To be fair though micky Labour need to shoulder some of the blame for this. They should have been expecting the attacks over tax and had it all shut down before the campaign started.
I’m struggling with the criticism. Basically your premise is they should have anticipated National would make shit up and should have been ready to reply. Parties should be punished for making shit up, not rewarded.
On the other hand with the crazy way the polls have been going we can expect equally mad swings in the final Newshub-Reid poll when it comes out. That one will have Labour up 7 from 37 to 44 and National down 7 from 47 to 40 or something like that.
They’ll also reverse the Green/NZF vote percentages.
Does anyone understand what is going on?
What kind of demented troll stalks a left leaning website at 6.01pm to gloat in unhinged and delirious glee at others’ potential misfortune? You should be ashamed of yourself and go book an appointment with a shrink
Not really. It puts them 1 percentage point ahead of Labour + Greens. Given the margin of error, that could just as easily be reversed. If National happen to be just a bit lower, and especially if NZ 1st don’t get in, they lose.
Having said that, the enrolment stats could equally mean that National will effectively poll higher. This poll really only says that it’s mighty close.
Don’t know 7% , Declined 6% , margin of error?
It’s One news Poll, they’ve been consistently 4 to 6% out with final poll versus Votes cast over the last 3 elections.
Kiwis are far thicker than Morgan could possibly imagine, if they elect a National government after their display of incompetence throughout this campaign.
Kiwis are far thicker than Morgan could possibly imagine, if they elect a National government after their display of incompetence throughout this campaign.
OK. I think CB is landline only. Few youth votes will be recorded except the tory twitletts still living at home with mummy and daddy. Add to that the Nat campaign of lying, cheating, deceiving, corrupt behaviour… and the moribund and ignorant voters fall for it yet again. As for the shallow, witless james’ of this world… karma will sort them in due course.
Sorry, stages of grief and all that, but you can’t keep smashing the voters like that and then expect them to vote for you.
IF (big if) the poll is realised on Saturday and we end up with English & Co back in charge again, then Labour have to think pretty hard about why it happened. Sneering at the electorate as ‘moribund and ignorant’ isn’t going to help.
You have to think why (if) they opted for National. After all, last week they were smart and engaged because the CB showed them supporting Labour.
Nah. Supporters of both parties are always calling each other idiots on no uncertain terms, and it’s nothing new. Unless they hold office or are running to do so, I don’t think it makes a blind bit of difference.
There’s a big problem with the “young people don’t have cellphones” argument – it ignores the fact that young people have ALWAYS been hard to reach for opinion polling, even before cellphones became commonplace.
The polling companies have had to deal with low response-rates amongst young people for many decades, and adjust their weightings and strategies accordingly. Cellphones probably make an already big problem a bit bigger, but if thats the main defence the left is going to rely on for polls today, it’s probably going to be a tough night on Saturday.
You’re entitled to be skeptical of whatever you want to be skeptical of, but the fact remains that the track record of polling companies in New Zealand, for at least the last couple of decades, has been pretty good.
Polling is hard, but these are experienced professional companies that have every incentive to be right (as in correct) not ‘right’ (as in skewed).
All I will say is this; if your belief that the left is going to win the election relies on believing polling is skewed against the left then, on balance of probabilities, you should prepare for a bad election night.
I may as well concede now. I knew this would happen. And it was the farmers wot won it.
Labour has some serious shit to sort out starting Monday. And the Greens can pay themselves on the back all they want about rising to 8%, they are still going to be in opposition.
All this poll shows is that thing are still really unstable. I would not give up yet. Besides Labour/Greens are neck and neck with National. Even on these figures there is everything to aim for.
Yep … It’s deflating – no question about that – but it sure as hell aint over.
Chin up, my bully-boys*. Jacinda’s got the vile sausage-sucking Tory Hun on the run ! Keep Fritzie in panic-mode and I’m sure we’ll all be in Berlin by lunchtime !
If the poll is right it would be the lies that National is telling which tip the balance. Fear and anxiety implemented by unscrupulous people seem to win in NZ.
If the poll is right.
We will do it yet!
Labour has some serious shit to sort out starting Monday,
The shit is: Labour don’t stand up and give back as good as they get. All this relentless positivity doesn’t work. The voters see it as a weakness. The majority of them are self promoting bigots and its time Labour woke up to reality. I’ve been banging on about it for years and so have plenty of others but they… just… won’t… listen.
Oh, and they are still producing policy that’s way too complex. In statistical terms, half the voters have an IQ that is below the average but they seem unable to take that into account. Helen Clark understood and produced the simplistic pledge card in 2005 was it? Whatever, It saved her bacon.
If Labour loses it’s because Labour fucked it up.
Nothing about not attacking or been too nice, it will be because you’re trying to change too much stuff all at once and have spooked the horses.
Have to agree here. Positivity in this neoliberal race to the top goes part way. Sadly, the soft vote wants (as Hosking might say “rightly or wrongly”) cuthroat displays of strength. Jacinda will need to attack to beat those that are expert in the craft of bullshitting soft voters. Meanwhile, those most affected will suffer more. Sorry to be pessimisstic.
Well, I for one Welcome our new National Party Overlords !
And I can assure Fräulein Bennett and Herr Joyce that I’m prepared to sing like a Canary, wildly naming names like an accused Communist at a 1951 McCarthyite Senate hearing.
Normally I’d be a lot more positive about this but my political antenna seems to be a bit wonKey at the moment however its probably not a good sign for Labour
I just hope Labour can keep it seemly and not go to desperate measures over the next couple of days
Full resilts:
1 News Colmar Brunton poll:
NAT 46% (+6),
LAB 37% (-7),
GRN 8% (+1),
NZF 5% (-1),
TOP 2% (NC),
MAO 1% (NC),
ACT 0.3%
Don’t know 7%, Refused 6% (+1). Fieldwork conducted 16-19 September
Oh, certainly not giving up – according to this poll, National’s on 46 % and Labour/Green on 45%. Only a mug would think they could pick the winner at this point.
Yup…..13% is a lot to play for…..who would be most inclined to refuse to say?
Don’t lose heart people….get on the phone and talk to someone and convince them to vote.
The Labour Party certainly don’t avoid it, do they?
They have parroted on most of the year on how National supposedly cut the expenditure on health below what Labour had been doing. It was a clever lie but it was a lie for all that. They did it by taking the first year of the National Government as the base line, rather than taking the last year of the Labour Government.
That way they could pretend that the massive increase in the 2009-2010 year never happened.
They have parroted on most of the year on how National supposedly cut the expenditure on health below what Labour had been doing. It was a clever lie but it was a lie for all that.
His analysis, carried out with the ASMS, indicated the health system’s publicly-funded mental health services in 2017/18 would receive just $18 million in extra funding. That’s an increase of about 1.2%, which works out to a cut in real terms. A 7.3% funding increase is needed in 2017/18 just to maintain the mental health services we already have, given client numbers are increasing at about 5% a year – and more money is needed if the Government wants to improve access to services.
You really can’t help yourself in your defence of National psychopathic policies can you? Typical authoritarian follower. You’re one of the sheep that National relies upon not only to not question them but to defend them and you do it without fail.
I have no idea what the situation is in this part of the health budget.
What I looked at was the total budget and what the Labour Party claims were.
They were false.
I don’t really have the time or inclination to look at this bit of the budget and the figures you are referring to, and you will note that I wasn’t talking about just this facet of the situation.
I was more interested in the whole picture.
The effect of this is to pretend that the first year of the National Government was the norm rather than comparing their numbers with the final year of the Labour Government.
The first year of the National government would be the last year of the Labour government’s final budget.
“The first year of the National government would be the last year of the Labour government’s final budget”
That is quite true. National was in Government for most of that year. However it wasn’t that year they used as the base, normal, year
The 2008 election was on November 8 2008.
The last year of the Labour Government was the 2008-2009 year. It covered the year from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009. http://www.treasury.govt.nz/government/financialstatements/yearend
That was not the year they used as their base though. They used the expenditure in the 2009-2010 year which was the first year that the National Party budget of 2009 was in operation.
If you take the last Labour year as the base you find that the Health expenditure did rise under a National Government above the values for the end of the Labour one.
There was a very large increase in the 2009-2010 year even after you include inflation and demographic changes. National deserve the credit for that surely? Because of the way Labour requested the calculations all this increase was ignored.
Cunning isn’t it?
I didn’t actually claim that the Green Party had done that.
What I said was that they didn’t appear to like the environmental effects of the pipeline.
I also said that they were in favour of using coastal shipping to move goods around.
The Maori Party will win at least two seats, via Te Ururoa Flavell and Howie Tamati, who was 13 points ahead of Adrian Rurawhe a couple of weeks ago. They may get enough party votes to get Marama Fox in as well, but at this stage I would guess not.
If NZFirst don’t make it on those numbers there would be 7% wasted vote which would probably be enough for Nat/Act to govern alone. A sobering thought.
Everybody is better off if NZ1st don’t make it! Then nobody has to deal with Winston.
But in terms of who forms the government, that depends on whether Nats plus clingons or Labour/Greens get more of the votes above the threshold. The Maori Party may end up the deciders.
So if you’re tossing up whether to vote Nats or Winnie, go for Winnie. If you’re tossing up Labour or Greens vs Winnie, then Labour or Greens.
A phrase coined by my old friend Bob in our glory days at Stirling University in the 90s. He was trying to express his disapproval of Ecstasy, because it made you “Dance like a jalopy to really stupid music.”
Bob had a way with words, usually unintentionally.
Both participants in that conversation are now dead – the raver had some sort of bad reaction to E (Bob didn’t think to warn him of that) and Bob himself died a couple of years ago from blood poisoning in India.
.. all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more.
Ah, mortality! But at least Bob’s curious genius will live on a little longer.
Seeing it would immediately require an immediate SAN check. Failure would result in the loss of 1d100 San points, and even those passing would still lose 1d10 SAN.
And aliens could actually invade and enslave us into their galactic empire, but I’m picking neither of those highly unlikely events is going to happen in the near future.
“sometime late Saturday night”.
In terms of the election night result we will have a pretty good idea by about 8pm. There are so many early votes that will be counted before 7pm, and they tend to be similar to the final result.
With the closeness of these numbers though I think we may be sitting around wondering for another couple of weeks. There are all the specials and the overseas voting to come after that.
The official results aren’t due until 7 October. There could be a seat or two swinging then.
In the last few elections National has typically lost a seat to the Greens with the recounts and overseas votes. That could be crucial this time round.
Yes, the Green Party do have a unique pattern of results.
They have polling numbers of X% before the election. Then the drop to about 0.8X on election day. Then they go back up to 0.85X with the specials.
NB I haven’t actually calculated the multipliers but the pattern is accurate.
“That rather diminishes Labours chances as their only coalition party can be the greens.”
Really! – when NZ First is so needed to form a labour lead government rather than a sellout Government?? The last time Labour come to power in 1999 it was a coalition of labour greens/NZ First so you are way out there.
Didn’t you watch what Winston said at his interview with John Campbell the other night? – It was when John asked Winston if he could work with the greens – he said, “everythings negociable”.
I’m afraid your memory is failing you.
The Government after the !999 election was comprised of Labour and the Alliance. Neither New Zealand First nor the Green Party were part of the Government.
I am afraid you are way out there.
Is it possible to have James banned for at least two weeks. His empty triumphalism doesn’t add anything to the discourse. I don’t see why he should be able to sort of start a flame war, and be politely allowed to dance around on our hopes for the future of NZ. So please mods can he be revued and take his tap dancing off to Kiwiblog!
