Collins crushes caucus vote

Written By: - Date published: 9:06 pm, July 14th, 2020 - 155 comments
Categories: Judith Collins, national, same old national, uncategorized - Tags:

Twitter confirms that Judith Collins is now National leader.  She is the perfect candidate if your goal is to stem the bleeding of support.  She is not the candidate if you want to win the election …

Update:  And Gerry Brownlee is deputy!  Happy days!

155 comments on “Collins crushes caucus vote ”

  1. James 1

    Yes!!!!!!!!

    Great News. This will be interesting.

    • Robert Guyton 1.1

      James! This is great news! You might win!!!

    • Draco T Bastard 1.2

      If true then its awesome.

      Collins is likely to see National support plummet below what Blinglish achieved in 2002.

      • James 1.2.1

        Yeah – confident that won’t happen.

        • Stuart Munro 1.2.1.1

          Certainly Judith is a more coherent choice – Bill was not a natural leader. Gerry as number two is an interesting choice – quite a lot of Christchurch people think Gerry is number two already.

      • Enough is Enough 1.2.2

        You really don't understand National voters if you think that Draco

        • Draco T Bastard 1.2.2.1

          It's not really the National voters that I'm concerned with. They'll vote National no matter what.

    • francesca 1.3

      Evil stepmother and Billy Bunter yaroo vs Jacinda .It's like a fairy tale

      And still they're on about cutting taxes.

    • Cinny 1.4

      Really happy for you James, you'll be fizzing 🙂

  2. Byd0nz 2

    Sick party, sick choice no doubt a sick slogan will follow.

  3. Anker 3

    She was the predictable choice for National. Possibly didn’t have finger prints on Boag leak.

    she may stem the tide and pinch that 4% back from AcT. enjoying living in a covid free country James? All thanks to Ardern and labour

    • Robert Guyton 3.1

      ACT? Goneburger!

      Sad.

      • georgecom 3.1.1

        Not sad at all. James is correct. National will hold on to enough votes to make ACT need to win Epsom to get back in and not enough to promote Goldsmith to parliament n the party list. She is a perfect candidate to see National v Act fighting for the scraps. She will stop National slipping into oblivion but is anathema to enough people that she wont save them from defeat. The perfect leader ay James

    • James 3.2

      Yep. I’m all good. But jacinda and co are going to have more than that to hang their hats on.

      crusher is going to hammer home all the mammoth failures of this government- of which there are plenty.

      • Just Is 3.2.1

        What dimension of reality do you live in?

        Collins is no different from Bridges and how did that end

        • James 3.2.1.1

          Just is – if you can’t tell them apart – just shows your lack of political knowledge. Bless.

        • Cinny 3.2.1.2

          Just Is, James has adored judith for a long time. He's been telling us for years she is the only choice.

          I don't agree with him, but I respect his adoration, it's quite cute.

      • Draco T Bastard 3.2.2

        crusher is going to hammer home all the mammoth failures of this government- of which there are plenty.

        You truly are delusional.

        1. This government hasn't made any failures. Mistakes that they've learned from, sure. Failures – No. Only National and their sycophants have those because they invariably fail to learn from their mistakes.
        2. NZ really is sick of National's Dirty Politics and its really starting to show. Continuance of that Dirty Politics, as you obviously want, will just drop the support even further.

        At the rate that things are going for National ACT may actually end up out-polling them

        • James 3.2.2.1

          “You truly are delusional.This government hasn't made any failures.”

          tour first two sentences are the funniest thing I have ever seen on this blog.

          nice to see that there is someone that doesn’t see kiwibuild as a failure. (Are you sure your not Twyford)?

        • Herodotus 3.2.2.2

          If things are the same in 2022 – We know that not only did NZ wasted another 3 years but I suspect that we will have gone backwards. I hope that isn't the case But I can see Labour being risk averse and like 2002 and 2011, the sitting governments did what was required to maintain power and with weak opposition didn't want to do anything more than "MANAGE"

          https://www.newsroom.co.nz/is-the-pm-a-transformer-or-just-a-manager

          When she was campaigning to be Prime Minister in August and early September 2017, she was reasonably clear about being transformational. She wanted a capital gains tax, an Auckland Light Rail Line, 100,000 Kiwibuild houses, real climate change action to respond to her generation's 'nuclear free moment', and welfare reform.

