Budget roundup

Written By: - Date published: 11:46 am, May 16th, 2013 - 213 comments
Categories: budget 2013, economy, election 2014 - Tags:

It’s Budget day. The privatisation of Meridian Energy will be announced. There will be a focus on poverty and housing – but will it be anything more than token? One News has a roundup of what we can expect. According to Labour it’s a “budget for the boardroom”.

Follow live coverage and updates:
On Scoop
On 3 News
One News
NewsTalk ZB
NZ Herald

Post budget Stuff is running a live chat with Bill English at 4:30pm.

Updates (from anyone who’s about!) will be added below…

Four years of misguided austerity have delayed any recovery.

Bill English still complaining about 2008.

Despite the advance publicity there is nothing significant here for families in poverty – it’s mostly about “encouraging” beneficiaries into the jobs that don’t exist.

The heart of this budget is a deficit of ideas.

The Herald has a summary up already.

* Urgent legislation to cut through red tape and speed house-building in areas where homes are least affordable – and not just in Auckland.

* A memorandum of understanding with Reserve Bank for measures to curb accelerating house prices and avoid fuelling boom-bust cycles in wider economy.

* Big reductions in ACC levies – but businesses and households will have to wait for one or two years before they take effect.

* Meridian Energy confirmed as next state company to undergo partial privatisation.

* $100 million package to help businesses to operate internationally.

* Tenancy reviews to be extended to all occupants of state houses.

* Government to use bulk purchasing power to buy cheaper whiteware for beneficiaries.

* Start-up companies making losses able to claim refunds tax losses on research and development.

Budget documents online here: http://www.budget.govt.nz/

Government debt still increasing by $130 Million a week – justification for ongoing austerity.

Still delaying contributions to NZ Super Fund – until 2021.

Keith Ng’s interactive budget visualiser.

“New” funding for science – not clear how much is really new, and how much is reallocation (mentioned earlier).

Govt surplus on a knife-edge

Scoop’s summary – all you need to know is there – will wait now for the speeches in reply…

Shearer calls it a “Blackjack” budget – a government for vested interests – ordinary Kiwis get the scraps falling off the table. This government puts vested interests ahead of hard working Kiwis. A “gameshow government” – everything up for sale. Why is there no food for schools in this budget (cf $40 Million for private schools). Woken up to the housing crisis – after KiwiBuild – but nothing in this budget about affordable homes. “A government for the well heeled and the well connected” – right from their 2008 tax cuts for the rich. Last week the 200,000th Kiwi left under Key’s government. The government is arrogant – mired in broken promises.

Shearer setting out Labour’s alternatives – good.

The heart of this budget is a deficit of ideas. Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

Good speech from Shearer.

From comments on Key’s speech:

National vs “The Devil-Beast”. Jesus fucking Christ, Key has totally lost it.

Russel Norman – An angry and bitter speech from the PM. A government of the 2% for the 2%. Another triple deficit budget. Economic, environmental and social. This budget makes them worse. National’s record borrowing spree – $70 Billion by 2020 – one of the worst in OECD. Using Bill English’s favourite measure – the tradable sector – the “rebalancing” has failed. This dark budget falls heaviest on our children. Budget 2013 is crumbs for kids. The budget is about irrigation before water standards. National is toxic to our wild spaces. “Rebalancing” has failed – that’s why it wan’t mentioned. We need a smart Green economy. The Greens care not about 2% but about 100% – and future generations.

A calm and rational speech from Norman – what a welcome contrast to the shrieking of the PM.

Winston wants to call the SFO on the budget…

Signing off…

213 comments on “Budget roundup ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. ghostrider888 1
    16 May 2013 at 12:45 pm

    English- “it will be a highly targeted, practical approach” = minimalist?

    • Lanthanide 1.1
      16 May 2013 at 12:58 pm

      Meaning no one’s getting tax cuts.

      • ghostrider888 1.1.1
        16 May 2013 at 1:09 pm

        just had a quick gaze over the front-page Dominion Post article (Tracy Watkins; dreadful shill, imo)
        quotes more revealing
        -“New Zealand a very difficult place to live for a young person, prospective first-home owner”
        -“rents up”
        -“peers moved overseas for better career options”
        -“graduate without a professional role”.
        -“harder and harder to get established”
        -“price of food increasingly noticeable”
        -more money put aside for food”
        -“general cost of living hideous”
        -“fight tooth and nail to get care for disabled”
        -“won’t walk down the street at night anymore”
        -“Used to have a few dollars left over”
        -“roast meat no longer a dinner-table staple”

        on, and on, and on down the decline we go.

        • The Al1en 1.1.1.1
          16 May 2013 at 2:30 pm

          “Round and round, spin and turn, down and down. You earn it.”

          • ghostrider888 1.1.1.1.1
            16 May 2013 at 2:44 pm

            Only when I sleep; cut your engines on the follow through?

            • The Al1en 1.1.1.1.1.1
              16 May 2013 at 2:50 pm

              “Burn and burn, crash and learn, come take my turn, ’cause you’ve got it.

              Cause hopes are fading down, it’s not gonna rise, it’s not gonna rise like a butterfly.
              Bright futures shaded brown, the slide to the right is just a part of the ride of your life on the race down.”

      • felix 1.1.2
        16 May 2013 at 1:09 pm

        Expect tax rises, but expect them to be called levies fees charges and tolls.

  2. Chris 2
    16 May 2013 at 1:06 pm

    I’m sure I could find this somewhere but easier to ask here – what time is it released? 2:30?

    Edit – dont worry found it 2pm

  3. felix 3
    16 May 2013 at 1:13 pm

    Do we get a question time today? Or is that particular expression of democratic accountability being shelved for English’s update on the class war?

    • freedom 3.1
      16 May 2013 at 1:58 pm

      No QT today, petitions,papers, sc reports, introduction of bills, then the budget. Then it seems the Government is seeking urgency for other business, (what fresh hell do they have in store for democracy today?)

  4. tracey 4
    16 May 2013 at 1:15 pm

    Did I read the other day that NZers who were parto fht e”braind rain” or OE as it used to be called, are upset they dont get enough support and acknowledgement when they come back years later?

    Will they get something in the budget, poor things?

    • ghostrider888 4.1
      16 May 2013 at 1:30 pm

      well, they didn’t get much in the Aussie budget; disabled actually.

      • Tim 4.1.1
        16 May 2013 at 1:47 pm

        Yep – so much for that ‘ANZAC spirit’!
        Brand ANZAC – now there’s a buzznuss tunety. Let’s play on that. Oh that’s right – we already do.
        Bugger – another missed tunety

  5. freedom 5
    16 May 2013 at 2:00 pm

    in the words of another grinning criminal “and away we go . . . . “

  6. RJL 6
    16 May 2013 at 2:21 pm

    Urgent legislation to cut through red tape and speed house-building in areas where homes are least affordable …

    So we can build yet more unaffordable housing? Somehow this doesn’t seem to be addressing the right problem.

    • tracey 6.1
      16 May 2013 at 2:49 pm

      Gosh, sounds like the Government interfering in the marketplace… is that… communism when labour and Greens mention it?

  7. mickysavage 7
    16 May 2013 at 2:30 pm

    English is claiming the Government will have power to issue subdivision consents. This appears to contravene the Auckland Housing accord which lets Auckland put up proposals and the Government agree to them. Details of the legislation will be interesting …

    • tracey 7.1
      16 May 2013 at 2:42 pm

      So much for the amalgamation of Auckland to get central out of local government, it was just to make it easier for central to impose.

