A Little Goes A Long Way

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 2:22 pm, October 5th, 2014 - 241 comments
Categories: labour - Tags: andrew little, leadership

Now that the final votes are in Andrew Little has been confirmed as a list MP. He has now said that he is considering his options around running for leader.

He would be a great choice. He’s left, he’s already identified some of the reasons for Labour’s disconnect with the voters, and he’s prepared to make the big calls. For example; no CGT, no rise in the super age.

As the former head of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, Little has shown he can connect with working people. He knows their issues and he knows the solutions. He is a proven leader and has a history of working with different factions to bring unity. During his time as EPMU National Secretary, he convinced the staunchly independent Miners’ union to join his organisation. The benefit of that amalgamation was quickly shown in the cruellest of circumstances; the greater resources of the EPMU made sure the voices of the 29 workers killed by corporate greed in the Pike River disaster echoed through the public enquiry. The miners put their trust in Little and they were not let down.

It’s fair to say that he’s only a list MP. Or that he’s only just starting his second term. But Andrew has the skills and abilities to rise above the carping. He has a sharp mind, terrific debating ability and goes into the leadership campaign free of sectarian baggage. And according to his facebook page he likes The Clash, the Smiths and Woody Guthrie. There’s three great reasons to vote for him right there!

The NZ Labour Party is hurting. We need to find a way to cut through and reconnect with the Kiwis who rejected us at the ballot box. More importantly, we need to give those who didn’t vote a compelling reason to take five minutes on a Saturday morning three years from now to change our country’s direction.

In the ballot, Little will get some support from the membership. Maybe not as much as Cunliffe, but likely more than Robertson. He will get the tick from the affiliates. And, in caucus, he will get the votes of those not closely aligned with the other candidates. And possibly the ABCers if they tactically vote to keep DC out.

If he runs, I believe he will win. A fresh start, a fresh face. A Little may go a long way.

Te Reo Putake

(Disclaimer: I’ve known Andrew for ten years. I’ve worked with him on occasions and on the other side of the table from him on other occasions.)

241 comments on “A Little Goes A Long Way ”

Comments are now closed

lprent 1

5 October 2014 at 2:25 pm

😈

For those interested this would have been called “A panegyric for Andrew Little”, but TRP provided his own title.

I added the Webb caricature of Andrew Little
- ghostwhowalksnz 1.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 3:11 pm
  
  Didascaliae are a compilation of production notices for several stage works of ancient Rome.
  The Standards Didascaliae, that was the phrase I was looking for !
- Big red fire truck 1.2
  
  5 October 2014 at 8:26 pm
  
  Whale Oil thinks otherwise: http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/10/really-labours-next-prime-minister/#more-157814
  
  Is this an issue, he losing New Plymouth badly, worse the second time? I am sorry for sounding disloyal but the elephant in the room has to ask! If he got Nashy as his deputy, he could teach him how to win~!
  - Ron 1.2.1
    
    6 October 2014 at 8:49 am
    
    The chances of Nash ever winning Leadership must be just about zero unless you were suggesting he join National or Conservative party.
    While Little may well be a lifesaver for Labour I would still prefer Twyford but for some reason he has not so far given an indication that he would enter contest.
weka 2

5 October 2014 at 2:36 pm

“He’s left”

Any chance you could be a bit more specific?

What’s his position on welfare?

What will he do about the left/right divide within caucus?

Is he in favour of increasing membership power within the party?
- blue leopard 2.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 2:52 pm
  
  @ Weka,
  
  Having watched parliament channel, I have learned a lot about left-wing principles through Little’s speeches. So much so, that I was a tad surprised that all the panelists on Q&A , including Michelle Boag, were being so positive about him.
  
  Being rather cynical about any support shown toward left-wing members by a righty, I hope someone who knows more will respond to your question because I thought there must be some [awful] reason why Boag was being so supportive!
  - Chooky 2.1.1
    
    5 October 2014 at 3:04 pm
    
    +100…the Boagey’s kiss of death
  - Cancerman 2.1.2
    
    5 October 2014 at 8:58 pm
    
    Because even though he is Left he is competent and wouldn’t embarrass the country like Cunliffe would if he was Prime Minister. With some of the stories around the traps of Cunliffe you wonder if he is Aspergers. Supposedly very smart but socially retarded.
    - Saarbo 2.1.2.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 9:13 pm
      
      “stories around the traps”…
      
      No one in parliament has had to face so many lies and rumours about himself, and as was revealed in some tweets last week…all fuelled by “jealousy’. If you have any facts then bring them up, otherwise stfu.
      - Rodel 2.1.2.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 9:51 pm
        
        yeah What a fool comment from Cm. Hey, look at me. I’ve learnt a big new word…Asp…….something.Not even Trollitics 101.
    - Granted 2.1.2.2
      
      5 October 2014 at 9:25 pm
      
      Interesting….He strikes me as a capable leader for Labour yet I am not convinced at the PM level….
      
      Time will tell…or maybe not
  - lurgee 2.1.3
    
    6 October 2014 at 9:05 am
    
    I thought there must be some [awful] reason why Boag was being so supportive!
    
    Maybe she’s doing it deliberately to turn leftists against candidates the right fears?
  - Tracey 2.1.4
    
    6 October 2014 at 12:06 pm
    
    boag would be excited cos she knows the right are excited by their file of anti union, commie smears
- Murray Olsen 2.2
  
  6 October 2014 at 3:14 am
  
  What’s his position on The Nissan Way, negotiated between the Engineers’ Union and Nissan, with union officials basically selling a worsening of work conditions to their members? I believe Peter Denny was very enthusiastic.
  
  What is his position on unions collaborating with employers to get rid of militants and even providing a blacklist, as the Engineers’ Union was doing in Auckland in the 1980s?
  - Te Reo Putake 2.2.1
    
    6 October 2014 at 8:37 am
    
    Murray, I imagine his position on both issues is that as he wasn’t around at the time it’s nothing to do with him. However, as EPMU Nat Sec in more recent times, he certainly did set a higher standard. For example, he pushed for the Kingsgate accord which ended the pointless cannibalisation of union members via membership raids and demarcation disputes.
    
    I think it could be accurately said of him that he both modernised the EPMU and took it to the left. Certainly, under his watch, the EPMU were far more militant. To give an example of a dispute you’re familiar with, the Progressive supermarket blue in 2006 was fought side by side to the end by the EPMU and the NDU. The old Engineers Union attitude would probably have been to stab the NDU in the back and cut a weak deal once the pressure came on. And then raid the NDU’s membership with employer support.
    
    Nah, his cap’s cut from a different cloth altogether.
    - Tiger Mountain 2.2.1.1
      
      6 October 2014 at 1:54 pm
      
      The Voice is probably right regarding Andrew Little. NWay was important in its time and place and there is residual support for what the “gingerbeers” did at Nissan amongst old EPMU folks with institutional memory–“Us against the maddies”–just as other unionists still see it as the ultimate sell out to enable “company unions”.
      
      Nissan Way turned out to be what its most trenchant critics such as me predicted–a micro economic labour control/union busting system. The then Engineers Union were part of the introduction in an underhand way but would soon have been discarded if the ongoing battles with Nissan in the United States are anything to go on.
      
      When the import substitution regime was removed by Rogernomics and following National govt the car industry was a goner notwithstanding teamworking etc. Fisher and Paykell buggered off to Thailand and Mexico too after instituting a virtually uncontested version of Nissan Way.
      
      In todays dependent contracting, agency, internship and precarious work environment such devices are barely necessary.
      - Te Reo Putake 2.2.1.1.1
        
        6 October 2014 at 2:26 pm
        
        Your last point is right on the money, TM. No need to co-opt the union if the workforce is atomised, under the thumb and scared about where the next pay cheque is coming from. I would hope Little would be keen to start challenging the neo-liberal consensus in practical ways, starting with strengthening collective bargaining. From there, we might be able to rekindle the flame of working class solidarity. And from there, we might be able to rebuild our society around need not greed.
TheContrarian 3

5 October 2014 at 2:37 pm

Little was on Q+A this morning – I thought he spoke very well and could well make a good run for it.
- Te Reo Putake 3.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 2:46 pm
  
  Cheers, TC. Link here: http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/andrew-little-considering-putting-his-hand-up-leader-video-6098451
  
  And this from 3News: http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/andrew-little-hints-at-leadership-run-2014100417
  - TheContrarian 3.1.1
    
    5 October 2014 at 2:52 pm
    
    I hope he runs. I don’t like Cunliffe and thought if Robertson was the only alternative then I’d throw my lot in with him given I quite like the guy. However Little introduces something else entirely. Looking forward to seeing how this shakes down
  - greywarbler 3.1.2
    
    5 October 2014 at 3:07 pm
    
    Thanks for the links TrP – good to hear and see the man and his views and approach.
    Seems workmanlike, interested, ready to engage – not attempting the celebrity teeth flashing of Winston or the chummy confidential schmoozing of yek.
blue leopard 4

5 October 2014 at 2:42 pm

On a light note, the Labour leadership issue is increasingly reminding me of this book:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Are_You_My_Mother%3F

I hope that it sorts out as well as it did in the book!
Tamati 5

5 October 2014 at 2:46 pm

Good to see him looking to axe the CGT and retirement age. Labour needs to categorically rule those out in a first term, then use to public service to set out a comprehensive CGT policy and take it to the 2020 election.
- Hanswurst 5.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 8:12 pm
  
  No. Labour should not drop CGT, unless it comes up with something else that would be at least as effective in tempering the attractiveness of property speculation in the medium-to long term. It’s good policy and it took a long time to get it even as far into the main-stream as it is with Labour now (Jim Anderton had been talking about it for years). If Labour resiles from it now, it will be explnentially harder to bring it back at a later date. Voters, now relatively used to the idea of “vote left, get a CGT”, will not see it as a huge stumbling block – and I’m not really convinced that they did at the 2014 election either. If the left bloc can promote itself successfully to the electorate as a unit, it will not be CGT that costs them the government benches.
  - lurgee 5.1.1
    
    5 October 2014 at 8:19 pm
    
    More people support a capital gains tax than oppose it.
    
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11282563
    
    The policy is not the problem.
    - Tamati 5.1.1.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 9:09 pm
      
      Polls like this oversimplify voter decisions and behavior. People are more likely to get out vote against at tax, than be motivated to vote for one. i.e. Those opposed to the CGT may swing their vote, those who support it will probably vote on other issues.
      - Saarbo 5.1.1.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 9:24 pm
        
        Re CGT, how people look at it in 2017 will depend what happens to the property market between now and 2017. If it continues to increase at the current rate then people will be much more accepting of it, however if we have a property crash, then…
        
        Rob 5.1.1.1.1.1
        
        6 October 2014 at 11:05 am
        
        Yes , because CGT corrected other over heated property markets such as Sydney , yeah rite.
        
        CGT does not limit the inflation issues in housing that you are supposedly trying to solve. It does collect more tax, which is paid for by the owners who when owning rental property often pass it on to the renters.
        
        I think people need to grow up on the supposed benefits of this tax in regards to placing a hand brake on property values. It does not do that.
    - Hanswurst 5.1.1.2
      
      5 October 2014 at 9:13 pm
      
      Yeah, I read that. I just think that the issues surrounding CGT specifically at this election may have been more complex than that. Firstly, there can always be vagaries like, “I personally support a CGT, but, being of the impression that the wider electorate doesn’t, I won’t vote for the Labour party”, or “In theory I like the idea, but John Key muttered some stuff last night about capital flight, so I’m uneasy about the real consequences”. Secondly, while CGT would appear to be seen favourably on its own, it fit neatly into John Key’s cheap and inaccurate “five new taxes” screeching.
      
      Basically, apolicy which is not a problem in itself can appear to become one if seen as the flagship policy of a party that is down in the polls, or if it is attacked by a prime minister whom the electorate is disposed towards trusting.
  - Tamati 5.1.2
    
    5 October 2014 at 9:04 pm
    
    The issue is, not that a CGT is wrong, but their current policy is confusing and has too many grey areas left up to an “expert panel”. Far better would be to rule it out in a first term, then use the resources of the public service to formulate a policy and take it to the 2020 election. It’s far easier for a government to implement a new tax, especially once they’ve proven themselves capable of handling the economy. The GCT is a long term policy, so delaying by a year or two won’t make much difference.
    - Hanswurst 5.1.2.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 9:39 pm
      
      The issue is, not that a CGT is wrong, but their current policy is confusing and has too many grey areas left up to an “expert panel”.
      
