“Irreverence” is an absurd word for Hosking. He is so totally puffed up with worship of the standard right-wing pieties that he’s become a caricature. His adoration of John Key showed not an ounce of irreverence towards the rich and powerful.
Story about funding being withdrawn for children’s camp in Roxburgh and another in Otaki. They want $3 million funding to be continued. It sounds to me like some local trust with not-for-profit basis providing a good income for family or small group in trust. This is what happens when government withdraws from running a balanced social welfare system, and hives it off to charity. There are good pickings for the middle class showing the poverty-hit strugglers the era of their ways.
There are two mayors who I think are brothers, and it would be interesting if they are National voters. They are pushing these schemes which are providing something that government should be doing as in the Health Camps of the past. In this era of depression-like poor conditions for so many it is time for government to step up to do the heavy lifting again, especially as they have been the ones most at fault in blighting the country.
It is the type of thing that produces an emotional response. Pushing buttons about children in need like this is going to be frequent if the Labour coalition don’t introduce more steps to help woman gain strength and skills to manage their parenthood and suitable part paid or volunteer work with case managers able to support them to make changes that will help.
AWW
It is sad to see this sort of comment which shows no understanding of the factors at all. Merely getting money from a father is not enough to be the ‘help a woman gain strength and skills to manage their parenthood’. It takes more than money to be a good parent. Fathers paying for their children is an obsession with some people. Money is all that matters to people like that, it is more important than caring about the development of the parent and child.
Playcentre used to be able to do a lot of good work in parenting education and still does for some people who are able to use this service. Unfortunately beneficiaries who used to be able to take their children to Playcentre and do Playcentre education including parenting courses and experience in running the Playcentre as well as developing confidence and building friendships with other parents are now forced to put their children in low cost often low quality childcare while they go and do stupid WINZ courses.
When I was on the DPB looking after my aged mother in the late 1990s, I received a WINZ letter ordering me to attend a course on how to handle a job interview which included lessons on how to dress and how to talk properly. I sent them copies of my qualifications and certificates together with a run-down of my fairly extensive professional work experiences and advised them I would not be attending this course. Never heard another word from them.
Last week Hamish Fletcher wrote a piece in the Business Section of the Herald under the heading which suggested that the Superannuation Fund should not become a slush fund (with reference to the funding of light rail for Auckland) and John Roughen continued the theme in the Herald today. I found the terminology most unfortunate and wrote the following letter to Mr Fletcher. I have yet to receive a reply and doubt that I ever will. However I feel that the issue is so important that I have had the temerity to publish it below:
Dear Hamish Fletcher
I am writing to you in reply to your most unfortunate and politically loaded response to the news that the Superfund (I note you didn’t label it the Cullen fund and so imply credit where credit is most certainly due) will assist with the funding of Auckland’s Light Rail. It is becoming increasing clear that National Party cheer leaders, and you are clearly one, are naming much needed projects such as this and the light rail to the airport after the politicians who are championing them. The intent is obvious – to suggest that these are “pet” projects that are not necessarily good ones.
Some months ago Bryan Gaynor published an excellent article on the folly and and horrendous (continuing) cost of Muldoon’s stupendous bribe to win the 1975 election. Here is a link to that article :
At the time it was published, I looked in vain for any comment from people such as yourself.
As Brian Gaynor points out, had Labour’s scheme been allowed to run, we would indeed have been enjoying a “rock star” economy for decades, not the charade that has been the focus over the last nine years. It is about time the true cost of National Superannuation was made part of a public debate so that New Zealanders can be informed re the effect it is having (and has had) on the economy and to shed light on the reality of the National Parties economic management skills.
On this same theme I suggest you read the section in former cabinet minister Hugh Templeton’s book “All Honourable Men” where he exposes the machinations which went on at the highest level of the National Party in the promulgation of that disastrous but highly effective election strategy.
I don’t know if you are suggesting that we shouldn’t have superannuation
which is not a big income for most. If it does result in people who have managed their money prudently being better off, it should still be affordable if people pay their taxes in a progressive way. Unfortunately the progress has been downward. T
ypically the NZs don’t want to accept responsibility like decent citizens and want the cake of a good reliable and fair superannuation scheme but also to eat it by holding back the taxes, reducing, minimising, avoiding so that others who don’t have such clever accountants and such obsessive greed are paying a full share out of smaller income, and that isn’t enough to pay for the services we need and want.
Good morning GWS. No I am not suggesting for a moment that we don’t have the National super. It is a very significant part, but not the only one, of the retirement income that my wife and I share. I agree totally with the rest of your comment.
That is an excellent letter Marcus Morris. Good on you for reproducing it here. I doubt you will get a reply from Fletcher but that could be a compliment because he will be hard pressed to find any fault with your analysis.
