I am perturbed by what seems to be indirect advertising for National in two TV adverts.
I could be wrong on the first, which starts with an image of the current Labour election logo
then shows images of 60’s era drinkers before morphing to an image of someone who started a new brew.
The second shows images of someone carrying another man around. It seems to be an advertisment for a bank, but the visceral message is one of liberal individualism and lack of concern for others.
It would be consistent with laying the ground for swingeing ‘welfare reforms’ early in the next term.
Having met some members of the Auckland advertising fraternity, I am not surprised.
Just the usual Brighter future with John Key and National. Now is it me ? or does it look like John Key has put himself ahead of everything the Nats hold dear?
It was worse than that before Jim Anderton officially complained to the Broadcastingcompaints Commision about the inaccuracy of that add and made them change it – I think they cut some parts out of it.
Indeed they did, Akldnut. They reworded it to make it marginally more historically accurate and removed the direct anti-Labour party smear. But it is still weak as weasel’s piss, particularly as the vast majority of beer sold by DB was, and is, DB Draught. And most workers would have drunk jugs in the pub and filled up flagons to take home with them, rather than purchase bottles anyway.
The media seem to be swinging in behind ACT as they realise their plan for Key to govern alone might be too much of a stretch, so they want to place our fate in the hands of two genuine, gold-plated whack-jobs, Brash and Banks.
Yes Tom. The amazing repetition of the drink of tea campaign and the value that they reckon it will give Key is a MSM strategy of Plan B. Including Radio National.
There must be someone out there who can publicly release the story. It does have a political as well as a personal side to it. It stinks that the hypocritical pratt is being allowed to get away with it. I don’t remember the media having much by way of ‘scruples’ in the nine years of the Labour government!
Interesting how National and ACT can get away with little “nudge, nudge, wink, wink” deals and everything is hunky dory.
But Jim Andertlon – who is retiring – writes a letter openly endorsing Labour candidates Megan Woods – and the Electoral Commission and Police accept a complaint from Cameron Slater?!?!
More curious is that CERA has spent over a hundred thousand taxpayers dollars on a big, glossy pamphlet promoting Gerry Brownlee and delivering it to every letterbox in Christchurch, right in the middle of a general election campaign? This stinks to high heaven. Brownlee’s people micro-manage the hoards of PR flunkies at CERA, so the idea they and he had no idea is just fantasy. But they will get away with it. No news here, right?
I would hardly call the Epsom deal a “nudge, nudge, wink, wink” affair. It is about as obvious as you can get!
The Anderton situation is simply a case of not having a promoter statement on a letter/ad as required by law. Sloppy practice – it would have been fine with those few words printed at the end – but a few people have been caught out by this.
No it isn’t. As obvious as you can get would be if National ran away from their voters in Epsom and dropped their candidate off the ballot paper.
However I think that they have lost the opportunity to do that. We must be past the point where the candidate can be withdrawn from the ballot paper – I think that they are either printed or sent for printing now.
I think early voting has started too, so I expect it’s way too late to get off the ballot. But where’s the fun in that anyway? More entertaining to sit back and see if a trainwreck eventuates 🙂
I remember an anecdote about a reverse situation in council elections in Auckland in the thirties, where the Labour Party belatedly agreed to join a united front campaign to oust the Tories from control of the various local councils. In one area the leaflets had already been printed, so a gold coloured sticker was printed with the names of the two extra united front candidates and added to the literature before it was sent out.
The result was that the voters reading the pamphlet assumed that the latter two names in gold were the preferred candidates and they bolted in. Possibly the only time the Communist Party of NZ ever won a popular mandate!
John Key’s ‘brand’ that John Banks wants to endorse?
‘SHONKY’.
By having a ‘cuppa’ with, (doing a deal with ) in my considered opinion, someone yet to be charged or convicted ‘white collar’ criminal John Banks – who wants to help run the country, but arguably couldn’t properly run Huljich Wealth Mangement (NZ) Ltd Kiwisaver schemes?
Same with Don Brash?
Is John Key by effectively endorsing John Banks as the electorate candidate for National Party voters to support in Epsom – is John Key equally endorsing John Banks and Don Brash’s commercial competence as former Directors of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd?
Is John Key effectively confirming that he does not support ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’ and for the same charges to be equally laid against John Banks and Don Brash as were laid against former fellow Director of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd – Peter Huljich?
It has been confirmed this morning that the FMA will not apply ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’ and equally charge Don Brash or John Banks as former Directors of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd, as was charged fellow former Director Peter Huljich.
So – how ‘fit for duty’ is FMA CEO Sean Hughes?
Who picked him?
Oh yes – the FMA ‘Establishment Board’ – made up of National Party appointees, hand-picked by NATIONAL Commerce/Justice Minister – Simon Power?
The same NATIONAL Commerce/Justice Minister Simon Power, who is going through the ‘revolving door’ and coming out to head Westpac Private Bank?
So – someone chosen by hand-picked National Party appointees, is not going to lift a finger against the former Leader of the National Party – Don Brash, or former National Party Minister of Police, and Local Government – John Banks?
I guess – no surprises there………….
So -if the FMA are arguably not going to do their job – what’s next?
Watch this space…………………..
All this happening here in ‘clean, green, 100% pure New Zealand’ – perceived to be the least corrupt country in the world, (along with Denmark and Singapore – according to the 2010 Transparency International ‘Corruption Perception Index’.)
