Like other recent calls for citizen initiated referendums, the referendum on asset sales was deemed to need more signatures after the initial submission. The eight week window to gather more signatures is now over, and the new signatures will be presented to Parliament today. Lots of them:
Asset petition gathers 45,000 more names
Opponents of the Government’s asset sales programme say they have gathered more than 45,000 new signatures to bump the petition over the threshold for a referendum.
After coming up about 16,500 valid signatures short two months ago, the Keep Our Assets coalition, which includes Labour, the Greens and other opposition parties, along with Grey Power, will present the newly gathered signatures to the Clerk of the House of Representatives tomorrow.
16,500 needed, 45,000 submitted, hopefully after inspection it will be enough to do the trick.
Coalition spokesman Andrew Campbell says that despite the Government already selling 49 percent of Mighty River Power, there was still public enthusiasm to stop further sales of power companies. “You might have thought there would be some weakening of resolve, but we found people were still as committed to getting this referendum,” he told NZ Newswire.
Stupid ideas are always worth opposing, whether the government of the day is half way through implementing them or not. The referendum isn’t binding of course, but other factors may yet derail the remaining sales:
Mr Campbell said the Government’s plan to sell up to 49 percent of power companies was in trouble. The Government would struggle to sell more power company shares as MRP shares were not snapped up by “mum and dad” investors the share price had dropped since the sale, Mr Campbell said.
MRP shares initially went on sale at $2.50 each but are now worth $2.29. On the Australian stock exchange they have dropped from $A2.16 to $A1.97.
You’d have to be a mug to invest in the Nats’ next planned Meridian sale – and they know it, having resorted to desperate tactics to try and drum up interest.
Congratulations to all involved in putting pressure on the government on this issue, and particularly to the organisers and volunteers who collected an amazing number of signatures. The chickens aren’t hatched yet, but either way it has been an amazing effort.
Excellent work! I would expect the majority of the 45000 new signatures will be accepted, because both collectors and the public understand the process better. The great thing is that the issue doesn’t go away for National. For the second election in a row, they will have to advance their pro sales position against the wishes of the majority of kiwis. And I confidently predict National will again fail to get a mandate for the sales.
But you can’t confidently predict that national will lose the election. Which is in effect not gaining a mandate anyway. So you can’t confidently predict anything without looking like a twat.
They already have a mandate and you know it, they won an election with this as their main policy and what’s more they will easily win the next election.
You seem to forget that stopping asset sales labours main policy at the last election, they got thumped.
Oh, dear. Have you forgotten the result of the election already Rich? National didn’t get an outright majority, hence no mandate. They were, however, able to get enough votes to pass the sales legislation with the assistance of ACT, who campaigned for the sales, and United Future, who did not. Parties opposed to the sales fell just short of a majority. That may well change next time around, especially now that the referendum will be a live issue at the same time.
United Future campaigned on supporting the asset sales of the energy SOEs and Air NZ while also campaigning on opposing any further sales beyond those companies.
I don’t mind the right lying out of their asses, it’s what they do. But I’m getting really sick of the centre and left resorting to lie and misinformation; we should be better than that.
Petitions, the lowliest form of political activity, but the torys, “they don’t like it up ’em!” As Lance Corporal Jones said repeatedly. Who? “Dad’s Army” Brit Com.
You guys keep going on about the down trodden and poor in the country and how the gap of equality is growing bigger – figure me this – why is it that John Key is over 60% popular.
There are so many small fractional parties now I don’t know who to vote for:
Is there any truth in the rumour there is a urgent caucus meeting tonight?
for a start your comparing two things that arent easily comparable in a soundbite driven environment
but a few items that are in the mix
1) polls as we know them arent that accurate and highly open to manipulation
2) 60% thought key was the best option for PM ie: out of what there is currently available – not whether they actually like him as PM. Its a comparison question
3) the question asked in the poll was highly unlikely to worded in a way as to link Keys popularity with the current and historical social environment of the country
4) many people dont actively understand and link political ideologies to statistical trends in society – theyre too busy working and/or living in their bubbles
5) the media (and by extensions – us) only really look at politics as a series of isolated events rather than as parts of a timeline that fits certain aspirations and plans
theres more that could be added here – but why does it even need to be pointed out? Is your knowledge of politics and society in NZ, both historical and contemporary really that lacking?
1) polls as we know them arent that accurate and highly open to manipulation (really!!! tell Gillard that in Australia)
2) 60% thought key was the best option for PM ie: out of what there is currently available – not whether they actually like him as PM. Its a comparison question (still 60%)
3) the question asked in the poll was highly unlikely to worded in a way as to link Keys popularity with the current and historical social environment of the country (stll 60%)
4) many people dont actively understand and link political ideologies to statistical trends in society – theyre too busy working and/or living in their bubbles (which makes them really happy with John boy – still 60%)
5) the media (and by extensions – us) only really look at politics as a series of isolated events rather than as parts of a timeline that fits certain aspirations and plans (yep that plane keeps going up for John – as for Labour – they are as bumping as a plane landing in Wellington in reverse)
1) your really thick
2) your being thick on purpose
so, either attempt to show some comprehension in your answer, or at least admit you dont have a clue what your talking about.