All the trolls seem to be creaming themselves tonight… Based on what? Yet another MSM Poll …
“In this month’s issue of Personality and Individual Differences, a study was published that confirms what we all suspected: internet trolls are horrible people.”
“In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting quarrels or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory,[1] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[2] or of otherwise disrupting normal, on-topic discussion,[3] often for the troll’s amusement.”
About that troll definition. If you get a coven of any gender and say something that doesn’t fit their rigid ideas, it can upset them like hell. Like an innocent insect getting caught in a web you suddenly get attacked so – 1 can invoke an irrational response also 2, and some acceptable etiquette and display of manners is called for before rushing to invoke Rule 109 section 32 (a)(i) or similar in the in-group’s exposition.
When the nuisance is repeated then irritation is justified.
On the other hand…perhaps it is better he is here, where we can keep an eye on him, rather than him roaming the streets getting up to all sorts of evil doings.
Cheer up folks….its a poll…and by definition
.
a hornless animal, especially one of a breed of hornless cattle.
She could have said the same thing in a different way and she’d still be (and the Greens would be on at least 15%) instead they might not even make it back and the parties image is forever tarnished
If she’d something like “I did this a long time ago and I’m sorry I felt I had to do it, I appreciated the support I received from the taxpayer and I paid the money back once I became a lawyer, I’m coming forward now to make sure no one else in my position has to do the same because something needs to change”
Instead she came off as unappreciative and somewhat flippant, perception is everything
interesting. For me she came across as standing her ground in solidarity with beneficiaries. Not saying she didn’t make any mistakes, but that this was more important than appeasing the so called middle NZ.
Paying the money back is very problematic. She wouldn’t have know how much it was, she could have been charged with fraud and had her law career put at risk. She still had a young child at that point. I think you’ve missed some critical parts of the story.
She should have got that stuff sorted before she went public.
The fact that she didn’t is the reason she’s now out of politics, she’s an idiot and the countries far better off not having her in any sort of position where she could have power over others.
What the hell is that about? You are totally out of line making such a comment. You should withdraw and apologise.
[lprent: Please spare me your unintelligent indignation. Please read his comment. There are many possible meanings to OAB’s statement.
It could just be his opinion of Judith Collins that if she is dealing with anything it will be dodgy as fuck. You only have to read Dirty Politics to come to that conclusion.
But certainly her orders as Minster or Energy have disrupted travel. For instance she could have put the priority on aircraft kerosene rather than 91 octane petrol and diesel. It is legitimate to query why a politician she would have done it this way.
It could also deal with the renamed Oravida operation around Ruakaka with a reputation for playing fast and loose with rules that uses diggers to dig Kauri stumps, the one that would be a prime suspect if a digger did damage and she has a family connection to it is another. I’d question if she should be involved in any enquiry myself.
That her husband operates Oravida and for whom she is known to have done what I consider amounts to a sales trip on the taxpayers dime for is another.
Now these are all legitimate political questions that will be raised.
I am sure that in the latter two that when the election is over and in the caretaker government that as a lawyer Judith Collins will see that she will properly recuse herself to allow a real investigation to take place as to the cause of the economic disaster of having the sole fuel line to Auckland cut.
If you had half a brain, you would have figured that out yourself, and not wasted my time. OAB specialises in doing the needle intelligently and so he doesn’t get banned. You could do well to study his opaque technique for revving up simple minded right wingers into defending against what their guilty consciences feel that he must have been meaning.
Keeping Stock -you were flushed out this time last election as an active player in National’s Dirty Politics campaign, to the extent that you had to kill of your own blog and scramble into damage control in your own community.
Why are you here now? What do you hope to achieve by commenting on The Standard at this point? Do you think readers here don’t know about your close association with Farrar and Slater?
Remember that National’s best ever result was 47.3% under Key in 2011. So we’re led to believe that after another 6 years and without Key, National has lost only 1%? I do admire the optimism of some Tories.
I’m not sure that the Labour Party is spending it’s advertising money very wisely.
I just had a look at KiwiBlog to see if Farrar had any comment on this result.
The first thing I got was an ad for the Labour Party.
I don’t think that there are really many votes Labour is going to gain from ads running there.
Oh, it’s well spent alright – how I laughed when I saw it! That phrase about capitalists being willing to sell you the rope you plan to hang them with came to mind.
I miss all the real funny hard case Kiwi comedians like Tui Teka and Billy T James The Laughing Samoans Eteuati Ete and Tofiga Fepulea Fred Dagg / John Clarke OUR Kiwi comedians like them bring a tear to my eyes and I get a sore face.
I’m just wondering why I have not seen these types of comedians on National TV in the last 8 years or so. Tammy Davis /Munter off Outrageous Fortune would make us laugh like them I’m sure there are many more out there Taika Waititi would be fucken funny but he is to busies . Maybe Taika could champion this cause to promote It. I’m sure Taika would have the influence to accomplish this.
The soon to be Queen Knows that we all have sorrows in OUR hearts for her loss we just don’t want to bother her or put her off her campaign.
I’m not even going to talk about what was first on the news as we all Know that come Saturday we will be celebrating a Labour Greens win so chin up I say everyone. Sorry I can not support Tops his policys don’t match my Ideals.
I follow Waititi on twitter, which is intermittent but humorous. Don’t have a TV so not sure what passes for Kiwi humour these days. I guess they’re all doing stand up somewhere. Or have their own whatever show that’s not straight comedy.
One would think that they could put a temporary fix on that pipe I have used them on water and kerosene is not that flammable WTF you just wrap it and band it up seen this fix many times It just has to be a fix till alternative supply is set up. There should have been a plan for this scenario. Some one needs to be sued over this because that is the only way we will find the truth on this fuck up.
Its not rocket science!!!!!!!!!
Yes, they spent lots of money on a web redesign to make it worse, and then refused to listen to complaints about how it was worse. It’s standard practice for state sector organisations these days.
Fancy that, a couple of days out from the election National gets a massive poll turn around signalling to the voters they now have a chance. Utter billshit.
Oh, come on. You can’t blame everything on the Malevolent Right Wing Space Lizards. Maybe a lot of New Zealanders just prefer the idea of Bill English being in charge of stuff?
Just using my intuition. You stated you haven’t voted Labour since the China FTA. This seems to be the crucial policy you have voted on for a decade or more yet you still back National’s import of Chinese capital.
You are anti-Labour, end of story. How do you propose to effect any social change in New Zealand while being so anti-Labour? You are fighting yourself.
I am not ‘anti-Labour.’ I don’t vote for them because they don’t match my politics. And I criticise them when they make mistakes, which – alas- they do with depressing frequency. And I have no time at all for mindless cheerleaders and naive fools.
Still waiting for you to evidence the claim that I am “back National’s import of Chinese capital.” Or were you just making shit up on the internet?
I’m going by your posts which are unfailingly critical of Labour policy. Given the importance of Labour to changing the government, the only logical conclusion is that you are against changing the government.
I imagine your argument will be the argument of all pretend lefties – ‘it’s complicated’
Back to ‘unfailingly critical,’ even though I’ve already disproved that claim.
Since you’re recycling your doggerel, I’ll recycle mine.
I am not ‘anti-Labour.’ I don’t vote for them because they don’t match my politics. I criticise them when they make mistakes. Given people hereabouts like to view their mistakes as brilliant strategic moves (“Let’s make Cunliffe the leader!”) I’m rather busy.
By some obscure alchemy, you seem to construe that that as support for National. That’s your problem. Maybe you’re not as clever at comprehending things, and your intuition is not as good, as you like to think.
Ardern’s worst debate performance.
Just when she needed to be seen fighting the good fight, she looks flat.
When asked about winston not supporting her water tax, why did she not counter about his super position and how that affects the nats?
Most of the pundits Carolyn_nth accept that the Mana/Internet Party/Dotcom Moment of Truth debacle pushed a couple of percent National’s way in the last days.
Probably. I’m not disputing the poll tonight really. It shows what we’ve always known – Lab/Greens pretty much equals National. The unknowables are what happens after that.
What an odious comment you made imodioum shame on you.
National have truly fucked up this country by conducting a mean arsed austerity scheme as bad as the Ruth Richarson black budget was damaging us then by copying that same style of mean cruel inhumanity where the poor are pushed to the gutter to die hungry and sick.
Pretty evident Hosking and English vs Adern.
Least balanced nz debate ive seen
English flat out lying re 11 billion dollar hole and not pulled by Hosking. Dirty politics, possibly working in the polls so he’s doubled down.
Here are some other intriguing headlines on NZ Herald.
NEW ZEALAND
Fake names: Chief referred to Solicitor-General
20 Sep, 2017 5:37pm
Ministry of Social Development found unlawfully using fake names on legal documents
and
NEW ZEALAND
Beneficiaries short-changed by millions
20 Sept 5.58 pm
Introducing e-therapy digital counselling. Bill’s answer to fixing mental health. No one knows what it is but its new, and more internet time will somehow address kid’s mental health.
Well anyone in NZ can call themselves a counsellor so robots it is.
Serves them right for fucking around and failing to ensure their profession is registered as health practitioners by doing something as basic as agreeing.
mauī; – It’s callled in the old fashioned term we all know as ‘Brainwashing’
National are so tied to the control of the mind as we have seen when they removed all our Public affairs programs like ‘close-up’ and they cousins as they were to focused on the negative stuff the current government was doing .
Radio NZ ‘National’is now a trumpet for the ‘National Party’ so on it goes until they will have us alll bowijng to the ‘National God’ himself.
Greatest one liner
” we can never afford poverty”
Responding to bill “now we can NOW afford to help due to government surpluses” , with jacindas response … priceless.
Mike excelled himself. Given his right leaning and anti left he was very impressive
Jacinda won that debate. Thank goodness for that.
As ex Min of Finance Bill can quote facts and figures for ever. Jacinda less so. But this time Mike didn’t allow Bill to run away with his usual Shouty Bill. Jacinda was concise and was able to express politely her concern about after 9 long years and about the “misleading” information that Bill has used.
Herald poll would disagree….I only saw about the last 5 mins….turnout will still be determining factor…..the 80% (?) of relatively disinterested will decide this
Yes. The Herald Poll had it 60% Bill, 34% Jacinda.
It was closer on the Stuff website though.
They had it Bill 56% and Jacinda 37%.
Don’t worry though. Labours little lovie on Stuff, Tracy Watkins, says that Jacinda won so that is all right.
It is hardly surprising the Stuff papers are going down the tubes.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/97025359/live-three-days-to-go-till-the-election
English says “we can make the positive choices now” because there’s been a couple of years of surplus and now they have the money. Ardern says “we could never afford poverty” and under National the situation has slid.
Magic one liner from J.A. In response
Sad for a govt to say that they can only make positive social choices when we are in surplus
“Filthy waterways, dying patients denied their pain relief of choice, and working families forced to live in their cars, these are some of the big issues that have got New Zealanders fired-up. They’ve also been the focus of political campaigning in the run up to the election. As voting day draws ever closer, we’ve gathered together some of our recent Insight podcasts, to help you get clued up on the big issues before you put pen to ballot paper.”
The list of undone work by Gnashional just makes it seem that they are incompetent or frozen and unable to make decisions for the good of the country. Constipated and can’t get off the pot. The long days till the main voting day only increases their unpleasant persona and aroma.
They are facing off the weight of ridicule and disgust at their connivance and sly lies to satisfy their backers and voters who are either soaked in past-its-date business theory or smarmy wealth craters with no scruples. With a fair unpwind they will be freed from their circular prison to go and dump in someone else’s yard like the poor and drugged derelicts already on the streets.