          • Bearded Git 3.2.2.2.1

            Sounds like Jacinda would love a lab/gr government then.

            • Herodotus 3.2.2.2.1.1

              Only capital gains lack of delivery could be due to NZ1, the others perhaps lack of understanding on how to implement ? And we have lost 3 years to see any delivery of results. Fine for a politician to see 3 wasted years but the rest of us to have to wait at least another 3 years that is if they are ever to be delivered on.

        • Paddington 3.2.2.3

          Oh come on. All governments have failures. Your claim is just silly. Beyond silly.

          Kiwisaver is arguably the greatest public policy failure in NZ's history.

          Then theres the failed promise to house all the homeless within 4 weeks (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/04/jacinda-ardern-pledges-shelter-for-all-homeless-people-within-four-weeks).

          The promise to reduce child poverty. (https://www.cpag.org.nz/news/latest-child-poverty-stats-a-wake-up-call/)

          …and so on…

          • Drowsy M. Kram 3.2.2.3.1

            "Kiwisaver is arguably the greatest public policy failure in NZ's history."

            And that's a 'fine line' to take when you choose to focus on failure.

            I would rather focus on what is arguably the greatest public policy success in NZ's history. "We don't know how lucky we are…" – well, some of us don't.

            This latest choice of a Nat 'leadership' team shows that, amazingly, the caucus really still doesn’t have a clue as to why their brand is so badly tainted. Either that, or they just don't care anymore.

            • Paddington 3.2.2.3.1.1

              I mentioned failure because I was responding to Draco's claim that "This government hasn't made any failures". Are you suggesting Kiwibuild was not a failure?

              Now if I had been responding to a post about successes, I would have said "all governments have successes" (which is true) and then listed some of them.

              • Drowsy M. Kram

                "Are you suggesting Kiwibuild was not a failure?"

                Your comment @3.2.2.3 (that I replied to @3.2.2.3.1) didn't mention "Kiwibuild", so at the risk of getting into an argument, could you indicate clearly why you asked if I was suggesting that? I mean, Kiwisaver is a success in my books – Kiwibuild not so much.

                We don’t know how lucky we are in this country

                • Paddington

                  No, but my comment focused on 'failure', because I was responding to Draco's commment about failure. You seem troubled that I would repsond to a comment about failure by discussing failure.

                  • Drowsy M. Kram

                    No, I'm troubled that you (@ 3.2.2.3.1.1 ) would ask me "Are you suggesting Kiwibuild was not a failure?", when I patently suggested no such thing.

                    My reply to your comment asked if you could indicate clearly why you had asked me that question. Maybe even a little honesty was too much to hope for – pretty much sums up the Nats when you think about it.

                    We don’t know how lucky we are in this country

                    • Paddington

                      You said " And that's a 'fine line' to take when you choose to focus on failure. " in response to my comment, which was replying to a comment about failure. Why would you question my focus on failure in replying to a comment about failure?

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      I'm frankly amazed that you (still) don't get this – it's very simple.

                      In response to my first comment in this thread (where I said I would rather focus on success), you asked me "Are you suggesting Kiwibuild was not a failure?" There's no wriggle room; that was your question to me.

                      I responded with "…could you indicate clearly why you asked if I was suggesting that?" I asked that question (of you) because that was patently not what I was suggesting – I hadn't mentioned "Kiwibuild" in my first comment, and neither did that word appear in your comment (@ 3.2.2.3, criticising Kiwisaver) which had prompted my first comment. You were, in effect, putting words in my mouth, and that's dishonest (get ready for heaps more of the same folks).

                      Maybe I could say it more clearly than that, but I can't be bothered. You're commenting here in bad faith, IMHO, and I'll have no more to do with you, except to say:

                      "We don’t know how lucky we are in this country" – had a haircut this morning and no-one was wearing a mask – OUTSTANDING!

                      Mind you, if Labour or National or the Greens made a good (faith) case for wearing a mask, then I’d consider it.

          • Craig H 3.2.2.3.2

            Kiwisaver? That's a Cullen policy, and is one of his finest achievements.

