Why I electorate vote Cunliffe: op ed

Written By: - Date published: 12:10 pm, August 23rd, 2013 - 138 comments
Categories: capitalism, climate change, david cunliffe, democratic participation, Economy, employment, grant robertson, jobs, labour, monetary policy, sustainability, telecommunications, welfare - Tags:

I wasn’t going to express my opinion on the upcoming Labour leadership selection process. However, the usual right leaning MSM hacks seem to have been following the current Labour caucus leadership in naming Robertson as the frontrunner.  This, even though Vernon Small’s piece on it, has a Stuff opinion poll on the same page, in which Cunliffe is ahead of Robertson.  So far, Cunliffe is not getting a fair showing in the MSM.

I have voted for the Labour Party in the past, but in recent years they have fulfilled by left wing values enough.  Instead I have party voted Green plus given my electorate vote to Cunliffe.  He has been an excellent electorate MP for New Lynn.   Cunliffe, as a minister in Clark’s government, ensured the New Lynn rail trench was developed – the beginning of the revitalisation of the New Lynn town centre.  This, reported in the NZ Herald in December 2006.

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey says a Government decision to spend $120 million sinking a double-tracked railway line through the heart of New Lynn has saved the town from destruction.

Added to that will be an investment of up to $55 million in “cash and kind” by Waitakere City Council, and possible private-sector contributions in exchange for air-rights above reinforced trench walls.

“New Lynn was about to be devastated,” Mr Harvey said yesterday, after local MP David Cunliffe, who is also Associate Minister of Economic Development, confirmed the Government’s agreement to lay a 1km railway trench between Portage Rd on the west bank of the Whau River and a possible extension of Clark St before tracks climb back over Titirangi Rd.

“It would have been chaos with double tracking here and the [level-crossing] barrier arms down,” the mayor said.

“New Lynn had no future. It would have had traffic banked up 5km each way. It would have been the centre of frustration. Now it’s going to be the centre of celebration.”

Of course, the trench was completed under John Key’s watch, and his government has been taking the credit.

Cunliffe has also stood up for the preservation of west Auckland heritage areas. Western Leader, June 2013:

Changes to the Resource Management Act aimed at giving landowners more pruning freedom will threaten Titirangi’s iconic bush, politician Greg Presland says.

[…]

New Lynn MP David Cunliffe says this bill is a “chainsaw massacre” to the Waitakere Ranges.

“There is a conflict between the RMA and the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act. There needs to be clarification to make sure the ranges are protected.”

Mr Cunliffe says the changes are totally unworkable because having to lodge and categorise every tree will create an enormous amount of work for the Auckland Council.

Cunliffe has shown he can work well with his electorate team and maintains their support.  He also is Labour’s best performer in the House and on television: just the tough, well-prepared and clear speaker that is needed to front against John Key in the next election.

Cunliffe has also been particularly successful in developing policies and positions in relation to some of the most crucial issues for all New Zealanders: the internet, communications and digital surveillance.  He has an excellent background in business and communications, and has been Minister of Health, and of Communications and Information Technology, as well as having been Chair of the Commerce Select Committee, and sat on the Finance and Expenditure and Regulations Review select committees.

Cunliffe spoke particularly well last week in the final stages of the damaging GCSB Bill.  He explained how the Bill does not include adequate protections of the privacy of New Zealanders:

Mr Speaker, there are no protections against the mass surveillance of metadata, because they are not included within the definition of quote personal communications set out in the Bill.  Rather, they fall within the definition of information infrastructure in the cybersecurity provisions that include, and I quote all transmissions close quote, including anything which goes across any electronic or wireless network.  That means every email, every text message, every phone call, every website visit of every New Zealander is able to be surveilled firstly in terms of its metadata, without a warrant.  And secondly to establish a basis, and it may already be the case, for full interception without those warranting provisions, at least through the cybersecurity clause.

I don’t agree with all of Cunliffe’s views: he is more to the centre of politics than me.  However, his views are moderate and will be accessible to the majority of New Zealanders.  He has a carefully worked out, and well articulated raft of policy positions, as indicated in his speeches over the last few years.

On the economy [Speech to Laingholm District Citizens Association, Laingholm, 30 September 2012]:

However, the 1980s and ’90s saw the rise of a philosophy developed by the rich, for the rich. It was called Neo-Liberalism.

Neo-Liberalism is based on the idea that it’s a dog-eat-dog world. Neo-Liberalism is based on the idea that greed is good, that we’re all locked in an economic life-and-death-struggle with each other. Neo-Liberalism says that compassion is for suckers. Neo-Liberalism says that if the world is going to the dogs, it might as well be the top dogs. Indeed, to borrow from Oliver Stone’s Wall Street, not only is greed good, “it’s legal.”

[…]

The amazing thing about the Neo-Liberals is their wilful blindness to how badly their ideas have failed. Not just once, but repeatedly. Neo-Liberal policies directly caused two of the largest financial crashes in history. Did they apologise? No way. Like some mad doctor, when the first dose of medicine didn’t work, they wanted to double the dose.

[…]

Let’s take a quick look at the ‘Scandinavian model.’

And the Scandanavian model is more like the NZ social security state was before the neoliberals began to demolish it, as John Key is continuing to do. Cunliffe takes an economic “growth” approach, when I prefer a steady state economy.  He does focus on environmental sustainability, and the development of NZ’s ICT industries.  He focuses a lot on creating jobs and a fair deal for workers.  I’d also like to see more from him on reconstructing the social security system that Paula Bennett is busy destroying.

However, while I am critical of Cunliffe in some ways, I do think he has the skills, the experience, the ability to enthuse and excite voters, and the policy platforms to play a leading role in the next New Zealand government.

For me Cunliffe is the frontrunner for the Labour leadership at this time.  The MSM Jonolists have their heads in the political bubble in Wellington, and are not looking more carefully, and in depth at what is best for the future of New Zealand and New Zealanders.

 

 

138 comments on “Why I electorate vote Cunliffe: op ed ”

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  1. James Thrace 1
    23 August 2013 at 12:17 pm

    Hear hear. Cunliffe is the only one with the chutzpah and gumption to rip John a new Key-Hole.

    Robertson carries the baggage of being gay and muddle new zealand is nowhere near ready for our PM to be gay.

    Perhaps in the next coterie of up and comers in the 20’s will gay PM be an accepted talking point.

    Coming on the back of the gay marriage bill is a step too far.

    And I say that as a homo myself.

    • Tigger 1.1
      23 August 2013 at 12:39 pm

      +1 as another homo. Also, Grant has zero X factor on camera.

      • Sanctuary 1.1.1
        23 August 2013 at 1:16 pm

        People keep saying this, but I think being gay would not be a factor if Robertson was a brushed cotton shirt wearing farmer from Pahiatua. It is the symbolism of the total package – the tubby beltway identity politics gay guy – that would do voters heads in. I mean, he might be able to overcome that – but Labour is out of the luxury of time and out of the luxury of having the option to gamble if it is serious about winning next year.

