With a majority of votes counted it’s clear that Kris Fa’afoi is going to be the next Labour MP for Mana. We’re sure Kris will show his mettle in standing up for the people of Porirua and Mana in Parliament.
All the best Kris. Show those Nats what you’re made of.
Electorate Number: 21
Final: Yes
Polling Places Counted: 44 of 44 (100.0%)
Votes Counted: 22,387
Less than 6 votes taken in Polling Places: 0
Special Votes: 1,352
Leading Candidate: FAAFOI, Kris (LAB)
Majority: 1,080
National gained as a percentage but low turn out. ~65% of the people who voted in the general election and it’s usually the left that don’t get out to vote.
1080 is quite appropriate. Hugely toxic result for Labour and seat warmer Kris.
This was declared by Phil Goff as a referendum on the government and the people have well and truly spoken.
Congratulations to Kris and Hekia. Tonights two big winners
Hardly toxic for Labour, Goff or Kris. This is a Labour win regardless of any other spin. Key’s toxic reputation as the man who sold NZ to Warner Bros, who is always relaxed when he discovers his Cabinet Ministers rorting the system, who appears in NZ from his home in Hawaii on occasions that get him a photograph as he smiles, waves, scuttles and runs to escape any hard work is beginning to tell on NZ voters.
Wait until the truth about the depth of the Wong rorts comes into the public and then watch for a referendum on the corruption that is this NACT government.
Talk about pathetic. Oh yes the Mana voters in what is generally a very pro-left/Labour seat absolutely rejected the Key government. You’re dreaming and I’m so sick of both the left and right that get excited over every political scandal who really believe that makes a real shift in the polls. It rarely does.
And that post is typical of the divide between some people on the left and the rest of New Zealand. Its the same fucking denial half of the political right had in regards to Helen Clark.
GC says “Its the same fucking denial …. ” And I say “rubbish”. It’s quite clear that this government has no policy but to repeat the past. And the major problems ahead, economic and ecological, require courage and vision. The situation is truly scary and nothing like the Clark years.
The party will have to throw everything in behind him now. He’s a first-time MP in opposition in what must now be seen as a reasonably marginal seat, with no more than 12 months (possibly as little as six) to persuade people to vote for him again. Tough ask, and should light a fire under the Labour party.
As for Matt McCarten getting beat by Jan Logie: this will be spun as the end of the left, but that simply misunderestimates the campaign strategy, which was: put up lots and lots of billboards with McCarten’s face and the words “$15 minimum wage” and raise a big media stink. Achieved.
Another reason for why he needs to work hard: if the party vote in electorates in Mana (2008, tonight) remains close, national wins and forms the government. We need to win electorates like this by more than 6% in order to win overall.
Raise Matt’s profile and the profile of the Unite campaign. It worked. He got on the nightly news and the papers a bunch of times. The tone may have been “crazy old Matt, pulling stunts again”, but that don’t matter. The words “$15 minimum wage” all over that reporting aren’t pitched at the press gallery and commentariat.
(Should be noted that I have nothing to do with the campaign, and don’t actually know what the point was as a matter of strategy — this is just my read on it as someone who cares a lot about this sort of thing.)
The result came in just after 8.30pm but there are still 1352 special votes to be counted meaning it could be 10 days before Faafoi is assured of a seat in Parliament.
It’s a safe Labour seat, so National did really well. Just as in Mt Albert, the Labour win was a foregone conclusion, yet such fluster and panic. Labour could have red ribboned a donkey, and it still would have romped home.
Well done Kris, and well done National, still a good result.
He leaves the West Coast so he can turn up at Hekia Parata’s party, and says –
“It’s a very serious situation, and really our hearts are with those miners’ families tonight, notwithstanding the celebrations that are taking place in the National camp.”
Does he have any idea how fucking stupid that sounds?
I expect him to shut the fuck up about those miners if he can’t bear to mention them without reference to party politics.
ps (while you’ve got your dictionary handy) in future, when discussing the clumsy use of language by smug idiots in a patronising tone at a later date, you might want to look up “redundant” at some subsequent time.
If Fa’afoi wins the election after the specials, perhaps he could shift his electorate office to Cannons Creek. Because, overall, the rest of the electorate wanted Hekia Parata as their MP.
In other news my breakfast this morning would be nothing but a healthy glass of juice if I weren’t about to fry a pile of eggs and roe, Paul Holmes would be an awesome tv presenter if he didn’t talk absolute bullshit 99% of the time, and Coldplay are just brilliant apart from the music, the lyrics, and the posturing tit.
Goff will resign the day after next years election – And after an interval just long enough to satisfy decency, will quietly take up a seat on the board of directors, of some, or the other, very prestigious company.
Wille Laban was a very popular local MP, the turnout was low, events on the West Coast ovvershadowed the voting, and the media did it’s absolute best to jack up a “shock” result by portraying Fa’afoi as the principle carpetbagger and undeserving “parachute” candidate. Given all that, it seems to me the Labour campaign had to be a safety first one designed to limit the chance of an error that would have given the right wing media an opening to launch an all out attack on Fa’afoi. All in all, a tricky shoal safely navigated by Labour. One would assume come the general election Kris Fa’afoi will substantially increase this majority.
Having said all that, Labour probably could have done a bit better – Connor Roberts should be put in charge of Labour’s 2011 election campaign, the Wellington Labour “establishment” is clearly lacking the dynamism and organisational nous of the Auckland Labour party machine.
To my mind, McCarten’s contrarian egocentricism achieved nothing other than to dilute the anti-government message and make the left look weak. Pretty much par for the course for him. Politically, he was a loser in the Alliance and politically he is still a loser now. He does great stuff in the Unite union, he should stick to that.
While Conor is very good, the architect of Mayor Brown’s win was Andrew Beyer (see: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4362045/Rush-of-early-votes-in-Mana)
Andrew was a key player in the Mana campaign as you’d expect.
