The Service's investigation miraculously excluded some other allegations:
The former employee also noted they had seen:
– The member’s Channel magazine column being used for Party messaging.
– The use of the out-of-Parliament office to host Party events.
– The storage [of] National Party material at the out-of-Parliament office.
Who needs Whaleoil when you have Bryce Edwards and his "spin" in a certain direction courtesy of the "Herald" but paywalled
He says:
"Will New Zealand have its first Māori Prime Minister next year? That's what Simon Bridges is suggesting, and despite scepticism from critics and commentators, there's good reason to take him seriously. The National Party annual conference in the weekend went well for the party, and there are other signs to suggest the chances of "Prime Minister Simon Bridges" are looking stronger than ever."
He goes on: "In his keynote speech in the weekend Bridges seemed to relish the fact that his ordinary background"
No mention that another of one of the higher up MPs Guy announced he was leaving just two days later?
Other quotes "rapture in the auditorium"
"It looks as though the ongoing low-key leadership challenge to National Leader Simon Bridges has fizzled out"
"National's announcement of a new cancer agency policy has been judged to be very successful." (no mention that it was a farce and will go to few"
"David Cormack welcomed the policy as a sign that National wasn't going too rightwing under Bridges: "it's a particularly good thing when you consider that New Zealand's largest right-of-centre party is wanting to put more money into socialised healthcare. "
Is it me? Ok I suppose this is a different leader than the one that National had when they did none of the tings they now claim an interest in? Bridges is just not fit to be put forward as a viable PM of NZ. From Ross onwards they act with self-interest all the time. I'm not saying the coalition are "saints" but collectively they will put NZers first (not a pun) in a way I would not trust National or Bridges to ever consider doing.
Bryce is biased in his reporting because he is probably looking forward to a Knighthood from his mate when Bridges becomes the first maori PM. Though I haven't heard Bridges doing anything for Maori let alone visit the Ihumātao protest site.
I seem to remember Micky, that we had a discussion on this journalist and his tendency to promote the National view and selectively twist the supposed Labour left view, by omitting facts. Bryce Edwards is the new Armstrong in many ways.
I get the around 40% for National in the polls but that leaves a good chuck of NZ with wider interests. Nothing in Edwards syrupy summation indicated anything more than preaching to the converted.
Just about all the journalists and commentators at the conference reckoned Simon Bridges's speech on Sunday was the best that he has given to date. It was at prime ministerial level.
So Bryce Edwards was reflecting a consensus.
I done know why commenters on this site seem to think that unless a journalist or commentator is of the left they can't actually be a journalist. What happened to the idea that journalists/commentators should endeavour to be neutral and try and report things as objectively as they can.
The ridiculous traitors to our NZ democracy took away the Public Service television we had which was a powerful means of reflecting back to us the good things we had, and also the problems to be sorted. Then profit came in and celebrities and Hawkesby being paid $8 million for having his nose put out of joint. Money and advertising is now the main business, the content is built round them whereas in PS it would have remained central on the box.
Those politicians had our trust, and their smug faces are still around. I feel like the parent of someone who has been killed, and is grieving the death while the perp has a short time in prison and then can renew his life again. The conniving perps roam the places that elite people go and we are without our country-with-a-great-future. Now we must cobble together what we can, if we can, in the time we have got and despite obstacles from the smug elite.
Where are these "left" leaning journalists then? Because I am suggesting there are very few of them. Hoskings, Young, Hawkesby, O'Sullivan (the main NZ daily newpaper) and the whole cast of Newshub in the morning, various talkback radio and in particular the "Magic" rubbish all day, Stuff with Grant? Possibly there is Simon Wilson and I won't waste my time reading Marvelly, I probably have other opinions on some subjects, but is OK to disagree or not agree entirely. Obviously you will say Campbell on Breakfast but the others offer balance there. So where are they?
Name them.
All I want is the news and getting back to Bridges had Andrew Little been afforded other than derision as the then Opposition leader he may not have stepped aside – to all accounts he is highly respected now, funny that. Bridges has had 18 months and makes one speech that rallies people who saw him as flawed and who could not in my opinion given the true background of how his relationship with his "numbers man" and close "friend" evolved, NZ will never really know. Having to be that patient to see someone show some sort of leadership via one speech just illustrates to me what a poor line-up the National Party expect NZ to accept and the ranks grow even thinner as they leave.
No editor I worked for would have put up with the biased anti-Labor rubbish that, shamefully, the papers now produce on a daily basis. Gone is the requirement for balance. One has only to look at the story selection and headlines on the front pages of the papers each day to see that an anti-Labor angle has been taken, however contorted had been the literary gymnastics required to finally arrive at that particular bit of stupidity.