      You watch the people who dont want a 6 level apartment next to them get very supportive of subdividing their backyard for quick profit.

    • Enough is Enough 7.2
      16 May 2013 at 2:59 pm

      I don’t have too many issues with that. I am getting sick of Auckland acting like it is an independent state.

      Baut as you say the legislation will be interesting.

      • Stephen D 7.2.1
        16 May 2013 at 3:53 pm

        With the stuff ups coming from Wellington via Christchurch and Nelson, maybe it should be.
        Give the South Is back to Ngai Tahu, and let Auckland vote for independence. Wellington can f…k up whatever is left.
        /rant

        • Colonial Viper 7.2.1.1
          16 May 2013 at 3:55 pm

          Yeah we can leave Auckland to supply its own food and power. That’ll be fun.

          • freedom 7.2.1.1.1
            16 May 2013 at 5:56 pm

            They’ve got the Taco Truck and if they hook up a couple of dynamos to the SkyCity roulette wheels, they’ll be fine

  8. TheContrarian 8
    16 May 2013 at 2:35 pm

    Meridian is the next to go

  9. bad12 9
    16 May 2013 at 2:38 pm

    Yes spot the total bullshit people, in one breath Bill from Dipton trumpets that ‘the books’ will be balanced by 2014/15, in the next Government borrowing will continue at 100 Million + a week and at 2016 will be something like 80 billion dollars,

    Meanwhile back in the jungle, partly due so Bill from Dipton says to having the Government borrow less the rest of our assets will be stolen and flogged off for Bill to play ‘lolly scrambles’ with in election year 2014…

  10. karol 10
    16 May 2013 at 2:39 pm

    Puppets on the government benches are funny the way they keep clapping like automatons.

    The reading of the Budget is a bit of a yawn-making ritual, paying homage to balance sheets over people and their lives.

    It’s the small print, and how the funding will be operationalised are the main issues as far as I am concerned.

    • tracey 10.1
      16 May 2013 at 2:41 pm

      Like when Jeff Robinson on National radio says at 832am, we must go to a market update… as though it is something the world could not live without.

      • North 10.1.1
        16 May 2013 at 10:43 pm

        I used to like Robinson. The slightly recessive tone suggested that he was at least on an equilibrium. I don’t think so. It’s not so much as instructions but those boys have got enough sense to know that it’s OK just to read copy. Sad bastards. Journalists, what ?

  11. tracey 11
    16 May 2013 at 2:39 pm

    “Urgent legislation to cut through red tape and speed house-building in areas where homes are least affordable – and not just in Auckland.”

    Yup… seems the mistakes which led to leaky homes being built to line the developers pockets have been forgotten…

    IF developers were to be held personally liable for ten years (like builders and designers) after construction I would agree with this.

    And they are bringing back some R & D support they aolished… does this mean they admit they are wrong.

    • North 11.1
      17 May 2013 at 12:20 am

      Crosby Textor says you never, never admit you’re wrong. That’s the shit which grips NZ politics.

  12. freedom 12
    16 May 2013 at 2:43 pm

    http://publicaddress.net/keith/Budget/Budget-Treemap.html#expenditureByDepartment.1953

    great work by all involved,
    pity the content is so depressing to read

  13. karol 13
    16 May 2013 at 2:46 pm

    “Sensible responsible change” Yeah, SkyCity, Asset sales, bennie bashing over jobs, housing developers, social housing over state housing….

    … blah blah blah, “brighter future” always on the way, never here now.

    • Wayne (a different one) 13.1
      16 May 2013 at 3:17 pm

      “A Brighter Future” – something the Labour Party could never deliver. That’s why you are in opposition and,will be for a long time.

      A party bereft of vision or dynamic thinking, a party focused on keeping people dependent on nanny state through bureoning welfare – a recipe that has seen the demise of many european economies, Venezuala, Cuba and, not to mention the USSR.

      Sheeps response to the budget was laughable – clearly written a week ago and, without any knowledge of the content of the budget.

      Clearly a man without any understanding of how to run a successful economy, because his comments were way off beam.

      I think the NZ public have the left pretty well summed up now – anti business, anti growth, anti initiative, anti independence – destructive and above all else “nasty”.

      You have nothing to offer, nothing whatsoever – you are wallowing to another embarssing defeat next year.

  14. karol 14
    16 May 2013 at 2:48 pm

    Shearer: “we see that Mighty River…

    Power Executives. Shonkey reading. But some very good lines.

    • Wayne (a different one) 14.1
      16 May 2013 at 3:37 pm

      Of course Karol, mumbles was refering to the new labour mixed ownership model. Labour 51% and the Greens 49%.

  15. tracey 15
    16 May 2013 at 2:50 pm

    ” State housing is there to support those in need but it can become a trap,” he said. ” he should know, afterallhe tried to charge us twice for his state housing.

    • alwyn 15.1
      16 May 2013 at 3:03 pm

      You are confused Tracey. That was Jeanette Fitzsimmons and Catherine Delahunty.

      • Colonial Viper 15.1.1
        16 May 2013 at 3:15 pm

        Us paying for English’s Wellington accomodation because it wasn’t his main family residence you mean.

  16. tinfoilhat 16
    16 May 2013 at 2:54 pm

    Just watching Shearer and his stooges on TV …… anyone who votes for this morons is delusional they are utterly bereft of ideas and hopeless, vote Green people that’s the only chance for a real change we’ve got Russell not withstanding.

  17. tracey 17
    16 May 2013 at 2:54 pm

    “English said paid employment was the best way to lift vulnerable families out of poverty. An extra $188.6m will go to implementing the next stage of the government’s welfare reforms, while Work and Income will hire an extra 354 staff.”

    So the govt intends creating work for those it hires to make it harder for people to get welfare. In my world that’s not quite the same thing as getting work for beneficiairies.

  18. tracey 18
    16 May 2013 at 2:56 pm

    Headline this morning

    “Fog settles over Wellington”

    I had thought they meant the weather but now I realise…

  19. Mr Burns 19
    16 May 2013 at 3:04 pm

    Who was that shouty fellow. Leader of the opposition or something.

  20. SpaceMonkey 20
    16 May 2013 at 3:04 pm

    First time I’ve heard Shearer speak in a while… big improvement on past efforts.

    “Someone should give John Key a vowel, for his Government is “O” for “Awful””… brilliant!

    Oh, now John Key… just as predicted… *sigh*

    • karol 20.1
      16 May 2013 at 3:09 pm

      Shearer’s speech was lively and almost there. But his painful reading was embarrassing – he said parts of phrases as if they were a punchline, then said the next word, making it clear it was meant to be part of the previous phrase – painful to listen to.

      • SpaceMonkey 20.1.1
        16 May 2013 at 3:15 pm

        Agreed… but he lost me completely when he mentioned “growing the economy”.

      • Xtasy 20.1.2
        16 May 2013 at 3:18 pm

        Sorry “karol”, you must be living on another planet on this one, I am really sorry to hear and see you defend a weak and incompetent leader not even able to address the main issues in the budget. I could do a better job than Sheaer!

        He repeated stuff we all know, and much rightfully, but lacking convincing body language and language, and he did not even imply on where the money would come from that we need to bring in better policies. That is useless and will not go down well with the public at all. Labour will drop in polls below 30 oer cent again, wait and see. I am sorry, totally disappointed and without hope for the main opposition party in Parliament.