        • SHG (not Colonial Viper) 1.1.1.1
          23 August 2013 at 5:13 pm

          A fat bespectacled childless gay Wellington insider with a high mumbly voice who has never held a private-sector job in his life.

          Yep, that’s “middle New Zealand” appeal right there.

      • Kevin Welsh 1.1.2
        23 August 2013 at 1:48 pm

        “Also, Grant has zero X factor on camera.”

        And that is probably the only attribute that he does not have going for him. No matter how intelligent, how well they speak etc, if you do not have the X-Factor in front of Joe Public, then forget about it.

        This is one area where Cunliffe stands head-and-shoulders above Robertson.

        • Mary 1.1.2.1
          23 August 2013 at 2:13 pm

          “Also, Grant has zero X factor on camera.”

          A bit like what Brian Edwards said about Andrew Little having had a charisma bypass?

      • Murray Olsen 1.1.3
        24 August 2013 at 12:17 am

        Interesting that you guys say that. None of the lefty “homos” that I know like Robertson at all. Loathe would be a closer description.

    • Lanthanide 1.2
      23 August 2013 at 12:47 pm

      Being homo or not has nothing to do with. Grant Robertson has been pretty much invisible as deputy, compared to Annette King (and I didn’t think so did a great job either) under Goff.

  2. Hannah 2
    23 August 2013 at 12:24 pm

    And if you speak with people who work in the health sector, like me, Cunliffe was universally loathed when he was Minister- because of his arrogance, which is a feature of his personality which is often cited.

    • Lanthanide 2.1
      23 August 2013 at 12:57 pm

      Do you have any illustrations of how he acted arrogantly while minister?

      • Colonial Viper 2.1.1
        23 August 2013 at 1:28 pm

        Cunliffe had a relatively short spell as Minister of Health. He got handed several very difficult and intractable problems that he was asked to sort out very quickly, on the clock. Some people on some sides of those issues were always going to get pissed off about how it was handled.

        He was never going to please everyone and that’s just the way it was at the time.

        • Tracey 2.1.1.1
          23 August 2013 at 1:38 pm

          People who survive the education or Health portfolios have a tendency to go on to lead.

          I wish people would give examples not only of what they say is Cunliffe’s arrogance but also Robertson’s. Assassination by insinuation.

    • saarbo 2.2
      23 August 2013 at 1:03 pm

      Ive worked with him…never witnessed any “arrogance”. I have worked with plenty of arrogant people over the years but never saw any of this in Cunliffe.

      Great post KAROL.

    • blue beGoneCravenSpyBull leopard 2.3
      23 August 2013 at 1:08 pm

      @ Hannah,

      I am interested to know whether Mr Key is ‘universally loathed’ in the health sector now? It seems to me that the current prime minister couldn’t be more arrogant.

      Mr Key appears to do well in the popularity stakes despite such a ‘quality’ or is it because of such a quality?

      Mr Key’s popularity surely isn’t based on the blatant and craven disregard he consistently shows toward democratic principles and processes.

      Times change and with them the demands; the ‘universal loathing’ you refer to was at a time when we had a decent government that adhered a great deal more to basic democratic principles than we have now. It was at a time where our democratic rights weren’t being consistently compromised and outrightly ignored. I would hope that the change in context would have an impact on how Mr Cunliffe’s skills are now viewed.

      From observing Mr Cunliffe on the Parliament channel, it appears he has a good understanding and respect for democratic processes. He also has shown himself to be skilled in cutting opponents’ misinformation and spin out of a given dialogue. So perhaps the combination of this intelligent respect for the area of work that he works in (democratic processes of government), debating skills and ‘arrogance’ [if this is what he has, some may call it ‘confidence’] is just what is needed now to rid NZ of the disrespectful, incompetent scourge of a government we currently have.

    • Richard29 2.4
      23 August 2013 at 1:43 pm

      @Hannah – I also worked in the public service for a while in a department under Cunliffe as minister and heard similar stories. He’s no Kevin Rudd but he certainly can be abrasive and appear arrogant if you disagree with his approach. I don’t think this will necessarily count against him. Cunliffe doesn’t suffer fools and has never let upsetting a few people get in the way of achieving his objectives.
      As Health Minister he sacked an entire democratically elected (but dysfunctional) District Health Board and described them as a “nasty little nest of self-perpetuating provincial elites”. As Telecoms Minister he wiped 20% of the value of the country’s largest listed company when he unbundled the local loop. Both of these actions made him enemies, but they were popular and necessary moves. He is clearly of the ‘break a few eggs to make an omelette’ persuasion.
      The reality is that most kiwi’s – especially in that sought after middle ground – like a bit of mongrel in their politicians. One of the main reasons that Shearer failed was that he was perceived as too equivocal, consultative, inclusive and “nice”. Cunliffe is perceived as bold, decisive, ambitious and perhaps a bit mean – but damn he can give a good speech!
      The reality is that NZers expect their leaders to lead – they don’t expect them to never make mistakes or to always be nice. Helen Clark was not well loved in many quarters and also gained a reputation for arrogance – but she was strong and decisive which made her respected by friend and foe alike. John Key may smile a lot but not because he is “nice”. He’s known to be a gambler and risk taker who likes to call the shots and he’s got a mean streak a mile wide, he is also one of our most popular prime ministers ever whether everybody on the left is willing to admit it or not.
      The nature of Cunliffe and Shearer’s previous leadership bids is instructive. Cunliffe picked Nanaia, not because she had a high public profile, was highly ranked in caucus or was considered a top performer by cabinet or the press gallery, but because she was somebody he has an enormous professional respect for and knew he could work well with her – plus she fit his strategic vision for Labour in terms of political partnership with Maori and with women. By comparison Shearer negotiated his way to the top picking his Finance and Deputy leaders (both white males) based on votes and caucus support – he got the votes to win but he was compromised from day one. Cunliffe as leader is likely to try and shape caucus and his cabinet to meet his goals Labour – it always seemed to me that Shearer was shaped by his caucus and cabinet to meet their goals for Labour.
      So yeah – Cunliffe may not be as ‘likeable’ as Robertson – but given the Machiavellian nature of the Labour party caucus – plus the unenviable task of potentially having to pull together The Greens, Labour and (heaven forbid) Winston Peters into a coalition in 2014 – I think I’d prefer a leader who is feared.