Yeah right.
Penny Bright
Independent Candidate for Epsom.
Camapigning against ‘white collar’ CRIME, corruption (and its root cause – PRIVATISATION) and ‘corporate welfare’. [email deleted]
I know two liberal Nats who refuse to vote for Banks or ACT on principle, so will be voting tactically for Goldsmith to keep him out. There will probably be Tory drones who’ll do as Dear Leader commands, but then there’s the rest of that diverse electorate. Watch this space…
Craig, if Labour and Greens voters in Epsom gave their electorate vote to Goldsmith *cough, cough*, that might help keep these rogues out of Parliament.
In the last election, the following candidates received these numbers of Electorate Votes,
(A) Rodney Hide – 21,102
(N) Richard Worth – 8,220
(L) Kate Sutton – 5,112
(G) Keith Locke – 2,787
Add the numbers from Green and Labour voters, to really pissed-off National supporters, and the “cunning plan” of Brash and Key may yet be undone.
In 2005 we could have easily chucked out ACT, but too many Labour/Green supporters couldn’t bring themselves to vote for Worth. It’s the lessor of two evils principle, just do it!
Goldsmith or Banks – choose one. There is no other choice.
2005 election
(A) Rodney Hide – 15251
(N) Richard Worth – 12149
(L) Stuart Nash – 6138
(G) Keith Locke – 1513
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New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has hit back at National Party leader Simon Bridges who criticized the Coalition Government’s approach to crime, and said that the latter isn't credible in his attack on the Government over gang recruitment. "We've got as massive drug problem in this country. It is ...
New Zealand Mānuka honey exporters have welcomed an initiative by the Coalition Government to help secure the term “mānuka honey” to be used exclusively by Kiwi exporters, ensuring that our multimillion-dollar industry is protected. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones had recently announced that a Provincial Growth Funding of $5.7 ...
Political commentator Mike Hosking has labelled New Zealand First leader Winston Peters as “the voice of reason in a government soft on drugs”, for the Party’s stance on drug testing at music festivals. “If common sense is worth a vote, Winston Peters is quids in,” Mr Hosking said. The Labour ...
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau has announced Provincial Growth Funding to ensure work opportunities in Turangi and Whanganui, through its skills and employment programme, Te Ara Mahi. A fund of $500,000 will go to Rafting NZ in Turangi for a 16-week river guide training course to train ...
Treasury has shown that the Coalition Government has a $7.5 billion surplus, which is $4 billion higher than what was expected in the 2019 Budget unveiled last May. It is also $2 billion higher than the actual surplus unveiled this time last year, and at a size that has not ...
Official Information Act figures released to NZME show there were 350 assaults on officers in the year to the end of June, 79 more than the year before. The increase in attacks have sparked calls for more legal protection for first responders to be enacted. The assaults included officers being ...
“Nobody wants to see babies uplifted”, this was the pronouncement of Minister for Children Hon. Tracey Martin as her department, Oranga Tamariki, faces multiple inquiries into the number of babies being taken from their families. “But a baby can die with a single punch, “the Minister continued. “So sometimes, Oranga ...
We're making progress on tackling the long-term challenges: from homelessness, to strengthening border security, to bringing banking back New Zealand's small towns. ...
The Government and farming sector leaders have agreed to a world-first partnership to reduce primary sector emissions in one of the most significant developments on climate action in New Zealand's history. Today farming leaders and the Government announced a plan to join forces to develop practical and cost-effective ways to ...
More houses for homeless New Zealanders are being opened today in Tauranga by Associate Housing Minister Kris Faafoi. Six 2-bedroom quality units are being opened at 878 Cameron Road by Minister Faafoi and Accessible Properties, a local Community Housing Provider (CHP). Accessible Properties now provides more than 1,700 community housing ...
Finance Minister Grant Robertson departs tomorrow for events and meetings in Japan and Vietnam. While in Japan, he will discuss economic and fiscal issues including meeting with the Minister of Finance, Taro Aso, and Minister of Economic and Fiscal Policy, Yasutoshi Nishimura. He will meet with the Minister of Education, ...
The Government’s Housing Dashboard released today confirms record numbers of state houses are under construction and shows the Government build programme is gaining momentum. “After nine years of inaction, and a hands-off attitude from the previous government we’re starting to see things move in the right direction for housing,” says ...
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a ministerial statement relating to the Auckland fire. The Government is closely monitoring the situation with the fire at the NZ International Convention Centre and is thankful that everyone is now safe. Firefighters are doing an incredible job managing the fire and bringing it ...
The Government is investing in ambitious research that will digitise Te Reo, grow the low-carbon protein efficient aquaculture industry, help interpret environmental trends, and large data sets says Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods. The four projects range from teaching Siri to speak Te Reo to crunching large environmental ...
A new education-to-employment brokerage service to strengthen connections between local employers and schools. Funding for more trades focused ‘speed-dating’ events to connect schools with employers. Promotional campaign to raise profile of vocational education. The Government is taking action to increase the number of young people taking up vocational education and ...
A Bill to improve prison security and ensure the fair, safe, and humane treatment of people in prison while upholding public safety has passed its third reading. Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says the Corrections Amendment Bill makes a number of changes to ensure the Corrections Act 2004 is fit for ...