          • Draco T Bastard 3.2.2.3.3

            All governments have failures.

            I'd say that all governments make mistakes. The failure only comes if they fail to learn from those mistakes.

            Kiwibuild is a learning opportunity. Now lets see if Labour learns from it or not before it becomes a failure.

            National doesn't learn from their mistakes and will package the same ideology up in new language to get elected and then do the same thing again.

      • observer 3.2.3

        A good guide is always the "Right/Wrong track question".

        FYI: 72% say NZ is on the right track (Morgan poll, today).

        Take a look outside the echo chamber, listen to the voters.

      • Brigid 3.2.4

        Mammoth failures?

        Care to list Nationals? We'll see how they compare.

        • Paddington 3.2.4.1

          Yep, we could list failures for both major political parties in government. To claim otherwise isn't very bright.

      • RosieLee 3.2.5

        Please be specific. Where's the evidence?

  4. Anker 4

    James latest Roy Morgan has labour greens on 65%. Just saying

  5. McFlock 5

    And so it comes to this: "be kind" vs "dirty politics".

    Oh well, at least it will stem the flow of nutbars towards ACT. She might lose a few in the other direction, though.

    • James 5.1

      Also substance (Collins) vs slogans (Ardern).

      looking forward to Collins holding her to account for all the bullshit like kiwibuild, light rail etc

      • Incognito 5.1.1

        I see, you’re listing National’s policy platform: crush them, crush them hard, crush them so hard they don’t know what crushed them. You’d be a shoo-in for Matthew’s job.

      • In Vino 5.1.2

        What substance? How many cars did 'Crusher' actually crush? None. Then she got into Oravida, etc, and was deservedly demoted. No substance, only empty bravado.

        • Veritas 5.1.2.1

          Ann Tolley crushed one. Another national party disastrous, catastrophic, homophobic, profifa failure!

      • Sean Carroll 5.1.3

        More Oravida dirtiness coming up I guess.

      • Just Is 5.1.4

        James, the only people who listen to Collins are people like you, sorry to tell you this, but you're in a very small minority at the moment and Collins is likely to shrink it some more

        • RedBaronCV 5.1.4.1

          I'm not sure that the people who like Collins listen to her. I've always felt that they appreciated the photo's more – like the ones standing on the car in high heels.
          I think they’re crushin’ on Judith

          • woodart 5.1.4.1.1

            yes. collins appeals to the same sort of men that go for women like pauline hanson , margeret thatcher. like the strict women, its a real conservative hangup.

            • RedBaronCV 5.1.4.1.1.1

              Yes hang up is a good way to put it. But I do wonder if Judith should accessorise a little more to increase that appeal.

      • McFlock 5.1.5

        Kiwibuild is obviously the most memorable and important policy or event over the last 2.5 years, yes.

        Lucky there are such scandals – any discussion of character leaves Collins looking like a kauri log exported as a finished piece of furniture.

      • anker 5.1.6

        James that is possibly the most ridiculous thing I have every heard. Why do you think NZders are outrage when people abscond from isolation??? Because we are determined to keep our covid free status, we are proud of it and it has allowed our economy to recover quickly. This is what matters most to people now……they don't really give a flying f..k about kiwibuild……….Anyway Labour have built more houses in this term than any other govt since the 70's……

        Really James you are not worth replying too.

      • anker 5.1.7

        Collins "only National has the skills and experience to get us through this". First lie.

        Do they think NZders are dumb. Labour and Ardern have just got us through the biggest crisis this country has ever faced. They have done so spectacularly well. Even the WHO praises us. Has Judith been asleep for the last few months?

        I would have thought they realized how ridiculous "the best team" sounded. They have looked like the very worst team ever throughout the Covid crisis. And they are

      • Gabby 5.1.8

        How many car sdid Joodee Covid crush?

  6. mickysavage 7

    Spare a thought for occasional Standard reader Matthew Hooton. His parliamentary services career is no more.

  7. Lettuce 8

    "All aboard the Oravida Express! Next stop Beijing."

  8. Tiger Mountain 9

    JuDarth!

