Archive for April, 2009

Mount Albert Labour goes active

Written By: - Date published: 3:34 pm, April 26th, 2009 - 68 comments

On the way to the Question & Answer session for the Mount Albert Labour selection candidates, it was clear that the campaign has kicked off.  The hall is slowly filling up, and it looks like the seats are all full. You’ll see a photo (from the iphone) of candidates on the front table just as […]

Denigration of public service

Written By: - Date published: 5:41 pm, April 25th, 2009 - 42 comments

There was a great turnout at the Mount Albert War Memorial building this morning, both inside the hall and people outside waiting for the flag and the silence. What has been intriguing me over the years is the changing number and demographics of the people who are now turning up. When I first started attending […]

Fran gets it

Written By: - Date published: 12:22 pm, April 25th, 2009 - 17 comments

Fran O’Sullivan shows that she gets it – National-Act’s supercity is designed to serve the interests of the business elite by taking democracy away from the people of Auckland, and that’s the reason for their refusal to give the people of Auckland their referendum. Problem is, Fran’s all in favour of getting rid of democracy: […]

Hide says no to referendum

Written By: - Date published: 5:59 am, April 25th, 2009 - 18 comments

Rodney Hide says Aucklanders  shouldn’t have a vote on whether or not they want his supercity. He uses one of the weaker arguments the righties have been running in our comment threads “it’s not just a `yes’ or `no’ question” Yes it is. The question of how a super-city should be structured is not a ‘yes’ […]

Greens join call for referendum

Written By: - Date published: 4:44 pm, April 24th, 2009 - 65 comments

The Greens have joined Labour and an array of groups calling for Aucklanders to get a referendum on the supercity. Great stuff. Sue Kedgley points out that much of the Government’s proposed structure was not recommended by the Royal Commission and Aucklanders have not been consulted on them. ‘Rodney Hide effectively threw the Royal Commission’s […]

‘Bout that gurgling sound…

Written By: - Date published: 2:31 pm, April 24th, 2009 - 53 comments

The average house in New Zealand should be worth about 3.5 times the average household income. (3.5 * $48k = $168k) The historic long-term rental return on most residential property was about 10%. Current rents for a typical 120m2, three bedroomed home in an average suburb is somewhere in the range of $12-16,000 pa…. ie […]

Zimbabwe leads the world

Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, April 24th, 2009 - 38 comments

It seems that Zimbabwe is, after all, a world leader. Mugabe’s government which followed the IMF and World Bank’s neo liberal plan for their economy to the letter, has shown us all how these policies will finish up. The austerity medicine prescribed for Zimbabwe by the world Bank, Included oppressive and harsh debt repayment, and massive […]

Goff calls for supercity referendum

Written By: - Date published: 12:56 pm, April 24th, 2009 - 23 comments

Phil Goff has put out a press release calling for a referendum so that the people of Auckland can decide whether the Government’s Auckland supercity plan should go ahead. Excellent. A referendum is the only fair and democratic way to proceed. Especially when polling shows the people of Auckland are evenly split on whether or […]

Where’s my pony?

Written By: - Date published: 10:47 am, April 24th, 2009 - 11 comments

Umm, some posts we get sent are a bit quirky. Enjoy. _____________________________  OK. I’ll confess. I’m one of the ones who fell for Key. I switched my vote to National. Why not? A brighter future, tax cuts, rainbows, nice smiles, ponys for all, being a loud [sic] to smack my lightbulb to my heart’s content. Why […]

Oh no, not Sweden!

