Archive for September, 2017
Electoral Commission Undermining of Māori Rights
Written By: - Date published: 5:21 pm, September 17th, 2017 - 40 comments
Another election and another set of problems with the Crown’s running of the electoral process for Māori.
Oram on Nats’ poor record and why we should vote for change
Written By: - Date published: 10:36 am, September 17th, 2017 - 89 comments
Rod Oram at Newsroom: “More of the same won’t deliver for New Zealand. Hopefully, new leaders and policies will.”
What vote will deliver the change we need…?
Written By: - Date published: 8:19 am, September 17th, 2017 - 149 comments
Dave Kennedy outlines the importance of party voting Green to ensure Labour has a strong progressive coalition partner in the next government.
This is how you change the Government – enrol and vote at the same time*
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, September 17th, 2017 - 14 comments
* option only available before election day.
National pushing through with secret TPP talks before the election
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, September 17th, 2017 - 23 comments
“This continues National’s desperation to see a TPPA at any cost”
Open Mike 17/09/2017
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 17th, 2017 - 207 comments
Open mike is your post.
For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
She’s got what it takes
Written By: - Date published: 12:23 am, September 17th, 2017 - 73 comments
Great read in London today – full page Guardian article headlined “I’ve got what it takes, says the charismatic Labour leader taking New Zealand by storm.” Send it far and wide.
The Herald reverts to type
Written By: - Date published: 12:27 pm, September 16th, 2017 - 45 comments
John Armstrong has come out in the Herald swinging wildly and claiming without evidence that Jacinda Ardern’s campaign has stalled, and criticized her policy positions but because he thinks they are only a bit better than National’s.
A Tale of Two Privileges.
Written By: - Date published: 11:52 am, September 16th, 2017 - 72 comments
Bad title. Whatever.
Yesterday there were two responses to Michelle’s guest post, that in conjunction deserve better exposure than “soon to be forgotten” comments buried in a post thread.
van Beynen on the changing of the guard
Written By: - Date published: 10:31 am, September 16th, 2017 - 6 comments
Martin van Beynen has been touring the country: “I think Jacinda Ardern is going to win the election or at least get more of the party vote than National. And even if I am wrong about that, the ground has still shifted and what she represents is in the ascendant. If not this time, it will be the next.”
Save Mart sacks unionised workers
Written By: - Date published: 8:55 am, September 16th, 2017 - 52 comments
First Union members working at Save Mart were given notice yesterday after complaints this week were made about health and safety conditions and interviews showing a culture of punishment and degradation.
Our Nation’s Stolen Generation Moment
Written By: - Date published: 8:26 am, September 16th, 2017 - 8 comments
A guest post by @invisiphilia on the recent Mahinarangi Forbes interview on the Hui on the abuse of children in foster care and why the Government is wrong in refusing to have a proper independent inquiry into what went wrong.
Ardern: Setting the record straight
Written By: - Date published: 6:45 am, September 16th, 2017 - 38 comments
Watch Jacinda Ardern on the Nats’ nasty negative campaign – and the huge problems for New Zealand that they want to distract you from.
Rally Against Poverty – join Metiria Turei and Marama Davidson
Written By: - Date published: 6:25 am, September 16th, 2017 - 20 comments
Saturday 16 Sept 2.30pm, Otara Town Centre, South Auckland. Let’s all come together to rally for our communities that have been at the forefront on the fight to end poverty.
Open Mike 16/09/2017
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 16th, 2017 - 102 comments
Open mike is your post.
For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
Roy Morgan – shows the Nats have been targeting the wrong place
Written By: - Date published: 10:59 pm, September 15th, 2017 - 98 comments
With the usual inane commentary from our aussie cousins, we get the final Roy Morgan poll. It shows Labour + Greens at 60 seats and with choice of partners to take them over 60 seats. It shows National at 50 seats and requiring NZ First + the Maori Party and Nationals servile parties to get […]
Daily Review 15/09/2017
Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, September 15th, 2017 - 65 comments
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Marama Davidson and Chloe Swarbrick on ending poverty
Written By: - Date published: 3:38 pm, September 15th, 2017 - 8 comments
The Greens have a plan to end poverty now.
