bare minimum numbers needed to form the next Government. That is whether or not Mana/IP win a seat (and the associated coat-tail MPs) and assuming ACT, the Maori Party and UF do win at least one electorate seat each. Any further slippage at all from the National Party to any of Labour, Greens or Winston makes a change of Government a dead set certainty. And, yes, I’m of the opinion that NZF will want in on this deal. Winston’s a vicious bugger with a long memory. He’s looking forward to being Brutus to Key’s Caesar.

The question for Labour isn’t should we stand aside for Hone in the north or Mana/IP anywhere else. The question is ‘do we need ’em?’. The answer is looking more and more like no.

Te Reo Putake

225 comments on “Our Friends in the North ”

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  1. Colonial Viper 1
    6 August 2014 at 7:05 pm

    So it looks like Labour will continue to misread the new MMP political environment, will continue to second guess the decision voters make on Sept 20, and will continue to quietly bleed votes to the extent that getting 30% in one poll is now seen as a ‘solid comeback’.

  2. SPC 2
    6 August 2014 at 7:11 pm

    Fact is Cunliffe has been manipulated by the ABC faction and Winston Peters to work to take the MP and Internet/Mana out of parliament. Election success for Labour is now dependent on Greens and NZF alone helping them to over 50% of the seats in parliament.

    This means all hitting their basic 30/15/5% targets.

    The reason why Winston Peters has not vetoed a Labour-Green coalition being backed by NZ First (as per 2005) is because his priority is to exclude any party from out of the Maori seats.

    Traditionally he has tried to guarantee to voters that a vote for him and his party keeps Greens out of government coalition – but in 2014 its excluding the Maori parties so centrists will vote NZF.

    NZ First with 5% has 7-8 seats – The MP 2 seats, IM c4 seats at best cannot quite match the seats offered by NZ First and given Labour requires NZ First to deny its seats to a National coalition to National as well the decision was quite simple to answer in the end.

    The post election problem for Labour is what constraints on Green policy would NZF want for any coalition deal. Enough to reduce Greens to a confidence and supply arrangement backing a Labour -NZF coalition?

    One could anticipate National would have to exclude United and ACT to form any coalition with NZ First (as this alone would have a majority of seats in parliament).

    In 1996 NZF kept a last term government in power and suffered for this in 1999. He could still do the same as he would be retiring in 2017.

    Labour agreeing to buy back power companies might give it an advantage.

    • Clemgeopin 2.1
      6 August 2014 at 7:52 pm

      Apart from your first two paragraphs, your logic has merit and most probably correct, though there IS no absolute guarantee that greens will not gazump all that by simply going into a coalition with National or giving a National government confidence and supply for some limited policy concessions. Greens have NOT ruled that out, as far as I know, have they?

      • karol 2.1.1
        6 August 2014 at 9:05 pm

        Oh, please. The Greens would never go into an alliance with National. Even a minimal memorandum of understanding was a step too far for the Greens in the present term.

        Their policies and values are too far apart.

        • Clemgeopin 2.1.1.1
          6 August 2014 at 9:27 pm

          I take that as your best guess.

          • Paul 2.1.1.1.1
            6 August 2014 at 9:29 pm

            Won’t happen.

          • karol 2.1.1.1.2
            6 August 2014 at 9:50 pm

            Well your best guess looks pretty wide of the mark to me.

            The Green membership also have a say in any deals. The base and the party policies and values just do not have any agreement with National policies and practices.

            The Greens are a left party. Look at their policies, values and track record. But it still doesn’t stop some trying to smear them as being as much right as left.

            The Greens will either do a deal with Labour, or sit on the cross benches.

            • phillip ure 2.1.1.1.2.1
              6 August 2014 at 10:29 pm

              there was a time that the greens flirted with the idea of supporting a key-govt..

              ..hopefully that rush of blood to the head has now passed..

              • karol …
                6 August 2014 at 10:31 pm

                Really? When? Citations needed.

                • phillip ure …
                  6 August 2014 at 10:37 pm

                  during keys’ first term..

                  ..you forget i have been doing commentaries on q-time for a very very long time..

                  ..and this is history..karol..

                  ..if you are the in the greens..you will know there were vigorous internal debates on just that issue/possibility..

                  ..at one stage in parliament..

                  ..they were nearly french-kissing in the debating chamber..

                  ..there was much lifting of skirts/batting of eyelids going on..

                  ..on both sides..

                  ..it was actually quite puke-inducing to watch..

                  • weka …
                    6 August 2014 at 11:00 pm

                    doubt it. It was part of the GP repositioning itself in the mainstream. The stance was that if there could be common ground on policy then the GP would look at supporting a National govt. But of course there would never be any such common ground, so it wasn’t like it was a real possibility.

                    It was also about positioning the GP as the reasonable ones. Which worked. They said, look if you can share some of our policies, then we can work with you. Very inclusive. Now they can say that National were unable or unwilling to work on such policies, esp environmental ones. Bet that picked them up some votes.

            • Clemgeopin 2.1.1.1.2.2
              6 August 2014 at 10:41 pm

              “The Greens will either do a deal with Labour, or sit on the cross benches.”

              I haven’t seen any such public statement from the Green party’s two leaders.

              • weka …
                6 August 2014 at 11:03 pm

                Norman said something like there is no policy common ground so it’s extremely unlikely that we would support a National govt. Basically he’s saying the GP will negotiate on policy rather than ideology.

                See also this comment I just made http://thestandard.org.nz/our-friends-in-the-north/#comment-861821

                Like Paul I don’t believe it would ever happen. It would be the death of the party, so many members would leave.

                • Clemgeopin …
                  7 August 2014 at 1:03 am

                  No different from what the Maori Party did with the RW National then!

                  Also, “extremely unlikely” does NOT mean it will NOT happen!

      • Bearded Git 2.1.2
        7 August 2014 at 10:16 am

        It’s never gonna happen Clem-the Greens hate the policies of this Nats government with a vengeance. Green voters would become extremely disillusioned if the Geens did ANY deal with this shower.

  3. phillip ure 3
    6 August 2014 at 7:19 pm

    wow..!..just wow..!

    ..what cynicism..

    ..and this mad fucken desire to bet the house on maori-basher/xenophobe/cd-well-go-with-key peters..?

    ..what makes you think you can trust him..?

    • Populuxe1 3.1
      6 August 2014 at 7:48 pm

      I really hate it when dickheads deracinate Winston.

    • Clemgeopin 3.2
      6 August 2014 at 7:56 pm

      Why not? He HAS BEEN in a coalition with Labour before after all and performed splendidly. Have you forgotten?

      • phillip ure 3.2.1
        6 August 2014 at 8:14 pm

        how do you know he won’t go with national..?

        ..and he was a ‘splendid’ partner in a full-blown neo-lib labour govt..

        ..gee..!..both those inspire confidence…

        ..and hope for a better future..eh..?

        • Clemgeopin 3.2.1.1
          6 August 2014 at 8:35 pm

          ” full-blown neo-lib labour govt” ??

          Really? What are you smoking now man?

          It is two bit lying attitude like that that makes one weary of Mana and its extremist supporters.

          It was Hone who went into coalition with National and ACT, the Neo-Lib Government, mate! You forgot that?

          • adam 3.2.1.1.1
            6 August 2014 at 9:09 pm

            Nope it was not Hone, but the Maori party, which went into coalition with the Troy scum. Hone, worker out this was bad for Maori, and tried to get the Maori party to stop being lap dogs. This failed, and he was booted.

            So the last labour government did not support neo-liberal economics there Clemgeopin? Did it get rid of the reserve bank act – did I miss that? Your the one re-writing history mate. Neo-liberals can’t tell what the dominate ideology is, because their snorting to much shit.

            • Clemgeopin 3.2.1.1.1.1
              6 August 2014 at 9:31 pm

              Don’t vote for Neo-Lib parties mate. I won’t be either, because I will be voting Labour with a very clear mind and more importantly, a clearer conscience.

  4. JK 4
    6 August 2014 at 7:29 pm

    I think Te Reo Putake that you’re reading this situation correctly.

  5. Weepus beard 5
    6 August 2014 at 7:30 pm

    Vote Positive, Te Reo Putake. You isn’t doing it right.

    1. Injecting mongrel in to a campaign which is fighting the wrong enemy means Kelvin Davis has stuffed up twice. Firstly, a blatant snub to his own party’s Vote Positive message, and secondly, expending all that mongrel against a target that isn’t the current government is wasted energy.
    2. Trust. I don’t trust middle New Zealand. Middle New Zealand has been subject to the John Key charisma spell for too long. It’s Stockholm syndrome for many low paid people in this country.
    3. Ideology. See above. Kicking Hone to touch will not win votes from the middle ground. Hone is not going anywhere and the middle ground are too busy making ends meet to care.
    4. Maths. The least trustworthy person in this whole equation is Winston Peters. I notice the right, and the right-of-the-left bagging David Cunliffe today for his supposed micro change in language on the Labour/IMP policy from one day to the next. Larry Williams had more ZB stabs at it this afternoon than Clayton Weatherston. But does the same scrutiny hold WP to account when no-one, including yourself, has absolutely no idea what the old drunkard is going to do next?

    In short, commentaters far and wide are petrified of the unknown and unique quantity that is Internet/Mana because those scones all safe in their jobs with their investment property portfolio brimming with stolen wealth. Internet/Mana are new and raw, but committed to both disenfranchised Maori, and the young.

    David Cunliffe knows this. So does John Key.

    Watch out.

    • just saying 5.1
      6 August 2014 at 7:48 pm

      In short, commentaters far and wide are petrified of the unknown and unique quantity that is Internet/Mana because those scones all safe in their jobs with their investment property portfolio brimming with stolen wealth. Internet/Mana are new and raw, but committed to both disenfranchised Maori, and the young.

      Completely agree.

      Where is the morality? National Party Stooge, ethnic cleanser, and serial dummy-spitter and walker way, Peters is okay by Labour, but a party with a committment to genuine Labour Party values is not?

      Sickening

      • greywarbler 5.1.1
        6 August 2014 at 9:21 pm

        @ Phillip ure
        I went to IMP meeting tonight. About 150 there mixture of hair colours ie a few grey, mostly young middle age, many Maori. Supportive crowd. All spoke well, Laila, Kim Dotcom and Georgina Beyer. I still feel they have something to offer. To be crude they are the laxative needed to get National and Labour-lite moving and shaking.

        MMP was embraced in an attempt to get better politicians and get people who represented various groups in the country. IMP is another initiative to break the old parties entitlement deadlock and see if they care.

        I think we should try and get IMP into government at some level. Their freshness and lack of secret agendas that must be the reason that Labour is still uninspiring could be the shake-up that gummint needs. And forget what would suit Labour. Labour hasn’t done much for the country since way back. We want them in but not necessarily with the easiest ride they can get.

        If Hone is a prima donna, let him, we have had enough of the beehive just being NZs Globe Theatre whether they strut and shout insults. Let’s have a tense, working government. and get somewhere near our required goals.
        edited

        • phillip ure 5.1.1.1
          6 August 2014 at 9:46 pm

          “.. Labour hasn’t done much for the country since way back. ..”

          ..and it wd seem they plan more of the same..

          ..i wonder if the greens will show some balls..

          ..and (if the numbers fit) will refuse to work with peters..and insist on a lab/grn/int/mana govt..

          ..(i mean..why wd the greens choose peters over int/mana..?..after all those years of him screwing them over/pouring shit on them..they aren’t that masochistic..are they..?..surely..?..

          ..clearly this post-election choice will be a watershed for them/their future too..

          ..(i hope they realise this..and don’t sell out too..)

          ..that wd now seem to be our only hope of not just even more same-old..same-old…

          ..otherwise we just have clark-labour-redux to look forward to….

          ..(with the only one absent from the line-up being clark..)

          .and that won’t help anyone/change anything..

