local government
Categories under local government
- auckland supercity (418)
- C&R (18)
- local body elections (119)
- supercity (102)
What’s in a glance?
Written By: - Date published: 3:37 pm, October 26th, 2013 - 50 comments
David Jones QC argues Banks could not have signed a false declaration of election donations because he did not read it. But Banks’ campaign manager’s evidence was that Banks “glanced at it before signing it.” The Oxford dictionary defines “glance” as “take a quick or hurried look;” “read quickly or cursorily.” So Banks did read the donations return. It would have been hard to miss the $15,690 recorded as both a radio expense and an anonymous donation which he had personally solicited.
Random impertinent questions
Written By: - Date published: 8:52 am, October 21st, 2013 - 66 comments
Who says the ‘threatening texts’ in the Brown/Slater/Palino came from Brown’s camp? Didn’t the threatening text push Chuang into the affidavit, after weeks of being pressured by Palino advisor, Wewege? Doesn’t that make those texts awful useful for Slater/Palino? Do you believe Palino knew nothing of the affair, as he claims? If the purpose of the affidavit had been to present it to Brown quietly and get him to resign, wouldn’t that be blackmail?
Playing dirty: The politics of contradiction
Written By: - Date published: 8:03 pm, October 19th, 2013 - 169 comments
Slater’s track record speaks for itself. As the Brown-Chuang-Wewege-Palino story unfolds, his angle on the story shifts, and the contradictions abound. On The Nation this morning, Slater lays it out: politics is a dirty game, and that’s the game he’s playing.
Palino and Slater have to be joking
Written By: - Date published: 9:23 pm, October 18th, 2013 - 261 comments
Of course John Palino did not know about the Len Brown Bevan Chuang relationship despite Chuang’s boyfriend who knew of the relationship being on his campaign team and despite Cameron Slater’s father being Palino’s campaign manager. Update: The Herald this morning has reported that Chuang claims to have met Palino for 90 minutes two days before the news of the affair was made public where the disclosing to Brown of the news was discussed.
The “cabbage boat” defence.
Written By: - Date published: 4:30 pm, October 18th, 2013 - 33 comments
It’s starting to look pretty shredded. Increasingly, it seems that John Banks has “got nothing to hide” – behind. The key question is what Banks knew when he signed a declaration recording known donations as anonymous. Paul Holmes did put the question directly to Banks on Q+A last year. He didn’t get a straight answer; Banks tried the cabbage boat defence.
The NBR and Editorial Independence
Written By: - Date published: 8:24 am, October 18th, 2013 - 21 comments
The NBR has fired long time senior reporter Jock Anderson for writing a sympathetic Len Brown editorial. This apparently was against instructions even though the comments appeared to be balanced and fair. This raises concerning issues about NBR’s editorial independence and the control over content that management has.
The two legs of Banks’ defence trip each other
Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, October 17th, 2013 - 28 comments
John Banks is to stand trial for knowingly submitting a false electoral expenses return. He’s charged, thanks to the private prosecution after the Police failed to act, with breaching s134(1) of the Local Electoral Act. Let’s take a look at the two lines of defence Banks has argued, and how they contradict each other.
Making sense of the census: regional decline
Written By: - Date published: 12:33 pm, October 16th, 2013 - 30 comments
Yesterday John Key, some MSM journos and a few Standard commentators were gloating that recently released Census 2013 data showed David Cunliffe was wrong in his concern with regional decline. The evidence shows Cunliffe is correct.
What’s the play?
Written By: - Date published: 12:10 pm, October 16th, 2013 - 108 comments
No-one’s happy with the revelations about Len Brown’s private life, apart from Slater (himself also an adulterer) who is wallowing in all the details that Chuang seems only too happy to provide. But what’s interesting is that this is clearly a political play. Who’s behind it and what do they have to gain? The players: Slater, Slater snr, Chuang, and Palino.
The attack on Auckland’s Democracy
Written By: - Date published: 9:06 am, October 16th, 2013 - 172 comments
With Tea Party type zeal Cameron Slater is trying to bring down Len Brown’s mayoralty. What has happened is a tragedy for Len’s family and himself. But as Mayor of the super city we need him to move on from this.