      No, that isn’t the issue. The passing of law generally involves readjustment of that kind in any case as it goes through parliament and select committee stages. National’s tax-cut announcement and housing policy had at least as many questions open (probably more), and yet they were not subjected to the same slaughter attempts in the media.
      
      Far better would be to rule it out in a first term, then use the resources of the public service to formulate a policy and take it to the 2020 election.
      
      Nice theory, but historically it hasn’t worked like that. Labour had a reputation as sound economic managers after the election in 2002, but the “fart tax” frenzy whipped up by Federated Farmers and the National Party put paid to its initial attempts to curb CO2 emissions in NZ.
      - Rodel 5.1.2.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 9:57 pm
        
        The really sad thing about that is that they successfully branded it as ‘fart’ tax . Farting cows was a lie. Cows belching is the problem but kiwis got sucked in to believing the right wing lies yet again…sigh!
        
        Colonial Viper 5.1.2.1.1.1
        
        6 October 2014 at 2:09 am
        
        thanks to the MSM.
      - Scott1 5.1.2.1.2
        
        6 October 2014 at 6:56 am
        
        Maybe Labour was too detailed.
        
        ‘Yes we will put in a capital gains tax, no we won’t tell you the exact details because we don’t want you to rush out and form trusts designed to dodge he tax.’ (or something along those lines).
    - Annie 5.1.2.2
      
      6 October 2014 at 10:21 am
      
      +100
- Tracey 5.2
  
  6 October 2014 at 12:08 pm
  
  cgt wasnt as unpopular as the nats made out, in fact it polled pretty well.
whateva next? 6

5 October 2014 at 2:47 pm

Believing that stability I support Cunliffe, but unity is part of stability, and if Cunliffe simply does not have support within the party, we will continue to be divided and ruled.If Little can bring unity within and across the party, surely we have to look at the bigger picture, and stop this tribalism, that the right have successfully engineered, or amplified?
- weka 6.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 3:00 pm
  
  What happens if unity is not possible (no matter who is leader)?
  - whateva next? 6.1.1
    
    5 October 2014 at 3:22 pm
    
    As a Labour supporter, this statement is just not part of my thinking!
    - weka 6.1.1.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 4:11 pm
      
      If you can’t be honest about a serious problem it becomes next to impossible to change .
      - whateva next? 6.1.1.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 4:39 pm
        
        Not supporting avoidance of a problem (far from it) , but believe that unity is essential and always possible, if Labour want to be in government.
        
        weka 6.1.1.1.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 5:51 pm
        
        hmm, that’s faith based politics. It doesn’t matter what you or I believe if reality differs. It’s a possibility that unity isn’t possible within the current caucus. Why is that so hard to look at?
        
        whateva next? …
        
        5 October 2014 at 6:24 pm
        
        I think that Little could actually unite caucus, and stop tribalism that ……etc
        
        weka …
        
        5 October 2014 at 6:34 pm
        
        I don’t (I think that until Labour makes a decision about whether it is a left wing party or a neoliberal one, there will never be unity). But that’s by the by. What you or I believe is irrelevant in the face of what is real. I’m saying it’s possible that unity isn’t achievable by this caucus, so if that is true, what next?
        
        lurgee …
        
        5 October 2014 at 8:22 pm
        
        I think the likelihood of victory would do wonders for caucus unity. I don’t think either team LIKES being on the opposition benches.
        
        It doesn’t pay as well as being in cabinet, you see.
        
        Get Labour above 35% CONSISTENTLY and you’ll see a very loyal team indeed.
        
        (They won’t start scheming again until they are safely in power. Probably.)
        
        weka …
        
        5 October 2014 at 8:34 pm
        
        so fake unity then.
        
        Scott1 …
        
        6 October 2014 at 7:06 am
        
        Faking it until you make it is demonstrably a valid strategy.
        
        One Anonymous Bloke …
        
        6 October 2014 at 7:19 am
        
        National doesn’t.
        
        The difference is that when Bill English openly disagrees with the lying corrupt Prime Minister in the middle of an election campaign the media doesn’t react the same way to the smell of blood in the water.
        
        weka …
        
        6 October 2014 at 9:04 am
        
        Of course but faking it until you realise it’s not possible also happens. Why is it so hard to consider that the Labour caucus might not be capable of being unified?
        
        Foreign waka …
        
        5 October 2014 at 8:59 pm
        
        Tribalism is the domain of the National Party. The play on and with it. Labor on the other hand likes to be seen as academic but really should be more middle of the road. Only 13% of NZ adults have a bachelors or higher degree and 22% have no formal education (2014). The latter is very worrying. And no one is speaking for them, that is the real issue.
        
        Hanswurst …
        
        6 October 2014 at 1:25 am
        
        It’s a tragedy that we should feel that those with comparatively little formal education can’t be ably represented by those with degrees. The biggest problem in that narrow respect is the lack of respect shown by the highly educated for those of relatively little education, and vice versa.
        
        Colonial Viper …
        
        6 October 2014 at 1:40 am
        
        It’s a tragedy that we should feel that those with comparatively little formal education can’t be ably represented by those with degrees.
        
        Nah that’s not the tragedy.
        
        The tragedy is we think it normal that the smaller, more privileged, more highly educated group should consistently be the ones to represent the larger, less privileged, less educated group. Put another way. People who are qualified aren’t necessarily smart. And vice versa.
        
        Look at MJ Savage or Norman Kirk. The days of that Labour are long gone, with too many ambitious pol sci grads in their place.
        
        Hanswurst …
        
        6 October 2014 at 2:02 am
        
        Ah yes. The “vice versa” was supposed to apply to both parts of my statement. Whoever is doing the representing will be able to draw on the advice they choose to take anyway, so whom they represent is more to do with their background and philosophy than how they gained their qualifications.
        
        Murray Olsen …
        
        6 October 2014 at 3:26 am
        
        What do you mean by “no formal education”? Primary school provides formal education.
        
        Scott1 …
        
        6 October 2014 at 7:04 am
        
        Just because a lawyer doesn’t “necessarily” know more about the law than you and are a small elite group, doesn’t mean you should refuse to use lawyers if someone takes you to court.
        
        One Anonymous Bloke …
        
        6 October 2014 at 7:21 am
        
        “comparatively little” ≠ “no”
        
        Read it again Murray 🙂
        
        Murray Olsen …
        
        6 October 2014 at 7:16 pm
        
        No reply button for OAB, but the person I was replying to said
        “Only 13% of NZ adults have a bachelors or higher degree and 22% have no formal education (2014).”
        
        What did I miss that I need to read it again?
        
        Tracey …
        
        6 October 2014 at 12:11 pm
        
        how will he do that?
- Aaron 6.2
  
  5 October 2014 at 3:08 pm
  
  Surely if he’s too far left, the ABCs will just become the ABLs?
  
  Or am I attributing too much rationality to the ABCs? Maybe they’ll swing in behind Little in order to get rid of Cunliffe only to discover they’ve supported a genuine lefty by mistake?
  - whateva next? 6.2.1
    
    5 October 2014 at 3:21 pm
    
    who says he is too far left? bound to be anti-Little comments coming strong and fast, but supporting unions is not “too far left” necessarily, unions will be needed more than ever with a “too far right” government we have now.
    - Colonial Viper 6.2.1.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 8:04 pm
      
      The Robertson camp is not going to tolerate someone else being Leader of the Labour Party for very long, Cunliffe or Little, no matter how much the members and affiliates support them.
      - lurgee 6.2.1.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 8:24 pm
        
        I’ve always viewed modern trade union types as being on the right of the left. Practical people, used to dealing with business leaders and making compromises. The decline of trade unionism and the rise of the professional politician are the twin plagues of the left.
        
        phillip ure 6.2.1.1.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 9:47 pm
        
        @ lurgee..
        
        + 1..
    - Scott1 6.2.1.2
      
      6 October 2014 at 7:08 am
      
      regardless of exactly where we place him on the left/right scale –
      I think Labour already has the union vote. It needs to pick up other votes. I probably need to see more of Andrew Little to know if he could do that.
    - Tracey 6.2.1.3
      
      6 October 2014 at 12:15 pm
      
      if you think the national machine havent got the union = hard left/commie strategy ready to go…
      
      the next leader of the LP, imo, needs to be clear to the membership and caucus about exactly HOW they will counter tge inevitable barrage of smear and lies that will rain down on them from the national act machinery… otherwise they too will die in the water of good intent.
  - Cancerman 6.2.2
    
    5 October 2014 at 9:01 pm
    
    I think you’ll find that although the ABC are the “right” of the party they have been there in a time when Cunliffe was also the “right”. They don’t like his personality.
Clean_power 7

5 October 2014 at 2:48 pm

Mr Little should ponder his options and take the deputy position after Grant Robertson, the next Labour Party leader
- quartz 7.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 2:52 pm
  
  Your previous comments have called for Cunliffe to pull out of the race and now you want Little not to enter? Why are you so worried about a democratic contest?
  - Clean_power 7.1.1
    
    5 October 2014 at 2:58 pm
    
    No, I’m not worried.
    
    Considering the current state of affairs in the Labour Party, it is only fair to ask for a stable leader. Mr Cunliffe is a divisive and polarizing figure, and should be ruled out. Mr Little’s time will come in a few years, not now. Mr Robertson must be the next leader.
    - quartz 7.1.1.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 3:00 pm
      
      If the ideal result is this clear then why don’t you trust the democratic process to deliver it?
      - Clean_power 7.1.1.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 3:17 pm
        
        I trust the process, believe me. I am quite confident Grant Robertson will win the leadership challenge. Guaranteed.
        
        quartz 7.1.1.1.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 3:22 pm
        
        If you say so. I’m not fussed either way. I guess we’ll find out in a few weeks.
        
        Karen 7.1.1.1.1.2
        
        5 October 2014 at 3:39 pm
        
        I notice you have only been posting since Grant Robertson declared his leadership ambitions – another of Grant’s acolytes?
        
        fender …
        
        5 October 2014 at 3:55 pm
        
        “Clean_power” has been around for longer than that, but has never had anything favourable to say about Cunliffe
        
        At least Clean_power is consistant
        
        Clean_power …
        
        5 October 2014 at 4:03 pm
        
        You are right. Mr Cunliffe is a divisive figure who should step aside. If he doesn’t do that then the votes will be against him. It is only a matter of time.
        
        Mark my words: Grant Robertson will be the next Labour Party leader. No ifs or buts.
        
        fender …
        
        5 October 2014 at 4:09 pm
        
        The divisive label applies to yourself more than DC.
        
        Your “mark my words”, “no ifs or buts” is an unpleasant reminder of our PM, please desist..
        
        Clemgeopin …
        
        5 October 2014 at 5:50 pm
        
        Sadly, it is actually people like you that are divisive and damagers of Labour. You and the ABCers seem to be too thick to even understand that.
        
        One Anonymous Bloke …
        
        5 October 2014 at 5:55 pm
        
        Clean Power is another motivated-by-hate National Party representative.
        
        Clean_power …
        
        5 October 2014 at 6:12 pm
        
        I am neither a Nat nor an ABCer, but is patently obvious David Cunliffe’s dismal failure at the election requires a new leader, a less polarising leader. That’s why the party will choose Grant Robertson.
        
        One Anonymous Bloke …
        
        6 October 2014 at 7:35 am
        
        😆
        
        What you are is manifest in your effluent in this forum: moderated for homophobia, Taliban and Green in the same sentence, openly hostile to the Left, dishonest, bad faith, embodiment of ill intentions.
        
        All your comments put together amount to nothing more than a weasel, hence, representative of the National Party
        
        Clemgeopin …
        
        6 October 2014 at 9:49 am
        
        @One Anonymous Bloke
        
        What you are is manifest in your effluent in this forum: moderated for homophobia, Taliban and Green in the same sentence, openly hostile to the Left, dishonest, bad faith, embodiment of ill intentions.
        All your comments put together amount to nothing more than a weasel, hence, representative of the National Party
        
        No, that is definitely not I ! Did you address it to me by mistake?
        
        thatguynz …
        
        6 October 2014 at 11:18 am
        
        “David Cunliffe’s dismal failure at the election” – there’s your problem right there Clean_Power.. David Cunliffe didn’t lose Labour the election. Labour did. To conflate the two notions is disingenuous at best.
        