    Nicky Hager’s “Dirty Politics”, and a few pics of Crusher with her once bestie Mr Slater should prompt a few memories-and not of the pleasant kind.

    Labour just needs to stay on message-“we will keep a lid on Covid, do you really trust National to do the same?”

    • Robert Guyton 9.1

      Judith & Cameron, up in a tree…

      Those photos are damning…

      Slater, Slater, Slater!!!

  9. Treetop 10

    Probably will be the pinnacle of Collin's political career.

  10. Dennis Frank 11

    Don Brash just told Newshub "I'm very pleased." He also told listeners to the live stream that Judith's parents were both Labour voters.

    Tova has just confirmed Brownlee is deputy.

    • lprent 11.1

      Ok – so we have the very old guard…

      I can’t see a better contrast to put on the idiot box.

    • weka 11.2

      wow. They really haven't learned their lesson.

    • Incognito 11.3

      So, it is Judith with Gerry, Tova doing the PR & marketing, and David the internal polling and Social Media. Does that make Tova the emotional junior staffer?

  11. observer 12

    Don Brash on Newshub, delighted with Collins.

    What an endorsement, he's got his finger on the pulse of 2020 NZ. (/sarc)

  12. Sean Carroll 13

    I am concerned that she will be caught with her hands in the till again.

    • RedBaronCV 13.1

      Well she won't resign and now there is no one to fire her. She will just brazen it out.

      But I can see this being the last straw for a lot of women voters who are likely to quit national. Rather as women voters disliked Brash.

  13. Robert Guyton 14

    "That’s Concentration Camp Guard mentality: bringing someone into the Leadership now such as Collins, who always played Dirty Politics at as much arms length as possible, to appear by default more “responsible”, is utter lunacy if that’s what the Party is actually contemplating at this point:"

    https://exhalantblog.wordpress.com/2020/07/14/get-a-grip-nz-muller-imploding-the-national-party-in-on-itself-is-utterly-predictable/

    • Just Is 14.1

      It looks very much like the party are going to double down.

      This appointment of Collins is a clear indicator of why Muller has retired.

  14. Robert Guyton 15

    It's the China connection that'll sink her. Jian Yang pulled out for a reason…

  15. observer 16

    I'm not much of a believer these days, but I'm thanking the Almighty for Gerry Brownlee.

    What were they thinking?

    • Robert Guyton 16.1

      Gerry's solid. And Christchurch owes its very existence to him (he's magic at airports).

    • georgecom 16.2

      National, the party of fresh thinking and promoting exciting new talent

      Never fear National supporters, Chris Luxon is on his way

      • anker 16.2.1

        It will be a shit fight next term with Judith still leader and Luxton wanting the leadership he is entitled to

  16. Drowsy M. Kram 17

    The Nats will stay their ‘partisan politics‘ course under Crusher's leadership – BAD losers. Amazingly they really don't seem to have a clue as to why their brand is so badly tainted.

  17. In Vino 18

    9 weeks are a long time in politics, especially with hostile news media.

    • Incognito 18.1

      Good one, I had to think about it.

      • weka 18.1.1

        how so?

        • Incognito 18.1.1.1

          The media are not hostile towards JC at all, they love and adore her. The fawning is nauseating.

          • weka 18.1.1.1.1

            ah, so interpreting In Vino's comment as being about the left/Labour?

            • Pete George 18.1.1.1.1.1

              It could as easily be said 'The media are not hostile towards JA at all, they love and adore her'.

              Nausea is in the eye of the partisan.

              Media tend to reward competence with handling the media.

              • weka

                Competence being a good reason to love her esp this year of course, but I don't see it as being too different from Key. Nearer the end of her term as Labour leader I'm sure they will be going after her too.

                The value in what IV said is that left shouldn't be cocky right now. We saw how fast things changed for Labour in 2017.

              • Incognito

                Nausea is in the eye of the partisan.

                No, Pete, non-partisans are also nauseated by it. I thought you were non-partisan but maybe I did get that wrong!?

            • Incognito 18.1.1.1.1.2

              yes

  18. Dennis Frank 19

    JC: "I think it's important to give credit where it's due" – and earlier mentioned that she started out as a Labour voter. GB: thanked Newshub for announcing he'd got it before the caucus voted, "I found that encouraging." Got a big laugh.