Also when you dismiss the “Wellington Labour “establishment”” you should be careful not to inadvertantly include some of the Wellingtonians who have proven themselves on this campaign.
This was Chris Flatt’s first campaign as general secretary of Labour and he showed himself to be a tireless on the ground campaigner. Shane Laulu, the campaign manager, is a porirua Labour stalwart and proved himself to be good enough for election in his own right – one to watch in the 2013 local elections perhaps? And Fa’afoi’s campaign press secretary Deborah Mahuta was seriously classy. Ran a brilliant operation. Credit where credit is due, eh?
Hekia effectively had a campaign office in the electorate for 2 years yet her vote FELL. This is a good result for Kris (and Shane, Chris and Deborah).
From the Greens perspective we are really happy with the result
In the last week of the campaign we were getting a lot of feedback that potential voters of ours were switching to Kris because of the worry about the Nats getting in.
This result would have been 10% party vote in a General Election. We are now very well placed in Mana for next year with an excellent well respected candidate in Jan Logie
Actually Lew, if more of the electorate – say 85-90% – had have voted, we would have got a more accurate picture of whom the electorate wanted. And that’s always my preference, I’m wondering why those who didn’t vote stayed at home, and wondering how many who did vote voted for the party the candidate was aligned to rather than the person who they wanted to represent them
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Minister of Finance Grant Robertson has clarified that the changes to the wage subsidy scheme announced yesterday mean that employers should be passing on the full subsidy to workers, except in the case where the person’s normal income is less than the level of the subsidy. “We still want employers ...
Medical face masks from the national reserve supply are now being distributed to District Health Boards, while at the same time local production is being ramped up. Yesterday more than 640,000 masks were sent to DHBS – that is an immediate two week supply, with more to follow in coming ...
The Government has made modifications to the wage subsidy scheme to ensure people don’t lose their jobs during the national lockdown. These changes will soften the impact of COVID-19 on workers, families and businesses, and position them to exit the lockdown and look to recovery, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. ...
Farmers whose herds were culled in response to the outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis will be able to minimise the tax treatment of their income in some circumstances. Revenue Minister Stuart Nash says Cabinet has agreed to change the law. It means farmers may be eligible to spread their income over ...
A $27 million dollar package, effective immediately, is being provided to social sector services and community groups to ensure they can continue to provide essential support to communities as we stay at home as a nation to stop the spread of COVID-19, Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni announced. “At ...
“The guilty plea today will provide some relief to the many people whose lives were shattered by what happened on March 15,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. “These guilty pleas and conviction bring accountability for what happened and also save the families who lost loved ones, those who were injured, ...
The Prime Minister is holding daily press conferences to update New Zealanders on the Government's response to COVID-19. Links to videos and transcripts of these updates below. These transcripts also include All of Government press conferences led by Director Ministry of Health's Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. 25 March: Live update from the Prime ...
Frontline Police numbers have broken through the 10,000 mark for the first time in history as officers step forward to keep the community safe during the COVID19 lockdown. “Two Police graduations in Auckland and Wellington in the past week have been conducted in unprecedented circumstances,” Police Minister Stuart Nash said. ...
Urgent legislation has been passed to support the package of economic and social measures needed to recover from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. “The COVID-19 Response (Taxation and Social Assistance Urgent Measures) Bill will cushion New Zealanders from the worst economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Revenue Minister ...
From tomorrow, Government support for farmers and growers affected by drought will be expanded and extended across the country, with access to Rural Assistance Payments (RAPS) available throughout the North Island, parts of the South Island and the Chatham Islands, Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced. “These challenging conditions have ...
Parliament has passed amendments to legislation that give the Secretary of Education stronger powers to act in the fight to limit the spread of COVID-19, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “They are part of a suite of changes passed under the COVID-19 Response (Urgent Management Measures) Legislation Bill,” Chris ...
Canada, Australia, Chile, Brunei and Myanmar have joined forces with New Zealand and Singapore by committing to keep supply chains open and remove any existing trade restrictive measures on essential goods, especially medical supplies, in the face of the Covid-19 crisis. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker today welcomed ...
Immediate freeze on rent increases Tenancies will not be terminated during the lock-down period, unless the parties agree, or in limited circumstances Tenants who had previously given notice can stay in their if they need to stay in the tenancy during the lock-down period Tenants will still be able to ...
As New Zealand unites to lock-down in the fight against COVID-19, the Finance Minister is urging all businesses and workers to stay connected over the next four weeks. “We understand the extreme pressure many businesses are under right now. I know most business owners think of their workers as family ...
A State of National Emergency has been declared across the country as the Government pulls out all the stops to curtail the spread of COVID-19. “Today we put in place our country’s second ever State of National Emergency as we fight a global pandemic, save New Zealanders’ lives and prevent ...
Mr Speaker I wish to make a Ministerial Statement under Standing Order 347 in relation to the recent declaration of a State of National Emergency. Having considered the advice of the Director Civil Defence Emergency Management, the Minister of Civil Defence declared a State of National Emergency for the whole of ...
People needing to travel on domestic flights, trains and Cook Strait ferries to get home before the country moves into level 4 lock-down tomorrow night will be able to continue using the passenger services until midnight on Friday, Transport Minister Phil Twyford said today. Domestic passenger services, particularly ferries, have ...
The Government, retail banks and the Reserve Bank are today announcing a major financial support package for home owners and businesses affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19. The package will include a six month principal and interest payment holiday for mortgage holders and SME customers whose incomes have been ...
Minister of Transport Phil Twyford has today announced details of the Government’s support package to keep key air freight moving and ensure New Zealanders retain access to essential goods during the four-week level 4 lockdown. “The Government is working with airlines and air freight operators to ensure New Zealand’s key ...
