As Rob pointed out in his recent “A big gap to close” post, Labour is continuing to loose support with a further 3% lost to alternative parties and now sits on only 28% support, while the left as a whole sits 15% behind in the polls.
What do people think Labour and the left have to do to regain traction and support from the voters?
The moment Goff declared the ETS policy, Key was rushed out with the lie that it would effect milk prices for shoppers. Only later in the day was the lie exposed.
I would start declaring every policy will increase milk prices until everyone got the joke
that is our PM. That we won’t be scared into voting National.
Bringing the ETS forward may not affect international milk prices, but it could affect us locally like the Fonterra price freeze, and it will certainly affect farm profits, and it gives our farmers an unfair disadvantage.
Talking of dairy I just heard some bullshit from Goff on NatRad. He said something like: “The rise in GST has pushed prices far higher than wages”.
Significant price rises, like petrol and dairy products, have been due to international influences. The GST rise was offset by tax and benefit changes. If Goff understands that dairy prices are set on the international market then he must understand he is wrong about GST, so it is blatant bullshit – unless he’s parroting and doesn’t undeerstand?
Significant price rises, like petrol and dairy products, have been due to international influences. The GST rise was offset by tax and benefit changes
Free market failure.
Time for the Government to intervene.
and it gives our farmers an unfair disadvantage.
So you want hard working NZ families to pay higher milk prices to make it OK for farmers? You know, at the same time that Fonterra is reporting record milk payouts?
The price may be set internationally, but GST is levied locally. The rise went on top of the then current price, Pete, therefore Goff is correct to say that GST has affected the price more than wage rises which have been internalised in the ‘international’ price.
So the bullshit/failure to understand is all you, bud.
1. Focus on the economy
2. Announce their policies
3. Provide counters to/have answers for National’s BS
4. Avoid scandals on their team, and in-fighting between parties on the left
About tell the story as it is, don’t embelish it and then you look stupid “..they would have pulled back on their almost $25billion in tax cuts, which is responsible for roughly $130 million a week worth of our borrowing…”.
And why are well selling our economy out ? Just to look good at the RWC, and I still after a nights sleep don’t get it with higher unemployment are we allowing govt policies to have tourists take the jobs that will be available over this period. And no comment on the Labour site.
Who do these politicians represent??? Labour doesn’t want asets to be sold, but it appears it is ok to sell our jobs !!!. These are the day to day issues that effect people. Jobs, jobs, jobs and we hear nothing http://www.worldcup2011newzealand.com/2011/05/tax-breaks-for-rugby-bodies/ http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/outrage-over-visa-extensions-rugby-world-cup-4186681
The Left need to stop being so utterly 19th century about everything. Yes, we know, they didn’t like the Industrial Revolution. Big deal, move on.
Nice parody site you have going here. If Labour ever get into power I imagine they’ll create a Ministry of E-ffairs to shut down such good-hearted hi-jinks.
Tell me Charlie Parker, what is 19th century about a green revolution? Clean tech is the cutting edge of development. It is a big deal with countries like Germany embracing the change instead of being stuck in the 19th century where coal is king. They have low amounts of wind and sun and not much space to implement renewables, but they have and this shows that any country in the world can.
The only people who are stuck in the 19th century are the right wing hacks who have investments in oil and coal and therefore don’t want a renewable source of energy. They would rather destroy the world for a few bucks in the back pocket.
Nationals outdated thinking and backwards policies mean New Zealand will not be on the crest of the wave surfing into a brighter future. A lack of R&D means that the only large implementation of new renewable infrastructure New Zealand will have is when we buy it from another country. By then the 19th century right wing environmentally ignorant fuckwits might have destroyed us.
A lack of R&D means that the only large implementation of new renewable infrastructure New Zealand will have is when we buy it from another country. By then the 19th century right wing environmentally ignorant fuckwits might have destroyed us.
No “might” about it. The last three decades of unsustainable right-wing policies has almost done so already.
Yeah, the left really hated how the industrial revolution lifted the living conditions of millions of people across the globe. The left wish everyone was consigned to the poor house and child labour. That’s why they have so many policies about abolishing the minimum wage and getting rid of social welfare.
Do you actually stop to think about what you’re writing? It doesn’t look like it.
The industrial revolution effectively formalised the power of capital over labour. It took decades before labour laws and protections caught up with the changes wrought by the industrial revolution.
Frankly, it would have been a far better change for the people if it had been the workers who had owned the new factories and the new machines. Then they might have been against things like sending child labour into coal mines etc.
Stuff report on setting up of system to sell SOEs. This doesn’t sound like restricting to selling only to Kiwi Mums and Dads?