Minister for Māori Development, Nanaia Mahuta, has selected Arihia Bennett MNZM, Chief Executive Officer of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, as the Te Puni Kōkiri appointed representative on the New Zealand-China Council. The New Zealand-China Council (the Council) was established in 2012 as a New Zealand led and funded organisation ...
Responsibility for processing the small number of Southern Response claims still to be settled will be transferred to EQC by the end of the year. “As claim numbers reduce, it no longer makes sense for the Crown to have two organisations processing the remaining Canterbury claims,” Grant Robertson says. “Since ...
Health Minister David Clark is encouraging Whanganui residents to take up the opportunity for free bowel screening, which can detect cancer early when it’s easier to treat. Over the next two years 12,000 Whanganui locals, aged 60 to 74 will be invited to participate in the National Bowel Screening ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio, heads to Oslo today to represent New Zealand at the sixth Our Ocean Conference, which is being hosted by the Norwegian Government from the 23-24 October. “The Our Ocean Conference mobilises real action on issues like marine plastic pollution and the impacts of ...
Two secondary-school initiatives are being expanded as part of the Government’s plan to see more young New Zealanders take up a trade to help close the skills gap. This includes the largest single increase in Trades Academy places in recent years. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris ...
Session 4: Pacific Connectivity – Youth, Media and New Opportunities Kia ora tatou katoa and Warm Pacific greetings to one and all. Representatives of Tainui, the local people of the land, or manawhenua – the indigenous peoples of this area – have welcomed you this morning in accordance with ...
The Government today announced its support for a project that could substantially reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from cattle. The announcement was made as part of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor’s visit to Nelson’s Cawthron Aquaculture Park. The Cawthron Institute will receive $100,000 from the Government’s ...
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni has welcomed the first reading of the New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension Legislation Amendment Bill. “Every New Zealander has a stake in New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension,” says Carmel Sepuloni. “They are our most common form of social assistance – nearly 800,000 New ...
Babies in Auckland aged six months and over can receive a free vaccination and children will all have access to vaccines, Associate Minister of Health Julie Anne Genter announced today at Papatoetoe High School. The move comes as part of Government efforts to step up the fight against measles. ...
***Check against delivery*** Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here, and to have the honour of opening this important conference on behalf of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. Let us take the opportunity to acknowledge all the people who have helped make today possible, including our special ...
Police Minister Stuart Nash says the safety of frontline officers and members of the public will be the focus of a new trial of specialist Police response teams in three of our largest urban centres. Police have this morning released details of an initiative to be trialled in Counties Manukau, ...
The Minister of Fisheries is calling for entries for a new public award to celebrate innovation in our seafood sector. “I have established the Seafood Sustainability Awards to recognise and celebrate those throughout industry, tangata whenua and communities who demonstrate outstanding dedication and innovation towards the sustainability of New Zealand’s ...
Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter welcomes leaders in the private sector taking action on closing their gender pay gaps to ensure a fairer workplace for all New Zealanders. Ms Genter today launched a new report, Addressing the gender pay gap and driving women’s representation in senior leadership, from the Champions for ...
Government Ministers today welcomed the release of a marine environment report highlighting the four key issues affecting our oceans, estuaries and coastlines. The release underlines the importance of government proposals to combat climate pollution, ensure clean freshwater, protect biodiversity, make land use more sustainable, and reduce waste and plastic. Environment ...
The Government has approved funding for a new acute mental health facility for Waikato which will provide better care and support to people with mental health and addiction issues. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Health Minister Dr David Clark announced the $100 million project to replace the aging Henry Rongomau ...
The Government is making progress on its goal to integrate te reo Māori into education by 2025, with over 500 teachers and support staff already graduating from Te Ahu o te Reo Māori, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis announced today. Kelvin Davis made the announcement at an awards ceremony in Waikanae today, for ...
Statistics Minister James Shaw has welcomed the first release of 2018 Census data. The first release of data today, 23 September, includes key data on population, regional growth, the number of homes and the size of different ethnic groups in New Zealand. Data from the 2018 Census will support the ...
Minister for Statistics James Shaw today announced a public consultation on a proposed algorithm charter for government agencies. The charter has been developed by the Government Chief Data Steward in response to growing calls for more transparency in government use of data. Computer algorithms – procedures or formulas for solving ...
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, Climate Change Minister James Shaw and visiting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte co-hosted a business roundtable in Auckland this morning focused on working together to address climate change. “The Netherlands is an important partner for New Zealand. We share a strong agricultural history. Sustainable agribusiness and ...
The Government is taking action to build an inclusive economy where more of us receive our fair share at work and businesses can compete on great products and services, not undercutting wages and conditions, Immigration and Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. Two consultations launched today seek feedback ...
The future for New Zealand’s threatened indigenous freshwater fish looks brighter with the passing of the Conservation (Indigenous Freshwater Fish) Amendment Bill in Parliament today said Minister of Conservation, Eugenie Sage. “Until now, our freshwater fish legislation has been 20 years out of date. We have lacked effective tools to ...
At 1.30pm tomorrow, hundreds of thousands of Kiwis will join about 65 million people around the globe in ShakeOut, the world’s biggest earthquake drill. The annual drill is to remind people of the right action to take during an earthquake which is to Drop, Cover, Hold, and to practise their ...
Kiwis are benefiting from higher wage growth and low inflation under the Coalition Government. Stats NZ data out today shows the rise in the cost of living remains low, as annual Consumers Price Index (CPI) inflation fell to 1.5% in September from 1.7% in June. “The low inflation comes as ...
