Ever take a loan, then tell the lender to **** off?
How do you think that works out?
Bloody good job – I hope they go after them all as hard as possible.
All they have to do is make their loan payments like everybody else. Now – just like the real world – they are seeing there are consequences for their (lack of) action and dishonesty.
Ever take a loan, then tell the lender to **** off?
Yep.
How do you think that works out?
Fine. It’s why we have laws for defaulting.
All they have to do is make their loan payments like everybody else.
Except for the fact that they can’t afford to. That’s the real point here. The government is demanding that these people do something that they can’t afford.
Paul, these people have stolen from the collective, if you’re any sort of socialist you’d be appalled at their flagrant dishonesty and be demanding they pay the money back.
So what is this?…. a new found respect for socialism / the collective ?
Very impressed with the use of the word collective. Very impressed.
So building on that idea I say we should now be released to take the former Business Roundtable (now the New Zealand Institute ) to court for charges of social malfeasance , obtaining pecuniary advantage ,and treason.
Additionally , we can also charge the neo liberal leaders of the last 32 years retrospectively with the same criminal charges with the added charges of collusion and being complicit in a crime.
There.
That would solve the issue of those stealing from the collective.
Well done , BM , thank you very much for your input.
“So building on that idea I say we should now be released to take the former Business Roundtable (now the New Zealand Institute ) to court for charges of social malfeasance , obtaining pecuniary advantage ,and treason.”
Yeah – thats a rational response to asking someone to pay their student loan.
Like Whittall who set up a company in Wellington during the Royal Commission of Inquiry called ‘ Whittall and Associates ‘ which specialized in among other things ‘ mining safety ‘….
Didnt work for a few years after that because no one would seek his services the lazy bludging bastard – and we paid for that !.
So off he went and packed his bags back to Australia without so much as a buy you or leave to budge off the Aussie’s Centrelink..
Yep – but you guys seem to have an issue with the laws for defaulting on student loans.
“Except for the fact that they can’t afford to. That’s the real point here. The government is demanding that these people do something that they can’t afford.”
citation please?
There are plently that are just trying to get away with it – unfortunately they cause more issues for the ones with genuine problems.
” There are plently that are just trying to get away with it – unfortunately they cause more issues for the ones with genuine problems.”
I heartily agree !
And so to add to that and following along that line of logic,…. these govt depts that are in collusion with the National party and particularly with ex PM John Key ,…. and also the Pike River Coal Mining company who said they didn’t have any funds left to stand trial….should be taking responsibilities for their actions, reentering Pike River and being manned up enough to accept the consequences of any evidence found and of a renewed High Court trial by which a significant number would be convicted…
Stop em at the airport if they try to get away and throw the book at em , eh James? –
Ooooooooo , yes but dear Jamsey Wamsey ,… but it does…
especially in a liberal social democracy where we are all supposed to be equal under the law… or are you now changing your tune and resorting back to selectivity ?
Oh Jamsey …. Im so disappointed in you…. and here I really thought you’d started to develop a small sliver of humanity and common sense…
See Draco’s comments about their ability to pay back. I agree with him/her on that.
I also believe in justice above the law. It was unjust that the generation after us paid for education when we did not.
Your right wing ‘consumer’ view of education I guess is exemplified by your use of private education.
You have much to learn of the benefits of a civil society, I sense.
Here’s a clue.
It’s not all about you.
Don’t be an ass, when you went to Uni in the 1950’s probably about 5% of the population went onto higher education, the rest entered the workforce.
The country could easily afford that and anyway higher educated people paid their “free” education back in spades when the top tax rate was around 60%.
I received a free education. I have always thought I should pay it back somehow. I also think that my kids and my nephews and nieces should get a free education as well. Things work better when we educate all of our kids, no matter how poor they are.
The country could easily afford that and anyway higher educated people paid their “free” education back in spades when the top tax rate was around 60%.
Yep and we could do the same if we raised the top tax rate back up to 60%+
Thank you for your support for social inclusiveness.
Ah, National going the punitive route rather than making things better.
It would be much better, easier and cheaper just to forgive all student debt, drop the fees, give proper Student Allowance and develop our economy so that when students are ready there’s jobs for them.
compassion and empathy does not come into it – they took a loan, entered a contract and bolted and didnt pay it.
Thieves – and they deserve anything they get.
You see – entering an agreement and taking all the “good stuff” and not paying money for it is theft. There are consequences – its a basic concept that you seem to be lacking Paul
Now look , I’ve already told you about that principle… and that I agree with it. And you also know that nasty Mr Douglas and all his naughty little friends need to be hauled up before the class and given a jolly good talking to..
And yes I agree… taking money that doesn’t belong to you IS theft.
Now wipe that spaghetti from the side of your mouth , please.
And of course James you are so bloody perfect, people like you are a constant irritant – what was so wrong with a public education for your kids that you had to lose an arm and a leg to send them to a private school. Just because you didn’t avail yourself of a tertiary education after your school years doesn’t mean to say it would fail your kids. Your kids might have more sense than you. What an angry man you are. What a waste of money paying out for a private school. Kids can come back and kick you in the bum no matter what you do for then, I hope they do not disappoint you after all that investment. Happy days.
Thanks Kate for your concern. Again not angry – quite happy in life all in all.
As for the private education- it was a choice – and we are happy with it. I’m happy with the education they received. They enjoyed their school years and to me that’s worth it.
amyway – kids are happy, well rounded and contributing members of society. I’m proud of them.
It would be far better for us all if you acted to make yourself proud of our state education system as well. But I suspect you are devoid of such altruism.
“It would be much better, easier and cheaper just to forgive all student debt, drop the fees, give proper Student Allowance and develop our economy so that when students are ready there’s jobs for them.”
Hear hear!
This would apply to ALL fees…including trade training, Class 2+ driving licences etc.
As an aside…how hard would it have been to have some kind of CET arrangement with Australia so NZ student loan repayments could have been collected through the Aussie tax system? If Aus has the capacity to identify and then exclude Kiwis paying tax in Aussie from entitlement to benefits and disability supports….surely their tax computer can perform a NZ student loan repayment function.
Rosemary
You should have added as part of your plan of free tertiary education for everyone and for all course, plus forgiving all existing debt that you have just increased govt spending by about 4% of GDP, since around 70% of the population get some form of tertiary ed.
All you have to do is increase taxes. It will require personal rates to go up by 25% across the board. However presumably you don’t want bottom tax rates to increase so the top rate will need to go to 66% as it was prior to 1984..
Good luck with selling that idea.
“All you have to do is increase taxes. It will require personal rates to go up by 25% across the board. However presumably you don’t want bottom tax rates to increase so the top rate will need to go to 66% as it was prior to 1984..
Good luck with selling that idea.’
absolute bollocks…..what was the rate of GST prior to 1984 Wayne? …it might however require the enforcement of existing tax law and /or closing of a few of those convenient loopholes….IRD funding will likely need increasing as well while we are at it.
Wayne
How much did you pay to enroll for your first degree?
How much did you have to pay for accommodation and living expenses.
How much did you have to borrow from the government to pay for your university education?
You may just have known someone who trained for a trade while you were studying…law, was it? Anyway…how much did apprentices have to pay to train during the time you were studying?
Funny. don’t you think, that the loudest voices demanding today’s youth mortgage potentially their entire future to pay for their education are the privileged who got their education for free.
I firmly hope there is an especially hot zone in hell for those New Zealanders over fifty years old who do not hang their heads in shame at this betrayal of today’s youth.
You live in a fixed wee world with your own fixed wee parameters. That’s how the right present their facts. The right’s position assumes so much is unchangeable. Was Labour’s introduction of user pays in education inevitable? That’s what you’re saying and it’s not true. How about we start with the unnecessary increases in defence spend? And no doubt, true to form, you won’t say a word. That’s because what you all too often do is spray and walk away. You are a coward.
Most – if not all- of Ministry of Ed goals is to get people to leave school with Level 2 NCEA which will allow them entry into basic tertiary education.
School students are told that tertiary qualifications are the goal for success, and many of them have made that choice under that belief. Of course, others have chosen it because entry level job remuneration does not provide them with independence, it often is not enough for covering basic living costs (unless they have support – financial or otherwise).
Our universities have now become oriented around collecting student fees (domestic and international) rather than being sufficiently funded by government. Both policy changes and tax cuts have contributed to this, and let’s stay aware of the debacle of international students that is finally being told in the media.
Along with failure to support local business and local workers, our graduates find that despite following all the rules it was all a big lie. There is no work for graduates. There are limited jobs for young people at all. Housing costs and high immigration alongside an atrophy of workers rights and pay, have resulted in a work environment that will sink them further in the financial mire, at the beginning of their working life. So they head to Australia.
Their home government, despite being able to provide that loan interest free – because let’s face it – they could create that money and tax it out – instead charges an interest rate higher than some retail banks.