        Tracey …
        
        6 October 2014 at 12:23 pm
        
        what is mr robertsons plan to counter the barrage from the nats smear and lie machinery?
      - ghostwhowalksnz 7.1.1.1.2
        
        5 October 2014 at 3:18 pm
        
        Thats the nationals partys approach, back room deals to cover the guided democracy they practice.
        
        Richard 7.1.1.1.2.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 6:35 pm
        
        @cleanpower.
        
        Don’t like your post. Very cocky statement as the labour party member I am, your making out my vote for either DC or Little won’t matter, like you have inside information. Or have rigged it for grant.
        
        Clarify your meaning and be bloody clear about it.
        
        No one has that much certainty , and no one garentee’s anyone a win in a democratic election. My heads hot and I’ve gone red.
        
        Rodel 7.1.1.1.2.2
        
        5 October 2014 at 8:04 pm
        
        CP yeah! yeah! we heard you the first time.
    - Foreign waka 7.1.1.2
      
      5 October 2014 at 9:09 pm
      
      I am not sure whether he is the right person. A carrier politician who never had real contact with the NZ working people. He is far removed from the reality of the average person and albeit having a nice portfolio did so far only convince that he is a “player” and good in office politics. We need someone who actually can formulate some idea what Labors vision for NZ is. Mr Robertson does not qualify in my opinion.
    - ClaretRed 7.1.1.3
      
      5 October 2014 at 9:15 pm
      
      Oh bollocks CleanPower. Just give the man a break for god’s sake. No-one has yet been able to explain to me why DC is so “polarising” as you claim, they just keep repeating it in the hope it will catch on.
      
      God forbid that we have someone who is articulate, intelligent, compassionate, business-minded AND left-wing as leader of the Labour Party.
      
      Just keep Cunliffe for god’s sake, there were many other reasons why Labour lost.
      
      The more that right-wingers like Boag and John Armstrong and Gower and Garner and Sullivan go on about how much they hate him, the more I’m convinced we should keep him.
Fair enough. 8

5 October 2014 at 2:48 pm

I agree with him becoming the Labour leader 100%.

I would hope he would pick his own deputy as he see’s fit and then during the next three years goes about persuading some of the old guard it is time to move on.
They are next to useless and only there to increase their superannuation payments.
Time to bring in some new blood into caucus.
anker 9

5 October 2014 at 3:30 pm

I saw Little interviewed for the Nation on the streets of ?New Plymouth, while it was raining.

He didn’t seem dynamic or charismatic, but what I liked about him was he didn’t seem like a politician and it was about the party, not about him.

Out of all of the Labour caucus, he has said the most insightful things to date about why Labour feared so badly and he avoided any hint of negativity towards DC.

I do wonder though why is it that people like Boeg are supporting him??? Why do they seem to hate DC with a passion???? I think it has all be so undignified. The Labour leader was supposed to be able to stand up to JK in the debates, this seemed to be the crucial criteria as to who should lead Labour. Well that’s what DC did well with that. I doubt GR will be able to (remember interview with Stephen Joyce on the Nation) and I am very unsure of Little in this regards. If DC had not been so vilified and seem to have people like him more, I wouldn’t hesitate about him continuing. Of course the reason people don’t like him is that he has been so vilified.

I also want to put my point across about David P again. IMO it is almost unforgivable that he let the public know he had no confidence in DC. DC may well be leader again and he has contributed to spoiling the brand. Shameful.
- Colonial Viper 9.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 5:42 pm
  
  David Parker was deputy to David Cunliffe. And his comments on DC”s leadership were appalling and unnecessary. Parker, as much as anyone else on the front bench, contributed to Labour’s failures in 2014.
  - Richard 9.1.1
    
    5 October 2014 at 6:56 pm
    
    +100
    
    Bang on CV.
    - Kiwiri 9.1.1.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 6:59 pm
      
      +1
      - Rodel 9.1.1.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 8:12 pm
        
        Yep. There’s still a place for old fashioned concept of loyalty.. in sport…work..
        corporations…relationships….even politics. Parker’ appalling gaffe has turned me off him.. similar to wot’s that goof who stood against Gerry Brownlee?- so forgettable..Oh yeah Dann the man (not).
  - TheContrarian 9.1.2
    
    5 October 2014 at 8:51 pm
    
    It appears that the ABCers have two distinct wings.
    
    The “Anyone But Cunliffe for leader” camp and the “Anyone but Cunliffe to blame for the loss” camp.
  - phillip ure 9.1.3
    
    5 October 2014 at 9:54 pm
    
    @ c.v..
    
    “..Parker, as much as anyone else on the front bench, contributed to Labour’s failures in 2014..”
    
    + 1..
- Saarbo 9.2
  
  5 October 2014 at 9:44 pm
  
  @anker
  Agree 100%
  
  Parker’s intemperate comments were way out of line. Parker’s policy of increasing the eligibility of super must be in the top 5 reasons why Labour only got 25% in the election.
  - Scott1 9.2.1
    
    6 October 2014 at 7:14 am
    
    maybe Labour lost votes to NZfirst on this issue?
    
    Seems the worst part of this debate is that the commitment comes now but the saving are way out in the future. To sell it you need to have some way to promise future benefits and spending out 10 or 20 years in the future.
Bill 10

5 October 2014 at 3:38 pm

As I’ve commented often enough of late, my bugbear with Cunliffe is that he has been utterly lacking when it has come to ‘dealing to’ destabilising currents within the LP.

In his first interview after announcing he would be running (Campbell Live) he, yet again, and in a seeming inability to develop strategy and learn from mistakes, stated he’d be happy to have his opposition (Robertson this time) as deputy.

I mean, that idea of keeping your enemies close worked out really well over the past year, right?

Anyway. If Andrew Little has the wherewithal to stamp his authority on caucus (something Cunliffe seems incapable of doing), then he should stand.

I guess whether Cunliffe steps aside at that point would be seen as neither here nor there by some, given the preferential voting system in place. However, I’d rather see him step aside and endorse Little.

And then I’d like to see Little stomp where Cunliffe has pussyfooted and essentially read the riot act to the wannabes and has beens with every intention of translating his displeasure at them into action raining down on them.
- Colonial Viper 10.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 6:25 pm
  
  I find it amazing that Cunliffe, after all this time, has not understood the measure of the ABCs and of Robertson.
  
  But can Little make any difference at all, as leader if he gets it? I honestly cannot see Grant Robertson or his supporters being satisfied with Little at the top. Which means that even if Little gets in, it will be a 2017 loss and Grant stepping forward again to put himself up.
  - BM 10.1.1
    
    5 October 2014 at 6:29 pm
    
    Cunliffe lives in his own world, which is why he makes so many dumb comments.
    
    The guy is a background support player, not a leader.
    - Richard 10.1.1.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 6:42 pm
      
      @ BM ..What? , did you see Backbenchers, Mallard in the crowd as Grants support. Mallard and the Moa middle election. Parker rubbishing Cunliffe for doing a bad job. But parker formed most policies Cunliffe had to sell
      
      perhaps THEY sabotaged labours chances. Perhaps they are looking like right wingers who infiltrated labour to bring it down.
      
      Just saying
      - BM 10.1.1.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 7:01 pm
        
        No I didn’t..
        
        Any way, facts are, Cunliffe doesn’t work well with others, hence the less than flattering comments about the man.
        
        Cunliffe, not labours future.
        
        Richard 10.1.1.1.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 7:19 pm
        
        Don’t believe the hype. PLUS everyone loathed Patton he was a winner. Same with Monty, stuck up arrogant, was a winner.
        
        Fact is the hard to get on with usually are the best because they make the hard calls that may hurt their friends but are the right calls.
        
        Winston Churchill wasn’t liked he in the first world war he was an idiot he wiped out a whole army almost in one battle he commanded WW1, he grew into a fine leader in ww2 but still he wasn’t liked.(as in voted straight out after winning war.)
        
        Labour are in war mode until we regain the helm from the nazi nats, and we damn well need a war time type leader to do it. IMHO .
        
        Problem with DC’s leadership is he needs the power to dismiss the factions against him who are sabotaging the war effort.
        
        Scott1 10.1.1.1.1.2
        
        6 October 2014 at 7:17 am
        
        But Cunliffe’s caucus was bit like Obama trying to work with the republicans in congress. Once the ABC was created – the only acceptable position from him would have been total capitulation.
        
        At that point I don’t think saying he lacks in a skill is particularly relevant – it is just whether you get rid of him for pragmatic reasons or if you flip the bird to Robertson and co.
      - lurgee 10.1.1.1.2
        
        5 October 2014 at 8:27 pm
        
        Mallard and the Moa middle election
        
        It was three months before the election.
        
        perhaps THEY sabotaged labours chances. Perhaps they are looking like right wingers who infiltrated labour to bring it down.
        
        Or maybe David Cunliffe was.
        
        Oh, and Monty was not a successful general. He got lucky, in Africa, because the other side were exhausted and out of supply. But in France, he constantly blundered and his only effective contribution was to tie up some Panzer divisions while the Americans did the heavy work.
        
        Richard 10.1.1.1.2.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 9:41 pm
        
        “It was three months before the election.”
        
        The election started what 3-4 months ago, ok, start of the election, I don’t count the 8 weeks? they are officially allowed more when the press starts focusing more on it and that to me was 6 months ago ish..
        
        Splitting hairs comes to mind.
        
        “Or maybe David Cunliffe was.”
        
        Um Yeah nah, my bad, I sometimes forget the /sarc tag. Sorry mate.
        
        “Oh, and Monty was not a successful general. He got lucky, in Africa, because the other side were exhausted and out of supply. But in France, he constantly blundered and his only effective contribution was to tie up some Panzer divisions while the Americans did the heavy work.”
        
        You are mostly right, however, I would like to dispute lucky, and extend the card of he drew Rommel out and extended his supply lines until he was vulnerable, then took the task too him. I thought he did well with a demoralized and beaten army, to rally them into a winning force. They had been thrashed when he turned up. IMHO
        
        as for Europe well he was battling bigger ego’s he didn’t have a chance.
        
        Murray Olsen 10.1.1.1.2.2
        
        6 October 2014 at 3:52 am
        
        Monty was a meticulous planner who wanted as many as possible of his men to stay alive. This doesn’t suit Hollywood as much as a prima donna with pearl handled pistols who slapped around soldiers who had been pushed past their limits. The British did plenty in Europe post D-Day, even though they were exhausted and running out of manpower. In any case, the real heavy lifting was being done in the East, by the Red Army.
        
        To stay on topic: if I wanted an ex-union bureaucrat leading Labour, I would at least want one who had come from the shop floor, rather than one who saw it as a nice career while they were at university.
  - weka 10.1.2
    
    5 October 2014 at 6:32 pm
    
    @ CV. Right, so what does that tell us? That the caucus can’t be left to its own devices (or trusted by the sounds of things). What’s the membership up to?
    - Colonial Viper 10.1.2.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 8:07 pm
      
      I think Cunliffe needs to campaign for the leadership primary on a platform of democratising the party further.
      
      This will ensure that any caucus member can be held to account if they add to the disarray, disunity and destructive individual ambition that caucus has so far demonstrated.
      
      I cannot speak for the Labour Party membership in general, but down here in Dunedin South, the party machinery is working hard to build up grassroots membership and activity after the election, regardless of the distractions of the Wellington focussed scrum.
      - BM 10.1.2.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 8:12 pm
        
        Democratising, is that the code word for purging?
        
        Colonial Viper 10.1.2.1.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 8:15 pm
        
        Purges can be democratic, right?
        
        BM …
        
        5 October 2014 at 8:16 pm
        
        Yep, nothing screams democracy like a bullet in the back of the head.
        
        Richard …
        
        5 October 2014 at 9:48 pm
        
        Ouch, or communism. Bit close to the truth of my history that.
        
        Funny when I hear that sentence now, having recently learned what happened to the rest of my dads family in Albania after he escaped. It makes me very sad.
        
        sorry off topic.
        
        Tracey …
        
        6 October 2014 at 12:33 pm
        
        you finally conceded rich and power didnt “resign”
        
        weka 10.1.2.1.1.2
        
        5 October 2014 at 8:19 pm
        
        only if you’re an idiot.
        