          • greywarbler 5.1.1.1.1
            7 August 2014 at 9:25 am

            @phillip u 9.46
            Agree

            • marty mars 5.1.1.1.1.1
              7 August 2014 at 10:22 am

              I was at the meeting in Nelson too grey – jeepers the energy was great. IMP need to get MP’s in the house and I can’t wait for that.

              • greywarbler …
                7 August 2014 at 4:58 pm

                @ martymars 10.22
                Did you have to come over from Takaka/Golden Bay for meeting? I see you thought it worth it anyway. I thought Kim spoke well – hadn’t seen him before.

                There is no reason not to support the IMP even for those who aren’t convinced about him because Laila and the others will throw a hefty spanner in the works, which I think can then be used to turn some rusty nuts. Eh? Hah. What do you reckon on that image?

                I feel we are in that situation where decision making is made easy because there are so few other options. It’s a what do you have to lose question that gets a brutally frank answer.
                edited

                • marty mars …
                  7 August 2014 at 5:05 pm

                  Yes, came over with a mate (who made the last statement in questiontime) and I enjoyed it. Kim did speak well and Georgina was passionate and really good and of course Laila was magnificent. I did miss not having Hone there – I would have liked to meet him and shake his hand/hongi him.

                  The rusty nuts works for me lol and he is a big spanner indeed.

                  Check out weka’s comment at the bottom of open mike – I am glad he is not standing for parliament but I’m also glad he is there as part of it all.

                  • weka …
                    7 August 2014 at 6:08 pm

                    I’m thinking of trying to get to one, not sure which one as they’re all a drive away. After seeing the video I’m thinking it might not be my thing though lol. Is is noisy and rally-ish? I’ll need a quiet spot with view and something to sit on.

                    • marty mars …
                      7 August 2014 at 6:26 pm

                      Yes it was a bit rah rah – good music but I think they are picking small venues for maximum crowding – no quiet spot really. I haven’t watched a video but I suspect they tell the story pretty well. Good to have you back commenting btw – missed your insights – all the best.

                    • weka …
                      7 August 2014 at 9:34 pm

                      thanks, I missed the place 🙂

                      Was there seating? How long was it?

                    • marty mars …
                      7 August 2014 at 9:39 pm

                      Seating but 50 standing – get there early, they started 20 minutes late but music good. It went for 2 hours including questions – I’m sure they could seat you appropriately if you get there early and let them know.

                    • weka …
                      7 August 2014 at 9:42 pm

                      sweet, thanks, I might see if I can phone them.

    • Murray Olsen 5.2
      7 August 2014 at 1:10 am

      Great comment, beard. TRP is repeating the line of the scared right of the Labour Party – the Rogernomes who should have joined ACT. It seems once again that they’re happy to stay in opposition. Mana is building support for the same things that Big Norm would have supported, so why doesn’t Labour see this as an opportunity to make some real changes?

      What I find striking and tragic is that Key is happy to encourage ACT so he can claim to be near the centre while hitting us with far right policies, while Labour does everything to distance themselves from Mana so they don’t have to take even half a step to the left.

      • phillip ure 5.2.1
        7 August 2014 at 9:29 am

        “..Mana is building support for the same things that Big Norm would have supported, so why doesn’t Labour see this as an opportunity to make some real changes?..”

        ..+ 1..

  6. Ad 6
    6 August 2014 at 7:36 pm

    Sure looks like Cunliffe is shaping to have far more options than Key.
    The rest as DC relentlessly says is up to the public.

  7. Tangled_up 7
    6 August 2014 at 7:37 pm

    Labour can count; kicking Hone to touch will win votes from the middle ground, while costing them nothing in support inside Parliament, where Mana/IP will not actually vote against a progressive Government.

    Yep. It will be interesting to see if the IMP will lose voters to Greens now that they will only have a token presence at best.

  8. outofbed 8
    6 August 2014 at 7:51 pm

    Why do you assume that the Greens would want to be part of a Labour NZF Government.

  9. lurgee 9
    6 August 2014 at 7:52 pm

    First Annette Sykes from Mana made an unsubstantiated and absurd claim that Labour have done a secret deal to see Hone Harawira elected in the seat.

    Only, she didn’t, going by the text of the linked article. She said she had the impression an unofficial understanding had been reached:

    ‘”I think it’s already happening there,” says Ms Sykes.”It’s been informally signalled.”‘

    So not a ‘secret deal done’ at all.

    Whether it is true or not I do not know. Probably not. But you can’t substantiate an impression. That’s why it is an impression. So complaining that is ‘unsubstantiated’ is phony indignation. She only thinks it has been signalled to her but there isn’t any formal agreement.

    Yesterday, Hone Harawira put out a media release that contained blatant lies

    Again, you are presenting Hone’s impression as if he had claimed it was established fact. He is giving a reaction to unsubstantiated information:

    ‘If there’s any truth to what I have seen today, then somebody’s head should roll” said MANA leader and Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira when told of emails suggesting Kelvin Davis’ campaign team in Tai Tokerau was planning to launch an attack campaign against him with money solicited from National.’

    The claims might be false, but Harawira is not claiming they are true. So you can’t justifiably accuse him of telling blatant lies.

    (I suppose you’ll now fall back on to semantic quibbling about how you didn’t accuse him of lying, just that his press release ‘contained blatant lies.’ Which is nonsense, as stating an opinion about a hypothetical can’t be a lie. Harawira is not claiming the emails exist or the deal has been done.)

    I guess Labour – having sold out to Winston – will now play this dirty game to the max.

    • Te Reo Putake 9.1
      6 August 2014 at 8:14 pm

      Don’t need semantics, lurgee. I linked to the press release so that folk could read it for themselves. To save you the time, here are the relevant bits:

      The press release is entitled “Labour Sells out to National”.

      In the body of the press release is this quote: “National has been directly responsible for driving up unemployment, homelessness, ill health, and poverty for Maori right across the north” said Harawira. “I’m trying to get rid of them and Kelvin Davis and his crew are doing deals with them!”

      Both headline and quote are bullshit. No deal, no sell out.

      • Weepus beard 9.1.1
        6 August 2014 at 8:22 pm

        Just what are the key stats for Maori in the North? You seem to be very sure that Harawira’s statement is a lie.

        • Te Reo Putake 9.1.1.1
          6 August 2014 at 8:51 pm

          No argument with the first sentence, WB. It’s the second sentence that’s bollocks, but I’m guessing you know that already.

      • lurgee 9.1.2
        7 August 2014 at 4:04 pm

        Don’t need semantics, lurgee. I linked to the press release so that folk could read it for themselves. To save you the time, here are the relevant bits:

        The press release is entitled “Labour Sells out to National”.

        In the body of the press release is this quote: “National has been directly responsible for driving up unemployment, homelessness, ill health, and poverty for Maori right across the north” said Harawira. “I’m trying to get rid of them and Kelvin Davis and his crew are doing deals with them!”

        Both headline and quote are bullshit. No deal, no sell out.

        The headline, I’ll grant you, could be better. A question mark might have helped.

        But Harawira’s “I’m trying to get rid of them and Kelvin Davis and his crew are doing deals with them!” comment is obviously a rhetorical flourish. A few lines before, he is quoted as saying, “Changing the government is going to be tough enough – it’ll be bloody impossible if Labour does dirty deals with National” which – with the context given in the opening paragraph – establishes he’s talking about a hypothetical situation, not one proven to have happened.

        Surely taking remarks out of context is what The Other Side do? Or is Cunliffe’s Winston Lovin’ Labour now part of The Other Side?

        • Te Reo Putake 9.1.2.1
          7 August 2014 at 4:37 pm

          How is it taking it out of context when I published the context? I put a link in the post and you asked me to specifically show where the lie was. Which I did.

          The quote earlier in the press release you supply was dealing in the hypothetical and speaking in the future tense. Fine. No problem with that. But then Hone moves to the literal and to the present tense. ie “are doing deals”. Not ‘supposed to be’ or ‘allegedly’ or ‘if’.

          And it’s not a rhetorical flourish; this wasn’t Hone on the stump making it up as he goes. It’s a bullshit claim in an official press release. It’s the hypocrisy of Hone bleating about an opponent’s negative tactics while being happy to smear that opponent himself that I object to.

          • lurgee 9.1.2.1.1
            7 August 2014 at 5:21 pm

            You’re taking it out of context because you are only looking at one part of the statement.

            The earlier part confirmed that there was doubt about the matter: “Changing the government is going to be tough enough – it’ll be bloody impossible if Labour does dirty deals with National.” Note, ‘if Labour does’. Not ‘with Labour doing.’

            That provides the context for the later flourish, “I’m trying to get rid of them and Kelvin Davis and his crew are doing deals with them!”

            I don’t see how you can call it a lie, unless you ignore the preceding comment altogether.

            Though, bluntly, the TV3 emails suggest there was some sort of collusion going on between some Labour people associated with Kelvin Davis’s campaign and National, or the pro-National community. Suggesting the proposed website is ‘not aimed at traditional supporters’ (!) and that ‘National supporters may contribute’ and using the National slogan! It stinks. And I think Harawira’s comment that “The whole thing is set up for Labour to solicit money from National to come after me,” is pretty damn close to the truth.

            Only perhaps not suspicious enough!

    • phillip ure 9.2
      6 August 2014 at 9:10 pm

      “..I guess Labour – having sold out to Winston – will now play this dirty game to the max…”

      ..+ 1..

  10. One Anonymous Bloke 10
    6 August 2014 at 8:02 pm

    People’s Front of Judea much? Fucking yawn, fucking children. Vote Green.

    • Clemgeopin 10.1
      6 August 2014 at 8:22 pm

      Some people love the greens. Some others try eating greens, smell it, try chewing it, but then end up spitting it all out because while some green stuff are nice and sweet, some of the greens are bitter, sour, nauseating, dangerous and we may even end up getting an en mass upset tummy, especially if it is not cooked very well with care! Be watchful! Kia Mataara!

      Just saying!…And being positive! You are welcome!

  11. weka 11
    6 August 2014 at 8:30 pm

    “The question for Labour isn’t should we stand aside for Hone in the north or Mana/IP anywhere else. The question is ‘do we need ‘em?’. The answer is looking more and more like no.”

    Two points.

    1. this makes a complete mockery of DC’s statement on the last ts Q and A where he said,

    In our party’s constitution Labour’s first core principle is “All political authority comes from the people by democratic means including universal suffrage, regular and free elections with a secret ballot.”

    We won’t be doing pre-election deals. It’s up to New Zealanders to decide who they send to Parliament.

    After the election I’ll talk with anyone committed to changing the Government. It’s fair to say that won’t include National, Act or Colin Craig’s group.

    1. Labour, and presumably you TRP, are still willing to risk losing the election and giving NACT another soul and country destroying 3 years, rather than embracing the spirit of what Cunliffe is talking about above. I haven’t done the numbers for a while, but afaik the issue is still that Davis winning TTT doesn’t increase Labour’s chance of being able to form a govt, but Harawira does. If this election comes down to one seat, and Labour loses because Davis beats Hawawira, I doubt that the left will ever forgive Labour or DC.

    On the otherhand, maybe you all think that Davis has no chance, and the rest is just posturing to increase the party vote elsewhere.

    • phillip ure 11.1
      6 August 2014 at 9:08 pm

      “..If this election comes down to one seat, and Labour loses because Davis beats Hawawira, I doubt that the left will ever forgive Labour or DC…”

      ..+1..

    • lprent 11.2
      6 August 2014 at 9:18 pm

      TRP doesn’t speak for the Labour party any more than I do.

      But I have to say after reading Hone and other IMP supporters today (including about 4 or 5 rather over the top posts at TDB which often appears to be a IMP spin site), my impression was (like TRP) that clearly there didn’t appear anyone of cabinet grade supporting the Mana party.

