Cunliffe wins – now what?

Written By: - Date published: 12:26 pm, September 16th, 2013 - 91 comments
Categories: david cunliffe, john key, labour, same old national - Tags: ,

Cunliffe leadership announcement-2

So David Cunliffe is now leader.

The scale of the win is somewhat overwhelming.  He had significantly greater support from members and affiliates than his competitors.  And the vote in caucus was closer than some had predicted.  Winning on the first ballot was not expected even by his most ardent supporters.

His call for caucus unity is important and appropriate.  I suspect that any MP thinking of rocking the boat will be intimidated by the size of the party’s support for David and they would be well advised to behave.

All eyes will be on the reshuffling of the seats in Parliament.  David’s stated intent to reward on merit and to make appointments across the three caucus groupings will be an important early change to what has occurred previously.

On Morning Report this morning David gave an excellent interview with Kathryn Ryan.  He also gave a stunning interview on Firstline and made it clear that his intention is to enthuse the 800,000 kiwis who did not vote last time to vote this time.  If he keeps this standard of interview up then he will do well.

He has also settled onto a theme.  John Key is a funny popular person but his actions in favouring the rich corporates such as Sky City, Rio Tinto, Chorus, and the various merchant bankers gorging themselves on our assets cannot and should not be tolerated.

The first Parliamentary question time will be eagerly awaited and I am sure that the topic of the question is having some thought put into it.

I would suggest that the first question to the Prime Minister should be about the Axe the Copper Tax campaign.  This ticks all the boxes.  A wealthy corporate is increasing its wealth to the expense of the rest of us and the Government is overturning a decision of the Commerce Decision which it does not like, even though the decision benefits ordinary kiwis.

Key has made come bizarre claims about the issue, suggesting that Chorus may go broke if the Commerce Commission Decision is allowed to stand.  It seems that he has not received a briefing from Chorus but presumably has performed the calculation himself.

The estimated saving to Chorus of the proposed change is in the vicinity of $100 million per year.  Given that it made a profit of $171 million last year this possibility is difficult to comprehend.  As I noted earlier Chorus’s problems appear to be that it underestimated the cost of the roll out.  A faulty tender is not normally grounds for not reducing charges as far as they should be.

What is really interesting about this issue is the signs of a split in National’s ranks.  Prominent National Party blogger David Farrar has joined the ranks of the Axe the Copper Tax campaign.  It seems there may be elements of a power play in this move.  The responsible Minister Amy Adams is a strong supporter of Judith Collins whereas Farrar has links to the English/Ryall faction of the National Party.  A question on this topic will have the dual benefits of highlighting National’s crony capitalism and at the same time drilling in on an issue that is causing internal dissent in National’s ranks.

And  there seems to be the whiff of change in the air.  A Te Karere commissioned Digipoll of a thousand Maori voters showed a 5% gain by Labour on the party vote over a previous poll taken in January.  The Greens did even better and picked up 7% points.  The Maori Party will be concerned as it lost 15% points.  A movement of support to the progressive parties by Maoridom is welcome news.

Time will tell but dare I say that there is now hope amongst progressives that the next election will see a change in Government?

91 comments on “Cunliffe wins – now what? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Lanthanide 1
    16 September 2013 at 12:43 pm

    What’s next? Radio NZ were reporting on the midday news that Chris Hipkins has stood down as chief whip and that tomorrow the caucus will be electing new whips.

  2. chris73 2
    16 September 2013 at 12:46 pm

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Cunliffe-vows-to-spare-detractors/tabid/1607/articleID/313349/Default.aspx

    – Is it true Hipkins has been removed as whip?

    [lprent: No. He has stood down as whip. I don’t expect that you will understand the distinction. ]

    • Olwyn 2.1
      16 September 2013 at 12:57 pm

      from what I have heard, I think that both the whip and the deputy leader need to be voted in by caucus rather than appointed by the leader.