When the question you, yourself asked is “why is it that John Key is over 60% popular. “. Just saying “still 60%” over and over again doesnt actually prove anything other then reinforcing the assumption that your a clueless idiot or a tr0ll
come on! – you stink up plenty of threads with you posturing and derailments – how about behaving like an educated adult for a change
“2) 60% thought key was the best option for PM ie: out of what there is currently available – not whether they actually like him as PM. Its a comparison question (still 60%)”
just to highlight (and godwin myself a little) – heres the problem with this
You live some years back in western europe and youve been rung up by a polling company. The question is “Who of the following would you prefer as ruler of europe – hitler, mussolini or stalin?”
Now, if you choose none of the above your answer isnt counted – So do the poll results have an accurate reflection of any of the three candidates actual popularity? or does it more accurately reflect their popularity only in relation to each other, and only by not including the answers where some one didnt make a particular choice?
WTF are you even going on about? what the fuck does cliff fucking richard have to do with anything?
your not even making sense.
did you or did you not ask this question?
—-“why is it that John Key is over 60% popular”
yes/no?
so when someone attempts to have, you know, a civil discussion with you about what the answer to your question might involve, you just sit there and go “still 60%” and “I did 60%” (did 60% of what? 60% of all the crack??)
and if you hadn’t figured out yet – its a logic question, its designed to highlight the problem with assuming a question that asks you to pick from a list of choices is an indicator of actual feeling
I dont really give a shit what the % is, or whether you agree with me or not – but if the best argument youve got is to keep spouting a number all anyone can assume is either your not that bright, your about 3 years old, or your off your meds. Fucks sake – whats wrong with you?
Its as pointless and pathetic as your attempts at basic addition when your were stomping about the place trying to claim that union membership is only 6%. Crawl back under your rock now – go on – off you go
I understand your logic…the polls show 60%.. you were trying to show that it maybe lower…I understand that. However it is not what the public is told. They are told 60%.
For completeness you are right.
For reporting the answer given to the public is 60%… so 60% is all we are ever going to know. So if you can get the pollsters to give the detail you are stuffed.
However the reverse is still the same for the other preferred pm’s. Therefore overall the average of the answers are correct which 60% of whatever number is still 60%.
Maybe you should ease off and accept the poll result
i was replying to YES’s comment “you gave a example of a survey of three dead dictators which makes your anaylsis (sic) very outdated” by making the example more modern and NZ based; since YES seemed to miss the point of your quite obvious point.
^^ Oh, Yes. You’re very good at running the media/WO lines but in this case you seemed to be on the “coup rumor” du jour a lot faster than anyone else.
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Darroch Ball MP, New Zealand First Law and Order Spokesperson An amendment to the ‘Protection of First Responders Bill’ is being tabled which will see emergency department healthcare workers included in the legislation. “During this COVID-19 crisis we have seen reports of violence and specifically increased incidents of spitting towards ...
Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones is breathing new life into the proposal to move Auckland's port to Whangārei to help in the economic recovery post Covid-19 pandemic.If New ZealandFirst was returned in the September general election, Minister Jones said a priority would be development of an "economic haven" at Northport, ...
A jobseekers programme for the creative sector and four new funds have been set up by the Government to help our arts and music industry recover from the blow of COVID-19. Thousands of jobs will be supported through today’s $175 million package in a crucial economic boost to support the ...
Minister for Veterans Ron Mark has welcomed the First Reading of a Bill that will make legislative changes to further improve the veterans’ support system. The Veterans’ Support Amendment Bill No 2, which will amend the Veterans’ Support Act 2014, passed First Reading today. The bill addresses a number of ...
Views sought on Order in Council to help fast track the reinstatement of the Christ Church Cathedral The Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Hon Poto Williams, will be seeking public written comment, following Cabinet approving the drafting of an Order in Council aimed at fast-tracking the reinstatement of the ...
The law setting out New Zealanders’ basic civil and human rights is today one step towards being strengthened following the first reading of a Bill that requires Parliament to take action if a court says a statute undermines those rights. At present, a senior court can issue a ‘declaration of ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today reiterated the deep concern of the New Zealand Government following confirmation by China’s National People’s Congress of national security legislation relating to Hong Kong. “New Zealand shares the international community’s significant and long-standing stake in Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability,” Mr Peters said. “New Zealand ...
Thousands of artists and creatives at hundreds of cultural and heritage organisations have been given much-needed support to recover from the impact of COVID-19, Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Jacinda Ardern announced today. “The cultural sector was amongst the worst hit by the global pandemic,” Jacinda ...
Key New Zealand assets will be better protected from being sold to overseas owners in a way contrary to the national interest, with the passage of the Overseas Investment (Urgent Measures) Bill. The Bill, which passed its third reading in Parliament today, also cuts unnecessary red tape to help attract ...
Setting higher health standards at swimming spots Requiring urban waterways to be cleaned up and new protections for urban streams Putting controls on higher-risk farm practices such as winter grazing and feed lots Setting stricter controls on nitrogen pollution and new bottom lines on other measures of waterway health Ensuring ...
The Government is on the verge of reaching its target of state sector boards and committees made up of at least 50 percent women, says Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter and Minister for Ethnic Communities Jenny Salesa. For the first time, the Government stocktake measures the number of Māori, ...
The Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister and Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister, Kris Faafoi, has today announced the appointment of Tristan Gilbertson as the new Telecommunications Commissioner and member of the Commerce Commission. “Mr Gilbertson has considerable experience in the telecommunications industry and a strong reputation amongst his peers,” ...