New Zealand’s economic strength and resilience has been recognised in a major update on the state of the global economy. The IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook released overnight shows a reduced global growth forecast over the next two years as issues like the US-China trade war and Brexit take hold. ...
Justice Minister Andrew Little has today introduced a new Bill to prevent terrorism and support the de-radicalisation of New Zealanders returning from overseas. The Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill gives the New Zealand Police the ability to apply to the High Court to impose control orders on New Zealanders who ...
A Bill that proposes targeted changes to simplify the processes for Māori land owners when engaging with the Māori Land Court has had its First Reading today. “The approach taken by the Government is to ensure that the protection of Māori land remains a priority as we seek to improve ...
Let me first thank all the new unionists and members in the room. There is nothing more important to improving people’s working lives than people making the decision to care, to get on board and help, to take up the reins and get involved. Congratulations to you. You bring the ...
Minister of Defence Ron Mark has signed a certificate exempting the activity of engine testing at Whenuapai Airbase from the Resource Management Act 1991. The Act gives the Minister of Defence the power to exempt activities for the purposes of national security. The certificate will mean the recent Environment Court ...
Finance Minister Grant Robertson has announced New Zealand will join the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action while attending APEC meetings in Chile. The objective of the 39 member Coalition is to share information and promote action to tackle climate change. It was formed in April this year, in ...
Feedback sought– Lyttelton commercial zone parking The Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Poto Williams, is seeking feedback on a proposal to remove on-site car parking requirements for new developments in the Lyttelton commercial zone. The proposal, by Christchurch City Council, asks that powers under section 71 of the Greater ...
Hon Minister Poto Williams Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration MEDIA STATEMENT Tuesday 15 October 2019 Feedback sought – Hagley Oval The Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Poto Williams, is seeking feedback on a proposal about Hagley Oval. The proposal was developed by Regenerate Christchurch ...
Ladies and gentlemen, NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff, members of respective unions – thank you for the invitation to speak to you today. This might be preaching to the choir, but the importance of trade unions in New Zealand’s historical arch is difficult to understate. And it is my belief that ...
Family First NZ says that the referendum on assisted suicide will be defeated by voters once they understand the law that may be passed by politicians next month, and the impacts it will have on both the vulnerable and society in general. ...
New Zealand, Thursday 24 October 2019 - The New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) appeared before Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Select Committee yesterday on behalf of it’s 8,000 members to submit on the proposed Arms Legislation Bill. ...
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is pleased to announce the appointment of three organisations to provide refugee settlement support services in five new locations from February 2020. The new settlement locations were announced ...
The prime minister has hailed a ‘historic’ agreement between the government and farming groups. What does it amount to, and is it a substantial step forward in the climate fight, or a ‘sellout’?What’s all this then?For as long as the Emissions Trading Scheme has existed, it has been dogged by ...
Farmers won't have to start paying for their emissions until 2025, as long as they make progress in finding ways to measure and price emissions at the farm level. ...
Thursday, 24 October: Greenpeace is calling the Government’s surprise backdown on its commitment to put farming into the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) a major sell-out. ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Environment Richard Harman (Politik): Farm leaders win Government backdown Henry Cooke and Luke Malpass (Stuff): Farmers ...
Act MP David Seymour is confident the public is well-equipped to vote in a referendum on whether to ratify legislation to allow terminally-ill adults to request assisted dying. ...
Changes are being proposed to the standards and guidelines that apply to Election Programmes which are broadcast by or for political parties and candidates in the run-up to the general election. In consultation with broadcasters, the Broadcasting ...
Federated Farmers is pleased to be working with the government via the industry’s ‘He Waka Eke Noa’ commitment but continues to oppose agriculture entering the Emissions Trading Scheme, ...
As the interminable saga surrounding the Wellington Mayoralty election result drags on, some are already blaming the uncertainty on the fact that the election was carried out under proportional representation – in this case, the Single Transferable Vote ...
Vision NZ says it is a mockery that people who have been in the county five minutes can decide the fate of our nation. New Zealand is one of the few countries in the world that gives non-citizens the right to vote. Vision NZ will put a stop to this ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cedric van den Berg, PhD student, The University of Queensland How does an optical illusion work? – Scarlett, age 8, Shellharbour, NSW. Take a look at this image and move your eyes across the pattern: Your eyes tell the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Greg Barton, Chair in Global Islamic Politics, Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University “Remaining and expanding”. The propaganda tagline of Islamic State (IS) has rung hollow since the collapse of the physical caliphate. But recent developments in north-eastern Syria ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donna Bridges, Lecture of sociology, Charles Sturt University The construction and building industries can be dangerous places to work. These jobs not only pose risks to a person’s physical health, but can threaten their mental health, too. In Australia, “tradies” make up ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University For the past few years, Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions have headed in the wrong direction. The upward trajectory has come amid overwhelming evidence that the world must bring carbon dioxide emissions down. But the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Callie Little, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of New England Teachers have very little to do with why some kids are better at school than others, our research shows. This contradicts the popular view that teachers matter most (after genes) when it comes ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julia Quilter, Associate Professor of Law, University of Wollongong Cycling is often held up as a model of healthy and sustainable urban transport. So why have bike laws become more, not less, draconian? Our ongoing research shows mandatory helmet laws have become ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andreas Cebulla, Senior Research Fellow, South Australian Centre for Economic Studies , University of Adelaide Skilled migration, a mainstay of Australia’s economic and population policies, should be a win-win. Federal and state governments are looking for migrants to meet skills shortfalls and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Ryan, Associate Professor (Literature), Australian Catholic University When in 2017 Nordstrom began selling US$425 jeans (A$620) covered in fake mud, it seemed the long prophesied “late stage capitalism” had finally arrived. Suddenly the phrase itself was everywhere from Reddit to Twitter ...