#sheepgate: National paid out money to settle a non existing dispute without legal advice
Written By: - Date published: 9:57 am, September 15th, 2017 - 26 comments
In a case of extraordinarily bad timing for National it has been confirmed that despite claims to the contrary MFAT never provided National legal advice about the merits of any possible claim made concerning New Zealand’s banning of live sheep exports.
Do you want to keep me in poverty?
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, September 15th, 2017 - 148 comments
If you want to know exactly how, then read on.
National candidates turn chicken
Written By: - Date published: 7:46 am, September 15th, 2017 - 34 comments
Out west National candidates are that afraid of their Labour conterparts they are refusing to attend public debates.
Mike Joy honoured and Ecan occupied
Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, September 15th, 2017 - 15 comments
The inaugural Critic and Conscience of Society Award is given to Dr Mike Joy, and protestors take their protest to Environment Canterbury .
What’s up with NZF?
Written By: - Date published: 7:16 am, September 15th, 2017 - 24 comments
Peters’ major election interview is a mess of epic proportions, and NZF’s own Pauline Hanson makes an iwi/kiwi speech.
Polls – focus on the horse race misses the huge mood for change
Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, September 15th, 2017 - 56 comments
Labour’s surge under Jacinda Ardern has us all talking about Labour vs National – who’s in front. Exciting stuff, but there is something even more important going on. The mood represented by Labour + Green + the plurality of NZF supporters. The winds of change are blowing.
Open Mike 15/09/2017
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 15th, 2017 - 163 comments
Open mike is your post.
For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
CB poll has Labour ahead and Greens safe
Written By: - Date published: 6:06 pm, September 14th, 2017 - 193 comments
Labour and Greens could govern alone.
The 3 News poll was a rogue.
Daily Review 14/09/2017
Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, September 14th, 2017 - 48 comments
Image by: abbi PJ. Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Toddy does a runner
Written By: - Date published: 5:08 pm, September 14th, 2017 - 32 comments
Discredited National Party MP Todd Barclay heads to London on the taxpayers’ dime.
National intends to sell another strategic asset
Written By: - Date published: 4:13 pm, September 14th, 2017 - 37 comments
National again intends to sell off publicly owned assets for its own ideological reasons. This time it’s Landcorp farms, thus depriving the government of another avenue for leading the way on environmental protection for farmers and climate change action.
Greening the place up
Written By: - Date published: 10:22 am, September 14th, 2017 - 50 comments
It’s a simple equation; Labour plus The Greens equals real progress, real change, real hope.
Lets talk about tax policy
Written By: - Date published: 8:29 am, September 14th, 2017 - 283 comments
Tax is emerging as the big issue of this campaign. How valid are National’s claims that Labour will introduce a variety of new taxes and what has National’s record been like? Update: in a smart tactical move Labour has promised no new taxes will be introduced until after the next election.
- The ‘best comet of the year’ is finally here – here’s everything you need to know
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland AstroStar/Shutterstock In January 2023, a new comet was discovered. Comets are found regularly, but astronomers quickly realised this one, called C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), had the potential to be quite bright. Some hyperbolic reports ...3 days ago - In a too-close-to-call US presidential election, will ‘couch-sitters’ decide who wins?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeff Bleich, Professorial fellow, Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies, Flinders University In countries with compulsory voting, such as Australia and many in Latin America, the system usually ensures an overwhelming majority of voters cast their ballots election after election. ...3 days ago
- Why are we seeing more pandemics? Our impact on the planet has a lot to do with it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olga Anikeeva, Research Fellow, School of Public Health, University of Adelaide ImageFlow/Shutterstock Pandemics – the global spread of infectious diseases – seem to be making a comeback. In the Middle Ages we had the Black Death (plague), and after the first ...3 days ago
- Our electricity workforce must double to hit the 2030 renewables target. Energy storage jobs will so...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jay Rutovitz, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Wanwajee Weeraphukdee/Shutterstock The electricity workforce will need to double in five years to achieve Australia’s 2030 renewable energy target, our new report finds. More than 80% of these jobs ...3 days ago
- The government is reviewing negative gearing and capital gains tax, but this won’t be enough to fi...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Cull, Associate professor, Western Sydney University Negative gearing and capital gains tax are back on the national agenda as Australians deal with a housing crisis and politicians look for ways to tackle the issue and win voters’ support at the upcoming ...3 days ago