“Working families with young children and babies are being left homeless and sleeping in cars in Auckland, as they struggle to get into emergency housing, and are turned off or away from Housing New Zealand. Parents say even with accommodation supplement benefits, their wages can’t cover rising rents, and living in garages or spending nights on floors of friends and family are the only options they have.”
Bill and Jacinda stand on the same stair of a flight of stairs.
Bill : “Jacinda are you taking one step up?”
Jacinda: “No, I’m staying where I am.”
Upon which Bill takes one step down and exclaims “Hey Jacinda, I see you’ve taken one step up!”
It is difficult to have respect for a leader who clearly has scant respect for the most basic straight talk and truth.
Gower’s piece should make headlines in all our papers.
The poll must’ve gone well for National. It’s on Kiwiblog within an hour of being broadcast. The Great Informer has been nowhere near as quick when the story hasn’t suited him.
Marama Fox is all about “strategic voting”….’cos that’s what folk are telling her.
” “Since the weekend it’s almost like the bigger issues have started to take a side-step to the strategic voting as an issue. People are not talking to me about homelessness anymore. They are not talking to me about poverty.
“They are talking to me about who can form government and which is the best way to vote in order to make that happen.””
She pins her colours clearly to the mast…
” She said voters were starting to see the “holes” in Labour, including not making te reo Maori compulsory or moving to entrench the Maori seats. Personally, she was quietly confident she would return to Parliament.
“I know everywhere I speak I turn the entire room. I know people are starting to question the ability of Labour’s Maori MPs to affect any change inside their party.”
“We recognise the mood for change … there are Maori voters, a majority of when you are knocking on doors, who have said they want change, but they want us there.”
Ahem, Marama, after nine years snuggling up to National, supporting them to increase poverty and homelessness….. how’s that change going?
Stated earlier, but it seems like you’d like to have the last word James…
Persistent with your personality perhaps …
“In this month’s issue of Personality and Individual Differences, a study was published that confirms what we all suspected: internet trolls are horrible people.”
“In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting quarrels or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory,[1] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[2] or of otherwise disrupting normal, on-topic discussion,[3] often for the troll’s amusement.”
Our National-led government has been undermining New Zealand’s sovereignty and public service for 9 years, and they know what they’re doing – helping NZ millionaires, both established and newly minted, realise assets, including public assets.
How much did Key sell part of his Parnell property for, and who stumped up the cash?
The fact that you made that ridiculous comment James means that you know darn well that she will go the distance and be there when this pack of wankers leaves town and she will be there to make sure they do !!!
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Lovin' you has go to be (Take me to the other side)Like the devil and the deep blue sea (Take me to the other side)Forget about your foolish pride (Take me to the other side)Oh, take me to the other side (Take me to the other side)Songwriters: Steven Tyler, Jim ...
In the week of Australia’s 3 May election, ASPI will release Agenda for Change 2025: preparedness and resilience in an uncertain world, a report promoting public debate and understanding on issues of strategic importance to ...
Hi,Back in 2022 I spent a year reporting on New Zealand’s then-biggest megachurch, Arise, revealing the widespread abuse of hundreds of interns.That series led to a harrowing review (leaked by Webworm) and the resignation of its founders and leaders John and Gillian Cameron, who fled to Australia where they now ...
All nation states have a right to defend themselves. But do regimes enjoy an equal right to self-defence? Is the security of a particular party-in-power a fundamental right of nations? The Chinese government is asking ...
A modest attempt to analyse Donald Trump’s tariff policies.Alfred Marshall, whose text book was still in use 40 years after he died wrote ‘every short statement about economics is misleading with the possible exception of my present one.’ (The text book is 719 pages.) It’s a timely reminder that any ...
If nothing else, we have learned that the economic and geopolitical turmoil caused by the Trump tariff see-saw raises a fundamental issue of the human condition that extends beyond trade wars and “the markets.” That issue is uncertainty and its centrality to individual and collective life. It extends further into ...
To improve its national security, South Korea must improve its ICT infrastructure. Knowing this, the government has begun to move towards cloud computing. The public and private sectors are now taking a holistic national-security approach ...
28 April 2025 Mournfor theDead FightFor theLiving Every week in New Zealand 18 workers are killed as a consequence of work. Every 15 minutes, a worker suffers ...
The world is trying to make sense of the Trump tariffs. Is there a grand design and strategy, or is it all instinct and improvisation? But much more important is the question of what will ...
OPINION:Yesterday was a triumphant moment in Parliament House.The “divisive”, “disingenous”, “unfair”, “discriminatory” and “dishonest” Treaty Principles Bill, advanced by the right wing ACT Party, failed.Spectacularly.11 MP votes for (ACT).112 MP votes against (All Other Parties).As the wonderful Te Pāti Māori MP, Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke said: We are not divided, but united.Green ...
The Pacific Response Group (PRG), a new disaster coordination organisation, has operated through its first high-risk weather season. But as representatives from each Pacific military leave Brisbane to return to their home countries for the ...
The Treaty Principles Bill has been defeated in Parliament with 112 votes in opposition and 11 in favour, but the debate about Te Tiriti and Māori rights looks set to stay high on the political agenda. Supermarket giant Woolworths has confirmed a new operating model that Workers First say will ...
1. What did Seymour say after his obnoxious bill was buried 112 to 11?a. Watch this spaceb. Mea culpac. I am not a crookd. Youse are all such dumbasses2. Which lasted longest?a. Liz Trussb. Trump’s Tariffsc. The Lettuced. Too soon to say but the smart money’s on the vegetable 3. ...
And this is what I'm gonna doI'm gonna put a call to you'Cause I feel good tonightAnd everything's gonna beRight-right-rightI'm gonna have a good time tonightRock and roll music gonna play all nightCome on, baby, it won't take longOnly take a minute just to sing my songSongwriters: Kirk Pengilly / ...
The Indonesian military has a new role in cybersecurity but, worryingly, no clear doctrine on what to do with it nor safeguards against human rights abuses. Assignment of cyber responsibility to the military is part ...
The StrategistBy Gatra Priyandita and Christian Guntur Lebang
Another Friday, another roundup. Autumn is starting to set in, certainly getting darker earlier but we hope you enjoy some of the stories we found interesting this week. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday we ran a guest post from the wonderful Darren Davis about what’s happening ...
Long stories shortest:The White House confirms Donald Trump’s total tariffs now on China are 145%, not 125%. US stocks slump again. Gold hits a record high. PM Christopher Luxon joins a push for a new rules-based trading system based around CPTPP and EU, rather than US-led WTO. Winston Peters ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and on the week in geopolitics and climate, including Donald Trump’s shock and (partial) backflip; and,Health Coalition Aotearoa Chair ...
USAID cuts and tariffs will harm the United States’ reputation in the Pacific more than they will harm the region itself. The resilient region will adjust to the economic challenges and other partners will fill ...
National's racist and divisive Treaty Principles Bill was just voted down by the House, 112 to 11. Good fucking riddance. The bill was not a good-faith effort at legislating, or at starting a "constitutional conversation". Instead it was a bad faith attempt to stoke division and incite racial hatred - ...
Democracy watch Indonesia’s parliament passed revisions to the country’s military law, which pro-democracy and human rights groups view as a threat to the country’s democracy. One of the revisions seeks to expand the number of ...
The StrategistBy Linus Cohen, Astrid Young and Alice Wai
Australia should follow international examples and develop a civilian cyber reserve as part of a whole-of-society approach to national defence. By setting up such a reserve, the federal government can overcome a shortage of expertise ...
A ballot for three Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Life Jackets for Children and Young Persons Bill (Cameron Brewer) Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Restrictions on Issue of Off-Licences and Low and No Alcohol Products) Amendment Bill (Mike Butterick) Crown ...
Te Whatu Ora is proposing to slash jobs from a department that brings in millions of dollars a year and ensures safety in hospitals, rest homes and other community health providers. The Treaty Principles Bill is back in Parliament this evening and is expected to be voted down by all parties, ...
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has repeatedly asserted the country’s commitment to a non-aligned foreign policy. But can Indonesia still credibly claim neutrality while tacitly engaging with Russia? Holding an unprecedented bilateral naval drills with Moscow ...
The NZCTU have launched a new policy programme and are calling on political parties to adopt bold policies in the lead up to the next election. The Government is scrapping the 30-day rule that automatically signs an employee up to the collective agreement when they sign on to a new ...
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te must have been on his toes. The island’s trade and defence policy has snapped into a new direction since US President Donald Trump took office in January. The government was almost ...
Auckland’s ongoing rail pain will intensify again from this weekend as Kiwirail shut down the network for two weeks as part of their push to get the network ready for the City Rail Link. KiwiRail will progress upgrade and renewal projects across Auckland’s rail network over the Easter holiday period ...
This is a re-post from The Electrotech Revolution by Daan Walter Last week, UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch took the stage to advocate for slowing the rollout of renewables, arguing that they ultimately lead to higher costs: “Huge amounts are being spent on switching round how we distribute electricity ...
That there, that's not meI go where I pleaseI walk through wallsI float down the LiffeyI'm not hereThis isn't happeningI'm not hereI'm not hereSongwriters: Philip James Selway / Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood / Edward John O'Brien / Thomas Edward Yorke / Colin Charles Greenwood.I had mixed views when the first ...
(A note to subscribers:I’m going to keep these daily curated news updates shorter in future to ensure an earlier and more regular delivery.Expect this format and delivery around 7 am Monday to Friday from now on. My apologies for not delivering yesterday. There was too much news… This ...
As Donald Trump zigs and zags on tariffs and trashes America’s reputation as a safe and stable place to invest, China has a big gun that it could bring to this tariff knife fight. Behind Japan, China has the world’s second largest holdings of American debt. As a huge US ...
Civilian exploration may be the official mission of a Chinese deep-sea research ship that sailed clockwise around Australia over the past week and is now loitering west of the continent. But maybe it’s also attending ...
South Korea’s internal political instability leaves it vulnerable to rising security threats including North Korea’s military alliance with Russia, China’s growing regional influence and the United States’ unpredictability under President Donald Trump. South Korea needs ...
Here are 5 updates that you may be interested in today:Speed kills and costs - so why does National want more of it?James (Jim) Grenon Board Takeover Gets Shaky - As Canadian Calls An Australian Shareholder a “Flake” Billionaire Bust-ups -The World’s Richest Men Are UncomfortableOver 3,500 Australian doctors on ...
Australia is in a race against time. Cyber adversaries are exploiting vulnerabilities faster than we can identify and patch them. Both national security and economic considerations demand policy action. According to IBM’s Data Breach Report, ...
The ever brilliant Kate Nicholls has kindly agreed to allow me to re-publish her substack offering some under-examined backdrop to Trump’s tariff madness. The essay is not meant to be a full scholarly article but instead an insight into the thinking (if that is the correct word) behind the current ...
In the Pacific, the rush among partner countries to be seen as the first to assist after disasters has become heated as part of ongoing geopolitical contest. As partners compete for strategic influence in the ...
The StrategistBy Miranda Booth, Henrietta McNeill and Genevieve Quirk
We’ve seen this morning the latest step up in the Trump-initiated trade war, with the additional 50 per cent tariffs imposed on imports from China. If the tariff madness persists – but in fact even if were wound back in some places (eg some of the particularly absurd tariffs on ...