      “This gives rise to an argument: whether it is better to be loved than feared, or the opposite. The answer is that one would like to be both, but since it is difficult to combine the two it is much safer to be feared than loved, if one of the two has to make way. For generally speaking, one can say the following about men: they are ungrateful, inconsistent, feigners and dissimulators, avoiders of danger, eager for gain, and whilst it profits them they are all yours. They will offer you their blood, their property, their life and their offspring when your need for them is remote. But when your needs are pressing, they turn away. The prince who depends entirely on their words perishes when he finds he has not taken any other precautions. This is because friendships purchased with money and not by greatness and nobility of spirit are paid for, but not collected, and when you need them they cannot be used. Men are less worried about harming somebody who makes himself loved than someone who makes himself feared, for love is held by a chain of obligation which, since men are bad, is broken at every opportunity for personal gain. Fear, on the other hand, is maintained by a dread of punishment which will never desert you.”

      — The Prince, Niccolo Machiavelli

      ***This message is endorsed by Cunliffe for Prince 2013!*** 😛

      • Kevin Welsh 2.4.1
        23 August 2013 at 1:51 pm

        Great comment Richard29.

      • Tracey 2.4.2
        23 August 2013 at 1:56 pm

        I have been sorry to see one result of Shearer’s leadership being the apparent demise of Nanaia. I hope this can change and is not too late. She made a post here prior to that contest which was very impressive. To me at least.

        • Colonial Viper 2.4.2.1
          23 August 2013 at 2:24 pm

          Off the scene having a baby right?

          • Tracey 2.4.2.1.1
            23 August 2013 at 2:52 pm

            yet had she been made deputy leader, would the baby have silenced her?

            • Sanctuary 2.4.2.1.1.1
              23 August 2013 at 6:35 pm

              I know the Greens have co-leaders, but I think that is a bit naff. You are either the leader or you are not IMHO. But I can’t see any logical reason why Labour can’t insist on having two deputies, one male and one female. It would also allow any future Labour coalition government with the Greens to appoint both the Green co-leaders deputy PM!

        • Richard29 2.4.2.2
          23 August 2013 at 4:30 pm

          Given the way the coalition maths is looking I would think there is an obvious candidate for Cunliffe’s objective of sharing his leadership with a strong, credible, Maori, female.

          But, the mainstream media seem to make the rather sexist assumption that that Norman is the ‘main’ leader of the Green party and will be given Deputy PM in post election negotiations…

          To my mind the rampant speculation about who gets deputy on a Cunliffe ticket misses the whole point – the Deputy PM in a future Labour Govt will likely be either Metiria or Russel.

          To keep in the Machiavellian theme – I’d quite like to see Cunliffe play the healer/conciliator by giving Deputy to Grant Robertson, Economic Development portfolio to Andrew Little and Health portfolio to Shane Jones and then come post election negotiations in 2014 pull a Game of Thrones Red Wedding axe all three of them in the first cabinet and replace them with Turei, Norman and Hague…

          NB: Keep Parker on in Finance because he is very smart and credible and give Jacinda a challenging ministerial portfolio to test her out as a potential future leadership successor…

      • emergency mike 2.4.3
        23 August 2013 at 2:50 pm

        Well said Richard.

      • Tracey 2.4.4
        23 August 2013 at 3:51 pm

        Niccolo makes a good argument for female leaders 😉

    • geoff 2.5
      23 August 2013 at 5:49 pm

      You should hear what the health sector has to say about Tony ‘Gestapo’ Ryall. Hint, it aint complimentary!

  3. Tigger 3
    23 August 2013 at 12:35 pm

    Nice, Karol.

    I see Stuff already calling Grant the ‘front runner’. Sigh.

  4. Adrian 4
    23 August 2013 at 12:36 pm

    For Labour to win elections over National is all about the perceptions of the middle 10% and as competent as Grant Robertson is there are a few things against him and being gay is the least of them. He is overweight ( so am I, so it’s not personal ) he doesn’t look lean and hungry, he’s a bureaucrat and he’s childless so that when David Cuniliffe says ” Look, it’s hard to make ends meet” he’s believeable.
    And he’s an Aucklander, and that’s hard to say for a Mainlander.

    • Tracey 4.1
      23 August 2013 at 1:39 pm

      However did we get Lange… Charisma trumps looks, particularly weight.

      • NZFemme 4.1.1
        23 August 2013 at 2:11 pm

        Indeed. In fact, in David Lange’s case, I always felt his size somehow added to his gravatis. His frame seemed to act as the perfect amphitheatre for his oratory skills.

      • SHG (not Colonial Viper) 4.1.2
        24 August 2013 at 2:50 am

        He was up against Muldoon coming off a wage freeze. People would have voted for fucking Heinrich Himmler.

    • Hami Shearlie 4.2
      23 August 2013 at 3:20 pm

      I heard that Robertson does have children. Wrong man for he job though!

    • ghostwhowalksnz 4.3
      23 August 2013 at 3:59 pm

      Its more that National has been working the last two years to run its own message about who ever is the ‘new ‘ labour leader.

      Forget about the luxury of crafting your own storys . National and its media puppets will have a whole book allready written on how to undermine who ever wins.

      I notice Key is in first saying ‘Robertson was undermining’ Shearer

    • peterlepaysan 4.4
      23 August 2013 at 8:54 pm

      You mean that “middle ten percent” was all that was missing at the last two general elections?

      What about the non voters? Labour does not talk to them or care very much about them.

      Neither do the Nats but they have the money from the business sector.

  5. James Thrace 5
    23 August 2013 at 12:38 pm

    Troll-op Hannah.

    Probably because moh are full of incompetents that dont like getting told how to be more competent.

    Doubtful that hospital staff would care one way or the other. Its the mandarins that would care more about being called out on their abilities than anything.

    • Hannah 5.1
      23 August 2013 at 12:58 pm

      Just saying James – that’s the perception, not only in the health sector, and he has to try to change it especially amongst his own colleagues I would think.

      • karol 5.1.1
        23 August 2013 at 1:04 pm

        Not so in his electorate, Hannah. And, IMO, John Key behaves in a very arrogant manner, yet he still does well in the opinion polls.

      • mickysavage 5.1.2
        23 August 2013 at 3:59 pm

        So Hannah you are quoting something someone said to someone as if it is gospel truth and sticking to it.

        I have had a lot to do with him since he was an unelected candidate out west. He is determined and decisive. If he is convinced about the correctness of his position he will stick to his view.

        But he can listen and adjust way better than most politicians that I know and he has a sense of humor.

        Rather than repeating stuff other people have said you should find out for yourself and then you will be in a position to say something closer to reality.

  6. Calvin 6
    23 August 2013 at 1:00 pm

    The perfect team would be Cunliffe as Leader and Robertson as Deputy. (That gets my homo vote too!)