      What they fail to understand is that politics in a parliamentary MMP environment is first about getting the support from the population in the form of seats in parliament, and then having enough experience to guide legislation and regulations through the caucuses, cabinet and parliament. To me it often appears that the IMP is mostly about bullshitting themselves about how much vote they can get, and too little work actually getting out the vote.

      This seems to be pretty evident in TTT. Of course Kelvin Davis is fighting hard for the seat. That is what the Labour party selected him to do. If that is worrying Hone and the IMP supporters, then I’d say that they clearly haven’t been putting the work into getting the vote out.

      FFS Hone is an incumbent MP. You have to be pretty bad as an MP in terms of doing the electorate work or have a strong swing against your party to lose a seat as an incumbent MP. So what is all of the hysteria about? He thinks that he could lose because he hasn’t been doing his job?

      Doesn’t sound like cabinet material to me.

      Maybe Laila is rusty but she does have parliamentary experience outside cabinet. Sykes looks like a potentially good MP later on.

      However it was also clear to me that if the IMP politicians did the things that would be required from their relatively low vote weight in parliament and relative inexperience, then the same people attacking Kelvin now would be rounding on them for deserting the cause. They look like amateurs and dillentiantes at actual working politics.

      Of course what does my opinion matter? I’ve only been directly supporting winning politicians for more than 30 years.

        • lprent 11.2.1.1
          6 August 2014 at 9:40 pm

          Deal with it. I’m pretty blunt and direct with my opinions. Just ask almost any Labour politician and the many activists from various sides who I’ve talked to or worked with over the years.

          Of course it helps that the reason I do help politicians (and run this site) is to assuage my conscience about my strong preference to code and to neither be a manager nor be a politician. Being blunt and having a rep for not voluntarily wearing shoes has been a pretty good defense against those.

          But I really don’t have much tolerance for people who don’t actually think about the downstream political effects of their actions and words.

          All I’m describing is how many long term campaigners and politicians will view these childish wee tantrums about Kelvin’s campaign.

          • phillip ure 11.2.1.1.1
            6 August 2014 at 9:58 pm

            shame i can’t be as ‘blunt and direct’ as i wd like..

            ..’cos in this case..i wd get banned if i did that…

            • lprent 11.2.1.1.1.1
              6 August 2014 at 10:36 pm

              Nope. You’ve read the policy right? You must have. I haven’t ‘noticed’ you for some time. In fact as a moderator I’ve only ‘noticed’ you recently when I’ve looked at people saying that we should ban you.

              Stay roughly on topic. Don’t attack authors personally. Don’t try to tell us how to run our site (like telling us who we should ban). Don’t astroturf excessively. Make sure that if you abuse someone that you make it relevant to the post, comment you’re replying to, and have a point. Don’t display fire and forget trolling or many of the other trolling firestarter techniques.

              Then I don’t ‘notice’ people when I’m moderating because I mainly look at patterns or behavior. There are currently 777,959 Comments on the site. If I’d actually bothered to read them I’d have long since worn my eyes out and I’d never have had time to work on code.

              You also know that you’re a lot safer when I’m willing to engage with someone without bothering to use the many intensely personal ego penetrating stilettos or the [warnings] I’ve developed for moderating purposes over the years. It usually means I don’t perceive them to be a potential threat to the site or its comment stream – which is what I’m usually concerned with.

      • bad12 11.2.2
        6 August 2014 at 9:32 pm

        LPrent, that’s a hell of a lot of words to diss one small party you claim aint going nowhere,

        So now we know what you do not want, what is it you do want from this election, a Labour/NZFirst minority coalition with the Greens told to stand on the sidelines and be quiet by Winston Peters??…

        • lprent 11.2.2.1
          6 August 2014 at 9:45 pm

          I really don’t care one way or another about the IMP except in that some of their politicians and supporters appear to want to demand how other politicians, candidates, and activists should operate.

          They never seem to feel the need to constrain their “dissing”. Why should I? After all they’re the ones demonstrating the behaviour of dissing a candidate for doing nothing more than what he was selected to do by another party.

          And the IMP is a such an easy target once I let my fingers off their leash.

          • bad12 11.2.2.1.1
            6 August 2014 at 9:59 pm

            Riii-iight LPrent, as far as targets go they all, all the parties across the spectrum are easy targets for those of us with wicked fingers,

            This close to the election tho, from the politicians, and from us lot here, it does seem pretty much an irrelevancy,

            Such a slicing and dicing i would suggest is best left for after the 20th of September…

            • lprent 11.2.2.1.1.1
              6 August 2014 at 10:23 pm

              … would suggest is best left for after the 20th of September…

              Exactly. The point is that you go off and win your seats in parliament from the voters, then start figuring out the government. All of this crap about not giving Hone and the IMP a hard time by making them work for their seats is just that – crap.

              You only have to look at the consequences to Act and United Future to see the dire consequences of coat-tail deals on political movements. They get lazy and seem to lose the will to have a political movement. Mana and even the Internet party shouldn’t either need it nor ask for it for their own good.

      • adam 11.2.3
        6 August 2014 at 9:40 pm

        Question, I thought this site is in the interests of working people? Labour/labours/working class – call it what you will.

        I’d ask as an anarchist, that the game that you play – winning? In whose interest? Because if Davis is receiving money from National, well I’d argue that is not in the interests of working people.

        Having technocrats, who play a good parliament game, really hasn’t worked out to well for working people either. Neo-liberalisms still here folks. The third way was a joke, which hurt just as bad.

        And this game you play to win, you lose a lot. I’d say we haven’t had a government that truly represented the wishes and desires of working people for some time, the early 1970’s come to mind.

        Also, there is as an anarchist, a part of the game which I find really sickening. That is the left will lose to the right – then the right will gut, and kick down working people. They will starve their children, make their work hell and install fear. And all the time, a big part of the left keep playing the game, win they will, tinker a bit they will, reform a bit as well. But once the right get back it in – it’s back to the curb for us working stiffs.

        • lprent 11.2.3.1
          6 August 2014 at 9:49 pm

          Read the about and the policy. You might get a clearer idea about what this site is about.

          I’m afraid that I can’t really see the relevance of your comment to that. In fact I’d say that you are simply trying to define the terms of the debate to be on your terms rather than bothering to listen to what other people are saying.

          Perhaps you should pull your head out of your arse for long enough to try a brand new experience – listening to the opinions of others. They will often surprise you by having a train of logic that you’ve been too lazy, bigoted and self-absorbed in the past to follow.

          • adam 11.2.3.1.1
            6 August 2014 at 9:56 pm

            OK, if Davis is receiving money from National, are you OK with that?

            • adam 11.2.3.1.1.1
              6 August 2014 at 10:14 pm

              One last question Iprent. Are you OK with Davis and his association with David Farrar and Cameron Slater?

              • lprent …
                6 August 2014 at 11:33 pm

                Are you happy with the relationship between you and your habit of lying stupidly?

                What is it with pissant wankers and their habit of trying to use “when did you last beat your grandmother?” arguments. The eternally self righteous always use that style of simple minded trick.

                Anarchists, libertarians,and the evangelical religious. For all of those groups, it is one of their defining characteristics for their more stupid members.

            • weka 11.2.3.1.1.2
              6 August 2014 at 10:49 pm

              Do you have evidence that Davis is receiving money from National?

              • phillip ure …
                6 August 2014 at 10:56 pm

                f.y.i..

                ..in the pitch davis did to head office for his attack-site..

                ..he noted as a positive aspect..the ability to get funding from national supporters who hate harawira..

                ..and farrar and slater are on record as having donated..

              • lprent …
                6 August 2014 at 11:06 pm

                No he doesn’t. Just the usual mischief makers who are purportedly mere National party supporters.

                http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11304222

                • blue leopard …
                  7 August 2014 at 10:53 am

                  Kelvin left himself wide open to such ‘mischief’.

                  Managing to get a photo line-up such as the one you link to is an infinitely stupid thing to have done.

                  I hope next time a candidate for the left (presumably that is what Davis is?) thinks about aiming their message toward National sponsors they will think about the consequences prior to bumbling forward with their stupid ideas.

                  Labour is the largest left-wing party and it is an ever increasing fascination to me how they manage to have such minimum grasp when it comes to astute strategy.

            • lprent 11.2.3.1.1.3
              6 August 2014 at 10:59 pm

              As I understand what happened, he had a donations page open saying where to send the money to. I doubt that it was sophisticated enough to have a actual page to make donations with.

              Some self-professed wits in the right blogosphere donated a peanut amount. I suspect that the first anyone in Labour TTT campaign knew that had happened was when the bloggers announced it.

              I don’t have a particular problem with it. I’ve ‘sold’ books of Labour raffle tickets to my Act friends when they wanted me to fix something for them. I’ve had ardent population conservationists donating to Barnardos to support other peoples children. It always amused me to price some of my work that way because I really didn’t want to get paid for it (the IRD and I don’t like each other much).

              I’ve donated to causes that I personally disagreed with, but thought that someone should continue to explore them (my nieces animal welfare tee-shirts come to mind).

              But generally small money is just small money when it comes to electorate campaigns. It is essentially meaningless in terms of influence. There is a reason why there are virtually no limits of tracking small amounts of money in the electoral law.

              So no I have no problems with jokers making mischief with donations. Tell me do you?

              I have quite a range of people who contribute to the costs of running this site. I usually have no idea who they are.

              I could help you from committing a sin that one or more of them were right wingers (in fact I know of at least two that are) and you are inadvertently profiting from their largesse.

              Would you like me to remove you from that temptation? I’d hate to get between a fool and their obsessional religious rules.

              • weka …
                6 August 2014 at 11:07 pm

                Yeah, I read something about Slater and co donating a hundred bucks each because of the FB page, and then Davis saying he would take the money and donate it to Rape Crisis. Seems reasonable and hardly evidence that National are funding Davis’ campaign.

                • phillip ure …
                  6 August 2014 at 11:21 pm

                  i don’t recall anyone saying national are funding davis’ campaign..

                  ..just that he cited that possibility of national supporters contributing to the planned harawira.dotcom attack-site….as a positive..

                  ..oh..!..and media reports had ‘chippy’ hipkins markking his support for the davis attack-site plan..(on a facebook page..or something..from memory..)

      • weka 11.2.4
        6 August 2014 at 10:47 pm

        “So what is all of the hysteria about?”

        I would guess the potential of vote splitting to lose Harawira the seat and possibly the left the election. It’s not just HH and KD in the race.

        I will note again that the GP quietly just didn’t stand anyone in either TTT or Waiariki. Smart.

        Myself, I don’t think IMP/MP/IP should be part of the govt beyond C and S. Both because those parties need more experience and time to build solid foundations, and because we need a left wing govt that has a first term of finding its feet without too many complications (whether we will get that from Labour is another matter, and Harre is probably a better bet for a Minister than some of the Labour MPs). I also hope that the GP does really well and that they do a good deal with Labour that allows them to really make some inroads in the next 3 years, and I think IMP in cabinet would undermine that. IMP would be better outside cabinet and free to say what they want. They also need to do the time that builds respect.

        MMP got screwed early on, esp by Peters, and we have yet to see parties develop constructive, positive coalition building and maintaining skills. This is another reason to hope for the GP to do well, and I hope they have their shit sorted around the coalition.

        I’m disappointed by both Mana and Labour in this mess. Both look like they are playing the game at the expense of the real. Shame.

        • phillip ure 11.2.4.1
          6 August 2014 at 10:49 pm

          “..I will note again that the GP quietly just didn’t stand anyone in either TTT or Waiariki. ..”

          i didn’t know that..good on them..!

        • lprent 11.2.4.2
          6 August 2014 at 11:23 pm

          My view as well. What this latest round has brought home to me is exactly how politically inexperienced many of the M/IP/IMP supporters really are.

          Labour has doggedly stood people (even if they had to draft people in) in every seat winnable or not for virtually all of the last 97 years. Offhand I can’t recall an electorate without a Labour candidate. But there must have been a few with late running family and or work issues or where they just dropped dead.