Weak as I am, no tears for youWeak as I am, no tears for youDeep as I am, I'm no one's foolWeak as I amSongwriters: Deborah Ann Dyer / Richard Keith Lewis / Martin Ivor Kent / Robert Arnold FranceMorena. This morning, I couldn’t settle on a single topic. Too ...
Australian policy makers are vastly underestimating how climate change will disrupt national security and regional stability across the Indo-Pacific. A new ASPI report assesses the ways climate impacts could threaten Indonesia’s economic and security interests ...
So here we are in London again because we’re now at the do-it-while-you-still-can stage of life. More warm wide-armed hugs, more long talks and long walks and drinks in lovely old pubs with our lovely daughter.And meanwhile the world is once more in one of its assume-the-brace-position stages.We turned on ...
Hi,Back in September of 2023, I got pitched an interview:David -Thanks for the quick response to the DM! Means the world. Re-stating some of the DM below for your team’s reference -I run a business called Animal Capital - we are a venture capital fund advised by Noah Beck, Paris ...
I didn’t want to write about this – but, alas, the 2020s have forced my hand. I am going to talk about the Trump Tariffs… and in the process probably irritate nearly everyone. You see, alone on the Internet, I am one of those people who think we need a ...
Maybe people are only just beginning to notice the close alignment of Russia and China. It’s discussed as a sudden new phenomenon in world affairs, but in fact it’s not new at all. The two ...
The High Court has just ruled that the government has been violating one of the oldest Treaty settlements, the Sealord deal: The High Court has found the Crown has breached one of New Zealand's oldest Treaty Settlements by appropriating Māori fishing quota without compensation. It relates to the 1992 ...
Darwin’s proposed Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct is set to be the heart of a new integrated infrastructure network in the Northern Territory, larger and better than what currently exists in northern Australia. However, the ...
Local body elections are in October, and so like a lot of people, I received the usual pre-election enrolment confirmation from the Orange Man in the post. And I was horrified to see that it included the following: Why horrified? After all, surely using email, rather ...
Australia needs to deliver its commitment under the Seoul Declaration to create an Australian AI safety, or security, institute. Australia is the only signatory to the declaration that has yet to meet its commitments. Given ...
Ko kōpū ka rere i te paeMe ko Hine RuhiTīaho mai tō arohaMe ko Hine RuhiDa da da ba du da da ba du da da da ba du da da da da da daDa da da ba du da da ba du da da da ba du da da ...
Army, Navy and AirForce personnel in ceremonial dress: an ongoing staffing exodus means we may get more ships, drones and planes but not have enough ‘boots on the ground’ to use them. Photo: Lynn GrievesonLong stories short in Aotearoa’s political economy this morning:PM Christopher Luxon says the Government can ...
If you’re a qualified individual looking to join the Australian Army, prepare for a world of frustration over the next 12 to 18 months. While thorough vetting is essential, the inefficiency of the Australian Defence ...
I’ve inserted a tidbit and rumours section1. Colonoscopy wait times increase, procedures drop under NationalWait times for urgent, non-urgent and surveillance colonoscopies all progressively worsened last year. Health NZ data shows the total number of publicly-funded colonoscopies dropped by more than 7 percent.Health NZ chief medical officer Helen Stokes-Lampard blamed ...
Three billion dollars has been wiped off the value of New Zealand’s share market as the rout of global financial markets caught up with the local market. A Sāmoan national has been sentenced for migrant exploitation and corruption following a five-year investigation that highlights the serious consequences of immigration fraud ...
This is a guest post by Darren Davis. It originally appeared on his excellent blog, Adventures in Transitland, which we encourage you to check out. It is shared by kind permission. Rail Network Investment Plan quietly dropped While much media attention focused on the 31st March 2025 announcement that the replacement Cook ...
Amendments to Indonesia’s military law risk undermining civilian supremacy and the country’s defence capabilities. Passed by the House of Representatives on 20 March, the main changes include raising the retirement age and allowing military officers ...
The StrategistBy Alfin Febrian Basundoro and Jascha Ramba Santoso
So New Zealand is about to spend $12 billion on our defence forces over the next four years – with $9 million of it being new money that is not being spent on pressing needs here at home. Somehow this lavish spend-up on Defence is “affordable,” says PM Christopher Luxon, ...
Donald Trump’s philosophy about the United States’ place in the world is historically selfish and will impoverish his country’s spirit. While he claimed last week to be ‘liberating’ Americans from the exploiters and freeloaders who’ve ...
China’s crackdown on cyber-scam centres on the Thailand-Myanmar border may cause a shift away from Mandarin, towards English-speaking victims. Scammers also used the 28 March earthquake to scam international victims. Australia, with its proven capabilities ...
At the 2005 election campaign, the National Party colluded with a weirdo cult, the Exclusive Brethren, to run a secret hate campaign against the Greens. It was the first really big example of the rich using dark money to interfere in our democracy. And unfortunately, it seems that they're trying ...
Many of you will know that in collaboration with the University of Queensland we created and ran the massive open online course (MOOC) "Denial101x - Making sense of climate science denial" on the edX platform. Within nine years - between April 2015 and February 2024 - we offered 15 runs ...
How will the US assault on trade affect geopolitical relations within Asia? Will nations turn to China and seek protection by trading with each other? The happy snaps a week ago of the trade ministers ...
I mentioned this on Friday - but thought it deserved some emphasis.Auckland Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan has responded to Countering Hate Speech Aotearoa, saying police have cleared Brian Tamaki of all incitement charges relating to the Te Atatu library rainbow event assault.Hassan writes:..There is currently insufficient evidence to ...
With the report of the recent intelligence review by Heather Smith and Richard Maude finally released, critics could look on and wonder: why all the fuss? After all, while the list of recommendations is substantial, ...
Well, I don't know if I'm readyTo be the man I have to beI'll take a breath, I'll take her by my sideWe stand in awe, we've created lifeWith arms wide open under the sunlightWelcome to this place, I'll show you everythingSongwriters: Scott A. Stapp / Mark T. Tremonti.Today is ...
Staff at Kāinga Ora are expecting details of another round of job cuts, with the Green Party claiming more than 500 jobs are set to go. The New Zealand Defence Force has made it easier for people to apply for a job in a bid to get more boots on ...
Australia’s agriculture sector and food system have prospered under a global rules-based system influenced by Western liberal values. But the assumptions, policy approaches and economic frameworks that have traditionally supported Australia’s food security are no ...
Following Trump’s tariff announcement, US stock values fell by the most ever in value terms (US$6.6 trillion). Photo: Getty ImagesLong story shortest in Aotearoa’s political economy this morning:Donald Trump just detonated a neutron bomb under the globalised economy, but this time the Fed isn’t cutting interest rates to rescue ...
The Green Party recognises the extension of visa allowances for our Pacific whānau as a step in the right direction but continues to call for a Pacific Visa Waiver. ...
The Government yesterday released its annual child poverty statistics, and by its own admission, more tamariki across Aotearoa are now living in material hardship. ...
Today, Te Pāti Māori join the motu in celebration as the Treaty Principles Bill is voted down at its second reading. “From the beginning, this Bill was never welcome in this House,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi. “Our response to the first reading was one of protest: protesting ...
The Green Party is proud to have voted down the Coalition Government’s Treaty Principles Bill, an archaic piece of legislation that sought to attack the nation’s founding agreement. ...
A Member’s Bill in the name of Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter which aims to stop coal mining, the Crown Minerals (Prohibition of Mining) Amendment Bill, has been pulled from Parliament’s ‘biscuit tin’ today. ...
Labour MP Kieran McAnulty’s Members Bill to make the law simpler and fairer for businesses operating on Easter, Anzac and Christmas Days has passed its first reading after a conscience vote in Parliament. ...
Nicola Willis continues to sit on her hands amid a global economic crisis, leaving the Reserve Bank to act for New Zealanders who are worried about their jobs, mortgages, and KiwiSaver. ...
Today, the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill has passed its third and final reading, but there is one more stage before it becomes law. The Governor-General must give their ‘Royal assent’ for any bill to become legally enforceable. This means that, even if a bill gets voted ...
Abortion care at Whakatāne Hospital has been quietly shelved, with patients told they will likely have to travel more than an hour to Tauranga to get the treatment they need. ...
Thousands of New Zealanders’ submissions are missing from the official parliamentary record because the National-dominated Justice Select Committee has rushed work on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...
Today’s announcement of 10 percent tariffs for New Zealand goods entering the United States is disappointing for exporters and consumers alike, with the long-lasting impact on prices and inflation still unknown. ...
The National Government’s choices have contributed to a slow-down in the building sector, as thousands of people have lost their jobs in construction. ...
Willie Apiata’s decision to hand over his Victoria Cross to the Minister for Veterans is a powerful and selfless act, made on behalf of all those who have served our country. ...
The Privileges Committee has denied fundamental rights to Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Rawiri Waititi and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, breaching their own standing orders, breaching principles of natural justice, and highlighting systemic prejudice and discrimination within our parliamentary processes. The three MPs were summoned to the privileges committee following their performance of a haka ...
April 1 used to be a day when workers could count on a pay rise with stronger support for those doing it tough, but that’s not the case under this Government. ...
Winston Peters is shopping for smaller ferries after Nicola Willis torpedoed the original deal, which would have delivered new rail enabled ferries next year. ...
The Government should work with other countries to press the Myanmar military regime to stop its bombing campaign especially while the country recovers from the devastating earthquake. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to scrap proposed changes to Early Childhood Care, after attending a petition calling for the Government to ‘Put tamariki at the heart of decisions about ECE’. ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill today that will remove the power of MPs conscience votes and ensure mandatory national referendums are held before any conscience issues are passed into law. “We are giving democracy and power back to the people”, says New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters. ...
Welcome to members of the diplomatic corp, fellow members of parliament, the fourth estate, foreign affairs experts, trade tragics, ladies and gentlemen. ...
In recent weeks, disturbing instances of state-sanctioned violence against Māori have shed light on the systemic racism permeating our institutions. An 11-year-old autistic Māori child was forcibly medicated at the Henry Bennett Centre, a 15-year-old had his jaw broken by police in Napier, kaumātua Dean Wickliffe went on a hunger ...
Confidence in the job market has continued to drop to its lowest level in five years as more New Zealanders feel uncertain about finding work, keeping their jobs, and getting decent pay, according to the latest Westpac-McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index. ...
The Greens are calling on the Government to follow through on their vague promises of environmental protection in their Resource Management Act (RMA) reform. ...
The Government’s new planning legislation to replace the Resource Management Act will make it easier to get things done while protecting the environment, say Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop and Under-Secretary Simon Court. “The RMA is broken and everyone knows it. It makes it too hard to build ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has today launched a public consultation on New Zealand and India’s negotiations of a formal comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. “Negotiations are getting underway, and the Public’s views will better inform us in the early parts of this important negotiation,” Mr McClay says. We are ...
More than 900 thousand superannuitants and almost five thousand veterans are among the New Zealanders set to receive a significant financial boost from next week, an uplift Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says will help support them through cost-of-living challenges. “I am pleased to confirm that from 1 ...
Immigration, maritime safety and a $13.8m Landcare Research programme were on the cards as Winston Peters completed the first leg of his Pacific tour. ...
RNZ Pacific Pacific climate activists this week handed a letter from civil society to this year’s United Nations climate conference hosts, Brazil, emphasising their demands for the end of fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy. More than 180 indigenous, youth, and environmental organisations from across the world have signed ...
