Columnists slam Key’s lack of plan
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4:14 pm, February 13th, 2010 - 110 comments
Categories: gst, john key, Media, phil goff, tax -
Tags: fran o'sullivan, john armstrong, john key, phil goff, tracy watkins
Tracy Watkins awards the first week of Parliamentary politics this year to Phil Goff, and points out that it’s as much due to his and Labour’s much improved performance as it is to Key and National’s shambolic, over-promise, under-deliver governance.
“It is rare for an Opposition leader to be gifted such an easy ride out of the starting blocks. No wonder Mr Goff was mopping his brow by the end of his speech. Over in National’s camp, meanwhile, there must have been plenty of hand-wringing.
A hike in GST (yes, it has only been flagged at this stage, but it is unthinkable that Mr Key would float the idea only to yank it) gives oxygen to Mr Goff’s “for the many, not the few” narrative, given that the corresponding tax cuts will disproportionately benefit the rich, while the lowest-paid will probably come out even at best…
So National’s job is to sell a rise in GST as good not just for the economy but for households. But that is a tall order when it can’t even put dollar figures to its compensatory tax cuts. As a Fairfax survey this week showed, people are open to the idea of paying higher prices, so long as it is accompanied by tax cuts”
The critical thing here is the last part “so long as it is accompanies by tax cuts”. The reality is always going to be that low and middle income Kiwis (and remember the median income is about $28,000) are not going to be getting tax cuts out of National. They’ll be lucky to get compensation to break even. All the rest will be going into tax cuts for the rich.
“So it is not an impossible sales job. But it won’t be until the Budget, still three months away, that National is ready to fill in the blanks. The danger in the meantime is that expectations over the size of any corresponding tax cuts will get out of whack with what is actually possible.”
I’m still waiting for my ‘North of $50’ tax cut. I don’t see people falling for another con-job.
“The spin ahead of Mr Key’s speech was that he would launch his second year in office prepared to take the sort of risks that last year’s global meltdown denied him.
Unfortunately, the hype ran ahead of the speech… the speech was panned as lacklustre and timid
All the Key camp’s Big Tuesday hype succeeded in doing was leave the talk of a big, bold economic plan trailing in the wake of the reality”
Naitonal has no plan to lift economic growth. Fiddling around with tax rates sure as hell won’t do it, even the Tax Working Group doesn’t claim that. Behind the hype, this is a do nothing government with no plan to fulfill its ‘aspirational’ promises.
John Armstrong makes similiar points:
Exactly who and how many really stand to benefit big-time from the proposed reduction in tax rates – and how much spin-off there is for National in the process – are the big questions.
Someone on $70,000 would receive about $21 more in net terms. Someone on the average income of around $50,000 will get an extra $12 – about the same as they would have got under National’s earlier plan. Those on $30,000 will get barely $3 more.
And someone on the Prime Minister’s salary will get $500 a week while a full-time worker on the minimum wage won’t get enough to cover the increased GST on their family’s food bill.
Key’s concept of fairness, however, seems to apply only horizontally
He wants to reward rich tax cheats by cutting the tax of all rich people. Middle New Zealand is invisible to him.
Labour’s Phil Goff probably cannot believe his luck. Key and English have gifted him and his finance spokesman David Cunliffe the opportunity to fiercely differentiate their party from National. It puts Labour on the side of the many who look like not gaining very much, while National is seen as aligning itself with the few who will gain a lot.
Labour is already defining the debate as tax cuts for the rich paid for by the poor.
There is grumbling in the Beehive that this is simplistic sloganeering.
I can hear the Nats whinging now: ‘don’t tell them we’re ripping them off to give ourselves tax cuts, they won’t vote for us if they know’
Armstrong doesn’t forget that this was supposed to be a growth plan, not a tax cut money grab:
By any economic measure, the master plan released by John Key this week for galvanising New Zealand’s productive sectors can be criticised for failing to be really bold.
It could be more accurately criticised as invisible. Just as the Jobs Summit had no disernable effect on joblessness, Key’s growth ‘plan’ won’t alter growth one iota.
Finally, Fran O’Sullivan nails it:
On Tuesday Key made the cardinal political sin of over-promising and under-delivering. He promised a bold economic programme would be unveiled in his opening statement to Parliament.
Instead, we got a money grab for the rich. Reinstatement of R&D spending that National cut less than a year ago, and the re-announcement of about 50 existing items of spending, many of them from Labour’s time. Nothing bold, more like a limp flag of surrender.