          There have been the odd occasions I know of when someone has tried to do ‘deals’. Most notable in recent years in the MMP environment was probably Stuart Nash’s comments in Epsom in 2005, and Helen Clark’s about Coromandel in 1999 (when parties like IP or Mana weren’t even twinkles). But the latter was probably more Helen bluntly stating the obvious and the media reading a lot more into it.

          The idea was explored long ago, and rechecked frequently inside Labour activists over the years. But it was always considered that it really caused too much hassle inside Labour and confusion amongst voters (as I think will happen in Epsom and Ohuria this time for National supporters). So decisions like that are left up to the voters, just as they are this time.

          The GP usually had problems getting people to be willing candidates in many electorates to go and chase the party vote. I can’t recall any time since coromandel where it has actually seriously tried for an electorate seat. So it has had room to be a bit more strategic.

          • weka 11.2.4.2.1
            7 August 2014 at 10:44 am

            “Labour has doggedly stood people (even if they had to draft people in) in every seat winnable or not for virtually all of the last 97 years.”

            Yes, and in FPP that makes sense. It doesn’t make sense under MMP, if it means that Labour lose the chance to form govt because they stood against another left wing party in an electorate seat and won. Unless Labour want to be govt on their own, or want to protect the party long term at the expense of the country.

            “There have been the odd occasions I know of when someone has tried to do ‘deals’.”

            There doesn’t have to be any dealing though. Look at what the GP has done. I would be highly surprised if there is any deal with Mana. I think it much more likely that the GP made its own strategic decision that having Harawira and/or Sykes win their seats was going to increase the likelihood of a left wing govt being formed. The GP obviously don’t have the antipathy towards Mana that Labour does, so I’m sure there are politics and ideology involved too.

            “The idea was explored long ago, and rechecked frequently inside Labour activists over the years. But it was always considered that it really caused too much hassle inside Labour and confusion amongst voters (as I think will happen in Epsom and Ohuria this time for National supporters). So decisions like that are left up to the voters, just as they are this time.”

            I don’t really follow this. If a party puts up a candidate and the candidate goes hard, then surely that tells their voters to vote for them. Which means that Labour really is willing to risk the left losing the election so that Davis can have an electorate seat instead of a list one. Can you understand why those of us outside the party are not understanding this?

            “The GP usually had problems getting people to be willing candidates in many electorates to go and chase the party vote. I can’t recall any time since coromandel where it has actually seriously tried for an electorate seat.”

            It looks to me like the GP is now taking a long term view to getting electorate seats again, building itself up to that. Obviously it will need to be a bigger party to do that.

            “So it has had room to be a bit more strategic.”

            What are the downsides for Labour of being strategic, either by not standing candidates in certain electorates, or by standing quiet ones? Certainly not coming out all guns blazing for the Māori seats, which may split the vote. I can guess a few reasons, but am curious what you think.

            • phillip ure 11.2.4.2.1.1
              7 August 2014 at 10:51 am

              @ weka..

              ..+ 1..

            • lprent 11.2.4.2.1.2
              8 August 2014 at 8:52 am

              You are wrong about MPP. The electorate seat bases are pretty damn good at ensuring that the grass roots campaigning is carried out over the entirety of the country. That is how you get party vote that is higher then 10%

              That is why the Greens & Labour stand people in seats that they know they don’t have a hope in hell of winning

        • karol 11.2.4.3
          7 August 2014 at 6:40 am

          I will note again that the GP quietly just didn’t stand anyone in either TTT or Waiariki. Smart.

          Do you know they did that for strategic reasons? My understanding is they aim to stand a candidate in all electorates, because they have decided that having a Green logo beside the electorate names on the ballot paper means people are more likely to tick them for the party vote.

          • weka 11.2.4.3.1
            7 August 2014 at 10:32 am

            The only reason I know that they have done this is because I looked at the list linked above. You could try going through the list and seeing if those two electorates are the only ones they didn’t stand people in and then draw some conclusions maybe 😉

            edit: looks like 56 candidates compared to 71 electorates.

            I think the point is the GP did this quietly and without the necessity for a deal. Just smart thinking on their part and demonstrates they understand MMP well.

            • phillip ure 11.2.4.3.1.1
              7 August 2014 at 10:52 am

              @ weka..

              ..+ 1..

            • karol 11.2.4.3.1.2
              7 August 2014 at 6:39 pm

              But how do you know they just didn’t have any candidates for those 5 electorates?

              • weka …
                7 August 2014 at 6:43 pm

                I don’t, and I would guess that that’s the reason for at least some of the lack. Seems a coincidence about TTT and Waiariki though.

                • weka …
                  7 August 2014 at 7:19 pm

                  hmmm, not quite sure this is right, because the GP list doesn’t match the NZ parliament list (GP using old electorate names? Kelston? Upper Harbour?), but by a process of elimination, using the parliament list, here are the electorates that the GP aren’t standing anyone in (two might be wrong if the GP is using old names)

                  General Electorates:
                  Bay of Plenty – Tony Ryall/Nat
                  Botany – Jami-Lee Ross/Nat
                  Hamilton West – Tim Macindoe/Nat
                  Hunua – Paul Hutchinson/Nat
                  Nelson – Nick Smith/Nat
                  Pakuranga – Maruice Williamson/Nat
                  Palmerston North – Ian Lees Galloway/Lab
                  Rangitata – Jo Goodhew/Nat
                  Rangitīkei – Ian McKelvie/Nat
                  Rotorua – Todd McClay/Nat
                  Waikato – Lindsay Tisch/Nat
                  Waitakere – Paula Bennett/Nat
                  Whanganui – Chester Burrows/Nat

                  Māori Electorates
                  Hauraki-Waikato – Nanaia Mahuta/Lab
                  Te Tai Tokerau – Hone Harawira/Mana
                  Waiariki – Te Ururoa Flavell/Mp

                  So you could be right karol, it might simply be that they didn’t have people for those electorates. On the other hand, it could look pretty strategic too.

                  • karol …
                    7 August 2014 at 7:44 pm

                    Kelston & Upper Harbour are two new electorates for this election.

                    Waitakere was an electorate for the 2011 election, but it has been split between some of the other electorates. Part of it will be in the Helensville electorate for this election, and part in Upper Harbour. Paula Bennett is candidate for Upper Harbour this election.

                    • weka …
                      7 August 2014 at 8:12 pm

                      thanks. Interesting that the parliament website is showing the old ones, I guess that makes sense until after the election. I needed the electorates as a list, which was surprisingly hard to find.

                  • karol …
                    7 August 2014 at 7:58 pm

                    Here’s the candidate list for all parties by electorate.

                    There doesn’t look any logic to the electorates the Greens are not standing a candidate. My guess is it is because they don’t have anyone willing and able in those areas.

                    Also, I thought people could still sign up as candidates til some time later this month.

                    • weka …
                      7 August 2014 at 8:16 pm

                      If there is any logic, as opposed to lack of suitable candidates, I would guess it is this:

                      Prioritising resources to seats where a high profile ups the party vote. Hence the large number of Nat seats they’re not standing in.

                      Not standing in the 2 Māori seats where it works against the left to split the vote.

                    • karol …
                      7 August 2014 at 8:29 pm

                      Prioritising resources to seats where a high profile ups the party vote. Hence the large number of Nat seats they’re not standing in.

                      There does seem a logic to that.

                      Or, in Nat seats, maybe there’s less people who support the Greens, and thus a smaller pool to draw candidates from – thus back to no-one suitable/willing standing up to do it.

      • Weepus beard 11.2.5
        6 August 2014 at 11:10 pm

        Obviously it’s apparent you have done a lot of work for Labour, and just as importantly run this forum for the benefit of all of us here.

        Fine, there’s no-one currently cabinet grade in IMP although personally I think New Zealand would be a better place with Hone Harawira and Laila Harre at the table somewhere.

        I think IMP is very good at getting support from the population. Namely, disenfranchised Maori and the young educated set. They are new and yet you want them to show the same political qualities as seasoned players?

        They are a first time political adjutant, so why would they need to think beyond their seemingly core philosophy of changing the government, addressing Maori concerns, and supplying uncapped internet?

        • weka 11.2.5.1
          6 August 2014 at 11:14 pm

          I think both Mana and the IP will do better outside of cabinet and the freedom that will come with that. They will also serve NZ better that way this term too.

          What I would love to see, but am in no way holding my breath for, is for the left wing parties to work together with the idea that all people deserve to be represented and that no one party is capable of doing that anymore (if they ever were). That’s the real potential of MMP.

          I love that both Mana and the IP are bringing new people into politics, and if they get their shit together they will be training future leaders for NZ.

          • Weepus beard 11.2.5.1.1
            6 August 2014 at 11:30 pm

            Plus that.

            David Cunliffe has apparently recognised that IMP may be important in terms of supply and seats but also that the time is not right for positions in caucus. I think the party voting base for IMP and I think the reps for IMP would be happy with this outcome.

            All this would work well if only the Labour TTT candidate would drop his machismo and get on board.

            That anti IMP website they had ready to go must have cost a lot of the funds Davis is now lamenting as lost.

            That is strategy, I suppose.

        • lprent 11.2.5.2
          6 August 2014 at 11:44 pm

          If I was the IMP and if they manage to get 4 or 5 seats in parliament, then at most what they should be trying for is probably associate minister roles outside of cabinet.

          I personally think that one of the reasons that the Alliance disintegrated back in 2001/2 was because they were rushing their MPs into cabinet and ministerial roles without good prep in a party and without good mentoring.

          You have to remember that associates is where all Labour MPs usually go through on their way towards the full cabinet ministerial roles.

          Harre’s career was probably a good example of that after 1999. I suspect that she and the other high fliers would have been better employed in mentoring their gaggle of new MPs in the intricacies of parliament rather than trying to be ministers too early.

          • Colonial Viper 11.2.5.2.1
            7 August 2014 at 1:54 am

            Basically, I read that as saying that IMP need to take a 10-15 year view on developing their political parties and political depth. Of course, chances are that hotheads will take over and over cook it into a smouldering mess, but time will tell.

        • Murray Olsen 11.2.5.3
          7 August 2014 at 1:38 am

          I think Hone would make an excellent Minister of Police. He knows what they do and would not be scared of them like many other ministers seem to have been.

    • Pasupial 11.3
      7 August 2014 at 12:32 am

      Weka

      Thanks for dredging up that DC statement, it’s been running through my mind a bit these past few days. At the time, it seemed a fine declaration of principles, the shine is coming off a bit now however.

      I can’t help thinking that a Labour-led coalition will need the IMP MPs votes simply because they can’t rely on their own factions to vote in unison (eg recent “windfall” vote). A bare majority in parliament of; Labour/ GP/ NZF MPs, will find itself unable to pass many bills without the 6 IMP votes as a buffer. I wouldn’t be surprised if half a dozen ABCs defected to National post-election if that gave a Nat/ NZF coalition the numbers.

      The appeal of the IMP vote appears to be in engaging with the otherwise disenfranchised; those who TRP and his ilk have determined; “‘do we need ‘em?’. The answer is looking more and more like no”. My view is that we should strive to have as many perspectives as possible represented in parliament (even the CP’s “something”). My hope is that one of the main IMP requirements for C&S would be a drastic reduction in the 5% threshold (1.6% would be my preference, even 3% would be an improvement) to be instituted before the 2017 election.

      • weka 11.3.1
        7 August 2014 at 11:27 am

        Which begs the question of how NZ can mature politically to reach the potential of MMP. I agree, it’s about increasing representation across the board. There is still too much old school power play shit going on, where MPs and parties think it’s about how much power they get for themselves rather than sharing and building good democracy. That’s why I am so disappointed in DC, and while I appreciate he is between a rock and a hard place, I am beginning to think his values are far too expendable. It’s such a depressing thought, that we are going to have to wait for the oldies to retire out of Labour before anything really good could come in terms of positive change (not to mention Peters’ retirement).