    • chris73 2.2
      16 September 2013 at 1:04 pm

      Ah yes…stood down voluntarily 🙂

      Well I’d suggest that maybe someone talks to Curran and Mallard and tells them to “voluntarily” fall on their swords as well

    • Tim 2.3
      16 September 2013 at 5:57 pm

      Much to your disappointment Chris73 – and despite the cnut he is – he did something honourable.
      Hard for you to understand I know, but there it is.
      A stiff G & T maybe?

      Btw – do you have an adequate supply of incontinence pas?
      If not – hey!!!! have I got a deal for you!

    • Core_Labour_Voter 2.4
      18 September 2013 at 12:53 am

      Stood down – Removed = He is gone. Let us move on.

  3. Waffler 3
    16 September 2013 at 12:52 pm

    That was an awesome interview on Firstline! Great to see he’s pitching his voice down as well.

  4. blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 4
    16 September 2013 at 1:01 pm

    @ Mickey Savage,
    Just wish to extend congratulations to you, Jennie Mitchie and the rest of Mr Cunliffe’s campaign team for a job well done.

    • mickysavage 4.1
      16 September 2013 at 1:29 pm

      Cheers BL. Yesterday was a good day but last night David said in his speech that we were all going to be very busy until the next election …

      • Colonial Viper 4.1.1
        16 September 2013 at 1:43 pm

        The busiest year of our lives, he said 😯

      • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 4.1.2
        16 September 2013 at 1:44 pm

        Yep, saw that comment by a very serious looking Mr Cunliffe on the News “what I’ve got now is a big job to do” (words to that effect).

        I’ll say

        I had to laugh, due to my sense of humour being a wee bit dark at times.

        Gonna have to have a hard-working and effective team to undo the mess Nats have made to when he [hopefully] wins the election too…..

  6. Rich the other 6
    16 September 2013 at 1:10 pm

    Good riddance to hipkins , cunliffe needs to recognise the threats around him and demote Robertson and a few others.

    What interests me more is the dynamics between the greens and labour , will cunliffe stomp on this group of extremists who will ensure defeat for labour at the next election.

    A real blow to the greens must be the unfolding events in Britain , their flagship stance on global warming / climate change is in tatters with the ippc in panic mode and are currently being exposed as fraudsters.

    Any one with doubts about this should read the daily mail, 15sept also 8 sept.

    The bottom line is the greens are being left with a huge gap in policy and their destructive attitudes towards employment , farming , and business in general will be easy picking for the nats.

    • Hayden 6.1
      16 September 2013 at 1:15 pm

      their destructive attitudes towards employment , farming , and business in general

      Citation needed.

      (edit – remove formatting like moderator’s comments)

      [lprent: good idea. 😈 ]

      • weka 6.1.1
        16 September 2013 at 2:00 pm

        “Citation needed.”

        For that and every other lie Rich told.

        As if the Daily Mail is the bastion of left wing political understanding 🙄

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 6.2
      16 September 2013 at 1:22 pm

      @ Rich the Other
      Greens took a very proactive stance toward employment in the last election and continue to do so, to say otherwise is simply untrue; Rich, it is very unwise to simply absorb the spin that Nats place on things. The only interests they support are those who are taking a very monopolistic attitude toward work and finance.

      Monopolistic attitudes are what is leading to job shortages and low wages. These attitudes need to be addressed for us to get healthy employment statistics and conditions. An improvement in this area will lead to a much healthier society and economy for us all. Nat spin will only progress us toward worsening these factors.

    • weka 6.3
      16 September 2013 at 2:06 pm

      “What interests me more is the dynamics between the greens and labour”

      Ae, me too.

      Keith Locke this morning, signalling that the Greens are stepping forward too:

      Much of the success of a Labour/Green government will depend on how well the policies of the two parties are merged post-election, hopefully taking in the best of each. On some matters the coalition policy will be easy to determine. As both parties support a capital gains tax, there will be a capital gains tax. On other issues, like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Labour supports and the Greens oppose, it will be more difficult. Because of this it would be stupid for Labour to promise now, in areas where the Greens and Labour have a different policy, that a Labour/Green government will adopt the Labour policy. That is something to be worked out post-election, so a little bit of MMP caution is required from parties before the election.

