How common is it for National MP’s to have relationships with women staffers in parliament?
Ignoring the extra-marital side of it, is this seen as a perk of the job, to exploit their status as MP’s for sexual advantage?
Most workplaces have rules around this sort of behaviour, whatever the nature of the behaviour of Jamie-Lee Ross in these relationships, the recurring incidence of them speaks to a wider culture.
A Wellington law firm has been in the news for hiring young women laywers to provide eye candy to hard working male staff (then later social company when drunk, then to breed for them when passed over for promotion) – is it the same in parliament?
PS Brett Kavanaugh was outed by tiger mum, a Yale law professor, over his penchant for hiring feminine model types as law interns – she instructed her Yale graduates to dress in a certain way if they wanted to be hired.
Literally- which reminds me as I noticed David Carter skulking in the dimly lit corner of Havana bar, a few weeks back, with a striking wee thing that was neither wife nor daughter. They are all the same.
The problem is when there is a power imbalance and social pressure/alcohol that impairs the ability to consent.
Being an arsehole in your private life is not necessarily a crime or an employment matter. Using power to coerce people in your workplace to have sex is (at the very least) an employment matter.
Haven’t read much about the specific allegations concerning Ross, I expect more will come out soon. It’s fun watching the riot, but the confirmed specifics on all allegations will take weeks to settle out one way or the other.
Well this from David Fisher at the NZH about an hour ago:
A National Party candidate has spoken about a campaign of harassment by rogue MP Jami-Lee Ross which became so severe she sought medical help and intervention by the party hierarchy.
Manurewa candidate Katrina Bungard told the Herald Ross had harassed her in 2016 and 2017.
She said Ross began the campaign to get wife Lucy Schwaner appointed as chair of the Howick Community Board in east Auckland.
…
“(Lusk) rang me and told me I could have a great career in politics, that he would get me this job and that job.
“Then he said he can only do these things if you’re in a good place with Jami-Lee. If you fall out, I can’t do anything.”
…
Collings had complained to National Party general manager Greg Hamilton about Ross’ behaviour over the vote for the chair’s role.
Collings said: “He was being a dickhead and a bit of a prat and I wanted him to stop. Greg said he would have a word to him. But it carried on.”
Bungard said the campaign then became one which was a result of her refusal to do as Ross had wanted.
It included being served a trespass order when she tried to attend a National Party morning tea for senior citizens.
But to be frank, that’s the sort of dirty politics I’d expect to be routine by the nats. And I don’t for one minute believe the comments by people who had been complained to that they were shocked and stunned by the “full extent” of what Ross has been doing – they were in a position to know. Unless there are actual bodies buried, it’s typical dirty politics. Hell, Collins is trying to act shocked about an affair and some bullying, but she cracked jokes about prison rapes resulting from her policies. Suddenly she, like everyone else who would have been well aware of all the complaints, is surprised and concerned. Unbelievable.
He sounds like a manipulative, entitled piece of crap – kind of like most of the young nats I was acquainted with at university.
I think one of the women ‘ who works around parliament’s is a journalist. There was previous reference to this woman getting inside info from Ross for a story.
Strangely this journalist seems to have gone quiet this week on political stories.
Checked out his biography. He’s Matt Doocey, MP for Waimakiriki. Former speaker, David Carter is his uncle. Jobs for the boys by the looks of it. He does look a bit like Muldoon but without his bruising personality and gritty intellect.
It is obvious neither of you watch Question Time. LOL.
Matt is also Junior Whip (since March 2018) and sits immediately behind Paula Bennett (and Simon Bridges) so is in camera range for all questions asked by either of them.
He sits next to Barbara Kuriger who was appointed as Senior Whip in March 2018 in place of JLR, when Bridges moved Ross up the ranks and also appointed him Nat’s Transport Spokesperson.
There have been some claims this week that part of Ross’ antagonism to Bridges is that Ross wanted to retain the Senior Whip position as well as being a Spokesperson (for the extra pay). This combination of Whip/Spokesperson roles is not usual. Its usually one or the other – but in fact Doocey has retained his Mental Health spokesperson* position which he got from English in Nov 2017 as well as being appointed Junior Whip.
Ross had worked his way up from Third Whip in Jan 2013, to Junior Whip in Oct 2014, and then Senior Whip in May 2017.
* Actually Doocey’s professional background is quite interesting. According to Wikipedia, he is a former manager with Canterbury DHB and ” … worked in mental health and health-care management in both New Zealand and the UK. He studied Counselling Psychology at Weltech, has a BSc (Hons) in Social Policy, an MA in Healthcare Management from Kingston University in London and an MSc in Global Politics from Birkbeck, University of London.”
He also did well votewise in increasing his original 2,500 majority in 2014 by over 10,000 in 2017 – the highest personal vote increase in the 2017 election.
Interesting to hear Bridges this PM say that the first he heard of Ross misbehaviour was the day that he acted promptly and called Ross into his office and dealt with him. The journalists were trying to check the timeline. Just in case Bridges was lying.
I imagine that is because you aren’t willing to invest in anything.
FYI. Restaurant Brands is listed in the NZX.
The symbol is RBD and the last sale price was $8.67.
If you had bought them yesterday they would have been about $1.07 cheaper.
So come on. Be a patriotic Kiwi and invest in New Zealand companies.
Then you could say we do own things ourselves.
Fast food isn’t a business I know much about but I wouldn’t think it was one where you could shift all your profits offshore and avoid tax.
The bulk of your costs are going to be things and people that you either purchase or employ here. It isn’t like high-tech concerns which import all the things they sell from other companies in the same group who operate overseas. They also employ very few people who work here and pay a great deal for the intellectual property in the things they sell.
There will be some royalty payments for the use of brand names like KFC and Starbucks but it won’t be anything like the payments that go to companies like Apple.
So no, I don’t see that they could get anywhere by trying to shift all their profits overseas and even if they could they certainly can’t avoid paying a very large amount of GST, can they?
Someone who knows the industry may have a different view of course.
Of course you could join the rush and buy the company if you think it is such a good deal. Just be in and buy your share of them tomorrow.
~2/3rds of ‘income’ from shares is from trading. This income does not go to the company and so buying shares on the share-market is not investing in those companies (Why we can’t afford the rich by by Andrew Sayer, Richard Wilkinson).
The only time that the money goes to the company is when they’re initially offered and they would be better offered as a bond or a loan which does not transfer perpetual ownership or control.
“buying shares on the share-market is not investing in those companies”.
Very good. At least you understand what Investment means in Economics.
You will note, of course, that I never used the word “Invest” in my remarks. I suggested that people should “buy” shares in the company if the don’t want all the shares to be sold to a Mexican based group.
My comment still stands. If enough people buy the shares in Restaurant Brands they can prevent it being taken over by a foreign buyer. If they aren’t willing to do that they can’t really complain about it.
Be a patriotic Kiwi and invest in New Zealand companies.”
So that would be you lying again.
I suggested that people should “buy” shares in the company if the don’t want all the shares to be sold to a Mexican based group.
The problem being that the Mexican company isn’t investing in the NZ company either – it’s just buying it out. The country will lose from such a transaction as all the profits are shipped offshore along with any IP and possibly the company itself.
If enough people buy the shares in Restaurant Brands they can prevent it being taken over by a foreign buyer.
Offshore ownership needs to be banned as it’s bad for the country.
Its actually pretty clever (although I resent the tax).
Companies that sell under 60k to NZ in a year are exempt in the same way NZ companies under 60k turnover don’t gave to sign up for get.
Not sure if used items from eBay are covered, but I think because eBay is a marketplace and the sellers themselves probably won’t meet that criteria should be OK.
Unless Customs pings you for having brought something worth over 400
1 It can make things that are not easily obtainable in NZ even dearer (the freight bills are very high).
2 The suggestion is that the GST should be collected by the seller rather than requiring the work to be done here in NZ. This means that a a lot of sellers will refuse to deal with NZ. This already is happening,; I was surprised when I looked at British alarm clocks on google to see how many sellers would not bother to deal with us at present. I got one and have had difficulties with it.