The Ministry of Education and NZEI Te Riu Roa have agreed to settle the pay equity claim for teacher aides, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. This will see more than 22,000 teacher aides, mostly women, being valued and paid fairly for the work they do. “Teacher aides are frontline ...
Subcontractors will have greater certainty, more cashflow support and job security with new changes to retention payments under the Construction Contracts Act says Minister for Building and Construction, Jenny Salesa. A recent review of the retentions money regime showed that most of the building and construction sector is complying with ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have marked the first anniversary of the New Zealand-Singapore Enhanced Partnership with a virtual Leaders’ Meeting today. The Enhanced Partnership, signed on 17 May 2019, provides the framework for cooperation across the four main areas of trade, defence and ...
On 17 May 2019, New Zealand and Singapore established an Enhanced Partnership to elevate our relations. The Enhanced Partnership – based on the four pillars of trade and economics, security and defence, science, technology and innovation, and people-to-people links – has seen the long-standing relationship between our countries strengthen over the ...
State-Owned Enterprises Minister Winston Peters has welcomed KiwiRail’s announcement that it is seeking a preferred shipyard to build two new rail-enabled ferries for the Cook Strait crossing. “This Government is committed to restoring rail to its rightful place in New Zealand. Bigger, better ships, with new technology are yet another ...
Better protection for seabirds is being put in place with a new National Plan of Action to reduce fishing-related captures, Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today. The National Plan of Action for Seabirds 2020 outlines our commitment to reduce fishing-related captures and associated seabird ...
Almost $1 billion in interest-free loans for small businesses More than 55,000 businesses have applied; 95% approved Average loan approx. $17,300 90% of applications from firms with ten or fewer staff A wide cross-section of businesses have applied, the most common are the construction industry, accommodation providers, professional firms, and ...
Thousands of children will have healthier lungs after the Government’s ban on smoking in cars with kids becomes law, says Associate Minister of Health Jenny Salesa. This comes after the third reading of Smoke-free Environments (Prohibiting Smoking in Motor Vehicles Carrying Children) Amendment Bill earlier today. “This law makes it ...
The special Epidemic Response Committee (ERC) has successfully concluded its role, Leader of the House Chris Hipkins said today. The committee was set up on 25 March by the agreement of Parliament to scrutinise the Government and its actions while keeping people safe during levels 4 and 3 of lockdown. ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced four diplomatic appointments: New Zealand’s Ambassador to Belgium, High Commissioners to Nauru and Niue, and Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. “As the world seeks to manage and then recover from COVID-19, our diplomatic and trade networks are more important than ever,” Mr Peters said. “The ...
New Zealanders will be better protected from online harm through a Bill introduced to Parliament today, says Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin. “The internet brings many benefits to society but can also be used as a weapon to spread harmful and illegal content and that is what this legislation targets,” ...
New Zealand’s world-first plan to eradicate the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis is on track the latest technical data shows, says Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor. “Two years ago the Government, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand and industry partners made a bold decision to go hard and commit ...
Further support for New Zealanders affected by 1-in-100 year global economic shock 12-week payment will support people searching for new work or retraining Work programme on employment insurance to support workers and businesses The Government today announced a new temporary payment to support New Zealanders who lose their jobs due ...
The Provincial Growth Fund will play a vital role in New Zealand’s post-COVID-19 recovery by creating jobs in shorter timeframes through at least $600 million being refocused on projects with more immediate economic benefits, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The funding is comprised of repurposed Provincial Growth ...
Government exempts some home improvements from costly consents Homeowners, builders and DIYers will soon have an easier time making basic home improvements as the Government scraps the need for consents for low-risk building work such as sleep-outs, sheds and carports – allowing the construction sector to fire back up quicker ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says the New Zealand Government has reacted with concern at the introduction of legislation in China’s National People’s Congress relating to national security in Hong Kong. “We have a strong interest in seeing confidence maintained in the ‘one country, two systems’ principle under which Hong ...
The Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio, says the theme for the 2020 Samoa Language Week is a perfect fit for helping our Pacific communities cope with the unfolding COVID-19 crisis, and to prepare now for the journey ahead as New Zealand focuses on recovery plans and rebuilding New ...
A nearly 40-year programme to protect one of New Zealand’s most critically endangered birds is paying off, with a record number of adult kakī/black stilt recently recorded living in the wild, the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced today. “Thanks to the team effort involved in the Department of Conservation’s ...
The story of the Waikato-Tainui Treaty process and its enduring impact on the community is being told with a five-part web story launched today on the 25th anniversary of settlement, announced Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni. “I am grateful to Waikato-Tainui for allowing us to help capture ...
Taita College in the Hutt Valley will be redeveloped to upgrade its ageing classrooms and leaky roofs, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “The work is long overdue and will make a lasting difference to the school for generations to come,” Chris Hipkins said. “Too many of our schools are ...
The Government is allocating $36.72 million to projects in regions hard hit economically by COVID-19 to keep people working, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. Projects in Hawke’s Bay, Northland, Rotorua and Queenstown will be funded from the Government’s $100 million worker ...
A $35m boost to financial capability service providers funded by MSD will help New Zealanders manage their money better both day to day and through periods of financial difficulty, announced Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni. “It’s always been our position to increase support to key groups experiencing or at risk ...
Dunedin barrister Melinda Broek has been appointed as a District Court Judge with Family Court jurisdiction to be based in Rotorua, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Ms Broek has iwi affiliations to Ngai Tai. She commenced her employment in 1996 with Scholefield Cockroft Lloyd in Invercargill specialising in family and ...
