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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The North Auckland Line rejuvenation kicks off with teams surveying the rail corridor and Northland construction contractors are showing interest in the project.KiwiRail provided an industry briefing for Northland contracting and construction companies about future work opportunities on rejuvenating Northland’s rail lines. The briefing session in Whangarei was held to ...
More frontline support for schools through a new education agency, as part of a redesigned Ministry of Education More support for principals and school boards including through a new centre of leadership and local leadership advisor roles New independent disputes panels for parents and students Management of school property ...
The Government’s reform of the Tomorrow’s Schools system is a watershed moment in education and an opportunity to create meaningful change for ākonga Māori and their whānau, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis said today. “Last year through Kōrero Mātauranga | Education Conversation, Māori teachers, parents, ākonga, whānau, hapū and iwi ...
Infrastructure Minister is welcoming the first of many updated project pipelines from the newly established New Zealand Infrastructure Commission today. The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, has released an expanded pipeline of major capital projects – another crucial step towards delivering better infrastructure outcomes. “The first iteration of the ...
Tougher gun laws designed to improve public safety through firearms prohibition orders are proposed in a new document released for public input. Police Minister Stuart Nash says firearms prohibition orders (FPOs) would give new powers to Police to ensure high-risk individuals come nowhere near firearms. “We have already prohibited the ...
Andy Coupe has been confirmed as TVNZ’s new Board Chair. “Mr Coupe has strong commercial and capital markets experience and TVNZ has benefited from his technical knowledge of business and finance, as well as his extensive governance experience,” the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Kris Faafoi said. Andy ...
Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter today officially opened a separated pathway, following the completion of the Kaiwharawhara Stream bridge, which will improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians along Hutt Road. The $6.8m Hutt Road project provides a separated path for cycling and pedestrians, the replacement of informal parking ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced the appointment of career diplomat Si’alei van Toor as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Russia. “I’m pleased to appoint Ms van Toor to this position. She brings a wealth of experience to the role having previously served as Senior Trade Adviser to the ...
The Treasury’s 2019 Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) will be released on Wednesday December 11, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. The Coalition Government will publish the 2020 Budget Policy Statement at the same time, outlining the priorities for Budget 2020. Further details on arrangements for the release will ...
A new initiative to better support small businesses through hands-on mentoring and advice has been launched by the Minister for Small Business. The first event in the Kiwi Business Boost series of regional workshops and online tools has been launched in Wairoa by Stuart Nash. “The Business Boost initiative combines ...
The latest Quarterly Connectivity Report shows that more and more New Zealanders are moving to Ultra-fast Broadband (UFB), with Rolleston having the highest uptake at 74 per cent, as at the end of September. “This means that nearly three quarters of Rolleston’s households and businesses have moved to ultra-fast services. ...
The passing of the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill will help ensure a safe planet for our kids and grandkids, the Minister for Climate Change James Shaw said today. The landmark legislation which provides a framework to support New Zealanders to prepare for, and adapt to, the effects ...
The review of Oranga Tamariki practice around the planned uplift of a Hastings baby in May shows significant failings by the Ministry and that the planned and funded changes to shift from a child crisis service to a proper care and protection service need to be accelerated, Children’s Minister Tracey ...
Education Minister Chris Hipkins has wished students the best of luck for this year’s NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship exams which start tomorrow. Around 140,000 students will have participated in 119 NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship exams by the end of the exam period on 3 December. “I want to ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced the appointment of Bede Corry as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. “The appointment of a senior diplomat to this important role underlines the significance New Zealand places on our relationship with the United Kingdom,” said Mr Peters. “The United ...
An innovative approach to boosting the number of frontline Police has seen 20 new officers graduate from one of the uncommon training wings in Auckland. Police Minister Stuart Nash says the graduation of 20 constables today means that 1,765 new Police officers have been deployed since the coalition government took ...