Dotcom on what Banks knew
Written By: - Date published: 12:59 pm, October 15th, 2013 - 27 comments
The District Court is hearing evidence today as to whether John Banks should stand trial for signing a donations return that he knew to be false. Kim Dotcom has given evidence – the Herald reports that when he agreed to give Banks a donation of $50,000, Banks asked for it to be split and to be made anonymous., so that if Banks helped DotCom in the future it would not be known that he had donated to him.
Well done Greens!
Written By: - Date published: 8:16 am, October 13th, 2013 - 115 comments
Yesterday was a very good day for the Greens (and the left). Congratulations! It’s hard to predict outcomes for next year’s parliamentary elections based on local elections, especially when the voter turnout is so low. But the left does get a boost from the results. Local councils need to be improved so that are more democratic. [Update: Clow (Labour) for Whau- preliminary result. Waitakere Ranges Board]
Local Government Election Results
Written By: - Date published: 12:14 pm, October 12th, 2013 - 208 comments
The polls are now closed and the vote is being counted. Stand by for the announcement of results in the 2013 Local Body elections …
Last chance to vote …
Written By: - Date published: 9:03 am, October 9th, 2013 - 8 comments
Time is running out and today is a good day to make sure that you have posted your votes in for the Local Government election in your area. And while you are at it remind your friends and family to do the same.
Vote!
Written By: - Date published: 8:56 am, October 4th, 2013 - 78 comments
There is just over a week to go before the 2013 local elections finish. Turnout so far has been disappointingly low and this presents a threat and a challenge. The threat is that progressive incumbents will lose because their supporters do not vote. The challenge is to get family and friends to vote to maximise the prospects of progressives being elected to office.
(Un)affordable rents in Berm City
Written By: - Date published: 10:04 am, October 3rd, 2013 - 43 comments
Central Auckland, gated city candidates get cosy about their grass verges. The west has a crisis in affordable rents & homelessness. Labour & Nats housing policies bow to the middle class home ownership agenda. Greens & Mana look to state & council housing.
Unions Auckland’s list of supported Council candidates
Written By: - Date published: 9:14 am, September 22nd, 2013 - 25 comments
Unions Auckland has released a how to vote card based on candidates who will support a living wage, no privatisation of Council assets and sorting out a fair deal for the POAL workers.
Housing: the options, the new left narrative?
Written By: - Date published: 11:07 am, September 13th, 2013 - 75 comments
The response to Metiria Turei’s sttements about affordable housing on The Vote, raises questions about political narratives are told to the general electorate? The Greens, Mana and Cunliffe have stressed their “vision“. How to tell it so it reaches the hearts of New Zealanders?
Auckland Council Elections out west
Written By: - Date published: 7:40 am, August 18th, 2013 - 5 comments
Some thoughts on the battles out west for seats on the Auckland Council.
Auckland Council Elections
Written By: - Date published: 8:43 pm, August 16th, 2013 - 28 comments
Nominations are closed and Auckland Super City’s candidate lists have been published. Following are some comments on the Mayoral candidates. I also hope to post on the Councillor contests, where interest will be greatest.
Submit to prevent SkyCity corruption
Written By: - Date published: 8:57 am, August 14th, 2013 - 5 comments
The SkyCity deal still needs some urgent attention from members of the public interested in getting a submission to the select committee. They close on Thursday 22 August next week. The politically corrupting influence of the gaming industry means that members of the public will have to push the politicians to stop them giving SkyCity these extraordinarily lucrative and destructive concessions for a economic pittance.
“The Big Issue”: councils & transport
Written By: - Date published: 10:57 am, August 5th, 2013 - 16 comments
Campbell Live last Wednesday focused on transport: funding & Auckland versus the regions; public transport & roads; the revolutionary Congestion Free Network plan. City Vision (supported by Labour & the Green Party – with a major focus on transport) & 2 Future West candidates launch their Auckland council campaigns.
Len is standing again
Written By: - Date published: 7:33 am, July 16th, 2013 - 40 comments
Len Brown has announced that he will again seek Auckland Super City’s mayoralty. I know this will provoke a mixture of views but style wise I think he is great and substance wise he has had successes but should have done more with MUNZ, the living wage project and Sky City.
Lusk/Slater to run negative Auckland campaign
Written By: - Date published: 3:49 pm, July 15th, 2013 - 58 comments
According to the tip line the farcical duo of Lusk and Slater will soon be kicking off a large negative campaign against Len Brown.