        Thanks CV.
  - Bill 10.1.3
    
    5 October 2014 at 7:01 pm
    
    ‘Understanding’ the measure of someone/thing and dealing with or to them are different things. And Cunliffe has (sadly) shown an inability to act decisively and deal with shit.
    
    I have no reason to believe Little is cut from that same cloth.
    
    And neither Robertson, his supporters, nor anyone else within caucus needs to be ‘satisfied’ with Little as leader…they just need to be banged into place by him.
    - Colonial Viper 10.1.3.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 8:12 pm
      
      Yep and you have seen how this can and should be done Bill. Labour Party members need a Leader of the party willing to assert authority when the situation demands it. Cunliffe was given an overwhelming mandate from the members and affiliates last year to do just that. And I think Cunliffe has it in him – but he has tried and failed to play the role of peacemaker with types who have no interest in giving him peace.
      - Bill 10.1.3.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 9:12 pm
        
        yup. He tried and failed to ‘win the peace’ using precisely the wrong strategy. And I said it at the time when he became leader and I said it again and again in the ensuing months. But okay – shit happens. Now here’s the thing. When he sits on Campbell and says Robertson could be his deputy, he’s demonstrating an inability to learn and develop new strategy off the back of past errors.
        
        So here am I, a member, faced with giving my vote to a guy who seems to be sincere in his left wing beliefs, but who has no idea how to get them in place, or of how to neutralise an antagonistic caucus, versus giving my vote to a guy whose political approach makes my skin crawl.
        
        If Little stands, my choice becomes a lot less painful. It’s not that I think Little is the be all and end all – far from it. But at least those that are in dire need of a serve will probably be on the receiving end of one.
        
        Then we can worry over Little’s inevitable inadequacies.
        
        And just an afterthought. Wouldn’t it be nice if he gave the various schoolyard tactics of so many journalists short, sharp and very public thrift and demanded of them in no uncertain terms that they begin to learn to behave and conduct themselves like actual journalists? (NZ would fcking cheer!) Now, I know I might be dreaming on that last point, but I’m sick and tired of watching politicians try to engage with these puerile fucks on their own level. Time to kick the ba’ onto the slates.
        
        weka 10.1.3.1.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 9:16 pm
        
        So how far left is Little?
        
        Bill …
        
        5 October 2014 at 9:34 pm
        
        You’re asking how ‘left’ the EPMUs former secretary is; the same secretary who made the EPMU one of the more effective unions in NZ during his time there?
        
        Hmm. He’s nowhere near as left as me. But he’s ‘left’.
        
        weka …
        
        5 October 2014 at 10:37 pm
        
        Yes, I am asking how left the EPMU’s former secretary is, not least because many of us don’t have much to do with unions so won’t know what that means.
        
        More left than Cunliffe, or less?
        
        Bill …
        
        5 October 2014 at 11:11 pm
        
        Left enough and, more importantly, capable enough would be my take. More or less left than Cunliffe? I neither know nor care. It’s the delivery of left leaning policy that interests me – and that’s absolutely contingent on whoever is leader having the ability to stamp their authority on elements of that caucus and be clear that they will brook no nonsense.
        
        Tracey …
        
        6 October 2014 at 12:35 pm
        
        bill
        
        isnt their ability to repel the inevitable two track machinery of nats and act crucial.
        
        i havent read any actual strategies for dealing with this.
        
        Keir Leslie …
        
        6 October 2014 at 11:20 am
        
        Almost certainly more left than Cunliffe when Cunliffe was into PFI schemes for hospitals, almost certainly less left than Cunliffe when Cunliffe was preparing to die under the red flag in the leadership election. Whether or not he’ll be more or less left than a future Cunliffe who’s trying to move to the centre? Who knows, I don’t think anyone can predict where Cunliffe’s ideological trajectory will head after this.
        
        He’s no more left than Grant Robertson, and probably will draw support from a more right-wing base within the party than Grant does. (Stuart Nash, for instance.)
        
        Not a PS Staffer …
        
        6 October 2014 at 11:51 am
        
        Robertson is neither left nor right. That is what pisses the members off so much. I’ve seen him make entertaining speeches which, when alaysed, say very little. Robertson will do whatever it takes to have a big desk in the Parliamentary complex, preferably in the Beehive.
        
        Keir Leslie …
        
        6 October 2014 at 12:19 pm
        
        Actually I don’t think that’s true. As someone who’s sat on Policy Council meetings with Grant when Labour’s Platform was being put together, Grant has solid left wing values, and stood up for the membership’s right to be heard and involved in that process, while still being a respectful chair and a loyal deputy leader.
        
        Colonial Viper …
        
        6 October 2014 at 12:35 pm
        
        Grant has solid left wing values, and stood up for the membership’s right to be heard and involved in that process, while still being a respectful chair and a loyal deputy leader.
        
        I’m sure that is the case. However, a large number of notable MPs voted against the inclusive, democratic leadership selection process that the NZLP now uses. Grant Robertson was one of them.
        
        [lprent: Offhand I can’t think of anyway to prove this one way or another unless you were watching him in the 2012 conference. There are no records of the hand or card votes there down to branches or people. If you want to assert that, then you should also say how you know otherwise I will satrt getting finicky. KL below is completely correct in their objection. ]
        
        Keir Leslie …
        
        6 October 2014 at 12:45 pm
        
        That is a bare faced lie. Robertson voted for, organised for, fought for, helped win us the inclusive, democratic process we use now.
        
        I don’t know how or if he voted on Cunliffe’s divisive and self-interested attempt to make it easier to roll a leader chosen by that inclusive and democratic process by giving a minority in caucus the ability to depose them. That was a different fight, and one the membership at conference was pretty closely divided on.
        
        But Robertson was a staunch driver of the party democratisation process, while making sure that the leader of the party wasn’t undermined.
        
        Roztoz …
        
        6 October 2014 at 5:53 pm
        
        I was next to GR at that vote. He voted for democratisation.
        
        And that was only after a year of pushing the changes through caucus and keeping NZ Council and caucus talking on it.
        
        As KL says, the Cunliffe amendment that gave 40% of caucus the right to topple a leader was a whole ‘nother kettle of fish.
        
        CV please don’t let your conception of Grant and others in caucus cloud your memory of that conference and what sides people have been on.
Hami Shearlie 11

5 October 2014 at 4:00 pm

Andrew Little is a very dour dry kind of personality , wooden-faced with no charm and no seat either – so I can’t see him having the voters warming to him – he would be better than Robertson, but not in Cunliffe’s league!
- fender 11.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 4:18 pm
  
  “..he would be better than Robertson, but not in Cunliffe’s league!”
  
  +1
- Tangled_up 11.2
  
  5 October 2014 at 4:22 pm
  
  I agree he’s not on Cunliffe’s level; but better than Robertson.
  
  However, with his history he could compete in the affiliated unions vote which could affect Cunliffe’s chances.
- wyndham 11.3
  
  5 October 2014 at 4:31 pm
  
  Sorry and no disrespect but Andrew Little just does not have IT.
  
  Don’t ask me to define IT. It just is . Kirk had it. Lange had it. Key (unfortunately) has it. It is the indefinable quality that appeals to the wider population and means votes; lots of them.
  - left for dead 11.3.1
    
    5 October 2014 at 4:44 pm
    
    Very poor examples,sadly Kirk died.Helen Clark did not have it,look where that got her.
    - Chooky 11.3.1.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 11:33 pm
      
      “Helen Clark did not have it,look where that got her”
      
      ……winning three Elections for Labour not enough for the misogynists?
      - Scott1 11.3.1.1.1
        
        6 October 2014 at 7:24 am
        
        If by “it” we mean the ability to win elections based on the leader – Helen Clark had “it”. Far better than any current labour candidates anyway. It is nonsense to say she didn’t.
      - left for dead 11.3.1.1.2
        
        6 October 2014 at 9:40 am
        
        Thats my point,with the right people around her,she exalted (hope thats the proper spelling)one of our best,yes had faults though,don’t we all.
  - Tracey 11.3.2
    
    6 October 2014 at 12:38 pm
    
    key was taught it. so who is going to teach the next lp leader AND Key has it cos of the two track strategy.
    
    didnt little have his own policy stumble during the election
- Colonial Viper 11.4
  
  5 October 2014 at 8:20 pm
  
  IMO Cunliffe is sharper on his feet, far more experienced and has that x factor in person which gets supporters and members very excited. Cunliffe has also been put through the Dirty Politics wringer already, and come out the other side. And any new contender would be starting from scratch on that front.
  
  Andrew Little is no doubt capable – but it’s very early in his parliamentary career to take a run up and as we saw a premature tilt did Shearer’s long term political career no good.
  - Granted 11.4.1
    
    5 October 2014 at 9:37 pm
    
    His popularity in the polls would suggest that Cunliffe does not get people excited. Even his electorate results confirm this?
    - weka 11.4.1.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 10:39 pm
      
      reread what CV said, I think you have misunderstood.
  - Tracey 11.4.2
    
    6 October 2014 at 12:39 pm
    
    exactly. what he has learned in a year can only be learned through experience… labour is going to waste it again…
    
    goff… shearer…cunliffe…
  - Westiechick 11.4.3
    
    6 October 2014 at 9:08 pm
    
    Agree. I think he lacks political experience as does the other guy. He and Mallard acted like complete muppets when Collins was suing them for defamation.
MrV 12

5 October 2014 at 4:08 pm

Andrew Littles own Mum wouldn’t vote for him, so colour me skeptical.
- weka 12.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 4:11 pm
  
  what?
  - Te Reo Putake 12.1.1
    
    5 October 2014 at 4:24 pm
    
    Andrew’s Mum has been a National Party member for decades and when he first ran in New Plymouth she said she was conflicted about which way to go. She also said her loyalty was to her son, so unless MrV was in the polling booth on election day 2011 and watched Mrs Little vote, he’s full of what taranaki bulls leave behind them on the paddock.
    - weka 12.1.1.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 5:49 pm
      
      ta
    - Richard 12.1.1.2
      
      5 October 2014 at 7:00 pm
      
      If labours flag was purple (maybe blues her fav colour)would that have helped littles mum?
      
      I doubt anyone can persuade a national party fan to switch teams. Families can be the worst. Not even if it’s because of the colours.
      
      I have an English mum. I’m a kiwi. In rugby the shit hits the fan when the poms play the AB’s it’s tense , very bloody tense.
    - Chooky 12.1.1.3
      
      5 October 2014 at 11:35 pm
      
      lol
- left for dead 12.2
  
  5 October 2014 at 4:27 pm
  
  Can you expand that a Little,deadly serious/sarq
Tommy 13

5 October 2014 at 4:46 pm

Interesting moves from Andrew.

He’s long been clear about his desire to lead the party.

I think his biggest hurdles will be a lack of caucus support, and a lack of charisma.

His politics are generally good, he’s on the right(left) side of most debates.

What concerns me is what I heard from his time holding the labour portfolio. Word is he rejected the CTU’s policy because he didn’t want to give CTU president and potentional rival Helen Kelly a win. Instead, he rewrote it at the 11th hour. Also pushed to drop Section7. Also didn’t save Darien Fenton from Cunliffe’s mob.

Andrew will not win. He does not have the support in caucus or the membership. If he knows this, which he should, then he’s doing this for his own ambition.

Thats not good for Grant, and no doubt Andrew’ll bargain his votes for deputy etc. That could deny the popular Jacinda Ardern the place the party needs her to be in 2017.

If Little throws his second prefs to Cunliffe, then the party is back to square one.

All eyes are on Andrew. I like him. I like his politics. I just hope he doesn’t fuck this one up. Our party can’t afford another chief with so few loyal Indians.
karol 14

5 October 2014 at 5:02 pm

I have watched Little a bit because he was tipped as a future Labour leader before he entered parliament.

He has done some very good speeches in the House, but he also can be a bit ponderous.

Maybe he needs more experience?

I also have a suspicion he’s pretty much to the right within Labour.
- Jamal 14.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 9:13 pm
  
  Little is a solid social democrat, and as he showed at the EPMU he’s not afraid to fight for it. He’s also a liberal, but because he’s focused on bread and butter Labour issues like jobs and wages some assume (wrongly) that he’s on the Right of the caucus. Ignore the crap and look at what he’s actually stood for in his career. He’s one of us.
- Chooky 14.2
  
  5 October 2014 at 11:39 pm
  
  @karol…. “I also have a suspicion he’s pretty much to the right within Labour”.
  