“The Government favours an initial public offering approach, keeping at least 51 percent of each business and wants to give local investors priority over foreigners. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/5052188/Treasury-kicks-off-asset-sales-process
Is this the same treasury that gave such compelling advice to the idiots running this country ? and invented 170,000 jobs. Now what ? they are going to what come up with an even more fantastic document to encourage said idiots to sell more than the 49%.
Oh great a bumbling idiot in charge of the government, and Treasury looks like they are all on drugs.
The maori party are getting strong, smart advice and their latest campaign has legs because they are reiterating their key message of incremental progress. Unlike others i see no problems with multiple choices for Māori and i also see the debate as positive for empowerment of Māori so i say go hard maori party, the harder the better.
Any one notice the latest bit of corporatist lunacy. One SOE power company being forced to pay millions to buy power stations from another SOE power company. As if that was not crazy enough, the buyer has been forced to borrow the money at commercial rates.
Treasury is starting the asset sales process, KiwiSaver changes start from July… how is that seeking a fresh mandate before National start breaking all their 2008 promises?
A short-list is expected to be prepared by June 10, with the contract expected to begin on June 20.
The initial term will end on November 26, the day of the election, with an extension dependent on whether the elected Government proceeds with the asset sale programme.
So it’s preliminaries, not actually selling anything.
KiwiSaver changes start from July…
In theory perhaps, but nothing actually happens until July next year. If a different government like the Greens takes over in November they could change what is paid out in plenty of time.
“In theory perhaps, but nothing actually happens until July next year. If a different government like the Greens takes over in November they could change what is paid out in plenty of time.”
I’m sure the accounting changes have happened already.
Call me superficial or that I display ageism traits, yet I hope that is not THE reason not to sell our power coys, retiress in skimpy outfits. If it is I may have to review my oponion. 😉
Yeah, I’m not sure either.
It runs really slow. And I chose the apple. After all, apples are good for you, and a little bit of sin is good for you too, in moderation.
Its a perfect example of everything that is wrong with National’s approach. The people of Christchurch are being shut out of decisions about their own city, their own future, by back-room deals cooked up by a micromanaging dictator. They deserve better.
So, the dictatorial, non-consulting nature of CERA shows it’s teeth.
How is it that the US government could get two of the tallest buildings in the world demolished, top down and falling within their own footprints in less than a couple of weeks, yet ten years later the NZ government can’t get a building a quarter the size demolished in a year? Have they not seen travellerev’s youtube links?
Most likely that was not a mistake. Hard to mistakenly control demolition a large building since it takes months of planning and preparation, checking and rechecking.
Labour will win the election if they 1/ stop the politics of envy and 2/ forget socialism 101 – robbing from the rich for ‘redistribution’ 3/ promote hard work and success – even if ones comes from a background of adversity.
A prime example of how not to argue with science. The research says that the pesticides used on GM food crops in North America + a modified form of the bt toxin Cry1Ab. Where as Physicians and Scientists for Global Responsibility New Zealand*, without taking into account that fact that the pesticides have been in use since the 1970’s[1], as have bt bacteria sprays, chock full of Cry-toxins since the 1930’s[2]. Observed toxicities of both are considered low to humans compared to other toxins, due to the specificity of the mechanisms of toxicity for them. Plus it doesn’t call for ban, merely more lots more research.
What glyphosphates do is block shikimate synthesis, which plants require in order to biosynthesise aromatic side chain amino acids, various aromatic chemicals that plants use for protection, and lignin which glues plant cells together. Animals have generally lost the ability to synthesise shikimate and kinked compounds as they generally acquire what they need from their food. However, biology is messy, and thus glyphosphates can interact with other enzymes, and in case of being used near freshwater, need to have the right formulation to prevent it becoming a problem for aquatic animal life. However, I can’t provide a better breakdown on dosage effects due to not being at uni any more, as there are hints of impacts of pregnant rats, but the abstract has no info on dosage given.
In this particular case, I’m sceptical given what I know about developmental biology that very low levels of glyphosphate will have major impacts on foetal development, compared to the vast array of other common chemicals we already know to disrupt endocrine signalling or have other know toxic effects on development. Like methyl mercury from salt water fish, like tuna, or various other pesticides we haven’t outlawed despite known issues.
As for Cry toxins, they rely on binding to specific cell surface receptors so they can create a large pore in the cell membrane. Which without, unless used at rather insane dosages, they have very very low toxicity to non target species, although there are issues with other insects such as bees and evolution of resistance in target pest species. The source bacteria as mentioned before was and still is used as a spray, and if memory serves me right is considered okay to use for organic crops. The modifications made to the various Cry toxins used in GE plants are missing a protein chain that’s cleaved off by insect gut proteases to activate the toxin, to make them faster acting. Personally, this was probably not the brightest of ideas as it remove a specificity filter, but to date evidence has been sketchy on toxicity in humans at low levels. Thus I’d bet that the amounts found are unlikely to be an issue, especially as the mean of action by cry toxins doesn’t interfere with developmental signals, which is what endocrine disruptor’s and thalidomide do.