When the Blues beat Matatū in their first encounter this season, halfback Tara Turner memorably told Sky Sport afterward that the Blues’ “Mongrel Dogs” had come out to play. Matatū was battered into submission, 28-7. But in late March, the tables turned and Matatū stunned the physical northerners, inflicting the first ...
Penny can see it all from here. The lawn that needs mowing, the gardens, once a riot of colour, her pride and joy she says when she describes it to the book club ladies, is now over-run with dandelions and ragwort. In the paddock beyond, she can see the sheep ...
Wading in among scratchy branches, sticky mud and ocean water might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for Karin Bryan it’s a favourite pastime.Estuaries are her happy place.“I wouldn’t have said that 15 years ago. Fifteen years ago I had never walked in a mangrove in my life,” she ...
The host of David Lomas Investigates takes us through his life in TV, including the power of the Chesdale Cheese ad and his passion for 90s romantic comedies. It’s hard to imagine these days, but David Lomas never actually wanted to be on television. “Oh, I had no ambition to ...
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. This week I found myself surrounded by collective action in all its forms. I watched the Auckland Philharmonia perform Hans Zimmer’s greatest hits to a packed out Aotea Centre for Art of the Score last weekend. It was incredible and rare to ...
Allegations of sexual assault against Neil Gaiman have led the author to present texts from Scarlett Pavlovich that he says ‘demonstrate’ their relationship was consensual. One woman explains why she sent similar messages to men who hurt her. Sarah Grace is a pseudonym.When the story first broke to my ...
Emma Sidnam debates with herself, and with friends, the value of writing with political purpose versus writing for entertainment.In the first real conversation I had with a friend, who is also a writer, we argued about art’s political power. He said that while an artless world is a depressing one, ...
A bedroom in MosgielSolid information is coming to light that Green MP and stain on the human race Benjamin Doyle wants to infiltrate a crèche so he can subject children to depraved sexual practises.The police need to be warned – and so do parents.A basement in HamiltonI told Mum that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra It takes a bit for Labor not to preference the Greens but on Friday it was announced that in the Melbourne seat of Macnamara, where Jewish MP Josh Burns is embattled, the ALP will run ...
By Layla Bailey-McDowell, RNZ Māori news journalist Legal experts and Māori advocates say the fight to protect Te Tiriti is only just beginning — as the controversial Treaty Principles Bill is officially killed in Parliament. The bill — which seeks to redefine the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi — ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney Australia’s relationship with its regional neighbours could be in doubt under a Coalition government after two Pacific leaders challenged Opposition Leader Peter Dutton over his weak climate stance. This week, ...
An additional tariff by the US on New Zealand exporters is harmful and the Minister of Trade has written to his American counterparts to tell them that. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sophia Staite, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Social media is ablaze with reports of kids going wild at screenings of A Minecraft Movie. Some cinemas are cracking down. There are reports of cinemas calling ...
The Treaty Principles Bill has been brutally defeated in Parliament. We have highlights from key speeches, and explain why its demise is so unusual. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Fujak, Senior Lecturer in Sport Management, Deakin University Few issues in Australian sport generate as much media noise or emotional fan reactions as player movement, especially in our major winter codes the National Rugby League (NRL) and Australian Football League (AFL). ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Isabelle Ng, PhD candidate, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University A couple of whip coral goby (_Bryaninops yongei_).randi_ang/Shutterstock Swim along the edge of a coral reef and you’ll often see schools of sleek, torpedo-shaped fishes gliding through the currents, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Charles Kemp, Professor, School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Languages are windows into the worlds of the people who speak them – reflecting what they value and experience daily. So perhaps it’s no surprise different languages highlight different ...
A new poem by Daniel Frears. Pale Straw this season’s colour is pale straw a revelatory colour for an oh so special season it might mess with your head, or mine you can rub my belly like I was a dog. all actions are allowed in this .. phase. if ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Hay House, $32) “A truly helpful treatise on seeing ...
Tara Ward watches the return of The Handmaid’s Tale and discovers the dystopia of the future now feels all too real. If you like your television so bleak that you need to curl into a ball and rock back and forward afterwards, then clear the floor because I have great ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national YouGov poll, conducted April 4–10 from a sample of 1,505, gave Labor a 52.5–47.5 lead, a 1.5-point gain for Labor ...
Updated enrollment stats released today
http://www.elections.org.nz/research-statistics/enrolment-statistics-electorate
Still low enrolment for the younger people
Young people aren’t necessarily apathetic. We need something like Momentum here.
Does this include people who have enrolled and voted at early vote booths?
New poll and final debate on TV one tonite …
“If Winston Peters is part of a Labour-led government, his party won’t support plans to introduce new taxes, like the planned water tax”
https://twitter.com/NewshubPolitics/status/910320749264592896
WAHOO !!!!!!
One news poll shows a great position for National.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/new-poll-national-takes-huge-lead-in-bombshell-1-news-colmar-brunton
Nats up 6
Labour down 7
SO SO SO SO HAPPY !!!
Full resilts:
1 News Colmar Brunton poll:
NAT 46% (+6),
LAB 37% (-7),
GRN 8% (+1),
NZF 5% (-1),
TOP 2% (NC),
MAO 1% (NC),
ACT 0.3%
Don’t know 7%, Refused 6% (+1). Fieldwork conducted 16-19 September
And One news have said that this is in line with internal polling by both Labour and National.
Do you agree that in politics telling lies should be rewarded?
To be fair though micky Labour need to shoulder some of the blame for this. They should have been expecting the attacks over tax and had it all shut down before the campaign started.
I’m struggling with the criticism. Basically your premise is they should have anticipated National would make shit up and should have been ready to reply. Parties should be punished for making shit up, not rewarded.
Covering increasing taxes using working groups was bullshit and labour got called
Won’t answer…
Bugger.
Bolger had it best
“Bugger the pollsters”.
On the other hand with the crazy way the polls have been going we can expect equally mad swings in the final Newshub-Reid poll when it comes out. That one will have Labour up 7 from 37 to 44 and National down 7 from 47 to 40 or something like that.
They’ll also reverse the Green/NZF vote percentages.
Does anyone understand what is going on?
What kind of demented troll stalks a left leaning website at 6.01pm to gloat in unhinged and delirious glee at others’ potential misfortune? You should be ashamed of yourself and go book an appointment with a shrink
A Tory troll, the most despicable of them.
I think your colostomy bag has burst.
A leak perhaps – but again I remain cautious for the actual results on the day.
But this is a very positive sign.
Not really. It puts them 1 percentage point ahead of Labour + Greens. Given the margin of error, that could just as easily be reversed. If National happen to be just a bit lower, and especially if NZ 1st don’t get in, they lose.
Having said that, the enrolment stats could equally mean that National will effectively poll higher. This poll really only says that it’s mighty close.
I just think your use of capitals is embarrassing. You seem to have the emotions of a child.
Agreed. Signs of juvenility spoil what could have been more convincing.
Really positive for the homeless
Really positive for the mentally unwell
Really positive for the poor
Don’t know 7% , Declined 6% , margin of error?
It’s One news Poll, they’ve been consistently 4 to 6% out with final poll versus Votes cast over the last 3 elections.
What is up with the Aussie politicians, they seem dead set on being the last country in the west to enact marriage equality.
If the AFL, not exactly a bastion of progressive thinking is supporting why the heck are their politicians dragging their feet.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/09/19/afl-gives-huge-yes-to-marriage-equality-with-new-sign-outside-headqaurters_a_23215736/?ncid=edlinkauhpmg00000003?benref=watoday
Great wee video if you have the time, from a former leader of the liberal party (Tory) in Australia
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/gay-marriage/poll-shows-dip-in-gay-marriage-public-support-as-postal-survey-campaign-continues/news-story/d1685f813cf2592c367f7acfa4ce18b9
Kiwis not as thick as Morgan thought
Kiwis are far thicker than Morgan could possibly imagine, if they elect a National government after their display of incompetence throughout this campaign.
Kiwis are far thicker than Morgan could possibly imagine, if they elect a National government after their display of incompetence throughout this campaign.
In your ever so humble opinion.
OK. I think CB is landline only. Few youth votes will be recorded except the tory twitletts still living at home with mummy and daddy. Add to that the Nat campaign of lying, cheating, deceiving, corrupt behaviour… and the moribund and ignorant voters fall for it yet again. As for the shallow, witless james’ of this world… karma will sort them in due course.
So what if its landlines only – apparently in line with internal polling by both parties.
Karma may be rewarding me – I will know Saturday night !
not if you need nz1.
Might take a few days…
Very true that.
Im not counting any chickens yet – Have said could very be a labour lead government come sunday.
Sorry, stages of grief and all that, but you can’t keep smashing the voters like that and then expect them to vote for you.
IF (big if) the poll is realised on Saturday and we end up with English & Co back in charge again, then Labour have to think pretty hard about why it happened. Sneering at the electorate as ‘moribund and ignorant’ isn’t going to help.
You have to think why (if) they opted for National. After all, last week they were smart and engaged because the CB showed them supporting Labour.
Nah. Supporters of both parties are always calling each other idiots on no uncertain terms, and it’s nothing new. Unless they hold office or are running to do so, I don’t think it makes a blind bit of difference.
The only party that’s ever done that is National and they keep getting voted back in on it. Hell, they’ve done it again this campaign by openly lying.
It’s the trend that matters, not the method of polling
There’s a big problem with the “young people don’t have cellphones” argument – it ignores the fact that young people have ALWAYS been hard to reach for opinion polling, even before cellphones became commonplace.
The polling companies have had to deal with low response-rates amongst young people for many decades, and adjust their weightings and strategies accordingly. Cellphones probably make an already big problem a bit bigger, but if thats the main defence the left is going to rely on for polls today, it’s probably going to be a tough night on Saturday.
… and adjust their weightings and strategies accordingly.
So they say. I’m not convinced. If they do anything at all its highly questionable whether it is accurate.
You’re entitled to be skeptical of whatever you want to be skeptical of, but the fact remains that the track record of polling companies in New Zealand, for at least the last couple of decades, has been pretty good.
Polling is hard, but these are experienced professional companies that have every incentive to be right (as in correct) not ‘right’ (as in skewed).
All I will say is this; if your belief that the left is going to win the election relies on believing polling is skewed against the left then, on balance of probabilities, you should prepare for a bad election night.
3 more years I guess. All over Rover.
I may as well concede now. I knew this would happen. And it was the farmers wot won it.
Labour has some serious shit to sort out starting Monday. And the Greens can pay themselves on the back all they want about rising to 8%, they are still going to be in opposition.
I wish it was all over, but really I dont think you can write off a Labour lead government just yet.
All this poll shows is that thing are still really unstable. I would not give up yet. Besides Labour/Greens are neck and neck with National. Even on these figures there is everything to aim for.
Yep … It’s deflating – no question about that – but it sure as hell aint over.
Chin up, my bully-boys*. Jacinda’s got the vile sausage-sucking Tory Hun on the run ! Keep Fritzie in panic-mode and I’m sure we’ll all be in Berlin by lunchtime !
* As in ‘John Bull’.
If the poll is right it would be the lies that National is telling which tip the balance. Fear and anxiety implemented by unscrupulous people seem to win in NZ.
If the poll is right.
We will do it yet!
No telling if they are right or wrong – but they are all saying about the same thing now.
Labour has some serious shit to sort out starting Monday,
The shit is: Labour don’t stand up and give back as good as they get. All this relentless positivity doesn’t work. The voters see it as a weakness. The majority of them are self promoting bigots and its time Labour woke up to reality. I’ve been banging on about it for years and so have plenty of others but they… just… won’t… listen.