New Zealand moved up to COVID-19 Alert Level 3 – Restrict New Zealand to move up to COVID-19 Alert Level 4 – Eliminate, in 48 hours Two-staged approach to give people and businesses time to prepare Level 3, from tomorrow Non-essential businesses must close All events and gatherings must be ...
Good afternoon The Cabinet met this morning to discuss our next actions in the fight against COVID-19. Like the rest of the world, we are facing the potential for devastating impacts from this virus. But, through decisive action, and through working together, do we have a small window to get ...
The Government is announcing significant further support for the economy, workers and businesses as the country unites to prepare for Alert Level 4 in the fight against COVID-19. Cabinet today agreed to remove the cap on the Government’s wage subsidy scheme, which will inject a further $4 billion into the ...
The Government is backing the Reserve Bank’s latest action to support the economy by reducing longer-term interest rates, meaning lower costs for businesses and mortgage holders, and a lower currency to help our exporters. The Minister of Finance has signed a memorandum of understanding and a letter of indemnity with ...
The Government has asked the Commerce Commission to take account of the exceptional circumstances created by COVID-19 when monitoring business behaviour in coming weeks. “The purpose of my request to the Commerce Commission is to make sure businesses can work together in ways that will allow them to provide ...
The New Zealand Government has temporarily closed its High Commission in Bridgetown, Barbados and its Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Due to the increasing scarcity of air links in and out of Bridgetown and Yangon, and the pressure COVID-19 is placing ...
Associate Health and Whānau Ora Minister Peeni Henare has today announced the Government’s plan to support Māori communities and businesses in the face of COVID-19. “Our Government’s $12.1 billion economic package will help many Māori whānau, workers and businesses, whether it’s through wage subsidies, income support and worker redeployment, or ...
The Government and the hospitality industry have worked together to produce guidelines to assist with managing and reducing transmission of COVID-19, Health Minister David Clark announced today. The guidelines developed between the Government, Hospitality New Zealand and SkyCity Entertainment Group, set out how the new restrictions on physical distancing and ...
Four stage Alert System for COVID-19 announced New Zealand moved up to COVID-19 Alert Level 2 – Reduce Contact New Zealanders over 70 and those with certain medical conditions told to stay at home as much as they can to reduce risk of contact with the virus Workplaces to implement ...
Kia ora koutou katoa I’m speaking directly to all New Zealanders today to give you as much certainty and clarity as we can as we fight Covid-19. Over the past few weeks, the world has changed. And it has changed very quickly. In February it would have seemed unimaginable to ...
New Zealand and Singapore have jointly committed to keep supply chains open and to remove any existing trade restrictive measures on essential goods, especially medical supplies, in the face of the Covid-19 crisis. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker welcomed the commitment. “This is an important collective response, and ...
JOINT MINISTERIAL STATEMENT BY SINGAPORE AND NEW ZEALAND AFFIRMING COMMITMENT TO ENSURING SUPPLY CHAIN CONNECTIVITY AMIDST THE COVID-19 SITUATION The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious global crisis. As part of our collective response to combat COVID-19, Singapore and New Zealand are committed to maintaining open and connected supply chains. We ...
Travel restrictions, closing our border to almost all travelers came into force from 23:59 on Thursday 19 March 2020 (NZDT). All airlines were informed of these restrictions before they came into force. Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says “The transit of passengers between Australia and New Zealand has been agreed upon and ...
The Government has allocated $100 million to help redeploy workers affected by the economic impact of COVID-19, with the hard-hit region of Gisborne-Tairāwhiti to be the first helped, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford, Forestry and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Employment Minister Willie Jackson announced today. Phil Twyford ...
The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is ramping up support for Tairāwhiti’s wood processing sector to bolster the region’s economy at a time of heightened uncertainty, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. Following earlier announcements today of a regional support package for Tairāwhiti, Minister Jones has also announced a ...
The Coalition Government has stepped in to protect Air New Zealand with a significant financial deal that protects essential routes and allows the company to keep operating. The Government and Air New Zealand have agreed a debt funding agreement through commercial 24-month loan facilities of up to $900 million*. The ...
The Government has taken further measures to protect New Zealanders from the COVID-19 virus, effectively stopping all people from boarding a plane to New Zealand from 11:59pm today, except for returning New Zealanders, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. New Zealanders’ partners, legal guardians or any dependent children travelling with ...
The Government has reinforced its commitment to protecting the health of New Zealanders from COVID-19 through the cancellation of indoor events with more than 100 people. “Protecting the health of New Zealanders is our number one priority, and that means we need to reduce the risks associated with large gatherings,” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Omar Mubin, Senior Lecturer in human-centred computing & human-computer interaction, Western Sydney University The Australian government has launched an app offering up-to-date advice and information on the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coronavirus Australia app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Omar Mubin, Senior Lecturer in human-centred computing & human-computer interaction, Western Sydney University The Australian government has launched an app offering up-to-date advice and information on the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coronavirus Australia app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, ...
The Prime Minister has praised Australia's move to make some Kiwis eligible for its wage subsidy scheme, which Australia's PM says is "more generous" than New Zealand's one. ...
Russia Today (sometimes referred to as Kremlin TV) does not have a widespread reputation as a fair and balanced news source. But occasionally if they say it’s raining, you might want to check outside to see if you need an umbrella.So there is some interest in its reporting of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Holly Thorpe, Professor in Sociology of Sport and Physical Culture, University of Waikato During New Zealand’s four-week lockdown, all sporting facilities, back-country walking trails and parks are closed to stop the spread of coronavirus and avoid injuries. But New Zealanders have high ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Hamilton, Visiting Scholar, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The A$130 billion payment will be benefit six million of Australia’s 13 million employees through their employers. It will ensure each employee kept on in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The secret sauce in the government’s A$130 billion JobKeeper payment is that it will be retrospective, in the best possible way. It’ll not only go to employers who have suffered ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michaela Pascoe, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Exercise and Mental Health, Victoria University Medicare-subsidised psychology and psychiatry sessions, as well as GP visits, can now take place via phone and video calls – if clinicians agree not to charge patients out-of-pocket costs for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Sedger, Senior Lecturer, Head of the Viruses and Cytokine Biology group in the School of Life Science, University of Technology Sydney While many scientists are working on developing a coronavirus vaccine, others are busy testing antiviral drugs. Vaccines are generally only ...