- Mixing it up: hybrid work models can offer the best of both worlds for worker wellbeing and producti...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Blumenfeld, Director, Centre for Labour, Employment and Work, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Prime Minister Christopher Luxon sparked debate on the future of work in New Zealand this week when he ordered public service employees back to the ...3 days ago
- Netflix’s Monsters is ‘murder porn’ at its worst. It comes at a cost to real victims – and t...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Xanthe Mallett, Forensic Criminologist, University of Newcastle Netflix Are we products of nature or nurture? That’s the age-old question at the heart of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s new Netflix release, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story. The show focuses ...3 days ago
- Help Me Hera: Am I in love with my best friend? Please say yes
We talk for hours on end, I never get tired of him, and I feel weird when I go a few days without seeing him. Are we just mates? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nz Dear Hera, I made a new best friend a few (seven) months ago, which feels like an ...3 days ago - Police could refuse welfare check referrals, minister told
The Minister for Mental Health has been told the police will "refuse welfare checks" under their pullback from social harm callouts. ...3 days ago - The tax questions circling Chris Hipkins and Labour
The list of those in support of a capital gains tax has grown as Labour considers what it will campaign on in 2026, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in your inbox every weekday morning, sign up here. ...3 days ago
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky takes aim at China, Brazil push for peace in Ukraine
He called on the two countries to support the existing peace plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine. ...3 days ago
- Reversal of Taranaki oil and gas ban passes first reading
"New Zealand must look after itself before it cares for the planet", Resources Minister Shane Jones said, with the coalition arguing exploration will deliver energy security. ...3 days ago
- Minister wants someone to answer for pylon failure, locals just want an apology
But locals just want an apology and to be sure it won't happen again. ...3 days ago
- Here’s what’s at stake in the Labour tax debate
Labour is widely expected to bring some sort of tax reform to the table for the next election. But what are the different taxes being debated within the party, and why do they arouse such passion? Max Rashbrooke explains. An essentially arcane subject for ordinary folk, tax has taken on ...3 days ago
- Why was RNZ running gambling ads during its podcasts?
The broadcaster is strictly non-commercial – yet ads, including for a TAB subsidiary, have been appearing on its podcasts. Shanti Mathias investigates. “I was listening to a longform interview with Lisa Reihana about installing her art in Singapore, then there was a jarring cut to a laddish ad for a ...3 days ago
- The 80s dream of ‘teleworking’ is today’s reality – and problem
Opinion: Requiring public servants to return to their offices is an attempt to revitalise dying inner cities The post The 80s dream of ‘teleworking’ is today’s reality – and problem appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 days ago - Mission compostable
Opinion: The July 2023 ban of many single-use plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand has led to the boom of the compostable products market, as the more ‘eco-friendly’ alternative to plastic packaging. Many of us assume, or at least hope, that ‘compostable’ coffee cups, bags, food trays and so on will ...3 days ago
- Where is she now? Rebecca Scown
Standing on the lawn of Buckingham Palace while attending one of the annual garden parties hosted by the Royal Family, Rebecca Scown is a world away from growing up on a Taranaki dairy farm and spending countless cold, foggy mornings on Lake Karapiro.Following her retirement from rowing, the double-Olympic medallist ...3 days ago
- All eyes on UN as Peters brushes off Seymour concern
With the world ‘in a whirlwind’ according to the UN’s head, the organisation is under the microscope The post All eyes on UN as Peters brushes off Seymour concern appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 days ago
- Why the Christchurch terrorist asked for special status at inquest
The potential for the terrorist’s misuse of the inquest process is a ‘real and serious concern’, the deputy chief coroner says The post Why the Christchurch terrorist asked for special status at inquest appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 days ago
- The lobbyists, the minister, and the mystery document
The heat has been on Associate Health Minister Casey Costello, virtually since the New Zealand First list MP took up the job at the end of last year.She met a fiery reception from angry doctors at a Health Coalition Aotearoa conference this week, and the Chief Ombudsman has turned up ...3 days ago
- Govt chooses anecdotes over data to justify work from home stance
Analysis: A crackdown on work from home arrangements has only some basis in data The post Govt chooses anecdotes over data to justify work from home stance appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 days ago