      David Cunliffe could also help the public better understand the nature of MMP by rejecting the mantle of “Leader of the Opposition”, which is offensive to our multi-party system, where parties vote for and against legislation in different alignments. David Cunliffe is the leader of the Labour Party, and only the Labour Party.

      http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/09/16/david-could-improve-the-labourgreen-relationship/

      • bad12 6.3.1
        16 September 2013 at 4:07 pm

        Yes i agree with Keith Locke, but, always both Labour and the Greens should be highlighting the areas they do agree upon,

        It’s going to be a shame that Government policy for a Labour/Green Government looks like it will have to be thrashed out in the compressed period between the 2014 and the Government’s formation,

        Perhaps what is needed is a weekly meeting between these two party’s where at least an initial policy discussion across all areas can be laid out for discussion,

        Counting the chickens befor they hatch this may be but both party’s really need to know at which point in both party’s policy either are going to say NO!!!,

        ‘The Left’ sooner or later has to become more co-operative in how it views the electorates and elections and deliberately look for areas where co-operation rather than competition will deliver the best overall result,(a Government of the left),

        There are a number of electorates where Labour/Green/Mana would be far better rewarded for co-operating and hopefully David Cunliffe who has grasped MMP politcs with far greater knowledge than many,(not living in the electorate He represents), can begin at some stage to openly plan for bolstering where possible the election chances of other left leaning party’s,

        For far too long now under the auspices of MMP we have political party’s behaving in a quasi MMP/FFP manner when the left especially should be ‘building’ future coalition partners…

        • ak 6.3.1.1
          16 September 2013 at 4:22 pm

          Not bad, bad. Not bad at all. Indeed a very passable comment old boy. Learn from the old Alliance/Labour example eh what I say, united we stand and all thet…..Mr Joseph Public esquire is quite the fan it seems….(and if I may just say, bad old chap, parties, dear boy, parties. Let’s leave the grocers’ apostrophes to the petit bourgeoisie eh old man?)

    • Craig 6.4
      16 September 2013 at 3:02 pm

      No, they are not. The Daily Mail is a British tabloid and prone to Tory bias as such. And if you think we’re not aware of the successful SPD/Green coalition in Germany back in the early noughties, dream on, matey. Moreover, what’s the alternative…Winston?! Good old prehensile, lets-have-a-bob-each-way Winston?! Just because the Nats have no viable coalition partner in sight…

    • Murray Olsen 6.5
      16 September 2013 at 4:37 pm

      Bugger, I’ve been wasting my time for years getting my scientific information from Nature, Science, Physical Review Letters and other recognised journals. I should have just looked at the Daily Mail.

      • Rich the other 6.5.1
        16 September 2013 at 5:01 pm

        Murry O,
        I suggest you start collecting these journals , in time they will be collectables, monuments to deceit and gross stupidity.
        The change global warming /climate change fanatics are in trouble and are being exposed, the truth is on it’s way.

        global warming and religion have one thing in common , both require huge amounts of faith

        • Macro 6.5.1.1
          16 September 2013 at 6:09 pm

          “global warming and religion have one thing in common , both require huge amounts of faith”

          OMG!!

        • srylands 6.5.1.2
          16 September 2013 at 8:29 pm

          “global warming and religion have one thing in common , both require huge amounts of faith.”

          what? the scientific evidence for climate change and its causes is profoundly convincing. It is nothing like religion (aka as witchcraft) Of course, the appropriate policy responses to climate change are open to debate.

      • lprent 6.5.2
        16 September 2013 at 5:43 pm

        Obviously. Mind you it is just as clear to me that each of us should be served a dollop of brains from child born so that they too can become Daily Mail readers…

        On the other hand I could read a online paper that isn’t written by lazy illiterates.

        • Rich the other 6.5.2.1
          16 September 2013 at 6:05 pm

          Iprent
          The point is those online papers are changing , some of those writers are already running for cover.
          Reputations are seriously under threat.
          The truth is on the way.

        • andyS 6.5.2.2
          16 September 2013 at 6:19 pm

          The latest Mail article on climate change by David Rose was endorsed by Judith Curry, who said he was basically right.

