A clear choice for voters

Written By: - Date published: 9:10 am, July 14th, 2017 - 62 comments
Categories: class war, election 2017, labour, poverty, socialism - Tags: , , , , , ,

Support for Labour’s policy from an anonymous Herald editorial:

Labour could spend all National’s tax cut on the needy

Credit where it is due. It takes courage to say that if elected, you will cancel a tax cut.

Yes.

That is what the Labour Party has announced with its promise to direct the money instead to additional spending, particularly on assistance for low income families.

In doing so it has presented the voters with a clear choice which, for those without young families or earning above the income limits, will mean deciding whether to take the tax cut or give the benefit to children of the less well off.

For the well off the tax cut is a meaningless increase. The decision to help those in need should be an easy one.

Most people would gladly donate $10 or $20 a week to a fund that would alleviate child poverty, a subject we hear so much about.

Herald editorial writers “hear so much” about it, a significant proportion of our population experience it, the hard way.

They might wish Labour intended to direct all of that money to poor households rather than retain so much for largely unspecified “public services and infrastructure”.

Indeed they might. We should have a discussion about how to allow that to happen, and raise further revenue for infrastructure. How about a capital gains tax?

Anyway, good to see the message getting out. Enough with the nonsense that there is no difference between National and Labour. Voters are being offered a clear and important choice.

62 comments on “A clear choice for voters ”

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  1. Keith 1
    14 July 2017 at 9:22 am

    It is, I hope, the beginning of a clear choice.

    Thus far Labour have been timid, vague and utterly camouflaged in Nationals policy shadow. And missing in action lately too. They need to fight for their survival.

  2. red-blooded 2
    14 July 2017 at 10:02 am

    A commitment to build state houses and help low-middle income earners by providing (more) affordable homes; scrapping tax cuts and promising support for all babies, plus targeted child support; winter heating payments for beneficiaries and superannuitants; increased spending on public health and education; clear policies on rebalancing workplace relations… Labour’s being pretty bold, Keith, and absolutely sticking to their principals. I think most people would see this as a clear choice.

  3. patricia bremner 3
    14 July 2017 at 10:19 am

    Andrew is old Labour, he believes in a “fair go” He is honest and straight forward.
    He is also a negotiator and a thinker as well as a “DOer” GO LABOUR!!!!!

    • WILD KATIPO 3.1
      14 July 2017 at 9:54 pm

      So Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr English
      If You Think We’re On The Run?
      We Are The Voters Who Will Stop Your Little Game
      We Are The Voters Who Will Make You Think Again
      ‘Cause Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr English
      If You Think New Zealand’s Done?

      Mr Brown Goes Off To Town
      On The Waitemata Boat
      But He Comes Home Each Evening
      And He’s Ready With His Vote

      (So Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr English
      If You Think New Zealand’s Done?)

      So Watch Out Mr English
      You Have Met Your Match In Us
      If You Think You Can Crush Us
      We’re Afraid You’ve Missed The Bus
      ‘Cause Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr English
      If You Think New Zealand’s Done?

  4. Matthew Whitehead 4
    14 July 2017 at 10:53 am

    Cancelling an unnecessary tax cut isn’t courage when polls of voters consistently suggest they’d rather government spending was at an appropriate level than receive a tax cut. It’s literally just sensible policy, and the least you could do. If they want to be brave, they can announce that they’re amending the BRR and are going to raise taxes if they win to spend on critical priorities like building houses and making sure nobody else dies this year because they’re homeless.

    • Louis 4.1
      14 July 2017 at 12:50 pm

      I thought this was a self defeating comment. raise taxes? Labour doesn’t need to say that. if they win to spend on critical priorities like building houses and making sure nobody else dies? which is exactly what Labour’s policies announced thus far, no doubt with more to come, is wanting to address. This year? Got a magic wand Matthew?

    • Rob 4.2
      14 July 2017 at 1:20 pm

      I don’t see a tax cut yet
      Isn’t that a bribe to vote for the Natz then hope they give you the goodies after they have been devalued by increasing costs over the next nine months.

  5. Cinny 5
    14 July 2017 at 11:17 am

    This morning Jacinda and Judith were discussing this on the AM show.

    Jacinda totally owned Judith, Judith tried and failed, Jacinda you made me feel so proud this morning, keep up the good work.

    Here’s the clip…. they start off discussing the Barry gossip and then move on to the tax cuts for the rich v’s help for those struggling.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/07/high-earners-don-t-want-tax-cuts-ardern.html

    • Warren Doney 5.1
      14 July 2017 at 4:26 pm

      Jacinda has gone well against Paula in interviews too. One of my big fears was that she couldn’t cut it, but she has learned a lot, and gained confidence.

    • Norfolk Traveller 5.2
      14 July 2017 at 8:16 pm

      Cinny I watched the clip and came away with a very different impression. Jacinda constantly talked over Judith (something that never works well with the public), and was weak in her responses to questioning on the Barry Coates issue.

      • WILD KATIPO 5.2.1
        14 July 2017 at 10:05 pm

        Well give her time – after all… do you remember the sniggering , guffawing and insecure Stephen Joyce not just speaking over Grant Robertson but yelling over him?

        And that was his election tactic?

        To diffuse the fatal truths about the incompetency’s of the National govt by putting on such a puerile display ?

        I will never forget that interview. Joyce came out deserving the nickname of the Dildo guy well and truly.

        • Norfolk Traveller 5.2.1.1
          15 July 2017 at 1:53 pm

          Yes it is an unfortunate characteristic of far too many politicians. But the ineptitude of the media has a lot to do with this. A competent interviewer would shut that nonsense down, whoever is doing it.

  6. Ross 6
    14 July 2017 at 1:04 pm

    “Most people would gladly donate $10 or $20 a week…”

    Alas I’m not sure that’s true. Just recently Wayne Mapp was praising Muldoon’s Superannuation folly which of course was popular with many voters. Some voters can’t see past their noses. And some well off think that those living in poverty are doing so out of choice or due to their lack of personal responsibility. I would love, however, to be proved wrong.