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says the 1.2 million hours of community work completed by offenders in the last financial year has helped local communities right across the country. “Community work sentences are a great way for people to pay something positive back to society. There is a massive benefit to ...
"A pathway for Police in leadership with Iwi Māori, to achieve the aspirations of Māori whānau." Police launch of Te Huringa o Te Tai, Pipitea Marae, Thorndon Quay, Wellington Nau mai, haere mai. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, ka nui te mihi, ki a koutou. Hello everyone, warm greetings to you all. ...
Working New Zealanders are getting more in their back pockets under the Coalition Government’s economic plan. Stats NZ data today shows average weekly ordinary time earnings are up by $83 since the Government took office. This shows that working New Zealanders are getting higher take-home pay, and that employers are ...
The Government is supporting schools to cut down their energy consumption and reduce environmental impacts, with a quarter of all schools having their lights replaced with LEDs, a sustainability contestable fund and a plan to improve the environmental sustainability of all schools in the future. Education Minister Chris Hipkins and ...
Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis heads to China on Friday to lead the New Zealand Government presence at the China-New Zealand Year of Tourism closing ceremony. The ceremony will take place at Canton Tower in Guangzhou on Sunday 10 November. “The Year of Tourism has been mutually beneficial for both New ...
Should we plan for drought or deluge and how is CO2 released from the ocean’s floor? Several climate change projects were given a boost in the latest Marsden Fund investment of $83.6 million, Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods said today. “Climate change is long-term challenge that requires out-of-the-box ...
Leaders of 16 countries negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have announced the completion of negotiation on the text as well as agreement on virtually all market access issues between 15 countries. The leaders said they will work with India to resolve its outstanding concerns in a way that ...
Civil Defence Minister Hon Peeni Henare says World Tsunami Awareness Day today (5 November) is a chance for all New Zealanders to learn more about the tsunami risk in our regions and the right actions to take to stay safe. “All of New Zealand’s coastline is at risk of tsunami. ...
New Zealand’s more than 1000 paramedics are to have their role as key frontline health professionals formally recognised and regulated in the same way as doctors and nurses, Health Minister David Clark says. The Government has agreed to regulate paramedics under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. “Paramedic leaders ...
Changes to insolvency law announced by the Government today will include requirements to honour up to 50 per cent of the value of gift cards or vouchers held by consumers, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi says. “When a business is insolvent, these consumers are often left out of ...
Six New Zealanders tonight received medals for their meritorious work in the frontline public service. The Public Service Medal, established by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, is awarded annually. “For the second year this Government has recognised public servants who have made a real difference to the lives of New ...
Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker heads to Shanghai today for the China International Import Expo and meetings focused on reforming the WTO. Over 90 New Zealand companies will be exhibiting at the second China International Import Expo (CIIE), which runs from 5-10 November. “China is one of New Zealand’s ...
Drivers holding a current five-year learner or restricted car or motorbike licence, expiring between 1 December 2019 and 1 December 2021, will receive an automatic two-year extension, Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter announced today. Over 144,000 drivers’ time-limited licences are due to expire in the next two years; 67,000 ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker have announced the conclusion of negotiations to upgrade New Zealand’s existing free trade agreement with China. “This ensures our upgraded free trade agreement will remain the best that China has with any country,” Jacinda Ardern said. She ...
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau congratulates the Ten Kiwi organisations who have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to the wellbeing and the prosperity of their communities. Economic Development New Zealand (EDNZ), announced the awards at its annual conference in Blenheim last weekend. “A special congratulations to ...
Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa has welcomed the record high of 13,000 building and construction apprentices in active training with main provider the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO). “We are committed to reversing the long-term decline in trades training and it’s excellent to see more people ...