Oh, and they are still producing policy that’s way too complex. In statistical terms, half the voters have an IQ that is below the average but they seem unable to take that into account. Helen Clark understood and produced the simplistic pledge card in 2005 was it? Whatever, It saved her bacon.
”In statistical terms, half the voters have an IQ that is below the average”, these are the people that vote for the left.
MB has just proven my point.
Yes, the commentators on TS are well known for their relentless positivity…..Anyway lets just get out there and vote eh.
If Labour loses it’s because Labour fucked it up.
Nothing about not attacking or been too nice, it will be because you’re trying to change too much stuff all at once and have spooked the horses.
Exactly. Horses are stupid.
Have to agree here. Positivity in this neoliberal race to the top goes part way. Sadly, the soft vote wants (as Hosking might say “rightly or wrongly”) cuthroat displays of strength. Jacinda will need to attack to beat those that are expert in the craft of bullshitting soft voters. Meanwhile, those most affected will suffer more. Sorry to be pessimisstic.
Because it was weakness. Labour had no solid policies till jacinda gave labour a bump.
Well, I for one Welcome our new National Party Overlords !
And I can assure Fräulein Bennett and Herr Joyce that I’m prepared to sing like a Canary, wildly naming names like an accused Communist at a 1951 McCarthyite Senate hearing.
Normally I’d be a lot more positive about this but my political antenna seems to be a bit wonKey at the moment however its probably not a good sign for Labour
I just hope Labour can keep it seemly and not go to desperate measures over the next couple of days
Full resilts:
1 News Colmar Brunton poll:
NAT 46% (+6),
LAB 37% (-7),
GRN 8% (+1),
NZF 5% (-1),
TOP 2% (NC),
MAO 1% (NC),
ACT 0.3%
Don’t know 7%, Refused 6% (+1). Fieldwork conducted 16-19 September
I just hope Labour can keep it seemly and not go to desperate measures over the next couple of days
Like National did with their smear campaign of lies, you mean?
Labour made it far too easy for National, only have themselves to blame
It’s always easy for people who flat-out lie to make you look bad.
I wouldn’t be giving up so easily because the way this election has been going theres probably still time for something else to happen
Oh, certainly not giving up – according to this poll, National’s on 46 % and Labour/Green on 45%. Only a mug would think they could pick the winner at this point.
I’m inclined to agree with you on that.
Quite a hefty 13% Don’t Know/Refused though.
Yup…..13% is a lot to play for…..who would be most inclined to refuse to say?
Don’t lose heart people….get on the phone and talk to someone and convince them to vote.
Agreed, and whilst Jacinda wanting to “have a conversation” about everything was initially hip, it soon became code for ‘lack of coherent policy’.
Maybe its time for another…wait for it…here it comes…”captains call”
Interestingly enough a captains call is defined as (well by urbandictionary):
A decision made unilaterally by a team leader without consulting colleagues, often a massive clusterfuck
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=captain%27s%20call
Another Captain’s call like the one little made you mean?
I think it really is a bit to late to have another change of leader.
nah, it might give the nats some energy if they replaced bill with… whomever.
Ben
How about you spend time on the Labour site and see all of the policy that is there and then come back and say there is a lack of poverty.
Why do people think that lying is a valid political weapon?
The Labour Party certainly don’t avoid it, do they?
They have parroted on most of the year on how National supposedly cut the expenditure on health below what Labour had been doing. It was a clever lie but it was a lie for all that. They did it by taking the first year of the National Government as the base line, rather than taking the last year of the Labour Government.
That way they could pretend that the massive increase in the 2009-2010 year never happened.
And that would be you lying – again.
So-called Budget mental health funding boost is a cut in real terms
You really can’t help yourself in your defence of National psychopathic policies can you? Typical authoritarian follower. You’re one of the sheep that National relies upon not only to not question them but to defend them and you do it without fail.
I have no idea what the situation is in this part of the health budget.
What I looked at was the total budget and what the Labour Party claims were.
They were false.
I don’t really have the time or inclination to look at this bit of the budget and the figures you are referring to, and you will note that I wasn’t talking about just this facet of the situation.
I was more interested in the whole picture.
No, you’re simply defending National’s failure to provide enough health service, their cutting of the health budget in real terms.
I commented on this back in January, and what Labour had done to get their conclusion.
Have a look at these two links.
The first is Labours figures.
The second is what is wrong with their conclusions when they claim that National has cut spending from the levels Labour would have provided.
https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/nzlabour/pages/3092/attachments/original/1438062842/Report_-_Estimated_Core_Crown_Health_Expenditure_(2).pdf?1438062842
https://thestandard.org.nz/the-labour-green-2017-campaign-launch/#comment-1293848
The CTU do the same thing
http://www.union.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Did-the-Budget-provide-enough-for-Health-2016.pdf
The effect of this is to pretend that the first year of the National Government was the norm rather than comparing their numbers with the final year of the Labour Government.
The first year of the National government would be the last year of the Labour government’s final budget.
For DTB 12.06am
“The first year of the National government would be the last year of the Labour government’s final budget”
That is quite true. National was in Government for most of that year. However it wasn’t that year they used as the base, normal, year
The 2008 election was on November 8 2008.
The last year of the Labour Government was the 2008-2009 year. It covered the year from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009.
http://www.treasury.govt.nz/government/financialstatements/yearend
That was not the year they used as their base though. They used the expenditure in the 2009-2010 year which was the first year that the National Party budget of 2009 was in operation.
If you take the last Labour year as the base you find that the Health expenditure did rise under a National Government above the values for the end of the Labour one.
There was a very large increase in the 2009-2010 year even after you include inflation and demographic changes. National deserve the credit for that surely? Because of the way Labour requested the calculations all this increase was ignored.
Cunning isn’t it?
This sounds a lot like your lie about the greens wanting the oil pipeline to Auckland to be replaced by shipping.
You never actually supported that claim with evidence, either – you just put a link against oil and a link in favour of shipping freight together.
I didn’t actually claim that the Green Party had done that.
What I said was that they didn’t appear to like the environmental effects of the pipeline.
I also said that they were in favour of using coastal shipping to move goods around.
After a reference to the Rena, which involved a significant oil spill.
oil spill + disliking oil pipeline + in favour of coastal shipping to move “goods” = another disingenuous tory lie.
Um, no – National’s lying is to blame.
What happens if NZ 1st don’t make it?
Serious question
Who is better off?
Andrew Chen reckons if NZF doesn’t make it
That assumes the Māori Party win at least one seat. If they don’t then their party vote gets wasted too.
The Maori Party will win at least two seats, via Te Ururoa Flavell and Howie Tamati, who was 13 points ahead of Adrian Rurawhe a couple of weeks ago. They may get enough party votes to get Marama Fox in as well, but at this stage I would guess not.
Gawd, what an awful (or great) outcome that would be. Imagine a dirty deal in Epsom to a clearly very stupid David Seymour balancing NZ’s parliament.
yeah, but if the 1% off nz1 goes to Labour, it’s a hung parliament.
And don’t forget the margin for error – it could be lab40% nat 44%.
A few days out, it’s too close to call. I certainly didn’t expect that when Little stepped down, that’s for damned sure.
If NZFirst don’t make it on those numbers there would be 7% wasted vote which would probably be enough for Nat/Act to govern alone. A sobering thought.
“Who is better off?”
That is a very easy one to answer.
NEW ZEALAND is.
And yes, I do think that would be worth shouting about.
Everybody is better off if NZ1st don’t make it! Then nobody has to deal with Winston.
But in terms of who forms the government, that depends on whether Nats plus clingons or Labour/Greens get more of the votes above the threshold. The Maori Party may end up the deciders.
So if you’re tossing up whether to vote Nats or Winnie, go for Winnie. If you’re tossing up Labour or Greens vs Winnie, then Labour or Greens.
I try very hard to lament the undemocratic wasted vote while punching the air and and dancing like a jalopy.
Dancing like a jalopy?
https://giphy.com/gifs/car-ILmTS0fYgVFEQ
A phrase coined by my old friend Bob in our glory days at Stirling University in the 90s. He was trying to express his disapproval of Ecstasy, because it made you “Dance like a jalopy to really stupid music.”
Bob had a way with words, usually unintentionally.
Both participants in that conversation are now dead – the raver had some sort of bad reaction to E (Bob didn’t think to warn him of that) and Bob himself died a couple of years ago from blood poisoning in India.
.. all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more.
Ah, mortality! But at least Bob’s curious genius will live on a little longer.
Bob lives on.
Hey Lurgee,
Put it up on Youtube so we can learn that dance.
Oh by the way I never believe polls and the only poll that counts is the once Saturday.
We all said that the UK and the US election polls got it all wrong so it is quite likely that it will hapen here too.
Seeing it would immediately require an immediate SAN check. Failure would result in the loss of 1d100 San points, and even those passing would still lose 1d10 SAN.
And they call it democracy? Would prefer STV.
Glen
If nzf don’t win northland then Nats get in alone
National could actually end up governing alone, how crazy is that the apprentice does better than the master.
Having said that no one has any idea until sometime late Saturday night.
Peters will get over 5% though having come out against farmers getting stung with water taxes,
That rather diminishes Labours chances as their only coalition party can be the greens.
And you will still be crawling around in the sewer as always.
No Compadre?
Are you trying to speak Spanish or something?
Sewers already rented out.
National could actually end up governing alone…
And aliens could actually invade and enslave us into their galactic empire, but I’m picking neither of those highly unlikely events is going to happen in the near future.
Am I guessing you’d probably prefer galactic alien enslavement to an outright win for National?
Have to say, fuck that would be crushing for the left 4 wins to National each election the margin getting bigger.
Haven’t we already had that? Key never did satisfactorily explain that shapeshifting reptilian thing he had going.
I don’t see any difference between a National Government and alien enslavement.
Am I guessing you’d probably prefer galactic alien enslavement to an outright win for National?
That is a tough one, now you mention it.
National could actually end up governing alone, how crazy is that the apprentice does better than the master
Would you like to put your money where your mouth is?
If you seriously think National could end up governing alone, I suggest you buy a Lotto ticket.
“sometime late Saturday night”.
In terms of the election night result we will have a pretty good idea by about 8pm. There are so many early votes that will be counted before 7pm, and they tend to be similar to the final result.
With the closeness of these numbers though I think we may be sitting around wondering for another couple of weeks. There are all the specials and the overseas voting to come after that.
The official results aren’t due until 7 October. There could be a seat or two swinging then.
In the last few elections National has typically lost a seat to the Greens with the recounts and overseas votes. That could be crucial this time round.
Yes, the Green Party do have a unique pattern of results.
They have polling numbers of X% before the election. Then the drop to about 0.8X on election day. Then they go back up to 0.85X with the specials.
NB I haven’t actually calculated the multipliers but the pattern is accurate.
“That rather diminishes Labours chances as their only coalition party can be the greens.”
Really! – when NZ First is so needed to form a labour lead government rather than a sellout Government?? The last time Labour come to power in 1999 it was a coalition of labour greens/NZ First so you are way out there.
Didn’t you watch what Winston said at his interview with John Campbell the other night? – It was when John asked Winston if he could work with the greens – he said, “everythings negociable”.
I’m afraid your memory is failing you.
The Government after the !999 election was comprised of Labour and the Alliance. Neither New Zealand First nor the Green Party were part of the Government.
I am afraid you are way out there.
To the drink,– the drink.