"What happened to the idea that journalists/commentators should endeavour to be neutral and try and report things objectively"
You might ask partisan hacks like Armstrong, Young, and Hoskings, and the unprofessional editors who select such wretched non-journalists for their vacuous fact-free opinions, Wayne.
But since you're a spinner too you'll merely cry crocodile tears for the demise of a critical civic function the far right found inconvenient and nobbled.
According to a sociologist in a report some decades back from a very poor area of Naples, when someone gets close and personal with his hand on your shoulder as in the image with Obama, you better watch out because he is going to slide a knife between your ribs.
He's always been and arm around shoulders type. He was in trouble recently because some silly women whose shoulders he armed got the idea into their heads he was sexually harassing them.
So they feel like it was inappropriate and he was sexually harassing them – and your view (based on no real evidence other then what you read in papers, and not knowing the people) is to call them some silly women.
Ffs – some people are happy to bash the victim if it suits their political views.
There was a video showing him briefly put his arm around a woman's shoulder and the woman apparently objected.
I know the difference between a man lightly putting his arm across a woman’s shoulder (as he did) in a gesture of affection and a man slithering his hand around a woman’s back etc. But James doesn't need "real evidence" about anything. He just jumps to conclusions and projects. 🙄
You know James is adept at sliding his poison penknife in the ribs of sincere commenters. Anything anyone says he twists and points back at you. He probably designed one of those elaborate knots that are shown on boating web pages.
Found this YouTube clip over at the WONZ Fourm site, of the Senior Service/ RNZN (Pirates) attempting to a RAS (Replenishment At Sea while underway) in their haste to get to Kaikoura after the earthquakes.
It’s a wee bit wet over the pointy bit (I think it’s called bow or foc’sle) of the Te Kaha.
I think the guy who says "Holy fuck!" part-way through offers all the commentary required for this video. If I was on board I would have been bringing up internal organs by that point.
As a sailor, I have always been wary of being sent up to the bow of a keelboat to do whatever. It appears that the Navy had 4 or so guys simply standing at attention up at the bow in those conditions. (When they weren't being washed off their feet.) Can anyone explain? Why were the poor buggers there at all? The ship could survive those waves OK… (Or could it ?)
Just read the amendments offered by Maggie Barrie re the End of Life Bill. Wordy but not unreasonable unless they make a person's decision so complicated that no decision could be made.
Greenland icesheet gone, sooner than thought. As the cooler artic shuts down and moves over the interior of northern continuents, does it expose why brexit, why syria, why china trade war, why oz wants less people not more. But it however doesn't explain China's need for monkey human hybrids, can't even see a smigg of connection to climate change!
Another threat soddenleaf. After all that struggle to get on a modern path in China, this is the one they choose? Better refer to the wise people of the past for a guide that illuminates their way – apparently now to the dungeons and the frankenstein labs. I didn't want to believe the Falun Gong but….
National’s latest bright idea was to pump $200 million into cancer treatment but do nothing about tackling causes of cancer such as … smoking. They are so conflicted and conflicting but can’t even see it or can they but just don’t give a toss?
Don’t mention BBQ or James will be all over you before you can squeeze the Wattie’s on your sausage. Personally, I think children should walk to school in walking school buses. Does Labour have any policies on this? If not, I’d be highly concerned and may have to vote for ACT next year.
Bacon, ham and sausages rank alongside cigarettes as a major cause of cancer…
That is a straightforward lie. A smoker's risk of lung cancer is orders of magnitude higher than a non-smoker's. A processed-meat eater is at fractionally higher risk of cancer than a non-meater, according to some studies. They don't "rank alongside" each other.
Processed meat is classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).
Tobacco and asbestos are also both classified as carcinogenic to humans and both also sit in Group 1. Thus, they all rank along side – i.e. all sit in Group 1.
You've put forward a straw man. Rather than assessing the level of "risk", such as your straw man presented, IARC classifications describe the strength of the scientific evidence about an agent being a cause of cancer.
Therefore, your bold statement that I’m lying is in fact a lie (intentional or not) made by you.
Are you thinking that all agents in Group 1 are equally carcinogenic? The part in your comment about IARC suggests that you are not thinking this but the rest of your comment implies that you are thinking exactly that! Maybe you are confused about the IARC classification system …
Do know what most thought? Are you an omni-mind reader by any chance? Do you know what I am thinking right now? Don’t write it here because I’d have to ban you 😉
If you believe I was the only one disappointed with Jacinda beating National in delivering on their promise of getting rid of a CGT, then you are simply out of touch.
Did you expect Jacinda to be delivering on National's promise in Labour's so called year of delivery?
And were you not surprised she is no more left than National on this issue? Or did you think she was more left than that?