        Get rid of Shearer now, before it is all LOST!

        • karol 20.1.2.1
          16 May 2013 at 3:21 pm

          I’m not defending Shearer’s leadership. It looked to me like he was delivering a speech someone else wrote. The speech was well-written and pretty sharp in places. The delivery was embarrassing – he had to read it.

          Yes, it only targeted aspects of the budget already leaked.

  21. Xtasy 21
    16 May 2013 at 3:09 pm

    F*** DAVID SHEARER:

    Him quoting Gilmore and General Patton with “LEAD, FOLLOW OR GET OUT OF THE WAY”, and his limp, useless, wooden, hopeless speech in response to the Budget announcement by English has been the most stupid comment any speaker of his useless calibre could make in any opposition leader’s speech.

    HONOUR YOUR WORD, David, Shearer!!!

    Labour, get a Leader and learn to be opposition, rather to have an hopeless, idea less, useless “leader” do anything but perform in such an important debate!

    This is the FINAL PROOF, that Labour are screwed.

    Time for a new left party, I’d say, or NZ will get screwed for years or decades to come, under a Natzi right wing neo-lib capitalist, cronyist government.

    I have NO HOPE in Labour, and Key is presently speaking and taking him to the cleaners.

    Shearer was incessantly glaring to the public galery to see how he would come across. Seeing the faces of most in the House, incl. the opposition, showed, Shearer is NOT the man to lead you into government in 2014.

    FUCK, GET RID OF HIM!!!

    • karol 21.1
      16 May 2013 at 3:14 pm

      Actually, it was a very well-written and sharp speech. The delivery was embarrassing.

      Mind you, Key then said it was like watching mysky on half speed – so he can afford sky, some of us have myfreeview, others just freeview, and I wonder how many can’t afford that?

      • BM 21.1.1
        16 May 2013 at 3:26 pm

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SKY_TV_%28New_Zealand%29

        826,125- DBS subscribers
        331,041- My Sky
        20,115 other subscribers

        Sky is in 49.2% of New Zealand homes, making it the largest pay-television platform in New Zealand.

        • infused 21.1.1.1
          16 May 2013 at 3:39 pm

          Burn…

        • karol 21.1.1.2
          16 May 2013 at 3:41 pm

          So, talking about Sky is not talking to the majority of Kiwis, then let alone, a big majority – not talking at all to struggling kiwis on low incomes.

          • infused 21.1.1.2.1
            16 May 2013 at 4:13 pm

            The same functionality he was talking about is available on Freeview. Stop being so pretentious.

            • karol 21.1.1.2.1.1
              17 May 2013 at 8:19 am

              Yep…. but he didn’t say “freeview” but sky. Think about it.

        • QoT 21.1.1.3
          16 May 2013 at 9:57 pm

          Sure, if you think of sports bars as homes.

        • tc 21.1.1.4
          17 May 2013 at 6:25 am

          It’s the only pay Tv operator BM…..one that is allowed free to air content behind it’s paywalls BTW.

          Is that sky dishes being in 49% or actual curently subscribed services ? I’ve got 2 dishes installed by sky neither have a service attached.

        • felix 21.1.1.5
          17 May 2013 at 8:00 am

          1. A pay tv account =/= a home.

          2. Even if it did, 331,041 =/= 49.2% of them.

          3. Key is an elitist tosser who assumes everyone understands his way of life.

          • King Kong 21.1.1.5.1
            17 May 2013 at 8:25 am

            Lighten up Felix, why don’t you subscribe to my sky to help you unwind. It is only around $150 a month (with the additional pay channels like soho).
            Only beneficiaries and idiots who wanked all their dough on P couldn’t afford that.

      • lprent 21.1.2
        16 May 2013 at 10:06 pm

        … so he can afford sky, some of us have myfreeview, others just freeview, and I wonder how many can’t afford that?

        I could afford it, I just can’t be bothered expending the time to get someone in to fix the aerial so I can waste time watching time wasting advertisements and in the case of sky – paying to do it. DVD’s from videoezy, quickflix and streamed video is more than adequate. I pay for each of them, but less than the sky subscription where I only really use soho, rialto, and occasionally the international news.

        Lyn however is putting the pressure on. She doesn’t particularly want to watch the programmes. However for professional reasons she wants to examine the ads (the strange tortures that film-makers subject themselves to is legendary). Is there a site that puts them up so I can stream them in? 😈

        I wonder how long the broadcast TV companies can survive?

        • karol 21.1.2.1
          17 May 2013 at 8:23 am

          There’s quite a lot of TV ads available online. But for teaching it’s best to watch the latest ones as well.

      • tc 21.1.3
        17 May 2013 at 6:20 am

        Yes karol and plenty of teams are well trained,fit and prepared with a winning game plan.

        Then they freeze on field, forget the plan and lose…..lets all hope DS can improve beacuse it’s all the old guard are prepared to let lead the major opposition party.

    • Enough is Enough 21.2
      16 May 2013 at 3:23 pm

      Your last sentence is the only message that anyone who has any power in Labour should take notice of today.

      Labour insiders…read it again.

      This has to end. Key just sat their smiling as Shaearer stumbled over the delivery of what should be a simple critique.

      FUCK, GET RID OF HIM!!!

      • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 21.2.1
        16 May 2013 at 3:57 pm

        I thought it was Shearer’s most confident performance to date.

        Key powned him though.

        • Xtasy 21.2.1.1
          16 May 2013 at 4:06 pm

          Your affiliations and sympathies are well known, no bloody wonder you support a limp horse, over age, to run at the equivalent in the political sphere, to the Melbourne Cup. Get out of here, and join your mate David, the Farracious Fart****!

        • freedom 21.2.1.2
          16 May 2013 at 4:06 pm

          Oleolebasketcase
          If that is behaviour you or indeed anyone accepts, or worse wants, from your Prime Minister in the House on the reading of a Budget, I can only assume you have either a loathing of our Nation or just no respect for the position that he holds.

          He is the only PM I can remember who every single time he stands to speak, treats the House of Parliament as an Open Mike night at the local comedy club.

        • North 21.2.1.3
          16 May 2013 at 10:47 pm

          Powned him ? How does that go Biscuit ?

          [lprent: usually it gets accompanied with a ban when used between commentators. It invariably results in very silly flame wars. ]

          • The Al1en 21.2.1.3.1
            17 May 2013 at 6:20 am

            He fucked it in his rush to make a point 😆

            Urban dictionary.
            A corruption of the word “Owned.” This originated in an online game called Warcraft, where a map designer misspelled “owned.” When the computer beat a player, it was supposed to say, so-and-so “has been owned.”

            Instead, it said, so-and-so “has been pwned.”

            It basically means “to own” or to be dominated by an opponent or situation, especially by some god-like or computer-like force.
            “Man, I rock at my job, but I still got a bad evaluation. I was pwned.”

            OR

            “That team totally pwned us.”

            • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 21.2.1.3.1.1
              17 May 2013 at 10:00 am

              Yes. What the Al1en said. I have never seen it written down.

    • dumrse 21.3
      16 May 2013 at 8:56 pm

      Shearer…”there go my team, I must follow them for I am their Leader”.

      • North 21.3.1
        17 May 2013 at 12:25 am

        Such a clever what the fuck does it mean comment DumbArse. You really are too thick to even come near this blog Dumbarse. Back in your kennel please.