PHARMAC’s decision to fund a new leukaemia treatment means three new cancer medicines have now been funded so far this year, Health Minister David Clark says. From 1 December venetoclax (Venclexta) will be funded for people living with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Just last month funding was also confirmed for alectinib ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today formally gifted a white horse to Toshogu Shrine in Nikko, Japan in front of thousands of attendees at a ceremony conducted by Chief Priest Inaba. The horse named Kōmaru, which means ‘sheltered’ in Maori and ‘shining’ in Japanese, is a white 12-year-old purebred Andalusian ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has named diplomat Martin Harvey as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to Canada. “Canada is one of New Zealand’s closest and longstanding international partners,” said Mr Peters. “Our close friendship is underpinned by our shared democratic values, history and our parliamentary traditions. As Commonwealth countries and ...
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi has today announced the appointment of Jane Wrightson as Retirement Commissioner. “Jane has strong leadership, management and governance skills which will help champion improved financial capability for all New Zealanders and provide advice on retirement income policy issues,” Kris Faafoi said. Jane Wrightson ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi announced a plan last night to cooperate more closely in the Pacific, as part of the strong and ambitious relationship between the two countries. “Japan is one of New Zealand’s most important partners and closest friends. My discussions with Minister ...
The Government’s plan to help older New Zealanders live well, Better Later Life – He Oranga Kaumātua 2019 to 2034, was launched by Seniors Minister Tracey Martin today. “Better Later Life takes a fresh look at what is required to ensure everyone gets the chance to live well as they ...
Trees can play a lead role in New Zealand’s transition to a low emissions economy, and this is reflected in a new request for research into innovative ways to use wood fibre, announced by Forestry Minister Shane Jones at the blessing of the new government forestry hub site in Rotorua ...
The Government has committed to a strong regional presence for Te Uru Rākau (Forestry New Zealand), with the construction of a new Forestry Hub in Rotorua announced by Forestry Minister Shane Jones today. Speaking at a blessing ceremony at the site of the new building, Scion’s Rotorua campus, Minister Jones ...
A unique project enhancing the mana and wellbeing of the environment and the people of the Hokianga is to receive $300000 over three years from the Ministry for the Environment’s Community Environment Fund. Associate Minister for the Environment Eugenie Sage made the announcement at a kiwi protection workshop at Ōpara ...
Where do we watch content, what do we want from it, and how do we view New Zealand news? Here’s what we learned from NZ On Air’s latest survey on identity, culture and the media. We still like to watch free-to-view TVDespite the lingering doom and gloom around linear television, almost ...
The candidates to tackle Donald Trump are very keen on the New Zealand prime minister.It could be because Vogue called her “the anti-Trump”. It could be the desperate shortage of tolerable left-leaning leaders in the Anglosphere. Or it could be because everyone knows it’s illegal to be mean about people ...
Responding to the launch of Massey University's new policy and code regarding free speech and external speaker, Free Speech Coalition spokesman Dr David Cumin says: ...
The Government is creating a new division of the Education Ministry in an overhaul that will strip schools of the right to manage their enrolment zones and their property. ...
Making Northport Auckland’s main port will require massive investment in rail and road and will increase carbon emissions and the cost of goods says National Road Carriers Association CEO David Aitken. ...
Tuesday, November 12: After months of mounting pressure, the Environmental Protection Authority has now publicly released oil giant OMV’s application to drill a high risk oil well off the Otago Coast. ...
Simon Day eats a burger and considers becoming a vegetarian (again). For two years in my 20s, I was vegetarian. It was a choice based on the idea that it’s a much more efficient and much less environmentally invasive way to feed the world. I used to habitually roll out a ...
Ahead of TVNZ1’s new wildlife documentary Serengeti, Tara Ward presents the best animals that make up the juiciest drama on the plains.If you love nature docos filled with argy-bargy and love triangles, jealous siblings and power struggles, then TVNZ’s new wildlife documentary series Serengeti is a dream come true. The ...
The Panama Papers exposed a world in which the uber-rich and powerful were able to hide unimaginable wealth. The reporters who broke the story describe how they did it.“When it takes a whistleblower to sound the alarm… it signals that democracy’s checks and balances have all failed.”The final words in ...