The Coalition Government has approved a business case for $206 million in upgrades to critical infrastructure at Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea, with the first phase starting later this year, Defence Minister Ron Mark announced today. The investment will be made in three phases over five years, and ...
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today released the Ministry of Transport’s review of the organisational culture at the Civil Aviation Authority. Phil Twyford says all employees are entitled to a safe work environment. “I commissioned this independent review due to the concerns I had about the culture within the CAA, and ...
Ensuring that Stats NZ’s direction and strategy best supports government policy decisions will be a key focus for a new Governance Advisory Board announced today by the Minister for Statistics, James Shaw. The new Governance Advisory Board will provide strategic advice to Stats NZ to ensure it is meeting New ...
Environment Judge David Kirkpatrick of Auckland has been appointed as the Principal Environment Judge, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Judge Kirkpatrick was appointed an Environment Judge in February 2014. From December 2013 to July 2016 he was Chair of the Auckland Unitary Plan Independent Hearings Panel. Prior to appointment he ...
A programme to connect marae around the country to the internet has received $1.4 million to expand to include urban marae in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister Kris Faafoi and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. The funding for the Marae Connectivity Programme ...
The Government will provide $500,000 to the Hawke’s Bay Mayoral Drought Relief Fund to help farmers facing one of the worst droughts in living memory, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “Yesterday afternoon I received a letter from Hawke's Bay's five local Government leaders asking me to contribute to the Fund. ...
Budget 2020 provides a major investment in New Zealand’s documentary heritage sector, with a commitment to leasing a new Archives Wellington facility and an increase in funding for Archives and National Library work. “Last year I released plans for a new Archives Wellington building – a purpose-built facility physically connected ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Scott Morrison has won support for a major restructure of federal-state architecture which scraps the Council of Australian Governments, enshrines the “national cabinet” permanently, and pares down a plethora of ancillary ministerial bodies. The Prime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Douglas, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Western Australia US President Donald Trump, who tweeted more than 11,000 times in the first two years of his presidency, is very upset with Twitter. Earlier this week Trump tweeted complaints about mail-in ballots, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Terry Carney, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Sydney In a near-complete capitulation, the government will refund every alleged overpayment it has collected from welfare recipients under the discredited “robodebt” system of income averaging. Unveiling the automated system in mid-2016 then treasurer ...
By Marchio Irfan Gorbiano in Jakarta President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has announced that the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police will be deployed to guard crowded places in preparation for the so-called “new normal”. During a visit to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle MRT station with TNI commander Air Marshal ...
Analysis: Winston Peters rattles the coalition cage, National's new leader gets the sort of start he didn't want and the government's unemployment relief plan raises some serious questions. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anne Twomey, Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Sydney The High Court has ruled that Sir John Kerr’s correspondence with the queen comprises “Commonwealth records”. This means access to them is now in Australian hands and can no longer be vetoed by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natalie Stoianoff, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney With research laboratories around the world racing to develop a coronavirus vaccine, a unique challenge has emerged: how to balance intellectual property rights with serving the public good. Questions of patent protection ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Michelle Grattan talks with Professor Caroline Fisher (remotely) about the week in politics, including the treasury’s miscalculation on JobKeeper, the prime minister’s promise to “make the boat go faster”, and the limitations of the coronavirus ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University Australia’s latest greenhouse gas figures released today show national emissions fell slightly last year. This was by no means an economy-wide effort – solar and wind energy did most of the heavy lifting. Emissions ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hitchcock, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Canberra Each year the ocean is inundated with 4.8 to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic washed in from land. A big proportion of this plastic is between 0.001 to 5 millimetres, and called “microplastic”. But ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As Australia slowly emerges from isolation, the nation’s economy is reopening, and even looking rather better than expected. But Australia still faces grim months ahead as unemployment numbers grow and the true extent of business ...
Lady Gaga’s sixth album, Chromatica, sees the popstar stepping back into big pop after the experiment that was Joanne, but at what cost, asks Sam Brooks.Since Lady Gaga’s last album, 2016’s critically shrugged off Joanne, the star has stepped as far away from her meat-dress persona as possible, collecting a ...
The National Party’s JobStart policy — under which businesses could claim $10,000 per new employee, for up to ten new employees — looks great on paper but would fail in practice, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union Taxpayers’ Union spokeswoman ...
With million-dollar losses and huge staff cutbacks, there are fears rugby is in its death throes. Two Cents' Worth looks at the economics of our national sport. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zac Rogers, Research Lead, Jeff Bleich Centre for the US Alliance in Digital Technology, Security, and Governance, Flinders University The coronavirus pandemic has sped up changes that were already happening across society, from remote learning and work to e-health, supply chains and ...
Put on the back foot over a lack of vision, National leader Todd Muller has announced the first policy under his rule - aimed at helping employees get back into work National has unveiled a proposal to provide $10,000 cash payments to businesses who hire additional employees, in what is ...
The Department of Conservation (DOC) and Ngāi Tahu in consultation with the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board have agreed to start a new review of the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Management Plan. The process for reviewing both the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marilyn McMahon, Deputy Dean, School of Law, Deakin University Twenty-year-old Sydney woman Renae Marsden died by suicide after she was the victim of an elaborate catfishing scam. A recent coronial investigation into her 2013 death found no offence had been committed by ...