Let’s list it in sequence about what has happened in the last couple of decades:
1. Government has Increased student fees and removed access for many to student allowances.
2. Funding has been reduced significantly and this shortfall has been covered by the increased domestic fees charged and the large influx of international students.
3. Ministry of Education continues to lie about the security offered by tertiary education all the way through the schooling years, then issues loans under that fallacy to many students that have no other method of meeting the increased financial costs,
4. Meanwhile, workers rights and housing access continues to worsen, while the economy is reduced to disaster payments and inflated housing and polluting industries,
5. Graduates discover that tertiary qualifications and entry level positions in NZ, do not provide enough to meeting living costs, let alone pay an extra 10% in repayments to their loan.
6. They travel to our nearest neighbour to try and get some kind of life while they are still young, and find they can do so, but sometimes not enough to pay back the required amounts that is requested.
7. They resign themselves to being student loan exiles from their own country. And the debt piles up.
James, our education system should be free.
We have coerced a large demographic of our young people into getting out loans that provide them with a major financial burden at the beginning of their independent lives.
Yes, they did take on that debt. But we ensured that the most financially strapped students had to do so in order to get a tertiary education. Others are lucky enough to have support (financial or otherwise) from friends and family.
In NZ, we are creating an education system where if you are not able to be assisted financially by friends and family, you will be financially penalised for many years to come for getting that degree.
So low paid professions will be disregarded – although they may be in high need.
I personally consider the student loan system to be a big marketing lie, and because of that – I really don’t care if it is collected.
And for that reason would forgive any interest, and the loan itself if the graduates return to NZ to utilise that learning for the benefit of NZ for at least five years.
Go after the avoided tax (on profits) that is avoided by many multi-nationals.
Go after the avoided tax in our immoral tax havens.
Don’t go after those investments in society that an educated repatriated graduate demographic would bring.
Yep. Agree totally – and I am an oldie who had some free tertiary education (mostly part time) and some I did in later years with a student loan I have since paid back. Happy for a student loan write-off, and return to free tertiary education.
Education (vocational or for personal/social/scientific,etc understanding and knowledge) is an investment for the whole of society. Helps serve democracy.
“”And $430 million of that is in default. Inland Revenue will now start chasing up these borrowers and taking action to get their student loan repayments back on track.””
Not asking that much is it Paul – they just need to get their repayments back on track.
And I jolly well hope they chase up all those naughty little brats who put all their stolen lollies from overseas into that precocious little Johnnie Keys piggy banks as well , Jamsey Wamsey…
You know how we all feel about this , Jamsey Wamsey ,… we do our best to look after you children but we cant feed all the neighborhoods children lollies as well…
Angry Kaikoura coast locals vent their quake frustrations at PM Bill English, Gerry Brownlee
English landed in a Defence Force chopper on the lawn of Kekerengu café The Store this afternoon, to be met with around 40 furious and frustrated locals.
One local Clarence farmer, John Murray, told English: “We had a meeting here three weeks ago and Gerry was here, and we left full of hope that something was going to happen … we have sat down there for three weeks and nothing has bloody well happened and its shocking, it is the absolute pits.”
He said progress on opening roads was too slow.
“No-one has attacked this northern end, the road’s been open from Blenheim, no one’s started tidying this road up at all, they’ve made patch-up repairs all the way through and the roads from Ward and Waipapa Bay should have been upgraded and ready to go so we could just go into the next stage.
“Nothing has been done except patch up and I reckon it’s p*** poor and if that’s what our Government feels about us and how they deal with emergencies then I’m afraid you have lost a lot of votes and a lot of confidence in this area.”
Hopefully. And yes, you are right to recognize the public display of arrogance. Hopefully it will be seared on the minds of the locals cometh election day.
“We had a meeting here three weeks ago and Gerry was here, and we left full of hope that something was going to happen … we have sat down there for three weeks and nothing has bloody well happened and its shocking, it is the absolute pits.”
…
“Nothing has been done except patch up and I reckon it’s p*** poor and if that’s what our Government feels about us and how they deal with emergencies then I’m afraid you have lost a lot of votes and a lot of confidence in this area.”
I’m sorry, but Kaikoura isn’t that far from Chch. What on earth made them think that what came out of Brownlee’s mouth was going to be real? And great if they’re not going to vote National now, but what about the last election when this shit was already playing out for several years in Canterbury?
Exactly, and often media are a little too selective on the locals they ask, hence the Nat supporter at the end of the herald article praising them, pushing the echo. Meanwhile the majority of public there are not so happy and I can’t say i blame them, very proud of them for making it known. Well done, speak your mind and tell us all like it really is.
Far out, the arrogance of Brownlee, and the locals won’t forget today and they will be talking about it for sometime afterwards.
I’m sure locals will be thrilled about them stopping at a vineyard aka class b drug manufacturing plantation to inspect their ‘cracked tanks’ on the way back home. Ho fucken ho ho ho.
Dearest Opposition parties, maybe some of your MP’s or people could spend a couple of days here and there in Kaikoura just helping out over the summer holidays, an awesome opportunity to really get to know the locals there, support their community and walk the talk, show you care. Some of us have not the means to go there. Now it’s summer and a great place for a holiday, maybe go help them out. No need to make a media frenzy about it, that would be shallow. Just boots on the ground, no announcement, just stop in and help a bit.
Key was a phenomenon. You really think the nats can win without him? Just look at Bennett. Pure shit comes out of her mouth every time she opens it. And poor old Bill’s just a plodder. The nats need to stay in the late 40% til the next election. Slipping just a bit and it’s curtains. You really think English and Bennett can keep things where Key had them? They made the nats look hopeless at their first press conference. It can only get worse. They’re history.
they are appalling and Key certainly held many in a trance (MSM included) but the opposition parties cannot sleep walk to an election win….they need to up their own game at the same time as the Nats crash
Yes, that’s the trouble. My guess, though, is that Labour’s lack of depth or oomph (or whatever you want to call it), together with the “Key’s gone” factor will mean the nats will lose next year rather than Labour winning. The margins over the last three elections have been slim and MMP at the moment gives the left, as well as Labour, the advantage in that regard. The difference will be whether Labour starts doing stupid things like it’s done over the last couple of elections. They just need to stay boringly steady and let the nats’ cringe factor, led by Bennett, do the work for them.
Why did he have the compulsive need to waste 30 million of the commons money on HIS personal vanity project ?
When the little fucker knew damn well after consulting with his little mate David Farrar no one wanted it and that 30 million could have been better put to 41000 homeless or the poor bastards having to sleep in their cars?
What sort of idiot are you buddy?
You’ve just negated your whole argument about student loans and personal responsibility in deference to those who hold a position of political privilege yet still squander the public purse without any personal responsibility or accountability.
Ha! – the neo liberal is only ever any good when their using someone else’s money – in the classic case above of Jame’s hero John Key spending the commons wealth on his own ego gratification projects – that in itself negates the whole notion of ‘ personal responsibility ‘ they like to crap on about.
Sickening.
What a pathetic two faced hypocritical dogma neo liberalism really and truly is.
Exactly….shonkey knew the Flag was something no-one even thought about, but his Ego said FUCK NZ I AM THE MAN (he fund out he wasnt, but too late, the money was burned)…..and while were at it MCScummy can pay back his Multi million $$ bribe gone wrong Saudi farm….eh James…..the Natz list just goes on and on……
” HIS personal vanity project ?”.
Really?
Actually he was simply being kind to the benighted Labour Party.
Knowing that they were never going to become the Government he very kindly gave the Public a chance to accept or reject one of the core items in Labour’s 2014 manifesto.
There policy was not merely to give the public a chance to change the flag. It was to change it, regardless of what the public thought.
Key very kindly gave the public a chance to give their view on the matter.
They didn’t think very highly of the Labour Party policy, did they?
Nat’s love to pinch policy karma on them if that’s the case.
Keys choice of flag was the vanity
i saw Keys flag the other day, up a pole, looking tatty and torn just like the outgoing government, and thought to myself that’s Keys flag, and Key has gone, must say it was a good feeling.
Yeah and your another idiot alwyn . Along with about 4 or 5 other morons who post here that just cant accept neo liberalism is dying its cancerous death.
Yes , and conveniently for you far right wing neo liberals you like to have a bob each way.
As the ‘change the flag ‘ debacle only pertains to those types of agitators- who have their people in both party’s – and to those who wish to rewrite NZ history.
Kekerengu is Tory heartland, how stupid is Brownlie.
As you say , they are just getting a taste of what everybody else has been putting up with from these bastards.
BTW, the vineyard they visited is Yealands now owned collectively by everyone in Marlborough through the local lines trust. Please don’t bag it too much.