I think our access for overseas direct purchases will be further limited.
Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon said the agreement with the operator of Cora signalled a plan to make electric air taxi travel a reality for all New Zealanders.
“Zephyr Airworks is leading the way in re-defining personal mobility to make it easier for all of us to get around,” Mr Luxon said.
“Both companies see the potential for our airspace to free people from the constraints of traffic and its associated social, economic and environmental impacts.”
Relieving the impact of polluting emissions was now “very real”, he said.
“casual racism”.
I suppose you could claim a little bit of that, although it was primarily by Ross.
On the other hand it was a great deal less in what was thought to be a private conversation than the dreadful public “humour” purveyed by the very highest levels of the Coalition of Fools.
Do you prefer the hilarious joke told by a person who thinks that the statement about Chinese that “Two Wongs don’t make a White” was the height of sophisticated humour.
I assume that you are in favour of the current Government?
He is, as you are probably aware the Deputy Prime Minister in a New Zealand First/Labour Government. Remember?
He hasn’t had anything to do with a National led Government since 1998, when Shipley had the sense to dump him.
Then in 2008, before the election, the National Party leader said that they would not go into Government with him because he could not be trusted.
Now he is running the Coalition with Labour who have given him the keys to the piggybank, and God knows what else. Why won’t they let the New Zealand know what he has been given?
Closer connections with National than the idiots in the Labour and Green parties my foot. The are all tucked up in bed together while they rob and ruin the New Zealand economy.
Surely Ad you cant think the years of jaw jaw on the standard have meant one less child in poverty. Famously labour Mps are reputed to not even read it.
It’s social media after all
Surely a local shitshow that eclipses the turd tornado in DC (and hoo boy that’s sayin sumthin) is worth a few days R & R to just enjoy watching the craptacle.
Politicians and dodgy donations go to the heart of the system…
Nah. It only speaks to their corruption. And we’ve known they’re corrupt ‘since forever’.
You want to get anywhere near the heart of the system? (I doubt many do btw – preferring vacuous cheerleading and easy to opine on shit over substance every time). But if you do, then you have to start examining and talking about things like poverty – as Ad suggests.
Looks like more problems brewing for the National Party.
Happy to hush the stories of abuse when it suited them.
Happy to use the stories of abuse when it suited them.
So on top of Filipinos, Indians, Chinese and list MPs, women are also commodities to be exploited by the National Party establishment.
Unbelievable.
“National Party president Peter Goodfellow ‘signed confidentiality agreement’ with woman.
National Party president Peter Goodfellow helped broker a “peace agreement” that included a confidentiality clause between Jami-Lee Ross and a woman who felt threatened by him, a source has told Stuff.
The agreement was signed before Simon Bridges became leader of the party and promoted Ross to the front bench. It is unclear if he was aware of the incident.
Stuff was told by a source close to the woman that the agreement was signed after the she went to Goodfellow and another senior National Party member with complaints about Ross’ threatening and bullying behaviour.”
If a crime has been committed then such a contract exists to hide that crime and that is illegal. Something about perverting the course of justice, conspiracies etcetera.
Looking really bad for National and for Peter Goodfellow.
Goodfellow won’t answer the questions.
All board members won’t answer the questions.
Who is the other National Party member given a trespass notice?
So many questions….
‘The National Party has known for a couple of years about grievances regarding Jami-Lee Ross’ conduct, and got one complainant to sign a confidentiality agreement, sources have told Checkpoint.’
I’ve found that Ross has his own version of events over the party sanctioned one. I’m not sticking up for him but at least Nationals hit job on him via Politik and his supposed power grab was nothing like that.
I’m thinking one of the toxic relationships was with a woman journalist , both benefitted you might say as her name was on an exclusive from him- not that that she gave away the source, but the enquiry pointed to JLR
I seems like the Mayor has a lot explaining to do.
“Tong’s relationship with Zhang has raised a few eyebrows this week in Southland.
Stuff has spoken to many of the district councillors. Few of them had heard of Zhang until the donation scandal erupted on Tuesday. Most knew Tong was in China, but didn’t really know why. They want a full briefing from the mayor when he returns home on October 22.“
I repeat.
“Most knew Tong was in China, but didn’t really know why. They want a full briefing from the mayor when he returns home on October 22.“
Interesting.
“Zhang wanted to know if “there was any way he could help bring people to Southland through immigrants or through promoting some sort of business” in the region,Tong said.
The pair met again later that year at Zhang’s home in Auckland where mayors from across the country had gathered for a “Chinese promotion”.
By that stage a friendship between the pair was developing.”
“The Opposition…” just spent the last few days self destructing. Admittedly a pleasurable spectacle for those of us in the margins, but I’m still in hope that we finally have a Government that can behave…better.
That was classic Peters. Funny. Clever. Perceptive. And though he had a few notes it was otherwise unscripted. Not sure anyone in the House could outclass him.
10/10
Agree 10/10. There is so much mud slung around over time, that pollies can’t be blamed for having a laugh and some digs at the other side when it is so appropriate. The obfuscation that the National Party pollies and their supporters always wallow in is hard to stomach. I am pleased to see Winston jousting so well – he deserves a knighthood.
The National’s knight is but a poor competitor with ideas above his station!
Indeed, hes a rare one of a kind survivor and battler, and does it with panache and wit. National has brought this mess on themselves , after dishing it out to all and sundry for years and now its their turn . So why shouldn’t Peters provide a light hearted batch of comic relief at the absurdity in which National finds itself in.
The spin masters are working hard to portray JLR as ‘a lone wolf’. But JLR denies he’s the leaker and it also conveniently ignores internal polling that Had Simon Bridges down at minus 27%.
I believe there was a pack of wolves but JLR went off the reservation, bigly.
The infamous National Party unity is and always has been a manufactured myth; its united front appears to be based on coercion, threats & intimidation, and fear. Oh, and of course the insatiable hunger for power & control.
It’s interesting how many mainstream journalists are using Nicky Hager’s Dirty Politics book as a source for explaining JLR’s behaviour, and that of others in the National Party.
I thought David Fisher’s article this morning was an important one in explaining the National Party history and the rise of Dirty Politics and JLR. Hager’s 2 books (Hollow Men and DP), plus the JLR-Bridges saga will be an important part of the historical record of the rise and fall of the National Party.
The National Party machine is the envy of other parties. From its crushing election defeat in 2002, when many believed it a spent force, it was rebuilt brutally, carefully and methodically.
Structures were designed, the board empowered to build longevity, emphasis was placed on calculated and deliberate fundraising. Risk was not tolerated. The party was being built to last a thousand years.
Part of the genius was the courting of the new Chinese-New Zealand community.
…
For those who watched it unfold, it was clear that Ross was still receiving advice from his old mentor, Simon Lusk.
The pacing of the allegations, the timing of the press conferences – it smacked of a carefully planned strategy intended to maximise and prolong coverage.
However, the interesting thing is, how successful has been Lusk in the long term. Some successes in the shortish term, but then more fails,
Was Todd Barclay one of Lusk’s fails?
Sam Lotu-Iiga appears to have not lasted as long as Lusk had hoped.
Yes .. as much as we oppose them, in the long run even in National some actual competency is necessary for long-term success.
For instance Key; for all his skills at working a room or a crowd, and his ability to ruthlessly manage his party … wasn’t much good at anything else. If you look back, it’s the story of his life; a swift climb to the top of the greasy pole, clings on for quite a while and then an abrupt departure. And not much to show for it (at least not what he’d want you to see) when you look back.
Ultimately it comes down to this; for all the power plays, dirty gotcha games … if you want to achieve something in Parliament you need to bring some real ability to the table. Money doesn’t buy this.