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Euthanasia bill set to go to a referendum, police whistleblower says he was threatened with legal action, and the finer details of Zero Carbon report.The country is likely to see another referendum next year, on the question of whether the ...
Boris got his Brexit bill approved by Parliament with a swag of Labour party votes – but in principle only. And the opposition has shafted him on his request for an urgent timetable to turn it into legislation before the given Brexit day of 31 October. Nor is the EU ...
The Detail - While Winston Peters maintains he's open to working with either major party at the next election, Newsroom's political editor Sam Sachdeva believes it would be hard for NZ First to repair its relationship with National in time. ...
The latest in Sony’s stable of 90s remasters should come with a pair of rose-coloured glasses. Sam Brooks reviews the 2019 MediEvil remaster.In this generation of gaming, we’ve seen the glowed-up return of a few of our childhood avatars. The bandicoot spins back in, looking fresher than ever. The purple dragon ...
With over 15,000 public submissions on the bill, the Environment Select Committee had a lot to think about. Here’s everything they did – and didn’t – seek to change about the Zero Carbon Bill.Please do not print it out, but let it be known that the Environment Select Committee has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has finally seen off John Setka from the ALP, with the militant construction union leader capitulating and quitting the party. Setka, who lost a court case he brought in his fight ...
New Zealanders will almost certainly face a referendum next year on whether to legalise voluntary euthanasia after a make-or-break vote in Parliament cleared the way. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Nationals leader Michael McCormack has admitted his party should have handled better agriculture minister Bridget McKenzie’s bring-forward of the planned dairy code. Some Nationals were furious when McKenzie suddenly sped up the code’s preparation in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra While the drought continues to hit the Nationals’ constituents hard, the party faces a testing terrain on a political level. In this episode of Politics with Michelle Grattan, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack acknowledges the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy – in the job for for just weeks after moving across from the department of infrastructure last month – has dismissed talk of spending big on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Downie, Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow, Australian National University It’s time we started talking about the principal opponents to action on climate change – fossil fuel industries. If history has taught us anything, it is when oil, gas and coal industries ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jodie Grigg, Research Associate at the National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University My friends are taking ecstasy at raves and music festivals. Is it safe? — Anonymous Key points no drug use, including ecstasy, is 100% safe festivals can present ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Transport Todd Niall (Stuff): Auckland Light Rail: Goff says it’s the Government’s call Richard Harman ...
It isn't the first time Tiwai Point's owners have warned they may close the aluminium smelter, but this Government is unlikely to be handing out financial assistance. ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says APEC will definitely still be held in Auckland in 2021, despite the destruction caused by the fire at the NZ International Convention Centre. ...
The headline said it all. Stats NZ has released 2018 census data on New Zealanders’ commuting habits and, guess what, we love a motorised polluter. “Car streets ahead for travel to work and education” was the heading. It should have been “cars rule, all other options drool”.New cycleways are under construction ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Liu, Chancellors Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Fashion and Textiles Designer, University of Technology Sydney The tech giants Amazon, Google and Facebook have all begun to use machine learning to give you tips on what to wear. Is fashion styling the next field ...
Prime Minister is meeting with officials at the scene of a massive blaze in Auckland's CBD. Watch a live video of a media stand-up with FENZ and the PM. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vanessa Bowden, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Newcastle It is becoming increasingly possible that sea-level rise of a metre or more will occur this century. You might expect this threat to preoccupy coastal homeowners. But many deny the need to act, for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chloe Watfern, Scientia PhD scholar, UNSW At Studio A, on the fourth floor of the Crows Nest community centre, a group of artists is working quietly. An occasional burst of laughter erupts from a corner of the studio. It makes its way ...
In response to Meghan Markle’s admission that she’s finding it a struggle to be a new mother in the media spotlight, columnists across the globe have banded together to launch a charity to support all those women who ‘have it worse’, Emily Writes can exclusively reveal.Meghan Markle – duchess, new ...
Will New Zealand’s largest construction firm have to write off yet more money over the troubled International Convention Centre project?Both Fletcher Building and SkyCity’s share prices have felt the impact of the devastating fire that has raged at Auckland’s half completed convention centre for over a day now. More than ...
The new and spectacular atlas We Are Here is page after page of haunting, hella beautiful visual data, each chapter introduced with an essay. This one, Lost in the Forest, opens the section on people. At some point in the 1990s, one of the creators of this book tried to impress ...
Kassie Hartendorp (Ngāti Raukawa) has been looking to Māori stories and storytellers to learn more about our gender identities before colonisation. There’s a lot to be read between the lines, she writes.Te ao Māori can be a very gendered place to be. In some settings, your gender can tell you ...
The Shouting Valley is a powerful group exhibition at the Gus Fisher Gallery in Auckland that interrogates and gives voice to the people caught between borders. But is the real paradox of this politically charged show the limit of what art can do? Lana Lopesi reviews. “What’s bad about borders?” asked ...