Bob Parker is gone …
Written By: - Date published: 8:28 am, July 6th, 2013 - 41 comments
Bob Parker has announced that he is not going to seek re-election to Christchurch’s Mayoralty. Given that the Council has lost the power to issue Building Consents, that its Chief Executive is on Gardening Leave and that insurance for its building consents has been withdrawn this is not surprising. There clearly is something wrong with the City’s governance. And you have to wonder why it took the Government so long to respond.
Outlawing Begging
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, July 5th, 2013 - 37 comments
Ironically during the week of Auckland’s big sleep out there has been a proposal to change Auckland Council’s by laws to provide for the fining of beggars. The proposal has been described as overdue by some. But everyone seems to have overlooked the fact that begging is already banned in Auckland City. The proposal reminds […]
Key, Brownlee: Not Auckland’s friends
Written By: - Date published: 9:26 am, July 1st, 2013 - 41 comments
John Key’s u-turn on Auckland City Rail is all smoke, mirrors and sleight of hand stealth of the common good. Phil Twyford and the Auckland Transport Blog are skeptical. Funding? Roads over public transport? Asset sales?
Who benefits?
Written By: - Date published: 9:19 am, June 21st, 2013 - 42 comments
The leaderless uprising in Brazil exposes unbearable inequalities in a dysfunctional post-growth world. Extravagant sports events and expensive stadium contrast with anti-public service austerity measures. Home building lags in Christchurch, while Key looks to asset sales to fund a stadium.
Dalziel for Christchurch mayor
Written By: - Date published: 9:36 am, June 19th, 2013 - 28 comments
As widely anticipated, Lianne Dalziel has confirmed that she will stand for Mayor of Christchurch.
Greens attack stupid spending, rattle Key
Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, June 16th, 2013 - 54 comments
The NZ Transport Agency’s “Drive Social” programme looks like one gigantic waste of money, and the Greens are hammering it. Key’s response? “They just want everyone to cycle everywhere.” Is he looking a little tired to anyone else?
Water under pressure
Written By: - Date published: 8:12 am, June 15th, 2013 - 38 comments
Water is becoming a precious resource, under threat from pollution, over use, population growth, & commercial profiteering. The Green & Labour Parties are very critical of Key’s government weakening the RMA in favour of commercial gains, while over-riding local government plans.
- Daily crossword, Thursday 12 December
The post Daily crossword, Thursday 12 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago - Xmas: Best novels of 2024
Issues and personal identities of race were at the absolute foreground of five of the best works of fiction of the year, each by writers of colour; the Pākehā authors of the other five outstanding works of fiction skirted the issue by largely avoiding having anything to do with Māori ...1 week ago
- NZ at a crossroads, where ‘back on track’ could easily be the wrong track
Opinion: As the 2024 political year draws to a close, New Zealand stands uncertainly at a series of crossroads. When the year began, there was some resonance with the new coalition Government’s commitment to get New Zealand “back on track”, but now, the polls say increasing numbers of people think ...1 week ago
- People can’t be measured on a balance sheet
Opinion: Recent discussions on proposals to exclude humanities and social sciences from future Marsden Fund grants have raised widespread concern. Yet this controversy has also sparked an overdue conversation about the value of the humanities and social sciences.These discussions pose fundamental questions:Can the importance of research outcomes always be measured ...1 week ago
- New roles a ‘Christmas miracle’ for redundancy casualties
Just two hours after Nicola Segal left the final-stage job interview, she received a call offering her the role – and asking if she could start immediately. Segal, a sales and marketing manager, had been out of work for more than four months after taking voluntary redundancy from her previous company, ...1 week ago
- Closing the gender pay gap, one disclosure at a time
The gender pay gap remains a persistent and prickly issue in New Zealand, but the Government is attempting to address it by amending a Bill and introducing a new calculator.As of late 2024, the gap is about 8.2 percent, meaning women earn on average 8.2 percent less than men for ...1 week ago
- Govt prioritises new rules for dietary supplement exports
