Spot the difference! Stating the nation

Written By: - Date published: 10:19 am, January 23rd, 2014 - 97 comments
Categories: child welfare, class, climate change, cost of living, david cunliffe, democratic participation, economy, education, election 2014, equality, greens, john key, labour, poverty, russel norman, same old national, sustainability - Tags:

The MSM are talking up the contest between the up-coming 2 speeches by John Key today, and David Cunliffe on Monday.  Both are targeting West Auckland for their first speech, setting the platform for their upcoming election campaigns.  Key was chosen the Trusts Stadium in Henderson – Paula Bennett’s territory.  Cunliffe has chosen Kelston – location of the new Kelston electorate, seen as solid Labour territory.

But there are other differences – too obvious for the stating:

John Key’s event as in an invite on the Accountant Blog:

The West Auckland Business Club and ATEED are proud to present a lunch with special guest speaker Prime Minister the Rt Hon John Key – in his first address of 2014.

The first Business Forum of the year on 23 January will be the sixth occasion the Prime Minister has agreed to speak to a Business Forum.

The lunch will be an ideal opportunity to network with leaders of the West Auckland business community, catch up with Business Club members after the holidays, and host your team and key clients at a table.

Come along and enjoy a buffet lunch amid lively conversations prompted by the Prime Minister’s insights.

Please register quickly before this event sells out.

The West Auckland Business Club is a not-for-profit organisation and for the past 21 years, all profits from events have been donated to the West Auckland community.

Date: Thursday 23 January 2014, 11:00am – 1.30pm
Venue: Genesis Lounge, The Trusts Arena, 65 Central Park Drive, Henderson
Cost: $90 + GST each, or book a table of 10 for $850 + GST (includes lunch)
Register here.

According to National Party cheerleader, John Armstrong, Key will:

Key has chosen education as the main focus of his speech because he believes elections are won and lost on how governments handle matters fundamental to people’s daily lives, such as law and order and economic management.

Last year’s disappointing PISA results showing that New Zealand school students’ performance in reading, maths and science had slipped against some countries has left National vulnerable in a portfolio area where it had previously felt it held the advantage over Labour in terms of putting forward policies that parents wanted to see implemented but which did not square with Labour ideology.

Cunliffe’s speech is a free, no frills event at Kelston Girls College:

Join Labour leader David Cunliffe for the State of the Nation Speech 2014: A Nation of Opportunity.

Be there at the new venue, Kelston Girls’ College Auditorium, Corner Great North Road and Archibald Road, Kelston, West Auckland.

If you can’t be there in person catch up later on YouTube. Have your say on Facebook, with Twitter#Labour2014 or email stateofthenation@cunliffe.co.nz.

This event is for members and supporters of the New Zealand Labour Party.

According to the Labour Party website,

State of the Nation

Join David Cunliffe for his State of the Nation address – at the new venue, Kelston Girls’ College Auditorium.

David will speak about creating opportunities for every New Zealander, no matter who they are or where they were born.

Cunliffe has already indicated some of the possibly less palatable parts of his policy platform: GGST to remain on fruit and vege; no $5000 tax free zone; superannuation age will stay ay 67 years with some adjustments for gender and social equity.  And he has put some distance between Labour and the Greens in not totally opposing deep sea oil drilling.

Russel Norman has expressed disappointment about Cunliffe’s support of deep sea oil drilling (with legislation ensuring strong safety measures), and called it a huge mistake.  This will test the Labour-Green relationship (as micky has posted on The Standard), but I don’t see it as insurmountable. It is one of the reasons why my party vote will still be for the Green Party.  It also shows a clear difference betwen the two potential coalition partners, even though they have similar aims for society: a good thing about MMP, is that significant issues need be given some public airing, and the public can have some input on it.

What other differences will there be between these two upcoming important speeches by Key and Cunliffe?

[Update] Metiria Turei’s speech, Sunday: Picnic for the Planet

When:  Sunday, January 26, 2014 – 11:00am – 3:00pm

Where: Waitangi Park, Wellington

Join Metiria and the Green team for Picnic for the Planet 2014.

Metiria will give her State of New Zealand speech at 12pm followed by performances by Nelson’s own Minuit and special guests.

There’ll be plenty of food and drink stalls to keep you refreshed, kids entertainment for the little ones and friendly NGO stalls sharing their good green message.

Picnic for the Planet is free so bring the family, your mates and enjoy the sun, music and hear about our Green vision for 2014.

