Daily review 12/10/2023
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5:30 pm, October 12th, 2023 - 37 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
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
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. ...5 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. ...5 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. ...5 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. ...6 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
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So an orgy of violence has been unleashed on Gaza. Will we get the same coverage in the media of the atrocities of the IDF?
One can hope. But I doubt it, our media has been primed to engage in war porn for all it's worth.
God Bless the UAW.
Targeting rolling strike has an expansion to the highly profitable Truck plant in Kentucky.
Better set up for tonights Chris v Chris on TV1.
Our Chris answers questions but their Chris still seldom answers on the important stuff. And those bluddy Ads! Jessica does attempt to block the Luxon often spiels that he spouts over the last year or so.
Luxon's standard reply to Hipkins is , "Settle down Chris. Calm down." Especially when Hipp challenges Lux mis representations and his constant avoidance of giving a credible answer.
The calm down bullshit is very condescending. Luxon’s Taylor Swift referenced fell flat.
I can imagine him as Airline CEO. Condescending and patronising !
I can not imagine him as PM of NZ
Yes PLA. If the Chrises were close enough, Lux would pat Hip on the head.
Yea…one thing I know, people do not liked being treated like that.
And who do we trust. Luxon spends.. $60 a week on food ?! Just BS. Chris Hipkins gets the Trust one.
It's likely Luxon would have treated people in this manner in his previous workplaces – slick, condescending, and shutting down any valid criticism and/or questioning with the "you're being negative" line. Unfortunately, I have witnessed this behaviour in the workplace – it is often used by those who are bullies, including those who bully with a smile on their face and employ subtler tactics than outright aggression; for example, marginalisation and othering.
Yes, Christopher Luxon said he only spends $60 a week on food but, to be fair, he also said he has been visiting a lot of Food Banks recently
Actually Lux is getting ratty I think because Hip and Jessica are trying to get Lux to answer a QUESTION! He is getting tight around the mouth because he hates being asked/challenged to answer questions. His usual litany of rehearsed lines are not working. Even Jessica is asking for answers.
Setting aside my lefty bias, I still think Hipkins won the debate hands down. He probably went a bit too far once or twice, but as the underdog he had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
The brickbat has to go to the choice of former politicians described by Mutch-McKay as 'political experts'. Paula Bennett was so partisan it wouldn't have mattered if Luxon had started bawling because Hipkins was besting him, she still would have awarded him the prize. I could be wrong but I get the impression Cunliffe is still miffed with Labour because of the way he was treated some 10 or so years ago.
Yeah, I thought it was a sickening have Paula Bennett as an "expert commentator" when a significant chunk of the debate focussed on beneficiaries and featured a beneficiary (Agnes) and her family… and Paula Bennett's illustrious background includes releasing beneficiaries' private information to the media: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/no-apology-from-bennett-over-leaked-income-data/QTER225PJ2JUBMFULL5NOO6XVU/
I see now on breaking news on The Herald that Bennett is referring to Hipkins' comment about Sam Uffindell – "none of my MPs beat people with bed legs" – as "vile and quite despicable."
So…
1. Hipkins points out fact (that Uffindell is a self-confessed violent bully – https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/08/national-s-sam-uffindell-admits-to-being-school-bully-concedes-violent-assault-on-13-year-old-was-a-crime.html)
2. Paula (who doubled down on bullying beneficiaries and said she wouldn't rule out bullying them again – https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7482635/Bennett-won-t-rule-out-releasing-beneficiary-details) doesn't condemn Uffindell's thuggery as "vile and quite despicable" but instead condemns Hipkins in those terms for pointing out fact.
Also, has anyone else seen this? https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-national-mp-did-not-declare-shareholding-to-parliament-in-wake-of-michael-wood-scandal/FR5FFQ73GJES3LS63CZRLCXE7U/
"National MP Andrew Bayly did not declare to Parliament his shareholding in a company, risking allegations of hypocrisy, as Bayly was one of the fiercest critics of former Labour minister Michael Wood, who resigned over the same offence."
The pull ya benefit ex National shrill's hair was on heavy meth…..funny that….
Jacinda would never have mentioned the bed leg attack, but then we have moved on it seems from being a kind society to an aggro one….Chippy can throw a punch…….sad but necessary…..
I 110% hate Paula Bennett and her ilk. They're truly terrible people.
From the article. Bayly will do a Coleman when he retires from politics!
You might as well stick to your opinion about the winner. God loves a tryer, however mistaken they are.
On the other hand the state of the Herald Poll at about 11.30 pm was that 71% thought that Luxon was the winner and only 29% were on your mates side.
C'est la vie.
I think the audience approved of Hipkins getting passionate , lots of applause with Luxon getting a bit rattled
Jeez, Luxon is a condescending twit. He's trying to be 'statesman-like' but has neither the charm but the authority with his non-answers.
Chippy is attacking well, and audience seems to love it. Even though his interruptions make it hard to hear Luxon tying himself up and waffling, the content of what Chippy says is a million times better.
My favourite Luxon inanity (Luxonanity?) of the night was when he said that after he became PM he would quickly be "circulating globally". It caused instant hysterical crackup on the couch here. One suggestion from the couch dwellers for 'delivering' this 'outcome' involved helium and a large cork.
LOL!!! Thank you AB for reminding me of the exact wording of Luxon's comment – I knew it was something that reminded me of the Covid pandemic and you have confirmed this
"Whoever forms the next Government will have to operate within tight constraints and stay in line with fiscal responsibility rules that were baked into law by the 1989 Public Finances Act.
The pre-election update set out an extremely tight set of budget forecasts that many economists think neither party will be able to actually stick to.
“Despite the campaign rhetoric, the policy positions of the major parties are not substantively different, and we don’t expect transformative change,” ASB economists said in a note. "
https://www.interest.co.nz/economy/124739/national-led-government-could-push-property-prices-higher-and-food-prices-lower
A cork on an unsettled sea.
Four people with placards at each exit to the Wanaka 3 Lakes roundabout with the Liz Gunn Loyal Party.
No-one was tooting.
I think Gunn claims a million backers. Oh?
Maybe all the backers are overseas?
Maybe it’s a million hackers? Or a million hecklers?
I hope it was raining
Democracy at work. Vote for Loyal if you wish.
If parts of America can do it, why can’t we?
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2023/oct/11/culdesac-car-free-neighborhood-tempe-arizona?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Did I just hear Luxon say currently we have LOW UNEMPLOYMENT?
That's negative for him , causes high wages and less people for the pearl clutches to hate.
Luxon was so pompous, shifty, robotic with his prepared responses, and smug. The PM did very well in countering Luxon and came over as a smart, genuine person.
Various opinions on who won the debate: https://archive.ph/wdQPH
Thomas Coughlan – Hipkins
Claire Trevett – Hipkins
Audrey Young – Hipkins
Shayne Currie – Luxon
Each opinion comes with various disclaimers of course.
Israel's energy minister.
Hamas lost any moral high ground killing non combatants and taking civilian hostages, I know that hamas and Palestine probably feel they have nothing to lose ,but it was wrong.
If you lived in the Hamas world instead of our comfortable one, you might well feel otherwise.
That is how it happened.
Not a bunch of us nice people sitting down and deciding, "Ohhh! Let's be nasty!"