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- Every party needs to step up on school lunchesLabour has finally said it would continue free school lunches - and the Green Party is calling on every party to step up. ...5 days ago
- Release: School lunches on the line this electionFree and healthy school lunches will be here to stay if Labour is re-elected, guaranteeing food for our kids who need it most and significant cost saving for parents. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour commits to a new hospital for the people of Hawke’s BayThe next Labour Government will build a new hospital in Hawke’s Bay, Labour leader Chris Hipkins and Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall announced. ...6 days ago
- Govt changes fall short of what’s needed for migrant protectionThe Green Party will keep up the fight to support exploited migrant workers, including pushing to end single employer visas, after the government picked up Green recommendations to improve immigration settings. ...7 days ago
- Clean Power Payment the smartest way forward to reduce emissions and billsGreen Party co leader James Shaw visited a home in Auckland today that has been upgraded with a wide range of energy improvements, similar to those that would be supported through the Green Party’s Clean Power Payment. ...1 week ago
- Foreign Minister's Action – A Contempt For “Caretaker Government” Convention
The Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s presence in New York today at the United Nations General Assembly is a contempt of New Zealand’s “caretaker government” convention. Despite the long-standing caretaker convention, Minister Mahuta is today at the UN to sign a highly contentious “Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement”, delivering a ...1 week ago - Back To Black ResponsiblyThe Pre-Election Fiscal Update Changes Everything Within an hour of this speech there is going to be a debate between the political parties that the media, under MMP, still think are the only parties that matter in this campaign. Both of those parties are riddled with inexperience, as evidenced by ...1 week ago
- Stop the cuts before they start – Labour launches new TV adNational and ACT's tax plans don't add up, and that means deep cuts to the public services New Zealanders rely on, says Labour Campaign Chair Megan Woods. ...1 week ago
- Free school lunches paid for with a wealth taxThe Green Party will expand free school lunches and pay for it with a fair tax system. ...1 week ago
- The Pacific Reset & the Blue ContinentThank you for your invitation to speak with you this afternoon about New Zealand Foreign Policy. After offering one or two general thoughts about the nature of foreign policy, the focus today will be the Pacific Reset and why its goals remain even more important today as when they were ...1 week ago
- Release: Huge hole in National’s climate budgetNational’s plan to cut policies that are reducing New Zealand’s climate emissions will result in a huge gap in the country’s emissions budgets and could see Kiwis paying significantly more at the petrol pump as a result of Christopher Luxon hiking the ETS price. ...1 week ago
- Greens would push Labour much further on solar powerLabour’s plan to support rooftop solar is a step in the right direction, but falls short of what could be achieved through the Green Party’s Clean Power Payment. ...1 week ago
- Release: Doubling rooftop solar to reduce bills & emissionsLabour will double the number of houses with rooftop solar in New Zealand, lowering household power bills, reducing emissions and boosting renewable electricity generation. ...1 week ago
- Release: Labour will advance women’s health, careers, and legal protectionsA re-elected Labour Government will continue its proud tradition of advancing women’s health, employment, and legal rights Spokesperson for Women Jan Tinetti said. ...1 week ago
- Green Party confirms plan for five weeks annual leaveSpeaking at the E Tū Election Launch in Auckland today, Green Party co leader Marama Davidson outlined the Green Party’s manifesto commitment to ensure everyone has five weeks of annual leave. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour to keep lifting worker wages and rightsA re-elected Labour Government will protect hard-fought workers’ rights and keep the momentum on wage growth to lift incomes for all New Zealanders, leader Chris Hipkins announced today. ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand First Party List 2023New Zealand First is proud to announce the Party List for the upcoming 2023 General Election. We have had a great number of applicants and potential candidates moving through the selection process over the past few months. Our final selection for our list proves we have a wide range ...2 weeks ago
- A National/ACT Government would make life miserable for those already worst offOnly a party vote for the Greens will end poverty. ACT’S welfare policy announced today is as cruel as it gets. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Willis’ resignation call means only one thing – $2 billion more cutsMassive cuts to public service are on the cards as Nicola Willis has promised to resign if she doesn’t deliver tax cuts but is refusing to make the same commitment if she doesn’t raise enough income from her bungled foreign buyer’s tax. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: A faster justice system focused on victimsLabour will help more victims of crime achieve justice faster by introducing a formal class-action regime, modernising consent laws and increasing the use of technology to speed up hearings. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Gaping hole confirmed in National’s tax planA whopping $2.1 billion dollar hole has been confirmed in National’s tax scheme in a new report released today. ...2 weeks ago
- Labour pledges biggest ever increase to training DoctorsLabour will deliver the largest ever increase to the number of doctors trained each year, adding an additional 335 doctors a year to our health workforce from 2027, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins has announced. ...2 weeks ago
- PREFU Exposes Political PromisesToday’s PREFU has some alarming statistics showing an economy deteriorating and the cost of unaffordable government expenditure, mainly in the 2022 and 2023 budgets. Despite this alarming economic and fiscal picture, political parties are making unaffordable promises, talking about a surplus by 2027, or four years time, all of which ...2 weeks ago
- State of books makes clear case for wealth taxThe case for a wealth tax has never been stronger. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour pledges free cervical screeningIf re-elected Labour will make cervical screening services free to all women and people with a cervix aged 25 – 69 years, delivering better cancer care for over 1.4 million New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- Chris Hipkins sets out 9 key pledges to New ZealandLabour Leader Chris Hipkins has set out nine key pledges to be achieved in his first full term as Prime Minister. ...2 weeks ago
- Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...1 day ago - Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefitRegions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...3 days ago
- Immigration settings updatesJudicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...4 days ago
- Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga HohepaTangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...5 days ago
