It’s hard to be sure with Martyn Bradbury but from what he says here it appears that he and/or Matt McCarten tried a policy coup of the Labour Party.
What happened however was Labour Party HQ Wellington become panicked by how big the Campaign had grown and despite green lighting it started dragging their feet until the thing fell over.
A whispering campaign targeting the funders strangled off money because Labour Party HQ Wellington’s preference is to win over voters who are exisiting voters because the policy platform doesn’t have to be particularly radical for that.
What Labour didn’t want was a huge campaign to the Left of Labour pressuring them for a Corbyn or Sanders platform.
Labour didn’t want this…
Campaign for Change Manifesto
1: Free public transport for students and beneficiaries
2: 18month rent freeze
3: 5% maximum rent rise
4: $20 per hour minimum wage
5: Artists and Volunteers benefit
6: Free condoms, contraceptive pills and sanitary pads available at schools and family planning
7: Universal Student Allowance for Tertiary students
8: Free public internet
9: Lower voting age to 16
10: Free school lunches
…so the fear of a successful left wing agenda has once again managed to doom Labour. Just like the candidate selection fiasco and just like the Party List fiasco, this has come down to poor internal management by the Wellington arm of the Party.
Whatever the plan was Labour has been badly compromised, and Little’s leadership has been compromised. A major disruption like this leading into the election campaign is unlikely to end well, and is more likely to be a disaster.
Labour had there best chance in nine years to take advantage of a major National vulnerability but the got embroiled in a mess of their own making.
I don’t find the poor party options and the weakened state of our democracy boring, I think it’s getting alarming.
I’m starting to think that the best hope for shaking up the status quo is to give TOP the balance of power, they have very limited experience (not necessarily a bad thing) but also limited craziness, and well researched and thought through policies.
I don’t find the poor party options and the weakened state of our democracy boring,
It’s you who is boring.
If you’re so exercised by a bit of ‘inept’ management by a former Labour Party staffer, then I can’t imagine what state you must be in over a soon to be former National MP in your neck of the woods who not only illegally recorded private conversations of his former electorate secretary… his friends/accomplices then proceeded to harass her and leave threatening messages on her personal telephone.
Ineptness versus criminality. I know which one I consider to be the more serious and in need of a proper police investigation this time – not a half-pie one as obviously took place last year. But then Glenda Hughes…..
“Whatever the plan was Labour National has been badly compromised, and Little’s English’s leadership has been compromised. A major disruption like this leading into the election campaign is unlikely to end well, and is more likely to be a disaster.”
Fify
The Todd Barclay debacle is the very worst thing that could have happened to National right now, AND IT’S STILL GOT FAR TO GO!
There ya go, Pete. A dose of Friday night reality for you to chew on.
Pete this is not a Labour Party smear. I know of some of the deep dark tactics that some within the party get up to.
This was just some inept organising. No more and no less.
There is no conspiracy. Young progressives go throughout the world travel and get engaged in politics in other countries. It is a bit like a rite of passage now.
My kids have done similar.
The longer I reflect on this the bigger that I understand it is a big beat up.
I realise it’s possible that Bradbury is just big noting and trying to be a part of the revolution, but him aside, the intern thing is more than some inept organising.
Either Little and Kirton didn’t know enough about what was going on, or they are inept.
Yeah nah. Labour activity happens on multiple fronts every day. Head Office does not have omnipotent ability to know what is happening.
And let me say this that I admire Pete. Even though most of the time I disagree with him I am aware that he has been staunch when it comes to protection of free speech.
Edit: hang on! Found some, on Pete’s own blog where he posts this quote:
“Well, today’s media has really confirmed what I have always thought. My former colleague Glenys Dickson is a really nasty vindictive bitch.”
Lordy! Pete George also wrote (on his own blog):
“Dickens had a responsibility to fully support Barclay, and she couldn’t she had a responsibility to get out.”
Didn’t bother to even get her name right! Then saddled her with blame.
Nice chappy, our Pete George.