According to your link, Simon 'read my lips, no more taxes' Bridges "promised to get rid of both the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax and the Capital Gains Tax" on Monday 26 November 2018, in “poll position” so to speak.
PM Ardern's subsequent promise not to introduce a new CGT took the wind out of Simon's sails – he does seem all at sea. #Let'sKeepSimon
And yet the most recent increase in GST (a non-progressive Rogernomics initiative) occurred under a Key-led National government. Have National committed to no further increases in GST, and would you trust a National government to honour such a promise?
"Mr Key went on to say that if a National government was doing "a half decent job" it wouldn't need to either raise GST or raise taxes."
I was genuinely disappointed by the introduction and subsequent increases in the GST, and by the decision not to introduce a GCT.
The election of another National government so soon after the previous kleptocracy would be a disaster – National party ‘principles’ and ‘integrity’ are indistinguishable from "the love of money".
Another disingenuous comment from you to paint Labour and Jacinda Ardern in a bad way.
Please explain why the Coalition Government did not take CGT further. Please don’t insult the intelligence of most here by suggesting the reason is that “Jacinda, [is] not as left as most/some thought”.
FYI, I rarely am genuinely surprised as I try to limit/lower my expectations as to what others will do or say; it is an exercise in futility that wastes a lot of energy and time.
Please explain why the Coalition Government did not take CGT further.
Jacinda claimed New Zealanders didn't support it while a number of polls showed otherwise.
NZF claimed they stopped it.
Some believe it was done to take the wind out of Simon's sails.
Nevertheless, regardless why she did it, she did it nonetheless (making her no more left than National on this issue) beating National to it in the process.
Yes, if elected. The headline and story was in the link provided above.
As for Labour, do they really want to continue to put the boot into Māori?
One of New Zealand’s most renowned tobacco control researchers is questioning the merit of the apparent Budget decision to keep raising the excise duty on tobacco.
Budget 2019’s tax forecasts included another 10% increase in tobacco excise on 1 January 2020.
New Zealand tobacco control expert Dr. Marewa Glover, director of the Centre of Research Excellence: Indigenous Sovereignty & Smoking believes the annual tobacco tax increases are disproportionately impacting Māori, of whom around 170,000 smoke.
The "lefty" "more left than most" Chairman, still shredding their 'friend of the left' credibility! The sogginess, it burns! Here's a selection from this Daily Review – up to readers to decide just how ‘friendly‘ The Chairman really is.
"I see National have ruled out any further tax increases on tobacco, have Labour?"
"is Labour going to go after consumers of them next?"
"Jacinda, not as left as most thought."
"Jacinda, not as left as some thought."
"disappointed with Jacinda"
"Labour's so called year of delivery"
"she [PM Ardern] is no more left than National on this issue"
"As for Labour, do they really want to continue to put the boot into Māori?"
The Chairman – “As transparent as a transparent thing.“
I asked you specifically if National was going to end tobacco taxes and even italicised “end”.
Your reply:
Yes, if elected. The headline and story was in the link provided above.
The headline you linked to used the verb “halt”, not “end”. As usual, you are misleading others into believing stuff that is incorrect and/or non-existent except for in your mind.
I read the Scoop link (but right now I can’t be bothered with the other two links to your Heroes of the Left).
New Zealand tobacco control expert Dr. Marewa Glover, director of the Centre of Research Excellence: Indigenous Sovereignty & Smoking believes the annual tobacco tax increases are disproportionately impacting Māori, of whom around 170,000 smoke. [my bold]
I find the choice of words very odd for a scientist calling for “more science-based approach to smoking cessation and harm reduction”.
Can you point to where in that piece they referred to the Government or more specifically Labour? It seems to me that once again you take ‘liberty’ to put the boot into Labour. You know full well that we have a Coalition Government and that Winston Peters who is Deputy Prime Minister used to be an avid smoker. Do you know where he stands on this topic?
So the poor should use their fucking brains and stop spending thousands of dollars a year to give themselves cancer, and their offspring through second hand smoking, and spend the money on decent food and shoes so the kids don't have to walk hungry and barefoot to school in the winter as a by product of their parents selfishness.
I'm all for helping people out of poverty, but giving smokers extra cash per week is like giving a junkie the keys to your safe deposit box and trusting them not to rip you off for a fix.
Tax the fuckers into common sense, even if they vote national and cheaper smoking over their, and their families best interests.
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A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...
Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...
Legislation to enable new water service delivery models that will drive critical investment in infrastructure has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking a significant step towards the delivery of Local Water Done Well, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly say.“Councils and voters ...