Analysis: A little while back, in reporting for my podcast series Powder Keg, I paid a visit to NZ’s biggest gym, Les Mills in Auckland. I talked with young gym-goers arriving for their workouts.Most used some ... 1 week ago - Final Emissions Reduction Plan ‘Woefully Inadequate’ – WWF-New Zealand
WWF-New Zealand’s CEO, Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, says the utter lack of ambition in the plan shows the Government is not serious about tackling emissions in line with New Zealand’s international commitments and the Prime Minister’s own ‘performance ...1 week ago - Council Urges Government To Drop Treaty Principles Bill
The Council has particular concerns that the Bill would negatively impact the trust and collaboration underpinning its long-standing relationship with Ngāi Tahu. ...1 week ago
- ‘A sick wish fulfilment fantasy, so badly written’: Harry Ricketts’ biggest book regret
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Harry Ricketts – poet, literary scholar and author of memoir First Things and around 30 other books. The book I wish I’d written Byron’s comic verse-novel Don Juan. ...1 week ago - Pure SEO Report Reveals Carbon Footprint Of New Zealand MPs
The critical analysis of MPs’ travel emissions reveals inefficiencies and discrepancies across all major parties. National leads in both expenses and emissions, with Labour close behind, reflecting the significant environmental impact of the dominant parties. ...1 week ago
- Kirihimete gift guide 2024: cool stuff from Māori and Pasifika-led brands
Our legendary guide is back to help you through another silly season. Note: When we first published this guide six years ago, it was about finding the small labels and makers out there and pointing hungry shoppers in their direction. Since then, there has been huge and exciting growth in ...1 week ago
- Five classic summer road trips, with burgers to match
Lollies and chips can only sustain you so far. Here are five of our favourite New Zealand road trips, with burger pairings to enjoy along the way. Auckland to Northland I know not everyone is a fan of new roads being built, but the drive from Auckland to Northland is ...1 week ago
- Stuff ‘consciously uncouples’ into two separate digital and print businesses
Exclusive: Leaked emails and documents show that the media giant will soon be two legal entities – opening up a range of options for owner Sinead Boucher. Duncan Greive analyses the move. News media giant Stuff will soon be two separate businesses, as it splits into one built around the ...1 week ago
- With its daily news bulletin scrapped, what’s next for Whakaata Māori?
With funding stagnant since 2008, the broadcaster is racing to adapt to a digital world – and a hard pivot might be the key to ensuring its survival. Last week, Whakaata Māori announced the end of its flagship daily news bulletin, Te Ao Māori News, which has been a fixture ...1 week ago
- PSA Takes Legal Action To Stop Govt Cutting Working From Home Arrangements
The PSA has filed a claim with the Employment Relations Authority to stop the Government restricting flexible workplace practices, including the recent directive on working from home. "The PSA is firmly of the view that the Government is unable to do ...1 week ago
- Greyhound racing sprints toward the finish line
Some in the industry say a small number of negligent trainers ‘buggered it’ for everyone else, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund for The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...1 week ago
- Furious minister calls ‘please explain’ meeting over Lake Alice payments
Survivors of torture in state care say they’re being shortchanged by the Health Ministry, a situation that has left Cabinet Minister Erica Stanford “incandescent”.In October, Stanford, the minister in charge of the Crown’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care, announced the Government had set aside $2.6 million ...1 week ago
- Calls for inquiry into billion dollar Kiwi dietary supplement
The US Food and Drug Administration reveals it’s received 118 adverse event reports this year alone, for users of a supplement marketed by big-name influencers as ‘made in NZ’.In particular, there are 30-plus reports of elevated hepatic enzymes and related symptoms of liver harm in 2023 and 2024. Scientists and ...1 week ago
- Auckland Council opposes new housing because motorists won’t be able to see a hill
Over the motorway from Sylvia Park is Mutukāroa / Hamlins Hill Regional Park. Parts of it can be seen from the motorway and Auckland Council is fighting to keep that view sacred. If there’s one rule for being a safe driver, it’s keeping your eyes on the road. That may ...1 week ago
- How does New Zealand produce so many successful child actors?