  7. Jenny Kirk 7
    14 July 2017 at 1:35 pm

    “Enough with the nonsense that there is no difference between National and Labour. “Voters are being offered a clear and important choice.”

    Yep – its becoming clearer and clearer – and there’s still a way to go. Labour IS different from National and its good to see someone at the Herald finally acknowledging it.

    • Enough is Enough 7.1
      14 July 2017 at 3:08 pm

      Really?

      The targeting from both parties appears to be “look how much money we will return to your back pocket”. It is asking every voter to ask themselves how they will individually be better off.

      For some people they will be better off with Labour’s bribes, with others they will be better off with National’s bribes. That is what this election is shaping up as.

      The framing is identical. With neither of the major parties looking like they intend to offer any vision or to campaign on how New Zealand as a whole will be better off.

      Party Vote Green

      • Siobhan 7.1.1
        14 July 2017 at 3:48 pm

        You could argue that the payments for poorer families will ultimately not leave them better off with no vision to radically reset the economy that takes their money.. all their money.
        Its an extension of the Accommodation Allowance. Money straight to the pockets of landlords to prop up their flawed business plan. Same with house insulation. Great and vital…but ultimately Just an excuse to put up rents.
        Show me a party that will save the average life time renter from the mercies of the landlord class and houses that are just tradable commodities and they’ll get my vote.

        • red-blooded 7.1.1.1
          14 July 2017 at 4:02 pm

          Siobhan, Labour has committed to building more state houses – that’s the only way to ensure private landlords don’t profit from things like the accommodation allowance. The fact is, though, that most rental properties are privately owned, and you’re not going to find a political party that promises to nationalise them, if that’s what you want.

          Besides, this latest set of announcements from Labour was about supporting families and giving extra funding to superannuitants and beneficiaries over winter to help with heating costs. Nothing to do with landlords.

          • Enough is Enough 7.1.1.1.1
            14 July 2017 at 4:55 pm

            Since where were ALL superannuitants, in need of of this kind of assistance?

            My rich parents certainly won’t even notice it landing in their bank accounts.

        • Enough is Enough 7.1.1.2
          14 July 2017 at 4:53 pm

          Exactly

          Extra cash in the hand is a waste of time, if the fundamental reason for them requiring that extra assistance is not addressed.

          I am not saying Labour’s policies are all bad. It is just disappointing that it appears the fight is going to be over convincing the punters that the red or blue team will deliver you more lollies

  8. Chris 8
    14 July 2017 at 2:50 pm

    But the baby and electricity money isn’t going to just the needy

    It’s going to everyone, including the very rich, which is what they are arguing against

    Unless I’m missing something glaringly obvious, which admittedly, wouldn’t be a first

  9. mary_a 9
    14 July 2017 at 3:01 pm

    Tax cuts for the already well off, or look after our own, particularly the vulnerable and those living in impoverishment?

    The election choice I hope will be the latter. Because that’s what a responsible government will do. I’d like to see Labour come out now with more of the same.

    Come on Labour, we’re listening.

    • WILD KATIPO 9.1
      14 July 2017 at 11:00 pm

      While they still have a remnant neo liberal caucus , it is a delicate walk for anyone wishing to advance a ‘ Corbynite’ type return to original Labour party principles. It is going to happen however ,…

      NZ politics is in a state of flux, .. and it takes times for that to work its way through,.. small population , thousands of miles from trading partners, surrounded by ocean , and easily fed bullshit by a a small insular newsmedia…

      But rest assured,.. we are influenced by what happens in England whether we like to admit it or not.

      We all want it yesterday but the facts are this : its going to happen. Maybe not for this generation but certainly for our children’s generation. There are good times ahead. NZ has a great future . It is up to us to get motivated and fall in behind these early attempts at breaking free from globalism and neo liberalism.

      And Labour has that historic mandate to lead the way.

  10. Michael 10
    14 July 2017 at 4:53 pm

    Labour’s policy is necessary, but not sufficient, to establish its credibility with the people. It really needs to dmeonstrate its repudiation of neoliberalism, not by destroying capitalism but by disciplining it and restraining its unregulated excesses. I’d like to see some evidence from Labour that it will tax rentier capitalism, as both Guy Standing and Robert Reich recommend.

  11. Penny Bright 11
    14 July 2017 at 5:00 pm

    UPDATE FROM HER WARSHIP – THE HAGUE 14 July 2017
    5.27 am

    (I know – I should still be sleep:(

    I ended up handing out 80 copies of my following ACTION PLAN to fellow attendees, (on the other side being the recent article by Damien Grant Sunday Star Times 9 July 2017).

    (It has been well-received.

    I have had feedback from a number of attendees that they had no idea that was the situation in New Zealand.)

    This, in my view, is the alternative to a corruption measure bring based upon ‘perception’ (ie: largely the subjective opinions of anonymous business people).

    These are objective yardsticks / milestones that can be used, in my view, to measure corruption REALITY.

    There are actually hundreds of hours of work that have gone into this ONE A4 page.)

    The question is – if New Zealand was truly ‘the least corrupt country in the world’ – wouldn’t we be the MOST transparent?

    So why doesn’t New Zealand already have the following?

    ACTION PLAN TO ENSURE ‘OPEN, TRANSPARENT AND DEMOCRATICALLY ACCOUNTABLE’ NZ GOVERNMENT AND JUDICIARY:

    1) Make ALL ‘facilitation payments’ (BRIBES) illegal.

    2) Legislate to create an NZ independent anti-corruption body, tasked with educating the public and preventing corruption.

    3) Legislate for NZ members of Parliament (who make the rules for everyone else) to have a legally enforceable ‘Code of Conduct’.

    4) Make it an offence under the Local Government Act 2002, for NZ Local Government elected representatives to breach their ‘Code of Conduct’.

    5) Make it lawful, mandatory requirement for Local Government elected representatives to complete a ‘Register of Interests’ which is available for public scrutiny.

    6) Make it a lawful, mandatory requirement for Local Government staff, responsible for property or procurement, to complete a ‘Register of Interests’ which is available for public scrutiny.