If anything, the glyphosphates are a possible issue, but as I said earlier, prior hasn’t produced any signals of problems on that front. It definitely is worth researching, because as the authors state there’s a dearth of research into this. But is it worth banning GE crops over? Hardly.
Thus I sort of consider Physicians and Scientists for Global Responsibility New Zealand claims to be a bit dodgy on this, more knee-jerk than anything based on teh literature.
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*hmmmn, not sure what to make of this group, especially given the lack of any major genetics researchers in their trusties list, particularly as one of my former lecturers is very involved in dealing with possible GMO issues. Suggests group is “amateur” and google turns up links to an NZ anti-fluoridation group, spouting the usual science-fail/toxicology 101-fail claims about the horrors low levels of fluoride in water supplies will cause. Also, they refer to “toxic chemical based agriculture” and want organic farming everywhere. Make of that what you will, especially if you know thy basic organic/biochem (we’re made of chemicals) and issues with mass production of organic food.
Labour is demanding answers after a multi-million dollar Government contract was awarded without any competition.
Oh dear, it seems that Nact have been going round giving out non-tended government funds – again.
The chief executive of Parents Inc is Bruce Pilbrow who was appointed by Bennett to the Families Commission two years ago
More of our money for their mates? At the very least it looks like a company getting the job because they knew what the specs would be because of the CEO working for the government. In fact, reading that article, it seems the CEO managed to sell the product to the minister directly.
Parents Inc is a Christian based programme, and Pilbrow was one of her Christian fundamentalist appointees to the Families Commission. Why is government money going to this programme without a tender process? I think the Auditor-General should investigate as usually anything over about $20,000 has to go out on the GETS tender system. 1. Why did it go without tender? 2. Why this company (which has little evidence-base for effectiveness)?
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said that was the product the Government was after.
”It’s really the tool box that we are buying and no one else has it, so if we put it out for tender someone else would have to create something that is already there,” she told TVNZ.
Well, that’s the excuse but really they should have determined what they wanted to achieve and then put it out to tender and not give the sale straight to the salesman who also happened to be a Paula Bennett appointee.
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
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April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
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The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
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Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
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Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
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The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
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Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
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Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
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This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
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Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
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Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
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Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
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Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
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 ...
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 ...
By Eleisha Foon, RNZ Pacific senior journalist A Pacific regionalism academic has called out New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS and says the security deal “raises serious questions for the Pacific region”. Auckland University of Technology academic Dr Marco de Jong ...
How worried should we be about the cloud? This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. I currently have a few thousand unread emails languishing in my inbox, mostly old marketing newsletters and piles of unread science journal press releases. I have a similar number ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nuurrianti Jalli, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies College of Arts and Sciences Department of Languages, Literature, and Communication Studies, Northern State University Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Southeast Asian governments not only have to deal with the virus but also with the false ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Murakami Wood, Professor of Critical Surveillance and Securities Studies, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa The skyline of Riyadh, the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia.(Shutterstock) There is a long history of planned city building by both governments ...
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today at 12:45pm May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment of ...
The Boil Up’s Lucinda Bennett considers the oyster – from freshness to pearls to the joy of shucking your own. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. In Carmen Maria Machado’s short story ‘Eight Bites’, a woman begins her last supper before bariatric surgery with “a cavalcade ...
Asia Pacific Report A group of 65 Auckland University academics have written an open letter to vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater criticising the institution’s stance over students protesting in solidarity with Palestine. They have called on her administration to “support” the students who were denied permission to establish an “overnight encampment” by ...
The Student Volunteer Army is on the march, generating approximately 1.6 million hours of volunteering from roughly 35,000 secondary school students in just five years. For Rebekah Brown, the pathway to volunteering started with her singing coach. With a passion for the arts, the suggestion to volunteer at Acting Antics, ...
Keeping up with online communication can be exhausting, so Fran Barclay enlisted the help of Meta’s new ‘intelligent assistant’ to respond to all her messages. Could her mates tell the difference? For centuries, technology has ruled the ways in which we communicate. From the dawn of written language, to the ...