  22. Xtasy 22
    16 May 2013 at 3:11 pm

    David Shearer did not even adress THE BUDGET, and repeated all we know for months or years now, and that shows, he is not capable to deal with a major challenge unprepared, having only had a look at the budget in an hour or two.

    HOPELESS, Good Bye David, make room for Cunliffe or Robertson NOW!!!

    • karol 22.1
      16 May 2013 at 3:17 pm

      Yes, Robertson delivers sharp speeches at least, even though I’m not keen on his political values.

      • bad12 22.1.1
        16 May 2013 at 3:38 pm

        I would give Shearer a pass mark at this point, putting aside His previous politics for the moment He seems to have taken on the electricity market reforms and elucidated the Labour/Green position with a reasonable amount of clarity,

        Housing was a bit of a let down,(needs more work as we have previously discussed), the left/right divide in this country is finely balanced in electoral terms and having a 5 seat majority now and into the future in terms of elections will be considered a luxury,

        The winning of the 2014 election i would dare to say will be the joint announcement by Labour and the Green Party of the ‘living wage’ for all workers and the steps the Labour/Green Government will take after November 2014 to achieve that for all workers in it’s first term of office…

    • infused 22.2
      16 May 2013 at 3:40 pm

      Labour def needs Cunliffe.

      • BM 22.2.1
        16 May 2013 at 3:51 pm

        I’d seriously vote for a Labour party with David Cunliffe at the helm.
        David Shearer is a complete disaster and needs to be taken out the back and shot.

        • infused 22.2.1.1
          16 May 2013 at 3:53 pm

          Why did Labour push Shearer? It must have been so obvious he was shit when National/Farrer/etc loved him being party leader.

          • BM 22.2.1.1.1
            16 May 2013 at 4:00 pm

            Yeah, can’t believe they fell for that one.
            The election leader debates will be a shocker, Key is going to tie Shearer into knots.

            • Arfamo 22.2.1.1.1.1
              16 May 2013 at 8:20 pm

              I’m not even gonna watch Shearer’s reply. It’ll only end in tears.

            • Paul 22.2.1.1.1.2
              16 May 2013 at 8:30 pm

              Shearer was picked by the right at a BBQ after the election.
              So they knew they’d win if they won. Or if they lost.
              And because he’s so bad, they were pretty certain they’d win anyway.

              The only problem they have are the Greens as they are actually putting some spine into the opposition. Hence the attacks on the Labour/Greens 51% owned etc.
              Shearer, despite being a neo-liberal plant, is now under attack from the right because he allowed the Greens to foist the energy policy and threaten the neo-liberal paradigm.

              Hence the chicken licken stuff of recent times.

            • felix 22.2.1.1.1.3
              17 May 2013 at 12:49 am

              “Key is going to tie Shearer into knots.”

              No, he won’t. He’s never tied anyone into knots in a debate.

              But he will deliver his slogans better than Shearer, and he will yell louder than Shearer, and he will be generally less dull than Shearer, and he will think on his feet a bit better than Shearer.

              And while none of that is particularly impressive, it’ll be enough.

        • North 22.2.1.2
          17 May 2013 at 12:32 am

          BM…….you, the retired Richard Branson of Bucklands Beach or somewhere equally muddy, you’d vote Labour ? Well……………………………..fuck me. Ya’ don’t need to be a sniveller man. Whatever motivates you…………………………….ya’ don’t need to be a sniveller.

      • yeshe 22.2.2
        16 May 2013 at 6:32 pm

        Yep.

  23. Mr Burns 23
    16 May 2013 at 3:25 pm

    Someone should call security. A clown pretending to be the prime minister managed to get into Parliament and spent his time telling jokes. But I hoped he was not paid because the jokes were pretty terrible.

  24. felix 24
    16 May 2013 at 3:26 pm

    National vs “The Devil-Beast”.

    Jesus fucking Christ, Key has totally lost it.

    • TheContrarian 24.1
      16 May 2013 at 3:27 pm

      I thought it was funny

      • felix 24.1.1
        16 May 2013 at 3:38 pm

        Yeah, in the way televangelists are funny or the Westboro Baptists are funny.

        He’s turning out to be a real funny guy.

        • Xtasy 24.1.1.1
          16 May 2013 at 4:10 pm

          felix – the trouble is he GETS AWAY WITH IT!

          And he does so, due to a useless, weak, underperforming, totally unispiring wannabe Labour leader, well, who actually was rather “asked” or “talked into” being the damned supposed “leader”!

          Those that groomed Shearer should also face the political “guillotine” now (not to be taken literally)!

          “Vive la revolution”, ahem, oh sorry, I am in Anglo Saxonia down colonial ar**hole side.

          Sorry, I will be hanged sooon, but that is what happens to the ones speaking the truth!

          Labur needs a REVOLT and REVOLUTION from amongst their members, or it will be DEAD forever!

          [lprent: excessive capitals. ]

        • North 24.1.1.2
          16 May 2013 at 10:48 pm

          He’s a ponce, admit it. ShonKey Python Circus Flyer I mean. Sometimes you post and it all ends up out of order. I’m talking about the senior Rotarian Shonkey Python

      • Galeandra 24.1.2
        16 May 2013 at 3:43 pm

        nuff said

    • SpaceMonkey 24.2
      16 May 2013 at 3:30 pm

      Yep… a pretty rabid delivery. Shearer isn’t going to have a chance if he’s still leader of Labour going into the 2014 election.

    • karol 24.3
      16 May 2013 at 3:30 pm

      Yep – I knew Bill has been reading fairy tales.

      • Wayne (a different one) 24.3.1
        16 May 2013 at 3:35 pm

        John Key summed it up perfectly – “Labour and the Greens are living in that happy little place where fruit meets loop”.

        • emergency mike 24.3.1.1
          16 May 2013 at 3:58 pm

          NAct are happy to live in that greedy little place where our money meets their mates’ wallets.

        • Draco T Bastard 24.3.1.2
          16 May 2013 at 5:41 pm

          And John Key just proves that he, and the rest of his rich mates, are living on Planet Key. It’s the National party and other believers in the ‘free-market’ that are living in delusion.

          • North 24.3.1.2.1
            16 May 2013 at 10:52 pm

            If I was a lunatic I’d have another answer really. I know that invites hahaha from fuckwits but so be it. Who cares about Tory cargo-cultist fuckwits.

            • Rob 24.3.1.2.1.1
              17 May 2013 at 10:19 am

              What is this continual Tory reference. If you failed to notice we are part of Pasifica, we are not wearing cloth caps in fukin Brixton.

    • emergency mike 24.4
      16 May 2013 at 3:52 pm

      With Bill English as Perseus, can he slay the foul Devil-Beast? Or will the Labour/Greens/Hades coalition plunge the world into an aeon of darkness. National save us! John Key thine sword is the true and righteous one.

    • infused 24.6
      16 May 2013 at 9:10 pm

      Labour said that about National… Get a grip son, he just spat it back.

  25. Galeandra 25
    16 May 2013 at 3:39 pm

    Russell Norman for leader. Someone who intelligently dissected the platitudinous junk of Key&Co

    • infused 25.1
      16 May 2013 at 3:45 pm

      I’m sure that will be on a Tui ad soon.

    • Rich the other 25.2
      16 May 2013 at 3:46 pm

      Yeah , russell will just print some money.