View Facebook event

No clues so far as to what will be in Turei’s speech.

green_party_leaders_russel_norman_and_metiria_ture_4dec906e26

[UPDATE] Key’s speech defensively slammed Greens and Labour then focused on the corporatising of education.

Key starts his speech by hoping everyone had a good Christmas like him – playing golf! He then put a diversionary gloss on the (to him on-) growth of the income inequality gap: he said it’s not tru what the opposition say: “”It’s not true that the rich are getting richer and the poor getting poorer.”

key attacked Lab-green power policy; Labour on taxes, super, decreasing competition; Lab-green power policy;

He got into a muddled attempt to reiterate the “neoliberal” focus on individual responsibility, with reference to his own, state-house-to-bankster-PM myth.  He said Lab-green want to take us back to the 70s – the 70s from which he got far better support from NZ’s welfare state than low income people today.

Key claims he’s strong on trust and integrity

Then he got onto education – claimed NZ’s record has gone backwards since 2000.  So, to help the kids, he’ll put the focus on improving teaching first, and leadership 2nd.  His policy – outlined in this Nat press release, is about corporatising education, and increasing competition within the system: a system with extra layers of bureaucracy and hierarchy; with “Executive Principals” and “Lead Teachers” paid extra on top of their salaries.

[Update] Tweet from Metiria Turei:

Vote Green and you get both – great education policy and protected beaches. I’m making an education announcement in Sunday mx

Winston Peters responds to Key’s speech:

Rt Hon Winston Peters says the Prime Minister presented a particularly self-serving, selective view of what is actually happening in New Zealand.

Newstalk ZB: Transcript of Key’s speech.

Green Party responds to Key’s speech: ‘National fails to address inequality in education‘

Cunliffe’s stand up today – Key’s speech was “a six page apology for Hekia Parata”.

97 comments on “Spot the difference! Stating the nation ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. mickysavage 1
    23 January 2014 at 10:30 am

    Thanks Karol

    In my humble opinion it is inevitable that there will be policy differences between Labour and the Greens and on some occasions they will just have to agree to disagree.

    This issue may show how important it is that if Labour and the Greens are to become Government they do not rely on NZ First for confidence and supply. I am sure that the continuation of deep sea drilling will be something that NZ First will not budge on.

    • geoff 1.1
      23 January 2014 at 10:40 am

      At least Labour and Greens don’t appear to have hugely divergent views on the causes and consequences of climate change. It’s only in their response to it where they significantly differ.

      In comparison, National doesn’t know what it thinks about Climate change, whatever is convenient on the day seem to be their MO.

      • AmaKiwi 1.1.1
        23 January 2014 at 9:46 pm

        Geoff – “It’s only in their response to it where they (Labour and Greens) significantly differ.”

        Don’t walk into the minefield of divide and conquer.

        National’s spin is “the Left is a bunch of disorganized crazies who couldn’t organize a piss-up in a brewery.”

        Churchill and Roosevelt had differences. But like them, we must remain clear about the evil we must defeat.

        I belong to one of these parties: Labour, Green, or Mana. I don’t care which you belong to as long as you vote for one of them.

        • geoff 1.1.1.1
          23 January 2014 at 10:04 pm

          I’m not walking into any minefield, it was just a statement of fact.

          But don’t you worry, I will be voting for one of those parties! ;P

    • Olwyn 1.2
      23 January 2014 at 11:17 am

      Now that National feels free to treat ACT like a niche-market branch, which goes against the spirit of MMP, they also feel free to squawk about the differences between Labour and the Greens. Of course are differences – they are different political parties. But this does not mean they cannot work well together.

      • karol 1.2.1
        23 January 2014 at 11:30 am

        There are also differences between Dunne and the Nats – RMA for instance. Yesterday on Stuff: ‘Dunne signals no progress on RMA reforms’:

        Restored minister Peter Dunne has signalled a gulf remains on some issues that could stop him supporting key Government legislation.
        […]
        Today Dunne said that since he warned he would not vote for RMA reform in the form that was proposed late last year, there had been little movement or discussion with the Government.

        Differences with Craig and his Conservative Party on many things.
        Conservative website on issues:

        No asset sales, no large land sales to foreigners, no ETS and free trade only if on a level playing field
        […]
        No sovereignty ceded through the signing of international/UN agreements

        Differences between Nats and Maori Party

        And, the Nats’ fall-back position: differences between Peters & the Nats – e.g. asset sales.

        • Olwyn 1.2.1.1
          23 January 2014 at 11:40 am

          Yes, the gulf between NZ First and the current Nats goes far deeper than the differences between Labour and the Greens. As to Craig I am not so sure – I suspect him of being yet another niche-market branch, disguised as an independent political party.