National and Labour have once again dominated the Electoral Commission’s broadcast allocation, reports The Spinoff’s minor party correspondent Alex Braae.The pot of money for political parties to spend on election advertising on radio, television and the internet has been divvied up for 2020, with Labour and National securing more than ...
As part of a $175 million arts package, a new $7.5 million ‘Careers Support for Creative Jobseekers’ programme was announced today, building on ‘the most successful aspects’ of the former Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment (Pace) programme, which ran from 2001-2012. Former Pace-recipient Henry Oliver writes on what he ...
In the spirit of international cooperation and mutual chair dancing, Sam Brooks and New York City-based culture critic Mark Blankenship are revisiting the top 10 singles from key weeks in their respective countries. This week, Sam and Mark discuss the top 10 singles from the chart dated May 28, 2000 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew McLachlan, Head of School and Dean of Pharmacy, University of Sydney A paper published in The Lancet has cast fresh controversy on the use of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19. The study’s authors reported they were ...
A new poem by Wellington writer Joanna Cho.Dig deep! I have to write a poembut I’m finding it quite hardso I call Jos and he says‘Dig deep!’ He is driving back from basketballin Palmy, where he trains three times a week. I say ‘I just wanted to run some ideas by you’and he ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jayashri Kulkarni, Professor of Psychiatry, Monash University We’ve recently heard experts raise concerns about a looming mental health crisis, warning COVID-19’s psychological toll on Australians could be like a second wave of the pandemic. Suicide modelling from the University of Sydney’s Brain ...
The government will start publicly releasing wage subsidy audit and repayment data weekly after it was revealed it was only being collected every three months. ...
Creative Kiwis and cockies are among the beneficiaries of government decisions announced yesterday. The creative crowd was given support amounting to $95 million (or so), announced by Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Jacinda Ardern, who said thousands of artists and creatives at hundreds of cultural and ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Auē by Becky Manawatu (Makaro Press, $35)Winner of the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, the most ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Clarke, Associate Professor, National Security College, Australian National University There were certainly questions asked when Victoria first signed a memorandum of understanding to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2018, but it wasn’t until the past week that the ...
The brains trust at World Rugby have conjured up some optional law trials to obviate the risks of coronavirus. Scotty Stevenson is intrigued.The World Rugby Executive Committee yesterday announced that it had “approved 10 optional law trials which are designed to provide national member unions with Covid-19 transmission risk reduction ...
The Government’s lax approach to monitoring wrongful wage subsidy claims sends a dangerous message, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union . Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “The Government must regularly release figures highlighting how ...
In announcing the Covid Income Relief Payment this week the Hon. Grant Robertson stated the Government is also considering an “enduring solution” to support New Zealanders experiencing job loss beyond the current crisis. The Career Development ...
Workers at Dunedin Railways have rejected Dunedin City Council claims there is not enough time for a feasibility study and commuter rail trial this year. Keep Dunedin Rail Rolling spokesperson Dave Kearns says workers at DRL were bitterly disappointed ...
We’ve published The Auditor-General’s strategic intentions to 2025 . Our strategic intentions describe the outcomes and impacts we are ultimately working towards, and the strategy we have developed to help get us there. Every three years, we publish ...
A new first-person photography game set in a dystopian Tauranga under lockdown is the best work of Māori science-fiction this decade, writes Dan Taipua.Umurangi Generation is a first-person photography game set din the shitty future. Designed and developed by Naphtali Faulkner (aka Veselekov) the game has you move about a ...
“Queen’s Birthday holiday is the most irrelevant public holiday on our calendar. It’s time for a holiday that actually reflects Aotearoa’s unique place in the world” said Lewis Holden, Campaign Chair of New Zealand Republic. New Zealand Republic ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bronwyn Fredericks, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement), The University of Queensland National Reconciliation Week is a time of reflection, talking and sharing of histories, cultures and achievements. It is a time to think about our relationships as Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. This year’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thami Croeser, Research Officer, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University As Australia re-opens, the bars, cafes and restaurants that give life to our streets face a tough ask: stay open and stay afloat with just a fraction of the customers. From June ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week announced plans for a potential “grand bargain” on industrial relations. Speaking at the National Press Club, he framed the issue as one of boosting economic productivity: We must ...
A low toothfish catch hits Sanford's result, but it is less affected by Covid-19 as factories kept working in Level 4 and a high-margin strategy pays off ...
The milestone pay settlement for teacher aides is both good news for gender pay equity and for valuing the education of disabled children, says Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero. “The pay rates have negatively impacted women disproportionately ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, Associate Dean Research and HDR, Midwifery Discipline Leader, Western Sydney University Group B streptococcal (GBS) is a common bacteria that likes to live in the human gut and migrate down the rectum, vagina and sometimes to the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hitchcock, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Canberra Each year the ocean is inundated with 4.8 to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic washed in from land. A big proportion of this plastic is between 0.001 to 5 millimetres, and called “microplastic”. But ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Malcolm Burt, Amusement academic and disruptive media researcher, CQUniversity Australia In the not-so-distant past I commuted fairly hefty distances in a fairly garbage car. But you didn’t hear me complaining – I had an extensive library of podcasts (or “my stories” as ...
For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level two – read The Spinoff’s giant explainer about what that means here. For official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Mixed views on freshwater rules, pay equity settlement for teacher aides, and concerns raised about new internet filtering proposal.The final form of a major package of freshwater reforms was announced yesterday, and it was notable how little anger came from ...