  ….with Boagie as his God Mother you have to be suspicious
BM 15

5 October 2014 at 6:20 pm

My first choice would be Nash but if he wasn’t running Little would be the next best option.

He’s a bit like Nash, an unknown quantity who hasn’t been tarnished by all the bullshit and back stabbing that’s gone on in the last six years.

I believe Labour has to choose some who can come in with a clean slate, it’s the only way the public will accept the next labour leader.

Also the unions keep labour a float, they should have a union person in the top job or at least deputy.
- Kiwiri 15.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 6:28 pm
  
  It is quite mystifying as to why those RWNJs like you and fisiani display such interest and concern for the choice of Labour’s leader to ensure the Labour Party will be on the road to victory in 2017
  😐
  - BM 15.1.1
    
    5 October 2014 at 6:31 pm
    
    It’s just my nature, I like to help people 🙂
    - blue leopard 15.1.1.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 6:33 pm
      
      lolz that’s rather an amusing comment from you there, BM
      - BM 15.1.1.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 6:49 pm
        
        Thank you, you can’t take this stuff too seriously otherwise you’d go mad.
        
        Getting all worked up about shit that’s completely out of your control, it’s a recipe for a stroke or at the least, terrible bowel movements.
        
        blue leopard 15.1.1.1.1.1
        
        5 October 2014 at 9:14 pm
        
        Oh, so that is what your name stands for! Actually I suspect the bowel movement part probably comes from being too far to the right, but I’ll forgive you that wee error and take this opportunity to agree with you.
        
        I appreciate a good dose of humour, thanks for the laugh 🙂
        
        Colonial Viper …
        
        6 October 2014 at 1:19 am
        
        LOL, BL.
        
        Tracey 15.1.1.1.1.2
        
        6 October 2014 at 12:43 pm
        
        you didnt vote then?
    - anker 15.1.1.2
      
      5 October 2014 at 7:49 pm
      
      Try helping the family with six kids living in a car. They need your help more than we do!
    - anker 15.1.1.3
      
      5 October 2014 at 7:53 pm
      
      Skinny @18. All good. Good to make the best call for the party and I am sure all of us who have a vote will do.
      
      I have to say I thought it was pr genius turning up at that South Auckland church. Can’t argue with the punters.
      
      BTW what has happened to Apples, Oranges, Peaches etc. GR pr group who blanket this site a couple of days back?
  - Rodel 15.1.2
    
    5 October 2014 at 8:17 pm
    
    Kiwiri-It’s not mystifying. It’s amateurish attempts at Machiavellian techniques.
    
    ” Italian statesman and political philosopher; full name Niccolò di Bernardo dei
    Machiavelli. His The Prince (1532) advises rulers that the acquisition and effective use of power may necessitate unethical methods.”
    
    Pretty transparent really and thankfully ineffective- but it keeps them happy .
    - Kiwiri 15.1.2.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 8:43 pm
      
      Yeah.
      And I was choosing whether to put a sarc tag or eye-rolling emoticon.
- ClaretRed 15.2
  
  5 October 2014 at 9:25 pm
  
  Well of course you like Nash BM – he’s one of yours isn’t he?
  
  Chances are he’ll lose his seat in 2017, so I’m not overly worried.
- Scott1 15.3
  
  6 October 2014 at 7:29 am
  
  Someone like Nash ticks boxes in terms of being able to attract a certain type of working class man voter back to labour – a key demographic – but a second factor in winning is stability, you need a person who is trained enough in politics to not make mistakes on the political trail. I’m not sure Nash will be able to avoid that sort of thing.
  
  Heading into the Australian election with latham and howard (2004), I remember latham being ahead and I thought – it is too close and he is going to do something stupid.
  
  And sure enough…
- Tracey 15.4
  
  6 October 2014 at 12:42 pm
  
  coming from someone who doesnt consider honesty or integrity to be important in a leader I think we can take this comment with a truck full of salt.
Karen 16

5 October 2014 at 6:32 pm

I still prefer Cunliffe to Little, but would like to have Little as another option. I have been trying to find out more about Little and came across a few random bits and pieces.This interview from Salient in 2007 is interesting – supports free tertiary education
http://salient.org.nz/features/big-dreams-andrew-little

I remember when Pike River first happened Little saying there were no concerns about safety raised by the union.
http://nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.co.nz/2010/11/why-is-andrew-little-defending-pike.html

What was good was that he realized the true situation fairly quickly and pushed for the Commission of Inquiry and has a current Private Members Bill promoting the concept of corporate manslaughter.
https://home.greens.org.nz/node/25068

I quite liked this piece about work/life balance.
http://www.jobsletter.org.nz/jbl17110.htm

I also liked this indication that he supported Louisa Wall and would not tolerate disunity in caucus.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10715366

In view of recent Brian Edwards’ blogs critical of David Cunliffe it is interesting to see what he was saying just before the last leadership contest.
http://brianedwardsmedia.co.nz/2013/08/a-sort-of-open-letter-to-the-abcs-in-the-labour-caucus/#more-8420
- Jamal 16.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 9:01 pm
  
  Don’t put too much stock in Steve Cowan’s work. He’s a Trot with some axe to grind with Little going back to VUWSA days apparently.
- ClaretRed 16.2
  
  5 October 2014 at 9:26 pm
  
  The good thing about Little possibly running is that it splits the Caucus vote, which means whatever support Cunliffe gets, it won’t look so bad.
  
  I still think Cunliffe will win on second preference votes.
  - Colonial Viper 16.2.1
    
    5 October 2014 at 11:28 pm
    
    Indeed. It’ll be much closer this time, but I’m still picking a Cunliffe victory. Labour was a few tens of thousands of votes away from giving John Key a very difficult time forming a workable government.
    
    I do hope Robertson doesn’t come in 3rd place with the membership and the Affiliates, if Little puts his hat in the ring. That would be a long term damper for Robertson.
anker 17

5 October 2014 at 6:46 pm

And I have to say how marvelous, TV 3 news tonight and DC attending church in Sth Auckland and all the PI parishioners saying they support him! Stick that Michelle Boeg and Mike Williams!!!!
- Karen 17.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 7:02 pm
  
  Cunliffe definitely has Pacific Island support, and he also performs well on marae as a he is a passable speaker of te reo. Can’t see the other contenders competing on this.
  - Granted 17.1.1
    
    5 October 2014 at 9:46 pm
    
    speaking te reo is no requirement to be a PM.
    - Murray Olsen 17.1.1.1
      
      6 October 2014 at 4:07 am
      
      It probably should be though. Te Reo, NZ Sign, and English would all be useful attributes for a prime minister. The present prumsta is not fluent in even one.
      - Scott1 17.1.1.1.1
        
        6 October 2014 at 7:31 am
        
        Whether it should be or not – it is probably a disadvantage.
        Speaking Chinese would be an advantage, maybe Samoan might be good.
        
        Murray Olsen 17.1.1.1.1.1
        
        6 October 2014 at 7:18 pm
        
        Being reasonably fluent in Te Reo is a disadvantage? Wow. Just wow.
Delia 18

5 October 2014 at 7:28 pm

I still think Cunliffe is the man, but it seems no one can bury the hatchet and work with him..so what can you do?
- Rodel 18.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 8:21 pm
  
  Rachel Smalley ? on Radio this morning, Media watch, thinks the media should stop their vindictive attacks on Cunliffe. Sorry Rachel, You’re a bit f**kin late to feel guilty.
Skinny 19

5 October 2014 at 7:41 pm

My personel observation is that you know where you stand with Little, I can’t say the same with DC or GR. Andrew has a good balance of being able to talk and listen, a rare commodity that a leader needs. He also can see both sides of an argument, be firm and fair when required and will compromise when there is a case for it. For these reasons and in the interest of party unity I will support him and advocate to other for a successful leadership bid.
MrV 20

5 October 2014 at 7:48 pm

For starters any Leader needs to be able to win an electorate seat and not rely on being parachuted in on the list.
Andrew Little has only just scraped in on the list.
The party has stuffed up by not putting him in a winnable electorate seat (wouldn’t be the first time).
- jamal 20.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 8:00 pm
  
  That’s fpp thinking from a time when all mps were electorate mps. Little could have gone for an easy red Auckland seat but instead he stood in a conservative provincial Nat seat that’s had major boundary changes since it was held by Duynhoven. Are you saying that all future Labour leaders can only come from safe Labour seats? That any MP with leadership potential should run a mile from the provinces? I’m genuinely baffled by your logic here.
  - MrV 20.1.1
    
    5 October 2014 at 8:23 pm
    
    I would counter that that he lost by even more this time round than last time.
    He utterly failed to get the party vote out.
    - Jamal 20.1.1.1
      
      5 October 2014 at 9:00 pm
      
      And that’s my point – boundary changes that brought in thousands of farmers made New Plymouth 2014 a much more Tory seat than New Plymouth 2011.
- Rodel 20.2
  
  5 October 2014 at 8:18 pm
  
  Mr V Not true.
- Psycho Milt 20.3
  
  5 October 2014 at 8:46 pm
  
  For starters any Leader needs to be able to win an electorate seat and not rely on being parachuted in on the list.
  
  As jamal pointed out, that’s FPP thinking. Labour at this point really needs to give a sign that it actually understands we have an MMP electoral system, so that’s something Little does have going for him – if were made leader there wouldn’t be any question about whether the caucus understands MMP or not, and a greater focus on the party vote would be guaranteed.
- Skinny 20.4
  
  5 October 2014 at 8:54 pm
  
  You will find the electorate soon warms to a MP who becomes leader of a major party. In saying this standing in New Plymouth where many things revolve around farming from the rural farming sector it’s a hard ask. Be interesting if he was standing in say Hamilton West a very winnable seat with the correct candidate.
- Tracey 20.5
  
  6 October 2014 at 12:46 pm
  
  by “win”, do you mean be given a safe seat, like Hellensville?
  - Skinny 20.5.1
    
    6 October 2014 at 4:07 pm
    
    No what I mean is a seat like Hamilton West should not be held by Natoinal MP who voted for the dirty SkyCity deal, the incumbent being a man of the cloth. Sue needed to be put in a sink or swim position on the party list. You would still get the party vote as well as the candidate vote too.
    
    If you rolled the dice with a number of long serving MP’s then the likes of Kelvin Davis could have been put on the list in a safe position which would have allowed Hone & Mana to come in with another MP. By not doing this, and failing to confirm a door was open where the Maori party could join the Left in a coalition arrangement, the result was more than likely, a high number of Maori enrolled to vote gave Labour the snub and didn’t bother voting at all. Pretty sure this happened and may come out in the wash of a review.
    - Tracey 20.5.1.1
      
      6 October 2014 at 4:13 pm
      
      my comment was for mrv
      
      he or she seems to think that key won helensvillle and proved himseld as leaxer or shear won mt albert…
Rodel 21

5 October 2014 at 8:07 pm

I’d like to see Cunliffe as leader and Little as Deputy leader.
Together they’d make mincemeat of Key & Co.
anker 22

5 October 2014 at 8:23 pm

Rodel @ 20 100+
honey_T 23

5 October 2014 at 8:58 pm

I agree with Hami Shearli;
“Andrew Little is a very dour dry kind of personality , wooden-faced with no charm and no seat either – so I can’t see him having the voters warming to him”
And someone else said he doesn’t have ‘IT’ factor. Ive got nothing against the guy, same as cunliffe or Robertson. All very talented pollies with their own strengths. Just not IT! We need a real rockstar to go up against key … I think Nash is the guy. I really really do.

On the phone to my Dad the other night, traditionally a Labour voter but voted NZ1 this year, I said dad gotta go Stuart Nash is on Prime Time with Sean Plunkett, so he watched it too and then txt me “Stuart Nash PM 2017”

You see what I’m saying? That was 10 mins of Nash baby!!
- phillip ure 23.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 10:12 pm
  
  @ honey i..
  
  ..heh..!..you’re funny..!
- MustangSally 23.2
  
  6 October 2014 at 5:47 pm
  
  He might have the ‘it’ factor, but does have the ‘ideological/ethical values’ factor?
  
  Or does he want to turn Labour into a watered down version of National?
  