  7. Takere 7
    23 August 2013 at 1:16 pm

    And so the Labour party self appointed intelligentsia have a myopic view of the NZ voting public … thinking Cunliffe’s the answer? He has no appeal to any of the 880,000 voters that didn’t vote last time. He doesn’t like poor people or beneficiaries, he doesn’t connect with brown people and the union membership is tanking. So all that’s left is to scrap over swing voters between the Nat’s & the Greens & NZF? That’s the stratagem?? You don’t have to be much of an Einstein to figure out that that’s going to fail. Why? Because you’ll have to put up sell-out policy(s) to tease the swingers over and the “books” don’t look like that there is any putea left and it’ll be at the expense of Labours ready to jump? You’ll bleed 1 in 4 I reckon and in a ruined economy like this, Labour/Cunliffe hasn’t anything to offer other than following the same path as the Nat’s minus Act & the Maori party that are on course to self-destruction. The Greens are smiling at this because they can put the boot into Labour for the next 14 months to take advantage of this situation just by being consistent and stable. So it looks like Labours lost the 2014 election already?! Nobody’s going to believe Labour after this leader vote that everything is kapai, it’s just not going to convince voters that Labours stable.
    Gutted as I am, I wanted to see these tory pricks run outa dodge, but it ain’t gunna happen in 2014.

    • Sanctuary 7.1
      23 August 2013 at 1:19 pm

      What is you plan B then buddy? Or just popped by to have bitch?

      • Colonial Viper 7.1.1
        23 August 2013 at 1:34 pm

        Funny thing is, if all those bad things were going to happen to Labour under Cunliffe, the Right Wing would be cheering Cunliffe on from the tops of their lungs.

        That they are not is very interesting.

      • Takere 7.1.2
        24 August 2013 at 11:49 am

        Russell, Hone & Winston. It’s not a choice that you’d make lightly but it’s the only option to get rid of the nat’s, Buddy.

    • karol 7.2
      23 August 2013 at 1:32 pm

      Takere, I have heard some strong recommendations for Cunliffe by one or two New Lynn Pasifika people who have worked with him.

      • Tracey 7.2.1
        23 August 2013 at 1:41 pm

        Yes, but Takere has been busy speaking and meeting with the “880,000 voters that didn’t vote last time.”

        • weka 7.2.1.1
          23 August 2013 at 3:36 pm

          I’m betting that a big chunk of the people that didn’t vote last time don’t even know who Cunliffe is.

          • Colonial Viper 7.2.1.1.1
            23 August 2013 at 4:21 pm

            Absolutely. And when you ask them about Grant Robertson, will those statistics improve?

      • Takere 7.2.2
        24 August 2013 at 12:16 pm

        Oh thats great too hear, one or two. I heard Cunliffe try to be funny at a union meeting last year. Diss’d a PI in a “joke’, Didn’t go down very well.

    • bad12 7.3
      23 August 2013 at 1:36 pm

      That’s a bit dense on a number of levels including the ‘style’ of it’s communication, there’s a 2% swing needed within either the Green or Labour Party and this abysmal Slippery National government is history, even the likes of Hooten one of their spin-meisters is willing to admit that,

      i would suggest that 2014 will deliver the Left the numbers through the Labour/Green/ and Mana Party’s,

      Given the swing against the Maori Party in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate they are unlikely to gain any seats in the next Parliament while Hone’s Mana Party has at times been registering 1.5% of support in polling which suggests that there will be at least 2 Mana MP’s in the next Parliament which should just about make a majority,

      NZFirst in the next Parliament??? that i suggest is going to be touch and go but you can bet that the Slippery little Shyster we have as Prime Minister wishes that He had never impugned upon Winston Peters character as it’s looking more likely that to gain a third term Slippery wont be able to do it without Peters…

    • Tracey 7.4
      23 August 2013 at 1:43 pm

      Who from the Labour caucus do you see fulfilling what you want to see Takere?

  8. bad12 8
    23 August 2013 at 1:21 pm

    Yes i too have my reservations about Cunliffe’s attitudes to beneficiaries and the Welfare State, but, those reservations are as much relevant to the Labour Caucus as they are to the individuals,

    Whatever my reservations amount to tho, the fact cannot be escaped that David Cunliffe appears to be the crowd favorite to become the leader of Labour,

    i think most will agree that the ‘contest’ will be a Cunliffe V Robertson one, (although if the Stuff Poll is to be given any credit Jacinda Adhern has a good amount of support in the electorate), Andrew Little might enter this contest but i would suggest that doing so will only act as a spoiler in the main contest,

    F**k the Jonolists of the mainstream media, spitting and laughing at their machinations should for all of us be a compulsory sporting activity, their pathetic denigrating comments simply prove to us all that it is not on behalf of democracy they all speak, it is on behalf of the shareholding minority of the population that they use their positions to try an usurp even the internal democratic processes of political Party’s they have no membership of,

    My best pick for Labour leader lies with the majority, although i would appreciate whoever is the eventual winner of this contest to consider it an act of unification to in turn invite the unsuccessful candidate to be Deputy to His leadership,

    PS, Go Jacinda, if there’s any accuracy in the Stuff poll i would suggest a few more years in the trenches will make you ready to pick up the Labour Party leadership from whoever will be the next incumbent…

    • karol 8.1
      23 August 2013 at 1:31 pm

      Jacinda is a favourite, and I hear that among some people I know. I think she needs a little more experience thought to take on a leadership role.

      • bad12 8.1.1
        23 August 2013 at 1:54 pm

        Yeah K we agree on that, what i am laughing at is the sneaking homophobic comments creeping into the debate as far as Grant Robertson is concerned,

        Most of this denigration starts with the ‘i am a homo but’, in much the same vein as the racists used ‘some of my best friends are Maori but’ in previous years,

        How petty in attempting to denigrate someone can it be to discount their abilities based upon their sexuality, can people stoop any lower,

        S**t i am definitely not a homo and none of my friends are either, while i hardly oppose gay marriage the idea hardly fills me with political passion and in fact the debate made me as an old hetero cringe,

        Having said that, and despite the Jaffa’s denigration of Him as some form of machiavelian figure obsessed with Wellington’s politics along with the knuckle-scrapers homo slur i think Grant Robinson would make an able deputy to David Cunliffe should the latter triumph in the coming leadership contest,

        My wish for Labour is that the winner of this contest immediately offer to the unsuccesful candidate the deputy position…

        • Tracey 8.1.1.1
          23 August 2013 at 1:58 pm

          Sadly Damien O’Connor is not alone amongst Labour voters and some others in belittling gays as decision-makers in the Labour Party. In any event he is young, plenty of time to learn the ropes.

        • Hami Shearlie 8.1.1.2
          23 August 2013 at 3:25 pm

          Who’s Grant Robinson?

        • weka 8.1.1.3
          23 August 2013 at 3:41 pm

          “How petty in attempting to denigrate someone can it be to discount their abilities based upon their sexuality, can people stoop any lower,”

          That’s not what is being said. What is being said is that a gay man won’t get as many votes. Nothing to do with abilities or even sexuality, and everything to do with the discomfit that some sections of the NZ population still feel around homosexuality. Apparently.