          Mind you, Curry is a “denier” and should be ignored.
          She has spoken badly of the great Mann

          • Macro 6.5.2.2.1
            16 September 2013 at 7:17 pm

            You poor deluded fool…..

            Curry is an academic embarrassment – it’s a wonder she continues to hold her position.. One can drive a bus through the gaps in her logic.. But for those, like yourself, grasping at any straw in the debate, her word is the ultimate TRUTH.

            Never mind andy i’m sure you lot will all be left out in the cold, and you can continue to mutter your inanities to your hearts content amongst yourselves – in the meantime – for those of us in the real world – we have work to do

  7. tracey 7
    16 September 2013 at 2:04 pm

    If chris has any self respect he wld not have forced his own sacking. The leader will propose his choices for 2 whips and deputy and then caucus vote as they choose.

    The work begins today. If people found this leadership contest tiring they need to step aside now. Its a marathon not a sprint.

  8. Ancient Ruin 8
    16 September 2013 at 2:06 pm

    Mallard will be looking forward to that Speakers role a bit more too…

  9. Not A PS Staffer 9
    16 September 2013 at 2:12 pm

    David Cunliffe should give a regular pitch on his strategic initiatives on The Standard.

    He should tap into the energy (and intelligence!) of the beauts on this site.

    Many of us are willing foot soldiers in the battle to make Godzone a better place for everone and not just the select few.

    Go on David…

  10. Sable 10
    16 September 2013 at 3:00 pm

    If he gives Keys the swift kick up the ass the little twit deserves then good job.

  11. Craig 11
    16 September 2013 at 3:04 pm

    What I’d like to know is when we can expect elaboration and increased attention to the Capital Gains Tax, given that Cunliffe and Robertson both agree on its importance to the centre-left.

  12. captain hook 12
    16 September 2013 at 3:07 pm

    forget the crap from the mealy mouth gnats and the poormouthing from the Dompost.
    Its time for all good men to come to the aid of the party and fight for social justice and equality.

  13. Frank Macskasy 13
    16 September 2013 at 3:42 pm

    Congratulations to all three candidates for a civilised, intelligent primary campaign. All three would have made fine Labour leaders. But, as a certain Highlander said, “there can only be one”…

    Now the hard work starts to rid ourselves of this nasty, self-serving government and it’s despicable leader.

    And if any Labour MP has any bright ideas about “white anting” Cunliffe – Shane Jones and Stuart Nash put it quite nicely: find another job. We have no time to waste on further internal squabbles.

    There’s a Tory government to destroy.

    • andyS 13.1
      16 September 2013 at 6:21 pm

      There’s a Tory government to destroy.

      and then, a country

      • bad12 13.1.1
        16 September 2013 at 6:26 pm

        Your free to leave, the sooner the better…

        • andyS 13.1.1.1
          16 September 2013 at 6:31 pm

          I certainly intend to leave to Australia if there is any indication that the Greens get a share of power, as will a large part of the productive part of NZ

          Then the feral underclass will be left to cannibalise what’s left of NZ.

          • bad12 13.1.1.1.1
            16 September 2013 at 6:42 pm

            Better book your tickets then as there is every indication that the Green Party will have a major role in the next Government,

            Here was i thinking that the ‘feral underclass’ were already busily cannibalizing the place via the sell off of Mighty River Power and Genesis Energy,

            i suppose you are going to tell us all that they have an entitlement,

            Please leave sooner rather than later, the less of your ilk there is polluting our air the better…

            • andyS 13.1.1.1.1.1
              16 September 2013 at 6:52 pm

              More than happy to leave bad12. Having been reminded that I am a “guest” in this country, and a White MotherF**fcker who has been raping your land, I am more than happy to leave you to your own fate

              I might pop back now and then to take a holiday and the poor people can amuse me with their juggling and unicycle tricks

              • bad12 …
                16 September 2013 at 7:06 pm

                All good then AndyS, your admission of wanting to scarper resonates through your comment akin to an admission of guilt,

                You seem with the ‘your land’ bit to be directing something here personally at me, or is that simply a whine about ‘the Maaris’ in general,

                As far as you being a guest goes i think it is more a self perception and how you feel, the WMF tho from your initial comments seems to fit…

              • phillip ure …
                16 September 2013 at 9:27 pm

                can i suggest far north rural queensland as a destination for you there..andy s..?