- Renewable energy fund to support community resilience40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...5 days ago
- COVID-19 funding returned to GovernmentThe lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...5 days ago
- Appointment of District Court JudgeSusie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today. Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...5 days ago
- Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilienceThe Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...6 days ago
- Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-upAnother $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...6 days ago
- Taupō Supercars revs up with Government supportThe future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...6 days ago
- There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarterThe economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...6 days ago
- Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springsThe Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today. “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...6 days ago
- More support for victims of migrant exploitationTemporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...7 days ago
- Strong export boost as NZ economy turns cornerAn export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...1 week ago
- Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te KarakaThe Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...1 week ago
- Further business support for cyclone-affected regionsThe Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...1 week ago
- New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underwayDefence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...1 week ago
- Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General AssemblyForeign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...1 week ago
- Midwives’ pay equity offer reachedAround 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand provides support to MoroccoAotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...2 weeks ago
- Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilienceThe Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...2 weeks ago
- Government invests in Greymouth’s futureThe Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...2 weeks ago
- Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ MeetingForeign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...2 weeks ago
- PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflationEconomy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...2 weeks ago
- New cancer centre opens in ChristchurchPrime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...2 weeks ago
- Government invests in top of the south’s roading resilience$12 million to improve the resilience of roads in the Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman regions Hope Bypass earmarked in draft Government Policy Statement on land transport $127 million invested in the top of the south’s roads since flooding in 2021 and 2022 The Government is investing over $12 million to ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealanders continue to support the revitalisation of te reo as we celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Mā...Ko tēnei te wiki e whakanui ana i tō tātou reo rangatira. Ko te wā tuku reo Māori, e whakanuia tahitia ai te reo ahakoa kei hea ake tēnā me tēnā o tātou, ka tū ā te Rātū te 14 o Mahuru, ā te 12 o ngā hāora i te ahiahi. ...2 weeks ago
- New Wildlife Act to better protect native speciesThe 70-year-old Wildlife Act will be replaced with modern, fit-for-purpose legislation to better protect native species and improve biodiversity, Minister of Conservation Willow-Jean Prime has announced. “New species legislation is urgently needed to address New Zealand’s biodiversity crisis,” Willow-Jean Prime said. “More than 4,000 of our native species are currently ...3 weeks ago
- Further safety initiatives for Auckland City CentreCentral and Local Government are today announcing a range of new measures to tackle low-level crime and anti-social behaviour in the Auckland CBD to complement Police scaling up their presence in the area. “Police have an important role to play in preventing and responding to crime, but there is more ...3 weeks ago
- Govt confirms additional support for Enabling Good LivesThe Government has confirmed $73.7 million over the next four years and a further $40.5m in outyears to continue to transform the disability support system, Minister for Disability Issues Priyanca Radhakrishnan has announced. “The Enabling Good Lives (EGL) approach is a framework which guides positive change for disabled people, ...3 weeks ago
- New Zealand gets AAA credit rating from S&PStandard and Poor’s is the latest independent credit rating agency to endorse the Government’s economic management in the face of a deteriorating global economy. S&P affirmed New Zealand’s long term local currency rating at AAA and foreign currency rating at AA+ with a stable outlook. It follows Fitch affirming New ...3 weeks ago
- Appointment of Environment Court JudgeChristchurch barrister Kelvin Reid has been appointed as a Judge of the Environment Court and the District Court, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Mr Reid has extensive experience in Resource Management Act issues, including water quality throughout the South Island. He was appointed to the Technical Advisory Group advising the ...3 weeks ago
- NZ’s biggest ever emissions reduction project hits milestoneNew Zealand is on track to have greener steel as soon as 2026 with New Zealand Steel’s electric arc furnace project reaching a major milestone today. The Government announced a conditional partnership with New Zealand Steel in May to deliver the country’s largest emissions reduction project to date. Half of ...3 weeks ago
- Fiscal plans fly as overseas voting opens
Everything the Labour Party has promised it can pay for with some left over, it says, but National has dubbed the notion a fantasy The Labour Party has released its fiscal plan showing how its election promises and the ongoing cost pressures in the public sector would fit within Budget allowances. Finance spokesperson ...1 hour ago - Ruapehu has had a great ski season – but we need to reimagine the future of NZ’s iconic volcano
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Holly Thorpe, Professor in Sociology of Sport and Gender, University of Waikato As a former competitive snowboarder and instructor, and later a researcher of snow sports, I’ve been lucky to enjoy ski resorts around the world. But nothing compares to Mount Ruapehu ...2 hours ago - Election 2023: What you need to know before voting
Explainer - On 2 October, early voting will begin for the general election that will decide who will govern the country for the next three years. So let's take a look at the nuts and bolts of casting a vote. ...2 hours ago - Hackers offer stolen Auckland Transport data for sale on dark web
Customer and financial data 'not compromised', city's transport agency believes Auckland Transport confirms hackers have made good on their threat to offer up the transport agency’s stolen data on the dark web. Roger Jones, the executive general manager for business technology, and his team were monitoring the threat overnight, after a group ...2 hours ago - Politics Of Benefit Sanctions Cruel And Dishonest