  Beware of ‘cool’ prime ministers, just look at how loathed Tony Blair is now.
- Duggie 23.3
  
  6 October 2014 at 9:57 pm
  
  So true. Nash/Ardern, or, better still, Ardern/Nash. That’s a ticket!
  - Colonial Viper 23.3.1
    
    6 October 2014 at 10:19 pm
    
    Lusk or Hooten would love to advise that ticket.
Cave Johnson 24

5 October 2014 at 9:30 pm

Hey now!
If I had realised there was going to be a real contest I might have joined up.
Pity it’s too late. I’ll now defer my decision until after I see the outcome.
- Kiwiri 24.1
  
  6 October 2014 at 10:48 pm
  
  Still can sign up so that you can attend the hustings to hear the candidates. Go on …
Tim 25

5 October 2014 at 9:36 pm

Here’s some maths around the Party Vote which quite frankly is all that matters, seems pretty clear to me, if Cunliffe was such a turn-off then surely his own electorate would’ve reflected that? Goff is the only other one who even gets close!

Name, Electorate, PV won, Total PV, % of PV, Place PV, Loss by

Shearer Mt. Albert 10,823 36,922 29.3% 2nd 3,536
Cunliffe New Lynn 12,085 33,661 35.9% 2nd 1,051
Roberts WN Cent 9,306 39,131 23.8% 3rd 5,383
Goff Mt. Rosk 12,086 34,097 35.4% 2nd 2,189
Nash Napier 9,466 36,605 25.9% 2nd 8,539
Little New Plym 7,947 37,681 21.1% 2nd 13,022

Data source: http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2014/electorateindex.html
- Richard 25.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 9:59 pm
  
  +1 Tim
  
  Nice data , and there you go, it’s a painted picture his locals like him and they would know him. Internal party shenanigans on the ABC alleged club. or media tactics to paint him as hated by his own party. As they say “leave it out guv”
karol 26

5 October 2014 at 9:48 pm

Little gets the DPF kiss of death.

Tweet from Bryce Edwards:

Farrar on Little: “I… will not be surprised if Andrew is PM one day. And if we have to have a Labour PM, he might not be a bad choice”.

Or is DPF trying a bit of reverse psychology…?
- Colonial Viper 26.1
  
  5 October 2014 at 9:57 pm
  
  I saw that. Pretty horrific. But likely a distraction. I guess Nash is off the righties wishlist for the moment lol. Or not.
- Stephanie Rodgers 26.2
  
  5 October 2014 at 10:17 pm
  
  Everything David Farrar says is calculated to create a certain response. Ditto anything Matthew Hooton says. Treating any of their statements as genuine heartfelt opinions is a mistake.
  - Hanswurst 26.2.1
    
    6 October 2014 at 1:36 am
    
    Treating statements by Farrar or Hooton as anything other than stupid brain-farts is a mistake. They aren’t stupid brain-farts, of course, but you make the world a better place by treating them as such.
- Wayne 26.3
  
  6 October 2014 at 9:56 am
  
  Or is he just expressing his genuine view. Just because he has a right blog does not mean he can’t set out his views about the left. People with an interest in politics also have genuine views as to what they think their opponents should do. Not everything is cynical calculation.
  - Tautoko Viper 26.3.1
    
    6 October 2014 at 10:09 am
    
    “People with an interest in politics also have genuine views as to what they think their opponents should do.”
    A true statement, but Farrar and Hooton do not blog “genuine views” with regard to their opponents in the Labour Party so cannot be considered to belong to the set of people that you refer to in your statement.
  - Tracey 26.3.2
    
    6 October 2014 at 12:48 pm
    
    we just dont know who is paying for this view Wayne, do you?
- Tracey 26.4
  
  6 October 2014 at 12:47 pm
  
  he loved shearer too didnt he?
Saarbo 27

5 October 2014 at 9:56 pm

@Tim
+1
Orthodoxia 28

5 October 2014 at 11:54 pm

I signed up to back Cunliffe, but if Little goes in, my vote will go to him. Why?
1. Parochialism (I have just moved to New Plymouth).
2. His local campaign. That might sound strange because of the big loss, but I saw Andrew from afar pounding the streets again and again during the campaign and he clearly gave his all. Dan Carter could have stood and would still have been slaughtered by National at this election.
3. If Cunliffe or Robertson win aren’t we moving towards MAD (mutually
Assured destruction) as a party? Is some one like Little needed as a compromise and a uniter?
- Colonial Viper 28.1
  
  6 October 2014 at 1:05 am
  
  Re: 3) MAD.
  
  I don’t see an easy way to get the Robertson faction to settle down even if Little wins. Cunliffe won the last leadership primary hands down – but a big chunk of caucus never accepted that result for even one single minute.
- cardassian 28.2
  
  6 October 2014 at 9:05 am
  
  Funny how you mention his campaign.
  From my perspective he was nearly transparent.
  However I do live in the poor area of town.
  
  I also know local LP members and they said they communication was terrible.
  Things like going to a meet the candidates night and not letting the local area members know it was on.
  Now this might be a little thing but it’s these kind of things that stop Labour being all on the same page like National is.
  
  Now I know that the communication gaffs won’t be his fault but someone in his office not doing their job.
  It makes me think that if he can’t get it sorted in his electorate it’d be magnified if he was leader.
- Not a PS Staffer 28.3
  
  6 October 2014 at 11:40 am
  
  Little will be presented with the same problem as Cunliffe and he is likely to take the same actions.
  
  They are:
  1. Tell Goff, King, Shearer, Mallard and Cosgrove to move on. Cosgrove to resign from the list and the others to put their seats up for by-elections at a time decided by the leader.
  2. Tell Robertson to either put up or fuckoff. Expel him the first time he makes a squeak.
  3. Tell Hipkins to grow a pair and to stop hanging off Kings’ apron strings. Authorise Carmel Sepuloni to knock the crap out of him whenever necessary.
  4. ditto Kris Faafoi- except for the Carmel bit.
  5. Ask Nash what planet he thinks he is on! Give him the bottom place on the pecking order. Teach him humilty, because he has plenty to be humble about.
  6. Give Clare Curran the link to http://www.seek.co.nz
  
  The difficulty Cunliffe had the last time was he had to hold all of Kings Kids on the front bench because the election was so close. Cunliffe won’t have that need this time.
  - Colonial Viper 28.3.1
    
    6 October 2014 at 12:42 pm
    
    This sounds much more like it. I have been doubting the backbone (in fact, lack thereof) of some of the advice Cunliffe has been getting, tbh.
  - Tracey 28.3.2
    
    6 October 2014 at 12:50 pm
    
    plus 1
  - Bill Drees 28.3.3
    
    6 October 2014 at 2:17 pm
    
    That gang suspected Cunliffe would sort them after the election. That is why they briefed the press before election night and started the campaign to dump Cunliffe. Nash briefed Hooton and Farrar and Cosgrove the Press Gallery. Ardern was used to do the numbers just like Maryann Street was used against Shearer.
    Cunliffe moved quickly to get Maori support by offering a joint Deputy possie.
    Nash fake candidacy was a cover to approach the Unions and some floating votes to see what was needed to bring them across to Robertson.
    The ABCs had to move before Cunliffe wiped them. Had Goff King Mallard retired in this term Robertson would have lost the core of the ABCs and any chance of the Leadership.
    All active members have to prepare candidates and votes for selection meetings. Hutt , Rongotai, Mt Albert, Mt Roskill, Dunedin South and more needs new MPs. Let us sort this shit out.
    - Colonial Viper 28.3.3.1
      
      6 October 2014 at 9:15 pm
      
      Ayefirmmative.
thechangeling 29

6 October 2014 at 12:23 am

TRP, i thought the same (about Little) 3 years ago when Shearer was installed and I still think the same now! I guess we’ll know soon enough!
fisiani 30

6 October 2014 at 8:29 am

i reckon Robertson can unify the Labour Party and Little would be a good alternative. Cunliffe had his chance and blew it badly. He probably needs to retire.
- thatguynz 30.1
  
  6 October 2014 at 11:35 am
  
  🙄 Just when we were enjoying the silence from your interminable waffle.
Dorothy 31

6 October 2014 at 8:52 am

Do not use your name and then undermine Cunliffe COWARD.
Orthodoxia 32

6 October 2014 at 10:03 am

Cardassian you may be right as I am new to town, but I can count 6 times I saw Andrew around my area of time. Coming from Port Hills, I never laid eyes on the local MP so it impressed me.
- cardassian 32.1
  
  6 October 2014 at 3:58 pm
  
  Fair enough. Didn’t mean to seem like I was bagging the guy either as I think he’s got potential. Just think he’;ll surround himself with the wrong people and weaknesses will be exposed on a national level.
Undecided 33

6 October 2014 at 10:09 am

I’m thinking that if you can’t win an electorate seat then you probably can’t win a nation, what could Littles electorate seat see that we can’t

I have to go with DC at the moment, maybe Nash next time (if he can keep his seat)
- Tracey 33.1
  
  6 October 2014 at 12:52 pm
  
  oh baloney. Did Key “win” Helensville? of course not, he was parachuted into a safe seat.
- Duggie 33.2
  
  6 October 2014 at 9:52 pm
  
  Hilarious how everyone here is trying to convince themselves a new saviour has arrived. What everyone does not get, and what your observation alludes to, is that poor Andy has absolutely no charisma. Even his mother here in New Plymouth admitted she wouldn’t vote for him.
Brutus Iscariot 34

6 October 2014 at 10:16 am

I’ve noticed a few people in this thread and others bagging Davis (and to a lesser extent Nash) for their electorate campaigns.

Davis was nowhere near a position in which he would have had a chance of coming in on the Labour list. Defeat in TTT would have meant a possible premature end to his political career. Do people seriously think he should have meekly capitulated and possibly committed career suicide in this way? To win against a popular incumbent like Hone Harawira meant he ran a good campaign, and should be congratulated – whatever the electoral maths for “the Left” in 2014.

As for Nash, i’m not sure his stated focus of making Napier a Labour stronghold is something to be frowned upon. He could not have singlehandedly made an appreciable difference to Labour’s countrywide popular vote, and disparaging his victory as being solely due to the “McVicar Effect” is unnecessarily derogatory.

They are both winners and fighters – Labour needs more of this. Take the long view.
- Skinny 34.1
  
  6 October 2014 at 10:37 am
  
  Davis was given only one real option due to his list placement. Win the candidate vote, it was the party list that failed him. MPs in Christchurch and Hamilton West should have been put in positions of win your seat or ya risk being out. Especially when you consider the likes of Cosgrove & Moroney have probably done their time as MP’s.
- phillip ure 34.2
  
  6 October 2014 at 2:52 pm
  
  @ brutus..
  
  ..”.. disparaging his victory as being solely due to the “McVicar Effect” is unnecessarily derogatory…”
  
  um..!..no..!..it is just a political-fact…nothing at all ‘derogatory’ about it..
  
  ..if mcvicar had not hived over 4,500 votes off the national candidate..
  
  ..nash would have lost..end of story..
  
  ..nash got no more votes than he did in 2011..
  
  ..when the national candidate beat him..soundly…
  
  ..if i were him..i wd focus on finding another high-profile rightwing nutjob to stand in 2017..
  
  ..that will be his only hope of holding the seat..
  
  ..(..’building a labour fortress’..snigger/snort..!..
  
  ..he even had to bullshit when announcing he was ending his joke-standing for the leadership..)
Skinny 35

6 October 2014 at 10:20 am

With not much support by the caucus and the continued criticism by the shrill media DC would be better off standing aside from contesting the leadership, too many knives would make it untenable. Little comes with less baggage than both David & Grant. Be interesting to know who the preferred deputy the caucus would choose if he contests and wins.
- phillip ure 35.1
  
  6 October 2014 at 2:43 pm
  
  @ skinny..
  
  ..you are joining in the chorus..?
  
  ..and using the media campaign against cunnliffe as justification for yr stance..?
  
  ..whoar..!
  
  ..and are you ignoring the fact that little is hopeless in parliament..?..
  
  ..that key will just wipe his feet on him..?
  
  ..whereas cunliffe..?
  
  ..cunliffe keeps key on his toes..
  
  ..and anyway..nash supports little..(shudder..!..)
  