Jamie Arbuckle, a councillor who has become an member of parliament, says he has settled into having two roles so comfortably he's going to keep both pay cheques. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luis Gómez Romero, Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory, University of Wollongong Fifty years ago, Australian feminist Anne Summers denounced “the ideology of sexism” governing over so many women’s lives. Unfortunately, sexism is as lethal today as it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jose Antonio Lara-Hernandez, Senior Researcher in Architecture, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images The COVID-19 pandemic and the hybrid work patterns it fostered have changed the way we think about office space, and central business districts in general. While fears ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dale Boccabella, Associate Professor of Taxation Law, UNSW Sydney There’s a good reason your local volunteer-run netball club doesn’t pay tax. In Australia, various nonprofit organisations are exempt from paying income tax, including those that do charitable work, such as churches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Deller, Casual Academic, Creative Writing and English Literature, Flinders University NetflixComedy is opening up spaces for silences to be broken and trauma stories to be told. In 2018, Hannah Gadsby started a revolution with Nanette, asking audiences to rethink ...
The workplace can be a minefield of bad comms and passive aggression. Kinksters can help you navigate it. A friend and colleague recently gave me a compliment I loved. They told me I’d always been good at emotional communication and making people feel comfortable. “But I feel like it’s really ...
Even if some students are now just texting on their laptops. Stewart Sowman-Lund writes in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Councils from Horowhenua, Kāpiti, Wairarapa, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington City will meet this Friday to work together on a plan for a Greater Wellington region water deal. ...
Renowned musician, advocate, and proud born and raised daughter of Tauranga, Ria Hall, is announcing her candidacy for Mayor of Tauranga and Pāpāmoa Ward for the upcoming election on July 20th. ...
The new Aotearoa histories curriculum is rich with potential. There’s still work to be done, but the education minister’s criticisms about ‘balance’ miss the mark, argues primary school teacher Jessie Moss. In 2015, Ōtorohanga College students presented to parliament a petition signed by more than 10,000 people calling for a ...
For too long our so-called national bird has maintained its stranglehold on the economy of regional New Zealand. Thanks to the fast track legislation, we will have our revenge. Theories abound on what ails New Zealand’s economy. National leader Chris Luxon has posited that we’re negative, wet, whiny, and inward-looking; ...
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For the past 12 years, Georgia-Rose Brown has balanced on the brink of making an Olympic Games – but always landed gracefully on the wrong side. Reaching the Olympics is a dream the gymnast has harboured since she was a six-year-old; a dream that would dwindle every four years, yet ...
Late one afternoon in March 1860 a man in a thin green velveteen jacket and a wide-awake hat arrived on foot at a sheep station named Glenmark, about 65 kilometres north of Christchurch. The man was in his mid-fifties but he looked older. Several people who met him that day ...
If building one of Auckland’s possible waterfront stadiums was funded privately, it would need to hold a sold-out Ed Sherran concert every weekday for 25 years. That’s Rob Hamlin’s finding – he’s a senior marketing lecturer at the University of Otago. “It’s not going to happen; forget about it,” he ...
Comment: The debate over the future relationship between news and social media is bringing us closer to a long-overdue reckoning. Social media isn’t trying to kill journalism, because social media has never really cared about journalism. Social media is resolutely in the attention business. News propels some attention — perhaps ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A new Commonwealth Prac Payment will provide students with $319.50 a week when they are on clinical and professional placements. The payment will be means tested and start from July 1 next year, which ...
Asia Pacific Report About 500 people honoured Palestinian journalists in the heart of the New Zealand city of Auckland today for their brave coverage of Israel’s War on Gaza, now in its seventh month with almost 35,000 people killed, mostly women and children. Marking the annual May 3 World Press ...
The Government Communications Security Bureau denies hosting a foreign spying capability flagged by the watchdog, differentiating it from the system recently criticised. ...
RNZ News A group of academic staff at New Zealand’s largest university have expressed concern at the administration’s move to block a protest encampment that was planned to take place on campus calling for support for the rights of Palestinians. This week, the University of Auckland warned that while it ...
Genterwocky After a hard days marching, Sir Doocey calls in at the Village Tavern For a pint of ale and a pork pie. The grim villagers stare at him. “Do not be travelling on the forest road,” warns a crusty old beak. “And why is that, antique peasant?” Grins Sir ...
Political conferences after a party returns to power are usually a chance for some healthy, even unhealthy backslapping. Yet National Party president Sylvia Wood’s address to its mainland representatives on Saturday hardly contained the unalloyed delight that one might have expected following National’s escape from the wilderness of opposition. Yes, ...
Comment: Almost half the world is voting in national elections this year and artificial intelligence is the elephant in the room. There are genuine fears AI-generated or AI-edited deepfakes will potentially manipulate election outcomes not just in the US and UK, but critically in countries such as India. For that ...