Benefit advocate and Welfare Expert Advisory Group member Kay Brereton is calling for some basic facts and empathy from political parties looking to fish for votes with beneficiary bashing. Brereton says the call to put sanctions on people on benefits ...2 hours ago - Hipkins Completely Misunderstands His Own Party’s GST CostingsChris Hipkins’ claim this morning that Labour’s costings for removal of GST off fruit and veg account for behavioural changes are completely untrue. Responding to Mr Hipkins’ attacks on the Union, spokesman Jordan Williams said: “We couldn’t ...2 hours ago
- Demise of CSU news journalism course was ‘greatly exaggerated’A Charles Sturt University journalism academic says the evolving communication course at his institution in Australia continues to feed the ranks of the irrepressible “Mitchell Mafia’”. Jock Cheetham, senior lecturer in news and media in the Charles Sturt School of Information and Communication Studies in Bathurst, said recent “news” ...2 hours ago
- Overseas voting opens, campaign encourages Kiwis in Australia to voteAbout 78,000 enrolled voters have an overseas address, the Electoral Commission says. ...2 hours ago
- New poll: Labour maintains lead in Te Tai Tonga, albeit a shrinking one
Te Tai Tonga, the largest of the 71 electorates, and encompassing the entire South Island, Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands, all the islands in the Southern Ocean, as well as a large part of Wellington City, has been held by incumbent Labour MP Rino Tirikatene for 12 years. And according ...2 hours ago - Election 2023: National announces 300 more frontline police to tackle inner-city crimeCiting an escalation in crime in CBD areas, National has announced it would increase the number of frontline police officers focused on inner-city crime, if elected. ...2 hours ago
- Shop the fit: Winston PetersThis week in our campaign style series, Winston Peters is the king of snot-less pocket squares and bringing things back from the depths of his wardrobe. Not many encyclopaedic entries include politicians’ personal style, choosing instead things like biography, policies, speeches and ideological alignments. But in Te Ara, the official ...2 hours ago
- The Vested Interests Shaping National Party PoliciesAs the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts ...3 hours ago
- Younger Voters And Aucklanders Most Likely To Consider Voting Women’s Rights Party This ElectionNearly half of voters aged 18-39 [49%] said, in a Curia Poll, they would consider giving the Women’s Rights Party their party vote in the upcoming Election. In a poll conducted by Curia Market Research commissioned by the Women’s Rights ...3 hours ago
- Cold weather doesn’t stop regional democracyIt’s a cold and blustery day here in the central Hawke’s Bay and I’ve just pulled into a local cafe for a coffee and some food (I now understand why being on the road like our political leaders encourages you to eat a very pastry-heavy diet). I’m here to spend ...3 hours ago
- Media Led Into Incorrectly Crediting Firearm RegistryMedia have once again been led into incorrect reporting on the firearm registry, this time repeating claims that the new firearms registry enabled identification of a firearm on-seller, even though the data had been collected separately by Police ...3 hours ago
- Labour’s fiscal plan doubles down on its ‘trust us with your money’ aestheticNo surprises in today’s final fiscal announcement – but clear evidence Labour believes its request that National ‘show it the money’ is working. Prime minister Chris Hipkins and finance minister Grant Robertson delivered Labour’s fiscal plan – its vision for how it will raise money, and what it will spend ...3 hours ago
- NZ govt ‘welcomes’ US diplomatic relations with Cook Islands, NiueBy Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist The New Zealand government has given its full blessing to Cook Islands and Niue establishing diplomatic relations with the United States. At the US-Pacific summit on Monday (Washington time), President Joe Biden said he recognised the two island nations as sovereign and independent states, ...3 hours ago
- NZ govt ‘welcomes’ US diplomatic relations with Cook Islands, NiueBy Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist The New Zealand government has given its full blessing to Cook Islands and Niue establishing diplomatic relations with the United States. At the US-Pacific summit on Monday (Washington time), President Joe Biden said he recognised the two island nations as sovereign and independent states, ...3 hours ago
- New Report Shows National Emissions Reduction Policies Could Impact Auckland Economy Harder Than Res...Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland could experience a six per cent reduction in GDP compared to the rest of Aotearoa New Zealand in 2050, according to a new climate report. Mitigating climate change in New Zealand: impacts on Auckland’s economy describes how the ...3 hours ago
- The everyday technologies essential for accessibilityIt’s easy to take for granted, but technology exists to help us. The Spinoff spoke to four people with disabilities about the tech they consider essential. We often think of technology as irking us – Duolingo scolds, Instagram pesters and TikTok steals time. But, if I did throw my phone ...4 hours ago
- Weird but true: The year’s most emotional TV played out on Celebrity Treasure IslandThe inspired casting of Tāme Iti on a fundamentally silly reality TV show paid off in an impossibly resonant scene last night. The scene is unimaginably pretty. Somewhere outside Wānaka, on an island far from any road, two men wander along the lakeside. The pair are bathed in sun despite ...4 hours ago
- Candidates Front Up On Social Issues...4 hours ago
- Leaflet Campaign Ranks Party Climate Policies — National And NZ First Bad, ACT WorstClimate change campaigners will be delivering 40,000 leaflets around the country to alert voters about which parties are best and worst on climate change policies. See attached leaflet. "You wouldn't know it from a lot of political posturing ...4 hours ago
- Newsletter: September 27 2023 – Items of interest and importance todayNew Zealand Politics Daily is a collation of the most prominent issues being discussed in New Zealand. It is edited by Dr Bryce Edwards of The Democracy Project. NZ Politics Daily: 27 September 2023 ELECTION Gordon Campbell: On whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence and bashing beneficiaries, again Jessica Mutch ...4 hours ago
- Election 2023: Labour's fiscal plan looks to reduce government spending, maintain income tax se...Labour has released its fiscal plan stating now is not the time for additional taxes and acknowledged the next few Budgets would be tight. ...4 hours ago
- New IEA Report A Warning That National Must Abandon Offshore Oil Drilling Policy – GreenpeaceFollowing the release of the International Energy Agency (IEA) ‘Net Zero Roadmap Update' yesterday, Greenpeace Aotearoa says that the National Party is out of touch with its promise to reverse the 2018 ban on new offshore oil and gas exploration. ...4 hours ago
- Labour releases fiscal plan promising further savings and return to surplus in 2027Labour has released its fiscal plan, a 12-page document laying out its spending plans over the next three years in response to the PREFU released earlier this month. It is forecasting a return to budget surplus in 26/27, and net debt to peak at 22.8% in the 24/25 fiscal year. ...4 hours ago