Is it possible to have James banned for at least two weeks. His empty triumphalism doesn’t add anything to the discourse. I don’t see why he should be able to sort of start a flame war, and be politely allowed to dance around on our hopes for the future of NZ. So please mods can he be revued and take his tap dancing off to Kiwiblog!
+100.
And others!
All the trolls seem to be creaming themselves tonight… Based on what? Yet another MSM Poll …
“In this month’s issue of Personality and Individual Differences, a study was published that confirms what we all suspected: internet trolls are horrible people.”
https://www.sott.net/article/286185-Internet-trolls-are-narcissists-psychopaths-and-sadists
“In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting quarrels or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory,[1] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[2] or of otherwise disrupting normal, on-topic discussion,[3] often for the troll’s amusement.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll
About that troll definition. If you get a coven of any gender and say something that doesn’t fit their rigid ideas, it can upset them like hell. Like an innocent insect getting caught in a web you suddenly get attacked so – 1 can invoke an irrational response also 2, and some acceptable etiquette and display of manners is called for before rushing to invoke Rule 109 section 32 (a)(i) or similar in the in-group’s exposition.
When the nuisance is repeated then irritation is justified.
Whoa. Why do you think his tap dancing would be welcome at Kiwiblog? It is a place for serious debate, not for whooping and childish behaviour.
You’ve missed your calling. You would make an excellent comedian.
Funniest comment of the night!
+100000000000
Ed That’s so childish! Just kidding and other witticisms. Got to keep up the irony factor.
On the other hand…perhaps it is better he is here, where we can keep an eye on him, rather than him roaming the streets getting up to all sorts of evil doings.
Cheer up folks….its a poll…and by definition
.
a hornless animal, especially one of a breed of hornless cattle.
I think we should be Friesian’ him out.
At some stage more people have to realise that lying works. Being honest and truthful are old fashioned notions.
Unless being sprawled on the road with the boots of liars stomping in your face is still seen as a noble position to be in.
How did Turei’s honesty serve her and her party? How did the lack of honesty and hiding of the truth serve others?
It wasn’t the honesty of Turie, it was how she came across that did the Greens in
it was still the right thing to do.
She could have said the same thing in a different way and she’d still be (and the Greens would be on at least 15%) instead they might not even make it back and the parties image is forever tarnished
What do you mean in a different way?
If she’d something like “I did this a long time ago and I’m sorry I felt I had to do it, I appreciated the support I received from the taxpayer and I paid the money back once I became a lawyer, I’m coming forward now to make sure no one else in my position has to do the same because something needs to change”
Instead she came off as unappreciative and somewhat flippant, perception is everything
interesting. For me she came across as standing her ground in solidarity with beneficiaries. Not saying she didn’t make any mistakes, but that this was more important than appeasing the so called middle NZ.
Paying the money back is very problematic. She wouldn’t have know how much it was, she could have been charged with fraud and had her law career put at risk. She still had a young child at that point. I think you’ve missed some critical parts of the story.
She should have got that stuff sorted before she went public.
The fact that she didn’t is the reason she’s now out of politics, she’s an idiot and the countries far better off not having her in any sort of position where she could have power over others.
Turei well and truly darwined herself.
Does the poll cover Judith Collins’ greed and corruption disrupting thousands of people’s travel plans?
OAB
wot?
What the hell is that about? You are totally out of line making such a comment. You should withdraw and apologise.
[lprent: Please spare me your unintelligent indignation. Please read his comment. There are many possible meanings to OAB’s statement.
It could just be his opinion of Judith Collins that if she is dealing with anything it will be dodgy as fuck. You only have to read Dirty Politics to come to that conclusion.
But certainly her orders as Minster or Energy have disrupted travel. For instance she could have put the priority on aircraft kerosene rather than 91 octane petrol and diesel. It is legitimate to query why a politician she would have done it this way.
It could also deal with the renamed Oravida operation around Ruakaka with a reputation for playing fast and loose with rules that uses diggers to dig Kauri stumps, the one that would be a prime suspect if a digger did damage and she has a family connection to it is another. I’d question if she should be involved in any enquiry myself.
That her husband operates Oravida and for whom she is known to have done what I consider amounts to a sales trip on the taxpayers dime for is another.
Now these are all legitimate political questions that will be raised.
I am sure that in the latter two that when the election is over and in the caretaker government that as a lawyer Judith Collins will see that she will properly recuse herself to allow a real investigation to take place as to the cause of the economic disaster of having the sole fuel line to Auckland cut.
If you had half a brain, you would have figured that out yourself, and not wasted my time. OAB specialises in doing the needle intelligently and so he doesn’t get banned. You could do well to study his opaque technique for revving up simple minded right wingers into defending against what their guilty consciences feel that he must have been meaning.
Please don’t waste my time again. ]
[deleted]
[be a bit more careful please – weka]
You have evidence of that?
Keeping Stock -you were flushed out this time last election as an active player in National’s Dirty Politics campaign, to the extent that you had to kill of your own blog and scramble into damage control in your own community.
Why are you here now? What do you hope to achieve by commenting on The Standard at this point? Do you think readers here don’t know about your close association with Farrar and Slater?
Muttonhead, think before you comment.
I’m sure lprent will be stoked have defamation papers served on him.
[lprent: It isn’t defamation. Read it again. Where did he state a fact that was defamatory. Please don’t waste my time with billshit ]
Collins and co have already threatened to do that to one who saw the digger at work.
The fellow who was driving past on Wednesday 06 Sept – has he been threatened?
MPI “found” the files.
So much for threats. I suppose the next tool in the box is a bleach attack.
Lol. Not an expert but that log in pic 2 looks no more than a few days old matching eyewitness accounts.
Remember that National’s best ever result was 47.3% under Key in 2011. So we’re led to believe that after another 6 years and without Key, National has lost only 1%? I do admire the optimism of some Tories.
But 4% went to the Cons last time around, and most of those have probably drifted back to the Nats.
We will know on Saturday.
Its either the optimism of the National supporters, or the delusion of he left to refuse to recognise it.
I’m not sure that the Labour Party is spending it’s advertising money very wisely.
I just had a look at KiwiBlog to see if Farrar had any comment on this result.
The first thing I got was an ad for the Labour Party.
I don’t think that there are really many votes Labour is going to gain from ads running there.
You getting those ads because you troll here. The computer thinks you are socially conscious.
lol, it’s not an ad “on” kiwiblog.They facilitate a platform to target you……and based on your internet usage…..Labour’s algorithm fits your Bill!
Oh, it’s well spent alright – how I laughed when I saw it! That phrase about capitalists being willing to sell you the rope you plan to hang them with came to mind.
I miss all the real funny hard case Kiwi comedians like Tui Teka and Billy T James The Laughing Samoans Eteuati Ete and Tofiga Fepulea Fred Dagg / John Clarke OUR Kiwi comedians like them bring a tear to my eyes and I get a sore face.
I’m just wondering why I have not seen these types of comedians on National TV in the last 8 years or so. Tammy Davis /Munter off Outrageous Fortune would make us laugh like them I’m sure there are many more out there Taika Waititi would be fucken funny but he is to busies . Maybe Taika could champion this cause to promote It. I’m sure Taika would have the influence to accomplish this.
The soon to be Queen Knows that we all have sorrows in OUR hearts for her loss we just don’t want to bother her or put her off her campaign.
I’m not even going to talk about what was first on the news as we all Know that come Saturday we will be celebrating a Labour Greens win so chin up I say everyone. Sorry I can not support Tops his policys don’t match my Ideals.
I follow Waititi on twitter, which is intermittent but humorous. Don’t have a TV so not sure what passes for Kiwi humour these days. I guess they’re all doing stand up somewhere. Or have their own whatever show that’s not straight comedy.
Well its not as good as the Kiwi humour we had a few years ago I don’t want to say to much as someone mite start crying
Hi eco, try auckward love. It’s a webseries and its on tvnz on demand.
I have also enjoyed ‘the katering show’ and ‘get krackin’.
They are ozzy but still funny. The language can be a little savoury.
Just catching up on the quakes in Invercargill and Wellington today. Is it just me or is the Geonet website not as user friendly as it used to be?
When were the quakes?
mid afternoon in Invercargill. The Wellington one was later.
Thanks.
One would think that they could put a temporary fix on that pipe I have used them on water and kerosene is not that flammable WTF you just wrap it and band it up seen this fix many times It just has to be a fix till alternative supply is set up. There should have been a plan for this scenario. Some one needs to be sued over this because that is the only way we will find the truth on this fuck up.
Its not rocket science!!!!!!!!!
gas build up makes it dangerous apparently.
eco Maori/kiwi, It could be contaminated though, and not suitable for aviation.
The pipeline pressure is ~3000psi/ 200bar.
Agreed Weka it’s a mess.
Yes, they spent lots of money on a web redesign to make it worse, and then refused to listen to complaints about how it was worse. It’s standard practice for state sector organisations these days.
fuck. Was just going to say to Adrian glad it’s not just me and I might give them some feedback, lol.
I think the ways the public service has been monkey wrenched in the past 9 years is one of the biggest hurdles for a new govt.
To Weka and others,
Try this website if you are having problems Geonet.
http://quakelive.co.nz/
Fancy that, a couple of days out from the election National gets a massive poll turn around signalling to the voters they now have a chance. Utter billshit.
Oh, come on. You can’t blame everything on the Malevolent Right Wing Space Lizards. Maybe a lot of New Zealanders just prefer the idea of Bill English being in charge of stuff?
You do. That is for certain.
I do not.
Your commentary suggests otherwise.
That’s down to your interpretation of my comments.
You are what other people see you as…
Perhaps you are not good at communication online?
Nah, you’ve developed an idée fixe and ignore contrary evidence.
Just using my intuition. You stated you haven’t voted Labour since the China FTA. This seems to be the crucial policy you have voted on for a decade or more yet you still back National’s import of Chinese capital.
You know there are more than two parties in New Zealand?
Why do you think I “back National’s import of Chinese capital”?
Because you unfailingly criticise the only alternative option.
‘Unfailingly’?
I praised Ardern’s commitment to an inquiry into abuse of children in state care.
Go on. You’re just getting started now.
You said ‘unfailingly.’
I showed that wasn’t true.
Perhaps you are not good at communication online?
You are anti-Labour, end of story. How do you propose to effect any social change in New Zealand while being so anti-Labour? You are fighting yourself.
I am not ‘anti-Labour.’ I don’t vote for them because they don’t match my politics. And I criticise them when they make mistakes, which – alas- they do with depressing frequency. And I have no time at all for mindless cheerleaders and naive fools.
Still waiting for you to evidence the claim that I am “back National’s import of Chinese capital.” Or were you just making shit up on the internet?
I’m going by your posts which are unfailingly critical of Labour policy. Given the importance of Labour to changing the government, the only logical conclusion is that you are against changing the government.
I imagine your argument will be the argument of all pretend lefties – ‘it’s complicated’
Back to ‘unfailingly critical,’ even though I’ve already disproved that claim.
Since you’re recycling your doggerel, I’ll recycle mine.
I am not ‘anti-Labour.’ I don’t vote for them because they don’t match my politics. I criticise them when they make mistakes. Given people hereabouts like to view their mistakes as brilliant strategic moves (“Let’s make Cunliffe the leader!”) I’m rather busy.
By some obscure alchemy, you seem to construe that that as support for National. That’s your problem. Maybe you’re not as clever at comprehending things, and your intuition is not as good, as you like to think.
lurgee – I also see you as a conundrum. How do you want us to see you?
Tell you what Hosking is giving English a hard time in the leaders debate, I reckon he has had a recent epiphany!