  ..isn’t that enough of a turn-off..?
  - Skinny 35.1.1
    
    6 October 2014 at 4:35 pm
    
    Phil I’ve met them all and to me politicians are a breed of their own. They use you for what they can get, nature of the beast I guess. DC wavers too much for my personal likes. Can he hang on in there long enough to slit throats? I figure Grant won’t be in a position to refresh the benches owing too many favours. Little has a fair bit of mongrel about him in parliament, he will preform ok because he is a man on a mission and is taken serious by many a person, media alike. Nash has passion I will give him that, met him once and actually preferred talking with him over many other MP’s. They guys mixes it with all sorts, so do I not like their bedfellows.
NeutObserver 36

6 October 2014 at 10:36 am

Yes, Andrew Little seems to be a sensible option.
Not a PS Staffer 37

6 October 2014 at 6:00 pm

I looked up Andrew’s CV. He was the President from March 2009 after Mike Williams stood down following Helen’s exit. Little filled that role up to some time before the 2011election. I’ve always had a positive view of Little. However I’ve reflected on what he achieved when he last held a senior role in Labour; President.

In that time some of the ailments that aflict Labour today took root.
1. Phil Goff and Andrew didn’t renew the party in any way after Helen’s exit.
2. The destructive behaviour of Mallard, Cosgrove and Robertson bloomed unhindered in that era.
3. The white-anting of Cunliffe went unhindered in that era.
4. He was responsible for planning the 2011 election in which we lost a heck of a lot more votes that in the 2014 election.

I’d like to hear comment on these reflections.
- Bill 37.1
  
  6 October 2014 at 6:11 pm
  
  Afraid my comment is merely further questions in response to the ones you’ve raised.
  
  1. How long do you give somebody, coming from outside the party, to learn the ropes and navigate the various machinations of vested interests?
  2. How powerful were the future ABCs in the immediate aftermath of Helen Clark’s departure and why would they have sought or encouraged renewal?
  3. What power would the party president be able to exercise with regards members of caucus white-anting?
  4. Just how much input does the party president have in the planning and execution of an election campaign?
  5. Is it reasonable to suggest that a given party president could have averted the implosion of Labour, given that almost anyone with talent left caucus after Clark’s departure?
- Kiwiri 37.2
  
  6 October 2014 at 7:27 pm
  
  Related to this and looking at Grant Robertson: what have his roles, responsibilities and performance been like in the past six years as part of the senior leadership team in opposition, as well as for the previous two or three election campaigns?
- Skinny 37.3
  
  6 October 2014 at 8:28 pm
  
  I would say Little would have been treading water with a view to entering politics as an MP. The electorate phone was off the hook with Key like Clark being an imposing leader, hence they both got 3 terms. The deadwood MP’s have the huge advantage of holding and thus stacking electorate. The other problem is the candidate selection process where other deadwood MP’s are part of the election/selection process having voting power. Then you have every Tom, Dick and Harriet with MP ambitions as part of the process too. Then you have the caucus deadwood network looking after each other. The deck is well and truely stacked against outsiders.
  
  I’ll give the example of Richard Prebble, a friend of mine and other smart people got out played by Prebble numerous times trying to be rid of tricky Dickie, and these guys were organised. So its really little wonder the same old faces stay in at the expense of the good of the party. I would go as far to say going on previous history of ‘both’ main party’s some MP’s are prepared to sacrifice the government benches inorder to justify whatever position they hold.

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Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Are we heading ...

Skeptical Science

1 day ago
As Our Power Lessens: Published

So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...

A Phuulish FellowBy strda221

1 day ago
By Any Other Name.

The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...

Bowalley Road

2 days ago
Bernard’s last Saturday Soliloquy for 2024

The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

2 days ago
Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashEvery morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

2 days ago
2024 OIA stats

Over on Kikorangi Newsroom's Marc Daalder has published his annual OIA stats. So I thought I'd do mine: 82 OIA requests sent in 2024 7 posts based on those requests 20 average working days to receive a response Ministry of Justice was my most-requested entity, ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

2 days ago
Climate Change: A perverse incentive

The government published its first Biennial Transparency Report under the Paris Agreement yesterday, and the media has correctly noted that it is missing any plan to actually meet our target. While it hypes domestic emissions reductions so far - which have been good, but will likely get worse thanks to ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

2 days ago
Economic Bulletin December 2024

Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the Budget Policy Statement from the Minister of Finance tell us about the fiscal position and what to ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

2 days ago
NZCTU make submission in opposition to Treaty Principles Bill

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collective rights of Tangata Whenua. “This Bill seeks to legislate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles that are ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

2 days ago
ZB’s Power Couple

I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

3 days ago
Austerity thumps GDP most since 1991

Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

3 days ago
Weekly Roundup 20-December-2024

Twas the Friday before Christmas and all through the week we’ve been collecting stories for our final roundup of the year. As we start to wind down for the year we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and new year. If you’re travelling please be safe on ...

Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland

3 days ago
The Hoon around the year to December 20, 2024

The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

3 days ago
The baby-boomers’ last gasp

The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...

PolitikBy Richard Harman

3 days ago
Skeptical Science New Research for Week #51 2024

Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment: Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...

Skeptical Science

3 days ago
Join us at 5pm for 2024’s last Hoon

Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and , ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

3 days ago
Christmas Gifts: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.

“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”“ONE OF THOSE had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...

Bowalley Road

3 days ago
GDP Figures No Christmas Present for New Zealand

Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...

NZCTUBy Stella Whitfield

4 days ago
Cheeseburgers and Stunt Monkeys

One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

4 days ago
MSD rejecting 220 pleas for food grants each day

Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

4 days ago
The Wing Parties’ Economic Policies.

It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.This end-of-year review about the state of economic management – the state of the economy was last week – is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...

PunditBy Brian Easton

4 days ago
Back on Track

This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tūī

4 days ago
Book Review: How Big Things Get Done

This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called How Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner Want to know how to do something big? Ask someone who has done it before! Professor Bent Flyvbjerg has spent his career studying megaprojects. In 2023, ...

Greater AucklandBy Guest Post

4 days ago
Gordon Campbell On Why We Can’t Survive Two More Years Of This

Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...

WerewolfBy ScoopEditor

4 days ago
Dragging our way towards the finish line, the end of this year can’t come soon enough for many…

Similar to the cuts and the austerity drive imposed by Ruth Richardson in the 1990’s, an era which to all intents and purposes we’ve largely fiddled around the edges with fixing in the time since – over, to be fair, several administrations – whilst trying our best it seems to ...

exhALANtBy exhalantblog

4 days ago
Handling Democracy.

String-Pulling in the Dark: For the democratic process to be meaningful it must also be public. WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in New Zealand’s politicians and journalists steadily declining, restoring those virtues poses a daunting challenge. Just how daunting is made clear by comparing the way politicians and journalists treated New Zealanders ...

Bowalley Road

4 days ago
Open letter to the Minister of Dwindling Finances

Dear Nicola Willis, thank you for letting us know in so many words that the swingeing austerity hasn't worked.By in so many words I mean the bit where you said, Here is a sea of red ink in which we are drowning after twelve months of savage cost cutting and ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

4 days ago
Open Government: The joke ends

The Open Government Partnership is a multilateral organisation committed to advancing open government. Countries which join are supposed to co-create regular action plans with civil society, committing to making verifiable improvements in transparency, accountability, participation, or technology and innovation for the above. And they're held to account through an Independent ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

4 days ago
An unusual sort of press conference

Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the announcement by Erica Stanford — on her own, unusually ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

4 days ago
This substack has talked about this government’s seeming corruption & pro-corporate issues...

This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEO Our news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tūī

4 days ago
NZCTU: Minister needs to listen to the evidence on engineered stone ban

NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone and is calling on her to listen to the evidence and implement a total ban of the product. “We need ...

NZCTUBy Stella Whitfield

4 days ago
Wednesday 18 December

The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

4 days ago
Can the government change its mind on the ferries?

The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

4 days ago
Notes from Afar: Will Luxon Attend Waitangi Day? And Opposition Calls Out Nicola Willis for “C...

Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tūī

5 days ago
Member’s morning

Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

5 days ago
Going Backwards

We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

5 days ago
Blaming Treasury & Labour, Willis looks for even more Austerity

Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

5 days ago
December-24 AT Board Meeting

Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...

Greater AucklandBy Matt L

5 days ago
The Making of a Mental Health Rockstar

Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

5 days ago
It could have been worse

Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...

PolitikBy Richard Harman

5 days ago
The Deep Divisions of Local Government

The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

5 days ago
Willis’ austerity strategy just isn’t working

Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

5 days ago
Sabin 33 #7 – Are solar projects hurting farmers and rural communities?

On November 1, 2024 we announced the publication of 33 rebuttals based on the report "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles" written by Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine and published by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia ...

Skeptical Science

5 days ago
Join us for a pop-up Hoon at 5pm on HYEFU

Come and join myself and CTU Chief Economist for a pop-up ‘Hoon’ webinar on the Government’s Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) with paying subscribers to The Kākā for 30 minutes at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream to watch our chat. Don’t worry if ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

5 days ago
‘Ideas Worth Saving’: A Call for Papers

Some years ago, I found myself pondering the power of literature to endure. Or at least the power of some of it to endure, while the rest vanishes in mere decades: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2019/08/07/look-on-my-works-ye-mighty-and-despair-the-literary-future/. I have similarly had fun with the subject in some of my short stories, such as Another Alexandria ...

A Phuulish FellowBy strda221

5 days ago
Corrections is torturing prisoners again

In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

5 days ago
HYEFU and BPS data shows New Zealand is way off track

New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

5 days ago
“Better economic management”

At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

5 days ago
Shameless, clueless

AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

5 days ago
Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

6 days ago
Crazy ’bout a Sharp-dressed Man

Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

6 days ago
How much should you worry about a collapse of the Atlantic conveyor belt?

This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson In this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...

Skeptical Science

6 days ago
8% ACT Party Creates One Ring To Rule Them All

In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour 1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tūī

6 days ago
When austerity worsens public debt & cuts GDP

Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

6 days ago
Govt to double number of toll roads

On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...

Greater AucklandBy Matt L

6 days ago
Luxon’s pre-emptive strike

The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...

PolitikBy Richard Harman

6 days ago
Gordon Campbell On The Coalition’s Empty Gestures, And Abortion Refusal As The New Slavery

This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...

WerewolfBy ScoopEditor

6 days ago
More public service contempt of parliament

Back in 2023 the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties raised concerns about the inherent conflict of interest involved in public service agencies supporting parliamentary select committees. Our parliament is run on a shoestring, so depends on the public service for advice. But public service agencies work for Ministers, not ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

6 days ago
If There Is A God

And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

6 days ago
A Lipstick Government

Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tūī

6 days ago
NZCTU open letter to Treasury on undue restrictions on restricted briefings

Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

7 days ago
Why you won’t hear me advocate for electric cars

This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate. I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...

Greater AucklandBy Guest Post

7 days ago
Coalition forced to back down on tolling Pahiatua track

A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

7 days ago
Thank You

Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 week ago
2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50

A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...

Skeptical Science

1 week ago
Making Gravy

I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 week ago
Nothing here but the shadows

Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

1 week ago
The United Right: the FSU’s Continued Efforts to Undermine Academia

The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

1 week ago
Showing the Americans how to do it

Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

1 week ago
2 Men, 1 Haircut

Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

1 week ago
Chris Penk’s Hate Parade

What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

1 week ago
Tell me a story

All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 week ago

National’s Greatest Misses 2023-4

National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...

Labour Blog

2 days ago
Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step

Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...

Labour Blog

2 days ago
Release: National buries 1019 planned homes

It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...

Labour Blog

3 days ago
Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab

The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...

Labour Blog

3 days ago
Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...

Labour Blog

3 days ago
Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom

The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...

Greens

3 days ago
Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession

The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...

Labour Blog

3 days ago
Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis

Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...

Labour Blog

4 days ago
ECE no place to cut corners

The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...

Greens

4 days ago
Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders

A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...

Labour Blog

5 days ago
Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects

Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...

Labour Blog

5 days ago
Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects

The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...

Greens

5 days ago
Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity

The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...

Greens

5 days ago
Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less

The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...

Labour Blog

5 days ago
Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis

With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...

Labour Blog

5 days ago
Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’

Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...

Māori Party

5 days ago
Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again

For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...

Labour Blog

6 days ago
Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards

The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...

Greens

6 days ago
Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes

All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...

Labour Blog

6 days ago
Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again

The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...

Greens

6 days ago
Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers

The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...

Labour Blog

6 days ago
Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex

The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...

Greens

6 days ago
Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty

The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat

The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...