      • freedom 25.2.1
        16 May 2013 at 3:59 pm

        Rich, where do the Central Banks get their money (the money they lend to us at interest) ???
        where? Please enlighten us.

        you won’t because it would mean admitting they pull the notes out of thin air
        charge us interest and then shaft us with manipulated exchange rates to ensure like all addicts
        we come jonesing back for more

      • Colonial Viper 25.2.2
        16 May 2013 at 3:59 pm

        That’s all the private banks do.

        And they charge us interest for it.

      • Paul 25.2.3
        16 May 2013 at 7:29 pm

        Typical right wing argument.
        A slogan.

      • North 25.2.4
        16 May 2013 at 10:54 pm

        Rich the Smother. Retire. You’re a fuckwit. Not funny at all.

    • Xtasy 25.3
      16 May 2013 at 5:54 pm

      Galeandra – I’d second that, but sadly due to so much misinformation and drivel feeding, most NZers do not understand Russel and the Greens, nor anyone else that may have some sense and offer a better solution, they are condemned to dumbing down and ignorance resulting from a privately owned and run media, supporting all that promote what Key and Nats want, so they keep voting for Neanderthal solutions, like cheap fuel to import, and cheap products, many of them they may not even need, to keep them “happy”, while selling produce only of primary quality and also land and houses to have foreigners and their banks allow them keep on a stupid, ignorant lifestyle, determined to lead to slavery and servitude forever.

      Most do NOT get what is at stake, I am afraid.

  26. tinfoilhat 26
    16 May 2013 at 3:56 pm

    Vote Green, Labour are lamentably poor and offer nothing.

    • Draco T Bastard 26.1
      16 May 2013 at 6:19 pm

      /seconded

      or some other party of the left.

      • xtasy 26.1.1
        16 May 2013 at 6:47 pm

        seconded 1,000,000,000 times now, for sure

      • QoT 26.1.2
        16 May 2013 at 10:00 pm

        I’d like to see some disillusioned Labourites go Mana. Annette Sykes in the House would be a thing of beauty.

        • lprent 26.1.2.1
          16 May 2013 at 10:20 pm

          I’d vote for her. However she is more likely to win a electoral seat that I’m not eligible to vote for. I don’t think that Flavell inspires loyalty.

        • North 26.1.2.2
          16 May 2013 at 10:58 pm

          Kia Ora, tautoko to that ! Annette Sykes is a soul this country needs !

          To back up the most honest fulla in NZ politics – Hone !

          Come back screechig you fuckwit low-rent racists.

        • Colonial Viper 26.1.2.3
          17 May 2013 at 12:24 am

          QoT – in order to accomplish that Mana is going to have to set about a very deliberate strategy of engagement and image management to do so. Getting a couple of well known and credible “Old Labour” personalities onboard would be critical.

          The objective would be to grab and hold 3% to 4% of the hard left vote in 2014.

  27. gobsmacked 27
    16 May 2013 at 3:56 pm

    Shearer didn’t write his speech, he just had to read it well – which he couldn’t – and think on his feet to respond to English – which he also couldn’t. Communication skills are pretty basic – you have to do both the prepared stuff and the unprepared stuff. Shearer can delegate the first to somebody else, but he’s on his own for the second, and it shows.

    Key was … Key. An obnoxious wanker. As usual.

    Norman showed them both up.

    Budget? Pretty obvious strategy, announce a surplus in election year, whether it’s real or not, target some goodies and scare voters with leftie bogies. A coherent alternative would sweep them out of office, but Shearer can’t offer one.

    • Draco T Bastard 27.1
      16 May 2013 at 6:21 pm

      A coherent alternative would sweep them out of office, but Shearer can’t offer one.

      That’s because Shearer and Labour are offering exactly the same thing – more free-market induced poverty for the many while a few get very, very rich from the working of the many.

  28. Xtasy 28
    16 May 2013 at 3:57 pm

    What a HORRIBLE DAY! Something over a 100 million for the welfare budget to give “incentives” to employers to hire sick and disabled “job seekers”. 40 per cent of ALL welfare recipients will get “intensive case management”, guess for what target achievements that will be?!

    Social housing needs will be assessed by WINZ, who will have to pay more in accom supplements across the board, also to Housing NZ and other social housing, who will be paying MARKET RENTS!

    So going by Bennett’s record and that of her departments, I see horror hitting us.

    I heard nothing about extra health care for sick and disabled on benefits to get treatment and support to perhaps ready themselves for work, let alone for managing day to day survival functions.

    A lot of talk, hot air and stuff, but little or nothing of substance for the truly needy.

    I see and hear a useless speech, well-meant by Shearer, but anything but convincing. The opposition has NO LEADER, it is so damned apparent, and Labour a caucus too busy to serve themselves rather than the people. Out of wits and power they seem.

    Now Winston speaks, ok in a sense, but he is ageing, not up to it anymore, turning the gimmicky mouse treadmill the wrong way, good gimmick after all.

    Norman held a good speech, on substance, but he will never be a major opposition leader, as he always comes across too academic for most voters.

    Gosh, what a day, a shocking day of an awakening, NZ has NO STRONG OPPOSITIONS, it is time for a damned wake up call, but most out there are all divided, numbed, dumbed down and divided, not even raising their voices. Rather than protest and take a stand, it is off again into cyber escapism tonight, the little private escape of most, a lost country and people, that is NZ 2013, at the hands of a defacto dictatorship by NatACT and their business supporters.

    Time to get out of here, if one can, perhaps, dreadful a place now!

    • karol 28.1
      16 May 2013 at 4:02 pm

      Waiting for Hone’s response. Would like to see a speech from Turei, too.

      Winston had a funny opener – was laughing out loud. CAll in the Serious Fraud Office to investigate Bill and John’s fraudulent claims.

      Oh, dear Sharples… sucking up.

      • freedom 28.1.1
        16 May 2013 at 4:10 pm

        is that National letterhead he is reading off? 😎

      • Xtasy 28.1.2
        16 May 2013 at 4:20 pm

        karol, am watching and listening, Hone is solidly sticking to his main topics, poverty, feeding school kids and social justice, especially a fair deal for Maori, who make up a large size of the poor. Good on him, and I support him and Mana on a lot for what they stand for. But Hone is just a small player, in the bigger game, that is why Labour need to get a revolution from inside and get their acts together, certainly need a true leader, not a man, who earned nicely for a secure UN post, and who may be a good old “mature” teacher, but who is otherwise not sufficiently in touch (“bene roof-painter” syndrome), and certainly not skilled enough, to lead a major political party. Labour need to get their shit together, and sack him now!!!

        Remember Chris Trotter, or whosoever it was who said, if Labour cannot manage with Shearer, to win the next election, get rid of him before June this year, or all will be lost for another 4 damned years.

        I hold Labour to account on this, being a damned struggling beneficiary with serious health issues, previously contributing excellently for society in lastly rather well paying, responsible jobs. But they have given social justice insufficient focus. I hold Labour accountable for not delivering more needed, well communicated, firm and resolute solutions as an alterantive to the same old crap we get from Key, English, Bennett, Ryall and the gang in power.

        With all good intentions and policies, none of it will be coming to reality without real leadership! People look at leaders and communication of policies. It is not happening with Labour, it is a total failure!

        So get bloody moving, or thousands will suffer as a consequence of your lack of action, competence and for failing to take responsibility for this country and many desperate living here!

        • karol 28.1.2.1
          16 May 2013 at 4:27 pm

          I don’t hold out much hope for the Labour Party over the next year or so – some individual MPs do some good things. But, the only hope for the major changes needed are from a change at the flax roots, and through the influence of smaller parties circulating the ideas, and showing the NZLP the way.