Up-to-date data on breaches of the $10 billion wage subsidy scheme are not being provided, with Carmel Sepuloni's office saying it is "not something we're interested in". ...
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by Steve Braunias.FICTION 1 Auē by Becky Manawatu (Makaro Press, $35) Hard-out story of a tragic family, and winner of the best novel of the year at the 2020 Ockham New ...
A case over the treatment of pigs in New Zealand will be in court in less than two weeks. Pat Baskett takes a look at the potential impacts of the outcome. Phoebe was a pig I wrote about some years ago. Her life was a misery. She lived in a ...
Tāmati Kruger speaks to Rod Oram about Tūhoe's response to Covid-19 in the Te Urewera mountains, and how the iwi is looking to a much stronger NZ society that's aware of its obligations to be a far wiser caretaker of our natural resources. ...
Those working to stop family violence must keep consider both victims and the violent - but those at greatest risk of harm must be paramount, writes Julia TolmieIf we are to stop family violence, then offenders need to stop using violence. It follows that we need to engage more ...
How many languages do you think are spoken in New Zealand on a daily basis? Five, 10, 50? The answer is that more than 160 languages. That being the case, how do we make sure all our children are receiving the best possible education? Dr Corinne Seals from Te Herenga ...
After a pandemic-induced lockdown, a ministry pulls services from terror victims because of “minimal contact”. David Williams reports Imam Abdul Alabi Lateef opens the new, sturdy door at Christchurch’s Linwood Islamic Centre which, little more than a year ago, was the scene of a terrorist attack. The first thing he ...
The government is heralding its $700m Te Mana o te Wai package as a game-changer for the health of New Zealand waterways. But for freshwater scientist Russell Death, it’s a bitter disappointment.Two weeks into alert level two, it seems we have already forgotten all those resolutions about the pandemic being ...
The prime minister yesterday announced a package including $25m to ‘provide artists whose projects are funded by Creative NZ with jobs.’ An even more substantial investment in the creative arts will help drive our post-Covid recovery, argues Paul Millar.When Covid-19 forced the postponement of the popular international literary festival WORD ...
How can the country return to normal and still keep the good things about lockdown? That includes kinder politics, and working from home. New Zealand’s Covid-19 pandemic isn’t done and dusted quite yet. But considering daily new cases are now odds-on to be zero, what lessons have we learned from the past ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra It was Greg Combet, one-time ACTU secretary and former Labor minister, who got Christian Porter and Sally McManus together in the early days of the pandemic. Recalling what happened, Porter told the Australian Financial Review ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kristy Hess, Associate Professor (Communication), Deakin University With swift and savage force, the COVID-19 pandemic has inadvertently attacked Australia’s local news media ecology, which was already battling a weakened immune system. As a researcher working on Australia’s largest academic study into the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael (Mike) Joy, Senior Researcher; Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand’s government has been praised for listening to health experts in its pandemic response, but when it comes to dealing with pollution ...
Rod Oram spoke to the leaders of 16 Kiwi businesses over seven weeks, during which they and their businesses rose to meet unprecedented demands. Here's what he learned. ...
Tenants in the commercial property market continue to wait for Covid-19 relief while government coalition partners Labour and New Zealand First hammer out a deal. ...
They call themselves the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, but they’re not a church, and the treatment they sell is called Miracle Mineral Supplement – but it’s chlorine dioxide, commonly known as bleach. Susan Strongman reports for RNZ.A New Zealand website is advising people with symptoms of coronavirus ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin. On Project Syndicate – and in other places in recent months – orthodox US economist Kenneth Rogoff has presented the case for deeply negative interest rates. Another financial sacred cow falls; yes, interest rates can be negative, even substantially negative. It can take ...
The Government is cracking down on nitrogen fertiliser use and asking councils to speed up their planning processes in order to clean up the country's waterways, Marc Daalder reports One in five farmers will have to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertiliser they are using under a new rule announced ...
Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he talks to New Zealand investor and business advisor David Bell. As a university professor ...