- Labour releases fiscal plan promising further savings and return to surplus in 2027Labour has released its fiscal plan, a 12-page document laying out its spending plans over the next three years in response to the PREFU released earlier this month. It is forecasting a return to budget surplus in 26/27, and net debt to peak at 22.8% in the 24/25 fiscal year. ...4 hours ago
- Westpac McDermott Miller Employment Confidence, September Quarter 2023The Westpac McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index (ECI) fell by 7.4 points to 98.3 in the September quarter. This is the first time since March 2021 that households have held a negative view about conditions in the labour market, and the lowest reading ...5 hours ago
- Mount Albert candidates listen to renting horror stories at eventAt an event in Grey Lynn last night hosted by advocacy group Renters United, candidates for the Mount Albert electorate discussed housing issues with renters. Instead of a standard debate format, the event rotated candidates between tables of renters, giving attendees the chance to talk about some of their concerns ...5 hours ago
- Mount Albert candidates listen to renting horror stories at eventAt an event in Grey Lynn last night hosted by advocacy group Renters United, candidates for the Mount Albert electorate discussed housing issues with renters. Instead of a standard debate format, the event rotated candidates between tables of renters, giving attendees the chance to talk about some of their concerns ...5 hours ago
- Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Labas, Lecturer in Management, Federation University Australia Food waste is a global problem with approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of food wasted each year throughout the food lifecycle – from the farm to food manufacturers and households. Across the food supply chain, ...5 hours ago
- 7 ways to look after yourself and your community before and after the Voice referendumSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacob Prehn, Associate Dean Indigenous College of Arts, Law, and Education; Senior Lecturer – Indigenous Fellow, Social Work, University of Tasmania GettyImages The lead-up to the Voice referendum is already affecting the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...5 hours ago
- Why the Voice could be a bulwark against Trumpism gaining a stronger foothold in AustraliaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Wolpe, Non-resident Senior Fellow, United States Study Centre, University of Sydney As former Labor minister Barry Jones has wisely noted, the Voice referendum feels like 2016 all over again. The shock from the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom in ...5 hours ago
- What do we know about long COVID in kids? And what do I do if I think my child has it?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shidan Tosif, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, The University of Melbourne While COVID in children has generally been milder than in adults, there are concerns long COVID may be a major consequence for children and young people arising from the pandemic. Long COVID, ...5 hours ago
- Playful whales can use seaweed as a hat – or exfoliant. This “kelping” behaviour is more commo...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olaf Meynecke, Research Fellow in Marine Science, Griffith University WA Western Whale Watch Australia, CC BY-NC-ND If you’re a whale, there’s often not too much to see out in deeper water. Perhaps that’s why so many whales get playful with ...5 hours ago
- Meet the experts in selling scienceFor New Zealand scientists trying to solve big-picture problems, turning them into commercial businesses is often an afterthought. Vanessa Young from the MacDiarmid Institute talks to some of the people guiding scientists through this journey. For many of us, trying to understand the hi-tech world of startups is challenging at ...5 hours ago
- Meet the experts in selling scienceFor New Zealand scientists trying to solve big-picture problems, turning them into commercial businesses is often an afterthought. Vanessa Young from the MacDiarmid Institute talks to some of the people guiding scientists through this journey. For many of us, trying to understand the hi-tech world of startups is challenging at ...5 hours ago
- On the campaign trail with Carmel SepuloniThe deputy PM on boosting the Pasifika vote turnout, her go-to cafe order and why she doesn’t want to be prime minister. Nestled among Titirangi’s native bush and towering trees, down a short steep driveway, with Labour Party hoardings spotting the yard, is the home of deputy prime minister and ...5 hours ago
- The candidate prepared to cross the floor against their own party
The voters aren't coming to them, so Maungakiekie's candidates are going to the voters. ‘They want to hear me say that if I become the local MP, I will lie on the proposed railway tracks. And I will!’ ...5 hours ago - The Bulletin: Does more advance voting impact results?Overseas voting in the October election starts today, ahead of local voting booths opening on Monday. In today’s Bulletin, the rise and rise of advance voting. In 2020, Claire Robinson concluded that advance voting probably benefits the traditional major parties and that the so-called minor parties benefit from late strategic voting. “Since ...6 hours ago
- Luxon and Hipkins ready for next showdownIt’s Tuesday, September 27 and welcome back to The Spinoff’s election live updates. I’m Stewart Sowman-Lund, on deck from Palmerston North, with support from our news team around the country. Get in touch with me on [email protected] Learn more about the political parties and where they stand at Policy.nz ...6 hours ago
- National, NZ First propose tougher beneficiary sanctions, trade tax barbsIn the same week National leader admitted he would work with New Zealand First, both parties have launched new policies aimed at reducing the number of people on benefits. Both take a hardline approach, though are significantly differ. While National’s proposal would introduce a tiered, traffic light framework at which ...6 hours ago
- The golden girl returns
Tayla Bruce has gone from a teenager fan with an NZ fern in her hair to world champion in bowls. Angela Walker tells her remarkable story “A true full circle moment,” is how Tayla Bruce described the surprise celebration that was put on for her at her bowls club in Christchurch. When ...6 hours ago - The rise and rise of advance votingOverseas voting opens today and advance voting starts on Monday. How influential could offshore voting be, and why are we still waiting for fiscal plans, asks Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Just ...6 hours ago
- NZ’s Green Party is ‘filling the void on the left’ as voters grow frustrated with Labour’s c...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Priya Kurian, Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, University of Waikato The Green Party has run a strong campaign. With a 14.2% share in the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll, up by 1.9 percentage points since the previous poll, that is more ...7 hours ago
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On RadioNZ’s Focus on Politics this afternoon, Key took a stab at Labour’s “chewing gum” tax cuts and was just plain lying about the cuts most NZers might get under National’s half-baked plan:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/focusonpolitics
Where did he lie?