Family First New Zealand has proposed a number of bills to the government regarding the access to pornography in both public places, including schools and the work place. “There has been an important national conversation around consent and ‘rape culture’. ...
Vernon Tava, the leader of the Sustainable NZ party, used to be part of the Greens. So how did he fit in there? Former MP Catherine Delahunty shares her impressions of him from then, and analyses where his new party will fit in.I first met Vernon Tava when he joined ...
A Parliamentary Petition has been issued, calling for the regulation of sunscreens in New Zealand as well as funding of effective sunscreens for low income and high risk populations. ...
It’s been a rough year for unit-holders in Fonterra Shareholders Fund, with the unit price slumping from $5.12 to its lowest point ever at $3.15. Chairman John Shewan didn’t mince words when he told the Fund’s annual meeting this week Fonterra’s financial performance had been “very poor” in 2019. Not ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Zero Carbon Bill, climate change Henry Cooke (Stuff): NZ First kept methane target from exiting ...
At 5:00pm on 22 November 2019, the period closes for public submissions regarding the changes BSA is proposing to the Election Programmes Code of Broadcasting Practice (Election Programmes Code). ...
Rachel Boyack was confirmed as the Labour Party candidate for Nelson for the 2020 General Election at a meeting of Party members held in Nelson tonight ...
The Zero Carbon Bill is bland and ineffective. Don’t fall for the spin, argues Steve Abel of Greenpeace. It was hard to not be buoyed by our House of Representatives, seemingly aligned in their commitment to climate action, at last week’s passing of the Zero Carbon Act. Bold expositions of pride ...
A new nationwide Curia Market Research poll shows the vast majority of New Zealanders are confused about what the End of Life Choice Bill aims to legalise. ...
The Prime Minster is defending her proposed firearms protection orders which has received mixed reactions in parliament; and attempted suicide in police custody has risen by almost 400 percent in four years. ...
A Helen Clark Foundation project to reduce online harm will be presented today in competition at the Paris Peace Forum. 'The Christchurch Principles' full report is available for download here . The Forum is a prestigious international event, initiated ...
Construction of more than 500 houses for New Zealand’s most needy families has been put on hold during a housing crisis because of a controversial policy change. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Sinclair, Research Fellow, NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University Endometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is found outside of the womb. It affects around one in ten women of reproductive age, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Fisher, Professor of Cattle & Sheep Production Medicine, University of Melbourne The plight of Australia’s dairy farmers is on the political agenda this week, after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson narrowly failed in her Senate bid for a minimum milk price. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katina Zammit, Deputy Dean, School of Education, Western Sydney University When I was younger I decided to learn Greek. I learnt the letter-sound correspondences and could say the words – the sounds, that is. But although I could and still can decode ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pamela Snow, Professor and Head, Rural Health School, La Trobe University Being able to read means being able to make meaning from printed words. At a functional level, we read to get the message – such as how many times per day ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thijs Dhollander, Post-doctoral neuroscientist, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health While looking at the MRI brain scan of a 29-year-old woman that had been taken for a different study, researchers in Israel recently stumbled upon a scientific mystery. The woman appears ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Holland, Senior Lecturer in Australian History, Macquarie University When the minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, recently announced a co-design process for creating an Indigenous “voice to government”, it was characterised as a shift in rhetoric. Yet, on closer inspection, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Zadro, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Sydney Patients might not be getting the best advice about which treatments do or don’t work, according to our study published today. We found professional societies are more likely to call out other health professionals ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Abou-Nemeh, Lecturer in Early Modern History, Victoria University of Wellington This week New Zealand’s parliamentarians will vote on the third reading of the End of Life Choice Bill. Much public discussion on the merits of euthanasia has centred around the role ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cris Brack, Associate Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Trees die. You don’t have to like it, but they do. And this comes as a surprise to some. A senior public servant once told one of us (Brack): ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elaine Stratford, Professor, University of Tasmania In this series, we look at under-acknowledged women through the ages. We are all touched by relationships with animals — as domestic and working companions, wild inspirations, threats, or pests. Some of us may know about ...