    JC: "We are here to support Todd and his family." She said `we're going to take back the country' twice. "Our team is better than their team." "She's got three ministers who she's got confidence in, and that's it."

    • I Feel Love 19.1

      So Attack Attack Attack.

      • Dennis Frank 19.1.1

        Yeah, looks relaxed & comfortable with the gung ho attitude. Will rally the troops, may pull back some of the drifting centrists, but it's whatever substance she can provide to back up that attitude that really counts.

        Partisan stances just aren't adequate really. No problem with her pointing out Labour's mistakes & inadequacies, but voters actually want more than just that, and I haven't seen any evidence that she has learnt that lesson.

        • I Feel Love 19.1.1.1

          Least there's a contrast, she's like a cartoon character, she's gonna say some barmy things, already "we're going to take back the country!", well that sounds inclusive doesn't it?

        • Paddington 19.1.1.2

          Never underestimate the fickleness of NZ voters, Dennis.

    • Incognito 19.2

      Never thought Gerry was a leaker!

    • Craig H 19.3

      Not sure who the three ministers are since the PM clearly has confidence in more than three – she is probably referring to Robertson, Hipkins, Woods, but Little is clearly another (for example).

  19. Just Is 20

    Wasn't Collins on 2% in the leadership stakes a few weeks ago.

    Nothing like having a popular leader

  20. Ovid 21

    They say,
    Todd Muller's yielding his power and stepping away

    Is that true? I wasn't aware that was something a person could do

    I'm perplexed. Are they going to keep on replacing whoever's in charge?
    If so who's next?
    There's nobody else in their party who looms quite as large

    [whispers]

    [Spoken]
    Judith and Gerry?

    I know them
    That can't be
    That's that pair I saw on TV all those years ago
    Where was it, the Beehive?
    That poor party they'll eat them alive

    Oceans rise, empires fall
    Next to Ardern they all look small
    All alone watch them run
    They will tear each other in to pieces Jesus Christ this will be fun

    Da da da da da
    Da da da da daye da
    Da da da da daye da
    [laughs]

    [Spoken]
    Judith & Gerry
    Good luck!

  21. Pat 22

    back to the future it is then….there will be no unpleasant surprises that those two havnt anticipated to cause them to question themselves.

  22. observer 23

    That Collins press conference was weird.

    She repeated the line "take back the country". And I'm sure she knows what that phrase represents. Yuk.

  23. anker 24

    The country is not there's to take actually………..

  24. Ben 25

    Fascinating. I just wandered back through this alley again and the usual resident suspects are still reinforcing their entrenched tribal views. A comforting space for some, although it must get a tad claustrophobic.

    • observer 25.1

      O wise one, we await your sermon of enlightenment.

      • Ben 25.1.1

        What topic would enlighten you, young student?

        • observer 25.1.1.1

          The foolishness of us mere mortals who in our shameful ignorance, think National are self-destructing … on the basis of, you know, all the evidence, every day.

          • Ben 25.1.1.1.1

            Please do not feel shame “observer”. An observer should not feel shame.

            • Drowsy M. Kram 25.1.1.1.1.1

              Ben, "You must go to the Dagobah system", AKA Kiwiblog.

              "Game On!" "This will excite a lot of National supporters and activists."

              laugh Hahahahahahahahahaha laugh

              Seriously, perhaps could you enlighten me as to why the Nat caucus don't seem to have a clue about why their brand is so badly tainted. Or are your 'lessons' pay-to-view only?

    • Incognito 25.2

      Yeah, I wondered how you wormed your way back here. You said some nasty stuff when you were banned for two days and yet here you are trolling again. Nobody is enforcing anything here but we do like to keep the place clean & tidy and pest-free especially with the election looming. How long is a piece of string?

  25. bloke 26

    its a win for Beijing and milkpowder, its a win for slater too but RX-7’s all over our fair isles are worried

  26. Brian Tregaskin 27

    Id rate Collins/Brownlee chances of improving Nationals fortune in the next few weeks as practically zero . Two old school Nats from the old guard whose time has come and gone. The day after the election we will see the headlines "Its Ardens Time"

  27. Bloke 28

    Great to see fresh thinking, new faces and a vision of 1963 (with a milky eastern light shining upon fogeys both young and old)

  28. Peter 29

    I get it. Kurt Taogaga has been removed from the Labour's Party candidate list after tweets he made seven years ago resurfaced.