          Myself, I think it’s not Robertson’s sexuality that will put some voters off, it’s the fact that he doesn’t stand out as a leader.

          • karol 8.1.1.3.1
            23 August 2013 at 3:51 pm

            Myself, I think it’s not Robertson’s sexuality that will put some voters off, it’s the fact that he doesn’t stand out as a leader

            Yep. Lesbian here – sexuality has nothing to do with my leadership preference. Cunliffe is the better candidate for the reasons I gave in my post.

            • tinfoilhat 8.1.1.3.1.1
              23 August 2013 at 4:22 pm

              My grandson (12) was watching the news with me last night when the issue of Robertson’s sexuality was raised by the journalist – he was dumbfounded that it would be an issue – I was immensely proud of him.

          • SHG (not Colonial Viper) 8.1.1.3.2
            23 August 2013 at 8:19 pm

            This is what someone who doesn’t stand out as a leader looks and sounds like.

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=GU4h6aQTbDk#t=26

            • felix 8.1.1.3.2.1
              23 August 2013 at 9:07 pm

              What a pleasure to see Lockwood in the chair.

              Saw Helen Clark speaking the other day, and it’s impossible not to compare her to the embarrassing drunken illiterate oaf of a PM we have now.

              How far down we have slid.

            • Murray Olsen 8.1.1.3.2.2
              24 August 2013 at 12:30 am

              You should put a warning that there is a scene including Roger Douglas in that video. I feel sicker than normal 🙁

              • SHG (not Colonial Viper) …
                24 August 2013 at 2:45 am

                You mean 21-year Labour MP and Cabinet Minister in two Labour Governments Sir Roger Douglas, yeah…?

          • felix 8.1.1.3.3
            23 August 2013 at 9:00 pm

            “Myself, I think it’s not Robertson’s sexuality that will put some voters off, it’s the fact that he doesn’t stand out as a leader.”

            This.

            He’s a shrewd operator no doubt, and a smart cookie, and by all accounts not a bad bloke. But if there’s something about him that appeals to anyone outside of the Aro Valley I’m yet to witness it.

  9. blue beGoneCravenSpyBull leopard 9
    23 August 2013 at 1:27 pm

    Thanks Karol, for supplying a counter to the propaganda our sorry media sources continue to deem necessary

    I would hope that the process of choosing a new leader will be based on **skills**, not sexuality, weight, colour nor what the lamestream media propagandists are saying*.

    It appears to me that Mr Cunliffe has the experience and skills required for the job of ousting this appalling government.

    If there is someone with better skills, and they get voted in as leader, well and good.

    I sincerely hope that the Labour caucus, members and unions choose the very best person for the job.

    …once that is done I sincerely hope that all petty infighting is dropped and replaced with a strong, focussed gameplan of prioritising the interests of NZers and NZ democracy. This would be the winning thing to do.

    *The only regard I would place on lamestream opinion would be to note who they are promoting and take that as an indication who not to vote for.

  10. Phaedrus 10
    23 August 2013 at 1:29 pm

    Ultimately there is only one test for the new leader, whoever it is: he or she must be able to handle and control John Key, or else the election may slip away. Key’s manipulation of Campbell Live, even though he was spinning lies and misdirections as fast as he could go, shows that the new leader must be able to best him in debates, either in parliament or in next year’s election campaign. Anything else is secondary, although in an ideal world the leader will both handle Key, and have true Labour principles and beliefs.

  11. Colonial Viper 11
    23 August 2013 at 1:30 pm

    Karol, thanks for writing this up. Great to hear from the perspective of a true Leftie on New Lynn.

  12. tc 12
    23 August 2013 at 1:34 pm

    It has to be Cunliffe if Labour want to be a major player in the next gov’t.

    They may win with a lesser candidate but need to grab back the lost party votes and motivate the non voters toward ticking their box and DC provides that inspiration.

    DC spearheading a focused caucus is a NACT nightmare watch them and their MSM mates undermine that possibility, it will get nasty especially from granny and mediawonks.

    Robertson/King/Goff/Hipkins/Jones/Fafoi all a collective fail and represent what most people think about pollys…welly centric troughers in it for themselves.

  13. Pete 13
    23 August 2013 at 1:52 pm

    This speech is also worthwhile

    • BLiP 13.1
      23 August 2013 at 6:23 pm

      ‘

      Here’s another good speech and, I suggest, further reason why Cunliffe is best suited for the job ahead. In that speech, Cunliffe meticulously dismantles and exposes National Ltd™’s deliberate financial malfeasance carried out to obscure the top-down mendacity employed to deliver a buget “surplus”. As Cunliffe points out, National Ltd™ is relying on the presentation of this chimeric “surplus” to hoist it into power for another three years. Cunliffe is armed with the oratory skills, streak of mongrel, and credibility in financial matters to strip bare much of that spread-sheet “funny money rubber numbers” fantasy upon which National Ltd™’s ashpurashuns are based.

      (Hat Tip: Karol – http://thestandard.org.nz/your-country-needs-you/)

  14. Reactionnaire 14
    23 August 2013 at 2:14 pm

    Cunliffe seems like the only option.

    He has an “X-factor” and that is being the consummate political communicator.

    His biggest problem is his transparent egotism and his lack of sincerity at times. He is a policy expert with great command of the arguments involved, but when he “turns it on” to be chummy with the TV interviewers or to appeal to working class voters… he just comes across as false.

    The public can sniff this “professional politician mask” a mile away. They hate it, hence the novice and supposed “non-politicians” like Key and Shearer getting the nod. It is sort of the reverse Phil Goff problem: when Phil went on camera, he unwittingly became robotic-sounding and sort of angry. Cunliffe goes on camera and wittingly attempts to become all things to all people, tries to project a persona for his target audience of the day, rather than just being himself. This ambitious “man with a 1000 masks” syndrome can be an instant turnoff for voters. Hopefully he will drop it, it shouldn’t be that hard, and speak from the heart.

    Everything else, he has in spades. A dose of Shearer-type humility and sincerity would give him a teflon-coated persona. Oh, and that beard… 😉

    • Colonial Viper 14.1
      23 August 2013 at 3:08 pm

      “Transparent egotism”???

      You’re confusing Cunliffe with John Key.

      • Reactionnaire 14.1.1
        23 August 2013 at 3:24 pm

        Unfortunately not. You’re right though, they have a bit of that in common. An obviously large ego isn’t that uncommon for a political leader.

        When i was working in the beehive before the 05 election, Cunliffe had already earned a reputation for this as well as his naked personal ambition… perhaps if he does finally fulfil this long-held dream by becoming the leader, he will tone it down?

        It would help him with his colleagues and his public image. And avoid the K Rudd type problems that accompany the more extreme cases of this ego-syndrome.