I like how he explained that the main idea behind lifting GST and lowering income taxes is to incentivise saving over going out to restaurants etc.
A few minutes later he responded to the idea that raising GST in a dodgy time for the economy might be the opposite of a stimulus, (ie reducing demand), by saying that he thought it would do the opposite, because the income tax cuts would mean everyone would feel like they had more money in their hands and they’d go out and spend it.
The host didn’t call him out on the fact that Key apparently thinks his main idea behind the policy is in conflict with what he thinks will happen.
Have you listened to the entire broadcast?
Where did he lie? I don’t want to waste my time listening to the whole thing so I want a timeframe to listen to.
Yes, it’s fairly clear that you don’t have time to waste…
The real response felix is “Where did he tell the truth?”
I need a timeframe to listen to to be proved that John Key isn’t shafting us all… because I don’t have the time to waste proving to myself something that I already know and have evidence for… that John Key is a sleazy snakeoil salesman at best…. and a very shitty politician at worst
Lol. One could stay the same about you…. 😉
Yes. But I don’t pretend otherwise.
I’ll listen to it later.
I’m currently cooking dinner, doing an essay on the french revolution and loading up some posts for my blog for the week.
A keen teen. And an essay on condom usage?
Make sure you don’t cook the essay, do the blog and load dinner.
LOL. 🙂
So we get to do the work, eh? Research, lad, research.
But 350ppm has all ready listened….
4:40, He says Australia’s top tax rate is 30c when its actually 45c
http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/12333.htm
Did he intentionally lie or was it an honest mistake?
I don’t think you can make a 15c honest mistake
no I suppose not… He may have been confused with another country or something. did the host correct him?
He is either incompetent or a liar. In either case he should not be our Prime Minister. Helen Clark was so much better.
Do you remember her or was she before your time?
Lol. Sadly I do remember her.
So is Key incompetent or a liar?
neither. forgetful. Just like Clark. I seem to remember her saying “I have no recollection of that taking place” (or similar) to things she should’ve known about.
No you never met her, nor understood her. What you remember was the poisonous smears and propaganda a right-wing media openly spread about her.
You remind me of myself forty odd years ago… you have the same unfortunate propensity to believe what you read/see in the media.
@Red
Have you met Key?
So he forgets things but then says them as if they are true. And he has spent huge amounts of time researching tax issues.
He is incompetent.
Can you provide more particulars about Helen’s recollection. I think you will find that she was talking about an informal conversation that she had 6 months before being asked about it. This is an entirely different thing.
No its not.
Not personally, but my father worked in the same organisation as he was in long before Key entered politics.
He was a ‘snake in a sharp suit’ back then…
So you’ve never meet him and don’t understand him.
I’m more than willing to take my father’s word for it.. there is nothing quite like working with a man when he thinks no-one is watching to discover his real character.
That’s the problem you have; you only know about John Key from the filtered image you have of him from TV, or from when he’s performing in front of people.
@Red
“you should have some facts behind you before advancing a position’
I might be Max Key for all you know. 😉
I might be Max Key for all you know.
I did wonder…
But a simple research on twitter would give you my name and location. Did you think of that?
So either you are Max Key, in which case I wonder if Daddy knows what you are up to… or you are not and you have just contradicted yourself.
Besides who you are really doesn’t matter… it’s your argument that counts. That’s the whole point of the internet.
Where did I say that I was Max Key?
Furiously backpedalling now? Careful what you back into now.
All is said was “I might be Max Key for all you know.”
No you resorted to admitting it without thinking through the consequences… you’ve been trying a cover-up ever since.
I’m not Max Key. I never said I was
I don’t believe you… you let something slip.
I’m not going to argue with you.
I am not Max Key.
I will not engage in a debate with you again as you are blatantly hijacking this post for your weird motives.
You just got a peek in the mirror…. not like what you saw?
excellent RL.
You must hate democracy savage. Just over a year ago your girl got turfed on her butt. Are you one of those labour cronies who is still making helen your preferred PM ahead of Goff, because she’s still more popular than he is. No wonder when flunkies like you keep pining for her.
Always making excuses. Your dear leader must be proud!
Kiwiteen, did you ever meet Helen Clark? Or Moore? Or Palmer? Or Lange? Or Rowling? or Kirk?
I’ve met them all. When I was about your purported age, in 1969, I met Kirk at the StudAss at Canterbury Uni. I didn’t believe that he could withstand American pressure, so I asked him, “Can you withdraw NZ troops from Vietnam (as you say you will)?”
He looked at me, and I can still recall the quizzical look he gave me, and said, “Of course I can.” In the term of the 1972-75 Labour Govt, he did just that.
I had the same directness from and trust in Helen Clark. You know not of what you speak, laddie.
No.
Are we not allowed to have an opinion on someone because we haven’t met them?
Are we not allowed to vote for someone because we haven’t met them?