        In addition to all that, it concerns me to see Labour and Mana at such odds. This is such a crucial relationship, between the Pakeha left and Māori. We know what happened between Clark and Turia, and how that has impacted on NZ, so I’m bewildered that Labour wouldn’t be trying to build bridges with Mana. I know they need to be careful to not scare the horses, but I don’t see the need for outright hostility. Unfortunately it now looks like the tit for tat shit has gone on too long and we are reaching a point of no return. That’s macho politics for you I guess 🙁

        • blue leopard 11.3.1.1
          7 August 2014 at 11:37 am

          +1 Weka

        • marty mars 11.3.1.2
          7 August 2014 at 11:37 am

          “I’m bewildered that Labour wouldn’t be trying to build bridges with Mana”

          Fear – scared people and parties do silly things. The sad thing is that it shows an attitude of scarcity instead of abundance. Less people voted for the gnats last time than the number that didn’t vote – that is a fact that should be seared into a few foreheads.

          • weka 11.3.1.2.1
            7 August 2014 at 4:17 pm

            wow, I didn’t know that.

            • Te Reo Putake 11.3.1.2.1.1
              7 August 2014 at 5:04 pm

              Marty’s on to something, though it needs some qualification. The actual gap between voters and enrolled non voters was around 800k. However, I don’t know how many are simply not on the roll at all, so it’s possible that there are more potential voters out there than the million who voted National.

              3m enrolled voters, 2.2m votes cast. 75% turnout. Just over 1 million voted National, almost exactly the same number as did in 2008. The difference was the drop in turnout. National improved their overall percentage by 2.5%, while not improving their actual vote. The media saying it was a done deal and convincing opposition voters to stay home probably helped Key limp home. That and Phil Goff.

              The really important thing is that the National vote was static. The polls for National are all down on the same time pre-2011, so they are not likely to get better than the 1m votes they achieved in both those elections. Which is the important thing about marty’s stat; if we can get even a hundred thousand ENV’s to make the effort, we have a change of government.

              • marty mars …
                7 August 2014 at 5:08 pm

                I did try to work it out but couldn’t 🙁

                It was a line from Laila at the IMP roadshow last night.

              • weka …
                7 August 2014 at 6:16 pm

                thanks TRP, that’s good to understand (and makes a bit more sense of Labour strategy, although I still think they’re daft). Someone on ts said the other day that there were 800,000 ENV, and 200,000 not enrolled (that’s the million that some people refer to instead of 800,000). Hopefully someone will pop up and be able to confirm that with a reference.

      • The Lone Haranguer 11.3.2
        7 August 2014 at 8:41 pm

        Just remember, in the early MMP years a lower than 5% threshold would have brought to parliament such stars as Graham Capill.

        Its all well and good saying lets go to a 3% threshold, but it may not be so good for our country.

        • Pasupial 11.3.2.1
          7 August 2014 at 10:14 pm

          TLH

          I believe I covered that with; “even the CP’s “something””. I may not agree with another party’s policies, but their constituents do have the right to be represented in parliament.

          Just to be clear (and save TS a lawsuit), I am not claiming that Colin Craig is the paedophile leader of Christian party. However, the Conservative Party does have links through; Gordon Copeland, the Kiwi party and United Future; back to the Christian Coalition of which Capill’s CHP was part.

          But while Craig may advocate child abuse, it seems to be more in the nature of physical assault rather than sexual violation. Plus, while Capill was an Anglican minister, Craig is a wealthy Baptist (who is adamant that he not at all crazy).

  12. Weepus beard 12
    6 August 2014 at 8:33 pm

    Why does the left eat itself? Is it because we consider ourselves free and independent thinkers and this contributes to smaller, more desperate factions while the right align themselves, brown shirt style?

    I’m reminded of Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia, when the militant arms of several different unions and their international sympathisers fought a common fascist enemy but also amongst themselves.

    What would the world have given if Franco was defeated in decent time?

    Might have avoided WWII.

    • phillip ure 12.1
      6 August 2014 at 8:53 pm

      this is not that..weepu..

      ..this is the rightwing-neo-lib in labour cementing in their victories..

      ..(i’ll betcha ‘chippy’/goff et.al are as happy as a pig in shit…eh..?..)

      ..and by doing this..labour are just hastening their eventual demise/irrelevancy..

      ..do you rightwing-toads celebrating this sell out to the right of labour..and peters..

      ..do you really think this will stop the moves/mood for change..?

      ..if so..more fool you…

      ..it’s gonna happen..and if you/labour don’t change their neo-lib ways..

      ..you/they won’t be part of that change/future..

      (and that might happen sooner than you/labour think..if peters goes with national..

      ..and i note that nobody can answer my how-can-you-trust-him not to do that..question..

      ..as i said..more fools you..

      (ew..!..and those weird freaks peters has as mp’s..?..

      ..are you sure you have thought this thru properly..?..)

    • Clemgeopin 12.2
      6 August 2014 at 9:15 pm

      I am personally weary of the Greens and their tactics and extremist positions:

      No fracking, No oil mining, No oil exploration, No off shore drilling, No ETS, No/less fishing, No/less cows, No/less dairy, No/less Taranaki, No/less cars, No/less travel, No/less planes etc etc! No this, no that! Not “let us diminish these bad things slowly and steadily.”

      Most of us love nature, environment and New Zealand. Not just the Greens. Progressive changes in our ways of doing stuff is very necessary and essential. But that has to be well managed balanced change with utmost care and concern for both the nature as well as for jobs, economy and the people. Labour understands this. They have been in government, are experienced and they know what it takes to make important changes without throwing the baby out of the bath water and getting kicked out by the people in no time.

      Greens want it all and want it now without thinking of the consequences to us and the country of such an extremist position when NZ is but a small speck in our vast world.

      No wonder people get worried and weary of the Greens and they languish at about 10% to 12% support from the public. This fear also translates and diminishes possible public support for a Labour led progressive government!

      Today Cunliffe on TV3, 6 pm news, stated that he would block this huge latest land sale. Norman did not even back him up in his TV statement!

      • phillip ure 12.2.1
        6 August 2014 at 10:07 pm

        those who advocate doing nothing are the fucken ‘extremists’…

        ..and factcheck:..norman said that even if personally opposed..if acting as a minister he wd have to follow the law when determining that decision..

        ..cunnliffe just mouthed of/fired from the hip..

        ..who looked the more statesmanlike/competent/ready for work..?

        ..d’ya reckon..?

        ..(hint:..his name doesn’t start with a ‘c’..)

        ..and seriously..!..just going on cunnliffes widely varying statements re int/mana over previous wks..

        ..it’s clear what he says means s.f.a..

        ..the wind might change..and with it his ‘heartfelt’-opinion of the moment..

        ..here today…and likely gone tomorrow..

        ..he is fucken all over the place..

  13. Bill 13
    6 August 2014 at 8:48 pm

    Sorry TRP (Well no, I’m not really). Within a few lines the internal radar was beeping TRP warning signals. And sure enough, yet more of your tiresome doffing of the cap to, and espousing the line of what you perceive to be the ‘right and proper’ centre of authority/power. A noble soldier, first to Shearer in spite of surrounding realities, and now …(sigh)

    • adam 13.1
      6 August 2014 at 9:19 pm

      I’ve been arguing for a while now that their are some in labour who are wolves in sheep’s clothing. I think TRP is one of them. A classical liberal who is in labour because he feels to guilty to join the Tory scum openly.

      Shame their are people who are just to dam scared to think for themselves and bow and grovel to privilege.

      Mind you their is a large section of the liberal elites who are so condescending to working people, that they think they can spin any old shit, and we all to bow our heads and go ‘yes Massa’.

    • Saarbo 13.2
      6 August 2014 at 10:16 pm

      Well to be honest Bill, a bit more of this within Labour and we would probably be polling in the high 30″s or more. The “factions” are costing Labour.

      I like Hone but I think Labour’s approach is on the mark, i.e I might like Hone but swing voters don’t, just ask around…Labour’s approach will maximise Labours and the Lefts vote.

      Good night all.

      • Bill 13.2.1
        7 August 2014 at 8:53 am

        Morning Saarbo 😉 Thing is, it’s not about Labour; it’s about the left. Y’know – mmp and all of that?

        • Saarbo 13.2.1.1
          9 August 2014 at 8:58 am

          Fair enough Bill…I was referring to TRP following the party line, Labour needs more of it…the lack of discipline in Labour caucus is probably the biggest factor costing the party currently IMHO.

  14. bad12 14
    6 August 2014 at 9:22 pm

    Reallly really really good post TRP, and i mean, really really really good!!!

    Here’s the simple equation, IF Labour manage to defeat Hone Harawira in Te Tai Tokerau in September its pretty much a certainty that Labour will be the opposition for the next 3 years,

    Pretty simple, have fun trying wont you all, me i am working and voting for a 5% InternetMana Party and havn’t the time nor energy to debate the dinosaur politics of First Past the Post electoral politics with any of the dinosaurs adherents…

    • Clemgeopin 14.1
      6 August 2014 at 9:46 pm

      I too would very much like to see Internet-Mana MPs in parliament. They need to go and canvas harder on their policies many of which are excellent. But if they can’t win on their own steam without the ‘help’ of Labour, what good is such a win really?

      I do not agree with K. Davis very dirty low tactics. That is a different issue.

      • bad12 14.1.1
        6 August 2014 at 10:07 pm

        Clem, i don’t think i have uttered a word about Mr Davis and His choice of campaign methods here at the Standard and do not plan to,

        You are right about the working Party machine, this afternoon was spent here getting the crew together, see who is ‘in’ for this fight, and, sorting out the printers,

        i should be up and running by mid-week next week and damn i have this feeling coming over me that Peter’s Ohariu might be in for a dose of acidic prose…

        • Clemgeopin 14.1.1.1
          6 August 2014 at 10:18 pm

          Nice work, bad12!

          A piece of unasked advice for you. Before you print your acidic passage, run it through a few people for proof reading and ‘honest’ opinion, particularly to see if it is against electoral legal guidelines and if the passage damage’s Dunne’s potential win or inadvertently actually helps his win!

    • Te Reo Putake 14.2
      6 August 2014 at 10:01 pm

      Cheers, Bad and good luck with that 5% thing! I actually think a party vote of 2- 3% plus is on the cards, especially given Laila’s organisational abilities. But beyond that? Nah.

      BTW, you (and a few others) seem to forget that TTT (and every other electorate) is actually a First Past the Post race. MMP hasn’t replaced FPP, it’s incorporated it.

      You are also overlooking the maths part of the equation, which is that Labour at 30%, Greens at 12, NZF at 5 (total 47%) is almost enough to govern whatever happens to mana/Internet. The scenario where MIP’s support is needed is a combined total for those 3 of 46 or 47%. It’s 48% in some scenarios (ACT win Epsom and get an extra list MP on a party vote of 1.5% or the maori party win an electorate seat and get above 2.5%). Yes, I know I should get out more, but that MMP seat calculator is just so much fun!

      Below 46%, there’s no chance anyway. The result will look just like it does now; National by a seat or two. Above 48%, well, Mana becomes irrelevant because that’s the point at which National and any combination of right wing partners fall short of a majority. Labour are then in the box seat, whatever happens to mana.

      It’s finely balanced, but there is only a narrow window of opportunity for mana/IP. In fact, the best possible result for MIP would be a poor result for Labour, the Greens and NZF. I think the momentum is with the left, but we don’t need all of the left to succeed to get a change of Government.

      • adam 14.2.1
        6 August 2014 at 10:04 pm

        Thanks for clarifying the game you play.