Ahead of the reality franchise’s return to New Zealand, allow us to introduce the eight brides and grooms. Chuck on a veil and tie back your man bun, because it’s time to say “I do” to a new season of Married at First Sight NZ. The reality TV “social experiment” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy, Australian National University Every year on June 1, student debt in Australia is indexed to inflation. In 2023, high inflation pushed the indexation rate to 7.1%, the highest since 1990. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Changes in the May 14 budget will cut the student debt of more than three million people, wiping more than $3 billion from what people owe. The government will cap the HELP indexation rate ...
Asia Pacific Report The prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appealed for an end to what it calls intimidation of its staff, saying such threats could constitute an offence against the “administration of justice” by the world’s permanent war crimes court. The Hague-based office of ICC Prosecutor ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A women’s union in New Caledonia has staged a sit-in protest this week to support senior Kanak indigenous journalist Thérèse Waia, who works for public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la Première, after a smear attack by critics. The peaceful demonstration was held on ...
New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring overseas recalls of Indian packaged spice products manufactured by MDH and Everest due to concerns over a cancer-causing pesticide. ...
By Stephen Wright and Stefan Armbruster of BenarNews Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index has jumped into the top tier of countries with free or mostly free media after its government last year repealed a draconian law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs. Fiji’s improvement ...
We might be in Invercargill but all anyone can talk about is Gore. Specifically, Salford Street. That’s where three-year-old Lachlan Jones lived, south of the centre of town, between the A&P Showgrounds and the Mataura River. Roughly 1.2 km away from the single level home he lived in with his ...
MONDAY I lined up the latest round of civil servants from city hall against the wall, and signalled for the firing squad to drop their rifles. I stepped up onto a wooden crate to look at the office workers in the eye. But that didn’t feel right, so I found ...
Keen hiker and second-year MSc student Liam Hewson wears two hats when he’s in the great outdoors. “The scientist in me appreciates nature and goes, ‘Oh, there’s that thing and there’s another thing,’ but then the tramper and the outdoorsy person in me thinks, ‘Cool bush.’” Born and bred in ...
After a long and illustrious career as a goal kicker, Dan Carter’s favourite way to unwind is… kicking goals. Why can’t he get enough of it? And what it’s like to watch him do it for an hour straight? A semicircle of people wielding cameras and phones has formed in ...
Dame Susan Devoy takes us through her life in television, including late night ER debriefs, her proudest CTI moment and the show she watches in secret. Quite aside from her four world champion squash titles, Dame Susan Devoy will likely go down in history as one of the best Celebrity ...
Hera Lindsay Bird reveals the best places in Ōtepoti to score more for your apocalypse-prep book hoard.Sometimes I get the feeling I’ve been killed in a car crash, and this second half of my life is just the brain unspooling itself, like one of those episodes of a hospital ...
ThreeNow’s new murder mystery series takes us on a dark, damp journey into the Australian wilderness.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. High Country is ThreeNow’s new Australian eight-part crime drama, set in a remote part of the Victorian highlands. It tells ...
Introducing a new way to read The Spinoff every weekend. After nearly 10 years of being an online magazine, we’re finally embracing the weekend liftout. Despite our best efforts to convince you otherwise, writers and editors at The Spinoff don’t work weekend. It is through the sheer power of technology ...
Tip one: let yourself be nurtured by this big old man. Tip two: don’t ask him to adopt you. So, you’ve arrived at your first session with a new therapist. He tells you to make yourself comfortable and you opt for the tweed armchair, hoping it makes you look like ...
I didn’t know books could open you back up; that there were books that stayed with you, where reading was like a chemical event. I knew nothing.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.Not too long ago, I was listening to the American ...
Former Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has already started training for the Enhanced games, though says he won’t start taking performance enhancing substances until about nine months out from the competition. The Australian world champion was the first athlete to be announced by Enhanced, but he says the organisation has had ...
Everyone thinks he’s dead. Every day they expect his body to be washed up along the coast. Most likely up Karitane way, the way the tide’s running. But nobody’ll be too surprised if his body’s never found. Even in death he wouldn’t have wished for such attention. He would have ...
Council members voted 21 to 4 in favour of Ahluwalia returning to the Laucala campus following a much-awaited meeting in Vanuatu this week. It comes as USP and its two unions — the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and the Administration and Support Staff Union ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Henry, Professor & Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University Shutterstock Following an emergency meeting of the National Cabinet this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a raft of measures to tackle the problem ...
Analysis - A poll showing the opposition is more popular than the government raises questions, politicians go through their 'trial by pay rise' and a Green MP loses her cool in the debating chamber. ...
