Daily Review 05/09/2017
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5:35 pm, September 5th, 2017 - 60 comments
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
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The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...4 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
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. ...4 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...5 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
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. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
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. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
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. ...6 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
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. ...6 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
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. ...6 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...6 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
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 ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
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. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
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. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
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. ...7 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
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. ...7 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
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. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
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. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
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. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
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. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
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. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
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. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
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. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
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. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
- Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare
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. ...2 weeks ago
- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
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. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
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 ...2 weeks ago - Swarbrick calls on Auckland Mayor to end delay of revival of St James Theatre
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...2 weeks ago
- He Ara Anamata: Greens launch Emissions Reduction Plan
Today, the Green Party of Aotearoa proudly unveils its new Emissions Reduction Plan–He Ara Anamata–a blueprint reimagining our collective future. ...2 weeks ago
- Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
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 ...20 hours ago - PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council
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 ...3 days ago
- New intelligence oversight appointments
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- New housing developments able to progress more quickly
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 ...3 days ago
- Actions to speed up air travel delivering results
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- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
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 ...3 days ago
- Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions
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 ...3 days ago
- Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
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 ...3 days ago
- Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas
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 ...3 days ago
- Appointments to the ENZ board
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 ...4 days ago
- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
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 ...4 days ago
- More gangs added to Gangs Act list
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- Judicial appointment announced
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- GDP data highlights importance of growth
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- Strengthening Free Speech in Universities
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 ...4 days ago
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- Minister reopens Mangamuka Gorge
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 ...4 days ago
- Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge
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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 ...4 days ago
- Levelling the playing field for media advertising
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- Inspector-General of Defence appointed
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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, ...5 days ago
- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
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- A busy year in the House
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- Consultation opens on working with engineered stone
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- Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
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- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
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- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
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 ...5 days ago
- Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis
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- Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading
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- Gene Technology Bill passes first reading
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Stepehen Joyce is a world renonwened expert on finance so…..8 respected economists must be wrong.
Yep, doubling down on the dead cat.
Crosby Textor playbook….dirty politics 2.0
They need to start querying the bills
Please note: Blinglish was also minister of finance for 8+ years.
Lol turns out Joyce is a full blown economics dropout! Too funny. Full marks whoever fact checked his cv:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11917623
Helen Clark tweet shuts Nats up
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11917479
Saw that. National’s response? They stand by it.
When did National last do something original, not old or borrowed?
They never, ever do tracey.
Even their lying is an age old political plan 😉
ROCK ON AUNTY 😀 That should always happen, and just did.
Things that make you go hmmm…
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/201857263/video-evidence-appears-to-contradict-nick-smith-s-claim
Nick Smith who abused his position of power to help a friend, lied???!!?
Funny that came out today, was told last night by a local that Smith had played it up big time.
He’s going to be pissed off when the sculpture hits town.
I’m guessing that when push comes to shove, Smith will say it was a metaphoric “rubbing my face in it”. Given that angle, there may have been a lot of pushing and shoving too.
Corbin Dann at TVNZ news smacks down the National “$11b hole” attack line.
That plus Clark countetstrike is Slapdown Tuesday.
In this interview, Jacinda is, well, wonderful!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11917479
Outstanding ain’t she. Takes the piss in a non piss taking manner.
Joyce is incredibly obtuse on the $11billion hole on Checkpoint after 6pm. Flatly continues with his position. Amazing!
Cameron Bagley also on line.
Includes the experts who deny Joyce.
Here it is!
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/201857408/no-11b-hole-in-labour-s-fiscal-plan-economists-say
Just what we need. A Finance Minister who doesnt understand numbers. And a Former Finance Minister and now PM who agrees with him. This has to reflect on Billshit’s economic credibility too
he knows exactly what he’s doing (and that the numbers work)…all he is attempting (and polls will say whether he’s succeeding) is create doubt amongst those soft Nat voters…unsure people stick with the devil they (think they) know.
….as to reputation, he hasn’t one to lose
Didn,t the Donald win his election by doing something similar? Waiting for Joyce to start calling Fake News at the news media any moment.