      • bad12 14.2.2
        6 August 2014 at 10:18 pm

        TRP, i also really really really liked your phrase of the certainty of a Labour/NZFirst Government, god i wish i could dredge up such blind faith,

        Please no tips now, you can educate me on how this is achieved after September 20…

      • lurgee 14.2.3
        8 August 2014 at 6:36 am

        You are also overlooking the maths part of the equation, which is that Labour at 30%, Greens at 12, NZF at 5 (total 47%) is almost enough to govern whatever happens to mana/Internet.

        In that situation, Peters will almost certainly go with National. Why are people clutching to the idea that Winston will somehow deliver them victory? And are these the same people who frothed and raved about the supposed ‘rightward drift’ under Goff and Shearer, who now want us to succumb to Winston’s sordid embraces?

        What can Labour offer him and his party that National can not? Why would he want to destroy his party by jobbing a Labour Party that can only get 30% into power? He’d have to be insane.

        The next government will likely be National+NZ First+UF+Maori/ACT.

        We had a chance, but schisming within Labour and with the wider left, lack of courage and vision, and poor strategy means it has likely gone.

        • phillip ure 14.2.3.1
          8 August 2014 at 7:34 am

          @ lurgee..

          “..Why are people clutching to the idea that Winston will somehow deliver them victory?

          And are these the same people who frothed and raved about the supposed ‘rightward drift’ under Goff and Shearer –

          • who now want us to succumb to Winston’s sordid embraces?..”

          ..+ 1..

          • bad12 14.2.3.1.1
            8 August 2014 at 7:53 am

            With the ‘tactical voters’ not wanting a bar of NZFirst in election 2014,(an indefinable % of Winstons vote), and, Colon Craig deliberately targeting the Grey Power vote it is at best a 50/50 proposition that Peters and NZFirst will actually be in the Parliament after the election,

            Secondly, even if NZFirst do scrape back in with 5% of the vote it is another 50/50 proposition that Peters would support a Labour lead Government,

            There’s a strong chance that the result of election 2014 will be NZFirst 4.5% and Colons Conservatives 3.2%,

            Should both NZFirst and InternetMana come out of the election with 5% of the vote each, this would put David Cunliffe in the drivers seat,

            There is one large chance that Cunliffe will end up with the numbers Labour 33%, Greens 12% and both NZFirst and Internet Mana with 5% each,

            In such a scenario NZFirst has no real leverage, none what-so-ever, Peters would be in or out, if Peters chose out, Cunliffe could with such numbers form a Government backed up with confidence and supply from InternetMana,

            Obviously it would cost Labour, the food in schools program, a rebuild of the States Housing stock might just be the price,

            Its what i am voting For…

  15. Paul Campbell 15
    6 August 2014 at 9:28 pm

    I spoke to someone yesterday who’d always supported National but was thinking of voting Internet/Mana – the whole GCSB thingstill resonates – there alone is a reason to make sure they’re viable Laila is capable of hoovering up ex-National votes that probably aren’t available to Labour

    • Paul 15.1
      6 August 2014 at 9:30 pm

      Ditto

    • bad12 15.2
      6 August 2014 at 9:37 pm

      A wide cross section of people at the InternetMana meeting in Wellington on Monday night, what i would call ‘not the usual suspects’ although i happily admit to being able to identify at least one of the Marxist crew from the capital among the audience…

    • Clemgeopin 15.3
      6 August 2014 at 9:53 pm

      About a month or two ago, when the Internet Party was formed I had three of my own close family and friends who seemed excited and said they would be voting for IP! I am not sure if they were serious or were just joking. I haven’t checked with them recently but I am keen
      to ask them again either closer to the election or after that.

    • Lanthanide 15.4
      7 August 2014 at 9:31 pm

      I’ve seriously considered voting IMP in a way that I’ve never considered for the Greens. Laila is what does it for me.

      Need to see more of their actual policies though, and since Labour is wanting to marginalise them as much as possible, the most likely outcome is that I’ll stick with Labour.

    • lurgee 15.5
      8 August 2014 at 6:38 am

      I spoke to someone yesterday who’d always supported National but was thinking of voting Internet/Mana

      What curious people you know!

      Did you ask them what they thought of Hone Harawira? Might have been interesting to see them grapple with the cognitive dissonance.

  16. Stuart Munro 16
    6 August 2014 at 10:22 pm

    I’m disappointed in Kelvin Davis’s and it seems implicitly the Labour party’s take on all this.

    I guess they feel they cannot compete with a real party of the left. We saw this with their Winstonian refusal to reach an accomodation with the Greens, and we see it again now with this ill considered IMP bashing.

    Three more years of Key and 500 000 kids in poverty by then… thanks guys.

    • lprent 16.1
      6 August 2014 at 11:27 pm

      I guess that 97 years of actually winning seats and elections across the whole country doesn’t give you the experience to make informed decisions?

      Or the alternative theory is that you could just be a politically inexperienced fool?

      Want to guess which one of these two alternatives that I’m leaning towards?

      • Stuart Munro 16.1.1
        7 August 2014 at 12:33 am

        Forgive me if my experience of decades of Labour inaction on such things as slave fishing has dented my confidence in Labour infallibility.

        • Macro 16.1.1.1
          7 August 2014 at 11:32 pm

          Totally agree – Labour have IMHO completely forgotten the purpose for which they exist. They lost the plot in the 1980’s and are still floundering around in the wilderness. They may be the oldest party – but that doesn’t make them the wisest or the smartest.

          • Colonial Viper 16.1.1.1.1
            7 August 2014 at 11:39 pm

            Yep; if Labour do not recommit to their historical purpose, they will slowly fade into irrelevancy.

        • lprent 16.1.1.2
          8 August 2014 at 8:50 am

          It is what you get with a broad based party that is actually trying to be the government. Typically governments lag their citizens and businesses and there has to be a wide degree of acceptance of the change before wise governments do the change.

          Most policy changes require quite a long period, typically at least a decade, of work by activists before they have a hope in hell of enabled. The outrage that can be directed against activist governments is pretty intense.

          That is why quite a lot of activist attention is misdirected. It rails against the problem towards government and politicians, where it should be directed towards shifting the focus and norms of voters and industry groups.

          I always tell activists that they need to plan most things as if they are a 3 decade campaign rather than impatiently expecting politicians to do their work for them.

      • lurgee 16.1.2
        8 August 2014 at 6:43 am

        I guess that 97 years of actually winning seats and elections across the whole country doesn’t give you the experience to make informed decisions?

        That’s a really weird and rather unworthy argument, lprent. Just because Labour has a (rather poor, really) record of winning seats and (occasionally) elections in the past doesn’t mean they know what they are doing now. They’ve been picking leaders for 97 years as well, but their wisdom in that department was called into doubt when they opted fo David Shearer.

        The personnel have changed in that time. The people currently involved in Labour’s campaign haven’t been “winning seats and elections across the whole country” for 97 years. Many of them have been involved in losing elections more recently, however.

        At the end of the day, Labour is made up of a bunch of individuals and they aren’t always as smart, well motivated or principled as we would like.

        Also, would you really trust a 97 year old to run an election campaign?

        • phillip ure 16.1.2.1
          8 August 2014 at 8:06 am

          @ lurgee..

          ..+ 1..

        • lprent 16.1.2.2
          8 August 2014 at 8:55 am

          Yeah all of that is true. However they also have a pretty strong institutional knowledge about what tends to work and what doesn’t. You learn from mistakes.

          Of course that also means that there is some ossification as well.

  17. Tiger Mountain 17
    6 August 2014 at 10:23 pm

    TRPs message is just pumped up two ticks labour loyalism under a camouflage spray of dissing Internet Mana–Hone and encouraging Kunning Kelvin.

    One really wonders if enough Labour people actually want to dispatch the Key government unless it is on their absolute terms? Even after all these years it can still surprise how deep seated FPP and reactionary thinking is within sections of Labour. We just had this discussion here a few weeks back thanks to Chimpkins and Kunning Kelvin spilling their guts on social media and just as some common purpose breaks out here and there another dose of disunity.

    There are a lot of Mana people that don’t want to be in Government with labour and rogers dregs anyway. Mana is a movement that will carry on between election cycles regardless.
    Internet Mana strategic alliance is slightly different being a vehicle for this election only and may wind up shortly after the election anyway so 30 year lectures from Lprent are also somewhat superfluous.

    It is way too soon to discuss how power is to be divvied up until there are a few elected MPs floating around. Until the 26th August we don’t even know for sure who the Nats will be fielding. Internet Mana is campaigning for a change of government first. But if anyone seriously counts Winston as good for a progressive future when there are two credible options–Green and hopefully IMP instead then I can point you to a good shrink.

    The Alliance and supporters had to drag Labour kicking and screaming to various reforms after 1999 and if it has to happen again in 2014 and 2017 so be it.

    • Clemgeopin 17.1
      6 August 2014 at 11:07 pm

      All that depends on two important factors.

      What % of support have the most supreme PUBLIC decided to give for each party and not on what DEALS have been made BEFORE the election.

      Each party has their PRINCIPLES and POLICIES. Show those to the voters. THEY decide. Based on THEIR verdict and percentages received, make POLICY DEALS after the election during the coalition negotiations.

      Don’t look for coat tailing or propping up by other parties before the elections. That is neither democratic, fair or correct.

  18. reason 18
    6 August 2014 at 10:59 pm

    Is Kelvin replacing Shane Jones ?………….. in a round about way.

    Labor lost my vote a while ago.

    The past few elections I have voted for the Greens as they were the best of a bad bunch by quite a way.

    But this time Hone’s getting my vote.

    Blairs labor and Obamas democrats have shown what power abusing wankers modern day traditional ‘left’ parties are.

    They need the new left to keep them honest.

  19. DS 19
    6 August 2014 at 11:10 pm

    Labour’s Number One Priority this election must be to defeat National. And it’s number two, and number three priorities. Any anti National party thus helps that goal.

    I’m a loyal Labourite, and I loathe Hone at a personal level. But if I were in Te Tai Tokerau, I’d vote for him, because it helps get National out. Simple as that.

    • weka 19.1
      6 August 2014 at 11:16 pm

      +1000. Nice and succinct too.

    • Clemgeopin 19.2
      7 August 2014 at 1:31 am

      And I probably would too! But it is the voters themselves that should determine what is best for them strategically and not being told by political parties what is best for them!

  20. Colonial Viper 20
    7 August 2014 at 1:49 am

    I think lprent’s major criticisms of IMP (eg. inexperience, not ready for Cabinet, rash supporters and candidates, on the ground performance issues etc) are valid points but what needs to be taken into account is how new a party they are to the nation-wide game and how well they are doing given that.

    Let me compare with Labour, which has immense institutional knowledge built up, experienced operatives at every level and former MPs or senior staffers living in almost all electorates. And yet can still suffer from serious foot in mouth issues and can make you wonder if they can put together 20 solid Cabinet Ministers.

    So all in all, yes IMP is making some mistakes, including ones that many veteran Labour activists would consider ‘rookie’ ones, but they are coming up to speed fast. IF they can survive long enough and contest through to 2020 in order to build up some infrastructure and experience, I think they could become a formidable political force.

    • DS 20.1
      7 August 2014 at 2:24 am

      And even Labour was young once. Founded in 1916, fought first election 1919, became official opposition 1925, propped up minority government 1928-1930, and finally became government 1935. Less than two decades between being a ragtag mob on the West Coast and the working class suburbs of the main centres to sitting round the cabinet table in Wellington.

  21. Stuart Munro 21
    7 August 2014 at 8:00 am

    IMP isn’t starting from nothing either – there is a fair amount of experience and some intelligence and work ethic there too. If unforeseeable electoral success or coalition circumstances were to drop regional development in Hone’s or transport in Laila’s lap I wouldn’t care to assert they’d screw them up. Labour’s ministerial performances, though infintely better than the incumbent vermin, are not invariably stellar. If IMP only coattails 4 MPs that’s one thing – but if they get rather more it would not be out of place to expect more. John Minto might be of some value to education for example – and ruling out such a thing pre-election contradicts earlier statements that Labour would make its coalition decisions after the vote.