New Zealand is one step closer to reaping the benefits of gene technology with the passing of the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. "This legislation will end New Zealand's near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and is ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 23 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The Government’s social housing agency has backed out of a billion-dollar infrastructure alliance that would have built about 6000 new homes in Auckland – less than 18 months after signing a five-year extension.Labour says the decision to rip up the contract and sell off existing state houses could lead to ...
ByKoroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor New Zealand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) says impending bad weather for Port Vila is now the most significant post-quake hazard. A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to move into Vanuatu waters, bringing heavy rainfall. Authorities have issued warnings to people ...
Cosmic CatastropheThe year draws to a close.King Luxon has grown tired of the long eveningsListening to the dreary squabbling of his Triumvirate.He strolls up to the top floor of the PalaceTo consult with his Astronomer Royal.The Royal Telescope scans the skies,And King Luxon stares up into the heavensFrom the terrestrial ...
Spinoff editor Mad Chapman and books editor Claire Mabey debate Carl Shuker’s new novel about… an editor. Claire: Hello Mad, you just finished The Royal Free – overall impressions? Mad: Hi Claire, I literally just put the book down and I would have to say my immediate impression is ...
Christmas and its buildup are often lonely, hard and full of unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to make it to Jesus’s birthday and find the little bit of joy we all deserve. Have you found this year relentless? Has the latest Apple update “fucked up your life”? Have you lost two ...
Despite overwhelming public and corporate support, the government has stalled progress on a modern day slavery law. That puts us behind other countries – and makes Christmas a time of tragedy rather than joy, argues Shanti Mathias. Picture the scene on Christmas Day. Everyone replete with nice things to eat, ...
Asia Pacific Report “It looks like Hiroshima. It looks like Germany at the end of World War Two,” says an Israeli-American historian and professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University about the horrifying reality of Gaza. Professor Omer Bartov, has described Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza as an ...
The New Zealand government coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech. The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues. Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” ...
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. This news comes out at the same time as ...
Pacific Media Watch The union for Australian journalists has welcomed the delivery by the federal government of more than $150 million to support the sustainability of public interest journalism over the next four years. Combined with the announcement of the revamped News Bargaining Initiative, this could result in up to ...
MONDAY“Merry Xmas, and praise the Lord,” said Sheriff Luxon, and smiled for the camera. There was a flash of smoke when the shutter pressed down on the magnesium powder. The sheriff had arranged for a photographer from the Dodge Gazette to attend a ceremony where he handed out food parcels to ...
It’s a little under two months since the White Ferns shocked the cricketing world, deservedly taking home the T20 World Cup. Since then the trophy has had a tour around the country, five of the squad have played in the WBBL in Australia while most others have returned to domestic ...
Comment: If we say the word ‘dementia’, many will picture an older person struggling to remember the names of their loved ones, maybe a grandparent living out their final years in an aged care facility. Dementia can also occur in people younger than 65, but it can take time before ...
Piracy is a reality of modern life – but copyright law has struggled to play catch-up for as long as the entertainment industry has existed. As far back as 1988, the House of Lords criticised copyright law’s conflict with the reality of human behaviour in the context of burning cassette ...
As he makes a surprise return to Shortland Street, actor Craig Parker takes us through his life in television. Craig Parker has been a fixture on television in Aotearoa for nearly four decades. He had starring roles in iconic local series like Gloss, Mercy Peak and Diplomatic Immunity, featured in ...
The Ōtautahi musician shares the 10 tracks he loves to spin, including the folk classic that cured him of a ‘case of the give-ups’. When singer-songwriter Adam McGrath returns to Kumeu’s Auckland Folk Festival from January 24-27, he’s not planning on simply idling his way through – he wants the late ...
Alex Casey spends an afternoon on the job with River, the rescue dog on a mission to spread joy to Ōtautahi rest homes.Almost everyone says it is never enough time. But River the rescue dog, a jet black huntaway border collie cross, has to keep a tight pace to ...
Asia Pacific Report Fiji activists have recreated the nativity scene at a solidarity for Palestine gathering in Fiji’s capital Suva just days before Christmas. The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network recreated the scene at the FWCC compound — a baby Jesus figurine lies amidst the ...
By 1News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver and 1News reporters A number of Kiwis have been successfully evacuated from Vanuatu after a devastating earthquake shook the Pacific island nation earlier this week. The death toll was still unclear, though at least 14 people were killed according to an earlier statement from ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Scully, Professor in Modern History, University of New England Bunker.Image courtesy of Michael Leunig, CC BY-NC-SA Michael Leunig – who died in the early hours of Thursday December 19, surrounded by “his children, loved ones, and sunflowers” – was the ...
The House - On Parliament's last day of the year, there was the rare occurrence of a personal (conscience) vote on selling booze over the Easter weekend. While it didn't have the numbers to pass, it was a chance to get a rare glimpse of the fact ...