The future of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter is under question again as majority owner, mining giant Rio Tinto, is reviewing the plant's future. ...
There will be another crucial vote for the voluntary euthanasia bill later today - whether or not a referendum will be held at the 2020 general election. ...
It was never intended that state owned enterprises should use their monopoly commercial or regulatory power to stifle competition, yet it is at least arguable that is what has happened says Peter Dunne. ...
Go Bus drivers in South Auckland will continue refusing to collect fares tomorrow as their protest continues with the intent of avoiding disruption to passengers while highlighting the need for fair wage negotiations with their employer, FIRST Union ...
Smoke continues to billow in downtown Auckland 24 hours after fire broke out in the incomplete complex.Shortly after 1pm yesterday came the first reports of a fire on the site of the SkyCity New Zealand International Convention Centre in central Auckland. That brought a massive mobilisation of emergency services, evacuations ...
He Kākano Ahau is a podcast by writer and activist Kahu Kutia (Ngāi Tūhoe) that explores stories of Māori in the city, and weaves together strands of connection. In episode one: the legacy of urban marae Tapu te Ranga.I grew up where the tarseal on the road crumbles away into ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Australians are divided over whether the nation’s universities have too many foreign students, according to the Australian National University’s ANUpoll, released Wednesday. In the polling, 52.8% said the mix between foreign and domestic students was ...
National's leader Simon Bridges says a bill imposing restrictions on people returning after fighting for extremist groups would only keep New Zealanders "half safe". ...
Alex Casey talks to Leigh Hart about the return of Late Night Big Breakfast, the finest morning TV parody show New Zealand has ever made. Late Night Big Breakfast is set to return to TVNZ in 2020 after a five year hiatus, creator and comedian Leigh Hart has confirmed. Filmed in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tom Gordon, PhD candidate. Sydney University Physics Education Research (SUPER) group, University of Sydney If you want to get good marks in your exams, there’s no substitute for study. So do past exams, go over your notes, read what you need to ...
Otago University academic Chris Brickell wonders whether his new book on LGBT objects ought to be the sort of thing bookshops would want to have on their shelves. ...
South Aucklanders from Mangere to East Tamaki will be riding their Go Bus services to work for free tomorrow morning, as FIRST Union bus drivers opt out of collecting fares for their employer in an industrial action designed to show the wider public ...
What do we make of the Air New Zealand decision to quit the Auckland-Los Angeles-London route? Nothing much as it simply reflects the changing dynamics of the airline industry. Gone are the days when Air NZ took the McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 into the fleet and began flying Los Angeles, then ...
A cup of tea and a lie 
As expected, the government has chickened out on agricultural emissions. Given the option to put farmers in the ETS and make them properly pay for their pollution like the rest of us, they have instead decided to threaten them with it, in the hope that this will cause climate-change denying ...50 mins ago
Some of us at Redline are part of a Marxist and anarchist gender-critical e-group that consists of activists in several countries – trade unionists, women’s liberation activists, gay and straight, male and female. Through this we became aware of the case outlined below. Thanks to Thistle for writing this for ...4 hours 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 Everyone is going on about reducing our carbon footprint, zero ...19 hours ago
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by the Council of Disobedient Women We call on the Council of Trade Unions to show some fortitude and take a stand with your sisters. Unionists know that there is a material world, otherwise workers could simply identify out of poverty. They could declare themselves Well Paid. Why stop ...3 days ago
Keir Starmer has hinted that Labour might vote in favour of the Johnson government's shoddy deal, with the proviso that a second referendum is attached:Speaking to BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show, he said: “We will see what that looks like but it makes sense to say that by whatever ...3 days ago
In 1994, I was the editor for an issue of Planet magazine focused on cannabis, its culture and the prospects for the end of its prohibition. Part of that issue was an interview with 'Ringo', an experienced cannabis dealer.I recently posted my essay from that issue, and I figured it ...5 days ago
Media Statement for Immediate Release 16th October 2019 “Fake News” from Auckland City Council CCOs Board Chairs re pay and performance bonuses for top managers Despite comments from Auckland City Council CCOs Board Chairs re pay and performance bonuses for top managers—Herald Newspaper Tuesday Oct 15th–there is very little evidence ...7 days 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 There is a lot of discussion on the benefits of ...1 week ago
Thanks to a report from the Acting Inspector General of Intelligence and Security following a complaint by Nicky Hager, we have come to find out that the SIS illegally spied on Mr. Hager on behalf of the NZDF after publication of Hager’s 2011 book, Other People’s Wars. The NZDF justified ...1 week ago
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING MYTH 1: Global temperatures are rising at a rapid, unprecedented rate. FACT: The HadCRUT3 surface temperature index, produced by the Hadley Centre of the UK Met Office and the Climate Research Unit of the University of East Anglia, shows warming to 1878, cooling to 1911, ...1 week ago
A list of indicators of bad science – many of these are found in articles promoted by anti-fluoride activists. Anti-fluoride activists have been pouring money into a scaremongering campaign warning pregnant women not to drink fluoridated water. They claim fluoride will lower the IQ of their future child. Fluoride ...1 week ago