    7) Make it lawful, mandatory requirement for Local Government Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) Directors and staff, responsible for property or procurement, to complete a ‘Register of Interests’ which is available for public scrutiny.

    8) Fully implement and enforce the Public Records Act 2005, to ensure public records are available for public scrutiny.

    9) Make it a lawful requirement that a ‘cost-benefit’ analysis of NZ Central Government and Local Government public finances must be undertaken, to prove that private procurement of public services previously provided ‘in house’ is cost-effective for the public majority of tax payers and rate payers.

    10) Legislate for a legally enforceable ‘Code of Conduct’ for members of the NZ Judiciary, to ensure that they are not ‘above the law’.

    11) Legislate to provide a publicly-available NZ Judicial ‘Register of Interests’, to help prevent ‘conflicts of interest’.

    12) Ensure ALL NZ Court proceedings are recorded, with audio records available to parties who request them.

    13) Legislate for a publicly-available NZ ‘Register of Lobbyists, and ‘Code of Conduct’ for lobbyists.

    14) Legislate for a ‘post-separation employment’ (‘revolving door’ ) quarantine period from the time officials leave the public service, to take up a similar role in the private sector.

    15) Legislate to make it a lawful requirement that it is only a binding vote of the public majority that can determine whether public assets held at NZ central or local government are sold, or long-term leased via Public Private Partnerships.

    16) Legislate to make it unlawful for politicians to knowingly misrepresent their policies prior to central or local government elections.

    17) Legislate to protect individuals, NGOs and community-based organisations, who are ‘whistle-blowing’ against ‘conflicts of interest’ and and alleged corrupt practices at central and local government level and within the judiciary.

    18) Legislate to prevent ‘State Capture’ – where vested interests get what they want, at the ‘policy’ level, before laws are passed which serve their vested interests.

    ……
    _____________________________

    Which political parties in NZ
    have such an ACTION PLAN?

    What I would like to see is AS MANY political parties/ groups / organisations and individuals ‘pick up the ball’ here and ‘help themselves’ to as many of these ‘demands’ as possible – so we get AS MANY people as possible calling for genuine transparency and accountability in New Zealand.

    “Where the people lead – the politicians will follow …”

    Politically – we need to CLEAN our country up!

    On the NZ anti- corruption front – this ACTION PLAN gives a clear path forward.

    Please folks – all I ask you to do is read carefully and consider these ACTION PLAN points, and if you agree – please SHARE?

    THANKS!

    Penny Bright

    • Sacha 11.1
      14 July 2017 at 5:21 pm

      “8) Fully implement and enforce the Public Records Act 2005, to ensure public records are available for public scrutiny”

      Yet again, that is not what that law does. And now you’re embarrassing yourself on a world stage with fundamental and repeated ignorance.

      • Stunned Mullet 11.1.1
        14 July 2017 at 5:29 pm

        “Yet again, that is not what that law does. And now you’re embarrassing yourself on a world stage with fundamental and repeated ignorance.”

        To be fair, it is one of Penny’s cure competencies.

      • Andre 11.1.2
        14 July 2017 at 5:32 pm

        Penny actually experiences embarrassment?

      • Stuart Munro 11.1.3
        14 July 2017 at 5:37 pm

        The purposes of this Act are—
        (c) to enable the Government to be held accountable by—
        (i) ensuring that full and accurate records of the affairs of central and local government are created and maintained; and
        (ii) providing for the preservation of, and public access to, records of long-term value; and
        (d) to enhance public confidence in the integrity of public records and local authority records;

        Penny doesn’t seem to have missed the point at all.

        • Sacha 11.1.3.1
          14 July 2017 at 9:41 pm

          Sheesh, haven’t you seen this point here in the last year or so? The PRA is about retaining and preserving records, that is all.

          Access is overwhelmingly controlled by our OIA and LGOIMA laws, not by the PRA. The exception is long-term archives as in (c)(ii) you cited. That is not what Penny is talking about, as she has been told many times. She is an obstinate fool and an embarrassment to progressive activists.

          • Stuart Munro 11.1.3.1.1
            14 July 2017 at 9:50 pm

            So you would say the purpose of the act is not that “government be held accountable” – which seems to be Penny’s objective.

          • WILD KATIPO 11.1.3.1.2
            14 July 2017 at 10:27 pm

            Rather harsh , – what have you done to advance so called progressive politics, – furthermore – what exactly is your definition of ‘ progressive’ ?

            Not everyone may share your perspectives btw , – what Penny Bright does is not only get out there and challenge the TINA narrative but offer some things akin to traditional Labour core values and principles… what have you done in this regard?

  12. Sanctuary 12
    14 July 2017 at 6:17 pm

    This is what happens when for a decade your caucus is full of bourgeoise show ponies, talentless and valueless careerists, and useless stuffed shirts selected because of identity and not talent.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/07/labour-s-confidential-polling-leaked.html

    Labour is on track to catastrophe. If they are lucky, they’ll still be the biggest party after the election. If they tank, they may well be reduced to third place. That is what happens when you have not guts, no fight, no passion and no belief in anything beyond arse kissing the vaunted “centre” and hanging on to your fat salary.

    Timid policies from visionless managerialists, tinkering policies indistinguishable in spirit from National, and a useless, complacent PLP full of no-hopers.

    What a way to go for the party of Savage, Frazer, and Kirk.

    • Ed 12.1
      14 July 2017 at 6:29 pm

      They need to tack rapidly and adopt UK Labour’s policies.

      • Norfolk Traveller 12.1.1
        14 July 2017 at 8:32 pm

        UK Labour has moved left. In NZ Labour is losing support to the Centre (NZF). How will adopting UK Labour policies stem that tide?

        • Ed 12.1.1.1
          14 July 2017 at 8:36 pm

          He got the young to turn up and vote.

          • Norfolk Traveller 12.1.1.1.1
            15 July 2017 at 1:51 pm

            You assume the young will vote left. That doesn’t necessarily follow.

            • Ed 12.1.1.1.1.1
              15 July 2017 at 2:15 pm

              I realise that.
              If there is no socialist vision then the young will look at other alternatives to neoliberalism.