Alex Casey delivers her last power rankings for The Bachelorette NZ, where Lily and Lesina make their final decisions. Click here for previous instalments. Well me homies, we have reached the end of our journey together. At times it was slow, like a food tech teacher dragging his brogues through the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Morrison government will provide a flat $1,500 a fortnight JobKeeper payment per employee for businesses to retain or rehire nearly six million workers, in a massive $130 billion six-month wage subsidy scheme to limit ...
David Downs - who doesn't even drink coffee - explains his plan to ensure some favorite cafés are still around when we emerge from lockdown Are you already sick of instant coffee, and missing your morning brew? Well, while you may have to suffer barrista-withdrawal symptoms for few more weeks, moves ...
By RNZ News The Auckland girl’s secondary school Marist College has New Zealand’s biggest Covid-19 cluster with 47 confirmed and probable cases. It is the biggest cluster of infection being tracked by NZ health authorities. The board chairperson Stephen Dallow said the confirmed cases included teachers, students and adults ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Irving, Adjunct Professor, University of Technology Sydney Blood is like milk, not toilet paper. You can’t just buy a lot of it and save it for later – you need to have a regular, fresh supply for patients who need it. ...
Newsroom Pro’s Bernard Hickey and Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr zoom out to lunch to talk about the Reserve Bank’s latest move to help banks lend to corporates. The Reserve Bank announced on Monday it would lend to banks dealing with distressed corporate borrowers, opening a new weekly Open ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacinta Carroll, Senior Research Fellow, Counter Terrorism and Social Cohesion, National Security College, Australian National University There are now nearly 300 cases of COVID-19 linked to passengers who disembarked from the Ruby Princess cruise ship without any health checks from authorities. Amid ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emily Brayshaw, Lecturer, Fashion and Design History, Theory, and Thinking, University of Technology Sydney Once again, global crafting communities are stepping up to help in a crisis, sewing face masks desperately needed in American hospitals to help stop the spread of COVID-19. ...
Retailer Smiths City has reached an agreement with ASB Bank to delay a $1.5 million dollar repayment of a loan due tomorrow. It also said it is starting talks with potential investors to support the business. The company said Covid-19 has caused an unforeseen and unprecedented shock to the business, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Quentin Grafton, Director of the Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University In 1997, a bestselling book by Jared Diamond purported to explain how the West “won” world dominance based on the good luck ...
Figures from around the world show that Covid-19, while vicious and contagious, does behave like other infections, rampaging quickly through a community, hospitalising a small percentage and causing death in an even smaller percentage. The World Health ...
Video of PM Ardern’s Post Cabinet Press Conference is available here: New Zealand Labour Party - #LIVE: Post-Cabinet Press Conference 2 March 2020 Today Cabinet was focused on the response to protect NZers from COVID-19. Ardern outlined ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin To get a correct picture, we need regional data – indeed sub-regional statistics – because the virus does not respect political boundaries. Unfortunately, it is very hard to get regional data from European countries. The Johns Hopkins data – most widely used by the media (and ...
An extract from Jacinda Ardern: A New Kind of Leader, the brand new biography of the prime minister by Madeleine Chapman, formerly of this parish.Out today, Madeleine’s biography of the prime minister is magnificent. We cracked up. We had a wee cry. We’ve never read a political biography like it. Tomorrow ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Misha Ketchell, Editor & Executive Director, The Conversation You might have seen recent mediareports in various outlets of a paper, commissioned by the federal government, reporting the coronavirus advice of a group of experts from Group Of Eight universities. Dated March ...
Analysis: On the face of it, New Zealand's epidemic curve is going exponential. But are case numbers really rising for the same reasons as overseas? If you've been following any news about Covid-19 over the past three months, you've heard of The Curve. It looks, variously, like a sky-high pillar ...
MediaRoom column: A decision to block publication of community newspapers under the State of Emergency could be changed tomorrow. Tim Murphy reports. A decision to stop community newspapers from circulating in the country's suburbs, towns and settlements appears to have been an example of officials scratching their regulatory itch. On Friday, ...
A Waikato berry grower has been ordered to pay over $76,000 for employment law breaches. Olde Berry Farm has been fined $50,000 and forced to pay over $16,000 in unpaid wages and holiday pay. Its managing director, Andrew Molly, has been made personally responsible fo an additional $10,000 in penalties. ...
The Government has set up a dedicated service for reporting fears of price gouging, as Jacinda Ardern flags the expansion of "essential services" Kiwis concerned about potential price gouging at supermarkets during the coronavirus lockdown can now report the issue directly to government officials, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced. Ardern ...
A new report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment into the ban on new petroleum exploration permits outside onshore Taranaki has been welcomed by the Petroleum Exploration and Production Association of New Zealand (PEPANZ). "This ...
The takeover offer for Abano Healthcare is off the table - a casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic. The company said the $150-million takeover scheme agreement with Adams NZ Bidco Ltd. was terminated, with no fees payable by either party, as a result as the material adverse change to the company's ...
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) contribution to the successful mission to train members of the Iraqi Security Forces to combat ISIS is at an end and the first troops from the final contingent have arrived home. Since December the NZDF has had 45 personnel ...