        • blue BeGone Craven Spy Bull leopard 14.1.1.1
          23 August 2013 at 3:42 pm

          @ Reactionnaire,

          It is interesting reading your (and the other) personal experiences of these personalities, thanks.

          I don’t understand, however, what you say here: “His biggest problem is his transparent egotism and his lack of sincerity at times.”

          It appears to me that we have a PM currently with the same quality only he lacks sincerity at all times, and this doesn’t appear to been detrimental for him; being a leader for 2 terms.

          Have you read Richard29’s comment? (at 2.4 above). How would you respond to his views?

        • Colonial Viper 14.1.1.2
          23 August 2013 at 4:15 pm

          Sorry mate despite your wording, ambition is actually a positive and a must have in a senior politician. The thing with Cunliffe is that he matches it with capability, experience, and the ability to get along with ordinary New Zealanders.

          “Ego syndrome”? You’re nuts. Whoever you are talking about its your biased perception of a younger gung-ho politician from 10 years ago.

          • Reactionnaire 14.1.1.2.1
            23 August 2013 at 4:57 pm

            No need to get defensive there buddy.

            If you read carefully you’ll see that i’m speaking of it as a problem in the context of his live TV image. And if you’re worried about the leadership thing, as i’ve said, imho he is the only option. I’m offering constructive criticism here: everyone has weaknesses and this is his.

            Even in recent televised interviews (well, the ones he got before he got silenced by the party after the failed leadership bid), at times, he is clearly trying to charm and forcing it, comes across as insincere (and patronising when he tries to sound more “working class man” than he is). Can be a big voter turnoff. Must be dealt with. Simple sincerity the winning remedy.

            I could go into all the positives Cunliffe offers – capability, intellect, a reasonably clear vision of a post-neoliberal NZ – but that’s not my point here.

            • Colonial Viper 14.1.1.2.1.1
              23 August 2013 at 5:54 pm

              Sorry mate your spiel about insincerity and forced charm is all about your one person perception, unless you claim to be a media trained professional offering a full critique. Not that they weren’t once present, but I think Cunliffe has successfully worked those issues out over the last 2-3 years.

              • Reactionnaire …
                23 August 2013 at 6:36 pm

                Your flat denial without argument isn’t exactly convincing! Particularly when just about every journalist who has ever commented on the man makes some reference to his ego, and …

                …when Cunliffe himself admits that it is an ‘ongoing challenge’ for him to make ‘sure that it is clear in my head that it’s not about me’ (2012).

                http://www.listener.co.nz/current-affairs/politics/reinventing-david-cunliffe/

                If I were running a few focus groups right now i could offer an approximate answer, but i’m not. And in the end this is the standard stuff of modern politics: difficultly quantifiable or qualifiable perceptions based on gut-feelings and prejudice. On these factors the next labour party leader will stand or fall (or will stand as National falls!).

                • Colonial Viper …
                  23 August 2013 at 7:46 pm

                  Labour under Cunliffe is going to tell the focus groups “thanks, but its time to head home”.

                  Your flat denial without argument isn’t exactly convincing!

                  Not interested in convincing you. Just in nailing your biased out of date personal assertions.

                  • Reactionnaire …
                    23 August 2013 at 11:13 pm

                    What a brilliant strategy!

                    I’m sure the Hon. Cunliffe is so concerned about the Colon Viper’s personal prejudices that he will ignore the swing voters and lose the election…

                    Maybe you should be coaching him – “whatever you do don’t explain or justify anything, don’t convince anyone, just tell people they’re wrong and you’re right!”

      • SHG (not Colonial Viper) 14.2.1
        23 August 2013 at 5:01 pm

        doublepost for some reason

      • blue beGone Craven Spy Bull leopard 14.2.2
        23 August 2013 at 5:10 pm

        lolz you sure you got the correct shot there SHG?

        I would have thought it was what all Nat party members look like at the thought of Cunliffe becoming leader of NZLP.

    • Jenny 14.3
      25 August 2013 at 4:51 am

      I have met David Cunliffe and strangely, on a personal level have found him to be self effacing modest and likeable. Nowhere near the hard arsed mongrel he needs to be.

      Winston Churchill on once being accused of being an egotist. Said of course I am. I couldn’t have achieved all I that I have if I wasn’t.

      Cunliffe needs to be less like himself and more like Churchill if he is to make the changes necessary for this country to become a world leader in the existential war for human civilisation against climate change.

      [karol: I thought you were on a 6 week ban, as stated here.. Sending the rest of your comments made this morning to moderation]

  15. Sable 15
    23 August 2013 at 4:01 pm

    Cunliffe’s problem is Cunliffe. He’s clever but his ego like Keys could well be his undoing in a leadership role. I don’t see a bright future for Labour with him at the helm.

    • Tracey 15.1
      23 August 2013 at 4:06 pm

      Who would you prefer given they must be egoless?

      • Colonial Viper 15.1.1
        23 August 2013 at 4:31 pm

        And be able to walk on water…

      • Sable 15.1.2
        23 August 2013 at 4:58 pm

        Since you ask if I had my way Annette King. Polite, down to earth but not a push over either.

        Speaking for myself I’m tired of the bad manners, petty lies, the childishness and conceit we find in politicians today. If you don’t have a big ego and are aggressive they are no good.

        I’m not sure of any other business would want to hire people as described above so why should they run our country? There’s a lot to be said for calm, professional and business-like.

        • Colonial Viper 15.1.2.1
          23 August 2013 at 5:49 pm

          You think Annette King could beat Key campaigning next year and in the TV debates???

          • lurgee 15.1.2.1.1
            23 August 2013 at 8:55 pm

            I think Key would look very bad if he tried his usual bully boy tactics against a woman of King’s ‘experience’. In the 70s in Britain, Thatcher wanted to debate Jim Callaghan, but was advised not to as laying into ‘Uncle Jim’ would alienate people. King enjoys some of the same affection as she’s been around forever; and (importantly for the real contenders) she won’t be planning on sticking around much longer.

            • Colonial Viper 15.1.2.1.1.1
              23 August 2013 at 10:59 pm

              I think Key would look very bad if he tried his usual bully boy tactics against a woman of King’s ‘experience’.

              Yet Key had no problem getting rid of Helen Clark, did he.

        • JK 15.1.2.2
          23 August 2013 at 6:28 pm

          You gotta be joking, Sable. King is one of the old Rogernomes, and what’s more she’s looking old and tired. Time for her to retire …

  16. Tanz 16
    23 August 2013 at 4:13 pm

    Key’s ego has worked for him, he manages to keep it kind of hidden. Lately though, it has been more apparent, and he does act like a brat when he doesn’t get his way.
    Why can’t Jacinda or Street be leader? They’d both be good, especially the latter. Very much like Clark.
    Cunliffe too, could take shiny Key out.