Well Pat if they’relying on third time lucky I have a feeling its going to be unlucky this time. Why? Because the media have decided to play a straight ball and are telling the whole story. In 2011 and 2014 they decided to stick with Key and so let the Nats get away with the lying and cheating.
Eg. the Donghua Liu Affair
granted the media are being somewhat more vigorous this election, however the desperate Nats are not appealing to the MSM rather they are appealing directly to those soft Nat voters that have been bleeding to JA and they obviously fear more (their in house polls must be bad)
(their in house polls must be bad).
I’m picking Labour is now significantly ahead of National. The Reid Research was carried out before the CB poll so probably was out of date by the time it was published.
I hope truly hope so….and we should know soon enough…when is the next poll due?
There’s a Roy Morgan due towards the end of next week, they say: https://mobile.twitter.com/roymorganonline/status/904538155302432768
as far away as that?….well by then any impact should show
English has economic credibility with a lot of middle New Zealanders. he said, in 2010, he’d deliver a surplus in 6 years. He duly delivered it. WE might not like what he did to get there, but we were hardly ever going to vote National, were we?
For the voters thinking about switching, his perceived competence and reliability, versus Labour’s sketchiness on tax, are going to be significant considerations.
Labour needs to get a simple and consistent tax message out. It isn’t like no-one could have anticipated National would attack them on this front, FFS.
joyce is fronting this…it was he who stated his reputation was on the line…English has kept himself at arms length…and yes they were always going to push the tax/costing line but an outright lie shows just how desperate they have become
Am I going crazy or did your earlier post (the one I quoted from) not mention Bill English’s credibility?
That’s why I posted about English. Because I thought you were talking about him.
you must be going crazy….never mentioned English,said the Nats..and Joyce is both fronting and campaign strategist, though it would be fair to say that English risks his reputation by being complicit but if he wins it will have been worth it and if he doesn’t nobody will care…its politics and almost expected.
Ah! It was Tracey’s comment above yours I was meant to reply to – particularly, “This has to reflect on Billshit’s economic credibility too.”
Quoted from the wrong post. So I’m not mad, just careless.
lurgee
Yep, exactly.
Around 140,000 former Clark Labour voters swung to Key’s Nats in 2008, attracted first and foremost by his charismatic leadership and his / English’s perceived economic competence (as highlighted by the 2008 New Zealand Election Study).
Similar numbers of Nats are now considering moving back to Labour (including, no doubt, many of those 140k 2008 defectors, women in particular). Jacinda-mania certainly has them interested, English’s National is looking tired and out of ideas, a long-term, latent desire for change is finally finding expression … and yet … and yet … they’ll still be difficult to win over decisively … they need solid reassurance about Labour’s economic credentials.
Values, Vision, Inspiration, the ethereal, Inter-generational change will only go so far … especially with Middle-aged and Older swing voters. I can imagine some thinking … ‘Where’s the Meat ?’ … lots of exciting, superficial froth (including the Let’s Do This slogan) but where’s the substance that shows us conclusively the Country will remain in safe economic hands.
Remember these are people who, in many cases, have happily voted National for 3 consecutive Elections. They are not English-sceptics.
which all reinforces my point
Yeah, actually your 7:04 pm comment was absolutely spot-on (I hadn’t got around to reading the upper reaches of the thread – just purely responding to lurgee’s argument without worrying too much about what or who he was taking issue with. I’m nothing if not an intellectually lazy geezer) 🙂
“I’m nothing if not an intellectually lazy geezer) ‘
lol…let us hope enough voters are not so inclined
Seems that I wasn’t too concerned, either.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11917623
face book is being flooded with nat lies this being one of them , hopefully more than 43% of kiwis aren’t easily fooled this time
its a cunning (and proven) strategy….and one that is unlikely to have a net loss of votes…it will succeed or not, as long as they brazen it out…it only falls over if the Nats admit they are wrong.
The lies are really stacking up here…
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/338766/principals-rubbish-national-s-prefab-classroom-claim
We knew Billshit wasn’t a MoF backside when he constantly predicted 173,000 new jobs from one “budget” to the next! He just pulled numbers out of his posterior.