  2. Steve Alfreds 2
    23 January 2014 at 10:40 am

    On the issue of the environment and deep sea oil drilling the Greens will have to get used to horse trading and compromising, that’s coalition government. Otherwise they’ll be on the cross benches.
    P.S. I’ve given the Greens my party vote at the last three elections.

    • McFlock 2.1
      23 January 2014 at 12:13 pm

      only if labour can play the greens and nz1 off against each other.

      Otherwise the greens have the biggest horse in the room 🙂

  3. toad 3
    23 January 2014 at 10:53 am

    Let’s not forget Metiria Turei’s Picnic for the Planet speech on Sunday, Karol.

    BTW, so appropriate the the Nats have once again chosen a venue funded by gambling.

    • karol 3.1
      23 January 2014 at 10:56 am

      Oh. thanks, Toad. Will add it to the post.

      • toad 3.1.1
        23 January 2014 at 1:17 pm

        Just got emailed a media release from Metiria (doesn’t appear to be online yet) indicating that her speech on Sunday will also relate to education, but will focus on the inequality kids suffer so teachers can focus on what they do best – educate our kids.

  4. karol 4
    23 January 2014 at 11:44 am

    3 News has a livestream of the event– not sure if the speech has already happened.

    Just a lot of people milling about.

    • Arfamo 4.1
      23 January 2014 at 1:20 pm

      Where – this link just takes me to a tv3 page of news videos. No live stream obvious.

      • karol 4.1.1
        23 January 2014 at 1:33 pm

        The livestream has now finished. I’ve added a link to a transcript of the speech to the post. The speech started a little after 11am.

  5. karol 5
    23 January 2014 at 11:52 am

    Key starts his speech by hoping everyone had a good Christmas like him – playing golf!

    Starts with misinformation about supporting people on low incomes/beneficiaries.

  6. karol 6
    23 January 2014 at 11:59 am

    key says, what opposition says is not true. Key says,”It’s not true that the rich are getting richer and the poor getting poorer.”

    That’s a diversionary gloss on the growth of the income inequality gap.
    Then attacks Lab-green power policy;

    Key attacks Labour on taxes, super, decreasing competition – Lab-Green = step backwards.

    Key claims he’s strong on trust and integrity – retells his state house to PM journey – as evidence his trust, integrity – shaped by up-bringing ashaped his views – belief in individual responsibility – plus state support for equal opportunity – now to education.

    Education plays huge part in shaping lives of young people.

    Focus strongly on quality of teaching in classroom as biggest influence – 2nd bigggest influence is school leadership.

    • Skinny 6.1
      23 January 2014 at 12:24 pm

      Key-National have gone to the public cheque book early vote buying. Targeting the sometimes fickle bunch ‘teachers’ One of Joyce’s focus groups will have identified the influence a few carrots to this group and they’ll get votes from this block and of course a bit of dog whistling at parent interview time. Of course it also stops the minds of the middle classes waning at the polling booths.

    • AmaKiwi 6.2
      23 January 2014 at 9:55 pm

      Key is a genius at putting down the opposition with completely unsubstantiated lies.

      MSM. If you are reading this, it’s your job to not let him get away with lies. Either don’t print his lies or point out they are lies.

      Example: Despite overwhelming statistical evidence to the contrary, the PM claimed, “It’s not true that the rich are getting richer and the poor getting poorer.”

  7. Skinny 7
    23 January 2014 at 12:10 pm

    Looking at Nationals coalition options after this years election surely must be off putting especially Collin Craigs Conservative Party and Winston Peters NZF. Many voters wouldn’t want a bar of it, too unstable compared to a Labour-Green set up, I have reservations that Winston will join L/G’s, they probably won’t need him the rate things are going.

  8. karol 8
    23 January 2014 at 12:13 pm

    Key on education = corporatising the schools! Adding extra layers of admin – “Executive prinicples” with extra pay on top of salary – brings trickledown lie to education.

    “Lead teachers” – extra pay on top of salaries. More pay for teacher development – especially writing, maths, science and digital literacy.

    Nat press release on it’s education policies

    • Rob 8.1
      23 January 2014 at 3:03 pm

      I think there is some very good initiatives here.

      I especially like the one for expert teachers, this enables good teachers to earn more whilst remaining in a valuable teaching role , rather than having to search for a principal type role for advancement. It will also enable highly skilled teachers to work across a number of schools in a more formal mentoring role.