    • Winston Smith 16.1
      23 August 2013 at 4:26 pm

      Why can’t Jacinda or Street be leader?

      – Because Labour want to win the next election?

    • karol 16.2
      23 August 2013 at 4:54 pm

      Jacinda can deliver some very good speeches. But she can misfire at times. She’s not as good on her feet responding to challenges as the likes of Cunliffe – just lacks the experience, and Key will exploit that inexperience in the election contest.

      • Ant 16.2.1
        23 August 2013 at 6:52 pm

        Yeah maybe in another 2 terms after she has ministerial experience. Defending a welfare/health portfolio in the house against opposition shadow ministers should get her prepped in no time. The suggestion she has the chops for it right now is super naive though, she needs to be able to flip Kaye in a Marginal electorate before even thinking about taking votes from John Key.

    • Murray Olsen 16.3
      24 August 2013 at 12:41 am

      I get the impression that Jacinda is a bit green and lets herself be influenced far too much by Mallard. She also seems to have real problems making inroads against Bennett, who is certainly not a small target.

      • Colonial Viper 16.3.1
        24 August 2013 at 12:55 am

        Insular, has lived and breathed the Wellington beltway bubble for far too long, no career perspective based in a larger broader NZ. Yet another long term Labour activist/staffer promoted to caucus.

      • xtasy 16.3.2
        24 August 2013 at 2:34 am

        Ardern has disappointed me immensely, Murray, and I do not take lightly, to have some “spokesperson” being served HEAPS of proved information on the silver platter, and NOT bother to use it. She is either totally dishonest or totally useless. She is NOT in the right place in the right party, that is my view, sorry to disappoint those who choose to disagree.

  17. Not a PS Staffer 17
    23 August 2013 at 4:27 pm

    I’ve worked with Cunliffe in a couple of his roles.

    I’ve seen a careful business like approach to leading people to get things done. He is compassionate to a fault.

    Clayton Cosgrave and Grant Robertson have done an excellent job in slandering Cunliffe.

    The Media has done their ussual lazy job in just repearting mush.

  18. Tanz 18
    23 August 2013 at 4:43 pm

    and Labour would win more easily with a woman leader, it would be a good contrast against JK.

    • karol 18.1
      23 August 2013 at 4:58 pm

      I would like to see another woman PM – but she needs to be ready for the job – electing her just because she’s a woman is not the way to go. I hope Ardern and Louisa Wall are in the top team come the Labour leadership selection.

      • Tanz 18.1.1
        23 August 2013 at 5:06 pm

        I agree Karol, it’s got to be the right one, for the right reasons Why not Street? She probably has what it takes.

        • karol 18.1.1.1
          23 August 2013 at 5:12 pm

          Street is solid, but not anywhere near exceptional as a politician.

          I actually would prefer Wall as deputy over Ardern and Robertson – but if Cunliffe was leader that’d be too Auckland-centric, I guess. I find Wall more down-to-earth and sincere than Ardern. And Wall is in a relatively low income, South Auckland area – traditionally grass roots Labour.

        • JK 18.1.1.2
          23 August 2013 at 6:31 pm

          Street ? Has what it takes, Tanz ? Does she ….. she’s been fairly ineffectual as an Opposition spokesperson. Not got the necessary charisma – what’s more, she was one of the original Shearer accolates – which doesn’t say much for her political nous.

    • Sanctuary 18.2
      23 August 2013 at 6:45 pm

      Helen Kelly isn’t yet an MP… YET being the operative word.

      My impression at the moment is she is far more likely to be capable of leading Labour than Jacinda.

      I also saw Deborah Russell was saying she might be interested in politics. She is formidably smart and articulate.

  19. SHG (not Colonial Viper) 19
    23 August 2013 at 4:53 pm

    Any Leader who accepts Robertson as Deputy is by definition so clueless as to deserve the knife when it comes.

    • Boadicea 19.1
      23 August 2013 at 10:05 pm

      Fair comment on Grant Robertson. Robertson’s brand is toxic after his gaming of Shearer. No one will trust him..

      There is so much to be done and Cunliffe has the mental grunt to crack into it. We and he does not need a selfish right winger in such a pivotal role.
      The Caucus appoints the deputy. They should select on values and leadership capability.

      While the MP for Wellington Central has shown afministrative skills inside the Parliamentary campus they have not extended into his small constituency. Robertson has never shown any leftish values and has not shown any leadership skills.

  20. lurgee 20
    23 August 2013 at 5:01 pm

    You’d have to be stupid to take Robertson over Cunliffe. But I’m still not sure he’ll go for it this time. He might sit it out, with a canny eye on 2014.

  21. Mike S 21
    23 August 2013 at 6:22 pm

    I’d say many many people have never even heard of Grant Robertson.

    David Cunliffe, in my opinion, is far and away the most capable Labour politician of defeating Key one on one. The thing that impresses me with Cunliffe is that he always ensures he knows his stuff backwards. Every time I have seen him interviewed on TV, no matter what the (excuse for) MSM journalists have thrown at him, he always has a confident, well thought out and easy to understand reply.

    I think some people might mistake his confidence for arrogance. Let’s face it, John Key is arrogant, Cunliffe is nowhere near Key in this regard, he is just very confident in his data and knowledge of the subject he is talking on.

    If the Caucus chooses Robertson over Cunliffe, and the members and unions votes are not enough to elect Cunliffe as leader, I will never vote Labour again. No offence to Grant Robertson, I think he should stay as Cunliffe’s deputy, he just isn’t the person to take it to Key in my opinion.

    • Foreign Waka 21.1
      24 August 2013 at 12:32 pm

      I do agree that Mr Cunliffe is actually the last hope for Labour. If he cannot get the leadership he should establish a new labour party. I don’t even think that Robertson should stay as deputy after reading some comments that he has undermined Mr Shearer. A case like Brutus to Nero?

      • Populuxe1 21.1.1
        25 August 2013 at 1:17 pm

        Christ, I hope you mean the two crocodiles from The Rescuers, because that’s the only time Brutus and Nero were ever in proximity:
        Brutus 85-42 BC
        Nero 37-68 BC

        Perchance you mean Julius Caeser and not Nero?

  22. Russell 22
    23 August 2013 at 6:59 pm

    Cunliffe was the man that the West Auckland Licensing Trusts turned to when the 2003 Gambling Legislation threatened “The Trusts” liquor monopoly in West Auckland.
    For years those licensing trusts and its entourage of 17 well paid elected members have duped the public into thinking that all those community grants were from the profits of their well managed liquor monopoly when in fact it was the proceeds of pokies and gambling that paid for Lopdell House, Olympic park and anything else that gave the liquor business and those low grade local politicians a profile. Cunliffe sucessfully got the law changed that protected that monopoly while Westies have no price and convenience of purchasing liquor in his electorate.