Jacinda = Trump(!??)
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96519787/wall-street-journal-compares-labour-leader-jacinda-ardern-to-donald-trump
The point was that they are both anti-immigration. Jacinda was described as being like Trudeau in other respects. Seems fair
A.
Jacinta is NOT anti immigration.
She is for a modicum of control.
Well sure, in reality she probably really likes a lot of migrants. Nevertheless she finds herself campaigning on a promise to slash work and student visas (http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/06/labour-confirms-plans-to-cut-immigrant-numbers-by-up-to-30-000.html). If that isn’t an anti immigration policy, I don’t know what is.
A.
Anti-immigration policy would halt all immigration.
Controlled immigration is a more accurate term. Given the abuses that seems to be occurring for those on student and short term visas this is a long overdue and reasonable response.
So anyone who wants anything less than today is anti immigration? National has been anti children then judging by the state of health, education, housing, ….
> So anyone who wants anything less than today is anti immigration?
Yes, exactly.
I didnt mean it as a criticism, I also support some cuts to immigration.
A.
National is turning into a train wreck camapign
remember the Corporate Manslaughter proposals ?
“Justice Minister Amy Adams has ruled out corporate manslaughter being included in the Crimes Act, saying it is more appropriately dealt with by new health and safety legislation.”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/277090/ministers-at-odds-over-corporate-manslaughter
They couldnt agree on anything at the end as the Business backers wouldn’t allow that to happen
Apparently Whats good enough for Mothers cant possibly apply to business
“Labour leader Jacinda Ardern says abortion should not be in the Crimes Act and she would change the law.
“Prime Minster Bill English, a conservative Catholic, said he supported the law as it was and he would be opposed to liberalisation.”
Access to abortion is governed by the Crimes Act 1961 and the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977.
During the Newshub debate on Monday night, Ardern said she would change the law if she became Prime Minister.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96494385/jacinda-ardern-abortion-shouldnt-be-a-crime
It’s been a train wreck from the start. Remember the first week when they kept parking Bill in empty, wintry paddocks or fruit picking sheds with just a couple of flunkies? Coleman and English scuttling out a side door at Dunedin hospital? Paula Bennet can’t help herself mouthy self and fucks up one of their meat and veg policies? Now Joyce has jumped the shark. It’s extraordinary just how bad National is at campaigning. This National Party campaign will keep poli sci students going for years.
Ardern could use this. Is there another debate? Again National protects Directors whose workers die or are maimed on the job but criminalises women in trouble.
RIP Walter Becker and thanks for the funny lyrics, putting jazz into rock and making awkward cool.
Sea surface temperatures in the high twenties and 3/4 days out from significant landfall with the possibility it could move into the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
http://firsthandweather.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/sst.png
https://twitter.com/hashtag/Irma?src=hash
I notice that some of the pro-Trump fake-news propogandists from last year have started to pop up on Facebook with anti-Labour and anti-Jacinda comments. An example is that the abortion policy will allow/encourage abortion up to full term. They are probably being fed this rubbish through social media. I hope our investigative journalists and media outlets are watching out for such deception.
https://www.national.org.nz/increasing_elective_surgeries_to_200_000_a_year
And there we have it (again), the sheer arrogance of National, the borne-to-rule mentality that flows from privilege and closed-mindedness.
I heard something of their elective surgery numbers.
What it really said was: Jonathan Coleman has be quoting for bullshit numbers for ages but the new ones are real.
There are large numbers on hidden waiting lists waiting to get on the actual official waiting lists. Doctors keep trying to get their patients put on the lists and they are knocked back until their small problems that could have been fixed easily are so bad they have to be put on the list. Even if they get on the list if the money is not there to do their surgery before they are on the list too long they will get knocked off again with some bureaucratic trick so that the waiting times are kept artificially lower than they really are.
Hippie’s ! , – Aussie ones !
Time for Labour to be in govt , get this election wrapped up and have a dance !
daddy cool – eagle rock – YouTube
doin the eagle rock▶ 3:48