When we refer back to ‘Dirty Politics’ in NZ, it’s easy to gloss over the implication of Nicky Hager’s subtitle which emphasised that this transactional, money-driven attack politics is *poisoning* our democratic environment.— Mark Rickerby (@maetl) October 17, 2018
[…]
Secretive, unelected malignancies like Simon Lusk and Peter Goodfellow are at the centre of all these problems.— Mark Rickerby (@maetl) October 17, 2018
When we refer back to ‘Dirty Politics’ in NZ, it’s easy to gloss over the implication of Nicky Hager’s subtitle which emphasised that this transactional, money-driven attack politics is *poisoning* our democratic environment.
Anne-Marie Brady’s Twitter feed worth keeping an eye on.
“At the heart of the bloodbath unfolding @NZNationalParty is an allegation of Beijing-backed political donations being laundered to escape reporting laws. Time to face up to the rot at the heart of our democracy & break the hold of corrosive outside money: Reform electoral finance.”
“The most concerning aspect to the controversy over National’s hidden donations is that the source of the funds is a leader in #CCP united front work activities.”
Yep get stuck in to lobbying as well, I feel it is closely linked to corruption, and un-kiwi behaviour.
Heavy trucks, booze in supermarkets and dairies, direct to consumer pharmaceutical advertising….
Seems like the High Commissioner of India to NZ, Sanjiv Kohli, isn’t impressed with Simon Bridges.
“Shocking attitude . Highly inconsistent with nz values. Hopefully an aberration. India and indians respect and admire this country and its people. Not everything is up for sale. Running a country is different from managing David Jones.”
I can’t see the national party leader at the next election walking through a sea of blue turbans when entering Sky City for the after match after this.
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Instead of staring at screens, and being constantly distracted, now would be a good a time to truly engage with those you love. To be grateful for what you have, and to try not to feel life’s bitter sweetness at every turn. Do the thing that brings you joy.
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This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Gary Yohe, Henry Jacoby, Richard Richels, and Benjamin Santer Imagine a major climate change law passing the U.S. Congress unanimously? Don’t bother. It turns out that you don’t need to imagine it. Get this: The Global Change Research Act of 1990 was passed ...
“They’re here already! You’re next! You’re next! You’re next!”WHO CAN FORGET the penultimate scene of the 1956 movie classic, Invasion of the Body Snatchers? The wild-eyed doctor, stumbling down the highway, trying desperately to warn his fellow citizens: “They’re here already! You’re next! You’re next! You’re next!”Ostensibly science-fiction, the movie ...
TheOneRing.Net has got its paws on the official synopsis of the upcoming Amazon Tolkien TV series. It’s a development that brings to mind the line about Sauron deliberately releasing Gollum from the dungeons of Barad-dûr. Amazon knew exactly what they were doing here, in terms of drumming up publicity: ...
Since Dwight Eisenhower’s inauguration in 1953, US presidents have joined an informal club intended to provide support - and occasionally rivalry - between those few who have been ‘leaders of the free world’. Donald Trump, elected on a promise to ‘drain the swamp’ and a constant mocker of his predecessors, ...
For over a decade commentators have noted the rise of a new brand of explicitly ideological politics throughout the world. By this they usually refer to the re-emergence of national populism and avowedly illiberal approaches to governance throughout the “advanced” democratic community, but they also extend the thought to the ...
The US House of Representatives has just impeached Donald Trump, giving him the dubious honour of being the only US President to be impeached twice. Ten Republicans voted for impeachement, making it the most bipartisan impeachment ever. The question now is whether the Senate will rise to the occasion, and ...
Kieren Mitchell; Alice Mouton, Université de Liège; Angela Perri, Durham University, and Laurent Frantz, Ludwig Maximilian University of MunichThanks to the hit television series Game of Thrones, the dire wolf has gained a near-mythical status. But it was a real animal that roamed the Americas for at least 250,000 ...
Tide of tidal data rises Having cast our own fate to include rising sea level, there's a degree of urgency in learning the history of mean sea level in any given spot, beyond idle curiosity. Sea level rise (SLR) isn't equal from one place to another and even at a particular ...
Well, some of those chickens sure came home bigly, didn’t they… and proceeded to shit all over the nice carpet in the Capitol. What we were seeing here are societal forces that have long had difficulty trying to reconcile people to the “idea” of America and the reality of ...
In the wake of Donald Trump's incitement of an assault on the US capitol, Twitter finally enforced its terms of service and suspended his account. They've since followed that up with action against prominent QAnon accounts and Trumpers, including in New Zealand. I'm not unhappy with this: Trump regularly violated ...
Peter S. Ross, University of British ColumbiaThe Arctic has long proven to be a barometer of the health of our planet. This remote part of the world faces unprecedented environmental assaults, as climate change and industrial chemicals threaten a way of life for Inuit and other Indigenous and northern ...
Susan St John makes the case for taxing a deemed rate of return on excessive real estate holdings (after a family home exemption), to redirect scarce housing resources to where they are needed most. Read the full article here ...
I’m less than convinced by arguments that platforms like Twitter should be subject to common carrier regulation preventing them from being able to decide who to keep on as clients of their free services, and who they would not like to serve. It’s much easier to create competition for the ...
A growing public housing waiting list and continued increase of house prices must be urgently addressed by Government, Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said today. ...
A Waitomo-based Jobs for Nature project will keep up to ten people employed in the village as the tourism sector recovers post Covid-19 Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. “This $500,000 project will save ten local jobs by deploying workers from Discover Waitomo into nature-based jobs. They will be undertaking local ...
Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw spoke yesterday with President Biden’s Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry. “I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak with Mr. Kerry this morning about the urgency with which our governments must confront the climate emergency. I am grateful to him and ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta today announced three diplomatic appointments: Alana Hudson as Ambassador to Poland John Riley as Consul-General to Hong Kong Stephen Wong as Consul-General to Shanghai Poland “New Zealand’s relationship with Poland is built on enduring personal, economic and historical connections. Poland is also an important ...
Work begins today at Wainuiomata High School to ensure buildings and teaching spaces are fit for purpose, Education Minister Chris Hipkins says. The Minister joined principal Janette Melrose and board chair Lynda Koia to kick off demolition for the project, which is worth close to $40 million, as the site ...
A skilled and experienced group of people have been named as the newly established Oranga Tamariki Ministerial Advisory Board by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis today. The Board will provide independent advice and assurance to the Minister for Children across three key areas of Oranga Tamariki: relationships with families, whānau, and ...
The green light for New Zealand’s first COVID-19 vaccine could be granted in just over a week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said today. “We’re making swift progress towards vaccinating New Zealanders against the virus, but we’re also absolutely committed to ensuring the vaccines are safe and effective,” Jacinda Ardern said. ...
The Minister for ACC is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to join the Board of ACC on 1 February 2021. “All three bring diverse skills and experience to provide strong governance oversight to lead the direction of ACC” said Hon Carmel Sepuloni. Bella Takiari-Brame from Hamilton ...
The Government is investing $9 million to upgrade a significant community facility in Invercargill, creating economic stimulus and jobs, Infrastructure Minister Grant Robertson and Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirikatene have announced. The grant for Waihōpai Rūnaka Inc to make improvements to Murihiku Marae comes from the $3 billion set ...
[Opening comments, welcome and thank you to Auckland University etc] It is a great pleasure to be here this afternoon to celebrate such an historic occasion - the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This is a moment many feared would never come, but ...
The Government is providing $3 million in one-off seed funding to help disabled people around New Zealand stay connected and access support in their communities, Minister for Disability Issues, Carmel Sepuloni announced today. The funding will allow disability service providers to develop digital and community-based solutions over the next two ...
Border workers in quarantine facilities will be offered voluntary daily COVID-19 saliva tests in addition to their regular weekly testing, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. This additional option will be rolled out at the Jet Park Quarantine facility in Auckland starting on Monday 25 January, and then to ...
The next steps in the Government’s ambitious firearms reform programme to include a three-month buy-back have been announced by Police Minister Poto Williams today. “The last buy-back and amnesty was unprecedented for New Zealand and was successful in collecting 60,297 firearms, modifying a further 5,630 firearms, and collecting 299,837 prohibited ...