              • Norfolk Traveller …
                16 July 2017 at 7:54 pm

                That’s the point – you don’t know that. How do you know the ‘young’ favour an alternative to current policy direction?

    • RedLogix 12.2
      14 July 2017 at 6:38 pm

      Well NZ1 usually pick up during the run up to an election; but those numbers strongly suggest they’ve come directly off Labour. It is of course just one poll, subject to all the usual caveats around noise etc.

      But as usual I totally agree with your sentiments; if Labour were on a roll to do well in the election, the polling ‘noise’ shouldn’t be negative like this.

      Also the makeup of the NZ electorate has permanently swung in Nationals favour over the past ten years. All the analysis I’ve seen strongly suggests that new immigrants strongly favour voting conservatively.

      • Pete George 12.2.1
        14 July 2017 at 6:46 pm

        It’s not just one poll, they include a chart of results for the year.

        The Newshub report exaggerates Labour’s drop, they compared to 4 polls ago which looks like an outlier on 34%.

        The TV report didn’t mention National but they are on 42% which is at least as newsworthy – but UMR has had them in the low forties since March which is out of step with other polls which have fluctuated a lot more.

        – National 42% (previous 6 results 43, 43, 42, 44, 42, 43)
        – Labour 26% (previous 6 results 28, 28, 34, 30, 32, 29)
        – NZ First 14% (previous 6 results 12, 12, 9, 9, 9, 11)
        – Greens 13% (previous 6 results 13, 12, 13, 13, 13, 12)

        • WILD KATIPO 12.2.1.1
          14 July 2017 at 10:31 pm

          Labour 26%
          – NZ First 14%
          – Greens 13%
          ————————

          53%

          Pike River seems more and more likely to be re – entered, Pete George.

      • Sanctuary 12.2.2
        14 July 2017 at 6:58 pm

        “…Also the makeup of the NZ electorate has permanently swung in Nationals favour over the past ten years. All the analysis I’ve seen strongly suggests that new immigrants strongly favour voting conservatively…”

        I totally disagree with this. For a start, only the bourgeoise see the rest as a monolithic, undifferentiated mass. There are plenty of suffering migrants, working in third world conditions and treated as badly by their own kind as surely as any imagined white oppressor could manage. Perhaps you need to take a reality check, to check those fires of socialism havn’t dimmed to a dull glow peaking out from the ashes of conformism?

        What has happened is the ruling class and it’s organs of control have become more frankly and intensely ideological than ever, and this doubling down of control of thought and limits of debate are both a conscious political and unconscious cultural reaction to the failure of capitalism and the cruel logic of class politics. The media nowadays more or less completely eschews coverage of poverty, unemployment, suicide etc etc except when these may intrude into the bubble of the ruling class talking to itself.

        And this has occurred precisely at the moment the supposed standard bearer of resistance to capitalism – the Labour party – has completed capitulated to the establishment, becoming a right wing party whose MPs are timid, law abiding members of the bourgeoise and who have zero stomach for the hard yards required to fight capitalism. Can anyone here imagine Jacinda Ardern spending a year in jail for opposing legislation, like Peter Frazer did? Hah! She’d miss Coco’s Cantina to much! Can anyone here imagine Andrew Little, on being told the unemployed had used union furniture as weapons in a riot down Queen street saying that he couldn’t imagine a better use of union property?

        None of Labour’s betrayal and move to the right would matter to tribal supporters, though, if they at least had had the fucking wit to see the centre has collapsed and the left is back in fashion, that socialism can again be spoken of proudly in the halls of power. Utimately, Labour’s imminent death won’t be because the electorate has become more right wing – it will be because when the electorate came looking for something new from the traditional party of radical change, all it found was a bunch of navel gazing fools bickering amongst themselves about sexuality, gender, identity and the nuances of tinkering with the status quo.

    • Anne 12.3
      14 July 2017 at 7:51 pm

      This is what happens when for a decade your caucus is full of bourgeoise show ponies, talentless and valueless careerists, and useless stuffed shirts selected because of identity and not talent.

      Yes, there’s some truth in ‘them thar’ comments. Labour has gone too far down the identity politics road. Plenty of people have tried to tell them over the years – including me – but it’s been a case of banging one’s head against a brick wall.

      When the “man ban” policy was raging a few years back, I tried to tell one of the women involved (not an MP) it was a mistake. My argument was based on the easily foreseeable response from Labour’s enemies (including the MSM) and I suggested it was something you got on with doing quietly and without publicity. My copybook was permanently blotted and I was forthwith dumped from any position of influence within that section of the party anyway.

      When you add the PC nature of much of their rhetoric, then it isn’t surprising they are not making headway in the popularity stakes. I’m also on record telling them to “for god’s sake get a bit mongrel” and that never went down very well either. 🙁

      • RedLogix 12.3.1
        14 July 2017 at 8:00 pm

        Your sounding like ‘him of Asian descent whose name shall not be mentioned around here anymore’. 🙂

        • Anne 12.3.1.1
          14 July 2017 at 8:16 pm

          Well ‘him whose name shall not be mentioned around here anymore’ actually had a good point there, but the problem with ‘him whose name shall not be mentioned around here anymore’ is: he took his anti-Labourism down a long, dark and dangerous road which eventually lead to Trumpism.

          • Zeroque 12.3.1.1.1
            14 July 2017 at 9:16 pm

            I’m unsure what is happening re the immigrant vote intentions. And of course that covers new and well established immigrants who may be better called NZ’ders, as could some recent arrivals if that makes sense. For some landing here I’m sure more of the same policies would look much better than what they have had and depending upon where they have come from, more government maybe instinctively good in such times but for some, less government might be viewed as desirable. Whatever the case politically it’s taking NZ from a Pakeha/Maori/polynesion society to a truly international flavour which I really think we need to get used to. But the challenge as always is to ensure a decent standard of living for all.

            • Anne 12.3.1.1.1.1
              14 July 2017 at 9:30 pm

              There is one common factor especially among Chinese immigrants and that is their tendency to vote for the incumbents in power. From their perspective its better to stay on side with the governing party. Hence it is not surprising National may be the party of choice for many of them. In the event of a change of government then they would probably change their vote. It might take a generation for them to comprehend its not the way we do it in European style democracies.