                ..there i am sure…you will find many more of your own kind…

                ..and no worries about any p.c.-bullshit there..eh..?..

                ..you can call a spade a boong..as it were..

                ..and no-one will turn a hair..

                ..that’s you..eh…?

                ..eh..?

                phillip ure..

          • Murray Olsen 13.1.1.1.2
            16 September 2013 at 6:58 pm

            As opposed to the feral overclass who’ve been cannibalising Aotearoa since Lord Roger blessed them with his slavish devotion to Chicago?
            I might pass you half way across the Tasman anyway – I’m more optimistic about coming back than I have been for years.

          • Macro 13.1.1.1.3
            16 September 2013 at 7:03 pm

            give my regards to bill 🙂

          • srylands 13.1.1.1.4
            16 September 2013 at 8:24 pm

            Sadly it may require the implementation of Green policies to demonstrate their capacity to destroy wealth. It is easy to be a cheer leader for these policies if you live in a State house on welfare. You get a short term sweetener but it won’t last.

            If the Greens win, I hope it will be full on with their economic policies. That way it will be a one term government. It will also be a great demonstration effect. We can watch from offshore and pass the popcorn.

            • bad12 13.1.1.1.4.1
              16 September 2013 at 8:51 pm

              Snuck back for a snivel have you SSLands, you havn’t got a clue what Green policy entails so why pretend you have,

              i suppose tho the pretense dovetails in nicely about your comical pretense of being an economist and the further fantasy that you regularly live in both Australia and New Zealand,

              Your a laughable charade SSLands…

            • Rogue Trooper 13.1.1.1.4.2
              16 September 2013 at 9:49 pm

              could be an all-decade sucker punch.

            • framu 13.1.1.1.4.3
              17 September 2013 at 9:55 am

              “It is easy to be a cheer leader for these policies if you live in a State house on welfare”

              thanks for proving you know jack shit about who votes green

              any other rank ignorance you want to put out in front of people?

          • srylands 13.1.1.1.5
            16 September 2013 at 8:33 pm

            Wow.. at last another rational contributor to The Standard.

            • lprent 13.1.1.1.5.1
              16 September 2013 at 10:37 pm

              Actually AndyS is a rather well known nut with a persistent delusion that they understand science. Unfortunately this rather falls down under its own weight because he doesn’t have any maths and appears to be incapable of reading scientific papers.

              One of the more entertaining delusions is that the Daily Mail trumps Nature every time. He does amuse those of us with science degrees and a fetish for dissection as a person on whom to exercise our talents – especially me when I have time. But praise his perceptive insights, and I’m sure this will enhance the general awareness of your own intellect. 😈

              However I’m sure that Andy will feel more comfortable in Aussie. After all he looks more rational than your new PM

              • Macro …
                16 September 2013 at 10:46 pm

                andy also claims to hold a Masters in Maths from Cambridge – forgetting to add that 3 years undetected crime following a Bachelors = a Masters at said uni… on one occasion I had to point out to him that the use of the word “likely” had a specific meaning in statistics and did not refer to events with a less than 50% chance of occurring.

                • lprent …
                  16 September 2013 at 10:54 pm

                  Crikey. He will do well in Aussie. I can just see him now propping up a bar somewhere with his bushmans hat… Yaknow like in Croc Dundee spinning that and other ‘true’ tales

                • Rogue Trooper …
                  16 September 2013 at 10:57 pm

                  Thank God for Aristotlean Logos then, but what do I know, although, if I’m bored enough next year I might try out for one of them new-fangled Masters thingys; they say you can become a Doctor by entering the Box. 😀 (already been accepted twice, yet, the timing was a little out; not ‘pinking’ enough).

          • Draco T Bastard 13.1.1.1.6
            16 September 2013 at 8:47 pm

            Once the feral overclass, John Key and his ilk, have left everyone else will be free to make NZ a better place. Unfortunately, as they’re liars and don’t keep their word, we can’t expect them to keep their promise to leave.