On Sunday it was reported there is a high demand for New Zealand Police's online form to report lockdown breaches. This news should act as a red flag, signalling the potentially corrosive effects on public trust within Aotearoa that may occur in these troubled times. Concerns have already been expressed ...
The Prime Minister is giving the latest updates on the government's fight against the impact of Covid-19 at her weekly post-Cabinet media conference. Watch live here. ...
Watch the replay of our fourth live Q&A session with Dr Ayesha Verrall, a senior lecturer at Otago University who specialises in infectious diseases. Ayesha Verrall is an infectious diseases physician and senior lecturer at Otago University's Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine (Wellington). Dr Verrall has been monitoring the spread and impact ...
Recognising how much of the burden women are carrying in this crisis - and how much they always carry - may take us closer to a society in which caring work is seen and valued for the essential work it is, writes Jess Berentson-Shaw COVID-19 has thrown a window wide ...
You’ve lost your job and your income has reduced due to the Covid-19 crisis, so how do you hold onto your home? Mortgage adviser Cameron Marcroft talks to Bonnie Sumner.Tell us about the changes you’ve seen since the lockdown began. We’ve had many enquiries coming through from both existing ...
When officials – including police themselves – don’t seem clear on the rules around movement, it makes it harder for everyone to do the right thing, writes Andrew Geddis.Aotearoa New Zealand has committed to trying to eradicate the virus that causes Covid-19 from its shores. To do that, as a ...
The EMA is urging the Government to postpone the planned significant increase to the minimum wage on Wednesday, as employers grapple with keeping their doors open amid COVID-19. Chief Executive Brett O’Riley says that while it may be politically ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Wark, Conjoint Professor, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle As the number of COVID-19 cases around the world continues to climb, hospitals are under increased pressure to provide emergency care for the most severely ill patients. What does ...
Philanthropy New Zealand will release a weekly update to share philanthropic and grantmaking activity and insight as the sector seeks to support communities in the wake of COVID-19. This update is a general public document, provided to Ministers, ...
By Elias Nanau in Port Moresby Indonesia has issued a stern warning over illegal border crossers from Papua New Guinea. This follows Indonesia stepping up its security measures at the border in response to the global Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. The First Secretary to the governor for West Sepik, Adam ...
As two staff members test positive for Covid-19, police are grappling with ways to keep their workforce safe while still enforcing the rules of the lockdown, Marc Daalder reports Two police staff have tested positive for Covid-19, Police Commissioner Mike Bush said Monday, while nearly 400 others are now in self-isolation ...
The Covid-19 crisis in media has claimed New Zealand’s last surviving radio station solely dedicated to sport. Amid a wider crisis in media funding right now, the first outlet has been forced to close the doors – and it isn’t likely to return.Staff at Radio Sport have been told that the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Coates, Program Director, Household Finances, Grattan Institute New Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development estimates paint a grim picture of the direct economic costs of public health measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, and the need for more government support ...
Tips on how television can help educate your kids, for parents who have to keep working.It feels as if a great many parents are simply flourishing during this lockdown with fairy gardens, bird song and mason jars, daily bongo drum dancing and essays written by three-year-old prodigies about how satisfying ...
How is Covid-19 spreading within the country? Newsroom is collating information as it's available to paint a picture of what's happening. There were 76 new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand, up from the previous day's 63 new cases. Details of how many tests have been completed are now being ...
Supermarkets and some publishers are favoured by the government’s imposition of severe restrictions on what we can do and from whom we can buy during the Covid-19 lock-down. But one consumer watchdog is challenging the legality of an edict by Commerce Minister Kris Faafoi which favours supermarkets while Act leader ...
Robyn Hunt writes on the challenges facing disabled people and what needs to be done to support them as we go into lockdown, and beyond.Disabled people at higher risk need more help. Many of the almost one quarter of New Zealanders who are disabled are doing it hard as the ...
An online focus is coming back to bite newspaper companies, the Otago Daily Times’ editor says. David Williams reports. Despite advertising falling off a cliff, and its community papers dormant, the group editor of the country’s third-biggest publisher says there haven’t been layoffs and it’s unlikely any of its newspapers ...
Cabinet ministers will patch into a video conference this afternoon to discuss the Covid-19 lockdown, including complaints about high prices at supermarkets. ...
Talks will be ongoing between local leaders and Government in an effort to have them deploy both personnel and other resources to Tairāwhiti to support regional measures to contain COVID-19. Mayor Rehette Stoltz, Gisborne District Council ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union is joining calls for the Government to extend submission deadlines for Select Committees during the immediate fallout of the COVID-19 crisis. New Zealand Taxpayers' Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, "Old political ...
FIRST Union welcomes the announcements made by supermarket chains Foodstuffs and Progressive Enterprises that workers will receive lockdown pay increases but is cautioning that the details of these promises matter and all essential workers should be earning ...
By Imelda V. Abano in Manila The novel coronavirus now sweeping the globe has left many countries struggling to cope with rising numbers of infections and journalists grappling with how to best cover this evolving public health crisis. In addition to questions about how governments, health care systems and ...
The government has fast-tracked up to $1 million to help Air New Zealand move urgent freight in and out of the country - with the first flight to Shanghai leaving tonight. ...
Join Leonie Hayden as she works through the first four weeks of Scotty Morrison’s Māori Made Easy.Kia ora e te whānau, welcome to MME with me! I know a lot of us have this little green book on our shelves. Maybe you bought it and never got round to opening ...
The Free Speech Coalition is preparing to launch an urgent judicial review of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage’s decision to deem non-daily newspapers and publications not an essential service for the purposes of the COVID-19 Level-4 nationwide shutdown. ...
Increasingly concerned home support workers are worried that without adequate personal protective equipment and mandatory protocols for risk assessments, they may end up spreading COVID-19 around the homes and communities they work in. The news that 21 ...