              • WILD KATIPO …
                14 July 2017 at 10:39 pm

                You’re onto it.

                And cynically – this is EXACTLY why the National party are loathe to cut that lifeline to power off. And the price for that ?

                A fractured NZ society with a monied landlord class that parasites on the rest of us.

                • WILD KATIPO …
                  15 July 2017 at 12:09 am

                  And btw – I support the ‘him whose name shall not be mentioned around here anymore’ ..

                  He spoke more wisdom than a whole bunch of you Clinton Foundation supporting ‘ arms to ISIS ‘ wannabe leftists ever did.

                  You only select what fits in with your globalist brainwashed agendas – which is sad because you sell out to globalist media narratives while saying you oppose it.

                  You are the type to turn on a dime against any long term servers against fascist hierarchy dissenters who oppose your agendas- such as Wikileaks , Julian Assange , and worst of all – John Pilger.

                  Hang your heads in shame.

                  • McFlock …
                    15 July 2017 at 12:23 am

                    He also had a weird fixation with democrats eating cheese pizza.

                  • Stuart Munro …
                    15 July 2017 at 1:09 am

                    I didn’t mind most of his eccentricities – but embracing Putin is a bridge too far.

                    I think he caught the wrong edge of the fake news phenomenon and will be wiser in years to come.

              • Gabby …
                15 July 2017 at 2:10 pm

                Labour should add a bit of gold to their logo to attract good fortune at the polls.

    • Norfolk Traveller 12.4
      14 July 2017 at 8:30 pm

      Those numbers explain the Greens outbursts about NZ First in recent days. And they indicate that Labour is losing votes not to the left but to the centre.

    • WILD KATIPO 12.5
      14 July 2017 at 10:49 pm

      @ SANCTUARY.

      You may not like ‘ incrementalism ‘ , however , …

      Labours policy to introduce a Living wage first with the public sector will put pressure on the private sector to follow suit. This will strengthen the hand of Trade Unions.

      And we know this is true by the squawking and squeals of the NZ Initiative and the MBIE recently . They , … the surreptitious motivators of the National party deemed it right to emerge from the shadows and issue a public statement opposing Labour’s policy’s.

      And if they feel so motivated to do so , – I am even more motivated to vote against what they want just to fuck them up. They are the biggest cancers to ever lobby the corridors of Parliament in NZ.

      The more the NZ Initiative feels pain the greater my joy.

  13. Sanctuary 13
    15 July 2017 at 2:22 pm

    “…You may not like ‘ incrementalism ‘ , however , …

    Labours policy to introduce a Living wage first…”

    I guess what I am looking for is ONE signature policy that really sets the cat amongst the pigeons. A policy that sends a shiver down the back of the boss class. Here is a (for me) topical one, since I suffered through yet another powercut yesterday.

    NZ electricity generation and production is a mess. A dozen or so companies provide generation, distribution and retail in a forced experiment in competition that is an idiotic ideological triumph over common sense. We have gone from having some of the cheapest power in the world to some of the most expensive. The companies are laws unto themselves.

    A signature, bold, Corbyn like policy would be to announce deregulation has failed the people of New Zealand and they will all be re-nationalised, and re-tasked with new goals like sustainable production and lowest possible price. Promise to introduce winter billing caps for large families and the elderly. Have huge billboards saying that under Labour, your power bill need no longer keep you cold in winter or awake at night. That is socialism in action – freedom from worry, and freedom from want. A policy that keeps the many warm at the expense of the few. Electricity is a basic human right, and no one should fear their power bill simply because they want to keep warm. Defend it in those terms.

    THAT is a bold, left wing policy. And the neolibs would hate it.

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    Sometimes you despair. You really do. Fresh off leading Labour to its ugliest election result since 1990,* Chris Hipkins has decided to misdiagnose matters, because the Government he led cannot possibly have been wrong about anything. *In 2011 and 2014, people were willing to save Labour’s electorate ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    16 hours ago

  • Clued Up: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    “But, that’s the thing, mate, isn’t it? We showed ourselves to be nothing more useful than a bunch of angry old men, shaking our fists at the sky. Were we really that angry at Labour and the Greens? Or was it just the inescapable fact of our own growing irrelevancy ...
    Bowalley Road
    21 hours ago

  • JERRY COYNE: A powerful University dean in New Zealand touts merging higher education with indigeno...
    Jerry Coyne writes –  This article from New Zealand’s Newsroom site was written by Julie Rowland,  the deputy dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Auckland as well as a geologist and the Director of the Ngā Ara Whetū | Centre for Climate, Biodiversity & Society. In other ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Ain't nobody gonna steal this heart away.
    Ain't nobody gonna steal this heart away.For the last couple of weeks its felt as though all the good things in our beautiful land are under attack.These isles in the southern Pacific. The home of the Māori people. A land of easy going friendliness, openness, and she’ll be right. A ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • Speaking for the future
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.MondayYou cannot be seriousOne might think, god, people who are seeing all this must be regretting their vote.But one might be mistaken.There are people whose chief priority is not wanting to be ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • How Should We Organise a Modern Economy?
    Alan Bollard, formerly Treasury Secretary, Reserve Bank Governor and Chairman of APEC, has written an insightful book exploring command vs demand approaches to the economy. The Cold War included a conflict about ideas; many were economic. Alan Bollard’s latest book Economists in the Cold War focuses on the contribution of ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    2 days ago