‘For the past few weeks, British news-papers have been informing their readers about two contrasting battles in the killing grounds of the Middle East. One is Mosul, in northern Iraq, where western reporters are accompanying an army of liberation as it frees a joyful population from terrorist control. The other concerns Aleppo, just a few hundred miles to the west. This, apparently, is the exact opposite. Here, a murderous dictator, hellbent on destruction, is waging war on his own people.’
Paul,
Possibly because the reporting accurately reflects the fact that the two situations are different. As indeed the quote you used illustrates that point (although I do realise it is a Fisk quote meant as irony).
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Windows 95 is famous for requiring the shutting down the system by clicking ‘start, like stopping your car by turning the ignition key on. Why are so many interfaces so user-unfriendly? The Covid app to register your entering premises can be so clumsy. Sometimes I have signed in, sat down ...
Is the 2020 election result really the foregone conclusion that the polls and commentators are suggesting? Josh Van Veen suggests otherwise, pointing to some of the shortcomings of opinion polling, which could ready some politicians to say “bugger the pollsters” on election night. In November 1993, opinion polls foretold ...
Back in 2019, six select committees of the UK Parliament established a Citizen's Assembly to investigate how to respond to climate change. The Assembly's deliberations were forced online by the pandemic, but it has finally reported back, and overwhelmingly supports strong action: Taxes that increase as people fly further ...
I am feeling a bit impish today and so for no particular reason I thought I would share this thought, which I first posted over on twitter: “Hurricanes, wildfires, floods, heatwaves, street protests, armed vigilante militias, a lethal pandemic and a corrupt authoritarian using the federal government for partisan and ...
Wayne Mapp (Photo: Tsmith.nz via Wikimedia) A former Minister of Defence says the government was too slow to involve the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) in New Zealand’s response to Covid-19. But Wayne Mapp, a National MP from 1996-2011 who served as Minister of Defence for three ...
Transport is our second biggest polluter after agriculture, making up 17% of our national emissions. Cars and trucks emit 15 million tons of CO2 every year. So, if we're serious about tackling climate change, we need to eliminate this entirely. Public transport and better urban design will be a key ...
Five things we’ve learnt 1. We know where the virus ultimately came from We know that the virus originally came from bats, and most probably a species of horseshoe bat in South East Asia. However, the spike protein in SARS-CoV-2, which allows the virus to attach to cells and infect ...
The Greens' greatest disappointment while in government this term has been the failure to implement a ban on mining on conservation land. Promised by Jacinda Ardern immediately after gaining power, it had long been assumed that the problem was NZ First (who have a long history of environmental vandalism). But ...
If they get into Parliament, everyone expects the Greens to form a coalition with Labour. But James Shaw has said that that might not be the case, and that they might instead choose to sit on the cross-benches: The Greens are prepared to forego a coalition or confidence and ...
Chantal Denise Pagel, Auckland University of Technology; Mark Orams, Auckland University of Technology, and Michael Lueck, Auckland University of TechnologyThree people were injured last month in separate humpback whale encounters off the Western Australia coast. The incidents happened during snorkelling tours on Ningaloo Reef when swimmers came too close ...
Den Of Thieves: They describe themselves, and the money-making rackets they dignify with the name of church, “Christian”, but these ravening wolves are no such thing. The essence of the Christian faith is the giving of love – not the taking of money. It is about opening oneself to the ...
David Pomeroy, University of Canterbury; Kay-Lee Jones, University of Canterbury; Mahdis Azarmandi, University of Canterbury, and Sara Tolbert, University of CanterburyAcademic streaming in New Zealand schools is still common, but according to recent reports it is also discriminatory and racist. Also known as tracking, setting and ability grouping, streaming ...
A New Holy-Day: Perhaps, by accepting this gift of Matariki from the first arrivals in Aotearoa, we late arrivals, shorn of our ancestors’ outlandish fleeces, can draw strength from the accumulated human wisdom of our adopted home. Perhaps, by celebrating Matariki, we can learn to take ownership of our colonial ...
If there was any doubt left, we can surely call it now. Time and date. End of. Finito. Perhaps you thought you saw a flickering eyelid or a finger move? You were wrong. Labour has given up on tax reform for the foreseeable future. One of the key remaining left/right ...
Will the rich get richer under Labour’s latest tax policy? Based on the analysis in reaction to yesterday’s announcement, the answer would seem to be yes. The consensus from commentators is that inequality and severe economic problems will remain unchanged or even be made worse by Labour’s new policy. Although ...
Labour has released its energy policy, and its basicly business as usual: bring forward the 100% renewable target to 2030, build pumped storage if the business case stacks up, restore the thermal ban and clean car standard (but not the feebate scheme), and spread a bit of money around to ...
What's wrong with Labour? The end of yesterday's RNZ health debate says it all: Do you have private health insurance? Reti: "I do." Hipkins: "Yes, I do." Hipkins is Minister of Health. But it turns out that he won't be waiting in the queue with the rest ...
McKayla HollowayThe helicopter carries a team of four Lakes380 scientists and me; we hug the Gneiss rock walls that tower over Lake Manapouri. It’s arguably one of New Zealand’s most well-known lakes – made famous by the ‘Save Manapouri’ campaign of the 1970s. My chest is drawn back into ...
Rainy-Day Man: Is Labour’s tax policy a disappointment? Of course it is! But it’s the best the Traditional Left is going to get. Why? because Labour’s pollsters are telling them that upwards of 200,000 women over the age of 45 years have shifted their allegiance from National to Labour. (Where else, ...
When we last left our intrepid Drow Rogue, he was sitting in a tavern with his companions, only for a crazy Paladin to burst in, and start screaming about the Naga. It soon turned out that ...
Slight tweak to New Research Articles in NR are categorized by domain, roughly. This introduces the problem of items that don't neatly fit in one slot, or that have significance in more than one discipline (happily becoming more frequent as the powerful multiplier of interdisciplinary cooperation is tapped more frequently). ...
Today AstraZeneca pushed the pause button on its late-stage trials of a COVID-19 vaccine. A clinical trial participant has experienced a serious health event and an investigation is underway to determine the cause. What does it mean? A cautious approach – trials can halt to assess safety data With over ...
Kaya Klop-Toker, University of Newcastle; Alex Callen, University of Newcastle; Andrea Griffin, University of Newcastle; Matt Hayward, University of Newcastle, and Robert Scanlon, University of NewcastleOn an island off the Queensland coast, a battle is brewing over the fate of a small population of goats. The battle positions the ...
Dr Ben Gray* This blog discusses what will be needed to operationalise the End of Life Choice Act in the event that it is approved at referendum. It argues that this will take significant resources. Judging by the experience in Oregon it is likely that this may only benefit ...
Nau mai, haere mai – welcome to our newest addition to Sciblogs: Tuhia ki te rangi. Over the eleven years Sciblogs has been operating, the face of science communication has changed dramatically. Where a decade ago there was a burgeoning number of scientists and other experts looking to stretch their ...
I'm grappling with my sheer fucking anger over Labour's pathetic tax policy. Yes, it utterly contradicts their pretence of being a "centre-left" party and shows that they have no interest whatsoever in fixing any of the problems facing New Zealand. Yes, its self-inflicted helplessness, which will allow them to cry ...
Ariadna Matamoros-Fernández, Queensland University of Technology and D. Bondy Valdovinos Kaye, Queensland University of TechnologyA disturbing video purporting to show a suicide is reportedly doing the rounds on the popular short video app TikTok, reigniting debate about what social media platforms are doing to limit circulation of troubling material. ...
Labour announced its tax policy today: a new top tax rate of 39% on income over $180,000. And that's it. No intermediate rate between the current top rate of 33% at $70,000 and the new one. No land tax. No wealth tax. Nothing (in fact worse than nothing, because they ...
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzMethane is a shorter-lived greenhouse gas – why do we ...
Most mornings, when we’re at home, my wife and I will have coffee on our deck. I am the barista of the household and I make the coffee, the way we like it, on our espresso machine. This winter we have sat with our coffee, day after day, in glorious ...
It was another busy week out on the campaign trail, with Labour focused on jobs, training, and supporting Kiwi workers. As we continue to roll out our five-point plan for recovery, we’re investing in our people, businesses, communities and vital services, so we can keep our economy moving as we ...
Our regions are a vital part of our economic recovery plan. They’re home to innovative and creative businesses, and the backbone of our export economy - which is why Labour will continue to support our regions to grow as together, we rebuild better. ...
National’s ‘alternative budget’ that includes huge cuts to the government’s operating allowance would risk gutting critical public services, and put health, education and nature at dire risk. ...
Data released this week shows that, while New Zealand is not immune to the economic impacts of the global pandemic, our strong health response has meant we’ve been able to get our economy going faster than many other countries. ...
This year’s election is on 17 October - and it’s coming up fast! With one month to go until Election Day, we’ve come up with 17 ways you, your friends and family can get involved in our campaign and help Labour keep New Zealand moving. ...