That is the nature of Central-Government and NZ rules do not prohibit people from voting for someone we haven’t met.
I don’t know why you want to restrict freedom of speech!
Cripes, take up archery, laddie. That’s a long bow you have just drawn. You must take me through your adventures of logic…. sometime.
You dissed Helen Clark, but you have not met her. I have. Your opinion, unfounded as it is, does not come within an arrow’s flight of what I have seen, heard and read about.
Back to the butts, laddie.
Am I not allowed to have an opinion on Clark?
You have the wrong opinion of Helen Clark. I suspect this is from the lies that you have been fed and that you have uncritically believed.
No opinion is “wrong”. It just differs from others.
i can see why you might want to believe that
Christ he probably thinks Helen Clark is Luke Skywalker’s lesbian father. That’s the kind of hate campaign National launched against the women (literally).
@tiger
Don’t troll. Don’t attack me.
When an opinion contradicts fact, as yours does, then it happens to be wrong.
Ever heard of intellectual rigour? Try it.
Will Do.
Too many comments, Kiwiteen123. You’re stifling debate. Just ease off a bit and let others have a chance to participate.
Personally, I don’t think you’re doing it on purpose but it’s getting disruptive and we won’t allow it indefinitely.
Ok. Will do. My first comment was just a query that turned into a debate.
My first comment was good most of my others were bad. (but most of everyone else’s comments were bad.)
I will try.
Yay. Sometimes less is more.
I’m considering having a week long break. Haven’t decided yet.
doubt you could survive without the attention for a whole week
@the sprout
Was that comment necessary?
That was trying to provoke a reaction from me.
What is trolling.
Nope he didn’t.
Ta.
The tax rate in oz on $180,000 is 31.2 cents in the dollar every dollar earned over $180,000 is taxed at 45c in the dollar.( so Key was being misleading and inaccurate)
The big difference between ozzie and nz tax rates is where the bulk of the wage earning population is $35,000AUD pays 8 cents in the dollar and no GST (grab, snatch and take ) on staple food items.In NZ they would be paying 19.3 cents in the dollar and GST on everything including Rates. An annual income of difference of $3955 or $76 per week.11.3% gross income more in the hand per week.
If you don’t have time to listen you shouldn’t be commenting KT You really are a lazy little twat aren’t you ?
It’s kind of repetitive linking to this graph… but when you take into account the full costs of social security in terms of PAYE tax, complusory employee and employer contributions (which a simply a form of indirect taxation)… then NZ is a very low tax country.
Only Mexico and South Korea are lower.
kiwiteen123 are you an auto-reply bot or mistaken the comments section for your twitter page?
A human. Am I not allowed to comment because you disagree with me?
Much as I support the right of freedom of speech and the desirability of robust debate Kiwiteen’s comments are driving me around the bend.
He asks people to prove things when he has no proof that what they are saying is not true. His comments remind me of discussions I had with others when I was aged 9.
He sabotages threads and this is either because he is really stupid or it is sophisticated sabotage.
Can he at least be put into moderation with a requirement that his comments are at least coherent?
[lprent: I’m starting to lean towards it. But even teenagers sometimes grow up…. ]
Just because I ask someone to prove something doesn’t mean I don’t think it is true.
I believe in a robust debate and find it good to have all angles represented by all people. Micky obviously does not.
I find Micky annoying. That does not mean he should be banned.
But KT you do not create a robust debate, you stifle it. You keep requiring people to prove what they are saying is right when you do not have the slightest shred of evidence that it is not right.
You read an argument, adopt a diametrically opposed position and then state it without the slightest shred of support for your position.
This is not “robust debate”, this is “really stupid”.
You should have some facts behind you before advancing a position.
Your last comment contradicts your first.
I believe in a debate where people present strong evidence on both sides.
Before deciding what side of a debate to take I look at the evidence. If there is not sufficient evidence, I ask for more.
Your last comment contradicts your first.
Er no it doesn’t.
Before deciding what side of a debate to take I look at the evidence. If there is not sufficient evidence, I ask for more.
No you don’t. If it is a left wing idea you dispute it without proof.
I am sure that back in the 15th century your ancestors refused to accept that the earth rotated around the sun.
I’m sure that back in the 1970’s you were a global-cooling alarmist.
You said “you should have some facts behind you before advancing a position”
You said “you keep requiring people to prove what they are saying is right”
You can’t have it both ways
I’m sure that back in the 1970’s you were a global-cooling alarmist.
Er no I wasn’t. Do you have any proof or do you form strong conclusions without proof. How do you know I was even born back in the 1970s?
You said “you should have some facts behind you before advancing a position’
Yep.
You said “you keep requiring people to prove what they are saying is right’ You can’t have it both ways
It is not both ways. You should have facts behind you before you advance a position. You should also have facts behind you before suggesting that others are not telling the truth. Both propositions are completely reconcilable.
It’s hypocritical to demand a standard of proof from others you aren’t willing to provide for your own position, Teeny. Put up or shut.up.
How do you know that my ancestors thought that the sun revolved around the earth.
You don’t.
“you should have some facts behind you before advancing a position’
I asked for some proof. That does not mean that I don’t believe 350ppm is lying.
How do you know that my ancestors thought that the sun revolved around the earth.
Wild stab in the dark. Bit like most of your comments.
I asked for some proof. That does not mean that I don’t believe 350ppm is lying.
No it means you are an idiot. You challenge points of view when you have no proof that the point of view is wrong.