I remember the 1975 election very well having only a year or two earlier joined the Labour Party. I knew quite a lot of middle aged people (at that time) who had never voted National before but they fell for the bribe.
And we have all been paying for their selfish greed ever since.
Thanks for that Anne. The most catastrophic aspect of Muldoon’s policy was that it literally killed off the Government Super scheme. Thousands of public servants withdrew from that Fund using their contributions to help pay off mortgages (yours truly was one) in the misguided belief that National promises would hold true. Many of my colleagues did the same and most of us deeply regret our decision. The awful irony is that Labour’s 1974 plan was to afford all New Zealanders the same guaranteed retirement income that State Servants enjoyed as well as providing much needed funding for infrastructure within the nation. I do have friends who had the foresight to stay with the original scheme and they are enjoying a very comfortable and secure retirement.
Re your note about “middle aged people”. My father turned 60 (the original qualification age) in 1975. Guess who he voted for that year and I strongly suspect that it was the only time he ever voted for the National party in his life. He received the payment as soon as it was available and did so for the rest of his twenty nine years including the five when he continued to work until his retirement (on top of the Government super he had contributed to). He had no problem with the surtax when it was introduced and used to say that those who objected were merely indicating publicly just how well off they were.
News today.
1 The Australian family shooting. It appeared to me that we were hearing all about this in a leagues table way – we have to know about the biggest and best shooting tragedy of a family in Australia so far. I didn’t hear any NZ connection.
2 Girl Guides are going to stop raising money by selling biscuits. It isn’t their core business. Sounds very neolib econ, mixed with middle class superiority.
We don’t go from door to door, who knows what grubby people, literally, our lily white hands may touch. The line of thinking probably is: ‘And the girls should be studying so they can become economists and meet a better class of person.’ https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/103850898/girl-guides-to-stop-selling-biscuits
Seymour describes sushi as too woke for school meals. There are no fish sushi meals recommended by the School Lunches programme. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Government will swap out hot meals for packaged sandwiches to save $107 million on school lunches for poor kids. MSD has pulled ...
I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadenceBut I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeahBut it's on the table, the fire's cookin'And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'But I'm goin' hungry, yeahSome ...
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Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
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Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
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Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
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The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
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The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
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Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
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The Acumen Edelman Trust barometer reported that New Zealand’s political trust score now sits below the global average, a topic explored in a recent discussion paper by Maxim Institute. ...
Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director Russel Norman says, "The Fast-Track Bill is the most damaging piece of environmental legislation any Government has introduced in living memory. People are angry, and it’s time to march." ...
The school lunches programme has been retained – and will be extended to some preschoolers. So how is it going to cost $107 million less? To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. The minister with many hats David Seymour wears a number of hats, but this week ...
“Show us the bird,” I found myself muttering at times while reading Hard by the Cloud House by Peter Walker, a deeply thoughtful, often hilarious, at times rambling – but somehow delightfully so – search for the story of a big bird. But not just any bird: the bird. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Marley, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition DPVUE .images/Shutterstock Your home was probably designed for a climate that no longer exists. As long as humanity continues to burn fossil fuel, padding the heat-trapping blanket of gases in Earth’s atmosphere, the ...
A senior lawyer has filed a complaint about tikanga becoming a required law school module. Law lecturer Carwyn Jones explains what he’s getting wrong. “…the first law of Aotearoa, a law that served the needs of tangata whenua for a thousand years before the arrival of tauiwi.”– Ani Mikaere ...
In 2019, an Auckland woman woke up from surgery to find that she had undergone a treatment she didn’t consent to. She tells Alex Casey about her experience. From her very first period at the age of 14, Laura experienced “debilitating” levels of pain that forced her to withdraw from ...
Comment: Concerns about the state of the economy are creeping up to the top of firms’ list of challenges. That’s evident in both surveys and the tone of our recent client discussions. Skimming the past few weeks of eco-news, it’s not hard to see why. – Retail card spending fell ...
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In the gloom following director-general Al Morrison’s job cuts in 2013, the Department of Conservation restructured its operations arm. Eleven conservancy districts were whittled into six new “conservation delivery” regions, under which the Rēkohu/Wharekauri/Chatham Islands area, comprising 40 scattered islands more than 800km east of Christchurch, was tethered to the ...
One of th e country’s top litigation lawyers says New Zealand is seeing a lift in court action between companies. Chapman Tripp partner Justin Graham, who oversees a team of around 80 litigation specialists, says the courts are now so log-jammed that it’s taking over two years to get cases ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government is talking up the crucial role of gas as a transition fuel “through to 2050 and beyond”. In a gas strategy to be released on Thursday, the government envisages the fuel’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Next week the government will again next try to get its legislation through to deal with non-citizens who won’t cooperate with efforts to deport them. The bill, which the opposition and crossbench refused to rush ...