Upscaling work already underway to restore two iconic ecosystems will deliver jobs and a lasting legacy, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. “The Jobs for Nature programme provides $1.25 billion over four years to offer employment opportunities for people whose livelihoods have been impacted by the COVID-19 recession. “Two new projects ...
The Government has released its Public Housing Plan 2021-2024 which outlines the intention of where 8,000 additional public and transitional housing places announced in Budget 2020, will go. “The Government is committed to continuing its public house build programme at pace and scale. The extra 8,000 homes – 6000 public ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has congratulated President Joe Biden on his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States of America. “I look forward to building a close relationship with President Biden and working with him on issues that matter to both our countries,” Jacinda Ardern said. “New Zealand ...
A major investment to tackle wilding pines in Mt Richmond will create jobs and help protect the area’s unique ecosystems, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor says. The Mt Richmond Forest Park has unique ecosystems developed on mineral-rich geology, including taonga plant species found nowhere else in the country. “These special plant ...
To further protect New Zealand from COVID-19, the Government is extending pre-departure testing to all passengers to New Zealand except from Australia, Antarctica and most Pacific Islands, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “The change will come into force for all flights arriving in New Zealand after 11:59pm (NZT) on Monday ...
Bay Conservation Cadets launched with first intake Supported with $3.5 million grant Part of $1.245b Jobs for Nature programme to accelerate recover from Covid Cadets will learn skills to protect and enhance environment Environment Minister David Parker today welcomed the first intake of cadets at the launch of the Bay ...
The Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown have announced passengers from the Cook Islands can resume quarantine-free travel into New Zealand from 21 January, enabling access to essential services such as health. “Following confirmation of the Cook Islands’ COVID ...
Jobs for Nature funding is being made available to conservation groups and landowners to employ staff and contractors in a move aimed at boosting local biodiversity-focused projects, Conservation Minister Kiritapu Allan has announced. It is estimated some 400-plus jobs will be created with employment opportunities in ecology, restoration, trapping, ...
The Government has approved an exception class for 1000 international tertiary students, degree level and above, who began their study in New Zealand but were caught offshore when border restrictions began. The exception will allow students to return to New Zealand in stages from April 2021. “Our top priority continues ...
Today’s deal between Meridian and Rio Tinto for the Tiwai smelter to remain open another four years provides time for a managed transition for Southland. “The deal provides welcome certainty to the Southland community by protecting jobs and incomes as the region plans for the future. The Government is committed ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appointed Anna Curzon to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). The leader of each APEC economy appoints three private sector representatives to ABAC. ABAC provides advice to leaders annually on business priorities. “ABAC helps ensure that APEC’s work programme is informed by business community perspectives ...
The Government’s prudent fiscal management and strong policy programme in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic have been acknowledged by the credit rating agency Fitch. Fitch has today affirmed New Zealand’s local currency rating at AA+ with a stable outlook and foreign currency rating at AA with a positive ...
The Government is putting in place a suite of additional actions to protect New Zealand from COVID-19, including new emerging variants, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Given the high rates of infection in many countries and evidence of the global spread of more transmissible variants, it’s clear that ...
$36 million of Government funding alongside councils and others for 19 projects Investment will clean up and protect waterways and create local jobs Boots on the ground expected in Q2 of 2021 Funding part of the Jobs for Nature policy package A package of 19 projects will help clean up ...
The commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the Battle of Ruapekapeka represents an opportunity for all New Zealanders to reflect on the role these conflicts have had in creating our modern nation, says Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Kiri Allan. “The Battle at Te Ruapekapeka Pā, which took ...
Nicholas Agar suggests that our handling of the pandemic could be partly down to our distinctive Treaty of Waitangi relationship, and Māori ideas that enabled us to make it through without tens of thousands of deaths A mission for universities in the coming decade will be a deep understanding of the meaning ...
A young girl who once sent $5 to an embattled America's Cup team is now among the women on the water helping run the contest for the Auld Mug. As an eager and generous nine-year-old, Melanie Roberts posted a letter, with a $5 note, to OneAustralia’s America’s Cup team. It was 1995, ...
At 5am today, cock’s crow, the embargo lifted on the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards longlist. Here are the books in the race, followed by thoughts from poetry editor Chris Tse and books editor Catherine Woulfe. A shortlist of four books in each category will be announced March 3, with ...
Ignoring those QR codes when you drop into the supermarket? Can’t be bothered when you grab a coffee? The people serving you notice, and you’re freaking them out.So far, New Zealanders’ use of the Covid-19 Tracer app has been notably woeful. Food industry workers who’ve watched streams of customers walk ...
Steve Braunias reveals the longlist of the 2021 Ockham New Zealand book awards Apart from one or two unfortunate omissions which cast doubt on the sanity and intellectual acumen of judges, especially the nobodies who judged this year's non-fiction, the longlist for the 2021 Ockham New Zealand book awards is ...
By Lulu Mark in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea’s biggest hospital is straining to provide medical services to the growing population of the capital Port Moresby – with an estimated growth rate of 3 percent annually, a medical executive says. Port Moresby General Hospital chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Nationals who attend Thursday’s memorial service in Tweed Heads for Doug Anthony, who died last month aged 90, may muse on the contrast between the state of their party when he led it and now. ...
Returning to quarantine-free travel in 2021 doesn't just need a vaccine, but a way to check whether arriving passengers are actually immune to the virus. A smart Kiwi science start-up is working with a global biometrics giant to make that happen. A deal signed between Kiwi research and development company Orbis Diagnostics, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlyn Forster, PhD Candidate, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney This summer’s wetter conditions have created great conditions for flowering plants. Flowers provide sweet nectar and protein-rich pollen, attracting many insects, including bees. Commercial honey bees are also thriving: ...
Lotto scratchie tickets featuring the pop band Six60 are being withdrawn after a public backlash. In a statement, Lotto NZ said there had been a mutual decision made with the band to remove the tickets from sale following the negative feedback, and it offered an apology. The band faced criticism, both ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Russell Dean Christopher Bicknell, Post-doctoral researcher in Palaeobiology , University of New England Shell-crushing predation was already in full swing half a billion years ago, as our new research published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B reveals. A hyena devouring ...
Vodafone has suspended advertising on the radio station amid calls for talkback host John Banks to be taken off air after yet another racist outburst. Alex Braae reports. In an alarming segment of talkback radio, former Auckland mayor John Banks endorsed the views of a caller who described Māori as a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Welch, Senior Lecturer, University of Auckland When a COVID-19 case was found in Northland last Sunday, Aotearoa’s second-longest period with no detected community case came to an end. ESR scientists worked late into Sunday night to obtain a whole genome sequence ...
He has the perfect moustache, an exceptional mullet, and he uses terms like ‘face hole’ on national TV. Who or what is Dr Joel Rindelaub?I was drawn in by the moustache, but it was the mullet that really kept me there. Watching TVNZ’s Breakfast yesterday morning I was fixated. Often, ...
We’ll never be royals with nearly a quarter of declined baby names featuring “Royal” in some form or another. Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs has released the list of names declined in 2020 by the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and ...
After a raft of inquiries delving into and recommending what should be done about the politically beleaguered Orangi Tamaraki, along with the briefing papers we suppose he has been given, we imagined Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis would have no more need for expert advice. Wrong. He has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vincent Ho, Senior Lecturer and clinical academic gastroenterologist, Western Sydney University There’s a common assumption men take longer than women to poo. People say so on Twitter, in memes, and elsewhereonline. But is that right? What could explain it? And if ...
Just as sexuality is a spectrum, so too is asexuality. In Ace of Hearts, members of New Zealand’s asexual community talk about the challenges and misconceptions of identifying as ace.First published November 17, 2020.Ace of Hearts is part of Frame, a series of short documentaries produced by Wrestler for The Spinoff.“A ...