More than double the number of people who will vote in this year’s local body elections have tried marijuana or urinated somewhere they shouldn’t have. As local elections look set for the lowest turnout in decades, with many regions falling well short of 40%, the Government is exploring a number ...2 weeks ago
Musings continue apace about “the experienced businessman!” soon to be taking up a National Party MP position. Or to be more accurate, being parachuted into a seat to shut down their former MP Jamie-Lee Ross, who despite his own shortcomings shed at least some more light on the inner workings ...2 weeks ago
“There can be no such thing as kaupapa Māori political parties or politics in Aotearoa” (Willie Jackson, Labour Party (2017). Māori TV, General/List Election Special) I begin with that claim because at the time, I was confounded at first that it fell out of Willie Jackson’s mouth, and then ...2 weeks ago
Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand First Leader New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters says the Government’s steps to reduce farm livestock emissions are necessary and timely. Today the Government and farming leaders announced a plan to measure and price emissions at the farm level by 2025. “Many farmers ...47 mins ago
We're rebuilding our hospitals, protecting our oceans, and taking mental health seriously. ...6 days ago
The Government and farming sector leaders have agreed to a world-first partnership to reduce primary sector emissions in one of the most significant developments on climate action in New Zealand's history. Today farming leaders and the Government announced a plan to join forces to develop practical and cost-effective ways to ...41 mins ago
Family First NZ says that the referendum on assisted suicide will be defeated by voters once they understand the law that may be passed by politicians next month, and the impacts it will have on both the vulnerable and society in general. ...16 mins ago
The Green Party will support the Terrorism Suppression Bill after negotiating a deal with Justice Minister Andrew Little. ...33 mins ago
The prime minister has hailed a ‘historic’ agreement between the government and farming groups. What does it amount to, and is it a substantial step forward in the climate fight, or a ‘sellout’?What’s all this then?For as long as the Emissions Trading Scheme has existed, it has been dogged by ...2 hours ago
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
New Zealand’s agricultural sector has been given time to fulfil its own climate change commitments. ...2 hours ago
The fire at Sky City in Auckland is into its third day, with flames still evident this morning and smoke continuing to affect the central city. ...5 hours ago
Boris got his Brexit bill approved by Parliament with a swag of Labour party votes – but in principle only. And the opposition has shafted him on his request for an urgent timetable to turn it into legislation before the given Brexit day of 31 October. Nor is the EU ...6 hours ago
Teenager Princess Elliot left her small town for the city, to make her name in netball - now the speedster's taking the rugby world by storm. ...6 hours ago
Kirsten Slade draws a review of a book of drawings by Sarah Laing. ...6 hours ago
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I am perturbed by what seems to be indirect advertising for National in two TV adverts.
I could be wrong on the first, which starts with an image of the current Labour election logo
then shows images of 60’s era drinkers before morphing to an image of someone who started a new brew.
The second shows images of someone carrying another man around. It seems to be an advertisment for a bank, but the visceral message is one of liberal individualism and lack of concern for others.
It would be consistent with laying the ground for swingeing ‘welfare reforms’ early in the next term.
Having met some members of the Auckland advertising fraternity, I am not surprised.
Doesn’t arch-Tory Michelle Boag run one of the big Auckland ad agencies? What ads do they have running at present?
Can’t help you there. Ask around. Someone on this blog should know.
Yes. The name will come to me after I hit submit.
ogilvies
Just the usual Brighter future with John Key and National. Now is it me ? or does it look like John Key has put himself ahead of everything the Nats hold dear?
you might remember that they ran that ad last election too.
And it’s false. The Black Budget beer tax was on all beers. And Export Gold was already being made years before.
And how could an Kiwi brewer not be ‘brewing his export beer in NZ?’
It’s a fucken disgrace.
Good one, Blighty !
[ Good to meet a man who knows his beers. ]
not that I would ever drink Export Gold, except at the cricket.
It was worse than that before Jim Anderton officially complained to the Broadcastingcompaints Commision about the inaccuracy of that add and made them change it – I think they cut some parts out of it.
Indeed they did, Akldnut. They reworded it to make it marginally more historically accurate and removed the direct anti-Labour party smear. But it is still weak as weasel’s piss, particularly as the vast majority of beer sold by DB was, and is, DB Draught. And most workers would have drunk jugs in the pub and filled up flagons to take home with them, rather than purchase bottles anyway.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1102/S00178/anderton-victory-over-db-export-ad.htm
yes that ad is one big fiction from start to finish.
The media seem to be swinging in behind ACT as they realise their plan for Key to govern alone might be too much of a stretch, so they want to place our fate in the hands of two genuine, gold-plated whack-jobs, Brash and Banks.
Yes Tom. The amazing repetition of the drink of tea campaign and the value that they reckon it will give Key is a MSM strategy of Plan B. Including Radio National.
Eckshully, I think the gold-plate may actually be fool’s gold!
There must be someone out there who can publicly release the story. It does have a political as well as a personal side to it. It stinks that the hypocritical pratt is being allowed to get away with it. I don’t remember the media having much by way of ‘scruples’ in the nine years of the Labour government!
the hypocritical pratt won’t be getting away it
Interesting how National and ACT can get away with little “nudge, nudge, wink, wink” deals and everything is hunky dory.
But Jim Andertlon – who is retiring – writes a letter openly endorsing Labour candidates Megan Woods – and the Electoral Commission and Police accept a complaint from Cameron Slater?!?!
Double standards, much?