I can’t agree with you mickysavage because he is so selective when it comes to the topics he chooses to foment over, and nearly all of them are anti-Labour or anti-Green. Yet he advertises himself as being a centrist who is neither left or right. In my book that is dishonesty.
And you’re being selective in what you claim, not as bad as Robert the toxic green above, but either through ignorance or deliberate misrepresentation or blind partisanship.
I’ve no problem with Labour running a Fellowship programme, and no problem with young people from overseas volunteering to do stuff for Labour. As noted several times, it’s common-place enough.
As for a broken shower and wobbly doors or whatever – seriously, who gives a fuck? This is young kids on an adventure of sorts and they probably don’t give a damn about a door hinge or whatever.
To a story…
A few years back there was a reality TV programme in the UK (I believe it’s quite well known) where some number of people were persuaded to throw in their jobs and take part in their chance to be millionaires. All the hype was duly conducted with the swanky parties and what not. And on the first day of filming they were taken onto the streets of London and dropped off in teams. And that was it. They had no resources. Nothing. The daft producer had some notion that 12 people (or whatever) could easily earn a million from scratch.
This McCarten fiasco reminded me of that programme.
Having just read Bombers piece, (and ingested the recommended amount of salt – now drinking copious amounts of water), I’m thinking about the document I read last night. It read as genuine and gave a rough itemisation for expenses of around a quarter million from memory. It also listed how those expenses would be realised – some from unions and some from fund raising presumably carried out by the volunteers and whatever.
Now, you don’t think it even remotely possible that McCarten ran the “global political climate” line to hook in young enthusiastic Sander supporter types? That he got big bites and that Bomber is being truthful with that “Campaign for Change” manifesto? (It chimes with the “global political climate” guff that went out on the original NZ Labour Party literature that, I assume, Matt had a hand in.)
See. If promotion of that list is accurate, then of course, NZ Labour would cut the whole thing loose. (Apparently in mid-May). And the only way McCarten could keep things going is to claim it’s non-partisan. Remember how he was going to do a big launch through TDB? You reckon he got more than 5 or 6 responses from that?
One week after the Daily Blog piece the whole thing implodes/explodes and McCarten is banished to the wilderness by NZ Labour (finally!).
But did McCarten seriously think he could run some weird kind of Trotskyist thing on the Labour Party from the outside? Did he think potential donors (unions) would cough to avoid any potential embarrassment that might result if Fellows were unable to be catered to, given that they would be associated with Labour – that he had them over a barrel? Was he deluded enough to believe that young NZers would “flock to his cause” just because young people in the UK and the US had got involved in politics? Did he seriously not understand that the reason they got involved in the UK and US was because of complex reasons, not least of which was that senior political figures had given them something to believe in?
How many Fellows would Labour usually utilise at any one time (eg – in past elections) btw. Any idea?
Because I can’t see how anyone could forget to ‘shut the door’ on applications when a target is reached…and that goes back to (I suspect) delusions about what could possibly be achieved by using enthusiastic Sanders types to promote a “McCarten” Manifesto to young or younger NZs.
So full of judgments based on the worse interpretation possible.
Matt has done more for more people than most. Still going after so many years trying things, trying to get labour in. yet somehow hes a baddy. FFS I agree with some other commenters – this is being used to take the heat off billshitter – open your eyes man – I’m not some big labour fanboy but I can see it.
If there was no heat on English and National, then would it be fair enough to seek clarification for wtf went on? Because for me, that doesn’t change just because of some tribal nonsense that some people give themselves over to .
Labour pulled the plug on Matt’s ‘scheme’ on Monday or Tuesday. And then the story hit on Wednesday. Good timing for National? Yup. Who determined when to pull the plug? Labour. Now, maybe they had no option on timing. Maybe they decided to just do the right thing regardless.
But I’d like to know how it can be that a Labour party fellowship programme became an allegedly non-partisan, and somewhat fucking crazy “Campaign For Change” that was still strongly linked to Labour.
Don’t you wonder what Matt was thinking there marty? Both Bradbury and Mike Treen offer up some pointers. Both Bradbury and Mike Treen had some level of connection to the whole crazy affair. So maybe listening to them could shed some light on matters, no?