The entire stretch of Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast will be subject to a joint customary marine title for two hapū, and extending up to four miles out to sea. A High Court judge has found the two groups, who during the case settled a dispute over boundaries for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hall, Lecturer, Media & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University A longstanding feud between TikTok and Universal Music Group seems to have finally reached an end, with both parties signing a deal that will see Universal-backed music returned to the social media ...
As Rob pointed out in his recent “A big gap to close” post, Labour is continuing to loose support with a further 3% lost to alternative parties and now sits on only 28% support, while the left as a whole sits 15% behind in the polls.
What do people think Labour and the left have to do to regain traction and support from the voters?
Remove the deadwood MPs and bring up/in new talent, at the moment Labour look old, tired and bereft of ideas
Stop looking for dirt on John Key (or at least keep it quiet) because its just not there and makes Labour look sordid
Try listening to what D O’Connor had to say but add in the teaching and university professions
Most importantly Labour must start acting like a team and stop back-stabbing each other
None so blind as those who will not see…
The moment Goff declared the ETS policy, Key was rushed out with the lie that it would effect milk prices for shoppers. Only later in the day was the lie exposed.
I would start declaring every policy will increase milk prices until everyone got the joke
that is our PM. That we won’t be scared into voting National.
Talking of fibs, did Goff talk to Ferrier or not?
Labour is going to bring ETS in two years earlier. If Key is such a dick he
thinks ETS will raise milk prices then he deserves the ripping.
Bringing the ETS forward may not affect international milk prices, but it could affect us locally like the Fonterra price freeze, and it will certainly affect farm profits, and it gives our farmers an unfair disadvantage.
Talking of dairy I just heard some bullshit from Goff on NatRad. He said something like: “The rise in GST has pushed prices far higher than wages”.
Significant price rises, like petrol and dairy products, have been due to international influences. The GST rise was offset by tax and benefit changes. If Goff understands that dairy prices are set on the international market then he must understand he is wrong about GST, so it is blatant bullshit – unless he’s parroting and doesn’t undeerstand?
Free market failure.
Time for the Government to intervene.
So you want hard working NZ families to pay higher milk prices to make it OK for farmers? You know, at the same time that Fonterra is reporting record milk payouts?
I wonder which side you are working for.
I thought that was obvious CV – He’s working for his masters’ side.
The price may be set internationally, but GST is levied locally. The rise went on top of the then current price, Pete, therefore Goff is correct to say that GST has affected the price more than wage rises which have been internalised in the ‘international’ price.
So the bullshit/failure to understand is all you, bud.
Er, except – not really! (That is to say, not noticeably)
There is a post on Red Alert where Ferrier tells John Campbell exactly how milk prices are set.
http://blog.labour.org.nz/index.php/2011/05/24/who-knows-better-fonterra-or-key-on-setting-dairy-prices/
It was a morning post but what I should have said was: until you have actual proof because otherwise it makes Labour look cheap
1. Focus on the economy
2. Announce their policies
3. Provide counters to/have answers for National’s BS
4. Avoid scandals on their team, and in-fighting between parties on the left
About tell the story as it is, don’t embelish it and then you look stupid “..they would have pulled back on their almost $25billion in tax cuts, which is responsible for roughly $130 million a week worth of our borrowing…”.
And why are well selling our economy out ? Just to look good at the RWC, and I still after a nights sleep don’t get it with higher unemployment are we allowing govt policies to have tourists take the jobs that will be available over this period. And no comment on the Labour site.
Who do these politicians represent??? Labour doesn’t want asets to be sold, but it appears it is ok to sell our jobs !!!. These are the day to day issues that effect people. Jobs, jobs, jobs and we hear nothing
http://www.worldcup2011newzealand.com/2011/05/tax-breaks-for-rugby-bodies/
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/outrage-over-visa-extensions-rugby-world-cup-4186681
The Left need to stop being so utterly 19th century about everything. Yes, we know, they didn’t like the Industrial Revolution. Big deal, move on.
Nice parody site you have going here. If Labour ever get into power I imagine they’ll create a Ministry of E-ffairs to shut down such good-hearted hi-jinks.
Tell me Charlie Parker, what is 19th century about a green revolution? Clean tech is the cutting edge of development. It is a big deal with countries like Germany embracing the change instead of being stuck in the 19th century where coal is king. They have low amounts of wind and sun and not much space to implement renewables, but they have and this shows that any country in the world can.
The only people who are stuck in the 19th century are the right wing hacks who have investments in oil and coal and therefore don’t want a renewable source of energy. They would rather destroy the world for a few bucks in the back pocket.
Nationals outdated thinking and backwards policies mean New Zealand will not be on the crest of the wave surfing into a brighter future. A lack of R&D means that the only large implementation of new renewable infrastructure New Zealand will have is when we buy it from another country. By then the 19th century right wing environmentally ignorant fuckwits might have destroyed us.