This is a really important post and we have spent 80% of the comments debating your commenting style. Is this a success for you?
A) This is not an important post.
B) I did not start the debate.
C) So your “rules” apply to me but not you?
mickey
Since when have you supported the idea of free speech?
You were one of the EFA biggest cheerleaders.
free speech
You were always free to say whatever drivel you liked bb, it was just ‘paid speech’ that had some boundaries put around it.
But you know that….
Agreed Red!!
free speech was restricted.
Name me one example, just one, any one will do.
You read an argument, adopt a diametrically opposed position and then state it without the slightest shred of support for your position.
This is not “robust debate’, this is “really stupid’.
You should have some facts behind you before advancing a position.
I have read numerous things on EFA. and have made my decision.
You read an argument, adopt a diametrically opposed position and then state it without the slightest shred of support for your position.
This is not “robust debate’, this is “really stupid’.
You should present some facts before advancing a position.
Then we can have a debate.
That’s going to get annoying for everyone. Its also off-topic.
So you cannot name one single example where the EFA restricted ‘free speech’… can you?
BB, the EFA didn’t constrain free speech, it constrained very expensive speech.
Not that it was any good, but I’m just sayin’.
L
Agreed Lew!
Heh, and RL.
GMTA (or DMTTS).
L
Big bruv
You were one of the EFA biggest cheerleaders.
Sure was.
I am a strong supporter of free speech. The really expensive speech the EFA tried to regulate is a different case.
I prefer there is a level playing field rather than one tilted in favour of the wealthy and their supporters.
BTW what did the EFA stop anyone from saying?
Micky, stop stealing my brains.
L
Can you believe it – Kiwiteen hasn’t blogged for over an hour. Must have been bedtime.
Still up.
I just choose not to make silly comments on important posts.
[lprent: Incorrect. You tend to put comments on posts that you don’t understand. In this case the post was about a significant shift in the political columnists thinking from the sycophantic chorus last year. We’ve been watching these people since the site started. ]
Maybe the subject of the post could be discussed, then. Whaddya think?
I reckon the Big Tuesday speech was pretty underwhelming and that it hasn’t been a particularly good week for the government. You?
Bad week for the Government.
Spotty
Taking the sum total of your contribution to this site over the last wee while has left me with the the sickening feeling I imagine your poor mother endures every time she climbs into the bio-hazard suit required to transport your sheets from the bedroom to the washing machine. The level of intellectual firepower, the mind-numbing inanity, and try-hard failure at humour leads the sane person to the inevitable conclusion that the sole reason for your existence is to act as a life support system for a cluster of pimples.
With only your best interests at heart, can I suggest that you have chosen the wrong medium in which to strut about like Cock of the Week. You are are far more suited to something like IRC where thoughtless rapid fire responses are required to maintain your position, where little, if any, consideration is given to spelling or punctuation, where there are endless flame wars, and where your contribution is, unlike here, nowhere near as prominent as a big turd in a soup bowl. There you will find like minded creatures to support and encourage you, as well as provide the social needs you seem so much to be seeking.
After you’ve spent a few years there, maybe even after you’ve got an education – (don’t study economics, please; its too much like Scientology) feel free to return. If you must, drop in every now and then and make one or perhaps two thoughtful comments. By all means, maintain your weird little site and writhe in giggling amusement at our follies and ineptitude. Otherwise, please, just shut the fuck up.
haere rÄ
ROTFLMFAO
Is this “kiwiteen123” representative of the general intelligence of the Young Nat of today? John Key should be worried.
Na, more like representative of the general intelligence of Curia Blogging Corp ™
@Blip 1048
Hallelujah. Long overdue! I am sure that casual visitors to The Standard must be unimpressed that commenters pay attention to this tiresome child. ( The only positive for this site might be that it ups the “hits” every time the Teen comments.) It is a shame “it” cannot be dumped into permanent moderation. Perhaps if we ignore it, it might go away.
There are few enough people actually interested in politics in NZ at more than a merely casual (how does it affect me) level. My guesstimates are a max of 10k people in a population of 4 and bit million.
I hate to discourage anyone even the young. I suspect that the toleration level here is higher than elsewhere.
don’t want to labour a point. A casual visitor (e.g. person new to political blogs) can become a regular visitor and ultimately contributor if the quality of discussion is worth reading.
I know that coffee break discussions often get around to “blogs” and a common comment about two prominent right wing pages is that they cannot be bothered with the discussions because of the inane and foul contributions.
It’s becoming wearying to observe the Govt’s shambles mixed with shenanigans 🙁
As a right-winger, I found John Key completely out of his depth as Prime Minister. He’s nothing but a timid version of the socialist Helen Clark, whom at least had the courage to lead her party.
Key is lazy, aloof and detached from reality. He relies on spin doctors, P.R. machine and Farrar, his lackey and sycophantic blogger.
One year later Key has talked a lot and delivered bugger all.
well said Santi.
on Q+A this morning everything he said was smeared in a thick gobby layer of KY.
you just get the impression he’s lying through his teeth
Moderator
Can you bar this kiwiteen 123 troll? She’ll fail pols 101 if this keeps up.
Clearly her motivation is to derail any interesting debate on a relevant issue, Put her out of her misery so she can go back to facebook and deborah cone hill style lightweight fantasyland lolling.
[lprent: Have a look on OpenMike today. ]
Its taken a while, but does this mean Tracy hasn’t got a crush on John any more?