A new poem by Holly Fletcher. bejeweled log i was dreaming about wasps / wee darlings that followed me / ducking under objects / that i was fated to pickup / my fingers seeking / and meeting with tiny proboscis’s / but instead / i wake up / roll sideways ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne Versta/Shutterstock Australians are exposed to some of the highest levels of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the world. While we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Terry, Professor of Business Regulation, University of Sydney Michael von Aichberger/Shutterstock Even if you’ve no idea how the business model underpinning franchises works, there’s a good chance you’ve spent money at one. Franchising is essentially a strategy for cloning ...
The Audit Office notes the Parliamentary Service's gentle wet bus ticket for MP Maggie Barry using (public-funded) staff time at her (public-funded) electorate office for (private) political party business: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1908/S00025/response-to-parliamentary-services-report.htm
The Service's investigation miraculously excluded some other allegations:
Who needs Whaleoil when you have Bryce Edwards and his "spin" in a certain direction courtesy of the "Herald" but paywalled
He says:
"Will New Zealand have its first Māori Prime Minister next year? That's what Simon Bridges is suggesting, and despite scepticism from critics and commentators, there's good reason to take him seriously. The National Party annual conference in the weekend went well for the party, and there are other signs to suggest the chances of "Prime Minister Simon Bridges" are looking stronger than ever."
He goes on: "In his keynote speech in the weekend Bridges seemed to relish the fact that his ordinary background"
No mention that another of one of the higher up MPs Guy announced he was leaving just two days later?
Other quotes "rapture in the auditorium"
"It looks as though the ongoing low-key leadership challenge to National Leader Simon Bridges has fizzled out"
"National's announcement of a new cancer agency policy has been judged to be very successful." (no mention that it was a farce and will go to few"
"David Cormack welcomed the policy as a sign that National wasn't going too rightwing under Bridges: "it's a particularly good thing when you consider that New Zealand's largest right-of-centre party is wanting to put more money into socialised healthcare. "
Is it me? Ok I suppose this is a different leader than the one that National had when they did none of the tings they now claim an interest in? Bridges is just not fit to be put forward as a viable PM of NZ. From Ross onwards they act with self-interest all the time. I'm not saying the coalition are "saints" but collectively they will put NZers first (not a pun) in a way I would not trust National or Bridges to ever consider doing.
Bryce is biased in his reporting because he is probably looking forward to a Knighthood from his mate when Bridges becomes the first maori PM. Though I haven't heard Bridges doing anything for Maori let alone visit the Ihumātao protest site.
He does not like this site after lprent gave him a hard time in a post. He has stopped referring to us ever since. He should get out more often …
I seem to remember Micky, that we had a discussion on this journalist and his tendency to promote the National view and selectively twist the supposed Labour left view, by omitting facts. Bryce Edwards is the new Armstrong in many ways.
He works for a university, so is not a journalist. Not that it matters much these days..
I get the around 40% for National in the polls but that leaves a good chuck of NZ with wider interests. Nothing in Edwards syrupy summation indicated anything more than preaching to the converted.
Just about all the journalists and commentators at the conference reckoned Simon Bridges's speech on Sunday was the best that he has given to date. It was at prime ministerial level.
So Bryce Edwards was reflecting a consensus.
I done know why commenters on this site seem to think that unless a journalist or commentator is of the left they can't actually be a journalist. What happened to the idea that journalists/commentators should endeavour to be neutral and try and report things as objectively as they can.
Maybe because "Journalist's" in New Zealand, gave up being impartial long ago, and took the easier option of regurgitating right wing propaganda.
The Herald, and TV commentators, in particular, have become National's, "Ministry of Truth".
The ridiculous traitors to our NZ democracy took away the Public Service television we had which was a powerful means of reflecting back to us the good things we had, and also the problems to be sorted. Then profit came in and celebrities and Hawkesby being paid $8 million for having his nose put out of joint. Money and advertising is now the main business, the content is built round them whereas in PS it would have remained central on the box.
Those politicians had our trust, and their smug faces are still around. I feel like the parent of someone who has been killed, and is grieving the death while the perp has a short time in prison and then can renew his life again. The conniving perps roam the places that elite people go and we are without our country-with-a-great-future. Now we must cobble together what we can, if we can, in the time we have got and despite obstacles from the smug elite.
Where are these "left" leaning journalists then? Because I am suggesting there are very few of them. Hoskings, Young, Hawkesby, O'Sullivan (the main NZ daily newpaper) and the whole cast of Newshub in the morning, various talkback radio and in particular the "Magic" rubbish all day, Stuff with Grant? Possibly there is Simon Wilson and I won't waste my time reading Marvelly, I probably have other opinions on some subjects, but is OK to disagree or not agree entirely. Obviously you will say Campbell on Breakfast but the others offer balance there. So where are they?
