Daily Review 16/05/2018
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5:30 pm, May 16th, 2018 - 30 comments
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Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...13 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
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AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...5 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
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All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 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. ...3 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. ...4 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...4 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...4 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...5 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...5 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. ...6 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. ...6 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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The ‘very large’ National opposition are struggling to lay even a feather weight hit on the PM and the coalition govt. National might receive further dampening of spirits with a good voter turnout for the govt in Northcote, but they remain odds on to win the seat.
um, you might want to ask Phil Tywford how he feels about that
Kat – whatever happens in Northcote will be spun as a bad result for Labour.
Scenario 1. Bidois wins comfortably just like Coleman did in 2017:
“Bad news for Labour, National’s support is very strong, the biggest opposition ever and historically unparalleled”
Scenario 2. Bidois wins narrowly:
“Bad news for Labour – must be a huge disappointment they haven’t pulled off the upset they believed they could. National’s support is still strong and historically unparalleled”
Scenario 3. Halbert wins narrowly:
“Bad news for Labour – indicates they have never received the honeymoon enjoyed by (Saint) Sir John Key and have merely squeaked home in what could have been a landslide if they had ever been as popular as (His Excellency) Saint Sir John Key. National’s support is unprecedented and this is the insoluble conundrum for the government (which we can’t directly call illegitimate but will constantly insinuate as much)”
Scenario 4. Halbert wins comfortably. Won’t happen.
I have my NZ Politics 101 bullshit bingo card ready to play in June. Looking forward to it.
AB, its a coalition govt. If the vote for the collation is increased in Northcote but no seat win for the govt then the battle for the seat may have been lost but the war can still be won in the long term. If the vote goes down for the coalition then it will still only be a lost battle this far out from the next election. Of course the MSM will spin the result in any way they fancy, and who has control over that.
We haven’t had a true three party coalition govt in NZ such as we have at present since MMP was introduced. You could say we are in uncharted waters, politically. Jacinda Ardern is proving to be an adept skipper though.
AB
Very good. The paid pundits couldn’t have done better.
Suddenly we are inundated with stories about working poor, middle class disappearance,and unaffordable rents.
Nothing new but where was the coverage in the lead up to the election?
Its National getting “news” in early for the lead up to the 2020 election. Either way its a massive own goal and shooting in the feet by their cohort pimps in the media.
Maybe some of the charities are refunding their voices – realising their funding won’t be cut if they speak out.
And maybe, just maybe, the odd reporter is gaining a bit of courage.
“Maybe some of the charities are refunding their voices…”
Funny you should say that.
Nearly six years ago the Ministry of Health released the names of…
“…the 10 people it has asked to help rewrite the policy on payment for family caregivers.
The list confirms that none of the parent plaintiffs in the long-running legal row are included.
The ministry says it set up its new technical advisory group this month, after deciding to abandon its policy of refusing to pay family carers of disabled offspring.
Parent plaintiffs and others criticised the ministry on Tuesday for failing to consult or include them in the group, and for being secretive and keeping them in the dark over its membership.”
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/108837/health-ministry-names-advisors-on-paying-family-carers
Every single one of the members of that Advisory Group had some kind of financial relationship with the Ministry of Health. At the time we knew what the out come would be….
this…https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12051902
“Disgusting’, ‘nonsense’, ‘appalling’ family carers policy slammed in new report ”
One of the members of that Advisory Group, possibly sniffing a change in the wind admitted…
“….had been part of the “working group” process before Funded Family Care was passed, she said the process was flawed, and the Members of Parliament who voted for it should “examine their consciences”.
“It was a cynical process and not something that any of us involved were proud of. I felt used. And it had a very human cost. I would not want to see that process repeated here.” ”
If that was a mea culpa…its way too late.
I wonder….
Nick Smith was pulled up and made to withdraw and apologise for making an unparliamentary comment about Deputy PM, Winston Peters today.
https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=200437
10mins in.
The sulking and bitterness of the self entitled continues…
Correction: it starts around 9:25 mins.
Anne, National truly believed they would have a field day with “the stupid little girl” PM and her “shambolic” coalition. National totally underestimated the competence of Jacinda Ardern and now just look plain ridiculous whenever they try and throw mud at her. Coupled with Winston Peters and the Greens, Jacinda Ardern’s govt has proved itself an immovable, impenetrable force that National never expected, they genuinely expected the coalition govt to self implode within the first six months.
I challenge anyone to come up with a viable opponent to the PM from within the ranks of the opposition. Bridges and Co/- just don’t cut it.
National are the proverbial “dog tucker”….. and Richard Prebble can’t bring himself to say it as long as he is getting his koha from Main Freight.