      • Daveosaurus 13.1.2
        16 September 2013 at 6:52 pm

        If he wants to destroy a country, all he needs to do is leave its Tory government in place. Destruction of countries is all the Tories can do – cf. Thatcher.

        • srylands 13.1.2.1
          16 September 2013 at 8:31 pm

          “Tories” = “A Tory holds a political philosophy (Toryism) based on the traditionalism and conservatism originating with the Cavalier faction during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. This ideology is prominent in the politics of the United Kingdom, and also appears in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada. ”

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tory

          Which country are we in?

          • ZET 13.1.2.1.1
            16 September 2013 at 8:37 pm

            That’s called cherry picking. If you’d bothered reading to the bottom of the linked page you would have found the last paragraph entitled “Current Usage”. Of course there aren’t any pictures to give you a clue and some of the words run to three or more syllables..

            • McFlock 13.1.2.1.1.1
              16 September 2013 at 8:54 pm

              yet another tory who thinks that they’re the only ones with access to teh interwebz. In Australia, “Tory” is used as a pejorative term by members of the Australian Labor Party to refer to members of the conservative coalition Liberal and National parties.[15]. Are you not familiar with the parlance of your homeland, spylands?

              But a much clearer outline of the term is actually expressed when describing “tories” of the Texas Revolution. It doesn’t scan perfectly given the particular political issues of the time, but the essence is the same: The Tories generally were long-term property holders whose roots were outside of the lower South. They typically had little interest in politics and sought conciliation rather than war or they withheld judgment from both sides. The Tories preferred to preserve the economic, political, and social gains that they enjoyed as citizens of Mexico, and the revolution threatened to jeopardize the security of their world. Tories were, and are, people who grew rich at the expense of the majority and generally by some mechanism of massive injustice, and who will use every tool and weapon of power that their privilege grants in order to continue to oppression of their fellow citizens.

              But to be fair, many of them (like spylands) are so disconnected from the reality that faces most people that they might really have no idea about the real harm their policies cause.

  16. jaymam 16
    16 September 2013 at 4:54 pm

    Now what? A deputy, that’s what!
    Sure Grant Robertson has talents and deserves to be deputy rather than Jacinda Ardern. However Labour would get more party votes with Linda’s unretouched portraits beaming out from the billboards. She would also get much more of the female vote, and the anti-gay vote. So what does Labour want, votes or fairness? Grant will still be competent and effective in the House, given important portfolios.

  17. Tim 17
    16 September 2013 at 5:51 pm

    Chorus DOES tick all the boxes … it’s a natural monopoly which is being funded by tax payer (public) money, and there to serve the public (aka tex payers/consumers/end users – call ’em whatever your flavour dictates).
    In that sense, and like any other natural monoploy (usually there for ‘reticulation’ purposes – it should/must either be PUBLICLY owned, or heavily regulated.
    Whether its water, gas, roading, railway lines, electricity ‘grids’, or telecommunications ‘grids’, it is the mechanism by which other operators (private or public) deliver.

    I was hoping Key’s threat that it could go broke wasn’t as idle as it was. GOOD stuff I would have said – and the sooner the better.
    I still hope it will. It’ll be the fastest way for a return to public ownership that there could be.

    Let’s see just how far the next gubbamint will go.

    As Cunliffe says – if ensuring a quarter of a million children are fed, educated and watered is ‘left wing’ …. so be it.
    I’d go further. If ensuring 4 million plus are equally reticulated with the services most of them (or their ancestors) paid for anyway is ‘left wing’, so be it!

  18. pollywog 18
    16 September 2013 at 6:02 pm

    What next?…now I have to make good on my pledge to join the Labour party.

    That’s what…give it a month or so though 🙂

    • Colonial Viper 18.1
      16 September 2013 at 9:23 pm

      Need you onboard to help hold Labour to account, and to set expectations that Labour must deliver on its promises.

  19. burt 19
    16 September 2013 at 6:41 pm

    What now … All existing staff from the old leader need to be given jobs by the new leader …. Or is it different for Labour and their policies are not to be applied to themselves ?