Name them.
All I want is the news and getting back to Bridges had Andrew Little been afforded other than derision as the then Opposition leader he may not have stepped aside – to all accounts he is highly respected now, funny that. Bridges has had 18 months and makes one speech that rallies people who saw him as flawed and who could not in my opinion given the true background of how his relationship with his "numbers man" and close "friend" evolved, NZ will never really know. Having to be that patient to see someone show some sort of leadership via one speech just illustrates to me what a poor line-up the National Party expect NZ to accept and the ranks grow even thinner as they leave.
I would say the newspapers have a balance with some being neutral.
Commercial radio is probably more conservative.
TV, probably has all opinions represented, but they try and be neutral.
They never fail to represent the odious right, the 0.5% or so who support ACT. But en bloc their bias is predominantly failed RWNJ nonsense.
Oz has borrowed the wretched NZ model:
No editor I worked for would have put up with the biased anti-Labor rubbish that, shamefully, the papers now produce on a daily basis. Gone is the requirement for balance. One has only to look at the story selection and headlines on the front pages of the papers each day to see that an anti-Labor angle has been taken, however contorted had been the literary gymnastics required to finally arrive at that particular bit of stupidity.
One swallow does not a summer make.
"What happened to the idea that journalists/commentators should endeavour to be neutral and try and report things objectively"
You might ask partisan hacks like Armstrong, Young, and Hoskings, and the unprofessional editors who select such wretched non-journalists for their vacuous fact-free opinions, Wayne.
But since you're a spinner too you'll merely cry crocodile tears for the demise of a critical civic function the far right found inconvenient and nobbled.
According to a sociologist in a report some decades back from a very poor area of Naples, when someone gets close and personal with his hand on your shoulder as in the image with Obama, you better watch out because he is going to slide a knife between your ribs.
I thought that was a subtle form of racism. "You just watch your step boy!"
He's always been and arm around shoulders type. He was in trouble recently because some silly women whose shoulders he armed got the idea into their heads he was sexually harassing them.
So they feel like it was inappropriate and he was sexually harassing them – and your view (based on no real evidence other then what you read in papers, and not knowing the people) is to call them some silly women.
Ffs – some people are happy to bash the victim if it suits their political views.
There was a video showing him briefly put his arm around a woman's shoulder and the woman apparently objected.
I know the difference between a man lightly putting his arm across a woman’s shoulder (as he did) in a gesture of affection and a man slithering his hand around a woman’s back etc. But James doesn't need "real evidence" about anything. He just jumps to conclusions and projects. 🙄
Anne –
deciding how women feel (after all she saw a clip on TV).
Next she she will be calling rape victims “silly women” – because she thinks she knows how the victim should have felt.
You know James is adept at sliding his poison penknife in the ribs of sincere commenters. Anything anyone says he twists and points back at you. He probably designed one of those elaborate knots that are shown on boating web pages.
Found this YouTube clip over at the WONZ Fourm site, of the Senior Service/ RNZN (Pirates) attempting to a RAS (Replenishment At Sea while underway) in their haste to get to Kaikoura after the earthquakes.
It’s a wee bit wet over the pointy bit (I think it’s called bow or foc’sle) of the Te Kaha.
I think the guy who says "Holy fuck!" part-way through offers all the commentary required for this video. If I was on board I would have been bringing up internal organs by that point.
As a sailor, I have always been wary of being sent up to the bow of a keelboat to do whatever. It appears that the Navy had 4 or so guys simply standing at attention up at the bow in those conditions. (When they weren't being washed off their feet.) Can anyone explain? Why were the poor buggers there at all? The ship could survive those waves OK… (Or could it ?)
Why were the poor buggers there at all?
Its an actual thing…
If that were a West coast boat… regularly crossing the Bar….we'd be putting a shit load more weight down the back. Sacks of cement works.
Just read the amendments offered by Maggie Barrie re the End of Life Bill. Wordy but not unreasonable unless they make a person's decision so complicated that no decision could be made.
http://legislation.govt.nz/sop/members/2019/0262/latest/whole.html#LMS234911
http://legislation.govt.nz/sop/members/2019/0263/latest/whole.html#LMS234924
Agree to a degree, but even if they implemented all of them, her and her group of followers still wouldn't vote for it.
She has turned to just trying to make it take as long as humanly possible.
Probably to make sure there is no time for a referendum with the weed one at the next election.
Gun lobby trolls.
https://www.twitter.com/NZPoliceAssn/status/1156048678492102656
Stephen Fry is a gem.