I think they have a couple of newcomers with brain cells to rub together. But there’s certainly a forest of deadwood there. Some would say a thicket.
…. ” National are the proverbial “dog tucker”….. and Richard Prebble can’t bring himself to say it as long as he is getting his koha from Main Freight ” …
—————————————————–
Speaking of which , this helps explain Prebbles statements about rail,….
Copy of a poster over at The Daily Blog :
—————————————————–
STAIRCASE says:
MAY 16, 2018 AT 12:12 AM
Other claims made by Prebble around the time of the sale of NZ Rail to Tranz Rail Ltd were that this consortium was responsible for initiating major operating changes such as single crewing of trains and remote controlled shunting locomotives etc. In fact, most major reforms were introduced prior to privatization by the SOE NZ Rail Ltd.
Once rail was privatized, Prebble’s Tranzrail mates sold off locomotives, rolling stock and rail ferries then leased them back. In addition, they deferred maintenance on core infrastructure. This led to a contrived injection of capital which temporarily pushed up share prices. Unsurprisingly, the NZ Securities Commission launched an investigation into the beneficiaries of the corporate share trading irregularities.
The rest is history but Richard Prebble certainly has not left a legacy that benefited NZ. In the meantime he continues to be rewarded for his services to the road transport industry via his Mainfreight Directors fees.
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From an article by Chris Trotter
The Boy On The Tram « The Daily Blog
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/05/15/the-boy-on-the-tram/
Probable needs to face his day in court.
I still think Nick Smith is mentally failing. He has just shown his decline – again.
Crikey those nat’s…. just seen an ad on Stuff, ‘simons story’ click on the ad to learn more about ‘simon’, ummm no thanks; simon, are you campaigning to hold onto the leadership lololz, how’s that internal polling going?
The Nats are in permanent campaign mode.
It used to be seemingly permanent Nat party branded signs on street corners announcing community meetings with said electorate or list MP. Now I think they’ve taken advice that to appear more genuine you must create a narrative, and do it a lot, through naked advertising.
Watch the population get sick of that.
I’d say it must be expensive to produce and screen but they do get the benefit of now being a regular client of Stuff and whoever else they advertise with which means the editorial arms of these publications will not want to criticise them.
Cinny, I think Simon is trying to be ‘positive’ … just looks smarmy. A real fail imo.
Slick’s full of … stories.
We are killing life on this planet, one dam at a time.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/16/leaked-report-warns-cambodias-biggest-dam-could-literally-kill-mekong-river
Read Endgame by Derrick Jensen.
Volume 1 The Problem of Civilisation.
North Korea may have looked at the U.S’s recent treatment of Iran and realised it might be better to hold onto its nukes.
America land of the moronic.
America land of the fools.
America land of the armed and dangerous.
Any chance you Yanks could leave the rest of the planet alone, you buffoons?
They seem still to be so emboldened by their 1940s support role in Europe that they don’t realise they haven’t won a war since despite years of trying.
I learnt a lot watching Oliver Stone’s Untold Histroy of the U.S.
Had Henry Wallace succeeded Roosevelt, we might be living in a very different world.
But Truman won……
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Untold_History_of_the_United_States
We are killing life on this planet.
And haven’t got the courage or will to save our species rest of life on Earth.
We are fools led by fools.
https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change-model-scenario-rcp85-global-warming-illinios-study-a8353346.html
We already have answers to most ecological problems facing us today Ed. But to work on them we need to stymy corporate interference. It’s all so easy if not for these wilfully-ignorant graspers. They’re monkeys in a monkey trap of their own design. And they’re fools if they think they’re not going down with the ship.
What really annoys me is most of them could raise their bottom line considerably if they used common sense and stopped being so wasteful. Truly morons among men, these movers and shakers.
A real mans reach exceeds his grasping.
Over Palestinians 60 dead.
And over 2700 Palestinians injured.
And US Ambassador Nikki Haley tells UN ‘no country in this chamber would act with more restraint than Israel has’
We should end our links with America.
It is a rogue nation.
It is a dangerous nation.
It is a crooked nation.
Nikki Haley is a danger to humanity.
Found this tonight, but we need to remember Chlorine is commonly use chemical use for water purification along with many other uses. So any side could manufacture a Chlorine gas chemical weapon as it’s very cheap and very nasty weapons platform.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-16/chlorine-likely-used-in-syrian-town-of-saraqib-watchdog-finds/9768916
Fabulous piece from a Blog sub zero politics about how Farrar created the meme of the Poll honeymoon after elections 1999 and 2008 and how msm picked it up and regurgitated it. Any yet this poll honey moon turns up not to be true.
Will post as soon as I can figure out how it. It came through on my FB feed.