  • Willis fails a taxing app-titude test but govt supporters will cheer moves on Te Pukenga and the Hum...
    Buzz from the Beehive The Minister of Defence has returned from Noumea to announce New Zealand will host next year’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting and (wearing another ministerial hat) to condemn malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Government. A bigger cheer from people who voted for the Luxon ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • ELIZABETH RATA: In defence of the liberal university and against indigenisation
    The suppression of individual thought in our universities spills over into society, threatening free speech everywhere. Elizabeth Rata writes –  Indigenising New Zealand’s universities is well underway, presumably with the agreement of University Councils and despite the absence of public discussion. Indigenising, under the broader umbrella of decolonisation, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the skewed media coverage of Gaza
    Now that he’s back as Foreign Minister, maybe Winston Peters should start reading the MFAT website. If he did, Peters would find MFAT celebrating the 25th anniversary of how New Zealand alerted the rest of the world to the genocide developing in Rwanda. Quote: New Zealand played an important role ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • “Your Circus, Your Clowns.”
    It must have been a hard first couple of weeks for National voters, since the coalition was announced. Seeing their party make so many concessions to New Zealand First and ACT that there seems little remains of their own policies, other than the dwindling dream of tax cuts and the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 8-December-2023
    It’s Friday again and Christmas is fast approaching. Here’s some of the stories that caught our attention. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered some of the recent talk around the costs, benefits and challenges with the City Rail Link. On Thursday Matt looked at how ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago

  • End-of-week escapism
    Amsterdam to Hong Kong William McCartney16,000 kilometres41 days18 trains13 countries11 currencies6 long-distance taxis4 taxi apps4 buses3 sim cards2 ferries1 tram0 medical events (surprisingly)Episode 4Whether the Sofia-Istanbul Express really qualifies to be called an express is debatable, but it’s another one of those likeably old and slow trains tha… ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 8
    Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro arrives for the State Opening of Parliament (Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:New Finance Minister Nicola Willis set herself a ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand’s Witchcraft Laws: 1840/1858-1961/1962
    Sometimes one gets morbidly curious about the oddities of one’s own legal system. Sometimes one writes entire essays on New Zealand’s experience with Blasphemous Libel: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/blasphemous-libel-new-zealand-politics/ And sometimes one follows up the exact historical status of witchcraft law in New Zealand. As one does, of course. ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    2 days ago