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The ownership of newspapers and televison channels is in turmoil, and they want to redisorganise public broadcasting. *Three years ago, I expressed concern in a column about the future of the (traditional) media. Nothing has happened since to reduce the concern. It was based on an earlier column which ...4 hours ago
Australia's High Court has ruled that the "palace letters" between the queen and then-Governor-General John Kerr are public records rather than private papers: Historian Jenny Hocking has won her High Court bid to access the letters exchanged between then governor-general Sir John Kerr and the Queen around the time of ...6 hours ago
SATURDAY MAY 30Six60: Live at Western Springs 2020 (TVNZ 1, 8.45pm). Remember live concerts? The day will come again, friends, when we will be able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in an uncomfortable sweaty venue with people we don’t know. It will happen. Sometimes the sound of concerts drifts over to the ...8 hours ago
New Zealand and its prime minister Jacinda Ardern have received international attention and praise, rightly so, for decisive leadership, clear communication and scientific management of the coronavirus pandemic. Observers point out that the nation has been through multiple crises under Ardern’s leadership – such as the Christchurch terrorist attack and ...8 hours ago
…a lot of things unrelated to the pandemic were happening. Relatively little attention was given to some major events on the global stage, so I thought I would do a quick recap of some of the high (or low) -lights, starting with something familiar. The common theme throughout is human ...10 hours ago
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Below is the list of gender-critical material which appeared on Redline from July 31, 2019 to September 30, 2019. Sports categories must be by sex, not gender identity Queer theory glossary Woke misogyny and homophobia: a gay critique of trans ideology Another unfortunate experiment? New Zealand’s transgender health policy and ...21 hours ago
Smart Energy Europe: A Plan to provide 100% of ALL ENERGY using Renewable Energy to Europe Introduction All Energy renewable energy systems are often commented on here at Skeptical Science. Many comments suggest that it will be difficult, expensive or impossible to use renewable energy to power the world. To ...1 day ago
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz I would like to know if New Zealand’s carbon emissions ...1 day ago
Don Franks Now Covid-19 restrictions allow gatherings of a hundred, an urgent hui needs calling. A special conference of the Council of Trade Unions. Today, workers face the greatest attack on employment, pay and conditions since the depression, we need a strong united union voice. As it stands now, organised ...2 days ago
The emergence of a new National party leader, seemingly out of nowhere, has – not surprisingly – raised a number of questions as to who Todd Mulller actually is and what makes him tick. He has been an MP for some time but seems to have hidden his light under ...2 days ago
We all know that many so-called journalists and political commentators in New Zealand work directly or indirectly for political parties or for certain political factions. This was obviously the case when pundit for hire Matthew Hooton launched a campaign against then National Party leader, Simon Bridges, over their numerous polling ...3 days ago
Well, we are out of lockdown, essentially. I did end up getting the wage subsidy while we were on levels 3 and 4 but I would have been fine if we didn’t. The first day of level 2, the Thursday, the office opened again for the people who weren’t able ...4 days ago
age credit: Science and Politics – Skeptically.org It seems impossible to keep politics out of science. It’s a pity because politics can end up forcing science to produce the results desired by ... 4 days ago
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Should have had them all first go. That would have had some impact.
Silly – the impact will be delivered by the result, which will show just how out of touch with New Zealand you are.
Errr, Labour at 30%. I’m not the one out of touch.
no – the fact youve equated two completely different things proves youve got your finger on the pulse of the nation
Too Little. Too Late.
Too late for the 2011 election, that’s for sure. Not too late for the next one though. The timing should be just right in fact 🙂
Oh, and all straws are “little”, but the camel’s spine still snaps.
Excellent work! I would expect the majority of the 45000 new signatures will be accepted, because both collectors and the public understand the process better. The great thing is that the issue doesn’t go away for National. For the second election in a row, they will have to advance their pro sales position against the wishes of the majority of kiwis. And I confidently predict National will again fail to get a mandate for the sales.
But you can’t confidently predict that national will lose the election. Which is in effect not gaining a mandate anyway. So you can’t confidently predict anything without looking like a twat.
Assets sales vs Man ban.
Ding, ding “And it’s a knock out win to asset sales in the first round.”
🙄
They already have a mandate and you know it, they won an election with this as their main policy and what’s more they will easily win the next election.
You seem to forget that stopping asset sales labours main policy at the last election, they got thumped.
Oh, dear. Have you forgotten the result of the election already Rich? National didn’t get an outright majority, hence no mandate. They were, however, able to get enough votes to pass the sales legislation with the assistance of ACT, who campaigned for the sales, and United Future, who did not. Parties opposed to the sales fell just short of a majority. That may well change next time around, especially now that the referendum will be a live issue at the same time.
Straws. Clutching. Wildly……
Straws, meet camel 🙂
Oh for crying out loud.
United Future campaigned on supporting the asset sales of the energy SOEs and Air NZ while also campaigning on opposing any further sales beyond those companies.
I don’t mind the right lying out of their asses, it’s what they do. But I’m getting really sick of the centre and left resorting to lie and misinformation; we should be better than that.
Its all just dead trees, I’m afraid. This government has no interest in public opinion, they have shown this again and again and again.
I’m sure you man ban ,stop everything dreamers will love this.
MRP up 6cents this morning, still down but and looking good.
Your use of conjunctions still betraying hubris and or but insecurity.
Petitions, the lowliest form of political activity, but the torys, “they don’t like it up ’em!” As Lance Corporal Jones said repeatedly. Who? “Dad’s Army” Brit Com.
Store the boxes safely till recycling day.
wow – extremely well constructed arguments from the right on this thread
You guys keep going on about the down trodden and poor in the country and how the gap of equality is growing bigger – figure me this – why is it that John Key is over 60% popular.
There are so many small fractional parties now I don’t know who to vote for:
Is there any truth in the rumour there is a urgent caucus meeting tonight?
Is there any truth in the rumour there is a urgent caucus meeting tonight?
Probably not, Key is safe for now. But Collins is lurking.
“why is it that John Key is over 60% popular”
Brilliant, and a bit of the old-answer-is-contained-within-the-question there.
theres so many factors in play
for a start your comparing two things that arent easily comparable in a soundbite driven environment
but a few items that are in the mix
1) polls as we know them arent that accurate and highly open to manipulation
2) 60% thought key was the best option for PM ie: out of what there is currently available – not whether they actually like him as PM. Its a comparison question
3) the question asked in the poll was highly unlikely to worded in a way as to link Keys popularity with the current and historical social environment of the country
4) many people dont actively understand and link political ideologies to statistical trends in society – theyre too busy working and/or living in their bubbles
5) the media (and by extensions – us) only really look at politics as a series of isolated events rather than as parts of a timeline that fits certain aspirations and plans
theres more that could be added here – but why does it even need to be pointed out? Is your knowledge of politics and society in NZ, both historical and contemporary really that lacking?