Alex Casey takes a look back at the long history of Aotearoa’s child stars shining on the world stage and asks: are they our greatest export? If you too feel as if your sense of national pride is sinking into oblivion like a pavlova left outside in the forthcoming hottest ...1 week ago
- Cabinet approves $5m loan to support Whakapapa buyer
Whakapapa Holdings has received Crown support to buy the ski field out of receivership The post Cabinet approves $5m loan to support Whakapapa buyer appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Xmas: The best poetry books of 2024
The perk of being the judge for the anthology Best New Zealand Poems 2024 is that I am being sent all the books of poetry written this year. That may sound like hell to you, and it is, but I am like a pig in hell, if that’s the idiom. ...1 week ago
- Conspiracy theories overwhelm Reserve Bank submissions
A Voices for Freedom campaign saw record levels of submissions – mostly against – the Reserve Bank’s digital cash process The post Conspiracy theories overwhelm Reserve Bank submissions appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- NZ in strong position to talk tariffs with Trump – US ambassador
Joe Biden’s man in Wellington talks to Newsroom about the growing strength of the NZ-US relationship The post NZ in strong position to talk tariffs with Trump – US ambassador appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- New Zealand 101 for those seeking refuge
Aqela Barati and her husband, Mohammad Kazim, are waiting for news about their new home in Palmerston North, which they hope to move into by Christmas.The house hasn’t been found yet – there’s a team working on that – but they have a general idea of what it will look ...1 week ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 11 December
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 11 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Managers are entitled to be treated fairly as well
Opinion: Changes to employment law are couched as if all the unfairness is on the employer side of the ledger The post Managers are entitled to be treated fairly as well appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s final climate plan relies on unproven technology
Analysis: The Government’s new climate plan relies on unproven methane-busting technology and partially disproven carbon capture schemes for as much as half of its promised greenhouse emissions reductions.The final version of the second emissions reduction plan, which outlines the Government’s climate policy for 2026 to 2030 as it seeks to ...1 week ago
- Daily crossword, Wednesday 11 December
The post Daily crossword, Wednesday 11 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- How NZ businesses can find offshore success
As a small country at the bottom of the world, opportunities for New Zealand businesses to bring in offshore revenue at scale can be few and far between. But a sector that transcends borders – the technology industry – has shown an ability to do so and do so at ...1 week ago
- ECan councillors briefed in private by vested interests
Canterbury regional councillor expresses discomfort with minuteless, closed-door meetings which often have a ‘single narrative’ The post ECan councillors briefed in private by vested interests appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 week ago
- The most electric place in Auckland this year? Penrose 1061
A much maligned old friend is reborn as a field of dreams. In a year with too few causes to celebrate, in a city that still feels a few chips short of a scoop, one beacon shone bright and long and radiant. In the perfunctory suburb of Penrose, postcode 1061, ...1 week ago
- A Historic Victory For Greyhounds In New Zealand
"This is a huge win for greyhounds across New Zealand and sets a powerful precedent on the global stage," says Danette Wereta, spokesperson for the Animal Justice Party. "There are so many amazing ways to have fun that don’t harm animals or put them ...1 week ago
- No More Complicity! Aotearoa National Rally For Palestine
For over a year, thousands of New Zealanders have joined the millions across the world in taking to the streets to call for an end to the genocide in Gaza. ...1 week ago
- PSA Demand End To Sexist Pay Discrimination
"Thousands more women employed or funded by government are moving through the pay equity process to address the undervaluation of their work," Davies said. ...1 week ago
- Stand Tū Māia Sues Children’s Ministry For Breach Of Contract
Chief Executive Dr Fiona Inkpen said the Trust had been forced to bring court action to hold the Children’s Ministry to its contractual obligations and prevent the Ministry from acting as though the contract has been cancelled. ...1 week ago
- The Spinoff’s best NZ books of 2024
The best local books published this year, as selected by books editor Claire Mabey and a panel of experts. Welcome to the first of four best-of-books lists for 2024. These are the New Zealand books, for both children and adults, published in 2024, that stuck with our panel of writers, ...1 week ago
- PSA Calls On Minister To Reverse Cold-hearted Cuts To Children’s Charity Funding
Children’s charity Stand Tū Māia is today taking urgent legal action against Oranga Tamariki for unilaterally reneging on a three-year $21 million contract after only six months. ...1 week ago
- Review: Ram Raid Mums provides a blueprint for breaking the cycle
With youth crime dominating headlines and the government doubling down on punitive measures, Ram Raid Mums offers a powerful, humanising alternative. Liam Rātana reviews. It’s easy to say that all criminals should be locked up. That we should throw the book at people who break the law in an attempt ...1 week ago
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