    The presumptions of neo-liberalism have tended to work against Labour’s assumed technocracy, so that many initiatives were abandoned to the private sector, or like solid energy, rail, or Air New Zealand, allowed to fail. The recent interest in our mittelstand or SMOs hopefully predicates rather better integrated policy. Our fisheries were entrusted to foreign commercial expertise to develop when the more successful foriegn fisheries, like our own agriculture, worked closely with state institutes.

    My own field was fisheries, and the high value, locally responsive artisanal model was essentially destroyed in the eighties in favour of a less sustainable colonial bulk commodity export model. NZ seafood exports generate one of the lowest per kilo returns in the world, and our local market is so poor commercially caught local fish is consumed on average less than once a month. From such a low base it should not be hard to generate substantial improvement.

  22. phillip ure 22
    7 August 2014 at 8:33 am

    rightwingers on this thread sneer at the ‘inexperience’ of the likes of harre/harawira..?..(!)

    ..have they looked at the clowns that cluster around their favourite.. winston peters..?

    ..happy to have them as ministers..eh..?

    ..(that is actually quite funny..it is such a ridiculous idea..i mean..you wouldn’t trust them to run a cake-stall..would you..?..)

    ..questiontime has shown/proven these are people barely able to articulate a sentence..

    ..what ‘experience’ do these individuals show that inspires such confidence in them in the right here..?

    • Te Reo Putake 22.1
      7 August 2014 at 9:00 am

      Actually, Phil, Tracey Martin has been quite effective in parliament and Andrew Williams has been solid, too. And he’s been the mayor of a large city. Less sure about the others, but I’d say Winston’s team outpoints MIP on the experience front.

      ps “rightwingers on this thread”? One of the unusual things about the responses to this post is that none of the regular righties have commented. Perhaps the phrase you meant to use was “people less gloriously, perfectly and modestly left than me”?

      • phillip ure 22.1.1
        7 August 2014 at 9:11 am

        i should have qualified that universal condemnation with martin..

        ..if peters wasn’t such a sexist..martin is the natural inheritor of the leadership role..

        ..there is no need for him to be looking to ron marks..(f.f.s..!..)

        ..and trp..as a former shearer fanboy..current ‘we want winston!’ labourite..

        ..you are firmly in the neo-lib/right..

        ..didn’t you realise that..?

        ..rightie..!..know thyself..!..eh..?

        ..and i have been unable to get out of my head yr ideological-compatriots iprents’ proud credibility-claim yesterday that he has been advising winning political parties for 30 yrs…

        ..how long ago was it we started down this neo-lib road to wrack and ruin..?

        ..ya hafta ask..

        ..and williams..?..yeah..!..nah..!…eh..?

        • The Al1en 22.1.1.1
          7 August 2014 at 9:14 am

          “.and trp..as a former shearer fanboy..current ‘we want winston!’ labourite….you are firmly in the neo-lib/right….didn’t you realise that..?
          ..rightie..!..know thyself..!..eh..?

          Personally attacking topic posters 🙄
          How low will you go?

          “and i have been unable to get out of my head yr ideological-compatriots iprents’ proud credibility-claim yesterday that he has been advising winning political parties for 30 yrs…”

          That’s incredibly stupid, but I’m not surprised.

        • Te Reo Putake 22.1.1.2
          7 August 2014 at 9:28 am

          Sorry, bud, but I’m a unreconstructed socialist, very much on the left of the party. I support Cunliffe, used to support Shearer, used to support HC. But, that’s mainly because I don’t much care who holds that position, or indeed, who’s in caucus. I want the party members to decide the direction of the party and whether we win or lose the election, I’ll keep pushing for more democratisation of decision making and policy.

          Frankly, I think you’re mistaking pragmatic analysis for bias. Just because my rationale doesn’t support your favourite party doesn’t make me right wing. Like it or not, the modest party vote gain from distancing MIP outweighs the tiny risk of losing their support inside Parliament. On the numbers, that support is not likely to be needed anyway. If you think differently, why not put an alternative scenario?

          • phillip ure 22.1.1.2.1
            7 August 2014 at 9:32 am

            alt scenario..

            ..int/mana 7%-9%..grns 12-14%..labor..making up the numbers..

            • Te Reo Putake 22.1.1.2.1.1
              7 August 2014 at 9:37 am

              I was hoping for something based on reality, Phil!

              • phillip ure …
                7 August 2014 at 9:42 am

                speaking of ‘reality’..

                ..cd u have a go at answering the question everyone else has shied away from..

                ..namely..given his track-record..how can you have such blind faith in peters to go with labour..

                ..when he could just as well prop up a key govt..?

                ..now that’s ‘reality’…

                ..that many of your opinion seem unable to face/answer..

                ..do you ‘trust’ peters..?..really..?

                • The Al1en …
                  7 August 2014 at 9:45 am

                  You forget hh actually sat on the government benches under key. Peters never has.
                  What a shocker to those ttt voters, the revolutionary taking the crown coin.

                • Te Reo Putake …
                  7 August 2014 at 10:07 am

                  I touched on that in the post, Phil. I believe Winston wants to be the one to sink Key. I think he’ll meet with him post election, string him along for a while, then royally knife him.

                  It’s important that Winston hasn’t written off the Greens this time. No MP, no mana. But the door remains open to Russel and Metiria. And both the Greens and Labour are putting up policy that chimes with NZF’s own direction, such as DC ruling out the sale of the Taupo farm. L/G/NZF is looking like a decent fit this time around.

                  • The Al1en …
                    7 August 2014 at 10:09 am

                    “L/G/NZF is looking like a decent fit this time around.”

                    Which would provide a stable, left leaning government, fit for the time.

                    No need for rort deals in ttt and no need to be tainted by hh and kdc.
                    I heartily concur.

                  • phillip ure …
                    7 August 2014 at 10:16 am

                    so you are relying on his desire to sink key..to overcome the baubles offered..?

                    ..and you are accusing me of not facing ‘reality’..?..whoar..!

                    ..the ‘reality’ is that peters has labour in his pocket…

                    ..and can play his game at will..

                    ..and what may be a disturbing exercise for you wd be to go back and look at what he was saying about bolger/national..

                    ..before the election..where he then propped them up..

                    ..(going against the desires/expectations of 70% of those who voted for him..believing his pre-election words..and expecting him to not go with national..

                    ..so..can i suggest you add some prayers to yr ‘realities’/certainties..

                    ..prayers that history does not repeat…

                    ..eh..?..)

                    • Te Reo Putake …
                      7 August 2014 at 10:21 am

                      Sorry, Phil, that didn’t make any sense. Once more in English?

                    • The Al1en …
                      7 August 2014 at 10:23 am

                      Translation.

                      ..me right….you wrong….Grrrr…..who(a)re….fucken….eh?..

                    • phillip ure …
                      7 August 2014 at 10:25 am

                      oh..ok..that game/non-answering avoidance..

                      ok..in simple words..

                      ..peters is a lying rat…and cannot be trusted not to go with key/national..

                      ..why can you not see this..?

                      ..peters cd well be trying for another go at fooling that 70%..again..

                      ..and if he is..he’s certainly got labour/you on board..eh..?

                      ..and why is he playing labour/the voters like this..?

                      ..because he knows that if that 70% thought he wd support national..

                      ..they wd not vote for him..

                      ..and he wd not get back into parliament..

                      ..labour has it in their hands..this election..

                      ..to wipe out act/dung..and peters..

                      ..it puzzles me that they choose not to do this…

          • Colonial Viper 22.1.1.2.2
            7 August 2014 at 9:33 am

            “Unreconstructed socialist”? What alternative economic policies have you been pushing for lately which aren’t strictly party line or at least apologetic to the strict party line?

            • Te Reo Putake 22.1.1.2.2.1
              7 August 2014 at 9:55 am

              My economics beliefs are Marxist, CV. That hasn’t changed in 30 years. However, we’re not in a pre-revolutionary situation, so for practical reasons I restrict myself to pushing stuff that might be achievable in the society we actually live in.

              eg. Immediate living wage. Lift benefit payments, inflation linked to the living wage. End company/corporation tax avoidance. Worker representation on company boards. Worker majority on safety committees, with enforcement authority. Tobin tax. No sales to offshore land buyers, lease only. Compulsory collective agreements across a company (ie not branch or SBU based). Nationalise all strategic assets.

              I could go on, but that’s not actually the point. I do what I can, as an individual, but I respect the right of the wider party to set policy that is realistic and achievable in the current environment. I try and base my judgements and analysis on what is actually happening, not on what I’d like to be happening.

              Hope this gives you some perspective on where I’m coming from.

              • Colonial Viper …
                7 August 2014 at 10:16 am

                but I respect the right of the wider party to set policy that is realistic and achievable in the current environment.

                Yep I certainly think that this is important, and has greatly improved over recent times via constitutional change.

                • Te Reo Putake …
                  7 August 2014 at 10:20 am

                  Yep, and you deserve plenty of credit for your own contribution to the process, CV.

              • blue leopard …
                7 August 2014 at 10:30 am

                @ TRP

                The things you hope the left will achieve won’t be achieved if Labour do not start showing some focus toward those aims including discipline in their conduct.

                Fact: The left requires those who swing between National and Labour to swing back to Labour.

                Fact: The left also requires those who are disenfranchised and have given up on voting to vote left. Mana should appeal to many of these people.

                Whilst I understand and accept that there is a need for Labour to distance themselves somewhat from Mana/Internet – in order to not put off the more conservative type of left voter, the distancing should not be done too firmly otherwise this will put off the other type of voter that Labour/the left have lost: the disenfranchised people.

                There is a very fine balance to achieve here with the left-wing and I really don’t think your post contains the fine understanding required to achieve that balance.

                Here is ‘realistic’ for you: The left is extremely diverse and if we can’t be inclusive – especially of those most damaged by how our country is being run – we may as well give up and hand the ‘victory’ over to that small minority who actively benefit from the way things are now because that is effectively what we are doing by mentally wiping out some of the left-wing out of the very mistaken belief that they are not needed.

                The next left-wing government will be well served by achieving a strong majority – that is what we need to be aiming for, it is eminently achievable yet only if the value of inclusive attitudes are realised.

              • phillip ure …
                7 August 2014 at 10:39 am

                and you think nz first is the better vehicle for yr stated political-wants/beliefs..

                ..than int/mana..?

                ..much of what you have stated..is int/mana policies..f.f.s..!

                • Te Reo Putake …
                  7 August 2014 at 11:06 am

                  No I don’t think that, Phil. Though, in some areas, NZF has policies I agree with (farm sales/foreign ownership etc.).

                  I want to see a Labour led Government. Whether you like it or not, that is more achievable with the Greens and NZF. Not because of any particular fault in mana policy (most of which I do indeed agree with), but because of the relative ease of shifting a percentage of current National supporting votes toward any of those three parties if they distance themselves from mana.

                  That’s in contrast to the extreme difficulty of picking up swinging voters if mana (which swing voters perceive as a negative) are too closely aligned with Labour. This is why Key was banging on about a Labour/Greens/NZF/ mana government this morning, even when Cunliffe and Peters have specifically ruled it out. National need fear of mana to stop the soft centre shifting left.

                  Remember, all that is needed is for the right camp to fall below 48% and they cannot form a Government based on the current arrangement. That’s only a couple of points away. The brutal maths of the thing is that mana/IP in offers less than mana/IP out.

                  This would be different if there was a real ‘time for a change’ mood in the electorate. I see some signs of that, but it’s not as deep or widely felt as it needs to be for the middle ground to give mana a go.

                  • weka …
                    7 August 2014 at 11:16 am

                    “The brutal maths of the thing is that mana/IP in offers less than mana/IP out.”

                    You don’t mean maths, you mean chance. The brutal maths shows that Labour’s actions might give the election to Key. You appear to rate the chance that the left might win by one seat as being way less than any other option. Hence Labour being willing to risk losing us the election by Davis gaining the TTT seat. It’s a gamble, just be honest about it.