No “might” about it. The last three decades of unsustainable right-wing policies has almost done so already.
Yeah, the left really hated how the industrial revolution lifted the living conditions of millions of people across the globe. The left wish everyone was consigned to the poor house and child labour. That’s why they have so many policies about abolishing the minimum wage and getting rid of social welfare.
Do you actually stop to think about what you’re writing? It doesn’t look like it.
The industrial revolution effectively formalised the power of capital over labour. It took decades before labour laws and protections caught up with the changes wrought by the industrial revolution.
Frankly, it would have been a far better change for the people if it had been the workers who had owned the new factories and the new machines. Then they might have been against things like sending child labour into coal mines etc.
Redbaiting season at Kiwiblog?
http://readingthemaps.blogspot.com/2011/05/chatting-at-hate-show.html
Full marks for forebearance Scott. Pearls before swine, but such beautiful pearls, such fascinating swine….first-class entertainment.
Well done Scott. Hugely enjoyable interchanges.
Stuff report on setting up of system to sell SOEs. This doesn’t sound like restricting to selling only to Kiwi Mums and Dads?
“The Government favours an initial public offering approach, keeping at least 51 percent of each business and wants to give local investors priority over foreigners.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/5052188/Treasury-kicks-off-asset-sales-process
Is this the same treasury that gave such compelling advice to the idiots running this country ? and invented 170,000 jobs. Now what ? they are going to what come up with an even more fantastic document to encourage said idiots to sell more than the 49%.
Oh great a bumbling idiot in charge of the government, and Treasury looks like they are all on drugs.
The maori party are getting strong, smart advice and their latest campaign has legs because they are reiterating their key message of incremental progress. Unlike others i see no problems with multiple choices for Māori and i also see the debate as positive for empowerment of Māori so i say go hard maori party, the harder the better.
http://mars2earth.blogspot.com/2011/05/harder-better.html
Dude I really really think that Mp should run with this campaign NB I am one who thinks that they should lose every seat they hold currently 🙂
Any one notice the latest bit of corporatist lunacy. One SOE power company being forced to pay millions to buy power stations from another SOE power company. As if that was not crazy enough, the buyer has been forced to borrow the money at commercial rates.
Yep, post up on Red Alert.
Ta. Didn’t see anything in the media though.
Treasury is starting the asset sales process, KiwiSaver changes start from July… how is that seeking a fresh mandate before National start breaking all their 2008 promises?
Treasury is starting the asset sales process…
So it’s preliminaries, not actually selling anything.
KiwiSaver changes start from July…
In theory perhaps, but nothing actually happens until July next year. If a different government like the Greens takes over in November they could change what is paid out in plenty of time.
“In theory perhaps, but nothing actually happens until July next year. If a different government like the Greens takes over in November they could change what is paid out in plenty of time.”
I’m sure the accounting changes have happened already.
Nah, not actually selling anything.
And I’m not actually off to the pub.
Then where are you going?
Oh, I’m just walking out to the car.
So you can drive to the pub, right?
Well yeah, but I’m not actually “going to the pub” right now, I’m just “walking to the car”.
So you might decide to drive somewhere else?
No, I’ll definitely be going to the pub. But right now I’m just walking to the car.
I don’t think you should be driving to the pub.
I’m not. I’m just walking to the car.
etc
etc
etc
And by the same logic, Customs should not stop the import of bulk pseudoephedrine. After all the recipient may just have an enormous headache.
What the …
Call me superficial or that I display ageism traits, yet I hope that is not THE reason not to sell our power coys, retiress in skimpy outfits. If it is I may have to review my oponion. 😉
Kooky!
I’m loving the Chuck Norris bit. And the Trev vs Tau…
In an age of choosing sides I’m not sure what the choices are! Very odd. Is it officially Labour made or…
I thought it was a piss-take (a poor taste one at that) at first but apparently it’s actually an official Labour site.
Yeah, I’m not sure either.
It runs really slow. And I chose the apple. After all, apples are good for you, and a little bit of sin is good for you too, in moderation.
Brownlee puts his foot down
So, the dictatorial, non-consulting nature of CERA shows it’s teeth.
How is it that the US government could get two of the tallest buildings in the world demolished, top down and falling within their own footprints in less than a couple of weeks, yet ten years later the NZ government can’t get a building a quarter the size demolished in a year? Have they not seen travellerev’s youtube links?
Except the US government also managed to get tower 7 taken out, by mistake.
I think we’re trying to avoid that sort of scenario here.