      • North 28.1.3
        17 May 2013 at 12:39 am

        Dear Old Sharples………there for life. Sad about his mana, sold for a BMW and an enduring friendship with the poncey Prime Mincer. Bad deal Pete !

        • Murray Olsen 28.1.3.1
          17 May 2013 at 3:24 am

          The friendship won’t endure. Key will find other brown pretend friends in Hawaii.

  29. tracey 29
    16 May 2013 at 4:14 pm

    what is the plan when the tiny surplus iz reached. A bonus to mckinsey?

  30. karol 30
    16 May 2013 at 4:14 pm

    Excellent analysis from Selwyn Manning on DTB: front page summation:

    “New Zealanders should read the detail that lies behind English’s Budget speech because there lurks a fiscal-incompetence devil. And it will take more than an exorcist to dislodge that specter of regression from this fiscal engine room. What this gaggle of good guys has produced is a diversion-plan, a blueprint, on how to win the 2014 General Election.”

    Recommended reading.

  32. GregJ 32
    16 May 2013 at 4:37 pm

    One thing that interested me was the announcement on the new powers being given to the Reserve Bank – not so much the powers themselves but more the tenor of English’s comments (if reported accurately) – in particular:

    “The New Zealand central banking model was held up as an example for others to follow in the 1980s when it was believed that intervention did not work and the only goal of monetary policy should be keeping inflation under control. Financial upheaval in many countries has forced central banks to intervene to save banks and restore confidence in banking systems.

    Mr English said the New Zealand banking system had avoided the upheaval that engulfed other countries but the government had agreed that the central bank needed more powers to reduce New Zealand’s vulnerability to boom-bust cycles.”

    Now while I’m sure this is a direct response to the IMF’s warning the other day on housing affordability is this the first crack in the dam of the neo-liberal monetary policy consensus? Has National inadvertently acted as a Pathfinder for “L for Labour” and “G for Greens” to drop the next bouncing bombs and blow open the whole damn dam?

  33. infused 33
    16 May 2013 at 4:49 pm

    Anyone got a link to Shearers speech?

  34. Johnny 34
    16 May 2013 at 4:54 pm

    Cullen used to run a $1 billion contingency in the budget and that Nats have that down to $300 million so they are basically just fiddling the books to get back into surplus in outyears. Let’s hope nothing bad happens over the next few years

    • Colonial Viper 34.1
      16 May 2013 at 11:03 pm

      This is like the banks running down their ‘loan loss reserves’ and moving the money over to boost “end of year profits”

  35. Xtasy 35
    16 May 2013 at 5:35 pm

    Shearer’s “wooden” and predictably poor speech, with raising vaild issues, but not delivering in competency, charisma or anything else:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSKhldH4538&list=UU11JO1LSuPQKCuQyyIn8w1Q&index=3

    GET A NEW LEADER FOR LABOUR NOW!!!

    • emergency mike 35.1
      16 May 2013 at 5:57 pm

      I didn’t think was as bad as some here are making out, but the part at the end where he’s trying to wave his finger around with ‘passion’ looked lame in a rehearsed kind of way.

      That said, Cunliffe would have done it much, much better.

      • xtasy 35.1.1
        16 May 2013 at 6:53 pm

        As a weak weasel “leaer” YOU never quote a former general Patton, former WW2 “hero” (albeit questionable) and say what dumb David said, it is stupid, ignorant, and he earned endless laughter from the government benches, so for goodness sake, do not defend this man, he maybe a good minister of sorts, he is NOT a PRIME MINISTER in waiting!

        Get out of the way, dear David Shearer, honour your damned Patton ill faited quotation now!

      • North 35.1.2
        16 May 2013 at 11:03 pm

        Of course. We all know that Cunliffe would have done it better and would have been doing so for months past. So what the fuck is this all about ? Why ?

    • xtasy 35.2
      17 May 2013 at 6:49 pm

      Why the hell was this not “banned” for abuse of caps?

  36. gobsmacked 36
    16 May 2013 at 5:48 pm

    David Parker on Radio NZ (also previously on Newstalk ZB and TV3) … sounding credible and measured, maybe not “left” enough for some but at least he can do the wordy talky thing. Labour have put him up for the interviews rather than their leader. No surprise.

    Duncan Garner on Radio Live kissing National arse … “the right people are in charge”. Yep, that’s a direct quote. Pass the sick bag …

    • johnm 36.1
      16 May 2013 at 6:07 pm

      Duncan Garner
      Someone should kick his fat ugly arse and wake him to reality.

      • emergency mike 36.1.1
        16 May 2013 at 6:18 pm

        So Garner just opened up about his ‘objectivity’.

        I wish he would just stick to drawing elephants while wasted and freaking out about his paranoia on K2.

      • fender 36.1.2
        16 May 2013 at 6:52 pm

        Insecure ulgy ass was Garner on Media3 last night with his stiff-arm all over the table, Sean Plunket must make him feel stunted.

    • xtasy 36.2
      16 May 2013 at 6:18 pm

      Radio Live, ZB, ZM, most private media is NATIONAL PARTY affiliated, for sure, even public radio and television bend their backs and knees to accommodate now. Hence only social media blogs like this are worth taking note of these days!

      We live in a state of virtual dictatorship of an elite economic, business, social and political class, if anybody doubts this, they should be referred to a mental institution!

    • Paul 36.3
      16 May 2013 at 7:37 pm

      How can you call yourself a journalist and say that?
      FFS

    • North 36.4
      16 May 2013 at 11:12 pm

      Garner’s a fuckwit like all of those “look at me look at me” narcissists on the tele’. Jesus, I live way up North and even from where I am I could summon up better “analysis” than they do.

      They are voyeurs who delight in the free piss they get and the odd carnal score they make at the Viaduct or down Ponsonby Road or Dida’s in Hernia Bay, on account of their “famousness”.

      Basically they’re halitosis frauds who think they’re part of the story of New Zealand’s politics.

      We are a very little pond with a number of extraordinarily sluggish fat old carp !

  37. johnm 37
    16 May 2013 at 5:52 pm

    Yankey evil toerag, f*ck sake wake up kiwis before this scum totally wrecks this once great land. The greedy section here is lapping his poison they don’t care for their suffering poorer kiwis.

  38. emergency mike 38
    16 May 2013 at 6:01 pm

    lol Winston with his pink treadmill. Go Winnie I’m sure that will get you dat soundbite on the TV.

  39. North 39
    16 May 2013 at 6:18 pm

    Mr Bean’s Cuzzy, Power (Trip) Gower, on TV3 tonight re the Budget:

    “I spoke to Steven Joyce…….aaah, I spoke to Steven Joyce’s office……..blah blah blah…….’Look PADDY’ (they said, apparently)……..blah blah blah”.

    Such a wanker ! “Me Me Me”. Part of the story. Can’t help himself.

    Campbell…….slap his ears please.

    • xtasy 39.1
      16 May 2013 at 6:21 pm

      excellent comment, ah,, eh, who, what, eh, ahem, na, maybe, yeah, right, TUI always right, get the story out right now, media is attacking the news! Pat Gutter again.

    • Tom Gould 39.2
      16 May 2013 at 6:48 pm

      Almost as bad as the breathless coverage from Corin Key AKA Dann. “We’ll, the finance minister, he’s got the economic engine, if you like, he’s got under the bonnet, he’s tried to fix it up, he’s got the engine humming but he’s not prepared to take that engine out of the garage and really put the foot down and spend up large. That will come next year.” What? The economic engine is “humming?” Humming? Does this prick live at Bill English’s place. Shower with him? What a Tory wanker.