And I’m also curious as to how Labour apparently didn’t know what was being done in their name. I mean, this looks like they’re going be picking up a fairly hefty bill – ie, roughly $200 000 right before an election campaign. I imagine that’s going to hurt.
Of course, you just might not care – be utterly incurious. And that’s a choice you can make.
No I don’t wonder. I see mistakes, and I see mistakes being sorted. But with a bigger picture view I see a distraction from billshitter. I think you are pushing a barrow. THAT is petty party politics.
And I get it. I have blindspots with labour. Plus you’re being stubborn but that’s just you ☺
a big beat up that should never have been given the opportunity…no foresight… and all the disclaimers in the world cannot remove Labour’s attachment to this debacle….I despair.
Your insights into electoral suicide might carry more weight had you employed them to prevent UF collapsing inward to become the terrestrial equivalent of a white dwarf.
One American intern, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that while the programme was not perfect, the interns had been well looked after.
She told Checkpoint with John Campbell the views of a couple did not reflect the majority.
…
“The fact that the experience of two to three people who have a personal agenda is what’s really being pushed forward is pretty disappointing.”
The American said she would do the internship again.
And that intern’s claims were revealed on TV1 tonight. He’s off home. Good riddance. I note they have made no attempt to talk to any of the others interns. What a pathetic bunch of Nat prats.
If Labour doesn’t finally stand up to these MSM prats responsible for the smears then they are fools.
I think so. He took two bottles of wine. He seems to be the leader of a handful of interns (three or four) who had some kind of personal beef and wanted to sabotage the programme. The story was hatched around two weeks ago according to the intern interviewed by RNZ.
It’s starting to look that way yes. As far as I can make out this intern went to someone in the media with the story around two weeks ago. How did he know who to go to? It’s got the footprints of the National Party’s Dirty Political team all over it.
I saw a tweet from him last night saying he was talking to an intern who was very scared right then. I was tempted to reply that JW vamoose and leave the intern alone…. then maybe he wouldn’t be scared any more.
Lot more on this debacle, front page NZ Herald 7.39 pm, Claire Trevett.
Labour needs to move fast and furious to save their skins.
My speculation is Martyn Bradbury and the big fat German.
It’s hard to shake the feeling that someone might be pretty good at coming up with cunning plans but totally uninterested in details, consequences and fallout.
From this mad document (which I’m reading as being genuine). It does seem to dovetail somewhat with stuff subsequently quoted from Mike Treen as well as Bombers thing linked to by PG above.
Contracts with First Union and Unite – 60k (Presumably signing up members?)
16 fund raising dinners looking to spin 4k a pop.
each ‘fellow’ to sell 10 raffle tickets a week – 64k
Donations of $100 per day – 10k
Or recruit an additional 800 members on top of honoured contracts to get 40k
Bro, if I didn’t know any better I’d swear you’re trying to stir… The timing doesn’t help either. Bill gets caught being economical with the truth and then this pops up. A very handy diversion for Bill.
When the Labour Party Student Intern story erupted this week, just as Bill English was in serious trouble, I thought “Well that’s convenient isn’t it”.
I was out to the Marae 2 weeks ago having a look around at what they were doing. I had a meal with them, talked with some of the volunteers. They were fantastic young people who were loving the adventure of it all.
Latest Roy Morgan:
The overall support for the governing National-led coalition was up 4% to 49% with National support up 3.5% to 46.5%, support for the Maori Party unchanged on 1.5%, Act NZ up 0.5% to 1% and support for United Future unchanged at 0%.
• Support for a potential Labour/Greens alliance was down 3% to 39.5% caused entirely by the 3% drop in support for Labour, now on 25.5%, while support for the Greens was unchanged at 14%. Support for New Zealand First was down 1% to 9%.
• Support for the parties currently outside Parliament was unchanged at 2.5%.