Written By: - Date published: 8:44 am, April 24th, 2009 - 12 comments

If you’ve been watching your Fox News, you know that the US is turning socialist. It’s going to be Sweden any day apparently. The Daily Show went to Sweden to get a taste of the fate that awaits Americans.    The tunes they play while visiting Robyn’s apartment… They’re great songs but do they suddenly […]

Bouncing from cloud to idiot cloud

Written By: - Date published: 6:01 am, April 24th, 2009 - 21 comments

Check out this piece on TV3. Key first talks about the “9-week fortnight” and doesn’t even catch his mistake. Then, trying to justify not offering 9-day fortnights for the public sector (which Germany etc are doing), he says “well, the public sector has different issues at the moment, you know, we’re, you know, undergoing some […]

Look Mum they stole my city …

Written By: - Date published: 3:15 pm, April 23rd, 2009 - 28 comments

After the success of the meetings about the super-city in Waitakere and Manakau yesterday, here are a few more of interest in date order. We will issue reminders when they are due. From the notice on the Grassroots Labour site about a public meeting in Waitakere. Time April 27, 2009 from 8pm (now correct time) […]

National has blown it

Written By: - Date published: 2:22 pm, April 23rd, 2009 - 37 comments

National cannot be blamed for the current financial crisis and recession of course. But they can be blamed for their short sighted and inadequate response. Stuck in old ways of thinking (cut spending, cut jobs, sell stuff) they have done nothing to stimulate the economy. All their talk of extra spending turned out to be […]

There’s optimistic and there’s just wrong

Written By: - Date published: 1:11 pm, April 23rd, 2009 - 14 comments

John Key has a habit of speaking much more bluntly to foreign media than he does to us. In his interview with the Financial Times published this week he stated unequivocally that there will be no stimulus package for New Zealand. He hadn’t told us. It was this, though, that caught my attention: “he is betting […]

Well deserved

Written By: - Date published: 1:08 pm, April 23rd, 2009 - 17 comments

Helen Clark has been awarded an honorary doctorate, a Doctor of Laws, by Auckland University. Chancellor Roger France said in a written statement that the degree recognised Helen Clark’s “enormous contribution to New Zealand and on the international stage”. “Helen Clark had made a mark nationally and internationally in a way that few leaders can […]

Govt’s refusal to listen sparks protests

Written By: - Date published: 12:45 pm, April 23rd, 2009 - 9 comments

The government’s refusal to listen on its fast-tracked Supercity plans is already resulting in protests. The unrest that’s building should hardly come as a surprise. I can certainly understand Aucklanders not wanting to be dictated to by Wellington – especially when the outcome is ACT running their city. I’m still at a loss as to […]

Media finally getting it?

Written By: - Date published: 12:18 pm, April 23rd, 2009 - 18 comments

On the impending job losses at the IRD, TVNZ reporter Catherine Loft ended her report with: “Anyone who once thought that they were safe working for our government really needs to think again”. I wonder how on earth they could have got that idea?

Solution

Written By: - Date published: 11:31 am, April 23rd, 2009 - 12 comments

Keeping with the topics of the day thus far – Air New Zealand and pay packets – a solution to the Zeal320 dispute occurs to me. There are about 240 flight attendants striking for fairer pay (they want pay parity with flight attendants doing the same job but employed directly by AirNZ eventually but at this […]

PM’s pay

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, April 23rd, 2009 - 28 comments

Interesting question over at Big News: In 1998, just 10 years ago,the Prime Minister was paid $185,000. The speaker was paid $126,000. A Chairperson of a Select Committee got $86,500. John Key gets more than all three combined in 2008. That’s not including his allowances. Is your position paid more than double it was 10 […]

The brand cult of Air New Zealand

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 pm, April 22nd, 2009 - 43 comments

As someone personally involved at the Air New Zealand cabin crew dispute I can tell you it’s been pretty nasty for everyone involved. But what it’s really brought home for everyone has been the seamless (and slightly creepy) way the airline has used its internal communications to reinforce the brand cult of Air New Zealand. […]

David Shearer

Written By: - Date published: 5:49 pm, April 22nd, 2009 - 34 comments

So, Labour’s flying in some bloke called David Shearer to have a tilt at the Mt Albert selection. Apparently he’s been working for the UN Development Programme in Iraq and has quite a bit of foreign policy background. People like him, wife and kids, ticks all the boxes. He also seems to be pretty close […]