The government's firearms prohibition order proposal - to keep high-risk individuals away from firearms - is being met with both approval and alarm bells. ...
The government's firearms prohibition order proposal - to keep high-risk individuals away from firearms - is being met with both approval and alarm bells. ...
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Armed police arrest raises alarm, report makes strong call for Auckland port to go north, and a battle is going on among Fonterra shareholders.Serious concerns have been raised about the trial of armed police officers, after a team arrested an ...
Some observers have been thinking that the forthcoming British election on 12 December would be about a lot more than just Brexit. Some of the issues polling supports this view. And the party leaders have certainly been leading off with their plans for the radiant future. And yet – new ...
Dr Samantha Marsh explains why we need to be wary of drawing definitive conclusions from single studies on social media that appear to ‘let us off the hook’. ...
A little-known hormone-related condition affecting up to 8 percent of people with periods is sometimes mistaken for bipolar disorder and incorrectly treated. ...
The unusual case of Winston Peters vs the Crown took a new twist yesterday with revelations the deputy PM and head of the civil service have not talked since the Government was formed. ...
Tech sector giants have a vested interest in prioritising freedom of expression, often at the expense of other rights. A new project to reduce harmful online content, presented yesterday to the Paris Peace Forum, aims to change that. One of the architects of the Christchurch Principles, Dr David Hall, explains. What ...
As parliament voted all but unanimously to pass the Zero Carbon Bill into law last week, climate change minister James Shaw credited Generation Zero for its very existence. Here, Jenny Coatham explains how the youth-led climate action group pulled off such a monumental task. Our generation has been described as having ...
The State Services Commissioner has told the High Court claims he acted politically when he briefed his minister about Winston Peters' superannuation payment are "untrue and unfounded". ...
White Ribbon Manager Rob McCann says Firearms Prohibition Orders could make a real difference if guns are kept out of the hands of people with a history of family harm. ...
Hundreds of dead animals, birds and sea life washed up on a West Coast beach will also be leaving a legacy of thousands of poison laden time bombs for 140 kilometres on the way downriver from the mountains to the Sea according to Alan Simmons, leader ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Lecturer in Digital Journalism & Professional Communication, Queensland University of Technology We can’t all be at city council meetings or down at parliament house directly engaging with the issues that affect us. But through photography and video, we’re able to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ross Bradstock, Professor, Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires, University of Wollongong Last week saw an unprecedented outbreak of large, intense fires stretching from the mid-north coast of New South Wales into central Queensland. The most tragic losses are concentrated in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Thorburn, co-Group Leader, Brain & Mitochondrial Research, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Mitochondrial donation is an assisted reproductive technology sometimes described as “three-parent IVF”. It’s designed for women at high risk of passing on faulty mitochondrial DNA and having a child with ...
The Council of Licenced Firearms Owners (COLFO) has asked the High Court to review the new regulation banning several classes of firearms ammunition. ...
Taco Bell is here. Alex Casey, Madeleine Chapman and Alice Webb-Liddall give the first review.There’s nothing more American than drinking a frozen margarita out of a plastic cup with a comically large straw. And that means America has come to West Auckland.New Zealand’s first-ever Taco Bell opens tomorrow at New ...
The strong whiff of “treaty” politicking has accompanied the intense scrutiny of Oranga Tamaraki in recent months, including the Waitangi Tribunal’s announcing an urgent inquiry into the child protection agency’s practices towards Māori children. No-one, curiously, seems much bothered about the agency’s practices towards other children. Oranga Tamariki staffers certainly ...
Acclaimed Wellington poet Amy Brown on how the first months of motherhood blasted her writing life – and, eventually, inspired her radically honest new verse journal. The night after birth, when the milk came in, a midwife gave me her pen. I was supposed to use it to write the times ...