New Zealand Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating up in May
The Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating has increased 1pt to 134.5pts in May with 61.5% of NZ electors (up 1%) saying NZ is ‘heading in the right direction’ cf. 27% of NZ electors (unchanged) that say New Zealand is ‘heading in the wrong direction
Roy Morgan Research put out a press release this afternoon (23.6.2017) showing results of a poll, and suggesting that the National Party has a huge lead in the polls.
What they are NOT telling you all – is this poll was taken just after the Budget speech – between 29 May to 11 June, 874 electors surveyed, and 6.5% were don’t knows.
But – to hold back on such a poll, and bring it out just as the Nats are floundering around trying to pretend the Barclay incident hasn’t happened – is just too coincidental – in my personal opinon. This is “dirty politics” being played yet again !
It is going to happen, it’s whether it’s before or after the election. And that will depend on what the Nat’s internal polls say about this week’s goings on. Mr Farrar is probably a busy boy.
Not only lied and covered up a crime, but threw a sector of the National Party under the bus along with young toddles. The fall out from the investigation into toddles’ selection and re-selection could cause some angst around the party
Robert, Bill going will not have the outcome you so desire. In fact it may have the opposite effect and give the Nats another couple of % in the polls,
And in further news there is a barbecue being organised at Robertson’s place.
Bring your own booze of couse. They can’t afford to supply it.
Perhaps someone can help me. Is Little gone from Parlament if Labour get 25.5%?
Trevor Mallard has obviously given up the ghost. Off to see whe yacht racing rather than try aand help them campaign.
I suspect that there are people who comment on this site who have been saying that for a decade.
“The tide has turned”. “But this poll was just before …” “Wait till you see next months”.
etc, etc, etc.
mind you, farewells suck. They’re ok for “work acquaintances” with whom you basically just say hi and bye and fwd emails to, but for close colleagues they bite.
All Blacks did incredibly well to hold on to the lead as well as they did.
Pretty average penalty kicking, Sonny Bill red carded, lots of odd midfield decisions, average set pieces, and a properly fired up Lions pack.
Lions fully had momentum for last 15 minutes.
Well past time All Blacks lost, and great to see the series alive.
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Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Pacific Media Watch Earthwise hosts Lois and Martin Griffiths. Earthwise presenters Lois and Martin Griffiths on Plains FM 96.9 community radio talk to Dr David Robie, a New Zealand author, independent journalist and media educator with a passion for the Asia-Pacific region. David talks about the struggle to raise awareness ...
Pacific Media Watch Ismail al-Ghoul, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent who was held for 12 hours at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital, says Israeli forces rounded up Palestinian journalists at the facility and made them kneel on the ground for hours, while naked and blindfolded. “The occupation forces handcuffed and blindfolded us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute chinasong, Shutterstock Electricity customers in four Australian states can breathe a sigh of relief. After two years in a row of 20% price increases, power prices have finally stabilised. In many places they’re ...
Chumbawamba have reportedly issued the deputy PM a cease-and-desist notice after he used their song 'Tubthumping' before his state of the nation speech. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
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 Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
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It’s hard to be sure with Martyn Bradbury but from what he says here it appears that he and/or Matt McCarten tried a policy coup of the Labour Party.
It would have been election suicide to through out all the party’s policy development and take on that list.
It looks like the revolution is over before it got properly started.
God you’re boring. 🙄
Whatever the plan was Labour has been badly compromised, and Little’s leadership has been compromised. A major disruption like this leading into the election campaign is unlikely to end well, and is more likely to be a disaster.
Labour had there best chance in nine years to take advantage of a major National vulnerability but the got embroiled in a mess of their own making.
I don’t find the poor party options and the weakened state of our democracy boring, I think it’s getting alarming.
I’m starting to think that the best hope for shaking up the status quo is to give TOP the balance of power, they have very limited experience (not necessarily a bad thing) but also limited craziness, and well researched and thought through policies.
I don’t find the poor party options and the weakened state of our democracy boring,
It’s you who is boring.
If you’re so exercised by a bit of ‘inept’ management by a former Labour Party staffer, then I can’t imagine what state you must be in over a soon to be former National MP in your neck of the woods who not only illegally recorded private conversations of his former electorate secretary… his friends/accomplices then proceeded to harass her and leave threatening messages on her personal telephone.