    Judith Collins, guilty of unethical scummy behaviour while a Minister six years ago gets to be the leader of her party.

    Yeah, I can see how that's reasonable. We need a Lincoln Project series of ads about Collins.

  29. Anker 30
    • By the way Ben is not worth engaging with imo everyone
  30. Fireblade 31

    Judith and Gerry will invigorate the National Party with their fresh faces, youthful exuberance and exiting new ideas.

  31. Descendant Of Smith 32

    My fascist right wing friends are going hooray when they were pretty meh about the last two leaders so Collins clearly appeals to a certain group of mainly male party supporters. They've been quiet for a while but are posting all over the place now. Clearly excited.

    After the collapse of the Boag faction within the National Party (remember she ousted John Slater as National Party President) playing loose with citizen data then the Collins faction had to be the dominant group within the Party.

    Neither is any cleaner than the other but both factions have hated each other for years.

    I'm picking National will pick up in the polls – Collins was much more aligned with that nice man John Key and National voters will appreciate that and see her as a return to normality and away from experimentation with lightweights. After the last two leaders Collins with all her experience will be seen as solid. Any lift in the polls will encourage a further lift.

    Collins is the only choice they could have made to stop their slide. The two previous leaders have cleaned out some of the more toxic MP's from the public perspective so she won't have to do the same bloodletting.

    I may dislike all the individuals concerned but I'm not a National voter so my mates opinions are more likely a better indicator than the bad taste in my mouth at seeing these two back.

    • McFlock 32.1

      If they're really right wing, it means they'll be less tempted to vote for the gun-totin' ACT.

      Collins tried to put on a nice face for a couple of years, but I don't think it'll stick. Your fascist friends don't seem to believe it.

      Stuff that attracts flies tends to repel bees, sort of thing. I doubt it would increase Labgrn vote, but it might make nats less likely to vote.

    • RedBaronCV 32.2

      Yes unlike the Uk we don't need a Boris and a Dom when we have Judith.

      Women don't like Judith – she's likely to turn out about as many of them as ACT does. namely none.

  32. Maurice 33

    They know that with Arden leading Labour/Greens the right are on a hiding to nothing

    This means that they know that they MUST "knobble" Jacinda ….

    We have not seen "dirty politics" ….. yet …

    It is about to get very very ugly.

  33. Incognito 34

    I take it Judith has cancelled the remainder of her book promotion tour?

  34. UncookedSelachimorpha 35

    Draining the swamp! Of kauri.

  35. Fireblade 36

    National is still a shambles. Contragulations Judith.

    https://www.twitter.com/danielfarrellnz/status/1282972806922158080

  36. Incognito 37

    I think the Nat Party website is under construction.

  37. lurgee 38

    Mickysavage has – of course – a long an ignoble history of being pretty much wrong about everything, so we might as well start practicing saying "Prime Minister Collins."

    Collins makes me nervous. She's got nothing to lose and the scruples of a rabid wolverine. She can say pretty much anything and promise pretty much anything in the knowledge she'll either succeed in preventing a National wipe out or it won’t matter in the slightest.

    Either way, it’ll be brutal.

    And then – if the wipe out is averted – she can sit back for three more years, sniping at Labour, exploiting every stuff up and failure (and they will come, oh boy will they come) and generally have a great time being Leader of the Opposition on a mission to wreck Labour's second term.

    And if she – and her ilk – ever gets hands on the levers of power, God help us all.

    • swordfish 38.1

      Mickysavage has – of course – a long an ignoble history of being pretty much wrong about everything, so we might as well start practicing saying "Prime Minister Collins."

      I'd forgotten you were a barrel of laughs, lurgee.

      Still, lifelong support of Partick Thistle must induce a certain grim fatalism in the psyche.

  38. Brian Tregaskin 39

    "

    Mickysavage has – of course – a long an ignoble history of being pretty much wrong about everything, so we might as well start practicing saying "Prime Minister Collins."