A long-term project that will set out an alternative vision for Aotearoa that looks beyond the narrow confines of the policy straight jacket adopted by successive governments. ...
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The Minister Responsible for GCSB and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security have been notified of this review, and have been provided a finalised Terms of Reference. ...
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They have Hopkins.
We have Hosking.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/103818511/mike-hosking-named-new-zealands-best-talk-show-presenter-at-radio-awards
“irreverence’ is one word for it, I suppose.
irreverence
noun
a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously.
Others might call it “disrespect, lack of respect, disdain, scorn, contempt, derision, mockery, ridicule, disparagement.”
You pays your money (in his case far too much) and you takes your choice (in my case, not to view).
Hosking was labelled positively as being “irreverent” by a fellow co-host, who happened to be his wife.
I’m no fan of Clare Curran but true to form, Hosking delivered an all time low.
What’s the bet he and his “loving” wife Kate Hawkesby are laughing their heads off at their collective witticisms. (sarc)
Credit where credit is due… Clare Curran appears to have maintained her dignity and did not respond in kind.
“Clare Curran appears to have maintained her dignity and did not respond in kind”
In fairness Claire Curran dosnt respond to a lot of things
She probably meant “irrelevant” – they’re a low vocabulary family.
LOL Appreciate that.
“Irreverence” is an absurd word for Hosking. He is so totally puffed up with worship of the standard right-wing pieties that he’s become a caricature. His adoration of John Key showed not an ounce of irreverence towards the rich and powerful.
Northcote campaign launch
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Story about funding being withdrawn for children’s camp in Roxburgh and another in Otaki. They want $3 million funding to be continued. It sounds to me like some local trust with not-for-profit basis providing a good income for family or small group in trust. This is what happens when government withdraws from running a balanced social welfare system, and hives it off to charity. There are good pickings for the middle class showing the poverty-hit strugglers the era of their ways.
There are two mayors who I think are brothers, and it would be interesting if they are National voters. They are pushing these schemes which are providing something that government should be doing as in the Health Camps of the past. In this era of depression-like poor conditions for so many it is time for government to step up to do the heavy lifting again, especially as they have been the ones most at fault in blighting the country.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/354428/children-s-mental-health-service-to-close-villages-in-june-if-it-can-t-get-funding 8/4/2018
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018644192/otago-mayors-plead-govt-to-fund-children-s-village 9/5/2018
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/356993/gutting-decision-as-at-risk-kids-service-denied-funding 9/5/2018
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018644570/girl-s-emotional-testimony-on-why-village-needs-to-stay 11/5/2018
It is the type of thing that produces an emotional response. Pushing buttons about children in need like this is going to be frequent if the Labour coalition don’t introduce more steps to help woman gain strength and skills to manage their parenthood and suitable part paid or volunteer work with case managers able to support them to make changes that will help.
“Labour coalition don’t introduce more steps to help woman gain strength and skills to manage their parenthood…”
? Maybe the only help needed is a crackdown on non custodial parents paying what they owe regardless of clever accounting.
AWW
It is sad to see this sort of comment which shows no understanding of the factors at all. Merely getting money from a father is not enough to be the ‘help a woman gain strength and skills to manage their parenthood’. It takes more than money to be a good parent. Fathers paying for their children is an obsession with some people. Money is all that matters to people like that, it is more important than caring about the development of the parent and child.
Money doesn’t hurt but.
Money facilitates, responsible kind parenting with support where useful capacitates.
Playcentre used to be able to do a lot of good work in parenting education and still does for some people who are able to use this service. Unfortunately beneficiaries who used to be able to take their children to Playcentre and do Playcentre education including parenting courses and experience in running the Playcentre as well as developing confidence and building friendships with other parents are now forced to put their children in low cost often low quality childcare while they go and do stupid WINZ courses.
… while they go and do stupid WINZ courses.
When I was on the DPB looking after my aged mother in the late 1990s, I received a WINZ letter ordering me to attend a course on how to handle a job interview which included lessons on how to dress and how to talk properly. I sent them copies of my qualifications and certificates together with a run-down of my fairly extensive professional work experiences and advised them I would not be attending this course. Never heard another word from them.
Looks like Greens are getting royally screwed over the Kermadecs.
C’mon Sage stand up.