Ineptness versus criminality. I know which one I consider to be the more serious and in need of a proper police investigation this time – not a half-pie one as obviously took place last year. But then Glenda Hughes…..
“Whatever the plan was
LabourNational has been badly compromised, andLittle’sEnglish’s leadership has been compromised. A major disruption like this leading into the election campaign is unlikely to end well, and is more likely to be a disaster.”Fify
The Todd Barclay debacle is the very worst thing that could have happened to National right now, AND IT’S STILL GOT FAR TO GO!
There ya go, Pete. A dose of Friday night reality for you to chew on.
Yeah you really are boring Pete and predictable yawn 🙄
Hooton said Bradbury was heavily involved in all of this.
Seriously, Martyn Bradbury!!! , where were the checks and balances Labour?
lol you quoting Hooton as a reliable source.
I think he forgot this wasn’t kbog lol
Hooton spins for his right wing paymasters.
You knew that, though, didn’t you?
yes, I know who Hooton is and what he does 🙂
Pete this is not a Labour Party smear. I know of some of the deep dark tactics that some within the party get up to.
This was just some inept organising. No more and no less.
There is no conspiracy. Young progressives go throughout the world travel and get engaged in politics in other countries. It is a bit like a rite of passage now.
My kids have done similar.
The longer I reflect on this the bigger that I understand it is a big beat up.
I realise it’s possible that Bradbury is just big noting and trying to be a part of the revolution, but him aside, the intern thing is more than some inept organising.
Either Little and Kirton didn’t know enough about what was going on, or they are inept.
Yes dear
Yeah nah. Labour activity happens on multiple fronts every day. Head Office does not have omnipotent ability to know what is happening.
And let me say this that I admire Pete. Even though most of the time I disagree with him I am aware that he has been staunch when it comes to protection of free speech.
All strength to you Pete.
But I disagree 😀
I’m searching for Pete’s comments condemning Barclay and English’s actions, but am struggling to find them – anyone??
Edit: hang on! Found some, on Pete’s own blog where he posts this quote:
“Well, today’s media has really confirmed what I have always thought. My former colleague Glenys Dickson is a really nasty vindictive bitch.”
Beginning to get a feel for Pete…
Lordy! Pete George also wrote (on his own blog):
“Dickens had a responsibility to fully support Barclay, and she couldn’t she had a responsibility to get out.”
Didn’t bother to even get her name right! Then saddled her with blame.
Nice chappy, our Pete George.
charming. Looks like Pete is running similar lines to Farrar, now there’s a surprise.
Disgusting from George what a bully attitude he shows.
It’s obvious you all can see he is on to something. Now you are all attacking the man and. Not the subject.
The subject is Pete; loyal subject.
Of course, troll
I can’t agree with you mickysavage because he is so selective when it comes to the topics he chooses to foment over, and nearly all of them are anti-Labour or anti-Green. Yet he advertises himself as being a centrist who is neither left or right. In my book that is dishonesty.
Everyone is selective in what they talk about.
And you’re being selective in what you claim, not as bad as Robert the toxic green above, but either through ignorance or deliberate misrepresentation or blind partisanship.
Amongst other things yesterday I posted:
https://yournz.org/2017/06/23/labour-allege-english-misled-parliament/
https://yournz.org/2017/06/23/peters-versus-english-on-barclay/
The day before:
https://yournz.org/2017/06/22/robertson-versus-english/
https://yournz.org/2017/06/22/how-badly-is-english-damaged/
yournz. Who are you kidding.
He kids himself daily. Lol – boring and up himself.
“advertises himself as being a centrist who is neither left or right”
False claim – I don’t do that.
Or of course you are spinning….
I’ve no problem with Labour running a Fellowship programme, and no problem with young people from overseas volunteering to do stuff for Labour. As noted several times, it’s common-place enough.
As for a broken shower and wobbly doors or whatever – seriously, who gives a fuck? This is young kids on an adventure of sorts and they probably don’t give a damn about a door hinge or whatever.