  9. red blooded 9
    23 January 2014 at 12:55 pm

    Actually, while I await the details, I’m not as negative about the education policies as you seem to be. For starters, we teachers have been saying for decades that we need more cooperation between schools and a wider range of opportunities for teachers who have strong teaching skills but want to stay in the classroom rather than going into management. There was a working group between PPTA and the Ministry looking at this issue under the last Labour government – it led to the creation of the Specialist Classroom Teacher role (very similar to what Key is describing as “Lead Teachers”) and of Subject Advisors (who were leading teachers working across schools trying to improve practice in their subject areas, taken out of their own schools for one year). This was meant to be the start of a more systemic set of changes, but Labour wouldn’t commit to anything more and the Subject Advisors were discontinued after one year (Trevor Mallard, angry at having to provide salary increases in the a new collective agreement, killed the trial) and the SCT positions remained fixed at 1-2 per school, depending on roll size (whereas they were meant to slowly increase in number, so that a school of 2000, for example, might have 4).

    Of course, these changes may not dramatically strengthen out (already good) system, but I don’t think they should be seen as an attack, at this stage. At least it’s not the tired old (discredited) right wing argument that “successful” teachers should simply be paid more than “unsuccessful” teachers, and that somehow this will help to improve levels of engagement and achievement. That simplistic crap is what I feared from JK. Of course, there will still be issues over how people are selected, what level of responsibility they are given over their colleagues and how their performance is judged, and I’m sure the picture won’t be as rosy as JK presents it, but it’s not anywhere near as disastrous as it might have been.

    • karol 9.1
      23 January 2014 at 1:04 pm

      I agree on this, rb:

      we teachers have been saying for decades that we need more cooperation between schools and a wider range of opportunities for teachers who have strong teaching skills but want to stay in the classroom rather than going into management.

      I’ve also spent the major part of my adult life working as a teacher.

      The Nats have cleverly taken this demand, and worked it into a corporate model, stressing competion and hierarchy over collaboration.

      It’s a clever attempt to get teachers on board, without addressing the major problems with the long tail of student under-achievement – that requires an strong emphasis on the interaction between teachers and the community.

      I think there is more than enough details to see where this policy is heading.

      The upside is that the Nats wouldn’t bring in this policy til after the election. It gives the opposition more than enough time to respond – hopefully with an improved career pathway for teachers.

  10. Arfamo 10
    23 January 2014 at 1:07 pm

    Where’s the bloody live stream they promised? Idiots.

    • karol 10.1
      23 January 2014 at 1:19 pm

      There were livestreams at TV3 & One.

      • Arfamo 10.1.1
        23 January 2014 at 1:30 pm

        Cunliffe said here they’ll be livestreaming the speech. Where is their freaking link on their bloody site. Morons. If they didn’t have a livestream sewn up he shouldn’t have said it was going to be livestreamed. FMD. I’ve been looking for the last 30 bloody minutes.

        • karol 10.1.1.1
          23 January 2014 at 1:34 pm

          Cunliffe’s speech isn’t until Monday – usually such links don’t go live til a little while before the speech.

          • Arfamo 10.1.1.1.1
            23 January 2014 at 1:40 pm

            Whoops. Embarrassment. I’m not well at the moment. WTF was I thinking. I think I’d better go and lie down.

        • Colonial Viper 10.1.1.2
          23 January 2014 at 1:39 pm

          Breathe, count to 10, relax mate.

        • freedom 10.1.1.3
          23 January 2014 at 1:40 pm

          Do you mean Key’s speech or Cunliffe’s ?
          Cunliffe’s speech is on Monday Arfamo,

          and if you mean Key’s speech, why are you bitching at Cunliffe?

          • Arfamo 10.1.1.3.1
            23 January 2014 at 1:42 pm

            Apologies apologies apologies – oh lord. I really am feeling stupider than usual. I’ll just run away and hide for a bit.

            • karol 10.1.1.3.1.1
              23 January 2014 at 1:46 pm

              No problem, Arfamo — and the best speeches are yet to come.

            • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 10.1.1.3.1.2
              23 January 2014 at 1:52 pm

              lolz I enjoy your comments Arfamo, and lets face it – you were simply expressing great distraught at missing the highly anticipated amazing vision & policies that Cunliffe is going to speak of on Monday – (we hopes, otherwise being called ‘morons’ will be the mildest of criticisms Labour is going to face 🙂 )

              • Arfamo …
                23 January 2014 at 2:01 pm

                (I’ve taken back the idiots and morons comments and am hanging on to these two titles today because I’ve earned them.)