    • Colonial Viper 22.1
      23 August 2013 at 7:42 pm

      you want cheaper, more available liquor for West Auckland kids?

      What are you, a supermarket owner?

    • karol 22.2
      23 August 2013 at 7:47 pm

      Russell, do you have sources for those claims?

      As CV indicates, I’m not interested in cheap liquor, but I would like to know about the gambling and pokie claims.

      • Colonial Viper 22.2.1
        23 August 2013 at 7:56 pm

        Given that his electorate returned Cunliffe with an even bigger majority, I’d say that people (other than supermarket owners) are just fine with the situation.

        • karol 22.2.1.1
          23 August 2013 at 8:02 pm

          Well, I don’t drink alcohol, and I am not keen on cheap alcohol being used as a loss-leader by supermarkets, so that I subsidise those who do drink. However, I have not heard complaints about alcohol costs by people I know who do drink booze.

          Lopdell House and Olympic Park provide community goods, so I’m glad gambling profits went there instead of being siphoned off into some private trusts.

  23. Russell 23
    23 August 2013 at 10:37 pm

    Do an OIA request on the DIA and ask for investigation reports into the Portage and Waitakere Licensing Trusts and you will read what was going on and how licensing trusts were cashing in from the proceeds of pokies and not the liquor business they are there to run. All that money for semi professional sports sponsorship sure as hell was not coming from their liquor profits. Why should the liquor industry in any shape or form be able to cash in off the back of pokies it doesn’t own or run and why should the elected members of Licensing trusts (most of whom are labour supporters) enhance their own political profiles off the back of gambling.

    • Colonial Viper 23.1
      23 August 2013 at 10:57 pm

      Sucks having community democracies in control of gambling instead of, say, a corporate like SkyCity eh?

  24. AmaKiwi 24
    23 August 2013 at 11:16 pm

    During the last election, there was a candidates meeting in Titirangi. All parties were there except National (Labour, Greens, Conservatives, and some other minor parties). Cunliffe was one of the last speakers, meaning the audience was getting bored.

    Cunliffe’s turn to speak. In 3 minutes he ripped National to pieces. The entire audience was on their feet cheering, including the Conservatives.

    I don’t give a damn what reservations people have. If we lose the next election this country is neo-liberal dog tucker. We MUST win.

    Cunliffe can win.

  25. Russell 25
    24 August 2013 at 12:01 am

    The west has an organisation loaded with yet another layer of politicians who employ a chief executive and many other staff to run a liquor monopoly that can’t or won’t deliver any of its profits back to the community. Instead they blatantly mislead the West Auckland community as to the source of the grants for commercial advantage. Really no better than Sky City in that regard and we saw how Labour were all over that deal. Or is it because they prefer the so accessible pokie bars pastered around our neighbourhoods and saw sky city as a commercial threat to their own gambling business!!

    • Colonial Viper 25.1
      24 August 2013 at 12:06 am

      Seems like a good and politically effective narrative. Get some candidates together and run with it to get some change.

  26. xtasy 26
    24 August 2013 at 2:26 am

    While I am NOT, and I state this once again, a Cunliffe fan, I think and feel he is the best bet, the best potential leader for the Labour Party now. He is articulate, educated, smart, can talk to media, is a proven minister who can get things done, he is HATED by National, ALL of that make him the BEST candidate to stand for Labour as leader and challenger of John Hollow Key.

    Only overly sentimental, deluded, misguided and irritated Labourites will not get it, it is totally proved and evident now, that only Cunliffe can deal to Key and will lead to the game changer. As much as Robertson has his qualtities, he now has to step back, take a deep sigh and let Cunliffe take the leadership. We are in for a resolute change, and this is best think that could have happened.

    Good luck David and others, we are right behind you.

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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • Just trying to stay upright
    It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • “Unprecedented”
    Today, former Port of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson went on trial on health and safety charges for the death of one of his workers. The Herald calls the trial "unprecedented". Firstly, it's only "unprecedented" because WorkSafe struck a corrupt and unlawful deal to drop charges against Peter Whittall over Pike ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Time for “Fast-Track Watch”
    Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on fast track powers, media woes and the Tiktok ban
    Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • The Government’s new fast-track invitation to corruption
    Bryce Edwards writes-  The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    2 days ago

  • Maori push for parallel government structures
    Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An announcement about an announcement
    Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • All the Green Tech in China.
    Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Western Express Success
    In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    2 days ago

  • Bernard’s pick ‘n’ mix of the news links at 7:16am on Monday, April 22
    TL;DR: These six news links stood out in the last 24 hours to 7:16am on Monday, April 22:Labour says Kiwis at greater risk from loan sharks as Govt plans to remove borrowing regulations NZ Herald Jenee TibshraenyHow did the cost of moving two schools blow out to more than $400m?A ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to April 29 and beyond
    TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #16
    A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Government’s new fast-track invitation to corruption
    The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Thank you
    This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Determining the Engine Type in Your Car
    Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Become a Race Car Driver: A Comprehensive Guide
    Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Many Cars Are There in the World in 2023? An Exploration of Global Automotive Statistics
    Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Long Does It Take for Car Inspection?
    Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Who Makes Mazda Cars?
    Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Often to Replace Your Car Battery A Comprehensive Guide
    Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Can You Register a Car Without a License?
    In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the Rule If you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Mazda: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Reliability, Value, and Performance
    Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • What Are Struts on a Car?
    Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • What Does Car Registration Look Like: A Comprehensive Guide
    Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Share Computer Audio on Zoom
    Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Long Does It Take to Build a Computer?
    Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Put Your Computer to Sleep
    Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • What is Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT)?
    Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • iPad vs. Tablet Computers A Comprehensive Guide to Differences
    In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Are Computers Made?
    A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Add Voice Memos from iPhone to Computer
    Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Why My Laptop Screen Has Lines on It: A Comprehensive Guide
    Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Right-Click on a Laptop
    Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Where is the Power Button on an ASUS Laptop?
    Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Start a Dell Laptop: A Comprehensive Guide
    Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Serious populist discontent is bubbling up in New Zealand
    Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • How to Take a Screenshot on an Asus Laptop A Comprehensive Guide with Detailed Instructions and Illu...
    In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Factory Reset Gateway Laptop A Comprehensive Guide
    A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • The Folly Of Impermanence.
    “You talking about me?”  The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • A crisis of ambition
    Roger Partridge  writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Have 308 people in the Education Ministry’s Curriculum Development Team spent over $100m on a 60-p...
    Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • 'This bill is dangerous for the environment and our democracy'
    Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • The Bank of our Tamariki and Mokopuna.
    Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • The worth of it all
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, 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?Full story Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
    Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
    The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • Pickleball On the Cusp of Olympic Glory
    Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
    Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    4 days ago

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    4 days ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 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
    4 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
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