Daily Review 14/09/2015
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6:00 pm, September 14th, 2015 - 21 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
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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
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- 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. ...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
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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
- 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
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- Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
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- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
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- Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions
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- Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
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- Appointments to the ENZ board
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- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
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- Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge
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- Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed
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- More AML relief on the way for Kiwi businesses
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- Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land
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- Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient
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- Diverse skills in community trust appointments
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- 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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- Building consent processing times improve
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- Faster access to support through Innovation Fund
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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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- Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup
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- Offshore Renewable Energy Bill passes first reading
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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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- Vanuatu quake: Warnings as bad weather threat looms for Port Vila
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Josie Pagani.
Doing the Tories work for them while masquerading as a ‘centre left’ commentator.
Pagani is so right wing she’d be more at home in the National Party.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11512750
Sickening, visionless, hogwash.
An interesting choice of words and phrases being used.
Doesn’t this one sound all to familiar: “Labour’s policies had been right, they had not been communicated well.” ?
And little said similar: Jeremy Corbyn won because he was authentic.
She overlooks the fact that tax increases is not the only avenue government has to generate revenue.
She disingenuously claims: “There is no way through for him that will see Labour elected.”
In reality, he has a number of options and avenues to take.
She also disingenuously claims: Corbyn’s leadership is the opposite of what it promises to be. It will actually betray Labour voters because it ensures Conservative rule by offering comfortable and easy reassurance only to Labour’s activists.
Corbyn’s yet to campaign in the general election, therefore, she doesn’t know if wider voters will resonate, she merely assumes they won’t.
Doing good generally results in people feeling good.
Pagani opens her mouth and political shit issues forth.
Apparently now she has such a precise understanding of the electorate and of the mood of the nation, she can predict the political future.
Stupid, delusional and self aggrandizing.
Yep I thought of her when I chose the photo for this post. Post coming up tomorrow …
Can she be turfed out of The Labour Party?
No. It’s a broad church that welcomes her ilk.
WMDs
She needs to be exported back to Italy where she can work on the Pagani production line making Zondas. At least she’ll be doing something productive then.
Key seems to be doing the rounds at several Auckland schools at the moment and over the next couple of weeks, wonder what that’s all about ?
That’s what he does.
He’s always out and about meeting people.
In need of some hair touching?
ROFL
There have been some NAct MP’s hanging around the schools down here too. Chris Bishop for one.
Ah, he would have been visiting Cannon’s Creek and Naenae no doubt…
Nope the privates – connecting with his peer group??
Action
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/sep/14/tony-abbotts-leadership-under-pressure-as-mps-gather-politics-live
The Abbott leadership story is interesting – but a change of leader won’t make much difference to Oz politics – they’re all Tories.
Meanwhile – I think I’ve found the quote of the week.
Sorry cannot do a link to it, but the Northern Advocate today Mon 14 Sept pg 22 has a feature about Nicky Hager – I think its connected to their Tauranga paper because its advertising the Tauranga Arts Festival. Hager is talking about people who come as refugees into NZ – and how they and their families get involved in their local NZ community as part of their appreciation of being in NZ.
He says “It must be something about the hard experiences we heard about …… that make us want to contribute to our communities in positive ways. ……. There’s always an exception to the rule ….. John Key. Its unusual to find someone who has a refugee as a parent, and who never spent one minute volunteering in a community.”
I find this an extremely telling comment. It fits.
But but but, isn’t Key giving his entire PM salary to charity and therefore his work as PM is as a volunteer? What a gift to New Zealand! And he is giving us a new Flag.
And he gives away wine, and knighthoods, and our sovereignty and our good name overseas, and he does it all for free! Voluntarily, even.
We were all wrong… Agent Smith was The One (video)
Hungarian people should be ashamed of their government.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/09/11/hungary-abysmal-conditions-border-detention
Be nice to know what Petra László’s producers instructions were.
(Although László writes that she is “prepared to take responsibility” for her actions, we note that her apology is not directed to the individuals she assaulted. It is for prosecutors and the courts to decide whether she deserves to be punished beyond the loss of her livelihood (and the world notoriety she achieved overnight). However, the fact that her former employer, N1TV, is the ultranationalist, xenophobic, racist, antisemitic, homophobic propaganda arm of Hungary’s radical right-wing Jobbik party suggests that she may, in fact, be “a heartless, racist operator that kicks children”-ed.)
http://budapestbeacon.com/news-in-brief/n1tv-camera-operator-issues-apology/27182
http://hungarianfreepress.com/2015/05/10/hungarys-jobbik-builds-far-right-media-empire/