PREFU has given a good insight into what was required to ensure New Zealanders were largely supported to continue work and remain healthy during COVID-19, but it is clear we need additional revenue raising measures ongoing, Green Party Co-leader James Shaw said today. ...
The Green Party is disappointed with the Labour Party’s decision to reverse their three free years education policy and back down on their commitment to postgraduate student allowances. ...
In the first two years of our term in Government, we gave teachers record pay rises as a way of recognising the lack of adequate adjustments over the previous decade and the significant role they play in the lives of children and young people. We also increased the number of ...
Labour has a proud history of supporting working New Zealanders, whether through the implementation of the 40hr work week or the introduction of the Working for Families package. ...
The Green Party welcome Labour’s commitment to extend the living wage to Government contractors, but will push for Fair Pay Agreements across industries in the next Government so more New Zealanders can earn a dignified income. ...
The Green Party is urging the Government to act on its commitment to te reo Māori, by making it a core subject up to year 10, and including te reo courses in the Targeted Training and Apprenticeships scheme. ...
We're officially back to the campaign for the 2020 General Election. The campaign may look a little different this year, but our candidates are still getting out and about in their communities and spreading the word about how another term of Labour will keep New Zealand moving in the right ...
You might have heard a bit of discussion about Government debt lately, as experts weigh in on the COVID-19 economic recovery. If you’re wondering why it’s such a contested topic, or even if you’re unsure of what Government debt actually is, then read on - we’ve got you covered! ...
The Green Party has released its Farming for the Future Plan, including a $297m fund to support farmers and growers to transition to climate-friendly practices. ...
We believe every New Zealander deserves the chance to make an informed decision on Election Day. We’ve answered some of the most common questions on our 2020 tax policy, including how much money will be raised from our new top tax rate, and how this will be used to control ...
The Green Party says Labour’s energy policy is a step in the right direction, but the Greens would go further and faster to meaningfully tackle the climate crisis. ...
All this tax talk leaving you a bit dazed and confused? Read below to find out more about our progressive tax system and what Labour's policy means for you. ...
We’re committed to managing the Government’s books responsibly and keeping debt under control while supporting our people and our economy through the 1-in-100 year shock caused by COVID-19. ...
The Labour Party has moved towards more progressive income tax, but is not addressing the growing wealth gap and inequality in Aotearoa. Labour’s new revenue policy also doesn’t help pay for the necessary response to the COVID-19 crisis, Green Party Co-leader James Shaw said today. ...
As New Zealanders we are proud of who we are, what we stand for, and the way we weave together different worlds and cultures to create our unique national identity. ...
It is appalling and negligent that landlords are being encouraged to keep their properties cold and damp until after the election, as advised by the NZ Property Investors Federation, Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said today. ...
The Government will provide up to $1.69 million through the One Billion Trees programme to Māori landowners to make their whenua more productive through the planting of forests, both native and exotic, and improve economic and environmental outcomes, Forestry Minister Shane Jones has announced. “Around 1.5 million ha of land ...
People planning to head outdoors now have a resource that lets them know how accessible an area is for people with varying levels of mobility, Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced today. The Halberg Foundation, Sensibel, and the Department of Conservation (DOC) have launched Accessibel, a new tool which helps ...
One of the most significant battle sites of the 1860s Land Wars will receive $2.96 million from the Provincial Growth Fund to improve the site and help tell the New Zealand story to visitors, Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones have announced. Nanaia Mahuta ...
The journey towards recognising Māori as an official language and taonga has been captured as a web series and launched today during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, announced Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni. “Te reo Māori is a living language, and understanding its significance, and pathways to ...
Today’s better-than-forecast GDP figures show the expected impact of the decision to act quickly to protect New Zealanders from the global COVID-19 pandemic. GDP fell 12.2% in the June quarter from March, reflecting decisions to close New Zealand’s borders and enter Alert Level 4. “This result was better than the ...
The Government is investing $39.7 Million over four years to support the educational needs of Pacific learners and families in the regions hardest hit by COVID-19, with Auckland getting an immediate boost, Associate Minister of Education Jenny Salesa says. “Like all New Zealanders Pacific families want learners to do well ...
New Zealand’s goal of 100,000 kiwi by 2030 is being helped by an extra $19.7 million in funding to accelerate iwi and community efforts to protect kiwi, Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced. “$19.7 million of Jobs for Nature funding is being invested in kiwi conservation activities including increased predator ...
Ensuring New Zealanders can get the best deal on their electricity takes a step in the right direction today with the South Island launch of the EnergyMate pilot run by the Electricity Retailers’ Association, says Minister of Energy and Resources, Dr Megan Woods. EnergyMate is an industry-led programme providing coaching ...
Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter announced today that the Government has reached its target of 50 percent on women on state sector board and committees – setting a new record level of women on state sector boards. “This Government is committed to having more women in leadership roles - ...
Transport Minister Phil Twyford released today the final Government Policy Statement on land transport (GPS) 2021 which outlines the planned $48 billion investment in services and infrastructure over the next decade. “The final GPS supports our Government’s five-point plan for economic recovery by confirming our record investments in transport infrastructure ...
Three ambitious and cutting-edge research programmes that will lift New Zealand’s advanced energy technology research capability over seven years, have been supported by Government today, says Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods. The projects will each receive a share of $40.7 million investment from the Strategic Science Investment Fund. ...
The critical area for forensic examination known as Pit Bottom in Stone has been reached in what is a major milestone for the Pike River re-entry project, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry Andrew Little announced. “The infrastructure located in Pit Bottom in Stone is of very significant interest in ...
The Government is working on how New Zealand’s retirement income policies and settings can best support Kiwis in light of the COVID-19 economic recovery, with the help of the Retirement Commissioner’s latest review, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi said. “The Retirement Commissioner’s three-yearly review into New Zealand’s retirement ...
A new digital hub and development centre in Murupara will be instrumental in growing the region’s productivity, said Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau at the official opening of two community initiatives today. “I’m pleased to be here celebrating a significant milestone for two projects set to make a ...
PREFU shows economy doing better than forecast Unemployment to peak at 7.8%, down from 9.8% forecast in the Budget Year-to-June accounts show tax revenue, debt and OBEGAL better than forecast Global forecast downgraded as COVID-19 second waves and uncertainty grows Balanced plan to support critical public services, manage debt and ...
The Kāpiti Coast town of Ōtaki will receive $1.4 million in Government funding for two projects providing scores of jobs for locals while improving community facilities, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The Māoriland Charitable Trust will receive a $900,000 Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) grant to upgrade the ...
The Provincial Growth Fund will provide $11.88 million to fund fencing and waterway projects nationwide that will improve the environment and create jobs in their communities, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. “These projects will create more than 100 jobs nationwide with work starting within the next couple ...
As part of the COVID-19 recovery, the Government has strengthened its procurement rules to ensure its annual $42 billion spend creates more jobs, uses more sustainable construction practices and results in better outcomes for Māori and Pasifika, Government Ministers announced today. Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford says the $42 ...
The Government is supporting a major upgrade of Timaru’s iconic Theatre Royal and the construction of a new connected Heritage Facility museum and exhibition space with $11.6 million from the Government’s Infrastructure Fund, Jacinda Ardern announced today. “We heard the call from the community and the council. The Theatre Royal ...
Chrissy Montague (formerly Armstrong), barrister of Auckland has been appointed as a District Court Judge with Family Court jurisdiction to be based in Wellington, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Ms Montague commenced practice in Auckland in 1987 and went into general practice dealing with Wills, Estates, Trusts, Conveyancing, Relationship Property ...
A Proposal to provide for the development and operation of commercial film and video production facilities in areas of Christchurch has been given the go ahead. Hon Poto Williams, Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, has approved the Proposal, which was prepared and submitted by Regenerate Christchurch. Minister Williams ...
As part of the Government’s focus on building closer partnerships with Māori and enhancing the quality of, and access to, Māori medium education, a payment of $8 million will be made to Te Wānanga o Raukawa in partial recognition of its Waitangi Tribunal claim (WAI 2698), Associate Education Minister Kelvin ...
The Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage has announced a $19 million investment over four years in an important forest restoration project involving a partnership between the Department of Conservation, iwi/hapū, the Bay of Plenty and Waikato Regional Councils, community conservation groups and organisations such as Forest and Bird across the ...
New Zealand will be the first country in the world to require the financial sector to report on climate risks, the Minister for Climate Change James Shaw announced today. The changes build on the huge progress this Government has made to tackle the climate crisis. “Today is another step on ...
Economic activity across the Auckland region and the country bounced back to levels experienced under Alert Level 1 following Auckland’s move out of Alert Level 3, analysis in the Treasury’s latest Weekly Economic Update shows. The analysis of economic data since Auckland’s move out of Level 3 shows: Auckland card ...