The government is floating the idea of firearms prohibition orders, to give police powers to keep people deemed to be high-risk away from firearms. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Ricketson, Professor of Communication, Deakin University Media companies around the world are in an existential funk. The tech giants – Facebook, Google, Apple and Amazon – have built a better mousetrap for profiting from consumers’ attention than the traditional media can ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Forsyth, Professor of Workplace Law, RMIT University Is Australia’s award system so complex major corporations capable of handling millions of customers and billions of dollars can’t manage to pay employees properly? That’s the spin flowing freely in the wake of Australian ...
Congratulations Kris 
The Referendums Framework Bill was due back from select committee today. But there's no report on it. Instead, the bill has been bounced back to the House under Standing order 29593) because the Committee didn't bother to produce one. They probably tried. But given the membership of the committee (which ...16 mins ago
Two years into New Zealand’s Labour-led government, the long-delayed Zero Carbon Bill became law on 7 November. Passed essentially unanimously, the lengthy public debates and political manoeuvring faded away until the final passage was even anticlimactic: Flipping through the @nzstuff @DomPost I was starting to wonder if I’d dreamt ...28 mins ago
Distract And Divert: The rise of what we have come to call “Identity Politics” represents the ideological manifestation of the ruling class’s objective need to destroy class politics, and of the middle-class’s subjective need to justify their participation in the process.THE RELIEF of the ruling class can only be imagined. ...6 hours ago
8 hours ago
Since becoming the world’s first openly transexual mayor and member of parliament, Georgina Beyer has been recognised as a trailblazer for trans rights. Daphna Whitmore talks with her about where she sees the current trans movement We start out talking about legislation the government put on hold that would have ...2 days ago
If FFNZ really put their faith in “Top Medical Journals” they would now be amending their billboards to recognise new research results. Image from FFNZ but updated to agree with the latest research. ... 2 days ago
by Phil Duncan Here’s just a few of the kind of threats issued day in and day out against gender-critical women – feminists, marxists, etc – overwhelmingly by MEN (albeit men identifying as women). “Kill all Terfs”. “Shoot a Terf today”. “All terfs deserve to be shot in the head”. ...6 days ago
And to think he gave all the potential goodwill away with that moronic, cult-like statement (repeated ad nauseam by many National hardliners) that Key is quite simply “the greatest PM we ever had”…
Installation complete: this was nothing ... 1 week ago
Today, a worker contacted me asking if she could go to the police over her employer stealing thousands of dollars from her in unpaid wages. The employer also did not pay this worker’s taxes or student loan which amounts to tax fraud. As a workers rights activist, who founded the ...1 week ago
Image Credit: Increase Social Media Traffic & Website Traffic I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your ... 2 weeks ago
. . NZ First’s success in putting the euthenasia bill to a public referenda may not be the victory they believe it to be. They may even have sounded the death-knell for a second Labour-NZ First-Green coalition. On 23 July this year, NZ First MP, Jenny Marcroft, submitted a Supplementary ...2 weeks ago
Finding reality needs more than wishful thinking. The problem is that statistical arguments often provide a jargon to confirm biases. Image credit: Accurate Thinking Versus Wishful Thinking in Gambling I worry at the way some ... 2 weeks ago
"Today we have made a choice that will leave a legacy... I hope that means that future generations will see that we, in New Zealand, were on the right side of history." - Jacinda Ardern, Third Reading of the Zero Carbon Bill ...4 days ago
Darroch Ball, New Zealand First List MP A Member’s bill has been proposed that would provide income tax exemptions for all New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel while on operational deployment overseas. The Income Tax (Exemption for Salary or Wages of NZDF Members on Active Deployment) Amendment Bill proposed by New Zealand First ...4 days ago