                • Colonial Viper …
                  23 January 2014 at 2:14 pm

                  😀

                  • Anne …
                    23 January 2014 at 5:08 pm

                    If you’re struggling with a flu-like illness then we’ve all been there, done that Arfamo. 😀

                    • lprent …
                      23 January 2014 at 11:47 pm

                      …a flu-like illness then we’ve all been there, done that…

                      Yeah I was off for a number of days in december because of the damn thing. Felt bad with no particular symptoms apart from a higher temperature and a complete inability to think clearly (ie I couldn’t program). I was really grateful that I had the raised temperature to prove to myself that I wasn’t just going senile…

  11. captain hook 11
    23 January 2014 at 1:11 pm

    Nationals message is how much more donkeyote and his gang of graspers can get away with before they are chucked out of office.

  12. blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 12
    23 January 2014 at 1:28 pm

    One looks like – and has attitudes akin to – the Penguin from Batman, yet sounds like Daffy Duck.

    The other looks, and sounds like the next Prime Minister of New Zealand.

    • Rob 12.1
      23 January 2014 at 3:08 pm

      Ah ha, amazing analysis when only one speech has occurred.

      • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 12.1.1
        23 January 2014 at 4:13 pm

        With my finely tuned skills of observation this is the prediction I arrive at. 🙂

        • Rob 12.1.1.1
          23 January 2014 at 4:21 pm

          You would get my vote.

          • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 12.1.1.1.1
            23 January 2014 at 4:32 pm

            …yes – that would be a very good choice if you had it (what a pity aye?)- ….there is more brilliance where that came from too

    • SHG (not Colonial Viper) 12.2
      23 January 2014 at 4:36 pm

      Yes, what this country needs is another millionaire suit living in one of Auckland’s most expensive suburbs.

      • felix 12.2.1
        24 January 2014 at 1:43 am

        If that’s really your criteria for disapproving of a PM (it’s not) then you must be livid about the current bloke.

  13. freedom 13
    23 January 2014 at 1:28 pm

    here are great leader’s words,
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11190903
    or at least the ones they are telling us he said 😉

    brick walls for bashing your head against are all around you

  14. Bill 14
    23 January 2014 at 2:09 pm

    Oh fuck. Take the teachers and principles who jumped aboard the ‘charter school’ bandwagon; who are happy to ‘teach the test’ in order to produce the right stats…and promote them into positions of authority where they can whip the rest of the profession into line.

    That about right?

    • karol 14.1
      23 January 2014 at 2:36 pm

      Well, there’s always the questions of who and how the “expert principals” & teachers are decided…. can be subjective, depend on the school they are in, etc.

      It also is slipping perforamce pay in via the cover of providing a better career path for teachers.

      I’m sure the Nats will make it work withtheir charter school policy.

    • adam 14.2
      23 January 2014 at 2:54 pm

      Thought that summed it rather well there Bill. I also think it was wonderful how our PM lies so well. He does it with a smile and a wave – pooofff your all my slaves. Whoops wrong speech, no he’s not into neo-feudalism – he’d never create a situation were we all bend over for our corporate masters, not honest john key.

      One question – How long do people put up with immoral psychopaths?

      • McFlock 14.2.1
        23 January 2014 at 3:09 pm

        Usually until the person or targeted or the psychopath is publicly disgraced – perp walk, for example.

        But typically it starts with the seduction phase (the psycho needs you so ingratiates themselves to you), then you get uneasy (usually a short period, where the psycho no longer needs you so stops trying), then you are targeted as quickly as possible and gone (e.g. fired, get other work, or tied to chair in basement – but it can take a while to realise that you are being targeted, and by whom).

    • Skinny 14.3
      23 January 2014 at 3:17 pm

      That pretty much sums things up in a nutshell Bill, creating a corporate business style to schools. Money at the top and middle or should I say a whip at the top and a carrot in the middle. Fairly loose policy release with scant revelations of the detail. I don’t think Parata will front the details, she will make a hash of it, Key will rolling out their number one snake oil salesman Joyce.

    • felix 14.4
      24 January 2014 at 1:44 am

      Yes Bill I believe that’s pretty much on the money.

  15. scotty 15
    23 January 2014 at 2:21 pm

    Labour should largely ignore Keys’ bait re education.

    Key is obviously comfortable debating education issues,

    He would like nothing more ,than the MSM to focus on the “Nationals’ better education for all” policy v “Self serving teacher Unions” debate stealing all the oxygen .in the months leading upto the election.