Takiri mai te ata, ka ao, ka ao, ka awatea, tihei mauriora! Tātou katoa ngā iwi o Aotearoa, tēnā koutou! Tēnā tātou e whakanuia ana i te wiki nei, te wiki o te reo Māori Greeting to you all from Otepoti, Dunedin. This week is the Māori Language week and ...
More mental health and addiction services are available for young New Zealanders in Rotorua and Taupō, Wairarapa, South Canterbury, Dunedin and Southland from next month, Health Minister Chris Hipkins and Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter say. “The Government is serious about making sure New Zealanders struggling with mental health ...
The Manuherekia catchment in Central Otago is the third exemplar catchment to be targeted as part of the Government’s plan to clean up waterways by supporting community-led programmes. Environment Minister David Parker said the Manuherekia catchment is vitally important to the people of Central Otago. “The Manuherekia rises in the ...
The Government has agreed on a preferred design for the new Dunedin Hospital featuring two separate buildings, and has provided funding for the next stages of work. Minister of Health Chris Hipkins says Cabinet has approved in principle the detailed business case for the new hospital, giving people in ...
New Zealanders across the country are set to mark history as part of the Māori Language Week commemorations led by Te Taura Whiri i te reo Māori this year. Māori Development Minister, Nanaia Mahuta says the initiative will mark history for all the right reasons including making te reo Māori ...
More than 1000 teachers, support staff and school leaders have graduated from a programme designed to grow their capability to use te reo Māori in their teaching practice, as part of the Government’s plan to integrate te reo Māori into education, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis announced today. Being trialled ...
The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio, says the Toloa Tertiary Scholarships which aims to encourage more Pacific student numbers participating and pursuing STEM-related studies in 2021, are now open. “These tertiary scholarships are administrated by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP), and are part of MPP’s overall Toloa ...
Four Bay of Plenty timber businesses will receive investments totalling nearly $22 million through the Provincial Growth Fund to boost the local economy and create jobs, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. Rotorua-based sawmill Red Stag Wood Solutions will receive a $15 million loan to develop an engineered ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced that New Zealand is exploring the viability of working with partners to conduct a search for the black box on the Gulf Livestock 1. “We know how much it would mean to the families of those on the ship to understand more about ...
Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones has today announced the Government is supporting the creation of new marine infrastructure in northern Te Tairāwhiti on the North Island’s East Coast. The Government has approved in principle an allocation of up to $45 million to support the construction of a marine transport facility at ...
E Epineha. Ka tangi te iwi, ki a koe e ngaro nei i te kitenga kanohi. Kua mokemoke to whānau, to iwi, te motu whanui. Haere ki o matua, tipuna. Haere ki te okiokinga tuturu mo te tangata. Haere i runga i te aroha o ngā reanga kei muri i ...
Catch limits will be increased for 26 fisheries and reduced for three fisheries as part of a regular round of reviews designed to ensure ongoing sustainability of fisheries resources. Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash has announced decisions following a review of catch limits and management controls for 29 fish stocks. The ...
The Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson says while it is disappointing the Rugby Championship will not be held in New Zealand, the country will host two Bledisloe Cup games in October and has the capacity in managed isolation facilities to host other international sporting events. “We offered flexible quarantine ...
Up to 350 more people in regional New Zealand will gain a pathway to trades training through a $14 million government investment in apprenticeships, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. The apprenticeships are part of the $40 million Regional Apprenticeship Initiative (RAI) announced in June. The funding comes ...
A Government brokered solution to the parking woes at Christchurch Hospital will deliver more than 1000 new car parks near the Hospital for staff and visitors while also ensuring the completion of the Metro Sports Facility, say Minister for Christchurch Regeneration, Dr Megan Woods. The new parking package is made ...
“Labour’s ‘Let’s Get Wellington Moving’ project has so far been a failure. Nothing has been delivered, the funding for the programme is still unclear, and Wellington is drifting while congestion continues to choke the region,” National Spokesperson ...
Winston Peters must have been confused this morning when he made the bizarre claim that tax cuts are a ‘bribe’ and, ironically, criticised another party for promising to scrap his provincial vote fund in the next breath. Taxpayers’ Union spokesman ...
Eamonn Marra has been trying to get help for his mental health problems for two years. It shouldn’t take hitting absolute rock bottom for him to receive it.Content warning: This story contains discussion of mental health issues and suicidal thoughts. Every time mental health is back in the news it comes ...
By RNZ News New Zealand today reported one new community case of covid-19 – the first in five days. There was no media conference today. In a statement, the Health Ministry said the source of the community case was still being investigated. Auckland Regional Public Health Service has identified all ...
Analysis by Dr Paul G Buchanan – 36th Parallel Assessments. News that Zhenhua Data, an arm of China Zhenhua Electronics Group, a subsidiary of the military-connected China Electronic Information Industry Group (CETC), maintains a list of 800 New Zealanders on a “Overseas Key Information Database” that contains personal information on ...
The Green Party’s plan to support community gardens and composting would help promote a stronger understanding of sustainable ecosystems and food production in places like Nelson. “One of our priorities in the next Government is to support ...
Greenpeace is calling the National Party’s newly announced energy policy blatant climate denial and an affront to all the people and communities already suffering the impacts of climate change. It has been reported that the National Party will ...
The Public Service Association says industrial relations policies announced by Labour today will, if implemented by a Labour-led government, make New Zealand a fairer and better place to live. "Under the Labour-led government of the past three ...
NZEI Te Riu Roa is welcoming Labour's announcement today that it would double minimum sick leave entitlements to 10 days per year if returned to Government. President Liam Rutherford says inadequate sick leave is an issue across the education sector, ...
NZEI Te Riu Roa says Kōhanga Reo kaiako can’t afford to be left out in the cold when pay and funding gaps in ECE are addressed. This week Labour joined the Green Party in including pay parity for early childhood teachers in their election pledges. ...
17 registered political parties and 677 candidates will be contesting the 2020 General Election Nominations have now closed and the Electoral Commission has released the electorate and party list candidates for 2020 online at vote.nz . Advance voting ...
Recently I was invited by a friend to watch a three hour YouTube discussion between Joe Rogan of the Joe Rogan Experience and Johann Hari on the topic of drug law reform. I thought it would be very relevant on our referendum issue coming up. After watching ...
The charity running the Māngere Markets makes close to half a million a year from a business centred on a publicly owned carpark, but distributes less than a third of its income in grants. That’s left some locals wondering whether the trust could be doing more to support the community, ...
A new poll shows Green MP Chloe Swarbrick is coming third in the contest for the Auckland Central seat, which could be crucial in ensuring her party stays in Parliament. ...
The Government has made another pitch for the Maori vote (presumably with borrowed money) by dipping into the One Billion Trees trough. It has proclaimed it is backing Maori landowners with this contribution to their wellbeing (and the environment’s) and it is fair to suppose it would appreciate the landowners ...
Apple has finally announced its long-anticipated content bundle Apple One. So what do you get, and for how much?What is Apple One? Apple One is a new content “bundle” that gives you access to the company’s music, TV, games and storage offerings via a single subscription. It was announced this week ...
It’s one of the most high-profile, and marginal, electorates in the country, and is jam-packed with hospitality and retail businesses. So which Auckland Central haunts do the three front-runners like to frequent?This story was originally published by EnsembleWhat do your favourite things say about you? Where you buy your regular ...
Published on the behalf of the Labour Party Union Affiliates The Labour Party Union Affiliates are celebrating today’s release of the party’s 2020 workplace relations policy, which reflects the hard work of the wider labour movement. Highlights of ...
The Labour Party’s Workplace Relations and Safety policy release today will see workers across the country being much better off. Policies announced include doubling minimum sick leave entitlements, continued minimum wage increases, implementing Fair ...
The Council of Trade Unions is applauding today's launch of the Labour Party’s industrial relations 2020 election policy by spokesperson Andrew Little. "Working people in unions have been campaigning for better treatment at work. Labour’s industrial ...
By Zedaiah Kanau in Port Moresby A Papua New Guinean businessman who caused the death of his girlfriend by punching her, forcing her to jump out of the car he was driving, has been jailed for 15 years. Richard Namaliu, 28, of Vunapope village in Kokopo, East New Britain was ...
By France 24 Since coming to power in 2012, Chinese President Xi Jinping has launched an unprecedented crusade against press freedom. Facing censorship, threats from police and sometimes jail, the last few independent reporters – those who do not work for state media serving Communist Party propaganda – are no ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By C Raina MacIntyre, Professor of Global Biosecurity, NHMRC Principal Research Fellow, Head, Biosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Production of the reality TV show The Masked Singer was shut down last month after several crew members were infected with COVID-19. It’s one of ...
In the latest in our series chronicling the ins and outs of dating in 2020, Alie Benge explains her reliance on the ‘friend committee’ to judge the suitability of every love interest.Abby came to my desk in a panic. She was meeting Sia that weekend. For the first time, she’d ...