(do have a close look)
https://twitter.com/stephenfry/status/1156493366357573632
Greenland icesheet gone, sooner than thought. As the cooler artic shuts down and moves over the interior of northern continuents, does it expose why brexit, why syria, why china trade war, why oz wants less people not more. But it however doesn't explain China's need for monkey human hybrids, can't even see a smigg of connection to climate change!
Another threat soddenleaf. After all that struggle to get on a modern path in China, this is the one they choose? Better refer to the wise people of the past for a guide that illuminates their way – apparently now to the dungeons and the frankenstein labs. I didn't want to believe the Falun Gong but….
Tobacco taxes resulting in the high cost of cigarettes is leading NZ to be increasingly targeted by international crime syndicates.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/08/auckland-businessman-arrested-for-smuggling-over-500-000-worth-of-cigarettes-from-china.html
I see National have ruled out any further tax increases on tobacco, have Labour?
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/11/simon-bridges-vows-to-halt-sin-taxes-on-cigarettes-or-alcohol-if-national-wins-2020-election.html
Simon promises to get rid of the Capital Gains Tax – bold and beautiful leadership
Maybe The “lefty” “more left than most” Chairman could update readers of The Standard on some more recent National party policies.
National’s latest bright idea was to pump $200 million into cancer treatment but do nothing about tackling causes of cancer such as … smoking. They are so conflicted and conflicting but can’t even see it or can they but just don’t give a toss?
Bacon, ham and sausages rank alongside cigarettes as a major cause of cancer, is Labour going to go after consumers of them next?
Moreover, with these items being given directly to children, shouldn't Labour be targeting them first?
Don’t mention BBQ or James will be all over you before you can squeeze the Wattie’s on your sausage. Personally, I think children should walk to school in walking school buses. Does Labour have any policies on this? If not, I’d be highly concerned and may have to vote for ACT next year.
Act would demand that each child have their own walking bus – for maximum freedom.
Bacon, ham and sausages rank alongside cigarettes as a major cause of cancer…
That is a straightforward lie. A smoker's risk of lung cancer is orders of magnitude higher than a non-smoker's. A processed-meat eater is at fractionally higher risk of cancer than a non-meater, according to some studies. They don't "rank alongside" each other.
Processed meat is classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).
Tobacco and asbestos are also both classified as carcinogenic to humans and both also sit in Group 1. Thus, they all rank along side – i.e. all sit in Group 1.
You've put forward a straw man. Rather than assessing the level of "risk", such as your straw man presented, IARC classifications describe the strength of the scientific evidence about an agent being a cause of cancer.
Therefore, your bold statement that I’m lying is in fact a lie (intentional or not) made by you.
Actually, Psycho Milt is correct.
Are you thinking that all agents in Group 1 are equally carcinogenic? The part in your comment about IARC suggests that you are not thinking this but the rest of your comment implies that you are thinking exactly that! Maybe you are confused about the IARC classification system …
Lol, on that basis my son "ranks alongside" Cristiano Ronaldo as a footballer, because they both play football.
He's too late on that one, Jacinda beat him to it.
Jacinda, not as left as most thought.
Do know what most thought? Are you an omni-mind reader by any chance? Do you know what I am thinking right now? Don’t write it here because I’d have to ban you 😉
I stand corrected.
Jacinda, not as left as some thought.
Almost but no cigar for you.
Jacinda, not as left as one thought who is more left than most.
FIFY
If you believe I was the only one disappointed with Jacinda beating National in delivering on their promise of getting rid of a CGT, then you are simply out of touch.
Did you expect Jacinda to be delivering on National's promise in Labour's so called year of delivery?
And were you not surprised she is no more left than National on this issue? Or did you think she was more left than that?
According to your link, Simon 'read my lips, no more taxes' Bridges "promised to get rid of both the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax and the Capital Gains Tax" on Monday 26 November 2018, in “poll position” so to speak.
PM Ardern's subsequent promise not to introduce a new CGT took the wind out of Simon's sails – he does seem all at sea. #Let'sKeepSimon
Indeed. But it was delivering on National's promise in Labour's so called year of delivery that disappointed and caught some by surprise.
As for National promising to drop fuel taxes, good. They are non progressive, thus impact hardest on the poor.
And yet the most recent increase in GST (a non-progressive Rogernomics initiative) occurred under a Key-led National government. Have National committed to no further increases in GST, and would you trust a National government to honour such a promise?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3311679/Key-no-GST-rise-video-emerges
GST is another tax both Labour and National support, yet it is non progressive. Expected from National. Disappointing for Labour.
Yes, National increased it. Haven't seen Labour racing to reduce it.
Once again, Labour showing us they are no longer as left as some have hoped.
I was genuinely disappointed by the introduction and subsequent increases in the GST, and by the decision not to introduce a GCT.