    • karol 15.1
      23 January 2014 at 2:34 pm

      Well, Cunliffe has ben slow to respond, but Vernon Small seems to have seen some comments from Cunliffe somewhere. Small tweeted:

      Cunliffe says National’s education plan underwhelming. Stresses speech is six page apology for Hekia Parata

      And Small followed up with this:

      Cunliffe says Labour plan goes beyond the Nat one. Will also recognise excellent teachers.

      Peters and Turei have come out more aggressively with immediate responses to Key’s education plan.

      • SHG (not Colonial Viper) 15.1.1
        23 January 2014 at 3:06 pm

        By even acknowledging that some teachers are better than others and that they deserve recognition that underperforming teachers do not, Cunliffe just conceded the education debate.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 15.1.1.1
          23 January 2014 at 3:10 pm

          Or, on the other hand, your false frame could just be taken as evidence of dishonesty and bad faith.

          Yeah, that seems more likely.

          • One Anonymous Knucklehead 15.1.1.1.1
            23 January 2014 at 3:22 pm

            PS: Specifically “underperforming”. Let’s get a few facts established shall we?

            1. To be a teacher requires earning qualifications. So they’ve already jumped a hurdle before they start. What qualifications are required to spout right-wing drivel on the internet? Obviously you need to save up enough to get your pre-frontal lobotomy, but what else?

            2. Teachers are required to engage in professional development, and are rewarded for doing so.

            3. The single most influential factor in student achievement is household income.

            4. All these facts are publicly available.

            5. Given these facts, is there a range of teacher ability. Sure, just like in every other field of human endeavour.

            6. So why are you applying negative judgemental labels that just happen to parrot right wing lies? Coincidence?

            • SHG (not Colonial Viper) 15.1.1.1.1.1
              23 January 2014 at 3:32 pm

              Some teachers are excellent. They deserve recognition.

              There are some teachers who are not excellent. They do not deserve the recognition that excellent teachers deserve.

              Labour policy, 2014. Thanks Cunliffe.

              • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                23 January 2014 at 3:38 pm

                I note the teachers’ unions are cautiously optimistic about Key’s announcement, let alone Cunliffe’s. Perhaps you can form a protest group to advance your personal perspective on this.

                • SHG (not Colonial Viper) …
                  23 January 2014 at 3:49 pm

                  The announcements were welcomed by the teaching profession, including PPTA President Angela Roberts and Principals’ Federation president Phil Harding.

                  Ms Roberts said she was “cautiously optimistic” and welcomed the extra resourcing to support teachers, as well as greater collaboration between teachers across schools.

                  She said its ability to work as intended would depend on how it was implemented, but welcomed Mr Key’s promise that the profession would be involved in implementing the new roles.
                  …
                  Principals’ Federation President Phil Harding said the announcements were significant for both principals and teachers.

                  “It’s hard for me to say it but I’m pretty damned impressed. It is a huge amount of new money and I have never seen such a transformation of ideas and discussion into policy and money in my life.”

                  • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                    23 January 2014 at 3:59 pm

                    The devil will be in the detail. Watch the proposal turn to shit if the Nats try and use their deceitful “standards” as a benchmark.

                    If, of course, these new senior teachers are chosen the way they are now, it represents extra money and nothing else other than a win for the teachers.

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 15.1.2
        23 January 2014 at 3:07 pm

        A six page apology for Hekia Parata 😆

  16. ianmac 16
    23 January 2014 at 3:29 pm

    I wonder how the excellent lead teachers will be chosen especially in a Primary School where each teacher teaches multiple subject areas?
    Perhaps a prerequisite might be membership to the National Party.
    Maybe those who can inflate test scores best.
    Or maybe those who teach just like their best buddy, the Principal.

    • geoff 16.1
      23 January 2014 at 3:46 pm

      +1 ianmac.

      This is divisive, cynical policy and I’ll be disappointed to see Labour mimic it.

    • Colonial Viper 16.2
      23 January 2014 at 3:57 pm

      Policy details are not important. As already identified, this money is a right wing slush fund for divide and conquer tactics.

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 16.2.1
        23 January 2014 at 4:01 pm

        Not necessarily. If the new senior teachers are chosen the way they are now, this represents little other than more money for education, spun in a way that helps Hekia save face.

        PS: the Nats are “throwing money at the problem” – not exactly their core philosophy now, is it?