The kiwifruit industry is fighting for survival as it tries to pick and pack the season's crop while enforcing Covid-19 restrictions. The apple industry is also predicting problems with at least 10 percent of the crop not likely to be picked. The nationwide lockdown has come right in the middle ...
The Reserve Bank is ramping up support for businesses and banks by accepting corporate debt and other assets as security for loans to banks. The latest measure is designed to pump more money into the economy through the banking system. Assistant governor Christian Hawkesby said the aim is to encourage ...
The first days of national lockdown have truly brought out the best in our social media stars. Alex Casey counts down the classics. Yesterday I got served with the Instagram notification that normally only pops up around Christmas-time. “You’re all caught up!” it chirps, “you’ve seen every post from the last ...
In our new series The Lockdown Letters, some of New Zealand’s best writers tell us what they’ve been up to in the days of Covid-19 alert level four. Today, writer and doctor Glenn Colquhoun goes full epistolary, with a letter to Hone Tūwhare – and his Travelling Band of Constant Companions.Kia ...
By John Gerritsen of RNZ News The $5 billion foreign student industry is facing a massive downturn with as many as half of this year’s enrolments now in doubt. Immigration New Zealand figures show that of 76,203 valid study visas at 15 March, 60,348 were in New Zealand, and ...
As New Zealand looks toward an uncertain future in all areas of life, Auckland school principal Claire Amos sees an opportunity to change high school education for the better. The last week has been an interesting one for school leaders. Monday arrived, it was all on – schools were closing the ...
The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Morning Report, she’s expecting the country to be restricted to visitors for some time after the lockdown period ends. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University 2019 was the year Australians confronted the fact that a healthy environment is more than just a pretty waterfall in a national park; a nice ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yale Z Wong, Research Associate, Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, University of Sydney ZMinimising health risks has rightly been the focus of discussion during the coronavirus outbreak. This includes efforts to protect both frontline public transport employees and the travelling public. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tyler Riordan, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Along with home delivery of groceries, pharmaceuticals and alcohol, demand for food delivery is booming. Services such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo have become essential to cafes and restaurants that can now only sell ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nishanathe Dahanayake, PhD Candidate, Ethics/Philosophy, University of New England The coronavirus pandemic is challenging our health, work, family, food and fun. It’s also disturbing our peace of mind and forcing us to question our own existence. We are each asking our own ...
ASB sees 6 percent GDP fall in 2020; Chorus, King Salmon and Stride reassure their profits are still on track; Augusta withdraws fund on rent relief fears; US stocks slide again; US jobs data looms ...
Congratulations Kris 
by Phil Duncan For Marxists, a key concern about social trends is their context – not just their causes, but why they happen when they do. Events and phenomena have causes, but they also are time or period-specific. While much of the left have capitulated recently to postmodernism, most notably ...7 hours ago
Since the lockdown began, we've all suddenly been reminded who the actually essential workers in our society are: not the people at the top who pay themselves the big bucks and rort the perks, but the people at the bottom they screw over and squeeze: cleaners, warehouse staff, truck drivers ...8 hours ago
Kia ora! As I've watched nearly all my remaining work vanish over the past couple of days, it has occured to me that one good way to keep me away from arguing with fools on Twitter all the time (in the knowledge that all we're really doing is processing our ...9 hours ago
Aotearoa New Zealand has committed to trying to extirpate the virus that causes COVID-19 from its shores. To do that, as a society we’ve moved to “Level 4”. That means adapting to unprecedented restrictions on our personal freedoms, particularly to our rights to move freely and associate with friends and ...10 hours ago
. . Lock Down: Day 4 – A photo essay with observations . March 29: Usual wake up routine as RNZ snaps on my radio-clock. Jim Mora’s voice slowly enters my conciousness; there’s talk of a second wave of covid19 taking hold in South Korea; the week in Parliament – ...12 hours ago
Yesterday, New Zealand recorded its first Covid-19 related death on the West Coast. Unfortunately this is unlikely to be the only fatality, with the virus now being found in every region of the country.However despite the significant danger, people are still unfortunately breaching lockdown rules.There’s really only one main very ...12 hours ago
The kids did surprisingly well today – meltdown count was about 3, and mostly fairly short ones. (And a fourth while I was writing.) Game-wise I had a go at Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark. It’s a fairly standard RPG with turn-based combat and what they call a “mature storyline” (it ...1 day ago
by Don Franks Hi David, Nice hearing from you, I’m glad to hear you’re getting by okay in these grim times. You asked how’s it going for us back here in New Zealand. You would have heard that the whole country is locked down and with breaks for exercise and ...1 day ago
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week, i.e., Sun, Mar 22, 2020 through Sat, Mar 28, 2020 Articles Linked to on Facebook Sun, Mar 22, 2020 In Just 10 Years, Warming Has Increased the Odds of Disasters by Chelsea Harvey, ...2 days ago
The CV-19 (COVID) pandemic has seen the imposition of a government ordered national quarantine and the promulgation of a series of measures designed to spread the burden of pain and soften the economic blow on the most strategically important and most vulnerable sectors of society. The national narrative is framed ...2 days ago
Fortune's Children: Under extraordinary pressure, the leader of the Government and the leader of the Opposition will each show us what they are made of. Have they been blessed with intelligence, grace, wit, poise, toughness, empathy and humour – and in what measure? More importantly, to what extent have they ...3 days ago
Society-wise, aside from the specific morbidity shall we say of the medically-oriented aspects of this COVID-19 crisis, what is unfolding before the world is in more than one way an instructive study of humanity and reactions to a high intensity, high stress environment in real time. Friends, we are at ...3 days ago
Right now low waged and insecure workers are feeling the economic brunt of the looming #Covid19 Recession. In response legal advocate Toby Cooper* and hospitality and worker’s rights advocate Chloe Ann-King, are putting together a series of legal blogs about your employment rights: In this legal blog we outline some ...3 days ago
Just before midnight on Wednesday March 25, Aotearoa New Zealand entered a countrywide alert level four lockdown. For at least the next four weeks, everyone who isn’t an essential worker is confined to their bubble. We are doing this to stop the explosive growth in people contracting and dying from ...3 days ago
Kia ora my name is Chloe Ann-King* and I am the founder of Raise the Bar, a campaign and non-profit that gives free legal aid, advocacy and tautoko to hospitality workers in Aotearoa. Right now all over our country hospo workers are being fired at will, having shifts cut or being ...5 days ago
According to Newshub, Simon Bridges is open to joining a “grand coalition” with Labour as we hunker down to go into a month long lockdown. The idea is sound. Before now, the role of the opposition was to scrutinise and oppose. In the context of what almost amounts to a ...1 week ago
Kia ora my name is Chloe Ann-King* and I am the founder of Raise the Bar, a campaign and non-profit that gives free legal aid, advocacy and tautoko to hospitality workers in Aotearoa. Right now all over our country hospo workers are being fired at will, having shifts cut or ...1 week ago
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Obviously not enough people out voting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mana_(New_Zealand_electorate)
Labour 46%
Greens 7%
Matt 4%
National 42%
2k8
Lab 53%
Green 7%
National 35%
National gained as a percentage but low turn out. ~65% of the people who voted in the general election and it’s usually the left that don’t get out to vote.