To a story…
A few years back there was a reality TV programme in the UK (I believe it’s quite well known) where some number of people were persuaded to throw in their jobs and take part in their chance to be millionaires. All the hype was duly conducted with the swanky parties and what not. And on the first day of filming they were taken onto the streets of London and dropped off in teams. And that was it. They had no resources. Nothing. The daft producer had some notion that 12 people (or whatever) could easily earn a million from scratch.
This McCarten fiasco reminded me of that programme.
Having just read Bombers piece, (and ingested the recommended amount of salt – now drinking copious amounts of water), I’m thinking about the document I read last night. It read as genuine and gave a rough itemisation for expenses of around a quarter million from memory. It also listed how those expenses would be realised – some from unions and some from fund raising presumably carried out by the volunteers and whatever.
Now, you don’t think it even remotely possible that McCarten ran the “global political climate” line to hook in young enthusiastic Sander supporter types? That he got big bites and that Bomber is being truthful with that “Campaign for Change” manifesto? (It chimes with the “global political climate” guff that went out on the original NZ Labour Party literature that, I assume, Matt had a hand in.)
See. If promotion of that list is accurate, then of course, NZ Labour would cut the whole thing loose. (Apparently in mid-May). And the only way McCarten could keep things going is to claim it’s non-partisan. Remember how he was going to do a big launch through TDB? You reckon he got more than 5 or 6 responses from that?
One week after the Daily Blog piece the whole thing implodes/explodes and McCarten is banished to the wilderness by NZ Labour (finally!).
But did McCarten seriously think he could run some weird kind of Trotskyist thing on the Labour Party from the outside? Did he think potential donors (unions) would cough to avoid any potential embarrassment that might result if Fellows were unable to be catered to, given that they would be associated with Labour – that he had them over a barrel? Was he deluded enough to believe that young NZers would “flock to his cause” just because young people in the UK and the US had got involved in politics? Did he seriously not understand that the reason they got involved in the UK and US was because of complex reasons, not least of which was that senior political figures had given them something to believe in?
How many Fellows would Labour usually utilise at any one time (eg – in past elections) btw. Any idea?
Because I can’t see how anyone could forget to ‘shut the door’ on applications when a target is reached…and that goes back to (I suspect) delusions about what could possibly be achieved by using enthusiastic Sanders types to promote a “McCarten” Manifesto to young or younger NZs.
So full of judgments based on the worse interpretation possible.
Matt has done more for more people than most. Still going after so many years trying things, trying to get labour in. yet somehow hes a baddy. FFS I agree with some other commenters – this is being used to take the heat off billshitter – open your eyes man – I’m not some big labour fanboy but I can see it.
+1
If there was no heat on English and National, then would it be fair enough to seek clarification for wtf went on? Because for me, that doesn’t change just because of some tribal nonsense that some people give themselves over to .
Labour pulled the plug on Matt’s ‘scheme’ on Monday or Tuesday. And then the story hit on Wednesday. Good timing for National? Yup. Who determined when to pull the plug? Labour. Now, maybe they had no option on timing. Maybe they decided to just do the right thing regardless.
But I’d like to know how it can be that a Labour party fellowship programme became an allegedly non-partisan, and somewhat fucking crazy “Campaign For Change” that was still strongly linked to Labour.
Don’t you wonder what Matt was thinking there marty? Both Bradbury and Mike Treen offer up some pointers. Both Bradbury and Mike Treen had some level of connection to the whole crazy affair. So maybe listening to them could shed some light on matters, no?
And I’m also curious as to how Labour apparently didn’t know what was being done in their name. I mean, this looks like they’re going be picking up a fairly hefty bill – ie, roughly $200 000 right before an election campaign. I imagine that’s going to hurt.
Of course, you just might not care – be utterly incurious. And that’s a choice you can make.
No I don’t wonder. I see mistakes, and I see mistakes being sorted. But with a bigger picture view I see a distraction from billshitter. I think you are pushing a barrow. THAT is petty party politics.