(comments in brackets)
1) polls as we know them arent that accurate and highly open to manipulation (really!!! tell Gillard that in Australia)
2) 60% thought key was the best option for PM ie: out of what there is currently available – not whether they actually like him as PM. Its a comparison question (still 60%)
3) the question asked in the poll was highly unlikely to worded in a way as to link Keys popularity with the current and historical social environment of the country (stll 60%)
4) many people dont actively understand and link political ideologies to statistical trends in society – theyre too busy working and/or living in their bubbles (which makes them really happy with John boy – still 60%)
5) the media (and by extensions – us) only really look at politics as a series of isolated events rather than as parts of a timeline that fits certain aspirations and plans (yep that plane keeps going up for John – as for Labour – they are as bumping as a plane landing in Wellington in reverse)
your answers have only proven one of two things
1) your really thick
2) your being thick on purpose
so, either attempt to show some comprehension in your answer, or at least admit you dont have a clue what your talking about.
When the question you, yourself asked is “why is it that John Key is over 60% popular. “. Just saying “still 60%” over and over again doesnt actually prove anything other then reinforcing the assumption that your a clueless idiot or a tr0ll
come on! – you stink up plenty of threads with you posturing and derailments – how about behaving like an educated adult for a change
“2) 60% thought key was the best option for PM ie: out of what there is currently available – not whether they actually like him as PM. Its a comparison question (still 60%)”
just to highlight (and godwin myself a little) – heres the problem with this
You live some years back in western europe and youve been rung up by a polling company. The question is “Who of the following would you prefer as ruler of europe – hitler, mussolini or stalin?”
Now, if you choose none of the above your answer isnt counted – So do the poll results have an accurate reflection of any of the three candidates actual popularity? or does it more accurately reflect their popularity only in relation to each other, and only by not including the answers where some one didnt make a particular choice?
still 60%
still not answering the question
still thick?
I did 60%. you gave a example of a survey of three dead dictators which makes your anaylsis very outdated.
You should take their posters off your wall now. It’s sort of like saying cliff Richard never has had cosmetic surgery
WTF are you even going on about? what the fuck does cliff fucking richard have to do with anything?
your not even making sense.
did you or did you not ask this question?
—-“why is it that John Key is over 60% popular”
yes/no?
so when someone attempts to have, you know, a civil discussion with you about what the answer to your question might involve, you just sit there and go “still 60%” and “I did 60%” (did 60% of what? 60% of all the crack??)
and if you hadn’t figured out yet – its a logic question, its designed to highlight the problem with assuming a question that asks you to pick from a list of choices is an indicator of actual feeling
I dont really give a shit what the % is, or whether you agree with me or not – but if the best argument youve got is to keep spouting a number all anyone can assume is either your not that bright, your about 3 years old, or your off your meds. Fucks sake – whats wrong with you?
Its as pointless and pathetic as your attempts at basic addition when your were stomping about the place trying to claim that union membership is only 6%. Crawl back under your rock now – go on – off you go
I understand your logic…the polls show 60%.. you were trying to show that it maybe lower…I understand that. However it is not what the public is told. They are told 60%.
For completeness you are right.
For reporting the answer given to the public is 60%… so 60% is all we are ever going to know. So if you can get the pollsters to give the detail you are stuffed.
However the reverse is still the same for the other preferred pm’s. Therefore overall the average of the answers are correct which 60% of whatever number is still 60%.
Maybe you should ease off and accept the poll result
I can’t parse a single sentence of that.
to clarify relevance of 3 dead dictators:
Question: Who is your prefered Prime Minister? John key, David Shearer, Russel Norman, Winston Peters or some one else?
Answer: Someone else
Question: Who would that be?
Answer: Anyone else
…
Analyst: category: unknown/did not say
Results: Do not include unknown
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is John Key still preferred by 60% of respondents?
no because of “Results: Do not include unknown”
you havent clarified anything at all (if this is still “yes” talking – your icon keeps changing so im only assuming its the same person here)
stop being stupid and stop side stepping around how a conversation actually works.
I am not YES, and I was trying to clarify the point for Yes… Or at least make his trolling more obvious…
oh his trolling is pretty obvious – it doesnt need any help 🙂
but i will note that you didnt actually clarify anything, youve just posed the same logic question i did but with different names
i was replying to YES’s comment “you gave a example of a survey of three dead dictators which makes your anaylsis (sic) very outdated” by making the example more modern and NZ based; since YES seemed to miss the point of your quite obvious point.
ahh – righto. My apologies – sometimes the reply chain gets a little confusing once it reaches its limit. 🙂
“Yes” didn’t miss anything.
“Yes” is wasting your time.
I’d pick Mussolini over Hitler or Stalin. The food would be better. Or was that a trick question?
^^ Oh, Yes. You’re very good at running the media/WO lines but in this case you seemed to be on the “coup rumor” du jour a lot faster than anyone else.
I am really intrigued…
we have in the bag even with a 30 percent failour rate we have the numbers. watch the might river share price thats the best opinion poll.
Should really put more effort into keeping the ones we have left.
Can someone explain to me why a number of right wing contributors on this subject seem so worried about having a public vote on asset sales?
Surely if asset sales in such a good idea, Key has such a strong mandate and so many people are in favour, then a public vote would show that? Surely?