Welcome to The Spinoff’s Election Live for September 19, bringing you the latest on election 2020 and other NZ news. The essential campaign dates are here. For all you need to know about the cannabis referendum click here. For the assisted dying referendum click here. Explore the parties’ pledges at Policy. I’m ...
In the second of a weekly election diary, Labour MP Deborah Russell eases back into campaign mode after a Covid-enforced break. Tomorrow is National's Chris Bishop. This week the on-again, off-again election campaign is on again. Well, sort of. Politicians are out and about all over the country, suitably bemasked ...
National's surprise tax cut announcement has given the party a burst of relevance, even though it's far from clear how the policy will sit with voters, Sam Sachdeva writes For much of the Covid-interrupted election campaign to date, the National Party has been sleepwalking towards defeat. The party’s plethora of ...
On this week's Extra Time, White Ferns cricketer Suzie Bates reckons the trials and tribulations of quarantine in Brisbane ahead of matches against Australia are all worth it. It may take them an hour a day to get the team up and down the service lift in their hotel, they're only ...
"Coffee plus office equals coffice": a short story set in a deranged New Zealand of stern baristas and rebel forces, by Auckland writer Sharni Wilson “This is not an office.” The barista’s voice was hard and cold with aggression, with a frighteningly wide smile: the kind of smile that you ...
Labour says this will be the Covid election. National says it’s about the economy. There’s something big being missed in the middle, writes Justin Giovannetti.It was the week the economy took centre stage. The scene was set in the pre-election fiscal update, which on Wednesday offered a sobering snapshot of ...
What do a mosque shooting victim in Christchurch and a Hollywood supermodel have in common? Anke Richter looks at the mental health fallout of cult-like conspiracy movements.Three weeks ago, I sat in the High Court in Christchurch for the sentencing of the mosque terrorist and listened to 91 victim impact ...
By RNZ News New Zealand reported no new cases of covid-19 today – for the first time since early August. There was no media conference today. In a statement, the Health Ministry said the number of active cases had dropped to 70, with seven more people now recovered from the ...
By RNZ Pacific Pro-independence advocates in New Caledonia say a vote for full sovereignty next month would allow the country to step up onto the international stage. The next referendum on independence from France will be held on October 4 and determine whether New Caledonia will obtain the powers still ...
With the Māori Party and the Advance Party both vying to push out Labour's Kelvin Davis from the northern-most Māori seat, RNZ asked Te Tai Tokerau voters who they would vote for. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marcus Carter, Senior Lecturer in Digital Cultures, SOAR Fellow., University of Sydney Facebook has announced the latest version of its successful standalone virtual reality (VR) headset, the Oculus Quest 2. The new device packs more computing power and a sharper screen than ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hayen, Professor of Biostatistics, University of Technology Sydney A preliminary study, posted online this week by researchers at the Australian National University and elsewhere, estimates 71,000 Australians had COVID-19 by mid-July — 60,000 more than official number of cases diagnosed by ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Israel, Czechia, and French Polynesia. Chart by Keith Rankin. In mid-September, new cases of Covid19 are higher than they have ever been. (See here for previous weekly charts, which included the ‘little’ countries.) While this still-rising incidence is partly due to more testing, ...
News about the Provincial Growth Fund, which often features in our daily Latest from the Beehive reports, typically involve announcements of the latest grants or loans. Today Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced a battle site of the 1860s Land Wars will receive ...
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Great news – we are all going to get some of our tax $$ back.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11767791
Did you get a free education?
Pull the ladder up after you?
Ever take a loan, then tell the lender to **** off?
How do you think that works out?
Bloody good job – I hope they go after them all as hard as possible.
All they have to do is make their loan payments like everybody else. Now – just like the real world – they are seeing there are consequences for their (lack of) action and dishonesty.
Yep.
Fine. It’s why we have laws for defaulting.
Except for the fact that they can’t afford to. That’s the real point here. The government is demanding that these people do something that they can’t afford.
Would these kiwis be living in Oz if they didn’t have a job? bludging fuckers need to pay back the money they stole from the taxpayer.
I hope they nail their arses to the wall.
You Tories are so angry.
Paul, these people have stolen from the collective, if you’re any sort of socialist you’d be appalled at their flagrant dishonesty and be demanding they pay the money back.
So what is this?…. a new found respect for socialism / the collective ?
Very impressed with the use of the word collective. Very impressed.
So building on that idea I say we should now be released to take the former Business Roundtable (now the New Zealand Institute ) to court for charges of social malfeasance , obtaining pecuniary advantage ,and treason.
Additionally , we can also charge the neo liberal leaders of the last 32 years retrospectively with the same criminal charges with the added charges of collusion and being complicit in a crime.
There.
That would solve the issue of those stealing from the collective.
Well done , BM , thank you very much for your input.
“So building on that idea I say we should now be released to take the former Business Roundtable (now the New Zealand Institute ) to court for charges of social malfeasance , obtaining pecuniary advantage ,and treason.”
Yeah – thats a rational response to asking someone to pay their student loan.
Oh Jamsey wamsey… we dont want to be seen as having a case of ‘whats good for the goose is NOT good for the gander ‘ , do we now , dearie?
Actually – not angry at all – this makes me happy.
I hope they arrest 100’s of them at the airport after xmas holidays.
Yeah I agree…
Like Whittall who set up a company in Wellington during the Royal Commission of Inquiry called ‘ Whittall and Associates ‘ which specialized in among other things ‘ mining safety ‘….
Didnt work for a few years after that because no one would seek his services the lazy bludging bastard – and we paid for that !.
So off he went and packed his bags back to Australia without so much as a buy you or leave to budge off the Aussie’s Centrelink..
“Fine. It’s why we have laws for defaulting.”
Yep – but you guys seem to have an issue with the laws for defaulting on student loans.
“Except for the fact that they can’t afford to. That’s the real point here. The government is demanding that these people do something that they can’t afford.”
citation please?
There are plently that are just trying to get away with it – unfortunately they cause more issues for the ones with genuine problems.
So some yes – all nope.
” There are plently that are just trying to get away with it – unfortunately they cause more issues for the ones with genuine problems.”
I heartily agree !
And so to add to that and following along that line of logic,…. these govt depts that are in collusion with the National party and particularly with ex PM John Key ,…. and also the Pike River Coal Mining company who said they didn’t have any funds left to stand trial….should be taking responsibilities for their actions, reentering Pike River and being manned up enough to accept the consequences of any evidence found and of a renewed High Court trial by which a significant number would be convicted…
Stop em at the airport if they try to get away and throw the book at em , eh James? –
That’s the spirit !!!
I like what I’m hearing so far.
Keep it up.
Your logic is flawed and hysterical.
Its a pretty basic item – people who take loans need to pay them back or suffer consequences.
Nothing to do with Pike River FFS.
Ooooooooo , yes but dear Jamsey Wamsey ,… but it does…
especially in a liberal social democracy where we are all supposed to be equal under the law… or are you now changing your tune and resorting back to selectivity ?
Oh Jamsey …. Im so disappointed in you…. and here I really thought you’d started to develop a small sliver of humanity and common sense…
Oh well…. never mind…
Nope – I have been pretty consistent about accountability for actions.
Its just your argument is stupid.
Oh dearest Jamsey,… not the little philosopher , are we , dearie?
Never mind snookums,… one bright sunny day when the cognitive processes switch on past puberty , you’ll understand the correlation.
Oh sorry , dearest … correlation is a rather large word… lest say…
‘ things that look quite the same even though not quite the same circumstances’…
Oh darn ,… done it again.
Did you get a free education?
Do you pay your debts?
I benefited from a free tertiary education. I think following generations should too.
Did you? You appear reluctant to answer. I wonder why?
It is because you are only to happy to pull the ladder up after you, like Key, Hosking and Bennett ?
Actually – no I have no uni education.
My kids went to private school – which cost me a blimmin arm and a leg.
So I answered you – how about you teling me – do you pay your debts?
Of course.
Of course – yet here you are arguing that others should not.
So why not expect others to do so?
They entered into an agreement right?
They knew the terms right?
So why let them off?
See Draco’s comments about their ability to pay back. I agree with him/her on that.
I also believe in justice above the law. It was unjust that the generation after us paid for education when we did not.
Your right wing ‘consumer’ view of education I guess is exemplified by your use of private education.
You have much to learn of the benefits of a civil society, I sense.
Here’s a clue.
It’s not all about you.
Don’t be an ass, when you went to Uni in the 1950’s probably about 5% of the population went onto higher education, the rest entered the workforce.
The country could easily afford that and anyway higher educated people paid their “free” education back in spades when the top tax rate was around 60%.
I received a free education. I have always thought I should pay it back somehow. I also think that my kids and my nephews and nieces should get a free education as well. Things work better when we educate all of our kids, no matter how poor they are.
Would you be happy to see a top tax rate of 60% ms?.
Because that’s the only way we could afford free tertiary education.