  • No surprises
    Don’t expect any fiscal shocks or surprises when the books are opened on December 20 with the unveiling of the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU). That was the message yesterday from Westpac in an economic commentary. But the bank’s analysis did not include any changes to capital ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #49 2023
    113 articles in 48 journals by 674 contributing authors Physical science of climate change, effects Diversity of Lagged Relationships in Global Means of Surface Temperatures and Radiative Budgets for CMIP6 piControl Simulations, Tsuchida et al., Journal of Climate 10.1175/jcli-d-23-0045.1 Do abrupt cryosphere events in High Mountain Asia indicate earlier tipping ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Phone calls at Kia Kaha primary
    It is quiet reading time in Room 13! It is so quiet you can hear the Tui outside. It is so quiet you can hear the Fulton Hogan crew.It is so quiet you can hear old Mr Grant and old Mr Bradbury standing by the roadworks and counting the conesand going on ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • A question of confidence is raised by the Minister of Police, but he had to be questioned by RNZ to ...
    It looks like the new ministerial press secretaries have quickly learned the art of camouflaging exactly what their ministers are saying – or, at least, of keeping the hard news  out of the headlines and/or the opening sentences of the statements they post on the home page of the governments ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Xmas  good  cheer  for the dairy industry  as Fonterra lifts its forecast
    The big dairy co-op Fonterra  had  some Christmas  cheer to offer  its farmers this week, increasing its forecast farmgate milk price and earnings guidance for  the year after what it calls a strong start to the year. The forecast  midpoint for the 2023/24 season is up 25cs to $7.50 per ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Modern Maori myths
    Michael Bassett writes – Many of the comments about the Coalition’s determination to wind back the dramatic Maorification of New Zealand of the last three years would have you believe the new government is engaged in a full-scale attack on Maori. In reality, all that is happening ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Dreams of eternal sunshine at a spotless COP28
    Mary Robinson asked Al Jaber a series of very simple, direct and highly pertinent questions and he responded with a high-octane public meltdown. Photos: Getty Images / montage: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR The hygiene effects of direct sunshine are making some inroads, perhaps for the very first time, on the normalised ‘deficit ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Oh, the irony
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Appointed by new Labour PM Jacinda Ardern in 2018, Cindy Kiro headed the Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) tasked with reviewing and recommending reforms to the welfare system. Kiro had been Children’s Commissioner during Helen Clark’s Labour government but returned to academia subsequently. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Transport Agencies don’t want Harbour Tunnels
    It seems even our transport agencies don’t want Labour’s harbour crossing plans. In August the previous government and Waka Kotahi announced their absurd preferred option the new harbour crossing that at the time was estimated to cost $35-45 billion. It included both road tunnels and a wiggly light rail tunnel ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Webworm Presents: Jurassic Park on 35mm
    Hi,Paying Webworm members such as yourself keep this thing running, so as 2023 draws to close, I wanted to do two things to say a giant, loud “THANKS”. Firstly — I’m giving away 10 Mister Organ blu-rays in New Zealand, and another 10 in America. More details down below.Secondly — ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • The Prime Minister's Dream.
    Yesterday saw the State Opening of Parliament, the Speech from the Throne, and then Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s dream for Aotearoa in his first address. But first the pomp and ceremony, the arrival of the Governor General.Dame Cindy Kiro arrived on the forecourt outside of parliament to a Māori welcome. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • National’s new MP; the proud part-Maori boy raised in a state house
    Probably not since 1975 have we seen a government take office up against such a wall of protest and complaint. That was highlighted yesterday, the day that the new Parliament was sworn in, with news that King Tuheitia has called a national hui for late January to develop a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Climate Adam: Battlefield Earth – How War Fuels Climate Catastrophe
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). War, conflict and climate change are tearing apart lives across the world. But these aren't separate harms - they're intricately connected. ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • They do not speak for us, and they do not speak for the future
    These dire woeful and intolerant people have been so determinedly going about their small and petulant business, it’s hard to keep up. At the end of the new government’s first woeful week, Audrey Young took the time to count off its various acts of denigration of Te Ao Māori:Review the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Another attack on te reo
    The new white supremacist government made attacking te reo a key part of its platform, promising to rename government agencies and force them to "communicate primarily in English" (which they already do). But today they've gone further, by trying to cut the pay of public servants who speak te reo: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • For the record, the Beehive buzz can now be regarded as “official”
    Buzz from the Beehive The biggest buzz we bring you from the Beehive today is that the government’s official website is up and going after being out of action for more than a week. The latest press statement came  from  Education Minister  Eric Stanford, who seized on the 2022 PISA ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Failed again
    There was another ETS auction this morning. and like all the other ones this year, it failed to clear - meaning that 23 million tons of carbon (15 million ordinary units plus 8 million in the cost containment reserve) went up in smoke. Or rather, they didn't. Being unsold at ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On The Government’s Assault On Maori
    This isn’t news, but the National-led coalition is mounting a sustained assault on Treaty rights and obligations. Even so, Christopher Luxon has described yesterday’s nationwide protests by Maori as “pretty unfair.” Poor thing. In the NZ Herald, Audrey Young has compiled a useful list of the many, many ways that ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Rising costs hit farmers hard, but  there’s more  positive news  for  them this  week 
    New Zealand’s dairy industry, the mainstay of the country’s export trade, has  been under  pressure  from rising  costs. Down on the  farm, this  has  been  hitting  hard. But there  was more positive news this week,  first   from the latest Fonterra GDT auction where  prices  rose,  and  then from  a  report ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • ROB MacCULLOCH:  Newshub and NZ Herald report misleading garbage about ACT’s van Veldon not follo...
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  In their rush to discredit the new government (which our MainStream Media regard as illegitimate and having no right to enact the democratic will of voters) the NZ Herald and Newshub are arguing ACT’s Deputy Leader Brooke van Veldon is not following Treasury advice ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Top 10 for Wednesday, December 6
    Even many young people who smoke support smokefree policies, fitting in with previous research showing the large majority of people who smoke regret starting and most want to quit. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Wednesday, December ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Eleven years of work.
    Well it didn’t take six months, but the leaks have begun. Yes the good ship Coalition has inadvertently released a confidential cabinet paper into the public domain, discussing their axing of Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs).Oops.Just when you were admiring how smoothly things were going for the new government, they’ve had ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Why we're missing out on sharply lower inflation
    A wave of new and higher fees, rates and charges will ripple out over the economy in the next 18 months as mayors, councillors, heads of department and price-setters for utilities such as gas, electricity, water and parking ramp up charges. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Just when most ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • How Did We Get Here?
    Hi,Kiwis — keep the evening of December 22nd free. I have a meetup planned, and will send out an invite over the next day or so. This sounds sort of crazy to write, but today will be Tony Stamp’s final Totally Normal column of 2023. Somehow we’ve made it to ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Has the greenhouse effect been falsified?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • New Zealaders  have  high expectations of  new  government:  now let’s see if it can deliver?
    The electorate has high expectations of the  new  government.  The question is: can  it  deliver?    Some  might  say  the  signs are not  promising. Protestors   are  already marching in the streets. The  new  Prime Minister has had  little experience of managing  very diverse politicians  in coalition. The economy he  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • You won't believe some of the numbers you have to pull when you're a Finance Minister
    Nicola of Marsden:Yo, normies! We will fix your cost of living worries by giving you a tax cut of 150 dollars. 150! Cash money! Vote National.Various people who can read and count:Actually that's 150 over a fortnight. Not a week, which is how you usually express these things.And actually, it looks ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Pushback
    When this government came to power, it did so on an explicitly white supremacist platform. Undermining the Waitangi Tribunal, removing Māori representation in local government, over-riding the courts which had tried to make their foreshore and seabed legislation work, eradicating te reo from public life, and ultimately trying to repudiate ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Defence ministerial meeting meant Collins missed the Maori Party’s mischief-making capers in Parli...
    Buzz from the Beehive Maybe this is not the best time for our Minister of Defence to have gone overseas. Not when the Maori Party is inviting (or should that be inciting?) its followers to join a revolution in a post which promoted its protest plans with a picture of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Threats of war have been followed by an invitation to join the revolution – now let’s see how th...
     A Maori Party post on Instagram invited party followers to ….  Tangata Whenua, Tangata Tiriti, Join the REVOLUTION! & make a stand!  Nationwide Action Day, All details in tiles swipe to see locations.  • This is our 1st hit out and tomorrow Tuesday the 5th is the opening ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Top 10 for Tuesday, December 4
    The RBNZ governor is citing high net migration and profit-led inflation as factors in the bank’s hawkish stance. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Tuesday, December 5, including:Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr says high net migration and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Nicola Willis' 'show me the money' moment
    Willis has accused labour of “economic vandalism’, while Robertson described her comments as a “desperate diversion from somebody who can't make their tax package add up”. There will now be an intense focus on December 20 to see whether her hyperbole is backed up by true surprises. Photo montage: Lynn ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • CRL costs money but also provides huge benefits
    The City Rail Link has been in the headlines a bit recently so I thought I’d look at some of them. First up, yesterday the NZ Herald ran this piece about the ongoing costs of the CRL. Auckland ratepayers will be saddled with an estimated bill of $220 million each ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • And I don't want the world to see us.
    Is this the most shambolic government in the history of New Zealand? Given that parliament hasn’t even opened they’ve managed quite a list of achievements to date.The Smokefree debacle trading lives for tax cuts, the Trumpian claims of bribery in the Media, an International award for indifference, and today the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Cooking the books
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis late yesterday stopped only slightly short of accusing her predecessor Grant Robertson of cooking the books. She complained that the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU), due to be made public on December 20, would show “fiscal cliffs” that would amount to “billions of ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Most people don’t realize how much progress we’ve made on climate change
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The year was 2015. ‘Uptown Funk’ with Bruno Mars was at the top of the music charts. Jurassic World was the most popular new movie in theaters. And decades of futility in international climate negotiations was about to come to an end in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Of Parliamentary Oaths and Clive Boonham
    As a heads-up, I am not one of those people who stay awake at night thinking about weird Culture War nonsense. At least so far as the current Maori/Constitutional arrangements go. In fact, I actually consider it the least important issue facing the day to day lives of New ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