  20. Tim 20
    16 September 2013 at 6:50 pm

    “Cunliffe wins – now what?”

    It’s only just gone 24hours.

    I’d suggest we give the guy a break, and not subscribe to the 24hr news cycle or the 24hr party people syndrome – lest we repeat the sins of the MSM on alternative platforms.
    A good time to just have a lay down (even a cup of tea)
    A couple of days maybe …
    Let the bubblists sweat a little!

  21. Tanz 21
    16 September 2013 at 8:24 pm

    Key on Breakfast this morning, honestly, lame.
    Cunliffe is already much different from Shearer, much more in-charge and decisisive.
    This can only be good, I suppose.
    Key is far too self confident.

  22. vto 22
    16 September 2013 at 9:12 pm

    what now?

    well push towards a greater spread of the wealth

    for one thing

  23. xtasy 23
    16 September 2013 at 10:35 pm

    Now what? A decisive, early START of the election 2014 campaign, from the very early hours on Tuesday, 17 September 2013 onwards, until Key and Natzies are beaten and chased off the treasury benches!

    And make sure you have lots of garlic chains around your necks, to keep those nasty blood sucking vampires at bay (MSM and the likes).

  24. trickledrown 24
    17 September 2013 at 7:55 am

    99% of all scientific researchers agree global warming is happening.

    The 1% ters disagree!
    the very same people who are destroying our caring sharing society!

  25. Rodel 25
    17 September 2013 at 2:15 pm

    Now What?
    Heard from an MP’s spouse that with Cunliffe/Parker and a real team, the Nats can see the writing on the wall and are going for broke.

    Their time for sneaky little adjustments that people don’t notice has gone.

    Watch for a big increase in hasty right wing action as they try to mould New Zealand to suit their friends before the risk of 9 years out of power after the next election. i.e Meridian this month, Air NZ before Xmas.etc.etc.Kiwi bank?…

    I’m glad that parliament is sovereign and can undo legislation and repair the damage.
    I hope Cunliffe makes it clear that this could happen with a Labour government.

  26. Wayne (a different one) 26
    19 September 2013 at 12:58 pm

    Whats next?

    Well, firstly I’m going to sack all my staff (so much for the “workers” party).

    Then I’m going to kick all the “ABC’s” in the slats.

    Then I’m going to present a united & happy Labour Party to the country (Yeah Right)!

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 26.1
      19 September 2013 at 1:34 pm

      Nonsense Wayne,

      Representing ‘workers’ doesn’t mean ‘anything goes’

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    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 hours ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 hours ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    12 hours ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    13 hours ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    13 hours ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    14 hours ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    14 hours ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    15 hours ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    16 hours ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    16 hours ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    16 hours ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    16 hours ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    16 hours ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    17 hours ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    20 hours ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    20 hours ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    20 hours ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    21 hours ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    22 hours ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    23 hours ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

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

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • Sad tales from the left
    Michael Bassett writes –  Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • In Whose Best Interests?
    On The Spot: The question Q+A host, Jack Tame, put to the Workplace & Safety Minister, Act’s Brooke van Velden, was disarmingly simple: “Are income tax cuts right now in the best interests of lowering inflation?”JACK TAME has tested another MP on his Sunday morning current affairs show, Q+A. Minister for Workplace ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Don’t Question, Don’t Complain.
    It has to start somewhereIt has to start sometimeWhat better place than here?What better time than now?So it turns out that I owe you all an apology.It seems that all of the terrible things this government is doing, impacting the lives of many, aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ per se. Those things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Auckland faces 25% water inflation shock
    Three Waters became a focus of anti-Government protests under Labour, but its dumping by the new Government hasn’t solved councils’ funding problems and will eventually hit the back pockets of everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 8:06 am today are:The Government ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Small accomplishments and large ironies
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • The Song of Saqua: Volume VII
    In order to catch up to the actual progress of the D&D campaign, I present you with another couple of sessions. These were actually held back to back, on a Monday and Tuesday evening. Session XV Alas, Goatslayer had another lycanthropic transformation… though this time, he ran off into the ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

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