Dom hits rock bottom, starts digging

Written By: - Date published: 2:31 pm, April 22nd, 2009 - 14 comments

Ray White, the renowned philosopher from Greytown, had a letter published by the Dominion Post on Monday wherein he says “I think it is great that Auckland Maori are to raise a hikoi in protest at not getting free representation on the new Auckland City Council. They could do with the exercise.” Good grief. I know […]

Reminder: Drinking Liberally Wgtn

Written By: - Date published: 2:02 pm, April 22nd, 2009 - Comments Off on Reminder: Drinking Liberally Wgtn

Drinking Liberally with Sue Bradford Where: Southern Cross Bar, Abel Smtih St, Wellington When: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 from 5:30pm. That’s tomorrow. Green MP Sue Bradford will be at Drinking Liberally – 6pm tomorrow – Southern Cross Bar – leading a discussion on “the state of the left and our prospective response to the current […]

Lost in translation

Written By: - Date published: 10:38 am, April 22nd, 2009 - 32 comments

UMR has just released a poll [PDF link] measuring support for a supercity. Stuff reports on it under the headline “Voters back Auckland supercity”: Though the poll’s sample of just 483 is small, it is the first real indicator of support for the supercity concept, with 45 percent of Aucklanders in favour, and 43 percent […]

About time

Written By: - Date published: 10:26 am, April 22nd, 2009 - 14 comments

It’s good that Labour has rejoined good leftwing principles over the foreshore and seabed. Labour was spooked by the popularity of National’s race baiting into emulating them. They should never have denied iwi the right to go to court to try to establish their customary rights to sections of the foreshore and seabed. There are […]

Aucklanders must have their referendum

Written By: - Date published: 5:07 am, April 22nd, 2009 - 27 comments

In 1999, Napier and Hastings had a referendum over whether their councils should merge. They voted against it. In 2005, there was a referendum on Banks Peninsula and Christchurch City merging. The people voted for it. The Royal Commission report says that the normal process for council mergers set by the Local Government Act (schedule […]

Phil Twyford not seeking Mt Albert nomination

Written By: - Date published: 4:27 pm, April 21st, 2009 - 57 comments

Breaking news… Labour MP Phil Twyford announced today he will not be seeking the nomination for the Mt Albert by-election. Twyford said he believed the by-election was an ideal opportunity to bring more fresh talent into Parliament, building on Labour’s 2008 intake. “I am already a Member of Parliament. If someone from outside stands and […]

Has National changed its policy on the super-city?

Written By: - Date published: 3:30 pm, April 21st, 2009 - 23 comments

Yesterday I pointed out that the Local Government Act requires referenda on boundary changes such as are envisaged for Auckland. To not do so would be to use the parliamentary rights to amend legislation to remove a required consultation with the citizens of Auckland. It appears likely (from Graeme) that NACT will put forward a […]

Govt still refuses to act on youth smoking

Written By: - Date published: 1:53 pm, April 21st, 2009 - 42 comments

A couple of months ago you may remember Tony Ryall rejecting a health select committee recommendation that cigarettes and tobacco be kept out of sight in shops to help make them less inviting. On Sunrise this morning Oliver Driver wanted to know, in the light of fresh evidence, why Key’s government is still intent on […]

Rob Thomas: Taking the Local out of Local Government

Written By: - Date published: 1:00 pm, April 21st, 2009 - 4 comments

A long contribution from someone in centre of the local body issues in Auckland. Despite its blatant electioneering, it is interesting enough to post here for a slightly different (and milder) slant. The lack of any effective role for the proposed local boards that makes them useless is discussed below the break. After extensive consultation, […]

Arrogance

Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, April 21st, 2009 - 12 comments

John Key on criticism that the Government is arrogantly ramming through its Supercity plans without consulting Aucklanders: “The Government is not so arrogant that it won’t listen to the submissions that are made before or during the select committee process,” Mr Key said yesterday.* If Key doesn’t want to look arrogant then he should stop […]