Labour Blog

1 week ago
Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction

New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day

The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families

Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas

Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation

Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker

The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
One year on, still no progress on new ferries

Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more

After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban

The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare

After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh

In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation

The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech

Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...

NZ First Press Release

2 weeks ago
Swarbrick calls on Auckland Mayor to end delay of revival of St James Theatre

Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
He Ara Anamata: Greens launch Emissions Reduction Plan

Today, the Green Party of Aotearoa proudly unveils its new Emissions Reduction Plan–He Ara Anamata–a blueprint reimagining our collective future. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago

Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce

Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

14 hours ago
PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
New intelligence oversight appointments

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
New housing developments able to progress more quickly

Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Actions to speed up air travel delivering results

The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua

The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions

The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants

The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas

People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Appointments to the ENZ board

Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ

The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
More gangs added to Gangs Act list

Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Judicial appointment announced

Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
GDP data highlights importance of growth

The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Strengthening Free Speech in Universities

Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Launch of Emergency Cellular Priority Service

Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Minister reopens Mangamuka Gorge

State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge

The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Government boosts support for avian influenza response

The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Levelling the playing field for media advertising

Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Inspector-General of Defence appointed

Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
More AML relief on the way for Kiwi businesses

The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Hawke’s Bay Expressway moving at pace

Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land

The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient

Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Diverse skills in community trust appointments

A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit

The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
A busy year in the House

It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Consultation opens on working with engineered stone

“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments

Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
New appointments to the Charities Registration Board

Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Building consent processing times improve

More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Faster access to support through Innovation Fund

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response

New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis

The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup

Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Offshore Renewable Energy Bill passes first reading

The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading

Legislation to enable new water service delivery models that will drive critical investment in infrastructure has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking a significant step towards the delivery of Local Water Done Well, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly say.“Councils and voters ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Gene Technology Bill passes first reading

New Zealand is one step closer to reaping the benefits of gene technology with the passing of the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. "This legislation will end New Zealand's near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and is ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago

Vanuatu quake: Warnings as bad weather threat looms for Port Vila

By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor New Zealand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) says impending bad weather for Port Vila is now the most significant post-quake hazard. A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to move into Vanuatu waters, bringing heavy rainfall. Authorities have issued warnings to people ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

1 hour ago
Signs of the hīkoi: More than just ‘words on cardboard’

The placards seen at the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti conveyed "huge kōrero with immediacy", expert says: "People know the power of the word." ...

Radio NZ – political

10 hours ago
A final Ode to .. King Luxon

Cosmic CatastropheThe year draws to a close.King Luxon has grown tired of the long eveningsListening to the dreary squabbling of his Triumvirate.He strolls up to the top floor of the PalaceTo consult with his Astronomer Royal.The Royal Telescope scans the skies,And King Luxon stares up into the heavensFrom the terrestrial ...

NewsroomBy Victor Billot

18 hours ago
A hater and an enthusiast review The Royal Free by Carl Shuker

Spinoff editor Mad Chapman and books editor Claire Mabey debate Carl Shuker’s new novel about… an editor. Claire: Hello Mad, you just finished The Royal Free – overall impressions? Mad: Hi Claire, I literally just put the book down and I would have to say my immediate impression is ...

The SpinoffBy Claire Mabey

19 hours ago
Survive to 25 (December, that is)

Christmas and its buildup are often lonely, hard and full of unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to make it to Jesus’s birthday and find the little bit of joy we all deserve. Have you found this year relentless? Has the latest Apple update “fucked up your life”? Have you lost two ...

The SpinoffBy Anna Rawhiti-Connell

19 hours ago
All I want for Christmas is modern day slavery legislation

Despite overwhelming public and corporate support, the government has stalled progress on a modern day slavery law. That puts us behind other countries – and makes Christmas a time of tragedy rather than joy, argues Shanti Mathias. Picture the scene on Christmas Day. Everyone replete with nice things to eat, ...

The SpinoffBy Shanti Mathias

19 hours ago
Israeli-American historian describes attacks on Gaza as ‘war of annihilation’

Asia Pacific Report “It looks like Hiroshima. It looks like Germany at the end of World War Two,” says an Israeli-American historian and professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University about the horrifying reality of Gaza. Professor Omer Bartov, has described Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza as an ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

22 hours ago
NZ govt plans to make ‘heavy handed’ change to free speech rules for universities

The New Zealand government coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech. The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues. Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

22 hours ago
Caitlin Johnstone: Where does the aggression really begin?

Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. This news comes out at the same time as ...

Evening ReportBy David Robie

1 day ago
OECD Report Highlights That More Is Needed

This report reflects that gap in our dealings overseas, and it shows that legislators, the public sector and businesses need to walk the talk. ...

Scoop politics

1 day ago
Government quietly scraps waste minimisation policies

The government has quietly cancelled plans to improve recycling and roll out a kerbside food scraps composting scheme. ...

Radio NZ – political

1 day ago
MEAA welcomes News MAP funding ‘leg up’ for Australian journalism

Pacific Media Watch The union for Australian journalists has welcomed the delivery by the federal government of more than $150 million to support the sustainability of public interest journalism over the next four years. Combined with the announcement of the revamped News Bargaining Initiative, this could result in up to ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

1 day ago
Transmission Gully partnership breakdown will not hurt future public-private partnerships, Infrastru...

The roads partnership unravelled under a confidential settlement this week, meaning NZTA will now finish off what it had said was incomplete work. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Funding cuts to charity particularly felt over Christmas period

The number of people seeking help from Lifeline is expected to increase by 10 to 20 percent over Christmas. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Nelson Hospital conditions ‘unbearable’ – staff

One worker says the building is decrepit and falling down around them. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Stand by for cricket’s Smash Palace

It’s a little under two months since the White Ferns shocked the cricketing world, deservedly taking home the T20 World Cup. Since then the trophy has had a tour around the country, five of the squad have played in the WBBL in Australia while most others have returned to domestic ...

NewsroomBy Aiden McLaughlin

2 days ago
Early-onset dementia under the microscope

Comment: If we say the word ‘dementia’, many will picture an older person struggling to remember the names of their loved ones, maybe a grandparent living out their final years in an aged care facility. Dementia can also occur in people younger than 65, but it can take time before ...

NewsroomBy Shruti Sharma and Dr Brigid Ryan

2 days ago
Keeping the pirates at bay: Should the Australian ‘Blocking Order’ case prompt a discussion in N...

Piracy is a reality of modern life – but copyright law has struggled to play catch-up for as long as the entertainment industry has existed. As far back as 1988, the House of Lords criticised copyright law’s conflict with the reality of human behaviour in the context of burning cassette ...

NewsroomBy Tania Goatley and Oscar Zambuto

2 days ago
The Secret Diary of .. Luxon at Xmas

MONDAY“Merry Xmas, and praise the Lord,” said Sheriff Luxon, and smiled for the camera. There was a flash of smoke when the shutter pressed down on the magnesium powder. The sheriff had arranged for a photographer from the Dodge Gazette to attend a ceremony where he handed out food parcels to ...

NewsroomBy Steve Braunias

2 days ago
‘We were as famous as Tom Cruise’: Craig Parker on 90s Shortland St fandom

As he makes a surprise return to Shortland Street, actor Craig Parker takes us through his life in television. Craig Parker has been a fixture on television in Aotearoa for nearly four decades. He had starring roles in iconic local series like Gloss, Mercy Peak and Diplomatic Immunity, featured in ...

The SpinoffBy My Life in TV

2 days ago
‘I prioritise the mission, not my health’: Adam McGrath’s perfect weekend playlist

The Ōtautahi musician shares the 10 tracks he loves to spin, including the folk classic that cured him of a ‘case of the give-ups’. When singer-songwriter Adam McGrath returns to Kumeu’s Auckland Folk Festival from January 24-27, he’s not planning on simply idling his way through – he wants the late ...

The SpinoffBy Weekend playlist

2 days ago
The rescue dog bringing joy to Christchurch retirement homes

Alex Casey spends an afternoon on the job with River, the rescue dog on a mission to spread joy to Ōtautahi rest homes. Almost everyone says it is never enough time. But River the rescue dog, a jet black huntaway border collie cross, has to keep a tight pace to ...

The SpinoffBy Alex Casey

2 days ago
Fiji pro-Palestine nativity scene exposes Gaza as ‘hell on earth’ at Christmas

Asia Pacific Report Fiji activists have recreated the nativity scene at a solidarity for Palestine gathering in Fiji’s capital Suva just days before Christmas. The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network recreated the scene at the FWCC compound — a baby Jesus figurine lies amidst the ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

2 days ago
Vanuatu quake: ‘Our shop was flattened like a deck of cards’

By 1News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver and 1News reporters A number of Kiwis have been successfully evacuated from Vanuatu after a devastating earthquake shook the Pacific island nation earlier this week. The death toll was still unclear, though at least 14 people were killed according to an earlier statement from ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

2 days ago
How diplomats have broken the law in NZ – and what happened next

A handful of foreign diplomats have misbehaved during their time here - and not all of them have been brought to justice. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Swim schools report sinking enrolments as downturn deepens

Being able to swim is often considered a life skill, but tough economic times are forcing many families to pull their children out of lessons. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
‘There will be deaths because of this’ – Warning over Health NZ IT cuts

A West Coast IT worker is warning patients will die as Health New Zealand aims to slash its data and digital staff. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Polytech sales possible but unlikely when Te Pūkenga disestablished – minister

In a surprise move, the sale of polytechnics will be on the table when the national institute of technology Te Pūkenga is disestablished. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Parliament’s final sitting day an insight into party factions

On Parliament's last day of the year, there was a rare glimpse of the factions within the major parties. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Former Labour MP, North Shore mayor Ann Hartley dies

Former Labour MP and mayor of Auckland's North Shore City Ann Hartley has died. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
The closest thing Australian cartooning had to a prophet: the sometimes celebrated, sometimes contro...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Scully, Professor in Modern History, University of New England Bunker. Image courtesy of Michael Leunig, CC BY-NC-SA Michael Leunig – who died in the early hours of Thursday December 19, surrounded by “his children, loved ones, and sunflowers” – was the ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

2 days ago
Labour moves Speaker from the ‘nice’ to ‘naughty’ list

Last week's fights with the Speaker over the Fast Track schedule may have changed the tone in Parliament. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Govt ends pilot programme for Māori and Pacific, sparking outrage

The Government announced the end of the programme that allowed Māori and Pacific people to acess bowel cancer screening at 50-years-old. ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
Parliament fits an extra morning into final sitting day

The House - On Parliament's last day of the year, there was the rare occurrence of a personal (conscience) vote on selling booze over the Easter weekend. While it didn't have the numbers to pass, it was a chance to get a rare glimpse of the fact ...

Radio NZ – political

2 days ago
The Friday Poem: ‘Bejeweled log’ by Holly Fletcher

A new poem by Holly Fletcher. bejeweled log i was dreaming about wasps / wee darlings that followed me / ducking under objects / that i was fated to pickup / my fingers seeking / and meeting with tiny proboscis’s / but instead / i wake up / roll sideways ...

The SpinoffBy Holly Fletcher

2 days ago
Sunglasses don’t just look good – they’re good for you too. Here’s how to choose the right p...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne Versta/Shutterstock Australians are exposed to some of the highest levels of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the world. While we ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

2 days ago
How does franchising work?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Terry, Professor of Business Regulation, University of Sydney Michael von Aichberger/Shutterstock Even if you’ve no idea how the business model underpinning franchises works, there’s a good chance you’ve spent money at one. Franchising is essentially a strategy for cloning ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

2 days ago
The one episode of Shortland Street you need to watch this year

If something big is going to happen in Ferndale, it’s going to happen at Christmas. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If there’s one episode of Shortland Street you should watch each year, it’s the annual Christmas cliffhanger. The final episode of ...

The SpinoffBy Tara Ward

2 days ago
As China expands its cyber espionage and sabotage operations, how will the Trump administration resp...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William A. Stoltz, Lecturer and expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University US President-elect Donald Trump has named most of the members of his proposed cabinet. However, he’s yet to reveal key appointees to America’s powerful cyber warfare and intelligence institutions. ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

2 days ago
The Unity Books bestseller chart for 2024

Announcing the top 10 books of the the year at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Faber & Faber, $37) The phenomenal Irish writer is the unsurprising chart topper for 2024 with her fourth novel that, much like her first ...

The SpinoffBy The Spinoff Review of Books

2 days ago

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