Most likely that was not a mistake. Hard to mistakenly control demolition a large building since it takes months of planning and preparation, checking and rechecking.
Labour will win the election if they 1/ stop the politics of envy and 2/ forget socialism 101 – robbing from the rich for ‘redistribution’ 3/ promote hard work and success – even if ones comes from a background of adversity.
It’s not “robbing from the rich” as they didn’t produce the wealth – merely appropriated it.
http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/research-prompts-calls-ge-food-ban-4188129
A prime example of how not to argue with science. The research says that the pesticides used on GM food crops in North America + a modified form of the bt toxin Cry1Ab. Where as Physicians and Scientists for Global Responsibility New Zealand*, without taking into account that fact that the pesticides have been in use since the 1970’s[1], as have bt bacteria sprays, chock full of Cry-toxins since the 1930’s[2]. Observed toxicities of both are considered low to humans compared to other toxins, due to the specificity of the mechanisms of toxicity for them. Plus it doesn’t call for ban, merely more lots more research.
What glyphosphates do is block shikimate synthesis, which plants require in order to biosynthesise aromatic side chain amino acids, various aromatic chemicals that plants use for protection, and lignin which glues plant cells together. Animals have generally lost the ability to synthesise shikimate and kinked compounds as they generally acquire what they need from their food. However, biology is messy, and thus glyphosphates can interact with other enzymes, and in case of being used near freshwater, need to have the right formulation to prevent it becoming a problem for aquatic animal life. However, I can’t provide a better breakdown on dosage effects due to not being at uni any more, as there are hints of impacts of pregnant rats, but the abstract has no info on dosage given.
In this particular case, I’m sceptical given what I know about developmental biology that very low levels of glyphosphate will have major impacts on foetal development, compared to the vast array of other common chemicals we already know to disrupt endocrine signalling or have other know toxic effects on development. Like methyl mercury from salt water fish, like tuna, or various other pesticides we haven’t outlawed despite known issues.
As for Cry toxins, they rely on binding to specific cell surface receptors so they can create a large pore in the cell membrane. Which without, unless used at rather insane dosages, they have very very low toxicity to non target species, although there are issues with other insects such as bees and evolution of resistance in target pest species. The source bacteria as mentioned before was and still is used as a spray, and if memory serves me right is considered okay to use for organic crops. The modifications made to the various Cry toxins used in GE plants are missing a protein chain that’s cleaved off by insect gut proteases to activate the toxin, to make them faster acting. Personally, this was probably not the brightest of ideas as it remove a specificity filter, but to date evidence has been sketchy on toxicity in humans at low levels. Thus I’d bet that the amounts found are unlikely to be an issue, especially as the mean of action by cry toxins doesn’t interfere with developmental signals, which is what endocrine disruptor’s and thalidomide do.
If anything, the glyphosphates are a possible issue, but as I said earlier, prior hasn’t produced any signals of problems on that front. It definitely is worth researching, because as the authors state there’s a dearth of research into this. But is it worth banning GE crops over? Hardly.
Thus I sort of consider Physicians and Scientists for Global Responsibility New Zealand claims to be a bit dodgy on this, more knee-jerk than anything based on teh literature.
______________________________________________
*hmmmn, not sure what to make of this group, especially given the lack of any major genetics researchers in their trusties list, particularly as one of my former lecturers is very involved in dealing with possible GMO issues. Suggests group is “amateur” and google turns up links to an NZ anti-fluoridation group, spouting the usual science-fail/toxicology 101-fail claims about the horrors low levels of fluoride in water supplies will cause. Also, they refer to “toxic chemical based agriculture” and want organic farming everywhere. Make of that what you will, especially if you know thy basic organic/biochem (we’re made of chemicals) and issues with mass production of organic food.
Oh dear, it seems that Nact have been going round giving out non-tended government funds – again.
More of our money for their mates? At the very least it looks like a company getting the job because they knew what the specs would be because of the CEO working for the government. In fact, reading that article, it seems the CEO managed to sell the product to the minister directly.
Parents Inc is a Christian based programme, and Pilbrow was one of her Christian fundamentalist appointees to the Families Commission. Why is government money going to this programme without a tender process? I think the Auditor-General should investigate as usually anything over about $20,000 has to go out on the GETS tender system. 1. Why did it go without tender? 2. Why this company (which has little evidence-base for effectiveness)?
Well, that’s the excuse but really they should have determined what they wanted to achieve and then put it out to tender and not give the sale straight to the salesman who also happened to be a Paula Bennett appointee.
Damn, stuffed up the link:
Call for $2.4m Govt contract to be scrutinised
Can you roll eyes and cringe at the same time?
Maybe when this was suggested the answer should have been “let’s not”.