Yep and we could do the same if we raised the top tax rate back up to 60%+
Thank you for your support for social inclusiveness.
“I benefited from a free tertiary education”.
Really? You disguise it very well. I would never have guessed that you had got that far.
What an unpleasant and unnecessary comment.
Diddums.
alwyn maintains his form as a highly eloquent egg.
Spaghetti and meatballs for dinner , Jamsey – go wash up now and sit up straight at the table like a good boy.
Ah, National going the punitive route rather than making things better.
It would be much better, easier and cheaper just to forgive all student debt, drop the fees, give proper Student Allowance and develop our economy so that when students are ready there’s jobs for them.
Yes, and that requires compassion and empathy, something James appear to lack.
compassion and empathy does not come into it – they took a loan, entered a contract and bolted and didnt pay it.
Thieves – and they deserve anything they get.
You see – entering an agreement and taking all the “good stuff” and not paying money for it is theft. There are consequences – its a basic concept that you seem to be lacking Paul
You RWNJs really get off when people get attacked and threatened …
Jamsey Diddums !!!
Stop that language this instance !!!
Now look , I’ve already told you about that principle… and that I agree with it. And you also know that nasty Mr Douglas and all his naughty little friends need to be hauled up before the class and given a jolly good talking to..
And yes I agree… taking money that doesn’t belong to you IS theft.
Now wipe that spaghetti from the side of your mouth , please.
And of course James you are so bloody perfect, people like you are a constant irritant – what was so wrong with a public education for your kids that you had to lose an arm and a leg to send them to a private school. Just because you didn’t avail yourself of a tertiary education after your school years doesn’t mean to say it would fail your kids. Your kids might have more sense than you. What an angry man you are. What a waste of money paying out for a private school. Kids can come back and kick you in the bum no matter what you do for then, I hope they do not disappoint you after all that investment. Happy days.
Thanks Kate for your concern. Again not angry – quite happy in life all in all.
As for the private education- it was a choice – and we are happy with it. I’m happy with the education they received. They enjoyed their school years and to me that’s worth it.
amyway – kids are happy, well rounded and contributing members of society. I’m proud of them.
It would be far better for us all if you acted to make yourself proud of our state education system as well. But I suspect you are devoid of such altruism.
“It would be much better, easier and cheaper just to forgive all student debt, drop the fees, give proper Student Allowance and develop our economy so that when students are ready there’s jobs for them.”
Hear hear!
This would apply to ALL fees…including trade training, Class 2+ driving licences etc.
As an aside…how hard would it have been to have some kind of CET arrangement with Australia so NZ student loan repayments could have been collected through the Aussie tax system? If Aus has the capacity to identify and then exclude Kiwis paying tax in Aussie from entitlement to benefits and disability supports….surely their tax computer can perform a NZ student loan repayment function.
Rosemary
You should have added as part of your plan of free tertiary education for everyone and for all course, plus forgiving all existing debt that you have just increased govt spending by about 4% of GDP, since around 70% of the population get some form of tertiary ed.
All you have to do is increase taxes. It will require personal rates to go up by 25% across the board. However presumably you don’t want bottom tax rates to increase so the top rate will need to go to 66% as it was prior to 1984..
Good luck with selling that idea.
“the top rate will need to go to 66% as it was prior to 1984..
Good luck with selling that idea.”
Don’t worry Rosemary.
I’ll buy that. After all, how much is enough?
“All you have to do is increase taxes. It will require personal rates to go up by 25% across the board. However presumably you don’t want bottom tax rates to increase so the top rate will need to go to 66% as it was prior to 1984..
Good luck with selling that idea.’
absolute bollocks…..what was the rate of GST prior to 1984 Wayne? …it might however require the enforcement of existing tax law and /or closing of a few of those convenient loopholes….IRD funding will likely need increasing as well while we are at it.
Parmjeet, is that you?
Wayne
How much did you pay to enroll for your first degree?
How much did you have to pay for accommodation and living expenses.
How much did you have to borrow from the government to pay for your university education?
You may just have known someone who trained for a trade while you were studying…law, was it? Anyway…how much did apprentices have to pay to train during the time you were studying?
Funny. don’t you think, that the loudest voices demanding today’s youth mortgage potentially their entire future to pay for their education are the privileged who got their education for free.
I firmly hope there is an especially hot zone in hell for those New Zealanders over fifty years old who do not hang their heads in shame at this betrayal of today’s youth.
You live in a fixed wee world with your own fixed wee parameters. That’s how the right present their facts. The right’s position assumes so much is unchangeable. Was Labour’s introduction of user pays in education inevitable? That’s what you’re saying and it’s not true. How about we start with the unnecessary increases in defence spend? And no doubt, true to form, you won’t say a word. That’s because what you all too often do is spray and walk away. You are a coward.
Most – if not all- of Ministry of Ed goals is to get people to leave school with Level 2 NCEA which will allow them entry into basic tertiary education.
School students are told that tertiary qualifications are the goal for success, and many of them have made that choice under that belief. Of course, others have chosen it because entry level job remuneration does not provide them with independence, it often is not enough for covering basic living costs (unless they have support – financial or otherwise).
Our universities have now become oriented around collecting student fees (domestic and international) rather than being sufficiently funded by government. Both policy changes and tax cuts have contributed to this, and let’s stay aware of the debacle of international students that is finally being told in the media.
Along with failure to support local business and local workers, our graduates find that despite following all the rules it was all a big lie. There is no work for graduates. There are limited jobs for young people at all. Housing costs and high immigration alongside an atrophy of workers rights and pay, have resulted in a work environment that will sink them further in the financial mire, at the beginning of their working life. So they head to Australia.
Their home government, despite being able to provide that loan interest free – because let’s face it – they could create that money and tax it out – instead charges an interest rate higher than some retail banks.
Let’s list it in sequence about what has happened in the last couple of decades:
1. Government has Increased student fees and removed access for many to student allowances.
2. Funding has been reduced significantly and this shortfall has been covered by the increased domestic fees charged and the large influx of international students.
3. Ministry of Education continues to lie about the security offered by tertiary education all the way through the schooling years, then issues loans under that fallacy to many students that have no other method of meeting the increased financial costs,
4. Meanwhile, workers rights and housing access continues to worsen, while the economy is reduced to disaster payments and inflated housing and polluting industries,
5. Graduates discover that tertiary qualifications and entry level positions in NZ, do not provide enough to meeting living costs, let alone pay an extra 10% in repayments to their loan.
6. They travel to our nearest neighbour to try and get some kind of life while they are still young, and find they can do so, but sometimes not enough to pay back the required amounts that is requested.
7. They resign themselves to being student loan exiles from their own country. And the debt piles up.
James, our education system should be free.
We have coerced a large demographic of our young people into getting out loans that provide them with a major financial burden at the beginning of their independent lives.
Yes, they did take on that debt. But we ensured that the most financially strapped students had to do so in order to get a tertiary education. Others are lucky enough to have support (financial or otherwise) from friends and family.
In NZ, we are creating an education system where if you are not able to be assisted financially by friends and family, you will be financially penalised for many years to come for getting that degree.
So low paid professions will be disregarded – although they may be in high need.
I personally consider the student loan system to be a big marketing lie, and because of that – I really don’t care if it is collected.
And for that reason would forgive any interest, and the loan itself if the graduates return to NZ to utilise that learning for the benefit of NZ for at least five years.
Go after the avoided tax (on profits) that is avoided by many multi-nationals.
Go after the avoided tax in our immoral tax havens.
Don’t go after those investments in society that an educated repatriated graduate demographic would bring.
Yep. Agree totally – and I am an oldie who had some free tertiary education (mostly part time) and some I did in later years with a student loan I have since paid back. Happy for a student loan write-off, and return to free tertiary education.
Education (vocational or for personal/social/scientific,etc understanding and knowledge) is an investment for the whole of society. Helps serve democracy.
Molly.
I agree that govt should be making everyone pay a fair share of tax. Google etc included.
But.
Why should an accountancy practice be able to hire a recent graduate for $20/hr?
Why should a librarian with a masters degree get $45,000/yr
Why is a worker on $15/hr paying tax for these people to get trained ?
Salaries need to rise thru demand for staf and this will only happen when graduate numbers in some skill areas drop.
Over training is just wasting precious resources.
Neo liberal translation :
‘Lets keep em all thick and controllable ‘
Education includes not only degrees, but community education and apprenticeship training.
Was replying to James in respect of student loans – also accessible to apprentices as far as I know.
“”And $430 million of that is in default. Inland Revenue will now start chasing up these borrowers and taking action to get their student loan repayments back on track.””
Not asking that much is it Paul – they just need to get their repayments back on track.