More curious is that CERA has spent over a hundred thousand taxpayers dollars on a big, glossy pamphlet promoting Gerry Brownlee and delivering it to every letterbox in Christchurch, right in the middle of a general election campaign? This stinks to high heaven. Brownlee’s people micro-manage the hoards of PR flunkies at CERA, so the idea they and he had no idea is just fantasy. But they will get away with it. No news here, right?
I would hardly call the Epsom deal a “nudge, nudge, wink, wink” affair. It is about as obvious as you can get!
The Anderton situation is simply a case of not having a promoter statement on a letter/ad as required by law. Sloppy practice – it would have been fine with those few words printed at the end – but a few people have been caught out by this.
Fair point…
No it isn’t. As obvious as you can get would be if National ran away from their voters in Epsom and dropped their candidate off the ballot paper.
However I think that they have lost the opportunity to do that. We must be past the point where the candidate can be withdrawn from the ballot paper – I think that they are either printed or sent for printing now.
I think early voting has started too, so I expect it’s way too late to get off the ballot. But where’s the fun in that anyway? More entertaining to sit back and see if a trainwreck eventuates 🙂
I suppose they can still put notices up in a booth saying “such and such has withdrawn”.
I remember an anecdote about a reverse situation in council elections in Auckland in the thirties, where the Labour Party belatedly agreed to join a united front campaign to oust the Tories from control of the various local councils. In one area the leaflets had already been printed, so a gold coloured sticker was printed with the names of the two extra united front candidates and added to the literature before it was sent out.
The result was that the voters reading the pamphlet assumed that the latter two names in gold were the preferred candidates and they bolted in. Possibly the only time the Communist Party of NZ ever won a popular mandate!
Double Standards Frank? Kinda like you over David Garrett and the stolen babies identity theft?
???
dont worry. kweewee is going to go the same way as Richard Nixon. I am not a crook. Oh yeah.
John Key’s ‘brand’ that John Banks wants to endorse?
‘SHONKY’.
By having a ‘cuppa’ with, (doing a deal with ) in my considered opinion, someone yet to be charged or convicted ‘white collar’ criminal John Banks – who wants to help run the country, but arguably couldn’t properly run Huljich Wealth Mangement (NZ) Ltd Kiwisaver schemes?
Same with Don Brash?
Is John Key by effectively endorsing John Banks as the electorate candidate for National Party voters to support in Epsom – is John Key equally endorsing John Banks and Don Brash’s commercial competence as former Directors of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd?
Is John Key effectively confirming that he does not support ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’ and for the same charges to be equally laid against John Banks and Don Brash as were laid against former fellow Director of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd – Peter Huljich?
It has been confirmed this morning that the FMA will not apply ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’ and equally charge Don Brash or John Banks as former Directors of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd, as was charged fellow former Director Peter Huljich.
So – how ‘fit for duty’ is FMA CEO Sean Hughes?
Who picked him?
Oh yes – the FMA ‘Establishment Board’ – made up of National Party appointees, hand-picked by NATIONAL Commerce/Justice Minister – Simon Power?
The same NATIONAL Commerce/Justice Minister Simon Power, who is going through the ‘revolving door’ and coming out to head Westpac Private Bank?
So – someone chosen by hand-picked National Party appointees, is not going to lift a finger against the former Leader of the National Party – Don Brash, or former National Party Minister of Police, and Local Government – John Banks?
I guess – no surprises there………….
So -if the FMA are arguably not going to do their job – what’s next?
Watch this space…………………..
All this happening here in ‘clean, green, 100% pure New Zealand’ – perceived to be the least corrupt country in the world, (along with Denmark and Singapore – according to the 2010 Transparency International ‘Corruption Perception Index’.)
Yeah right.
Penny Bright
Independent Candidate for Epsom.
Camapigning against ‘white collar’ CRIME, corruption (and its root cause – PRIVATISATION) and ‘corporate welfare’.
[email deleted]
Welcome aboard Penny my dear girl. Your comments are most welcome and invariably enlightening. Please keep them coming.
Wonder how Epsomites feel about being told who to vote for?
How about this for an election night scenario.
Banks wins by a hand full of votes
Act get 5.1%
nzf 4.9%
Final result
Goldsmithh wins by 100 or so
Act get 4.96%
NZF 5.04%
I know two liberal Nats who refuse to vote for Banks or ACT on principle, so will be voting tactically for Goldsmith to keep him out. There will probably be Tory drones who’ll do as Dear Leader commands, but then there’s the rest of that diverse electorate. Watch this space…
Craig, if Labour and Greens voters in Epsom gave their electorate vote to Goldsmith *cough, cough*, that might help keep these rogues out of Parliament.
In the last election, the following candidates received these numbers of Electorate Votes,
(A) Rodney Hide – 21,102
(N) Richard Worth – 8,220
(L) Kate Sutton – 5,112
(G) Keith Locke – 2,787
Add the numbers from Green and Labour voters, to really pissed-off National supporters, and the “cunning plan” of Brash and Key may yet be undone.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epsom_%28New_Zealand_electorate%29
In 2005 we could have easily chucked out ACT, but too many Labour/Green supporters couldn’t bring themselves to vote for Worth. It’s the lessor of two evils principle, just do it!
Goldsmith or Banks – choose one. There is no other choice.
2005 election
(A) Rodney Hide – 15251
(N) Richard Worth – 12149
(L) Stuart Nash – 6138
(G) Keith Locke – 1513
total of above three – 19800