        • Skinny 16.2.1.1
          23 January 2014 at 4:24 pm

          It’s election year and money buys votes, in a capitalist age of self interest the fickle bunch that teachers are will take the bait. The only time you see this group at regional union meetings is when their CA is up and they want your solidarity for their blue, the time you need them they pull the neutrality card of political correctness. Labour will be forced with ‘me too’ + 1 only. That is better it and sum, Cunliffe is already talking this way.

  17. aerobubble 17
    23 January 2014 at 4:44 pm

    Spot the difference. Helen was going to form a five headed monster. Key, out does her, on top of the five heads he’s going to have a potential sixth head, Colin Craig, virtual head. Politics answer to vaporware.

  18. Mr Mediocrity 18
    23 January 2014 at 4:50 pm
    IT IS A MATTER OF PERSONAL BELIEF AS TO WHETHER A HIGH PROPORTION OF ALL CENTRE STAFF SHOULD BE TRAINED TEACHERS.

    JOHN KEY, PRIME MINISTER, 2010

    [deleted]

    http://www.matuaplunketkindergarten.co.nz/Why_Trained_Teachers.html

    http://www.beststart.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Anne-Smith-NZEI-ECE-hui-Oct-2013

    [lprent: Repeatedly shouting slogans is discouraged. Save it for a protest. I muted it. Read the policy because I won’t do the particular favour of re-editing a comment to conform to the site rules too often. ]

  19. Mr Mediocrity 19
    23 January 2014 at 5:49 pm

    Opps, sorry about that…. new to the game.

    Fair point

  20. Clemgeopin 20
    23 January 2014 at 6:00 pm

    I was HIGHLY impressed with the last two minutes of Cunliffe’s talk with the journalists today. Towards the end I felt a glimpse of the real Mr Cunliffe, PM and leader, when he spoke with real passion and conviction. Watch this link.

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1401/S00054/cunliffe-underwhelmed-by-keys-state-of-the-nation-speech.htm

    [P.S : Earlier, I posted this probably in the wrong topic]

  21. Xtasy 21
    23 January 2014 at 6:56 pm

    It seems that John Key spent most of the years that Labour was last in government on excessively drinking whiskey and beer, with impaired senses and “foggy” observation, as there is no other explanation for what he claimed in his SON speech today!

    Extract from his speech:
    “It’s vitally important that over the next few years we continue to build on the hard-won gains we are making as a country. That includes a huge improvement in managing the country’s finances. We have made careful savings, been disciplined with spending, and run the public sector far more efficiently. That’s a lot different than the previous government, which increased spending by 50 per cent in just five years. That spending helped push mortgage rates to almost 11 per cent and crippled the internationally competitive parts of the economy. New Zealand can’t afford that approach again.

    The Government will get back to running surpluses next year. At first they will be very small but they will build up over time. There might be some room for modest spending or revenue initiatives, but the top priority has to be getting our debt down. The Government has borrowed – on behalf of New Zealanders – around $50 billion over six years to get the country safely through a recession, the greatest financial crisis since the 1930s, and one of the most expensive natural disasters in history.

    In better economic times we have to reduce that debt. That will lift national savings, and help keep a lid on interest rate rises as the economy heats up.”

    So Labour in government increased spending, and that was supposedly the reason for interest rates going sky-high? What a load of rubbish, it was the excessive private borrowing during the housing and consumption boom, that drove up private debt and hence interest rates the banks charged!

    At least he admits having borrowed heaps to “get the country safely through recession”, but that is also only a half truth, as there were tax cuts favouring the higher earners, leaving the budgets short, and there were corporate bailouts and more, looking after to the top end of the asset and wealth owning part of the country. There were giveaways for share buyers, there were some other measures, where National looked after their lobbyists and voters, while only taking some from the lower earners and beneficiaries in the way of 25 percent increase in GST, and borrowing the rest for the shortfall. Some borrowing has also been for the Christchurch rebuild, so to claim it was to simply see the country through recession is a LIE.

    Also the interest rates will be set by the Reserve Bank, so how can he claim his government will keep a lid on them? Liar Key, liar Key, liar Key, caught out again, but the media failed to mention this!

    Indeed the speech is full of LIES, if you go through it, and the only other explanation for Key’s claims is, his mind was “fogged” most the time, on booze and the “strange” effects it has.

    Let us see how “sober” he will see himself and the government through 2014.

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 21.1
      23 January 2014 at 7:08 pm

      Thanks for this Xtasy

      John Key’s speech full of lies and the media didn’t mention them?

      Hmm now why does that not surprise me…..