Sam Brooks wasn’t allowed to watch kids TV as a kid. Now, as a 30 year old man, he watches it for the first time.My mother’s approach to parenting was unorthodox. I wrote weekly book reports on top of my actual homework, I did maths equations in Roman numerals and ...
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk More leading Indonesian figures have made racial slurs against Natalius Pigai, former chair of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) – and all West Papuans, says United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) interim president Benny Wenda. “Since the illegal Indonesian invasion in 1963, Indonesian ...
“The Government’s failure to even conduct a standard cost-benefit analysis for the most expensive infrastructure project in New Zealand’s history is mind-bogglingly arrogant,” says New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke. “A ...
The Ministry of Health is today drawing backlash from the local New Zealand vaping industry following its release of proposed regulations for the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act. Vaping Trade Association New Zealand (VTANZ) President, ...
Sophie Gilmour and Simon Day are joined by special guest Hugo Baird, co-owner of Grey Lynn’s Honey Bones and Lilian, to talk about opening new pub Hotel Ponsonby.Auckland is a city of many bars but few really good pubs – the kind of places you’d be just as comfortable going ...
The appointment of an advisory board for Oranga Tamariki is welcome and should be a step toward a total transformation of the care and protection system to a by Māori, for Māori approach, Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft said today. Minister ...
Taking control of your financial wellbeing can have cascading positive impacts for your life and it can also be fun. With the help of the team at Kiwi Wealth, we’ve compiled some simple tricks for balancing your books in 2021. There’s something about the beginning of a new year, especially after ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kris Gledhill, Professor of Law, Auckland University of Technology As we know, getting into New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult. There are practicalities, such as high airfare and managed isolation costs. And there are legal requirements, including pre-flight testing, mandatory ...
New Zealand faces the risk of a generation being locked out of the housing market unless land is freed up and more houses built, National Party leader Judith Collins says. ...
On Sunday, Stuff published a months-long investigation by Alison Mau detailing allegations of harassment and exploitation within the local music industry.The piece, ‘Music industry professionals demand change after speaking out about its dark side’, includes allegations of inappropriate behaviour and abuse of power by male artists, international acts and executives; ...
“The Government is all at sea on timelines for Australia and New Zealand’s respective vaccine roll-outs, with the worst news coming from the mouth of Pfizer Australia CEO Anne Harris,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “Yesterday, under increasing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claire Higgins, Senior Research Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW As a presidential candidate, Joe Biden promised the US would demonstrate “global leadership on refugees”. Once elected, he pledged to vastly increase refugee resettlement in the US. If history is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Baumann, Casual Academic, School of Social Sciences & Psychology, Western Sydney University Among the many hard truths exposed by COVID-19 is the huge disparity between the world’s rich and poor. As economies went into freefall, the world’s billionaires increased their already ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jan Lanicek, Senior Lecturer in Modern European History and Jewish History, UNSW On January 27 communities worldwide commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz — the largest complex of concentration camps and extermination centres during the Holocaust. This is the first year the International ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lorinda Cramer, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Australian Catholic University The summer break is over, marking a return to the office. For some, this ends almost a year of working from home in lockdown. Some analysts are predicting it might also mark an enduring ...
Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for January 27, keeping you up to date with the latest local and international news. Reach me on stewart@thespinoff.co.nzOur members make The Spinoff happen! Every dollar contributed directly funds our editorial team – click here to learn more about how you can support us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato New Zealand has a strong history of protecting and promoting human rights at home and internationally, and prides itself on being an outspoken critic and global leader in this area. So, when the most ...
Good morning and welcome to the Bulletin. In today’s edition: Collins outlines the plan forward for National, no spread of Covid spotted yet in Northland, and students return for climate protest.In front of a Rotary Club at the Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, National leader Judith Collins yesterday set out her ...
*This articlefirst appeared on RNZ and is republished with permission. The tourism industry isn't holding its breath for a trans-Tasman travel bubble being in place after Australia temporarily closed its borders to New Zealand. New Zealanders could be waiting even longer for a full trans-Tasman bubble, with the ...
We continue our week-long examination of New Zealand writer Roderick Finlayson with an essay by Anahera Gildea on cultural appropriation Every night at 7pm sharp, my Irish Catholic father and his eight siblings would have to kneel on the carpet of the living room, facing the freshly polished nudity of ...
A Covid reset will force costly and inflexible cities to take a hard look at their planning systems, or people will vote with their feet. Broken urban planning systems make for misery even in the best of times. If land use and housing regulations prevent metropolitan areas from growing up or out as ...
Children's Minister Kelvin Davis will have independent eyes and ears across Oranga Tamariki over the next five months as the Government tries to change the work and practices of the ministry. The Government has created a Māori-led watchdog to oversee how the children's ministry, Oranga Tamariki, deals with parents and ...
When an Auckland school classroom went up in flames in December last year, exploding asbestos over neighbouring houses, five separate government agencies were involved. Yet stressed residents dealing with the aftermath on their homes say the response felt chaotic and uncoordinated; even local MPs who got involved couldn't get the information they wanted. Hundreds of thousands of ...
The pandemic has accelerated the trend of doing our banking online instead of in person. This rapid digital embrace has, in turn, sped up the closure of many smaller bank branches. But, as Mark Jennings writes, there are new branches springing up with a different look and purpose. Auckland’s Wynyard ...
Corrina Gage has represented New Zealand in a trio of water sports. But it's her love for waka ama - and the opportunities it gives paddlers from 5 to 85 - that keeps her racing and coaching around the world. Lake Karāpiro is quiet and still now. But last week, it was all noise ...
Telling a Rotary Club audience that housing is a serious problem and they should care deeply about it landed flat but took some daring from the National leader, writes Justin Giovannetti.Judith Collins’ level of control over the National Party is still a question best answered by a shrug.Elevated to her ...
A gang turf war gripped the South Auckland suburb in late 2020, forcing schools to lock down and armed police to patrol the streets. Community leaders are now warning the cycle of violent retribution could continue in 2021, unless radical interventions are made.The violent altercations that loomed large in Ōtara ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Véronique Duché, A.R. Chisholm Professor of French, University of Melbourne In this series, writers pay tribute to fictional detectives on the page and on screen. When I first heard that Rowan Atkinson was to put on Maigret’s velvet-collared overcoat, I wondered ...
Auckland writer Olivia Hayfield* explains how she resurrected 16th-century playwright Christopher Marlowe to star in her new novel, Sister to Sister. Olivia Hayfield is a pen name. Real name: Sue Copsey. When I’m planning my modern retellings of historical tales, I read widely on the characters and see who leaps out at ...
The Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine could be approved as early as next week, Marc Daalder reports Medsafe will be asked to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine against Covid-19 on February 2, the Government has announced. The Medicines Assessment Advisory Committee (MAAC) is an independent panel that provides advice on some medicine approvals in ...
COMMENT:By Bryan Kramer, PNG’s Minister of Police who has defended Commissioner Manning’s appointment today in The National My last article, announcing that I intend to make a submission to the National Executive Council (NEC) to amend the Public Service regulation to no longer require the Commissioner of Police to ...
The Point of Order Trough Monitor was triggered today by the announcement of a $9 million handout for Southlanders – sorry, some Southlanders. The news came from the office of Grant Robertson who, as Minister of Finance, prefers to invest public money rather than give it away – especially when ...
Few people outside of her campaign team gave Chlöe Swarbrick any chance of winning in Auckland Central this year – but the Green Party MP was too busy to listen. Here’s how they turned the electorate green.First published November 12, 2020.Three Ticks Chlöe is part of Frame, a series of short ...
Interactions between parents and healthcare providers could have a big impact on the wellbeing of our children, according to new research. The way parents and healthcare providers interact has lasting implications for children’s health, new research has found – and that includes immunisation uptake.Released today, the report is based on research ...
The Opposition starts the political year calling for emergency, temporary legislation to free up house building National leader Judith Collins has set five priorities for her party over the next three years - but excluded climate change, education and Crown-Māori relations. Giving her first 'state of the nation' speech as party ...