Gordon Campbell has good reading on Trumps claims on the Iran agreement:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1805/S00056/gordon-campbell-on-nine-trump-lies-about-the-iran-deal.htm
Last week Hamish Fletcher wrote a piece in the Business Section of the Herald under the heading which suggested that the Superannuation Fund should not become a slush fund (with reference to the funding of light rail for Auckland) and John Roughen continued the theme in the Herald today. I found the terminology most unfortunate and wrote the following letter to Mr Fletcher. I have yet to receive a reply and doubt that I ever will. However I feel that the issue is so important that I have had the temerity to publish it below:
Dear Hamish Fletcher
I am writing to you in reply to your most unfortunate and politically loaded response to the news that the Superfund (I note you didn’t label it the Cullen fund and so imply credit where credit is most certainly due) will assist with the funding of Auckland’s Light Rail. It is becoming increasing clear that National Party cheer leaders, and you are clearly one, are naming much needed projects such as this and the light rail to the airport after the politicians who are championing them. The intent is obvious – to suggest that these are “pet” projects that are not necessarily good ones.
Some months ago Bryan Gaynor published an excellent article on the folly and and horrendous (continuing) cost of Muldoon’s stupendous bribe to win the 1975 election. Here is a link to that article :
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11940232
At the time it was published, I looked in vain for any comment from people such as yourself.
As Brian Gaynor points out, had Labour’s scheme been allowed to run, we would indeed have been enjoying a “rock star” economy for decades, not the charade that has been the focus over the last nine years. It is about time the true cost of National Superannuation was made part of a public debate so that New Zealanders can be informed re the effect it is having (and has had) on the economy and to shed light on the reality of the National Parties economic management skills.
On this same theme I suggest you read the section in former cabinet minister Hugh Templeton’s book “All Honourable Men” where he exposes the machinations which went on at the highest level of the National Party in the promulgation of that disastrous but highly effective election strategy.
Yours etc.
Here is the link to Hamish Fletcher’s article:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=12048258
I don’t know if you are suggesting that we shouldn’t have superannuation
which is not a big income for most. If it does result in people who have managed their money prudently being better off, it should still be affordable if people pay their taxes in a progressive way. Unfortunately the progress has been downward. T
ypically the NZs don’t want to accept responsibility like decent citizens and want the cake of a good reliable and fair superannuation scheme but also to eat it by holding back the taxes, reducing, minimising, avoiding so that others who don’t have such clever accountants and such obsessive greed are paying a full share out of smaller income, and that isn’t enough to pay for the services we need and want.
Good morning GWS. No I am not suggesting for a moment that we don’t have the National super. It is a very significant part, but not the only one, of the retirement income that my wife and I share. I agree totally with the rest of your comment.
That is an excellent letter Marcus Morris. Good on you for reproducing it here. I doubt you will get a reply from Fletcher but that could be a compliment because he will be hard pressed to find any fault with your analysis.
I remember the 1975 election very well having only a year or two earlier joined the Labour Party. I knew quite a lot of middle aged people (at that time) who had never voted National before but they fell for the bribe.
And we have all been paying for their selfish greed ever since.
Thanks for that Anne. The most catastrophic aspect of Muldoon’s policy was that it literally killed off the Government Super scheme. Thousands of public servants withdrew from that Fund using their contributions to help pay off mortgages (yours truly was one) in the misguided belief that National promises would hold true. Many of my colleagues did the same and most of us deeply regret our decision. The awful irony is that Labour’s 1974 plan was to afford all New Zealanders the same guaranteed retirement income that State Servants enjoyed as well as providing much needed funding for infrastructure within the nation. I do have friends who had the foresight to stay with the original scheme and they are enjoying a very comfortable and secure retirement.
Re your note about “middle aged people”. My father turned 60 (the original qualification age) in 1975. Guess who he voted for that year and I strongly suspect that it was the only time he ever voted for the National party in his life. He received the payment as soon as it was available and did so for the rest of his twenty nine years including the five when he continued to work until his retirement (on top of the Government super he had contributed to). He had no problem with the surtax when it was introduced and used to say that those who objected were merely indicating publicly just how well off they were.
News today.
1 The Australian family shooting. It appeared to me that we were hearing all about this in a leagues table way – we have to know about the biggest and best shooting tragedy of a family in Australia so far. I didn’t hear any NZ connection.
It makes my heart ache to think of all the other tragedies in the world that we have been denied information on because they haven’t broken any new record. Another way of looking at it would be that it is ghoulish in the extreme for Radionz and other media to be gloating over Australian tragic statistics and reports from locals about how the family was regarded, and how shocked, sad people are.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/357220/australian-murder-suicide-three-firearms-recovered
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/103850615/margaret-river-tragedy-police-brace-for-extensive-investigation
2 Girl Guides are going to stop raising money by selling biscuits. It isn’t their core business. Sounds very neolib econ, mixed with middle class superiority.
We don’t go from door to door, who knows what grubby people, literally, our lily white hands may touch. The line of thinking probably is: ‘And the girls should be studying so they can become economists and meet a better class of person.’
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/103850898/girl-guides-to-stop-selling-biscuits