Hes always been fair, in debates
Dont trust him. Hes only hedging his bets for his job.
Maybe WK but when did you last see this level of “hedging” from Hosking ?
Anyone watch Newshub? Gower gave an absolute slating to NAT. Comparisons with Trump and extreme in angle.
They won’t be used to that.
(Pity half the country’s voted, but oh well.)
Not quite half the country, more like a quarter.
Why doesn’t Hosking just ask English to leave and do the debating for National himself TVNZ – So biased.
Thank goodness we don’t have exit polls.
Ardern’s worst debate performance.
Just when she needed to be seen fighting the good fight, she looks flat.
When asked about winston not supporting her water tax, why did she not counter about his super position and how that affects the nats?
Final Colmar Brunton poll before 2014 election:
Nat = 45
Lab =25
GP = 12
NZF = 8
Con = 4.5
Maori = 1.6
ACT =0.6
Election result
Nat = 47.04
Lab =25.13
GP = 10.7
NZF = 8.66
Con = 3.97
Maori = 1.32
ACT =0.69
Most of the pundits Carolyn_nth accept that the Mana/Internet Party/Dotcom Moment of Truth debacle pushed a couple of percent National’s way in the last days.
OK. So then CB was pretty accurate.
Probably. I’m not disputing the poll tonight really. It shows what we’ve always known – Lab/Greens pretty much equals National. The unknowables are what happens after that.
My memory is that the final 2014 election result was pretty close between Government bloc (Nat-ACT-Mao-UF and Lab-Gp and NZF on cross benches.
So Lab-GP go into this election closer to Nats, and a lot depends on which way NZF swings – as has been indicated in polls all this term.
how so?
weka let’s not go there FFS. Shall we concentrate on the poll that’s coming up – not the one’s we’ve already lost.
A cynic would suggest they are one and the same.
ok. I just thought it was an interesting theory but didn’t really understand the rationale.
yes but there was the damaging moment of truth after that poll
I keep hearing how National have had 9 years to fix everything -this would imply everything was broken when they took over from labour????
No. That they started fucking it up from day one.
What an odious comment you made imodioum shame on you.
National have truly fucked up this country by conducting a mean arsed austerity scheme as bad as the Ruth Richarson black budget was damaging us then by copying that same style of mean cruel inhumanity where the poor are pushed to the gutter to die hungry and sick.
Bill the ‘ holey’ man , now , eh ?
Liar.
Hosking did well as the National spokesman.
Pretty evident Hosking and English vs Adern.
Least balanced nz debate ive seen
English flat out lying re 11 billion dollar hole and not pulled by Hosking. Dirty politics, possibly working in the polls so he’s doubled down.
Revealed: China’s network of influence in New Zealand – NZ Herald
http://www.nzherald.co.nz › Business
Here are some other intriguing headlines on NZ Herald.
NEW ZEALAND
Fake names: Chief referred to Solicitor-General
20 Sep, 2017 5:37pm
Ministry of Social Development found unlawfully using fake names on legal documents
and
NEW ZEALAND
Beneficiaries short-changed by millions
20 Sept 5.58 pm
Introducing e-therapy digital counselling. Bill’s answer to fixing mental health. No one knows what it is but its new, and more internet time will somehow address kid’s mental health.
Well anyone in NZ can call themselves a counsellor so robots it is.
Serves them right for fucking around and failing to ensure their profession is registered as health practitioners by doing something as basic as agreeing.
Bill doesn’t give a fuck for those in poverty, after all they don’t vote National.
mauī; – It’s callled in the old fashioned term we all know as ‘Brainwashing’
National are so tied to the control of the mind as we have seen when they removed all our Public affairs programs like ‘close-up’ and they cousins as they were to focused on the negative stuff the current government was doing .
Radio NZ ‘National’is now a trumpet for the ‘National Party’ so on it goes until they will have us alll bowijng to the ‘National God’ himself.
Greatest one liner
” we can never afford poverty”
Responding to bill “now we can NOW afford to help due to government surpluses” , with jacindas response … priceless.
For once Hosking has done a good job, and I rate Jacinda ahead of Bill on tonight . Well done.
Yep me too, and did you notice how smug English looked?
His paymasters certainly paid a lot for his cover of Crosby textor spin.
Bill’s smugness evaporated as time went on.
Why did Bill look a foot taller than anyone else on the show?
Me too garibaldi. I thought Hoskings did OK. And both leaders were fine too. It’s not going to make any difference really.
A few issues?
Bronwyn Hayward @BMHayward 37m
beyond shocked just angry at role Hosking & TVNZ playing in eroding public confidence in MMP democracy & the role of coalitions #decision17
Cameron Eade @cam_eade
Replying to @BMHayward
Watching Bill continue “$11b hole” lie, then Hosking saying “Let’s agree to disagree”, is astonishingly shameful for #nzpol
Bronwyn Hayward @BMHayward
This was crucial- The host made one intervention then sat back as post truth politics was debated live in an otherwise managed interview
Hayward is a political science professor.
https://twitter.com/BMHayward/status/910414407636803585
Mike excelled himself. Given his right leaning and anti left he was very impressive
Jacinda won that debate. Thank goodness for that.
As ex Min of Finance Bill can quote facts and figures for ever. Jacinda less so. But this time Mike didn’t allow Bill to run away with his usual Shouty Bill. Jacinda was concise and was able to express politely her concern about after 9 long years and about the “misleading” information that Bill has used.
Jacinda 9 out of 10.
Bill 5 out of 10
Herald poll would disagree….I only saw about the last 5 mins….turnout will still be determining factor…..the 80% (?) of relatively disinterested will decide this
Yes. The Herald Poll had it 60% Bill, 34% Jacinda.
It was closer on the Stuff website though.
They had it Bill 56% and Jacinda 37%.
Don’t worry though. Labours little lovie on Stuff, Tracy Watkins, says that Jacinda won so that is all right.
It is hardly surprising the Stuff papers are going down the tubes.
meh…only 3 more sleeps and we will know
What the actual f**k? Tracy Watkins is the epitome of a National cheerleader. There is no NZ journalist who better qualifies for the description.
You have got the wrong one alwyn. Tracey is anti Labour and she is very pro National.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/97025359/live-three-days-to-go-till-the-election
English says “we can make the positive choices now” because there’s been a couple of years of surplus and now they have the money. Ardern says “we could never afford poverty” and under National the situation has slid.
Magic one liner from J.A. In response
Sad for a govt to say that they can only make positive social choices when we are in surplus
NEW ZEALAND
Debate: Ardern attacks ‘negative campaign from National’
20 Sep, 2017 7:42p
Latest from NZ Herald link above at 30
Jacinda was better than Bill tonight. He just spewed Bullshit.
Don’t you mean Billshit?
Unfortunately, it looks like New Zealanders are in the market for it.
“Filthy waterways, dying patients denied their pain relief of choice, and working families forced to live in their cars, these are some of the big issues that have got New Zealanders fired-up. They’ve also been the focus of political campaigning in the run up to the election. As voting day draws ever closer, we’ve gathered together some of our recent Insight podcasts, to help you get clued up on the big issues before you put pen to ballot paper.”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/insight/audio/201858527/your-big-election-listens-from-rnz-insight
The list of undone work by Gnashional just makes it seem that they are incompetent or frozen and unable to make decisions for the good of the country. Constipated and can’t get off the pot. The long days till the main voting day only increases their unpleasant persona and aroma.
They are facing off the weight of ridicule and disgust at their connivance and sly lies to satisfy their backers and voters who are either soaked in past-its-date business theory or smarmy wealth craters with no scruples. With a fair unpwind they will be freed from their circular prison to go and dump in someone else’s yard like the poor and drugged derelicts already on the streets.
Calm down everyone.
If Trump could win, so can Jacinda !
Roll on Saturday !
No. Jacinda wins on her merit. End of story.
Completely different.
Beneficiaries short changed by millions. MSD has known for a couple of years but did nothing
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11924050
Another of these WTF happened to NZ stories
“Working families with young children and babies are being left homeless and sleeping in cars in Auckland, as they struggle to get into emergency housing, and are turned off or away from Housing New Zealand. Parents say even with accommodation supplement benefits, their wages can’t cover rising rents, and living in garages or spending nights on floors of friends and family are the only options they have.”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/insight/audio/201787942/when-a-child-s-home-is-a-car
“Under my leadership there will be action …. no more autopilot.”
Great closing line from Jacinda . (TVNZ1 leaders’ debate tonight.)
Bill and Jacinda stand on the same stair of a flight of stairs.
Bill : “Jacinda are you taking one step up?”
Jacinda: “No, I’m staying where I am.”
Upon which Bill takes one step down and exclaims “Hey Jacinda, I see you’ve taken one step up!”
It is difficult to have respect for a leader who clearly has scant respect for the most basic straight talk and truth.
Gower’s piece should make headlines in all our papers.
The poll must’ve gone well for National. It’s on Kiwiblog within an hour of being broadcast. The Great Informer has been nowhere near as quick when the story hasn’t suited him.
If NZ First miss out (unlikely), Maori Party could end up with the balance of power.
Otherwise, even at 46%, the Nats can’t govern with just ACT and the Maori Party, so Winston gets to decide who the PM will be.
Marama Fox is all about “strategic voting”….’cos that’s what folk are telling her.
” “Since the weekend it’s almost like the bigger issues have started to take a side-step to the strategic voting as an issue. People are not talking to me about homelessness anymore. They are not talking to me about poverty.
“They are talking to me about who can form government and which is the best way to vote in order to make that happen.””
She pins her colours clearly to the mast…
” She said voters were starting to see the “holes” in Labour, including not making te reo Maori compulsory or moving to entrench the Maori seats. Personally, she was quietly confident she would return to Parliament.
“I know everywhere I speak I turn the entire room. I know people are starting to question the ability of Labour’s Maori MPs to affect any change inside their party.”
“We recognise the mood for change … there are Maori voters, a majority of when you are knocking on doors, who have said they want change, but they want us there.”
Ahem, Marama, after nine years snuggling up to National, supporting them to increase poverty and homelessness….. how’s that change going?
A vote for the Maori party is a vote for National. National will always be thier first choice.
IF National win the election – I wonder if Jacinda will bother staying on as leader for Labour.
Is it her choice – or does it go to the party to decide?
Stated earlier, but it seems like you’d like to have the last word James…
Persistent with your personality perhaps …
“In this month’s issue of Personality and Individual Differences, a study was published that confirms what we all suspected: internet trolls are horrible people.”
https://www.sott.net/article/286185-Internet-trolls-are-narcissists-psychopaths-and-sadists
“In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting quarrels or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory,[1] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[2] or of otherwise disrupting normal, on-topic discussion,[3] often for the troll’s amusement.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll
Yeah – I reckon she will quit. Jacinda won’t be leading labour into the 2020 campaign if she loses this one.
Are you an exhibitionist James? Revealing yourself like that! Not for the first time either.
WTF??!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11924169
and
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11924498
Thanks for those links, Pat – WTF indeed.
Our National-led government has been undermining New Zealand’s sovereignty and public service for 9 years, and they know what they’re doing – helping NZ millionaires, both established and newly minted, realise assets, including public assets.
How much did Key sell part of his Parnell property for, and who stumped up the cash?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/celebrity-homes/96673228/sir-john-keys-sprawling-parnell-mansion-sold-for-20m
They’ll (Thiel?) be right, Jack.
The fact that you made that ridiculous comment James means that you know darn well that she will go the distance and be there when this pack of wankers leaves town and she will be there to make sure they do !!!