One of the biggest challenges facing the Ardern government is in public health. New Zealand may have escaped the pressures heaped on other health systems by the Covid-19 pandemic but its health service has had its problems, not least those exposed in the first report from Heather Simpson and her ...
New Zealand’s Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has revealed that 14 close contacts of the Northland community case have returned negative test results. Yesterday he announced two close contacts – her husband and hair dresser – were negative. In his tweet, Hipkins described the news as “encouraging”. However, New ...
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the arbitrary and opaque experiments that Google is conducting with its search engine in Australia, with the consequence that many national news websites are no longer appearing in the search results seen by some users. The Australian, ABC, Australian Financial ...
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta says councils can take stronger action against companies dumping contaminated waste water, even though they have identified loopholes in the law on fines. ...
Drag Race Down Under, part of the popular RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise, is filming in New Zealand. In their own words, local drag talent share what drag means to them and how it might be impacted by the show.RuPaul’s Drag Race is, quite simply, a television phenomenon. Love it or ...
For a long time, weighted blankets were considered a specialist device. Now they’re popular with even the most normal sleepers.Growing up, Temple Grandin spent time on her aunt’s cattle ranch in America, watching cow after stressed cow enter a squeeze chute and come out calm as the dead sea. She ...
How common is it for National MP’s to have relationships with women staffers in parliament?
Ignoring the extra-marital side of it, is this seen as a perk of the job, to exploit their status as MP’s for sexual advantage?
Most workplaces have rules around this sort of behaviour, whatever the nature of the behaviour of Jamie-Lee Ross in these relationships, the recurring incidence of them speaks to a wider culture.
A Wellington law firm has been in the news for hiring young women laywers to provide eye candy to hard working male staff (then later social company when drunk, then to breed for them when passed over for promotion) – is it the same in parliament?
PS Brett Kavanaugh was outed by tiger mum, a Yale law professor, over his penchant for hiring feminine model types as law interns – she instructed her Yale graduates to dress in a certain way if they wanted to be hired.
How common is it for National MP’s to have relationships with women staffers in parliament?
As I said on this site the other day it’s a rite of passage. Once upon a time the pinnacle of success was to… have it off in the Speakers Chair.
Literally- which reminds me as I noticed David Carter skulking in the dimly lit corner of Havana bar, a few weeks back, with a striking wee thing that was neither wife nor daughter. They are all the same.
Adults have relationships.
The problem is when there is a power imbalance and social pressure/alcohol that impairs the ability to consent.
Being an arsehole in your private life is not necessarily a crime or an employment matter. Using power to coerce people in your workplace to have sex is (at the very least) an employment matter.
Haven’t read much about the specific allegations concerning Ross, I expect more will come out soon. It’s fun watching the riot, but the confirmed specifics on all allegations will take weeks to settle out one way or the other.
Well this from David Fisher at the NZH about an hour ago:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=12144795
The active role played by Lusk is interesting.
But to be frank, that’s the sort of dirty politics I’d expect to be routine by the nats. And I don’t for one minute believe the comments by people who had been complained to that they were shocked and stunned by the “full extent” of what Ross has been doing – they were in a position to know. Unless there are actual bodies buried, it’s typical dirty politics. Hell, Collins is trying to act shocked about an affair and some bullying, but she cracked jokes about prison rapes resulting from her policies. Suddenly she, like everyone else who would have been well aware of all the complaints, is surprised and concerned. Unbelievable.
He sounds like a manipulative, entitled piece of crap – kind of like most of the young nats I was acquainted with at university.
I think one of the women ‘ who works around parliament’s is a journalist. There was previous reference to this woman getting inside info from Ross for a story.
Strangely this journalist seems to have gone quiet this week on political stories.
Such a loverlee photo. Thanks mickey.
Watching all their tawdry chickens coming home to roost…. 😀
Is it just me or does that prat in the dark blue suit on the right of the front row look like Rob Muldoon?
Checked out his biography. He’s Matt Doocey, MP for Waimakiriki. Former speaker, David Carter is his uncle. Jobs for the boys by the looks of it. He does look a bit like Muldoon but without his bruising personality and gritty intellect.
It is obvious neither of you watch Question Time. LOL.
Matt is also Junior Whip (since March 2018) and sits immediately behind Paula Bennett (and Simon Bridges) so is in camera range for all questions asked by either of them.
He sits next to Barbara Kuriger who was appointed as Senior Whip in March 2018 in place of JLR, when Bridges moved Ross up the ranks and also appointed him Nat’s Transport Spokesperson.
There have been some claims this week that part of Ross’ antagonism to Bridges is that Ross wanted to retain the Senior Whip position as well as being a Spokesperson (for the extra pay). This combination of Whip/Spokesperson roles is not usual. Its usually one or the other – but in fact Doocey has retained his Mental Health spokesperson* position which he got from English in Nov 2017 as well as being appointed Junior Whip.
Ross had worked his way up from Third Whip in Jan 2013, to Junior Whip in Oct 2014, and then Senior Whip in May 2017.
* Actually Doocey’s professional background is quite interesting. According to Wikipedia, he is a former manager with Canterbury DHB and ” … worked in mental health and health-care management in both New Zealand and the UK. He studied Counselling Psychology at Weltech, has a BSc (Hons) in Social Policy, an MA in Healthcare Management from Kingston University in London and an MSc in Global Politics from Birkbeck, University of London.”
He also did well votewise in increasing his original 2,500 majority in 2014 by over 10,000 in 2017 – the highest personal vote increase in the 2017 election.
Interesting to hear Bridges this PM say that the first he heard of Ross misbehaviour was the day that he acted promptly and called Ross into his office and dealt with him. The journalists were trying to check the timeline. Just in case Bridges was lying.
He’s learnt to lie like a flounder from John Key
We can draw our own conclusions that most of the females in the pic are as far away from JLR as possible
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/businessnews/audio/2018667383/mexican-investment-company-wants-to-buy-restaurant-brands
Where does their investment money come from? Why don’t we own anything ourselves?
We don’t sell enough drugs.
I imagine that is because you aren’t willing to invest in anything.
FYI. Restaurant Brands is listed in the NZX.
The symbol is RBD and the last sale price was $8.67.
If you had bought them yesterday they would have been about $1.07 cheaper.
So come on. Be a patriotic Kiwi and invest in New Zealand companies.
Then you could say we do own things ourselves.
If it goes overseas that will be the last time we get any company tax out of them, as they likely operate out of tax havens
Fast food isn’t a business I know much about but I wouldn’t think it was one where you could shift all your profits offshore and avoid tax.
The bulk of your costs are going to be things and people that you either purchase or employ here. It isn’t like high-tech concerns which import all the things they sell from other companies in the same group who operate overseas. They also employ very few people who work here and pay a great deal for the intellectual property in the things they sell.
There will be some royalty payments for the use of brand names like KFC and Starbucks but it won’t be anything like the payments that go to companies like Apple.
KFC don’t make that much money anyway. Their net profit after tax was about $35m on sales of $740m. That is only about 5%.
http://www.restaurantbrands.co.nz/news/articles/restaurant-brands-2018-annual-result/
So no, I don’t see that they could get anywhere by trying to shift all their profits overseas and even if they could they certainly can’t avoid paying a very large amount of GST, can they?
Someone who knows the industry may have a different view of course.
Of course you could join the rush and buy the company if you think it is such a good deal. Just be in and buy your share of them tomorrow.
Royalty payments and IP even for standard business processes are prime areas for profit shifting.
RB nett profits after tax was said to beb$35 mill
It’s not chicken feed …..hahaha
+111
And something that needs to be made illegal as it’s just a way to steal from those who live here and pay taxes.
~2/3rds of ‘income’ from shares is from trading. This income does not go to the company and so buying shares on the share-market is not investing in those companies (Why we can’t afford the rich by by Andrew Sayer, Richard Wilkinson).