  • Bearing True Allegiance?
    Strong Words: “We do not consent, we do not surrender, we do not cede, we do not submit; we, the indigenous, are rising. We do not buy into the colonial fictions this House is built upon. Te Pāti Māori pledges allegiance to our mokopuna, our whenua, and Te Tiriti o ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • You cannot be serious
    Some days it feels like the only thing to say is: Seriously? No, really. Seriously?OneSomeone has used their health department access to share data about vaccinations and patients, and inform the world that New Zealanders have been dying in their hundreds of thousands from the evil vaccine. This of course is pure ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • A promise kept: govt pulls the plug on Lake Onslow scheme – but this saving of $16bn is denounced...
    Buzz from the Beehive After $21.8 million was spent on investigations, the plug has been pulled on the Lake Onslow pumped-hydro electricity scheme, The scheme –  that technically could have solved New Zealand’s looming energy shortage, according to its champions – was a key part of the defeated Labour government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: The Maori Party and Oath of Allegiance
    If those elected to the Māori Seats refuse to take them, then what possible reason could the country have for retaining them?   Chris Trotter writes – Christmas is fast approaching, which, as it does every year, means gearing up for an abstruse general knowledge question. “Who was ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies. Brian Easton writes – The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Climate Change: Fossils
    When the new government promised to allow new offshore oil and gas exploration, they were warned that there would be international criticism and reputational damage. Naturally, they arrogantly denied any possibility that that would happen. And then they finally turned up at COP, to criticism from Palau, and a "fossil ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • GEOFFREY MILLER:  NZ’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    Geoffrey Miller writes – New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the government’s smokefree laws debacle
    The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out – for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Top 10 links at 10 am for Monday, December 4
    As Deb Te Kawa writes in an op-ed, the new Government seems to have immediately bought itself fights with just about everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Monday December 4, including:Palau’s President ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Be Honest.
    Let’s begin today by thinking about job interviews.During my career in Software Development I must have interviewed hundreds of people, hired at least a hundred, but few stick in the memory.I remember one guy who was so laid back he was practically horizontal, leaning back in his chair until his ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he left off. Peters sought to align ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    6 days ago

  • Auckland rail tunnel the world’s most expensive
    Auckland’s city rail link is the most expensive rail project in the world per km, and the CRL boss has described the cost of infrastructure construction in Aotearoa as a crisis. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The 3.5 km City Rail Link (CRL) tunnel under Auckland’s CBD has cost ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • First big test coming
    The first big test of the new Government’s approach to Treaty matters is likely to be seen in the return of the Resource Management Act. RMA Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed that he intends to introduce legislation to repeal Labour’s recently passed Natural and Built Environments Act and its ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • The Song of Saqua: Volume III
    Time to revisit something I haven’t covered in a while: the D&D campaign, with Saqua the aquatic half-vampire. Last seen in July: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/07/27/the-song-of-saqua-volume-ii/ The delay is understandable, once one realises that the interim saw our DM come down with a life-threatening medical situation. They have since survived to make ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

  • Chris Bishop: Smokin’
    Yes. Correct. It was an election result. And now we are the elected government. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    1 week ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 26, 2023 thru Dec 2, 2023. Story of the Week CO2 readings from Mauna Loa show failure to combat climate change Daily atmospheric carbon dioxide data from Hawaiian volcano more ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Affirmative Action.
    Affirmative Action was a key theme at this election, although I don’t recall anyone using those particular words during the campaign.They’re positive words, and the way the topic was talked about was anything but. It certainly wasn’t a campaign of saying that Affirmative Action was a good thing, but that, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • 100 days of something
    It was at the end of the Foxton straights, at the end of 1978, at 100km/h, that someone tried to grab me from behind on my Yamaha.They seemed to be yanking my backpack. My first thought was outrage. My second was: but how? Where have they come from? And my ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
    There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today  – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • What's The Story?
    Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • The longest of weeks
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts to
    Like earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Ministers visit Hawke’s Bay to grasp recovery needs
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Cyclone Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Transport and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown, to meet leaders of cyclone and flood-affected regions in the Hawke’s Bay. The visit reinforced the coalition Government’s commitment to support the region and better understand its ongoing requirements, Mr Mitchell says.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns malicious cyber activity
    New Zealand has joined the UK and other partners in condemning malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Government, Minister Responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau Judith Collins says. The statement follows the UK’s attribution today of malicious cyber activity impacting its domestic democratic institutions and processes, as well ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Disestablishment of Te Pūkenga begins
    The Government has begun the process of disestablishing Te Pūkenga as part of its 100-day plan, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds says.  “I have started putting that plan into action and have met with the chair and chief Executive of Te Pūkenga to advise them of my ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change Minister to attend COP28 in Dubai
    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will be leaving for Dubai today to attend COP28, the 28th annual UN climate summit, this week. Simon Watts says he will push for accelerated action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, deliver New Zealand’s national statement and connect with partner countries, private sector leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New Zealand to host 2024 Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins yesterday announced New Zealand will host next year’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM). “Having just returned from this year’s meeting in Nouméa, I witnessed first-hand the value of meeting with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security and defence matters. I welcome the opportunity to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Study shows need to remove distractions in class
    The Government is committed to lifting school achievement in the basics and that starts with removing distractions so young people can focus on their learning, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.   The 2022 PISA results released this week found that Kiwi kids ranked 5th in the world for being distracted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Minister sets expectations of Commissioner
    Today I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand needs a strong and stable ETS
    New Zealand needs a strong and stable Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that is well placed for the future, after emission units failed to sell for the fourth and final auction of the year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  At today’s auction, 15 million New Zealand units (NZUs) – each ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PISA results show urgent need to teach the basics
    With 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids.  The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Collins leaves for Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
    Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Post-Cabinet press conference
    Most weeks, following Cabinet, the Prime Minister holds a press conference for members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. This page contains the transcripts from those press conferences, which are supplied by Hansard to the Office of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that the transcripts have not been edited ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped
    The Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in Gaza
    New Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Condolences on passing of Henry Kissinger
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Backing our kids to learn the basics
    Every child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through trade
    I would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber.  I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, Auckland
    Good morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States.  This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic Priority
    Good morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Coalition Government unveils 100-day plan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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