1080 is quite appropriate. Hugely toxic result for Labour and seat warmer Kris.
This was declared by Phil Goff as a referendum on the government and the people have well and truly spoken.
Congratulations to Kris and Hekia. Tonights two big winners
But Key is glowing in the polls, Labour can’t get any traction on him at all, or barely. Key has the X Factor for some reason, the people LURVE him.
you love him. he gives you a funny feeling and you’re not quite sure what to make of it. eh tanz?
for what’s worth – national is polling below what labour was this time in the first term.
Wonder how Parata will do once they announce whose houses will be bulldozed for the expressway…
Hardly toxic for Labour, Goff or Kris. This is a Labour win regardless of any other spin. Key’s toxic reputation as the man who sold NZ to Warner Bros, who is always relaxed when he discovers his Cabinet Ministers rorting the system, who appears in NZ from his home in Hawaii on occasions that get him a photograph as he smiles, waves, scuttles and runs to escape any hard work is beginning to tell on NZ voters.
Wait until the truth about the depth of the Wong rorts comes into the public and then watch for a referendum on the corruption that is this NACT government.
Talk about pathetic. Oh yes the Mana voters in what is generally a very pro-left/Labour seat absolutely rejected the Key government. You’re dreaming and I’m so sick of both the left and right that get excited over every political scandal who really believe that makes a real shift in the polls. It rarely does.
And that post is typical of the divide between some people on the left and the rest of New Zealand. Its the same fucking denial half of the political right had in regards to Helen Clark.
GC says “Its the same fucking denial …. ” And I say “rubbish”. It’s quite clear that this government has no policy but to repeat the past. And the major problems ahead, economic and ecological, require courage and vision. The situation is truly scary and nothing like the Clark years.
maybe the parachuted lier did not lie good enuf to get the necessaty extra votes.
The party will have to throw everything in behind him now. He’s a first-time MP in opposition in what must now be seen as a reasonably marginal seat, with no more than 12 months (possibly as little as six) to persuade people to vote for him again. Tough ask, and should light a fire under the Labour party.
As for Matt McCarten getting beat by Jan Logie: this will be spun as the end of the left, but that simply misunderestimates the campaign strategy, which was: put up lots and lots of billboards with McCarten’s face and the words “$15 minimum wage” and raise a big media stink. Achieved.
L
Absolutely right on McCarten, Lew. He used the by-election to achieve his aims, and well done to him.
Labour will be disappointed with the result, but should be nonetheless pleased Kris won. Now it’s up to Kris to show he’s got the right stuff.
Another reason for why he needs to work hard: if the party vote in electorates in Mana (2008, tonight) remains close, national wins and forms the government. We need to win electorates like this by more than 6% in order to win overall.
2005: nat/lab 50/31
2008: 43/36
tonight: 47/41~
Lew, what was the goal with that strategy in mind? I can’t see it.
Raise Matt’s profile and the profile of the Unite campaign. It worked. He got on the nightly news and the papers a bunch of times. The tone may have been “crazy old Matt, pulling stunts again”, but that don’t matter. The words “$15 minimum wage” all over that reporting aren’t pitched at the press gallery and commentariat.
(Should be noted that I have nothing to do with the campaign, and don’t actually know what the point was as a matter of strategy — this is just my read on it as someone who cares a lot about this sort of thing.)
L
Having talked to Matt on Thursday, That is exactly what his strategy was.
It worked really really well.
From Stuff
The result came in just after 8.30pm but there are still 1352 special votes to be counted meaning it could be 10 days before Faafoi is assured of a seat in Parliament.
Another performing monkey on the Labour benches.
DTB has a valid point for fafoi to work hard over the next 12 months.
I expect him to have his house purchased by next week.
Congrats Kris
You impress me as a really deep compassionate intelligent PI. Do not let the palagis upset you by their insistence that you be loud and abrasive.
And shout over the top of your opponents so that they can’t be heard.
Congratulations Kris Faafoi.
Well actually, we would far better be served by a loud and abrasive Pasifikan than some brown chump in a suit or a silently humble bench warmer…IMHO
All the best Kris. Show those Nats what you’re made of.
Fuck the nats. Show us all.
mad props bro !!!
It’s a safe Labour seat, so National did really well. Just as in Mt Albert, the Labour win was a foregone conclusion, yet such fluster and panic. Labour could have red ribboned a donkey, and it still would have romped home.