      • fender 39.2.1
        16 May 2013 at 6:54 pm

        +1

      • Paul 39.2.2
        16 May 2013 at 7:42 pm

        The media’s coverage of this budget is frankly shameless.
        If the Labour Party and other opposition groups don’t learn to bypass these shills then they will regret it.

      • North 39.2.3
        16 May 2013 at 11:27 pm

        See the thing is they’re paid extraordinary sums of money for squinting at the Big Eye in front of them and with this extraordinary money which they’re are so unjustly paid they become Newmarket on Saturday morning with the semi-trophy wife and then coffee at some smart Newmarket dive with some crook and his bitch and then they’re invited somewhere else smart and before too long after they’ve purchased the silver 3 year old Audi with only 29K on the clock and they start to think that their shit don’t stink………and whadda ya got ? Yeah. Sir Paul Holmes (dec’d) and Susan Would Be If She Could Be But An Overpaid Not Very Bright Bottle Blonde Bitch Anyway………and all that fucked nonsense.

  40. Lefty 40
    16 May 2013 at 6:55 pm

    Parker, Norman and English.

    All doing a dance trying to mark out territory on the same overcrowded neo liberal pinhead.

  41. xtasy 41
    16 May 2013 at 7:16 pm

    The “NATIONAL FUEHRER” has just taken his permitted airtime to comment on The Budget tonight on “SEVEN SHARP”! Lighthearted comments, compliments and positive feed back were delivered, to ensure the government’s target and policies will get put into reality and practice. Yeah, we are on track, so is the government looking after us? NZ is there, now to deliver the future that key stakeholders expect. Yahoo, hooray!
    We have free and independent media, I am so sure of.

    LONG LIVE THE DICTATORSHIP OF AOTEAROA NZ!!!

    [lprent: Paragraphs with excessive capitals corrected. ]

    • xtasy 41.1
      17 May 2013 at 6:47 pm

      Well I suggest then to disallow all caps in general, to be consistent, I see and hear so much and the “media” is not kind to those speaking the truth, I learned this again, being part of a vocal, well attended protest outside Vector Arena against the budged and the Nat government.

      So maybe being critical and raising issues is no longer welcome here also.

      I am dismayed and disappointed.

  42. kiwicommie 42
    16 May 2013 at 7:17 pm

    Same shit, different year. If they get in for another term, say hello to UK style austerity. They are going after the disabled, the sick and unemployed, which they want to force to work.

    • Draco T Bastard 42.1
      17 May 2013 at 2:17 am

      National want to force everybody to work for their rich mates. It’s called serfdom.

  43. xtasy 43
    16 May 2013 at 7:28 pm

    I expect and want to see a bit more of anger and arousal, yes fury, about all this budget stuff, and it is damned overdue. We have nimbies, wallowers, wallies, shallow traders, jerks, wankers and the whole lot out there, most of whom have not even one iota of an idea or a clue what a budget is about.

    I see a need to challenge every one of them, to express and explain what is actually going on, what is the matter of all these affairs, before anything else may result of it.

    The MSM serve us crap, misinformation, they are largely paid for by the same shit government we have to deliver the news they want us to have (presently NatACT, hence Key on “Seven Sharp”!!!), we are as ordinary citizens and residents shat on day in and out, and we have NO information, NOR any real voice about what goes on.

    So deals are made with big banks and financiers, some shallow agreements between government and them, and we are supposed to get cheaper housing and better welfare?

    Fuck off, shit, does anyone believe it? No, Shearer get out, get others in, and fuck you, Labour, get damned working, to expose the damned truth about this nonsense shit budget, please.

    • Paul 43.1
      16 May 2013 at 7:39 pm

      I agree. Controlled fury should be the tone.
      This government laughs as it watches 270000 kids in poverty.
      The opposition needs to speak like Hone and use language like fascist.

      • Colonial Viper 43.1.1
        16 May 2013 at 7:42 pm

        Can’t do that because you might scare away the comfortable middle class “ma and pa” investing swinging voter, and they are the voters that Labour must court to win.

        • Paul 43.1.1.1
          16 May 2013 at 8:43 pm

          Disagree. There are 800 000 people who did not vote.
          And I don’t think they were part of the 2%.

          • Colonial Viper 43.1.1.1.1
            16 May 2013 at 10:00 pm

            You’ve stated a fact.

            Now add to it: Labour aren’t interested in pursuing those particular voters.

            to be clearer: when I said above that Labour “must” pursue the middle class swing voter, I was taking the piss out of them.

          • The Al1en 43.1.1.1.2
            17 May 2013 at 6:12 am

            “Disagree. There are 800 000 people who did not vote.
            And I don’t think they were part of the 2%.”

            A common theme, it would appear, to non caucus members.

            “Now add to it: Labour aren’t interested in pursuing those particular voters.”

            A common theme, it would appear, to at least 22 caucus members.

        • Xtasy 43.1.1.2
          16 May 2013 at 9:56 pm

          Hey, me bro got a big wig, a real big wig, a hammer, that can slam ya, mate, shjut up, get a life, shut your fucking life up, because we are here and do things. So f offo, we run things, also with Shearer, and no Shorn or unShorn, whaever, we RUN things! Shuttta uppa and we run things, we are US (left or not), we are US and shutta up.

          Labour or nor labour, what else you get and hear, and above is my common fare, so where do you go? I have NO hope, but to get RID of rotten Labour and found a NEW LEFT PARTY altogether, only solution for honestey and decency, thanks!

          [lprent: I just think that you need a gentle hint. I’m going to keep reducing the font-size of paragraphs with excessive capitals… When I hit zero, then you get a ban. ]

          • xtasy 43.1.1.2.1
            17 May 2013 at 6:44 pm

            Got it, but they were only a few caps, after all. I know Labour is held in cherished respect with some, but that is part of the problem. Anyway, I will try to be mindful of using caps then.

  44. Binders full of women 44
    16 May 2013 at 7:39 pm

    Maybe I’m looking at this through rose-tinted RWNJ neoliberal spectacles… but when Key stood up to smack down sheep…all the Nats were backing him and whenever they panned across to labour they just all sat there taking it with a ‘yeah I know our leader (shearer) is a bit of a let down’ look on their faces. I know it’s immature but why weren’t they united in bagging JK?

    • karol 44.1
      16 May 2013 at 7:57 pm

      The Nat MPs often come across to me like a pack of baying hounds – not very pretty.

      • North 44.1.1
        16 May 2013 at 11:36 pm

        Yeah Karol. But if Cunliffe were standing up there today…….wouldn’t you be confident that he’d be sending those lick-arse little cargo-cult puppies back to where they came from . At least visibly. Because Cunliffe is quite awesome when he gets going. Why ? Because there’s something in his belly. Which is not present in another belly.

        Oh God……..when will this experiment end ?

    • xtasy 44.2
      16 May 2013 at 7:59 pm

      ALL right wing capitalist systems that have been attempted since the Friedman “revolution” and the “Chicago Boys” taking hold in many countries, have abjectly FAILED, and are basket cases now, not let alone ones that did only moderately follow, like the stupid UK governments.

      And Europe has issues, they are largely due to them having stupidly adopted right wing economic models, sold their communal and local body interests to high risk banking investments and the likes. Do NOT RUBBISH Europe for the mistakes of the misguided right wing, neo lib sell out artists that sold out their communites and countries, so it ended where it is!