    Collins makes me nervous. She's got nothing to lose and the scruples of a rabid wolverine. She can say pretty much anything and promise pretty much anything in the knowledge she'll either succeed in preventing a National wipe out or it won’t matter in the slightest.

    Either way, it’ll be brutal.

    And then – if the wipe out is averted – she can sit back for three more years, sniping at Labour, exploiting every stuff up and failure (and they will come, oh boy will they come) and generally have a great time being Leader of the Opposition on a mission to wreck Labour's second term.

    And if she – and her ilk – ever gets hands on the levers of power, God help us all."

    Unless there is Judithmania for the remainder this week (First 48 hours is critical) you wont see a dramatic lift in the polls for National (if any) between now and September. All that is likely to happen is some Act voters will return to National and those middle ground voters will stick with Labour.

    But…..If Judithmania happens in next 48 hours its all on!!! You heard it first here first baby!

  39. Plc 40

    You sound scared….welcome to the jungle!

  40. Brian Tregaskin 41

    Most like instead of "Judithmania" we will see the mantra "Granny State" with a Collins/Bownlee duo with those two old farts

  41. Cinny 42

    If gerry and judith are the answer, the question must be…who plays dirty politics?

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  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    2 hours ago
  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    9 hours ago
  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    10 hours ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    10 hours ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    10 hours ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    10 hours ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    10 hours ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    10 hours ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    10 hours ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    11 hours ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    13 hours ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    13 hours ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    13 hours ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    13 hours ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    13 hours ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    14 hours ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    17 hours ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    17 hours ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    17 hours ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    18 hours ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    19 hours ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    19 hours ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    20 hours ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    20 hours ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    21 hours ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    24 hours ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    1 day ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    2 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    3 days ago
  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    3 days ago
  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    3 days ago
  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    4 days ago
  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    4 days ago
  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    4 days ago
  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    5 days ago
  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago
  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    6 days ago
  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago
  • Sad tales from the left
    Michael Bassett writes –  Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • In Whose Best Interests?
    On The Spot: The question Q+A host, Jack Tame, put to the Workplace & Safety Minister, Act’s Brooke van Velden, was disarmingly simple: “Are income tax cuts right now in the best interests of lowering inflation?”JACK TAME has tested another MP on his Sunday morning current affairs show, Q+A. Minister for Workplace ...
    6 days ago
  • Don’t Question, Don’t Complain.
    It has to start somewhereIt has to start sometimeWhat better place than here?What better time than now?So it turns out that I owe you all an apology.It seems that all of the terrible things this government is doing, impacting the lives of many, aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ per se. Those things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Auckland faces 25% water inflation shock
    Three Waters became a focus of anti-Government protests under Labour, but its dumping by the new Government hasn’t solved councils’ funding problems and will eventually hit the back pockets of everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 8:06 am today are:The Government ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Small accomplishments and large ironies
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Song of Saqua: Volume VII
    In order to catch up to the actual progress of the D&D campaign, I present you with another couple of sessions. These were actually held back to back, on a Monday and Tuesday evening. Session XV Alas, Goatslayer had another lycanthropic transformation… though this time, he ran off into the ...
    6 days ago
  • Accelerating the Growth Rate?
    There is a constant theme from the economic commentariat that New Zealand needs to lift its economic growth rate, coupled with policies which they are certain will attain that objective. Their prescriptions are usually characterised by two features. First, they tend to be in their advocate’s self-interest. Second, they are ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago
  • The only thing we have to fear is tenants themselves
    1. Which of these acronyms describes the experience of travelling on a Cook Strait ferry?a. ROROb. FOMOc. RAROd. FMLAramoana, first boat ever boarded by More Than A Feilding, four weeks after the Wahine disaster2. What is the acronym for the experience of watching the government risking a $200 million break ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • Peters talks of NZ “renewing its connections with the world” – but who knew we had been discon...
    Buzz from the Beehive The thrust of the country’s foreign affairs policy and its relationship with the United States have been addressed in four statements from the Beehive over the past 24 hours. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters somewhat curiously spoke of New Zealand “renewing its connections with a world ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
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