The only time that the money goes to the company is when they’re initially offered and they would be better offered as a bond or a loan which does not transfer perpetual ownership or control.
“buying shares on the share-market is not investing in those companies”.
Very good. At least you understand what Investment means in Economics.
You will note, of course, that I never used the word “Invest” in my remarks. I suggested that people should “buy” shares in the company if the don’t want all the shares to be sold to a Mexican based group.
My comment still stands. If enough people buy the shares in Restaurant Brands they can prevent it being taken over by a foreign buyer. If they aren’t willing to do that they can’t really complain about it.
Right here:
So that would be you lying again.
The problem being that the Mexican company isn’t investing in the NZ company either – it’s just buying it out. The country will lose from such a transaction as all the profits are shipped offshore along with any IP and possibly the company itself.
Offshore ownership needs to be banned as it’s bad for the country.
GST on imported items under $400 going to be charged GST. Has anyone thought through the plans of the effect it will have? I doubt it? I am all for NZ business if possible, but the market is pretty screwed up.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/businessnews/audio/2018667385/government-policy-of-gst-collection-seen-as-savvy-move
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/368915/tax-change-to-soften-online-gst-price-impact
How about used items? They’ll be exempt won’t they.
Its actually pretty clever (although I resent the tax).
Companies that sell under 60k to NZ in a year are exempt in the same way NZ companies under 60k turnover don’t gave to sign up for get.
Not sure if used items from eBay are covered, but I think because eBay is a marketplace and the sellers themselves probably won’t meet that criteria should be OK.
Unless Customs pings you for having brought something worth over 400
What’s the problem with charging gst for the stuff under $400?
1 It can make things that are not easily obtainable in NZ even dearer (the freight bills are very high).
2 The suggestion is that the GST should be collected by the seller rather than requiring the work to be done here in NZ. This means that a a lot of sellers will refuse to deal with NZ. This already is happening,; I was surprised when I looked at British alarm clocks on google to see how many sellers would not bother to deal with us at present. I got one and have had difficulties with it.
I think our access for overseas direct purchases will be further limited.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/368774/electric-air-taxis-on-the-horizon-says-air-nz
The national carrier is working on the project with Zephyr Airworks, who is behind the world’s first self-piloted electric vehicle.
Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon said the agreement with the operator of Cora signalled a plan to make electric air taxi travel a reality for all New Zealanders.
“Zephyr Airworks is leading the way in re-defining personal mobility to make it easier for all of us to get around,” Mr Luxon said.
“Both companies see the potential for our airspace to free people from the constraints of traffic and its associated social, economic and environmental impacts.”
Relieving the impact of polluting emissions was now “very real”, he said.
hahahahahaha
Obviously they haven’t watched either Back to the Future or Fifth Element.
Putting the cars into the sky doesn’t get rid of ‘lanes’ or congestion. Do none of these people understand how networks work?
This will be aimed at business executives and wealthy individuals. It should read “…free people who can afford it from the constraints…”
And the emissions statement is a last minute thought of benefit. It wouldn’t have been a sought for outcome.
Can we get past this National Party meaningless shenanigans and start getting back to policy and poverty and actual stuff?
+100
You would say that Ad.
Politicians and dodgy donations go to the heart of the system..not meaningless
This story has shown us a lot about right wing politics in New Zealand.
The levels of corruption
Cash for candidates
Casual racism
The ongoing presence of Hager’s Dirty Politics
Anyone voting for National after this signs up to all of the above.
“casual racism”.
I suppose you could claim a little bit of that, although it was primarily by Ross.
On the other hand it was a great deal less in what was thought to be a private conversation than the dreadful public “humour” purveyed by the very highest levels of the Coalition of Fools.
Do you prefer the hilarious joke told by a person who thinks that the statement about Chinese that “Two Wongs don’t make a White” was the height of sophisticated humour.
Do you approve of what your lot think is funny?
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/archive/winston-s-two-wongs-joke-makes-international-headlines-6052994
I’m pretty sure that Winston has closer connections to your lot as far as that type of bollocks go.
I assume that you are in favour of the current Government?
He is, as you are probably aware the Deputy Prime Minister in a New Zealand First/Labour Government. Remember?
He hasn’t had anything to do with a National led Government since 1998, when Shipley had the sense to dump him.
Then in 2008, before the election, the National Party leader said that they would not go into Government with him because he could not be trusted.
Now he is running the Coalition with Labour who have given him the keys to the piggybank, and God knows what else. Why won’t they let the New Zealand know what he has been given?
Closer connections with National than the idiots in the Labour and Green parties my foot. The are all tucked up in bed together while they rob and ruin the New Zealand economy.
He’s a conservative with the old style thinking that goes with it – just like National.
Its 900 comments of salacious beltway crap on this site alone. No one likes watching sausage getting made. But the demand for sausage is high.
27% of our children in poverty.
Labour and mates are working on the other issues aren’t they? Why are you grumpy?
We’re not.
We’re stupidly distracted
For the sake of life balance surely it is worth taking at least a couple of days out to have a good laugh at this.
Bit harsh. Been lots of comment on wide subject matters imo.
Surely Ad you cant think the years of jaw jaw on the standard have meant one less child in poverty. Famously labour Mps are reputed to not even read it.
It’s social media after all
Surely a local shitshow that eclipses the turd tornado in DC (and hoo boy that’s sayin sumthin) is worth a few days R & R to just enjoy watching the craptacle.
and almost all of that poverty caused by the corruption that we see here.
It’s not meaningless. It needs to be thoroughly addressed.
Politicians and dodgy donations go to the heart of the system…
Nah. It only speaks to their corruption. And we’ve known they’re corrupt ‘since forever’.
You want to get anywhere near the heart of the system? (I doubt many do btw – preferring vacuous cheerleading and easy to opine on shit over substance every time). But if you do, then you have to start examining and talking about things like poverty – as Ad suggests.
Looks like more problems brewing for the National Party.
Happy to hush the stories of abuse when it suited them.
Happy to use the stories of abuse when it suited them.
So on top of Filipinos, Indians, Chinese and list MPs, women are also commodities to be exploited by the National Party establishment.
Unbelievable.
“National Party president Peter Goodfellow ‘signed confidentiality agreement’ with woman.
National Party president Peter Goodfellow helped broker a “peace agreement” that included a confidentiality clause between Jami-Lee Ross and a woman who felt threatened by him, a source has told Stuff.
The agreement was signed before Simon Bridges became leader of the party and promoted Ross to the front bench. It is unclear if he was aware of the incident.
Stuff was told by a source close to the woman that the agreement was signed after the she went to Goodfellow and another senior National Party member with complaints about Ross’ threatening and bullying behaviour.”
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107956180/national-party-president-peter-goodfellow-signed-confidentiality-agreement-with-woman
Don’t be an idiot Ed…confidentiality agreements are a two-way street.
Maybe focus back on the Middle East/Russian stuff buddy.
Buddy…..
If a crime has been committed then such a contract exists to hide that crime and that is illegal. Something about perverting the course of justice, conspiracies etcetera.
You cannot contract out of the law.
Looking really bad for National and for Peter Goodfellow.
Goodfellow won’t answer the questions.
All board members won’t answer the questions.
Who is the other National Party member given a trespass notice?
So many questions….
‘The National Party has known for a couple of years about grievances regarding Jami-Lee Ross’ conduct, and got one complainant to sign a confidentiality agreement, sources have told Checkpoint.’
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12144795
All the answers you seek.
Answers ?
I’ve found that Ross has his own version of events over the party sanctioned one. I’m not sticking up for him but at least Nationals hit job on him via Politik and his supposed power grab was nothing like that.
I’m thinking one of the toxic relationships was with a woman journalist , both benefitted you might say as her name was on an exclusive from him- not that that she gave away the source, but the enquiry pointed to JLR
Cheers for the link Ed
Can’t wait to hear from Goodfellas. He’s always so open and honest.