Well done Kris, and well done National, still a good result.
Indeed, the unexpectectly small margin is very surprising.
The elections in 12 months should be very interesting, with labour campaining very hard to save face and vote.
John Key, not classy, not classy at all.
He leaves the West Coast so he can turn up at Hekia Parata’s party, and says –
“It’s a very serious situation, and really our hearts are with those miners’ families tonight, notwithstanding the celebrations that are taking place in the National camp.”
Does he have any idea how fucking stupid that sounds?
Not sure which is more embarrassing; the unfathomable callousness or the genuine possibility that he doesn’t know what “notwithstanding” means.
I’d recommend that in future you look at a dictionary in future.
But for your sake:
notwithstanding [ˌnɒtwɪθˈstændɪŋ -wɪð-]
prep
(often immediately postpositive) in spite of; despite
conj
(subordinating) despite the fact that; although
Honestly i’m not sure what you expect of him anyway. That he can’t enjoy the election results AND give a damn?
Indeed, he should be camped outside the mine, doing little helpful other then “wave and smile”.
Damned if you try, damned if you don’t.
What do I expect from him?
I expect him to shut the fuck up about those miners if he can’t bear to mention them without reference to party politics.
ps (while you’ve got your dictionary handy) in future, when discussing the clumsy use of language by smug idiots in a patronising tone at a later date, you might want to look up “redundant” at some subsequent time.
If Fa’afoi wins the election after the specials, perhaps he could shift his electorate office to Cannons Creek. Because, overall, the rest of the electorate wanted Hekia Parata as their MP.
Yep, apart from those people who didn’t vote for me and voted for the other guy, I won much?
Particularly classy bit of “if only those stupid bludgers didn’t vote” fantasism on yer blog, Dave.
L
Nice one dave.
In other news my breakfast this morning would be nothing but a healthy glass of juice if I weren’t about to fry a pile of eggs and roe, Paul Holmes would be an awesome tv presenter if he didn’t talk absolute bullshit 99% of the time, and Coldplay are just brilliant apart from the music, the lyrics, and the posturing tit.
Congratulations to Kris.
Labour – are you paying attention to this?
knock knock
who’s there?
hugh
Hugh’s on first.
hugh appear to be unfamiliar with this format…
If Goff gave a shit about anything other than his own personal ambitions he’d resign immediately.
Goff will resign the day after next years election – And after an interval just long enough to satisfy decency, will quietly take up a seat on the board of directors, of some, or the other, very prestigious company.
Mission accomplished!
Mark my words.
G 😀 FF for PM 2 😀 11 ! ! !
I’m guessing Goff will humbly accept a long-service knighthood if one is offered in time.
Sir Philip would be very clear that he was only receiving the honour on behalf of the ‘little people’ who have supported him though.
Someone was asking what Matt was trying to achieve in the by-election.
In his own words from this morning’s Herald:
“I hope my message to Labour got through- that they can’t take their supporters for granted and must stand for something that isn’t National-lite.
If it did, then taking three weeks being a carpetbagger in Mana was worth it.”
Wille Laban was a very popular local MP, the turnout was low, events on the West Coast ovvershadowed the voting, and the media did it’s absolute best to jack up a “shock” result by portraying Fa’afoi as the principle carpetbagger and undeserving “parachute” candidate. Given all that, it seems to me the Labour campaign had to be a safety first one designed to limit the chance of an error that would have given the right wing media an opening to launch an all out attack on Fa’afoi. All in all, a tricky shoal safely navigated by Labour. One would assume come the general election Kris Fa’afoi will substantially increase this majority.
Having said all that, Labour probably could have done a bit better – Connor Roberts should be put in charge of Labour’s 2011 election campaign, the Wellington Labour “establishment” is clearly lacking the dynamism and organisational nous of the Auckland Labour party machine.
To my mind, McCarten’s contrarian egocentricism achieved nothing other than to dilute the anti-government message and make the left look weak. Pretty much par for the course for him. Politically, he was a loser in the Alliance and politically he is still a loser now. He does great stuff in the Unite union, he should stick to that.
While Conor is very good, the architect of Mayor Brown’s win was Andrew Beyer (see: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4362045/Rush-of-early-votes-in-Mana)
Andrew was a key player in the Mana campaign as you’d expect.
Also when you dismiss the “Wellington Labour “establishment”” you should be careful not to inadvertantly include some of the Wellingtonians who have proven themselves on this campaign.
This was Chris Flatt’s first campaign as general secretary of Labour and he showed himself to be a tireless on the ground campaigner. Shane Laulu, the campaign manager, is a porirua Labour stalwart and proved himself to be good enough for election in his own right – one to watch in the 2013 local elections perhaps? And Fa’afoi’s campaign press secretary Deborah Mahuta was seriously classy. Ran a brilliant operation. Credit where credit is due, eh?
Hekia effectively had a campaign office in the electorate for 2 years yet her vote FELL. This is a good result for Kris (and Shane, Chris and Deborah).
From the Greens perspective we are really happy with the result
In the last week of the campaign we were getting a lot of feedback that potential voters of ours were switching to Kris because of the worry about the Nats getting in.
This result would have been 10% party vote in a General Election. We are now very well placed in Mana for next year with an excellent well respected candidate in Jan Logie
Actually Lew, if more of the electorate – say 85-90% – had have voted, we would have got a more accurate picture of whom the electorate wanted. And that’s always my preference, I’m wondering why those who didn’t vote stayed at home, and wondering how many who did vote voted for the party the candidate was aligned to rather than the person who they wanted to represent them
“McCarten’s contrarian egocentricism achieved nothing other than to dilute the anti-government message”
What are you smoking Sanctuary? The Unite campaign WAS the anti-government message.
Quod Erat Demonstratum.
nice one kris.
dont blow it.