      • karol 21.1.1
        23 January 2014 at 7:12 pm

        The lies got a lot of comments on twitter – but the MSM journos just go for the education policy

        Edit: and One News is treating it as a fait accompli – I thought it will only happen if the Nats get re-elected. In the speech Key said:

        And we intend to introduce the new principal and teaching roles from next year.

        • Zorr 21.1.1.1
          23 January 2014 at 7:32 pm

          Tracy Watkins is saying that John Key has “stolen a march” on Labour
          http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/9642414/Key-steals-Labours-thunder

          I think we need to coin the NZ equivalent of “drinking from the Kool-aid” because the way some of these jonolists act, it can be the only explanation for their deluded reporting. Maybe “drinking from the private reserve” with regards all this wine that the Nats just love to pass out to their “best mates”…

          • karol 21.1.1.1.1
            23 January 2014 at 7:43 pm

            Yeah. i saw that Zorr – on her own planet is that Watkins.

            3 News, even while Gower sort of talked it up, actually reinforced Cunliffe’s comment that it was an underwhelming policy – and opinions are pretty divided on it. The secondary teachers’ union liked it; the primary teachers union was more reticent, with some teachers not liking it at all; education acadmic said it was totally wrong; Cunliffe had the great line/sound bite about it being “a 6 page apology for Hekia Parata. And Gower also basically said it was a bit of a desperate attempt by Key to regain some lost support.

            One News was more enthusiastic – but began assuming the policy would all happen in practice and framed it by how education would b changing for specific students. Did they not listen to and read the speech? It’s an election campaign policy, and wouldn’t be introduced til next year. And they did include some of the critics of the policy.

        • Skinny 21.1.1.2
          23 January 2014 at 7:35 pm

          I saw a news clip of Keys speech the crowd were reserved, like they were listening to a politically ‘dead man’ talking. I guess the life expectancy of teflon must be 6 years.

        • Xtasy 21.1.1.3
          23 January 2014 at 7:50 pm

          “Edit: and One News is treating it as a fait accompli”

          A key player in the MSM, TVNZ that is, seem to be committed to keep him in the job then?!

          I heard the same enthusiastic approval coming from Duncan Garner on Radio Live this afternoon, and he hailed the comments from Angela Roberts from the PPTA, who showed some guarded positive response to the announcements by Key, while the NZEI was rather critical and negative.

          No surprise that the whole speech is offered by 1ZB, and I wonder, whether they will give the same treatment to David Cunliffe, and other leaders of other parties.

          I am sure that many in the MSM will do all to keep the positive reporting on Key and Nats going throughout this year.

          • Skinny 21.1.1.3.1
            23 January 2014 at 8:35 pm

            Most of these jurno’s can be bought for a song, you often hear of the invites to National ‘good news’ parties, JK Xmas wine presents, Key taking the press out for dinner (Garner told that one) while on a overseas junkets.

            You won’t have a shit show in hell of getting these National shysters on RNZ in election year, although they may jump in on a kind ear-Jim Morea’s afternoon show, painting some rosy picture.

            • Xtasy 21.1.1.3.1.1
              23 January 2014 at 10:42 pm

              Jim Morass will have someone like Key welcome, I think, and it will fit in nicely to let him (John) tell the listeners:

              “Yeah, golf is a nice sport, you meet many great and influential people, that is how I got it made, and yes, my daughter and son are doing well, being “good” Kiwi kids, studied, now into this that and the other, I like the colour blue, black or purple, I really recommend this beer or wine, yeah, and I also share my experience when having been in such and such country, hell, can they drink, talk, laugh, lay it out, yeah, we Kiwis have got it made, we are the best and on top, yeah, just vote me again, and I will ensure more of all this.”

              “And of course, we do this, that and the other, sports, yachting, cricket, rugby, all good, we work for NZ Inc, we have Hollywood in our homes, we have our friend Abbott (the “mad monk”) come and join us for dinner, it is all a real family affair, just as we Kiwis like it. Merry Xmas, Happy Easter, good success, enjoy your day, and week, and month, and do not forget to vote for ME, as I am one of yours.”

              JK

  22. Tracey 22
    24 January 2014 at 10:30 am

    How come labour and greens have to agree on everything but national act uf nzf mp dont?

    so was key lying when he said the gap between rich and poor is not getting bigger? Did he quote his source? Did a journo ask for it before printing the statement?

  23. Tracey 23
    24 January 2014 at 11:39 am

    What, no reduced class sizes, like in the school he chose from all others to send his son?

    “Average English class size: 21 students per class”

    The Pm could do worse than adhere to the vision of that school

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