      You in NZ are in danger of following the same danger, but you do not understand what in detail is involved. So listen and study, please, as you will turn out to be major fools. The Greens are actually smarter and more responsible than you may think as short thinking citizens.

      the following link is NOT Greens related though, personal:

      • infused 44.2.1
        16 May 2013 at 9:05 pm

        The fuck are you smoking?

        • Colonial Viper 44.2.1.1
          16 May 2013 at 9:26 pm

          Fuck off infused, if you have a point, make it.

        • xtasy 44.2.1.2
          17 May 2013 at 6:39 pm

          F YOU infused insanity! Councils in Europe bought dodgy papers for investment upon poor advice, many ending up empty handed, and having signed over ownership of council operations to greedy operators with no accountability. So YOUR rude response is taken note of, as contempt to the truth!

    • Hayden 44.3
      16 May 2013 at 9:47 pm

      Many National MPs have their seat thanks to Key’s popularity, while Labour MPs have theirs in spite of Goff’s (and now Shearer’s)?

  45. xtasy 45
    16 May 2013 at 7:47 pm

    Fuck this present state of affairs in this country, I am escaping into popular territory:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uCC-venMtU

    enjoy el pueblo unido jamas sera vencido, as it should be, all over the world!!!

    “god help”, even Fidel confesses to catolicism, that can only be better than Key and gangsterism in Aotearoa.

  46. Anne 46
    16 May 2013 at 8:02 pm

    I know it’s immature but why weren’t they united in bagging JK?

    Don’t have a lot of knowledge of parliamentary debating techniques Bfow? If you did, you would know that the Nats. adopt a similar response when Labour is bagging them. It’s part of the game. You don’t react to your opponents unless they go beyond a certain line of behaviour. Key did it over the unfortunate gentleman who tried to jump from the Chamber balcony. He blamed it on Phil Goff and followed with the throat-cutting gesture to Goff. That really showed him up, especially when he wasn’t in anyway threatened. It was Labour MPs who were directly underneath and would have been injured had the man succeeded. But no, Key was thinking only of himself…

    Very revealing.

  47. Paul 47
    16 May 2013 at 8:40 pm

    If only people saw the Key of parliament, they’d they see what a nasty piece of work he is.
    Compare his angry bitter venal rant with the measured reasoning of Russell Norman.
    It’s so embarrassing to think that this man is the country’s PM.

    • karol 47.1
      16 May 2013 at 8:42 pm

      Nasty is right – putting state housing tenants on notice, adding a begrudging but limited house building and privatised social housing policy – and making nasty jeering jokes while he sells it.

      Piece of work that guy!

      • Paul 47.1.1
        16 May 2013 at 8:51 pm

        “My colleague and I were quite gobsmacked, really, that somebody could be so callous and uncaring – …believe that their Gold Elite status gave them the right to treat somebody ….. with such disdain,”

        The quote by the Ms Black on the Air NZ flight could easily be applied to how Key behaves.

    • North 47.2
      16 May 2013 at 11:42 pm

      ShonKey Python is no more than a bitch addicted to getting his cock sucked by the cargo-cultist idolators who sit behind him. Clapping like fury every time the punk farts.

  48. RedBaronCV 48
    16 May 2013 at 8:44 pm

    About the ACC cuts. I assume they are just making themselves look good about something that is going to happen anyway given our aging demographic.

    As far as I know anyone on ACC earnings compensation goes off it when they turn 65 and they go onto National Super. We have an aging population bulge that is close to retirement so even if they do receive earnings compo after an accident they will not be on it for too long. Any accident damage after 60 can easily be written off as age related, not accident related so that cuts the medical costs.

    No doubt all the benefits will go to the employers – saves any overseas corporate in NZ a fortune.

  49. ianmac 49
    16 May 2013 at 9:33 pm

    John Campbell reckons that the Cabinet is divided over how to deal with the hungry kids in schools. Hence the announcement delay. One part of Cabinet wants to have Govt help for food in schools. The other faction says no its the parents responsibility. Can just about pick who would be in each camp.

  50. prism 50
    16 May 2013 at 9:38 pm

    Shearer was very sure that he should say that Labour would work to having a surplus too. I don’t quite understand the point when we are borrowing all the time. Why would Shearer not point out that’s how we are ‘managing’ now?

    • Colonial Viper 50.1
      16 May 2013 at 9:59 pm

      Labour is a victim of current orthodox monetary and economic thinking, and would hate to make noises which aren’t acceptable to bank economists and the financial markets.

    • Xtasy 50.2
      16 May 2013 at 10:00 pm

      Shearer sadly has NOT got it, and never will get it, we need a new and connected Labour leader, but there will be one in waiting.

      • prism 50.2.1
        17 May 2013 at 10:19 am

        Do we have to wait for a maverick like David Lange? We need someone who can choose the less trodden path, but who has such good negotiating skills that he/she doesn’t find themselves between a rock and a hard place.

  51. Wayne 51
    17 May 2013 at 5:06 am

    Well, I am in Russia at the moment, so I am observing the budget from afar. Interesting how that makes it so much more difficult to sort out what is really going on. And also some what less relevant!

    But as a former Minister of Science and Innovation, good to see that the Innovation budget being ramped up. Yes it does involve some reprioritisation, but that was something I started in 2010, and at least in my opinion was long overdue. The one major commitment I got when I left in 2011was the establishment of Callaghan Innovation, so good to see that coming along.

    As for the rest, others can comment, but one titbit was the special loans for beneficiaries. Interestingly I am sure I heard Metrira Turei on radio a few days ago saying how necessary that was. Is this correct?

    As for Moscow, well it has amazing dynamism but no regular taxi service! But here they are growing, unlike much of the rest of Europe. But they struggle to build firms that can compete in the globalised market place for consumer products (as opposed to oil, airforce combat aircraft, large helicopters and rockets). But NZ is ramping up its presence here with a permanent NZTE rep due in two months.

    • prism 51.1
      17 May 2013 at 10:43 am

      ‘As a former Minister of Science and Innovation’ – I looked this up and got this info for those who can’t keep up with this fast changing protean (excellent description if I may so) government.

      beehive.govt.nz has a piece 1/6/2010

      “The new Ministry will lead a robust science and innovation system that will improve our economic performance,” Minister of Research, Science and Technology Wayne Mapp said today….
      The new Ministry will replace the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology and the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. It will manage science funding, advise the Government on New Zealand’s science system, and drive knowledge transfer from the science sector to business and other research users.

      Latest on this forward moving rise in science and innovation –

      This website is managed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Any reference to the Ministry of Science + Innovation on this website from 1 July 2012 is legally deemed to mean the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

      You will find a list of science projects on http://www.msi.govt.nz/ on Mobie under Science and Innovation.

      (I googled for info on the Ministry of Science and Innovation for NZ and got onto Sciblogs where they have a report dated Jun 02 with no year. Not very precise information scientifically!)

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  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

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  • Tobacco First

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  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

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  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

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  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
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  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

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  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
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  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
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  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
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  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
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  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

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  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
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  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

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  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
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  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
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  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
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  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

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  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

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  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

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  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
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  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

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  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

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  • Half a million people use tax calculator

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  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

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  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

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  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

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  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

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  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

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    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

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  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

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  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

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  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

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  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

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  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
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  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
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  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

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  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

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  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

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  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

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    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

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  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
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  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
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