And I jolly well hope they chase up all those naughty little brats who put all their stolen lollies from overseas into that precocious little Johnnie Keys piggy banks as well , Jamsey Wamsey…
You know how we all feel about this , Jamsey Wamsey ,… we do our best to look after you children but we cant feed all the neighborhoods children lollies as well…
Angry Kaikoura coast locals vent their quake frustrations at PM Bill English, Gerry Brownlee
English landed in a Defence Force chopper on the lawn of Kekerengu café The Store this afternoon, to be met with around 40 furious and frustrated locals.
One local Clarence farmer, John Murray, told English: “We had a meeting here three weeks ago and Gerry was here, and we left full of hope that something was going to happen … we have sat down there for three weeks and nothing has bloody well happened and its shocking, it is the absolute pits.”
He said progress on opening roads was too slow.
“No-one has attacked this northern end, the road’s been open from Blenheim, no one’s started tidying this road up at all, they’ve made patch-up repairs all the way through and the roads from Ward and Waipapa Bay should have been upgraded and ready to go so we could just go into the next stage.
“Nothing has been done except patch up and I reckon it’s p*** poor and if that’s what our Government feels about us and how they deal with emergencies then I’m afraid you have lost a lot of votes and a lot of confidence in this area.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11767842
Also on TVNZ – Gerry Brownlie displaying his usual bullying asshole personality.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/gerry-brownlee-visits-kaikoura-and-tells-fed-up-local-im-pissed-off-you-took-attitude-after-being-confronted
Great they are showing their born to rule arrogance so publicly.
Wouldn’t have happened with Key.
Are the wheels coming off?
Hopefully. And yes, you are right to recognize the public display of arrogance. Hopefully it will be seared on the minds of the locals cometh election day.
Swearing at a voter – not a good look
only thing new about this is it is now being reported…..maybe I wasn’t imagining things after all
“We had a meeting here three weeks ago and Gerry was here, and we left full of hope that something was going to happen … we have sat down there for three weeks and nothing has bloody well happened and its shocking, it is the absolute pits.”
…
“Nothing has been done except patch up and I reckon it’s p*** poor and if that’s what our Government feels about us and how they deal with emergencies then I’m afraid you have lost a lot of votes and a lot of confidence in this area.”
I’m sorry, but Kaikoura isn’t that far from Chch. What on earth made them think that what came out of Brownlee’s mouth was going to be real? And great if they’re not going to vote National now, but what about the last election when this shit was already playing out for several years in Canterbury?
Some people only get it when it happens to them.
“Are the wheels coming off?”
Nope.
I’d be more interested in what the people of Kaikoura think.
Exactly, and often media are a little too selective on the locals they ask, hence the Nat supporter at the end of the herald article praising them, pushing the echo. Meanwhile the majority of public there are not so happy and I can’t say i blame them, very proud of them for making it known. Well done, speak your mind and tell us all like it really is.
Far out, the arrogance of Brownlee, and the locals won’t forget today and they will be talking about it for sometime afterwards.
I’m sure locals will be thrilled about them stopping at a vineyard aka class b drug manufacturing plantation to inspect their ‘cracked tanks’ on the way back home. Ho fucken ho ho ho.
Dearest Opposition parties, maybe some of your MP’s or people could spend a couple of days here and there in Kaikoura just helping out over the summer holidays, an awesome opportunity to really get to know the locals there, support their community and walk the talk, show you care. Some of us have not the means to go there. Now it’s summer and a great place for a holiday, maybe go help them out. No need to make a media frenzy about it, that would be shallow. Just boots on the ground, no announcement, just stop in and help a bit.
Key was a phenomenon. You really think the nats can win without him? Just look at Bennett. Pure shit comes out of her mouth every time she opens it. And poor old Bill’s just a plodder. The nats need to stay in the late 40% til the next election. Slipping just a bit and it’s curtains. You really think English and Bennett can keep things where Key had them? They made the nats look hopeless at their first press conference. It can only get worse. They’re history.
they are appalling and Key certainly held many in a trance (MSM included) but the opposition parties cannot sleep walk to an election win….they need to up their own game at the same time as the Nats crash
Yes, that’s the trouble. My guess, though, is that Labour’s lack of depth or oomph (or whatever you want to call it), together with the “Key’s gone” factor will mean the nats will lose next year rather than Labour winning. The margins over the last three elections have been slim and MMP at the moment gives the left, as well as Labour, the advantage in that regard. The difference will be whether Labour starts doing stupid things like it’s done over the last couple of elections. They just need to stay boringly steady and let the nats’ cringe factor, led by Bennett, do the work for them.
Labour would benefit for continuing to (re)introduce more candidates like Michael Wood and Laila Harre.
Fucking Askimet, what a piece of fucking shit it is, whoever coded this, needs to be fucked up the arse repeatedly with the sharp end of a pineapple.
Choice set of vocabulary from an advocate of the far right wing neo liberals.
Well done , cherub.
how about $30 Million for a flag referendum / flight of fancy by an ex-PMp – Shonkey should pay that back
Why?
Why did he have the compulsive need to waste 30 million of the commons money on HIS personal vanity project ?
When the little fucker knew damn well after consulting with his little mate David Farrar no one wanted it and that 30 million could have been better put to 41000 homeless or the poor bastards having to sleep in their cars?
What sort of idiot are you buddy?
You’ve just negated your whole argument about student loans and personal responsibility in deference to those who hold a position of political privilege yet still squander the public purse without any personal responsibility or accountability.
Moron.
I think a boycott of James is in order.
James should also pay back his Standard loans (everyone here has spent a lot on his education) too much actually
Ha! – the neo liberal is only ever any good when their using someone else’s money – in the classic case above of Jame’s hero John Key spending the commons wealth on his own ego gratification projects – that in itself negates the whole notion of ‘ personal responsibility ‘ they like to crap on about.
Sickening.
What a pathetic two faced hypocritical dogma neo liberalism really and truly is.
Exactly….shonkey knew the Flag was something no-one even thought about, but his Ego said FUCK NZ I AM THE MAN (he fund out he wasnt, but too late, the money was burned)…..and while were at it MCScummy can pay back his Multi million $$ bribe gone wrong Saudi farm….eh James…..the Natz list just goes on and on……
” HIS personal vanity project ?”.
Really?
Actually he was simply being kind to the benighted Labour Party.
Knowing that they were never going to become the Government he very kindly gave the Public a chance to accept or reject one of the core items in Labour’s 2014 manifesto.
There policy was not merely to give the public a chance to change the flag. It was to change it, regardless of what the public thought.
Key very kindly gave the public a chance to give their view on the matter.
They didn’t think very highly of the Labour Party policy, did they?
Nat’s love to pinch policy karma on them if that’s the case.
Keys choice of flag was the vanity
i saw Keys flag the other day, up a pole, looking tatty and torn just like the outgoing government, and thought to myself that’s Keys flag, and Key has gone, must say it was a good feeling.
Yeah and your another idiot alwyn . Along with about 4 or 5 other morons who post here that just cant accept neo liberalism is dying its cancerous death.
Go back to your knitting.
“” HIS personal vanity project ?”.
Really?”
yes – really. There has never been a popular, public based push for changing the flag. (people have tried but its always been a fizzer)
then from day one he proceeded to put his own view into the debate at every oppourtunity
its pathetic to try and blame labour for the choices key made – grow up
What was labours policy on the flag – scarily similar to keys – just a chance in execution- so hardly HIS vanity project.
Yes , and conveniently for you far right wing neo liberals you like to have a bob each way.
As the ‘change the flag ‘ debacle only pertains to those types of agitators- who have their people in both party’s – and to those who wish to rewrite NZ history.
You’ll never win using that line of attack, bud.
Back to the knitting you go.
Kekerengu is Tory heartland, how stupid is Brownlie.
As you say , they are just getting a taste of what everybody else has been putting up with from these bastards.
BTW, the vineyard they visited is Yealands now owned collectively by everyone in Marlborough through the local lines trust. Please don’t bag it too much.
Wtf is a lines trust doing buying a vineyard…..sounds very dodgy to me given the inherent risk profile in the wine business.
Why is it ok to bomb Mosul but not Aleppo?
http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/11/youre-not-hearing-the-whole-story-about-aleppo/
‘For the past few weeks, British news-papers have been informing their readers about two contrasting battles in the killing grounds of the Middle East. One is Mosul, in northern Iraq, where western reporters are accompanying an army of liberation as it frees a joyful population from terrorist control. The other concerns Aleppo, just a few hundred miles to the west. This, apparently, is the exact opposite. Here, a murderous dictator, hellbent on destruction, is waging war on his own people.’
Paul,
Possibly because the reporting accurately reflects the fact that the two situations are different. As indeed the quote you used illustrates that point (although I do realise it is a Fisk quote meant as irony).
The situations are the same
Iraq and Syria have both suffered destruction directly and indirectly by western forces. Others are in ruins and others still being reduced to rubble…
Semantics are for the weak, cowardly and dishonest!
It’s only different if you are a US lackey, like you Wayne