The election of another National government so soon after the previous kleptocracy would be a disaster – National party ‘principles’ and ‘integrity’ are indistinguishable from "the love of money".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleptocracy
The optimum course for NZ and Kiwis is to party vote Labour or Green, wouldn't you (a “lefty” who is “more left than most“) agree?
Another disingenuous comment from you to paint Labour and Jacinda Ardern in a bad way.
Please explain why the Coalition Government did not take CGT further. Please don’t insult the intelligence of most here by suggesting the reason is that “Jacinda, [is] not as left as most/some thought”.
FYI, I rarely am genuinely surprised as I try to limit/lower my expectations as to what others will do or say; it is an exercise in futility that wastes a lot of energy and time.
Jacinda claimed New Zealanders didn't support it while a number of polls showed otherwise.
NZF claimed they stopped it.
Some believe it was done to take the wind out of Simon's sails.
Nevertheless, regardless why she did it, she did it nonetheless (making her no more left than National on this issue) beating National to it in the process.
Why is it that some people can only focus on one person in collective decisions? The same mistake was made with Key.
She did? She literally said that or are you ‘paraphrasing’ in your usual disingenuous way?
Evasive, vague, and waffly to make it look as bad as possible for the PM on this issue or any issue for that matter. In other words, your MO.
I see National have ruled out any further tax increases on tobacco, have Labour?
Ask them.
That would be a Gordian knot for The Chairman 😉
So much rope, so many knots, the mind boggles …
Ironic, isn't it?
Tobacco taxes are negatively impacting the poor, yet it's National announcing an end to them.
National is going to end tobacco taxes?? I fully expect that to be a front-page headline tomorrow: The Chairman says …
Yes, if elected. The headline and story was in the link provided above.
As for Labour, do they really want to continue to put the boot into Māori?
One of New Zealand’s most renowned tobacco control researchers is questioning the merit of the apparent Budget decision to keep raising the excise duty on tobacco.
Budget 2019’s tax forecasts included another 10% increase in tobacco excise on 1 January 2020.
New Zealand tobacco control expert Dr. Marewa Glover, director of the Centre of Research Excellence: Indigenous Sovereignty & Smoking believes the annual tobacco tax increases are disproportionately impacting Māori, of whom around 170,000 smoke.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1905/S00543/tobacco-control-expert-questions-budget-tobacco-tax-increase.htm
Speaking of Labour and Māori, Chris Trotter has put out an interesting read.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/08/02/endgame-will-winston-peters-blow-up-the-coalition-over-ihumatao/
And so has Martyn Bradbury
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/08/02/who-says-nz-first-and-labour-are-on-opposite-sides-over-ihumatao-plus-the-only-solution-moving-forward/
The "lefty" "more left than most" Chairman, still shredding their 'friend of the left' credibility! The sogginess, it burns! Here's a selection from this Daily Review – up to readers to decide just how ‘friendly‘ The Chairman really is.
The Chairman – “As transparent as a transparent thing.“
I asked you specifically if National was going to end tobacco taxes and even italicised “end”.
Your reply:
The headline you linked to used the verb “halt”, not “end”. As usual, you are misleading others into believing stuff that is incorrect and/or non-existent except for in your mind.
I read the Scoop link (but right now I can’t be bothered with the other two links to your Heroes of the Left).
I find the choice of words very odd for a scientist calling for “more science-based approach to smoking cessation and harm reduction”.
Can you point to where in that piece they referred to the Government or more specifically Labour? It seems to me that once again you take ‘liberty’ to put the boot into Labour. You know full well that we have a Coalition Government and that Winston Peters who is Deputy Prime Minister used to be an avid smoker. Do you know where he stands on this topic?
I am waiting with bated breath …
The headline you linked to used the verb “halt”, not “end”.
Really?
Fuck off clown.
I'm sick of your fucken bullshit.
You can all get fucked.
I’m out of this shit hole so fuck the lot of you.
Wherever you're off to Chair, please continue your work to ensure the election of progressive left-of-centre governments – PARTY VOTE LABOUR/GREEN.
So the poor should use their fucking brains and stop spending thousands of dollars a year to give themselves cancer, and their offspring through second hand smoking, and spend the money on decent food and shoes so the kids don't have to walk hungry and barefoot to school in the winter as a by product of their parents selfishness.
I'm all for helping people out of poverty, but giving smokers extra cash per week is like giving a junkie the keys to your safe deposit box and trusting them not to rip you off for a fix.
Tax the fuckers into common sense, even if they vote national and cheaper smoking over their, and their families best interests.
Idiots. 🙄
If reducing smoking is regarded as a negative. Guess it would be if you were a tobacco company.