                    It’s also ideological. There is a long way between Mana supporting on C and S, and Labour and Mana being ‘close’ in a way that scares swing voters. Cunliffe should have stuck to his original stance that he would talk to any party after the election that wanted to change the govt, and tha we should let all voters have their say on the day.

                    That might increase the NZF vote of course, which in turn would lessen Labour’s power, so let’s also be honest that Labour is trying to balance the good of the party with the good of the country. I don’t envy you lot.

                    • marty mars …
                      7 August 2014 at 11:33 am

                      “Cunliffe should have stuck to his original stance that he would talk to any party after the election that wanted to change the govt, and tha we should let all voters have their say on the day.”

                      Exactly. This is politics and the voters determine the outcome although the dealing must and will be done when the results are in.

                      Personally I am okay with labour shoring up their middle – they have to wrest it from the gnats by being a little bit different but not too much and that is a no-win scenario imo.

                      Kelvin can go hard up north and I’m cool with that but the dirty tricks? nah he’ll get hammered now even worse than his previous efforts.

                      IMP are going for their votes and those votes will come and when they do it is an absolute certainty that labour will come calling. This whole post is really just a positioning document and that is good too – but the positive will win out not the negative.

                    • blue leopard …
                      7 August 2014 at 11:33 am

                      @ Weka

                      I agree especially re ‘Cunliffe should have stuck to his original stance’

                      That latest statement Cunliffe made* just sounded too strong against IMP re ‘not any part of a government I lead’. This is something that he is likely to have to backtrack on and has put him in a weak position not least because it will seem like he has completely deceived the voting public and he can easily be attacked for that – with good reason too.

                      I didn’t mind his previous comments – no ministerial positions – it was that last statement that repelled me – it sounded too categorical.

                      link *
                      http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/david-cunliffe-we-don-t-want-become-tenants-in-our-own-country-video-6046681

                    • weka …
                      7 August 2014 at 11:37 am

                      and let’s imagine the shit that’s going to rain down on DC if he does have to deal with the IMP post-election.

                    • blue leopard …
                      7 August 2014 at 11:42 am

                      “and let’s imagine the shit that’s going to rain down on DC if he does have to deal with the IMP post-election.”

                      +1000 Why has Labour not considered this scenario? It is clear that they haven’t.

                    • marty mars …
                      7 August 2014 at 11:42 am

                      lol probably goff will be back as leader after that one…

                    • weka …
                      7 August 2014 at 11:48 am

                      they probably have bl, and deemed it acceptable risk.

                      I was thinking it would be more a chipping away at Labour over time kind of thing, rather than a leader replacement. If Labour get to form govt I can’t imagine they would replace DC, but I can see the set up from the right (including within Labour) where the IMP will now be a constant stick to beat DC with.

                      Trotter has a take on this on TDB too, he seems to think that there will be voters (presumably swing ones) who will be surprised that IMP are needed to support a Labour govt post-election without actually being part of govt themselves.

                      http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/06/no-cookies-but-maybe-the-balance-of-power-why-kelvin-davis-and-the-labour-right-are-so-scared-of-internet-mana/

                    • marty mars …
                      7 August 2014 at 12:00 pm

                      Good link thanks weka – I agree with trotter in many ways in that post although with slightly less flowery language 🙂

                  • phillip ure …
                    7 August 2014 at 11:40 am

                    so let’s say we see a surge in support for int/mana in the polls..

                    ..showing a clear lab/grns/int/mana option..

                    ..will you then change yr stance..?

  23. The Al1en 23
    7 August 2014 at 9:10 am

    Good post TRP, amazing what you miss on a night off.
    Some interesting observations among the predictable diatribes from the usual mip suspects.

  24. TheContrarian 24
    7 August 2014 at 9:15 am

    I see Bomber is spending his days smearing Davis as “Camerons slaters new best mate”.

    What a tool

  25. marty mars 25
    7 August 2014 at 10:56 am

    “Labour have reasons not to trust mana.”

    I don’t agree with this at all and the reason you stated is disingenuous. Hone walked on principle not because of any failing on his part. The truth imo is that labour don’t trust anyone, let alone Mana or the Greens and the reason they don’t is that they want to hold the power to themselves – very retro and not a way to move forward.

    Kelvin has gone to the dirty tricks because he is desperate – with good reason.

    • weka 25.1
      7 August 2014 at 11:09 am

      I agree, that description of why Harawira left the Mp is misleading and self-serving. Good summation marty, Labour is still old school and doesn’t want to share unless it is forced to. Hence the multiple times that TRP uses ‘almost’ phrases. Labour ‘might’ pull this off, but hey ho, if they don’t there’s always next time. Better the opposition than sharing the left with other lefties.

  26. marty mars 26
    7 August 2014 at 11:07 am

    “They can only achieve their stated aim of bringing down the National led Government by supporting a Labour led alternative.”

    Yes and IMP are campaigning on that. They not only are trying to bring non-voters in but they are solidly supporting whatever left arrangement likely to be in play. That apparently is not the ideology wanted – why?

  27. marty mars 27
    7 August 2014 at 11:16 am

    “The latest Roy Morgan poll has Labour/Greens/NZF combined nudging the bare minimum numbers needed to form the next Government.”

    bare minimum indeed – firstly I know you think winnie will fall left but I really cannot see that and I think to pin the hopes on that is flimsy especially when a genuine left party is also there getting votes. Winnie is not left imo.

    • Colonial Viper 27.1
      7 August 2014 at 12:49 pm

      More to the point, if Labour form the next government with just a 2-3 seat majority, it will most likely be a weak, one term government.

      • marty mars 27.1.1
        7 August 2014 at 12:55 pm

        Yep – I really wonder about the vision of some of these politicians – it really seems they are just short-term lookers without the ability to think beyond the next election date or 3 year cycle.

        btw tat mate you should have been on this IMP bus – are you going to the dunners show?

        • Colonial Viper 27.1.1.1
          7 August 2014 at 5:33 pm

          Yes I am. NB I was a given a chance to join IMP during its formation last year 😛

          • Pasupial 27.1.1.1.1
            7 August 2014 at 6:46 pm

            CV

            Good to read that you’ll be along; say hi if you see me handing out enrollment forms or similar in the lobby beforehand.

            I haven’t been keeping up with every post on the site, so hope I’m not repeating someone else here, but this VoteChat interview of Laila Harre is well worth the watch if you’ve got a spare 3/4 of an hour. I viewed it in brief chunks over the course of the week as I had time and am just going back now to join it all up in my mind:

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGoPzlpzDm0&list=PLbdf314ODCIZNhex2DuqCI1BvpFLRO_X1

            [15:01] There’ll be some things we’ll have to fight quite hard on. For example; the TransPacific Partnership Agreement, which we are vehemently opposed to… Labour are equivocal at best on the agreement at the moment, and we know that they are deeply divided on the issue. We’ll be building public campaigns to move them to opposition. Because we won’t have the numbers on our own if National and Labour gang up on the TPPA; we won’t the numbers on own. So we have to push with the community to get Labour to change its position on that agreement. And I think we can do that.

            That was recorded last Friday, before Cunliffe’s recent repudiation of IMP MPs. I like the way the IMP parliamentary candidates don’t plan to confine their activities solely to the debating chamber, and nearby bars. Hone Harawira has certainly provided an example in how he’s been out on the frontlines of the Auckland housing protests.

            Labour may well come to regret not taking the opportunity to put a ministerial leash upon the IMP MPs

            • Colonial Viper 27.1.1.1.1.1
              9 August 2014 at 6:34 am

              definitely, will say hi if I see you there.

              I like the way the IMP parliamentary candidates don’t plan to confine their activities solely to the debating chamber, and nearby bars.

              Ha, well put. Yes did watch the Vote Chat thanks, Laila Harre was very good on it, every step of the way she pushed back at questions which tried to place her into political economic framing that she did not agree with.

          • marty mars 27.1.1.1.2
            7 August 2014 at 7:06 pm

            yes I know but no regrets I’m sure – that may change after the meeting 🙂

      • blue leopard 27.1.2
        7 August 2014 at 1:04 pm

        That is a good point CV,

        Labour should be aiming at a resounding majority – not just scraping through.

        Attacking one’s friends won’t achieve that.
        Nor will categorical exclusion of friends.
        Trying to appeal to one’s sworn enemies won’t either
        And lack of discipline in the biggest left-wing party is a big obstacle to that aim.

        Get these basics right, however and we have a perfectly good chance to achieve a resounding success.

        • Colonial Viper 27.1.2.1
          7 August 2014 at 3:30 pm

          Agree that ideally Labour would not be aiming for the narrow win. Especially given how vacuous and inept the Government has been this year – including multiple casualties eg Banks etc. – Labour should by all rights be polling around their David Cunliffe highs of 35%-38%. The fact that there is a five to ten point deficit from that suggests to a lot of issues which need sorting.

        • lurgee 27.1.2.2
          7 August 2014 at 7:47 pm

          “Labour should be aiming at a resounding majority – not just scraping through.”

          And

          “…ideally Labour would not be aiming for the narrow win.”

          What planet do you two live on?

          Polling 25% and you’re daydreaming of resounding majorities. While your leader excoriates IMP in favour of Winston Peters.

          Time to close down Labour?

          • blue leopard 27.1.2.2.1
            7 August 2014 at 8:03 pm

            @ Lurgee,

            I think there might be a misunderstanding and I can see how you may have misread what I said by the way I worded it.

            I was not considering Labour solely when I wrote that about a ‘resounding win’ – I was meaning the left – Labour/ (& the left) needs to act in a way where the left gets the biggest possible vote – I really don’t think that comes about from dissing other leftwing parties – nor wiping a whole section of people that support the left.

            I am referring to the way that people keep on counting up the numbers to 50% – actually I think it is entirely reasonable to aim at the left get something like 60% + and it would certainly be better than a slim majority.

            I’m pretty supportive of all the left-wing parties. I think that the bitching and attacking being done within them and between them are most unhelpful. I guess you haven’t read any of my other comments or I guess you might have worked that out.

    • greywarbler 27.2
      7 August 2014 at 3:31 pm

      @ marty mars 11.16
      Good sound questions there mm. Not rocket science either. Who are the guiders of Labour? Does anyone know them, and can they be named, and what is their kaupapa?
      And have they a secret cunning plan? Send for Baldrick!

  28. Tautoko Viper 28
    7 August 2014 at 9:15 pm

    I agree with you, Blue Leopard. The big goal is to remove this government.
    Our allies are those with the same goal.
    Undermining allies makes no sense if they are to help us achieve a common goal.
    Support your progressive party of choice and let’s build the momentum to make the change that this country needs. Let’s stop sweating the small stuff. I find the bickering drains away my energy. I’m sick of ABC conspiracy theories. We are going to take out National and we are going to do it TOGETHER!

  29. Sable 29
    8 August 2014 at 11:16 am

    I wonder if Cunliffe see’s anyone as a partner. Interesting too the use of language. a “government HE leads”. The only way we stand a chance of having anything like a actual “change” in government in this country is through diversity. Lets not forget who started us down the road to social and economic failure back in the 1980’s. It wasn’t National but they were quick to jump on the bandwagon.

    The idea of a Labour “led” government to me at least is just as appalling as a National led one. My hope it the vote will be split and Labour will be compelled to negotiate as its the only thing that will keep them honest and halt the TPPA and a raft of other social and economic horrors….

    • DS 29.1
      9 August 2014 at 2:23 am

      The idea of a Labour “led” government to me at least is just as appalling as a National led one.

      Kindly stop with the false equivalence, thanks. If you think Labour and National are morally equivalent, you haven’t been paying attention these past twenty years (and indeed for all its faults, the Fourth Labour Government did a lot of good for this country, as well as evil).

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    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 day ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
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