More frontline support for schools through a new education agency, as part of a redesigned Ministry of Education More support for principals and school boards including through a new centre of leadership and local leadership advisor roles New independent disputes panels for parents and students Management of school property ...3 hours ago
Te Rūnanga ā Iwi o Ngāpuhi CEO, Lorraine Toki, is not surprised by the findings following the release of the review into Oranga Tamariki. ...31 mins ago
The finalised outcomes of the Tomorrow's Schools review look suspiciously like the first round of proposals. ...35 mins ago
Cabinet ministers now have a copy of a report urging the government to move the Auckland port up north, but say no final decisions have been made. ...37 mins ago
Where do we watch content, what do we want from it, and how do we view New Zealand news? Here’s what we learned from NZ On Air’s latest survey on identity, culture and the media. We still like to watch free-to-view TVDespite the lingering doom and gloom around linear television, almost ...58 mins ago
The Government is creating a new division of the Education Ministry in an overhaul that will strip schools of the right to manage their enrolment zones and their property. ...2 hours ago
Hoiho is Bird of the Year, but what are the most important things that need to happen to give the species a better chance of surviving? ...2 hours ago
A currency trader who lost $70,000 in a sharp, short-lived downturn, thinks the currency market is not properly regulated. ...3 hours ago
It’s been a rough year for unit-holders in Fonterra Shareholders Fund, with the unit price slumping from $5.12 to its lowest point ever at $3.15. Chairman John Shewan didn’t mince words when he told the Fund’s annual meeting this week Fonterra’s financial performance had been “very poor” in 2019. Not ...5 hours ago
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
How Justin Lester lost the Wellington mayoralty; and NZ First kept methane target from exiting Zero Carbon Bill. ...6 hours ago
The Prime Minster is defending her proposed firearms protection orders which has received mixed reactions in parliament; and attempted suicide in police custody has risen by almost 400 percent in four years. ...6 hours ago
Construction of more than 500 houses for New Zealand’s most needy families has been put on hold during a housing crisis because of a controversial policy change. ...6 hours ago
Performance poet Ben Fagan continues his investigations into being Pākehā in 2019. Watch the video. ...9 hours ago
Some observers have been thinking that the forthcoming British election on 12 December would be about a lot more than just Brexit. Some of the issues polling supports this view. And the party leaders have certainly been leading off with their plans for the radiant future. And yet – new ...9 hours ago
DoC's IT section was torn apart by a culture so poor that some staffers felt unsafe to speak up. David Williams reports. ...9 hours ago
Dr Samantha Marsh explains why we need to be wary of drawing definitive conclusions from single studies on social media that appear to ‘let us off the hook’. ...9 hours ago
A little-known hormone-related condition affecting up to 8 percent of people with periods is sometimes mistaken for bipolar disorder and incorrectly treated. ...9 hours ago
Bernard Hickey unravels and explains the technologies, the acronyms and the power of 5G. ...9 hours ago
The unusual case of Winston Peters vs the Crown took a new twist yesterday with revelations the deputy PM and head of the civil service have not talked since the Government was formed. ...9 hours ago
Through the initiative of one trailblazing woman, a low-decile school in east Auckland is striving to ensure any kid who wants to play sport can. ...9 hours ago
How realistic is NZ's goal of being pest-free by 2050? ...10 hours ago
The Government has a credibility gap to bridge as well as an infrastructure gap to plug. ...19 hours ago
A Kiwi think tank has set out ten principles for governments and social media companies to use when tackling extremist content online. ...20 hours ago
The Government is asking for public input in its third round of tricky gun law reform. ...22 hours ago
The Government has a lot to weigh up as it tries to decide whether to 'do a John Key' and save Rio Tinto's struggling aluminium plant. ...22 hours ago
The strong whiff of “treaty” politicking has accompanied the intense scrutiny of Oranga Tamaraki in recent months, including the Waitangi Tribunal’s announcing an urgent inquiry into the child protection agency’s practices towards Māori children. No-one, curiously, seems much bothered about the agency’s practices towards other children. Oranga Tamariki staffers certainly ...23 hours ago
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.