And I get it. I have blindspots with labour. Plus you’re being stubborn but that’s just you ☺
marty mars sees mistakes! then talk’s about “blindspots”!
marty suck it in…Bill is spot on with his overview.
Ha ha chuck good one you really are a brainbox aren’t you.
“How many Fellows would Labour usually utilise at any one time (eg – in past elections) btw. Any idea?”
it was indicated that typical was around half a dozen…observers, rather than boots on the ground
Thanks. So from six to one hundred. That doesn’t strike me as being a mistake on someones part.
well it would appear to be a mistake…..of judgement.
a big beat up that should never have been given the opportunity…no foresight… and all the disclaimers in the world cannot remove Labour’s attachment to this debacle….I despair.
Your insights into electoral suicide might carry more weight had you employed them to prevent UF collapsing inward to become the terrestrial equivalent of a white dwarf.
https://twitter.com/Zagzigger2/status/878139260863365120
https://twitter.com/five15design/status/878155015260483585
A second intern talks to RNZ about how the programme has been good, and the ‘scandal’ is a beat up originating from one intern.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/201848679/labour-intern-speaks-out-denies-accusations-of-poor-treatment
Synopsis of interview here,
https://twitter.com/melulater/status/878156358410846209
And a print article based on the interview just up online.
And that intern’s claims were revealed on TV1 tonight. He’s off home. Good riddance. I note they have made no attempt to talk to any of the others interns. What a pathetic bunch of Nat prats.
If Labour doesn’t finally stand up to these MSM prats responsible for the smears then they are fools.
the bottle of wine intern?
I think so. He took two bottles of wine. He seems to be the leader of a handful of interns (three or four) who had some kind of personal beef and wanted to sabotage the programme. The story was hatched around two weeks ago according to the intern interviewed by RNZ.
So a classic right wing smear, then.
It’s starting to look that way yes. As far as I can make out this intern went to someone in the media with the story around two weeks ago. How did he know who to go to? It’s got the footprints of the National Party’s Dirty Political team all over it.
Hooton involved?
Well he was in Dirty Politics Part One. But I doubt he is the primary mover.
Your theory?
Joyce?
Farrar?
More likely a National Party staffer. Maybe Jason Ede’s successor. 😉
Jordan Williams is all over it.
Here for instance.
I saw a tweet from him last night saying he was talking to an intern who was very scared right then. I was tempted to reply that JW vamoose and leave the intern alone…. then maybe he wouldn’t be scared any more.
Indeed, Anne.
Lot more on this debacle, front page NZ Herald 7.39 pm, Claire Trevett.
Labour needs to move fast and furious to save their skins.
My speculation is Martyn Bradbury and the big fat German.
Funded by a secret backer, and not the unions… or Labour.
It’s hard to shake the feeling that someone might be pretty good at coming up with cunning plans but totally uninterested in details, consequences and fallout.
From this mad document (which I’m reading as being genuine). It does seem to dovetail somewhat with stuff subsequently quoted from Mike Treen as well as Bombers thing linked to by PG above.
Contracts with First Union and Unite – 60k (Presumably signing up members?)
16 fund raising dinners looking to spin 4k a pop.
each ‘fellow’ to sell 10 raffle tickets a week – 64k
Donations of $100 per day – 10k
Or recruit an additional 800 members on top of honoured contracts to get 40k
If Labour proper are taking over this ‘programme’ I really hope they make it crystal clear what the ‘fellows’ are doing.
Their skins have been well and truly skinned.
Bad look for Labour, though I reckon it’s the result of piss-poor organisational ability rather than some grand nefarious scheming.
Most likely – but the whereabouts of Mr Wewege and Tilikum at the time should probably be established.
I disagree it’s nefarious to the power of 10 with a huge side helping of scheming.
Seriously this is Labour, disingenuous and dodgy is their modus operandi.
Trolling desperately….
Bro, if I didn’t know any better I’d swear you’re trying to stir… The timing doesn’t help either. Bill gets caught being economical with the truth and then this pops up. A very handy diversion for Bill.
No, it’s actually looking like sour grapes on the part of one of the interns.