Southland mayor Gary Tong appears to be another shifty politician.
Very dodgy.
His presence in China….
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107942847/chinese-businessman-yikun-zhang-disappointed-in-being-named-in-jamilee-ross-scandal
https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/107892441/Southland-mayor-Gary-Tong-in-China-with-businessman-at-the-centre-of-National-Party-allegations?rm=m
I wondered about that, like any Southland businesses changed hands lately.
I seems like the Mayor has a lot explaining to do.
“Tong’s relationship with Zhang has raised a few eyebrows this week in Southland.
Stuff has spoken to many of the district councillors. Few of them had heard of Zhang until the donation scandal erupted on Tuesday. Most knew Tong was in China, but didn’t really know why. They want a full briefing from the mayor when he returns home on October 22.“
I repeat.
“Most knew Tong was in China, but didn’t really know why. They want a full briefing from the mayor when he returns home on October 22.“
Interesting.
“Zhang wanted to know if “there was any way he could help bring people to Southland through immigrants or through promoting some sort of business” in the region,Tong said.
The pair met again later that year at Zhang’s home in Auckland where mayors from across the country had gathered for a “Chinese promotion”.
By that stage a friendship between the pair was developing.”
This sounds very dodgy,
Ha Winston getting owned by Finlayson this afternoon…no doubt Winnie will console himself with a nice Glenlivet single malt or two tonight.
“Mr Finlayson, a former lawyer, has hit back at his comments with a sarcastic post on his official Facebook page.”
“I am humbled by Winston Peters assessment of me as the ‘greatest legal mind the Commonwealth has ever seen’,” he wrote.
“That is high praise indeed from someone who never got any further in the law than being a staff solicitor in a Howick Law Firm.
“If ever he needs me to act for him in, for example, a hearing in the Privileges Committee, he has only to ask,” he continued.
And Finlayson after 25 years practicising only made QC because he was a Mp.
Peters was only a junior lawyer when he became an MP
Am I correct in assuming that Chris Findlayson appointed himself to the elevated position of Queens Counsel?
Either appointed himself or purchased the position.
Finkyson’s certainly the goto guy if you wan money thrown away.
Findlayson and other Nats hurting at the Moment, lashing out
“That was audition number 1.”
Five minutes of fun.
Oh, Winston.
Shakes head, sighs.
You and your rear guard gloating and goading and giggling away like gangling adolescents.
Grow up and show some grace.
We had nine damn years of kick-them-when-they’re-down politics.
We don’t need it from you lot.
You’ve got work to do….
Don’t agree Rosemary. His content was timely and funny. The Opposition would be like you and not amused.
“The Opposition…” just spent the last few days self destructing. Admittedly a pleasurable spectacle for those of us in the margins, but I’m still in hope that we finally have a Government that can behave…better.
i fear Rosemary ‘work’ (for the benefit of the country) is just about the last thing on their minds….sadly
That was classic Peters. Funny. Clever. Perceptive. And though he had a few notes it was otherwise unscripted. Not sure anyone in the House could outclass him.
10/10
Agree 10/10. There is so much mud slung around over time, that pollies can’t be blamed for having a laugh and some digs at the other side when it is so appropriate. The obfuscation that the National Party pollies and their supporters always wallow in is hard to stomach. I am pleased to see Winston jousting so well – he deserves a knighthood.
The National’s knight is but a poor competitor with ideas above his station!
Indeed, hes a rare one of a kind survivor and battler, and does it with panache and wit. National has brought this mess on themselves , after dishing it out to all and sundry for years and now its their turn . So why shouldn’t Peters provide a light hearted batch of comic relief at the absurdity in which National finds itself in.
They brought it on their own heads.
And they deserve to be lampooned.
The spin masters are working hard to portray JLR as ‘a lone wolf’. But JLR denies he’s the leaker and it also conveniently ignores internal polling that Had Simon Bridges down at minus 27%.
I believe there was a pack of wolves but JLR went off the reservation, bigly.
The infamous National Party unity is and always has been a manufactured myth; its united front appears to be based on coercion, threats & intimidation, and fear. Oh, and of course the insatiable hunger for power & control.
Sounds like the Spanish Inquisition.
It’s interesting how many mainstream journalists are using Nicky Hager’s Dirty Politics book as a source for explaining JLR’s behaviour, and that of others in the National Party.
I thought David Fisher’s article this morning was an important one in explaining the National Party history and the rise of Dirty Politics and JLR. Hager’s 2 books (Hollow Men and DP), plus the JLR-Bridges saga will be an important part of the historical record of the rise and fall of the National Party.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12144204
However, the interesting thing is, how successful has been Lusk in the long term. Some successes in the shortish term, but then more fails,
Was Todd Barclay one of Lusk’s fails?
Sam Lotu-Iiga appears to have not lasted as long as Lusk had hoped.
Simpo Lush, patron saint of fuckknuckles..
Yes .. as much as we oppose them, in the long run even in National some actual competency is necessary for long-term success.
For instance Key; for all his skills at working a room or a crowd, and his ability to ruthlessly manage his party … wasn’t much good at anything else. If you look back, it’s the story of his life; a swift climb to the top of the greasy pole, clings on for quite a while and then an abrupt departure. And not much to show for it (at least not what he’d want you to see) when you look back.
Ultimately it comes down to this; for all the power plays, dirty gotcha games … if you want to achieve something in Parliament you need to bring some real ability to the table. Money doesn’t buy this.
The smiling faces of yesterdays aspirants…
This.
[…]
Is that photo the worse Photo shopped photo ever or is Nathan guys head really that big ?
Wonder how it feels to be an Indian MP in the National Party?
After Simon’s admission.
I wondered that too, all the faces seemed rather unnatural.
Nick Smith’s seems rather detached
Anne-Marie Brady’s Twitter feed worth keeping an eye on.
“At the heart of the bloodbath unfolding @NZNationalParty is an allegation of Beijing-backed political donations being laundered to escape reporting laws. Time to face up to the rot at the heart of our democracy & break the hold of corrosive outside money: Reform electoral finance.”
“The most concerning aspect to the controversy over National’s hidden donations is that the source of the funds is a leader in #CCP united front work activities.”
Much more here.
https://mobile.twitter.com/Anne_MarieBrady
Yep get stuck in to lobbying as well, I feel it is closely linked to corruption, and un-kiwi behaviour.
Heavy trucks, booze in supermarkets and dairies, direct to consumer pharmaceutical advertising….
Seems like the High Commissioner of India to NZ, Sanjiv Kohli, isn’t impressed with Simon Bridges.
“Shocking attitude . Highly inconsistent with nz values. Hopefully an aberration. India and indians respect and admire this country and its people. Not everything is up for sale. Running a country is different from managing David Jones.”
https://mobile.twitter.com/kohli_sanjiv
I can’t see the national party leader at the next election walking through a sea of blue turbans when entering Sky City for the after match after this.
India is perpetually enraged that the world fails to acknowledge its magnificence in all things.
Thought for the day from Rachel Stewart.
“Bravery. You can go a long way on bravery, courage, heart. It can ensure a clarity of thought, and a willingness to embrace what Buddhists have banged on about for millennia. That is, living in the moment.
Instead of staring at screens, and being constantly distracted, now would be a good a time to truly engage with those you love. To be grateful for what you have, and to try not to feel life’s bitter sweetness at every turn. Do the thing that brings you joy.
That’s not fatalism. That’s acceptance. And if it turns out politicians and/or technology save the planet in the nick of time, like in the movies, then what’ve you lost? Indeed, think about how much you will have gained.”
https://t.co/uazMsSt2Qt?amp=1
Yes. Those are wise words.
There will be a lot of disappointed people in the Manawatu/Wanganui area with the murder trial of David Lyttle being abandoned.
Could anyone with a knowledge of law tell me if there is a possibility of a retrial?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/107933649/Trial-of-man-accused-of-murdering-Brett-Hall-abandoned
Either incompetence or dodgy shenanigans from the constabulary.