- Paddy, positively
Paddy Gower’s book is out, and he is looking for publicity. Gower is a great self-publicist, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. He just has a knack of talking about himself without appearing to be egotistical. The media release that went out last week announcing a nationwide tour ...3 days ago
- ‘Hot air’ accounting could meet NZ’s Paris climate target
Special report: It would be convenient for Govt to unexpectedly find a massive carbon sink in old trees The post ‘Hot air’ accounting could meet NZ’s Paris climate target appeared first on Newsroom. ...3 days ago
- How gestational diabetes can affect mental health
Analysis: Gestational diabetes, or diabetes during pregnancy, is a growing problem in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world. Women with gestational diabetes are at heightened risk of mental health problems, and should be considered for routine mental health screening.Overall, it’s estimated one in 16 New Zealand women will experience ...3 days ago
- Keith Rankin Analysis – Ancient Ancestry, Israel and Palestine
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. Esteemed Israeli intellectual Shlomo Sand published The Invention of the Jewish People in 2008 with a new edition in 2020. He sees the popular concept ...4 days ago
- Tougher measures to improve public transport safety announced
Offences against public transport workers are to be considered an aggravating factor in sentencing in a bid to curb violence. ...4 days ago
- Celebrity Treasure Island power rankings: Tears on my pillow, jet planes in my heart
Tara Ward power ranks week three of Celebrity Treasure Island. Welcome back to paradise, and has there ever been a week like it? Our celebrities battled some of the worst conditions ever seen on CTI, enduring the freezing cold, pouring rain and a meat pack prize that nobody ended up ...4 days ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: Richard Holden says no interest rate fall likely for 12 months
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra For many Australians, the COVID-19 pandemic has become a fading memory as the world has moved away from lockdowns and masks. However, its lasting impacts, including persistent inflation, remain. Academic economists Steven Hamilton and Richard ...4 days ago
- Kāinga Ora doing what government asked, Bishop says
The Minister of Housing says he made the government's priorities clear. ...4 days ago
- ‘Arcane but really important’: Parliament Bill gets special committee
After years of suggestions for constitutional reform, the Parliament Bill has been introduced. ...4 days ago
- Māori Aerospace Group weren’t consulted on government’s new Space Strategy
The Māori Working Group on Aerospace say they haven't been consulted at all on the government's new strategy for space and advanced aviation. ...4 days ago
- Luxon takes crack at ANZ boss Antonia Wright over capital gains tax support
Antonia Watson said she believed taxing investment properties at the point of sale was fair. ...4 days ago
- Luxon takes crack at ANZ boss Antonia Watson over capital gains tax support
Antonia Watson said she believed taxing investment properties at the point of sale was fair. ...4 days ago
- Swing and a miss? Why golf in Australia is struggling to attract women and girls
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle O’Shea, Senior Lecturer, School of Business, Western Sydney University kasakphoto/Shutterstock Prestigious Victorian golf club 13th Beach Golf Links, famed for award-winning courses and hosting the Victorian Open, has found itself in the middle of a controversy. In a ...4 days ago
- At 2.7%, Australian inflation is back within the RBA zone. Here’s why that matters
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra Jeremy Ng/Shutterstock A closely watched measure of Australian inflation dived in the month of August, plunging from 3.5% in July to just 2.7%. The dip below 3% ...4 days ago
- A roll call of all the people championing a capital gains tax
The boss of NZ’s biggest bank is not the only supporter of a broad CGT. An unlikely advocate for a capital gains tax has emerged in the form of the CEO of New Zealand’s biggest mortgage provider. As Labour readies its singed fingers to again consider this policy hot ...4 days ago
- What are ‘rent tech’ platforms? Action on reining in these exploitative tools is long overdue
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda Przhedetsky, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney Bernard Hermant/Unsplash This week the New South Wales government announced it would introduce legislation that ensures renters are offered convenient, fee-free options to pay their rent. The announcement is ...4 days ago
- Why is the Reserve Bank independent from government, and why does it matter?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Henry Maher, Lecturer in Politics, Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney Negotiations over reforms to the Reserve Bank of Australia this week took an unprecedented turn when the Greens demanded the government use its reserve powers to immediately cut ...4 days ago
- Both Greenpeace and seafood industry welcome change to fisheries camera rules
The government has also delayed the remainder of the rollout by three months. ...4 days ago
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