Claire Trevett is not an unbiased source.
Speculating what?
Why the Labour Party Student Intern ‘scandal’ is a smear
By Martyn Bradbury
And KDC is now out of politics in this country.
Latest Roy Morgan:
The overall support for the governing National-led coalition was up 4% to 49% with National support up 3.5% to 46.5%, support for the Maori Party unchanged on 1.5%, Act NZ up 0.5% to 1% and support for United Future unchanged at 0%.
• Support for a potential Labour/Greens alliance was down 3% to 39.5% caused entirely by the 3% drop in support for Labour, now on 25.5%, while support for the Greens was unchanged at 14%. Support for New Zealand First was down 1% to 9%.
• Support for the parties currently outside Parliament was unchanged at 2.5%.
New Zealand Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating up in May
The Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating has increased 1pt to 134.5pts in May with 61.5% of NZ electors (up 1%) saying NZ is ‘heading in the right direction’ cf. 27% of NZ electors (unchanged) that say New Zealand is ‘heading in the wrong direction
I never trust polls.
Follow the money. Who owns them?
There’s a story floating about that this one closed on the 11th & has been held back for strategic release.
No surprises there.
Dirty politics in action.
The owners of poll companies have political agendas.
Suggest you go and look back as to when RM release there NZ poll results mate.
The strategic reason is drum roll…
You know what, I’m not very concerned by whatever their reason is. And, with a 6.5% margin of error it really isn’t very meaningful.
I think it’s about time we had some real polls like YouGov – large sample size, real attention paid to reducing sampling error.
Roy Morgan Research put out a press release this afternoon (23.6.2017) showing results of a poll, and suggesting that the National Party has a huge lead in the polls.
What they are NOT telling you all – is this poll was taken just after the Budget speech – between 29 May to 11 June, 874 electors surveyed, and 6.5% were don’t knows.
But – to hold back on such a poll, and bring it out just as the Nats are floundering around trying to pretend the Barclay incident hasn’t happened – is just too coincidental – in my personal opinon. This is “dirty politics” being played yet again !
The Friday night question that everyone’s asking: Is the time right for Bill’s rolling?
Not when the polls consistently put your party in front.
And yet, there’s a hunger, a keenness to finish off the wounded…
Well, today is 23rd June which means the election is in 13 weeks. After almost 9 years I can wait a few more weeks …
It is going to happen, it’s whether it’s before or after the election. And that will depend on what the Nat’s internal polls say about this week’s goings on. Mr Farrar is probably a busy boy.
Popcorn stocked up for next week
Well he has lied and covered up a possible crime.
(I wonder how interesting it would be to be the proverbial ‘fly on the wall’ at police headquarters)
Not only lied and covered up a crime, but threw a sector of the National Party under the bus along with young toddles. The fall out from the investigation into toddles’ selection and re-selection could cause some angst around the party
Robert, Bill going will not have the outcome you so desire. In fact it may have the opposite effect and give the Nats another couple of % in the polls,
And in further news there is a barbecue being organised at Robertson’s place.
Bring your own booze of couse. They can’t afford to supply it.
Perhaps someone can help me. Is Little gone from Parlament if Labour get 25.5%?
Trevor Mallard has obviously given up the ghost. Off to see whe yacht racing rather than try aand help them campaign.
Alwyn, I think we will wait for a better poll than this unreliable nat prop.
I suspect that there are people who comment on this site who have been saying that for a decade.
“The tide has turned”. “But this poll was just before …” “Wait till you see next months”.
etc, etc, etc.
Trevor is a loner these days. Attended a farewell for Annette. He propped up the bar alone, seemed moody.
mind you, farewells suck. They’re ok for “work acquaintances” with whom you basically just say hi and bye and fwd emails to, but for close colleagues they bite.
All Blacks did incredibly well to hold on to the lead as well as they did.
Pretty average penalty kicking, Sonny Bill red carded, lots of odd midfield decisions, average set pieces, and a properly fired up Lions pack.
Lions fully had momentum for last 15 minutes.
Well past time All Blacks lost, and great to see the series alive.